Spirituality, Uncategorized

The State of Discontent

People change when they want to. I’ve heard many alcoholics say they “got sick and tired of being sick and tired.” They embraced sobriety, worked the 12 steps of AA and changed their lives.

Contentment can be an ambition killer. We are here for a purpose, a purpose that impacts others for good. Going to work, coming home and watching television then doing it all over again the next day won’t get you where you want to be. When you get discontented with your life then you will change. The pain of staying where you are is worse than the uncertainty of moving forward.

Fulfillment comes when we are working at something greater than ourselves. We are contributing to the greater good. And when you see someone trying to make a change, offer some encouragement to them. Your words might be what they need in the moment.

Find your purpose. You have one. In fact, you may have several. Keep going when you find it, no matter what happens. God gave you the purpose. He will see you through…

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Spirituality

What Gives, California?

The state of California is a paradise. The entire state is beautiful, from the Bay Area to the south. In 2002, I drove from San Diego to Tehachapi, California for dinner. The route took me through fragrant strawberry fields and strikingly beautiful green hills.

On January 7, 2025 a fire started in the Pacific Palisades area west of Los Angeles. It burned for 24 days, destroying over 23,000 acres. Twelve people died in the fire.

The damage was significant. Over 6,800 homes were burned to the ground. Almost 1000 more were damaged. The politicians promised that permitting and rebuilding would be swift. Of course this was a lie. A colossal lie. As of May 2026, only 28 homes have been rebuilt. Twenty eight in fifteen months.

The Empire State Building was built in 410 days. It is 102 floors with over 2.8 million square feet. The building came in on time and under budget. Perhaps the feckless politicians in California could learn something from this example.

Anything is possible when you have the right people running the show. Look no further than the Empire State Building…

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Spirituality

Free Food!

Online I have been seeing a surge in advertising for food services. They promise “free bacon or ribeyes for life!” But I’m skeptical. Very skeptical…

Personally, I have used the same company for over twenty years to buy steaks from. They sell prime beef shipped directly to my home from Chicago. Every experience I have had has been great. And the steaks are outstanding.

Every now and then the company will provide some complementary hamburgers. But there’s no gimmick or trickery involved.

Buying direct has some risks, but it has advantages, too. It saves time and the quality is always better.

Well, I gotta run. Today is a busy day, and I need to place an order for some ribeyes!

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Spirituality

Cooperation

Cooperation is the act of working together to achieve a desired outcome. Everything from business to marriage needs some cooperation.

Congress has become so partisan that they should learn the art of cooperation. It seems the only time the two parties can agree on anything is when they are voting for a raise for themselves. Shouldn’t the American people be the ones who control when and if Congress gets a bump in income?

Cooperation is biblical, too. In Ecclesiastes 4:9 it says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.” Again, perhaps Congress should visit Scripture before they convene.

There are some who just want things their way. They have no room for compromise. Stay away from the people who have closed minds. “My way or the highway” is seldom a solid strategy.

Be open minded when taking on a new project. Cooperate with others. Two heads usually are better than one…

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Spirituality

Surrounded

There is noise everywhere in this world. Some good. Some not worth our attention. How do we discern the good from the bad? Keep reading.

Our minds are thinking constantly. Our thoughts have been influenced by what we read, watch on television or the internet, and what we believe. It’s a challenge to turn the noise off and quieten our minds. But it is possible.

When we get an inspiration to do something good or worthwhile, you can usually count on the thought having come from God. Conversely, selfish thoughts which benefit only us are evil temptations.

It’s important to surround ourselves with good people, the ones who challenge us to think. Keep the negative people away. Don’t let them into your sphere. It’s our decision about who we get close to.

Filter the negative energy out as best you can. Look for the good energy. Both are available, and we get to choose…

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Spirituality

Tough Talk

Once again, the Iranian leadership (what’s left of it anyway) has threatened the United States over the possible takeover of Kharg Island. The U. S. will face “serious consequences” if we continue down this path. Right…

Bullies talk a big game, too. Here’s a fact: people who engage in bullying behavior are the most scared people in the room. They are scared so they want you to be scared, too. Standing up to a bully is the quickest way to see them fold.

The Bible teaches us to use “gentleness and self-control” in our dealings. Those characteristics will reach the heart of mankind faster than tough talk will. And you make a lasting impression on the person you are dealing with.

The Iranians will continue to make false threats. They can’t back up their tough talk. But our leaders can. In the negotiations they use a different tone. Hopefully sprinkled with some gentleness…

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Spirituality

Building Strength

Proper weight training can make a person strong. There are many benefits to building muscle. Your body becomes a fat-burning machine while increasing your metabolism. It takes time but it is time well spent.

But today I’m writing about a different type of strength: inner strength. Inner strength is the ability to work through whatever life throws your way. We don’t know what the future holds, and most of it is good. But there will be times you will be tested.

Inner strength is built in the dark times, not when things are going well. Children need to learn that they can bounce back from failures and mistakes. Wrapping them in bubble wrap so they never have to feel bad is preparing them to crumble in adulthood. Mommy and daddy will not be around to pick them up every time they fall.

As a parent, I will tell you it is heartbreaking to see your child hurting. But it is necessary. My son makes a bad grade? He should have studied harder. Gets in trouble with the law for trespassing? Obey the law. Teach kids to get through the difficulties, not get out of them.

Life is usually pretty routine. It can even be boring. But when it brings you unforeseen challenges, you will handle them if you were prepared with inner strength as a child…

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Spirituality

The Middle Ground

It seems like some people have drawn their lines in the sand. For reasons I don’t completely understand, part of the population has decided their politics are the most important thing in their lives. Some people have sacrificed friendships and family over political differences. What happened to the middle ground?

Personally, I have friends all across the political spectrum. Our relationship is based upon our shared values and common interests. We may see the political landscape differently, and that’s okay. We respect each other’s right to vote the way we want.

Some people find joy in hurling insults at people over the internet. That’s weak. If name calling and pejoratives are all you have, then I question what you really believe.

Everyone wants to find purpose in this life. Each of us has been given special talents to accomplish our purpose. Perhaps yelling about political differences makes people feel like they are accomplishing something, and they are! They are driving others away.

Find the middle ground. Connect with other good people. Focusing on one lane of the superhighway might cause you to miss something. And that includes people…

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Spirituality

Think For Yourself

When my sons were becoming adults, they would sometimes ask me how to solve a problem they were having. My response was, “figure it out.” Now that may sound harsh, but I wanted them to get into the habit of thinking for themselves. Old dad wasn’t going to be around forever!

God gave us the most powerful, most incredible thinking machine. Our brains are capable of making tens of thousands of decisions in milliseconds. Our health is a function of our thoughts. Negative people tend to fall ill more often than the rest of society.

Our brains can atrophy, too. Watching mindless junk on television or the internet can, over time, slow down our ability to think. But the great news is, we can get it back. Quickly!

My sons would figure out the solutions to whatever was challenging them. Now they rarely ask me for advice. And I’m okay with that…

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