Spiritual Growth, Christian Living, Wisdom, Identity
John Beeson
The Power of Ownership

One of the many disappointing realities about the American political landscape is the lack of ownership. It’s not just politicians who shirk ownership – we all do. When my microphone sounds wonky, my mind immediately goes to the sound tech wondering if he will remedy his mistake, not to the more likely responsible party: myself. I probably moved the microphone or pulled the cord.

Of course we know that avoiding ownership usually backfires. Our esteem falls for those who dodge responsibility. But even still, the temptation to blame shift is strong in all of us.

The Power of Ownership
Identity, Biblical Studies, Christian Living, Death, Spiritual Growth
John Beeson
Our Desires Lead to Death

“I am what I feel” sums up expressive individualism.  Our culture frames identity around discovering what our deepest desires and longings are. To know our longings is to know ourselves.

 

In Billie Eilish’s 2023 song “What was I made for?” written for “Barbie,” Eilish reflects on the confusing journey to understand her feelings. It’s this journey, she assures herself that will lead to her happiness.

Our Desires Lead to Death
Spiritual Growth, Christian Living, Forgiveness, Wisdom
John Beeson
A Dire Warning for Me? Where?

“The end is near!” “Repent!”

Have you ever seen a statement of prophetic warning spray-painted on a wall or in a subway station? got to be honest, I don’t take much notice to such warnings. But what if those warnings were for me and for you?

A Dire Warning for Me? Where?
Identity, Parenting
John Beeson
Do You Have a Graduate in Your Life?

We are feeling all the feels. Our youngest, Soren, is about to graduate from high school. This has been a season of reflection for Angel and me and a season of preparation. In our children’s ministry hallways at New Life next to each age level we have containers that represent how many days of influence remain for you as a parent before your child launches. I recognize, of course, that there is no finish line for parenting, but one’s influence and role changes significantly in each season.

 As we look back on our parenting, the most important things we taught our children were who God is and who they were.

Do You Have a Graduate in Your Life?
Fear, Identity, Prayer, Spiritual Growth
John Beeson
Exchanging Intrusive Thoughts for God-talk

Intrusive thoughts are unwelcome and hard to control. I can remember having intrusive thoughts from the time I was a child. When we drove, I often felt the compulsion to press one foot down on the floor between the telephone poles (and yes, I also hopped over the cracks in the sidewalk). At other times, when walking alone, I remember the persistent thought, “He’s watching you.” I would search the bushes and trees for the one my mind told me was watching me.

Exchanging Intrusive Thoughts for God-talk

Vocation

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This Week's Recommendations

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This Week's Recommendations

1.      Barbarian Missionaries: When missions goes hilariously wrong. 

2.      Smart People Work Less: How not working more than 50 hours and not working on the weekends increases your productivity by Travis Bradberry. 

3.      Habakkuk’s Anti-Fragile Faith: Krish Kandiah talks about how God builds an anti-fragile faith in Habakkuk. 

4.      The Awkward Church: Richard Clark on why real community is awkward, and why that is good. 

5.      Get Rid of That Space: If you're still putting two spaces after a period, you're doing it wrong. Here's why.

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Every Good Endeavor by Tim Keller

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Every Good Endeavor by Tim Keller

"In the beginning, then, God worked.” It’s from this simple platform that pastor and author Tim Keller begins his project of redeeming the goodness of work. It’s a simple platform, but its implications are far-reaching. Keller continues, “Work was not a necessary evil that came into the picture later, or something human beings were created to do but that was beneath the great God himself. No, God worked for the sheer joy of it. Work could not have a more exalted inauguration" (pp.34-35). Everything flows out this profound reality. Work did not come after the fall; no, humans were given the task of work before there was sin. And, in fact, our work uniquely mirrors back our God's perfect work from eternity.

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This Week's Recommendations

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This Week's Recommendations

1.      5 Secrets of Superior Decision-Makers: Craig Groeschel was an acquired taste for me, but it’s stuff like this that has won me over. He packs an incredible amount of helpful content into these 26 minutes. You can watch via this link, or you can also listen via podcast.

2.      To Be a Diaper Changer: Nick Batzig reflects on the daily grittiness of being a real world changer.

3.      How to Love God and Your Neighbor through Your Work: We work well because we first love God and we then love our neighbor. James M Hamilton Jr. offers this reflection.

4.      Time Audit: Where do you really spend your time? JD Grear with this helpful resource on how to analyze where we are spending our time. 

5.      State of Inquiry: On this TED Radio Hour a number of speakers explore what it looks like to ask good questions. I particularly appreciated Eric Haseltine’s final session where he compares knowledge to an anchor that can hold us in the harbor. He quotes Isaac Asimov: “The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discovers, is not, ‘Eureka! I’ve found it,’ but ‘That’s funny!’”

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This Week's Recommendations

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This Week's Recommendations
  1. Long Hours and Laziness: "Sometimes we work long hours because we're lazy." Insightful reflection by the always good Andrew Wilson.
  2. The Future of Christian Healthcare Sharing: Healthcare prices continue to dramatically outpace inflation. In its wake, there has been a growing alternative of health care sharing (our family is part of Medishare). 
  3. How to Discover Your Calling and Hope in the Workplace "My work station is my worship station." Ken Costa, investment banker, and one of the founders of the enormously impactful organization, Alpha, talks with Carey Nieuwhof.
  4. Tucson drone video: A beautiful video that captures some of the beauty of Tucson.
  5. The Art of Neighboring by Jay Pathak: Everyone believes we should love our neighbor. But do we?

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