All posts by eurlog

I am a church planter. I love my city and participating in its life.
Editorials, Food for Thought, theology

A Videoed Apology

Matthew CordleYou probably saw it – Matthew Cordle staring into a camera admitting to a drunk driving accident that resulted in the death of a 61 year old man.

It’s extraordinary, if only because of it’s honesty.  Most people would enter a not-guilty plea.  Court would convene and lots of money would be spent trying to get a guilty person pronounced innocent of the crime.

The daughter of the slain man was credited with saying that she didn’t buy it.  That he was just trying to get his sentence reduced.  The only problem with her judgment is that the motives of a person are never within human view.  You can guess what they are, but it’s only a guess.  Only God has the seat in the stands where one can see a person’s motives. Continue reading A Videoed Apology →

Editorials, Food for Thought, Leadership, Life in general, People, service

Letting People Down

down or depressedThe president began the meeting with, “We can’t do any business because we don’t have a quorum.”

It has happened before.  A carefully constructed agenda and set of to-do’s was turned into just an interesting conversation.  The meeting ended with nothing getting done in spite of the fact that the organizational clock was ticking.

Those who didn’t attend had lots of reasons.  Worked spilled over into the meeting time.  School called to ask a parent to attend to a sick child.  Second thoughts about belonging to our group.  Too many commitments and not enough time.  All legitimate reasons.  But all shutting down the actions of the group. Continue reading Letting People Down →

Editorials, Food for Thought, Life in general

How To Avoid Goofy Interpretations

Bible & Eye glassesThe Bible is an ancient anthology comprised of 66 books, written by approximately 40 writers over a period of around 1600 years.

Challenges are inevitable when attempting to read a collection of writings spanning such a large period of time and cultural contexts. In many respects, reading the Bible is like listening to half of a phone conversation or reading a 100-year-old letter buried in a box of family souvenirs.

There have been good and bad attempts at understanding the Bible’s place in our lives. The awful Jonestown cult is a good example of interpretation gone wrong. Ditto the Branch Davidians of Waco, Texas. There’s no end to the craziness. Continue reading How To Avoid Goofy Interpretations →

Editorials, Food for Thought, Life in general

It’s no problem!

youre_welcome“No problem” seems to have replaced “you’re welcome” as a response to the common expression of gratitude, “Thank you.”  Since communication is a two-way proposition, “no problem” has implications for the hearer.

“It didn’t cost me anything.”  “No big deal.” “If it had been too difficult or costly, I may not have done it.”

“It was easy to do.”  “I would have done it for anyone.”  “I didn’t think about it too much.”

“No sweat.”  “Anyone could have done it.”  “Nothing particularly important happened; no biggee.”
Continue reading It’s no problem! →

Editorials, Food for Thought, theology

Freedom!

Freedom

Lots of words come to mind when “freedom” is used.

Probably the most common associations with freedom are words that have to do with government.  Autonomy, emancipation, independence, laissez-faire, liberty, power, self-governed, and a host of “un” words such as unfettered are good examples.  People who live under the reign of despots such as Kim Jung Il of North Korea are not considered to have freedom.  Continue reading Freedom! →