In 1997, Mercedes Benz launched an exciting ad campaign in an effort to rebrand themselves as more relevant and fun-loving. The series of ads was set to the Gene Autry song “Don’t Fence Me In,” and those commercials live rent…
Ideology distorts everything — especially the truth
Roaring “isms” roam the streets, looking for someone to devour — or at least brainwash. Who knew we’d reach such a moment, given Americans’ long aversion to ideology and indifference toward the philosophical battles that have ravaged much of the…
Toxic crusaders: The rise of the ultracrepidarian-turned-influencer
George Bernard Shaw once wrote, “Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.” Ultracrepidarians are individuals who fancy themselves as experts in subjects which they know little to nothing about. While they may come across as confident, their…
A New Year’s resolution from Gandhi and a three-word movie subtitle
Gandhi helped free me from prison. Now there’s some fun with syntax and the ambiguity of a preposition. That sentence has two potential meanings: Either Gandhi helped me get out of prison, or, while he was in prison, Gandhi helped…
Some seasons of life help us gain perspective
“Write for your audience” is the golden rule for professional communicators. In education, for example, our division crafted speeches, news releases, fact sheets, memos and reports to the state Legislature, employees, board members, students and parents, each from a different…
Why I still consider myself an evangelical
Have you noticed that some Christians behave as if they are against Christianity? I wonder if the people around us see our brand of Christianity as something they don’t need or want in their lives. For example, in 2018 and…
Why your worldview might be both more and less than biblical
Today, I will work to read psychology and Christian ethics together to explore why it feels right to think of ourselves as common-sensical, biblical world-viewers — and how that self-conception misses the mark of the kind of creatures we are….
How astronauts helped me to see life differently
The experience of traveling in space is life-changing. For all of the reasons that immediately come to mind – the years preparation, the level of commitment required, the danger and fear that must be overcome, the isolation and extreme conditions…
Learning from experience
According to the story, a young person asked an older, wiser person, “How do I avoid mistakes?” The mentor said, “Get experience.” The young person rejoined, “Then how do I get experience?” The reply: “Make mistakes.” Of course, this assumes…