Filed under: Artsy | Tags: art, artistic, associated content, diligence, diligent, discipline, helium, inherent, innate, learn, practice, skill, talent
Is one skilled in a discipline merely because they inherently possess its basic tools? If I were nit-picky, (and I am), I would argue that “talent” and “skill” are substantially different. Talent is an innate, ”special natural ability.” While Webster Dictionary considers a “skill” to be a “great ability.” At least the latter definition is attainable with discipline and regular, honest assessment; both techniques that can be applied to any area of life, and even in the realm of art.
Ken Foster (www.kenfoster.com) has seen over 1000 students during his 35+ years as a piano teacher. He recalls a student he’d had for several years who had learned all the technique that was at Mr. Foster’s disposal. Though efficiently grasping the skill of piano playing, the student never excelled beyond the basics and onto improvisation. On the other hand, there are those who possess the talent, but lack the discipline. Mr. Foster relates a personal example; “A teacher once told me that he probably would’ve given up on me long ago if it weren’t for my talent…”
…see Quo Elbert’s full article here.
Filed under: Christian Beliefs & Culture | Tags: Christ, Christian, Christianity, forgiveness, gift, God, grace, Heaven, helium, Jesus, mercy, Sin
Non Christians’ chance in Heaven; a snowball’s chance in hell.
If I knew, for certain, that following doctor’s orders would avert the negative outcome of my life-threatening disease, how would I respond?
“Well, doc, that prescription doesn’t sync with my current lifestyle. What are my other options?”
Hmm…probably not. Instead, I’m gonna take that horse-sized pill three times a day ‘til I die rosy cheeked at the unnatural age of 156.
Well, the bad news is that not one of us is capable of slaying every underlying fear, unacknowledged addiction and accepted/harmful family legacy that keeps us from being the absolute best person we can be. All that “weakness” is called sin and it’s a crippling disease that holds us back. And, you have the right to be mad at it! Yeah! Cause it’s the worst kind of fatal. The for-sure-you-ain’t-getting-no-second-chance-so-you-best-address-it-now kind of fatal. We all share it; whether believer, non-believer or I-don’t-know-what-I-am-so-I-call-myself-a-Christian believer.
So, it’s a good thing we’ve been given exclusive access to the top Physician! His credentials? Oh, He raises people from the dead…sans stethoscope and “STATs!” And, if you believe in a heaven where He reigns, why wouldn’t you believe His direction in getting there? Or—to get back on metaphorical track—why would you try to guess your way to a happy ending by concocting your own remedy?
And, if you don’t have an inkling of hope in the Christian idea of God’s grace and a rich heavenly home, then why are you reading this article?
Jesus Christ wasn’t shy about the truth, because He knew that, “The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works.” John 14:10. Nor was He hesitant to reveal the diagnoses of death for Lazarus, the sin of adultery to the woman at the well (John 11:11-15; John 4:17-18 ) or the sin of pride of the Pharisees.
Now, was Jesus rubbing their faces in the dirt? Was He giving them spiritual wedgies? He tells us in John 12:47 that that job has not been placed on His shoulders. Judgment is Someone Else’s department (down the hall and to the right).
He’s just here to give us the helping hand that we desperately need, if we only admit it.
Why didn’t Christ shy away from these truths? Because He also held the cure. “I came that you might have life, and might have it abundantly. (John 10:10)” “I Am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.” (John 14:6).
Whether you adhere to the label of “Christian,” or not, unless you’ve given your life to Christ and relying on the gift of His death and the justification of His resurrection…well, you’re not following the doctor’s prescription. Simply stated, if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. See Romans 10:9 for the dosage and directions (and it’s not even in fine print).
The right answers are not always going to conform to our schedules, our priorities, to our likes and our dislikes. But, since when has the truth been convenient for everyone? The good news is that we don’t have to grope around for our own path to fulfillment; or be our own gods, bearing every consequence and outcome on these two puny shoulders.
Nor do we have to live condemned lives as a sign of our piety as is practiced even in non-Christian belief systems. Upon accepting Christ’s gift, we rely on the fact that our struggles lead to affective and personally fulfilling lives, that through genuine repentance our sins are forgiven and our approach to the world around us forever changed for our and others’ good. And when this vibrant life ends, we get the ultimate high…a place prepared in heaven by a friend who we’ve known, and who knows us individually, personally and completely. (John 15:11, John 14:2-3,20)
- Quo Elbert
for more commentary on this subject find this and other articles on Helium.com.
