Tag / christianity

by Nathan Coumbe

A solution to the homeless problem

I live in the Deep South—the “Bible Belt” as some call it. 

One of our quirks? We’re surrounded by churches. 

By most estimates, there are more than 9,100 in this state. That’s one church for every 330 Mississippians.

Many of them are huge. But what I’ve never understood is why they’re so big for seemingly no reason. 

They take up massive tracts of land. The enormous buildings themselves cost a fortune to light, heat, and cool. 

And 6 days a week, they sit almost entirely empty. 

Why not take a leaf out of the “Good Book” and use them for the public good when a service isn’t happening?

What if they became a shelter for the homeless? From the sweltering heat (we hit 104º a couple of weeks ago), pollution, and the elements?

What if they were a place to shower and eat? A staging ground for launching a job search?

My research has shown that some churches throughout the country already do this, but not many here in Mississippi. 

I’m no theologian, but I feel Jesus would approve.

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by Nathan Coumbe

Your day begins at sunset

In traditional Jewish & Orthodox Christian cultures, the new day begins at sunset, not sunrise.

Even God, in the book of Genesis, began his work days building the universe in the evening.

Yet we base all our work, plans, and decision-making around what time we wake up. And we end the day with (often inadequate) rest and sleep.

What if we flipped this idea on its head?

I’ve been listening to Michael Hyatt’s latest book, Win at Work & Succeed at Life. In it, he has an entire section dedicated to this topic and its importance.

But what interested me the most was the inverted way he looks at work and rest.

He made me realize that rest isn’t a reward for hard work…

In fact, rest is the vital precursor to doing excellent work day after day.

Think about it: in the ancient world, everyone worked long, hard days building, crafting, and farming. Without adequate rest, their bodies would have broken down, and their work would have suffered.

The crop might have failed, the buildings might have crumbled… Their creations would have worn out and broken. So their days began at sunset, which means they started their days with rest, relaxation, and sleep.

Most of us do knowledge work these days, but the same principle applies. We have to prioritize rest if we hope to succeed at work.

Can you change your mindset and start your days with rest?

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