John D. Rockefeller

I can think of nothing less pleasurable than a life devoted to pleasure.

Two Kinds of Evangelism

There are two kinds of evangelism.

One that points to draw our attention to God.

One that points to draw our attention to a finger.

Thomas Mann

War is only a cowardly escape from the problems of peace.

Of The World, Not In The World

It seems to me that by creating a Christian subculture based upon the values of power and success, the church in America has managed to live of the world but not in the world and has, therefore, become the exact opposite of what Christ called us to be.

...And To God What Is God's

Every worship service is a challenge to Caesar. -Peter Leithart

Psalm 37:37

A future awaits those who seek peace.

I don't think this is a passage about heaven or an eternal reward. I think it simply means that if we don't seek peace we have no future.

What Have I Learned?

What have I learned? The old verities, mostly; that love for our children is what sustains us; that people are not what they seem; that those we hate bear some wound equal to our own; that power is desperation's salve, and that this fact as much as any is what dooms us. -from America America by Ethan Canin

Patience Is Better Than Pride

The end of a matter is better than its beginning and patience is better than pride.

Ecclesiastes 7:8

I've been thinking a lot about patience this week and this passage was striking to me. What is it about pride that is naturally opposed to patience? Discuss.

Kester Recommends

Check out my most recent recommendation for KUT.

Moltmann

Christian faith in God is not a naive basic trust. It is unfaith that has been overcome: 'Lord, I believe, help thou my unbelief.' In the fellowship of the assailed and crucified Christ faith grows up in the pains of one's own suffering and the doubts of one's own heart. Here the contradictions and rebellions do not have to be suppressed. They can be admitted.

Skullduggeries

I'd like to recommend that any and all of you check out one of my favorite new blogs. It's called Skullduggeries and is run by one of our very own Inklings.

My Point Exactly

So, I was making this point to a friend of mine just last week. Then I came across this video today.

Year At Danger

Last night a group of Inklings got to go see the Austin Film Festival encore presentation of Year At Danger. I cannot recommend this film highly enough. Keep your eyes peeled and your ears open for any opportunity to go see this film.

Linklings

If you're an Inkling and have a blog that you keep up regularly, post the address here and I'll create links for the various Inkling blogs. Thanks.

The One You Feed

"A fight is going on inside me," the man said to the boy. "It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil -he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, self-doubt, and ego. The other is good -he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. This same fight is going on inside you and inside every other person too."

The boy thought for a minute and asked the man, "Which wolf will win?"

The man replied simply, "The one you feed."

The Source

The person who strays away from the source is unrooted and is like dust blown about by the wind.

The Truest Test

"The choices we make in the grip of fear are the truest test of our humanity."

Wisdom and Foolishness

"The wise man questions the wisdom of others as he questions his own, the foolish man, as it is different from his own."

32 and Music

So, I turn 32 today and thought I'd direct you to my personal blog for a look back at some music that has influenced me.

Then return here and answer this question:

What music has influenced you? Does music influence you? If not, what does? Movies? Books?

Let us know.

Belief and Behavior

We had a great conversation last night about belief and behavior. Why is it that so many people want to make one of these more important than the other? When did we start separating them from one another?

Dietrich Bonhoeffer once wrote, "Only those who obey can believe and only those who believe can obey."

What do you think?

The Race Is On

So, today we have two official Presidential candidates. Share your thoughts and reserve your attacks for ideas and not people.

Go.

Twain

Be good and you will be lonely.

Wordsworth

Our meddling intellect

Misshapes the beauteous forms of things:

We murder to dissect.