Monthly Archives: June 2025

Spirituality

Rome

On April 21st, 753 BC, Romulus founded the city of Rome. It was a small settlement sitting on a hill. Centuries later, Rome was a marvel to behold. It was a bustling city with aqueducts, a Coliseum, markets and commerce.

Just like Rome, you are a great work. You are a wonderful work in progress, growing and developing your unique skills and talents. There is no one else like you, and there never will be.

People have a tendency to copy others so they can “fit in.” Don’t fall for it. Trying to please others stifles your creativity. It’s time to show the world who you are. This doesn’t include their version of who they think you should be.

Keep your eyes on the target, your long-term goals for your life. Keep working. Be relentless. No one can make you quit.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither will you be…

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Spirituality

Gossipy People

For the last nine years I have led a men’s group on Wednesday mornings. It’s a great group of men. About every other month we meet for Happy Hour, too.

We have only one rule for the group. What is said there stays there. It would destroy the integrity of the group if someone gossiped about someone else. I can proudly say that no one has ever broken the rules.

Gossip is not only wrong, it’s harmful. Trust is broken and that’s difficult to get back once it’s gone. Having the trust of another person is a high honor.

When people choose to engage in gossip, it’s best to just walk away. Leave the conversation to the small-minded. They will find their crowd.

Always remember, if someone is talking to you about someone else, they are talking to someone else about you. Give them something worth discussing…

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Spirituality

Keep Trying

Did you set any resolutions at the beginning of the year? If so, how are you doing with them? Research shows that by February almost half of the population has thrown in the towel on their goals. By year end, only about 10% stayed with it.

The desire to give in to old, familiar patterns is strong. This is because the mind is where the battle is, and the mind is more powerful than any nuclear weapon ever invented. Seriously.

Perhaps now is a good time to revisit the goals you set earlier this year. Adjust them downward a little. Create scenarios where you achieve small victories. By doing this you will be setting the stage to win the fight with your mind.

It is true that you can accomplish anything you want to in this life. Get a specific goal in mind that you have a burning desire to achieve. Then get to work with the mindset that you will not quit no matter what happens. Then you become unstoppable, a true force…

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Spirituality

Fear Not

Fear has killed more dreams than lack of talent ever has. Fear will hold you back, keep you where you are rather than where you want to be. Unless…you are willing to break free and live in the unknown.

Should you choose to chase your purpose, you won’t be running the road by yourself. Did you know that in the Bible God tells us to “fear not” 365 times? That’s one for every day of the year. Coincidence? I think not.

Everyone has a battle within themselves. This is the conflict between where you were and who you are becoming. You can choose to go through the motions of life, living in frustration and safety. Or, you can sever the ropes that are trying to mire you in mediocrity and begin to live in the fullness you were created to live in. It is and always will be your choice.

I encourage you to step out and live your purpose with faith at your side. Embrace the fear you may feel and press on. All of life is an unknown, so keep going no matter what happens. Be adaptable…

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Spirituality

A Rare Talent

Andy Warhol is credited with saying, “in the future everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes.” He said this decades before the first iteration of social media had come to be. Warhol’s flippant remark is something many in society are trying to fulfill.

People will work like hell to be called “influencers.” But what does that really mean? Influencer has the allure of someone you might want to look up to. Politicians have influence. I don’t consider them to be role models, though. The guys who created “Jackass” are considered to be influencers. All they did was some really outrageous things to gain viewers. Yet, I wasn’t influenced to do any of the crazy stuff they did!

It is a rare person who goes about their life, doing good work, taking care of others, yet they are not seeking attention. Jesus was one of those people. He healed many, yet never sought his own honor. He brought people back to life after they were dead, but told the witnesses to “tell no one.” His influence has lasted for over 2,000 years.

I have been privileged to meet people who are rare finds, they are truly treasures among us.

Good people are out there. Sometimes you gotta look hard to find them, but they are there. My encouragement to you is to follow their example. It doesn’t matter how many people notice or give you credit. We are only here for an audience of one. God will see what you did, and that’s all that matters…

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Spirituality

Forgetfulness

Sometimes I walk into a room and forget why I went in there. Or I will open a new browser to do a search on something important, yet I can’t recall what it was a half second later! Everything gets done so I guess I eventually remembered!

One of the things I never forget are the brave men and women who fought for this wonderful country I live in. Free speech, peaceful protesting and owning a gun are rights I have because of the sacrifice of others before me. I may never know their names or their life stories, but I’m grateful for them.

The United States is an imperfect country, no doubt. We will continue to have challenges for as long as we will be a country. But we rise up and help each other when the need arises. I don’t forget the goodness people extended to me to help me in life.

Take a moment to give thanks for the people who have helped you. No matter how much we argue or disagree, it is my hope that we never lose our good heartedness. That’s something worth remembering…

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Spirituality

Rigid

Do you consider yourself to be open minded? Perhaps you see the world in black or white. The truth is, there’s a lot of grey area in between the two contrasts.

Much good has come from straightforward, objective analysis. For example, we wouldn’t want to drive across a bridge where the engineers had said their structural load calculations were, “close enough for government work!” No, we want their best work.

Adaptability has the greatest correlation to success, well above intelligence. Anyone who has ever been involved in buying a home understands this. Real estate transactions rarely go as smoothly as planned.

I encourage you to view the world with childlike curiosity. Question things, even your own beliefs and convictions. Listen and learn from others who see the world differently.

It’s not an affront to you to consider the views of other people. They may be right…

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Spirituality

In The Pit

Life isn’t always easy. There will be times in the lives of some people where they get to the breaking point. My encouragement to you if this is where you find yourself, bend but don’t break. You can get through this.

God never promised us a carefree life. In fact, Jesus himself told us “in this world there will be trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” When I think about this statement, it reminds me of how big God is.

Your challenges may be a surprise to you but they aren’t to God. He exists in the past, present and future all at once. Beginning to end. I’m not minimizing what you are experiencing. Not at all. But the God who created the universe and everything good in it can handle your problems. And mine.

You might be at a point in your life where you want to give up. Don’t. You have a great purpose to fulfill.

Place your reliance totally on God. Trust him to see you through. Then give him the glory…

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Spirituality

Offer Encouragement

The struggle continues for many of our friends and neighbors. Mental health was already compromised and then the pandemic hit. Isolation is never a good thing. Suicide rates reached levels not seen since 1941.

Encourage others. Don’t offer fake encouragement because people see right through it. Just take a moment to check on people. People need to know that someone cares about them. And guess what! You benefit, too. What we give out we get back!

We can be selfish by nature. Practice selflessness. Instead of thinking of yourself, think about others. By doing this you will be demonstrating a rare form of humility not often seen in today’s society.

In conclusion, if you are in need of some encouragement, reach out to someone. Anyone. Crisis hotlines are overwhelmed with incoming traffic, so hang on don’t hang up. Help is available. What you are going through won’t last forever.

Stay hopeful…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

Eyesight

Do you view a half glass of liquid as being half full or half empty? And just how big of a glass are you looking at? Today’s post is about what we see.

Admittedly, I’m a good finder. I see the good in every person and every situation. While I’m usually happy with this trait, sometimes I hang on to people too long. When I don’t use discernment and solid judgment, it can be a character flaw.

Others are pessimistic about the future. They can be the Eeyores of the world. Those types of people see a problem in every solution!

My hope for you, and me, is that we see the world around us through God’s eyes. He sees everything. Let’s focus on seeing the beauty in creation. This applies to people and animals as well as nature.

Peer into the heart of mankind. See and acknowledge the good works people do for others without expecting anything in return. There’s beauty there, too…

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