Hogg’s Pearls of Wisdom  for June 2018

Passing on to you the pearls of wisdom gleaned from what I read, watch and listen to each month.  If a particular pearl appeals to you, click the link and enjoy.  Like God’s Word says: “Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise” (Proverbs 19:20 NIV).  I pray these pearls help each of us to be counted among the wise and live a more beautiful life.

“A Confession of Liberal Intolerance”  Nicholas Kristof.  This New York Times article from 2016 provides both objective statistical data and personal experiences to demonstrate the growing lack of true intellectual diversity on college and university campuses.  While there are exceptions, the trend is open hostility toward conservatives and religious traditionalists.  Every parent should read this article and prepare their children for what they will likely face if they attend a secular university.  It seems those who preach tolerance don’t know how to practice what they preach.  Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/08/opinion/sunday/a-confession-of-liberal-intolerance.html

“Where Anger is Disguised as Justice” Erwin Lutzer.  There is a lot of vicious sniping at people on social media.  Exaggeration and half-truths are common.  Unfortunately many followers of Jesus Christ have fallen prey to this practice.  Grace and kindness are in short supply in many posts by everyday Christians, as well as some well-known Christian leaders.  Lutzer addresses this issue and offers some guidelines for Christians who wish to honor Christ when posting on social media.  https://www.moodymedia.org/blog/2018/05/social-media-anger-disguised-justice/

“New Orleans area televangelist Jesse Duplantis asks for donations to buy $54 million jet” Jeff Nowak.  This news story in the “The New Orleans Advocate” does not offer commentary or opinion.  Like many others that appeared in media outlets across the USA and beyond, it simply tells the story and contains quotes from Duplantis and others.  Read the story and draw your own conclusions.  When I hear prosperity preachers like Duplantis say things like he says in this story, I hang my head in sorrow at the damage they do to the cause of Christ and His gospel.  On some level I feel ashamed and embarrassed.  I commend Jeff Nowak for telling the story without disguising opinion as news.  The story speaks for itself – or at least it should. http://www.theadvocate.com/new_orleans/news/article_5c3230f8-635a-11e8-8844-137f1a7cb649.html

“Wakanda” Patrick Patterson.  Have you seen the movie “Black Panther” yet?  A lot of people have.  Along with “Avengers: Infinity War” it is the top grossing movie in America so far this year.  Recently Monieca and I watched it at home.  I wanted to know why it was creating so much buzz.  We both liked it.  We didn’t consider it one of the greatest movies we’ve ever seen, but we enjoyed it.  However for many Americas, it was more than a movie.  This article by Patrick Patterson helped me – and hopefully – will help you understand why?  I have fond memories of Patterson playing college basketball at Kentucky.  I enjoy watching him play now in the NBA.  He is articulate and thoughtful.  He lets us see into his life and his heart.  I’m thankful he wrote this article.  I’m a white man who can never feel what he feels.  What I can do is try to understand.  I can learn and grow.  So can you.  Read his story.  The watch the movie and try to see it through his eyes.  I think I’m a better man because I did.  https://www.theplayerstribune.com/en-us/articles/patrick-patterson-black-panther

“Diverse Slate of Officers to Lead SBC in 2018-19” Barbara Denman.  All I can say is “AMEN.”  http://www.bpnews.net/51076/diverse-slate-of-officers-to-lead-sbc-in-20182019