Get the Facts or the Facts Will Get You – Part 1

Easter and Jesus Christ Superstar call for a resurrection

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace.” – Ephesians 1:17 (NIV) Like millions of my countrymen, I spent part of Easter Sunday watching NBC’s live performance of Jesus Christ Superstar — the rock opera that tells the story of the last week […]

Re-post: What If You Couldn’t Lose?

Restoration is at the heart of Easter

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” – Romans 8:28 (ESV) I owe a number of debts to author John Eldredge. His collaboration with the late Brent Curtis, The Sacred Romance, revolutionized my perception of the character and […]

What God Thinks About Money

How about some foundational principles?

“Whoever increases wealth by taking interest or profit from the poor amasses it for another, who will be kind to the poor.” – Proverbs 28:8 (NIV) In a recent post, I explained why I’m skeptical of cryptocurrencies — even though I am optimistic about the potential for blockchain technology and its offshoots to create genuine […]

Re-post: Truth-fetishism and Confirmation Bias

It's a trap!

Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:31 – 32 I have noticed that our society has an obsession with “truth.” I don’t believe it started with politics, but this is the arena — […]

Re-post: Defeating the False Self – a First-Person Account

He's not all bad...

“There is a me you would not recognize…” – Over the Rhine from Latter Days In my previous post on identity, I warned against the rise of the impostor, also known as the false self. If you’re like me and most of the men I’ve met, you have either overcome the false self, or you […]

Re-post: Increase Your Effectiveness by Knowing Who You Are

Act from your identity not into it

“The unexamined life is not worth living.” – Socrates In my original post on this topic, I explained Robert Ardrey’s idea that our psychological and emotional needs center on Identity, Stimulation, and Security. In my previous post on Identity we discussed that identity emanates from essence, from existence. It is rooted primarily in the unchangeable […]

Re-post: The Role of Hardship in Shaping Character

You gotta go through it to get it, get it?

“Endure hardship as discipline…”   – Hebrews 12:7 I never liked the word discipline. It always made me think of punishment — and I didn’t care for punishment.  Losing privileges, being sent to my room, having my allowance docked — I never liked any of it.  The worst, however, was corporal punishment — the dreaded […]

How A Prophet Loses His Way – Part II

Lessons from Balaam's error

“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” – Psalm 119:11 (NIV) In Part I, I recounted the biblical story of Balaam from the Old Testament book of Numbers. Most of what I have to say in this post will resonate more if you read that post (I’ll […]

How A Prophet Loses His Way

Some people are so bent, even a talking donkey can't fix them

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.” – Proverbs 14:12 (ESV) The group of guys I meet with every Saturday morning (Hi fellas) is serious about becoming disciples who make disciples. This is a most worthy objective, and although it requires intention and perseverance, […]

The Word for 2018 is Breakthrough

Do you have the desire?

“The starting point of all achievement is desire.” – Napoleon Hill Happy New Year, my friends and readers — Ontozoans all! From the title of this post, you may have discerned that I have chosen a focus word for this new year — Breakthrough. Over the past five-to-six years, I have been chipping away at […]