As we work and achieve, we accumulate influence, titles, assets, and money. As they say, we build a life. Our life comprises our reputation, our job, our house, our car, and our relationships. Looking at the results of our effort – to what we’ve committed so much sweat and blood – is an immensely rewarding…
“Are you okay?” asked a gentleman who grabbed my arm. “Are you hurt?” asked another. “Only my pride,” I responded as another gentleman told me, “That was a good recovery!” “Jump school training, tuck and roll,” I replied. As everyone drifted off, I told myself I’m not wearing this sweatshirt for the rest of my…
Letter 1 Themes: Complacent and smug thinking; evaluation of truth, reality, and materialism; temptations when draw the patient away from universal (eternal) issues. Letter 2 Themes: Reality verses expectations; disappointment & disillusionment with church; genuine humility. Letter 3 Themes: Sanctification; relationships as a Christian; humility, judgmental attitudes; personal blind spots; danger of speech; the focus…
Letter 10 Themes: Spiritual significance of friendships and acquaintances; social, sexual, and intellectual vanity; pride; friendship and love of the world; avoiding being two-faced or duplicitous; hypocrisy. Letter 11 Themes: Understanding human laughter and the risk fo sinning through joking; danger of flippancy. Letter 12 Themes: Backsliding; dry times; loss of enthusiasm for spiritual things;…
Letter 13 Themes: Genuine repentance; pains and pleasures; individualism; increased apathy towards goodness. Letter 14 Themes: Genuine humility; pride; false modesty; self-forgetfulness; anguishing too much over sin. Letter 15 Themes: Anxiety about the future; living in the “real” present with eternity in mind; exaggerated optimism.
Letter 22 Themes: Spiritual dossiers; hedonism; pleasures of God; power of Christian influence; music and silence. Letter 23 Themes: Value of intelligent Christian community; corrupted spirituality; “historical Jesus;” social justice. Letter 24 Themes: Spiritual ignorance and pride; need for social validation; humility; arrogance; the inner ring.
Letter 28 Themes: Fear of and blessings of death; spiritual perseverance; middle aged prosperity and adversity; worldly attachments; spiritual attrition, earthly utopia. Letter 29 Themes: Cowardice; pride; hatred; courage; despair; God’s motive for creating a dangerous world; superstitions involving hypotheticals; relying on God alone. Letter 30 Themes: Duty, purpose, pride, cowardice, fatigue, peevishness, disappointment, total…
From the book: “Uncomfortable: The Awkward and Essential Challenge of Christian Community” by Brett McCracken Watch: Jordan Peterson on Jesus. “To be a Christian is to accept the discomfort of a way of life inspired and empowered by a cruel, rugged old cross, a symbol of scorn and degradation.” (pg. 45) “And calling the crowd…