Category Archives: Life

BELIEF SERIES: Evolutionary ‘soul searching’ with regards to eternal life

When a person acknowledges that along with our physical bodies we also have souls — an affirmation reached by most non-atheists — one must naturally concede these souls of ours must go somewhere after our last earthly breath is taken. If our bodies are nothing more than highly evolved molecular life without a soul, and all that is left of us simply rots away after death, then our life becomes meaningless.

But to accept the claims of macro-evolution alongside the belief that the human race has souls, one must jump through hoops.

The Ben Sauer story: heartache and hope from a blogging mom amid the unthinkable

No family should ever have to watch their child die, let alone in barely 3 months from a rare and aggressive form of brain cancer. Ben Sauer celebrated his 5th birthday with his twin brother just 8 days before he passed away. One can’t help but think about how different it must have been for the family just one year prior, on the 4th birthday, when not a hint of sickness was in little Ben. Or even just a few months prior, in the family Christmas photo, when the cancer still had not yet reared it’s ugly head.

Furthermore, no one should have to go through such a tragedy alone. In years past it would typically be close relatives, and maybe the local community, that would rally and help shoulder the grief and heart ache. But in today’s blogging and social media era, thousands have followed the heart-wrenching story of little Ben Sauer while his mom, Mindy, has blogged every grief-stricken detail, while at the same time maintaining an eternal focus filled with life-giving hope.

Things to consider before going to a Bangor abortion clinic; You are never alone

Getting pregnant was not part of your plan, and now you’re deciding what to do about the baby growing inside of you. You don’t feel ready to have a baby. You may have gotten pregnant by accident, and you’re worried what others will think of you. You’re worried about what your parents or friends might say, or how they might react.

You searched for Bangor abortion clinics and it brought you to this article. You’re wondering what you should know before going to a Bangor abortion clinic, or maybe you’re concerned about the risks associated with abortion. Or maybe you weren’t aware that there were risks, and you’re just scared. That’s OK. It’s OK to be scared.

Lord, I was born a ramblin’ man

It pays the bills, provides the health insurance, a sense of professional value — of stability. Eliminate it and I’d be forced to do something else. But what else?

I’m 34 years old and have been in the same profession since I chose it by default in college, and have been in the same position with the same company since I was 24.

Imagine a life with less, to have time for… more?

My last post was one of a new direction for Counter Culture. I explained that this change stems from a desire to write more freely — more simply.

This same attitude is something my wife and I have decided to carry-over into all facets of our lives — as much as is possible with a newborn and a toddler. We have committed to living more simply. Not ‘sell all your belongings’ simply, but rather ‘use what we have more wisely and with more intentionality’ — simply.

Ponder on these thoughts more a moment:

A new baby, a new direction for ‘Counter Culture’, and a desire for simplicity

My second son was born last week. What a wonderful blessing. However, with such a life change comes a time to re-evaluate priorities and goals. So often we get caught up in the day-to-day that we forget what direction we’re even going in life.

It is because of this reflective attitude that I’ve decided to change directions in what I write about here on Counter Culture. I’ve already updated the header graphic and the About page, so you probably have an idea of the direction I will be going.

Let’s be God-centered with our New Year’s Resolutions instead of self-centered

With the new year comes an opportunity for a clean slate. While we must attempt to make things right with whomever we’ve wronged, as much as it depends on us, we ultimately must forgive others and move on. And this is Biblical – God says to ‘forget the former things; do not dwell in the past’ (Isa 43:18).

Therefore, we typically look to the new year to start fresh and to set new goals for ourselves. Maybe ‘turn over a new leaf’ in some area of our life. For us guys, typical goals include a desire to be a better man, husband, father, employee, be healthier and more fit — you name it.

Black Friday is no more anti-family than conflict at the Thanksgiving table

There’s nothing inherently bad about Black Friday, and now large national retailers have decided to open on Thanksgiving. However, Maine is one of just 3 states that have state laws in place that say “no so fast” to this intrusion on the sanctity of post-turkey, supposedly family-strengthening activities such as afternoon napping and uninterrupted football watching.

As if the irony wasn’t already bad enough that we had to wait until the next day to forget everything we were thankful for, and immediately run out to worship at the altar of “spend now, worry about paying later”. Now in 47 states the turkey isn’t even cold before we can hit the stores and buy things we don’t even want for people we don’t really like.

However, I’m not anti-Black Friday…