Think About It

Punxsutawney Phil may not be the most popular guy these days.  I am sure the meteorologists would be happy to share some of the blame for the recent cold, so this little guy might be a welcome scapegoat!  I haven’t seen his verdict about the future of the cold weather, but he is inheriting an audience of grumpy folks. Over the last few days, a lot of us have been complaining about the cold.  Now, there are some who have good reason to fuss – for them, it could be a true hardship and might even been life-threatening – however, I know of lot of us have just been whining about being chilly.  (Me included!)  For most of us, the cold weather is just an inconvenience that annoys us.  As I thought about this I was reminded of the difference between hassles and hardships.  No one ever promised us that life would be easy – and honestly, there is value in dealing with challenges.  While I wouldn’t wish legitimate sufferings on anyone, I think most us can le...

          What does it take to be a complete person?   There are a lot of us who do some things well, but wouldn’t it be nice to be that kind of individual who can be successful in multiple aspects of our lives?   Imagine how successful and fulfilled we could be if we were physically fit, emotionally intelligent, business savvy and morally competent.   That sounds like a well-rounded individual, doesn’t it?   Interestingly, when Jesus was teaching His early disciples, He outlined another well-rounded person by responding to someone who questioned Him, “ And He said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the great and foremost commandment. The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”.   (Matthew 22:37-39).   When we love God completely and enhance that by loving our neighbor, that is a winning combination....

Have you noticed how common the concept of snow is in our culture?  Even in the Tropics, when the holiday season comes, they decorate with symbols of snowflakes and snowmen – things that many of them have never experienced.  Snow is kind of cool – literally!  Interestingly, the idea of the whiteness of snow is used in the Bible – a story that focuses heavily on the temperate climate of the Middle East.  In the era of international media seeing snowstorms from across the world or hearing of snow during winter isn’t unheard of; however, for those in the Middle East, they probably weren’t all that familiar with it.  That’s what makes the biblical references to snow so interesting to me.  Take this excerpt from Isaiah, “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from My sight.  Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless, defend the orphan, plead for the widow.  ‘Come now, and let us reas...

          Forty years ago, our nation – and much of the world – walked around in a daze.  On January 28, 1986, the Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated shortly after launch from the east coast of Florida.  While the event would have made history wherever and whenever it happened, it was close enough to witnesses and the cameras that it was seen by countless people.  For those of us who were alive back then, it is a moment many of us can never unsee – and for those of us who grew up with the space race and those who have a connection to the Space Coast, it is still a very vivid memory.           As I reflect on Challenger disaster, one of the things I think about is how shocking it was.  Sure, we knew that something so powerful and complex could go wrong; but we had become so used to the successes and tuned out the potential for failure that the shock was multiplied!  Eventually, we woul...

          I have been skeptical of commercially funded weather reports for a long time.   It is hard to sell products when the forecast is 75 degrees and sunny, so the tendency of these media outlets is to highlight the potential for disaster and devastation.   By issuing a troubling forecast a week ahead of time, people are apt to watch the weather and that brings in revenue.   Now, I am not saying they don’t have their place in society – they do keep us informed – but we tend to believe the worst.   With that in mind, many of us made plans to prepare for the worst last weekend.   In fact, a lot of us cancelled worship services several days ahead of the storm.   In years past, I have been reluctant to call off church too early, but today’s technological advancements have made it easier for me, so it didn’t take too much convincing to get the notice out early and often.           N...

Last week, a lot of people from around the country were warned about an impending storm – and by the looks of the grocery stores and the gas stations, a lot of them took it seriously.   While you can never completely rely on weather forecasts to be accurate, a lot of us take these predictors at their word and start stocking up on the essentials (and some luxuries).   I am thankful that we have good weather forecasting and that people are listening to the prognosticators, but I am a little concerned about another forecast that is going unheeded.   The Bible warns, “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.” (II Peter 3:10).   We may not know – exactly – what will happen when Jesus returns, but we have been given a warning that it will be certain and will be intense.   A...

          On January 23, 2016 a blizzard blasted the east coast with around 3 feet of snow killing 55 and recording millions of dollars worth of damages.   On January 23, 2017 tornadoes ripped up parts of Georgia and Mississippi killing 18.   How is that possible?   Just one year apart, two very different beasts of nature devastated places relatively close together! Isn’t that ironic?   Well, maybe … but that also describes life.   About the time we start to think things make sense, the odd happens.   Now, I am not going to try to explain why things like this happen, but what I will say is that life is complex and confusing.   It is tempting to try to figure out “why” things happen – often leaving us to scratch our heads – yet, often, the most important thing we can do is ask “how” … how can we make the best of what has happened to us or others?   I am not smart enough to figure out the nature or even the timing of Go...