Think About It

I like new, cool stuff – especially when it comes to electronics … including computers.  I don’t need the latest and greatest machines, but it is fun to have one.  I can do most of what I need to do on an average machine (in other words, one like I already have); but something with new shiny buttons on it is cool to have.  This was my thought process last week when I started looking for a new computer; but the more I looked, the more I realized that what I had was fine – the investment in something new wasn’t worth the cost or inconvenience of starting over.   As I thought about my decision to forego my purchase, I got to thinking about how many other elements of our lives are “just fine”.  Maybe it was a job that is going stale, a marriage that we have grown comfortable in or maybe how we practice our religion.  There are times when it might be tempting to change for change’s sake, but is it really worth all the problems that come with it?  Could...

A couple of days ago a friend of mine preached a sermon that centered on Jesus feeding the multitudes.  Often, when we consider these stories, we seem to focus on the power of Jesus to feed thousands of people with a “Kid's Meal”, but my friend brought up an interesting point.  Jesus didn’t just have power, He also had compassion.  When Mark tells of a second feeding he begins by noting, “In those days, when there was again a large crowd and they had nothing to eat, Jesus called His disciples and said to them, ‘I feel compassion for the people because they have remained with Me now three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will faint on the way; and some of them have come from a great distance.’” (Mark 8:1-3).  Folks, it is cool to focus on Jesus’ miracle, but I believe it is His mindset that also teaches us a great lesson.  Jesus cared about the people and He wasn’t about to let them suffer when He could do something ab...

Do you like biographies?  Whether in print or electronic media biographies are a popular genre.  We like to hear about people, especially our heroes; however, that can come with a cost.  You see, the most accurate biographies tell the story of their subjects complete with warts and all.  Sure, there are rah-rah books that showcase people in the most popular light, but beginning any biography comes with a risk that we are going to learn something about someone we don’t really want to know.  So, what should we do?  Should be relegate our reading to only those proven works that over-sweeten the story or give up historical accounts for fear of being exposed to the negative?  No, I think what we do is to realize that even our role models aren’t perfect.  They have flaws that should be acknowledged but that doesn’t mean that we give up on the positive characteristics in their lives.  Let’s not treat them as icons, but as individuals who can teach u...

Not long ago I asked a group of believers to define “Christian joy”. We were about to launch into a study of the New Testament book of Philippians and, before we got too deep into it, we needed to have an understanding of this theme. So, if you weren’t there, let me ask you – what is Christian joy? Typically, when we think about joy, we consider the situation we find ourselves in … we think about happiness. Yet, joy seems to be much greater than our circumstances. Joy is more than happiness, it is a commitment to being positive about life. James seems to delineate between the two when he writes, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials …” (James 1:2). How can we have “trials” and “joy” at the same time – it all boils down to attitude and the best way to keep a good attitude is by relying on a belief that God is going to take care of us. We’re all going to face challenges in our lives, but let’s hang on to a belief that God cares about us and will be ...

How are we at decision-making?  I know a lot of people who are so afraid of making a mistake that they never seem to get around to making a decision.  I also know people who are so ready to move forward that they decide quickly – almost on instinct – and end up making more of a mess with their impetuousness.  The truth is that if we want to be good decision-makers we need to find the middle ground.  The wise man of the Old Treatment wrote, “Also it is not good for a person to be without knowledge, and he who hurries his footsteps errs.” (Proverbs 19:2).  In other words, we need to stop and think before we move forward.  I know there are exceptional times when we may have to make split-second decisions, but in most other cases, haste makes waste.   Are you facing an impactful decision in your life?  If so, take the time to practice due-diligence.  Do research on the pros and cons of your choices.  Talk to others who have made similar...

At some point in our lives, many of us have wondered about the security of our jobs.  Even those who have done a good job can find themselves in a quandary about their future through no fault of their own.  As I look back on my life, whether it was a minister for several smaller churches or as a state employee, there have been times of uncertainty.  When this happens – even though we scramble to learn the facts – we spend a good deal of our time wrestling with fear.  It seems like job security fluctuates from time to time and place to place, so even if you aren’t facing it today, you may tomorrow.   Now, you might read this previous paragraph and figure that I am going to break out into a chorus of “hang in there” for those who are fearful, but that’s not my point.  You see, today’s observation is about what we can do to help those who are facing an uncertain future.  Now, before we move on, remember the previous point – fears tend to overwhelm fa...

Where were you in October, 1962? Now, while many of you are snickering at that question, there are a few people still around who know exactly where they were in this very tense time when our world stood on the brink of nuclear war. The Soviet Union had placed missiles in Cuba (just 90 miles off of the coast of the United States). These weapons had the potential to bring catastrophe to North America … which would rapidly spread to the rest of the world. For two weeks, the American people watched as Washington and Moscow played a very real game of cat and mouse. One wrong move and history would be forever changed. The somberness of the moment helped to bring about a peaceful resolution – much to the relief of everyone involved. The reason that I bring this up is to remind us that even as we face challenges today, we have been through challenging times before. It is said that those who forget history are destined to repeat it, but I also believe that those who forget history are ea...