At some point, most people encounter someone whose sense of style, fashion, or decor feels consistently off. At first, this is easy to dismiss as a matter of preference. Taste is subjective, we tell ourselves. But when poor taste recurs across different contexts, it raises a more unsettling question. What exactly is taste? How does good taste develop? Why do some people seem unable to acquire it? Good taste is often misunderstood as trend awareness or personal expression. In reality, it is something far more restrained and disciplined. Good taste is the ability to recognize proportion, coherence, and intention within a given context. It reflects an understanding of relationships between elements rather than attachment to any single element. People with good taste notice balance, scale, rhythm, and absence. They sense when something is excessive, distracts from its purpose, or draws attention to itself unnecessarily. Most importantly, they adapt their choices to context. What works in o...
"Who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind;" Psalms 15:4b In Psalms 15, David essentially asks, "who can dwell with God?" and describes the character of a righteous man. The righteous list is overwhelming. I have fallen short on every point. I could never meet the criteria. Without the blood of Jesus Christ washing away the sin, I could never occupy a space in His presence. Under His mercy, I strive to understand and take action to become a servant who is a little more worthy today than yesterday. I dwell on the implications of David's words and apply my flawed understanding, praying for the grace to cover my ignorance and character in progress. The second part of the 4th verse is especially salient. The statement does not violate Leviticus 5:4, which condemns thoughtless oaths, but considers the complete description of righteousness which compounds blamelessness, truthfulness, honesty, humbleness, generosity, and carefully considered...