http://www.chrisbrauns.com The Web Site and Blog of Pastor Chris Brauns Thu, 20 Nov 2008 16:40:20 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en FDR famously said, "We have nothing to fear but fear itself." Taken by itself and out of context, it strikes me that this, one of our most beloved lines, is also one of the most profoundly stupid of American quotes. http://www.chrisbrauns.com/2008/11/20/we-have-nothing-to-fear-but-fear-itself-yeah-right/ People in our culture are way too petty.  We make conflict mountains out of far too many petty molehills.  That's why I have a chapter in Unpacking Forgiveness designed to help people know when to let go of a matter. Building on Tim Challies post from yesterday (in which he ... http://www.chrisbrauns.com/2008/11/20/helpful-thoughts-on-when-to-let-go-of-something/ Tim Challies posts today about when to confront and when to overlook an offense.  In so doing, he draws on Unpacking Forgiveness. Read it here. http://www.chrisbrauns.com/2008/11/19/when-to-overlook-an-offense/ My mom has this story about hiding from her parents while she read a book on Sunday afternoon. She read secretly because she grew up in a church tradition that was militant about how you spent Sunday. Sunday was reserved for church and sleeping and little else. They were not ... http://www.chrisbrauns.com/2008/11/18/whats-your-approach-to-the-lords-day/ http://www.chrisbrauns.com/2008/11/13/what-a-great-song/ At 22 Words, Abraham Piper asked readers to recommend books that we might not have heard about. I enjoyed reading the comments (and, I often don't when reading blogs!) Click here and read the suggestions. http://www.chrisbrauns.com/2008/11/13/recommending-books-youve-never-heard-of/ Now that the election is over and the dust has settled, I look back on it all and there is a group of people for whom I feel particular empathy. My heart goes out to women who chose to have an abortion and now feel that they can never be ... http://www.chrisbrauns.com/2008/11/10/for-those-feeling-guilty/ As far as arguments against spanking go, this is the best I've heard.  (Click here). http://www.chrisbrauns.com/2008/11/09/young-orison-pipers-case-against-spanking/ You can listen to Al Mohler preach on raising children here. http://www.chrisbrauns.com/2008/11/08/how-to-not-raise-an-unbeliever/ You can read Molly Friesen's (of Peacemaker Ministries) interaction with a chapter of Unpacking Forgiveness here.  She writes: I thought this whole chapter was excellent and challenging, but I wanted to close with what I thought was a particularly key point. Brauns points out that pride "is not limited ... http://www.chrisbrauns.com/2008/11/05/the-way-up-is-down/