Think About It

What is the difference between those who make it to the big times and those who just dream about them?  Sometimes, there is a skill gap between the haves and the have nots; but it could just be seizing the opportunity that is presented.  Maybe the difference is being in the right place at the right time.   The reason I bring this up is to wonder if we are looking for the opportunities that are presenting to us?  Now, I understand that few of us are going to end up being as famous as Taylor Swift or Shohei Ohtani, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be looking for our chance to make the most of our opportunities.  To do this, we must first be aware of the talents we have.  We need to know what we can do well.  Then, once we understand our abilities, we need to be anxious to find ways to use them.  It may be in teaching, entertaining, leading, serving … or a myriad of other ways … but, no matter what we do, we need to be aggressive in findi...

Over the last few weeks, I have been doing a lot of thinking about wisdom.  Prompted by a lesson from Ecclesiastes and a study of the Old Testament book of Proverbs, I have come across the wisdom of Solomon.  Here was a man known for a lot of accomplishments, but his most noteworthy trait might have been his insight.  His words have been passed down from generation to generation and have guided a lot of people in applying the knowledge they have.  The other day, I came across another bit of wisdom, but this did not come from Solomon – or even the Old Testament.  In the book of James we are challenged, “Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.” (James 3:13).  When this writer – assumedly from among the earliest of Christians – reflected on wisdom, he added another couple of layers to it.  First, genuine wisdom is to be shown, not just spoken.  We can’t just talk about wisdom, ...

Does it seem like the longer this world exists, the worse it gets?  Those of us who are older are apt to look back with the fondness of nostalgia.  Yet, is the way we think about things accurate?  A quick review of history and, particularly, a study of the Bible challenges a belief that everything used to be hunky-dory.  Interestingly, a New Testament writer who was lamenting past ungodliness observed, “These are grumblers, finding fault, following after their own lusts; they speak arrogantly, flattering people for the sake of gaining an advantage.” (Jude 16).  Does that sound familiar?  It could have been written about Jude’s contemporaries, those centuries later or even today.  In all honesty, people are people – always have been, always will be. Now, Jude’s observation is insightful, the key is found in what follows.  After laying out the problem, he continues, “But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Ho...

This is a time of year when many of our young people are finishing up their school years.  For some, it is the annual trek into the sun and fun of summer, but for a certain group, this year is special.  Those who are graduating seniors – either in high school or college – are facing something new and (hopefully) exciting.  Graduation is one very special step in our journey to full-fledged maturity.  It is the end of one phase of life and the beginning of another.   I am sure that those who are graduating have been inundated with advice – some solicited, others probably not-so-much – but if you will indulge me, I would like to make a very simple suggestion.  The key to true success is to just do the right thing.  It’s not always easy to do what we should do … and there are times it might come with a price … but, we will never be embarrassed by being righteous.  For the most part, we can figure out the right thing to do, but if we ever have a q...

In the late 1850s oil was discovered in Titusville, Pennsylvania.  In what was one of the earliest “booms” in the United States, western Pennsylvania became a hotbed of activity.  However, with the prosperity, came danger.  On June 4, 1892 the area was rocked by flood and fire.  The death toll exceeded 130 and the damage was in the millions of dollars.  Interestingly, what they felt would bring them prosperity ended up bringing them pain. As I read about this, I was drawn to a warning issued centuries ago by James, the New Testament writer, who observed, “Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments have become moth-eaten. Your gold and your silver have rusted; and their rust will be a witness against you and will consume your flesh like fire. It is in the last days that you have stored up your treasure!” (James 5:1-3).  We live in a society that lauds materialism; but it’s not all ...

Not long ago I heard a phrase that stuck with me.  A friend of mine observed, “Acceptance is not obedience”.  Now, while there are people who believe and do; there are also a lot of folks who know what to do – and might even agree with what they know they should do – they just don’t do it.  They have knowledge, they are in agreement with it, they just don’t have the follow through.  We have all heard of concepts that advocate a need to be doers and not hearers only or the requirement to bear good fruit and that is underscored by the need to be obedient.  When Jesus faced potential believers, He made it a point to teach them that acceptance wasn’t enough to produce discipleship.  After comparing the type of fruit genuine disciples produce, Jesus observed, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter.” (Matthew 7:21). Are we willing to make a stand for the Lord?...