Think About It

We live in crazy times.  There is a lot going on around us – some of which is good – but other things are to be determined.  As we try to right the ship and put things back in order, there are some things we can do to make sense out of the craziness.  Among these suggestions are: Accept that change is normal.   Life is fluid and changing. Remember that craziness is normal.  There are times when life is organized, but they can’t be counted on as being the rule, often it is the exception.   Keep in mind that control isn't up to us.   We can't fix everything. Gather information but let go of obsession.  When we seek answers, let’s accept the fact that sometimes we need to be okay with not having all the answers. Perfect isn't going to happen all of the time (or probably even a majority of the time).  Let’s do our best and find the successes that present themselves. Pray for peace.  We need to solicit it out in the world and within us. ...

What do we do when people offer to help us?  Many of us grew up with an American sense of independence and we get defensive when someone offers to help us.  We tend to view offers of assistance as charity and we don’t like charity.  We feel like we can do things on our own and accepting a gift from someone else somehow makes us less self-sufficient.  Coming from when and where I did, this mindset is not only understandable, it is also popular.  However, what would happen if we swallowed our pride and let people help us?  Even when the need is debatable, there could be value in accepting offers of assistance.  Interestingly, this is more than just a social struggle, there is a spiritual component to it as well.   Centuries ago, when the Apostle Paul reflected on a gift he had been given by a local congregation, he noted, “Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account.” (Philippians 4:17). ...

Have you ever been asked to do something, and agreed to do it, only to find out that you weren’t going to have much success at doing what you were prepared to do?   This may sound convoluted, but a lot of us can relate to it – if we can understand it.   In essence, there are times when we volunteer to take on a project only to find out that people won’t allow us to make a difference.   Either because our talents aren’t needed or aren’t accepted, it is easy to get upset at not being allowed to help.   Even though it can be frustrating, we must understand that we can’t make people let us help.   We may be the best in the world at what we do, but just because we are capable doesn’t mean our offer will be appreciated or even accepted.   When this happens, rather than getting upset, maybe we should just remember that we can’t control the outcome, all we can control is the effort.   We can do our best, the rest is up to someone else. Let’s keep volunteerin...

In years past, I tended to demonstrate a belief that the louder I spoke and the more declarative my statements, the more impact they would have.   Yet, through the years I have learned that, often, the approach that would do the most good was gathering accurate information and remaining calm – maybe even humble.   It is easy to believe that becoming loud and boisterous wins us some points, but in all honesty, a sense of calmness might make more of a difference.   As I pondered this, it got me to thinking about how our reaction to situations shows what’s in our hearts – especially spiritually.   Sure, we might be able to produce moments of intellectual brilliance and loud declarations of faith, yet a more lasting impact is made through a consistency of standing firm in the faith of the Lord.   Interestingly, this is not something we discovered in the 21 st Century.   The New Testament challenged the early Christians, “Therefore, my beloved brethren w...

The other day I was sitting at my office when a couple of people from a local restaurant stopped by and dropped off some samples and a few coupons.  A few days later, right before church services started, another vehicle from the same eatery dropped off more goodies and a few more coupons.  So, when I was looking for someone to partner with for an upcoming event guess who came to mind … and, yes, they agreed to work with us.  I come from a marketing background and for years American advertising has focused on telling us how good they are – but what got my attention was someone who was willing to show me how good they can be.  Claims are easy to make; actions really do speak louder than words.            As Christians, we have some really good rhetoric at our disposal, but are we willing to follow through with it by doing good?  Saying the right things provides us with a positive foundation, but a lot of people withhold their opinion...

Our world seems to be in chaos.  There are a lot of people who are running around (figuratively and literally) trying to be seen and heard.  We post, we protest, we preach.  While there are times when this can be appropriate, I also believe there are times when we need to back off and take a breath.  In the midst of crises, there are times when it might do us good to chill and regroup.  Again, this may seem to be counter-intuitive when we feel like we are in some kind of conflict, but maybe that is where we are struggling.  Who are our enemies – and are they really opposed to us?  Do we really have to stand up for the Lord – or is our place in support of Him?  One of my favorite bits of spiritual wisdom comes from Psalm 46:10, “Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”.  Many of us may have heard this translated as, “Be still and know that I am God …”;...

Are you ready for some good news?  We can always use some glad tidings, but I think we are in a time when some positive vibes could do us all some good.  Well, if you are wanting to hear something good, here it is – Jesus loves us and wants to save us!  There are times we spend a lot of time working out the mechanics of salvation – and we should make sure we are doing what we are supposed to be doing.  But for just a minute, I would like to step back and take a very broad look at the gospel (that’s just another word for good news).  As the Apostle John reflected on what he had learned through Jesus’ lifetime, he reminded us of what he had discovered, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16).  I have to be honest with you, growing up in and around church, I am quite familiar with this passage, but periodically I need to go back and b...