What happens when a bent, white-haired, old man gets called into action from the sidelines of an inner city basketball court?
He destroys them… if he’s Uncle Drew!
Schooled by Uncle Drew
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Monthly Archives: May 2012
Saturday Six-Pack (12)
Welcome to the long weekend for my Canadian readers. To those elsewhere, yours is surely coming before long! Either way, it’s a pleasure to have you here for a bit of “Wandering & Wondering”.
Each week, the “Saturday Six-Pack” aims to share a half-dozen of the best online pieces I’ve read recently. The majority of links lead to faith-focused or ministry-geared material, with the rest falling under the “disorderly pile of who-knows-what” tagline at the top of this page!
For today:
1) Spirit-Filled Living vs. Just Trying Harder
If you ever have the sense that the Christian life will require more than you have to give, you may be onto something. Jim Cymbala is on to the same thought.
2) Does Suburbia Hurt Christianity?
Numerous churches speak of the quest to “live a life together”. But what if our everyday circumstances are sabotaging that goal? Then Relevant magazine writes an article about it!
3) The Lost Sin of Envy
Tim Challies challenges us to look inside ourselves, in search of the slippery sin of envy.
4) Why Bible Study Doesn’t Transform Us
Even this post’s title is provocative to this group sure-loving fellowship in which my faith has been birthed and nurtured. How could power possibly be lacking when people interact with God’s Word? Oh, there are numerous ways.
5) The Idolatry of Individualism
The term “idolatry” is somewhat foreign to many Christians. It connotes images of gold-covered statues and flaky figurines. We’re not so dumb as to let such things lead us away from the Eternal One. But what about when the term is linked to one of our culture’s highest values? That’s a tad less comfortable.
6) You Are Not a Computer (Try as You May)
Technology is meant to serve us. Instead it increasingly runs us — and runs us down. Tony Schwarz of HBR brings these words of balance to how to live plugged-in without being sucked dry.
Have a great weekend, friends–renew yourself and reverence God.
Tuesday Trick: Learning a New Language
Like many, I have dreamed of being multilingual but have taken few serious strides toward the goal since Grade Twelve French class ended.
If you are one of the diehard dreamers, then Gabriel Wyner’s example of tackling this task so successfully as to learn four languages in four years may both inspire you AND provide you with some concrete steps for moving forward.
This article is full of potentially valuable links to helpful resources for formulating an intentional process to deliver you to the doorstep of expanding the range of your tongue!
Finding Life within Lament: How the Bible’s Bitterest Book Breathes into Our Souls
Last week, our church’s Scripture schedule walked us through Lamentations, a killer of a book whose editors in today’s market would surely have chosen a different title!
Whatever the case, through this prophetic piece of piercing poetry we plodded. (Use of alliteration: Check.)
Unbeknownst to the casual Bible reader, a famous excerpt of Scripture comes from Lamentations. Chapter three, to be exact. Recited or sung alone, these well-known words are inspiring and hopeful. But found within their devastating context, they are nearly other-worldly. In an exercise that often assists my Bible-reading efforts, here is my re-phrasing of Lamentations 3:19-33:
Remember my affliction and my wanderings, the choking bitterness on which I gag. My soul cannot forget; I am bent and broken within myself. Yet one thing I call to mind, and hope breathes.
Yahweh’s love remains, steadfast and without ceasing. His mercies never end, renewing with every dawn. Great is Your faithfulness! My soul declares, “Yahweh is my allotted and sufficient portion; I will steadily hope in Him.”
Yahweh’s goodness is tasted by those who wait for Him; His presence is perceived by those who seek Him.
It is good that one should quietly await Yahweh’s salvation. It is good to bear His life-giving yoke. Even if the yoke arrives with suffering, sit in silence and feel its weight. Despair not, for hope is here. If the yoke arrives as a blow, offer your cheek to your striker, for Yahweh will not endlessly rebuke. Though He grieve you, His compassion is complete, according to His plentiful and steadfast affection. He is not eager to afflict or grieve the children of men.
Saturday Six-Pack (11)
It feels like Saturdays roll around every seven days or so! And with THIS particular one, I extend a warm welcome to you this realm of “Wandering & Wondering”.
Each weekend, the Six-Pack gathers a half-dozen articles that have informed or inspired over the past week. Most are faith-focused or ministry-geared; others fall under my “disorderly pile of who-knows-what” catch-all qualifier!
Today’s collection:
1) The Historical Reliability of the New Testament
Craig Blomberg is a world-renowned biblical scholar, and he’s got a dozen reasons why he is confident of the New Testament’s historical reliability.
2) The Art of Being a Jerk Online
If you’ve ever felt that cyber-etiquette had become too refined or you felt a need to make a negative impression, Frank Viola has ten fool-proven methods on how to lose friends and irritate people online.
3) Nine Ways to Fight the Temptation of Pornography
To anyone who’s ever felt the allure of this destructive bait, B.J. Stockman offers nine tips that may help.
4) Why Personal Development is So Hard
Ever wanted to change for the better, then realized how uphill the climb was? John Richardson sets up for some significant revelation on this front. (Translation: Reading THIS article will queue you up for reading a few more posts on this blog.)
5) Where People Get Scripture Wrong
Taken as a whole, the Church clearly can’t live without the Bible—but it doesn’t seem to have much idea how to live with it, either. N.T. Wright points out common “right” and “left” misreadings of the Bible.
6) A Super Efficient Email Process
How much of your time gets swallowed up by cyber-communication? If you said, “More than I’d like” in any form or phrasing, then Peter Bregman’s piece from the Harvard Business Review might be your prescription for taking back control of your inbox.
Have a great weekend, friends–renew yourself and reverence God.