The Plumbline

Appetite often determines if we take time to eat, right? Appetite sometimes even determines what it is we eat. An appetite bent on the things that aren't all that good for us will result in a pretty lousy outcome for our bodies, while one that is set toward wiser choices that offer solid nutrients will have a better outcome. A good appetite for God creates a desire to live in a world where justice is the rule. That appetite for justice yields both a commitment to be just in your own dealings and a desire to have others be just in their dealings with you. Justice requires some mature consideration when decisions are required - there is an evaluation of facts that goes beyond the initial reaction to the moment. In order for us to "act well", we need to understand that without factual accounts of "happenings" we are making assumptions that may be incorrect - feeding 'appetites' we might just as well leave unfed. Talk and act like a person expecting to be ...

I am always surprised when I hear of these 'leagues' of children's teams where no one wins and no one loses. All are winners - that seems to be the concept being taught. Now, I understand we want the kids to become enthralled with the pursuit of the sport and that we want to encourage time involved in physical activity, but where in life do we ever see that you always win? When the child faces his or her real 'first loss', how will they handle it? The sport somehow turns to one of winning and losing - there is not an entire 'sport pathway' that is merely based on just showing up to play! In the end, someone keeps score, determines a 'winning team' or 'winning athlete'. Then we have the other side of the coin where some coaches focus so much on winning they lose sight of encouraging the kiddos to actually have any enjoyment in the sport. In fact, they almost intimidate the kids by their 'win at all cost' demands. It seems we need a bal...

You know that I believe in the best "control" in our lives as the transition of control - giving control to the one who is able to manage our lives the best - God. "Losing what is dear to us" really doesn't excite any of us because it wouldn't be 'dear' to us unless we wanted to keep in near! It is in loss that we understand the need for comfort and most of us would rather bypass the loss part entirely. It is also in loss that we connect with that which is most important to us - because sometimes it takes loss to help us see very clearly how much importance something has in our lives. There is just something about loss - physical, emotional, financial, or relational - that causes us to look at our lives again and evaluate where we are now that the loss has occurred. We become "evaluators" of where we have been, what we have done, and the cost that we have paid for where we find ourselves today. "You're blessed when you feel you...