Think About It

One of my favorite New Testament verses says, “… but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ …” (Ephesians 4:15).   This verse seems to indicate that it isn’t enough to just be right; in Christianity, there is a right way to be right.  Winning an argument is no excuse for losing our reputation.  As I thought about this verse the other day, I got to wondering about the demands of righteousness when expressing our opinions.  If we have a responsibly to speak the truth in love, how much more of an obligation do we owe people when what we are espousing is just our beliefs.  If we are to be kind when it comes to truth, imagine our responsibility when it comes to our ideas!   Over the next week there will be a lot of opinions presented.  People will agree with some, people will disagree with some and a few might be useful in changing minds or influenc...

Have you noticed how occupied Americans are with our health?  If you haven’t done it lately, take an inventory of television ads, social media posts and interpersonal communications that deal with health-related issues.  I am convinced that we would not have the type of television we do today without all the diseases – and pharmaceuticals – out there.  Social media would probably slow to a hum if we weren’t updating everyone about our medical complaints.  The internet might collapse without all of the personal research done to determine what this pain means or what might be causing that sniffle.  What would we have to talk about with our friends and neighbors if we stopped discussing the challenges with our health?  I understand being concerned about our health, but it seems like how we feel physically dictates how we feel emotionally.  As I was thinking about this the other day, I got to wondering how our lives would change if we spent as much time ...

It’s time for a public service announcement:   It is only two months until Christmas!   Okay, now that you have caught your breath or stopped hyperventilating, I tell you this for a couple of reasons.   First, if you haven’t purchased that sought-after gift for that special someone, now might be the time to start looking for it.   However, the real reason is to ask if this would be a good year to add to your traditions and maybe bring a little extra holiday cheer to those who could use it.   If you are looking for a few suggestions, here are a couple: Rather than having an office Christmas party, what about getting the company together and do a community outreach program?   Maybe it is building a bed for a child in your community or doing a sock drive for a local Veteran’s home, but taking the time to help someone will probably make you feel better than another cup of eggnog. In addition to your family meal, how about gathering the people who don’t have...

It is rare for me to open up my web browser and not see some kind of story about another act of violence that has taken the life of someone – all too often someone who is described as an innocent victim.  Often, associated with these stories, is a call for the end to gun violence which is a natural reaction by people who are grieving the loss of someone they love.  Now, it is important that you read the rest of what I am about to write because this isn’t a treatise on guns … it is an appeal to a deeper level of restraint.  You see, tools of violence are only a part of the story.  If we are going to end the violence, we need to dig deeper into the issues.  I will not advocate one way or the other on firearm ownership, but I will go on record decrying the influence of things like hate, intoxicating substances and anger.  While the Bible is silent on possession of dangerous weapons, it does callout negative emotional triggers.  The Old Testament says, “Do...

Through the years, I have been around some rather intense situations where tempers flared up.  Often, these events are so horrific that all that is left are bare emotions.  Interestingly, as I talked to people who work to resolve these situations – and are often on the receiving end of some pretty terse comments – their reflections are usually quite empathetic.  No, they didn’t necessarily like what was said to them or about them, but they understand where it comes from.  A common response from the people who are berated is acceptance and the remark, “I can’t imagine going through what they were going through.”.   As I thought about this I got to wondering where the cutoff line is between understanding that people are having a horrible day (and, thus, ignoring what is said to us) and taking offense to what is said because we not willing to bear the brunt of someone else’s rotten day.  At what point do we allow comments to slide off of us like the proverbial...

Over the last few days we have been looking for a place to take relief supplies to the Southeast part of the U. S.  First, let me tell you just how impressed I am of our fellow Americans.  You might not believe it, but in just about every instance people – especially churches – are saying they are filled to overflowing with stuff.  Many of them say they could use workers, but most of them asked that we didn’t bring supplies to them.  Folks, that is incredible news and highlights the generosity of our neighbors!   As I went through this process it did provide me with a reminder of how important it is to be both a giver and a receiver.  So often, we focus on the need to give, but there is another side to this equation.  To enable giving, we must be willing to accept the gift.  Many of us grew up in a time when it was uncool to accept something from others.  Some of us were taught that accepting charity was a sign of weakness.    As I ...

As I drove to church the other morning, I heard an old favorite song, “(Give Me That) Old Time Religion”.   The version I heard was relatively new, but song seems to date back at least to the late 1800s.   The song has a catchy tune and the lyric harkens us back to an old time religion that was good enough for our ancestors – and as such, should be good enough for us.   Interestingly, even though I like the song, the sentiment has kind of troubled me throughout the years.   I remember hearing it as a child and, while I was drawn to traditional religion, I can see the challenge of doing the things we have always done them just because we have always done them that way.   As a child of the ‘60s and ‘70s that logic tended to fall on deaf ears – and I can only imagine the message it would receive today.   Again, I tend to like that old-time religion, but we must make sure it is built on truth and not just tradition.   I believe there is value in doing thin...