Brinton’s Bridges
Return of the Islamic State
This August, militants carrying the flag of the Islamic State attacked a port city in northern Mozambique. In just a few days, they overwhelmed government forces and captured the town. These ISIS fighters want their victory to mark the return of the Islamic State....
Taking Faith to Work
Amy Coney Barrett has been chosen by President Donald Trump to replace Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court. A committed Roman Catholic, Barrett interprets the Constitution through an approach known as originalism, which is favored by many on the right....
When People Sit Down and Eat Together
Liberals and conservatives. Supporters of Donald Trump and supporters of Joe Biden. Men and women. Native-born Americans and recent immigrants. Gays and straights. There is much that divides us. But good things happen when people sit down and eat together....
Said a Friend: I Like Everything He Has Done as President
"I don't approve of him as a person," said the man sitting next to me. "But I like everything he has done as President." My wife and I were at a wedding reception over the Labor Day weekend, socially distanced around a large round table with one other couple. They...
The Power in a Letter
The performance of the United States Postal Service has been the center of debate on Capitol Hill. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, an appointee of President Trump, testified that there had been a "dip in the level of service." People are upset, because there is power...
Missing the Ballpark
The coronavirus pandemic has kept us away from live sporting events this summer. The Los Angeles Times reports that the highest percentage of the population is mourning the loss of baseball (25%). As a nation, we are really missing the ballpark. Monmouth University...
When It’s Dangerous to Be the Church
The Greek word for church is ekklesia, which means "assembly." For 2,000 years, Christians have been assembling for worship. But in this age of pandemic, it's dangerous to be the church. In my novel City of Peace, pastor Harley Camden is assigned to a small riverside...
Master Bedrooms, Redskins, Camels and Harems
Words have power to shape thinking and change society. That's true for Master Bedrooms, Redskins, camels and harems. The Houston Association of Realtors has replaced the phrase "master bedroom" in their listings. A spokesperson for the group told ABC news that a...
Time for National Repentance
Plans to reopen swimming pools, bars, nightclubs, and other businesses across the United States are being reconsidered as the coronavirus continues to spread. As of Friday, June 26, daily coronavirus cases were increasing in at least 29 states. On this Independence...
We Need a New Liberty Pole
In September 1861, the first Confederate battle flag was approved in Fairfax, Virginia. One year earlier, a liberty pole supporting Abraham Lincoln was chopped to pieces in Occoquan, Virginia. We need a new liberty pole. A historical marker in Fairfax says, "During...
Holding Whites Accountable for Violence Against Blacks
A video of a handcuffed black man named George Floyd pleading for air, while a white police officer kneeled on his neck, has horrified people around the world. Floyd died during this encounter, leading to the arrest of police officer Derek Chauvin and protests over...
Behavioral Contagion
Late last year, my 2005 PT Cruiser was about to die. I had been thinking about an electric car for years, so I traded in the gas-guzzling Cruiser and bought a 2016 VW eGolf. The acceleration and emission-free driving of the eGolf is exactly what I expected. But I...