More Precious Than » Insight

Ann Coulter and the Mennonites

Stéphane — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 20:49:36 +0000

The conservative commentator Ann Coulter recently spoke at my local university among fanfare and protestation. I have minimal interest in politics, but her “Christianity” does interest me. As with Ann’s politics, her faith is antagonistic. It reminds of the Pharisees in Jesus’ day.

In contrast, I recently listened to a sermon by Shane Hipps. Shane taught at a Mennonite church for several years and is now a teaching pastor at Mars Hill (alongside Rob Bell). In the sermon Shane gave some background information on the Mennonites. For them Christianity is not primarily about believing, but practicing the way of Christ.

It is important to realize people practice their faith in two ways. There is the Ann Coulter and Pharisee way: antagonizing and even killing for what they believe in. Then there is the Jesus and Mennonite way: practicing and even dying for what they believe in.

Here is a clip from Shane’s message (volume is low):

www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHC9VunluQ8

Woodland Hills: Kingdom Economics

Stéphane — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 00:54:39 +0000

Woodland Hills recently had a sermon series called “Kingdom Economics”. Simply put, it is on money and wealth. It is an insightful series that people should hear. Here is an excerpt from the first sermon entitled “Defying the Beast”:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3QkXhrFLr0

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Test Your Awareness

Stéphane — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:22:09 +0000

What is happening in this murder mystery?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubNF9QNEQLA

Definition of Wisdom

Stéphane — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 15:59:05 +0000

Wisdom is common sense. It is using knowledge to determine the best course of action for a given situation. We live in a knowledgeable modern world, but wisdom seems to be a dying art.

“By three methods we may learn wisdom: first, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third, by experience, which is the most bitter.” – Confucius

“Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life.” – Immanuel Kant

“Knowledge is a process of piling up facts; wisdom lies in their simplification.” – Martin Fischer

“It is a thousand times better to have common sense without education than to have education without common sense.” – Robert Green Ingersoll

“A man only becomes wise when he begins to calculate the approximate depth of his ignorance.” – Gian Carlo Menotti

What does God require of us?

Stéphane — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 18:23:58 +0000

Greg Boyd explains what God requires of us by examining Micah 6:8. The full sermon is entitled “Seeing What God Sees” and can be found on the Woodland Hills website.

“He has shown all you people what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

- Micah 6:8

www.youtube.com/watch?v=QESG8NM0_FQ

Children See. Children Do.

Stéphane — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 17:12:36 +0000

Video from NAPCAN, an Australian organization against the abuse and neglect of children.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=KHi2dxSf9hw

Greed, Homosexuality, and the Bible

Stéphane — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 21:53:18 +0000

Putting things in the correct perspective:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=20sa4pKbxAo

Nobody’s Happy

Stéphane — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 19:12:37 +0000

We live in such a technologically advanced society, and yet people still find reasons to complain. There is insight in humor.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN0MpBQG3-E

Real Risk

Stéphane — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 19:36:54 +0000

“You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you. It is easy to say you believe a rope to be strong and sound as long as you are merely using it to cord a box.

But suppose you had to hang by the rope over a precipice. Wouldn’t you then first discover how much you really trusted it? The same with people… Only a real risk tests the reality of a belief.”

- C.S. Lewis: A Grief Observed

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Sundays

Stéphane — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 19:33:53 +0000

There will not be much posted to the blog on Sundays except verses and info related to the Sabbath. It is a day of rest after all.

“A Sabbath or sabbath is generally a weekly day of rest and/or time of worship that is observed in any of several faiths. The term derives from the Hebrew shabbat (שבת), “to cease”, which was first used in the Biblical account of the seventh day of Creation.

Observation and remembrance of the Sabbath is one of the Ten Commandments (the fourth in the original Jewish, the Eastern Orthodox, and most Protestant traditions, the third in Roman Catholic and Lutheran traditions). Many viewpoints and definitions have arisen over the millennia.”

- Wikipedia

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