Category: Story

Story

A Reading List

Gary Furr

A friend asked me for some suggestions for a book club of friends who want to gather regularly and study some substantial issues together. Without disclosing that conversation, I simply share this list for anyone who wants it. I like reading lists of books others have read. I included some descriptions for most. See if anything invites you for a closer look. I have read these and they gave me important things to think about. Not all are recent. We are too accustomed to racing out to the latest latest thing. There is vastly more I could write about much … Continue reading A Reading List

America, Citizenship, Conflict, Constitution, First Amendment, Story

America’s Best Idea

Gary Furr

In times of great fear and anxiety, principles are more important than ever. In my reading I came across this thoughtful quote. “Justice Sandra Day O’Connor wrote in her final opinion on church–state matters: ‘Those who would renegotiate the boundaries between church and state must answer a difficult question: Why would we trade a system that has served us so well for one that has served others so poorly?’” Randall Balmer, AMERICA’S BEST IDEA:SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE The history of the efforts to have a union of the two are uniformly a history of oppression, violence, and the ruin … Continue reading America’s Best Idea

Story

Alabama Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children Secures Funds to Launch Student Bed Program in Sumter County

Gary Furr

SUMTER COUNTY, AL — The Alabama Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children (ACHMC), in partnership with Sumter County Schools, is pleased to announce the launch of a new initiative to provide beds and bedding to students in need. This project, titled “Don’t Forget the Little Ones,” was made possible by a significant and timely donation from a generous ACHMC donor of $15,000 which was a significant initial step in funding the $25,000 project. A check was presented August 8 to Marcy Burroughs, superintendent of Sumter County Schools by Gary Furr, Founder and President of ACHMC and Bart McCorquodale , a member … Continue reading Alabama Coalition for Healthy Mothers and Children Secures Funds to Launch Student Bed Program in Sumter County

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Forward to the Past?

Gary Furr

It isn’t just bad politics. It’s an appalling lack of biblical understanding. The trajectory of the Bible is more important than preserving first century or nineteenth century culture. “Christendom,” or its latest version, “Christian nationalism,” has been tried many times in history and failed as all idolatries do. The Kingdom of God is not the creation of men, but only of God. Separation of Church and state has been the best arrangement of the two. It is good for both. David French reports on an appalling influence in Christian circles. Continue reading Forward to the Past?

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Love Your Neighbor–part 1

Gary Furr

The phrase “love your neighbor as yourself,” which appears in nearly all religions as what we often call the “Golden Rule,” is the rule of reciprocity—love as you wish to be loved, treat others as you wish to be treated. Now this seems almost imbecilically obvious except that we are living through a ghastly moment of stupidity in our public life. “Strength” is exalted across the world by rightward mobs in reactionary anxiety of cultural and societal erosion. These changes, in my view, are mostly our own creations due to endless speeding up of life, isolation by our technologies of … Continue reading Love Your Neighbor–part 1