Do Pictures Make Our Lives Better?

Back in 1824, Joseph Niépc took the first photograph ever – a view looking out the window of his home in France.  Here it is: That may have been the first photograph, but believe me, it wasn’t the last, though I’d venture to opine many taken since are hardly more interesting.  188 years later, us …

My Life is a Story, But How’s the Scripting?

Life is a story.  Yours is.  Mine is.  (heads up, this post isn’t very interesting, just random musings) One of the dozen or so blogs I follow is Screenwriting Tips.  Every day a thought-provoking tidbit is shared on effective scriptwriting.  Below are several I appreciated on “Crafting a protagonist (hero)”: At the character bio stage, …

The Shocking Semantics of Culture Shock

So the powers that be, whoever they are, have determined Culture Shock has four stages.  However, I’m not convinced Culture Shock has only four stages, just as I’m not convinced public speeches have only three parts (introduction, body, and conclusion). I’ve heard speeches before that were all body; I’ve heard speeches that were all conclusion; …

Zeitgeist the Movie: Slick Propaganda

Zeitgeist the Movie is a conspiracy genre documentary made in 2007 which shows, among other things, that Jesus never existed (he was supposedly copied from archetypes found in ancient pagan religions), that 911 was an inside job by the US government, and that a group of elite financial bankers hold the reigns of global power.  …

Does God Intervene in Daily Life?

During the dead-locked Constitutional Convention in the summer of 1787, Benjamin Franklin had this to say: "The longer I live, the more convincing proofs I see of this truth: ‘that God governs in the affairs of men.’  And if a sparrow cannot fall to the ground without His notice, is it probable that an empire …

DR Update and… Are There Benefits to Being Materially Poor?

I just snapped this picture.  It is the view out the double doors in my bedroom: I think it’s technically jungle around here, but it seems to me more like “jungly forest” if there is such a thing.  Oh, and I can see the ocean far better in real life than in the picture above.  …

Anxiety Related to Expectations

I’ve noticed the less I try to accomplish, the lower my anxiety becomes. However, it’s usually not enough for me to have just one goal.  I often have about ten.  Maybe you can’t relate to this, but I don’t usually feel good about myself unless I’m accomplishing things. This trip has been a good example.  …

Comparison Chart of the Hevenly Signs Described in the Bible regarding the Sun, Moon and Stars

I’ve been trying to figure out where the prophecies in Matthew 24 fit into the flow of end times prophecy in general.  I had a hunch the bit about the “signs in the heavens” might yield a clue. Therefore, I put together this little chart.  Perhaps someone besi>des myself will find it useful too: Download …

Do Matthew 24 and 1 Thessalonians 4 Refer to the Same Second Coming?

Here is an interesting question, “Is the return of Christ described in Matthew 24 and 1 Thessalonians 4 the same?” Passage #1: Paul Describes Return of Jesus in I Thessalonians 4 “According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, …

Where Do Spirits Go After Death?

In a previous post we established people have both a body and spirit.  Recapping: “For you are dust, And to dust you shall return." (Gen 3:19) "May the Lord, the God of the spirits of all mankind, appoint a man over this community…” (Numbers 27:16) “As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith …

Prophecies of Jesus Regarding Himself in Mark

“Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, ‘Prophesy!’” (Mark 14:65) Ironically, Jesus had prophesied a number of things.  Here are some I’ve noticed as I’ve been studying through Mark: Jesus Prophecies His Death and Resurrection 3x “He then began to teach them [his disciples] that …

The Power of a Soul

I was going to continue this series with The Power of a Smile, The Power of Sin and perhaps the Power of My Brother Seth.  However, since those posts seem slow in coming I’ll summarize by saying they’re all three quite powerful, in their own way: Smiles can make old people look new; Sin can …

The Power of Stick Shift

I got a surprise when I left work the other day: My car wouldn’t start.   The battery was dead because I’d left my headlights on at lunch. Who should I call?  How long would it take for Dad to show up?  How long would it take for Mallikar or Pat to show up?  How …

The Power of Space, Part 2

From the mail bag……  here is an excerpt from a letter I received in response to my post yesterday: I’m not convinced that God tells us to go find misery and poverty in the world and then fix it. That would ascribe a God-like omnipotence and limitless resources to us. The Samaritan wasn’t traveling along …

The Power of a Story (plus, 10 things we fear)

Everyone likes stories. I think.  "Researcher story-teller" Brene Brown defined story as, "data with a soul." A more stodgy definition is, "An account or recital of an event or a series of events, either true or fictitious." (source) For an example of a brief, well-told story, you might enjoy this short piece about a conversation …

The Power of Serenity

Last week I visited Botanica Gardens.  It’s my favorite local destination here in Wichita and I’ve been many times.  In fact, think I’m on my third annual membership.  The best time of year to visit is Spring.  Right now, in fact, as the tulips are currently in bloom and breathtaking.  If you go, I recommend …

Money the Meaning of Life?

Truth is Truth wherever it’s found, I believe. Jesus said a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions. And He said it is more blessed to give than to receive. Self proclaimed minimalist, traveler, thinker, and humanist Colin Wright has come to a similar conclusion even though as near as I …

Do Women Work Harder Than Men? And Other Gender Issues.

I’ve heard 2/3rds of the world’s manual labor is done by women.  A quick search on Google didn’t substantiate this fact, but I still wouldn’t be surprised if it were true. From my unofficial observations, women DO work harder than men. If you believe the creation account as given in the Hebrew Old Testament, the …

Challenging Status Quo, from the Bride Rebekah to the Bride the Church

Safety, comfort, and stability are basic goals for all civilizations. Here in America we’ve perhaps attained those goals closer than any other civilization, past or present. Here’s my question, “For Followers of Jesus, should safety, comfort, and stability be our goals as well?” I’ve been struck with how flippantly I treat characters in the Bible. …

Lifeless Christmas Lights Symbolic of Relational Shallowness in Middle Class Suburbia

Have you ever thought about the three bedroom house, the literal cornerstone of modern civilization? … Today a housing tract of 3,000 houses is planned and built, then 10,000 people come out for the grand opening, buy up the houses and, almost like programmed robots, move in with their matching furniture, draw the drapes, turn …

Hope for Even the Biggest Losers

Can The Worst Become Best? Ever notice how the worst often becomes the best? The kid with worst teeth gets braces, making his the straightest on the block. Saul, the persecutor of Christians, becomes Paul, the Christian Apostle. Granted, sometimes the worst stays the worst. Some kids have terribly crooked teeth with no opportunity to …

Verses Supporting the Trinity in the Bible

Gen 1:26, “Then God Said, ‘Let us make man in our image, in our likeness…” So who is the “us” this verse refers to?  My friend Jay explained to me the three common positions: It’s a reference to the Trinity It’s a literary technique showing glory through what’s known as a “majestic plural” (yeah, news …

Texting Beyond our Limits

Imagine it’s Saturday, 2,000 years ago.  Jesus is sitting in the synagogue.  His cell phone is laying out on the pew beside him, flipped open.  He is following along with the Rabbi, but frequently glancing down at the phone, checking incoming messages.  Multi-tasking is no bigee for Him.  A coalition of blind beggars are texting …

Am I Content?

I often wonder, “What does God have for me today, right now?” I frequently chafe at the daily grind, wishing to do something more exciting – or at least more important. Yet I firmly believe God has me exactly where I’m at for a reason and a purpose – even if what I’m doing isn’t …

Light bulbs, Luxury, People Hurting and an Inspirational Story

Do Light Bulbs Shine Brighter in the Dark? Of course not, light bulbs shine just as bright regardless of where they’re located. And this is a silly question, but think, “If you were a light bulb, would you prefer to be in a miner’s headlamp or the headlight of a riding mower?” Don’t know about …

Did Paul claim to be Authoritative?

How many times have you heard someone quote 2 Timothy 3:16, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness…” and thought to yourself, “Did Paul really mean for us to consider the very words he was penning to Timothy Scripture as well?” It’s an interesting question and got …

To whom did Paul write his letters?

A question I’ve had recently is, “Were Paul’s letters written to me or others?” I’ve wondered, “Am I reading someone else’s mail or are Paul’s writings general information relevant to all believers?” Let’s start with who Paul himself said his letters were written to: Romans 1:7 To all in Rome who are loved by God …

Elders, Deacons, & Church Leadership

How many leadership offices were there in the 1st century church? How were these offices appointed? What were the differences in duties and qualifications of these offices? And what’s more Biblical anyways: Pastors or Elders? These were only some of the questions we looked at in a recent Bible Study I attended on “Leadership Within …

The Impact of Our Thought Lives

Perhaps you’ve heard the pithy ditty: “Sow a thought, reap an action. Sow an action, reap a habit. Sow a habit, reap your life. Sow your life, reap your destiny.” These days I’m becoming increasingly convinced of the truth behind that saying. Of course, Jesus made the same observation 2,000 years ago: “For out of …

Are We Listening?

It’s easy to talk. It’s harder to listen and I think even harder to ask good questions. As a Math Tutor in the public schools I am reminded over and over the importance of listening. A student asks me for help so I kneel next to him, look over the problem they’re struggling with and… …

Fellowship of the Unashamed

I just ran across this “pep talk”. It is really inspirational. It is attributed to Bob Moorehead, former pastor of Overlake Christian Church in Seattle. Ironically and unfortunately, Moorehead stepped down in 1998 due to the surfacing allegations of improper sexual conduct. Who knows if the allegations were true or not. Regardless, this should get …

Mental Health & Weighted Jackets

I learned in this education class I’m currently taking that children suffering from certain mental issues (such as autism) can benefit from wearing a “weighted vest” or sleeping under a “weighted blanket.” This gives them what is called Deep Pressure Touch Stimulation (DPTS). Ok, got it: Autistic kids can find comfort in the touch stimulus …

Should I Be Living More Comfortably Than Jesus Did?

Are you familiar with the song I Have Decided to Follow Jesus?  The lyrics are attributed to S. Sundar Singh.  They go like this: “I have decided to follow Jesus; (3x) No turning back, no turning back. Though I may wonder, I still will follow; (3x) No turning back, no turning back. The world behind …