Ecclesiastes, the book of Qohelet, is the book of crisis.Not the book of a crisis. A crisis is an event, a happening. A crisis strikes us from a blind side, laying us low in the dust. It happens, it is over, and it leaves us reeling in our attempt to recover. Job had a crisis; … Continue reading The book of crisis: Ecclesiastes
Author: Russell Smith
The Practice of the Christian Life
Originally published in the April 2013 edition of the Covenant CourierMany of us have been enjoying the thrill of the NCAA basketball tournament, the Big Dance, as it is popularly called. In the midst of the excitement over upset victories and the glories of astonishing feats of athletic prowess, one simple truth arises: the teams … Continue reading The Practice of the Christian Life
Why I Write (Introduction to My E-Book)
Last week, I released Reviews, Rants, and Reflections, an e-book collection of Blog posts from 2005. I think of it as a "greatest hits" from the blog that year. I put together this introduction as an apologia for the e-book:A collection of blog posts from 2005. How could this be anything but an exercise in narcissism? … Continue reading Why I Write (Introduction to My E-Book)
Dealing with Anxiety and Worry
“Cast all your anxiety upon [God], because He cares for you.” (I Peter 5:7)Words that are worth learning, easy to repeat, but difficult to apply. I’ll confess, I have my own seasons of anxiety, doubt, and fear. I have seasons in which my mind circles about in rumination. I’ll wager that you’ve had those times … Continue reading Dealing with Anxiety and Worry
35k by Easter for the Glory of Christ!
Join us in a big, God-honoring project that will bless the poor in the name of Jesus Christ. I call it the 35k by Easter Project.The simple goal is this: to have 35,000 Christians to do three simple things:1) Register as a lender on Kiva.2) Join the “Kiva Christians” lending team.3) Make a loan.Register as … Continue reading 35k by Easter for the Glory of Christ!
Is it “Yes” or “No”?
“As a rule, nos do not move you forward.”Thus says Robert Smith in his new book 20,000 Days and Counting. “It’s not always easy to say yes. Yes means taking chances, putting yourself out there, embracing the unknown. But when you open yourself up to yes, amazing opportunities, exciting possibilities, and good results come your way. … Continue reading Is it “Yes” or “No”?
The Collector Mentality: Curating Your Treasures
I am a collector. Always have been. Sea Shells, rocks, stamps, coins, baseball cards comic books – I’ve collected them all.Collecting is more than a hobby, however; it is a mindset.Tom Stanley taught me this truth in his little book Millionaire Mind (published 2000). Stanley talks about how true wealth generators have a defined sense … Continue reading The Collector Mentality: Curating Your Treasures
Reconsidering Gentleness
Ours is an era of bravado, coarseness, and bluster. Gentleness, when exhibited by any over a very young age, generally elicits contempt, or at best, pity.It’s time to reconsider gentleness.After all, isn’t gentleness a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:23)? Are we not commanded to let our gentleness be evident to all (Philippians 4:5)? When … Continue reading Reconsidering Gentleness
Crowd-sourcing Health and Fitness Inspiration
I am blessed to have smart, active, interesting, and inspiring friends and family. Last month, as I pondered what my 2013 was going to look like, I thought I would seek their advice on a topic that has always bedeviled me: personal health habits. I have yo-yoed in my weight and I have only erratically … Continue reading Crowd-sourcing Health and Fitness Inspiration
Reading Recommendation for Spiritual Wellbeing: The God of the Mundane
I liked Matt Redmond's slim little volume, "The God of the Mundane." After a second read, I liked it a lot. Redmond, a former pastor who now works in banking, offers a healthful counterpoint to the breathless vision-casting Christian-living hype that is served up by the shining-teeth rock stars of contemporary evangelicalism. He writes for … Continue reading Reading Recommendation for Spiritual Wellbeing: The God of the Mundane
Horizons of the Possible 