Think About It

The other day I was reading about the Mexican tradition called, “Dia de Muertos” or Day of the Dead in English.   Now, I won’t pretend to be an expert on their celebration, but I believe that it has something to do with paying respects to and creating remembrances for those friends and family members who have died.     As I thought about this annual festival, it got me to thinking about a celebration Christians have, “The Lord’s Supper”.   As I thought about the two events, I was quickly drawn to how different the two celebrations are; however, the most obvious is that our communion service isn’t an attempt to bridge the gap to connect with the dead, it is designed to bring the resurrected Jesus into our fellowship.   After describing the elements of the Last Supper that have been translated into the Lord’s Supper, Paul emphasizes, “For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” (I Corinthians 11:26). ...

On this date in 1941, Mount Rushmore was declared completed – well, as completed as it was going to be.  The massive work of art in the Black Hills of South Dakota took more than a decade to get to this point and after the death of Gutzon Borglum in March, 1941, enough was enough.  Although there were parts of the project that were planned and never completed, it still stands as a Shine to Democracy.  The images on the mountain, Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Lincoln and Roosevelt represent the legacy of the development of the American people.  When I look at Mount Rushmore I see a mini Hall of Influence.  Each of those enshrined in the carving shaped what our nation is today.    Who would be on your personal Mount Rushmore?  Who are the influences that have made you who you are today?  While we may like the concept of self-made people, there are always those who either directly or indirectly steered our development.  Have you ever st...

Have you noticed how easy it is to get overwhelmed by all the needy people in our nation – and even in our community?  Whether it is through media attention or just casual observation, the plight of the poor and disadvantaged is obvious.  Interestingly, one of the common reactions to this type of problem is the temptation to just shut down.  Rather than seeing individual opportunities to help, we feel overwhelmed by how much there is to do and how few answers there are to the issues.  What would happen if we stopped, took a deep breath and did what we could?  We might not have the answer to addressing food insecurity of homelessness; but we can help the person living next door to us.    When James addressed faith in action he challenged Christians, “If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,’ and yet you do not give them what is necessary for t...

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...