response usually only creates more
tension, defensiveness, hostility, and
distance as we reinforce an “us-vs.-
them” mindset. Following the examples
of Daniel and of course Je-sus, we see
the way they remained anchored by
truth while also loving well.
You take your readers into the
book of Daniel, to the account of
the handwriting on the wall (Mene,
mene, tekel, upharsin) to show how
we must learn to live with intention-
ality. How does this biblical account
translate into practical living for today?
The handwriting on the wall remains
just as relevant to us today as it did
in Babylon thou-sands of years ago.
We’re reminded and warned that
our days are numbered, that we’re
held accountable for how we spend
them, and that our hearts can easily
be divided. This message forces us to
think about making the most of each
hour of each day, considering the
eternal impact we can have instead
of getting caught up in the shallow,
selfish quick-sand of popular culture.
We live in such a fast-paced society,
with people constantly on the go. But
you point out—and rightly so—that
how we use our time is relevant. How
can we learn to slow down and make
better decisions about how we use
our time?
You have to be deliberate about
slowing down and being still before
God. You have to take a Sabbath
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regularly and let your body, your
mind, and your spirit rest from all the
hectic demands of your daily life.
You have to be willing to unplug and
cultivate your relationship with God.
To spend time praying and talking
and listening to him, reading his Word,
and praising and worshipping him.
Explain how we function best when
we discover our God-given design.
What do you mean by this?
God has created us in his own image
and given each of us a unique,
personal purpose that’s distinct from
the purpose of anyone else who’s
ever lived. He wants us to live out
of this purpose and experience the
joy and satisfaction that comes
when we do what we’re made to
do. When we don’t seek to discover
our purpose or we resist living it
out, then we run into problems.
We feel dissatisfied with our lives
and look for meaning elsewhere,
in material possessions, personal
fame, pleasurable experiences, or
whatever. The only thing that can
give us true fulfillment is following
God’s plan for our lives.
Most people look at stress as a
physical condition. But you call stress
a “spiritual disease.” Could you
elaborate on that a bit?
Much of the physical stress we
experience in our bodies stems from
our attitude and emo-tional response
to our life circumstances. When hard