James Pyles's Blog, page 115
October 20, 2018
Quoting: Life-Tests and Trust
When a person has mastered the trait of trust in G-d, (“bitachon”), he will look forward to difficult life-tests in order to show his love for the Almighty. His devotion to the Almighty in difficult situations is a manifestation of his high spiritual level and he actually welcomes these tests. -See Rabbi Yosef Hurwitz of […]
The Queen of New Orleans
It was after two in the morning and a light rain fell on New Orleans’ French Quarter. Sean Becker walked into a small jazz club. He was almost the only white person here, but his bond with those around him went deeper than race. “You da one wantin’ to see Mama Marie.” She could have […]
October 19, 2018
The Legend of Earth
Luke Wallace stumbled over the alien terrain as the dawning sun rose to his left, but it was the twinkling of tiny lights directly in his path that had been holding his attention for the past three hours. The biologist was the sole survivor of the “Hawking,” an exploratory superluminal spacecraft owned by Blue Astra […]
Quoting: To Err is Human
A student of Rabbi Nochum Zev Ziv once erred in the pronunciation of a word when publicly repeating the Amidah prayer. Someone pointed out the correct pronunciation, and the student repeated the word accurately. However, the student became confused and nervous and made many more errors. After the prayers, Rabbi Nochum Zev approached him and […]
October 18, 2018
DVD Film Review: Black Panther
Okay, so last night, I watched Black Panther (2018) and loved it. Actually, for me, picking up the main themes wasn’t difficult at all, and yes it is more than just another superhero story. It’s both the epic tale of a new King who is struggling to determine the direction of his nation, and a […]
Quoting: Seeing the Other Side of the Story
Seeing things from the other person’s point of view has a profound effect on our emotional health, since the totality of how we relate to others is dependent on this concept. When you master the ability to view others as they see themselves, you will gain the love of everyone. Today, think of someone you […]
October 17, 2018
A New Home for Diablo
“Bubbe! Baby chickies!” The enthusiastic three-year-old girl let go of her grandmother’s hand and ran over to the heated glass enclosure. She pressed her palms and nose against it and then pulled back. “It’s hot, Bubbe.” “It’s okay to look, but don’t scare them, Dani.” The sixty-year-old bent over and put her hand gently on […]
I am a Dad
“All I want is to see my son, Constable.” “I perfectly understand. However, you must understand that scaling the tower is a dangerous. I must ask that you come down with me.” “I’ve made my point and appreciate your compassion.” Timothy Briggs looked as four men pulled the banner stating “Equal rights for fathers. Change […]
Quoting: Understand the Sources of Anger
Have compassion on people who become angry easily. The person may have negative feelings about himself. By understanding the source of his anger, you will be able to deal with him more effectively. As regards yourself, if you have chronic feelings of guilt or inadequacy, you are apt to lose your temper easily. For this […]
October 16, 2018
Movie Review of “Thor: Ragnarok”
I watched Thor: Ragnarok (2017) last week and loved it. It wasn’t the perfect film, but of the three “Thor” movies, it was clearly the best. Things I Liked I really liked the dynamic, both between Thor (Chris Hemsworth) and the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), and between Thor and Banner (although, in a way, it’s the […]
