11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
On 02/20/2012,
in faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, society,
by Daniel Christian
1 Corinthians 13:1-13 (NIV) — from BibleGateway.com
1 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
On 02/06/2012,
in business, corporate / business world, economics, ethics, faith, hearts -- matters of the heart, MBA, society, United States,
by Daniel Christian
Stopping the ‘brain drain’ of the U.S. economy — from NPR
Excerpts:
“The problem is that when you’ve got 20 to 30 percent of some of the top talent in this country going into a sector that is not necessarily contributing to economic and social productivity,” he says. “That’s a problem for the country at large and it’s something that we should all be concerned about.”
…
Economist Paul Kedrosky with the Kauffman Foundation says elite schools sending a bigger share of their graduates into finance and consulting is not new; they’ve been doing it for at least two decades. Kedrosky tells NPR’s Raz that what’s different now is that those students have essentially used their talents to grow the financial sector in ways that are unhealthy for the overall economy.
From DSC:
Some relevant scripture comes to my mind — which I, myself, also have to reckon with (these are hard teachings, especially in this day in age…but on second thought, in any age for us humans)
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
“For the word of the LORD is right and true; He is faithful in all He does. The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of His unfailing love.”
.
From DSC:
One last, relevant reflection here…
I’ve been wondering about the place of the heart when it comes to capitalism. I was listening to Gary Hamel earlier today — Gary is author of the new book, What Matters Now (thanks to Daniel Pink’s Office Hours) and one of the items Gary mentioned was the need for a moral renaissance in business today. The comments were that:
- Capitalism requires that the most powerful players act as guardians, stewards, and are accountable, equitable, and charitable; they can and do deny their self; leaders must see themselves as stewards instead of just maximizing short-term gains
- Without those morals, there is egregious behavior
Bottom line:
Values and principles are key to our economy and our nation.
Values and principles are key to our economy and our nation.
Relevant graphic:
Addendum on 3/1/12 pointing to the relationship and relevancy of our hearts as they relate to capitalism:
- U.S. News: Rich People Cheat, Study Shows
Study: Rich people more unethical?
A new study out of UC Berkeley shows rich people are more likely to cheat and lie. Find out theories on why.
On 02/06/2012,
in faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, society,
by Daniel Christian
“For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. The LORD loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of his unfailing love.”
Psalm 59:16 (New International Version) — from BibleGateway.com
16 But I will sing of your strength,
in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress,
my refuge in times of trouble.
in the morning I will sing of your love;
for you are my fortress,
my refuge in times of trouble.
On 01/12/2012,
in Daniel S. Christian, faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, society, technology (general),
by Daniel Christian
A reflection on “Making Holes in Our Heart” from The Technium:
Excerpt — that is also quoted in that piece:
There is a hole in my heart dug deep by advertising and envy and a desire to see a thing that is new and different and beautiful. A place within me that is empty, and that I want to fill it up. The hole makes me think electronics can help. And of course, they can.
They make the world easier and more enjoyable. They boost productivity and provide entertainment and information and sometimes even status. At least for a while. At least until they are obsolete. At least until they are garbage.
Electronics are our talismans that ward off the spiritual vacuum of modernity; gilt in Gorilla Glass and cadmium. And in them we find entertainment in lieu of happiness, and exchanges in lieu of actual connections.
From DSC:
Readers of this blog know that I lean towards a pro-technology stance! 🙂 However, I also realize there are limits to what technology brings to the table. Though the author goes onto comment about his being ok w/ holes in our heart, I think he misses the greatest void in the human heart that only the LORD can fill — not technology and/or other things that humankind may create. I’m not saying that I’ve always known what that feels like to have the LORD fill that hole in my heart, but I continue my journey in my relationship with Him, pressing on…sometimes feeling His presence…hearing Him speak to me at different times and in different ways…all the while hoping that I will know that feeling intimately and consistently. But ultimately, all of this technology — when compared to knowing Christ – IS garbage.
The Apostle Paul puts it this way in Philippians 3:8 (NIV):
8 What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ
On 01/02/2012,
in hearts -- matters of the heart,
by Daniel Christian
Psalm 90:12 — from Bible Gateway’s Verse of the Day
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
On 12/21/2011,
in faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, society,
by Daniel Christian
Galatians 4:4-5
“But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.”
Isaiah 7:14
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”
Deuteronomy 18:15
“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.”
On 12/06/2011,
in Daniel S. Christian, digital audio, digital video, faith, hearts -- matters of the heart, music, relationships,
by Daniel Christian
From DSC:
This is not only a beautiful, powerful, popular hymn, but it is a creative, multimedia-based expression that brings glory to God! On a personal note I’ll never forget this hymn, as it was sung at my Grandpa Christian’s funeral years ago.
“Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
On 12/01/2011,
in faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, society,
by Daniel Christian
“[The Word Became Flesh] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
On 10/27/2011,
in faith, hearts -- matters of the heart,
by Daniel Christian
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
On 10/26/2011,
in faith, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, society,
by Daniel Christian
Questions for God from behind bars — from redletterchristians.org by Morf Morford
Excerpt:
What question would you ask God? I was naive enough to raise that question in my class at the county jail. These guys; felons, addicts, forty year old high school drop-outs, had some remarkable insights about who a believable god should be – and what He should be able to do – and how – or whether – it mattered that anything like God existed. Dinosaurs, injustice, seemingly unfair or exploitive actions by others – especially adults toward children – and why it was so much easier to be bad than to be good.
…
I left the worksheets behind and came into the jail with a large sheet of paper that I could stick to the bare wall and some markers. I had no lesson plan, no materials, no agenda. I took a big gulp and entered the jail with prayer and my blank sheet of paper. I asked the inmates what they needed to talk about.