Think About It

Unless you have missed all of the news for the past couple of weeks you are probably aware that today is the day for a solar eclipse.  One of the more interesting things about this eclipse is that it will be at least partially visible to much of the United States – and in some places they are calling for a total eclipse of the sun.  I am interested in seeing the event, but not excited enough to pay the $20,000 per night rates that some hotels are charging to be in the big middle of it all! Eclipses seem to generate a lot of excitement, but they are not unheard-of throughout time.  History records several examples where the light of the sun was overcome by darkness.  In fact, there was an interesting phenomenon that happened on the day that Jesus was crucified.  Luke records, “ It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness fell over the whole land until the ninth hour,   because the sun was obscured; and the veil of the temple was torn...

There has been a lot of talk about peace these days … well, let me rephrase that – there has been a lot of talk about the lack of peace these days.  While our nation is not currently engaged in any significant world-wide conflicts, there is a lot of tension.  Issues in foreign nations like Iraq, North Korea and Venezuela have made us uneasy.  Even our domestic peace has been tested in places like the Standing Rock Indian Reservation in North Dakota and in Charlottesville, Virginia.  If our forefathers were to analyze our nation’s current status many of them would probably say that we are “at peace”, but as we live through it, there is a lot of anxiety surrounding us.  Peace is an interesting concept because it can be defined in so many different ways.  One generation’s definition might be the absence of a world war while a community’s take on it would be a murder-free weekend.  A family’s definition might be a brief respite from domestic violence wh...

          Do we believe that people can tell the path they are traveling?  Now before we get too deep into our discussion I realize there are exceptions to every rule, but for the most part, our circumstances can tell us a lot about our values.  If we are experiencing joy and fulfillment there is a pretty good chance we are heading in the right direction, but if we find our lives in constant turmoil there is probably a reason for it.  Again, I am not saying that God will necessarily bless us financially, socially or politically for being faithful to Him, but when we do His will we are apt to feel His presence and protection.  Conversely, a person may have all the riches and power they need, but if their life is a mess that can be a clue that they have deviated from following Him.  Years ago the Bible established the principle of culpability by noting, “… to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrig...

As a youngster I learned several life-lessons, but one of the most painful was that the world didn’t revolve around me.  I am sure that there were several ways I was taught this lesson, but one of the most compelling was the lack of celebrations of my accomplishments.  Now, I want to say that I grew up with a supportive family, but even they didn’t see just how great I was.  They may have cheered when I got the game-winning hit in my Little League game, but they didn’t erect a monument to it in our front yard!  My parents were pleased when I got my driver’s license, but they didn’t go out and buy me a new Pontiac Firebird.  They were excited when I went away to college, but their lives didn’t stop just because I left home to attend school thousands of miles away. As I reflect upon this lesson a couple of things come to mind:   First, we should be celebrating the accomplishments of those around us.  Not only is it a good thing to highlight anoth...

What defines us?  Have you ever made a mistake – something that was an exception rather than the rule?  Have you ever done something aberrant that was just out of character?  Of course, we all have.  How would if feel if a judgment was formed based upon these few moments of indiscretion?  We don’t want to be assessed merely by a moment of failure, we would much rather be viewed within the context of a lifetime of work. It is easy to judge portions of our society based upon the exceptional circumstances.  Do we find ourselves afraid of other groups because of the voices or the actions of militants?  Do we assume that they speak for the masses or do we see them for what they are – a loud, disgruntled, self-serving minority?    While it may seem simpler to believe that everyone from a certain race, political party or religious group has the same mindset as a few radicals bent on causing trouble or spewing false values there is far more...

One day Jesus rode into Jerusalem to the cries of “Hosanna!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!”.   A week later, the crowds would be pleading “Crucify Him!  Crucify Him!”  Were the people that fickle or had something happened to change their mind?  As I look back at the last week of the life of Jesus I am fascinated by the influence the Jewish leaders had on the people.  They had been privately talking about the need to get rid of Jesus, but during that week they decided to go public with their pleas and the tide was turned.  Yes, each person who stood in that crowd would, individually, be held accountable for the choice they made and cry they shouted, but a heavy burden was laid on the leaders.  As Jesus confronted Pilate’s decision to crucify Him He would say, “You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”.  (John 19:11)...

The other day I was reading one of the online national media services and I discovered an interesting trend … they were giving me advice.  Rather than reporting the news, they were telling me to do this and not do that.  I realize that most of the advice was found in the “Opinion” section, but what struck me was that they giving me advice on how to live my everyday life.  Now, I am not naive enough to believe that the news media is pure news (I am not sure that it ever has been), but it did get me to thinking about who I allow to influence my decision-making.  Even if the print or electronic media didn’t try to shape my habits and behaviors there are plenty of others who are free with their advice on what I should be doing and how I should be living.  We are surrounded by sources of advice – actors, special interest groups, friends, politicians, preachers, parents, affluent business people and a multitude of others.  In all honesty, I can’t be too critical...