Spirituality

The Importance of Stretching

Yesterday I went on a long walk. For some reason, probably laziness, I didn’t stretch before or after my walk. This morning my hamstrings are tight, reminding me to stretch next time. Our bodies give us clear signals.

But I want to address a different type of stretching: stretching our faith. In yesterday’s column I wrote about my experience with tithing. Tithing stretched my faith which means I was uncomfortable for a while. But I didn’t waver. And God came through.

Do you have friends or family members you trust completely? You know them to be reliable every time. But they are human with the flaws of an imperfect person. God isn’t like us. He’s perfect, trustworthy and reliable. He gave us a guidebook for life. We simply need to read it and apply what we read. I learned about tithing in Scripture.

Stretching your faith will challenge you. You will experience discomfort. But if you stay the course, rely on God for guidance and don’t give up, your life will be enriched beyond measure.

Try it. Stretch your faith…

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Spirituality

The Thing About Tithing

Some people get uncomfortable when we talk about tithing. I understand. People hold on tightly to their money. I’m careful with mine, too.

Several years ago, due to my own irresponsibility (and stupidity), I found myself in serious financial trouble. There was no quick fix. In that moment I wasn’t certain there was a way to solve my problem. Then I remembered something from Scripture.

In The Book of Malachi God challenges us to “test Him in this.” He was challenging the people to bring their tithes and offerings into the Temple. This is the only place in the Bible where God tells us to test him. So I did. I decided to start tithing during the worst time in my adult life financially.

If I told you I wasn’t nervous, I would be lying. But I decided to trust God more than I trusted myself. He provided better than I could have expected. It didn’t happen overnight, but it happened. I have been faithful in giving away 12% of my income every month.

God wants us to give what we feel compelled to give in our hearts. He doesn’t want it to be a dreadful burden. My attitude has changed to looking forward to giving to worthwhile charities (I don’t give it all to my church, but I do give there). I have become a cheerful giver by the grace of God…

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Spirituality

Rote Religion

The recurring theme throughout the Bible is that God wants the heart of man. He gives us free will to love and worship Him. It’s never forced upon us. It’s our choice.

There has been a trend over the last twenty years or so. People refer to themselves as “spiritual but not religious.” That’s a safety net because people don’t know God, really know Him. Many believe if they start to get to know God then they would turn into religious freaks or weirdos. God created us to be who He created us to be, not a weirdo.

My encouragement to you is to spend some time in Scripture. Study the life of Jesus that’s found in Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. You will see the character of our Creator. Then allow God to work on you and through you.

Then you will have crossed the line from rote religion to a meaningful relationship…

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Spirituality

Hiring Practices

Since 1997 I have driven a Lexus. It occurred to me this morning as I brought my car in for service, that the level of customer service I receive has never wavered. It has consistently been a pleasant experience. It all comes down to hiring the right people.

Customer service has become an oxymoron. Slow, sloppy service is a serious turnoff. While I understand the person waiting on me might be having a difficult day, they need to leave that at the door.

The one thing that makes a person stands out from the crowd is their attitude. It’s something you can’t teach. You can develop a great attitude. Or you may allow the circumstances of life turn yours sour. The choice is yours.

I’ll continue to drive a Lexus. Nothing ever goes wrong with them. And the service relationship makes it worth the premium I pay for the car. They are exceptional…

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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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