Author Archives: hessd

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About hessd

Here is all you need to know to follow this blog. I am an old man and I love to think about why we say the things we do. I've taught at the elementary, secondary, collegiate, and doctoral levels. I don't think one is easier than another. They are hard in different ways. I have taught political science for a long time and have practiced politics in and around the Oregon Legislature. I don't think one is easier than another. They are hard in different ways. You'll be seeing a lot about my favorite topics here. There will be religious reflections (I'm a Christian) and political reflections (I'm a Democrat) and a good deal of whimsy. I'm a dilettante.

Nicodemus lives in the Matrix

Posted on September 30, 2018 by hessd

  In John 3, in part of Jesus’ extended colloquy with Nicodemus, he says that believing in him—believing that Jesus is who he says he is—makes zōen aiōnion available. What does that mean? Literally, it means “the life of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Studies, Movies | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A Midlands family living in Greater Appalachia

Posted on September 29, 2018 by hessd

I come from a “set apart” sort of family.  I knew that when I was a little boy growing up in what is now a northern suburb of Dayton, Ohio. [1]  I was taught that it was a good thing … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Men who have not yet died

Posted on September 24, 2018 by hessd

I want to write a little about the relationships between men and women at the senior center where I live.  And I will.  I just want to play with a couple of words first. Words The first word is “dominate.”  … Continue reading →

Posted in Getting Old | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Colin Kaepernick’s Triumph

Posted on September 12, 2018 by hessd

On Sunday, I tuned in to my favorite football show, Sunday Night Football [1] and I watched Colin Kaepernick’s triumph.  I was dumbfounded.  Then I was exultant.  They introduced the teams and then the teams lined up and there was … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life, Political Psychology, Society | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

In praise of verbally defined limits and rationales

Posted on August 21, 2018 by hessd

It has become a popular middle class notion [1] that saying No to a child is a bad thing. Like most of the mistakes we make as we ride the pendulum from unreasoning strictness to unthinking permissiveness, there is a … Continue reading →

Posted in Living My Life, Political Psychology, Words | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Apostle Paul as a Sweep

Posted on August 15, 2018 by hessd

Let’s just grant “Chim chiminey, chim chiminey, chim chim cher-ee” and get past it. Dick Van Dyke is without question the most famous chimney sweep in the world, but it isn’t chimney sweeps I want to talk about. [1] IBT … Continue reading →

Posted in A life of faith, Biblical Studies | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

“Jesus was brown”

Posted on August 9, 2018 by hessd

This sign was sprayed onto the bike path going down to the east bank of the Willamette River and I pass it several times each week. Until this last week, there was only the brown sign sprayed on the path, … Continue reading →

Posted in A life of faith, Communication, Society | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

“Did something happen to you?”

Posted on August 5, 2018 by hessd

I intend this as a general celebration of the Netflix series, Shetland, so I will present just a little information about the series generally.  Here’s the blurb from imdb.com. Created from the novels by award winning crime writer Ann Cleeves, … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Political Psychology | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Apostles Cred

Posted on August 4, 2018 by hessd

In just a little while, I am honestly going to think about the Apostles Creed.  But I just want to savor first, the juxtaposition of “cred” as in “street cred” and “creed,” a word that could hardly be more different … Continue reading →

Posted in Biblical Studies, Theology | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Moral outrage and moral rigor

Posted on August 1, 2018 by hessd

Lee Siegel begins his examination of “moral rigor” by choosing an exemplar; it is James Baldwin. Siegel knows that “moral rigor” is going to be a tough sell and he is working for as much specific and acceptable material as … Continue reading →

Posted in Communication, Political Psychology | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment