Ideas As Opiates

"Say what you want, say what you will
'Cause I find you make what makes it easier"
-Tears for Fears, 1983

Formula for Failure

"I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure: which is: Try to please everybody."
-Herbert B. Swope

"Woe to you when everyone praises you, for you are like the false prophets." -Jesus

Defusing Anger

If you want to defuse someone’s anger, then sincerely be on their side. Understand their position and communicate that understanding. But be honest—if you hold an opinion that they will get upset at and they ask you directly, tell them. They may be angry at you in the short term, but in the long run they will know you to have integrity.

The Way of Gentleness

Gentleness is not natural. It is learned and earned through difficulties with others.

Qualifications for Marriage

If you do plan to get married, marry someone who you can talk to over the long term. Don’t let hormones make the decision for you. Your potential spouse may seem nice, and have something that really attracts you—but you need to build a relationship for a lifetime. Make sure the building blocks of relationship are there—communication of the hard issues, conflict management, a love of the Lord Jesus above all else.

Popular Causes

"The heights of popularity and patriotism are still the beaten road to power and tyranny; flattery to treachery; standing armies to arbitrary government; and the glory of God to the temporal interest of the clergy."
-David Hume

Hasty Judgments

Don’t be hasty in judgments. We may think that we can solve a person’s problems five minutes after hearing them. We can’t. We can’t know a person in one conversation, nor do our brains work fast enough to solve their problems quickly. If God gives a solution to me, and I discover it is really from God, then it often takes weeks to figure out why he said what he said. I’m just not smart enough.