Hiatus

Men, I'm going to take a blogging hiatus through June. I plan to shift gears and focus more attention on writing projects. Please pray for me, as I will continue praying for you!

Demographics

The demographic implosion of European and other nations (Japan) is startling. Basically, when couples produce less than 2.2 children on average, a population begins to collapse. This video gives more detail, especially about Europe and the Muslim immigrant population expansion:



If you'd like to learn more about the impacts of demographic shifts, I recommend you read material from Mark Steyn, an excellent journalist and writer -- start with this book.

It is worth pondering what all this means for sharing the Gospel.

Dangers of "Fruitfulness" Without Holiness

Read Michael Oh's short article "The Danger of “Fruitfulness” without Purity: Thoughts on Personal Holiness and Ministry by a Younger Leader" even if you're not a young leader.

"Years ago, I asked Jim Downing, one of the patriarchs of the Navigator work, “Why is it that so few men finish well?” His response was profound. He said, “They learn the possibility of being fruitful without being pure. God is slow to remove his hand on a man he has anointed. One day that man may sin, then experience God’s blessing. Then it happens again and again and he begins to believe that purity doesn’t matter. Eventually, he becomes like a tree rotting inside that is eventually toppled by a storm.”

Let us guard our purity and inner life.

How Does Technology Impact Relationships?

If you're interested in thinking wisely about the impact of technology of relationships, check out Tim Challies interview with Douglas Groothuis, author of The Soul in Cyberspace.

Some excellent insights here. My favorite sentences: "Americans are usually well-informed ignoramuses. We have oceans of facts or information at hand, but little knowledge. Wisdom is the proper use of knowledge. Americans typically have no idea how to handle all the data thrown at them: the more information, the less meaning."

Covenants and Contracts in Healthcare

Heath care is a complex subject, many facets, many perspectives, and a network of interlocking systems. Since people are a key component of the many systems involved, we do need to take into account behavior and decisions.

Gene Veith points us to an administrator who thinks the Hippocratic Oath interferes with the desirable goal of managed health care.

This is an example where the mentality shift from covenant (which is relationship-based) to contract (which defaults to what’s-in-it-for-me) will destroy people. I’m reminded of the famous quote that a government large enough to give you everything is large enough to take everything away.

We will not reform Babylon by human efforts. (See Jeremiah chapter 29)

My counsel is to pay attention to situations where covenants have historically operated, and others want to switch to contracts. Under covenants, people go above and beyond. They pour themselves out. There's passion, and compassion. Under contracts, observation makes it clear that people live up to the letter of the law, but no more -- and often grudgingly or bitterly.

Thinking Clearly About Pornography

David Miles article "Undressing Pornography," while dated, communicates well the problems of pornography -- an escape from relationships and reality, rooted in lies. Good review for every man, and excellent fodder for conversation with our sons and daughters.

HT: Tim Challies

Connecting With Not-Yet Believers

Check out these excellent suggestions to help you connect more often with not-yet believers. Get out of the evangelical ghetto zone.

How Technology Affects Our Relationships

Interesting and insightful article on how all this Internet-based technology affects our relationships. There is a degree to which the medium affects the message. (If you have more time, you can watch this longer video with a related message that technology is not neutral.)

I'm pondering on this, cogitating, playing with thoughts on it. Might need to make a mindmap to organize my thoughts.

A good prayer here might be adapted from Psalm 139:23-24

²³ Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.

²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.

Lord, is there something offensive about the way I am using technology as I interact with people? Lead me in the right way.

The Gospel and Money

I highly recommend you review Matt Perman's slides on the Gospel and money. The material is easy to consume, and will stimulate your thinking about spending money for the glory of God. (Matt is the Director of Internet Strategy at DesiringGod.org.)