Think About It

          Have you ever wanted to say, “Just tell me the truth.”?  It is amazing how the truth is taking a beating these days.  Whether it is in the political arena, the court system, advertising or in our personal relationships it is often difficult to get to the truth of the matter.  For whatever reason, it seems that the truth is hard to find.  I think I am to the point where I just wish people would tell the truth.  It’s almost that I don’t care whether I would like the information or not, just be honest with me.           Now having said that, let’s consider what people think about us.  Are they asking the same thing of us?  Whether it is in our business, personal relationships or on official documents the people around us deserve to hear the truth from us.  Sure, we can excuse our “misinformation” by advocating that we are trying to position ourselves in the best light ...

Have you noticed how easy it is to communicate with people these days?  With cellphones, email, texting, Facebook, Instagram and all the other outlets it is pretty easy to reach out to people.  While there are advantages to this, it does have a couple of downsides to it. First, it is hard to get away from people – it seems like they can always find us and our downtime seems to be significantly reduced.  Second, when we can’t immediately reach someone, it can be frustrating.  Why aren’t they answering their phone?  Why didn’t they return my text?  Are they ever going to respond to my email – I sent it over an hour ago!  Increased communication potential has translated into instant communication possibilities, so it gets frustrating when it doesn’t happen in MY timeframe. As I thought about the possibility of instant communication, I got to thinking about God.  While 24/7/365 communication might be unique to mankind in this generation, it has bee...

How will people know that we are Christians?   Well, according to a song (and a scripture) they will know us by our love, but there is something else that can help people recognize us as disciples of Christ – compassion.   While we are quick to talk about the power and teaching of Jesus, a trip through the New Testament would not be complete without a look at compassion.   Jesus demonstrated His compassion when He cried with His friends, Mary and Martha, at the loss of their brother Lazarus.   Jesus was known for His ability to heal people’s ailments, but it was His heart that lead Him to them.   So, if Jesus was compassionate, what does it say about those called to be His disciples? The New Testament discusses a lot of things Christians are required to do, but one that cannot be overlooked is compassion.   We must be willing to notice people who are in need and be moved by their condition.   Whether the person’s need is fiscal, physical or emotiona...

          Harold and Lillian Michelson were part of the Hollywood establishment for decades – but there is a good chance that most of us have never heard of them.  Both Harold and Lillian worked in the background to create some of our favorite movies, but they were close enough to Tinseltown to be influenced by its glitz, glamour and temptations and that is what makes their 60-plus year marriage so incredible.  In an interview about what helped them stay together Lillian noted, ”The challenges that one has to overcome, I think is, making the other person feel that you are really vital to the partner’s life, in every sense, and that – there is no enemy there.  Even if you fight, there is no enemy there.  We were a team.”.            As I reflected on this observation I was touched by the commitment required to make a multi-decade marriage last, but it also offered me an insight into how we s...

           The other day I was driving along when I heard an instrumental-only version of  “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”.    As I listened to the music, it wasn’t bad, but the thing that struck me was how I knew anything about this song – or even why it was being played this time of year.   The tune was familiar and applicable – not because of the notes – but because of the words that I previously associated with the tune.   The action of playing the song was only important because it was connected with the message it had conveyed.           Have you ever heard someone say that they are uncomfortable making a personal statement about their connection with God?   They state that their method of evangelism is by doing good deeds.   While there may be some value in this type of lifestyle, the connection between good works and God’s will is only present when there is an obvious...

          A few weeks ago I publicly stated that I am a fan of the University of Central Florida Golden Knights.  My connection with UCF goes back decades when some of my High School classmates decided to attend what used to be known as Florida Tech, so when the UCF football program started gaining popularity it was easy for me to jump on the bandwagon.  Well, after a long trek, the Knights have won 25 games in a row and completed their second undefeated season.  While a case can be to be made for UCF being in the College Football Playoff, the fact of the matter is that in a lot people’s eyes, they just don’t have the same pedigree as some of the other programs in the discussion.  In all honesty, the debate has little to do with the quality of football they play, it has to do with the history (or lack thereof) of their program.  The only thing the Knights can do to gain credibility is just keep winning!      ...

For those of us who are a little bit older, probably the most familiar quote by George H. W. Bush is, “ I do not like broccoli. And I haven't liked it since I was a little kid and my mother made me eat it. And I'm President of the United States and I'm not going to eat any more broccoli.”.   This seemly personal and innocent comment created a lot of family arguments and even more political humor.   While President Bush is often remembered as a being a civil politician, one of the things that I liked about him was his ability to be an inspiration for doing good.   In his inauguration address in 1989 the new president promised, “ I have spoken of a thousand points of light, of all the community organizations that are spread like stars throughout the Nation, doing good. We will work hand in hand, encouraging, sometimes leading, sometimes being led, rewarding. We will work on this in the White House, in the Cabinet agencies. I will go to the people and the programs that are ...