I have been hitting some articles and essays over the past few weeks and wanted to pass along the fun, the challenging, and the insane.

First, some Mark Twain quotes:

“Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.”

“Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.”

Which brings me to a great piece on stupidity by David Brooks HERE. Brooks does quote Bonhoeffer and it’s a scary quote:

“Against stupidity we are defenseless.” 

Nicole Massie Martin has a fine piece on comfort and discomfort in Christianity Today. HERE

The deeper problem is that this way of living stands at odds with the way of the gospel. In a world that caters to our ease and happy feelings, the calling of Christ can feel like an invitation to scrape sandpaper on your skin or to sludge around with water in your socks. 

Following Jesus is hard and our comfort is challenged by things like: “Take up your cross and follow me.”

One piece that needs attention and time is an article by Derek Thompson called “The Anti-Social Century.” HERE

Please take the time to absorb what Thompson is trying to say. We are readily isolated and too often we welcome it and then stay in it. We are not healthy as a result.

And finally, a little Mark Twain to take us out:

“If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And If it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.”