Today it will be two weeks since the tragic Boston Marathon bombing. If you watch any television today, undoubtedly there will be coverage given to all sorts of angles, motives, connections, new details on the suspect, which leads to more interviews, more speculation, more questions, more, more, more.
Now there are particular updates that are needed to be given to the public – that is not a complaint but an [Read more…]
Dear Regular Readers,
Lately, I’ve been wanting to say thanks for reading the blog. I’ve always regarded it as a compliment that you would spend time reading (even if it’s just skimming some times ;) these reflections – especially because I’m not [Read more…]
Note: I requested a review copy of The World Is Not Ours to Save – Finding the Freedom to Do Good from Inter Varsity Press. I am not obligated to write a favorable review but an honest one. But if I’m being really honest, it was really easy to write this – the book is great.
Many would agree the activist label is used quite liberally. While I am unable to determine how many hours a week you must labor in activism to qualify you for the title, it’s certainly overused. So to intentionally overstate, this book should be handed out just before every short-term mission trip, along with every Invisible Children dvd and box of TOMS shoes. Further, it should required in seminaries, film schools, and military training academies. Oh and every celebrity who sets up a charity foundation should get one too, especially the Christian celebrities.
Now I know just listed a bunch of things that are easy to pick on. But if you know me, I actually think short-term mission trips can be incredible life-changing moments, I think the work of Invisible Children is good, so are TOMS and all the things I mentioned (yes, even seminary ;). What I think Tyler does a phenomenal [Read more…]
I was in Los Angeles last week and just returned late Friday night to Boston and like everyone, I’m trying to collect my thoughts on this very emotional roller-coaster of a week. I know that term gets thrown around but for me it seems like a perfect metaphor for the week. On Monday I was at the Q Conference when my wife texted: “Boston Marathon explosion. Injuries.”
In the next few moments I couldn’t help keep my mind from racing to extreme worst case scenarios. It’s [Read more…]
If you haven’t got a chance to read “Being Gay at Jerry Falwell’s University” by Brandon Ambrosino in The Atlantic.com, you really should. It’s lengthy but it’s a great story that has a moving conclusion.
Some of you dear readers know that I am a Liberty University graduate. I have always been hesitant about admitting this – it’s not shame, it’s not bitterness, it’s more the frustration of having to explain that I don’t fit the angry fundamentalist caricature that comes with after mentioning your alma-mater. I haven’t even hung up my degrees.
“Raise your hand if you’ve heard this popular line, “People don’t care about how much you know until they know how much you care.” I see that hand.
My homiletics professor got it from John Maxwell who got it from Howard Hendricks who got it from Theodore Roosevelt who got it from Jesus when He washed his disciple’s feet. The point …
Click Here for the Full Post – Thanks for reading.
There are many who are mourning the tragic suicide of Matthew Warren and unfortunately, there are some who are attacking Rick & Kay. Some have identified themselves as Christians while some of have identified themselves as non-Christians. Some in the latter group have generalized all Christians as naive or have stated this tragedy suits them for whatever reason. Grace and peace to them. As far as those who identify themselves as Christ-followers, I consider their attacks as shameful, unloving and unfit of the name Christian – wake up.
I’m writing this post not because I feel I have anything remarkably unique to add, I’m writing in hopes of adding to the side of sympathy and collective mourning. My heart is heavy for Matthew, for the Warrens and for the many like Matthew. I’m writing for those who are struggling with mental illnesses – may God’s grace and peace find you.
Let’s be clear – there is only one response to a tragedy like this and it involves sympathy and mourning. But I [Read more…]
As part of the nature of this blog, I like to look back as much as I can … with my best effort of not boring you. The nature of blogging is to respond to the now, the what just happened, and if possible, the what next? Part of me is drawn to this as I feel it’s not only my temperament to opinionate and participate in conversation but your blog stats are certainly helped by being among the first. This is the Ricky Bobby philosophy of blogging “If you ain’t first, you’re last.”
Though this week has shown no shortage of topics to jump in on another part of me feels otherwise. The problem for me anyway, is not only do many of these posts come across as premature but I end up actually resenting some of them within a few weeks. I can handle the changing my mind part, but this social media vehicle is not as conducive as I would like. I struggle with the adding to the hype and not being able to pull back from it. It’s different than sitting down with a friend over coffee and saying, “It’s funny, last week when we sat here, I thought that now I think I’ve changed my mind to this…”
Further (and getting closer to beginning my point ;) – I am ever-concerned with the consumption of [Read more…]
Note: I was sent this book from the publisher and as always I am not required to give a positive review but an honest one. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
It’s customary for Christians to follow some type of daily devotional but unfortunately for this Christian, I not much of a devotional reader. I think it’s partially to do with receiving the authors’ voice on a daily basis. Preferring accompanying my Scripture reading with commentaries and other books and resources, I just think most devotionals are not my thing. However, I do find myself drawn to devotional reading during Lent and Advent and this year I used two.
The first Lenten devotional to highlight was the Tom Wright’s latest Lent For Everyone: Luke Year C published by Westminster John Knox Press.
If you know me, you know I’m a big fan of Dr. Wright. If you never heard of him, he’s an Anglican theologian [Read more…]
Hey there, welcome and thanks for taking the time to read my blog. Really, I appreciate it. - Tim Ghali
[Read More …]
Recent Comments