Tag Archives: Kierkegaard

Some Wisdom for the Journey

We cannot make every cause our own. We can be well-informed on issues, but each of us must focus on the particular concerns we are equipped for. What areas of the common good are we called to influence? For some it is pro-life issues (yes, we must all care about this). For others, it is education, homelessness, employment, affordable housing, personal life-change, etc. If we each find our place, our community will flourish. If you are not sure, begin with where God has you today and allow your character, competencies, and charisms to bloom where you are planted.

Pause and pray. Reflect and rejoice.
Lament and laugh. Today is a gift, tomorrow is a hope.
Bless many secretly, affirm someone openly. 
And remember Kierkegaard: “Purity of heart is to will one thing.”

Nuance, perspective, and subtlety are lost is our world of instant data, reaction over reflection, and “narratives” we refuse to abandon or adjust. The Bible informs us that we are beautiful and broken, have a divine design and destiny, and are capable of unutterable evil and supererogatory virtue. Let’s embrace reality with the confidence in the One who unites eternal truth and human reality – Jesus our Lord. 

Letters to People of Influence, Part Two: To Public Communicators

In this essay, I present two more letters to women and men in places of political power and service. Our great global need is trustworthy public servants. Too often, we are saddled with persons desiring prestige more than providing stewardship. May we exercise the privilege of voting with wisdom and hold our elected officials accountable.

Dear political foes:

 May we have a conversation and debate with passion and principle but without labeling and libeling?

Unregulated immigration and xenophobia are contrary to a preferred future.

A balanced budget will not starve children.

All refugees deserve compassion, including Christians.

American citizens deserve employment opportunities, college help and access to elections…citizenship should mean something.

Creation care includes wealth creation – and good ecological stewardship means a growing economy for future generations.

We need a conversation on religious liberty, from Christian clerks to Muslim flight attendants. What is reasonable employer accommodation?

Where do we start?

With our personal decisions to love wisely, work hard, care for family and neighbor and seek the good of our children’s generation more than our momentary pleasure.

Dear public intellectuals:

 There is so much cognitive dissonance and moral confusion…

The feds rebuke an employer for obeying the law and checking for citizenship.

Millions are without work while major companies only hire non-citizens.

Fatherlessness is epidemic and colleges demand young men be less masculine. (Yes, we need a biblical understanding between wild and wimp)

A clerk goes to jail but a halal bakery can say no to wedding cakes.

Iran continues to declare destruction while we “delay” nuclear bombs a bit.

Conservatives preach purity and consume porn.

St. James once said, “a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways…”

Our public cultures say they want clarity and truth, but what they seem to desire most is self-gratification and moments of charity to assuage their consciences.

Kierkegaard once wrote, “Purity of heart is to will one thing.”

God grant an awakening of single-mindedness.