Think About It

There has been a lot of talk about the weather over the last few days, so I thought I’d add a little input.   Interestingly, my report isn’t from the recent cold snap – it was the weather from February 3, 1959 … the day the music died.   It was around 15 degrees with a 30+ mph wind when Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and J. P. Richardson (the Big Bopper) took off for Fargo, North Dakota.   They wouldn’t make it out of northern Iowa before their plane crashed and history was made.   The trio had been on a bus trip across the northern plains, but because they were anxious to get to their next venue (and they weren’t feeling all that good), they rented a plane.   That deadly mistake sealed their fate and ended their careers. As I thought about this event, I was reminded that sometimes the easy solution isn’t always the best one.   Now, please hear me out, I am not faulting the musicians’ choice – I might have done the same thing – but it is ironic that the decis...

Punxsutawney Phil may not be the most popular guy these days.  I am sure the meteorologists would be happy to share some of the blame for the recent cold, so this little guy might be a welcome scapegoat!  I haven’t seen his verdict about the future of the cold weather, but he is inheriting an audience of grumpy folks. Over the last few days, a lot of us have been complaining about the cold.  Now, there are some who have good reason to fuss – for them, it could be a true hardship and might even been life-threatening – however, I know of lot of us have just been whining about being chilly.  (Me included!)  For most of us, the cold weather is just an inconvenience that annoys us.  As I thought about this I was reminded of the difference between hassles and hardships.  No one ever promised us that life would be easy – and honestly, there is value in dealing with challenges.  While I wouldn’t wish legitimate sufferings on anyone, I think most us can le...

          What does it take to be a complete person?   There are a lot of us who do some things well, but wouldn’t it be nice to be that kind of individual who can be successful in multiple aspects of our lives?   Imagine how successful and fulfilled we could be if we were physically fit, emotionally intelligent, business savvy and morally competent.   That sounds like a well-rounded individual, doesn’t it?   Interestingly, when Jesus was teaching His early disciples, He outlined another well-rounded person by responding to someone who questioned Him, “ And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”.   (Matthew 22:37-39).   When we love God completely and enhance that by loving our neighbor, that is a winning combination....

Have you noticed how common the concept of snow is in our culture?  Even in the Tropics, when the holiday season comes, they decorate with symbols of snowflakes and snowmen – things that many of them have never experienced.  Snow is kind of cool – literally!  Interestingly, the idea of the whiteness of snow is used in the Bible – a story that focuses heavily on the temperate climate of the Middle East.  In the era of international media seeing snowstorms from across the world or hearing of snow during winter isn’t unheard of; however, for those in the Middle East, they probably weren’t all that familiar with it.  That’s what makes the biblical references to snow so interesting to me.  Take this excerpt from Isaiah, “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from My sight.  Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.  ‘Come now, and let us reas...

          Forty years ago, our nation – and much of the world – walked around in a daze.  On January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated shortly after launch from the east coast of Florida.  While the event would have made history wherever and whenever it happened, it was close enough to witnesses and the cameras that it was seen by countless people.  For those of us who were alive back then, it is a moment many of us can never unsee – and for those of us who grew up with the space race and those who have a connection to the Space Coast, it is still a very vivid memory.           As I reflect on Challenger disaster, one of the things I think about is how shocking it was.  Sure, we knew that something so powerful and complex could go wrong; but we had become so used to the successes and tuned out the potential for failure that the shock was multiplied!  Eventually, we woul...

          I have been skeptical of commercially funded weather reports for a long time.   It is hard to sell products when the forecast is 75 degrees and sunny, so the tendency of these media outlets is to highlight the potential for disaster and devastation.   By issuing a troubling forecast a week ahead of time, people are apt to watch the weather and that brings in revenue.   Now, I am not saying they don’t have their place in society – they do keep us informed – but we tend to believe the worst.   With that in mind, many of us made plans to prepare for the worst last weekend.   In fact, a lot of us cancelled worship services several days ahead of the storm.   In years past, I have been reluctant to call off church too early, but today’s technological advancements have made it easier for me, so it didn’t take too much convincing to get the notice out early and often.           N...