Lately I’ve been thinking about invisible robbers who steal your contentment. The latest one tries to convince you to put too much stock in (a) comparing yourself to others (in person or online), and (b) the judgments and criticisms of others. Is it just me, or did hundreds of you just nod your heads in … Continue reading Constant comparisons and negative criticisms
society
Behind the times?
I get the opportunity to interact with people who aren’t totally sure about Jesus yet. Sometimes these interactions are online, and sometimes they’re in person. One of the stumbling blocks people identify is that the Bible seems to advocate teachings that are “behind the times” or “morally regressive.” And that makes them uncomfortable. I appreciate … Continue reading Behind the times?
Trust in the jungle of unpredictability
Life can be chaotic. And volatile. And hard. That’s why friendship is so important. Christian ethicist Lewis Smedes wrote an article about the power of making a promise. He says that when you make a promise to someone, “You have created a small sanctuary of trust within the jungle of unpredictability.” I think that’s great … Continue reading Trust in the jungle of unpredictability
Drinking Culture’s Kool-Aid?
James 4:4 (CSB) says: “Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God?” Let’s think about that much-neglected passage for a moment. First, “friendship with the world” means just thoughtlessly approving and going along with the values of the society around us. Second, James teaches that when we do that, we are … Continue reading Drinking Culture’s Kool-Aid?
In a world of pride and vulgarity
The Holy Spirit is one of the three persons of the Trinity. And when you become a follower of Christ, the Holy Spirit dwells within you. But we can easily lose sight of the word “HOLY.” With each passing year in our society, the idea of something being “holy” seems more and more strange. But that’s … Continue reading In a world of pride and vulgarity
Nomophobia and a technosabbath
According to Psychology Today there’s something called “nomophobia.” It’s “the fear of being without a mobile device, or beyond mobile phone contact.” I read about one study that said more people are even taking their smart phones with them into the shower. Maybe that’s you. Maybe it’s not. Either way, more and more of us are … Continue reading Nomophobia and a technosabbath
Our material world
A man misunderstand the game Monopoly. He didn't realize that everything he accumulated went back in the box at the end of the game. How many of us live real life in the same way?
The more instantly gratified you are…
We live in a time of instant gratification. But what if giving in to our immediate wants actually made us LESS satisfied?
Who’s brainwashing who?
Mark Clark was getting a lot of criticism from people. They said that because he consistently read his kids the Bible and explained who Jesus was (and is), and because he explained God’s hope for the world, that he was “brainwashing” them. But he wasn't the guilty one...
I’d rather be on the right side of eternity than history
“You can’t stop progress.” Has anyone ever said that to you? It’s the idea that society changes and moves “forward” in certain ways—in ways many people agree with. Therefore, they attach a positive value to that “forward” movement (called “progress”). Saying ‘you can’t stop it’ is a way of saying ‘don’t even bother trying.’ As … Continue reading I’d rather be on the right side of eternity than history
