A few days ago, I put up a post called “Teaching My Daughter How to Hike.” I wondered if by teaching Kara to hike to destinations, I had robbed her of her childlike love of the little things in nature. I included a photo of my ten-year-old daughter and me in Little Lakes Valley, California (Rock Creek), where we had been hiking. Yesterday, my daughter, along with my wife and son, returned to Little Lakes Valley for a delightful and... Read more
Everyone must submit to governing authorities. For all authority comes from God, and those in positions of authority have been placed there by God. Romans 13:1 Even when we’re reading a passage of Scripture devotionally, we need to remember that it was not written directly to us. Yes, yes, I do believe it is God’s Word for us. But the biblical text was, first of all, for another people in another time. If we forget this, we run the risk... Read more
Labor Day Sunday could transform your life and the life of your church. I really mean it! For most Americans, the Sunday before Labor Day is significant because it is the last Sunday of the summer. I’m thinking of the cultural summer that ends with Labor Day, not the calendar summer, which ends this year on September 22, the day before the Autumn equinox. Many of us will spend the Sunday of Labor Day weekend enjoying one last holiday before... Read more
During my vacation in Mammoth Lakes, California, I happened to drive to Minaret Vista at sunset. The view of the mountains, clouds, and blazing sunset was sublime. Unfortunately, I did not bring my camera. All I had was my iPhone (4, not 4s), which I used to snap a few pictures. I’m amazed at how well they came out. I thought I’d share three of them with you. Happy viewing! Read more
On my recent vacation, I spent a few hours in Bishop, California. This town lies about half way between Mexico and Oregon, on the eastern edge of the state. While I was visiting Bishop, we had some interesting weather. Here are a few photos: Read more
By now, most of us would know David Boudia because of his gold-medal performance in the men’s platform diving in the Olympics. His victory was stunning, not only because he bested the favored Chinese diver, but also because he barely made it into the finals, just squeaking into the finals in eighteenth place. Boudia’s story is one of those Olympic tales that gladdens the heart and brings tears to the eyes. But there is more to his story than most... Read more
Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 Romans 12:1 urged us to present our bodies to God as a living sacrifice. As Christians, we honor God by living for him each day, devoting our bodies to his purposes. Romans 12:2 begins with a negative... Read more
A few days ago, I put up a post about teaching my daughter how to hike. These lessons happened when she was a young girl. Now, on the cusp of adulthood, Kara is sill a great hiker. And she still likes to lead the pack. I have proof from our recent vacation: Read more
[A]t this time in history, there are two legitimate, first-order, intrinsic purposes of business: as stewards of God’s creation, business leaders should manage their businesses (1) to provide the community with goods and services that will enable it to flourish, and (2) to provide opportunities for meaningful work that will allow employees to express their God-given creativity. – Jeff Van Duzer In yesterday’s post, I began to consider the book by Jeff Van Duzer, Why Business Matters to God (And What... Read more
[F]or Christians interested in advancing God’s agenda of peace, justice and reconciliation, a focus on business and its role in society is critical. – Jeff Van Duzer This past weekend, Laity Lodge hosted a retreat on the topic: Christians in the Marketplace: What would it Look Like if God Was Running the Show? Our speakers were Tod Bolsinger, Senior Pastor of San Clemente Presbyterian Church in California and Jeff Van Duzer, Dean of the School of Business and Economics at... Read more
Mark D. Roberts
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