Prompted To Imitate
Tim Willard
Therefore, therefore. Paul uses this word in Ephesians 4:25 and again in 5:1 calling us to action. “Therefore” prompts us to look back and see what he’s saying and then to look forward, at his exhortation.
Here Paul instructs us to be renewed in our minds, not darkened as the world is. “Therefore,” we are to put away falsehood, speaking truth to each other. “Therefore,” let the bitterness and anger and disgraceful language fall away. Rather, encourage each other. Let kindness and forgiveness salt your lives.
“Therefore,” he says in 5:1, “be imitators of God; as beloved children.” My daughters love to sit on my little black chair in my study and act like they’re studying my books. It’s cute, until I find highlighting all over the pages. They imitate me, their Father. They giggle, finding pure joy in doing what daddy does.
Of Heaven and Work
Tim Willard
A few weeks ago a friend of mine answered a question from his son about dying. Here's how he answered his son: "When God's done with you on earth, he takes you home."
I love that. We each have something we're put here in this world to do, to accomplish.
This week thoughts of "heaven" and "work" invaded my mind. They connect in the most beautiful way. We were made for heaven and yet we live on earth for about seventy years to do our work. But it's not just our work; it's the work of heaven—God's work.
Our work heals souls, clothes bodies, challenges minds, brings hope to hopeless, feeds—sounds a lot like the work of Christ himself. And it is the echo of Christ in our work that brings us joy, and joy is the Christian's...
The Marriage Disconnect
Tim Willard
My friend Esther Fleece tipped me off to this blog by Sociologist Mark Regnerus. Some interesting findings on single-mothers and the larger picture: the institution of marraige. Mark Regnerus crunched some data and listed "12 Curious Statistics About Today's Young Adults." Here's his blurb on single moms:
8. When asked whether “single mothers do just as good a job raising children as a married mother and father,” 44 percent of young adults agreed, 29 percent were unsure, and 23 percent disagreed.
9. But when asked whether “it is better for children to be raised in a household that has a married mother and father,” 65 percent agreed, 20 percent were unsure, and only 11 percent disagreed, indicating that while younger adults continue to think that this arrangement is optimal, they’re also quite comfortable saying it’s not necessary (or...
The Handlebar View: Weekly Column
Tim Willard
Welcome to my weekly column. Why the name? Simple. I love to mountain bike. Prior to 2000 I “enjoyed” riding, but wasn’t very serious about it. Then, my brother-in-law challenged me to participate in a century ride with him. It was with Team In Training, a non-profit that raises money for leukemia research. We raised a good bit of cash, did some training and rode in the Santa Fe Century--on our mountain bikes!
After the ride, we took eight days and rode to our heart's delight in the Four Corners (where Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico meet). That tripped started my love affair with mountain biking.
I experience some of my best thought sessions on my bike. The view behind my handlebars sets me free: imagination runs...
The Secret Shelf
Tim Willard
So begins The Secret Shelf series. People always ask me what I'm reading or for recommendations. Here's a little of both; two birds with one stone kind of thing. My Secret Shelf contains books for my trade, writing, books for my passions, theology and fantasy and classics, and finally books that I deem essential for life and thought. In this installment I offer three titles that will revolutionize your writing.
1. On Writing Well, William Zinsser - I'm surprised how many folks in the writing world have not read this treasure. I read it at least once a year, referring to it on countless occasions....