The police radio frequency came alive, quickly filled with excited and angry voices, that Summer night in 1968. A chase was in progress, and the reason soon became apparent. One of our North Austin patrolmen had stopped a ’56 Chevy, and the five occupants had spilled out, with one of them pulling a .45 caliber …
Author Archives: Chris Lopez
Adios, Johnny, Adios
I remember Johnny lifting his shirt to show me the wound marks left by the three nails. The fight had been a brutal one, and to beat Johnny, his opponent had taken a two by four to him. The nails in the board had pierced Johnny’s side, puncturing a lung. John spent six months in …
Ye Ought forgive One Another
I awoke very early one morning pondering over the things I had not been able to forgive. I mentally recounted some of them. There was the teacher who terrified and bullied me when I was a little child. That was most difficult to forgive, for I remembered the tears it brought to my gentle mother. …
The Theme of Redemption
Great literature has the capacity to stir our souls, and to uplift and edify us. The greatest of all the works of literature center on and around the theme of man’s desire to better himself, and to redeem and separate himself from that which is degrading. Such a work of literature is Joseph Conrad’s “Lord …
A Trap and a Snare
More than two decades ago I served as a full-time recruiter for the Army National Guard. I had done damage to my government vehicle. The brass above me wanted me to resign. Definitely not. When that did not work they wanted me to pay for the value of the car, which they would retain. Definitely …
A Vale of Tears
· Men of a spiritual propensity have correctly characterized this life as “a vale of tears.” Whether it comes to us soon or late, each of us will one day face our personal Gethsemane. Shall we then turn our backs on Him who will never turn His back on us? Sadly, some there be that …
The ingratitude of the NFL protests
In light of the heartbreaking picture above, I speak to those who would bend a knee rather than stand to honor our Flag and our Anthem. There are few sins so foul as the sin of ingratitude. That you have the right to protest no one disputes. But you have befouled your protests with your …
Our Father’s Love
Do I love my children and grandchildren? To the point of adoration! If this be so, I move forward in the faith that my love for them is but in small measure a similitude of my Heavenly Father’s love for me. One day I shall have the privilege of again beholding his face, and He …
Violent Men Don’t Scare Easily
Austin Police Chief Robert A. Miles had a tough decision to make, strangely enough about a type of crime which would not normally put him in the spotlight. It was about so simple a matter as putting a stop to a rash of car burglaries. Only this wasn’t so simple as supposed, for it involved …
When We Have Known Heartache
When we have known deep heartache, are we not, (if we will lend ourselves to it,) given the balm to help the healing of others whose hearts are a breaking? With spirit anguished and broken, can we not tenderly receive the grief stricken, that we too may be healed? Herein do we tender and demonstrate …