Author Archives: John Harrell

Spirituality

Mid-Year Review

We are halfway through 2026. Can you believe it? It is my hope that your year has produced some memorable moments and successes thus far. But you aren’t finished.

When you look back at the first half of this year, i want to encourage you to focus on the good. Be honest with yourself. Don’t gloss over the things you could have done differently or better. And don’t beat yourself up. This is how we learn. And remember, no one gets it right all the time.

If you have experienced loss, take some time to reflect on the impact that person(s) had on you.

Our lives are like a drop in the ocean when compared to eternity. Use your time to make a difference in this world. Leave your mark imprinted on the minds and hearts of everyone you meet…

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Spirituality

Communication Breakdown

Abraham Lincoln died at 7:22 a.m. on April 15, 1865. Telegraph operators immediately began sending news of his death to major cities, and by the afternoon church bells were ringing while newspapers printed special editions. Getting the message to several western states took a week.

Today, we can call anyone, almost anywhere with ease. We are living in the most connected world in history. But are we really connected?

Multiple surveys show that half of adults in America are feeling isolated and alone. The longer term effects of this are depression, anxiety, heart disease and an earlier mortality. But it can be reversed. There is no need to create an AI bot.

Joining a community group, volunteering, or engaging in conversations with friends and family is a great place to begin. Not only will your quality of life improve, but so will your overall health. Take the first step toward a healthier and more fulfilling life.

I can only imagine how many times the telegraph operators had to confirm the message that the president was dead. It must have been chaotic, not to mention the emotion the sender must have felt. We live in a faster time. Remember to slow down a little and get connected…

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Spirituality

Problems? No Problems

Have you ever been around someone who constantly focuses on problems rather than solutions? They are energy draining. Every solution you offer is met with, “the problem with that is…” Ugh!

Life will throw some stuff at you. Difficult days are part of the mix but so are the days when everything goes right. Enjoy the easy days! Be grateful for them. But there’s a better way to view those times when life is most difficult than wishing they would pass. Instead, look forward to them. Let me explain.

When life is easy, we aren’t growing. Our strength and resilience are built in the fire. We see how strong we really are when we are being tested. I know many people who have gotten through very difficult situations. They are to be admired because they kept going through the darkness. Eventually, they found the light.

And speaking of the light in the darkness, it’s always there. It may be a pin dot of light, but it’s there. Keep your eyes on the light when darkness appears in your life. It gives you renewed strength, focus and hope. Stay focused…

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Spirituality

Nothing But Net

When you nail a beautiful basketball shot and it slides through the net without touching the rim, the shooter says, “nothing but net!” But today I want to focus on a different kind of net, the safety net.

Many people say they don’t like change. Routines and predictability reign supreme in their lives. It’s like having their own built-in safety net. The truth is, all of us are living life without a net.

God shaped us with unique talents to accomplish His will on this side of eternity. He never said it would be easy or without risks. He did promise He could take any bad situation and bring good from it.

When you decide to pursue your calling, get ready to grow. You can’t avoid it. Stay committed and remain hopeful no matter how hard it gets. If you are pursuing God’s calling on your life, no force can stop you…

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Spirituality

The Miserable Few

If you have been reading my daily column for a while, you know that I believe most people are good. My faith in humanity will not waver. But what about the small number of people who defy logic?

The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is undergoing more repairs. It’s possible that it was sabotaged. I’ll let the investigation play out and then decide. But there are some crazy people at the Reflecting Pool who are celebrating the return of algae blooms. Seriously. They are singing to the algae.

In 2012, extensive repair work was done on the Pool. It was due. The Reflecting Pool opened in 1923 and was leaking millions of gallons of water annually. Soon after the repairs were completed, algae blooms began to appear. Where were the celebrants then?

A few people in this world have lost their minds. They celebrated the assassination of Charlie Kirk, they wish ill will on their fellow citizens, and they tear down anything good because they are blinded by political ideology. These are what I call the “miserable few.”

Life is challenging enough without having to deal with the crazies. We should encourage others, not tear them down. We are better together…

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Spirituality

Quality Work

Have you ever raised a teenager, especially a teenage boy? They have selective motivation. When they are assigned chores to help their family, they can be lazy and full of excuses. But given some free time for online video games, they will outwork the best of us to win their game.

Over the course of my life I have seen the quality of the products we buy go steadily downhill. In a former home I owned, the motherboard on my dishwasher would need to be replaced a couple times per year. And this was a “high end” dishwasher. High price, perhaps, but mediocre quality.

Unless you were born with a trust fund waiting for you, you have to work. There’s nothing more satisfying than putting in a good day’s work. The sense of accomplishment creates a sense of well being that goes beyond your output. You want to do it again.

Scripture tells us to “work like we are working for the Lord.” That’s a pretty tall order, but it gives us a benchmark.

If you answered yes to raising a teenager, don’t worry. There’s no need to get angry or frustrated with them. They will eventually figure it out. In the interim you gotta figure out their pain point. Up the pain and the behavior will change…

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Uncategorized

AIP

Autoimmune Protocol is a restrictive eating plan designed to eliminate inflammation in the body. I’m beginning today. Why, you might ask? Because I have an autoimmune disorder that is causing me tremendous pain. The diseases comes and goes, but the pain has gotten progressively worse.

Pain is a powerful motivator. There are many foods I like that I cannot eat for the next 30-60 days. Organic tomatoes, black pepper and coffee to name a few. But the thing is, eliminating certain foods from my diet is nothing compared to being pain free. I’m ready.

Our foods have been infiltrated with toxins. Artificial manipulation has caused molecules to be introduced into our bodies that we don’t know how to digest. I’m trying to reset my biology.

If you have joint pain or stiffness, take a deep look at what you are eating. It may be nothing or it could be something. It doesn’t hurt to look…

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Spirituality

The Golden Rule

The Golden Rule is easy to follow, until it isn’t. Some people do everything they can to try to get under your skin. When this happens, rise above.

There are a good handful of people who just seem to be miserable. They are constantly complaining or finding fault with others. It’s my opinion that they are reflecting what lies in their heart. They aren’t happy in their own lives, so they want to rob others of their peace.

Jesus taught us to “love God and love others.” He spoke straight truth. He told us to “pray for those who persecute you.” Totally counter culture and certainly not easy to do.

When someone attacks you, online or otherwise, steer clear of engaging. You aren’t required to give anyone an explanation. Leave the miserable in their mire. Rise above…

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Spirituality

The Public Eye

People Magazine was created around feature stories of our favorite celebrities and the going’s on in their lives. We needed to know what Oprah was reading, and we couldn’t live without pictures from Julia Roberts wedding. When you are in Hollywood, keeping your name in front of the public is key.

Everyone is watching others all the time. You can’t escape the cell phone cameras to capture your worst moments. You and I are in the public eye, too, whether we make it into People Magazine or not.

Most importantly, if you are a parent, your children are observing your behavior. Little eyes are always watching, listening and learning. Children need to see that our actions are aligned with what we say.

A large number of families are experiencing dysfunction in the home. It could be alcoholism, drug abuse or emotional abuse. Children are learning about horrible, unsafe conditions at an early age. Their developing brains aren’t capable of handling this in the right way. Children know nothing about setting and keeping healthy boundaries.

My hope is that people will seek out the help they need to change their behavior. God didn’t create us to live in self-imposed prisons. We hold the key…

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Spirituality

The Manifestation of Evil

What is wrong with people? We have people mocking the assassination of Charlie Kirk, cheering the algae in the Lincoln Reflecting Pool, and hailing Luigi Mangione as a modern day hero. This is evil personified.

The spiritual battle is very real. Demonic forces want us to turn away from God. They cast doubt on the beliefs of people who cannot understand how bad things happen to good people. This much I know: the only way satan can hurt God is by hurting his children. God cannot be physically hurt but he is an emotional God.

When you begin to see the world through the lens of the Spirit, things become more clear. God allows bad things to happen. Otherwise we wouldn’t have free will. We choose to love and worship God. It’s not forced upon us. That’s what the pagans do.

Only God can bring good from the bad. When we believe and pray, we are assured that God will get us through the worst. I understand it’s difficult, but faith is strengthened in the fire.

Trust God. He is good…

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