In moments of intense suffering, we might find comfort and encouragement in the compassionate and timely words of close friends. Or we might not. Sometimes the words delivered to us, or if we look in the mirror, those that we deliver to a suffering friend when the shoe is on the other foot, seem more […]
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For many years, a few of my law partners and I would meet during a lunch break for Bible study. The fellowship and encouragement was special to us all and helped us connect on a level besides our common profession and employer. During one of our sessions over 20 years ago, one of them made […]
Sometimes God shows up in unexpected places. It’s not so much that you expressly and instantly recognize God in a particular moment or encounter; rather, you just have a nagging sense during it or soon afterwards that something bigger is going on than meets the eye. Songwriter/guitarist Phil Keaggy captured this phenomenon in his song […]
I’m not a fan of horror movies. In the few I have seen, I found myself shielding my eyes and even trying to stop my ears. It is rather embarrassing cowering next to my wife who, although not a fan of the genre either, stares at the screen through every gory detail. A Field Trip […]
I once heard a man say, in the context of contending with his son’s devastating injury, that “faith makes no provision for doubt.” I think I understood what he meant, although I couldn’t understand his decision that he explained with those words. He was a deeply committed Christian, and his earnest prayer was for his […]
I have a friend and law partner who is a very smart guy. His academic pedigree is impressive enough, but his insightful brilliance and careful attention to detail have earned him a well-deserved reputation as a top-shelf transactional lawyer. When discussing a deal, or even some deep, spiritual topic, he has a practice of giving […]
In his book The Divine Conspiracy, the late Dallas Willard gives the analogy of a fighter pilot becoming disoriented and flying upside down without realizing it[1]. In that circumstance, even thoughtful and well-intentioned actions can yield catastrophic results. It is a powerful reminder that we as people can become so disoriented in our fundamental conclusions […]
In his classic work Walden, Henry David Thoreau wrote that “the mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” It’s a phrase oft-repeated that resonates with many, but the observation, though insightful, has hardly been the stuff of empirical data. That may be changing. Nobel-laureate and Princeton Professor of Economics, Sir Angus Deaton, and his […]