Some quotes from leaders attending Orange Conference last week, via Brian Dodd: The antidote to cynicism is curiosity. The curious are never cynical. The cynical are never curious. The cynical have it all figured out.—Carey Nieuwhof There are no balanced old people. You’re really angry or you’re really happy.—Carey Nieuwhof Jesus prepared for 30 years … Continue reading »
Tagged with wisdom …
Heroes and mentors
Only last night, I was bemoaning how the PC(USA) does such a lousy job of developing new pastors. (I.e., me.) You get an education, you get evaluated on your gifts for ministry, and then you get turned loose on some poor, unsuspecting church. In too many ways, you’re on your own as a pastor. Our … Continue reading »
What’s Your Problem?
There’s a fascinating conversation between Moses and God in Exodus 4. You know the story. Moses has just been called to lead the people of God up out of bondage in Egypt. God wants Moses to go tell Pharaoh to let his people go. But Moses doesn’t want to go. He’s got a new life … Continue reading »
Sharing Good News (a Lesson from the Bible)
One of my favorite Bible stories is found in 2 Kings 7. A neighboring empire had attacked Israel and Jerusalem was under siege. The city was surrounded, so nothing could get in or out, and people got very, very hungry. But one night, God caused the besiegers to hear the sound of a great army. … Continue reading »
From Dream to Waking
I read this today: I am certain that in passing from the scientific points of view to the theological, I have passed from dream to waking. Christian theology can fit in science, art, morality, and the sub-Christian religions. The scientific point of view cannot fit in any of these things, not even science itself. I … Continue reading »
Second-Chance God
He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. … Continue reading »
Use words if necessary…
Have you ever heard that quote by St. Francis of Assisi? I couldn’t guess how many times I’ve heard it. I’ve used it myself. It’s a great quote. Except it’s not a quote. Who knew?
the pleasure of service?
In that random way things turn up on the internet, I was directed to an article “Why won’t feminists admit the pleasure of infants?” by Katie Roiphe. Here’s the part that caught my eye: But then part of the allure of maternity leave is precisely this: You give up everything you are and care about. … Continue reading »
The future of retirement
A thought-provoking discussion of retirement that I came across had some amazing statistics: Studies show that retirement is no good for you. Even if you hate the job you go to every day, sudden abrupt inactivity is a bad idea. A working paper by the National Bureau of Economic Research entitled “The Effects of Retirement … Continue reading »
Interviews with N.T.Wright
The Presbytery next door had a pastor’s retreat with N.T. Wright as a guest speaker. Great chunks (all?) of his talks are now on YouTube at LRPtv (Los Ranchos Presbytery TV). If you’ve never heard of Wright, you owe it to yourself to listen to some of these.