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A few decades ago, two ministers were on the platform, engaged in quiet conversation before the service. A woman from the church entered, and both men looked up, a simple acknowledgment of her presence. In that instant, though, something changed. She became certain they were discussing her, maybe sharing some private failing or judgment. Anger flared, quickly followed by weeks of painful withdrawal and silence. A few weeks later, when the pastor inquired about her distress, s

In the quiet corners of our lives, fears often lurk like shadows, growing larger the more we turn away from them. The ancient wisdom encapsulated in the idea that "if one hides from what one fears, it will eventually devour you" rings true across cultures, histories, and even modern science. This principle isn't just poetic. This principle serves as a call to action, encouraging us to confront our fears directly. Anyone who was bullied as a child will tell you that the bully

Before you read any further, you may wish to visit this link and watch the short video clip: https://youtu.be/IGQmdoK_ZfY?si=8TkUMIKYCqYFnfkE . Copy and paste it into your browser. Return here when you finish it. Inattentional blindness is the failure to notice a fully visible, unexpected stimulus when attention is tightly focused elsewhere. In psychology, inattentional blindness  refers to the failure to perceive an obvious, meaningful stimulus because attention is consumed

I was praying recently, and the question came to me about how tongues develop. These types of questions usually come to me in the middle of prayer and meditation. I filed the question away in my mind, meaning to investigate it at the conclusion of my prayer time. Here are my thoughts. Language is one of humanity's most profound abilities, bridging the gap between thought and expression. It seems the same is true about God. In the beginning was the Word (logos), and the Word w

In a world where physical limitations can feel like insurmountable barriers, sometimes the smallest creatures offer the greatest lessons. This is the story of my friend, whose life was forever changed by an unlikely teacher. Because of a tiny ant, he was inspired by an encounter, which led him to dream of writing a book titled " The Ant That Took Away My Can't ," a testament to turning an "I can't" into "I can" through the power of the mind. Though he passed before completing

In the hectic pace of daily life, we often find ourselves engulfed by a multitude of distractions, including endless to-do lists, social media scrolls, and fleeting ambitions. But what if there was just the "one thing" that could anchor us, something worth chasing above all else? The Bible speaks to this idea in profound ways, particularly in two verses that have resonated with believers for centuries. Psalm 27:4 declares, " One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I s

This writing may not resonate with everyone. But if you choose to read on, you may find a glimmer of truth that is new to you. In my last blog, I wrote about various words used for love in the Romance languages. I mentioned the noetic love, which is so much purer than the lower levels of love. "Noetic "  comes from the Greek word noēsis, meaning “understanding” or “intellect.” In modern usage, it refers to anything related to inner knowing, intellectual insight, or direct ap

In our fast-paced modern world, where connections can often feel fleeting and superficial, it's worth exploring what truly binds us to God, to one another, and to the things that bring us joy. As someone who has been studying languages for several decades, I've always been fascinated by how words shape our understanding of abstract concepts. English, for all its versatility, has some notable limitations in this area. Take the word "love," for instance. It's our go-to word for

Early in my ministry, I gradually began to understand the meanings of scriptural words found in the Judeo-Christian Bible. The technique I incorporated into my preaching is known as “expositional” preaching. The Latin etymology is ex = "out" and ponere = "to put out," "to bring to light," and "to make visible." I often consider teaching as a process of unraveling a mystery. At first, the shell is hard and unfamiliar, like a concept we don’t quite understand. But with patience

In Genesis 28, Jacob dreams of a ladder stretching from earth to heaven, with angels ascending and descending on it. Notice the order. First, they were ascending, and then descending. It's not the other way around, as we might instinctively think. Why does this matter? Angels are messengers. They are divine couriers whose primary role is to bridge the gap between humanity and God. They don't just deliver messages from above. They carry our prayers, actions, and intentions upw

In the bustling noise of our modern world, where instant gratification reigns supreme and promises are expected to be fulfilled overnight, there's a profound truth tucked away in the pages of the Bible that challenges our patience and deepens our faith. Hebrews 11:13 declares, " These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the eart

I once talked to a minister of a thriving church, and I asked him if he had figured out how to pastor effectively. In his own poetic way, he said, “I feel like I’m running down a gravel road holding onto the top of the tailgate of a pickup, and just when I think I can hop on the bumper and climb into the back for a free ride, the tailgate comes unlatched and falls open.” That image has stayed with me. It’s raw, dusty, and human. We all know that feeling of being jolted, like

Have you ever misplaced your keys right after holding them? Have you ever forgotten an important appointment? Now imagine forgetting something huge, like where you put your Bible or where you parked your car. History is riddled with tales of things that one would think could never be forgotten, but ended up slipping through the cracks. For instance, the Taj Mahal stands as an eternal symbol of love, built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Maha

As I grow older, I have more and more life stories floating up from my subconscious. Recently, for whatever reason I don't know, an experience from my elementary days came to mind. I had slipped up behind and was holding one of my classmates when, after briefly struggling vainly, he warned me to let him go. I thought it was all fun and games, but obviously, he did not. Suddenly, he introduced me to an elbow punch. Never heard of one before that day! The unexpected backward el

Have you ever heard the joke about why some folks skip reading the Book of Job in the Bible? Because it reminds them too much of having a “job”! It is disheartening to witness the negative perception of work in today's society. We groan about Mondays, some dream about early retirement, and sometimes treat our 9-to-5 like it's a punishment straight from God. But what if I told you that work isn't some divine curse handed down after the Fall in the Garden of Eden? Look all the

Hello, fellow seekers wandering on the road to the afterlife! Have you ever lain awake at night, staring at the ceiling, pondering the big questions? You know, like "What happens after we die?" or "Is there really a higher power out there?" If you're similar to me, these thoughts have the potential to spiral into a deep and complex realm. I call them "rabbit holes." :) I was recently reading a book by Gigerenzer and Todd entitled Simple Heuristics That Make Us Smart *. In it

If you're anything like me, your spiritual journey is a mix of profound moments and everyday reminders that keep you grounded. I've been pondering this issue lately, especially after a quiet evening when my old chair seemed to "whisper" a question: "Did you pray today?" Okay, it didn't literally talk. I'm not losing it, but that chair has become a silent sentinel in my home prayer area, a touchstone that nudges me to keep my relationship with God daily and fresh. It got me th

Welcome back to my little corner of the internet, where I ramble about faith, old beliefs, and a bit of science. Today I want to share with you something that's been like a “bee in my bonnet.” Think about the incredible (and sometimes weird) ways that what we see can influence our lives. It's like that old saying, "You are what you eat," but for your eyes, it’s "You are what you behold." Let's take a sobering look at how things we see can mess with our minds. I stumbled acros

Have you ever stopped in the middle of a busy day, maybe dealing with work emails, kid chaos, or the never-ending scroll of social media, and thought, "Whoa, how does my brain even do this?" I mean, really. We are these complex groups of neurons, microtubules, feelings, and strange habits that move through a world that is both beautiful and confusing. Psalm 139:14 really hits me head-on in times like these that says, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul?  (Matthew 16:26; Mark 8:36). This time-worn question, rooted in biblical wisdom, resonates deeply when we consider Daniel Keyes’ Flowers for Algernon , a science fiction masterpiece first published as a short story in 1959 and expanded into a novel in 1966. The story of Charlie Gordon, a man with an intellectual disability who undergoes an experimental procedure to become “smart,” invites us to wrestle