Three introverted pastors wrote a blog entitled Six Essential Practices of the Introverted Pastor. Serving others in the name of Christ presents a special challenge for the introvert—having a personality that prefers silence, solitude, individual contemplation. And the blog provides some helpful handles to help accomplish the task. But it is the last practice they …
In a recent Christianity Today article, Carolyn Arends proposes that “understanding follows obedience.” As an example, she applies the principle to her own experience in the community of faith. While her experiences are not always positive, her involvement in church life in obedience to God helps her to understand the true nature of the Christian …
In a recent edition of the State Department’s State Magazine, one column addressed the matter of the use of certain words and phrases that have become common, everyday idioms. The writer’s concern was that these idioms have the potential to be offensive in that their origins (what he calls their “back story”) are racially and …
About a month ago, Apple released its latest operating system upgrade, OSX 10.8 Mountain Lion. Microsoft has announced the upcoming release of its own operating system upgrade, Windows 8. As I write, I have on my table a letter from our cable TV service provider informing us of the need to “upgrade” to digital equipment …
Comedian Henny Youngman once quipped: “When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading.” I confess. I chuckled out loud the first time I read it. Yet such a witty remark, though said in jest, expresses a profound insight into a very common human tendency when confronted about some questionable behavior. Instead …
Gabby Douglas won two gold medals in gymnastics—one as part of the “fab five” and the other as an individual in the all-around competition. And winners always get the attention of the media. She was interviewed right after her second gold medal. And Douglas was quick to acknowledge the win as a blessing from God. …
Would-be disciples of Jesus must heed his demand: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. What good will it be for someone to gain the …
“Do to others what you would have them do to you” (Matthew 7.12 NIV). So goes the “Golden Rule.” While most of us recognize this as a biblical saying, the same principle has been expressed in various contexts and traditions—for example, by Hillel, a Jewish rabbi who lived about the same time as Jesus. And …
How about going on a vacation with a $7500 bonus given by the company you work for? That’s what one software company in Denver is offering its employees. The amount is based on an estimate of what a vacation would cost a family of four. But there’s a catch: those who take this offer must …
In the first 155 days of 2012, there are 154 reported cases of suicide among military personnel. That’s 11% more cases than was reported in over the same period in 2011. And according to one report, “That’s 50% more troops than were killed in action in Afghanistan, and the highest suicide toll in the U.S. …
