Think About It

How many problems do we have in our lives?  Now, before you answer that question, let me ask it in another way: how many problems do we have in our lives and how many inconveniences do we have in our lives?  I believe that, too often, we look at the things that don’t go the way we want them to go and consider them problems.  In other words, I think we talk our way into feeling challenged by the inconveniences.  Several years ago, I became familiar with the term “First World Problems”.  These are things that bother us merely because we are blessed enough to have those things in our lives.  Take for example: having to use a five year old iPhone or having to plug in an aftermarket Android Auto dongle because our car doesn’t come equipped with the app pre-installed.  Concerns such as the presence of crabgrass and dandelions in our lawns or the resort we booked not having an outdoor kiddie pool.  If we allow these things to bug us, they can; but honest...

The other day I discovered a new station on my streaming music service.   The “Classic Folk” channel was interesting.   As I listened to the wide variety of songs, my mood shifted with each tune.   Some of the protest songs caused me to stop and think.   They made me a bit more reflective by their thoughts.   Others were just fun songs designed to help people enjoy life.   They advocated a spirit of doing what makes you feel good.   I didn’t (necessarily) like all the songs, but one thing about it, they tended to make me “feel” something. As I contemplated these songs, I thought about spiritual music.   No, I don’t put folk songs on an equal footing as songs, hymns and spiritual songs; but these religious songs are also designed to make us feel something.   Sure, some of them teach biblical lessons, but there are many more that call upon us to “experience” the spiritual nature.   We all have our favorite style of religious music, but t...

Why should Christians do the right things?  Well, the most obvious answer is because they are the right things to do.  We are expected to make good decisions that lead to righteousness.  However, I believe that there is another reason to do what is right – to prove that we are God’s people.  We do His will to show our allegiance to Him.  Those who watch us shouldn’t have to wonder or guess at whether or not we are faithful – it should be obvious.  When the Apostle Paul wrote to the early Christians, he challenged them, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world …” (Philippians 2:14-15).  When you go to a sporting event, it is pretty easy to determine the teams because they wear their own gear; but that is also true of the fans...

Who is the enemy?  Have you noticed how easy it is to develop an “us vs. them” mentality.  I think the origins of this type of adversarial mindset is based on broad categories like “capitalists vs. communists” or “believers vs. nonbelievers”.  Yet, the more effort we put into this divisiveness the few of “us” there really are.  We begin to trim away those who don’t believe exactly the way we do and the more “they” there are.  Pretty soon, if we aren’t careful, the “us” becomes “me” and we find ourselves opposed to anything, everything and, most damaging, anyone. What would happen if we spent more time finding our common traits (and building on them) than we do trying to uncover the flaws and failures of others?  I am not saying that we have to accept anything and everything others advocate, but I also don’t think we need to view them as the enemy.  We may not be friends, but that doesn’t mean that they are foes either.  Amazing things can happen w...

“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.” (Galatians 6:9).  Sounds good and noble, doesn’t it?  However, how many of us struggle with this?  Typically, when we are out in the community doing good work, we feel the energy of doing good; however, when we are called on to help people work through their own personal challenges, things are not as fun or exciting.  Caring people are often sought out for their empathy and compassion and, before too long, they have a lot on their hearts and minds.  Fixing things can produce a sense of accomplishment, but walking beside people can be exhausting!  Whether it is the constant internalization of other people’s problems or compassion fatigue, dealing with struggles can be draining.  So, what can we do for people who need our help – and still have the energy for the next one … and the next one and the one after that?  Here are a few observations: 1.  F...

If you live on the Eastern Seaboard, get ready for a hot one!  Now some of you may have already had the heat come to your house; but we are just now experiencing it.  One of the bonuses we get around here is the humidity in addition to the heat.  I am not going to compare our our misery index with anyone’s – so let’s just agree that it’s going to be yucky!  Unless you have a pool or a Slip-And-Slide I doubt that you are looking forward to the week ahead – so how can we make the most of the brutal weather?  Well, one thing we can do is learn from it.  Now, let me see if I can put this perspective – you see, if we believe the Bible, we probably already have an understanding that hell is hot and miserable!  As Jesus was describing punishment, He observed, “If your eye causes you to stumble, throw it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into hell, where their worm does not die,...