Think About It

I want a new computer.  Now, before we move on, I would like for you to take a look at the construction of the sentence.  I “want” a new computer.  I don’t (necessarily) need one, but it would be nice to have.  In past years, this would have led me down to my big box retailer and I have would found something shiny and new.  (In the last few years, the trip would have been to an online site, but the result would have been the same.)  However, something has happened recently … I haven’t given in to the want as quickly.  As I started looking around at what is available, I haven’t found anything I liked any better than what I already have.  This isn’t to say that I won’t buy something in the near future – but I am learning that just wanting something doesn’t mean I have to act on it.  In the past, wanting something new led me to criticizing what I already had and justified replacing it – after all, I probably need more power and the prices aren’t...

Growing up when and where I did, I have always been fascinated by people who have gone into space and those who stayed on the ground to send them.  Now, having said that, I am surprised I had never heard of Mae Jemison.  Dr. Jemison was the first African American woman to travel into space.  She was a part of the Space Shuttle Endeavour mission in 1992.  Interestingly, as I read up on her accomplishments in space, I was very impressed with the other accomplishments in her life.   While Dr. Jemison’s career is remarkable, it is a quote that I came across that captured my attention.  The statement, “I like to think of ideas as potential energy.  They’re really wonderful, but nothing will happen until we risk putting them into action.” is attributed to her.  As I reflected on her observation, I noticed a couple of things.  First, just having ideas isn’t enough to be successful.  There are a lot of us who are comfortable sitting around ...

Are you looking for a way to live a life of encouragement?  I think that most of us who genuinely want to be Christian examples have a desire to help the people around us, but how do we do it?  The other day I was looking through the New Testament and noticed this, “We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.” (I Thessalonians 5:14).  What does this mean?  Let’s break it down: 1.  First, we need to stand up for what is right.  While some of us are tentative in pointing the deficiencies in people’s lives, we are given the responsibility of helping others do the right things. 2.  Then, we should uplift those who are struggling.  Most people go through tough times.  Sometimes what they need is direction, but there are also situations where they need someone to support them as they struggle through life. 3.  Another thing we can do is support those who are having trouble....

As a baseball fan, I feel like I know a lot about the game.  I have been around it for a long time and have invested a lot effort in learning some of the nuances of the sport.  Because of this, I am pretty hard on those who are professional ballplayers.  I figure if they are making that much money, I tend to hold them to a higher threshold.  Now, while I can justify my criticism, I have to admit that there is no way I could live up to my own expectations.  There is no way I could do what they do – much less what I expect them to do!  I guess this would make me an armchair expert. The reason I bring this up is to ask us if we are armchair moralists?  How many of us look at the people of the world – or even those in the church – and criticize their actions.  We pick at them for the choices they make and point out their failures.  We openly comment on their deficiencies and wonder why they can’t do better.  Now, here is the kicker – are we ...

When I was young and would fuss about being bored, the significant adults in my life would provide an answer for my complaint – they would find me some work to do.  After I realized admitting to being bored was backfiring, I learned to stay quiet; but even that didn’t work because it was during those quiet times is when I would find myself getting into too much mischief.  It was also during these times when I would come face to face with the proverb, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop”.  This adage is often attributed to Solomon and while the Living Bible translates Proverbs 16:27 as, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop; idle lips are his mouthpiece.”, many of the others say something like, “A worthless man digs up evil, while his words are like scorching fire.”.  Even though the modern expression might not be traditionally biblical, the concept is moral if not spiritual.  Boredom often produces trouble. The older I get the more I believe this – and not just ...

On this date in 1993, there were a lot of well-meaning people sitting around, scratching their heads and wondering what went wrong.  Following a nearly two-month standoff, on April 19, agents from the federal government raided the Branch Davidians just outside of Waco, Texas.  Before the literal smoke cleared about eighty people were dead.  Since that tragic day there has been a lot of finger pointing as to who was responsible for what, but as I look back on events like this one thing stands out – the influence religion can have on people.  The vast overwhelming influence of religion produces goodness and morality, but given the right circumstances it can ignite passions that can create heartache.  Throughout history there have been stories of people who have used religion as a way to rally people.  Again, there are times that these leaders have brought about significant positive change; however, there are other times when it has ignited tragedy. ...

Sometimes words just don’t seem to make sense.  Take today, for example.  Many people call the Friday before Easter “Good Friday”; but how on earth could there be anything good about it?  After being rejected by some of His closest disciples, “When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.” (Luke 23:33).  Within a matter of a few hours, the perfect Son of God would be dead – executed for the sins of mankind!  It would take deception, hatred and evil to make it happen; but they got it done.  How could anything good come out of that? In all honestly, the thing that makes that Friday good is what happened on the following Sunday morning.  The event that made anything positive on that Friday was the fact that Jesus was raised from the dead.  Had He remained in the tomb, that day would have been the darkest day in the history of mankind, but when Jesus walked out of ...