I recently read that, while Kanye is now preaching Jesus, Kim is proclaiming that microwaving your M&Ms for 30 seconds “will change your life.” I realize that they’re both talking about fundamental change on the inside. But… The phrase “will change your life” brought to mind the many times I’ve heard preachers say if you become a follower of Jesus “it will change everything.” Some thoughts. First, “follower” doesn’t seem like the right word to use. Yes, “follow” can mean…..
The word “scope” has many meanings. THE scope of something is its range. A scope lets you see. TO scope is to examine. But put it with “gyro-” and you have something that keeps stable even when life is spinning around. Where can you find a gyroscope for your life? You don’t have to look far. It’s the most read book in history. While the words never change, they can speak to you differently at different times; in different situations. …..
I had a “moment” this morning. I had just sat down to start some quiet time, and looked out the window. The dogwood tree and mock orange bush weren’t moving. The trees across the street were still. Not even the trees I could see over the rooftops. Nothing was moving. Except… A block away. Over the rooftops. There was one tree. One large oak. Maybe fifty to 60 feet tall. Swaying. The pines next to it were not; they were…..
As we approach Labor Day, I think about how many of us define ourselves by our jobs. And measure our worth by how much we make. And that, by how much we make compared to others. In Matthew 20, Jesus tells a parable of a vineyard owner who hired workers at 6am, 9am, noon, 3pm, and 5pm; and when the workday was over, the owner paid them all the same amount. Those who worked the most grumbled about not getting…..
I don’t usually hear people refer to Psalm 139 when talking about creative thinking. When talking about “creation”? Yes. But when talking about “creative thinking”? No. Creation is the topic in verses 13-16. The creation of a person. The miracle of birth. The “I am fearfully and wonderfully made” thing. God knit your body together. He knew you before you were born. He knew all your days before you took your first breath. All good stuff. All true. But what’s…..
I don’t have a personal trainer. If I did, he would fashion a workout regimen specifically for me. Scripture says to “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Philippians 2:12). But it also says, “by grace you have been saved through faith…not of works” (Ephesians 2:8-9). How can you work out your salvation and not be saved by your work? English is part of the problem. We often think of being saved as being made righteous in God’s sight. In…..
When David was anointed king over Israel, the Philistines came looking for him (1 Chronicles 14). These were the people Goliath had led. David inquired of the Lord if he should go up against them, and God said, Yes. So, David did, and won the battle. Then the Philistines got ready to raid the Israelites again. And David asked the Lord again what he should do. This time God said, Don’t meet them head on; this time go around and…..
I’ve lost count of the articles I’ve read telling managers they need to cater to the demands of Gen “Whatever” if they want to keep their workforce. For example, managers must plan career paths for people who now expect to be promoted because they’ve punched the clock for two years. In a prime case of “be careful what you wish for,” the Wall Street Journal Online recently posted an article by Lauren Webber and Chip Cutter advising new college graduates…..
As we approach Easter, I’m reminded of a song we sang when I was growing up. During the Passover Seder dinner. Dayenu is Hebrew for “It would have been enough.” A song about the Exodus: If God had carried out the plagues against Egypt and not brought us out of Egypt, Dayenu. It would have been enough! If He had brought us out of Egypt and not parted the Red Sea for us, Dayenu. If He…..
“As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend” (Proverbs 27:17). “Faithful are the wounds of a friend, But the kisses of an enemy are deceitful” (Proverbs 27:6). Mud races and the like can be good for relationships – for bonding of existing friendships; for creating new ones. But mud doesn’t sharpen iron. Iron sharpens iron. Resistance builds strength. Many businesses go under because the boss is surrounded by people who won’t tell the him the…..
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