More knowledge is a good thing. Wisdom is better. Wisdom is knowledge that has been tested. Knowledge helps us deal, and even thrive, in the world. Some “knowledge” that we are taught turns out to be wrong, occasionally. Sometimes, theories are presented as facts and then testing proves the theory wrong. That’s why wisdom is […]
Defeat fear
I remember when I was about eight years old being challenged by a friend to jump off the diving board at the YMCA. He was an expert swimmer. I remember standing there for at least one minute before jumping off. I went straight down and it took longer than I thought to reach near the […]
We’re all apprentices
Even after finishing school, we never really stop learning. The pressures of life teach us perseverance and discipline. How do we learn best? Often, we learn best by practicing what we’ve been taught. Adults learn by doing, not reading. Knowledge is important, but wisdom is the goal and wisdom usually only comes from testing out […]
Who are you following?
Many parts of our culture are trending toward worthlessness. Movie ratings need one more lower level added. Our children spend hours every day killing people (well, virtually, anyway). Many parts of our culture are trending toward worthlessness. We need to choose wisely who and what we follow. We need to cut off our idols and […]
Selective Obedience
I try hard to be obedient – but I fail often. I’ll be obedient to the obvious requirements but, for my favorite sins, I’ll rationalize that those don’t need so much obedience. They’re my special, private sins – just for me. Nobody needs to know. I need to do better.
Everyone is your neighbor
The first commandment is “Love the Lord your God with all your soul, with all your heart, with all your strength and with all your mind – and love your neighbor as yourself.” Are your neighbors just the people on your street? Everyone is your neighbor. The Golden Rule is important here – “Treat others […]
Building good habits
Habits are regular practices of ours. Habits are intentional. Good habits are hard to ingrain but easy to break. Bad habits are easy to establish but hard to give up. Good habits can build a good life. Others are attracted to the integrity usually on display in a person with good habits. Bad habits are […]
Tolerance
We keep hearing that we need to be more tolerant; tolerant of what – a different point of view? That depends. If the differing point of view is sinful we’re not to be tolerant. We need to confront that sin. Freedom does not include the right to falsely yell “fire!” in a crowded theater. We […]
I’ll do it!
Those of you with children will remember this declaration from your two-year-old child. Many of our problems as adults began with us claiming this new-found freedom. We all know where it has led us during our life of self-sufficiency – quickly to chaos. Our humility was destroyed by pride at an early age. We began […]
Truth and morality
It used to be that these two words were considered to mean virtually the same thing. Truth has been divided into personal beliefs today. Truth is no longer black and white, but gray, to many. Most universities were started by churches. Now, science has taken over and students are taught what to believe. Morality is […]
