Think About It

Happy Independence Day – 2022! There are several reasons to like July 4 – the picnics, the fireworks, the day off from work, the time with the family and maybe an afternoon visit to the old ballpark. If there is one quintessential American holiday, it would probably be July 4. Because of when and where I grew up, the Fourth of July holiday has been special to me because it represented what America stood for – freedom, democracy and capitalism just to name a few. Yet, over the last few years, pride in American and the American way of life has taken a hit. Due to struggles with unity, partisan politics and a loss of nationalistic pride, Independence Day does not shine as brightly as it did before. Now, I am not here to criticize what the day has become, but I would like to make a few suggestions to help us restore some of the joy in our nation and our national day. First, we should remember just how blessed we are. No, the USA is not perfect – and we have had our share of proble...

Centuries ago, the Apostle Paul wrote a letter to a minister working with the Christian church on the island of Crete. While my understanding of Cretan history is not extensive, I get the impression that they were a lot like 21st Century Americans. They seemed to relish independent thought and did not take their own morality as seriously as they should. In fact, Paul even quotes one of their own as saying, “Cretans are always liars, evil bests, lazy gluttons.”, then goes on to affirm the observation (see Titus 1:12-13). So, how did Paul instruct Titus to work in this type of environment? His words were relatively simple, “But as for you, speak the things which are fitting for sound doctrine.” (Titus 2:1). In essence, stay above the fray and focus on things that are worth your time. It is easy to get wrapped up in arguments and discussions that don’t really matter very much. It is tempting to become entwined in discussions that don’t have a whole lot to do with anything of sign...

Last Friday afternoon I was out with a group of people who were on a Prayer Walk through our local community. The event had been in the works for several weeks and was designed to get religious people from various spiritual perspectives to come together to pray for our community and our nation. Interestingly, this was shortly after the Supreme Court’s announcement on the abortion issue – and what was a Prayer Walk was perceived by some in the community as a protest march. I would imagine that the judicial decision might have been on the minds of some in the group – but their primary focus was on God’s intercession into our lives. As I reflected on the misinformation, I got to thinking about how often the world misunderstands the hearts and minds of Christians. They see a gathering of people and, rather than listening to the praise, they assume there is protest. They turn our words around to suit their agenda. They miss our point and are quick to point out what they perceive be ou...

In yesterday’s observation, I drew from some words of wisdom gathered in the 17th Century.  Today, I would like to take a trip even further back in time – to the era of the wisest man of his day, King Solomon.   The wise king was known for his proverbs, but the most impressive thing about them is that they rise to the level of the inspired Word of God.  They don’t just make sense, the Lord made them into Scripture. I was reading through some of Solomon’s writings the other day and found a gem, “The name of the Lord is strong tower; the righteous runs into it and is safe.” (Proverbs 18:10).  On first blush, this saying may appear to apply to a believer’s desire for physical protection during times of trial, but I wonder if there isn’t something more.  What happens when we rely on God’s power to preserve us in our day-to-day lives?  When we do the will of the Lord, our actions will always be honorable.  When we seek the high road people might critic...

The other day, a friend of mine asked if I wanted to read a book called “Jacula Prudentum”. I had never heard of it, but as soon as I opened it, I was hooked. The title of the book is translated as “Darts of the Wise” and is a collection of proverbs compiled in the 17th Century by George Herbert. While some of the sayings are hard to comprehend, there are many more that continue to withstand the test of time. One of the quips that got my attention is, “Living well is the best revenge.”. While this saying might be short, it can apply to several aspects of life. Take, for example, someone whose potential has been criticized in the past growing up and becoming more than their critics ever imagined. No argument is as powerful as outperforming doubters. Yet, as I thought about it, the thing that seemed to intrigue me the most was how some people continue to live good lives in the wake of those who abuse them. Whether the abuse is verbal or physical, it is tempting to want to “get ...

Over the last few weeks decisions have come down from the United States Supreme Court and legislation has been enacted by our government that have touched the heart and soul of who we are – individually and as a nation. I am not here to laud, criticize or debate the decisions, rather I want to address our responses to what has been decided. Throughout the years, many of the sensitive issues covered by these rulings have elicited harmful reactions – including violence, distrust and disrespect. We must avoid these types of responses if we are going to move forward as a civilized society. So, how should we respond to the latest national news? First, if you agree with the decisions, practice humble thankfulness. Many people have spent the last several decades hoping and praying for change. When decisions go your way, be thankful but avoid gloating and taunting those who disagree with you. It is hard to thank God and belittle others with the same mouth. Conversely, if you disagree...

Today, we spotlight Grover Cleveland on the 114th anniversary of his death. You might recognize the name Grover Cleveland as a president of the United States, but there are a couple of things that stand out in his presidencies. The use of the plural of “presidency” might give you an insight into one of the factoids – he was the only person elected president in non-consecutive elections. He was elected president in 1885 and served until 1889. He lost the election in 1888; but was reelected in 1892 and served until 1897. Yet, did you also know that he was only president to be married while in the White House? In 1886, the nearly 50-year-old president married the 21-year-old Francis Folsom. While these unique facts are interesting, the reason for the spotlight is a quote of Cleveland’s that I came across. The man who would be a two-time president observed, “A government for the people must depend for its success on the intelligence, the morality, the justice, and the interest of the...