My wife and I spent an extended weekend in Branson, Missouri to celebrate her birthday this year. Although we enjoyed a couple of shows, ate some good food, and purchased a few nice items, I … Branson: Nostalgia and MemoriaRead more
Religion and Culture
Martin Luther King vs. Cool Hand Luke or Love vs. Anger
In my last post I reviewed the classic 1967 movie Cool Hand Luke (http://www.billisley.com/2017/06/cool-hand-luke-reviewing-a-classic/) and highlighted its religious symbolism in which Luke is portrayed as a suffering messiah struggling against oppressive forces. A little while … Martin Luther King vs. Cool Hand Luke or Love vs. AngerRead more
Cool Hand Luke: Reviewing a Classic
Great movies, like great books, are worth returning to time and again because they deal with transcendent themes. Last night I watched the 1967 movie Cool Hand Luke. When I saw it as a teenager, … Cool Hand Luke: Reviewing a ClassicRead more
Love: Acceptance or Forgiveness?
During this season when many Christians have been observing Lent, I have been ruminating on Jesus’ Parable of the Prodigal or Lost Son (Luke 15:11-32). In this, I have been helped by Henri Nouwen’s, The … Love: Acceptance or Forgiveness?Read more
Hope and the Dark Background of Christmas
The theme of hope has been in the news recently. In an interview outgoing First Lady Michelle Obama, lamenting what in her view is the loss of hope, said, “Hope is necessary. It’s a necessary … Hope and the Dark Background of ChristmasRead more