Appealing?

Parents, on a broad level does your enjoyment of and love for your kids have the potential to cause a teenager to see parenting as appealing?

Price?

Do you find that it takes more effort to stay within a certain price range and spend less on gifts? Is it possible to spend large amounts of money on a gift and give little thought to it? Is it possible to spend little to nothing on a gift and express a great amount of love and care?

Smell?

If my deodorant is the official deodorant of the NBA does that mean I'm going to smell like a basketball player when I put it on?

Giving?

Do you really believe that giving is better than receiving?

Americans?

How did we in the United States manage to acquire the title "Americans"? Couldn't anyone from any of the other countries in North or South America make that claim with equal legitimacy? Shouldn't we be United Statesians?

Smiles?

Why smiles? Why do people smile as an expression of happiness? Why is it so enjoyable to see people smiling?

Driving?

Have you ever met someone who was a better driver than you? Have you ever had doubts about your own driving ability (after you had the first couple of weeks under your belt)?

Understand?

Is there any way to understand war and combat without experiencing it? What are ways we can boost our appreciation for our veterans without experiencing combat?

History?

What elements go into an appropriate perspective on history (world, national, local, or personal)? What are the dangers that accompany a study of history? What are the benefits?

Booger?

If snot accumulates and dries on the exterior of a child's face is it still called a booger? If not, what would you call it?

Beauty?

Do you place a higher value on aesthetics and beauty or functionality and frugality? How do you make decisions between beautiful/expensive and not so beautiful/inexpensive? Where do you draw the line?

Freedom?

Does desiring and pursuing freedom above all else really bring freedom? Can't a constant resistance to authority become a burdensome slavery?

Struggle?

How does one struggle on behalf of others in prayer (Colossians 4:12-13)? What does this look like? How often could this be said of you?

Cobwebs?

Why is it that eleven months out of the year we go to great lengths to get rid of cobwebs and then for one month we put our efforts into hanging them up as decorations? How does this make sense?

Hurry?

What percentage of the time is it actually beneficial to "hurry" people along (I especially have kids in mind)? Does it normally have a positive effect on the people you are hurrying? How about on yourself?

Weather?

How often do you make it through a day without hearing someone complain about the weather? Doesn't this seem ridiculous when a hundred years ago hvac as we know it was non-existent?

Who Are You?

Christians, do you spend as much time each morning thinking about how God sees you in Christ as you do thinking about how the world will see you when you go out today? Are you more aware of who you are in Christ or who you are in the mirror?

Defining?

What is the difference between a taco and a burrito? What elements have to be present to make an ice cream sundae? Is iceberg lettuce with some watery ranch dressing really a salad?

Thriving?

What makes a quality marriage? What qualities are common to every good marriage? What qualities are uniquely needed to make your marriage healthy? Is your marriage thriving? What would your spouse say?

Shadows?

What would the world be like without shadows? What is the function of shadows on a practical level? On an aesthetic level?

Motivation?

How many motivations influence any single action you take? How many layers of desires are driving what you do? Is it ever just one?

Thank You?

For you dog crazy dog owners, when someone says, "your dog is adorable!" what is the appropriate response? Do you say "thank you"? If so, why?

Room Temperature?

Is it just me, or is the effectiveness of the term "room temperature" overrated? When we say something is "room temperature," what are we really saying? What "room"? Where is the said "room" (is it in Antarctica or Death Valley?)? Does said "room" have HVAC? Is there a term that we could replace it with that would be less relative?

Happy?

On any given day what is the minimum that must take place for you to be happy? On any given day what is the minimum it takes to put you in a bad mood?

Mess?

How do you explain to a child the difference between rubbing a mess into the floor and wiping it up? What is the difference?

Expectations

Are there different types of expectations (e.g. of your children, how your days schedule will proceed or maybe life in general)? How do you tell the difference on the front end between expectations that will lead to frustration and conflict and expectations that direct and structure life in helpful ways?

Junk Piles?

Is a house continually surrounded by piles of junk more acceptable if those piles are the result of perpetual home improvement projects?

Cultures?

How many different cultures (or sub-cultures) are you a part of? How many would you say the average person is a part of?

Tickle?

If, when you tickle me, it doesn't tickle, can it legitimately be said that you were tickling me (if you haven't experienced this you are either ridiculously ticklish or you haven't been "tickled" by a three year old)?

Encouragement?

How often do you give encouragement without correction? On the other hand, how often do you give correction without encouragement?

Excited?

Do you ever laugh with derision at what other people get excited about only to turn around and realize that you get excited over some pretty ridiculous things yourself (like your toddler going potty in the toilet)?

Future?

When contemplating the future are you more likely to be consumed with thoughts about what is known or what is unknown? Does knowing some details regarding the future cause you to anticipate it or worry about it more or less?

Big Kid?

Do you ever appeal to your kids to act like a "big girl" or "big boy" and then find yourself turning around and telling them they aren't old enough for "this" or "that"? Doesn't this seem like it would be confusing?

Roomate or Bride?

Does your wife feel more like your newly married bride or a live in maid? Would she be more likely to describe you as a roommate or a lover?

Texture?

Is it legitimate to dislike a food because of its texture? Is it more acceptable to dislike a food because of its taste than because of its texture?

Humbling

Is there any more humbling experience than having your stomach involuntarily and violently empty its contents? Wouldn't this challenge the arrogance and illusion of self-sufficiency of even the most powerful rulers on earth?

Fears and Loves?

What is your greatest fear? What is your greatest love? Are these related? Do your fears reveal what you love (or vice-versa)?

Tax Forms?

Do you think the questions on tax forms could be any more confusing and vague? Is there some reason behind this? Is it simply poor writing or is there someone in a back office somewhere letting forth a long and evil laugh?

Teachers?

Have you ever truly learned anything "on your own"? Doesn't all learning come through some kind of medium whether past or present, whether a personal interaction or a book, whether experience or observation? Why would we rather learn the same thing from one teacher and not another?

Checks?

As a child, did you ever think that credit cards and checks were a way to buy things without spending any money? Did you try use this assumption to sweep away your mom's objection that something you wanted cost too much? Did it ever work?

Indispensible?

What is the next "can't imagine how I ever lived without that" technology that is currently on the market (like the microwave, cell phone or pc)? Maybe GPS? Mobile internet? Maybe the new family locator applications for cell phones? The clapper?

Immature?

Is greater immaturity displayed in childish silliness or in looking down on those who engage in childish silliness and resisting hilarity for the sake of appearance? Which immaturity are you more likely to display?

New?

How long can a product or company claim to be new (a radio station where I live has been new for four years now)? Why is newness seen as something worth advertising anyways?

Energy?

Why is it that at the end of a road trip adults are exhausted and kids have enough excess energy to power a small city?

Pretending?

Do you ever pretend you understand someone because your confusion and their repeating themselves is beginning to get awkward? How much awkwardness can you tolerate before you cave in and act like you understand?

Limits?

What are the limits of questions in teaching? What are the boundaries for what questions can communicate and where they can lead?

Merely Functional?

How do you explain the functionality and beauty of our universe? In other words, why isn't the world around us simply functional and not beautiful? What is the purpose behind the beauty we see in nature?

Transition?

Is there a specific point in life where a person moves from being young foolish and naive to being wise, seasoned and mature? What kinds of experiences move a person through this transition? How is it that some people never seem to make this transition?

Bitter?

When my wife is out and watching my kids becomes an attempt to control chaos, should I bitterly wait for her to return home or reflect with thankfulness on the fact that she deals with this all day every day?

Life Preserver?

When you swim with your kids, do you ever feel like a human life preserver? Does anyone else enjoy providing safety but no so much the clawing hands and choking arms?

Paid to Play?

Is it morally questionable or less "pure" to get paid to do something you love? Have you ever had this feeling about your job?

Difficult?

Did you have as much trouble making it to the toilet in time as my kids do when you were their age (4 and 5 1/2)? What makes waking up, making your way to the bathroom, going in the toilet and other simple steps so difficult to master?

Statements?

Why make a statement when you can ask a question?

This question was asked by a friend of mine (the legendary Larry Brown) in the context of a discussion of effective teaching methods. That discussion was a significant factor in bringing me to start this blog. Thanks Larry.