Think About It

            If things hadn’t been exciting enough over the past few months, they are about to really heat up.  As we continue to face issues like the pandemic and our social climate, we are about to add another layer of excitement with an upcoming presidential election – and who knows whatever else will raise it head in the next few weeks.  It is tempting to get wrapped around the axle about health, social and political issues, but how important are they?  Now, this might sound a bit odd – I mean this is pretty heady stuff that has quality of life implications – but sometimes I wonder if we invest more in these concerns than in those things that have an even more everlasting implication.  Yes, we need to do what we should do to ensure that we provide for others, but which is more important – their earthly well-being or their spiritual welfare?  What would happen if we were as fervent in presenting our spiritual p...

            I have read several of the Psalms throughout my lifetime, but the other day I came across one that I hadn’t really noticed up to this point.  Psalm 4 is becoming one of my favorites because it is just as applicable today as it was the day David wrote it centuries ago.   There are several things that drew me into the psalm, one of which is an observation made in verse 4, “ Tremble, and do not sin; meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still.”  In this verse we find a couple of insightful observations:  First, we are emotional beings .  Some biblical translations add extra information by noting “Tremble with anger or fear” which indicates that we are going to be emotionally impacted by the events in our lives. Second, we have to practice self-control .  It is not a sin to have an emotional feeling; however, we must control how we deal with it – because when we don’t that’s where w...

  How do we defend ourselves against those in the world who attack our values, principles and doctrine?   One thing for certain about being a believer is that someone, somewhere is going to challenge our faith and they might even get nasty about it.   There are a couple of points that need to be made about this statement – first, this shouldn’t surprise us and second, we need to be prepared to respond to it appropriately.   While it is tempting to fight fire with fire and retaliate against them with equal vigor and vile, that isn’t the way the Lord wants us to respond.   When the Apostle Paul taught the minister, Titus, how to teach others he noted, “… urge the young men to be sensible;  i n all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified,   sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.” (Titus 2:6-8).   ...

            I am not going to claim that people are more divisive than they have ever been – but I sure am not going to say that we are more united!   Throughout time, people have always struggled with getting along with others.   In fact, the number of times the phrase “love one another” is used in the Bible reminds us of how important it is and how overlooked it can be.   Interestingly, if we have to be reminded to love our friends, family and coworkers; just imagine how challenging it is for everyone else.   On one hand, this might indicate that we should be alleviated from trying to make extra effort to get along with others that we don’t like; but the Bible puts an end to that philosophy.   In direct conflict to a modern worldview Jesus said, “ But I say to you, you’re your enemies and pray for those who persecute you …” (Matthew 5:44).   If that isn’t enough, He also remarked, “ But I say to you w...

           Several years ago I worked in a position where I was a part of a team that worked on writing Administrative Rules that governed hunting, fishing and boating regulations.   It didn’t take me long in that position to realize a couple of things.   First, words mean something.   Even simple words such as “shall” and “should” may sound similar; but they have a vastly different intent.   A second thing that I realized is how hard people will work to find loopholes in the regulations.   Those who hope to get away with something try to become masters at the letter of the law rather than focusing on the intent of the regulation.   They are more interested in finding a way to get their way than they were in doing what was designed to be in the best interest of the community as a whole. I have thought about loophole lawyers quite a bit lately.  With more laws and rules being enacted to help deal with social health issues...

            The other day I was watching a baseball game and they described a major league pitcher in an unusual way.  On the surface the guy did not seem all that approachable – either by his teammates or his coaching staff – yet in defending him they called him “stubborn, but open”.  Now, if you were just casually listening, this combination of words might have just floated on by; but a closer analysis made me stop and think.  What does it mean to be stubborn, but open?  Isn’t that an oxymoron?  The commentators went on to explain that the veteran ballplayer understood his talents and his purpose and was committed to doing things his way; however, if people approached him with good information, he would listen.  In essence, he had a natural built-in filter, but he was not completely oblivious to help.           As I thought about this type of personality, I go...

          One of the most encouraging aspects of Christianity is the promise of “contentment”.  The concept of being able to live a life of emotional ease makes Christianity something to be pursued.  While this sounds appealing, for many of us there seems to be something that keeps standing the way of being contented.  This concept has been studied quite a bit, but one of the things that gets in the way is our selfishness.  The reason we aren’t contented is because we keep wanting more.  We aren’t satisfied because we want what we don’t have – and, too often, we want what other people have.            Selfishness is condemned throughout the Bible as something that can lead to negative actions and attitudes including a lack of contentment.  Yet, when we seek out what God wants us to do and trust that He will take care of us, we will be able to set aside selfishness and replace it...