RANDOM THOUGHTS...

A few random thoughts that have been rolling around in my mind lately...

• When it comes to the culture war, I am a conscientious objector.

• I believe in sound doctrine; I believe even more in proper emphasis.

• Being with sinners is infinitely more important than being against them.

• If you want to have a healthy Christian mind, you should stop listening to talk radio and all the screamers out there—conservative and liberal alike.

• "Relevance" is a sham. Why don't churches try to be "relevant" to the poor and needy, those who live in inner city neighborhoods, the elderly, the mentally ill, the disabled, street people, and others on the fringes of society?
  

• Liturgical worship is not a style preference, and free church evangelicals who think it is betray that they don't understand worship.

• Few things hinder the growth of true holiness more than a strong emphasis on holiness.

• Few things portray the contrast between small town community and suburban isolation more than the front porch and the backyard deck.

• One of the most neglected facts of life is found in James 1:20—"the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." I don't think I have ever encountered a situation that has been made better in any way by anger.

• The older I get, the more I see that most situations could be improved simply by me shutting up and listening better.

• "God, I love baseball." (Roy Hobbs in The Natural)

• What I like about belonging to the Lutheran tradition = (1) An unceasing emphasis on the grace of God in Jesus Christ, (2) Liturgical worship, (3) Theology that is pastoral in emphasis rather than doctrinaire.

• Bob Dylan's last few albums reveal that he has taken the role of a wise old bluesman, speaking our pain, lust, and disillusionment with a growl and a wry smile.

• The most important things rarely scream at us, and often go unnoticed because we pay so much more attention to the less important things.