Think About It

During last Sunday morning’s worship service, it felt like just about anything that could go wrong went wrong – or at least it appeared to be that way. We had personnel issues, and technological failures – and in more than one way, we had to adapt and overcome on the fly. As I was dealing with the various issues, I was frustrated; but once it was over I realized something. We did it. We accomplished what we set out to do. We were able to worship the Lord in an appropriate way – and most people weren’t any worse for the wear. As I walked away from the church building I was struck by the thought that sometimes we put too much emphasis on peripheral things that really don’t matter. Sure, they might make things look better or bring an added flare to what we are trying to do, but they really aren’t necessary. And, interestingly enough, it’s not just this way in church – this realization is probably true in most aspects of life. We make life too complicated by making it too complex....

What happens when we think we are smarter than everyone else? Interestingly, too often, when we think we are more mature than others, we can be tempted to act more childish. When many people begin to feel like they are more intelligent or they have things figured out, they begin to act in ways that are often viewed as being childish. They make fun of others whom they don’t feel are as superior as them. They demand that people treat them differently (and throw tantrums when they don’t). They expect others to defer to them. Intellectualism isn’t always the same as maturity. One of the most mature things any of us can do is to seek unity among the different people or diverse groups around us. It takes much more wisdom to bring people together than it does to demand our own way – whether we are correct or not. Most of us would agree that love is one of the most mature emotions we can develop. If that is true, notice how love is defined in the New Testament, “Love is patient, love...

I get frustrated driving in big city traffic. It’s not that it scares me as much as it irritates me not being able to figure out what the other person is doing. Sometimes, they speed up to get around you, other times they get just beyond you and step on the brakes. There are some people who occupy one lane of traffic no matter what is going on around them while others change lanes like they are competing in NASCAR. Now, while I don’t like traffic, there is one thing I have learned – we all need to be on the lookout for others. We can’t be so focused on doing what we have the legal right to do that it causes us to get into an accident. Not only does that risk us getting hurt or causing damage to our property, it also snarls up traffic for several minutes and that just isn’t very neighborly! As I was thinking about this the other day, I saw a parallel in our own personal lives. Sure, must of us have the “right” to do certain things, but by being bullheaded and insisting on what is...

Forgiveness vs. Accountability. Tolerance vs. Consequences. I have been struggling recently with a bit of dilemma. When people make statements that inflame emotional reactions, do we challenge them or just work through it and forget about it? When people display inappropriate behavior, do we chalk it up to personalities or do we try to correct what is wrong while still trying to maintain a good relationship? Now, maybe I should go back and set the parameters – I am not talking about trying to raise children, I am talking about dealing with adults. With children, we need to help them learn how to behave, but how do we deal with full grown adults? I am quite familiar with Paul’s admonition, “Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” (Ephesians 4:32), but I also understand, James’ thought-process, “… if anyone among you strays from the truth and someone turns him back, let him know that the one who has turned a sinner ...

  When you think about the United States Government, what comes to mind? It is easy to imagine the government as some well-oiled machine that keeps chugging along on a mission to keep the American people afloat, but the truth of the matter it is that government is the blend of polices and people. There are laws and standards that govern actions, but government is defined as the decisions of individuals. Interestingly, the same thing can be said about the Armed Forces. The American Armed Forces aren’t some machine that comes rolling out of a machine shed somewhere, they are the collection of men and women who have given of themselves to serve our nation. Sure, they have to work together to accomplish a common purpose, but they are individuals who have made a decision to put our collective national values ahead of their own personal quests. Centuries ago, the Apostle Paul told the early Christians that they should invest in those things that help them succeed in their individua...

How many times have you heard that our “system” is failing? Things that have built successful institutions like a constitutional form of government, a solid free enterprise system and even a moral society are now being called abject failures. In the wake of those proclamations are an overarching criticism that the “system” failed. In essence, what we once saw as good is now viewed as inept or even harmful. I will be the first to admit that not everything we have done in our nation or even as part of western civilization is the best way it could have been done; however, we must be careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Again, nothing is perfect, but today we enjoy a solid economic foundation and get to experience modern advances that couldn’t have been imagined just a few years ago. This makes me wonder, are our modern struggles because the system has been wrong all along or is it because we have people who are failing the system? As I thought about this dilemma I s...

What is the difference between a predication and prophecy? A prediction is a guess as to what the future might hold while a prophecy is a statement of fact for something that hasn’t happened yet. A prediction might be based on information and intelligence, but it is still a guess. A prophecy is based on a knowledge of what will happen in the future. I have heard several people predict a harsh winter. They figure that we will have higher amounts of snowfall; but they won’t know if they are right until next spring. They might be right, but all too often these predictions don’t turn out to be very accurate. A prophecy, on the other hand, can be taken to the bank. We may not know exactly “when”, but there is no doubt about what will happen. An example of a prophecy comes from Peter who wrote, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be di...