Think About It

What guides our lives? That is a pretty broad question, isn’t it? Let me see if I can narrow it down a bit. As we approach life, what dictates how we view things? Will we be derailed by emotion, overwhelmed by circumstances and side-tracked by folly or will we rely on wisdom to guide us through life? Wisdom is one of those interesting words: we think we’ll know it when we see it, but can we define it? I believe that wisdom is the ability to take all the knowledge we have accrued through the years and apply it to the situations that present themselves to us. It is properly combining book-learning, experiences and spiritual maturity to address the issues we face. Life is going to be difficult, and people are going to be harsh. None of us have been promised an easy existence, so to be successful we are going to have to develop wisdom because if we don’t things are going to tough. I remember a pretty insightful quote, “Life is hard … it is even harder if you are foolish!”. The ...

I was a wrestling fan when I was younger. (Maybe I should say I was a fan of ‘Rasslin’ – you know the stuff that was done by people like Dusty Rhodes, Andre the Giant and the Funk Brothers). I would get wound up over who beat who in the spotlight matches on Saturday afternoons. In fact, my friends and I would argue over our favorites to the point that we might get in a scrap that chipped away at our relationship. Come to find out years later, these guys who seemed to hate each other on T.V. were eating dinners together and riding the same bus or plane to the next venue. I wonder how many childhood friendships were destroyed (or at least damaged) by cosmetic rivalries. The reason I bring up old-time wrestling is that I see something akin to it in modern times. I wonder if modern debaters have done us as much good as the heartache they have caused? There are a lot of politicians, pundits and community leaders that are driving wedges between people. They stand up on their platfor...

When we think about idols, most of us conjure up a vision of an icon made of wood or stone that sits at the door of some religious place. While this can be an idol, I believe that idols can be more than physical images of pagan gods. An idol can be a political system that we revere more than godliness. Idols can be movements that make more social sense than adhering to the spiritual principles. Idols can be people we listen to more than we heed the word of God. Idols can be a principle of natural or social science that claims to explain humanity more completely than the Creator. An idol can be the monetary currency we put our faith in rather than trusting that the All-powerful God will take care of our every need. Simply put, an idol is anything that usurps our reliance on and worship for God. The interesting thing about idols is that their power is limited because they were created by humans. Several years ago, one of God’s prophets considered the futility of idolatry by obs...

If you have spent much time studying the Bible, it is quite possible that you have heard Abraham referred to as the “Father of Faith” (or maybe even the “Father of the Faithful”). Have you ever wondered why he was given that title? No, it wasn’t because he got everything right – rather, it is because he followed the Lord’s direction. There are several examples of his faith throughout his life, but to me, one of the most impressive occurs when Abraham (or, as he was known at that time, Abram) followed the Lord’s direction when he was told, “Go forth from your country, and from your relatives and from your father’s house, the land which I will show you …” (Genesis 12:1). The Lord followed up with the blessings Abram and his descendants would receive, but it was contingent on his willingness to go. God didn’t give him a map, nor step by step instructions on how he would achieve his reward – he was told to go and the great patriarch went. He was convinced that God had something speci...

Have you ever thought about what makes the difference between a victim and a victor? When we first consider it, we might attribute the difference to talent or opportunity – and while that might have something to do with it – the bottom line is persistence. Too often, victims are those who just give up too soon while victors are the ones who keep going until they have the ability to get what they want or need. The phrase “victim of circumstances” is often used as a regrettable fact of life; but could it merely be that someone gave up too soon? One of the challenges of modern society is the acceptance of victimization – and in some cases the pursuit of victimization. When we look for excuses to give up, we can easily find them and, when we do, we have a built-in reason for not being successful. What would happen if, rather than settling for what is easy, we press on for what we desire? No, we won’t always get what we want, but when we keep going we’ll have a chance to win more t...

Are we spending too much time debating the Second Amendment and not enough time discussing the Sixth Commandment? I am one of those people who can see both sides of the gun argument. Growing up as political conservative, I learned to read and value the United States Constitution. Living in the places where guns were used for hunting and recreation as well as protection, I believe there is a legitimate place for firearms as tools. However, being involved in Law Enforcement for decades has taught me that not everyone should possess a gun. Having consoled families and conducted funerals for people who have died as the result of gun violence, I realize the damage they can do. I get it – on both sides. We have been arguing about gun issues for decades and I don’t know that we have made a lot of progress. Could it be that we are seeking answers in the wrong place? Maybe the issue isn’t political, maybe it is spiritual. Frankly, illicit killing has been around a lot longer than guns....

April 19th and 20th have the reputation of being troubling dates in our nation’s history. April 19th, 1993 was the day the government’s conflict with the Branch Davidians came to a head in Waco, Texas. While much of the nation was focused on the events in Waco, many of us in South Dakota were mourning the death of Governor George Mickelson and his staff who died the same day in an airplane crash. Two years later, in 1995, Timothy McVeigh blew up the Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Not only was April 20th Adolph Hitler’s birthday (1889), but it was also the date two killers invaded Columbine High School (1999). No, not every April has been horrific, but for a while I got to where I would have gladly skipped this week and moved directly into May. I must admit that this week can weigh heavy on me, but this year I would like to propose something different. Rather than allowing ourselves to get down because of the events of our past, let’s look forward to the hope of the future. Le...