Chapter One
Are You Ready to Dive Below the Surface?Should crucial life choices be based on feelings-which are
changeable-or on a solid foundation of thoughts informed
by teachings and principles that are unchangeable?
In an effort to take your students beyond mere opinion and
emotion, each question in this book begins with either "Which
would be better?" or "Which would be worse?" This kind of
wording typically requires a solid determination instead of just
an emotional estimation.
You'll also notice the "Taking It Deeper" boxes in the first
section-you can use them to offer commentary that'll get
your students thinking more critically about specific topics.
Feel free to read the commentary to your students word-for-word,
or if you wish, alter the text to suit your tastes and your
students' needs.
There are also "nonsense" questions to inject a little levity
into the discussions-or to just throw your students completely
off the path! Either way, it should be fun.
The last time I checked, there was no peer pressure-among
any age group-to either sleep in an itchy wool suit or a bed of
fiberglass insulation. But asking students to express definitive
judgments on harmless topics is a great way to get them to take
risks and speak their minds. Taking stands on the things that
really matter is a learned skill; it doesn't come naturally.
Starting small with subjects that are risk-free, inane, quirky,
and silly can be a fun way to begin that all-important learning
process.
Now take the plunge!
275
Questions on Tough Topics
about Life, Relationships, and God
1. Which would bebetter?
Working through a difficult problem
on your own or having someone give
you the answer
2. Which would beworse?
Performing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation
on an alcoholic bum or having
someone sneeze in your face
3. Which would bebetter?
Playing video games or shopping
with birthday money
4. Which would beworse?
Looking for water in the desert or
making a fire in the snowy Arctic
Circle
5. Which would bebetter?
Being head custodian at the White
House or president of the United
States
6. Which would beworse?
Losing the Super Bowl or having a
losing season
7. Which would bebetter?
Being gifted at remembering names
or remembering information
8. Which would bebetter?
Being a preacher or a popular Las
Vegas entertainer
9. Which would beworse?
Being tongue-tied in front of a large
audience or vomiting on yourself on
an airplane
10. Which would beworse?
Never eating pizza again or never
wearing stylish clothing again
Taking It Deeper
[A Thought to Consider]
Everyone wants to be popular, and most people desire to be
wealthy, but very few people would choose a job that
includes being unpopular at times and not being very
wealthy, ever. How would you answer if the last question if
it were rephrased: "Which would be better-being rich and
striving for popularity or being poor and pursuing God's
will in your life?"
(Continues.)
