Category Archives: Christian Living

The Sound and the Fury

Posted on August 10, 2012 by Doc Arnett

To be sure, there are times for righteous indignation in a wicked world. But we should also keep in mind that we were not saved by the whip with which Jesus drove the money-mongers from the temple. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Devotions, Christian Living, Farming, Metaphysical Reflection, Nature, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged Christian extremists, condemnation, grace, humility, hypocrisy, mercy, politics, self-righteous, self-righteousness, sin, Westboro | Comments Off

Lush Lives

Posted on August 8, 2012 by Doc Arnett

We ought to be
at least a bit higher than the grass
and know that it was not deserve
that placed us above the deep wells
of God’s good grace. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Living, Gardening, Poetry, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged adversity, blessing, class distinctions, drought, generosity, grass, green, lateral lines, perseverance, poverty, septic lines, sharing | Comments Off

Discovery

Posted on August 7, 2012 by Doc Arnett

I was pretty sure it was a myth, this so-called “runners’ euphoria.” Supposedly, at some point in a run, or a workout, in response to sustained physical exertion, the brain releases dopamine and endorphins and that release triggers a sort of pleasurable feeling that’s like, well, euphoria. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Living, Exercise, Spiritual Contemplation, Sports | Tagged Christian devotions, doubt, evidence, exercise, experience, God, Holy Spirit, peace, runner's euphoria, skepticism | 1 Comment

Redirection

Posted on August 6, 2012 by Doc Arnett

For all the promise of the skies and all the signs of cloud and breeze, the longed-for rain did not come. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Living, Farming, Gardening, Nature, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged attitude, Christian devotions, dealing with disappointment, drought, focus on the positive, rain | Comments Off

Hard Ground

Posted on July 20, 2012 by Doc Arnett

Sometimes we are called to a task
that we cannot quite complete
but must make a beginning,
leaving its finishing until
the soil is softer
or we are strengthened, Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Living, Farming, Nature, Poetry, Spiritual Contemplation, Work | Tagged acceptance, challenge, Christian devotions, determination, driving posts, drought, effort, fencing, hard ground, heat, obstacles, persistence, setting posts, steel posts, t-posts | Comments Off

Breaking Free

Posted on July 19, 2012 by Doc Arnett

I needed some more steel fence posts to extend the drying pasture just a bit before all of the grass has turned to brown. I could have gone to town and bought another dozen new T-posts Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Living, Farming, Nature, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged addiction, breaking free, destruction, drugs, entanglement, escape, freedom, getting out, liberation, old habits, snares | Comments Off

Good Exercise

Posted on July 18, 2012 by Doc Arnett

When we are willing to use whatever trick it takes to turn us away from the things that pull us toward self-destruction, we are ready to overcome. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Living, Exercise, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged candy, candy bars, diet, eating, exercise, losing weight, self defeating behaviors, self-control, self-discipline, working out | Comments Off

Scattered Showers

Posted on July 17, 2012 by Doc Arnett

There is in our dry times
a rather pointed disappointment
in clouds that hold the color of rain
Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Living, Gardening, Nature, Poetry, Spiritual Contemplation | Tagged blessings, Christian devotions, clouds, disappointment, drought, dry spell, dry weather, life is not fair, rain | Comments Off

A Small Twist of Fate

Posted on July 16, 2012 by Doc Arnett

“You ready to go home or do you want to fish a little while longer?” I asked Hunter, our thirteen-year-old grandson. The sun had gone down about a half-hour earlier and dusk was beginning to settle into the evening. Continue reading →

Posted in Christian Living, Family, Nature, Relationships, Spiritual Contemplation, Sports | Tagged bass fishing, Christian devotions, fishing, grandchildren, healing, hooks, removing a hook, removing a treble hook, sin, temptation | Comments Off