Devotionals

“Petrofilia” is the term for someone who loves rocks.  More commonly known as a “rock hound,” these amateur geologists are always picking them up during a walk, turning them in their hand and, after passing inspection, dropping them in their pocket. Perhaps the most well-known set of rocks in all the world is Stonehenge in Wiltshire, England.  It’s likely you’ve seen pictures in movies [...]

The end of the 19th century brought with it considerable advancements in physics.  The era included Marie Curie, discoveries in the study of geometrical and physical optics, energy distribution and other highly complex problems which led to it being named “the birth of modern physics.”  So sophisticated were the breakthroughs that it was generally believed that the field had reached its peak.  They thought there was nothing of [...]

In basketball a “technical foul” is a violation that does not involve physical contact.  It’s given for displays of unsportsmanlike behavior.  Of course, “tech’s” are frequently called as a result of a player’s frustration or when he’s been embarrassed, but that’s not always the case.  Sometimes they’re given to players when things are absolutely going his way.  In those cases a player receives a [...]

I was driving to pick up my three-year-old granddaughter with another one happily singing in the backseat.  After arriving, I buckled in the second three-year-old as she proudly pointed to a sticker on her hand.  Before I could exit the parking lot, she let out a piercing shriek which, on investigation, was the result of the sticker being taken and ripped in two.  The shocking element of [...]

For years my son and I have had season tickets to a local university’s football program.  “Avid” is an insufficient representation of our level of support for the team.  Frankly, we’re obnoxious.  Next to my son is a seat occupied by his co-worker, and fellow football zealot.  Last week we attended one of the most significant games in years.  The opponent was higher ranked and stood between us and [...]

A British journalist claims to have originated the phrase “virtue signaling” in 2015.  It is a way of expressing an opinion, often on social media, that aligns with some modern moral crusade without actually doing anything concrete to support it.  Someone may add a symbol to their post to show their solidarity with a movement without having given a single dollar to help.  Another [...]