Christmas is just around the corner. Time for getting the right gift for your honey is running short. I just found this helpful video that I recommend all men watch before going to the mall. It could save you from going into the doghouse.
Category Archives: Food for Thought
“It’s the economy, stupid!”
During Bill Clinton’s campaign, his campaign strategist, James Carville, coined the phrase, “the economy, stupid,” as a way to refocus voters’ attention and to say that George H.W. Bush had not adequately addressed the economy. The phrase was meant for an internal audience of campaign workers, but it became widely used.
All you have to do is drive around our City or any city in the U.S. and you get the immediate impression that “It’s the economy stupid” is current again. The economy looms over us like a huge black cloud. And it affects family after family.
Giving People a Chance
I’ve been reading a very intriguing book called Wikinomics. The premise of the book is that the way business and creativity is practiced on the Internet is transforming brick and mortar business as well.
Networks
Several months ago, maybe even a year, a guy e-mailed me and asked to have coffee. He just wanted to find out more about LifeSpring. The visit was pleasant.
We got together for coffee a couple more times, and then he moved back east. It was a short relationship, although it has continued via e-mail and discussions about books and ideas. All in all, it has been a brief relationship.
God at work…
It’s easy to become a whiner. Life gets hard. Challenges arise. Obstacles interfere. “God, where are you? Why aren’t you making my life easier?”
At those times it is helpful to hear about how others negotiate trying times. People like Nick Vujicic in this video put life in perspective and eliminate the whining. Watch this and be inspired.
Don’t be frightened away by the Japanese subtitles. The entire video is spoken in English. The link below will take you to the video site.
Sunday’s coming.
It’s Saturday as I write this. Tomorrow is Easter. All day long I’ve been thinking about Tony Campolo’s now famous sermon about the resurrection. I recommend it. Listen to it at this link: Sunday’s Coming.
Part of the Problem
Brian McLaren included a link to a Bread for the World video that is poignant and convicting. I’ve attached it below because I think it identifies a too common belief that organizations, not individuals, are responsible for bringing change to the world. The same abdication of responsibility can be seen at election time when a pitifully small portion of the electorate turns out to cast a ballot.
So take a look at Bread for the World’s take on this. It will make you squirm.
January Adventure – 1
I looked at the notice in a summer Christian Century. Walter Brueggemann and Barbara Brown Taylor were going to be speaking at at 3–day event in Georgia. Brueggemann’s topic was Jeremiah, and Taylor’s was about spiritual practices.
I remember being intrigued by the opportunity. They are both favorites of mine. But the distance and time made it prohibitive in my mind. So I had dismissed it as an interesting but impossible event.
In August Bev and I celebrated our 39th anniversary in San Francisco. We exchanged gifts to commemorate the event. Her gift came in a shirt box. It was very light, so I had no clue what was in it. When I opened the box I was surprised to find the paperwork and all reservations for the Florida event. So all I had to do was pack my bags and go.
As I write this I am sitting in the airport in Jacksonville, Florida waiting for my connector flight to Houston. The conference is over, and what is left are some notes and a warm glow. The conference was a delight to the mind. Eight hours of lecture gave me much to think about.
More comments will follow in subsequent blog entries. However, the last three days reminded me of the need I have to receive occasional, self-indulgent refreshment like I just received at the feet of Brueggemann and Taylor. It is impossible to provide meaningful ministry on an empty tank.
Forgiveness
I am linked to a fellow in the Netherlands on LinkedIn dot com. We’re also connected at Plaxo Pulse. I’ve never met him before, but today he blessed my life with the video posted here.
I remarked to Bev what a wonder it is that I could have this online relationship without ever having any physical contact with this person. And had I not had those connections, I would have never been aware of this video. This is truly an digital blessing.
Whatever
When our daughter was in high school and feeling omniscient, she had a phrase that she used to repel any attempt to enlighten her or explain some idea. The word was “whatever,” and it was guaranteed to stop any further conversation as she served notice that she had no interest at all in what was being said by her parent. “Whatever” was the ultimate definition of indifference or scorn. Fortunately, she outgrew this.
Whatever has other definitions. 1. Everything or anything: “Do whatever you please.” 2. No matter what: “Whatever happens, we’ll meet here tonight.” 3. Any number or kind: “Whatever requests you make will be granted.”
There are some other definitions, but this gives a good idea of its absence of a specific reference. Whatever is used in interesting ways in the Bible and gives some insight into the kind of freedom that God gives us all. To the disciples Jesus said, “Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave.” By so indicating, Jesus gave his disciples the freedom to choose the towns they would go to.”
The writer, Paul, told the church at Corinth that whatever they did, should be done for God’s glory. The only boundary or limitation that Paul placed on their activity was that it be God glorifying.
The writer, James, took this a step further and said that to knowingly fail to do something something good is sin. So there is an accountability that is laid on us to make good personal judgments and act on them. It is as if God is saying to us, “Do something good.”
In Philippians 4:8 we are given the freedom to dwell on any and everything that is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable or praiseworthy. Permission is not needed. We have carte blanche on these good things. We are also accorded similar freedoms in prayer. Whatever you ask…” Jesus said.
God gives his people enormous freedom to act on the many good choices around them. Doing good has God’s endorsement and has already been approved as long as it is for God’s glory. That’s a no brainer.
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