A mentor once suggested to me an interesting way to find your calling. He said, "Identify the weed that keeps growing back in your life." Or, in other words, find those passions, desires, giftings, etc. that just won't go away no matter how many times they've been plucked, sprayed, mowed, and trampled. Obviously, this test is not definitive, but still, I think it is a helpful diagnostic. Try it out. What is that thing (or things) in your life that keeps popping back up like a weed? No … [Read more...] about How to Find Your Calling
Archives for January 2012
Does Senseless Evil Disprove A Good God?
The pain and suffering we experience in this world is at times overwhelming. It has caused many people to question the existence of God. Tim Keller (2008) summarizes one such argument made by philosopher J. L. Mackie in this way: “If a good and powerful God exists, he would not allow pointless evil, but because there is much unjustifiable, pointless evil in the world, the traditional good and powerful God could not exist. Some other god or no god may exist, but not the traditional God.” … [Read more...] about Does Senseless Evil Disprove A Good God?
A Great Reminder from a Great Writer
As I have worked diligently for approval from various circles of people, I have often caught myself with this quote from Nathaniel Hawthorne: "It is a good lesson - though it may often be a hard one - for a man who has dreamed of literary fame, and of making for himself a rank among the world's dignitaries by such means, to step aside out of the narrow circle in which his claims are recognized and to find how utterly devoid of significance, beyond that circle, is all that he achieves, and all … [Read more...] about A Great Reminder from a Great Writer
Made to Move
In a world of sitting and watching, this video reminds me that we were really made to move. If you have a few minutes, take a look. You'll be glad you did. Then, if you have a few more minutes, let's talk. What interests me about this video is the effect exercise has on one's spirit. According to Dr. Mike Evans, physical exercise can, in some cases, alleviate depression and anxiety. This data corroborates what the Bible already teaches, namely, that the body and soul are linked. In … [Read more...] about Made to Move
Argument Weary
Ted Kluck (2008) offers a very honest and surprising reflection at the close of a book filled with research, analysis, and argumentation: "It occurs to me, coming to the end of this text, that we’ve no doubt left out a great deal. There were books that went unread, blogs that we couldn’t get to, and conferences we didn’t attend. Those who aren’t inclined to the emergent/emerging thing will probably support most of what we’ve written, and those who call themselves emergent will find a million … [Read more...] about Argument Weary
Preach the Gospel to Yourself
Pastor and writer Tullian Tchividjian reminds us we must preach the gospel to ourselves as an ongoing part of our Christian life. Tchividijian (2012) summarizes the gospel this way: "If God has saved you--if he's given you the faith to believe, and you're now a Christian, if you've transferred trust from your own accomplishments and abilities to Christ's accomplishment on behalf of sinners--then here's the good news. In the phraseology of Colossians 1, it's simply this: you've already been … [Read more...] about Preach the Gospel to Yourself