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Carson Weitnauer (@CarsonWeitnauer)

My Experience with Guidepost at RZIM

Over the following days, I plan to share some reflections on RZIM’s Guidepost Assessment. There are many good and important ways that their final report holds RZIM accountable — and I will highlight and celebrate those in coming posts. I’m grateful for how this very …

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A Way Out of Hyper-Individualism?

I regularly hear sharp critiques of America’s culture of extreme individualism.  What exacerbates the issue is each person has a unique take on this problem. In case anyone was unsure, I am not a political scientist, so these are my personal observations. Sometimes the critique …

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Should you read this newsletter?

I love seeing people in person.  And after a year of mandated Zoom meetings, who wants to attend another virtual conference? How about an after-work Zoom party? Any interest in celebrating a live-streamed wedding?  I feel and sometimes sense there’s a growing distaste of technology. …

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How can we discern who really loves Jesus?

… and who is faking it? So many people claim the name of Jesus. But sometimes, what looked like love for Jesus turns out to be a mask that conceals a lust for money, power, fame, or sex. It is a stunning and painful experience …

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How To Love the Ordinary

Humans love the extraordinary.  But we usually feel the ordinary is boring, and we even have a word for it. “Mundane” is a synonym of ordinary, and it means “what lacks interest or excitement.” But if the ordinary is mundane, then life is depressing. We …

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9/11 and the Gift of Gratitude

It took 20 years after the 9/11 attacks to realize how much of this tragedy I had simply blocked from my mind. The overwhelming barbarity and evil of these terrorist attacks was more than I could pay attention to for many years. Even as I …

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What’s Wrong with Relativism?

For at least two decades I have understood and taught that the main problem with relativism is that it is false. Further, relativism isn’t just false, it is also illogical, irrational, self-defeating and incoherent. But I’ve come to realize that’s not the main problem with …

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Does teaching the Bible lead to abuse?

Let’s get the Sunday school answer out there: no, teaching the Bible doesn’t lead to abuse. It doesn’t. After all… how could teaching God’s own words lead to abuse?  Remember, 2 Timothy 3:16 assures us that, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, …

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Who are your enemies?

I remember sitting in a dull, dingy classroom with about thirty people to learn about Muslims and Islam. It was a careful, respectful, and thoughtful experience. So I’m sad to tell you that I’ve forgotten most of what we covered, because it was a terrific …

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Why is Christianity so disappointing?

What’s not to like about Christianity? Eternal life. Forgiveness of sins. Love poured into your heart by the Holy Spirit. A free gift received by faith. Jesus willingly gave his life to save us from our sin. Union with a Triune God of love. Friends …

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