Think About It

How many of us remember Sadie Hawkins events?  I don’t know if there is such a thing as Sadie Hawkins stuff anymore, but in years gone by, it was a time when girls asked out the guys.  The thing that got me thinking about this was that these were often held on February 29 – Leap Day.  As I mentioned, with the modern social freedoms enjoyed by women, it is not a novel concept for a woman to invite a man out (in all honesty, Jeane was the one who asked me out on our first date), but for a while it was a pretty big deal.            As I thought about this concept I realized the amount of change I have seen in my lifetime.  We have gone from a time that featured Sadie Hawkins themed events to a modern claim of “I don’t need a man in my life”.  Have you ever wondered what has brought about this change?  While some of it has come from the changing morays and expectations of modern culture, I believe that it als...

Do we ever feel like we are overwhelmed?   There are certain times in my life when I feel like a dog chasing my tail – I am doing something in a big hurry, but never feel like I am accomplishing anything.   There is a lot of action and activity, but very little satisfaction.   So what can we do to make our lives more productive? The most obvious answer to this question is to live a life filled with purpose.   When we consciously determine those things that are important to us and put a priority on pursuing that goal, we will find contentment.   Have you ever wondered how Jesus could deal with the constant distractions in His life?   Maybe it was because He knew His purpose and invested His life in furthering it.   We might imagine that the Son of God who came to earth to rescue mankind from itself (and satan) would innately understand His purpose, but the great thing about Jesus is that He kept that purpose first and foremost in His mind.   I i...

This time of year there is a lot of talk about sacrificing something for religious purposes.   For some, this discussion represents a year-long willingness to give up a certain behavior to be pleasing to God while, for others, it is a seasonal choice that is made to reinforce a commitment to their religious principles.   Either way, there is a belief that service to God does not come without a willingness to pay a price or make an investment to seek His approval.   In essence, we are willing to give up something we like (or sacrifice) in an appeal to God’s good graces. While individual sacrifice can be a positive rite of human religion, we must be cautious not to believe that this type of offering is enough to impress God.   Sure, giving up something we enjoy can help us reinforce our religious commitment, but it pales in comparison to what God and His Son were willing to give up to save us.   God separated Himself from our Lord and watched Him be put to deat...

          According to an article I read online, during her last speech as the First Lady, Michelle Obama challenged the nation, “ You cannot take your freedoms for granted. Just like generations who have come before you, you have to do your part to preserve and protect those freedoms ... you need to be preparing yourself to add your voice to our national conversation ...”.  As I read that statement, it got me to thinking about how easy it is to rest on the laurels of what others have done for us.  It is tempting to be thankful for what has been handed down to us, but not make any effort to understand from where these blessings come nor develop a way to pass our advances on to the next generation.  When our voices are not heard (all of our voices) we will not retain the status quo, we will begin to wither away.           While this statement has merit in our national discussion, it also has value in ...

          What happens when we win our arguments?   We spend a lot of time and energy trying to learn how to be persuasive and compelling, but how do we act when we get the better of other people?   Sure, it is nice to be able to advance our cause, but unless we deal appropriately with those we overcome, our victory will be shallow at best and antagonistic at worst.           When we come out on top of a discussion, let’s take the time to do a few things: 1.   We should be gracious in victory .   Just because we successfully defend our position doesn’t mean that the other person was necessarily wrong, much less a bad person.   When we get our way, we mustn’t gloat or belittle the opposition. 2.   We should acknowledge the good points in their logic .   Rarely is there a discussion in which one person is completely right and the other is completely wrong. ...

          How good were the 2017 Houston Astros?   If you are a baseball fan, you may have asked yourself this question.   Even if you aren’t a baseball fan, if you have been paying attention to the news, you probably understand the reference.   Over the past few months the story of how some of the Astro players used electronic aids to gain an advantage has come to light.   As I have watched this story unfold I have often wondered how much of their success was talent and how much of it was the result of cheating.   The 2017 Astros were a fun team to watch, but just how good were they – really?   Sure, knowing what pitch was coming gave the batter an advantage, but a batter still had to hit major league caliber pitching.   There is no doubt that these players were good, the question remains just how good they were.   Sadly, no one will be able to answer this debate because there will always be an aster...

One of my most intense challenges is knowing when NOT to talk.   As I look back through my life, I can recall a few times when I should have spoken up, but didn’t; however, I can find a lot of times when I said something and would have been much better suited to having said nothing at all.   More often than not, it was when I said something that got me in trouble.   There is an old adage that observes, “It is better to not say anything and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”.   While the source of this quote may be in doubt, its accuracy is generally accepted by all.   When I struggle with this aspect of my life, I can take comfort in the fact that I am not alone in my folly.   In fact, the Bible issues this warning to all of us, “ He who restrains his words as knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding.   Even a fool, when he keeps silent, is considered wise; when he closes his lips...