just enough light

The Board, as one, lurched forward, stunned. The townspeople gasped, riveted, but confused. David paused, then continued quietly, “This is my proposal. Plans may proceed as proposed; a road may be built over my plots, with these conditions. When the road is laid out, I want a speed bump built into the road over the […]

Those in attendance grew restless as the Board went through all their normal gyrations of approving notes from the previous meeting, making announcements, and inquiring about old business that needed a revisit. When Board member, Randy Turner, raised a question about a detail pertaining to the payment date for the town’s liability insurance policy, an […]

None other than A. J. Barnett himself volunteered to talk with David. After all, it was his great need for the cemetery plots that brought the issue to light, and A. J. was certain of his persuasive ability in a matter such as this. He began his appeal by inviting David to lunch at the […]

“That’s not a problem,” blurted A. J. “Whoever it is will be offered some prime spots in the new annex.  Who is it?” Digger lowered his gaze as if talking to someone at his feet, “It’s David Murphy.” An audible groan came from all corners of the boardroom.  Eyes rolled, heads wagged, and many shifted […]

Raymond “Digger” Cummings had seen this coming for several years. Digger was the grounds keeper and record keeper for Hillside Cemetery, and had been so for more than 20 years. Digger was slim, some might call him scrawny, with a large adam’s apple for a man his size, and receding hairline always covered with a […]

Addison Jonas Barnett was speechless when told there were no more cemetery plots available in Hillside Cemetery. Being speechless was not familiar territory for him. His eyes widened, he got all puffed up, and finally blurted with his normal bluster, “Well, I’ve never heard of such a thing. That just can’t be.” He paused to […]

When Alice’s body finally died, long after her spirit had taken leave, the girls spread out into separate rooms. Alice’s room was redecorated with posters of boy bands, and soon the whole house became a flurry of clothes, curlers, and the intense noise of young teenaged girls.  Henry Junior didn’t much like the noise and […]

(This is part I of “A short story in 5 parts.” I hope you enjoy it. Unless you were seated on the left side of the northbound coach, looking out the window at just the right moment, you’d miss him. He’s just a silhouette against the snow, a bulky figure, here and gone in a […]

Competition for “Best Christian Politician” has begun. In our local elections, Christian humility is busily elbowing its way to the front of the line. The dizzying mixture of Christianity and conservative politics makes “America First” seem indistinguishable from “Seek first the kingdom of God.” On television, in the mail, and in the newspaper, the ads […]

When a Christian leader argues that evangelicals “have a moral obligation to enthusiastically back” President Trump, we Christians should run fast and far away from that leader. That is the argument Ralph Reed, founder of Faith and Freedom Coalition, makes in his upcoming book, For God and Country: The Christian case for Trump. The recent adoration […]