Brief Thoughts, Inspirations, and the occasional Provocation for the people of Garden Sanctuary, and you too…
We live in a world that is full of injustice. Recent events, like the death of George Floyd have brought the world's attention to the issue of race in America. Meanwhile lives have been unjustly lost in the riotous looting that broke out in many cities. Injustice paid for by more injustice. Unfairness is everywhere. ... Continue Reading →
Off the coast of the Mariana islands lays a wonder that, though it can be described, is almost impossible for us to really fathom. At the bottom of the ocean, there is an undersea canyon, called the Mariana Trench. This gash in the ocean floor is five times the length of the Grand Canyon. If... Continue Reading →
David Starr Jordan is probably not a name that you know. Unless you make a habit of following after famous ichthyologists (fish scientists to the rest of us) or you went to Stanford (where he was the founding president), he has probably not been a part of your life. However, Mr. Jordan has quite a... Continue Reading →
In a recent blog post that you can read here, the subject of negativity bias was presented. The reality of giving extra weight to negative events is one that we cannot escape. No amount of willpower, focus, or positivity will ever free us from this predisposition. In the last post we discussed ways for us... Continue Reading →
We live in a world of constant, and often instant, feedback. To deal with this, it is helpful to understand how you were designed to react to negatives. Whether you realize it or not, you are pre-wired with what is known as "negativity bias." This bias exists in nearly every area that has been researched... Continue Reading →
Good Friday. Friday yes, but good? Friendship betrayed. Disciples scattered. Innocence violated. Justice abandoned. The King Criminalized. The Begotten forsaken. The Lamb Slaughtered. A mother weeps. A soldier repents. A city moves on. A movement ends. It's a confusing, bloody, sad, heart-wrenching day. How can we view this scene and call it good? Yet, it... Continue Reading →
I am not a fan of driving in construction zones. Most of us probably are not. For me, the biggest issue is the barriers and cones that are set up on either side of the lane. Occasionally, I will find myself driving through an area where these barriers are on both sides of the road.... Continue Reading →
I live near a train yard. The sound of trains coupling is a regular part of the ambience here. At first, I thought I would never get used to the proximity and noise of the behemoths, but over time I have actually grown fond of them. I never know what will be sitting on the... Continue Reading →
It is no secret that we live in a very technologically advanced world. Technology is everywhere. Perhaps you ordered your breakfast on a touch screen. Maybe you are sitting in a plane but the tickets only exist is some digital cloud. Your coffee was probably not prepared over a fire this morning, andit is safe... Continue Reading →
Tuesday. Sunday is sacred. Monday, whether dreaded or loved, launches the work week. Saturday is fun, family, hobbies, and community activities. Friday, well Friday is just a shade less wondrous than Saturday. Thursday has the honor of being the day before Friday. Even mundane, middle of the week Wednesday is so very boring that it... Continue Reading →
Perhaps you have heard this story of a lighthouse. I know I am not the first to tell it. In fact I will share it here exactly as I found it... -A lighthouse along a bleak coast was tended by a keeper who was given enough oil for one month and told to keep the... Continue Reading →
They say one of the most dangerous times to drive is just after rain has begun. The reason for this is that our roads are covered with a residue left behind by the vehicles have traveled over them. Tire residue, oil, and other lubricants are left behind by the hundreds and thousands of vehicles that... Continue Reading →
Not much is said about second things. We applaud first things. We prepare for first. We think about first. We want to make the best first impression. We can't sleep before our first day on the job. Couples reminisce about first dates. We take pictures with our first car. We go overboard for first birthdays. ... Continue Reading →
This year is going to have some tough, terrible days. There, I said it. January 1, and I just said the thing none of us wants to think about heading into the New Year. You are going to fight with a friend or spouse this year. You are going to get news about your health,... Continue Reading →
Luke tells us that he intends to offer an orderly account of the story of Jesus, and after Mark's breathless recounting, full of stories within stories, the reader is most grateful for the physician's promise of structure. As we begin to take in his writing, our gratitude quickly becomes puzzlement. Just how far is Luke... Continue Reading →
According to most studies, and the conventional wisdom of the day, most evangelical Christians support the presidency of Donald Trump. Some have even gone so far as to claim evangelical leaders have sold their souls and lost their spiritual vision in blind support of the administration. However, those of us who would be labeled as... Continue Reading →
It came as no surprise. Donald Trump has been impeached. It took neither prophet nor political science major to know that this was going to happen. Days into his presidency, politicians were calling for Trump to be removed. When the latest round of congressional elections saw Democrats win the majority the House of Representative seats,... Continue Reading →
Pierre Gustave Toutant-Beauregard, the Creole Confederate general, is probably best known for having ordered the first shots of the Civil War when he directed a bombardment against Fort Sumter. However, one of his greatest moments of leadership may have come in 1862 on the second day of the Battle of Shiloh in southwestern Tennessee. The... Continue Reading →
Below are a few articles that I found of interest this week. If you missed them, these are worth checking out... How an Eternity Full of Tomorrows Can Help Us Get Through Today -J. Warner Wallace Marianne Williamson’s Warning About ‘This Dark Psychic Force’ Is Very Right and Very Wrong -Dr. Michael Brown Is America... Continue Reading →
I recently released an article the purpose of which was to challenge Christians to actually be pro-life. (You can find that article HERE.) One of the accusations that is often leveled against believers, particularly evangelicals in America, is that they claim to be pro-life when in fact they are only pro-birth, and quickly lose interest... Continue Reading →
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