I spoke with a friend at church a few weeks back about this blog and the 90 day experiment. We talked of the wrestling match he's finding himself in during this 90 day of living in joy - how to live with gladness in a broken and hurting world. He talked about his genuine struggle… Continue reading Just delight
From the jester
I vote for G.K. Chesterton as the grand jester of heaven. And here is a quote to back up my vote: "Man is more himself, man is more manlike, when joy is the fundamental thing about him,and grief the superficial. Melancholy should be an innocent interlude, a tender and fugitive frame of mind; praise should… Continue reading From the jester
Quotables
As I keep with the 90 day experiment in joy, quotations about joy and happiness keep leaping out and grabbing me. Here's a quick sampling for good quotes that keep building the convincing case that we are made for joy: "It is the decided opinion of all who use their brains, that all people desire to… Continue reading Quotables
Bliss on steroids
Picture this - Ambleside Beach in West Vancouver. You see Stanley Park and the Lions Gate Bridge to the left, Vancouver's Point Grey straight ahead and English Bay glistening in the foreground. Along with friends, we find a nice spot in the warm sand, leaning up against the logs lying on the beach and enjoying the cool… Continue reading Bliss on steroids
Jack on joy, ed. 3
I can't help myself but quote C.S. Lewis. This man knew about joy so heed his wisdom well. "Now God designed the human ... to run on Himself ... God cannot give us a happiness and peace apart from Himself, because it is not there. There is no such thing." (Mere Christianity) This quote lines… Continue reading Jack on joy, ed. 3
Reordered love, reordered lives
I've been reading a book I picked up when I browsed through the University of Chicago bookstore. It's by David Naugle, professor of philosophy at Dallas Baptist University, and is called Reordered Love, reordered lives: learning the deep meaning of happiness. What a really fine book this is (you can learn more about the book… Continue reading Reordered love, reordered lives
Vintage gladness
Today is the anniversary of the day when I pinned Betty to the ground and made her say "I do." In family circles our wedding is commonly known as the "wedding from hell" because it was hotter than Hades in Chicago that day - 105 degrees and humidity nearing 205%. How hot and muggy was it? In one… Continue reading Vintage gladness
Jack on joy – #2
A classic and brilliant observation on joy from C.S. Lewis: "We are half-hearted creatures, fooling around with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of… Continue reading Jack on joy – #2
From the belly
Does anyone really pay much attention to their breathing? Seems so utterly basic, but apparently I need graduate level education. At recent retreat the presenter (Jason Hildebrand, by the way, a fine actor who has a unique gift of discernment - you can learn more about Jason here) took time to give a bunch of us pastors breathing lessons. Jason… Continue reading From the belly
The sound of sunshine
This past weekend I got in touch with my inner hippie and turned folkie, hanging out at the Calgary Folk Music Festival. Wow, does great live music bring me a lot of joy! What a fabulous time. First of all, the venue has to be one of the sweetest. Held at Prince's Island Park in downtown Calgary,… Continue reading The sound of sunshine
Squinch 