Think About It

I came across a Facebook post the other day that made me say, “Hmmmm ...”.   According the post a guy named Jeremy Goldberg observed, “Courage is knowing it might hurt, and doing it anyway.   Stupidity is the same.   And that’s why life is hard.”.   I am not sure if this is supposed to make me laugh or cry – but I do know it made me think.   I look back over times in my life when I have stood on the brink of a decisions understanding that the likely result was something that was going to put me in an uncomfortable situation – should I do it or not?   Was it venturing into stupidity or stepping out in faith?   Folks, I would like to say that after some pondering I figured it out, but in all honesty there are many times when the answer still isn’t all that clear! As I thought about this dilemma that we face on a consistent basis, I realized that there is something that can help us know the difference between courage and stupidity – wisdom.   We...

Spending as much time as I have in Texas I think it is a requirement to be a Nolan Ryan fan.  Throughout the years, I have been fascinated by Ryan’s ability on the baseball field so I recently purchased one of his biographies that gave me more of an insight into what made him a Hall of Fame pitcher.  What were some of the qualities that lead to his success – and how can they be translated into lessons for us?  Let’s take a look: 1.  Talent .  The first thing that stands out with Ryan is his natural ability – he could throw the baseball hard and he could throw it hard for a long period of time.  Success begins with ability.  What talent have we been given that makes us “world-class”?  Let’s remember that not everyone has the same talent, so let’s find out what makes us special (even if it appears to be unique). 2.  Hard Work .  Nolan had a strong right arm, but it was his training regiment that kept him in the game for decades. ...

Have you ever looked at something dozens of times, then all of sudden, it seems like it just finally gets your attention?   The other day I pulled up my online Bible and came face to face with this passage:   Therefore, accept one another, just as Christ also accepted us to the glory of God.”  (Romans 15:7).   I know I have read this before and I am pretty sure that I have preached on it (and maybe even wrote an article or two about it), but for some reason when I saw it the other day it just jumped out to me!   As I sat there and absorbed the truth of the message I was struck by its depth.   How in the world could I rationally look down on anyone when Jesus was willing to accept me warts and all?   How could I question anyone’s value when Jesus was willing to make my sorry-self glorious enough to stand before God?   How could I flippantly criticize someone else knowing that I had been judged and condemned for my sinful self; then vindicated...

I have been doing some studying about the perceived conflict between “works” and “faith” in the New Testament.  If you haven’t spent much time delving into this discussion, the issue boils down to what saves us – faith or works.  Can we do enough good things to overcome the sin in our lives?  Is having faith in Jesus Christ enough to save us?  The problem with these questions (and the whole “faith vs. works” debate) is that it assumes that it is one or the other when, in fact, the answer isn’t “faith or works”, the truth of salvation is found in relying on “faith AND works”.  We cannot read the book of James without seeing the need for a life filled with faith and works, but his discussion isn’t the only insight we have into the issue.  You see, after Paul squelched self-righteous salvation by writing, “ For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that...

Last week, Jeane and I were enjoying a tropical vacation when Hurricane Jerry came to life.  The origins of the storm had been brewing for several days, but when it gained strength, it developed very quickly.  As soon as the hurricane began heading west it became obvious that the track of the storm was going to bring it close to the northern Antilles – right where we were!  Throughout the next couple of days the threat of the storm was real, but the models just didn’t seem to point to a landfall at our location; however, visitors and locals on the island had an uneasy feeling.  You see, everywhere you looked you could see the remnants of a major hurricane that had struck the island two years before.  The logical assessment of the low probability of being struck by the hurricane was overwhelmed by the fear of what they had already experienced. Now that we are safe at home, it is tempting to say “told you so”, but as I look back on the experience, I see somethi...

I love to travel.   I even really enjoy planning travel – we’ll, sort of.   I like shopping for deals, booking flights, lodging and excursions.   I even get excited reading about the history and researching the local cuisine of the destination.   However, there comes a point in time when the fun turns into a mild form of anxiety.   I begin to watch the forecast and wonder if the weather will cooperate.   Does the lawn need to be mowed or can it wait until we get back?   I start to think about what time we need to leave home to make sure we get to the airport on time.   Speaking of airports, where is our airplane coming from – will it make it on time so that we can make all of our connections?   If I am not careful, the upcoming details tend to rob me of the excitement of the trip.   Periodically, in the days and weeks leading up to a trip, I need to stop and refocus on the joy that awaits. Does that sound familiar?   No, at this ...

What makes a leader?  Is it results ... power ... fear ... planning?  There are several definitions of leadership out there, but to me there is only one that makes sense:  Leadership is influencing others in a way that they can become the best that they can me.  Leadership isn’t about us achieving our own goals, it isn’t even getting the best effort out of those around us ... it is about helping people achieve what is possible with the talents they have been given.  Sure, it is great when they will partner with us on a shared vision, but even if they decide to leave us and head out on their own – if we have helped them eventually reach their peak, we have demonstrated leadership. One of my favorite authors on leadership is Simon Sinek.  Sinek has written a couple of books on the topic and has become a valuable resource in helping leaders develop themselves.  One of the reasons I like Sinek is because he doesn’t confuse leadership with management or ...