In the sixteenth chapter of Corinthians, you'll find these two verses, tucked in there, seemingly as a random stream of consciousness, part of Paul's closing in his first letter to this church in Corinth: "Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love." (1 Corinthians 16:13-14) Paul doesn't direc…

“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson I use this quote from Emerson in jest. It seems to me that this is the prevailing thought about what we are to do with our lives: the reason we are here is to go our own way; to leave our mark. But is that truly why we are here? Dallas Wi…

King David speaking: "For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me." - Psalm 51:3 We've talked in the past about living an examined life. Doing so can be a little unnerving. When we do that, it is (very) likely that we'll find something that we don't want to see, and, as a result, end up shoving whatever we found right back where we f…

“The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.” – Jimmy Johnson Malcolm Gladwell is a popular author and speaker who has written about the importance of practice. In his book Outliers, Gladwell argues that the key to success is not talent, but deliberate practice. Effective practice is the key to long-term skill improvemen…

"Conviction is the driving force that transforms belief into action. It's the unwavering commitment to truth and principle that enables us to navigate the complexities of life with purpose and integrity. Without conviction, our beliefs remain mere ideas, but with it, they become the catalyst for positive change in our lives and the world around us.…

“It’s bad enough wasting time without killing it.” – Norton Juster, academic, architect, and writer. He was best known as an author of children's books, particularly popular was The Dot and the Line - A Romance in Lower Mathematics With all that we have to do, it is awfully tempting to do nothing with out discretionary time. Until you realize the i…

“The love of money is the root of all evil.” – 1 Timothy 6:10 Probably a familiar verse, but think about the last 4 words: “root of all evil.” If we don’t love money, we can avoid a whole lot of bad. In fact, we could swap out the word ‘money’ for so many things in that verse. “The love of… the couch, Netflix, Peanut Butter M&Ms….” But here, God in…

“Imitate Jesus and Socrates.” - Benjamin Franklin Are you as struck by Franklin's recommendation as I am? Why both? If you're going to include Jesus on any list, there really isn't any need to include anyone else. It was curious to me what Franklin might have been thinking that would lead him to include these two people specifically, and only these…

"Holiness is not only separation from evil, but separation unto God." - John Stott Holiness has long been a central theme in Christianity, and throughout history, various individuals and groups have emphasized its importance. It is a concept that often evokes various perceptions, from being old-fashioned and rigid to grace-filled and deeply satisfy…

"Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can." - John Wesley In a world often marred by turmoil and adversity, the call to "not grow weary in doing good" holds profound significance, primarily for Christians. While…

"Heaven is not a distant place, but a perfected state of being where we will enjoy unbroken communion with God and one another." — Tim Keller Thinking rightly about heaven is both significant and transformative as it will shape our thoughts, actions, and deepest longings. Embracing an anticipatory mindset about heaven moves us away from it being a …

"In every life we have some trouble, but when you worry you make it double... don't worry, be happy..." - Bobby McFerrin He has provided us a catchy way to remember two very important truths about worry: by worrying, we do make things doubly worse, and, that we do have a choice. If you're looking to be happy, you're aiming way too low. Instead, why…

"When we use our spiritual gifts, we are joining in God's mission to reconcile the world to Himself. It is an act of obedience and surrender, allowing God to work through us to bring about His purposes and transformation in the lives of others." - D.A. Carson The idea of “to whom much is given, much will be required” is that we should, and will be,…

I think we all would agree that when expressing our anger, it is better that we stop short of turning green and smashing everything. Even if we have the power to do it. But you might say, "There are times when we need to smash things into oblivion... like, evil." However, it seems pretty clear that God is the only one that gets to turn green and sm…

I want to make sure you are properly warned against enduring the consequences of a lop-sided morning. Because a lop-sided morning leads to a lop-sided day. By lop-sided, I mean focusing only on one area of your life to the exclusion of others. My sense is that there is a tendency to elevate exercise over the time you need to spend thinking, or more…

There's no denying that "A Few Good Men" is a classic. In this movie, you have a young military lawyer, Lieutenant Daniel Kaffee, played by Tom Cruise, assigned to defend two marines accused of murdering a fellow soldier. With Colonel Nathan Jessup on the stand, Kaffee confronts the commanding officer of the Marines by accusing him of ordering a "c…

“We are made wise not by the recollection of our past, but by the responsibility for our future.” – George Bernard Shaw Shaw's comment on wisdom is important because it rightly integrates the past and the future. In fact, it can't truly be wisdom unless we apply to the future what we have learned by experience to be true. For as it has been said, i…

Kindness penetrates. Similar to the way water can find its way into the most hidden, protected places. However, when it comes to kindness, it is not so much that it breaches as it is being absorbed. Kindness is wanted. Needed. Life-giving. Nice on the other hand, is temporary and superficial. Nice is the sizzle. Kindness is the steak. The Bible doe…

“People have learned to escape Reality very well but too often lose their way back.” — Eugene J. Martin, visual artist Harry Houdini's escapes were just an illusion, much like our attempt to try and escape reality. Fortunately for us, as Jon Bloom reminds us, “Jesus has come to set us free from fantasy’s impoverishing enchantment.” Rather than look…

No doubt you are familiar with the hymn. Sung the world over, it has ministered to millions. And probably why it resonates so deeply, is that for Horatio Spafford, the author, these lyrics are autobiographical. Despite the years of tragedy he and his wife had endured, these lyrics are a testament to his faith and trust in God. It is this idea that …

Once we get our thoughts right about God, ourselves, and our circumstances, that right thinking leads to right living. This was something that Peter, in 1 Peter 1:13, was trying to stress by calling a group of Christ followers being persecuted for their faith to do three things: gird their minds, keep sober, and hope–completely–on the grace of God.…

Eleanor Roosevelt said that we should "do one thing every day that scares you." Sure, I get it. The status quo is not very exciting, and, for different reasons, could possibly even be unhealthy. Life requires (some) risk. After all, "nothing ventured, nothing gained". Here's something I think we can work with. Risk-taking is a willingness, to take …

"We need to orient our lives on the clear statements of Scripture regarding God's will. And here is one: "For freedom Christ has set us free. (from Gal. 5:1)" Christ's will for you is that you enjoy freedom. Where you go to school, what job you do, where you live, etc., are not nearly so crucial as whether you stand fast in freedom." - John Piper M…

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:35 Are you loving enough, or in a way, that it is even noticeable? Or, at best, is it at a level and consistency that it is what people think of first when they think of you? Not just your friends and family, but total strangers? That is what John …

We can't become so 'wise' that we are able to avoid all the scary parts of life. Wisdom is the means by which we navigate what God decides to allow--and intends to use--in our lives for our good and His glory. That includes fear. Read the transcript for Choosing Faith Over Fear Sign up for the Wisdom In All Things weekly email…

Heaven is not just a destination, but a mindset. Of Colossians 3:2 (“set our minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth”), J. B. Lightfoot, English theologian and Bishop of Durham (1800’s), states that we “must not only seek heaven; [we] must also think heaven.” As we set our minds on ‘things above’ we are able to put ‘thin…

Becoming a "Proverbs 31 Man" is an intriguing perspective to have on this chapter in Proverbs. You, like me, may have been more familiar with Proverbs 31 largely referring to the characteristics of a godly woman. In order to be a “Proverbs 31 Man”, we must become a “Proverbs Man”, which is something we all are to be, married or not. Read the transc…

"No pressure, no diamonds.” – Thomas Carlyle, Scottish philosopher Equal to the pressure we face is the strength and wisdom God provides to walk in conjunction with His purpose to yield the intended outcome. While it is unavoidable–and it shouldn’t be avoided entirely, given its potential benefits–we can ‘get a grip’ on how to maintain the ability …

It is God’s leading that makes 1 Thess. 5:21-22 (NASB) possible: “examine everything carefully, hold fast to what is good, abstain from every evil.” This “biblical sleuthing” is what John MacArthur points out as the “responsibility of every Christian… discernment is not optional for the believer–it is required.” Read the transcript for Discernment:…

Our being wounded or wondering should be a hint that we’re running the risk of attracting unwanted attention, which is why Peter urges us to think clearly and remain vigilant. When you take a good look at yourself, are you giving the “roaring lion” any reason to target you? Are you unknowingly or unnecessarily vulnerable? Read the transcript for Th…

I mean for us to “noodle” in the best possible way. While enjoying the practical benefits of journaling, we gain all the more by recording this intentional quest for wisdom. To the point John Piper makes about “living for the glory of Christ”, this is a quest worthy of capturing and remembering. Read the transcript for Journaling to Capture Wisdom …

We’re getting it from the inside, from the outside, and when we trace it back to its source, it leads us directly to Satan, The Father of Lies. Satan is a pro at reflecting the light, deep deception, and manipulation. We need to pay particular attention to this because of the severity of the consequences. Satan’s single aim is to utterly destroy yo…

Just as the 10 Commandments prescribe for us what we are to avoid, did you know they also point to a “positive side”? They provide for us a framework for living out the character of God, and how are lives are to be distinct. In front of the commandment is that positive application that we can recite in our quiet times, if not at the start of each d…

Finding rest in God can be somewhat deceptive because it can too easily be confused with relief. Relief is beneficial, but it is not rest. The rest that Jesus provides isn’t physical, emotional, or mental relief–but is restorative and rejuvenating and frees us from soul-weariness. He addresses the problem, not the symptoms. Read the transcript of F…

We’ve talked in the past about having a good decision analysis and developing a heuristic to better ensure we make the right decisions. But how can we expect to keep making the right decision when there are so many to make? Fortunately, we have what is revealed through Scripture to reign in our random and conflicting thoughts and feelings. But our …

Living life on mission, does not mean we need to be a missionary. However, we can easily see how our lives might look strikingly similar. Learning Mission from Missionaries transcript. Sign up for the Wisdom in All Things email.Από τον Wisdom In All Things

"The General is sorry to be informed that the foolish, and wicked practice, of profane cursing and swearing is growing into fashion; he hopes the officers will, by example, as well as influence, endeavor to check it, and that both they, and the men will reflect, that we can have little hopes of the blessing of Heaven on our Arms..." - George Washin…

God cannot lie (Titus 2:1), and we are called to reflect that by being “truth-tellers worthy of trust.” From his book The 10 Greatest Struggles of Your Life, Pastor Colin Smith goes on to reveal that this means we are to “deal in truth rather than lies, in precision rather than distortion, and in honesty rather than deception.” Trust truly defines …

Here, I think, is where the pandemic provided a benefit. We were forced to give our full attention to what was most important. There was nothing to fear missing out on. The world had all but stopped. The pandemic provided some relief from FOMO, if not an opportunity to self-correct, and allowed us to, as they say, not let a ‘perfectly good crisis g…

Usually, it is the inverse of J. R. R. Tolkien’s aphorism from The Fellowship of the Ring that we hear: ‘all that glitters isn’t gold’. However, his quote more aptly points us to what we should keep in mind when investing: "all that is gold does not glitter". We shouldn’t be fooled by what something costs. We can pay far too much for far too little…

“Without proper self-evaluation, failure is inevitable.” – John Wooden (a warning he made in Wooden: A Lifetime of Observations and Reflections On and Off the Court when our excuses interfere with our ability to evaluate ourselves.) Wooden echoes the bolder statement made by Socrates that “the unexamined life is not worth living”. Which is to say, …

While God is capable of granting our every request, He is especially pleased to grant our request for discernment and understanding. Solomon first worships God before humbly approaching Him to ask not for fame and fortune, but to know right and wrong so that he may lead God’s people, and influence others, honorably. Read the transcript for The Kind…

Solomon’s request of God for wisdom teaches us that more important than asking good questions is that we ask the right questions of the right person. Solomon made two very important requests of God and did so after properly positioning his heart to receive God’s response. Read the transcript for Solomon Makes His Request for Wisdom Sign up for the …

Solomon’s first missteps as King are a reminder to us that our obedience cannot be partial. When that is the case, our hearts become divided and our lives a contradiction to what exercising God’s power and wisdom truly looks like. Read the transcript for Solomon's Missteps as King Sign up for the Wisdom In All Things weekly email…

David loved his son Solomon. In wanting the very best for him, he gave his son–and us–the wisest counsel a person could ever give to someone they cared about. To realize the potential of what God has called us to be, we must heed the charge that David gives his son Solomon: walk in God’s ways. Read the transcript for Walk in God's Ways: David's Cha…

The rise and fall of Solomon centers on how a divided heart can destroy a kingdom. It is imperative that we follow God’s ways in order to see God’s desired outcomes. Read the transcript for The Rise and Fall of Solomon Sign up for the Wisdom In All Things weekly emailΑπό τον Wisdom In All Things

Asking for wisdom is necessary, but asking the right person is crucial. King Solomon’s demonstrates for us that we should not only be willing, but that we ask for wisdom from the right person. Read the transcript for Ask for Wisdom as Solomon Asked for Wisdom Sign up for the Wisdom in All Things email.…

I think it goes without saying—the world we live in is increasingly wolf-infested, and growing more so by the week. While we have our challenges and opposition to face, one could argue that the disciples had it even worse. Setting aside their obvious lack of creature comforts and technological advances, they were surrounded by a hostile culture and…

Marriage was designed as the sole place for the purpose of venery to be satisfied. At least what Franklin points out—personal health and the wellbeing of a family—are realized when the expression of our sexual desires remains within the context of marriage. If not for chastity, our unbridled expression leads to depletion. We’ll have less excitement…

Clean, like, really clean—the way mom would clean something—is clean in back, and underneath, not just where someone might see. To do that, you need to pick up whatever you’re cleaning and inspect it. Cleanliness is being thoughtful, meticulous–and thorough. A quick dusting just doesn’t cut it. While most of the virtues are applicable across our li…