Tag Archives: Christian Life

CHRISTIAN LIVING, ROMANS

BE NOT CONFORMED — BOB PRICHARD

Poet e. e. cummings (who always seemed weird because he didn’t use capitals in his name), has some wise words in his A Poet’s Advice to Students (1955). “To be nobody-but-yourself—in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else—means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.”

His words echo Paul’s warning to the Christians of Rome. After discussing the goodness and severity of God toward the Jews and the Gentiles, he begs them to stand apart from the world. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God” (Romans 12:1–2). 

As cummings and Paul remind us, the world is working overtime to make us like it. The media, the peer pressure, and our own desire to “fit in” make it hard for us to be different. Pressure to conform is severe and subtle at the same time.

If we watch the same TV shows, go to the same movies, engage in the same social and recreational activities, read the same books and magazines, and do what everyone else does, will we be able to be different from the world? The key to resisting the world is to be truly “transformed by the renewing of our minds.” Where is our focus today? “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God” (Colossians 3:1-3).

Let’s be different, truly different!

BIBLE, CHRISTIAN LIVING, HEBREWS, JESUS CHRIST

QWERTY — BOB PRICHARD

This article, and virtually every printed article you have ever read in the English language  was typed on a QWERTY keyboard, so named for the first five letters on the upper left of the keyboard, designed in 1873. Why are the letters on the keyboard arranged this way? Early typewriters jammed easily, so the keyboard was designed to make it harder to type quickly. Studies have shown that a better designed ergonomic keyboard would allow the average person to type twice as fast, with 95% less effort. 

Why haven’t we changed to a better keyboard? It is because there are just too many vested interests like typists, computer manufacturers, etc. that would not want the change. If offered a better keyboard, how many would want to change? Would you? I don’t want to have to learn a new keyboard!

Unfortunately, we don’t always want better do we? We are often satisfied with good, even when better is available. We don’t want to go to the extra cost or extra effort for the better. We are satisfied where we are. This may not matter much when it comes to keyboards, but what about spiritual things?

The key word of the book of Hebrews is better. “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established on better promises” (Hebrews 8:6). Those in faith’s hall of fame in Hebrews 11 “desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hat prepared for them a city” (Hebrews 11:6).

We have the promise of better things because of Christ: “Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they” (Hebrews 1:4). What are you willing to do, not for a good life, but for the better life? When Jesus said, “seek ye the first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33) and “whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:28), wasn’t he challenging us to the better life? Are you satisfied with a QWERTY life?