Jan 24

The Classic Trio of 20th Century Psychologists

Sigmund Freud, Alfred Adler, and Viktor Frankl were influential psychologists. The contrast of the core focus of their theories is interesting.

Here is a document that compares and contrasts their theories.

When it’s all said and done, people do differ in what most motivates them and what motivates/drives them may change from context to context and may depend on life’s circumstances and chapter.

Jan 22

Faith, Understanding, and Emotional Intelligence

In Rebekah Simon-Peter’s book, Dream Like Jesus, she writes, and the end of the paragraph on page 95, “It also took maturing in faith, understanding, and emotional intelligence.” These are 3 different and complementary aspects of wisdom. Here are definitions of each and why/how they complement one another (to help us accomplish things and overcome obstacles).

Definitions

Faith

Faith is confident trust directed toward a person, principle, or outcome that cannot be fully proven or controlled. It enables action in uncertainty by answering the question, “What am I willing to commit myself to?” Faith is not blind optimism; it is a settled confidence that sustains perseverance when evidence is incomplete. Unlike understanding, faith does not primarily analyze. Unlike emotional intelligence, it does not primarily manage feelings. Faith supplies motivation and courage—the willingness to move forward despite risk, delay, or opposition.

Understanding

Understanding is the grasp of meaning, relationships, causes, and consequences. It involves knowledge, insight, and reasoning—knowing why something works and how it fits within a larger context. Understanding answers the question, “What is actually going on?” It differs from faith in that it relies on evidence and logic rather than trust, and from emotional intelligence in that it focuses on ideas and systems rather than people and emotions. Understanding provides clarity and direction, helping decisions be wise rather than merely hopeful.

Emotional Intelligence

Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, interpret, regulate, and respond appropriately to emotions—both one’s own and those of others. It answers the question, “How are emotions affecting behavior and relationships right now?” Unlike faith, it does not determine ultimate commitment. Unlike understanding, it does not analyze abstract truth. Emotional intelligence provides relational wisdom, enabling cooperation, resilience, self-control, and empathy. It allows people to navigate stress, conflict, and motivation without being ruled by emotional reactions.

How They Complement One Another

Faith, understanding, and emotional intelligence function best together because each addresses a different human need. Faith supplies commitment and perseverance—the courage to begin and continue. Understanding provides discernment and strategy—the wisdom to choose the right path and avoid costly errors. Emotional intelligence supplies stability and connection—the ability to manage pressure, work with others, and adapt when plans strain relationships or morale.

Without understanding, faith becomes reckless. Without faith, understanding stalls in analysis. Without emotional intelligence, both faith and understanding are undermined by unmanaged fear, pride, or conflict. Together, they form a balanced approach: faith moves forward, understanding guides the way, and emotional intelligence keeps the journey sustainable and relationally healthy.

Jan 13

Christmas and the Spirit of Democracy

Here’s a nice and thought-provoking story (essay, if you will) of two men having a discussion in front of a fireplace. One of the men is Ebeneezer Scrooge (yes, himself, of A Christmas Carol). See this page.

Jan 08

Walking by the Light of The Lantern and Keeping The Window Open

Today I made a new page with a couple metaphors for the Christian life.

See this page.

Jan 04

The Truest Form of Intelligence

Quote: “The truest form of intelligence is designing the life that you want to live.” Design your life. (Found at: x.com.)

I want to live for God. ∴ I’m using my intelligence to design my life following God.

Therefore the following are improved wordings: 

  • “True wisdom is aligning every part of life—work, words, and choices—with devotion to God.”
  • “The wisest life is not the one we design for ourselves, but the one we deliberately live for the Lord.”
  • “True wisdom is living every part of life for the Lord.”
  • “The wisest life is one intentionally lived before God.” 

🗝️ Matt 6:33

🗝️ Col 3:17

🗝️ Col 3:23

Dec 24

Today’s Firestorm and the Declaration by Larry P. Arnn

This is an excellent piece by Larry P. Arnn, the President at Hillsdale College. Dr. Arnn is quite objective. It does start with “Trump,” but he, I think, remains quite objective. Starting with Trump is realistic. Right now, Trump, good or bad, is central to many of our issues.

I highly respect Dr. Arnn and the many things that Hillsdale College is doing. He, and they, are giving much — and is is for the Kingdom of God.

Follow this link to the article.

Quotes:

Some of the quotes I liked from the article include n(bold and italics are mine:

  • When human will becomes sovereign, unencumbered by nature and divorced from God, we are left with movements—people organized to impose their will on their adversaries.
    • This is the great “discovery” that plagues our day: the sovereignty of history, of time, and of circumstance. Discovering there is no “ought,” we can break free by reinventing everything according to our desires. 
  • It contains an entire account of the source, the purpose, and the manner of the government of the United States. In these three things is to be found the solution to our problems.
    • First, the source of our government: “the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God.” These are the things we know by seeing and thinking about the things around us in nature.
      • Here we have the family, property, justice, work, learning, conscience, and worship. 
      • Everything we know, we know through our perception of nature and our understanding of the Divine.
    • Next, the purpose of our government: the Declaration describes to what end we are to be governed, namely the protection of our rights, the rights that are written in our nature.
    • Finally, the Declaration describes the manner in which we must be governed: One, government must be representative in form. 
  • It will be helpful to the young men and women who are lost today by helping them to rediscover nature and reason.
  • The Declaration of Independence, like the classic authors, teaches that things are real. 
  • To serve. To be strong. To be free. To look up. These are the kind of young Americans who will save our country.

Dec 19

How to Draw Closer to God 2026

This was posted by Princess Ade (@cessadelove1) on Twitter/X. I like the ideas and thought it was worth sharing. Thank you Princess Ade.

1. Start your mornings with prayer. Invite God into every day.
2. Open your Bible before touching your phone.
3. Talk to God about what’s heavy on your heart.
4. Practice gratitude daily.
5. Stop stressing about what you can’t change.
6. Thank God for small blessings throughout the day.
7. Let go of the bitterness you’ve been holding onto.
8. Talk to God about everything.
9. Fast from what feeds your flesh more than your faith.
10. Spend more time in His Word, not just in your thoughts.
11. Stop giving time to things that pull you away from Him.
12. Spend time with people who push you closer to Jesus.
13. Don’t isolate; you need community to grow.
14. Be kind to yourself, grace is part of growth.
15. End the day in prayer: reflect, repent, and thank Him.

Dec 11

Psalm 34: A Sacred Invitation

Jani Ortlund wrote a wonderful Daily Devotional (Dec. 11, 2025, which I receive via email) for Crossway. In it she lifts up the wonderful message of Psalm 34. It inspired me to study it further and break it down.

Here is the Google doc I prepared.

Dec 10

Grew up in the 70’s and Rode a Bike without a Helmet

This video on X/Twitter describes the things kids who grew up in the 70 learned (and how they were psychologically enhanced).

Here are the main points:

  1. Self-Directed Problem Solving – 70s kids learned to create their own purpose and entertainment, strengthening creativity and executive function.
  2. Adaptive Risk Calibration – Regular exposure to physical risk trained better danger assessment and reduced adult anxiety.
  3. Comfort with Solitude – Time alone without screens built emotional stability and tolerance for boredom.
  4. Analog Patience – Waiting for shows, photos, phone calls, and results built impulse control and delayed gratification.
  5. Unsupervised Autonomy – Freedom to roam without tracking developed internal motivation, judgment, and responsibility.
  6. Lasting Adult Traits – Calm in crisis, independence, discipline, comfort with silence, and critical thinking.
  7. Cultural Contrast – These traits are framed as increasingly rare in the digital, highly supervised modern childhood.
  8. Overall Claim – 1970s childhood formed psychologically resilient adults during a unique historical “window.”

Here is a narrative synopsis:

The passage argues that children who grew up in the 1970s developed rare psychological strengths due to an unusual mix of freedom, responsibility, and unsupervised play. With little structured scheduling, kids learned self-directed problem solving, creativity, and independence by inventing their own activities. Regular exposure to physical risk—without constant adult intervention—trained their brains to assess real danger, resulting in lower adult anxiety and stronger crisis management.

Pre-digital solitude also shaped emotional resilience. Without constant stimulation, 70s kids learned to tolerate boredom and became comfortable being alone with their thoughts. Their analog world required patience: waiting for weekly TV shows, developed photos, and phone calls trained impulse control and delayed gratification. Finally, broad freedom of movement built internal motivation and decision-making skills.

The author concludes that these traits—independence, calmness, patience, depth, and competence—are fading in modern culture. Rather than being outdated, 70s kids are portrayed as carrying forward psychological strengths shaped by a uniquely formative era of childhood.

Dec 06

The Promises of the OT, to the Hebrews, Do Apply to Us Believers

I was looking at Isaiah 43:1–2. These are wonderful words of loving promise. However, they are addressed to Jacob (and, by implication, the nation of Israel). My question was, does this apply to me as a 21st Century believer?

Quick note: The phrase “Thus saith the Lord” appears in the King James OT over 400 times (most frequently in the prophets). This is present tense, meaning God is speaking to us and continues to do so.

The answer to my questions is yes, with a a noteworthy distinction*.

Theologians’ View

Looking at how theologians have address this, they agree on these points:

1. Original meaning

Isaiah 43:1–2 was spoken to Israel in the 6th century BC.

2. Covenant continuity

The people of God in the Old Testament (Israel) and the people of God in the New Testament (the Church) share the same redeeming God and covenant promises.

3. Christ-centered fulfillment

Because believers are in Christ, they inherit the promises given to God’s people.

4. Legitimate application (*including the distinction)

Therefore, Isaiah 43:1–2 does apply to 21st-century believers—but *not as a national or political promise; rather, as a spiritual, covenantal promise of God’s love and protection.

To Summarize

Isaiah 43:1–2 legitimately applies to Christians today because:

  • God’s covenant love is unchanged.
  • Believers are redeemed in Christ just as Israel was redeemed from Egypt.
  • God promises His presence in trials to all His people.
  • The New Testament identifies the Church as the “Israel of God” (Gal. 6:16). The NT teaches that believers are grafted into the promises given to Abraham (Romans 11:17-24).

I’m Thankful

I’m thankful that God has made a covenant with me. I’m grateful for all the aspects and blessings of the covenant that benefit me.

My prayer is that I would be a faithful member of the blessed covenant and walk in His Way.