Welcome to our first Resource Roundup! Since there are so many Christians that God has already blessed with amazing gifts of preaching and teaching, we thought that it would be a good idea to put together a post every week with a handful of links to resources that we think are extremely useful and insightful.

Another reason we are putting together these posts is because, again, this mission is bigger than just us! We don't live in a vacuum--we have millions of brothers and sisters in Christ spread all around the world. Let's get to know them and interact with them a bit!

Now on to the post:


Don't Shoot Other Christians

A week. A day. A minute. A second.

Lately, the concept of immediate time has plagued my mind with unfaltering constancy.

Many of us, at one time or another, have probably felt as if the days and weeks that we live pass by too quickly, or not quickly enough. Have you ever found yourself looking back on a much anticipated vacation, trip, or experience and wondering how it passed by so fast? The moments, and years that have brought us to this point can only be viewed now as memories - And in hindsight, one's life history may seem like it has happened in the snap of the fingers.

Total Relaxation Photo credit.

I wrote a blog post on my career-focused website a few weeks ago that was focused on the value of taking a break from the constant pressure of work and life. In the post, I referenced the Biblical command to take a day of rest every week. You can read those concluding paragraphs here:

Rest
See: there is something to be said for resting and re-energizing. Just today I read an article on The Resurgence  emphasizing the importance of scriptural rest. I know this command and know why it's true, but as I look back over the past few months, I've realized that I really haven't ever taken a full day off and just relaxed. I always seem to cram something into my free time. If I'm not working my day job, in class, or doing homework, I try to do some blogging. I'm constantly squeezing in some rough draft writing, editing, polishing, publicizing, et. all.

From here on out, I'm going to try to consciously take one day per week to de-stress, relax, and refuel for the coming week. By doing so, I anticipate that my overall productivity will increase: a win-win!

Welcome to the official launch of Cranial Collision!

This new project is all about "The Intersection of Theology, Philosophy, and Life." It seems to us that many people in America today don't think critically about what they believe and how that should affect the way they live. Many people cling to certain theological or philosophical beliefs, but the way they live their lives does not logically follow from what they believe. This compartmentalization of theology, philosophy, and life is not rational or healthy. If you want more information, the rest of our mission statement is available here, and we will be writing much more over the coming weeks and months!

This is a follow up to the last post and it expounds on why God is the only thing worth living for.  I originally wrote this back in bible school in 2008, so please bear in mind that this is a little dated. Nevertheless, I think there is still some awesome material here:

Life Photo Credit

Now, why is God the only thing worth living for? This is a conclusion that I have been taught, that many of us raised in the Church have been taught. But ultimately, it is not a thing one can be taught. No, this must be a conclusion that one comes to on his own. Read these verses:

Mark 8:34-37 "34 Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 35 For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. 36 What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? 37 Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?"

Note: This was written back in 2008 as a reflection on a section of a book I had been reading for a class. I'm not 100% sure which book it is, but I believe it was Prayer: The Great Adventure. I was attending Big Sky Bible Institute in the mountains of Northwest Montana, and was doing a ton of powder skiing at Big Mountain.

What David Jeremiah said about the mountains “clearing your head,” “something wonderful happens to you when you go to the mountains,” and “God created the mountains and the ocean as therapy for His people” is so true. Just last week I was struggling with some serious considerations in my head, that really aren’t all that uncommon. But last week was more intense than usual, more depressing and despairing.

I found myself thinking, “I had such a conviction in the existence of God at one point, where has it gone to? God, if you are really out there, please show me once again the conviction that I had of your existence and your power.”

Cranial Collision will officially be launching on December 31st, 2010. For now, please read our mission statement to see what we are all about, and sign up for our email list to receive the inside scoop on all of the happenings here on Cranial Collision!