The reason increasing taxes doesn’t increase income to the government long term, but reducing taxes does… or at least can. In advance, I want to express my understanding that I am oversimplifying what has become a very complex issue. Let me also make clear that this principle doesn’t work ad infinitum (you cannot increase tax…Continue reading Why Raising Taxes Lowers Government Income (over time) – Part I
Post Abortion Healing Help
I have done post-abortion healing counseling groups a few times in the past – it is powerful, painful, redemptive, live-giving, and one of the toughest thing I have ever done for people… If anyone out there wants/needs to talk about this issue, I would love to talk about it with you… and am so proud…Continue reading Post Abortion Healing Help
Singing in Saint Ann's Church
This was my third time to take a pilgrimage in Israel – to walk the paths of the saints and prophets… There are few places in the world that truly “still” me. Two or three of them are there. Arbel is the first and most potent. Maybe I will write more on that someday. Another…Continue reading Singing in Saint Ann's Church
Book review – Tough Guys and Drama Queens
Recently, some publishers are sending me books and asking me to offer comment on them on my website, so expect to start seeing some “new book” reviews from time to time. Book: Tough Guys and Drama Queens Author: Mark Gregston – founder and executive director for Heartlight in Longview I speak regularly about…Continue reading Book review – Tough Guys and Drama Queens
A new way of thinking about Emotions?
Emotions – a new understanding I have written that recently my understanding of what emotions are has grown – or maybe, rather, shrunk… My understanding has grown simplified. I think that our emotions are largely our heart and soul communicating with our bodies. I have written more about this part of it… here The basic…Continue reading A new way of thinking about Emotions?
My Israel experience with a Hamas missile aka how I learned to appreciate the iron dome
At about 4:30 (Israel time, that’s about 8:30am Texas time, ya’ll), the Womenary group (from Tyler Texas. www.womenary.com) Israel trip was walking near the ancient port in Jaffa. Maybe you remember it as “Joppa” from Sunday School – the town where Jonah fled to find a ship to Tarshish, seeking to avoid God’s call to…Continue reading My Israel experience with a Hamas missile aka how I learned to appreciate the iron dome
Thoughts from Israel
I guess I should explain that I am in Israel right now, in Jerusalem, helping guide a tour for the Womenary ministry that I am a part of… we are on day 6 of a 7 day tour! First, to calm fears… Yes, there was some rioting in Jerusalem today and some people were…Continue reading Thoughts from Israel
Boundaries, Abuse and Terrorism
Good Boundaries, Healthy Relationships, and Terrorists One of the greatest signs of an unhealthy relationship is when one person takes on the responsibility for the bad conduct and strong emotions of the other. This is common in unhealthy relationships, by the way. An abused wife often finds herself in a constant frenzy in…Continue reading Boundaries, Abuse and Terrorism
interviewed for podcast: talking to kids about the Gospel
I was recently interviewed about talking to kids about the gospel – how, how young, etc. Check it out: http://chrisldrake.wordpress.com/radio-2/
Making People Dependent
There are a lot of old stories about Joseph Stalin. Like most tyrants, he inspired legends and tales. Who knows if this one is true? If you don’t know who he was, just consider than under his leadership, probably 4 times as many people were murdered by his government than the people under the…Continue reading Making People Dependent
Favorite Soundtracks
While I work, I listen to movie soundtracks (and some other classical music mixed in). I regularly get asked about them, so I thought I would offer these and see what kind of responses I get back, too! The movie may be important – and sometimes the memories of cool or powerful scenes connected to…Continue reading Favorite Soundtracks
Thoughts on smoking pipes… I recommend this site for some thoughts.
on Christians smoking pipes.
Parenting Seminar !!
I am teaching a basic parenting conference “Parenting in Freedom” at FBC Tyler’s South Campus Tuesday night, Sept 18th from 7-9:30 pm. Cost: $10 per person, $15 per couple. Come on! Learn about how grace and freedom can ease the stress and conflict of parenting! Q&A time included.
Rites of Passages – How our Family does them – Part II
Rites of passages plans for for my sons: Age 7 – Page (following the medieval knighthood model)…event: trip to Medieval Times with another friend and dad. Gift: Leatherman (kept in a drawer that they get permission to carry.) Message: you are not just a child anymore, but a contributing member of the family. You are…Continue reading Rites of Passages – How our Family does them – Part II
Upcoming Speaking and Events!
I will be speaking some to our FBC South Youth August 29th at 6:30pm Pine Cove Labor Day Conference Labor Day Weekend at the Woods www.pinecove.com Sept 5th – Womenary Starts! 9-11am Systematic Theology (great time to start Womenary) www.womenary.com Sept 5th – FBC Tyler South – How to read the Bible – Dinner at…Continue reading Upcoming Speaking and Events!
Rites of passages – how our family does them – Part I
I have spent many years researching, speaking and writing about, and engaging with Rites of Passages. I think of rites of passages as being events or activities meant to communicate (within a given relationship or community) a change in status, responsibility and/or identity. I know that sounds technical, but it isn’t. In fact, it feels…Continue reading Rites of passages – how our family does them – Part I
Anxiety and other emotions – Part 3
A final word about anxiety that might help you: It is not possible to see the positive while in the midst of feeling anxiety. Anxiety isn’t looking for good things, it is looking for threats – so it ignores anything good or nice. Can you imagine looking into a dark alley, heart racing, palms sweating,…Continue reading Anxiety and other emotions – Part 3
Anxiety and other Emotions – Part 2
Some people feel medium and even high levels of anxiety all the time… Which means they are ALWAYS in the state of looking for a threat to fix. Remember that is what anxiety is? “Something is wrong, find it and fix it…” So the soul is in a constant state of being SOOO sure that…Continue reading Anxiety and other Emotions – Part 2
Anxiety (and other emotions) Part I
I have a new way of understanding emotions that has been working itself out in my head for a while… Emotions are a way for our body to communicate with itself, specifically about the allocation of energy, I now think. This would make sense from a design perspective – the usage of energy is vital…Continue reading Anxiety (and other emotions) Part I
How to not keep being traumatized by difficult people you love
It is amazing what we as humans can deal with when we see things in different perspectives. Imagine that you chose to work at a camp for helping Down’s Syndrome kids. Imagine that at some point, a big teenage DS boy walks up to you in the cafeteria and touched you in a sexually inappropriate…Continue reading How to not keep being traumatized by difficult people you love