The scene: Jesus is between two thieves, all on crosses. One thief begins to mock Jesus like the crowd has been doing. “Aren’t you the Christ? Save yourself and us!” (Luke 23:39 NIV)
The other thief rebukes him. “Don’t you even fear God?” (Luke 23:40), knowing they would see God very soon. This thief admits his guilt. He knows he has broken laws that require his life. He doesn’t deny it…doesn’t hide behind anything. “We are punished justly” he says, “but this man, has done nothing wrong.” (Luke 23:41)
All three knew their fate…death would come to them that day. There would be no hope that the Romans would somehow fail at their task. Their last moments on earth would be impaled to a cross, with no chance of escape. Yet, this one thief sees hope in Jesus. Somehow, the mercy of God is given to this condemned man. He has been given enough faith by God to cry out…
“Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” (Luke 23:42)
Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43)
The thief only asks to be remembered. Jesus says, “You will be with me”.
The thief says “when” …someday…whenever that might be…Jesus says, “That’s today”.
The thief only wants to be in any part of his kingdom. Jesus says, “You will be in paradise.”
Jesus takes an eight-word request… “remember me when you come into your kingdom” … from a justly condemned man and He magnifies it to heavenly sizes. It becomes far more than the thief could have asked or imagined. “Today…you will be with ME…in paradise.”
Jesus, on the cross, physically dying, still saves the thief. A man with no opportunity to do any good works, and Jesus in His mercy carries him across the finish line into paradise. He will never be baptized…never preach…he will never even speak his testimony…a man who will be dead within a couple hours with the name that we only know… “thief” …this man enters heaven with the King of Heaven at his side. That’s the mercy of Jesus.
Jesus makes friends with one more sinner to carry him home. In a paraphrase from C.H. Spurgeon, Jesus, again, is a picture of the complete grace and mercy of God and not one iota of human merit is involved. That’s the mercy of Jesus. Do you need that kind of mercy?
“A church built on Truth and Love brings healing to the nations”
-Pastor Peter Damaska
“Even YOUR little broken down church in the middle of nowhere can bring healing to the nations”
-Rob Garrison, blog author
Our pastor’s sermon came from Revelation 2:1-7 yesterday…the letter to the Church in Ephesus. He’s started a new series in which we are looking at all 7 letters in Revelation 2 and 3. Most relevant I think.
It seems the Church in Ephesus was quite good at finding the wrong in other world views. They could tell the false teachers from the true ones. They understood good arguments and pointed out the bad. They knew true Christ followers from the “posers” and those who were only in it for the money, fame…whatever. Cool. Enforces my own belief in the fully expounded view of 1 Peter 3:15 (that “1” is pronounced “First” in this context and not “One”…smile if you get it) to always have a defense and Colossians 2:8 which speaks to “hollow and deceptive philosophy”. Seems the Church at Ephesus read those letters too.
However, Jesus (speaking to John in Revelation) says He has something He “holds against” them as well. As a good leader, Jesus first compliments what they are doing well. But, He follows with the not so well. The church at Ephesus had “forsaken the love they had at first”(Rev 2:4)! And we need to take note of that. Especially those of us who like the arguments for/against Christianity and like to be right. We have a tendency (myself 100% included) to forget love. Peter didn’t forget it when he wrote 1 Peter 3:15…”Do this with gentleness and respect” ends the verse. And ends our arguments if we place any value on love whatsoever. I mean the arguments that spiral to egoism and for only the sake of being right. Even if we are right…what did we win? Only a boost in our pride and a pat on the back from other believers…maybe. But did we make another disciple? Did we even START to make a disciple? Did they become more curious about Christianity or did we just continue the stereotype that all Christians are arrogant? The apologetic arguments can only help clear the rubble if used in love. We are not to use them to add to the massive pile of rubble that already exists.
So we need Love. Not a new thought…but one easily forgotten. Love God and Love others as myself. First. My argument is always second. I am second (if not 3rd or 4th). God is first…others and I come after that. The Truth of God is evident…He has made it plain (Romans 1), but many are blinded by outside forces, hollow and deceptive philosophy, and strong internal wills. With that view in mind, that they do not see is not completely their fault. Which makes it becomes easier to love them. Presenting logical arguments…Truth…can help remove some of the barriers to seeing Christ for who He truly is. Love will bring them home, and I want to thank Pastor Peter for highlighting that yesterday. I’m sure others heard some other things that apply directly to themselves and their Christian walk. For me it was to continue with my studies, ensuring I don’t fall to the false teachers, but never forgetting Jesus loves all of us equally. I surely don’t want it “held against” me that I had forgotten love. Especially when Jesus took specific time to ensure those Words were inked for that particular problem. Being right about the “right” teachers can never trump loving the “wrong” teachers…even the ones I don’t like. Or the ones I sit next to in church.
Healing for the nations starts with loving those around us, in the Truth of Jesus. Jesus commanded it and then again reminded us in His final book to not forget it. Why? Well, yes because He first loves us, but also because Truth and Love does bring healing to the nations. And we sure do need some healing.
The Oregon coast…first day of summer, 2014, on a sixty degree day with full sun and a steady breeze coming in off the ocean. My wife and I had a wonderful day just taking in the coast line. Just a mile north of this spot is wide open sandy beaches. This stretch is far more dramatic, with the waves crashing in, even though they were relatively small. That’s the coast of Oregon however, dramatic and rocky in one area and just a few miles away, great expanses of sand. Each has its own beauty. Each is worthy of enjoying, worthy of appreciating God’s diversity in how He determined to “set limits” (Job 38:10) for the sea. “This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt” (Job 38:11).
I spent twenty years in the Navy so I’ve been privileged to see many places where God placed His limit on the sea. Each is different, unique and special…God’s “doors and bars” upon the sea (Job 38:10). Many people enjoy going to the sea shore; it seems near impossible that there is so much water in one place. Water is (in general) an attraction for people, whether the sea or a lake, river or stream, we are drawn to the water. Water landscapes offer some of the most beautiful scenes in the world and are truly a place where one can see and feel the Lord if you choose to allow Him to reveal Himself. It’s our choice really…do we see God or do we just thank “Mother Nature” for such an awesome scene? Mother Nature is much more forgiving from an eternal standpoint and therefore a safer place to go….or seemingly safer.
She does not condemn us after death (and neither does God…but that’s another blog…another sermon…another thought) but can make life on earth difficult on occasion. Floods, draughts, tornados and hurricanes are just some of the ways “she” unleashes her fury on earth. And sometimes in her wrath, she takes life. However, there’s no accounting to her for our life. Whether we thank her or not, it has no bearing on the afterlife. So, when we see the Oregon coast, we can just thoughtlessly thank “her” and move on. In the process we ignore the One who actually made it. Why do we do that? Ignore the artist for the artistry? Place gratefulness into the hands of an entity that doesn’t exist (Mother Nature) instead of worshipping the Creator of existence? Oh how we long to relieve ourselves of the responsibility of our lives, choices and decisions!
Even in nature we’d rather think there’s a “Mother” involved than a Father. Father’s, while taking care of us, also hold us accountable. Mothers’ do hold us accountable, but there’s always been something about the phrase, “Just wait until your father gets home!” We don’t often want that accountability…we’d rather forget what we said or did. At the same time holding onto whatever was said or done to us. Hypocrisy at its finest! “Forget my sin please…but I’m remembering yours!”
Why not go to the One who we ultimately sin against? He will forgive…not necessarily removing the consequences of the sin so there may be more action needed. But forgiveness is key to moving on in life. While the Father will hold you accountable, with His forgiveness He also promises to forget. Mother Nature doesn’t forgive, forget or remember anything…because she doesn’t exist! God however, hears it all, creates it all and greatly desires to hear from you…”in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (Phil. 4:6). For this, you get the “peace of God” (vs. 7) as well as the beauty of His creation.
6/13/14 The “Honey Moon” as it appeared in Oregon on the evening of Friday the 13th. Technically, it was “full” at 12:11 a.m. Friday morning, the time at which the moon was exactly opposite of the sun. Scientists tell us the moon appears full to the naked eye for about a day or two on either side of the full moon time. This moon is deemed “honey” due to it’s coloring…which my amateur picture does not show. However, it was a beautiful moon rise Friday evening coming up through the clouds and illuminating the tall pines just to our east.
This picture is entitled “Two Men Contemplating the Moon” by Caspar David Friedrich (1774-1840) painted ca. 1825-1830. I can enjoy and appreciate Friedrich’s work while looking at this painting. Friedrich is one of my favorite painters from this era. The quality of this painting is far beyond my photograph of the moon. I can also purchase a copy (maybe even the original) and hang it in my home forever. However, the image left in my mind that the photograph captures is far more than Friedrich or any other painter could provide. God left a mark in my mind.
I also have no problem recalling the painter (creator) of th or any other painter. Why is it so easy to forget Him who created all of this? It is obvious to me…or should be…that there is Someone who created the moon and hung it where I see it. But…I tend to forget even in the midst of enjoying an awesome moon rise. Forgive me Lord for ever forgetting to acknowledge you when I see Your beauty in nature.
It’s not a hard stretch to understand why some folks (especially in ancient religions) chose to worship the moon. It can be quite awesome to see as it lights up a valley or makes night nearly day, complete with shadows. I often enjoyed the moon when I lived in southern Arizona where there wasn’t any light pollution. I especially enjoyed watching it rise up behind the buttes that rose directly to the east of the ranch. I always tried to thank the Creator for the moon and my heart was grateful to the One who put it in place. Never did I think to worship an over-sized rock that is in orbit around the earth, although I can and do forget the One who put it there. (As a side thought: IF all has arisen by nature alone, how is it we can appreciate creation at all? Why is a sunset or moon rise beautiful?)
Do you worship the One who created or the created thing? Often it’s easy to overlook the One who brings things about…the moon, flowers, mountains, a gurgling stream…for the thing itself. We don’t often overlook the artist when enjoying a painting or a sculpture…how is it we overlook God when enjoying nature? We easily appreciate the ones who painted our favorite works, so how do we miss God when we see the moonrise within the clouds? Is not that painting more beautiful than any man-made work? For me it is. I can appreciate the arts and have some favorites, but none compare to a sunset or a moon rise, as fleeting as they are. He placed them there for our (my) enjoyment: Notice and Be Grateful. Ever grateful for the One and His Works that were made for our pleasure!
Photo by Nick Garrison All Rights Reserved https://www.flickr.com/photos/nickgarrison/
He (God) took him (Abraham) outside and said, “Look up at the heavens and count the stars-if indeed you can count them.” Genesis 15:5
Count the stars Abraham, if indeed you can! Does God ask us rhetorical questions? It would seem so. How many stars are there? How many are in just this one small view of the heavens? I’m guessing most of us wouldn’t take the time to try and count them. Additionally, if we were to go outside some evening with nothing but a pencil and paper, we wouldn’t be able to count them. Photographers know if they are to take pictures of the night sky, they can’t expose the picture for more than 30 seconds as the stars will blur due to the earths movement. So, to count them some dark night is virtually impossible without some sort of technological aid. Scientists tell us there are more than ten to the 24th stars in the known universe (Cain). Cain also reports that we can only count about 9000 stars. That’s what Abraham saw…about 9000…maybe.
What we now know is that many of the “stars” we see are actually galaxies with billions of stars in them. So, we can’t even get an accurate count with our technology today, let alone what someone in the 2nd millennium B.C. could count. Why might this be important? It’s important because God himself placed those stars there, as well as the galaxies. “He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name” (Psalm 147:4). He created each and every one, named them and placed them where He desired, so that not one is out of place. For us.
God takes the time to create the stars, place them and name them; so many we can’t even grasp the number. Clearly, the stars are important to God, so it should likely follow that we thank Him for them. We should take the time to wander out some dark night and just gaze at the night sky. Likely, you’ll also see a meteor as well. The American Meteor Society reports at least a dozen different times when meteor activity is high during the year (Meteor Shower Calendar).
This picture shows a band of our own Milky Way galaxy. Count them if you can. Better yet, look and see that God’s promise to Abraham was bigger than he could imagine. God promises the same for you…dreams that are bigger than yourself; dreams only God can imagine and want for you. You only need to step into it…marvel at the stars and let your dreams begin.
Works Cited
Cain, Fraser. “How Many Stars are There in the Universe?” 3 June 2013. University Today. Web. 20 August 2013.
“Meteor Shower Calendar.” 2013. American Meteor Society. Web. 20 August 2013.
Sanity? Insanity? Which do we choose?
God’s definition of sanity: Doing the same loving acts over and over again without regard for the worlds’ response.
Well…as I see it anyway. Looking at the common street level definition of “insanity”, this seems to fit as a rudimentary definition from God’s perspective of being sane. We can’t decide “rightness” or “loving” based on what the world says. Never. We can only determine that on what God says. And we pursue it at any cost for His sake. Not our own.
For God to deem us “sane” should we not seek His commands? To be sane, should we not perform acts that others think crazy? Sanity…from Heaven’s standpoint…leads to Jesus. AND it leads others to Him as well.
Yet, Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:13 that sometimes “we are out of our mind…it is for the sake of God”. Can we reconcile that? Surely…as the definition I’ve applied to sanity is mine, not necessarily God’s. Yet, we do have to act contrary to this world in many respects if we are to follow the Christian path. That contrariness is in line with what God feels about money, others, widows, orphans, the alien…on it goes. So, in our sanity for Christ, we appear insane to the world. At least, we are doing “nice things” for those in need. Sometimes those actions are deemed by others as nice but not necessary and things that they themselves would surely not do.
So, in verse 14 Paul says, “If we are in our right mind, it is for you”. “You” in this case is the “Church of God in Corinth” and by extension, us in the “Church of God” today. From all this, one can only deduce that we are going to be looking a bit insane no matter which side of the church doors we are on Sunday. Those on the outside see us as insane…we on the inside see them as insane. Conclusion: we are all crazy. We are all insane by someone’s standard, so we must look to another standard to determine who is right (sane) or wrong (insane).
That standard would be the Word of God. That standard that says in the middle of the book of Job what it means to be a Christian…what it means to be righteous and a “man of integrity” as Job was. (God labeled Job as a man of integrity!) Read Job 29:12-17 as Job pleads his case to God. He describes his righteous life as one we would also describe as righteous and would love for others to ascribe to us. “Rescued the poor” and “fatherless”; “made the widow’s heart sing”; “righteousness” as clothing; “eyes to the blind” and “feet to the lame”; “father to the needy”…these are all attributes we esteem in others as Christians and seek to do the same. Job got it right…and he was considered crazy by his “friends” all the while God deemed him a man of integrity (Job 2:3).
So…be crazy, for God. Do the crazy things He puts on your heart to do. Say the crazy things that He leads you to say. Keep your integrity. Be out of your mind for God and in your right mind for others…play both sides as God leads you, but know you’ll always be crazy in someone’s eyes. We might as well be crazy for God…and keep on loving the unlovable.
While recently reviewing the life of Abraham and Sarah, I found something I thought was interesting and worth a closer look. When God made His first promise to Abram, “I will make you into a great nation” (Gen. 12:2), he was 75 years old and his wife, Sarai was 65. At this age, Sarai was already likely past the age of becoming pregnant. In the culture they lived in at the time and they likely had some polytheistic beliefs. Also, it was a time when having an heir was considered very important and wives were expected to have sons. To this point in their life, and likely a fairly long marriage, there had been no children. Abram had taken no other wife nor had fathered any children by any servants. One noteworthy thing is they were following a biblical example of marriage since the beginning, whether they were aware of it or not.
For Abram to become a “great nation” there were going to have to be kids involved. Most people their age now would almost shudder if they were suddenly expecting. They would have to wait another 25 years for Isaac to be born. While they had never done anything to bring about an heir for Abraham before God spoke to him; AFTER the promise they would have a child, they decided how to get it done.
How often do we try to “force” a promise from God? How often do we take matters into our own hands and often delay the promise or good things God has for us because we can’t see how that might happen? How often do we test God, His patience and judgment with our own devices based on a biblical promise? Abraham and Sarah never did any of that until after they were promised by God. They had the faith to follow His lead to a “land I will show you” (Gen. 12:1). Yet, somewhere along the 25 year wait (about 10 years) for a child, they decided that their way was what God meant. God is never early or late in His promises and in doing His will…how would that look in your life right now? What are you waiting for, maybe begging for, that hasn’t shown up yet? Do you have the faith to go to the land He will show you and expect the rest will come with it? What lesson is He waiting (patiently) for you to learn so the two of you can move on together?
I was assigned to write a praise and lament psalm of my own…here are the results. Hope you enjoy.
Praise Psalm
Men of the world, Praise God as He brings forth new life and salvation
O Lord, the giver of life and earth, Praise your Name
See how the eagle watches over all You have given him with his wings lifting him high on the very breath of life
See how the flowers of the field dance and praise You with their color and form
Listen as the streams shout your Name, giving new life to all the beasts of the field and fish in the waters
Hear as the trees of the forest will sing for joy (Ps.96:12), reaching higher to the heavens to proclaim Your goodness
You and You alone God, are the giver of all that lives and breathes proclaiming your love for man and earth and all the breath of the fields and waters
May your Name be exalted among all men, may they remember your Son and his victory over death
Show your love to those who live in lies and can not see the beauty of your handiwork in all creation
May they look upon your world and know that only you O Lord are the giver of all things
It grieves my soul to see how some have fallen away, grasping to the lies of the world and ignoring the truth that only you provide; can they not see the beauty of all creation?
Your truth will shine through; Your light exposes all deceit and will drive out all falsehoods among the nations
The world will see that you are the only God and know how much you love them
Praise the Lord, the giver of life and breath and all that returns new in the Spring, may the earth and the men of the world rejoice in your blessings
I choose creation and more specifically Spring-time to Praise God for; I find God every time I wander the woods or walk along a stream. My travels have allowed me to see much of the creation of this earth and I often find it amazing that there are those who can not see God when they step outside their doors. The beauty we see is not from random chance, but is revealing the very glory of God in each animal, flower, mountain, hill and stream.
Lament Psalm
O Lord, how long will you see my tears? How long must I wait for your deliverance?
My soul is torn in two and healing is not within my grasp
I yearn for peace, for nights that bring rest, but they elude me
My heart cries for your salvation, I am forced to restore what I did not steal (Ps. 69:4b)
I was set aside for no reason, forgotten for no cause
The evil one placed his shadow upon me and clouded the sun
I sought solace in your light, tears overflowed and yet you did not hear
Restore to me my salvation and hope and joy which only you can provide
Though you have made me see troubles, you will again bring me up and comfort me once again (Ps. 71:20-21)
You listen to those who obey your commands, who seek your righteousness in all their ways
Let me again rejoice at the sound of your Name, the truth of your love and feel your presence in my heart
Bring to me the peace that has left me, Praise the Lord for bringing peace to the weary and heartbroken
Let your name be heard in all the earth, let all those who seek justice find comfort in your love
On Wednesday this week I received news that I knew in my heart but hadn’t heard first hand. It was like the re-opening of an old wound that hadn’t quite healed. A wound I thought WAS healed and I had moved on. But, with new information that was fact, I had to digest it again and come to terms with it. Additionally, in the process of learning, I realized that many people I knew were aware of that fact, but had neglected to tell me. I don’t blame them, nor love them less, as I know it was/is primarily because they care about me and didn’t want to hurt me…or maybe just assumed I already knew. In any case, I also had to deal with it from that aspect; that friends and family were still in contact and conversation to some degree with one who had hurt me deeply.
On Thursday, as I was trying to work through it all…trying to decide what’s “Christian” and why some things come back to the surface after so long, I opted for a walk in the woods near here, on a trail that runs along a local river. As I got out of my car and headed down towards the river I grabbed a Bible I keep in my car as I felt prompted to stick my nose in scripture while I was trying to enjoy a bit of nature and come to terms with old history.
I was pleased to see some trout almost immediately, hitting the surface of the water at everything that floated their way. I watched them for a while and mo
ved down river, opening my Bible to the Sermon on the Mount and began reading. “He (Jesus) sat down teaching them, saying “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven. Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.”
At that point I could no longer read the words on the page, as the tears welled up. I walked along further and reread the first two beatitudes again. “Poor in Spirit”…I think I qualify. I think. “Mourn”…definitely qualify. The words worked through me, from my mind and into my heart… which is where they need to be. I read further…”Blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.”
I read more, but those first four, I committed to memory, not something I’m good at, but for some reason this day, it came easily. I can’t say I came to complete terms with God about all that I had to work through, as I’m still doing it today. These things are often a matter of time and a change of heart. Changing the heart takes a lifetime I think. Setting aside ego, revenge, ill-will feelings towards those who’ve hurt you and then to sincerely pray for their own well-being, happiness and most importantly for them to come closer to Jesus takes work. That work often needs the help of the Spirit. I know I don’t carry within me the ability to do those things on my own, so I seek His assistance to make my heart right. Because I know that’s what I truly want…I’m not always pleased in the process of refining, but this is how He’s chosen to do it. Who am I to argue the process? Who am I to decide a better path?
Near the end of my walk, while still in a bit of loneliness and despair I was treated with this view….
Shortly after, the snow started coming down and I slowly made my way back to the car. A new man? Not really…but maybe, just maybe one step closer to the Father and by His Son’s Grace, a bit less hurt, a bit less ego centered and a step closer to total forgiveness…of the one who hurt me and of myself for my failures along the way. Blessings on whoever reads this.
“Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.” In your time Lord, not mine.
First, these 8 weeks have been a good ride. I’ve read authors I may have never picked up and it’s caused me to think deeply about an “intellectual” and how it may or may not apply to me. One thing I find clearly from the writers and more so from reading of scripture that developing the mind does apply to anyone who calls them self Christian. In short….it’s not an option. We may not seek development of the mind in the sense of being an intellectual as we may understand that term and describe it, but we are called to seek truth and wisdom countless times throughout scripture. God does not expect us nor desire us to sit back in our grace and not transform our minds.
Paul is clear in Romans about not conforming to this world but we need to continually be transforming our minds into the likeness of Christ (Romans 12). How that looks for each individual will obviously be different. We are not given the same intellectual capacity or the same spiritual gifts we are called to use. Yet, we are of One Body with Christ at the Head. With wisdom, we work together in the Body and understand that each is necessary, vital even, and that each has its place and time for use. Know when yours is called to be used and when to let another’s gift be used.
In the world we live in, we are under constant barrage to argue for what we believe is biblically right in terms of the definition of marriage, the sanctity of life from conception…and more. Our biblical arguments come across weak or antiquated to those who have no belief in the Word of God. Even if they do have some beliefs in a Creator, they tell us our arguments have no part in separation of church and state. In short, it’s becoming more and more difficult to intelligently discuss/argue biblical points of view in an increasingly relativistic and post-modern world.
Therefore, I submit we continue to follow our first calling, which is to follow Christ. Seek out how he communicated by study of the Gospels. Learn how He modeled the gift the Holy Spirit gave you. Learn how He spoke within the culture He was born into and model that in your own culture. We may be in a time that all of our arguments against issues in society that are quickly becoming the norm will fall on deaf ears. Remember that even Christ’s teachings fell on deaf ears and many just shook their heads and walked away. We can expect no less to happen to us from time to time. That may be the plan God has for us in this time, I don’t know. However, even if it is, I believe we need to continue to educate our self in all areas that God has placed on our hearts. Become the expert in what burns in you, both from a Biblical standpoint, but also a secular one. Learn to communicate in terms your detractors will understand, and possibly even accept as a good argument. Listen to the truth that they DO speak, and be in agreement. The secular world is full of God’s truth so we must find it and use it if we ever expect to make a change for the better.
Develop your mind. God gave it to you to use to the fullest capacity He pre-wired within you, not to just blindly run off in faith for we are to give a reason for the hope we have (1 Peter 3:15). While “blind faith” may be all we have in some circumstances, don’t assume it is always enough if you truly want to bring light into a dark world. Accept those times when faith didn’t seem to be enough for others to ‘buy into” and then seek His wisdom that it might become a victory in the future. We must speak in terms the culture will accept and do so humbly, as Christ modeled humility at its finest. If we are to reach a world for Christ, then we must be able to embrace the world as Christ does, for He loves the people of the world and is waiting for all of us to come to the truth. For the truth is the reason He entered the world and all who know the truth, know Jesus. (John 18:37) Learn to speak the truth with love, not only to those who sit next to you in church, but those who work next to you…your enemies as well as your friends.
While I’ve not quoted (directly) any of the books I’ve read over the last 8 weeks, I’ll list them here. If you agree we, as Christians, have a mandate to develop our minds, then I suggest reading Habits of the Mind: Intellectual Life as a Christian Calling by James W. Sire and The Life of the Mind: A Christian Perspective by Clifford Williams. If you are a soon to be college student, or parent of a high school teen thinking about college for them, then take a look at The Idea of a Christian College by Arthur F. Holmes. Blessings in your endeavors.
Teach Me Your Wisdom 