Dave Dishman

Guidance from Overlooked Men and Women of the Bible

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My New Crush – Marie Kondo

February 11, 2019 / / 0 Comments

I have been watching a new show in Netflix, called Tidying Up With Marie Kondo. Apparently, some people like the show and others can’t stand it. I don’t get that, because personally, I love it.

Sure, there’s some issues. Marie gets on her knees and embraces the spirit of the house before she gets started. Then, it’s hard to decide if something “sparks joy” as she recommends when it happens to be simply a utilitarian item. For instance, after watching one episode, I went through my underwear drawer and dumped it all out. No joy sparked. But my wife quickly replaced everything and corrected my thinking. No underwear for her spouse apparently ignited the opposite of joy.

The show, featuring Marie’s methods, gets close to the heart of one of the major issues in the United States and in our personal lives. We have way too much stuff, and we cling to our stuff way too long. A friend told me years ago that, “things are to be used and people are to be enjoyed.” We often switch those around to our detriment. This show brings us to a point of dealing with the mounds of material goods in our lives that get in the way of caring for the people God puts in our path.

The Bible speaks to us about issues like gluttony (the desire to consume more than we need), and covetousness or greed (the desire for more and more material gain), and sloth (the avoidance of work, in this case of picking up your house). Buying and hoarding more and more stuff are symptoms of larger heart issues. What material items do we cling to that block us from deeper relationships with God and neighbor?

So, a big thank you to Marie Kondo, the tiny Japanese lady who is helping us go through closets and garages and basements and attics and drawers full of our junk. In the midst of such purging, let’s remember our Lord, the giver of all good things, the Creator of all the raw materials we use, the lover of our souls. For our souls, and those souls around us, often hidden behind walls of possessions, remain of ultimate value in regards to our time on earth. I applaud anyone who helps us get beyond our stuff and back to a place where we can think about the most important parts of life.

Disruptively Witnessing

February 4, 2019 / / 1 Comment

“Being more prosperous has allowed Americans to more effectively hide from their thoughts.”

Alan Noble’s book, Disruptive Witness, is filled with quotes like the one above. I started reading it as part of a Cru book club. On occasion I read something that strikes a chord with how our historic faith intersects with our modern world. Noble’s book fits into that genre. It’s a book to read and dissect.

Noble looks at the issue in our society of our always distracted self. We don’t think deep thoughts, and if we get close to one, then we turn away from it quickly because of the constant barrage of distraction our world provides. Phones, computer, TVs, screens of all sizes and variety constantly pull our attention away from the divine. It’s hard for us to think in this environment, so how do we think we can communicate the deep truths of our faith?

Noble shares ways for us to engage in witnessing disruptively. One primary way involves what he calls the “double movement.” This is the “practice of first acknowledging goodness, beauty, and blessing wherever we encounter them in life, and then turning the goodness outward to glorify God and love our neighbor.” By speaking of the goodness and blessing of God in our lives, we help our friends and neighbors see that this material world is not all there is, and a transcendent God also exists and cares for us.

There’s a scratch on the surface of this book. Noble’s thoughts are worth our time as we consider communicating our faith into a distracted world.

Cruising Havana in Vintage Cars

January 28, 2019 / / 0 Comments

The US trade embargo of Cuba had one unanticipated result – streets filled with old cars. Cubans have not imported cars from the US for over 50 years. You see fascinating old cars all around, including Ladas from the former Soviet Union, but the coolest cars you see are old American models, lovingly maintained for all these years. Here’s a few pics for all you car lovers.

A local taxi driver
Cruising through old Havana

Cuba and the Water of Life

January 21, 2019 / / 1 Comment
Dawn with a family with whom we met and gave a filter. The actual filter is small. You can see it attached to the end of blue hose, hanging on the bucket.

What do you need?

“I need a new pair of shoes,” “We need to paint our house,” “I need to get my hair colored again.”

These are all statements heard around our house in the last month and none of them are true. However, in regards to the hair – Dawn’s hair is up to her and I don’t enter into that conversation. But I have at lots of shoes in my closet and our house has older paint which is in fine condition.

What is a true need?

Our most basic needs are water, food, and shelter. Our most basic spiritual need is to know God, made known through His Son, Jesus Christ. To know Jesus is to know God.

To start the new year, we met 25 others in Havana, Cuba to give people a small, portable water filter that would provide clean water for their family. We were there with Filter of Hope, whose mission is to give safe water to those in need, plus an opportunity to understand how Jesus is the Living Water and how they can have “clean hearts” and life in Him.

We witnessed people with REAL, BASIC, and SIGNIFICANT needs. The water in Cuba is not clean. It is filled with bacteria and disease that causes diarrhea and stomach problems. Few homes have a filtration system and it costs too much for many to buy bottled water or the propane needed to boil the water. Most Cubans live on approximately $25 per month.

Dozens of teams of college students will head to Cuba and other Latin America countries over their spring breaks to work with Filter of Hope, delivering both clean water and Living Water. Please pray for them as they bring life and hope to entire families.

If you, your church, small group, or family have a desire to be involved with this type of mission trip, please visit filterofhope.org to see about going to one of the many countries where they serve.

Jesus told us, “Everyone who drinks this water will become thirsty again. But those who drink the water that I will give them will never become thirsty again. In fact, the water I will give them will become in them a spring that gushes up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14.

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About Dave

Hi, I'm Dave Dishman

I find the people of the Bible fascinating. I love digging into their stories and navigating the world guided by their wisdom. I read through the Bible every year, and always unearth something unexpected. Along with being a reader, I'm an author, teacher, traveler, husband, father and grandfather. I’ve worked in ministry for 39 years. Along with a degree in Biology, I also hold Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees. In my free time I enjoy the outdoors, working in the garden, playing golf, and reading good books.

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