Think About It

One of my favorite statements of the Bible comes from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” (Matthew 5:10).   There are several reasons I like this verse, but I have to admit that anything that will align me with our Heavenly Father is a pretty noble pursuit.   I think that, inherently, most of us understand the value of making peace, but as I pondered   this a few days ago, I thought of a couple specific examples.   Maybe the most important way God made peace was when He completed the process of forgiveness.   When we sin, we are at odds with Him, but through His mercy and His Son’s sacrifice we can be restored to a peaceful relationship with Them.   Additionally, the Lord has established a way that all kinds of diverse people can enjoy a peaceful co-existence.   We don’t have to look alike nor do we have to agree on everything to be able to live in peace.   When we embrace God’s worldv...

When I was working out at the gym the other day I happened to look up and see an interesting story about being a sports “fan”.  The essence of the story is that we feel good when our team(s) win and we feel bad when they lose.  Now, for me, that was a no-brainer; but what got my attention was the fact that there was science behind my ups and downs.  Prompted by the blip I saw on the TV, I went back to my office and found there actually was an article in Psychology Today written by Dr. Patrick McElwaine (a self proclaimed lifelong Philadelphia Eagles fan) entitled "The Psychology of Sports Fandom:  Balancing Wins and Losses”.  I will not attempt to summarize his work here, but if you are more than a casual sports fan, I would encourage you to read it.  However, what I will say is that his research prompted me to wonder if we are taking casual things too seriously?  Whether it is our sports, entertainment, politics … or whatever else we follow passionate...

I realize that yesterday’s post discussed work ethic and productivity, but something happened shortly after I finished it that made an impression on me, so I thought I would follow-up with Part 2.  After writing about “why” we work, I took on the task of finishing up some laundry.  Now, let me be blunt – I do not like doing laundry … period … but, really don’t like doing laundry that involves copious amounts of wash cloths and hand towels.  I think something happens inside the washer and dryer and what starts out with a few items turns into a whole bunch of little bitty pieces.  Now, here is where the lesson came to me.  As I was folding all that stuff I thought about all the other people in my life who had done my laundry (including dish towels and washcloths) for me.  Everyone from my Mom to Jeane to the housekeepers at my most memorable hotels to the wait staff at my favorite restaurants … and a bunch of others … have done my wash so that I could enjoy m...

Most of us are aware of the value of work.  Those of us who are somewhat older may have had a different “work ethic” than our younger co-workers, but I think that we would all agree that we have a responsibility to have a job and do it well.  Interestingly, the other day as I was researching a spiritual view of work, I came across something eye-opening, “He who steals must steal no longer; but rather he must labor, performing with his own hands what is good, so that he will have something to share with one who has need.” (Ephesians 4:28).  The first part of the verse probably doesn’t need much explaining – most of us are familiar with the evil of stealing, but it was the rationale that interested me.  We are told that we should get a job – not just to take care of ourselves, but also to help our neighbor who is in need.  I am well aware of the noble concept of helping others, but I don’t know that I had ever thought just how much of a core value it was.  We...

There was good news on June 19, 1865.   After decades of slavery, freedom had finally come to the whole country.   The reading of General Order Number 3 by General Gordon Granger in Galveston, Texas brought an end to slavery in the United States.   Again, that was the good news; but there was some distress as well.   You see, the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued almost three years earlier in 1862.   General Lee had surrendered to the Union Army in April – over two months before.   Freedom had come; but for some, their freedom had been delayed.   From a practical perspective we can see how this could happen – news didn’t travel the way it does today – but individually, people could have enjoyed freedom much earlier.   As I thought about this, I got to wondering how many people who could be free today are still living in some kind of bondage.   Maybe it is the guilt of past sin or the affliction of an addition.   It could be t...

Often, when people think about the Lees of Virginia their minds go back to General Robert E. Lee; however, the Lees had been influences in the Commonwealth many years before it.  One of the influential members of the family was Richard Henry Lee.  He is often remembered for his eulogy of President George Washington, but he had other things to say as well.  The other day I came across a quote of his that noted, “It is certainly true that a popular government cannot flourish without the virtue in the people.”.  I am going to be honest with you, I would imagine that this quote from the 18th Century probably carried a different meaning than it would today; but I was struck by the sentiment of personal responsibility.  It is easy to blame “government” or “society” for what is going wrong in today’s world, but we – as individuals – cannot abdicate our personal responsibility to be good people.   For our country and our society to be successful we must all be...