And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. Ecclesiastes 1:13
by Lee Anderson Jr. — Do you enjoy your hobby? You might be surprised to find out how many people are involved with hobbies that they do not actually like. What keeps them involved? Commonly, their involvement stems from some kind of peer pressure—whether coming from a friend, a relative, or a social group (perhaps... Continue Reading →
by Lee Anderson Jr. — Some hobbies are private activities. We pursue our individual interests alone because we take pleasure in them purely for what they are. And while we might be happy to talk about such hobbies with others, our investment in them remains a very personal matter. However, there are some hobbies that... Continue Reading →
by Lee Anderson Jr. — Up until now, in seeking to develop a basic theological perspective on hobbies, we have looked primarily at things to avoid: We are to avoid allowing our hobbies to monopolize our time.We are to avoid hobbies that cause us to engage with or otherwise promote sin.We are to avoid pursuing... Continue Reading →
by Lee Anderson Jr. — “Is it wrong for a Christian to purchase a $5,000 Rolex?” That is the question a Christian economics professor posed to my Sunday school class one day. After much discussion, we all concluded there was not enough information given in the question to arrive at a definitive “yes” or “no.”... Continue Reading →
by Lee Anderson Jr. — Hobbies, like many aspects of the Christian life, invite questions about Christian liberty. In Christ, we, as believers, have been freed from the power of sin and its eternal consequences (Romans 6:18, 22; 8:2). We also have been freed from requirements of outward conformity to the old Law and are... Continue Reading →
by Lee Anderson Jr. — What do you think of when you hear the word “idol”? I suspect that many of us picture some kind of statue made out of wood, stone, or metal, fashioned in the image either of a false god or a deified human leader (e.g., 1 Samuel 5:2–5; Daniel 3:1). Those... Continue Reading →
by Lee Anderson Jr. — In my first entry in this series, I presented several questions designed to help illuminate biblical principles that have a direct bearing on our pursuit of hobbies. One of the questions was, “Does our hobby cause us to engage with or otherwise encourage sin?” That may seem a rather nebulous... Continue Reading →
by Lee Anderson Jr. — Time is a precious commodity. We usually can find ways (at least theoretically) to gain more of other resources (such as money). But with time, there is invariably a fixed limit. There are only 24 hours in a day. There are only 365 days in a year. And there are... Continue Reading →
by Lee Anderson Jr. — The majority of people in the United States have been dealing with shutdowns and other pandemic-related restrictions for almost a year. (For a helpful visual of these restrictions, see the map here.) Millions have faced layoffs or had their work hours reduced. Group activities have been delayed or cancelled. Entertainment... Continue Reading →
In sixth grade I discovered the beauty of a speckle-breasted bird feeding in our yard, and I've been fascinated with birds ever since. I knew robins, blue jays, cardinals, sparrows, and starlings, of course, but this bird was a stranger to me. He was also so beautiful with his dark mustache, long pointed bill, spotted... Continue Reading →
Applied Heart 