We all like options, whether the best flavor of ice cream or which house to buy. Something innate within us resists binary issues, where only two choices exist. Truly, most issues give a variety of options. But sometimes, our choices are binary. One or the other, not both. By their nature. Whether or not we like it. Let’s explore that…
Read MoreThe American Dream
Two pieces of literature, the novel The Great Gatsby and the play Death of a Salesman, examine the American dream, from opposite directions. Gatsby achieved it, and died. Willie Loman never achieved it, and died. Investopedia describes the dream as “anyone, regardless of where they were born or their socio-economic status, can attain their own version of success.”
But merely a fine line divides the Dream from...
Read MoreWorship's Courage
Some wit once compared the church to Noah’s ark, we couldn’t stand the conditions inside if it weren’t for those outside. That haunts me. Research reveals that over half of self-identified Christians have no connection with a larger group of followers—meaning we may have more Christians outside the church than inside. A number of my friends and family, once deeply involved in a local body, have chosen to stop. The church that Jesus died to create.
Maybe we need to explore the best reason to...
Read MoreEternity in Our Minds
“Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.” Mostly true, isn’t it? Our default setting for life seems to be a relentless pursuit of keeping it, even if we know where we’re going. Why is that? I suspect God holds the responsibility, he placed “eternity in our hearts.” But we can easily get confused about that concept…
Read MoreFlawed Irony
About a week ago a FB friend posted, about how learning more made him more aware of how much he didn’t know. As an ornery contrarian, I semi-jokingly responded, “So learning leads to ignorance, right?” Thankfully, he got it, and we’re still friends. At the time though, I didn’t realize I had a similar post planned for this week, so let’s look at another angle of the principle…
Read MoreSlip Away
I’m a biker, those of you who read my stuff even rarely can pick that up. But I desire to take bike experiences, make them captivating, and to share God lessons from them with you all. So, as you read this post, look for what you can gain from it, even if you don’t ride. Hope you’re blessed.
Read MoreEarthbound
God created us as physical creatures in a physical world, and called it good. I love the slow melting of dark chocolate held in my mouth. The cleansing of riding the motorcycle. The joy of embracing my wife. These, and so much more. But we also face physical frustrations. How do we balance them?
Read MoreA Temporary Heaven
In a series of nine separate and necessary events, each with other people’s decisions involved, in August of 1975 God landed me where I could not have dreamed that big: living in a log cabin in the mountains above Taos, 8,500 ft., the nearest neighbor three miles away. Maybe not heaven for you, but it was for me. No work to do, just living on an unused guest ranch, and being paid for it. In the process of leaving my native SoCal for a fresh start on life, thinking of Colorado but going through Taos in the summer of my 27th year, I found myself “coming home, to a place I’d never been before.” Then came…
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