Friday; November 13

I like the beach – I just can’t stand the sand! That may seem like an odd comment but let me see if I can explain. I really enjoy the sounds and the smells of around the ocean. I enjoy seeing palm trees and pelicans. I can stare at the beauty of how the white of ground meets the blue water. I even like wading in splashing waves and feeling the warm (or cool) water against my skin. I like just about everything about the beach except the sand. I don’t like how it gets in my clothes or how it burns my feet. It annoys me to have it blow into my eyes and mouth. I don’t like how it makes me work extra hard to get down to the water. Nope, I don’t like sand! Now, I have come to realize this about me and I have to make a decision, am I going to let this negative detract from the rest of the experience? Do I enjoy the beach more than I dislike the sand? The answer is usually “yes”, so I keep going to the beach.

I am aware there are others who feel this way about sand, but I also know there are people with different challenges – like those who enjoy going camping, but dislike mosquitoes or those who like to go to the mall, but get irritated at the crowds. Most of us have something like this where we overcome one negative aspect of a thing we like and are willing to endure it to get to enjoy the overall experience.
The reason I bring this up is to talk about church. Have you ever thought that you like going to church, but don’t go because you don’t like some of the people who go there? Maybe you feel there are some hypocrites or are a few unfriendly folks so you quit attending church. Let me ask you a question, wouldn’t it be worth it to go back to church and deal with a few problem people rather than miss the worship and fellowship with others you miss? Sure, there might be some problems, but are they worth overlooking to spend time worshipping God and being a part of a Christian fellowship? Some things are worth enduring when the blessings outweigh the inconveniences.

Think About It!

Popular posts from this blog

Tuesday; November 29

The biblical story of the Good Samaritan has changed our world. Notice I didn’t say that it had change religion or even Christianity, it has influenced the world. There are very few people who don’t know the moral of Jesus’ parable about the Good Samaritan. In fact, the phrase has become a common description of everyday people doing good to their neighbors. While Jesus’ parable from Luke 10 shares several spiritual lessons, one of the most practical is that good can be done by anyone. You don’t have to be a church official to do good, it is not only possible for each one of us to help, it is required of all of us. If a Samaritan can be good, so can we! After presenting the parable, Jesus asked the man who had originally asked the question about being a good neighbor which character in the story was a good neighbor, “… he said, ‘The one who showed mercy toward him.’” at which point, the discussion from theoretical to personal, “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do the same.’” (Luke
Read more

Thursday; January 12

The other day I was watching a television show that used a rather common term applied to overcoming challenges. When organizations experience unexpected setbacks – especially when they lose key people – they rely upon the concept of “Next Man Up”. In essence, when our starters (or stars) go down, effective organizations rely upon their next levels to step into the vacancy. While this is an effective response, have we given much thought as to how we prepare to be the “next people up”? First, we must know our job. Even when we aren’t the primary players, we need to be preparing ourselves to be ready when we get the opportunity to shine. Second, we must do our best when we get the chance. Knowledge is important but what turns potential into talent is effort. Yet, maybe the most underappreciated aspect of this concept is a willingness avoid excuse-making and whining about the unfairness of our situation. When we complain about the circumstances that caused the need for replacements
Read more

Monday; September 25

When I was a youngster, I remember hearing about this thing called the Generation Gap. I was a little bit too young to be active in the social movements of the 1960s, but I do remember listening to the challenges the generations were experiencing way back then. Interestingly, now that I have been on both sides of the aging process, I have to admit that the Gap of the 1960s was nothing new. With the development of each generation comes conflict. The young people don’t feel like the older people understand them and the older folks tend to believe their input is being underappreciated. Too often trust is the casualty when two generations collide. The sad thing is that it doesn’t have to be this way. When we can capture the innovation and energy of the younger folks and harness the wisdom of those who have been around for a while we can develop a winning combination. No, we won’t always see things eye-to-eye nor will we necessarily speak the same emotional language, but when we app
Read more