Category: interesting stuff

It’s been a while, I know. I was kind of otherwise occupied last weekend, but since I have a little bit of time on my hands, I can get a weekend post in even if it takes until Monday. The Covid-19 virus continues to spread around the world, although it seems that China and South Korea have turned the corner. Time will tell if they indeed have a handle on it. There is a great deal of misinformation out there, so please be careful of your sources. One of the best things we can do is be careful without panicking.

On to the links from this week:

Freedom can be scary.

Kathy Morales on peace.

Christianity and guns.

Good article from Tara Isabella Burton.

Short but sweet.

Here’s some comic relief.

The authentic self?

A study of Christians and fear.

This is something to be wary of.

This is why we should be careful what we believe.

Buyer beware.

At least she thought hard about it.

May we all grasp this before it’s our time to go.

The fear-driven life.

Stability.

Carmen Imes on what we can do.

Good article from Fred Smith.

Carl McColman on Celtic spirituality.

The blessing.

We’ll end on a funny from McSweeney’s.

Have a blessed week! Stay safe and healthy.

The longest short month is over and it is now March. Lent has begun, and Christians around the world are fasting from one thing or another. Others are doing acts of service. The silly season known as the primaries has also begun, and the airwaves are full of people telling you why they would be a better, fill in the blank, than anyone else. Can we fast from politics? Please.

On to the good stuff:

One person’s ideal bookstore.

Good post from Bruce Hillman.

What only the church can do.

It’s one or the other.

Steve Brown on Lent.

Wade Burleson on the troubles in the SBC.

Good article on youth anxiety.

Leisure class theory.

Scot McKnight on Lent and fasting.

Provocative post from Benjamin Corey.

One reason our community celebrates Mardi Gras.

10 things Frank Viola wishes he had been told.

The morning after.

Have a blessed week!

It’s the weekend once again. It’s Valentine’s weekend. Here in the sunny South, the daffodils and pear trees are blooming, the onion grass is growing, and we’re w;; hoping we don’t get a late cold snap and lose all the blooms. Chances of that happening are probably slim to none. Football season is over for a while, unless you are watching the XFL. The NBA is doing their all star weekend, and March Madness is just a few weeks away. As hard as it is to believe, baseball season will be here soon. The political ads have been appearing with increasing frequency, so it’s time to have the mute button ready for the TV. So far at least. they haven’t been too awful negative. That’s to come, I’m sure.

On to the good stuff:

Steve Brown on love.

One of the things that is true.

A long goodbye.

Valentine’s Day quotes from various people through the years.

In case you’re looking for some sweetheart candies.

Just when you though it was safe to go back into the toy store.

It’s about forgiveness.

Frank Viola on rejection.

Here’s an interesting take on the Prodigal Son.

God’s will.

Unorthodox, but good.

Chaplain Mike’s open invitation.

Amazing photos.

Frank Viola on the Bible.

Have a blessed week!

Greetings from the sunny South where this week we have had torrential rains with flooding, tornadoes, sunny skies with 70 degree temps, and snow. One thing you can say about our weather, if you don’t like it just wait a bit. It will change. In other news, we still have the same president. No matter how you feel about the political events of the past week, I think a lot of us can agree that things may get much worse if we all don’t get out of our echo chambers and learn to carry on civil conversations with those who disagree with us.

On to the good stuff:

In case you are stuck.

Time for a pop quiz.

Lest we forget.

I believe the author of this is correct.

More on love.

What are you upset about?

It’s a long read, but it’s good.

Chaplain Mike is not a culture warrior.

If you’re looking for self-help books, don’t look here.

Scot McKnight looks at tomorrow.

Dangerous prayers.

Listening and stillness.

On beauty.

Church as country club? Part 1.

David Brooks looks at Jesus.

Liking the fight?

Funny post from McSweeney’s

Good question.

Fred Smith measures.

Slightly different Aesop’s Fables.

Have a blessed week!

It’s chilly here in the sunny South. Winter has returned after a couple of weeks of spring like weather. Things should get interesting on the national stage as the third impeachment trial of a sitting president in US history gets underway. No matter which way you think the proceedings should go, the important thing to remember, if you are a follower of Jesus, is God is in control and we are to be more about his kingdom than a kingdom of this world.

On to the real reason you are here:

Good question from Fred Smith.

What kind of music does your dog like?

If you were to write your own obituary…?

For those who have already blown it with new year’s resolutions.

Good article from Jared Wilson.

A look at the Lord’s Prayer.

Interesting.

I wouldn’t mind experiencing this just once.

Funny article.

Smelling like sheep.

A pretty balanced answer.

The value of silence.

On the Lord’s Supper.

Chaplain Mike’s blast from the past.

Keeping time.

Have a blessed week!

We are now almost halfway through January. The college football season ends tomorrow and the NFL is almost finished. Basketball is going strong and baseball isn’t too far off.

Things seem to have settled down a bit in the Middle East. The fires in Australia continue, and have already burned over 18 million acres. It doesn’t look like there is much relief in sight. Prayer for the folks there.

Here is the good stuff:

This is big and encouraging, but this may be a problem.

Thought provoking post.

Predictions.

He was determined to go home.

Just in case you were wondering.

Being bald, I don’t think this would work for me.

Good post from Kevin Labby.

Waiting.

For everyone named Karen.

Unfortunately, these don’t work on every bit of noise.

It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

The power behind the throne?

The worst year in history. It’s not what you might think.

Good article from Darrell Lackey.

Classic post from Michael Spencer.

Stillness in the morning.

Have a blessed week!

The busyness of the Christmas season is over and a new year has begun. It looks like things may be heating up over in the Middle East, and nobody really knows what will happen next. Hopefully we won’t get caught in another long and ultimately useless war. I guess we’ll see.

On to the good stuff:

In case you think that it’s too much.

Good question.

Encouraging words from Steve Brown.

Promises, promises.

Sometimes the work gets too hard.

Fred Smith is burning bridges.

Good post from Bob Edwards.

Bad dog!

Cormac McCarthy branches out.

Sometimes you don’t even need to try.

Honesty.

The young folks are taking over in Finland.

That is a lot of bowls!

Karl Vaters on vision.

Good Christmas post from Internet Monk.

“First Coming”.

Craig Morton on routines.

In case you were wondering.

Three postures of the Christian.

I bet this doesn’t happen to everyone.

Have a blessed week!

It has been a busy couple of weeks for us. We were very involved in a four day arts festival in our little town, and last weekend we traveled to West Virginia for my sister-in-law’s funeral. It was a sad time but also a good time spent with family and reminiscing.

On to the good stuff:

I’d say that someone at the studio is clueless.

A tale of two churches.

Good article from Jessica Thompson.

This is a sad tale.

Broken homes.

When optimism doesn’t work.

KC Bob on the strength of hope.

I think maybe this may have been a mistake.

I’m sure this took a lot of work.

Just in case you might feel the need to practice.

This is definitely inspirational.

Good post from Fred Smith.

I have had personal experience with this.

Very good post on Advent.

This is a cool story.

I guess you can take some things too far.

Another good Advent post.

It has been said that Beauty will save the world. I believe it is true.

A slightly different Advent post.

Have a blessed week!

There is a great deal of drama going on these days. If I didn’t firmly believe that God was in charge, I might be worried. It has been pretty chilly here in the sunny South. Evidently some seventy percent if the country was below freezing a few days ago. It’s only November, so there’s no telling what awaits us the rest of the winter.

On to the good stuff:

There have been times when I have needed this kind of courage.

Not where you would expect to find Jesus.

This a good post about the cancel culture.

Why can’t I find anything like this hanging around my House?

Loving but not hating.

I never knew that Camus wrote about Super Mario.

Maybe it is possible to buy happiness.

Really. What can one person do, anyway?

I’m not too sure this is necessarily a good thing.

This is definitely not a good thing.

Some of the best photos of the week.

Evidently, Bach was a rebel. Who knew?

Ten questions from Karl Vaters.

Sometimes things just don’t go as planned.

Excuses, excuses.

Thought provoking post from Kathleen Mulhern.

Having trouble getting enough sleep? You’re not alone.

You know, I miss them too.

Being a Nicene Christian.

Provocative post from Benjamin Corey.

Have a blessed week!

Does it seem to anyone else that the year is flying by. It’s already the end of October and some stores are putting up their Christmas displays. That’s a pet peeve of mine, but that is a subject for another day. The baseball season is almost over, and football is almost at the halfway point. They say time goes quicker the older you get, but I can’t imagine it moving any faster.

On to the good stuff:

I think I might be just a little bit guilty of this.

Sometimes our prayers can get a bit ugly. But that’s okay.

Evidently, there is a thing called “leaning out.” This author says it’s a bad thing.

He may be right, but I think some may beg to differ.

Speaking of art critics, this writer makes some good points but I think he should check out the arts scenes in some of the small cities and towns.

There are a lot of bad stories that include “Florida man.” This is a good one.

Here is a post for those of us who like taking quizzes.

Are you cracked? It’s a good thing.

There are churches out there who get in the news for the wrong reasons. Here is one who made it for the right reason.

Sarah Condon puts down her thoughts on the McArthur/Moore kerfuffle.

I think this might be carrying things a bit too far.

Casey Cep tells us what was really going on with Thomas Edison.

Maybe now would be a good time to follow the lead of the French on this issue.

Here is an interesting story about the impact one person can have on another.

Who knew that the Grinch was active during Halloween?

Hopefully this will work.

Mark Longhurst on silence.

Sometimes you have to reframe things.

Maybe procrastination isn’t so bad after all.

KCBob has a good post on an intimate table.

Have a blessed week!