In essentials, unity. In non-essentials, liberty. In all things, love. Augustine Yeah, but what are the “essentials”? Yesterday I asked the question Who’s “They”? in the context of our propensity to draw lines and categorize ourselves in terms of we and they. Then I ran across this familiar Augustine quote. It made me wonder why, […]
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Who’s “They”?
First they ignore you, then they ridicule you, then they fight you, then you win. Gandhi Do you ever look at something really familiar and see something you’ve never seen before? I admire Gandhi; this is one of my favorite quotes. I get his point, but a closer look causes me to wonder: who’s “they”?
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Does your cause justify “whatever it takes”? This is Black History Month, so my question’s motivated by thoughts of America’s struggle with civil rights for African-Americans. But it applies equally to questions of national sovereignty, disability issues, or gathering support for relief to earthquake victims in Haiti. Is any cause so right, so just, so […]
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It’s Monday, which means word-of-the-week time here at Bouncing Back. Today’s word is: Peace We usually think of peace as the absence of war or conflict. But I’m thinking of something a bit more proactive. Jesus said: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the […]
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I’d like to recommend a wonderful blog called 300 Words A Day. I stumbled upon Jon Swanson’s writing by accident, and it’s become a must-read each morning before I begin work. Jon is currently walking us through the Gospel of John, using precisely 300 words to offer beautifully crafted insights. I’m amazed by his ability […]
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If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. [1 John 1:9] I’m sorry. Those words don’t always come easily, and sometimes really meaning them is harder than saying them. But what happens once you’ve mustered the courage to apologize?
Continue readingMore TagRecruiting Or Evangelism?
How do you share your passion? Do you have something you’re excited about? Perhaps it’s a hobby, a cause, a product, or an idea, but whatever it is really stirs you, gets your juices flowing. You want to spread the word. I’ll use this blog as an example. I spend time on writing because I […]
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Do you ever just feel “down” for no really good reason? I’m there right now. A friend disappointed me. A project seems stalled. Cold weather makes everything about my injury a little more difficult. Nothing really major or life-threatening to point at, but somehow everything just seems a bit gray at the moment. I don’t […]
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Happy Monday and welcome to word-of-the-week here at Bouncing Back. SURRENDER “Surrender” isn’t a popular notion in our culture. We don’t like to lose, and surrender usually connotes admitting some sort of defeat. But there’s another reason to surrender. Sometimes you simply conclude that a particular battle isn’t worth fighting, that the possible gains simply […]
Continue readingMore TagThe Butterfly Circus
Happy Saturday! I encourage you to grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and be inspired by a 20-minute video. I invite you to leave a comment concerning your reaction to the guy in the top hat. “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now […]
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“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. [Isaiah 43:18-19] How long does “new” last? Just a few weeks ago we celebrated a new […]
Continue readingMore TagThe Need To Be Right
Am I the only one who struggles with the need to be right? Actually, that’s not quite correct. My real issue involves needing others to acknowledge that I’m right. I get passionate about something, an idea, a cause, a program—nothing wrong with that. But the next thing you know I’m immersed in a knockdown argument […]
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