One of the more common criticisms that you tend to hear about the spiritually formative kinds of things that ECSW's curriculum, Life with God presents is that it's too "touchy-feely", too emotional, and too personal. We heard just such a voice recently from a curriculum test group, and as a former card-carrying member of the "emotions get in the way" club, part of me still resonates with these people. For one thing, emotions aren't something we have much control over, so they can (and do) get us into trouble. For that matter, wearing your heart on your sleeve can be a good way to get that heart injured. Best to keep it inside the rib cage where it's got some protection and take care of the things that need to get done to fulfill God's work.
 
Alas, God pays attention to the heart. (1 Sam. 16:7) It matters to Him. The Hebrew "heart" meant the whole inner person: intellect, will, emotions, desires, dreams, and so on, and this is what He's keeping tabs on. Paul characterizes Jesus' ministry as one of reconciliation (Rom. 5:11, 2 Cor. 5:18-19, etc.). If reconciliation is the restoration of relationship, then the qualities that make up relationship...

Continue Reading

The other day, my friend was asking me about my experience moving from a busy staff job at a university to my current position working out of my home. My responsibilities with ECSW are less administrative than my previous position and involve more writing and planning. Instead of a pile of tasks to complete each day, I have (and need) more space to think, pray, ponder, try, wait and revise. It’s a quieter kind of existence, too, one where I also don’t have people knocking at my office door every hour.

My friend is going through a similar transition from a job full of tasks to one that is quieter and solitary with more space to...

Continue Reading

My son and I are working on his car. He is replacing his aging stereo “head unit” and front speakers and adding a subwoofer and amp to make sure he is heard before he is seen.

As with most projects of this nature where high-end components are replacing ancient stock ones, there are frequent bouts of frustration. In fact, it feels like nothing is easy or quick with this project. After several days of serious effort, we are not done and we are exhausted. Spent and on edge.

I’m about at the place where I am willing to refinance our home if that’s what it takes to ask a true professional to diagnose, no...

Continue Reading

Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda[a] and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get...

Continue Reading