Perspective from the 19^th Hole is the title I chose for my personal blog, which is meant to give me an outlet for one of my favorite crafts – writing – plus to use an image from my favorite sport, golf.  Out of college, my first job was as a reporter for the Daily Astorian in Astoria, Oregon, and I went on from there to practice writing in all my professional positions, including as press secretary in Washington, D.C. for a Democrat Congressman from Oregon (Les AuCoin), as an Oregon state government manager in Salem and Portland, as press secretary for Oregon’s last Republican governor (Vic Atiyeh), and as a private sector lobbyist.  This blog also allows me to link another favorite pastime – politics and the art of developing public policy – to what I write.  I could have called this blog “Middle Ground,” for that is what I long for in both politics and golf.  The middle ground is often where the best public policy decisions lie.  And it is where you want to be on a golf course.

I have labeled Mark, who wrote the book of Mark in the Bible, as a journalist because that’s what he did.

He interviewed the Apostle Peter and others, then wrote down what he heard.

So, he was a “journalist.”  One of the early ones.

And, this label appeals to me because, when I started professional life, I was a journalist, too.  Surely, not as good a one as Mark, but I still loved writing back then, as well as now in retirement.

So, I give Mark his due.

His book in the Bible was written from this perspective:

“Mark’s Gospel was aimed largely at a Gentile (non-Jewish) audience in Rome.  Its purpose is to portray Jesus as the powerful but suffering Son of God, emphasizing His actions and servant-like ministry.”

Without having been on-site for much of Jesus’ life on earth, Mark still develops a sound chronicle of His life and ministry before his death.

Worth reading!