This post is the second in a series of five, concerning the parables, that I intend to release within the next month. For the most part, these posts are excerpts from the third chapter (A Parable Prayer) in my book A Catholic Prays Scripture – Volume 4: concerning God’s “word” and the “future.” The first post in this series was posted on May 17, 2026.
In my previous post, I noted that parables contain a story element, but I did not address whether the stories are “true” or “fiction.” All of...
This post is the first in a series of five, concerning the parables, that I intend to release during the next month or so. For the most part, these posts will be excerpts from the third chapter (A Parable Prayer) in my book A Catholic Prays Scripture – Volume 4: concerning God’s “word” and the “future.”
Most of the material in the above-mentioned chapter (and this post) came about while I was attending the second year of the Archdiocese of Omaha Catholic Biblical School. During the first year...
This is a review of The Human Brain Book: A Visual Guide to Structure and Function by Rita Carter (2026, fourth American Edition). Carter is a science and medical writer who has twice been awarded the Medical Journalists Association prize for outstanding contribution to medical journalism.
This book review is a bit different for me in that it is a review of a book that might best be categorized as a “coffee-table” book. It weighs 3.2 pounds, which coincidentally is the weight of an average...
This is a book review of Rory Land: The Up-and-Down World of Golf’s Global Icon, by Timothy M. Gay (2025). The book is a biography of golfer Rory McIlroy, with an emphasis on “rounds of golf.”
I reserved this library book months ago, but the waiting list was long, and I didn’t get my first look at the book until the start of the 2026 Masters. In fact, I was only about eighty pages into Gay’s book when this year’s Masters play began on April 9th.
Note: Gay’s 428-page book does not contain an...
This is a book review of Make him a Sandwich: Why Real Women Don’t Need Fake Feminism, by Candace Owens (2025).
I first saw Candace Owens on Fox News, doing segments for Tucker Carlson. One of those segments indirectly led to the title of this book. On March 15, 2021, she was asked by Tucker to comment on a Grammy performance by a rapper named Cardi B. In her comments, Candace stated that Cardi B’s performance was “a lesbian sex scene being simulated on television.” She added, “This is not...
Omaha’s new Central Public Library opens to the public later today. It is conveniently located in the “Crossroads” area of Omaha, at the intersections of 72nd and Dodge Streets. The ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. The new building at 96,000 to 102,000 square-feet (sources vary) was built at a cost of around $158 million, $20 million from the city, and the rest from the private sector, including Heritage Omaha (the “city fathers,” including some early and fortunate “Warren...
In my book, The Polesworth Circle: The Education of William Shakespeare, I theorized that Raphael Holinshed, the great chronicler of England (and steward of the Burdett estate at Bramcote), taught William Shakespeare and Michael Drayton the art of storytelling.
To substantiate my theory, I asked Microsoft’s AI-assistant (Copilot) three questions. The first two were related to Holinshed’s relationship with the Burdett’s of Bramcote. Question #3 is the big one.
Question #3: If Holinshed lived at...
In my book, The Polesworth Circle: The Education of William Shakespeare, I theorized that Raphael Holinshed, the great chronicler of England (and steward of the Burdett estate at Bramcote), taught William Shakespeare and Michael Drayton the art of storytelling. To substantiate my theory, I asked Copilot (Microsoft’s AI assistant) three questions.
When responding to my first question, Copilot didn’t seem to know that Sir Robert Burdett (1510-49) had willed Holinshed some money when he died in...
In my book, The Polesworth Circle: The Education of William Shakespeare, I theorized that Raphael Holinshed, the great chronicler of England (and steward of the Burdett estate at Bramcote), taught William Shakespeare and Michael Drayton the art of storytelling. To substantiate my theory, I asked Copilot (Microsoft’s AI-assistant) three questions. The first, noted below, concerns where Holinshed lived during his life (London or Bramcote).
Question #1: I believe that Raphael Holinshed was...
This post is a review of I Went to Prison So You Won’t Have To: A Love and Lawfare Story in Trump Land by Peter Navarro and Bonnie Brenner (2025). The Foreword to the book was written by Stephen K. Bannon (another Trump senior advisor imprisoned because he invoked executive privilege when subpoenaed by the J6 committee).
During the first Trump administration, Navarro was the director of the White House National Trade Council before becoming the director of the Office of Trade and Manufacturing...
My wife and I traveled to St. Louis last weekend to watch our granddaughter’s “club” volleyball team (from Tampa, Florida) play in the “2026 Nike Mideast Qualifier” (16 Liberty Division).
As our daughter and her family made it up to St. Louis (via plane, truck, and towed RV), we drove down from Omaha (444 miles) on Thursday. We then watched volleyball on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, before returning to Omaha on Monday. All and all, it was a fun trip – a nice visit with our daughter and her...
This is a book review of “A Revolution of Common Sense: How Donald Trump Stormed Washington and Fought for Western Civilization, by Scott Jennings (2025).
Who is Scott Jennings?
Scott is now a member of the media, a “senior political commentator” (or “pundit”) for CNN. He was hired by CNN in 2017 to “serve as an emblem of the average Republican voter that largely supported” Trump. This role contrasted with another CNN hire at about that time, JD Vance, who was to be the “Never Trump”...
This post is “kind of a review” of an article in the Fall 2014 issue of Shakespeare Quarterly by Meghen C. Andrews, entitled “Michael Drayton, Shakespeare’s Shadow.”
[See: Andrews, Meghan C. “Michael Drayton, Shakespeare’s Shadow.” Shakespeare Quarterly, vol. 65, no. 3, 2014, pp. 273–306. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/24778583.]
I used the “kind of a review” phrase above because I had an alternative motive – to see if Andrews’ article provided any support for my theory that Raphael...
My blog is seven months old today. The photograph accompanying this post is what I initially posted on July 28, 2025. The full text of that initial post is repeated below:
As noted in my author bio, I am interested in genealogy (mainly my families), architecture, history, and religion. So, I may use this blog to comment on those topics. I will also use the blog to comment on my books (e.g., errors noted, new information, alternative wording, comments on reviews). Time will tell; if you have...
When I got to the end of my then nine-part series, I realized that I needed two more parts, to finish off my funeral planning. The first part was way up front in “Part 3” where I tried to explain some of the decisions that I made as regards my funeral service. The other part – this one – was required to finish things off. I couldn’t just end at lunch.
What’s the Meaning of Life?
I suspect that most people, from time to time, question the meaning of life. Dionne Warwick asked the question in the...
My favorite time at most funerals is the luncheon. The inherent tension and accumulated grief have started to subside – it is a time to kick back a bit and start smiling again.
The St. Wenceslaus Guild provides a great buffet lunch, featuring fried chicken and baked ham during most of the year, and herb baked tilapia and vegetable lasagna during Lent. Both lunches include several salads, fruit trays, roll baskets, and desserts: along with coffee and lemonade to wash it all down.
My kudos to the...
The Homily Continues – The Second Reading
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Use this introduction only if the funeral is NOT during the Easter season.
In the first volume of his “A Catholic Prays Scripture” series, Robert wrote a chapter entitled “A Prayer for Revelation.” In that chapter he wrote about apocalyptic literature in general, and some of the many scholarly interpretations of “The Revelation to John.”
In his book, Robert suggested that John, the author of “The Revelation to John,” had bobbed and weaved...
The Homily Continues
From the 47 biblical passages listed in the funeral guide, Robert selected the three passages that were read earlier, because they spoke of Catholic thoughts, doctrines, and dogmas that he considered important.
The First Reading(s)
Use below only if the funeral is during the Easter season.
The first reading was a very short reading from “The Revelation to John,” which is often referred to as just “Revelation.” The passage, just one verse of 37 words, was so short that I will...
In the funeral guide, I noted the following: “The Presider may or may not know the deceased very well. It is always welcomed to have input as to what would be important to be shared at the funeral.” I also noted that there was an inch or so of space on the “Funeral Worksheet” for “Homily Ideas,” with an instruction to “attach another sheet if needed.”
I decided to take advantage of this opportunity and have written out a complete funeral homily (starting below). I realize that this is just my...
A “Responsorial Psalm” is read or sung between the first (usually Old Testament) and second (always New Testament) readings. The funeral guide provided ten options. I almost went with the first option, Psalm 23 (The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want) but after some more reflection, I selected the third option (P-3) from Psalm 27, as I believe it describes God’s loving care for his people.
The seven verses from Psalm 27 (1, 4, 7-9, 13-14) that make up this responsorial psalm...