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 …
Category Archives: Questions
Where Are All the Workers?
More than just travelling, I am on a fact finding quest for what types of work God’s people are doing throughout the world. The ministries I have seen so far are numerous, but they all boil down to one common theme: sharing Christ with others. Distributing spiritual bread of life. Some help physically as well, …
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. …
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. …
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Who is your authority?
Here are two observations: Everyone believes something Those beliefs depend on what/who we hold up as our authority I recently heard an acquaintance make reference to how doctrinally incorrect it is for Catholics to believe in praying to dead saints. Well, depends on who your authority is. If your authority is church tradition and the …
Asking the Wrong Questions
An engineer I work with likes to say, “Bad requests yield bad data.” Asking wrong questions can lead us in wrong directions. I ran a series of posts about a year ago trying to answer the question, “What makes a church a church?” A Pastor? A Church building? A certain number of people? A religous …
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 …
Rethinking the Standard Testimony
Ever learned a new vocabulary word and then right afterwards heard it used three times in unrelated contexts? Seems to happen all the time. Another example: my brother moved to Oregon and now it seems everywhere I turn there’s an Oregon connection. Works out practically everyone’s brother lives in Oregon. Who’d have thunk? Even today …
Are We Too Rich to Enter Heaven?
Ever heard the silly song, "You Can’t Get To Heaven In…"? We don’t sing this at my church as the theology is suspect: Oh, you can’t get to Heaven in an old Ford car ‘Cause an old Ford car won’t get that far Oh, you can’t get to Heaven on roller skates ‘Cause you’d roll …
Another Trial, Anyone?
James wrote, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perserverance, and perserverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Sounds good on paper, but who likes trials in real life? In …
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 …
Are There Temptations Stronger Than We Can Bear?
The problem with temptations is that they are so tempting. C. S. Lewis once wrote, “A silly idea is current that good people do not know what temptation means. This is an obvious lie. Only those who try to resist temptation know how strong it is…. A man who gives in to temptation after five …
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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… …
Am I Ready to Die?
I was just reminded I have to be prepared to die anytime. A woman in her 20s was killed in an auto accident about fifteen minutes after I drove by the exact same spot this morning. One person was killed this morning in a three-vehicle crash on I-135 by the First St exit, emergency dispatchers …
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 …
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First Post – Am I Denying Myself Daily?
If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.