My mother used to put okra in the stew. And I hated it. It was slimy and green — two things that most little boys avoid with every fiber of their being. And never should those two ingredients be presented as food. No way was I going to buy it. To a ten-year old, okra isn’t food. I could eat the other parts of the stew, but leaving the okra until the bottom of the bowl only meant that I would have to take... Read more
The Top Blog Posts of the year, as selected by The High Calling Running in place, by Jennifer Dukes Lee of Getting Down With Jesus Failure is an Option, by Jessica of Jezamama Seeing God, by Deidra Riggs of Jumping Tandem God talk in the Office, by Michelle DeRusha of Nebraska Graceful Organizations and Bad Bosses, by Glynn Young of Faith, Fiction, and Friends Into the World, by Billy Coffey Becoming Men, by Lyla Lindquist of A Different Story Can Death be... Read more
I don’t know about you, but my life really isn’t all that deliberate. In fact, I find that I often come into my best situations just by stumbling into them. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve looked at my blessings and then asked, “how in the world did I get here?” I have a full-time job as a writer and communicator. The dirty little secret is that I’m really a college drop-out who banged away at the typewriter... Read more
I have watched this a half dozen times and am still mesmerized. I do love a grand pipe organ, but this is not a bad substitute, courtesy of Atlanta’s North Point’s “iBand”. And don’t miss the last song! I don’t care much for Feliz Navidad, but this version can only make you smile. Please, share with a friend if you feel moved. Read all past issues at http://www.patheos.com/blogs/davidrupert Read more
An interesting Associated Press story last month highlighted what they call “The Nincompoop Generation.” It seems we have on our hands two whole decades of young people are are highly adept at computing, but terribly inept at everyday life. Photo by DanaBC, used by permission The article talks about one poor teen who didn’t know how to use a can opener. The mom said this, “Most cans come with pull-tops these days. I see her reaching for a can that requires a can opener, and... Read more
Jesus saves, but who’s saving Jesus? There have been a number of thefts at Nativity Scenes across the nation. It seems that thieves have been robbing the cradle, snatching baby Jesus from the watchful guard of angels, shepherds and parents. Without the baby, it’s just a crowded barn scene. Mary suddenly looks out of place. She was stroking her promised child, now her hands are brushing air. Joseph, bowed in humble prose, now prays for a rapid return. “Who stole our baby?” ... Read more
I’m a red-blooded American man, well equipped to take on most of life’s challenges. I can live off the land if necessary, negotiate at the business table and lead the team to victory. But put me in a mall, and I am reduced to just another dopey guy, caught in the glare of a million lights, every one of them reminding me that time is running out. I long for any other season except this one, full of “one-day sales,” “early-bird... Read more
It was a lonely December in Adana, Turkey. As a 21-year old airman with a wife and a new baby, this was my first Christmas away from home. Every morning before dawn, the loudspeaker outside our apartment would broadcast a call to prayer. A few faithful Muslim men would shuffle up to pray, feet bared, bowing toward the rising sun. It was a brew of smells, sounds and sights that stirred up my sense of wonder. It was a strange feeling holding... Read more
On Tuesday, I wrote about an interesting photography project about those who were once blind who had their sight restored through cornea transplants. They were given a camera and an assignment. “Take pictures of what you missed the most.” You can read the story here, but think about the concept. Around here we talk about souls that are born-again and hearts that are regenerated. What if the same principle could be applied to our eyes? Once pure and flawless, we could clearly see this... Read more
I love my sight and count the treasure of the visual wonders of this world as some of my richest possessions. But what if I lost my vision? What if the vibrant world of color suddenly became murky, void dark. What if the textures and hues from the sky disappeared. What if the grains and specks of detail were gone. What would I miss the most? There’s an interesting photography project about those who were once blind who had their sight restored. Modern... Read more
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