Head-dibs

“Keep this thought handy when you feel a fit of rage coming on: it isn’t manly to be enraged. Rather, gentleness and civility are more human, and therefore manlier. A real man doesn’t give way to anger and discontent, and such a person has strength, courage, and endurance — unlike the angry and complaining. The nearer a man comes to a calm mind, the closer he is to strength.”  —Marcus Aurelius, Meditations 11.18.5b There is a right way and a wrong way to be angry. The wrong way is to be driven, controlled by the passion. Some guys think that throwing a fit or a fist is the only way to assert manhood. Well, they're wrong. They may be strong on the outside but they are weak on the inside. Anger can be a mistake, which is why the old saying goes, "never make a decision while angry." A decision made in anger might be irreversible.  Should one never be angry about anything ever? No. There's a time for everything, including anger. Just don't be so quick...

It’s  OK  to be disappointed and depression should have its run but both are not meant to be dwelling places. God does not intend for us to stay “down.” The Corinthian church was disappointed with the apostle Paul because he said he would come visit and he did not show up. Sadly, they held his absence against him.  What they did not know is the reason Paul did not come when he said he would. Paul wrote them: “For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayer...

Today is Cambodian “Victory over Genocide Day,” or “Victory Day” (shortened). This is not a day of celebration, nor is it fully observed nationally. January 7, 1979 was the day Vietnamese troops entered Cambodia ending four years of bloodshed and the start of Cambodian dependence on Vietnam. This is a day of mixed emotions, depending on the perspective of those involved. This marks a day of transition and can be difficult to explain. This day caused me to reflect on significant questions regarding what we are to do with the past, perhaps even a past that is difficult to explain. How do we press on in victory without the feeling that we have been defeated? Recognize that one’s personal past has a significant influence on the development of life but a person is not a helpless victim whose manner of life is determined by his past. One is able to creatively interact with and interpret past events and incorporate his interpretation into his manner of life; however, one does not decons...

Sort of a strange phrase, isn’t it: “over to unawareness.” It means to moving from “awareness” to “unawareness.” We do it all the time, but we like to use the word “forget.” Have you ever thought about what the “forget” actually means? We commonly agree on “failing to remember,” and we use the word to signify the act of not remembering. The word “forget” is actually a compound word (remember those from grade school?). The first word “for-” is the Old English term meaning “opposite” or “away.” The second (“-get”) is also Old English for, well, “get” or “grasp.” Combine “for” and “get” and we have “un-grasp.” This is what it means to forget. Orwell would be proud. Is forgetting intentional or accidental? Perhaps the latter is the most common—who would intentionally forget? Is it even possible? Why do we fail to keep hold of things we are supposed to remember yet lose our grasp on things we are supposed to keep? Why do we so easily recall our regrets and have nearly no catalog of ou...

Ed Welch writes, "It feels so right – so spiritual – to live with regrets . It means you feel bad for the wrong things you have done or think you have done, and that sounds like a good thing. If you forget those wrongs, you are acting like they were no big deal."  (ht: Tim Challies) Dr. Walt Kaiser comments on Egypt and Isaiah 19 . Dr. William Larkin asks, " What does the New Testament Have to Do With Missions ?" This is one way to hear " the music of the spheres !" Knockin' on Heaven's Door .  "Through our Christian lives, we will pass through valleys and low points.  It's not a matter of if , but when ."  

"Just as at sea those who are carried away from the direction of the harbor bring themselves back on course by a clear sign, so Scripture may guide those adrift on the sea of life back into the harbor of the divine will." (St. Gregory of Nyssa, b. 331? - d. 396?) ************ "Many years ago, F. B. Meyer was returning to England from northern Ireland by ship. It was night, and as the ship was entering the harbor, nothing was to be seen but a confusing array of lights. Dr. Meyer was concerned as to how the captain could hope to navigate into the harbor safely at night in such a confusing jumble of lights, and said so. The captain called him up to the bridge and said, 'You see, Sir, it’s really very simple. I’ll show you how. Do you see that big light over to the left? And do you see that other big light over there to the right of it? And now, do you see that outstanding light further still this way? Well now, keep your eyes on those three lights and see what happens....

I received an e-mail from a reader who asked "How do I help someone who does not want help? What do I do about people who don't want to change no matter how much we try to help? Do I stop communicating with them?" These are some excellent questions, though difficult to answer in this forum. I will let you know that your situation is not unique and there are many people who are asking the same questions. A good starting point toward an answer would be to recognize that we all needed help before we wanted it ( Romans 5:6, 8 ). What would your answers be to the following questions? 1) What does Job 6:14 say a despairing man needs, and for what reason? 2) What does Galatians 6:1 say to the one who does the ministry of restoration? Without knowing the details of your situation, I really don’t know how else to counsel you on this matter, but here are some things to consider: 1) Do you have all the facts concerning the individual? 2) Is their situation as bad as you thought? A...

Yesterday, I posted a link to a conversation going on over at " Friendly Athiest ." Richard posted his thoughts on the comment I left, but he did not leave a way for me to contact him in reply, so here it is: ************ Thank you for taking the time to write a response to my comment and thinking with me. I said in my comment, "AA does not work because of the absence of God as Objective Personality" to which you replied, "Let me guess. And that “Objective Personality” is only described in the Good Book, right? But we do have to have that description filtered through a human being’s subjective interpretation, right? Someone like perhaps………..you?" Why call the Bible the "Good Book?" Where did you get that idea? The Bible records stories of people being burned alive, children being torn from the womb, mass killings, cannibalism, heads being cut off, hangings, stonings, rape, incest, adultery, lust, prostitution, bodies being eaten by worms, “me...

“What should I do? I am upset with God and I am tired of crying. My sister had a miscarriage and I think it is my fault because of sin. I keep asking Jesus/God to give my sister another baby. I am ready for her to have another, but I am afraid of another miscarriage. What can I do to convince God to let my sister have another baby?” Have you ever read Psalm 139? I encourage you to make verses 1-6 a prayer of admission of who God is. He knows everything about you, your sister, how you feel. The Lord is God and He is at work to display His own glory in His own way. Oftentimes we tend to get upset because we have a limited perspective on what He is doing—but He sees the big picture. These verses help us remember who is in control. Make verses 7-12 a prayer of surrender. No matter what you experience, trust Him—believe Him. He cannot lie, so if we don’t trust Him, we are saying we know better than Him. God is right there with you, your sister, the baby--even through the darkest hour. Remem...