What If Hitler Invaded Your House?
It’s 1940 and we’re asking, “what are we going to do about Hitler?” As legitimate as that question is, we need to back up and ask this question first: How is it that Christians could wage war at Hitler’s behest? How did the land of Luther and the Reformation become the land of Nazis and the Holocaust? Hitler is as much a problem for Christian Just War theorists as for Christians who oppose war altogether.
5 Things I Learned in Church Planting
- Don’t shy away from leaders, even though they are churched — you’ll need them
- Don’t be afraid to talk about money — you’ll need it
- Surround yourself with some encouragers — some days they’ll keep you going
- Know what to control and what to let go of — you’ll be stretched if you don’t
- Embrace hurting people — as much as it hurts
Not everyone enjoys “reading against the grain” this way, but for me, it makes the Bible far more interesting and engaging. Too often we read and interpret through a lens of platitudes and conventional church wisdom, even though there is plenty of scholarship that backs alternative readings (see below). When we read uncritically, we unintentionally take the role of the crowd in this very story: judging by presumption instead of evidence. While I’m open to the conventional interpretation, the alternative needs to be heard.
God in His sovereignty builds families. They are His work, His masterpiece, for His glory and our highest good. God makes a place for the destitute. He fathers them, defends them, rescues them—and He gives them to us for a family. What a lovely, messy, wonderful, disorganized, beautiful, loud, perfect group we are!
7 things good communicators must not do
n this simple but informative TED Talk, Julian Treasure offers up seven things that effective communicators must exclude from speech. This list of seven is a kind of “bad habits to avoid” list. They are not the only elements that can derail effective communication, but it is a good list from which to start. “I call them seven sins somewhat tongue in cheek,” Julian says in the comments section on the TED Website. “I am not saying these things are bad or wrong, simply that they tend to make it harder for people to listen, especially when they become habits.” Yes, suggesting that one avoid these behaviors always and forever can become a sort of dogma as well. However, he is right that these behaviors are for the most part injurious to our reputations, credibility, and over all effectiveness.
The sad Brazilian man clutching the World Cup trophy handed it over to a Germany fan
Anyone who caught Germany’s decimation of Brazil in Tuesday’s World Cup semi-final is likely to remember the instantly iconic image of a sad-eyed Brazil fan clutching a replica World Cup trophy.
Well, reddit has learned the story didn’t end there, as the Brazil fan handed off his award to a nearby German fan in a heart-warming display of good sportsmanship.
Nebbi policeman attacked by tortoise
In a bizarre incident in Nebbi district, a policeman says he was attacked by an aggressive tortoise at his home.
Charles Onegiu, who is attached to Ndew Police Post in Ndew sub-county, says he was in his grass-thatched hut sipping away on a cup of tea when the incident happened.
The tortoise crept in and when Onegiu tried to scare it off, the hard-shelled creature appeared unfazed, and instead turned aggressive.