Please take a look, follow it if you're interested, and let me know if you have any thoughts about how I could set it up better.
You can find the page at facebook.com/HomewardBoundBlog/.
Showing posts with label the blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label the blog. Show all posts
Monday, November 7, 2022
Facebook Page
Please take a look, follow it if you're interested, and let me know if you have any thoughts about how I could set it up better.
You can find the page at facebook.com/HomewardBoundBlog/.
Thursday, January 16, 2020
Christianity 101
I'm about to launch into something I've been working on, in some ways, for 20 years. I've been working on it in earnest for over a year now. We need to equip the next generation to know what Christians ought to believe, why we believe it, and what difference it makes in our lives.
My oldest child will be heading off to college in a couple of years. College is a spiritual and cultural war zone for our kids. If they're not prepared, they will be casualties. At the very least they can be wounded and filled with doubt or maybe decide to compartmentalize their faith or perhaps try to hide from the real world in a Christian ghetto. At the worst they can walk away from the faith altogether. In any of those cases their ability to serve at witnesses for Christ will be impaired at best.
But if they are properly prepared, the battle field can be a mission field, and their faith can come out of the experience stronger. That's what I want for my children and for yours.
I had originally intended this to be just conversations I had with my kids, but for a variety of reasons I've decided the best way to do this is to put it in writing in little bite-sized pieces. And if I'm putting the hours in to write these little articles, I may as well share them with anyone else who might find them useful, so I'll be posting them here. My posting frequency is going to go up quite a bit — I'm hoping to put out two a week.
If you know anyone you think will benefit from this, feel free to share. Besides "following" on Blogger, there's an RSS feed, email subscription, and you can share via the social media buttons.
I hope you will benefit from these articles. I hope our kids will benefit from them. We are in a fight for our children's future. I intend to win.
Part of Christianity 101
My oldest child will be heading off to college in a couple of years. College is a spiritual and cultural war zone for our kids. If they're not prepared, they will be casualties. At the very least they can be wounded and filled with doubt or maybe decide to compartmentalize their faith or perhaps try to hide from the real world in a Christian ghetto. At the worst they can walk away from the faith altogether. In any of those cases their ability to serve at witnesses for Christ will be impaired at best.
But if they are properly prepared, the battle field can be a mission field, and their faith can come out of the experience stronger. That's what I want for my children and for yours.
I had originally intended this to be just conversations I had with my kids, but for a variety of reasons I've decided the best way to do this is to put it in writing in little bite-sized pieces. And if I'm putting the hours in to write these little articles, I may as well share them with anyone else who might find them useful, so I'll be posting them here. My posting frequency is going to go up quite a bit — I'm hoping to put out two a week.
If you know anyone you think will benefit from this, feel free to share. Besides "following" on Blogger, there's an RSS feed, email subscription, and you can share via the social media buttons.
I hope you will benefit from these articles. I hope our kids will benefit from them. We are in a fight for our children's future. I intend to win.
Part of Christianity 101
Monday, November 11, 2019
Blog update: Sharing posts
After all these years I've finally managed to fix the buttons to share posts to Facebook, Twitter, and such. Yes, I am quite the luddite. I wonder what I broke while fixing this.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
New Design
Those who read this blog via a feed reader probably don't care, but I changed the layout and color scheme of the site.
Let me know what you think — especially if it's hard to read.
Let me know what you think — especially if it's hard to read.
Monday, December 14, 2009
Full Disclosure
The FTC has decided bloggers must disclose any paid endorsements and freebies that are reviewed or promoted on their sites.
So here's my disclosure:
I'm a bibliophile. I love books for books' sake. Some people relax by walking in a garden; I walk through a bookstore (not that I don't like gardens, too).
I love old books and new books. I love serious books and funny books. I love big books, small books, weird books, and dry books. I love fiction and non, politics, theology, science, and history.
I have over a thousand books in my house. In one room of my house.
When I get a little money, I buy books. But I've got two mortgages, two cars, and two kids — girls, actually, meaning I'm looking at a future of dance lessons, prom dresses, and weddings besides the usual braces and such.
So if I can get free books, I do. I've got a Visa with Amazon rewards. And I gladly accept free books to do reviews.
That doesn't mean my reviews aren't honest. They are. In fact, there's one company that probably won't let me have any more review copies. They might prefer I didn't even buy their books.
But just in case, when reviewing such a free book, I'll let you know in the post. And if I ever get paid to do a review, you'll probably know from the giddy giggling.
So here's my disclosure:
I'm a bibliophile. I love books for books' sake. Some people relax by walking in a garden; I walk through a bookstore (not that I don't like gardens, too).
I love old books and new books. I love serious books and funny books. I love big books, small books, weird books, and dry books. I love fiction and non, politics, theology, science, and history.
I have over a thousand books in my house. In one room of my house.
When I get a little money, I buy books. But I've got two mortgages, two cars, and two kids — girls, actually, meaning I'm looking at a future of dance lessons, prom dresses, and weddings besides the usual braces and such.
So if I can get free books, I do. I've got a Visa with Amazon rewards. And I gladly accept free books to do reviews.
That doesn't mean my reviews aren't honest. They are. In fact, there's one company that probably won't let me have any more review copies. They might prefer I didn't even buy their books.
But just in case, when reviewing such a free book, I'll let you know in the post. And if I ever get paid to do a review, you'll probably know from the giddy giggling.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
My Day Job
For the longest time I was vague, if not silent, about my day job in case my wife stumbled across this blog -- so she couldn't prove it was mine (long story for another time). But since I've been outed, I can be more forthcoming.
I am a medical dosimetrist. These days you can actually major in that at some schools, but most of us have degrees in physics or biology if we have a degree at all -- many don't, having come through a series of technical programs. Me, I have a BS in physics, and I stumbled providentially into a field that makes good use of my background without requiring me to do any actual physics.
So what do I do? For a given patient, the radiation oncologist will determine where the tumor is (or was) and might be and will tell me how much radiation he wants to give those areas. My job is to determine how to deliver that radiation to the tumor while minimizing the dose to normal tissues.
That is the fun part and, often, the hard part because many types of cancer cells are much harder to kill than normal cells. For example, lung cancer is typically given about 70 Gray (Gy); healthy lung dies at less than a third of that, 20Gy. When the tumor is nestled up between the heart, cord, esophagus, and lungs, it can be difficult to get enough dose to the tumor (and sometimes we just can't).
This job gives me a great way to help people without getting yucky stuff on my clothes. It can be very difficult, but it often allows me to be very creative. But the hardest thing about the job is not the work but the people. Specifically, doctors.
Talk to anyone in health care and you'll get pretty much the same response: "It'd be a great job if it weren't for doctors." That's not to say some aren't great. I've worked with some doctors who are absolutely fabulous people. But there are an awful lot of doctors who have extremely exaggerated opinions of their own importance and staggeringly low opinions of everyone else's. Theories abound as to why, but a lot of physicians (in any specialty, not just mine) are just jerks. A lot of doctors are just plain folks, but a lot of doctors think doctors are more valuable than human beings.
Why do I tell you this? Because I think it's why I'm in health care.
I said I think I stumbled across this field providentially, and I think part of the reason was to teach me submission.
You see, doctors run health care. Non-doctors -- whether they're nurses, accountants, lawyers, or policemen -- all report ultimately to a doctor. And doctors tend to stick together. So they have all the political power. And they know it.
So if you work with a doctor who is kind and humble and reasonable, you're lucky. And if you work with one who is arrogant, abusive, or a little stupid*, you're stuck.
And so I have to learn to take requests from thoughtful doctors and demands from nasty ones as if they were delivered the same way. I have to offer my ideas to doctors who will listen and carefully consider what I have to say and to doctors who will disregard me simply because I'm not a doctor (for the patient's sake, you have to try). And sometimes I have to work late on a case for a doctor who will be very appreciate of the extra effort, and sometimes it's for a doctor who believes I should be honored to be in the same room as him.
So how's learning submission going? Yeah, I'll get back to you on that. It's not easy. It's not fun. It's not pretty. But in the end I think I'll be more like Jesus than I would have been otherwise.
-------
*What do you call a guy who graduates at the bottom of his medical school class? Doctor.
I am a medical dosimetrist. These days you can actually major in that at some schools, but most of us have degrees in physics or biology if we have a degree at all -- many don't, having come through a series of technical programs. Me, I have a BS in physics, and I stumbled providentially into a field that makes good use of my background without requiring me to do any actual physics.
So what do I do? For a given patient, the radiation oncologist will determine where the tumor is (or was) and might be and will tell me how much radiation he wants to give those areas. My job is to determine how to deliver that radiation to the tumor while minimizing the dose to normal tissues.
That is the fun part and, often, the hard part because many types of cancer cells are much harder to kill than normal cells. For example, lung cancer is typically given about 70 Gray (Gy); healthy lung dies at less than a third of that, 20Gy. When the tumor is nestled up between the heart, cord, esophagus, and lungs, it can be difficult to get enough dose to the tumor (and sometimes we just can't).
This job gives me a great way to help people without getting yucky stuff on my clothes. It can be very difficult, but it often allows me to be very creative. But the hardest thing about the job is not the work but the people. Specifically, doctors.
Talk to anyone in health care and you'll get pretty much the same response: "It'd be a great job if it weren't for doctors." That's not to say some aren't great. I've worked with some doctors who are absolutely fabulous people. But there are an awful lot of doctors who have extremely exaggerated opinions of their own importance and staggeringly low opinions of everyone else's. Theories abound as to why, but a lot of physicians (in any specialty, not just mine) are just jerks. A lot of doctors are just plain folks, but a lot of doctors think doctors are more valuable than human beings.
Why do I tell you this? Because I think it's why I'm in health care.
I said I think I stumbled across this field providentially, and I think part of the reason was to teach me submission.
You see, doctors run health care. Non-doctors -- whether they're nurses, accountants, lawyers, or policemen -- all report ultimately to a doctor. And doctors tend to stick together. So they have all the political power. And they know it.
So if you work with a doctor who is kind and humble and reasonable, you're lucky. And if you work with one who is arrogant, abusive, or a little stupid*, you're stuck.
And so I have to learn to take requests from thoughtful doctors and demands from nasty ones as if they were delivered the same way. I have to offer my ideas to doctors who will listen and carefully consider what I have to say and to doctors who will disregard me simply because I'm not a doctor (for the patient's sake, you have to try). And sometimes I have to work late on a case for a doctor who will be very appreciate of the extra effort, and sometimes it's for a doctor who believes I should be honored to be in the same room as him.
So how's learning submission going? Yeah, I'll get back to you on that. It's not easy. It's not fun. It's not pretty. But in the end I think I'll be more like Jesus than I would have been otherwise.
-------
*What do you call a guy who graduates at the bottom of his medical school class? Doctor.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Lost and Alone in Sin City
After a super busy month at work (the last few months, really), I'm being sent to a class in Las Vegas for a week.
By myself. In a city that caters to every one of a man's worst impulses. For a week.
Despite the old canard, what happens in Vegas does not stay in Vegas. Yet temptation is always present and usually quite powerful.
Lord, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from Evil.
By myself. In a city that caters to every one of a man's worst impulses. For a week.
Despite the old canard, what happens in Vegas does not stay in Vegas. Yet temptation is always present and usually quite powerful.
Lord, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from Evil.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
New blog
I've started up a new blog, My Three Cents, as a place for all my ponderings and, especially, RedBlueChristian posts that don't really fit here. You might check it out some time.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
1 Year of Homeward Bound
Homeward Bound has made it to the one-year mark. I want to thank everyone who's participated by reading, subscribing, and especially commenting.
In the near future you can expect a minor site redesign and a major series: What's the meaning of life, and what should we do about it? (A few friends may think this sounds familiar. Don't worry, it won't be.)
I'm also planning on returning to Leviticus, addressing an internet list of Bible difficulties, and running an occasional series called "spot the heresy."
I hope everyone will stick around and see what happens. And, as always, if you've got suggestions, comments, or questions, I'd love to hear them.
In the near future you can expect a minor site redesign and a major series: What's the meaning of life, and what should we do about it? (A few friends may think this sounds familiar. Don't worry, it won't be.)
I'm also planning on returning to Leviticus, addressing an internet list of Bible difficulties, and running an occasional series called "spot the heresy."
I hope everyone will stick around and see what happens. And, as always, if you've got suggestions, comments, or questions, I'd love to hear them.
Monday, October 8, 2007
Link: Blog Action Day 2007
Oct. 15, 2007: All the blogosphere talking about one topic -- the environment. Let's make sure there's a Christian presence.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Out and about in Sin City
My work sent me to our national organization's annual meeting; fortunately my wife's in the same profession and is here too. (My parents were gracious enough to keep the kids.) Since they put us up in a nice hotel, I was sure I’d have free internet access (plus many other amenities). I was wrong.
We’re in New Orleans this week. It’s still trying to recover from the blow dealt it almost two years ago. It’s also still filled with darkness. Set aside the bars and casinos – there are things in New Orleans that give whole new meaning to “Sin City.” Please pray for this city – for its recovery physically but also spiritually.
We’re in New Orleans this week. It’s still trying to recover from the blow dealt it almost two years ago. It’s also still filled with darkness. Set aside the bars and casinos – there are things in New Orleans that give whole new meaning to “Sin City.” Please pray for this city – for its recovery physically but also spiritually.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
"This earth..."
Hopefully you noticed my tag line: "Reflections on the journey from this earth to the next." I'm hoping "this earth" will catch some eyes. I almost put "this world" -- that's the way we talk, normally. By putting "this earth," I wanted to highlight that we too often talk as if heaven is our ultimate destination. In popular images, we picture the afterlife as floating on clouds, disembodied spirits living in a spirit world. To an extent, that will be true for a while, but after a time, the dead will no longer be disembodied spirits -- we will have physical bodies. They will be different from what we have now -- probably in ways we can't now imagine, besides not being affected by sin or age -- but they will be bodies.
These bodies may exist for a time in heaven, but the day will come when our new bodies will not live in heaven but on a new earth. The new earth will be a place without sickness or death or mourning. There will be no tears, and there will be no sin.
We live in a fallen world, and somehow the evil of this world gets transformed in our minds as matter being evil in itself. It is not. God made our material world and our material bodies and said, "It is good." Then Man rebelled, resulting in a fall not only for himself but for creation. One day this will be fixed by the power of the cross. Wrong will be made right, evil will be no more, and once again, God will be able to say, "It is good."
These bodies may exist for a time in heaven, but the day will come when our new bodies will not live in heaven but on a new earth. The new earth will be a place without sickness or death or mourning. There will be no tears, and there will be no sin.
We live in a fallen world, and somehow the evil of this world gets transformed in our minds as matter being evil in itself. It is not. God made our material world and our material bodies and said, "It is good." Then Man rebelled, resulting in a fall not only for himself but for creation. One day this will be fixed by the power of the cross. Wrong will be made right, evil will be no more, and once again, God will be able to say, "It is good."
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Blogroll
My regularly scheduled blog stops:
Of First Importance
Between Two Worlds
SmartChristian.com
evangelical outpost
Jesus Creed
Scriptorium Daily
Mark D. Roberts.com
Other interesting blogs:
Average Joe
Voddie Baucham's Blog
Blogotional
Bock's blog
The Bumbling Genius
Challies Dot Com
The Christian Mind
Christian Thinker.net
The Constructive Curmudgeon (Douglas Groothuis)
Crossroads
Fide-O
First Things: On the Square
ID the Future
Mark O at Youth Specialties
Al Mohler's blog
Provocations & Pantings
RedBlue Christian
Right Reason
Stand to Reason blog
The Shepherd's Scrapbook
Tiger's Got My Back
Today's New Reason to Believe at RTB
Truth is Still Truth
Verum Serum
Ben Witherington's blog
Please let me know if you find dead links.
Of First Importance
Between Two Worlds
SmartChristian.com
evangelical outpost
Jesus Creed
Scriptorium Daily
Mark D. Roberts.com
Other interesting blogs:
Average Joe
Voddie Baucham's Blog
Blogotional
Bock's blog
The Bumbling Genius
Challies Dot Com
The Christian Mind
Christian Thinker.net
The Constructive Curmudgeon (Douglas Groothuis)
Crossroads
Fide-O
First Things: On the Square
ID the Future
Mark O at Youth Specialties
Al Mohler's blog
Provocations & Pantings
RedBlue Christian
Right Reason
Stand to Reason blog
The Shepherd's Scrapbook
Tiger's Got My Back
Today's New Reason to Believe at RTB
Truth is Still Truth
Verum Serum
Ben Witherington's blog
Please let me know if you find dead links.
About this blog
This blog is about making our way, and hopefully making a difference, as we travel through this world. My primary focus is on things that will strengthen us for the journey (an example, Ephesians 1), knowing and defending what we believe (an example, The Resurrection: A story no one would make up), and thinking about how to apply the Christian Faith to the world around us (an example, Immigration reform and Christianity).
I don't post every day, so a good way to keep up with this blog is through an RSS reader. (If you don't know what that is, here is a useful explanation of RSS.)
(p.s. To those who get subscribe this blog's feed, let me apologize in advance for the way "old" posts will occasionally pop up. Blogger does not let me create pages, just posts, so I will occasionally add content as back-dated posts.)
I don't post every day, so a good way to keep up with this blog is through an RSS reader. (If you don't know what that is, here is a useful explanation of RSS.)
(p.s. To those who get subscribe this blog's feed, let me apologize in advance for the way "old" posts will occasionally pop up. Blogger does not let me create pages, just posts, so I will occasionally add content as back-dated posts.)
About me
My name is Chris Brooks. (Before you blame someone else for what I've written, realize that mine is one of the most common names around. Here's another Chris Brooks' blog.)
I'm a thirty-something white male who was born and raised in a Christian home in small-town Texas, though I’m currently exiled to Houston. I’m married with two beautiful little girls (to date).
I've got a degree in physics, I work in health care, and I study theology and apologetics. I also write incessantly (occasionally I even get published). I have little formal theology education, so please consider me an authority on nothing and judge my writings based on the quality of my arguments. (See "Be a quitter!" for more details.)
I started this blog because I have to write this stuff down anyway. Blogging will make me do it on a schedule and will hopefully make me learn to express myself more clearly. Plus, maybe, just maybe, someone will find some of this useful.
I'm a thirty-something white male who was born and raised in a Christian home in small-town Texas, though I’m currently exiled to Houston. I’m married with two beautiful little girls (to date).
I've got a degree in physics, I work in health care, and I study theology and apologetics. I also write incessantly (occasionally I even get published). I have little formal theology education, so please consider me an authority on nothing and judge my writings based on the quality of my arguments. (See "Be a quitter!" for more details.)
I started this blog because I have to write this stuff down anyway. Blogging will make me do it on a schedule and will hopefully make me learn to express myself more clearly. Plus, maybe, just maybe, someone will find some of this useful.
Hello world
I really don't have time to do this, but if I don't write this stuff down, I can't sleep. And since I'm writing it down, I might as well subject the world at large to my ruminations because, after all, everyone is incredibly interested in what I think about everything. At least, that's what I tell myself.
I’ll probably be posting about three times a week, so a feed reader (I use bloglines) is a good way to go if you’re interested. I’ll try to keep things short so as not to take up too much of anyone’s time. I’ve always had the gift of brevity, which doesn’t seem so much like a gift when the prof wants fifteen pages.
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