Saturday, July 31, 2004
Dear Ethylene,
I hate the summer because your columns are so infrequent during the summer. Sure, I can read other columnists or listen to my "Best of Paul Harvey" collection, but it's not really the same. Your homespun wisdom and babe-a-liciousness really rev my engines. Please bring back your thrice-weekly columns.
Please?
Your devoted fan,
Jon Koktosen
Dear Jon,
Thank you so much for wanting more. But as I have said many times, summer is family time. Our youngest, Jedediah, is now a part of the crossstitchingforjesus.com production team, and I just wouldn't trade the time I've spent this summer stitching with Jed for the world!
Just the other day he said to me, "Mom, why does Jesus like hockey better than football?" And I said, "Jesus loves all sports equally, Jedediah." And Jed said, "Then why do we put 'Jesus saves' on all our pillows and throw rugs?" And I said, "No, no honey. Jesus doesn't save hockey pucks, he saves souls."
Jed liked that answer, because like most red blooded Americans, he couldn't care less about hockey. Bonding moments like those are priceless.
So Jon, my column will resume it's regular schedule after Labor Day and not a minute sooner! Meanwhile, enjoy Paul Harvey. His homilies never get old, which (unfortunately) is more than we can say about Paul himself!
Bon radio!
Ethylene
I hate the summer because your columns are so infrequent during the summer. Sure, I can read other columnists or listen to my "Best of Paul Harvey" collection, but it's not really the same. Your homespun wisdom and babe-a-liciousness really rev my engines. Please bring back your thrice-weekly columns.
Please?
Your devoted fan,
Jon Koktosen
Dear Jon,
Thank you so much for wanting more. But as I have said many times, summer is family time. Our youngest, Jedediah, is now a part of the crossstitchingforjesus.com production team, and I just wouldn't trade the time I've spent this summer stitching with Jed for the world!
Just the other day he said to me, "Mom, why does Jesus like hockey better than football?" And I said, "Jesus loves all sports equally, Jedediah." And Jed said, "Then why do we put 'Jesus saves' on all our pillows and throw rugs?" And I said, "No, no honey. Jesus doesn't save hockey pucks, he saves souls."
Jed liked that answer, because like most red blooded Americans, he couldn't care less about hockey. Bonding moments like those are priceless.
So Jon, my column will resume it's regular schedule after Labor Day and not a minute sooner! Meanwhile, enjoy Paul Harvey. His homilies never get old, which (unfortunately) is more than we can say about Paul himself!
Bon radio!
Ethylene
Sunday, July 18, 2004
Dear Ethylene,
I wonder if any of your other readers share my concern about what I call the "gradual crudification of our society"? We have come to accept the use of common vulgarities such as "pissed off," "crap," and "take a dump" in our every day language. Years ago these expressions would have been considered scandalous, and would shame those who used them. Nowadays discourteous teens roam our streets shouting expressions like these on a regular basis.
Can anything be done?
Marian Prudish
Des Moines
Dear Marian,
I share your concern.
We are losing not only our manners, but our grace as well. What are manners, really, but the expression of our concern for our fellow man? Without manners, ours would be a lawless society where the powerful could do what they please, above the law. Like Iraq or the Clinton White House.
I think part of the key to regaining our better, civilized selves, is discipline. Nothing stops little Johnny's pottymouth like washing it out with soap, or better yet, smacking it out. Spare the rod, spoil the child.
As the bible implies, corporal punishment is one of the most pure expressions of parental love. My father loved us all the way to the emergency room on several occasions, and my siblings are I never use foul language.
There's a lesson there.
Good letter, Marian, and bon civilite!
Ethylene
I wonder if any of your other readers share my concern about what I call the "gradual crudification of our society"? We have come to accept the use of common vulgarities such as "pissed off," "crap," and "take a dump" in our every day language. Years ago these expressions would have been considered scandalous, and would shame those who used them. Nowadays discourteous teens roam our streets shouting expressions like these on a regular basis.
Can anything be done?
Marian Prudish
Des Moines
Dear Marian,
I share your concern.
We are losing not only our manners, but our grace as well. What are manners, really, but the expression of our concern for our fellow man? Without manners, ours would be a lawless society where the powerful could do what they please, above the law. Like Iraq or the Clinton White House.
I think part of the key to regaining our better, civilized selves, is discipline. Nothing stops little Johnny's pottymouth like washing it out with soap, or better yet, smacking it out. Spare the rod, spoil the child.
As the bible implies, corporal punishment is one of the most pure expressions of parental love. My father loved us all the way to the emergency room on several occasions, and my siblings are I never use foul language.
There's a lesson there.
Good letter, Marian, and bon civilite!
Ethylene
Monday, July 12, 2004
Dear Ethylene,
I read on the web that in Europe there is a company that provides alibis to people who want to cheat on their spouses. It started in Germany and is spreading across Europe like a fungus.
I am sorry, but what is wrong with Europeans? Is it just their secularity that makes them this way? Why are morals and ethics so hard for these people?
And don't tell me it's the language barrier.
Disgusted in St. Louis
Dear Disgusted,
Sometimes it does seem as though Europe is on an entirely different continent. It is true that despite being Christians for much longer than we have been, they can't seem to really embrace morality. I suspect you are right that secularity is to blame.
Some of my friends think that secular hedonism began to infect Europe after WWII, when Americans bore the brunt of the fight to save Europe and Europeans largely sat the war out. After that, Europe got used to having America do their dirty work, much as a child waits for its parent to do things for it. According to this view, we helped create the cycle of dependency through the Marshall Plan, NATO, etc.
Another view points the finger at the European welfare state. European governments made life too good for their citizens, and everyone knows that unearned wealth begets sloth, which begets spiritual breakdown. Look no further than the Kennedys or Britain's royal family. Each generation sets new standards for debauchery.
Whatever the reason, Europe is strong on churches and weak on God. Having been there, I can tell you that Europeans seem almost ashamed of their faith. Public testimony, witnessing to Christ, and television ministries are virtually unheard of there. They hide their faith in quaint, centuries old chapels and whisper their prayers. I have never once seen a televised news story about the good works done by European churches. What does that tell you?
I'm afraid the de-God-ification of Europe will only continue. As our president says, he is busy doing God's will. By working so hard to get in his way, we can guess whose will Europeans are doing. Uh-huh. That's right.
So Disgusted, just be thankful you live in a country where there was no alibi for sale when Jimmy Swaggart came a lookin'!
Ethylene
I read on the web that in Europe there is a company that provides alibis to people who want to cheat on their spouses. It started in Germany and is spreading across Europe like a fungus.
I am sorry, but what is wrong with Europeans? Is it just their secularity that makes them this way? Why are morals and ethics so hard for these people?
And don't tell me it's the language barrier.
Disgusted in St. Louis
Dear Disgusted,
Sometimes it does seem as though Europe is on an entirely different continent. It is true that despite being Christians for much longer than we have been, they can't seem to really embrace morality. I suspect you are right that secularity is to blame.
Some of my friends think that secular hedonism began to infect Europe after WWII, when Americans bore the brunt of the fight to save Europe and Europeans largely sat the war out. After that, Europe got used to having America do their dirty work, much as a child waits for its parent to do things for it. According to this view, we helped create the cycle of dependency through the Marshall Plan, NATO, etc.
Another view points the finger at the European welfare state. European governments made life too good for their citizens, and everyone knows that unearned wealth begets sloth, which begets spiritual breakdown. Look no further than the Kennedys or Britain's royal family. Each generation sets new standards for debauchery.
Whatever the reason, Europe is strong on churches and weak on God. Having been there, I can tell you that Europeans seem almost ashamed of their faith. Public testimony, witnessing to Christ, and television ministries are virtually unheard of there. They hide their faith in quaint, centuries old chapels and whisper their prayers. I have never once seen a televised news story about the good works done by European churches. What does that tell you?
I'm afraid the de-God-ification of Europe will only continue. As our president says, he is busy doing God's will. By working so hard to get in his way, we can guess whose will Europeans are doing. Uh-huh. That's right.
So Disgusted, just be thankful you live in a country where there was no alibi for sale when Jimmy Swaggart came a lookin'!
Ethylene
