Forgive Me For Asking

by Tyler Dirks

There’s a human being named Jason Petty (come to think of it – there’s probably a few people with that name).  He’s a rapper/spoken-word poet fella (alias Propaganda).  On his album Excellent there’s a track entitled “Forgive Me For Asking.”  Here’s how it goes: Question: (And this is embarrassing) You ever been scared you had […]

Violent Grace

by Tyler Dirks

I subscribe to a magazine called Critique (A Ransom Fellowship Publication).  I heartily commend it to you.  I find it to be thoughtful, edifying, challenging, and insightful.  Even when I disagree with the editor the clashes are still constructive (iron sharpens iron).  I have been exposed to some of the most robust and enriching authors, […]

Is Everything Political?

by Tyler Dirks

Article written by Denis Haack (Ransom Fellowship)   In Our Only World (2015), Wendell Berry argues that people must be careful to resist the temptation of politicization: the habit of mind that tends to reduce all of life to the political. “We must reject the idea—promoted by politicians, commentators, and various experts,” Berry says, “that […]

#denial #desensitized

by Tyler Dirks

She loved to gossip, and she was good at it.  She was quite masterful when it came to the art of hearsay – the delicate procedures of simultaneously striving to please people while besmirching people were now second-nature to her.  And “the best part” was that she was blissfully unaware of the devastating relational wreckage […]

how to become a false god

by Tyler Dirks

STEP ONE:  Accumulate, Develop, and Exaggerate Resources. STEP TWO:  Identify, Develop, and Exaggerate Strengths. STEP THREE:  Establish & Organize Resources and Strengths in such a way so as to obtain Maximum “Control.” *Important Note #1:  in order to sufficiently achieve the desired “god” status you must simultaneously strive for (a) The “O Attributes” [omniscience, omnipotence, […]