Category Archives: LifeSpring

Food for Thought, Life in general, LifeSpring, LifeSpring Church, theology

My name is legion.

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Image I lived in Minnesota in the 70’s when the movie, The Exorcist, made its debut on American screens. The movie terrified audiences, and some people even imagined being stalked by demons trying to capture their lives.

When I first started working on the sermon I will deliver on February 24, my mind floated to that movie and Linda Blair’s head doing a 360. I concluded long ago that the movie only trivialized the possibilities for evil in this world. And the greatest evil is not something that makes your head spin, but rather which causes you to hate everything that is noble and beautiful. Continue reading My name is legion. →

Editorials, Food for Thought, LifeSpring, LifeSpring Church, People

5 Ways to Cause Others to Quit Listening

ListeningKeeping another person engaged in conversation is an art.  It cannot be assumed that others will be interested in what we are saying, and failing to pay attention to that fact can cause a person to become boorish, irritating, and repelling.  Who wants to be the person that sends others scurrying for the nearest exit?

There are some disciplines or tools that will keep others engaged.  Paying attention to these tools requires some attention and work, but it pays high dividends. Continue reading 5 Ways to Cause Others to Quit Listening →

Editorials, Food for Thought, Life in general, LifeSpring

THAT kind of person….

Woman anointing Jesus' feet 02Simon was a Pharisee.  He lived a monochrome religious life that was “cut and dried” and had no room for questioning or grace.  One day he invited Jesus to his home, presumably for some quiet conversation and theological debate.

So when a woman burst into his polite dinner party, he and his guests were horrified.  In her hands was a beautiful alabaster jar, like the type used to carry perfumed ointment, and her eyes were bloodshot and moist.  A room full of male eyes telescoped to see what the commotion was.  Continue reading THAT kind of person…. →

Food for Thought, LifeSpring, LifeSpring Church

Reading Is Fundamental #2

Reading 04 picThe National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) conducts a survey of American households every ten years and surveys 17,000 households,matched by the American Census Bureau to reflect the total American population. In 2006 the NEA reported that “reading has declined among every group of adult Americans: every age group, educational group, income group, region and race. In some cases the declines have been precipitous.

This has been going on for the last 20 years, but the trends are getting worse.” From On the Importance of Reading: http://www.csub.edu/ah/AH_matter/importanceofreading.pdf. Continue reading Reading Is Fundamental #2 →