If you wanted to find the real God, would you look in the Bible? Or does the Bible present a false version of God, a God shaped by myth and folklore, reflecting the thinking of ancient cultures more than two-thousand years removed from our own? These are just a few of the questions pondered by biblical scholar and theologian Peter Enns in Curveball: When Your Faith Takes Turns You Never Saw Coming. The title is a nod to Enns’ former... Read more
Thomas Moore has a superb new book out titled “The Eloquence of Silence” that I’ll be writing about in 2-3 weeks. In the meantime, here’s Moore wisdom from “Ageless Soul.” The story below will appear in Wake Up Call, the book, being released November 1, 2023 by Wildhouse Publishing. You might think the cure for loneliness is a simple one: just get out of the house and spend time with other people. But there’s a contrary point-of-view, and it comes... Read more
If you’ve caught any recent interviews with Matthew McConaughey, it’s quite clear he’s a spiritual man. But is he religious? In a recent interview, McConaughey told an anecdote about being in kindergarten where his mother served as the teacher. One day at recess, a friend tapped him on the shoulder and said, “Matt, let’s go out and play!” McConaughey made a dash for the playground only to be horse-collared by his mom. She scolded him, saying: Your name is not... Read more
We don’t like to think about death. This can be especially true as we grow older and begin to realize we only have a finite amount of time left on Earth. So when you’re forced to look death in the face every day, it can be a jarring experience. Or depending on your perspective, an invigorating one. I fall into the latter category. The picture at the top of this page is the view I woke up to every morning... Read more
There’s a curious story in the Bible that centers around two of Jesus’ closest friends, Mary and Martha. The two sisters had a special relationship with Jesus. As the Gospel of John 11:5 states, “Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus.” They loved Jesus as well, and as you may know, there’s a backstory. Mary and Martha believed that Jesus was responsible for bringing their brother Lazarus back from the dead. Earlier in the Gospel of John, we are told... Read more
Do you pray? If yes, how often? And what are you praying for? A recent survey by the spirituality site Skylight called The National Day of Prayer Study, showed that Americans are still praying—in surprisingly high numbers. Almost half of Americans say they pray on a regular basis. And that number increases to 65% when people were asked if they connect with a higher power regularly (at least a few times a week) through prayer, meditation, mindfulness, or reciting affirmations.... Read more
I fell into something that everyone is looking for. I had no idea it was there. All of my desires were fulfilled; all my mysteries dropped away; all my sicknesses disappeared. ~Lester Levenson So begins the story of the late Lester Levenson, a regular guy from Elizabeth, New Jersey who—as he entered middle-age—suddenly attained “spiritual enlightenment.” In his book No Attachments No Aversions: The Autobiography of a Master, Levenson claims to have found “the joy everyone in the world is... Read more
Who fills the void when leaders don’t lead, when those in positions of power and responsibility seem more interested in their own narrow self-interests than the greater good? You and me, of course. It may be our time to step up and display the moral and emotional qualities, such as honesty, kindness, and empathy, that are features of people of character. Why is character important? Because it sets the tone for those around us, whether they be your co-workers, your... Read more
In the Apple TV show The Reluctant Traveler, host Eugene Levy explores the people, places, and cultures of several unique locations around the world. In the first episode, he “reluctantly” travels to northern Finland, home to “the happiest people in the world.” Levy, often comically, tries his hand at ice fishing, reindeer feeding, and husky sledding. He experiences the beauty of the aurora borealis (aka the northern lights). It’s all in an attempt to uncover what the Fins define as... Read more
We just passed the 25th anniversary of the release of one of my all-time favorite movies, The Big Lebowski. The lead character is a guy named Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski and is played by the actor Jeff Bridges. It’s a crazy story of mistaken identity and the mayhem that ensues once The Dude tries to clear his name—and get his precious soiled rug replaced. While Bridges has acted in dozens of roles over his storied career and won a Best Actor Academy... Read more
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