The Older Benton Quest

I have been watching a lot of dystopian movies and TV lately.  And, to be honest, it has been bothering me that I have been drawn in that direction.  I have been trying to figure what I am getting, psychologically, through this "entertainment." One of the things that have been occurring in my life is I am currently without a job.  I have been trying to navigate the job market and trying to convince employers that although I have been out of the field for over 20 years, that I have relevant skills and that my time in the church can be a benefit to their business.  However, even though I try, I still can't help but feel pummelled by the system; hearing that the job market is wide open and then getting hardly a nibble in over three months is frustrating. Then we have the things going on in the government.  To see people who are prima facie corrupt, bullying, dare I say, "evil," succeeding.  Not only are they succeeding but succeeding without any impedime...

I had seen a meme about paying money to fix Notre Dame while children starved.  The assumption was that no building was worth the cost of a human life.  And although it seems like a good idea, it got me thinking.  Can we look at our society and really believe this? I remember hearing something about a flag being raised on a building while in process, and as long as the flag is up, that means on one was killed in the process of building the building.  If I also remember hearing about five people dying in the process of building the Mackinac Bridge.  If we look at the meme point of view, how do we justify building anything?  How can we have the audacity to say, "I know this building will kill people, but I want it anyway?" Does it make a difference if the building is "Good for society?"  Can we more easily look the other way for a bridge than a casino?  Is it more tolerable for an apartment building as opposed to an office building?  How ab...

One of my biggest frustration with church life now days is the use of "church speak."  By this, I mean words that are used in a church/congregation setting that are not usually used in our daily life. One such term is "fellowship."  When church people get together, they don't get together, the "have fellowship."  Really?  I can't even think of that phrase without saying it in some kind of nouveau riche, condescending, intonation.  When I read, "We are having fellowship," I hear, "We are going to the club."  It always strikes me as some way to be exclusive as opposed to inclusive. When I get together with friends, we "get together" or "hang out" or whatever.  The one thing we don't do is "Have Fellowship!"  I think if I were to say to my cronies, "Let's have fellowship!" I would probably be laughed out of the group! But the one that REALLY drives me crazy at this time of year ...

Hi all!  This is Dr. Benton Quest.  I would be posting to my original blog, but I am unable to figure out how to access my account!  So, I have started a new blog. I guess I am back blogging because I need a place to organize my thoughts.  I am doing it in a blog format because I hope others may either take some solace knowing that they are not along in their struggles; others struggle with the same thing.  Or someone out there may have some insight that I am lacking.  Either way, this is mainly for me and will be self-indulgent. I hope to discuss things that bother me, things that interest me.  Things that make me go, "hummm...." If you just found me, "Welcome!" If you are a reader from the past, "Hello old friend!"