Think About It

There is a lot of talk about nature these days. Actually, there has been a lot of talk about nature for a long time. We have come to rely on documenting nature to help us not only understand our world, but to live in it as well. Measurements, temperatures and distances have become the standards by which we plan our lives. In fact, we have come rely on principles like gravity to the point that we call them “laws”. Science and its principles are seen as the end-all when it comes to gauging our world. While I believe that science can help guide our lives, before we start “worshipping” it we need to remember that Someone had to create the science we have come to rely on. It is one thing to be able to discover the standards, it is something altogether wonderful to create those standards. There are some who believe that nature just happened, but I have a hard time believing that the incredible world in which we live came from out of nowhere. The universe is so reliable, so expansive...

As human beings, which do we like more – information or affirmation? I have been thinking about this for a while, but the recent Centers For Disease Control recommendation about face coverings, social distancing, vaccinations, etc. reinforced the concept with me. For those who felt comfortable (and safer) when people were wearing masks, they would cite information from the CDC – often to the chagrin of those who didn’t want to wear masks. However, when the organization came out with an opinion that mask-wearing could be optional for those who were vaccinated, all of a sudden, a lot of people who were growing weary of face coverings jumped aboard the CDC’s bandwagon. Isn’t it interesting that we tend to like the data we agree with more than the information that contradicts our beliefs and desires? The reason I bring this up is not to re-ignite a debate about masks, rather as a caution us about our approach to the Bible. When we open the Word of God, do we do so to learn or affirm? ...

When we think of Christian living, we often think about the deeds we do. While it is important to make good decisions, spiritual living is more than just obeying commandments, it is also about acknowledging our God, King and Savior. Yes, living according to His rules is important, but praising Him as our Ruler is vital to our survival as well. Most of us who live in modern America are focused on actions – which can be beneficial – but, I believe we miss out on the concept of royalty and sovereignty. We don’t have a royal structure that helps us to appreciate God as much as we should. Additionally, we spend more time in prose than poetry. When we read, we are more apt to read a biography or non-fiction work than we are poetry. So, what can we do to enhance our spiritual living? Maybe we should literally take a page from one of the great spiritual poets of all time, King David. The 100th Psalm reminds us, “Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. Serve the Lord with gladness;...

How is the Lord’s church going to come out of the pandemic? I have been pondering this question for the last year. A year ago I was a lot more pessimistic than I am today. I feared that the lockdowns, illnesses and economic downturns were going to overwhelm us. While there have been some issues, as we stand on the brink of what we hope is a return to normalcy, I am a bit more optimistic; but still have to consider reality. Yes, we have been spared many of the issues I feared during my darkest times (maybe a better way of putting it is that we have been “blessed”); but we still have some catching up to do. So, how will the church respond to the impact of the crisis? As I thought about this challenge, my mind was taken back to a great man of God named Nehemiah. Nehemiah was a Jew who took on the task of helping the city of Jerusalem become inhabitable after years of desolation. He invested his skill and his emotion in an effort to restore the walls of the city – yet, there was so...

It was 26 years ago this week that my life took an interesting twist. After visiting with a local politician, I was asked to become a Police Chaplain for the Pierre (South Dakota) Police Department. While I had a little bit of an insight into what the job might entail, I had no clue how this appointment would impact my life or influence our family. I consider the times I have spend working as a Police Chaplain some of the most rewarding – and some of the most challenging of my lifetime. While I have been blessed to have been given this opportunity, if there is one lesson that has stuck with me the most, it is the concept of the ministry of presence. Those of us who work in the crisis field periodically get the chance to “do” things to help people, but the biggest benefit we bring is merely standing by with people as they navigate their own issues. We will never have all the right words, nor be able to heal all the hurts, but one thing we can do is be willing to sit next to someon...

After waking up feeling yucky, struggling with heartburn, debating on whether to buy larger clothes and doing all I could to avoid seeing my doctor, I decided to start eating better. I know, I know … it is no secret that eating better and investing in a little exercise can make us feel better – but sometimes I just need the reminder. Over the last couple of weeks, things are getting easier – no, I am not there yet, but I do feel better. The reason for this episode of “True Confession” is as a reminder that what we do today will have an impact on how we feel tomorrow – and not just when it comes to our physical health. When we practice patience with people today, we will have fewer apologies we need to offer tomorrow. When we invest in wise behavior today, we have less guilt in the future. When we show more hospitality today, we will have more friends in the future. When we practice true Christianity today, our eternity will be much more enjoyable. While it is important to live in...

For several years people have been harping about the need for the church to be relevant. They have warned that unless we take the proper stand or deliver the appropriate message we will be seen as irrelevant. It has taken me a while to understand it, but I believe that I am beginning to get it. You see, recently, I have stopped watching most sporting events because they have overshadowed the games I enjoyed for the need to make social statements. I have cancelled newspaper subscriptions because they have delivered more “opinions” than “news”. I have become disinterested in entertainment industries because they are pushing their agendas to the point that I can’t enjoy their stories. Things that were once pretty important to me have become irrelevant because they abandoned what drew me to them in the first place. Now, that brings us back to a discussion of Christianity. What is the purpose of Christianity? The thing that has drawn mankind to the Christian church is the promise o...