Spirituality, Uncategorized

Issues and No Answers

There used to be a show on television called “Issues and Answers.” The program focused on interviews with prominent people who were newsmakers. It premiered in November of 1960 and lasted almost 21 years until it was replaced by “This Week With David Brinkley.”

The word problem has been replaced with the word issues. From some of the ugliness and bizarre behavior exhibited by part of our population, the people have issues. Real issues. Are there no answers?

God alone can change the heart of man. Consider Saul. Saul was a talented Pharisee who was spending his life persecuting followers of Jesus. He was on the road to Damascus to arrest believers and bring them back to Jerusalem in chains for their trial. Jesus intervened in a supernatural way and Saul became a believer himself. Now we know him as Paul.

The answer to our issues in this country lies in prayer. I’m not great at prayer, admittedly. But one thing I pray about consistently is that God will heal our country. People are at each other’s throats because they see their politics through different lenses. It’s okay to see the world differently. If people would take the time to listen to each other, it would be a good start.

Our great country has made it 250 years. Let’s make it another 250. We can do it if enough people are willing…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

Now I’ve Had It!

What is wrong with people??? In all my years I have never seen such cruelty displayed openly. The proliferation of social media gets the blame, but it isn’t social media. It is a problem of the heart.

Last week the hosts of the “I’ve Had It” podcast made a cruel, insensitive joke about “digging up Charlie Kirk and assassinating him again.” There is nothing funny about what they said. The hosts were laughing hysterically at their cruelty. Why anyone would believe murdering an innocent man is something to joke about is beyond my comprehension.

Charlie Kirk had a wife, children, parents and friends who cared about him. Online trolls made terribly offensive comments about Susan Dells appearance. Do the commentators think that other people don’t have feelings?

The podcast hosts made a half ass apology after their sponsors started dropping them. Perhaps they should have thought before they spoke. Too late now.

Insecure people make fun of others. They might feel superior in the moment, but the deep-seated lack of self worth comes roaring back. It’s time for some inner self work for those people.

Our world has a heart problem. When you get your heart right, worthwhile things happen…

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Uncategorized, Spirituality

Gain By Giving Up

Have you ever given up on something? Maybe you gave up on a relationship or a project you had been working on. Don’t think of them as failures. Think of them as making a way to open up new opportunities.

Every one of us has the same 168 hours each week. Some people seem to make a lot more happen in their day than others. How do they do it, you might ask. Let’s examine this further.

High achievers eliminate distractions from their day. Online games have no appeal. Nor does wasting time with people who don’t edify and enrich their lives. They prioritize well. By giving up outside influences that don’t advance them to where they want to be, they gain extra time.

Television can be a huge distraction. It can be entertaining, but too much TV will not make you think. Perhaps it’s a good idea to switch some television time for quiet time. Use it to think and plan.

Take inventory of what keeps you from reaching your full potential. Eliminate any bad habits one at a time. Stay strong when temptation strikes. It will. Be prepared for it and resolve to be stronger…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

The Vision of the Uninformed

When I was younger, I could come up with some crazy ideas. They weren’t crazy to me. But looking back I have to laugh. I wasn’t dumb or ignorant, just uninformed.

As we age we grow. The way I saw the world when I was a teenager is much different from today. We gain experience through the years and with experience we become more wise.

The vision of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is beyond crazy. Here are just a few of the DSA platforms: abolish the police and prison systems; abolish the Supreme Court, the Senate and the Presidency; establish a 32 hour work week with similar pay; and, substantially increase taxes on the wealthy (although no one has defined what constitutes wealthy) to pay for increased social services. This is not just crazy, it’s psycho crazy!

The vision of the DSA sounds wonderful, utopian even. It just won’t work. Perhaps they would want us to dress alike, too. We can take some style tips from Chairman Mao’s Chinese.

In the first chapter of The Book of James, the author tells us that “if any of us desires wisdom, we should ask the Father of Lights who gives wisdom freely.” This is some Scripture I wish I had read and practiced when I was young. Oh well, live and learn…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

Silent Witness

According to some disturbing statistics, one third of women will experience physical or sexual violence during their lifetime. The real number is higher because many times the crimes aren’t reported.

My friend, Ashley Spence, published her first book in January of 2025. “Silent Witness” is an unvarnished look at her life, the crime committed against her, and her recovery.

Ashley is one of the bravest women I have ever met. A lot of people call me themselves “activists,” yet never get active about anything. Ashley is the real deal. She has dedicated her life to bringing DNA legislation to life which is what led to her attacker getting caught, prosecuted and sentenced to 137 1/2 years in prison.

Every year Ashley testifies in legislatures all over the United States, sharing her story and reliving a horrific incident. And there are other challenges to consider. Ashley is a single parent to two young children which means there are many nights she is away from home. Yet she handles her responsibilities completely.

Many women suffer in silence. In my prison work I have met dozens of women who have been victims of rape and abuse. I have seen firsthand the pain they are living with. I encourage them to keep talking about what happened to them with someone they can trust. Bringing the horror into the light weakens any potential power it may have over them.

I encourage you to get the book. Some parts are hard as hell to read. But Ashley’s story is a great reminder that through finding forgiveness in our hearts, we find freedom…

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Spirituality

It’s Nothing At All

We need to communicate with each other. I’m not just referring to talking to others. Listening is more important than just making noise. Listening takes effort. It’s a verb, an action word.

In any relationship there will be conflict. Resolving conflicts can be difficult. You can avoid conflict by sweeping things under the rug, thinking “it’s no big deal.” But that’s a cop out. You might preserve the peace in the short run, but at some point it will resurface. And when it does it is like a bomb going off!

People are living with pain we know nothing about. They keep it inside, suffering in silence. Look for the signs. Be compassionate.

A couple years ago when I was speaking in a women’s prison, one of the inmates opened up about her ex husband and her daughters. She told me both her daughters had committed suicide because their father had sexually molested them. Then she waved her hand and said, “but it’s okay.” I looked her in the eye and said, “No. It’s not okay. Your ex was a sick fuck who robbed your children of their lives.” This poor woman had tears in her eyes, and we connected. I’m glad I was there in that moment.

Be willing to have difficult conversations. They can be uncomfortable. But intimacy grows through the difficult conversations when you are willing…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

When Free Speech Disgusts Me

In 2019, Darializa Avila Chevalier tweeted, “I forgot to get napkins so I just wiped my hand on the American flag behind me”. Perhaps she was just trying to be provocative (as many politicians can be), but it still irritates the shit out of me.

The American flag represents the United States of America, its people, its founding principles, and its history. Most importantly, the flag represents the sacrifices made by those who came before us to preserve our freedoms.

Ms. Chevalier’s tweet disgusts me. The KKK parading through an American community disgusts me, too. So do the people who burn the flag. Yet they are protected by the first amendment. We have privileges in the United States that no other nation has. Many of our ancestors died for this great country of ours. Just my belief but I believe we should honor their sacrifices by honoring our flag.

The great American experiment is still only 250 years young. Our Constitution is strong. We will survive the DSA desires to reshape America into a socialist Mecca. Cuba is not a role model unless you are the ones in power.

So you can keep doing things that irritate me as your right under The Constitution. It’s my right to stand for the National Anthem and look at that great symbol of freedom, the American flag…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

No Do-overs

There are no do-overs in this life. When we say something mean or hurtful, or screw up, we live with it and move forward. But consider this: What if we could have a second chance?

We serve the God of second chances. His ability to forgive is beyond human comprehension. As humans we don’t have the ability to forget the bad things we have done. In fact, we play them over and over in our heads like they are a lowlight reel or something.

Scripture tells us that God forgives and forgets our sins when we ask forgiveness. Our challenge is forgiving ourselves. We hold onto our past like it’s the National Treasure. If you are in this position, I encourage you to let it go if you are truly sorry. This means you want to be different in the future. If this is true, then have a real change of heart.

I see people who beat themselves up over past mistakes. This serves no meaningful purpose. Have the temerity to move in a new, different, better direction. It will require a change in your thinking. But you can do it if you refuse to quit.

We are so fortunate to worship a God of patience, compassion and forgiveness. His love for us is indescribable. Go experience it for yourself…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

The Mystery of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is hard. People are carrying hurts and pain from the past that no one sees. But when we look deeper, we can see. Let’s look further into this.

Unresolved conflicts can damage us. Lack of forgiveness can manifest into resentment and resentment leads to bitterness. This is how we see the pain buried in others. Some people become so eaten up with hatred that they are very difficult to be around.

On the cross, Jesus asked God to “forgive them, for they know not what they are doing.” Jesus had been beaten, tortured, ridiculed and spat upon, but he wants God to forgive the ones who were persecuting him. What an incredible act of forgiveness.

The people who hurt you don’t deserve forgiveness. So why should I forgive them, you may wonder. This is the mystery: forgiveness is for you, not the offender. By forgiving those who harmed you, it frees you from the forces that can destroy you from within. You are free.

True forgiveness takes time. It cannot be forced or rushed. Practicing gratitude will lead to forgiveness and many more benefits. But you gotta do the work.

Try it. Set yourself free…

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Spirituality

The Real McCoy

When someone or something is described as “the real McCoy,” it means the person or the object is genuine. No cheap fakes or counterfeits allowed.

No one knows where the saying comes from. There are three possibilities cited from history. It’s interesting because the saying has been used for decades.

Could you be described this way? If the answer is yes, then you are the real deal. Honesty and integrity are valuable. They are worth more than gold. Being a man or woman who keeps their word seems to be getting rarer and rarer. But we notice when one does.

We just had an election in the United States. Politicians continue stretching the truth to get elected. They spew so much bullshit it’s impossible to keep up with all of it. As I have written before, politicians are not role models.

Speaking the truth is easy. When someone lies they have to remember the lies they told. If you tell the truth you don’t have to concern yourself with what you told others. Liars don’t have the same luxury.

Elections come and go. The politicians seem to hang around like a chronic disease. Many of them should strive to be known as the real McCoy…

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