Five on Friday: What Separates Us From God, Pluralistic Ignorance, and the History of Words
Issue IV
Every Friday I send an email with five pieces of content. These are things I’ve found insightful, inspiring… or just interesting.
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Here are five things from my week I thought were worth passing on.
Today at a Glance
Quote: The thing that separates us from God
Tweet: Group ignorance in the information age
Article: Hospitality as a way of life
Podcast: Walking on eggshells
Bonus: Why do we say what we say?
One Quote
“God meets you where you are, not where you ought to be. When you manifest a heart to seek him, your sin and error do not stand in his way.”
– Walt Henrichsen
Our mistakes and sins loom large in our mind but not God’s. He has already paid for them. They are easy for him to deal with.
His concern is our disposition: Do we choose to seek him or are we apathetic? Apathy is the thing that will keep us from God, not our flaws and sin.
One Tweet
Increased ability to communicate doesn’t lead to greater understanding unless people are sharing what they truly believe. Surprisingly, it leads to greater ignorance. This thread by Tim Urban explains why.
It’s fascinating that in our age of mass media and instant communication we can experience pluralistic ignorance. Current public discourse feels like a modern version of “The Emporer’s New Clothes” where people are afraid to say what they see.
One Article
The Simplest Way to Change the World: Biblical Hospitality as a Way of Life - Jessica Udall
We’re taught a man’s home is his castle, the place where he can retreat from the world for rest and solitude. But taken too far this mindset keeps us alone and prevents us from being part of God’s work.
A friend sent me this short article on the importance of opening your life and home to others. It’s a good 3 minute read.
One Podcast
Walking On Eggshells: The Stoics on Logic - HoP #60
Apple Podcasts / Spotify / YouTube
Peter Adamson takes listeners through the history of philosophy in this amazing podcast series. His podcast episodes are great 20 minute introductions to a wide range of philosophies and philosophers from ancient past to modern times.
This particular episode is a great introduction to how the Greek Stoics tried to make sense of the world.
One Bonus
If you’re fond of words and history then you’ll probably like the Word Histories website. You can learn the story behind phrases like “mad money”, “out of the blue”, and “you can’t have your cake and eat it” too.
To get started, check out the history behind the phrase “the apple of my eye”.
Personal Note
This edition is late due to travel. This weekend I attended a memorial celebration for a person who has been a major influence in my life over the past 25 years.
Ecclesiastes tells us “the heart of the wise is in the house of mourning.” I experienced this the past few days. I found myself reflecting on two things as I remembered my friend and all the memories we have of her.
First, our time on earth is short. Life moves fast and is soon over.
Second, relationships take effort and memories have to be created. They don’t just happen. But they are the things that truly matter in life. The things I want to value most in these brief years of my life.
Thanks for reading and if you like Five on Friday, please share it with others who might enjoy it too.
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What a great book review she gave...excuses, I can think of many!! But what a difference maker hospitality is for our society and the Kingdom of God. Sorry for your loss...wise words my friend.