Elliott's Muses

I've had my share of times when I'm confused, not sure what is going on around me.  It can be disconcerting that we think we have some sense of faith, but that in everyday life we'd like to have more assurance of our faith at work in us. In other words, I'd like to "know" that the confusion, disorientation, or questions, were all part of God's forming in my life, and not what some propose is just life's normal random actions. A lot of people disassociate their life's events from God.  They can't associate God with the difficulties of life that are occurring in the present. In recent weeks, I've talked to numerous people about "things", "stuff", life's struggles and even pain; and the overriding assumption I hear is that "is this God"? I don't know that the answer of "yes" makes anything better, because a "yes" also creates a further quandry - "why is God doing this?" ...

Back in the 1960's various philosophers made the bold statement that "God is Dead".  In essence they embraced Atheism (or at least Agnosticism) as the basis for life.  While it was not a popular movement that took over the culture, it planted enough cynicism and skepticism that it served as a breeding ground for all sorts of other philosophical nonsense. One of those movements that is "nonsensical" is Post-modernism.  To understand Post-modernism one has to realize that it is the prevailing philosophy that guides all secular modern education in our western world today.  It is the predominant value system in public school education, in university education, in research institutes and the halls of politics.  In the post-modernist mind there is no truth.  Truth is nothing more than the construct of a group of people (literally called a tribe).  In essence, truth is relative and so "what works for you" is the mantra of individuality and social mores. It...

It's the 11th day of Lent (remember, Lent does not include Sundays in its numbering). As I read through the two books I'm immersed in this Lenten season (that is, besides my own book which I also read devotionally each morning), I'm struck by the way in which they serve as mirrors to each other and provoke me to think more clearly about how to live in such a way that I can have impact on the world around me. First of all, impact is another way of saying what Peter says in his first letter that I have addressed before: 1 Peter 3:15-16 15  but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16  having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. Giving a defense does not mean argumentativeness.   It also does not mean its always to unbelievers since...