Living The Life

I have this theory I’m convinced of, that people grow through two things: (1) Meaningful traditions practiced repeatedly, and (2) Events that totally take you out of your norm.  We grow individually that way, we grow as families that way, we grow in relationships that way. Think about it: What do you remember from when…

This weekend we talked about how a lot of people take a religious approach to God, a checklist kind of Christianity – go to church once a week, pray a little, give a little, maybe serve a bit. And it can look, and maybe even feel, like that makes you a Christian. But the reality…

Deus ex machina means “god out of the machine” and is a plot device used in movies where an impossible problem is suddenly solved by a (typically ridiculously contrived) intervention of a new character or event or ability. When it happens, you roll your eyes because you know that doesn’t happen in real life. Here’s…

Yesterday was Amy Winehouse’s funeral. She was 27 when she died on Friday, and it’s got to be one of the least surprising early deaths ever. In fact, I just found a website that, on December 13th, 2007 did a poll for what day Winehouse would die, offering an iPod to the person who guessed…

There’s an old saying:  A hero is a man who is afraid to run away. So what are you afraid of?  Perhaps you need to instead fear the alternative.  Afraid of sharing your faith with friends? Instead, fear them never hearing about Jesus. Afraid of tithing? Instead, fear never making an eternal impact with your…