Troubler of Israel

God’s “Yes” and Long Flights

G. Shane Morris — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 21:52:55 +0000

Some of my most revealing discussions happen on airplanes, during long flights. They usually begin when the person imprisoned in the seat beside me asks what I do for a living. When I reply that I work for a Christian worldview ministry, I can see the wheels turning. Occasionally, they’ll reply, “Awesome! I’m a Christian, […]

The post God’s “Yes” and Long Flights appeared first on Troubler of Israel.

Dunning-Kruger, Cultural Amnesia, and Tyrannosaurus rex

G. Shane Morris — Wed, 07 Jul 2021 21:42:17 +0000

The Dunning-Kruger effect (famously described by social psychologists David Dunning and Justin Kruger) is the idea that people who know little to nothing about a subject tend to wildly overestimate their competence in that subject. This is because their knowledge is so limited, they lack even the categories to recognize their own ignorance. We see […]

The post Dunning-Kruger, Cultural Amnesia, and Tyrannosaurus rex appeared first on Troubler of Israel.

Why Music Opens Hearts and Minds

G. Shane Morris — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 21:06:59 +0000

The late Rich Mullins wrote a lot of songs that changed people’s lives and shaped their faith. But one song in particular has a reputation for grabbing the attention of unwary listeners and has even been known to convert souls. In “If I Stand,” Rich sings: “There’s more that rises in the morning than the […]

The post Why Music Opens Hearts and Minds appeared first on Troubler of Israel.

Growing Old and the Gun Lap

G. Shane Morris — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 20:55:53 +0000

The first few minutes of Pixar’s 2009 smash hit “Up” are unforgettable for a lot of reasons. We were enchanted and moved watching Carl and Ellie develop a friendship as children, which eventually blossomed into a love that led them to the altar and into the fixer-upper house where they met. We see flashes of […]

The post Growing Old and the Gun Lap appeared first on Troubler of Israel.

Why Was the Forbidden Fruit Forbidden?

G. Shane Morris — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 20:48:32 +0000

It’s hard to pick your favorite books by a guy like C. S. Lewis. He’s become much more than just another author for me. After reading my first few Lewis books, I was, as my friend Steven Wedgeworth once put it, ready to learn at the feet of the master. He’s one of the great […]

The post Why Was the Forbidden Fruit Forbidden? appeared first on Troubler of Israel.

Taking the Plunge Into God’s Story

G. Shane Morris — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 20:37:52 +0000

There’s a moment in childhood when you realize that the world is a much bigger place than the family farm (or apartment, suburban home, or village you call home). This awakening looks different for boys and girls, and I can tell only one side of that story from experience. But mine was a lot like […]

The post Taking the Plunge Into God’s Story appeared first on Troubler of Israel.

‘The Wheel of Time’ As a Celebration of Gender

G. Shane Morris — Tue, 20 Apr 2021 18:52:41 +0000

Two years ago, I embarked on my longest fictional read to date with Robert Jordan’s “The Wheel of Time.” Weighing in at almost four-and-a-half million words, this brick wall of a series is enough to make even seasoned fans of fantasy count the cost. Last week I finished book fourteen, “A Memory of Light” as […]

The post ‘The Wheel of Time’ As a Celebration of Gender appeared first on Troubler of Israel.

What If Suffering Is God’s Secret Weapon?

G. Shane Morris — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 20:48:38 +0000

Recently, I’ve had occasion to ponder suffering in a deeper way than ever before. I say this not because the situation I’m in is worse than it has ever been (my family have by now become hardened veterans of this private war), but because I’ve become more familiar with the true character of suffering. It […]

The post What If Suffering Is God’s Secret Weapon? appeared first on Troubler of Israel.

Pornifying Tolkien

G. Shane Morris — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 20:34:02 +0000

TheOneRing.net reported recently that the talent agency in charge of hiring actors for Amazon’s upcoming prequel series to “The Lord of the Rings” put out a casting call for men and women who are “comfortable with nudity.” The ad continues: “Up to $500 per day. We need Nude people based in Auckland – age 18 plus, […]

The post Pornifying Tolkien appeared first on Troubler of Israel.

There Are No Egalitarians When the Dog Attacks

G. Shane Morris — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 20:23:04 +0000

On my drive home from a men’s Bible study on Tuesday night, my five-year-old son Elijah (who always accompanies me to give his mom a break) announced, “I just love fighting. I love swords. I like to kill the bad guys.” His declaration followed weeks of donning whatever makeshift armor lay close at hand and […]

The post There Are No Egalitarians When the Dog Attacks appeared first on Troubler of Israel.