Free Life Blog

Tavern Reform

Opinion by Chris Bunton

This recent event where a young college student, Riley Strain; left a Nashville bar and was found dead, has really hit me.

I’m not a soft hearted guy. But, I tend to notice when things are wrong. And I see some things wrong with this situation.

First, I have had my experiences with bars for years. I have also been kicked out of a lot of bars. I actually became quite the expert for a while after my divorce.

But, I’ve grown up and gotten wiser.

That being said, I think that taverns need to grow up and get wiser as well.

How many people have to get hurt or killed because of a place that is supposed to be fun?

I mean seriously, how many people leave bars and kill themselves or others in drunk driving accidents? How many people get beat to death by bouncers? How many women get drugged and raped or go missing from bars? How many ruined lives and regrets come from these fun filled places? How many people get kicked out of bars and end up dead?

I’m not calling for prohibition, but can we get a little more safety? Our kids go to college and get ruined because of bars and booze? Is that ok?

So, let’s look at this case from a few newspaper articles.

First, Riley was out with “Friends”.

Friends who let him wander the streets and die? We should all be so lucky to have friends like these.

Of course, we do not know the details. We do not know what was said inside the bar. But, maybe there should be more investigation to find out what happened.

Was Riley drunk when he got to the bar with his “Friends”?

Why was he asked to leave if he was only served one alcoholic drink and two waters?

According to CNN and the boys step-father, a bartender said he had been over served and was trying to pay his tab.

But, a statement by the owner, Luke Bryan came out later saying :

“During Riley’s visit to Luke’s 32 Bridge, our records shows that he purchased and was served one alcoholic drink and two waters,” Bryan said in the statement. “At 9:35 p.m., our security team was made a decision based on our conduct standards to escort him from the venue through our Broadway exit at the front of our building. He was followed down the stairs with one member of his party. The individual with Riley did not exit and returned upstairs.”

He only purchased one alcoholic drink at this bar. Were people buying him drinks? What did he do to get kicked out?

We see video footage of him walking through Nashville, and he is obviously drunk. How can the kid’s debit card be found in one place, and his cell phone in another, then his body 8 miles away?

I understand the river swept him away, but did he throw away his debit card, then his cell phone as he walked along, and then fell into the river?

The police say there was no foul play. Which is probably true. Everything that happened to him is perfectly legal, and maybe that’s the problem.

How can you be out with “Friends”. Get drunk. Get kicked out of a bar. Then wander the streets and fall in a river and die?

That’s what happened.

Everybody feels bad. Thoughts and prayers.

But, why don’t we do something to make these activities safer?

I’ve been to Nashville and seen the hordes of people going in and out of bars. I’m not saying its easy to keep track of everything, but by golly if you are kicking someone out, then you are capable of paying attention.

Maybe when it’s seen that a person needs kicked out, the security or bartender or both gathers more info. Maybe they should be required to give exact details, names, times etc. Perhaps something that can help track down a person or give details of wrong doing.

Maybe there needs to be more videos in bars and around bars. These are locations where a lot of bad things occur.

Maybe Taverns and “Friends” need to held more liable when tragedy strikes.

I’m just saying that things don’t add up in this case.

And maybe we need to put regulations and laws in place that can help things add up in the future. That way we can more easily find a missing person, or arrest a criminal element, or save someone who needs it.

At the very least the parents and grandparents can get the information that will help things to add up in their own mind.

The truth will set you free. Knowing what really happened is far better than placing blame where it doesn’t belong.

Why hide things? If taverns are above board all the time, then why be concerned about information getting out? I can tell you that if I was a bar owner and someone died after being in my establishment, I would go out of my way to make sure people were safe in the future.

Its all fun and games after all. Till someone dies.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/22/us/riley-strain-found-nashville-missing/index.htm

https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/2024/03/22/riley-strain-body-found-cumberland-river-nashville-timeline/73066713007/

Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ His newest book is called “The Future is Coming” and is a collection of dystopian short stories.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Read His Spiritual Writings on Blogger: https://chrisbunton.blogspot.com/

Buy a cup of Coffee

Support the work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public

Cut Costs

We Need Major Reform in Our World

A family member of mine lives in an assisted living facility.

She had a brain aneurysm and several later strokes that has left her partially paralyzed and very hard to communicate with.

She lived her life working a good job and has great insurance and pension. The facility she lives in costs a mint each month, but she can apparently afford it. For now.

I went to visit her recently and became irritated by the high cost; while the services were lacking. Things that should be getting done was not getting done, especially considering how much she paid to be there.

This re-awakened something I had considered in the past.

As I sat there in my car after visiting. I looked across the street at this awesome building. It was an architectural wonder with phenomenal landscaping.

I thought about how much money it cost to build and maintain this beautiful structure. Then, I noticed it was a medical building.

I wonder who really pays for it? Patients? Or tax payer grants?….

Continue reading on Medium
https://chris-bunton.medium.com/cut-costs-2b7d3f6efae8

Photo by the author

Beyond The Veil

Tail-Rhyme Poem by Chris Bunton

Beyond the veil, in other worlds nearby;

sensed or seen dimly in the third eye.

Mystical beings, where secrets sought;

in distant past, by myths shrouded.

Hidden universes crowded,

beyond belief. Fantasy or not?

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Read His Spiritual Writings on Blogger: https://chrisbunton.blogspot.com/

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Photos by the author

We Don’t Trust Them

Rebel Poetry By Chris Bunton

We don’t trust them.
Those giants who rule the Earth;
those fallen ones who stole our dominion.

We don’t trust them.
Those royal descendants of “gods”;
those of the divine blood line.

Why should we trust them?
They live in castles even today,
while we still cower in caves.

Why should we trust them?
From days of old,
we die in their wars,
we beg to consume what they own.

Why should we trust them?
For just a Dollar more,
we slave away in debt,
just to pay another hidden fee.

We can never trust them.
When all the rebels for freedom die;
while the masters control our mind.

If we surrender we lose.
If we fight we lose.
So, disobey till we die.

Why can’t we just be left alone?
To be free? To be happy? To escape?

More laws, more rules, more lies;
another thing, for the little spies to tell on.
Rebels are always betrayed.

The Declarations, and Constitutions,
and Magna Cartas, become so much paper,
under the debt of life and death and lies to survive.

Those pretty words mean nothing
in the hands of traitors eating
cake, while others beg for bread.

The Guillotine chop chop chop,
not long enough and even its
sharp blade became dull under
the betrayers tongue.

The mobs in the streets and union
halls, fall prey to corruption
and rotting souls for wealth,
again and again.

When will it end?
will we always gain the wind?
Will hope always be loss?

These last days,
in a world ruled by them.
That Ragnarok, that Armageddon
can’t come fast enough, to set us free.

Free to sleep in?
Free to never get fat?
Free to be whoever we want?
Free to be with whoever we want?
Free to say no, when we want?
Free to grow without pain.

In a place we all call home.

From Chris Bunton’s book of Rebel Poetry “Against the Man”

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On The River Front

Travel Writing by Chris Bunton

We recently traveled to Savannah, Georgia, Brunswick, Georgia and Jekyll Island.

While there I did some research for the crime magazine, The Yard: Crime Blog; where I post True Crime Articles.

My wife Stacy and I, with our schnauzer Gus, did some research on the area before we traveled to find out how pet friendly certain areas are.

What we found was that many places in Savannah were extremely pet friendly.

We stayed at the Hotel Indigo down on the river front which gave us a pet friendly room with a pet friendly rate fee of $75. It’s a historic hotel, on the higher end of cost and class, but we have liked staying there. It’s our second stay at a Hotel Indigo. The first was in Alexandria, Virginia.

After getting checked in, there was not much left to do that evening except go down to the riverfront for dinner with Gus.

Even though Savannah is pet friendly, we discovered that Gus is not. He seems to enjoy freaking out on other dogs. This trip will give us a chance to work on that. We travel a lot and plan to take him. There are things he must learn. He’s still a pup at 11 months.

We ate out on the sidewalk at a restaurant called Olympia. It was a Greek themed restaurant.

When the waitress took our drink order she asked if she could bring out some water for Gus. Which he was happy for.

The food at the Olympia was excellent. We followed it up with some ice cream, which Gus loved.

We continued our stroll along the river walk trying avoid other dogs, while Gus freaked out. He met a few, but he just gets so excited and charges them barking. We needed to keep him calm.

I discovered that pet friendly hotels mean that you’ll be on the first floor so you can take your pet out to potty. Which I did. At midnight, 2am and 4am.

Basically, every time I woke up I’d look and see Gus staring at me. Then he would glance at the door. I think that’s dog talk for “take me out, man”. So I did.

This gave me a chance to take some night pics of down town Savannah around the Hotel.

I got my finger in a few of the pics.

After taking Gus to potty in the park across the street from the Hotel, I realized that they locked the doors. So, there was a moment of panic thinking I was going to have to call the wife to come open a door.

Then, I realized that the back door where the Valet stand is located was probably open. So, we went behind the hotel and got inside.

Savannah is a beautiful city with lots of things to do. We plan to return some day.

Bio: Chris Bunton is a writer, poet and blogger from Southern Illinois. He has published in several magazines, and has written a poetry eBook called “Against the Man” and an Addiction Recovery eBook called “Made Free: Overcoming Addiction“ His newest book is called “The Future is Coming” and is a collection of dystopian short stories.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Read His Spiritual Writings on Blogger: https://chrisbunton.blogspot.com/

Buy a cup of Coffee

Support the work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public

Photos by the author.

A Day At The Beach

Travel Writing by Chris Bunton

We’ve been traveling for the past few days, heading from Southern Illinois down to Jekyll Island, Georgia.

Let me give you some back story. In the 90’s I was driving a semi truck. I had started using the truck as a means of free travel. Because let’s be real. How is a member of the working poor going to be able to afford or find time to travel?

Well my company sent me to Georgia to pick up or drop off a load, near Brunswick. While there I dropped the trailer and bobtailed over to Jekyll Island. Not sure if it was OK to do this. But, being a Rebel, I don’t really care.

I fell in love with the place and swore I would bring my family there.

Well, as life would have it. I lost everything and my family because that’s what happens to rebels who don’t obey the rules.

Decades later and after many life changes, God brought me a new family.

My wife, Stacy and our schnauzer named Gus.

Well, we got married in 2019, just before the shutdowns. We planned to go to Jekyll Island for our honeymoon.

We had it all set. We had an AirBnB booked and ready. We were flying back from D.C. from a work trip, when the lock downs and warnings about COVID started happening. The plane was practically empty.

Our AirBnb hosts on Jekyll Island, were missionaries in Africa. Because of the shutdowns they needed to come back to their home to stay, so the booking got canceled.

We tried to go again a year or so later, but my wife’s job had travel restrictions.

So finally decades after swearing to come back, through many life changes and destruction. After, trying several times to get down here in a new life and a new wife. We’ve made it.

It was a rainy day but God broke the rain up so we could have a wonderful time walking along the different beaches and historical sites the island has to offer. Along with visiting the Georgia Sea Turtle Institute. We love sea turtles and nature.

The adventure continues…

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Read His Spiritual Writings on Blogger: https://chrisbunton.blogspot.com/

Buy a cup of Coffee

Support the work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public

Photos by author.

More From Chris.

Go To The Exchangers

A Word on Being Ready For The Lord’s Return “Then he which had received the one talent came and said, Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strawed: And I was afraid, and went and hid thy talent in the…

by . April 19, 2026

Forgive And You Shall Be Forgiven

Walking in the Spirit is tough. Jesus said, For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: 15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.— Matt. 6:14-15 Jesus tells us this in explanation of the Lord’s Prayer. After this manner therefore pray ye:…

by . April 12, 2026

He Rose For Our Justification

We are justified in Christ There was only one law in the beginning. Just one. “But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”–Gen. 2:17 People want to act like God is some eternal killjoy,…

by . April 5, 2026

Smitten

Sonnet by Chris Bunton

He was smitten with love for her;
by that arrow deep and sure.
A gooey warmth between them;
filling the heart all within.

But, loves shaft, festered, stinking foul;
to gangrenous, aching howl.
Through steamy glass his love moaned;
as he stood outside alone.

Those barbs cannot be reversed;
holding fast in a soul feeling cursed.
Longing for the lost one gone,
to the breast of a different one.

Love hates separating pain;
so forgives again and again.

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Read His Spiritual Writings on Blogger: https://chrisbunton.blogspot.com/

Buy a cup of Coffee

Support the work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public

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The Lesson Of Job

Abide in the Lord We all face trouble in life. It is something we can all agree upon. No matter who you are, something bad will eventually come to cause you trouble. Something will break your heart. Something will break you down. Something will make you crazy, concerned or confused. When we look at the…

by . March 29, 2026

Destroying The Image Of God

Satan’s Insanity If you’ve read the Bible, you know that we have a spiritual enemy. Satan fell sometime after creation. We do not know exactly when, but it was because he desired to be “like the most High”. (Isa. 14: 12-17) He wants to be God. This desire led to his fall and corruption. It…

by . March 22, 2026

There Is No Condemnation

When we are walking with the Lord. “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, ……… Wait for it Wait let it sink in for a few minutes Pay attention to how much it bothers you to just rest in Christ Hold Hold Hold Ok ……who walk not after the…

by . March 15, 2026

What About Tipping

Opinions by Chris Bunton

I pretty much have an opinion on virtually everything, and as a writer, I want you to read about it.

It’s who I am.

So, here’s my opinion on tipping.

I treat it as helping people. It has nothing to do with their work or quality of work, (unless they totally tick me off) it has to do with who I am as a person.

When I travel I will take a Twenty Dollar Bill or more, and break it into 5’s, and then put them in my pocket. That way I can hand out a tip to anyone who gets a tip. Baggage handlers, drivers, etc.

This is also the money I use to give to people who I run into on the street who need help. My wife says they are magically drawn to me. I think God brings them, because He knows I’ll help them.

I say this as a foundation for what I’m going to say.

When I go out to eat or something similar, I shoot for a twenty percent gratuity. I want to go the extra mile. I want to help.

My tipping has nothing to do with anyone else, except for me, God and the person getting the tip.

It ticks me off, that our government lets business owners get away with paying employees less than minimum wage because they might get tips. It’s none of the business owners business what I give an employee, outside the transaction of service.

I think employees should be paid better and treated better. If it makes my meal go up in price, then oh well. I will pay it, until I can’t pay it anymore.

Then, I wont eat there any more. If they can’t stay in business, then oh well. Another business will take their place.

I know that seems harsh. I care about both the employee and the owner. I want them both to succeed. I understand that losing business means no jobs, and all of that.

But, why should I be more concerned about a business owner who can’t make ends meet, than I am an employee who can’t make ends meet?

I think both of them are trying to make it in this world.

If people are treated well, they have no reason to rebel. Most humans just want a happy life, with their needs met, and maybe a few extras on occasion. They don’t want to be ruled over and bullied by government, religion, or the Boss.

Anyway, back to tipping. I try to tip to help people. It sucks to be forced to have 2 or 3 jobs to make ends meet.

Let me be clear. The problem doesn’t lie in our business owners or workers. It lies in those who control everything.

As I said, my tipping has nothing to do with service, unless they tick me off. Which is rare.

I’ll tell you the story.

I went to lunch with my wife at one of these fancy bistro places. It was the first time we had gone to this local place.

When the waiter came, he gave us menus and took our drink order. Then, he came back to take our food order.

I began to place the order for our appetizers. And he stopped me, and said.

“The lady should order first.”

Now understand that when we go eat, I typically order the appetizer, then defer to her to order her meal first, then I order mine. Or she might order the appetizer, then her meal then I’ll do mine. We don’t really care about such things between her and I.

Typically, drinks are ordered by whoever is at the table. Because, one of us is usually in the bathroom when they come.

So, anyway this was complete disrespect on the waiters part. There was no need for it.

He wanted to teach me a lesson in ordering etiquette. So I taught him a lesson in tipping etiquette. He got none.

This was a victory. Because the old me, would have paid him a visit after work. So, I’ve changed a lot over the years.

Go me!

So, that’s my opinion on tipping. Be generous. People need it.

The Battle Of Our Souls

The Spirit battles against the flesh This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye…

by . March 8, 2026

Trusting God

He is faithful God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.—1 Cor. 1:9 How is trust built? With anyone, whether it’s parents or friends or enemies or government or neighbors, trust is built or destroyed by relationship, and experience. It is the same with God.…

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The Great Falling Away

It will happen in these last days “Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day (The Day of The Lord) shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;”— 2 Thess. 2:3 (2 Thess 2:1-15) It seems that this event…

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School Daze

Labor Poem by Chris Bunton

In my school daze
my younger dumber daze,
I learned many things,
but not what I need.

I admit I rejected them
like a bad boy does.
It’s my fault, they say.
It’s my fault, I’m poor.

I kind of know what verbs are
and what X+T might be.
But, what do I do when a cop calls?
How do I live in society?

I learned to socialize
with other pigs at the trough.
Like crabs dragging their friends,
into lives of pointless slop.

I can play Shakespeare quite well,
but I can’t play the stocks.
I can obey all the rules,
which is all they really teach you in schools.

But, how do I get free?
How to rise above my place?
I can flip a burger,
but how do I win the race?

Follow Him on Medium: https://chris-bunton.medium.com/

Read His Spiritual Writings on Blogger: https://chrisbunton.blogspot.com/

Buy a cup of Coffee

Support the work on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13514235&fan_landing=true&view_as=public

Photo by the poet. A giant blue rooster on the roof of the National Gallery of Art

Hurkle-Durkling Is Freedom

Health Freedom Advice by Chris Bunton

It’s morning. The alarm goes off and you hit snooze.

This is referred to as Hurkle-Durkle. A phrase created by the Ancient Scots to describe the period of time spent lounging in bed, after waking, gathering your thoughts before rising for the day.

Although I doubt the Scots of old had alarm clocks forcing them to arise at unnatural rates like modern people do. I’m sure they rose up naturally early to do the chores needed to survive.

But after awaking, there is a blessed period of time where you get comfy and just relax. You might fall back to sleep, and actually feel better rested, than you did after a full night’s sleep.

Or you might let your mind wander and think of the day ahead or the day before. You might think of creative things or solve problems or gain new insight during this brief period of reflection after sleep. You might reflect on your life or spend time in prayer.

I will tell you that on my days off I do not set an alarm. I think that alarm clocks were invented by slave drivers who want you at work, toiling away, to make them rich.

Which is why I say that true Hurkle-Durkling is freedom. It’s a moment or two, that you own. You are choosing to relax and move slow. You are taking a healthy natural path, to awakening, instead of one forced upon you by the Boss. You are finding yourself, in order to prepare for the day.

It has been said that this slower method is healthier for us. We were not created to jump out of bed and join the money making machine. That lifestyle has created stress. And stress kills.

So enjoy the healthy freedom of the Hurkle-Durkle whenever possible. You give enough of your life to others, enjoy a little bit for yourself.

Give And It Shall Be Given Unto You

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He Is Real

He rewards those who seek him. And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. 11 If a son shall…

by . February 1, 2026

Why Do We Study Prophecy?

So, we know the seasons. The Bible is 30% prophecy, as some have stated. But, when you consider that the whole thing is about Jesus Christ, and that all the stories and pictures speak of Him, His First Coming and Second Coming, I think its more like 100%. God has called all believers to be…

by . January 25, 2026

Beyond The Veil

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Not As The World Gives

On The River Front

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Saving Faith

The Mother Of All Living

Joy Comes In The Morning

A Day At The Beach

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Forgive And You Shall Be Forgiven

He Rose For Our Justification

Smitten

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Destroying The Image Of God

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Hurkle-Durkling Is Freedom

Give And It Shall Be Given Unto You

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