John Ford Clayton lives in Harriman, Tennessee with his wife Kara, and canine companions Lucy, Ginger and Clyde. He has two grown sons, Ben and Eli, and a daughter-in-law, Christina. He earned a BS in Finance from Murray State University and an MBA from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. He is active in his […]

As some of you know I have been working with author Joel Moore on a series of internet radio programs about the Civil War. Eventually these will be curated into a web site dedicated to the subject. That is a project that will take some time. What I have learned in my Journey Into The […]

November 11 is a solemn day of remembrance. We remember those that have fought and died in the military conflicts of the United States and its Allies. The casualties of war are celebrated as heroes and indeed they are. Ordinary men and women answered their country’s call to serve in the armed forces of their […]

Few dates in history are etched into the world’s collective consciousness. Americans remember December 7, 1941 for the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, September 11, 2011, the attack on the World Trades Center in New York City and of course July 4, 1776 the day America declared her independence from Great Britain. IN the 20th […]

Do you fancy yourself to be a good photographer? There is no doubt that you can make a lot of money as a photographer. You can also make a good name for yourself. You’ll find jobs working weddings, sporting events and even birthdays. Just remember that you’re going to need the highest quality equipment possible. […]

  Throughout history Catholics have been subjected to many accusations against their faith. Some of these myths are rooted in ancient history while others are perpetrated because of social ignorance regarding Catholic beliefs. Dr. Gerard Verschuuren Ph.D. attempts to provide clarity in his book, Forty Anti-Catholic Lies. His work is an apologetical approach, determined to […]

The history of the Catholic Church in the United States oftentimes is not taught in parochial schools and colleges on a regular basis. Such an omission in the educational curriculum needs to be remedied. One book by Reverend Charles Connor remedies this situation with his book, Pioneer Priests and Makeshift Altars. Father Connor traces the […]

Growing up we all have had that fantasy to be royalties. But not everyone is born into it. The type of lifestyle that they live is what we call picture perfect. Who wouldn’t want that life where you do not have to worry about getting anything, or the price of anything? Where things are given […]

On Sunday we remember the fallen of the Great War one hundred years to the day after it ended. It involved our nation as never before in conflict. Conscription was indiscriminate. No matter that a man was unsuited to soldiery, no matter that deep down he was uneasy about the rationale for the conflict, no […]

The Second Vatican Council brought the Church into the 20th century and set the blueprint for the Church’s globalization through the council’s proclamations. Unfortunately, Vatican II is a distant reality for many of the world’s Catholics simply because it occurred over 50 years ago, and the Church and the world have developed politically, socially and […]

Catholics in the United States when it comes to voting compose the largest group among all religious denominations. Collectively, Catholics can influence the direction of elections in favor of politicians that embrace political and social platforms that are compatible with Catholic teachings. What this means for the most part is this, Catholics are not the […]

In the 1980’s, the women played a significant role in the professional wrestling industry. There were even WWE women’s tag team titles because at that time, there was a lot of female talent. The belts were made important because of two great teams – the Jumping Bomb Angels and the Glamour Girls. That rivalry grew […]

For most couples, retiring at the same time is what they most prefer. Retiring at the same time allows couples to spend their golden years together. Usually, when couples retire separately, it’s because of health problems, job loss, a wide age gap or win real money online pokies. So, should you retire before your spouse? Let’s […]

It is fall in Paradise as Robert B. Parker’s Colorblind: A Jesse Stone Novel by Reed Farrel Coleman begins. For Police Chief Jesse Stone, it is a time of new beginnings. He is back from alcohol rehab having been gone the last two months. His old house was sold back during the summer and he […]

When we last saw Wyoming Sheriff Walt Longmire his beloved daughter, Cady, had been violently abducted among other carnage unleashed by an international hit man who is also head of one of the worst drug cartels in all of Mexico. Now in Depth of Winter: A Longmire Mystery Sheriff Longmire is on a mission to […]

Mystery Weekly Magazine: May 2018 opens with “Siren’s Song” by Troy Seate. Set in 1950, Detective Sam O’ Donnell is haunted by the memories. Those memories, especially what happened at a certain pier a few years ago are a major reason why he drinks. He will need to be sober for what is going to […]

We all hate the ‘Spring Forward’ ‘Fall Back’ routine. Yes it is only an hour, but it is a pain in the butt. Smart ass devices like computers and smart phones will change the time setting automatically. Everything else that has a damn time display has to be changed by hand. There is a very […]

“Someplace good, she realized as she crawled into bed. A holiday festival was bound to lure people to town. Who didn’t like fairs and festivals, especially holiday ones? She could see it now—the storefronts all lit up with multicolored lights, trees in the restaurants decorated with glittery shells and little lighthouses and mermaids, amusement rides […]

I recently watched Ken Burns brilliant ten part documentary on the Vietnam War. It is now over 40 years since that terrible conflict ended, at least in so far as any American involvement was concerned. So the new documentary had the benefit of hindsight and sources both in Vietnam and the US which have emerged […]

Today marks the beginning of the 40 Hours celebrations at my alma mater, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary outside of Philadelphia. The annual devotion allows the students, faculty and staff at Overbrook the opportunity to prayerfully reflect on their respective vocations as seminarians, teachers and faithful members of the Body of Christ. The 40 Hours devotions […]

Next week on November 6th, Americans will once again go to local polling places to vote. The mid-term elections are critically important because the outcome will indicate how the country will be governed for the next two years in anticipation of the next presidential election. For months we have been bombarded with political rhetoric from […]

OK, let me start with a confession, this might be a slightly biased review. On Brian Hagen’s web site he has a list of his musical favorites and mentions ELP’s fabulous album Tarkus. Tarkus was the very first album I bought, I was 12 or 13, knew nothing of ELP but I could not resist […]

Jamell Crouthers is a poet, author, blogger and podcaster who has taken on a journey of writing in the prime of his life. He has been writing poetry since the age of 13 but never thought he could utilize his talent to tell stories and write books. He is not the traditional author as he […]

““He started to stroke her when his cell phone rang. “Boss, it’s Jones. We’ve got a situation. We got a call about a shooting up near the seniors’ club.” “Injuries?” asked Windflower. “A teenager,” said Jones. “I’m on my way.” “I’ll be over in a sec,” said Windflower. “Bad news?” asked Sheila. “I’ll call you,” […]

Personal spirituality is a topic that is often not discussed between Catholics. Often, the people you see at Mass on Sunday are there to fulfill their obligations and personal spirituality is for the most part foreign to them. Others have spiritual directors that assist them to chart the navigational course of the many methods of […]

Halloween is considered by many as the most popular celebration of the year. However, many people fail to realize that the commemoration attached to Halloween are rooted in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in). Their Celtic ancestors today are the peoples of Ireland, Scotland & Wales. At the end of the first millennium, […]

There are few books published today that pay homage to the artists and their works as they are contained in Catholic Churches throughout the world. Even more uncommon is one that combines reflections on art and beauty and their roles in defending Catholicism in the Counter-Reformation. Well, the work by Elizabeth Lev, How Catholic Art […]

A remarkable book that traces the saintly life of Saint Pope Paul VI has recently been published by EWTN Publishing and distributed through Sophia Press. Matthew Bunson’s work, Saint Pope Paul VI, Celebrating the 262nd Pope of the Roman Catholic Church draws inspiration from quotes attributed to the late pontiff and quotes from those who […]

Last night I had the sad opportunity to watch the program, 60 Minutes, which provided an expose on the Catholic clergy sex abuse scandal in the Diocese of Buffalo, New York. During this program the way the Catholic hierarchy in the United States fails to responsibly deal with the abuses of priests over the decades […]

Recognition of the Pope that guided the Church through the Second Vatican Council and the subsequent liturgical reforms of the Church’s sacraments and liturgy highlighted not only the great importance the Second Vatican Council but the astute sensitivities of the man, Paul VI who brought the council to fruition. During the council the cause for […]