Think About It

Alex Karas was a man of many hats. He was an actor/entertainment personality, a professional football player and … many people may not know it, but a writer as well. Karas gained popularity as a lineman in the NFL when toughness was the name of the game. There may have been a bit of finesse in some of the glamour positions, but when it came to the guys in the trenches, it was a man’s-man’s game. However, if you do much digging into his post-playing years, you’ll find a different side to the guy. The other day I came across a quote, “It takes more courage to reveal insecurities than to hide them, more strength to relate to people than to dominate them, more ‘manhood’ to abide by thought-out principles than blind reflex. Tough is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles and an immature mind.”. Wow, that doesn’t sound like a 20th Century lineman, does it! It is easy to criticize modern society, but I believe that – in some ways – we are more advanced than we were early in my life. W...

One of the most popular sections of the New Testament is the Sermon on the Mount – and one of its most well-known parts of it is the Beatitudes. These “blessings” appear to have been spoken by Jesus in an effort to set the expectations He had for His people. As I looked at one of the Beatitudes the other day, I noticed an interesting observation, “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.” (Matthew 5:5). Through the years, we have become familiar enough with this verse that we may have a tendency to overlook its irony. The traditional view of humanity is that the power of the strong will produce victory. The harder you work, the most tenacious you are, the more you will accomplish. So, is Jesus discounting hard work and planning? It seems that Jesus is trying to shift the focus of His disciples away from selfish goals and acquisitions to cooperation and lasting accomplishments. Life is more than conquering; it is also about co-existing. We don’t just measure ...

I like proverbs and I am especially fond of the Old Testament book of Proverbs. Maybe it’s because I have a short attention span, but these little nuggets of wisdom tend to get me to thinking – often for a longer period of time than some of the longer or deeper concepts. While proverbs are beneficial, one of their inherent drawbacks is that they are not always complete. Due to their brevity, they often provide more general guidelines. Take for example, “The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the crookedness of the treacherous will destroy them.” (Proverbs 11:3). That sounds good and makes a solid point, doesn’t it? Yet, it is always true? Have you ever known someone who was crooked, but seemed to be successful? We all know people who are evil and seem to be skating along without a care in the world. How can that be? Again, the nature of proverbs is in their generality, but it may also take into account the problem with brevity. Proverbs don’t (typically) include ...

When the Apostle Paul wrote the First Century Christians about family relations he noted, “Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.” (Colossians 3:18-21). Throughout the years I have read this section several times, but the other day something really struck me. Did you notice that a successful family isn’t focused on what people do for “me”, it’s about looking out for them? Paul calls upon each segment of the family to take into consideration the needs and desires of others. Being a successful family begins with doing something good to others. There is a lot of talk about dysfunctional families today, but maybe we are making the problem too complex. It isn’t that families are too messed up, maybe it is that we are just upside d...

I was recently visiting with someone who reminded me of the difference between “fairness” and “equality”. On the surface, the two words sound similar but there are some fundamental differences including the practical applications to achieving the result. Equality is traditionally viewed as providing the same thing to everyone while fairness involves making sure that everyone has what is needed to attain the common goal or standard. Since no two people are the same, the amount of assistance needed will be unique to each person. Some will require more to reach the target while others need less – but eventually everyone has the chance to be at the same place. As I thought about this concept, I got to thinking about one more fundamental difference – the standard itself. A conversation of “fairness” and “equality” needs to begin with a common definition of the goal. Neither of these principles are of much value until we agree on a desired outcome. From a social perspective, workin...

F ear is an interesting thing. On one hand, we all face it – but we do not fear the same things. Some people are afraid of spiders while other fear the things that lurk in the shadows. Some people fear what might happen while others are afraid they will never move beyond where they are now. Our fears may be diverse, but we share a common emotion. Even if we have different specific phobias, one common fear is being overcome by our foes. Whether it is the physical fear of violent behavior or an emotional fear of being oppressed, many of us are afraid of certain people around us or even of society as a whole. Interestingly, even King David – the valiant warrior and man after God’s own heart struggled with dealing with his foes. However, he had an ally in dealing with his fears. In one poem he observed, “My foes have trampled upon me all day long, for they are many who fight proudly against me. When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I h...

I can’t say for certain, but I would imagine that Cinco de Mayo (May 5) is probably a bigger deal in the United States than in Mexico. The formal Mexican Independence Day is September 16; May 5 celebrates more of a regional battle than a national accomplishment. However, for whatever reason, Cinco de Mayo has a pretty big following north of the border – and what’s not to like about it! Celebrating the good food and culture of Mexico strikes me as a good idea. In an era when our nation can struggle with being – well, neighborly – it’s a good thing to honor one of our neighbors. Sure, there are some differences between our nations, but celebrating our common heritages and even some of the differences draws us closer together. Do we get along with our neighbors – in particular those who live closest to us – or do we fuss and fight over things that don’t really matter all that much? When God brought His people together in a common quest to find their promised land He challenged th...