Why We Have Problems

The World Puzzle Championships draw contestants from 46 countries. They are among the tens of millions of people obsessed with puzzle games. Why?

Famed crossword editor Will Shortz says: "We're faced with problems every day, and we almost never get clarity ....With a human-made puzzle you have satisfaction you don't get much in real life. You feel in control, and that's a great feeling."

That is the reason we have problems beyond human solution. Problems remind us we are not in control, prompting us to cry out to God. In life's puzzles we hear Jesus’ words, "Apart from me you can do nothing."

Accidental Segregation

After two years of working toward a more diverse ministry, progress is being made.  however slowly.

Then someone pointed out one of the posters advertising our Wednesday evening class schedule. 

“White Women’s Class” was one of the options. Adrenaline rushed through me so fast, I got dizzy. Then I took a closer look… 

Simply a dreadfully unfortunate formatting issue.

Theoretically there could also have been a Black Discipleship Class… 

But accidents are not equal opportunity. 

Amy with a Capital "A"

Only heaven will reveal all God has done through obscure people.

I’ve written books, won awards, and gotten recognition. Two women made that possible.

My mother and my wife.

Recently, a church we served published articles about our ministry. Reading accolades from co-workers was humbling.

Mentioned once by name, “amy” was un-capitalized.

What I do could not be done without Amy behind-the-scenes.

God’s great works begin with the unnoticed, unknown, and the un-capitalized. Some who get all the credit deserve none. Jesus said, “Many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.”

Am I Really Living Longer?

Exercise is good. Sedentary is bad.

Hardly a headline grabber, but that's the result of a new study.

A whole bunch of really smart people, including researchers from Harvard Medical School, discovered that 150 minutes a week of exercise adds about 3.4 years to your life. The sound bite is that even those who are "husky" will live longer if they exercise. Less flabby exercisers more than double the extra years.

As a husky person who does his two and ½ hours of weekly exercise, please let me clarify.

It's not that you live longer.

It just seems longer.

Dear John

Most communications I receive begin the same way, “Dear John.” Whether digital or paper, personal or business, there is some standard greeting.

Sometimes it reads “Dr. Beukema” or “Mr. Beukema” or “Occupant,” but you get the idea.

This week, I received newsletters from two different organizations varying from the pattern. One organization is Christian, the other is the secular, and both began with the same wording.

“Dear [insert name].”

I’ve never felt so special.

Has someone ever encouraged you to read John 3:16 and insert your name? “For God so loved [insert name]…” It’s no mass mailing mistake. 

He did.

Cereal Choices

On my way home from an evening meeting, I texted Amy that I was stopping to buy some granola. A light dinner made a snack desirable.

Wandering the aisles, it took me a few minutes to locate the cereal. I picked up the most appealing looking granola. The label revealed ingredients of twigs, sawdust, and a high calorie count. For comparison purposes I grabbed a box of my childhood favorite. It had 50 less calories.

At home, the logic of my decision seemed lost.

“Don’t you know these are empty calories!”

I enjoyed my giant box of Cap’n Crunch anyway.

Bill Nye Attacks

Even if you aren’t a creationist, Bill Nye’s  comments are outrageous.

I don’t mean his characterization of a creationism worldview as “crazy, untenable, and inconsistent.”

The illogical charge Nye makes is that if a percentage of our population denies evolution, “it holds everybody back.” Appealing to our status as intellectual world leader, Nye says: “If you want to deny evolution and live in your world that's completely inconsistent with the world we observe, that's fine. But don't make your kids do it. Because we need them. We need scientifically literate voters and taxpayers for the future…engineers that can build stuff, solve problems.”

Nye’s argument is that we will not be able to advance, as long as some do not embrace evolution.

That is irrational. If it had basis in truth, how did we get where we are today? Creationists have not prevented our innovative and scientific advancements throughout history. In fact, it is from this worldview that much advancement has sprung.

Why is Bill Nye the bias guy?