-
mom blogs.
The world of mom bloggers. Or is it a blackhole? I catch glimpses of this exclusive underworld over the shoulder of my wife who easily drops an evening surfing pastel-bordered, theme-music blogospheres. Moms who talk about real life. Online. To a virtual audience they’ve never met. What’s with putting things in bold? Or. Sentence fragments? And interspersing random kid pics? The format is identical – catchy title, sassy bio: “Mom x3. Blue collar wife. Sweat tea addict. A little unstable.” A host of social networking links and “you might also like” tags to maintain centripetal, virtual orbit. And copyright pictures. You’ve got to be kidding. Like I’m going to swipe…
-
presbytery.
Each month, ten or so pastors meet in and around our city for prayer, studying the Word, denomination business, and since this is South Asia, food. Every three months, the full group of forty pastors from farther abroad gather. Until stronger leadership is developed, this Presbytery (meaning group of elders/pastors) is huge, spanning three states and four languages. In the future it will divide by region and language to facilitate church growth and multiplication in each place. I always enjoy spending time with these brothers. I taught from 2 Timothy 1, on the Spirit of “power and love and self-control.” If you think about it, Timothy’s Ephesus assignment is not…
-
a fine balance.
It’s sobering to write about a second car accident in a single month. Today I drove to a small grocery store fifteen minutes from our house. It’s on a corner of a busy intersection. I pass through the green light and pause on the other side, turn signal on, waiting to cross traffic into a parking space. As one opens, I look behind me, and just begin to turn the wheel when – WHAM! I see a flash of a sari and hear a woman scream. She had tried to speed around me to the right, clipped my car, and went sprawling onto the pavement. I quickly park to the…
-
wise company.
“…reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning.” (9:8-9) “…he who hates reproof is stupid.” (12:1) The Proverbs are replete with pleas to gain wisdom through others. It is not a solo quest but a community affair. Counselors, parents, teachers, guides, friends, those who encourage, rebuke, reprove, and correct all contribute. The wise lean hard on others. The road to wisdom is filled with friends.