In an obscured version of Christianity, it appears as though you have to do particular things that are not actually the gospel in order to follow Christ, because all the Christians you know do them.
It could be as simple as a change in dress or hairstyle or musical tastes; or it could be bigger issues like political bent or a particular worldview. But, it could be a hundred other things—I just gave two examples. Ultimately, seeing these things as the gospel is actually a false gospel.
I am Ryland – the story of a male-identifying little girl who didn’t transition
Because my parents never forced me to, I never considered if some of the things that I enjoyed were “boy” things or “girl” things, I was just me. When we begin to tell boys that they must act “this” way, and that girls should act “that” way, and that if they don’t, they are transgender; we put children in these tiny boxes that create confusion, frustration, and sometimes, lifelong psychological and emotional damage.
The only thing more difficult to tame was the grace that the Amish poured out liberally on the one who did gun down their daughters. While my mind fixates on justice, the friends and fathers of the murdered girls pursued forgiveness. “We must not think evil of this man,” one grandfather instructed the community. Another Amish father reminded them that Roberts “had a mother and a wife and a soul and now he’s standing before a just God.” A few hours after the shooting, several from the Amish community visited the wife of the killer to comfort her, offering reassurance that they have forgiven her husband for firing bullets through their daughters’ heads. Another Amish man held the killer’s father in his arms for over an hour. In the aftermath, the Amish community set up a charitable gift fund to help alleviate the financial stress of Roberts’s widow in the aftermath—a small token of unconditional love.1 When Roberts deserved justice, the Amish offered love.
Don’t we want leaders with courage, conviction, a willingness to try, experiment, tweak and seek the voice of the Lord? Hasn’t that always been the heartbeat of the church? So whether it’s a church of 100 ora church of 25,000, if a church is committed to going after discipleship that leads to mission, lets us “encourage them as long as it is called today.” Let us give them the grace that it will take to do this journey well. And with integrity, let us make it ourselves.
First You Study, Then You Teach, Then You Keep Studying – Remembering Robert Lee Johnston, Jr.
He was a great teacher – meaning, his students went on to use the knowledge and skills they gained from him for a life of study, preparation, teaching, communication…
Before he was a great teacher, he was a great student. And they really do go together. It takes great study discipline to become a great teacher.
Teach Your Child not to Interrupt in One Simple Step
My husband and I started implementing this straight away. We explained to Jack and Sarah that if they want to talk and someone is already speaking they need to place their hand on our wrist and wait. It took some practice and a few light taps on our own wrists as gentle reminders but I am so happy to report that the interrupting has all but stopped!!
Sugar Plant Removed Safety Device 13 Days before Temp Worker’s Death
Last year, ProPublica found that temps face a significantly greater risk of getting injured on the job than permanent employees. In Florida, for example, temps were about twice as likely as regular workers to suffer crushing injuries, dislocations, lacerations, fractures and punctures. In Florida and the three other states for which records were available, temps were about three times as likely to suffer amputations.
Don’t Risk Your Life to Save Your Smartphone
We’re willing to lay ourselves on the line for our cellphones, Reuther believes, because so many different parts of our lives are now brought together by these phones. Some owners may even see these pieces of glass and plastic as representative of the bond to the people they use the phones to communicate with.
Here’s Dan Gilbert’s letter to Cleveland Cavaliers fans … if it were written today
Dan Gilbert’s infamous letter to Cavaliers fans after LeBron James’ departure mysteriously disappeared from the team’s website this week. The Cavs said they left it up by accident, but we think they took it down for some much-needed edits in the wake of James’ free agency.