This particular blog deals with a sometimes impossibly broad scope of matters ranging from reflections on the novels of Jane Austen to the corruption of American sports, from the wonders of civil engineering to the politics of Somaliland, from biblical exegesis to the passionate discussion of rock & roll music and contemporary culture, and many other subjects besides that. If you are a reader of this blog and wish to see a particular subject discussed or discussed more often, please place your suggestions here. I will read them and consider them, and may even write about them. Or, alternatively, if I have already written about that particular subject, I will reply with a link to where that post may be found. Alternatively, if you wish to make a comment on a subject or matter you would wish to see me discuss less, please post that as well. I will consider it seriously, even if I may not take you up on your advice.
Please, send in your suggestions :D.
Edge Induced Cohesion 
I was just reading in 1Kings 2:19 where Soloman accords his mother great honor by placing her on a throne at his right hand. Commentaries point out that this was a tradition in monarchies evidently going back this far. Could this be a foundational idea in the Catholic Churches teaching on Mary as the “Queen of Heaven” and as an intercessor, as was Bathsheba to Solomon for Adonijah. As a Protestant I have always wondered about Mary’s elevation by the Church.
Thank You – A first time reader.
You’re very welcome; that’s a good suggestion that is worth exploring at least to ponder the difference between biblical kingship and the Catholic model of Mary.
Here’s another suggestion that was followed up on:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com/2013/12/25/alls-well-that-ends-well/
Yooouuuuuu suck. You really really suck. Suck suck suck, suck suck suck. Your face looks as if it was sculpted in order to represent a permanent rictus grin of suck. Also, where can I get a copy of your book? š
Look at my about page, as they have links to all of my books.
Can you explain why we have heard of the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah but have never heard of the cities of Admah and Zeboim.
Alrighty, this looks like a good one to write, and one that shouldn’t be too long of a post. I’ll see if I can write this one soon :).
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Was unable to send email, address bounded back, may I send one please, how ??
Where did you try to send an e-mail to?
Dear Nathan,
I recently wrote the book Breaking Free: How to Be Completely Free from Any Addiction, and I am looking for some reviewers for Amazon and/or people’s websites. I found you are a Christian blogger and review books. I think my book may have interest to you and your readers.
My book will be free to download this coming Tuesday and Wednesday (9/9-9/10): http://amzn.to/1qafe5c. You can see a brief write-up on my site: http://prayer-coach.com/breaking-free. I would appreciate a review from you.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
Blessings,
Kevin Shorter
Thanks for your comment; that is definitely the sort of book I would be happy to review. I will have to remember to download the book on Tuesday or Wednesday though.
1. I am aware that this may be considered a trivial matter but also a very serious matter. Why do you suppose we sing songs to praise God that have had a dirty or potentially dirty past?
How do you think God feels about this and how should we feel about this? And do you think this is a worthwhile questions to ponder and why?
That is definitely a subject worth considering; I have blogged about a few songs in relationship to that concept, but I think it would be worthwhile to examine some of the principles that we should use in handling such matters.
Why did the women think that Ruth was better than seven sons to Naomi? And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the Lord, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him. (Ruth 4:14’15)
I think we answered that in our conversation. š
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If we having been made a little lower than the angels and the angels are higher than us then why do the angels desire to look into the Gospel of Christ, why are they not able to do this when they are far superior to us and we are less superior than they. What is that gospel that they desire to look into and canāt? After all surely they can read far better than we can.
1Pe 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look into.
Psa 8:5 For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.
Heb 2:6 But one in a certain place testified, saying, What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
Heb 2:7 Thou madest him a little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and didst set him over the works of thy hands:
Heb 2:8 Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him. But now we see not yet all things put under him.
Heb 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Heb 2:10 For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.
That’s a very fascinating question, albeit a complicated one, and I will definitely try to get to it soon.
There is a fairly commonly repeated platitude that is supposed to have come from the Bible: “God will not give you more than you are able to handle.” I’ve been guilty of repeating it myself on many occasions. But the actual scripture it comes from reads, “No temptation[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.” I Cor 10:13 But what I read here says that He will not give a “temptation” beyond what one can bear, not that a trial will be too much to handle mentally. And actually many times in the Bible we read that people endured trials so fierce that they wished for death. They were broken, mentally, in order to become more perfect, spiritually. I was wondering if you could you discuss this scripture and its meaning in relation to enduring and how God shapes and works with us?
Yes, I can write about this, although I promise it would be a rather personal sort of entry.
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“Do you have any idea why a merciful, loving God would allow a godly minister to suffer from something horrible like Parkinson’s diease?”
I do have an idea, and it is a worthy answer to give, albeit a very serious one, and a very personal subject to me.
In this life we are continually wanting to find a quick fix, a shortcut or a nice and easy way, why are they not a good idea in most all areas of life?
I have touched on this question before (see, for example: https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com/2012/01/12/no-shortcuts-to-salvation/) but it has been a long while and the subject is worth discussing on a broad scale.
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Greetings.
I write to suggest a book that you might wish to review. It is my own novel, newly published, titled “Church of Golf.”
There was this guy named Donald who became a hero to his university by leading its football team to the schoolās first national championship. He had a squared-off chin and amber waves of hair. He embraced the profane and ignored the sacred. For a time, he enjoyed regional splash as a minor celebrity. But by the time he reaches middle age, heās lost all momentum. Heās drunk, heavily in debt, lumpy around the middle and sucking for air. Heās the last one to realize that heās a lost soul. The way back? Religious devotion to the study of golf.
In addition to being a story of redemption, the book has an important theme that is barely veiled: inner peace, humility and kindness are qualities that can come to a man without any church or religion. They are qualities that can be found anywhere — even on a golf course. The main character is secular and finds inner peace and humility without religion ā although surrounded by persons from various religions who hope to have an impact upon him.
It’s a man’s book. The main character is a manly man who wants to be viewed as a manly man. However, the only way to obtain balance and happiness is for him to soften up a little and become concerned about the well-being of others.
Thatās my novel in a nutshell. It has received a significant number of positive reviews on Amazon, one from a āTop 100ā reviewer. Several book bloggers have commented very favorably upon it.
Do you think your audience might be interested?
I would be happy to send you a copy, if you like. Let me know if you prefer a hard copy or ebook.
All the best,
Spencer K. Stephens, Esq.
mobile: 301.996.6534
primary email: spencer@stephensassociates.net
P.S. See link to my bookās listing on Amazon.com:
I would be willing to review it, and I’m sure I’d have at least some readers of my blog interested in the novel. I prefer to read hard copies of books, as they are easier to schedule. You can mail the book to me at:
Nathan Albright
10356 SW Trapper Ter
Beaverton, OR 97008
You know how we are supposed to love our enemies,( Matthew 5:4), How in 2 Kings 2:24 were the 42 lads able to have a curse put on them by a man of God? It is hard to believe that God would cause two bears to maul a group of youths for making fun of a man for being bald. Then In 2 Samuel 16:9-11 Yet a man was cursing David and David let him alone. Why do these incidents seem to differ in response in each case?
I dealt with part of this problem before, but not this specific case, so I think I would like to tackle this one.
Can or should God’s people curse their enemies?
That is a good question.
I’ve recently written a blog post that confronts what I view as our “culture of shame”, and after viewing your post “overcoming the culture of shame” I was hoping to know the viewpoint of someone who seems to have a somewhat different stance and comes from a very different walk of life (though we agree on the fact that the crime is not in the sexual nature of certain acts) and understanding of the “culture of shame”. Just as some background, my morals and ethics are derived from rationality and logic rather than faith.
https://authroy.wordpress.com/2015/09/07/our-culture-of-shame/
I took a look at your blog, and though I have a different viewpoint from your own, I think the matter is worth discussing. I will try to do so soon, although I think I will do so from a particularly personal perspective.
Dear Nathan, I would like to suggest you to dig a little into Catalonia’s political situation since I think from a historical point of view you’ll find it fascinating. I wrote my view about it if you have time https://onthisideofparadise.wordpress.com/2015/09/30/catalonia-for-world-heritage/
I have long had an interest in the independence movement of Catalonia. I will have to research the issue, but it is a subject I would like to write about in detail.
If you want detail, here is a book written in 1714 – after the fall of the city of Barcelona and the end of the Spanish war of succession-. It compiles letters, officials manifests, military data from first hand sources. Quite unique, that would be a start https://archive.org/stream/deplorablehistor00londuoft#page/n3/mode/2up
I will definitely look at that. Thanks for sending the link.
Hi, the superb article Life’s What You Make (https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress.com/2012/05/11/lifes-what-you-make-it/) It has a typo in para6: “Again, the song is lived in as well as song” I think ought to be “sung”
Yes, you’re right about that :). I’m glad you enjoyed the blog entry.
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Hi Nathan! I saw The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Civil War at the Goodwill recently. Have you ever considered doing a book review of that? I wouldn’t be surprised if you have responded to the sorts of arguments it offers (when you reviewed Thomas DiLorenzo’s books, for example), but there may be some territory in that book that you haven’t yet covered.
I haven’t read it, actually. I reviewed the poiltically incorrect guide to the British Empire–which was pretty great–and I’ve seen the one for the 60’s, which sounds like it would be entertaining to read. I just haven’t gotten around to the Civil War guide. If you’d like to see it I’m sure I can rustle up a couple of the guides at the library and add them to my reading list within a few weeks, though.
Need to add Grand Funk & Linda Ronstadt to your list. Straight singers like Mariah Carey & Barbra Streisand don’t belong
Singers have been inducted too, and are certainly influential. I am researching Grand Funk and they are definitely on the list š
Is there a way to email you?
My e-mail address is included on the “About” page.
Hi Nathan! I was wondering if you could review Patrick Buchanan’s Churchill, Hitler, and the Unnecessary War. You can get the Amazon Kindle version for $4.99, or it may be in your local library. https://www.amazon.com/Churchill-Hitler-Unnecessary-War-Britain-ebook/dp/B0011UGM3W/
I saw that you reviewed Buchanan’s book on Nixon a while back. I did a search to see if you reviewed the Churchill one, too—-just to make sure I wasn’t making an unnecessary suggestion—-and it did not turn up in the search results. I’d be interested in your take on Buchanan’s arguments.
I will look it up in my library first. If it’s not there I will add it to an upcoming order with books by Origen and the desert fathers
That sounds awesome, too: Origen and the desert fathers.
I figured you would appreciate that š
Oh, for the record, I found Buchanan’s book in my library, so I put in a hold request.
Hi Nathan! I was wondering if you could read and review this book. I hope to read and review it sometime in the future, but I do not know when that will happen. I am interested in your response to it. The author was a journalist who was a notorious critic of FDR. The libertarian Mises Institute has made this book available as a PDF. Here is the link:
Click to access The%20Roosevelt%20Myth_2.pdf
Thanks for the suggestion; I will have to look at that book. The Mises Institute is full of interesting things and if you have looked at my posts I have some rather critical things to say about libertarianism in general :).
Are you on Facebook or Twitter? I came across your post about Kansas and the rrhof snub and I’m enjoying reading your other posts.
I am on Facebook @ Nathan Bennett Albright and on twitter at @nathanbalbright. I’m glad you have been enjoying my posts :). Until now I have not seen anyone on my blog that was particularly passionate about Kansas’ case for induction into the RRHOF.
Re: Children in the streets. I think your repeating that rock-ribbed conservative mantra referring to Social Security retirement as a “Ponzi scheme” and ‘thievery” to be disingenuous. You may choose the libertarian dogma that any government taxation is ill-advised, or the more honest anarchist position that government should do nothing, but asserting that a government sponsored retirement system is a criminal act is, in and of itself, akin to childish name calling because something displeases you. To review, Social Security is funded by payroll taxes on employers and employees based on the employee’s income. Benefits paid are based on the income earned by the beneficiary over the beneficiary’s lifetime. In fact, the Social Security trust fund has become unbalanced in the last several decades. Why? Because Congress has refused to make minor adjustments to the system based on demographic changes in the population it serves, choosing to dismantle the Social Security system by indirection, something it cannot do by direct action; akin to an insurance company refusing to adjust its benefits or premiums based on its claims experience. If there is any dishonesty in the process, it is in the inaction of Congress in refusing to exercise responsible stewardship over a program that is a positive good – a good of Biblical proportions. Rather than name calling and verbal rock throwing, or being otherwise angered by an orderly society, may I suggest you retire to the Darien Gap where you can battle with the elements on your own terms, and wrest your retirement from the elements, free from government interference.
Thanks for your bitter invective. I take it the poem hit too close to home? Perhaps if you don’t like name calling and verbal stone throwing you can avoid it yourself. Those who live in glass houses like you do would do best to avoid starting stone throwing contests. Just, for the record, though, there is nothing here about all taxes being wrong, but the poem is more, as I said in my commentary, about the unreliability of government promises. The fact that social security benefits are accounted based on one’s earnings is not really particularly meaningful because it is *paid* based on the money that comes into the “trust fund” from people who currently work. That is the essence of a ponzi scheme or multi-level marketing scheme. The fact that the monies that should be present to pay for social security have been squandered by government, precisely more reasons why one cannot trust the promises made by government. Perhaps you should try reading what is said before you justify socialist programs that require a faithful and honorable government to work correctly. The fact that government cannot be trusted itself is the problem. Too bad you’re too ignorant to understand tht.
I was trying to learn something about a Don Waterhouse, and stumbled across what was said to be a eulogy for him… but it turned out to be a summery of your journey to baptism????
Not quite. He was as pastor of mine during my teenage years, and so I wrote about the time that I happened to know him. š
Hello, Nathan! Can I send you a copy of my new book? JESUS IS BETTER THAN PORN: How I Confessed my Addiction to My Wife and Found a New Life. Thank you! You can reach me at: onlywithhishelp@gmail.com
š Absolutely; I’m glad you were able to get in touch with me on Twitter.
Dear Nathan,
Good day. Just wanted to say that I enjoy reading your blog and find your posts very informative, educational, and entertaining. You’re doing a great job and wish you the best of success.
Kindest Regards,
H
Thanks, I appreciate the kind words and I’m glad you have enjoyed what I have written š
Hi Nathan! I want to recommend a book to you, if you get a chance. It is Witness, by Whittaker Chambers. I am only through the first 200 pages—-it is an 800 page book. I checked it out from the library. In what I have read so far, he seems to be rather “Nathanish.”
I’ve heard of that book, but I’ve never read it. I’ll definitely go looking for it to add to my reading list though š
I’ve just found your review of Peter Scazzero’s book “Emotionally Healthy Spirituality”.
Thank you for honesty concerning this book.
The pastor at the church I was attending at the time talked many of us into spending $30 each to attend, read & take part in this sham of a study!
The entire time I was confused & made to feel guilty for not being a better person/Christian.
There were several in the group who “drank the koolade” & raved about the study.
Frankly, I think they were trying to win points with the pastor!
Yours is the first of several reviews that I’ve read and I’m so pleased to know that many of my concerns are valid.
Have only recently found your blog/site.
Enjoying it very much! Thank you!
I appreciate that my concerns resonated with you.
You need to cover Jan & Dean for being snubbed from the HOF. With 16 Top 40 hits, they are the third most commercially successfull duo from the sixties only behind The Everly Brothers and The Righteous Brothers. Jan Berry was a masterful producer and arranger who has been greatly underrated all these years. It still amazes me that Jan & Dean were the first rockstars to ever have a biopic done on their career which was a ratings smash hit, and despite them having more chart success than half of the already inducted HOF members, they have never even been nominated. That is a shame. Tommy Roe is another… Major chart success, he invented the bubble gum sound and went head on against the brithish Invasion with not only having hits, but surviving it where very few American acts did.
Jan & Dean definitely deserves consideration and I will certainly get to writing about them. I’m intrigued about Tommy Roe and the invention of the bubblegum pop sound as well.
Thanks will be looking forward to it. With J&D there is plenty of debate wrtten on thier snub, but not a whole lot written about Tommy Roe. If I had to guess, the HOF critics would prob label him under the ‘Too much Pop and not enough Rock” excuse. But back then…it was all rock and roll.
Considering the sort of artists that the RRHOF has let in, and their statement that it is about music during the Rock & Roll Era (since 1954), clearly he would be eligible under those grounds.
The thing that really tipped me off and opened my eyes (and ears) to Tommy Roe was when I stumbled onto this recent Youtube Video/Interview which was fascinating to say the least… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3FCvYt577T0&t=308s
I will definitely have to take a look at that interview.
Nate gimme a text – Itās Marlon
593.332.9589
What’s this about?
Suggestion for your : Why are they not in the Rock n roll hall of fame series.
The Dixe hummingbirds the oldest” Rock n roll/ gospal group” performing from the late 40s to present day and were a influence on Steve wonder,jackie willson,Smokey Robison, and Ray Charles
Now that’s definitely a group I’d like to consider. Early influences are something I’d like to write about a lot more.
Iām a fan of Rick Springfield and I believe he truly deserves to be inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame. He is worthy and his music is worthy. I believe itās time to recognize the 80ās music and all of Rickās music. Heās one of the greats. Give this amazing artist the honor he so deserves. Thank you. His fan from the 80ās til now. Christine Perreault
Thanks for posting š I’m glad you also found my post on Rick Springfield.
Gee; I just found this site due to an article about the group “Blood, Sweat and Tears” posted ?? A few good reasons are given but I want to add that the band’s members have changed so much that their identity is ? I think that Bobby Colomby is at the center but am not sure. Their first album “Child is Father to the Man” is my favorite still. The genius of Al Kooper permeated BS & T but he was gone by their second album.