Think About It

It has gotten so easy (in fact too easy) to bash the up-and-coming generations.   For years, we have been told that we are moving farther and farther away from many of our core spiritual principles.   Yet, according to the people who study these things, the pendulum may be swinging.   From what I am reading, there is a trend among those who have been labeled “Gen Z” to be more religious.   I know you can make data say all kinds of things, but for a minute I want to just stop and be thankful.   I hope the number crunchers are correct and the young people are rediscovering (or rededicating themselves to) religion.   The other day I came across an interesting quote that, on the surface, may not have anything to do with the potential of this trend, but offers another layer of hope.   The long-time Clemson coach, Dabo Swinney, observed, “When you get a young group of people that believe, are passionate ... and committed to a single purpose, you better loo...

When Jesus was trying to explain the concept of persistence to His disciples, He used the example of widow who kept approaching a judge for some kind of legal protection.  In the beginning, the judge wasn’t inclined to grant her request, but because she kept bugging him, he relented and gave her what she wanted.  In summing up the lesson, Luke observes, “And the Lord said, ‘Hear what the unrighteous judge said; now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?’” (Luke 18:6-7).  In other words, persistence pays off! The other day, as I was deleting the same voicemail from a telemarketer for the umpteenth time, I got to thinking about a modern-day example of persistence.  I keep deleting them, but they keep calling me!  They don’t care if I ignore them, they keep pursuing me.  This got me to thinking, do we have this same kind of conviction when we approach Go...

I lost my Mom several years ago but if she were alive, today would be her 86 th birthday.  As I look back at her life, she wasn’t all that famous or important by human standards, but she did leave a positive legacy and I would like to mention just a few things she taught me. First, she instilled in me the value of faith and religion.  I was very young the first time I went to church and I was expected to be there every week after that!  Christian principles and participation were important to her, and she passed that down to us. Second, she reminded me that everyone needs a cheerleader.  She was always proud of me and what I did.  I got the feeling that she thought I was the best preacher ever – or at least in the top two.  As I grow older, I realize this wasn’t based on logic – it was pure love.  Sometimes, we need people who will help us grow and other times we just need people who will stand beside us as we grow. Finally, she taught me that life co...

I was skimming through some of the proverbs of Solomon and came across an interesting one.  The wise king observed, “The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish tears it down with her own hands.” (Proverbs 14:1).  As I thought about this, I got to thinking about how true this is – not just in homemaking, but in so many aspects of our lives.  Whether it is as an individual, family, church, community or a nation; more often than not, we are our own worst enemies.  So often, we are afraid that some adversary from the outside is going to invade our space and wreak havoc on it and, while that can happen, all too often the damage done is self-inflicted.  Either through making bad choices or giving into infighting, we are responsible for our own implosion. As we look internally – into our own lives and in our own entities – let’s make a commitment to build on what we have and make it better.  It takes very little skill to wreck something, but it takes ca...

Over the last several decades, one of the most politically and religiously debated issues is the value of life.   While there have been some variations on this theme, one of the most common centers around Psalm 139.   Now, before we get too far into this discussion, I want to let you know that I am not here to debate the political principles, my point is to remind us we need to make the most of the lives God has given us.    When David reflected on his personal existence he noted, “I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.” (Psalm 139:14).   Respecting life is not something to be reserved for a moral, spiritual or political debate, it is something that should be at the core of who we are – we should respect the life God has given us enough to make the most out of it!   We have been given talents and opportunities to love others and worship the Lord, and we need to take ...

Several years ago, some communities were struggling with their relationship with Law Enforcement.   In those communities there were people – good, moral, spiritual people – who seemed to be at odds with government.   An interesting thing came from this conflict; it’s called the Faith and Blue Program.   Rather than complaining about each other; houses of worship, law enforcement agencies, religious organizations and community groups began to work together to build partnerships that promoted understanding and common goals.   Over the next couple of weeks, you might hear about these Faith and Blue events, and I encourage you to take advantage of them.   Some are spiritual, some might even be somber and some are nothing more than fun and games; however, they all serve the purpose of building partnerships to create stronger communities.   I am a big believer in annual Faith and Blue Events; yet, my challenge goes beyond this program – I encourage all of us to...

Last Sunday morning I was walking through the auditorium of the church building and found a centipede. I didn’t really feel like I needed to stomp on it, so I decided I would relocate it outside. As they say, no good deed goes unpunished and as I picked it up it stung me (or bit me or pinched me or whatever centipedes do). Needless to say, I was irritated, but I continued on with my quest of setting it free. I guess that the bug did what bugs do, but that didn’t make me none too happy. The reason I am sharing this with you is that it didn’t take me too long to see a spiritual application. How many of us are like that insect when it comes to our reaction to God? The Bible instructs us, “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). He saved us from certain spiritual death and destruction. However, how do we react to Him? How many of us fuss at Him, turn our backs on Him, critic...