Years ago, I worked as a Project Assistant for the Arizona Game and Fish Department on a trout habitat below Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River. We arrived by boat near the diversion tunnels at the base of the dam, and as he jumped out, my boss wrapped the rope around a large rock. After working a while, I went back for supplies. Climbing over a rock outcropping, I panicked! The rope had come loose, and the current was rapidly pulling the boat downstream. I took a gigantic leap for it. … [Read more...] about Are You Anchored?
Practical Christain Living
What is Human Greatness?
What is human greatness to you? What sort of definition comes to your mind when you think of someone being âgreatâ? Some might think of personality, intellect, wealth or physical prowess as something that sets someone in the realm of the âgreat.â Obvious and publicized accomplishments that make oneâs name widely recognized would surely be markers of greatness. Alexander the Great conquered all the known world by the age of 33. Thomas Edison held over 1,000 patents for his many inventions in … [Read more...] about What is Human Greatness?
Hear The Voice
In the midst of the coronavirus disaster, we are hearing many voices. The fact that the virus at the center of the crisis has many unknowns increases the cacophony. We hear experts contradicting each other, politicians leveraging the situation and the worldâs top medical professionals doing their best to inform the public. All of this is natural as nations struggle to come to terms with something they were unprepared for and are uncertain as to how to respond. What are we to believe? … [Read more...] about Hear The Voice
Getting Out of the Mess Weâre In
There is one thing we have in common with everyone else. And itâs not just something we have in common with people who are just like us or our friends, but itâs something we have in common with people we donât even knowâwith people very much unlike us. Make no mistake; we all have a mess in our lives. And even if youâre lucky enough to be between messes right now, youâre still just a decision away from creating a brand-new mess. We are all good at hiding our messes. In fact, we usually are … [Read more...] about Getting Out of the Mess Weâre In
The Most Dangerous Temptation That Faces Our Youth
Imagine your beaming little boy or energetic little girl. Youâre watching them grow and develop year after year and you wish that time would stand still. âStop growingâŚâ is a phrase youâve almost certainly told your child at some point in time in their young life. The years go by, and you see this innocent and inquisitive child learn new things. You know theyâre going to be exposed to some filthy things in their life. But right now, you see the light in their eyes and the purity in their spirit … [Read more...] about The Most Dangerous Temptation That Faces Our Youth
Following the Crowd
A common practice amongst government departments is that of lobbying. Lobbyists put pressure on individuals in government to persuade them to do something. We are also familiar with terms like group pressure, peer pressure and social pressure. The idea is to influence someone to conform to those who are doing the pressuring. This can, of course, be positive or negative. Scripture warns us to be wary of group think. âYou shall not follow a crowd to do evilâ (Exodus 23:2). It is rare in … [Read more...] about Following the Crowd
Expressions of Tribalism
It is difficult to escape the feeling that our world is becoming more divided by the day. For example, we are hearing more about political identity. While it has been quite customary to identify with some political party in terms of general policy, the term has now developed a sharper edge. Amy Chua writing in The Guardian newspaper notes: âWhen groups feel threatened, they retreat into tribalism. When groups feel mistreated and disrespected, they close ranks and become more insular, more … [Read more...] about Expressions of Tribalism