Allen R. Hunt's Blog, page 15

Summer Reading Review, part 2: Pleasant Surprises

Just now getting back to writing reviews of other books you recommended I read on my vacation. Here are the two best surprises.

 

1) FICTION: The Prince of Tides by Pat Conroy

I read this when it originally came out in the 80's. Frankly, I had forgotten how remarkably brilliant and poignant Conroy's writing is in this work. 600+ pages of sheer power and passion. At least three incredibly crafted sentences chock full of imagery and meaning on every page. I am embarrassed that I had forgotten how good this novel was. Southern absurdity, low country, dysfunctional family, mental illness, the relationship among siblings, and faith - all shrink-wrapped into a delightful, and at time deeply sad, package. Moving. An epic tale.

Highest recommendation. AHS Grade: A

Man wonders but God decides

When to kill the Prince of   >>>>>   Read Entire Post

Forgiveness Collection

I collect forgiveness stories. Maybe because I am not the best forgiver. Perhaps because I find myself so often in need of forgiveness. I like to think I collect these stories because forgiveness is the most powerful force in the universe, turning despair into hope, hurt into healing, and past into future.

Most folks thought Brian Banks needed forgiveness. Sentenced to 6 years in prison after a classmate accused him of rape, Brian saw his future go up in smoke and his full football scholarship to USC evaporate. 62 months in jail, and 5 more years of wearing an ankle bracelet, for something he knew deep down that he did not do.

When his accuser wanted to meet to "let bygones be bygones," Brian seized the moment. He met with the accuser (who had gotten $750,000 from her accusations about what she said happened at school), had the conversation taped, and contacted the Innocence Project to help clear his name when the   >>>>>   Read Entire Post

What Couples are too Shy to Ask

As discussed on the show last night regarding how difficult it is for married couples to discuss sex. Here is the article   >>>>>   Read Entire Post

Religious Freedom Rallies in America and Atlanta

Join me at Atlanta's next Stand Up for Religious Liberty rally on Friday, June 22 at 7:00PM at Marist School’s football stadium. The keynote speaker will be Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta. Other speakers will include the Rev. Jay Hackett from Peachtree Corners Baptist Church.

Catholics around America begin a special 14 days of prayer today for the protection of relgious freedom in the USA and for the ending of the HHS mandate.

The Stand Up for Religious Liberty rallies have spontaneously arisen across America in response to a number of assaults on the first freedom enshrined in the U.S. Constitution's Bill of Rights: Freedom of Religion. For example, the Department of Justice has taken on Christian schools and their right to determine the religious compatibility of those whom they will employ (thankfully, the DOJ lost 9-0 at the Supreme Court on this case). Next, the Department of   >>>>>   Read Entire Post

Darkness and Light

Planned Parenthood caught again on video. This time, instead of underage abortions being encouraged, it is late-term abortions for the purpose of sex selection. How lovely and virtuous is the Planned Parenthood moral compass. The opposite of that darkness is the remarkable joy that comes in helping to save the life of an unborn   >>>>>   Read Entire Post

Summer Reading Review, part 1: Best and Worst

First, a confession. We had such a marvelous time with family and friends on vacation that I read far fewer books this year than I did last year. But I must say that Harry Potter Wizarding World was a blast :)

Over the next week or two, I will share my grades for the books I have read thus far this summer. Thank you again for sharing your wisdom and recommendations. Very helpful.

 

Best Book of the Summer So Far

The Last Great Game: Duke vs. Kentucky and the 2.1 seconds that Changed Basketball by Gene Wojciechowski

I know. I know. A basketball book. I acknowledge that. But I love college basketball and ACC hoops in particular. Wojciechowski does a great job ot telling the tale of that game and all the recruiting, practice, relationships, and team dynamics that led to that point. A very well-told tale, and I am all about   >>>>>   Read Entire Post

Memorial Marine

Austin Anderson, 27, served two tours in Iraq as a Marine. An Oklahoma Marine, Austin had recently accepted a position with a Christian ministry called Teen Mania. As part of his new role, Austin joined four other young adults on a plane bound from Tulsa to Iowa to attend a youth conference.

Two Fridays ago, the twin-engine Cessna crashed near Chanute, Kansas. Three companions on the flight died instantly in the fiery fuselage. Hannah Luce, 22, was trapped inside the wreckage. Austin successfully extracted her and helped her to a nearby road. Hannah had burns over 28% of her body. A passer-by stopped and called an ambulance which picked up Austin and Hannah and rushed them to a Wichita hospital.

Hannah has been undergoing skin graft surgery to recover. Austin, however, had burns covering 90% of his body. He died upon arriving at the hospital. Austin sacrificed his life so that Hannah might   >>>>>   Read Entire Post

What is a Marriage?

Much of America suffers from marital amnesia, not forgetting to whom they are married, but forgetting what marriage is in the first place. Before you can have a conversation about creating a concept called "same-sex marriage," first you must define what marriage is. A lifelong covenant between a man and a woman for the good of the spouses and the procreation and formation of new life in children.

Why? Science and faith come together to support this definition for the good of children and for the good of a healthy, stable society.

Biology - The science is simple: new life can only be created by the union of a man and a woman

Anatomy - Very simply, the parts must fit

History - For 6000 years, virtually every society and culture has recognized this definition of marriage

Sociology - Social science   >>>>>   Read Entire Post

Religious Freedom Rally in America and Atlanta

Join me at Atlanta's next Stand Up for Religious Liberty rally on Friday, June 22 at 7:00PM at Marist School’s football stadium. The keynote speaker will be Archbishop Wilton Gregory of Atlanta.

The Stand Up for Religious Liberty rallies have spontaneously arisen across America in response to a number of assaults on the first freedom enshrined in the U.S. Constitution's Bill of Rights: Freedom of Religion. For example, the Department of Justice has taken on Christian schools and their right to determine the religious compatibility of those whom they will employ (thankfully, the DOJ lost 9-0 at the Supreme Court on this case). Next, the Department of Health and Human Services have unilaterally at the hands of a single bureaucrat imposed a requirement for religious groups who oppose sterilizations, aborti-facient drugs, and contraception to be required to pay for and provide such procedures for their   >>>>>   Read Entire Post

Same Sex Science

Now that the nation seems obsessed with creating a new category called Same Sex Marriage, whatever that is, it is good to have facts and real data. Much of the conversation now is based on feelings rather than on reason or science. 

Here's a good article that gathers lots of the actual studies regarding homosexuality to provide some substance to the debate as we debate what marriage actually is and whether homosexual behavior is "normal" or   >>>>>   Read Entire Post