By: Elysse Burns on April 17, 2024
Shane Parrish begins his book Clear Thinking by revealing a common misconception we often hold. We mistakenly believe that the future will work out if we get the big decisions right. Guilty as charged! However, Parrish argues it’s the ordinary moments that determine our future. [1] In Clear Thinking, Parrish draws lessons from the wisdom…
By: Graham English on April 17, 2024
A few years ago, Wendy and I put on our backpacks and walked the Camino de Santiago. The Camino Frances is an 800-kilometre journey beginning in St. Jean Pied de Port, France and ending at the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. How do you walk 800 kilometres? One step at a time. One day…
By: Chris Blackman on April 17, 2024
The one thing I do know about myself is that I will take responsibility for my actions. The other thing that I know about myself is that I have lived in a fantasy land where everything is going to be okay, and I made decisions based on positive thinking rather than reality. So, this is…
By: Diane Tuttle on April 16, 2024
Shane Parrish has a lot of information packed into his book Clear Thinking. His premise is that individuals have the ability to shape their future by taking control of their actions one small step at a time.[1] As a businessperson and entrepreneur, he draws on his many and varied experiences. Throughout the book he relies…
By: Adam Cheney on April 16, 2024
Clear Thinking was a great book to end the semester on. It was a quick, easy read and applicable to many different situations. Shane Parrish builds on his experience within the Canadian Intelligence Agency and shares how to think through problems clearly, allowing oneself to make good, consistent decisions. He encourages good decision making by…
By: Joel Zantingh on April 16, 2024
Every day there are decisions that require the application of wisdom, or good judgment. Do I say yes or no to this speaking engagement? What 2 or 3 things are most important for me to accomplish today? What personal rules guide me away from impulses? Ultimately, there are so many decisions that we have to…
By: Glyn Barrett on April 16, 2024
Before recalling five moments in this book that make it the best read of the semester, let’s deal with the author’s introduction. I am writing this blog on a long-haul flight and notice that the airline does not boast about its quality, service and experience, it lets the current flight and personnel try to convince…
By: Jeff Styer on April 15, 2024
I have been married for nearly twenty-six years and have four beautiful children. Just over thirteen years ago, I sat down and wrote out a vision. I started it As a follower of Christ Jesus, I want to have my family impact the world in a way that brings glory and honor to Christ, I…
By: Akwese on April 14, 2024
We live in a hyper-politicized society where one can readily see the world’s brokenness on multiple levels. This has often birthed arguments fueled by anger and grief, causing many to lash out at/demonize one another or avoid engaging in the sociopolitical arena altogether. However, rather than start a yelling match or excuse ourselves from the…
By: Joel Zantingh on April 13, 2024
When Christians equate evangelism with undermining cultural ideologies, it can quickly become white noise and easy to dismiss. In my work in the Canadian context, this distortion of evangelism that leads to less positive engagement, and more pushback even from within a marginalized Christian community. In September, 2021, Alpha Canada held a “Life Shared Summit”…
By: Julie O'Hara on April 11, 2024
It was March 2020 and my long-suffering husband’s world was turned upside down when three vessels of estrogen and education invaded his work space, our home. One afternoon we all came home, not for dinner, but to stay. School was online and jobs were on hold. Let me introduce the players. Me: A fifty-ish woman…
By: Shela Sullivan on April 11, 2024
Evangelization and Ideology: How to Understand and Respond to the Political Culture by Matthew Petrusek,[1] is a hard book to absorb, nevertheless it is thought provoking and confusing at the same time. Questions like, “What does it mean?” “Wait, what?” This is definitely a coffee table book to discuss with my friend Barry. I re-read…
By: Chris Blackman on April 11, 2024
In 1972, I was the 13-year-old son of two very conservative, far-right republican Catholic parents. It was what I knew. They had a very solid stance on politics and religion. It was tradition for me, my older brother, Mom, and Dad to share dinner and conversation every night. Also, in 1972, Richard Nixon was running…
By: Elysse Burns on April 11, 2024
Matthew Petrusek’s Evangelization and Ideology is an invitation for the Church to re-enter the sociopolitical arena with the saving message of the Gospel. Petrusek writes, “The Church has a unique opening to re-enter the sociopolitical fray, re-engage the secular mind, and call the culture back to Christ—provided we can effectively understand and respond to the…
By: Nancy Blackman on April 11, 2024
“What’s wrong with the world, Mama? People livin’ like they ain’t got no mamas I think the whole world’s addicted to the drama Only attracted to things that’ll bring you trauma Overseas, yeah, we tryna stop terrorism But we still got terrorists here livin’ In the USA, the big CIA The Bloods and the Crips…
By: Chad Warren on April 11, 2024
Do you remember Lieutenant Columbo? He was a police detective in a show starting in the early 70s that ran for over 30 years. I loved watching the show as a kid and still enjoy it today. Lieutenant Columbo’s disheveled appearance and bumbling demeanor always gave the impression that he had no idea what was…
By: Daren Jaime on April 11, 2024
At one time or another, all of us have been driving along the highway or streets believing we had the supreme knowledge of where we were going. In an instant our confidence changes because of a wrong turn or misinformation. When we are lost, we turn to the ole trusty GPS in an effort to…
By: Kari on April 11, 2024
“I will dialogue but I won’t fight.” This has been my motto for the past 11 years living as a Christian in a Muslim-majority country. Statistics say my country is 99.9% Muslim. The 0.1% is admittedly expatriates living in the country. To be a citizen of my host country is to be a Muslim. To…
By: Adam Cheney on April 10, 2024
Let me lay my cards on the table to start this conversation. I believe COVID was a real pandemic. I believe most pastors and leaders were making the best choices they could make at the time given regional restrictions and political temperature of their churches. I believe most restrictions were ineffective and draconian. I believe…
By: Graham English on April 10, 2024
I’ve observed that when the church engaged in political debate, it ended up creating an even greater barrier for people to receive the gospel. As a Canadian church leader, I follow politics. I have my theologically formed convictions. I preach Jesus and call people to surrender to the Lordship of Christ. I have also been…
