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Category: Random Stuff
Answers to "Are these Common Sayings in the Bible?"
If you haven’t taken the pop quiz, I recommend going here and taking it first. It’s more fun that way! Or, go head and peek, you lightweight… 😉 Answers: 1. “God helps those who helps themselves” (nope, other. This was Sydney Algernon) 2. “Spare the rod, spoil the child” (Sort of. Maybe not precisely these…Continue reading Answers to "Are these Common Sayings in the Bible?"
Guest Author: Hunter Beless on Friendship
As many of you know, I am passionate about the power and significance of Friendship. I believe friendship trumps all earthly relationships – and, as Hunter points out, marriage is the ultimate version of it. Hunter and her noble husband, Brooks, were students of mine in various ways over the years… You can read more…Continue reading Guest Author: Hunter Beless on Friendship
Moral Thinking and Gun Control – Part III
Thoughts I assume that for those intent on limiting legal availability to guns, it must be a moral argument. But what is it? I hope I get that feedback… if limited people’s lawful access to guns is a moral imperative to you, I would love to hear about it! I am not kidding. Remember, not…Continue reading Moral Thinking and Gun Control – Part III
Moral Thinking and Gun Control – part II
Lesson Part II – what is meant by “Pragmatic” argument? A pragmatic argument is one that is based on effectiveness… in other words, “what works?” So, if what is left is the pragmatic argument, what, if anything, would gun control effectively accomplish? First, I think I will stay away from statistics, because I am not…Continue reading Moral Thinking and Gun Control – part II
Practical vs. Moral Arguments and gun control
Gun Control and Moral thinking I typically don’t write a lot of politically charged articles on my website unless they are moral or biblical issues. For me, I prefer here to talk about moral, psychological, biblical and theological issues… stuff like that. I am certainly a political person and an opinionated one… but of all…Continue reading Practical vs. Moral Arguments and gun control
The Family Internet – you cannot be ignorant – Part I
Managing the Family Internet For years, I have encouraged families to be smart about any version of adult sexuality that is “visible” in their homes, especially once they have children. For this reason, for years when I had been talking to parents with children around the age of 9, I had told them it was…Continue reading The Family Internet – you cannot be ignorant – Part I
Our Counseling Office is Moving!
Alethia is the Greek word most often translated “Truth.” I will probably write more about this soon… but its technical and literal meaning is “not hidden.” This is the perfect name that embodies what we are all about at our counseling offices… coming alongside people to help them uncover and engage with the truth(s) that…Continue reading Our Counseling Office is Moving!
Why Raising Taxes Lowers Government Income – Part II
Scenario 2: I cut the taxes by half to 5%. Year One: Harvested 100 units Taxes 5 units (I have to learn to live on half income this year) Family 50 units Plants …Continue reading Why Raising Taxes Lowers Government Income – Part II
Why Raising Taxes Lowers Government Income (over time) – Part I
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
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
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
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 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