Spirituality, Uncategorized

Spiritual Manipulation

Some people return to church after something goes wrong in their lives. This tells me two things: 1) They believe in a Deity; and 2) They believe He can do something about their situation. For many, this reunion is the beginning of God reaching them in a deeper way.

But there have been those who were manipulated by the people they sought help from. Someone in a weakened, vulnerable position is more likely to be used. This goes against the teachings of Scripture. And it isn’t God at work in these situations. It’s the devil getting his grip and doing harm to others.

Most people are good. Most pastors are good. They enter the ministry because it’s their calling, not for fame, fortune or their own glory.

My encouragement to you is to stay hopeful. Continue to believe in the leaders of your church. And don’t hesitate to reach out to them when life goes awry. God placed them there for a purpose…

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Spirituality

Lip Service

You know how actions speak louder than words. Empty words are no more than giving lip service to a cause or belief. There’s no heart in it.

What do you believe in? I mean really believe in. If you say you care for your fellow man then show it. If you have children and you love them, show them by spending time with them, not showering them with gifts. We spell love T. I. M. E. Our time is our greatest gift to give because we cannot get it back.

Politicians are some of the worst. They toss out their talking points to get voters riled up. But the politicians do nothing. There is no follow through. They are only interested in getting re-elected.

Get involved in your community. You have special talents that can benefit mankind. When you commit to giving of yourself to a greater purpose, you have moved beyond lip service. Well beyond…

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Spirituality

Unlimited Freedoms

Today is Memorial Day in the United States. It’s a day of remembrance, not a day for celebration. Other countries have similar days of remembrance. I believe it is vitally important to remember those who gave their lives so we are free.

There are children who lost a parent to war. They might never have known or remembered the one who died. We owe these families a great debt of gratitude.

It seems that there will always be wars. Some people refuse to play nice in the sandbox. The only thing their leaders understand is conflict and coercion. The United States remains a beacon of hope in an increasingly hostile world.

If your family lost a loved one in war, any war, today we honor your sacrifice. We don’t take it for granted. In the United States we have unlimited freedoms which cost some people their lives. It wasn’t for nothing…

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Spirituality

Are You In The Boat?

When Jesus walked on the water to get to the boat the disciples were in, the disciples thought they were seeing a ghost. Peter said, “Rabbi. If it’s really you, then let me walk out to you.” Jesus told him to “come on.”

Peter stepped out of the boat and took a few steps toward Jesus. Then Peter got scared, took his eyes off of Jesus and started to sink. He cried out, “Lord. Save me!” Jesus pulled him out and they got in the boat.

Life can be a bit like this story from Scripture. Staying in the boat, playing it safe might get you to your destination. That’s merely existing. God wants more for our lives. He wants us to use our unique talents to help others. We must get out of the boat and take chances. Otherwise we will miss our calling.

If you choose to pursue your dreams, then you must get out of your own boat. Take a risk. But remember to keep your eyes on God. Then you won’t sink…

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Spirituality

As Gentle as a Dove

Doves are peaceful birds. They make a soothing sound that even a child can recognize. Doves represent peace and hope. They are featured prominently in Scripture.

When Jesus came up out of the water after his baptism, the Bible says “the Spirit descended on him like a dove.” Jesus was a peacemaker, so it makes sense.

Jesus was a rebel, too, a real badass. He spoke the truth, always, and his truth was the truth. His teachings and his manner were oftentimes at odds with the religious leaders which made some of them hate him more. But Jesus brought peace and hope to the lost. He showed kindness and compassion to the most outcast. This went counter to everything and everyone the Pharisees stood against, but many of them were blinded by their own lust for power.

My encouragement to you is to show kindness to everyone. Be gentle in spirit. People are carrying pain and struggles we don’t know about. Your kindness may be their last, best hope…

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Spirituality

Let The Light In

This world needs hope. Many people are carrying pain they don’t talk about. They keep their pain hidden in dark places. But they aren’t alone. No one escapes the difficulties of life.

But there is hope. Forgiveness has power. If you are holding on to something that needs to be forgiven, it’s important to remember that forgiveness takes time. You can’t force it. But I encourage you to keep the door to forgiveness cracked just a tiny bit. When the time arrives and you are ready to forgive, push the door open. Let the light in. The light will crush the darkness in our lives.

We don’t want to forgive. And why should we? The offenders don’t deserve it! But that’s the curious thing about forgiveness. Forgiveness is for you, not the other person. By forgiving the person who harmed you, you are releasing a weight you are carrying. At the same time, you aren’t letting the one who hurt you off the hook. You are letting go of any potential power the offense has over your life.

Forgiveness is powerful. You might have to face some darkness to get through it, but you will get there. Light has power over darkness, every time…

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Spirituality

Urban Development

Since 1993, I have lived in Austin, Texas. When I first moved here, Austin was a quirky city with a bit of a small town feel. It’s not that way anymore.

Corporations were quick to notice that a lot of people wanted to live in Austin. Many tech companies built facilities there, complementing their main offices on the west coast. They were smart.

The cost of living in Texas was and is much lower than California’s. Not having a state income tax is nice, too. The mass migration to Texas from California caused our property values to soar. Californians could sell their cracker box sized homes and buy a 10,000 square foot home for less in Texas.

Not all development is good or bad. But the culture of the city has changed. Austin used to be a casual type community. Now it’s more stiff and pretentious. It happens.

Austin will continue to grow and thrive, no doubt. The state certainly will, too. We have been the beneficiaries of the mass exodus from California. My hope is that the people who move here leave their crazy politics behind. After all, it was their politicians who priced them out of their beautiful state.

Everything always works out the way it’s supposed to…

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Spirituality

Going Viral

Some people will do anything to get attention. They want fame so badly they can almost taste it. What they really want is recognition and, sometimes, respect.

Self worth comes from within. There are those who have gained everything the world has to offer, but they still felt unworthy. So, they chase harder, only to be left unfulfilled. It’s time to stop chasing and start living.

In many prior columns I have written about working on ourselves. It’s hard, I know. Facing the demons of the past requires courage. Only when we exorcise the trauma can we heal from it. But you gotta pull it out by the root. Mowing over it doesn’t cut it.

If what I’m describing applies to you, then I encourage you to go down the road less traveled. This is the hard road, but it is the path to get you where you want to go. Write out the areas you want to improve on. Then find the right therapist to guide you.

There’s a wonderfully fulfilling life waiting for you. Pursue it and keep going when it becomes difficult. You can do it…

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Spirituality

Do This First

Every day of our lives is filled with things we have to do. The list may be long or short, but it’s a constant. Here is some advice that will serve you well.

Do the hard things first. These are the items that might take the longest or even make you uncomfortable. Do them first. The rest of your day will feel like you’re almost coasting. But there’s more.

Taking on the challenges in your life will strengthen you and your resolve. Resilience builds. Confidence, too. Take your time to do things the right way. Hurrying through could cause you to miss something. Then you will need to fix it. That’s not necessary if you do it right.

If your habit has been to save the hardest task for later, you can reverse that. My encouragement to you is to start today. Then keep going…

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