A reminder, if you tag everyone, everyone has to assume who a task is delegated to (which usually means no one knows or does it).
Not writing inspired by recent experience of anything.
Going to be in the UK over the next few days due to some family business (and seeing Death Cab for Cutie in Cardiff). I doubt I can meet any one from MB but just in case, I’ll be in London on Friday, Oxford Saturday morning, Cardiff in the Afternoon, Sunday (not sure) and free Tues till Thurs.
I’ve tried to read this many times but got stuck near the start for some reason. I’ve made more progress this time and I like it a lot. I see why people like Willard. I will say he is more scholarly than his intro lets on! Currently reading: The Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard 📚
Small fitness habit I’m trying: putting my feet on a tennis ball when sat at my desk.
Yes, it is a Wilson’s tennis ball.
Will report back if I notice any difference.
Very mixed feelings and not what I expected. I didn’t like the style of writing nor how self centred it was, plus some of the insights feel very cliche especially for millennials post 2008. At the same time, there were some great prompts and really interesting sources cited. My personal opinion is read the books in the bibliography instead.
Finished reading: The Pathless Path by Paul Millerd 📚
You’ve got to be joshing me —🔗 Jesus wasn’t called Jesus. 😉
For the last few days I’ve been inadvertently working on a floor desk. I’m working at my in-laws small holding and although they have a table, it’s in the kitchen so I can’t work there. So instead, I’ve propped my laptop on a suitcase and typed away. It’s surprisingly comfortable but I do need to switch every now and then.
Is it just me or is “gentle reminder” worse than “reminder”. (It may well just be me which is why I’m checking).
A new sad thing I’ve noticed with the whole “~Shepherds~ Book for Sales” book thing is now I’m seeing YouTube videos that are trying to gain views by jumping on the story. Who needs to sell out your convictions for politics when you can do it for likes, comments, and subscribes.
Finished reading: Same as Ever by Morgan Housel 📚listened on a car journey. Good idea, bit repetitive. Some interesting points to meditate on.
The irony of Tim Keller's winsomeness that his detractors will never get
An irony of Tim Keller’s winsomeness — he never rested in his power to convert.
Yes, he studied and used his intellect to present arguments for God and theology, but I always sensed a humility where he didn’t try to force his faith.
“Here it is. It is good.”
Is the posture I always got from him. And he believed it.
In the last few days, I’ve (unfortunately) caught some of his detractors again complaining about his “winsomeness” approach1.
The main criticism I’ve heard is “he should have been more forceful!” That usually means he should have insulted or belittled his opponents, he should have campaigned politically on their top issues, or, as I read yesterday, he didn’t change the politics of New York so he was a failure.
All of which come back to trusting in our own strength to achieve a goal, rely on ends justifying the means and usually **come from insecurities that their ideas aren’t actually good or persuasive **but have to be forced upon people instead.
My church is doing a series on Evangelism at the moment and one of the themes four preacher (all of who haven’t known what the other would preach) have touched on is faithfulness and trusting God rather than resting in our strength or skill.
I wonder what that does to the culture war stuff?
I am certain it let’s speak confidently on issues that are “progressive” or “conservative” without fear of repercussion 2. And, although there will be exceptions who imbue impure motives, lets the listener see the honest conviction of the speaker rather than see the demon they fear is underneath.
Keller wasn’t perfect, but I’d certainly rather adopt his posture and rely on God’s power than try it on my own.
Started a trial of the Affinity v2 range of products.
- I have a book design project to do (blame @AndyNicolaides )
- I want to try a vector based tool for sketchnotes. I’m starting work on one but There’s a lot I need to learn to really get to grips with it.
Finished reading: Bearing God’s Name by Carmen Joy Imes 📚 Dispensationalists will not like this. I wasn’t expecting such a detailed exploration of continuity/discontinuity of the covenant but I was glad for it. I plan on rereading some of those final chapters as she explored the issues I find most challenging but I’m still not certain of her conclusions.
“A more useful use of AI”. I just changed this to “more useful application of AI”
this is the kind of thing we do all the time at work because “it’s bad to repeat the same word /root too close together.”
There’s definitely occasions when I think I this is a good, but I think it can be overly applied (especially if there’s a nice rhythm.)