tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56221812024-03-07T21:25:38.639-06:00Be Bold, Be GentleChristian encouragement for men -- an evangelical perspective on current events, Scripture, and coming up the husband and father learning curve. Boldness without gentleness is tyranny; gentleness without boldness is not Christlike. Jesus was both tough and tender.Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18234482331162945683noreply@blogger.comBlogger2182125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622181.post-54606994459648776692012-02-25T04:12:00.000-06:002012-02-25T04:12:00.198-06:00What One Thing Are You Entitled To?We live in an entitlement culture, and our marriages and kids are dying from it. The entitlement attitude of "I deserve something for free" is pulling us down as a people and as men leading our families. <br />
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Tim Challies is spot on:<br />
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As a Christian, I believe in one entitlement.<br />
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I’m entitled to Hell. That’s the only entitlement I have. That’s all I deserve, because of my sin. Anything else is grace, an unmerited bonus from the God of all grace. I don’t deserve a breath of life, a crumb of food, a drop of water, a stitch of clothing, a cent in my wallet, or an hour of education. I’m not entitled to one friend, one vacation, one verse of Scripture, or even one sermon. I’m certainly not entitled to salvation and heaven. I’m entitled to damnation and Hell.<br />
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That sense of entitlement makes me seek mercy, receive mercy, enjoy mercy, and be merciful to others. To paraphrase the Apostle Paul, “What have I that I did not receive as a free gift of divine grace? How therefore can I ever boast as if I had actually been entitled to it or earned it?” <br />
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So, there are basically only two ways to live: with a proud and angry sense of entitlement or with a humble and thankful sense of responsibility.<br />
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<a href="http://www.challies.com/writings/podcast/entitlement" target="_blank">Read the whole article</a>. This is great conversation fodder for your family.Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18234482331162945683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622181.post-53619633641173707142012-02-23T04:10:00.000-06:002012-02-23T04:10:00.238-06:00Han Solo Shot First!Men, I encourage you to consider this commentary from Bill Whittle, and think about how we're training our sons. Remember that TV, movies, and videogames have a tremendous influence on worldview.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Ns1m_aXJa58?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18234482331162945683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622181.post-24129063810243566632012-02-19T04:00:00.000-06:002012-02-19T04:00:04.891-06:00Do You Fall Into This Gap Trap?Let's face it, men, we're confronted with gaps all the time between what is and what we'd prefer:<br />
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Money<br />
Intelligence<br />
Physical attributes<br />
Accomplishments<br />
Gifts and Talents<br />
Marriage<br />
Parenting<br />
Work<br />
Possessions<br />
Courage<br />
Respect and Praise we receive<br />
Giving<br />
Entertainment<br />
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As you scanned down that list I'm sure examples came to mind. <br />
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These gaps between what is and what we'd prefer (even if our preferences would be bad for us or our loved ones!) create tension. Emotions, especially anger, flood into these gaps. These gaps fuel both pride and discouragement. <br />
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Here's my challenge to you: consider whether it is God who points out the gaps as a means of drawing you further to Himself and living to glorify Him by serving others, or your own selfishness and self-centeredness that makes the gaps feel so big. [This may be an excellent issue to discuss with your mentors and men who know you well.]<br />
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Both sources of "gap" identification happen to men all the time. But selfishness and self-promotion steer us into gap-trap, which makes us ineffective childish fools. Godly gaps are bridged and traversed in the power of the Holy Spirit, and we become more manly. <br />
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<br />Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18234482331162945683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622181.post-45659543230891490262012-02-01T04:12:00.000-06:002012-02-01T04:12:00.188-06:00Prepping for EasterEaster is April 8 this year, men. That's about nine weeks away.<br />
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What are you doing in February and March to prepare your family for this holy celebration? <br />
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Need some ideas? Check out this 2011 guide for ideas: <a href="http://www.crosswalk.com/family/parenting/holy-week-prepare-for-easter-with-your-family-1317997.html" target="_blank">Suggested resource</a>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18234482331162945683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622181.post-20009487024340668992012-01-31T04:17:00.000-06:002012-01-31T04:17:00.060-06:00Are You Being "With" ?<em>This was the devotion I led at our recent church business meeting. -- Glenn</em><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">This ministry is always about people, and always about Jesus, and is larger than any one of us. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">‘With’ is an important word, a powerful concept.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d like you to listen for ‘<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">with’</i> in these Bible passages: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">"Jesus went up on a mountainside and called to him those he wanted, and they came to him. 14 He appointed twelve that they might be <u>with him</u> and that he might send them out to preach 15 and to have authority to drive out demons." (Mark 3:13-15)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">So Jesus chose men to be with him and be his disciples. That “being with Jesus” time had a powerful influence on them: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been <u>with Jesus</u>. (Acts 4:13)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">The elders have spent some time in the recent months thinking and praying about developing leaders in our congregation – not just for our own boards and teams, but leaders who can influence the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">We can do leadership development and training the cheap way or the expensive way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cheap way is to spend about $60,000 and send a bunch of people off to cool-sounding week-long training classes and have 'em come back with certificates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The expensive way is to man up (and lady up) and pour your life into someone by being with them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Let’s consider some opportunities:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Enormous challenges for teenagers -- they need men and women who will be <u>with</u>them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They need good families. That's why we invest in youth staff and want to be there for parents.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">We need to be <u>with</u> our spouse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to be <u>with</u> one another as<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">believers-- this is why we stress small groups!</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Thousands of people who live in the neighborhood we live in are desperately lonely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These people need someone to be <u>with</u>them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">There are over a billion souls in unreached people groups who have not yet heard about the God who wants to be <u>with</u> them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That's why we're emphasizing cross-cultural missions and sending people from our fellowship.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">And when we grow weary, we will remember that we will be with the<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Lord.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is faithful on his part: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5)</i></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">We are told that we will be with Jesus at the end of earth as we know it: </span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">"They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and <u>with him</u> will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.” (Revelation 17:14) <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">[You can tell the whole arc of the Bible story around the word ‘with’: God created Adam and Eve and was with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sin broke that fellowship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God worked out His plan to restore relationship so that through Jesus Christ we can be with Him again.]<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Sounds great, doesn't it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let's be real with one another as brothers and sisters in Christ: it's harder to be <u>with</u> specific, real, imperfect individuals than to talk about it. Much harder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many times, it is beyond our capacity and our capability.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The little committee members in our heads say, “Ok, but let’s go be with somebody besides <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">this</i> guy.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p> </o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">The open secret is that the power to be with people is our abiding<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">connection with Jesus:</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7 If you abide in me, and<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">prove to be my disciples. 9 As the Father has loved me, so have I<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">loved you. Abide in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">abide in his love. 11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt; mso-themecolor: text1;">may be in you, and that your joy may be full." (John 15:4-11)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18234482331162945683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622181.post-91420672821826092772012-01-25T05:45:00.002-06:002012-01-25T05:45:34.557-06:003D PrintingSomething our children will take for granted: 3D printing to create objects. Remarkable.<br />
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Print this off, pray over it. Who is in your sphere of influence? Encourage them to watch you!Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18234482331162945683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622181.post-28387383134947451412012-01-19T04:00:00.000-06:002012-01-19T04:00:03.123-06:00For Dads With DaughtersTerrific list: <a href="http://www.fromdatestodiapers.com/50-rules-for-dads-of-daughters" target="_blank">50 Rules for Dads With Daughters</a>. Enjoy!<br />
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<br />Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18234482331162945683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622181.post-51540550165546061132012-01-17T04:16:00.000-06:002012-01-17T04:16:00.110-06:00The Vocation of WorkMy friend Matt Perman provides some excellent comments here about the vocation of our work.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/31153309?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/31153309">Monday Morning Motivation</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/gospelcoalition">The Gospel Coalition</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18234482331162945683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622181.post-63432859273692857762012-01-15T04:06:00.000-06:002012-01-15T04:06:00.555-06:00Bad Parenting .... Sometimes Humor Helps!<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TUQhfeuGQuY" width="420"></iframe>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18234482331162945683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622181.post-5579959817799093692012-01-13T04:05:00.000-06:002012-01-13T04:05:01.427-06:00Doubtful on the 'Singularity'<br />
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Ray Kurzweil continues to predict that with the exponential
gains of computer systems and digital technologies, the “singularity” event is
coming when computers surpass human capabilities – less than 20 years from
now. The “global brain” of networked computer systems will somehow usher
us into a new kind of utopia, and effectively let people live forever.
(See his poular book, <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Singularity-Near-Transcend-Biology-ebook/dp/B000QCSA7C/ref=kinw_dp_ke?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2" target="_blank">The Singularity is Near</a></b> ) <o:p></o:p></div>
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Call me a curmudgeon, but I’m a skeptic. <o:p></o:p></div>
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This is a massive leap from the current capability curve,
and depends on a critical epiphenomenon that would be more terrifying than
helpful. PCs are faster now, but software still does what we tell it, and
not even what we intend most of the time. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Are there truly no problems that can’t be solved with more
CPU cycles, more data? Hello, is anyone married, have children, or tried to
co-create something with others in a project? (“Gee, Timmy, your problem
is not that the team isn’t getting the project completed on budget, it’s that
your PCs are too slow.”)<o:p></o:p></div>
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Upload yourself to the ‘cloud’ brain so you can live
forever? Most of us routinely struggle to fully describe our experiences
with a language we’ve spent a lifetime using. I’m not sure how we’re
going to translate 100 billion neurons of memory (with something like 10^14<sup>th</sup>
interconnections into digital format.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We socialize our learning, and codify some learning into
systems (markets, governing laws, accepted practices), but in general every
person and every generation has to learn the same lessons. Our collective
data grows over time, but more slowly than the collective knowledge. Wisdom
accumulates even more slowly. Why would there be a different paradigm for
a digital network?<o:p></o:p></div>
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The digital network requires an enormous amount of
infrastructure, electricity, and maintenance by (you guessed it) human
beings. Kurzweil’s future view requires even more.<o:p></o:p></div>
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My view is that the “singularity” is a secularists fantasy. <o:p></o:p></div>
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There’s no doubt that we’re only partially into the digital
age, and we will see some remarkable things in the future. Why?
Because of our imagination, our drive, our ability to dream. I’m a big
proponent of technology used to help people do more and be better. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Why do I write about this on a blog titled “Be Bold, Be Gentle” ? The truth: the people you and I work with are
extraordinary. They have amazing potential. They’re not machines,
and do not have the limits of machines. Grip this truth, believe in them,
and help them achieve more than anyone thought possible. <o:p></o:p></div>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18234482331162945683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622181.post-69899745320341538502012-01-11T04:09:00.000-06:002012-01-11T04:09:00.809-06:00Book Recommendation: Boring to Bravo<br />
<i>(Why do I have a book review on presentations on a blog for husbands and fathers? Because I know many of you give presentations at work, in civic organizations, and in church. -- Glenn)</i><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Boring-Bravo-Presentation-Techniques-Audience/dp/1608320367/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325437184&sr=8-1" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Q0tOLrS52aLtVBuwPzrdvTNXGOf9Luz3OpaPOoj6cf5zXEC_sXMz_S2K8xcH0qEfEBXcgf19BU-3ZRifJauLOBvXOzBJQMHuziRzwI_hgStONP7jizby6VEq3mMdKsgbSQ0ikg/s1600/boringtobravo.jpg" /></a></div>
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<br />
I highly recommend <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Boring-Bravo-Presentation-Techniques-Audience/dp/1608320367/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325437184&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Boring to Bravo: Proven Presentation Techniques to Engage, Involve, and Inspire Your Audience to Action</a></b>, by Kristin Arnold<br />
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I have recommended other presentation books in the past, so why do I recommend you study this one? The main reason: the focus on interacting with and engaging your audience. This is an essential skill for presenters and teachers today. Presentations which change minds and lives must be engaging. <br />
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Kristin Arnold is a good writer, so you'll enjoy the reading time. <br />
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I particularly appreciate her comments about the mindset you need to cultivate in order to engage an audience. The book is written more for professional speakers and trainers, but you'll find most of it applies for small group presentations and teaching times. <br />
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If you want to be selective in reading this book, study the chapters on stories, use of humor, illustrationss, interacting with Q&A, and calling for decision/action. <br />
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<b>Boring to Bravo</b> delivers the promise implicit in the title. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Boring-Bravo-Presentation-Techniques-Audience/dp/1608320367/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325437184&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Get it. </a><br />Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18234482331162945683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622181.post-83998410199196713752012-01-09T04:12:00.000-06:002012-01-09T04:12:01.078-06:00Hold Up a Mirror and Say...Men, hold up a mirror and say this aloud:<br />
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"You are the leader of this family.<br />
God holds you accountable.<br />
Cherish your wife.<br />
You are a model for your son(s).<br />
You are a model for your daughter(s).<br />
You can't lead people to where you aren't.<br />
God made you a man, so act like one.<br />
You can do 3 to 10 times what you think you can do.<br />
God enables you to do everything He asks you to do.<br />
Yeah, you're tired. You can still serve.<br />
You are secure in Jesus Christ.<br />
No temptation is stronger than God.<br />
You are not your own, you were bought at a price."<br />
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Repeat as often as necessary.<br />
<br />Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18234482331162945683noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622181.post-57513223019274379922012-01-07T04:23:00.000-06:002012-01-07T04:23:01.211-06:00Engraved<br />
There are some verses and passages you go back to time and again. Isaiah 49:16 is one of mine:<br />
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<i>"See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands"</i><br />
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A few thoughts to encourage you:<br />
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God is speaking to his children of Israel, and by extension, we who have been grafted in and adopted as heirs. Think of how sensitive your palms are, and how visible they are to you. They're never more than an arm's length away! "Engraved" suggests permanence and lasting effect. This is not magic marker or ball-point pen scrawling to remind you of something ephemeral. What is engraved? Not a picture of story of my ancestors, but <i>me</i>. What a precious statement from the God of the Universe!<br />
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"See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands"<br />Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18234482331162945683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622181.post-78207431001764340622012-01-05T03:57:00.000-06:002012-01-05T03:57:00.879-06:0020 Seconds of CourageWe watched the "We Bought a Zoo" movie recently, and I really liked this scene. What can you and I do with just 20 seconds of insane courage? How can we talk with our boys about these matters?
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ZmMFIganRQY" width="560"></iframe>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18234482331162945683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622181.post-34059230939905327892012-01-03T04:19:00.000-06:002012-01-03T04:19:00.182-06:00How to Read the Whole Bible in 30 Days<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ErDQ4N8KAEQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18234482331162945683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622181.post-40571736615063965392012-01-01T03:58:00.000-06:002012-01-01T03:58:00.156-06:00A Father's List of Things LearnedMen, go here now and study <a href="http://www.crosswalkmail.com/amdhfp/ViewMessage.do?a=view&m=xgpjjdspc&s=kmtdhflsdtdlpsgrkqbwblfpmkkptvlbhhg&r=glrryywgknkc" target="_blank">"Things I Have Learned"</a> -- this is a list of truth statements from John Piper's father, plus his commentary. Excellent, outstanding. <br />
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<a href="http://www.crosswalkmail.com/amdhfp/ViewMessage.do?a=view&m=xgpjjdspc&s=kmtdhflsdtdlpsgrkqbwblfpmkkptvlbhhg&r=glrryywgknkc" target="_blank"><b>Study it.</b></a>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18234482331162945683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622181.post-42077069934097492342011-12-25T04:24:00.000-06:002011-12-25T04:24:00.472-06:00Merry Christmas!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDNR4IHxoPhX-46tTS3aa1UvdarvAjNYXvIyDcJKk6YpeJKpflYPF4hYG24RbjLJSlRDcse3EPXqfdF6SNF8BxQfSvJPVaEvz_Xgo5arfwDZtgZBolrMgvmZYDph4cOhzhJQXoA/s1600/nativity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDNR4IHxoPhX-46tTS3aa1UvdarvAjNYXvIyDcJKk6YpeJKpflYPF4hYG24RbjLJSlRDcse3EPXqfdF6SNF8BxQfSvJPVaEvz_Xgo5arfwDZtgZBolrMgvmZYDph4cOhzhJQXoA/s320/nativity.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18234482331162945683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622181.post-49074520289534234772011-12-23T04:14:00.001-06:002011-12-23T04:14:00.068-06:00The 3650 Challenge -- Not Your Ordinary "Read the Bible in a Year" planI commend this <b><a href="http://www.challies.com/resources/take-the-3650-challenge-with-me">challenge</a></b> to you -- a wonderful opportunity to step up your Bible reading! From Tim Challies:<br />
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"...read or listen to 3,650 chapters of the Bible in 2012. .... I plan to use Professor Horner’s Bible Reading System to read the Bible. This system calls for 10 chapters per day, with each chapter being drawn from a different part of the Bible. This means that over the course of 2012 anyone who uses the plan will go through all the Gospels four times, the Pentateuch twice, Paul’s letters 4-5 times each, the Old Testament wisdom literature six times, all the Psalms at least twice, all the Proverbs as well as Acts a dozen times, and all the way through the Old Testament History and Prophetic books about 1.5 times."<br />
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<b><a href="http://www.challies.com/resources/take-the-3650-challenge-with-me">Go for it!</a></b>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18234482331162945683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622181.post-65128598686957258912011-12-19T04:09:00.001-06:002011-12-19T04:09:00.063-06:00What Fathers Should Teach Their SonsI greatly appreciate the feedback I've received via email about my short Kindle book <b><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005PCGL1U/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=whsbene-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B005PCGL1U" target="_blank">What Fathers Should Teach Their Sons</a></b>. <a href="http://www.whatsbestnext.com/2011/12/what-fathers-should-teach-their-sons/" target="_blank">Matt Perman's blog post</a> was especially kind. <br />
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One man wrote "I spend too much time just going along and reacting to what comes up. Thanks for giving me a bigger picture and some hope. I especially like your idea to tell stories about real men." <br />
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May we fathers raise mighty sons!Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18234482331162945683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622181.post-86109736327968229152011-12-17T04:34:00.000-06:002011-12-17T04:34:00.128-06:00You Are a TwigYou are a twig. You're a thin dowel rod. You're easily snapped by a toddler-sized problem.<br />
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The world will say, "Get bundled up with a bunch of other twigs, and be strong together!" Indeed, it's much more difficult to break a bundle of dowel rods. <br />
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But not impossible.<br />
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You need to be in union with Jesus Christ. Then you are a twig duct taped with many other twigs to the unbreakable steel rod of Jesus Christ. That's the Church.Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18234482331162945683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622181.post-24430464328530388032011-12-15T04:00:00.003-06:002011-12-15T04:00:07.630-06:00Please Use Words, TooGood encouragement to speak the words of the Gospel, and explain our actions in Jesus' name. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/tm6j_Bxy6wI?rel=0" width="560"></iframe>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18234482331162945683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622181.post-27844331058616186562011-12-13T04:33:00.001-06:002011-12-13T04:33:00.205-06:00"Go After The Young Men"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eeeecc; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">Mark Driscoll suggests the Church should </span><a href="http://jonathanherron.typepad.com/jonathan_herron_dot_com/2006/08/blog_quote_of_t.html" style="background-color: #eeeecc; color: #445566; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px; text-align: left;">go after the young men</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eeeecc; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px; text-align: left;">. </span><br style="background-color: #eeeecc; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px; text-align: left;" /><br style="background-color: #eeeecc; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px; text-align: left;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eeeecc; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px; text-align: left;">"The problem is the Church today is just a bunch of nice, soft, tender, chickafied church boys. 60% of Christians are chicks and the 40% that are dudes are still sort of...chicks. It's just sad.</span><br style="background-color: #eeeecc; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px; text-align: left;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eeeecc; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px; text-align: left;">"We're looking around going, How come we're not innovative? Cause all the innovative dudes are home watching football or they're out making money or climbing a mountain or shooting a gun or working on their truck. </span><br style="background-color: #eeeecc; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px; text-align: left;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eeeecc; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px; text-align: left;">They look at the church like that's a nice thing for women and children. So the question is if you want to be innovative: How do you get young men? All this nonsense on how to grow the church. One issue: young men. That's it. That's the whole thing. </span><br style="background-color: #eeeecc; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px; text-align: left;" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eeeecc; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px; text-align: left;">They're going to get married, make money, make babies, build companies, buy real estate. They're going to make the culture of the future. If you get the young men you win the war, you get everything. You get the families, the women, the children, the money, the business, you get everything. If you don't get the young men you get nothing."</span>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18234482331162945683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622181.post-5848116661542998462011-12-11T04:12:00.008-06:002011-12-11T04:12:01.267-06:00Did Jesus Have Bad PR?Back in 2006 I gave a Christmas devotion for the seniors group at our church. I tried to help people think about the terrible public relations job around the birth of the Messiah. From a human perspective, this was a PR disaster! Listen to it here: http://www.teachtochangelives.com/christmasdevotion.htmGlennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18234482331162945683noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5622181.post-44046467840397450192011-12-09T04:23:00.001-06:002011-12-09T04:23:00.576-06:00One of Glenn's Most Embarrassing Moments<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eeeecc; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">If you've got 11 minutes, I'll tell you about one of my most embarrassing moments -- and how God did me a huge favor by humbling me. Check it out </span><a href="http://www.teachtochangelives.com/psycho" style="background-color: #eeeecc; color: #445566; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px; text-align: left;">here</a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #eeeecc; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px; text-align: left;">.</span>Glennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18234482331162945683noreply@blogger.com0