Think About It

Happy Presidents Day, 2026!  Actually, the official name at the federal level is still Washington’s Birthday, but through the years (and to streamline some holidays) many states now honor Presidents Day.  Now, while you can pick and choose which president you’d like to honor today, I will stick with first president for our quote of the day.  Even though the story of Washington chopping down the cherry tree and responding with, “I cannot tell a lie …” has pretty much been relegated to a fable, George Washington is closely associated with telling the truth.  Interestingly, I came across a quote attributed to him that advocates, “Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light.”.  Interestingly, we live in an era where truth is taking a terrible beating, so how can we help truth prevail?  I think there are a few ways: Tell the truth .  Before we cast stones at anyone else’s lack of veracity, we need to make sure that we are being h...

It is time for an annual reminder – tomorrow is Valentines Day!   If you haven’t gotten a special gift for that special someone, there might still be time to order it on Amazon Prime or head over to the local retail store and pick up some flowers and a card – but no matter what you are planning; by now, time of the essence! I have mixed emotions about Valentines Day.   On one hand, it does have a patently commercial ring to it, but the idea of taking time out during the year to remind us to be loving to our loved ones doesn’t sound like a bad idea.   So, in the interest of the day, here are a couple of suggests on ways to be good “valentines”: 1.   Block out some special time to be with your sweetheart .   It doesn’t have to be elegant or expensive, rather it just needs to be exclusive.   Schedule time to be with them and be present while you are with them. 2.   Pick out a present just for them .   It doesn’t have to break the bank to be spe...

Happy birthday to President Abraham Lincoln who was born in Hodgenville, Kentucky on this date in 1809.  Abraham Lincoln is one of the best-known Americans to have ever lived and he is also one of the most quotable.  If you search “quotes by Abraham Lincoln” you are bound to be overwhelmed by a lot of gems, but one I came across the other day struck me for its timelessness.  According to multiple accounts, when the president was approached with the idea of the Lord favoring the Union’s take on the divisive issues in 19 th Century America, Lincoln is quoted as noting, “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right.”.  In a nation known for positioning God on our side (no matter the issue) I think this insight is refreshing.  The belief that God backs us because of who we are is counterintuitive to the way things should be.  God does not serve our nation; it is our responsibility to ser...

Have you ever heard (or said), “I just don’t understand how people can do things like that!”?  There are times when we watch someone mistreat others or do horrific acts and we just don’t get it.  While we say this with a sense of frustration, in all honesty, that’s not a bad thing.  Us not being able to fathom the evils people do is natural and laudable.  In all honesty, I would be worried about you – and me – if our minds could fathom the evil people do!  I think one of the reasons we can’t understand why people are evil is that we have put that type of thinking behind us.  We think with a different set of morals than those who live such a debased lifestyle.  Interestingly, as Christians, we are challenged to expand our ignorance of the world, “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on...

I have a bittersweet relationship with certain telemarketers.   First of all, for some reason I have found myself on a few lists of people who keep calling me about the same stuff time, after time, after time.   I don’t answer their calls, but that doesn’t stop them from calling back.   Whether it is improvements at the church building on a loan for which I never applied, they keep calling me.   Now, that is the “bitter” part of the equation, it really irritates me.   However, the other day, I got to thinking about their persistence.   Even though I didn’t answer yesterday, they called again today … and will probably call back tomorrow.   That’s real stick-to-it-ness!   I have to give them credit for that.   Not only could it be tough to tell them no, but they will also keep trying until they get the chance to convince me to say yes. As I deleted another call off my voicemail the other day, I got to thinking about how persistent we should b...

By now, the Winter Olympic Games are well underway.   Some medals have been awarded and others will come later in the week.   I never really grew up around winter sports, so I was kind of intrigued by the events that went on where people actually had enough snow and ice to incorporate them into competitions.   About the only race we had in the winter was trying to get off the thin ice before it cracked! Even though I don’t know a lot of the complexities of the events (like curling or skimo), I do know that it takes something special to be an elite athlete on the world stage.   Yet, to me, the greatest part of the show is being an Olympian – a team member, a representative of your nation and a participant with other world class athletes.   Winning a medal is incredible, but competing with the world’s best on an international stage is not bad either.   The problems with the Olympics tend to arise when winning comes before sportsmanship and camaraderie. Li...