Think About It

What does successful living look like? Let me refine that even further – what does spiritually successful living look like? I believe that, too often, when we think about being in a good relationship with God, we envision an idealistic existence. As long as we are good with God, He will keep us free from struggles and hardships. The problem is that this perception just isn’t accurate. We don’t have to look any further than the life of Jesus to see that closeness with God isn’t measured by freedom from concerns. There was no one any closer to God; but His life was filled with trials and, eventually, suffering. When God was reflecting on His commitment with His people He promised, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you.” (Isaiah 43:2). The thing that jumps out to me in this verse isn’t necessarily what is said as much as what i...

Do we ever feel like people don’t respect us? Does it seem that no matter how good we try to be, people are constantly critical of us? Wouldn’t it be nice if people would just see that we are good, caring people who want to do what is best for people? Well, while this might sound like it makes sense, I hate to break the news to you, but we probably shouldn’t count on it. Most of us have grown up to believe that if we just do good and try hard, people will respect us; but the truth is that that isn’t a guarantee. In fact, all we have to do is look to the life of Jesus our Lord and Master and realize that it doesn’t work that way. When John reflected on His life he noted, “In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” (John 1:4-5). While this sounds pretty depressing, it gets even worse. Not only did the people not understand Jesus, they killed Him. They didn’t just ignore His light … they sought ...

There are several quotes that go down in history – some are inspiring and some are remembered because they came back to haunt someone. In 1973, in the midst of a spiraling administration, President Richard Nixon told the media, “… people have got to know whether or not their president is a crook. Well, I’m not a crook. I earned everything I’ve got.” Within a year, the president would resign and accept a pardon so that he wouldn’t have to face any formal charges. Almost fifty years after making this statement, the irony of it rings true … even if the factual basis of the claim may be lacking. Whether he participated directly in the misdeeds of those around him, most people believe he earned what he eventually got. It is easy to make claims about our actions, but our words are not the final test of our truth. Just because we plead innocent, that doesn’t mean that we aren’t guilty. This observation isn’t just true in a court of law, it extends to every act of our life. We may m...

One of the most memorable images from my childhood is a stern looking man in a fedora on the sidelines of the Cotton Bowl (then, a bit later on, Texas Stadium). I was a Dallas Cowboys fan and the man who ran the team was my hero. Tom Landry not only produced winning teams, he displayed a winning attitude – not just in football, but in life. Coach Landry had a complex relationship with many of his players, but there was something special about the way he handled himself in victory and defeat. The other day, I was reading some quotes by Mr. Cowboy and came across this, “Really, coaching is simplicity. It’s getting players to play better than they think they can.”. As I read this, I immediately thought about leadership. Often, we think of leaders as people who can motivate people to follow their own game plan, but the real leaders are those who can help others become the best they can be. It’s not about manipulating people into doing what we want, it is about helping them fully de...

How can you make your momma and daddy proud? Often, when we talk about the relationship between a parent and a child these days, it seems like the conversation tends to focus on parents leaving a positive legacy for their children. As parents, we monitor our behavior so that we can leave a good name for our offspring. Now, while that is a legitimate and noble desire, there is another side to the idea of the parent/child relationship – one in which the child tries to please their parents. We tend to see this early in the lives of children – when they are doing what they can to please their parents and live up to their expectations. However, sometimes in the process of “maturing” this connection seems to be lost. Rather than seeking to be pleasing to parents, children tend to want to make their own decisions and their own mark. While this is a natural part of growing older – and separating from home – children should also seek to be pleasing to those who raised them. No, I don’t ...

There is a lot of talk about freedom and liberty today. We have come to expect the rights and privileges that come with being a member of our nation. While it is understandable that we should expect to have the liberties of those around us, have you ever given much thought as to why this is important to us? Do we want to be free to do what makes us feel good? Do we expect liberty so we can live a libertine lifestyle? I believe in the value of liberty, but it is interesting that the Bible has a bit of a different take on freedom. Rather than promoting liberty so that humans can do as they see fit, the Bible promotes liberty as a way to help our fellow man. When Peter wrote to the church in the 1st Century, he noted, “For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God.” (I Peter 2:15-16). Let’s pursue freedom and liberty, not so we can ha...

The other day I was visiting with a friend of mine who told me a story of a recent interaction with someone who found out that he was retired military. The veteran said that while he still appreciates it, he has gotten used to people saying “Thank you for your service.”. Yet, one day not long ago someone said something that made a real impact on him. Rather than thanking him for his service the person said, “Thank you for my freedom.”. That personal recognition a job well done made an incredible impact on this man who had invested his life in defending our nation and preserving our freedom. As we honor our veterans today, please take the time to say, “Thank you!”. Find someone who served in the military and let them know that the sacrifices they made are not forgotten. The saying goes, “All gave some and some gave all” but the measure of appreciation isn’t diminished by how someone’s career ended. These men and women (and their families) are worthy of our acknowledgement. Wheth...