Think About It

How do we perceive difficult times?   Do we lament the fact that times are tough or do we look forward to being put in a position to showcase the talents we have been given?   If you have ever played sports, you probably have had the thought of being the athlete who, when the game is on the line, had to make the play.   In your mind, does that scare you or does it excite you?   When time is running out and you are the place kicker – do you want to be jogging onto the field with chance to kick the winning field goal to be the hero or do you want to be the third string player who knows they’ll never face the pressure of getting off of the bench?   When the last batter of the game is up and hits a screaming liner – do you want to be the one who catches the ball or would you rather be playing another position, happy that the game doesn’t ride on your shoulders? Interestingly, when it comes to athletics, a lot of us would like the chance to compete, but when it c...

Can you imagine what it was like to have been on the streets of Jerusalem when Jesus was condemned and killed?   Setting aside the spiritual side for a moment, how many of us would have gone along with the crowd who lined the streets of the city that day?   Which of us would have been a part of the group described as, “Those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads, and saying, ‘Ha! You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself, and come down from the cross!’” (Mark 15:29-30) … and how many of us would have been wrong!   We would have been deriding an innocent man. As I thought about this, I got to thinking about how easy it is to rejoice when someone we think is wrong gets what they deserve?   Isn’t it easy to feel smug – or even justified – when we are glad that bad things happen to people we think are wrong?   Yet, is that the right way to be?   Even if people deserve the...

Have you ever been standing in a pristine place, looking at a wonderful vista; then been inundated with gnats, mosquitoes or other annoying swarming creatures?   When this happens, what is our typical reaction?   We tend to fuss about the critters and lose focus of the beauty.   Interestingly, when this happens, we probably aren’t harming many of the “gnats” by swatting at them, but we are missing out on the enjoyment of the moment by allowing them to annoy us.   Isn’t it interesting how a few itty-bitty insects can ruin an incredible view! Now, while this is true in our sight-seeing, it is also true in our day to day lives.   Have you ever had a pretty decent day be overcome by a few inconsequential problems?   Have you noticed how easy it is to lose sight of the big picture because we are so focused on the annoying minor inconveniences?   Like with actual gnats, when we focus on them, we are actually punishing ourselves.   That seems rather ...

How can we tell what’s in another person’s heart?   Now, I understand the warning about “judging others”, but there comes a point in time when we have to distinguish between good and evil intents.   It might be nice to have some sort of device that we could use to look into someone’s spirit, but we don’t have one, do we – or do we?   The wise man, Solomon, noted, “An evildoer listens to wicked lips; a liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.” (Proverbs 17:4).   I understand that there are some good actors out there who can use their dark side to promote their agenda, but for the most part we can assess another person’s intent by considering the outcome.   Are people hoping to see truth come from a situation?   Are people looking to promote what is best for others?   If things like these are their rationale, there is a pretty good chance they are approaching something with positive motives.   If they are looking to harm or discredit...

Forty-five years ago, my life changed for the better!   After dating Jeane for several months we were married on August 14, 1981.   For some of you this might seem to be ancient history, but to me, it doesn’t seem that long at all.   Every once in a while someone will ask me about the longevity of marriage and, while there is no one pat answer, as I look back, I see some principles that have made it work.   First, find someone who shares your core values.   The excitement of youth might fade through the years, but if you believe in the same things, you will have a solid foundation upon which to build a lifetime together.   Second, enjoy spending time together.   Sharing hobbies and interests is a good place to start, but just being willing to have fun as a couple can make the years enjoyable.   Another one that you might not hear too often is to find other couples your age who are committed to long-term relationships.   As I think about the...

Who are some of the special people in your life?   Have you told them that lately?   One thing about living for as many days as we do, sometimes the important things get swallowed up by the mundane things.   We get caught up in our routines and we just keep doing life one day at a time – until one day, everything is turned upside down.   There are times when this prompts us to refocus on the important, but every once in a while, what we wish we could do is no longer possible.   Have we ever looked back on something and said, “I wish I would have paid more attention to that” … or “I wish I would have spent more time with them”?   We can’t undo missed opportunities, but we can be more purposeful in taking advantage of the days we have left. Is there someone we want to thank?   Is there someone’s story we’d like to hear?   Is there somewhere we’d like to visit with that someone special?   Let’s make it happen now because we never know what t...