Sometimes, it feels as though living right is the wrong thing to do. Our world is full of self-absorbed people who cheat and oppress others with no apparent consequences. Meanwhile, the lives of virtuous people seem to overflow with hardship. God, it appears, looks the other way. If the prosperity of selfish people bothers you, […]
Tag Archives: selfishness
The Joy of Giving
Grace is so integral to the Christian faith that people can sometimes fail to realize that the general concept is not unique to Christianity. In ancient secular Greek writings, the word charis essentially meant “that which delights.”[1] In this sense, grace could mean “a gift given” or “a favor done,” as well as “a sense […]
The Secret to Great Faith
“Jets were invented by people too inexperienced to know what couldn’t be done.” So reads a line in an old Invention and Technology magazine.[1] One of the main points of the article was that most engineers were preoccupied with piston-driven turbo chargers and had given up on the idea of producing a workable jet engine. It […]
How to Bless Yourself
If you enjoy nature, you would have loved the view from my tree stand on the first day of buck season in Pennsylvania. Although the skies were slightly overcast, several inches of snow provided a pristine backdrop for the landscape before me. And talk about action! Within the span of three hours, I saw 16 […]
Living in a Vampire World
I’ve had better days. Monday morning began with the hopes of a productive week, but first we had to make a quick—or so I thought—exchange at the car dealership. My wife’s car was plagued by an ongoing safety issue and, after significant public pressure, the manufacturer had reluctantly agreed to a recall. After speaking with […]
A Love Song for Eternity
I’ve never written a love song—I am not gifted in music—but I’ve certainly listened to a few in my day. Love songs, it seems, run the gamut from what might be more appropriately called lust songs to those that idealize faithful and long lasting devotion. Titles are even more diverse, including famous hits like “Killing […]
The Mystery of Violence Revealed
World peace! It is a vision long held by many. Each New Year, it seems, we try to cast off the violence of the previous year like a dog trying to shake off water. Unfortunately, dogs are much more effective in their drying off efforts than we are in our quest to eliminate conflict between […]
Avoiding Shipwreck in the Nasty Waters of the Political Sea
Perhaps you have noticed that politics have gotten increasingly hostile in recent years. Through even limited exposure to media, the average person is constantly battered by negativity. Cruelly worded attack ads filled with half-truths and blatant lies paint opposing candidates as uncaring, devious, and even sinister adversaries looking to plunder and pillage the poor, unsuspecting […]