Essay

Prior to 1965, there were no limits on immigration from Western countries. There were plenty of quotas placed on other groups, primarily for racist reasons, but not for neighbors to the South or North. In 1965 that changed. The 1986…

My last post—about books that fundamentally shaped us—brought out a nice range of responses, showing the different mentalities and life-stories operating out there among The Twelve’s readership. Thanks for chiming in! One of you observed how hard it is to…

I've seen this meme pop up on Facebook a few times in the last bit and it's gotten some good traction: "It's not about how tired you are. It's about how tired you're making everyone else." - My husband explaining…

If you had to pick the worst era to be a parent, what would it be? Keep in mind you have all of human history to choose from. My guess is that many of us would avoid eras of extreme…

English has always been a hungry language: it readily devours words from other languages and from inventive word-crafters, assimilating new words into its own rich, varied vocabulary. English never seems to lose its appetite for new morsels, borrowed or fresh.…

"Why are they called Canada geese?" our third-grade grandson asked us last week. It seems no one really knows; after all, they show up in every state of the union and don't necessarily make pilgrimages up north to watch hockey.…

I am fully aware that very soon the Bible and the Gospels will not be allowed to cross the border. All that will reach us will be the covers, since all the pages are subversive – against sin, it is…

I was thinking about what I should write for this week's blog when I came across a Lenten meditation by my friend and colleague, Chad Engbers. It was so beautiful and so moving that I felt it had to be…