Gaining a heart of wisdom
Growing up in the era of analog timepieces, I was fascinated by my grandfather's pocket watches. The rhythmic tick and the steady movement of the second hand that somehow seemed connected to the slow movement of the minute hand puzzled me, so when his watch wore out, and he needed a new one, he gave… Continue reading Beware of Three Dangerous Myths about Wisdom
I listen to a LOT of podcasts, and among my favorites are the author interviews in which the host dives into the story behind the book. I'm in awe of people with the tenacity and optimism required to see a book project all the way through to its completion. Maybe you would define success by… Continue reading How Do You Define a Successful Life?
When he washed his disciples' feet, when he slipped away from the crowds for solitary prayer, when he honored, taught, and conversed with women, Jesus was a puzzle to his people. On Palm Sunday, we celebrate yet one more occasion in which "his disciples did not understand these things at first" because who rides into… Continue reading Did You Ever Wonder What It’s Like to be Humble?
Maybe you're old enough to remember an old song from the 1960s with the strong suggestion that "What the World Needs Now Is Love, Sweet Love." While I can't argue with the premise, I would humbly suggest that wisdom is a more immediate need. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FfHAs9cdTqg Wisdom presiding over love sounds like an equation with a… Continue reading What the World Needs Now is Authentic Intelligence (AI)
Fleming Rutledge wisely labeled the days we're living in as "the time between the times." We're a little bit like our Exodus ancestors, set free from slavery in Egypt, but not yet living in the Promised Land—having already received the benefits of a great salvation, but awaiting full redemption from sin's effects and consequences on… Continue reading Living as Family in the Time Between the Times
It goes without saying that my kids are raising my grandkids in a very different world than the world in which they were raised. Cultural pressures have dulled the sharp edge of conviction, leaving many parents unable to distinguish a safe path for their families. Furthermore, cultural change is so rapid that what "worked" for… Continue reading If You Don’t Teach Your Children, the World Will
How does one live well before God amid life's challenges? Most of our decisions have to be made on the fly—like taking a test we haven't studied for! Sometimes, the wise course of action is hard to discern, and making a call is impossible until the choice and its consequences are already in the rearview… Continue reading 2 Reading Strategies to Get Wisdom from the Word
This morning I received a text message from a friend. Far from profound, its point was simple inquiry: "How is your week going?You had a busy weekend.Praying for you." The gift of concern was carried on words.We're uniquely gifted in this era of electronic communication. Without stamps or ink or a footstep outside our snug… Continue reading For All the Ravens Who Carry Hope and Encouragement
My number one, life-long recurring dream has high school band as its setting. I'm playing the French horn in the front row during a concert. It's lovely, and all is well until I remember... The French horn is not my instrument. I don't know the first thing about how to play the French horn! Needless… Continue reading Have You Talked Yourself Out of Trusting God?
We've all experienced the dissonance of prayers that seem to go unanswered and struggled to understand why God behaves in ways or allows outcomes that seem incomprehensible to us. Bible scholars throughout history have advocated for a position of "holy indifference" to preside over our feelings when we're disappointed with the will of God. Indifference… Continue reading Why the Painful Struggle to Accept the Will of God?
Living Our Days 