Posts

Thursday; April 25

How do we assess the value of our leaders? For some of us, it might be what they do for us … for others of us it might be how well they leave us alone to do what we want to do with our lives. Some assess leadership by how much they get done while others value how they make us feel. I guess there are a variety of answers to that original question depending up what we hope to get out of life. Interestingly, when Jesus considered this question, His answer was pretty straight-forward … leaders (like anyone) do good things. And how do we know if they are doing good things? The answer is found in what they are producing. Jesus mixed a couple of metaphors in the Sermon on the Mount when He observed, “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they? So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.” (
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Wednesday; April 24

I realize 1988 was a long time ago, but when I listen to my music it seems like yesterday. During that time I was listening to Country Music and a singer by the name of Earl Thomas Conley had a song called “What She Is (Is A Woman In Love)”. The essence of the song is how this woman makes the most out of her situation. After listing a variety of ways her man has let her down, the singer notes, “And she's looking at him with her heart and not her eyes. What she sees is only what she wants to … What she has, she thinks is enough, … What she does is just look at the good things and what she is … Is a woman in love.” Through the years there have been a lot of songs that may lean toward a good-hearted woman being in love with a good timing man (Waylon Jennings); but this song struck me as something different. It’s not about enduring abuse or being mistreated, it is about looking for and finding the good in your situation. It is more than looking for the good in a bad situation,
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Tuesday; April 23

Does it seem like the wicked are getting ahead? Does it feel like the people with the fewest morals and values are going the farthest? I guess it might appear that way – depending upon where we stretch the finish line. If we measure success by political prowess, economic advancement or financial status; doing whatever it takes to get ahead might seem like the most expedient route. However, what if we measure things by quality of life and leaving this world better than we found it? When our goals are higher, there is a better way to live. Centuries ago, when the wise man, Solomon, was teaching his up-and-comers about living the good life he told them, “By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” (Proverbs 24:3-4). When the king established the true gold standard for life, he laid the foundation with wisdom, understanding and knowledge. Interestingly, when we first read this we mi
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Monday; April 22

Throughout the years Americans have lauded self-sufficiency and self-reliance. The ability to pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps has been something we can be proud of. While the need to be able to cope and have the ability to advance ourselves can pay dividends, we must be careful that we don’t become too self-self-assured. (Yes, you can read pride and ego into that last statement.) When we get too full of ourselves we set ourselves up for a fall and also limit just how far we might be able to advance. Each one of us has natural talents and abilities, but as the old saying goes, “no man is an island unto himself”. Not only can we rely on others to help us become the best we can be, we should also depend on God to give us the opportunities to make the most of what we innately have. He didn’t just make us, He also enhances and polishes what He created. God’s writers have consistently warned against self-serving pride and reminded His children of the value of staying connect
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Friday; April 19

Do you know where you were thirty-one years ago today? April 19 is not one of those “remarkable” dates for a lot of people – but for some of us, it is engrained in our brains. For those in Waco, Texas it is probably memorable for being the final day in the standoff between agents of the federal government and the Branch Davidians that took the lives of about 80 people. However, for those of us who lived in South Dakota, it was another tragedy that captured our hearts and minds. On that day, eight of our friends, family and neighbors were killed in an airplane crash near Dubuque, Iowa – among them was Governor George Mickelson. To appreciate the impact this would have on the state, you need to understand just how small and close-knit of a community it is. A lot of people either knew those on board that plane or knew someone who knew someone who was killed in the crash. Some believe that Waco was a national tragedy, but I can tell you from first-hand experience, that plane crash w
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Thursday; April 18

What is faith? Most religions and spiritual people use the word “faith”, but what does it mean? The Bible seeks to help us out when it is defined as, “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1); but what does that mean? I am sure a lot smarter people have offered a commentary to this definition, but as I look at it, I see a couple things: First, faith allows us to believe in an unseen God. We don’t have to experience God through one of our five senses to know that He exists. What’s more, we don’t have to be able to prove everything the Bible says about Him – we are willing to accept His story as told in His book at face value. Second, faith allows us to hold out hope that what the Bible promises will happen. The Scripture as a treasure trove of great stories and biblical history, but the thing that offers the greatest hope are the promises it makes – specifically, those promises of salvation and eternity. We are told by
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Wednesday; April 17

How do you determine what kind of day you are going to have? Do we plan for success or do we just wait to see what happens? Do we set out to make the most of the opportunities we get or do we just go with the flow? Are we convicted to choose our attitudes or do we just play it by ear? Life is easier if we merely react, but it is better if we live with purpose. Whether it is making up our mind to choose our attitudes or setting out to accomplish our goals, it takes much more of an effort, but we also have more of a say in what happens. Sure, we can stumble upon successes or wander our way into joy periodically; but if we want to enjoy consistent contentment, it takes focus, planning and persistence. I am not saying that we’ll always get what we want just by wishing for it, but we are more apt to accomplish productivity if we invest ourselves into living a purposeful life. What is today or tomorrow or the next day going to be like for you? If we merely wait to see, we’ll get wha
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