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The Difference Between Music and Noise

The Difference Between Music and Noise

10 Jun , 2015 No Comments

One of the things I love about music is that it forces you to stop being productive. What I mean by that is we often have music playing in the background for much of what we do. In reality, that tends to be nothing more than noise. But to listen, to really absorb music, requires you to stop what you are doing and commit to it. It demands something of you and offers nothing in return. You’ll have nothing to show for it. It’s an experience and then it’s gone. As I get older (and busier), I’ve realized that it’s a necessary discipline to make time to enjoy music in my life. Not just hear it, but to experience it.

In his book Soul Keeping, Pastor John Ortberg talks about profound advice he once received from Dallas Willard. Willard told him, “You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.” We would do well to follow his advice today. But how?

“You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.” Dallas Willard

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A Status Update

A Status Update

03 Jun , 2015 No Comments

We live in a culture which challenges your personal status every day. At the touch of our fingertips we read one status update after another on our favorite social media sites. In fact, usually multiple sites. Yet notice the words we use to describe a person’s update. If you look at the tab selected when you post something on Facebook it says “update status.” That’s what we attempt to do. Update our status… and do it in 140 characters or less. Because every time we read one of those posts from someone else, on how great their life is currently going and how life seems to be working better for them, it updates our status as well. Usually negatively. That’s why it’s become common to hear people talk about taking a break from social media for awhile.

This matters immensely. The myth is that this is just a personal concern for us to manage well. But it’s way beyond personal. Our perceived status is the multiplier for how we treat those around us.

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Our First Two Amendments

01 Jun , 2015 No Comments

In light of so much that has happened lately, especially in my home state, I absolutely love this quote above from Brian Zahnd. It grieves me to watch Christians in America who primarily associate with our nation instead of our faith. It’s time for believers to actively stand against this.

It’s time to celebrate the cross instead of the flag.

It’s time to serve the oppressed instead of worrying only about protecting our borders.

It’s time to extend rights to those who live differently than us.

It’s time to love others instead of defending our guns.

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Avoid the 13th Floor

Avoid the 13th Floor

25 May , 2015 No Comments

What odd beliefs are you carrying around with you?

I considered this question as I stared at the buttons for a hotel elevator (weird things happen in my brain when it gets silent around me). As is common in many elevators, this one didn’t have a thirteenth floor. Now when you think about Americans culturally, we don’t seem like the superstitious type. Especially if you’ve travelled the world much. I remember a host family just about losing their minds when a friend of mine started whistling indoors when we were in Nepal. They equated that as him calling on demonic spirits. That’s superstitious.

But here we are, priding ourselves on being people of logic and reasoning, and we can’t include a thirteenth floor. Here’s the funny part, unless the building ends with the twelfth floor (as you can clearly see is not the case in the picture above), you still have a thirteenth floor. You’re just calling it something different. That’s superstitious.

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You Married the Wrong Person

You Married the Wrong Person

18 May , 2015 No Comments

There’s something different about marriage these days. That’s probably the most understated sentence you’ll read all day! Consider some of the research:

In 1960, nearly 70% of the adult population married; today, only about half the population marries. According to the Pew Research Center, the drop-off is even more precipitous for the Millennial generation. In 1960, over two-thirds (68%) of all twenty-somethings married. Today, barely over a quarter (26%) marry. That’s a forty percent decline in the span of a single generation! And that’s where we’re headed: a “single generation.” For the first time in our nation’s history, the majority of adults (18+) will soon be single.

That’s crazy to consider. That’s why we need to commit time and effort into carefully considering our views on marriage and how we apply Scripture in this area. That’s why I’m so grateful for my friend Tim’s book You Married the Wrong Person. His humor and brevity make this a punchy little read that will leave you thinking and reset your eyes on Christ. If you’re not much of a reader, don’t worry, this one can be read in one sitting! He’s also a die-hard Yankee fan, so you know you can trust his point of view!

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Sonder: The Realization that Everyone Has a Story

15 May , 2015 No Comments

One of the people I work with sent me a link to a very cool video series. It’s called The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows. It’s a bit of a bizarre name but an incredible idea. The creator makes up new words to describe unique parts of everyday life. Some of them are moving, some thought-provoking, some even a bit sobering. But they each capture the essence of what it means to be human and are thus beautiful in their own regard.

Above you can watch the video for the word “sonder,” which according to John Koenig represents the realization that everyone has a story. I love what this video highlights as it reminds us that although we see ourselves as the main protagonist of every moment in our lives, we are but a character in the stories of everyone around us. Do we care about their stories? Do we embrace the part we can play not in our world, but in the story of others?

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