Think About It

I realize that clinical depression is a genuine mental illness, but I think there is something much more prevalent and much more infectious. I probably grew up calling it the “blahs”, but it is basically just feeling discouraged about life. We don’t have a diagnosis, but we don’t have positive outlook of life, either. We are sad, we are worried, we are disheartened. Maybe a more descriptive term is that we feel yucky about life! This pandemic has been around throughout history, but I think we are becoming more prone to it because we are not only dealing with our challenges, we are also intimately aware of everyone else’s issues. We see tragedy from all around the world 24 hours a day. We read about other people’s emotional struggles through their social media. We are staying at home more and don’t get the fresh air and the refreshing spirit of the outside natural world. I think we know that we can’t change what is going on in the world around us nor can we fix other people’s ...

Christians are often heard to say that they can’t wait until the Second Coming of the Lord. We believe in the rewards of heaven and we also look forward to the time when our suffering is over. Whether it is our own personal struggles like health and finances or growing weary of the prevalence of evil in the world, we can see the value of the coming of the end of the world as we know it. Now, while there is something to be said for the hope that comes with the Second Coming, there is also value to the Lord waiting to bring this era to an end. You see for every day He waits there are thousands of people who are saved. Each day, people believe the gospel of Jesus Christ and become His disciples. Just imagine how many more people will be joining us in heaven because God waited? It is easy (and natural) so see God’s actions in light of how they impact us, but when we expand our view we might be able to make sense of God hesitance to end the world. Yes, Christian life can be challen...

The XXXIII Olympiad is underway in Paris.   There will always be controversy in any modern international event; but there is still something special about the world coming together to celebrate worldwide competition.   Sure, I like seeing the USA gather up medals, but to me the Olympics have always been about something beyond winning and losing.   It is seeing someone from a small nation participating on the international stage for their 15 minutes of fame.   It is about watching as participants come together and celebrate the victories of their teammates and console their competitors who gave it their best efforts but lost.   It is witnessing the underdogs pull off an unexpected victory and watching as people from around the world honor the world’s best and acknowledge the efforts of even those who come in last.     When the Olympics come around I feel a resurgence of some deep-seeded optimism hidden away somewhere inside me and hope that in some sm...

Do you remember Theo Kojack? Some of you have absolutely no idea what I am asking, but there are still a few of us who remember the lollipop-loving TV detective from the 1970s. While there were a lot of things that made Telly Savalas’ character stand out, one of them was a catchphrase, “Who loves ya, baby?”. Now, while it might sound like a romantic statement, it really was much more mundane than that. Even though this quote has more of a streetwise connotation to it, I think it’s a good question to ask in the 21st Century. When people hear this question today, I wonder how they would answer it? There are a lot of people who might be able to list a few people who love them; however, there are way too many people who could honestly say either “I don’t know” or “Nobody”. Even though we live in a time when love might seem to be fading, there is a place where anyone and everyone can feel love – inside a church. The Christian movement must be known for our love, so when people walk ...

When we look back at the American Experiment, I think we tend to take too many things for granted. We have seen our democratic republic flourish over the years, but it was still an uncertainty when it began. I find it interesting to go back and listen to the wisdom of the founding fathers. The other day I came across a quote from John Adams who is purported to have said, “Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge of the people.”. As I think about this observation a couple of things come to mind. First is the need for a general education and the second is the importance of civics. Adams seems to teach us that we must have a basic knowledge of how the world works – and we must understand how our government should (and does) function. We can wander through our world fat, dumb and happy – but that ignorance isn’t going to last too long before we will either become lost or misled. As I thought about this, I saw a parallel in religion. No, there is no way that we can th...

As a minister who does weddings – and as someone who has been married over forty years to the same woman – I periodically get asked the secret to a long marriage. As I think about it, the keys to a successful marriage aren’t secrets – in fact, they are pretty simple and straight forward: 1. Friendship : When I was growing up I was given some pretty sage advice, “Marry a good friend”. There were times I am sure I had a strange look on my face, but now I understand what they were saying. Attractions come in all shapes and sizes, but one of the most important is to build on a relationship where two people have things in common. Opposites may attract, but similarities keep people together. Find someone you enjoy spending time with and with whom you share common interests. 2. Faith : Sure, two people who look at life differently can have a good life together, but imagine how much easier it is to invest your life with someone who shares a common spiritual philosophy? Our spirit wil...

“Faith” is an interesting word that can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. Some define faith as a trust in cause while others use the word to define their standards of belief. Still one more definition of faith in Christianity is a belief in the presence and power of God. It is accepting that God is who He claims to be in the Bible. I think a lot of our issues within Christianity could be resolved if we just took the time to define what we mean when we use the word “faith”. At the heart of a Christian’s understanding is a belief in the existence of God. When we have faith in Him, we acknowledge His presence. The other day, as I was thinking about faith I was reminded of what David wrote, “Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were born or You gave birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” (Psalm 90:1-2). As I reflected on this passage, I was drawn to the most basic definition of faith – ...