41. Shepherds, Regrets, Resolutions, and Doing
Rehearsing the story of the shepherds, regretting the past; abandoning New Year’s resolutions, making the determination to “go and see.”
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40. Christmas, Easter, Becoming and Burning
Meditating on the amazing idea that the God of Christianity is the “God Who Becomes.” Reading the wonderful poem “The Burning Babe” by Robert Southwell.
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39. Schools, Bombs, Fear and Hope
Drawing a contrast the approach of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize and the approach of 2009 Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Greg Mortenson; Discussing “Pennies for Peace,” “Three Cups of Tea,” and difference between fear and hope.
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38. Preschools, Prenuptials, Self-Centeredness and Servanthood
Reviewing a chapter from Dan Ariely’s book “Predictably Irrational” on social vs. market norms; making predictions on the level of devotion in the marriage of Tiger Woods; relating social and market norms to relationships; seeking to serve instead of being served in our marriages.
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37. Men, Maidens, Cute Shoes, and Attraction
Rehearsing a wonderful Thanksgiving; pondering the ideal relationship and wondering whether it was closer before the advent of media; calculating the loss to society due to our preoccupation with attractiveness; reading minds as a way to pick what to wear; celebrating a great pair of legs.
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36. Drumbeats, Warnings, Free Markets, and the Flesh
Recording on Tuesday because of an early Thanksgiving; getting ready to celebrate my parents’ 60th wedding anniversary; reviewing the Frontline episode “The Warning” and conflict between Alan Greenspan and Brooksley Born; highlighting the danger of ignoring the dual natures of humans. (CORRECTIONS: It’s my wife’s brother not my sister’s brother and Born was president of The Stanford Law Review not her senior class!!)
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35. Clubs, Hugs, God, and Hell
Watching a Larry King interview with Joel Osteen on YouTube; acknowledging the unknown twilight between life and death; imagining God’s embrace of all humanity; allowing God to introduce His Son to anyone He chooses.
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34. Eden, Chaos, Nature and Suffering
Discussing the chaotic world as the final initiator of our suffering and offering reasons why God created the world as it is.
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33. Chorus Lines, Perpetrators, Slumdogs and Suffering
Admitting to the complaints that slip from my tongue; acknowledging the existence of those who cause pain and suffering in others; illustrating the cheapness of life in Asia and asserting that those who inflict pain are nonetheless exercising their free will; and suggesting even in this case God will not revoke our freewill.
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32. Cousins, Orchids, Suffering and Inspiration
Recalling the celebration of my mom’s 83rd birthday; pondering a person’s final destination and the relationship of God to the world; beginning the talk on the three classes of suffering and their relationship to free will; being inspired by Nick Vujicic.
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