Monthly Archives: May 2012

Monthly Archives: May 2012

Article Review: Christianity in Crisis

Posted on May 31, 2012 by ML Smith Posted in Book Review | Leave a comment

I ran across an article the other day that sparked my interest.  The article was “Christianity in Crisis” by Andrew Sullivan.  It is a rather lengthy read, but well worth it.  Below are few excerpts you may enjoy.   “Jesus’ doctrines were the practical commandments, the truly radical ideas that immediately leap out in the simple stories he told and which he exemplified in everything he did. Not simply love one another, but love your enemy and forgive those who … →

Blog Trotting: The Church of No People

Posted on May 28, 2012 by ML Smith Posted in Blog Trotting | Leave a comment

When I first stepped onto the blogging scene one of the first blog’s I fell in love with was The Church of No People.  The site’s motto is “What sermon would  a pastor preach if no one showed up for church?”  This site offers thought-provoking articles that make you look at various aspects of Christianity from a different perspective.  It never fails for me that their articles make me go “hmmmmm.”  This weeks featured article from The Church of No … →

Excerpts from When Christians Get it Wrong

Posted on May 25, 2012 by ML Smith Posted in Book Review | Leave a comment

Last time, I shared with you my review of Adam Hamilton’s book When Christians Get It Wrong. Below are a few excerpts from the book.  I highly recommend it, it’s a great read!   When Christians get it right they love and give, they work for justice and demonstrate kindness.  When Christians get it right they, like Jesus, befriend those who are outside the church rather than condemning them.  And when Christians get it right, people are drawn to, rather … →

Book Review: When Christians Get it Wrong

Posted on May 22, 2012 by ML Smith Posted in Book Review | Leave a comment

Lately, I’ve been struggling a lot with Christianity…to the point that I’ve begun searching again.    I believe in God.  I believe in Jesus Christ, but what I see as “Christianity” around me has left a really bad taste in my mouth.  I don’t like what Christians do and how they behave.  I can’t stomach the intolerance and the hypocrisy. Fortunately I go to a church where there are many people whose “flavor” of Christianity is similar to mine, but I … →

Are You Christian Enough?

Posted on May 19, 2012 by ML Smith Posted in Insights | Leave a comment

I identify myself as a “wimp” because I often don’t feel Christian enough.  I don’t think I’m alone in feeling that way. We aren’t able to quote scripture on the fly.  We don’t know the bible cover-to-cover; when the pastor says “Turn to Galatians” we turn to the Table of Contents.  Politically we aren’t conservative enough to be true Republicans and we aren’t socially compassionate enough to be true Democrats (whatever “true” means in either of those cases).  We shy … →

Blog Trotting: The Gospel Coalition

Posted on May 16, 2012 by ML Smith Posted in Blog Trotting | Leave a comment

Today, I kick off a new category called Blog Trotting!  I will feature interesting articles from other Christian-living-esque blogs.  There a many, many, many blogs out there that cover a wide a variety of Christian related topics.  If we want to see more unity within the Christian community, it starts with honest dialog. So read what other people have to say, even if you don’t agree with it and strike up a conversation, on Facebook, with your neighbor or co-worker.  … →

Happy Mother’s Day

Posted on May 13, 2012 by ML Smith Posted in Insights | Leave a comment

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, because this is right. Honor your father and mother which is the first commandment with a promise – that it may go well with you and that you may have a long life. ~Ephesians 6:1-3

A Message for Those who are Hurting

Posted on May 10, 2012 by ML Smith Posted in Guests | Leave a comment

Today’s guest post comes from Carlos Jeff.  There is nothing adequate I can say to properly introduce this piece, so without further ado…. These words here are from The Holy spirit directed to you reading this. I felt the need to write this here for all of those hurting inside from the pressures of life, loss of a loved one etc. Let me give you a short testimony: In the last two years I lost my marriage, my home, cars, … →

Are Atheists More Compassionate?

Posted on May 7, 2012 by ML Smith Posted in Insights | Leave a comment

I ran across an interesting article the other day entitled: Highly religious people are less motivated by compassion than are non-believers.  Below are a few excerpts from the article (along with some personal commentary from yours truly)… “Overall, we find that for less religious people, the strength of their emotional connection to another person is critical to whether they will help that person or not,” said UC Berkeley social psychologist Robb Willer, a co-author of the study. “The more religious, … →

The Sentry versus the Warrior

Posted on May 4, 2012 by ML Smith Posted in Insights | Leave a comment

The other morning when I opened the refrigerator, realized I had no yogurt and I burst into tears. My emotional breakdown was much deeper than my genuine disappointed at being out of yogurt.  While I love yogurt and eat it every single day for lunch, rarely does a lack of yogurt warrant tears.  No it was much deeper than that.  Being out of yogurt was the last straw. I had been running on autopilot for several days and hadn’t noticed … →