Think About It

  Have you noticed that when a law enforcement officer is charged with a crime it makes the news?  Another group that is a pretty big media target is our public officials – people seem to make a little extra effort in pursuing politicians and are a bit more vocal when they snag one.  On the surface, it might appear that this is a bit unfair, but when we take a good hard look at it, it is probably the proper thing to do.  Those who are in public service – whether they make the laws or enforce the laws – are given a lot of authority, so when they cross those lines, it is reasonable that they would be held to a higher standard.  Public trust has some benefits, but it also comes with a price tag. The reason I broach this subject is not to demean our public servants, rather as a lesson to those who hold themselves out as being godly.   When we profess Christianity, we need to understand that people will be watching us ... and some of them will be hoping to c...

          I have come to believe there are three types of people in the world:  critics, fixers and helpers.            Let me see if I can explain.  Have you ever watched as people evaluate the work of others?  Take for example, a minor repair project.  When we are in the process of working on something, people will tend to do one of three things – either they will tell us where we messed up (and go on their way), they will wait until we leave and fix it themselves (in other words fix what we are working on) or they will work with us and help us complete the project.  I believe that each one of us is predisposed to be one of these three types of people – but I also believe that there is one that provides more leadership than the others.  For the most part, when we offer to help other people we tend to rise to a higher level by showing cooperation and care.  “Critics” see the...

A few days ago a friend of mine sent me a quote that is quite insightful.   I wish I knew who originally penned the thought in this form because I would love to give them the credit; however, for now, all I can to is share their wisdom: “ Problems develop our perseverance – which in turn will strengthen our character, deepen our trust in God, and give us greater confidence about the future. Thank God for those opportunities to grow”.   As I pondered this thought my mind raced to the lessons of nature.   It is said that the struggle of a butterfly to get out of the cocoon is what gives it the strength to be able to fly.   Scientists tell us that the exhausting effort it takes for a fledgling sea turtle to break their shell, dig out the sand and waddle across the beach to the water is what allows them to be successful in the ocean.   On one hand it might seem logical that an easier path would create a better world for butterflies and turtles, but the only way th...

Do you remember when you were young and in love?   During those early days it seemed like everything was fun and exciting.   The first kiss, the first rose, the wedding, the honeymoon, the first trip over the threshold, your first vacation together – all of these things were steps towards a deepening relationship with that special person in your heart.   Then, something happened – life.   Pretty soon there were fewer and fewer “firsts” meaning that your marriage and your lives began to become routine.   Sure, periodically something special (like an anniversary or Valentine’s Day) would pop up, but all-in-all you began to take on the personality of an old married couple.   For those who had hoped that it wouldn’t happen to them, they began to feel the strain of the mundane and the disappointment of everyday life.   While I hope that the previous paragraph does not apply to any of our readers, I would imagine that at least of a few of us might have wr...

Each year I look forward to the coming of autumn.   After experiencing the Dog Days of August (and September) I can’t wait for the cooler weather.    I even get excited about the first snowfall.   Despite living so many years where snow is commonplace, there is something special about seeing everything covered in that white blanket for the first time of the season.   Yes, I do enjoy the coming of the cooler weather, but by this time of year I am over it!   I am tired of the gray skies, cold precipitation and the wind.   I need a Spring Break! When I was in college we didn’t have an official Spring Break and that trend as continued through the years.   Sure, I have taken a trip or two this time of year, but I don’t like crowds on my beaches (much less paying a premium price to be in the midst of them), so I generally don’t do a traditional trip down south.   However, for the sake of sanity – and to avoid a grouchy personality – I still need...

Growing up when and where I did (and topping out at 5 feet 8 inches tall) I have never really been a big basketball fan.   Like most kids I played basketball in elementary school, on the playgrounds and was in a league at the local youth center, but that is about the extent of my basketball experience.   However, even without much technical background, I still enjoy March Madness!   Honestly, I can’t tell you which NCAA teams have had good years so far, but I will begin to have a little bit of interest today.    When I think about what excites me about the Tournament it isn’t as much the games as it is the Cinderella stories.   Beginning today, there are 68 teams – schools of all shapes and sizes, from all over the country – who believe they have a shot at winning it all.   Sure, the pundits have made their picks, but the people who lace up their sneakers believe this could be their year. Most of us like Cinderella stories, we like to see the underd...

          When the teenagers from our church went bowling the other night, I thought I would go along with them ... after all, what could it hurt, right?  (Hang on to that thought for a moment, we’ll return to it.)  I used to bowl in league several times a month and, while I wasn’t the best bowler on the team, I did okay.  Well, that was then and this is now.  What began as a fun-filled night turned into some frustration and a lot of aches.  First of all, my mind knew what to do but my body was uncooperative.  I think my first roll was a gutter ball and, even though things got better, I constantly found myself intellectually knowing what to do, but physically unable to do it.  About mid-way through the second game I began to feel the physical strains.  By the end of the second game my fingers were hurting and when we finished the third game I was dragging – which turned into aching later that night an...