Think About It

Until Cal Ripken broke his record, Lou Gehrig held the record for most consecutive major league baseball games played. Cal had more than 500 more games in his streak – which is impressive – but before Mr. Oriole came on the scene, Gehrig, the original Iron Man, had an almost 800 game lead on Everett Scott. When you get into that type of rarified air you would think that winning would be a catalyst for that type of record; however, Gehrig didn’t necessarily see it that way. In one quote he observed, “I love to win; but I love to lose almost as much. I love the thrill of victory, and I also love the challenge of defeat.”. While that sounds a little wishy-washy, I do see some wisdom in his processing. If the love of winning is what keeps us going, a decent losing streak will suck the drive out of us. However, if we find something to learn from both winning and losing, we will always have something to keep us going! It is the process more than the results that keeps things interest...

When you see the American flag, what does it mean to you? For some, it is the symbol of unity; while for others it reminds them of a history of fragmentation. For some, it reminds them of what the nation has done for them, while others wonder what the forefathers did to them. To some, the stars and stripes, represents a lifetime of freedom, while others see them as a chance for a new lease on life. No matter how we perceive Old Glory, I would like us to take a minute today to reflect on what today, Flag Day, can do for us. Now, before I get too deep in this, please do not misunderstand my intent. I am not saying that we should be arrogant because of the nation in which we live, but I do hope that we will find the common ground it can represent. I have my own personal feelings about my response to the American flag, but I also think that it can be a symbol that reminds us of what can be done when we all work together. Whether it is a solid economy or advanced social justice, by ...

There is a lot of discussion about equality and equity these days. We have discussed how we should see each other in a more balanced way. Whether it revolves around gender, race, economics or education we have discussed the challenges to fair and parallel treatment. However, have you noticed that too often we miss out on one of the most basic aspects – spiritual? Way too often, when religion is brought up, people blame disparity on godly religion; however, that couldn’t be further from the truth. From the very beginning, Jehovah God has advocated for spiritual equality. Shortly after creating humans, Moses describes God’s mindset by saying, “God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” (Genesis 1:27). Sure, throughout the years, He would provide different people and different groups with unique responsibilities, but that was never intended to demean anyone. Not everyone can do everything, but that doesn’t mean that God ...

We are still a year and a half away from our next election, but things are already heating up! Several potential candidates have thrown their hats into the ring and pundits are looking for and finding political issues behind just about every door. It seems like over the last few election cycles candidates and political parties have become nasty – but if the truth were to be known – we have been dealing with this type of contention throughout the history of our republic! While politicians have been critical of each other for generations, one thing that I have noticed is that common folk have gotten less tolerant of each other. We seem to have become more snarky in our comments – not just about what we think of the candidates; but about those who support them as well. As we enter the races of 2024, let’s do something different than we have done over the last few years – let’s take the high road. No, we can’t do anything about what the candidates say to and about each other, but we...

What is the greatest gift we can give? There are a lot of things of value we can choose from, but one that is simply invaluable is a smile. It doesn’t cost us a dime, but the investment can change lives. A simple smile brings joy to those who see it … helps relax a child in our presence … makes us change our internal mood … takes the edge off of uncertain events and helps us deliver and receive difficult news. Smiles don’t start in the face, they bubble up from the heart. Smiling has the ability to transform us – not just emotionally, but physically as well. Have you noticed that you can’t just smile with your lips, your eyes quickly join in and then the whole face is captivating? While smiling is such an easy thing to do (it really doesn’t take much effort to curl our lips), have you noticed how often we choose not to smile? How many of us walk around with scowl on our faces? If we look in the mirror do we expect to see a smile or a stoic, stonelike expression looking back at ...

At the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, He turned a lot of things on their heads. Throughout history, it appears that those who had led revolts and rebellions had been warriors. They were the toughest, so they won! They were radical so they preached a caustic message that put them at odds with status quo. So, it might have been a little odd to be standing there listening to the new religious influence say, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”. (Matthew 5:9). How can you change the world by bringing peace? How can this movement succeed without agitation and ruffling feathers? Thankfully, Jesus’ message has been handed down to 21st Century believers. Now, His disciples are known for their peace and love. (What does that tell us about those who preach discord, animosity and disunity?) While the primary emphasis of this message is bringing peace into interpersonal relationships, I also believe there is a secondary message to this admonition. Those peo...

It seems like every week I need to remind us that we need to not be overwhelmed by the negativism and evil that is out in the world. Maybe the reason I find myself saying this so often is that I am one of the ones caught up in the discouragement found in modern society. I write it because I need to hear it! I hope you aren’t like me and can skip right on past these reminders, but if you happen to be one of us, I want to share something with you that I found a few days ago. In the midst of teaching us about the challenges of dealing with day-to-day living, the writer of Ecclesiastes notes, “So I commended pleasure, for there is nothing good for a man under the sun except to eat and to drink and to be merry, and this will stand by him in his toils throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 8:15). Even though the book is not signed, most people believe that it is Solomon who is encouraging us to take the time to enjoy life – even in the midst...