Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” […]
Read More Genesis: 32 – Jacob the Fearful, Jacob the FearlessHello, my name is Christopher Dryden, I am a peacemaker. I am also a father of three daughters. The youngest daughter is named Zoe (there should be two dots over the e, but nevertheless). This April she will turn five years old and it’s already a good time to reflect on why she was so […]
Read More What Makes Peace? 2 – EnthusiasmWe are given to extremes. A good friend of mine informed me of one perspective on the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Here the taking of the tree exposed us to the full breadth of the extremes of good and evil. Rather than depending on God for all things, left to our own […]
Read More Order and SpontaneityThis blog comes to you from a hotel room in a place called Redditch. I have never been to Redditch before. I have not done a tour of the town and I am unlikely to do so before I return home, God willing. The little that I have seen of it is very pleasant. They […]
Read More Enlarging The FamilyYou’re aware of that feeling some have when they are a child. That feeling that says life will be so much better as soon as they grow up and can do what grown ups do. You’re also aware of that feeling that parents get seeing their children play around with little to no responsibilities and […]
Read More The Life Gets SweeterAn inferiority complex can be a really debilitating condition. My recollection of developing and dwelling with an inferiority complex was that it involved two key factors. One is how I viewed myself. Another is how I viewed the expectations of others. On that score the issue began with the value I placed on other people’s […]
Read More Whose Expectations?I don’t think we have it right when it comes to discipline. One aspect almost bends over backwards to avoid conflict and upsetting people. It is virtually no discipline at all. It is far too lax. The other approach is virtually a brutal infliction of aggressive force to bring about submissive cooperation. Of course there […]
Read More You Are The Treasure That I SeekIt is a very weird thing finding out your usually reliable Dad, doesn’t know. My Dad never held himself up as the standard of all truth. Indeed, he is the best example I have seen of someone aware that there is so much more in life to learn. But back in the day, being small […]
Read More We Don’t Have It (All) RightHow are you? What an interesting question. One I am not keen on, because normally either there is insufficient time to answer it properly, or there is insufficient interest from the person asking it to make it worthwhile. A beautiful thing about blogging, though, is that both factors don’t come into play at all, especially […]
Read More The State You’re InI am not a cook. It is thus a blessing to be surrounded by outstanding cooks. I cannot justifiably complain about this fact. That means come dinner time more often than not, I am in for a treat. As I was brought up my loving parents, I was instructed that it was good manners to […]
Read More Something About Praise and Thanksgiving
