Think About It

How often do we think about the incredible nature of godliness?   Sure, we talk a lot about the need to remain faithful or the requirement of a commitment to our principled lifestyle, but how often do we focus on just how wonderful a holy life can be?   When we make the decision to live in harmony with God our lives become filled with some delightful rewards.   We get to see the world through the eyes of our Creator.   We get to experience this realm in a way that leads us to an abundant life.   We get to enjoy things like peace, hope, joy and love.   In a society that struggles with finding purpose and contentment those who pursue godliness are given a chance to make the most out of our days on this earth. Centuries ago, one of God’s most notable servants observed, “ How blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord.   How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, who seek Him with all their...

I just noticed that we are five months away from Christmas.  Wow, with as warm as it has been the last few weeks it is hard to believe that we are (slowly but surely) approaching not only the cooler temperatures, but also one of my favorite times of the year.  As I thought about the “impending” holiday season, it caused me to think about a church sign I saw shortly after Easter that said, “All the Easter candy might be gone, but Jesus is still raised from the dead.”.  I really like that!  Sometimes it seems we get wrapped up in the peripheral aspects of things and tend to miss the heart (and soul) of the matter.  Easter is rapidly becoming almost as commercial as Christmas, but it is the reminder of Jesus’ resurrection that that should inspire us. Folks, I realize that it is nowhere near Christmas or Easter but that shouldn’t matter because Jesus is still alive and well.  He isn’t merely the star of the show a couple times a year – He is Lord and King ea...

Last weekend I was preparing for an upcoming trip.   I was excited about the travel and about what I was going to get to do once I arrived, but I noticed something about me – I was not too much fun to live with.   I was rushing around trying to get everything done that needed to be done while I was gone.   I was worried about overlooking something and trying to psych myself up for having to get up at 0-dark-thirty to catch my plane.   In essence, I was thrilled about the opportunity, but I was pretty wound up about getting there.   I found that through the process, not only was I influencing my mood, but I was also having a negative impact on the people around me. Has anyone else ever had this experience?   We are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead, but we make ourselves miserable trying to get all of our ducks in a row.   We anticipate what is possible, but we suck the enjoyment out of ourselves and the people around us while trying to...

Have you ever thought much about what makes a leader?   There are a lot of books and seminars out there that promote leadership – and sometimes I wonder if we have forgotten just how simple a concept it really is.   John C. Maxwell defines leadership as “influence”.   Leaders are people who have the ability to help others move to the next level of development.   They guide us, support us, train us and help us stay accountable on our journey.   They do not do what they do to achieve their own goal (that would be manipulators) nor do they merely work to achieve the bottom-line of an organization (those would be managers).   Leaders are the people who help us to be the most we can be! While defining leadership can be rather simple, becoming a leader is something that takes direction and purpose.   Sure, some people have a magnetic personality, but that isn’t what makes them a leader – leaders have a humble understanding of who they are and have an appr...

Much of the country has been dealing with warm temperatures this week.   While this is not, necessarily, cause for shock (after all, it is mid-to-late July) the expectation of hot weather doesn’t always make us feel good.   In fact, this heat wave has caused many people to lament the weather – and some may have described it in not so kind words.   One way that people tend to describe hot weather is by comparing it to hell.   In fact, in frustration, some might even proclaim that the temperatures of last week exceeded the temperatures in hell.   While that might be an attempt at a hyperbole, it isn’t accurate – and I believe it can be misleading!   You see hell isn’t unpleasant, it is unbearable!   Hell isn’t something that lasts for a few days or weeks, it is eternal.   Hell cannot be mitigated by finding indoor air conditioning or an outdoor water park, it cannot be escaped. There are some things that tend to get a bad reputation because of ho...

If you are familiar with the overall theme of the Old Testament, you are probably aware of the multiple storylines that occupy its pages.   The start of the Old Testament contains the story of the beginning the world and the fall of man.   Much of the material deals with the selection of Israel as a redeeming nation and the avenue through which God would go to provide a Savior.   The history of Israel has its ups and downs where during one era the nation is flying high as God’s chosen people then, in the next, they are being disciplined for losing their focus.   Interestingly, it is during this time when we see that the Jews not only struggled with their relationship with God, they also lost sight of the commitment to decency.   In fact, in justifying His involvement with the Jews the Lord cited His disapproval by how they had ignored His commands, but interestingly is wasn’t just their worship He didn’t like.   In working through a prophet Jehovah reminde...

Pretty early last Sunday morning I was in one of our local gas stations/convenience stores when I overheard a discussion behind me.  One person had parked his oversized pickup in a handicapped parking space and another person decided to make some comment about it in the middle of the store where everyone else could hear it.  As you might expect, the driver had a “witty” retort back to what had been said to him, which led to the other person adding his emotion-fueled reaction to what was said.  There were at least a half a dozen people in the store and, if they were like me, they felt uncomfortable about these two strangers going after each other – airing their intense personal feelings where the rest of us could hear them.  As I walked away from the store I got to thinking about what that whole exchanged accomplished and my conclusion was “nothing” (well, other than making two people irritated and several others feel awkward).  While I believe there was definit...