Category Archives: Spirituality

Spirituality

Life

“Life is hard. It’s harder when you’re stupid.”-John Wayne

I’m not certain why Wayne said that, or if he was talking to someone in particular. From what I understand, Wayne could be a little testy at times. Yet, he spoke the truth.

Life has ups and downs. Sometimes the ups are exhilarating. You feel like life could never get any better. And then it does!

The down periods are the ones we dread. We don’t welcome difficulties and we want to get through them as quickly as possible. But let’s look at this in a different way.

Resilience is built in the darkness. Those times, while difficult, are when we find our inner strength. We may not realize how strong we are until we need to find out.

Every experience, the good and the bad, prepares us for something else. We don’t have the luxury of knowing what that something else is. That’s for God alone to know.

Remember this when you’re going through dark times: God didn’t cause your pain. He allowed it. And He will use it to grow and develop you into the person you are meant to be.

These words might not ease your pain, but perhaps they give you a different, better perspective. Keep going…

Standard
Spirituality, Uncategorized

The New Food Pyramid

Another solid recommendation for our health has come from the Department of Health and Human Services. This time it’s the food pyramid. And man, like the pyramid, it turned people on their heads!

Food is fuel. It’s like putting gasoline into your car (or electricity for EV drivers). When you put high quality fuel into your body, it runs at maximum efficiency. Low grade fuel works fine for a while, but causes engine problems down the road.

Chronic disease is epidemic in the United States. And rather than take responsibility for their health, many people opt for medications to keep them alive. Great progress can be made by eating better and getting some exercise. It takes time so you need some patience, too.

Of course, there are those who will fight for their processed foods along with unhealthy habits, all because they hate the Trump administration. This is shortsighted because there are some brilliant, dedicated scientists who work at HHS. Science isn’t political, nor is our health. It shouldn’t be for you, either.

The losers in this situation are the food and pharmaceutical lobbyists. They keep you eating improperly and you stay sick. Food companies continue mass-producing crap for people to eat. The pharmaceutical companies gain a customer for life. And when you consider that almost half of our children have a chronic illness, they are starting them earlier and earlier. It doesn’t bother me one bit if the lobbyists lose this fight.

Your health is your choice. I encourage you to choose wisely…

Standard
Spirituality, Uncategorized

The Danger of Unity

Unity is a good thing, right? Sometimes it is, but there are times it can be taken too far.

One universal truth is that we all want to be part of something bigger than ourselves. This goes beyond just wanting to belong. We want our lives to count for something. When we become part of a movement, a movement for good, it gives us purpose. Purpose combined with massive effort translates into results.

Unity can also stifle creativity and individuality. Being part of a unified group sounds great until you be yourself within the group. No two people are alike. We have different goals, dreams, pain, struggles and desires. Tamping down who you are so you can remain in the group leads to a life of frustration and sorrow.

Some churches have made people feel unwelcome because, “they aren’t our kind of Christians.” I thought there was only one type, but not everyone sees it that way. The church I go to and am deeply involved with stays true to the Gospel, but welcomes everyone. This includes those who have given up their hope in finding a faith community that serves them well, the bored and the broken.

Being united for good while maintaining your identity within the group can be a balancing act. Whatever you do, choose to be who you are. That’s bigger than any group because this is how God made you. Honor His work…

Standard
Spirituality, Uncategorized

Do You See God?

Do you see God at work in your life? The hand of God is involved in every detail of our lives. God does a lot of His work behind the scenes, but it’s there whether we acknowledge it or not.

God gives us, believers and non-believers alike, fresh air and sunshine. He gives us everything good in our lives. He gives to the faithful and the people who curse him freely. He gives us the choice to love Him or reject Him. The choice is ours and ours alone.

When you take the time to look for Gods influence in your life, it will become more clear for you. He really does care about every detail of our lives.

Thank God in advance for the good He brings into your life. When you do this for an extended period of time, your faith will grow exponentially. You will see the hand of God at work. Promise…

Standard
Spirituality, Uncategorized

Sign of the Times

Recently I have noticed a lot of signs posted in retail stores reminding people to “treat their employees with courtesy and respect.” Between Austin and Dallas there are billboards telling people to slow down in construction zones because “the workers want to return home safely. “ What in the world is going on?

Depression and anxiety have been on the rise in the United States for quite some time. Young people, especially young women, have been disproportionately affected. With science, asking why is the beginning of understanding the phenomenon. Over 40% of children have chronic diseases. Thank God HHS is finally doing a deep dive into why, hoping to find answers. You might not like the answers, but the question remains relevant. We cannot sustain our population when life expectancy has been coming down, which it has.

God gave each of us a living miracle when he created the human body. Your heart will beat 36 million times this year. Your brain makes 25,000 independent decisions each second. We must take care of ourselves by eating right, getting some exercise daily, and putting the electronics away for a while. Society is more connected than ever, but we are living in the loneliest time ever, too. Again, why?

Again, a reminder that we should show kindness. The person waiting on you in a store might be doing all they can to hold it together. Taking care of yourself includes showing some kindness and compassion to your fellow man…

Standard
Spirituality

Free Speech

There’s an old story told by Ronald Reagan. It seems an American and a Russian were arguing about who had a better form of government. The American said “I can walk into the Oval Office and tell the President that I don’t like the way he’s running the country.” The Russian replied, “I can do that. I can walk into the Kremlin and tell the General Secretary that I don’t like the way President Reagan is running his country!”

Free speech is a wonderful gift we enjoy in the United States. Cancel culture is trying to destroy it, and they will succeed if we don’t fight to protect it. Too many people take it for granted. A laissez-faire attitude combined with arrogance is guaranteed self-destruction.

When Charlie Kirk was assassinated, there were stories of people losing their jobs because they openly celebrated his death as a wonderful thing. Personally, I don’t believe most of them should have been fired for this. I do believe they should examine their own heart. Anyone who celebrates the death of a young man, leaving a widow and two children without a father has a lot of darkness in their hearts. Kirk was killed while exercising his right to free speech.

The heart is deceptive. Guard it, and use your right to speak freely to bring some goodness into this crazy world we live in. There will be some who will try to cancel you or de-platform your message. You gotta keep going when they do…

Standard
Spirituality

Set Yourself Up

Have you ever been set up to have a joke played on you, or been set up for something nefarious, perhaps? Professional comedians use set ups in joke telling. Go to YouTube and watch Abbott and Costello do their “Who’s on First” routine.

But there’s a different, better kind of set up: setting yourself up for success. You must do things other people aren’t willing to. This sets you apart from the rest of the crowd. Going through the motions doesn’t get you noticed. Giving more than you are paid to do will come back to you in ways you could never predict.

The mediocre refuse to work one minute more than what they are paid for. They consider extra effort without pay to be cheating themselves. With that attitude they will remain part of the herd, not a leader.

Always look for opportunities to give more of yourself. This isn’t restricted to your career. Give more time and effort to your family and your volunteer work.

By giving more you might miss out on the latest television show. But you will be setting yourself up for a life of fulfillment and purpose.

Set yourself up…

Standard
Spirituality, Uncategorized

Newness

We love new things, don’t we? That new car smell is one that stays with us. It hits the senses in a good way.

Newborns have the softest skin ever. It’s really remarkable. Only after exposure to the elements is when we “toughen up” a bit. We are able to soften ourselves to the touch by using oils and creams, but it doesn’t get us to the level of a newborn baby.

What about old ideas recycled as new? In New York City, the new Mayor has brought the idea of socialism to the great city. Socialism sounds good, but it doesn’t work. It has never worked but he makes fiery speeches that make it sound attractive to the masses. It’s interesting to note that one of his campaign promises was broken on the first day. Instead of free buses and subways, the cost to ride them went up!

Each day is a new opportunity to make a difference in this world. We want our lives to matter, to count for something. We have the ability to make this happen, but it’s up to us to act.

Remember what the author of The Book of James told us: “faith without works is dead.” God gave us unique talents. He expects us to use them…

Standard
Spirituality

I Wonder…

Sometimes silly things pop into my head. Things such as, I wonder what happened to “Baghdad Bob.” Remember him? He was so ridiculous yet entertaining even the President enjoyed his broadcasts.

Important questions come to mind, too. I wonder how we became so divided in the United States. We have had political differences since before the Constitution was written, but in the end the people worked through their differences. The framers created one of the greatest documents ever written, second to the Bible. The Constitution isn’t perfect, like Scripture, but it has lasted for 250 years. That’s longer than I have been alive!

I look at this beautiful world we live in with awe and wonder. The stars are magnificent. The mountains of Norway are majestic, soaring into the sky like nothing I have ever seen. The raw beauty God created never ceases to amaze me. If your life’s focus is political divide, you are going to miss so much.

Don’t misunderstand, I’m willing to engage in conversations with intelligent, open-minded people who see the world differently. This is one of the ways I learn. It’s not a threat to challenge your own beliefs and convictions. It’s a healthy exercise that expands the lens you see the world through.

Still I wonder what happened to the people who used to send me unsolicited invitations to play Candy Crush. One day they just quit coming.

One day life will be over for everyone. A lot of the things I don’t understand will be answered in eternity. Or maybe they won’t. But while I’m on this side, I’m going to enjoy the people and the places. It’s my hope that you do, too…

Standard
Spirituality, Uncategorized

Who Do You See?

Well over two decades ago I stopped asking what someone did for a living when I was introduced to them. With men, especially, “what do you do?” is a question as common as the air we breathe. But it’s a limiting question.

We have a tendency to place people in categories. Placing our emphasis on the resume someone brings to the table restricts our ability to see them for who they are. We are a planet of 8 billion unique individuals, not categories to be placed in a file.

Everyone is equal in the eyes of God. He created us, loves us the same, and doesn’t play favorites. Although as I live out the walking sitcom my life is, I sometimes believe I’m Gods favorite recreational sport! I give him a lot to laugh about and enjoy.

Try to see through to the heart of man. Forget about their position in life or what they might be able to do to for you. Get to know the real person and leave judgment at the door. It’s in these moments where you can make a connection.

Focus on the who, not the what when you meet others. Both of your lives will be better for it…

Standard