“Drunkenness is of course as empty as the bottle afterwards . . . Whether this better-living-through-chemistry approach comes through liquid, smoke, needle, or straw, the result is always a vacuum. A fool will always find various ways to dig his way down, but when he gets there he is always at the bottom of a …
For Tomorrow We Die
“The line of reasoning commended itself to the apostle Paul. If Christ did not rise from the dead, then the most sensible thing to do is eat and drink and have as good a time as a meaningless bit of protoplasm can have” (Joy at the End of the Tether, p. 25).
A Great Comedic Cattle Prod
“Maybe the world would be a cheerier place if we could add a laugh track to it. Without the intelligence and wisdom of Solomon, we are trying the same thing in our day. Perhaps we may find a savior in comedy. But the ubiquitous laugh track behind all our sitcoms provides a fitting commentary for …
Our Deep Blue Funk
“The latest ‘whatever’ is whooped as the savior which will lead us out of our temporary postmodern malaise, our deep blue funk. Perhaps the Internet, or computers, or skyscrapers, or environmental activism, or snowboarding, or something will save us. But this does not help. Even the snowboarder, when he gets to the bottom, has to …
The Tubas of Vanity
“Under the sun, vanity is God’s scepter (Ecc. 5:18; 8:15; 9:9). For those who fear Him, He gives the gift of being able to actually enjoy this great big marching band of futility — the tubas of vanity bringing up the rear” (Joy at the End of the Tether, p. 13).
Which Makes Trusting God Necessary
“No one can go into a marriage relationship to find out what it would be like to be married to this person without being married to them already. This means that with the scriptural system of courtship, the commitment comes first, and true intimate knowledge of the spouse comes second” (Her Hand in Marriage, p. …
A Peek at the Future
“If a girl wants to be impressed with a young man, she needs to see how he speaks to his own mother at home, and not how nice he can be across the dinner table from a cute girl at a restaurant” (Her Hand in Marriage, p. 88).
Ice Cream and Susie
“Often guys will say, ‘I love Susie.’ This does not necessarily mean they are interested in Susie’s best interest, but rather, ‘I really like the sensations which occur in me whenever Susie is around.’ When a boy say, ‘I love ice cream’ he is not seeking the ice cream’s best interest. He loves the sensation …
Families Come From Families
“In a wedding, the family is giving birth; it is reproducing itself” (Her Hand in Marriage, p. 80).
The Bridezilla Blunder
“The wedding is simply a doorway into the house of the marriage. There is no problem with “decorating” this doorway — the practice of adorned brides and plenty of wine for the guests is certainly biblical — so the parents of the bride should fee free to spend some money and have a joyful wedding. …