I enjoyed Nate Wilson’s book Notes from the Tilt-A-Whirl a great deal. It was a wonderfully inspiring read that made me think entirely different about living in our Father’s world, and it motivated more than anything I had read heretofore to be grateful for the gift of life itself. It now appears that the material… [Read more…]
This new book by Russell D. Moore looks to be both interesting and helpful. My copy is on the way. Looking forward to it. I always enjoy the connections with biblical theology and applications to the Kingdom life here-and-now that Russell Moore is so adept at making. A summary exhortation by Moore: Why You’re Tempted.… [Read more…]
The recent debates triggered by Rob Bell’s Love Wins have echoed across the blogosphere, bounced back, and circled repeatedly. Hell is not popular, nor should it be, but popularity has nothing to do with truth. Death is not popular either but undeniable. Much of the debate dovetails into controversy as well over other fundamental and… [Read more…]
God models perfectly every virtue that the Spirit is trying to bear in us as we are slowly being reformed in Christ’s image. Humility is one of those virtues. Philippians 2:3 says, “do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” I believe that God in Christ perfectly displayed… [Read more…]
…or 5 things relevant to speaking, preaching, teaching, talking, or leading discussions in front of other people. 2 truths about speaking in front of others: (1) most people are very afraid of it; and (2) your career, calling, or ministry will be much more rewarding if you become good at it. Here are five resources… [Read more…]
Working with my father was always a treat. He knows how to work. His capacity for hard work has always amazed me, and when a teenager, sometimes frustrated me. ”Why can’t we just play today? It’s Saturday. Let’s do something. Can’t we pay somebody to build these forms? Do you have to do everything yourself?”… [Read more…]
There are only two days to worry about: this day and That Day. If you don’t know what that Day is then you are probably not ready for it. Today, a family buried their mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, great-grandmother. Three days shy of completing her 83rd year on earth, my wife’s grandmother took her final… [Read more…]
This may surprise some but I enjoy National Public Radio. I’m not a normal NPR crowd kind of person but I really enjoy the format and the reporting. I enjoy the book reviews, film reviews, and interviews. But I’m not on the road that much and so I miss a lot. Thankfully, the invention of… [Read more…]
I’ve always been intrigued by the song Personal Jesus (the 363rd of the 500 greatest songs of all time according to Rolling Stone Magazine), particularly the rough-hewn and raw version by Johnny Cash. Your own personal Jesus Someone to hear your prayers Someone who cares Your own personal Jesus Someone to hear your prayers Someone… [Read more…]
“When you get the blues,” Johnny Cash sang, “come on, get a rhythm.” Whole lot of wisdom in that country song. Advanced common sense or something like that. As a part of my 2011 resolutions, I have attempted a mental shift in my approach to the disciplines I want to establish in my life. I… [Read more…]
It’s kind of late to talk about resolutions but maybe this is just the time that your resolutions need another jump start. And who says resolve is limited to New Year’s Day? Lots of people rag on resolutions but I think they’re a good thing. There is a lot about most people that need to… [Read more…]
I love the difficult and obtuse parts of the Bible. There is so much more than meets the modern eye. I often ask of an odd text, “why would that be placed here? Why would God inspire that? Why would the prophet, evangelist, or apostle record that?” With a little digging all sort of places… [Read more…]
Writing out is a key exercise in learning to think well. Writing puts the thought out there on paper to behold. It expresses it; gives it reality in space and time. Ink meets paper (or pixels illumine liquid-crystal-display) and the thought is now outside your mind and ready to be argued for or with or… [Read more…]
April 22, 2011
0