discernment « fruitful faith

the power and fragility of the imagination

By Dale, on May 1st, 2009%

The effects and pervasiveness advertising is a good example of both the power and fragility of the imagination.

We are (almost always subconciously!) actually affected by some hyper-loud voice telling us something in the ad-breaks of whatever TV show we’re watching or by some image we see on a billboard, in a magazine, etc., etc. ad infinitum… That is how . . . → Read More: the power and fragility of the imagination

stinking stimulus

By Dale, on February 11th, 2009%

Anyone who has a knee jerk (i.e. less than critical) reaction to political events in general and the recent U.S. stimulus package in particular, should shut up and think before ranting.

That said, I just don’t like the thought (much less the passing) of the new stimulus package (and I’m not at all anti-Obama – to be crystal clear). $US838 . . . → Read More: stinking stimulus

pre-marital what?

By Dale, on December 17th, 2008%

It has been said before that “______”s (insert whatever Christian denomination you wish to pick on) are against pre-marital sex because it might lead to dancing…

But on a more serious note, the topic of ‘pre-marital sex’ (a.k.a. ‘sex before marriage’) is an interesting one. Many Christians can assume that there is a specific verse in the Bible forbidding . . . → Read More: pre-marital what?

on tolerance

By Dale, on November 11th, 2008%

The louder one screams about the need to be tolerant, the more their very act of screaming demonstrates the equal need to be intolerant (for example, the need to be intolerant of intolerance), which also means their screaming is only a half-truth…

Not 100% false, not 100% true, but a half-truth; which isn’t too helpful, really…

What would be helpful . . . → Read More: on tolerance

wright – ‘wisdom in a troubled time’

By Dale, on October 1st, 2008%

In this sermon to head-masters/mistresses, Wright touches on quite a few important concerns – especially for our time. In particular, he focuses on at least two examples of foolishness ( 1) economic foolishness demonstrated in the current ‘crisis’, and 2) the foolishness of the so-called ‘evolution-creation debate’) and the need for wisdom. Good stuff, Bishop.

being responsible with your bits

By Dale, on August 26th, 2008%

This post over at Scoop highlights the reality (whether we like it or not) that the ‘anything goes’ mindset (and more specifically the outworking of that mindset) toward sexuality is not healthy – literally. It does matter where you put your bits.

For me, an interesting angle is that of self-control. We have the ability to control even the most . . . → Read More: being responsible with your bits

lying and technology

By Dale, on August 22nd, 2008%

This post over at newsweek raises an interesting question…

Can we trust photos in an age where photo-editing technology is not only highly advanced, but free?

The case of the extremely-strange-looking animal is one thing – there are (probably) ways of getting at whether or not such a thing exists other than arguing over the veracity of the pic; but . . . → Read More: lying and technology

so sexy so soon

By Dale, on August 7th, 2008%

Have a read.

It’s not just those fundamentalist, conservative, annoying Christians who are concerned about our western over-sexed culture…

‘carnage?’

By Dale, on July 20th, 2008%

I briefly met someone recently who was supervising a group of youth who were attending the ‘Get Smart’ conference in Auckland, NZ. He asked if I had been attending the conference. When I said no, he replied, “Oh man, it’s great. We were just there and when we left things were still going. Carnage, man. Just carnage.”

I was genuinely . . . → Read More: ‘carnage?’

ken miller on ‘the colbert report’

By Dale, on June 19th, 2008%

http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/videos.jhtml?episodeId=173099

(tried to embed video but HTML didn’t work – maybe a problem between HTML and CSS??? That’s how for my web knowledge goes… not very far…)

fruitful faith

threshing floor

latest pickings