Think About It

I don’t know much about building houses but I have done a few remodeling jobs. Again, I am not an expert but one thing that I do know is that you can tinker with some things but you better not mess with a weight bearing wall. There are some decorative walls that can be remodeled and even removed, but the loadbearing walls have to stay in place. If you remove them the integrity of the house will be compromised. You may not be able to see them, but without them we are going to have problems. The other day someone mentioned to me that “love” is the loadbearing wall of Christianity. Whether it is in our individual relationships or in the structure of the church, love must be present or we are going to have problems. There are some optional issues and even superficial and decorative aspects of what we do, but if we want the church to endure – and if we want our relationships to be productive, we have to have love. Jesus was pretty direct about the foundation of our relationships, “Thi...

When the Apostle Paul challenged the First Century Christians he wrote, Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” (Ephesians 4:1-3). While there is a lot stuff packed into this passage, one thing that stands out to me is the presence of patience. Patience sounds like something that should be found in a Christian conversation, but what does it mean? Most of us could come up with a dictionary definition for patience but, practically, how do we do it? Patience means waiting for others as they catch up to our spiritual, mental and emotional levels. Patience means being tolerant of people as they work through their challenges. Patience means being there with them as they fall and fail – and be there with them the next time … and the next time … and the ne...

If you have been with us the last couple of days, you realize we have discussed two of the darkest days in our nation’s recent history. Well today, I want to change the pace. Rather than talk about hate and tragedy, I want to focus on peace and love. Yes, we live in a time when crime and devastation make headlines, but I want to remind us that for every one of these events that make the news there are thousands of other acts of kindness that go unreported. Whether it is as simple as someone helping another person load a heavy package in a car or as noteworthy as someone donating thousands of dollars to help a stranger pay a bill, there are good people doing good things! I believe that bad news sells advertising time, but good news is what makes life worth the living. Sure there are troublesome times, but there are also opportunities to witness and experience kindness. Yet, the best of news is that we can participate in making this a better place to live. By reporting the good w...

Throughout the years, April 20th has been known for a lot of events. One is the birth of Adolph Hitler, but another hits much closer to home. On April 20, 1999 two students assaulted Columbine High School killing a dozen people. Prior to the widespread publicity of mass-fatality events in the United States, the Columbine High School shooting stood out as a pivotal point in history. The circumstances that led up to the tragedy have been studied and deconstructed by a lot of people but one of the things that stands out to me is how many people knew about the two killers but no one was able to connect the issues and stop them. Had some of the people who had some of the information share it with others, maybe something could have been done to intervene. Now, I am not blaming anyone – other than the two people who committed the atrocity, but this incident reminds us of an important principle – if you suspect something, say something! If you know of someone who is struggling with contr...

Few of us who are old enough will ever forget the sickness we felt in our stomachs twenty-eight years ago. In the early morning hours of April 19, 1995 an explosion rocked through Oklahoma City killing 168 people – including 19 children. To me, what made this event particularly troubling is that it was carried out by one of our fellow-citizens. This was homegrown domestic terrorism. I remember the horror of that day and the sinking feeling of finding out who committed such a dastardly act. How could anyone do something like this – especially one of us? Unfortunately, in the years that have followed, the answer has become easier and easier to understand. All it takes to commit murder – even on a grand scale – is a burning hatred. Whether focused on individuals, groups of people or even organizations like the federal government, hatred that goes unchecked can have devastating consequences. Throughout the years people have tried to devalue the cost that hatred can play on us, but...

Well, once again, the tax man cometh! Taxes are due today. Now you might be wondering why it is April 18 rather than April 15 and the answer is simple – sort of. April 15 is a Saturday and the next weekday is Emancipation Day a holiday in Washington, D. C., so today is the day. We may have a three day break, but there is still a day of accountability. Through my lifetime, April 15 has lost some of its dread. With the insight to have extra taxes withheld, the availability of several for-profit preparers, the sophisticated self-service products and the opportunity to file online, most people don’t cringe when mid-April rolls around. Now, while the day may not be as scary, there are times when the task is not pleasant. Taking money away from people typically isn’t pleasant, especially when we don’t always agree on what the taxes fund. However, I want to remind us of a couple of things that might help soften the blow. First of all, our tax rates are based off of our income, so the...

Can people tell the difference between us and the people who don’t claim to be Christians? Coming out of the previous generations, where believers were often perceived as prudish, many modern church-goers have sought to develop a connection with the world by looking like they look. The rationale is somewhat logical – how can influence people if they don’t want to be around you – but, in an effort to become “relevant” have we become too world-like? In an effort to bridge the gap between believers and non-believers have we become too much like the people we say we are hoping to convert? The Apostle Paul cautioned against this slippery slope by saying, “But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. “ (Ephesians 5:3-4). He would go on to say, “Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness...