HARMLESS THOUGHTS

When I first started teaching, I began to encounter the "I'm just bad at math..." comment from a variety of students. I didn't find it helpful to the situation, but what was I to do?  I wasn't in their head... maybe they really did have math deficit disorder, but it sure seemed like the large part of my students who would use this phrase, seemed to connect it with their inability to get their homework completed. The longer I taught, the more I began to see a connection.  I even noticed that those students who were typically labeled the "math people" were also very diligent in their work. Now, I know that we live in a society that isn't allowed to make a judgment call on anybody for any reason, so even talking this way tends to ruffle some feathers.  My response is that you should stop judging me by calling me judgmental!  But that is a different blog post, I just want to share an article about this myth of "bad at math" that is plaguing...

Might we consider going the path of the early Christians?  What was their method for winning the Roman Empire? According to Mark Driscoll, we should consider the words of Douglas Wilson: It will be a great reformation and revival — it will happen the same way the early Christians conquered Rome. Their program of conquest consisted largely of two elements — gospel preaching and being eaten by lions — a strategy that has not yet captured the imagination of the the contemporary church. ~Douglas Wilson, as quoted by Mark Driscoll in his new book, A Call to Resurgence: Will Christianity Have a Funeral or a Future?  

Whene'er I take my pipe and stuff it And smoke to pass the time away, My thoughts, as I sit and puff it, Dwell on a picture sad and grey. It teaches me that very like Am I myself unto my pipe.  Like me, this pipe so fragrant burning Is made of naught but earth and clay; To earth I too shall be returning, It falls and, ere I'd think to say, It breaks in two before my eyes, In store for me a like fate lies.  No stain the pipe's hue yet doth darken; It remains white. Thus do I know That when to death's call I must hearken My body, too, all pale wilt grow. To black beneath the sod 'twill turn, Likewise, the pipe, if oft it burn. Or when the pipe is fairly glowing, Behold then instantaneously, The smoke off into thin air going, Till naught but ash is left to see. Man's frame likewise will burn And unto dust his body turn.  How oft it happens when one's smoking: The stopper's missing from its shelf, And one goes with one's finger poking Into the bow...

Basic Christianity  by John Stott has been an amazing book. I have heard of John Stott. I have seen other others mention him and quote him from time to time.  I have even seen a few of his books, but until now, I had never had the opportunity to read (or to listen to in this case) anything from this author. I am so glad that I have finally had that opportunity. While listening to this book, with each successive chapter that I completed, he continued to move up my personal ranks of influential authors. This book is exactly what the title suggests, it is all about Basic Christianity. But what I really loved is that the majority of the topics that this book covers would not have made it into my own book on basic Christianity... But here is the thing: After listening to Stott's explanations and reasons for each of his topics, I began to see how important each of these subjects are. If I had written a book on Basic Christianity, I would have thrown it away in favor of this book...

This life which we live here has its own allurements, which, from its own particular mode of beauty and its agreement with all these lower beauties... With regard to all these things, and others of like nature, sins are committed when, out of an immoderate liking for them, since they are the least goods, we desert the best and highest goods, which are you, O Lord our God, and your truth and your law. These lower goods have their delights, but none such as my God, who has made all things, for in him the just man finds delight, and he is the joy of the upright of heart. ~St. Augustine

I knew something was up yesterday... I just couldn't get anyone to spill the beans.

"Worshipping in spirit is the opposite of worshipping in merely external ways. It is the opposite of empty formalism and traditionalism. Worshipping in truth is the opposite of worship based on an inadequate view of God. Worship must have hear and head. Worship must engage emotions and thought."  "Truth without emotion produces dead orthodoxy and a church full (or half-full) of artificial admirers (like people who write generic anniversary cards for a living). On the other hand, emotion without truth produces empty frenzy and cultivates shallow people who refuse the discipline of rigorous thought. But true worship comes from people who are deeply emotional and who love deep and sound doctrine. Strong affections for God rooted in truth are the bone and marrow of biblical worship." ~ John Piper, Desiring God

I just finished reading Driven to Distraction (Revised): Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder  by Edward M. Hallowell M.D. and John J. Ratey M.D. a couple of days ago. I wanted to write a review of this book, not only because I enjoy writing reviews, but also because I was going to use this as an opportunity to talk about Adult Attention Deficit Disorder. Growing up in a Christian, Regular-Church-Attending Culture, different psychological challenges like Attention Deficit Disorder or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, have tended to all fall into one category: The category of excuses.  For many in this culture, the attempt to label and understand these issues looks like an excuse for bad behavior. They might say that hyperactive kids or distracted kids are just in need of stricter discipline.  According to some, they haven't been properly trained, and when these kids get into high school, they are told that they just need to try harder. Some people on this...