A Life Worthy

Tag: a life worth living

  • One-a-Day Tuesday, 10/29/13

    Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as number 1wise… (Ephesians 5:15).

    If you follow Christ, the world will not understand you.  More than that, the world cannot understand you.  John 1:5 says, “The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.”  That light is Jesus, and if he lives in you then you are a mystery to the world around you.

    Knowing that, riddle me this: Why do you keep trying to do things the world’s way?  Why do you follow the world’s advice, or try to impress the world?  It’s never going to work, so give it up.

    Paul says that we must be very careful to live in wisdom. That seems to indicate that, if we are not on our guard, we will naturally fall into the unwise patterns of the world.  We must stand fast in the wisdom he has given us, the wisdom that looks like foolishness to the eyes of the world.

    Embrace your inner enigma.

  • Country of the Blind

    blindfold

    This vision/blindness theme really has a hold on me.

    My last post got me thinking about one of my all-time favorite stories, The Country of the Blind.  H.G. Wells wrote this tale of a man who finds himself trapped in a village that has been physically cut off from the outside world for centuries.  Over the years, the villagers have evolved a brutal congenital defect.

    They’re blind.

    All of them.

    Completely.

    Blind like—they’re born without eyes—that kind of blind.

    (more…)

  • WhyTube

    Search “Liver Fluke” on YouTube.movie camera

    Go ahead…I’ll wait.

    See what I mean?  It’s there.  Right on your screen, in the privacy of your home, you can learn how to acquire, detect, identify, treat, and remove a liver fluke in yourself or one of the barnyard animals that look to you for sustenance.

    How great is that?

    (more…)

  • The Call of Freedom

    Declaration of IndependenceThis morning I was thinking about an assignment I give my U.S. History students.    Now, I know that in the past I have shared with you some of the less-than-stellar examples of my students’ efforts.  This time, let me share something that worked out pretty well.  It’s not as funny, but it may be worth thinking about as we celebrate our Freedom. (more…)

  • Tradition

    traditionIt’s a powerful thing.

    And like any powerful thing, tradition is full of potential benefits, but also fraught with danger.

    Kinda like nuclear energy.

    Or drone surveillance.

    Maybe GMOs. (more…)

  • Lessons from the Dog

    IMG_1742I’m way too much like my dog.

    And yet not enough.

    Confusing?  Tell me about it.

    Summer is here, and for me that means early morning walks with the lovely Mandibles of Death.  You may remember this pooch.  Her given name is Amanda, but she has claimed the title Mandibles.  She has earned it, too, being vicious in a way that only fluffy Golden Retrievers can be.

    I try to use our daily walk as prayer time.  The fresh morning air and invigorating exercise are supposed to free up my mind for communion with God.  That’s the plan, anyway.  As we cruised along the block today, I couldn’t help but notice that there are ways in which Mandy reminds me, uncomfortably, of myself.   (more…)

  • Bachelor Weekend

    lonely 2I really shouldn’t be left alone.

    Cathy and the kids are at a homeschool convention this weekend.  I had an unmissable appointment yesterday, so I was unable to go with them.

    That means I’m home.

    All by myself. (more…)

  • Real Men Don’t Wear Flip-Flops

    flip flopSeriously.

    I was in the market yesterday, and I noticed a display of flip-flops.  For those of you who don’t know, “Flip-Flops” is the technical term for inexpensive, backless sandals, usually made of rubber.  There are a variety of names associated with this casual footwear, but the intellectual elite know them as “Flip-Flops.” (more…)

  • The Final Anne-alysis

    paintbrushTake one small, inbred country town.

    Add a psychotic, delusional orphan girl.

    Throw in a splash of raspberry cordial.

    Mix thoroughly.

    What do you get?

    That’s been my question. (more…)

  • Good Enough

    English: 4th place ribbon for a race

    When is it good to say good enough is good enough?

    Last time, I was talking about the astounding level of mediocrity that I find in my classroom.  I’m not just talking about the things they don’t know—like my World History student who thinks that Christianity has its roots in the teachings of Confucius.

    Seriously.

    No, I’m talking about the level of effort I see—and the level of effort that is rewarded.

    What can I do to teach my own kids to be more than mediocre? (more…)