“The real danger isn’t in believing a conspiracy theory but in adopting conspiracy thinking… ‘a stable predisposition that to one degree or another drives individuals to accept conspiracy theories.’ One of my main concerns with this mindset is how easily it makes its way from politics and the broader culture into the local church.” - TGC
In seminary we were encouraged—well, required—to read outside our own theological perspective. A few students recoiled a bit. They had been living in a bubble, and those outside it had been mostly ignored, sometimes caricatured, but never directly listened to with the goal of accurate understanding.
Most students relished the wider reading. They’d already learned that curiosity, personal connection, and questioning assumptions can result in life-changing bursts of discovery and personal growth.
… which is why effective educational institutions do that sort of thing.
Peace and prosperity are feverishly sought for throughout the world. This all-out search consumes men and women irrespective of cultural heritage or ethnicity. According to Jesus, all efforts at achieving true peace outside of Him are in vain. Jesus promised to give true peace to His disciples, His followers.
“ ‘Brain rot’ was Oxford’s word of the year in 2024, defined as ‘the supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state, especially viewed as the result of overconsumption of material (now particularly online content) considered to be trivial or unchallenging.’” - TGC
Review: ‘The Saints’ Everlasting Rest’ by Richard Baxter - “Paul calls us to set our ‘minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth’ (Col 3:2). How can we learn to do that? Richard Baxter, an English Puritan, wrestled with the same question nearly 400 years ago.” - TGC
“We live in a time when we are defined as disabled, bipolar, alcoholic, ADHD, victims of lupus, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and nearly everything else. Our condition easily becomes our primary reference point. I am an insulin-dependent diabetic, but my disease doesn’t define me.” - Randy Alcorn
“Why not ‘read’ more books by leaning on AI’s synthesizing prowess, gaining knowledge more efficiently? Because it’s a bad trade. It’s like swapping a feast for fast food.” - TGC
“Creativity thrives on the collision of different ideas, perspectives, and knowledge domains. The most innovative breakthroughs happen when concepts from seemingly unrelated fields intersect in unexpected ways.” - Phil Cooke
“like anything else, ministry-related reading can become a bubble, within which expanded thinking is impossible….More than a decade ago, then still in full-time pastoral ministry, I shifted my reading to include more ‘regular’ history, biographies of not-necessarily-Christian people, fiction, science, and more.” - Baptist Press
“It is one thing to understand our need for this presence, but it is another thing to maintain an awareness of his presence in the busyness of life.” - IFWE
