“Daddy, what do you do all day?” “I help people know Jesus.” “How do you do that?” “Well, sweetheart, you could say that I’m a storyteller. I tell stories about God. In sermons, articles, blog posts, the books that I write, even in the bedtime stories I tell you. Sometimes they’re stories about people who … Continue reading “Daddy, what do you do all day?”
Life Calling
Persistence and God’s Calling (reflection on Genesis 32:22-32)
Jacob was one persistent cuss.He was the second born twin who came out grabbing his brother’s heel. He snookered his brother out of a birthright. Then, for good measure, he swindled his dad, taking all the blessing for himself.Jacob persistently worked for seven years to win the hand of the lovely Rachel, only to discover … Continue reading Persistence and God’s Calling (reflection on Genesis 32:22-32)
God Calls Us To Be A Blessing
All Abram received was a call to “go”Look it up, Genesis 12:1.God didn’t give him much more than that in the way of instruction. Just go. But God made promises to Abram.One of those promises dealt with the whole church: the promise that “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” Both Peter (in Acts … Continue reading God Calls Us To Be A Blessing
YOLO: A Meditation on Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 (part 2)
Contrast the void of hedonism with the headiness of accomplishment. Qohelet gives accomplishment three times the attention as hedonism. “I undertook great projects…” he says, and then catalogs what he has done: building, planting, accumulating, creating culture. Qohelet proficiently executes the cultural mandate of Genesis 1: 28 “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and … Continue reading YOLO: A Meditation on Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 (part 2)
YOLO: A Meditation on Ecclesiastes 2:1-9 (Part 1, v 1-3)
YOLO. It stands for “You Only Live Once.” It was a motto for the millennial and younger generations, though now it has become passé through overuse. If you’re over 40 and have not heard YOLO, think “carpe diem” – seize the day. YOLO had its brief moment in the sun in late 2011 and early … Continue reading YOLO: A Meditation on Ecclesiastes 2:1-9 (Part 1, v 1-3)
God Doesn’t Call You to Prosper … God Calls You to Build
The wealth and prosperity gospel says that God wants you to prosper. But the Bible tells us something different. The Bible tells us to build. God gave an initial charge to humanity: “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of … Continue reading God Doesn’t Call You to Prosper … God Calls You to Build
For Tonight, It’s The Meaning Of Life (A Meditation on Ecclesiastes 1:3-18)
19th century writer Henry David Thoreau moved to the woods around Walden pond so he could experience a life of simplicity. He felt weary of the routine, unexamined life of the shopkeeping townspeople. “The mass of men,” he wrote, “lead lives of quiet desperation.” Thoreau intended to confront life, rather than fill his hours with … Continue reading For Tonight, It’s The Meaning Of Life (A Meditation on Ecclesiastes 1:3-18)
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)
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”?
What You Can Learn From My Quarterlife Crisis
Right out of college, I took a job with a small tech start-up. We were young, eager, and expecting to make millions. We wrecked our health on long hours and a diet of junk food. We spent our social time with our co-workers. Our startup was a hybrid of college and the working world. The … Continue reading What You Can Learn From My Quarterlife Crisis
Horizons of the Possible 