Category: Daily Choices

Choosing to Stand

Many years ago I read a slim little book by a Chinese pastor known as Watchman Nee. It was a study of of the Biblical book of Ephesians. It is called Sit, Walk, Stand, and I have referred to it many times since. SIT… Continue Reading “Choosing to Stand”

Choosing to Seek the Highest

The word ‘love’ in English is quite pliable. I can say that I love my wife and I love pizza, and most people will not accuse me of reducing my spouse to a mere platter of pepperoni nor seeking to marry an Italian meal.… Continue Reading “Choosing to Seek the Highest”

Choosing the Gift of Shalom

I once read an article by an atheist describing the serenity he felt as he overlooked a beautiful valley while drinking a cup of coffee. The point he was trying to make was that Christians do not have a monopoly on peace. He was… Continue Reading “Choosing the Gift of Shalom”

Choosing to Remember Who I Am

No matter how hard I try, why are some things so difficult to resist? Overeating? Harsh responses to those who correct me? Anxiety about the future? I know how I should respond, what I’m supposed to do, and what I ought to feel. But… Continue Reading “Choosing to Remember Who I Am”

Choosing a Different Perspective

Perhaps you’ve seen the presentation before. Someone asks you to tell them what you see on the screen. You look, and there is a single black dot in the middle. That is all. The presenter then asks if there is anything more. Once you… Continue Reading “Choosing a Different Perspective”

Choosing to Care for that which Belongs to God

A few years back, some friends asked if I would keep their car while they spent a few months working in Asia. I could use it as a second vehicle as long as I took care of it. It ended up being a great… Continue Reading “Choosing to Care for that which Belongs to God”

Choosing to Offer an Invitation

In the movies it always looked so easy and nonconsequential. As a kid, I watched shows where chairs were busted over heads in barroom fights, the recipient merely staggering a few paces before flinging his opponent through a wooden railing. In addition there were… Continue Reading “Choosing to Offer an Invitation”

Choosing to Relate from the Heart

I was the new kid. I knew no one, and no one knew me. Having just moved from out of state, I was trying out for the football team as a high-school freshman. This was my uncharacteristically bold way of seeking connections. But half-way… Continue Reading “Choosing to Relate from the Heart”

Choosing My Building Materials

I first became a homeowner when I was 25. It was a small run-down rental in a suburb of Sacramento, California. My wife and I decided we could buy it at a good price and “fix it up” ourselves in preparation for our soon-to-arrive… Continue Reading “Choosing My Building Materials”

Choosing to Follow Honest Desires

As a Follower of Jesus, is asking God to fulfill my desires a bad thing? I have been asked this question more than once. There are two extremes that I now see getting associated with Christianity. One comes out of the God-wants-you-to-be-happy theology and… Continue Reading “Choosing to Follow Honest Desires”