Saturday, October 1, 2016

Saturday Good Reads


I didn’t watch the presidential election debates Monday night. My mental health improved. Then I read Rod Dreher’s “The End of Liberal Democracy.”

You may have seen the video of the teacher with terminal cancer who was serenaded by 400 of his students. Russ Ramsey at the Gospel Coalition has the story behind it, and it’s a good one.

We knew this election would be bad, but who knew it would be a vehicle for literal exhibitionism?  Some pop stars (Katy Perry, Madonna) have taken off their clothes in support of their presidential candidate, and I suppose that literally helps their exposure. Samuel James has a different take on pleasure – one courtesy of The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis.

Good poetry, good photography, a story about the benefits of a hailstorm, and Shakespeare’s most popular play – yes, there is still beauty and grace in the world.

Art and Photography

DOF – Tim Good at Pics, Poems, and Ponderings.

Hillside Tombs, Bellefontaine Cemetery – Chris Naffziger at St. Louis Patina.

Autumn is a second spring – Susan Jones via Facebook.

Poetry

When We Take Our Leave – Jerry Barrett at Gerald the Writer.

The Last Great Show – Chris Yokel.

Classifieds – Barbara Mackenzie at Signed…BKM.

‘Poet Warrior’ Gerald Stern – Maureen Doallas at Writing Without Paper.

Faith

Singing Man: The Story Behind the Viral Video of Ben Ellis – Russ Ramsey at The Gospel Coalition.

Re Pete – Doug Spurling at Spurling Silver.

How God Used a Hailstorm (in September) – Kara Dedert at En Route.

The Purifying Effect of Pleasure – Samuel D. James.

Life and Culture

The End of Liberal Democracy – Rod Dreher at The American Conservative.

Writing

What is Shakespeare's Most Popular Play? – Dan Kopf at Priceonomics.

Lost in Light – How Much of the Night Sky We’ve Lost to Light Pollution



Painting: The Lord is My Shepherd, oil on canvas by Eastman Johnson (1863).

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

So you actually mean *stripping*?!I'm not sure I understand the meaning behind (no pun intended!) their protest. What this election has done is stripped our country of any decency and seriousness at a critical time in our history. Imagine what people in other countries and cultures think of our buffoonery and vitriol. And most sadly of all, Christians are selling out by the droves. Breaks my heart. My husband wouldn't watch it either. Thanks for the photos of Bellefontaine. We took a personal tour there once with one of Sheridan's teachers who was pointing out fascinating facts, and the historicity of that cemetery and its inhabitants is quite extraordinary. Thanks for sharing, Glynn.

Jody Lee Collins said...

There is beauty in the world....we just have to know where to look. Thank you for looking for us, Glynn. I always enjoy your wrap ups.
(Hoping to improve my mental health greatly this week by also ignoring the debates.)