A fisherman sets out for the day. He pushes off the shore in his fourteen-foot aluminum boat. He has his tackle box, and the gas tank is full. He’s not going too far this morning as he still has some yard work to do before the party this weekend. He’s glad he took his wife’s […]
How to Handle Stress Read More »
When I was a kid, random noises were nigh debilitating to me when focusing on a single task. This “handicap” affected all aspects of my life, including my work and behavior at school, my athletic endeavors (try making a free throw when you can’t focus on the hoop), and even my relationships. I’m convinced, as
Cows were a prevalent part of the scenery when I was growing up. There was a bull inside of an electric fence down the street whom my junior high school friends and I used to dare each other to sneak up on, smack on the behind, and then sprint back before getting run down by
I was a nerd in college. My best friend at the time was arguably an even bigger nerd than I was. We studied hard and both graduated a grueling engineering course of study with highest distinction (summa cum laude). Looking back at those days you might think that it was all ups and no downs.
Sometimes You Just Have to Laugh Read More »
Arguably, one of the greatest inventions is the automobile. Very few people call it an “automobile” anymore; rather, it’s typically called a “car” or “vehicle”. The word “automobile” is derived from two root words, “autos” (Greek meaning “self”) and “mobile” (French meaning “moving”). Combine these two meanings together and you get “self-moving”. From a driver’s perspective, an automobile is
Freedom vs. Autonomy Read More »
Have you ever played the party game, “Would You Rather”? It’s a conversational game that multiple people play which usually ends in a lot of contorted faces, chin scratching, and laughs (hopefully). The game is played by posing a dilemma in the form of a question beginning with “would you rather”. Typically, the dilemma is
I taught the following important principle from my pulpit this week, “The greatest thing I can ever encourage you to do is to obey God.” I have come to believe this after years of studying Holy Scripture. Some might argue that this seems too simple; however, if you understand how God sanctifies His children, it
It’s Easier to Encourage a Mature Believer Read More »
Jesus said: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” -John 15:1-2 As is always the case when reading scripture, we must define the terms.
Every Branch That Bears Fruit He Prunes Read More »
Two unbelievers say, “We want to get married right away!” You ask, “Why?” With a quizzical look, they say, “Because, we’re so in love, of course!” You press on, “What do you mean by ‘in love’?” “Huh?” At this point, they both become visibly agitated. “Exactly my point,” you say… For the record, I’m not
What Does It Mean to Be In Love? Read More »
I remember being on social media during one of America’s most hotly contested presidential elections and saying to myself, “Man, I can’t believe how awful people are to one another just because they have differences of opinions regarding candidates.” I saw and heard about good friends being so emotionally spun up that they parted ways.
Rejecting Identity Politics In Religion Read More »