Category Archives: Uncategorized

#inspiration

Consequences

Yesterday, I started working out with a new trainer. Today I am very sore from the workout. That’s a good thing because it lets me know the workout was effective.

Actions without consequences teaches us nothing. Over the years I have seen people start eating healthier and begin an exercise regimen after they had a health scare. They suddenly were properly motivated to take better care of themselves.

Toddlers can be told to not touch the stove, but they do it anyway. Getting burned taught them that perhaps they should listen to their parents. By not listening you might get burned!

When we are facing situations that might lead us into trouble, take a moment to consider what the after effects look like. Will you feel better about yourself? Will it enrich your life? If the answer is yes, then proceed. If it’s no, well, you know…

I encourage you to take the time to think things through. Get off the emotional side of your brain. If you do, life might go a little more smoothly…

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Family Time

Oftentimes when I ask people if they have vacation plans they respond, “yes, I’m going to visit some of my family.” My response is that family trips aren’t a vacation, they’re an obligation!

With the holidays approaching families will be together, hopefully celebrating and not fighting. Yesterday I had lunch with a friend of mine whose brother has cut off contact with him because of politics. From my observation, this is happening more and more frequently. It’s sad, really. Differences in political beliefs should not be a dividing line.

One of the foundations of our identity is our family. I came from a completely dysfunctional family, but the dysfunction stopped with me. I healed and did not pass on the craziness to my sons. It took work, but my children are much more important than my comfort.

It’s okay to disagree with your family. If you ever found someone, anyone, who agreed with you all the time, they are a chameleon and not to be trusted.

Stand by your family. They will be the ones who remember you. The politicians won’t…

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#inspiration, #spirituality

The Babylon Bee

The Babylon Bee is a satire site and it’s hilarious. Satire is defined as, “the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.”

Politicians give a guy like me a lot to work with. Some of the things they say are either outrageous or pandering. They love to talk down to us to remind us how smart they are. Yet, they have managed to put us $36 trillion in debt. Who’s the smart people?

And some religious leaders have their own share of ridiculousness. One popular “clergyman” has a fleet of private jets and said, “God told him he wanted him to have those jets.” (And no, it wasn’t Joel Osteen). I can’t prove it, but I doubt God told him that!

We need to laugh to get through life. Take a look at The Babylon Bee if you dare. But be prepared! They might make fun of your favorite politician!

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    #inspiration, #spirituality

    Redirected

    Sometimes life throws us curveballs. We think we know the direction of our lives, and everything seems to be going smoothly. Then the shit hits the fan. Normal life is disrupted by an unexpected divorce, the loss of a job, or the worst thing possible happens, the loss of a child. Life as we knew it has forever been changed.

    When dark periods occur, and they will, you have got to find your inner strength. Sometimes this is strength you didn’t know you had in you. The resilience you built through difficult situations in your past will serve you well now. You will get through whatever you are going through, even if it’s one baby step at a time. When you’re going through hell, don’t stop and build a house there. Keep going…

    Life will get better. You will find a way to live with a pain that never goes away, it merely subsides. You will realize that God didn’t abandon you. He was in the mess with you.

    And those curveballs I mentioned before. You will get good at hitting them, too…

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    Is It True?

    There’s so much information thrown our way every day that it’s difficult to separate the truth from the lies. Our media is culpable, but so are we if we spread the lies we hear.

    If we were to spend our time vetting information we would never accomplish anything else! We need information about the state of the world to help us make decisions. But how do we know if what we are being told is true?

    The world is a much closer place thanks to technology. We can call someone in a foreign country and it sounds like they are next door. There are sources available to help us glean information. Then it’s up to us to think it through.

    Decide what’s important to you and your family. Ask yourself if what you’re hearing is really true. Take time away from the noise to think.

    And if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is…

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    #inspiration, #spirituality

    Whip It Into Shape!

    There’s a great story in the Bible where Jesus is enraged when he sees what’s happening in the Temple. He forms a whip and uses it to drive the people and the livestock out. Just like in Jesus’ day, there’s pollution in the church.

    Church should be a place where everyone is welcome. Everyone. Yet, I have read about some churches that exclude some people. I’ve heard of others that relaxed Biblical principles in the name of inclusivity and political correctness. We all must live with ourselves, but this is venturing into dangerous territory.

    The Apostle John wrote about churches that strayed from God when he crafted The Book of Revelation. Jesus isn’t ambiguous. He wants it cleaned up.

    I encourage you to seek God and His goodness. Stay close to the teachings of the Bible. It’s as relevant today as it ever was…

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    Preparedness

    Netflix reported that over 60 million people viewed the Jake Paul/Mike Tyson bout on Friday night. It was a record. Yet, many people were disappointed because Netflix hadn’t ramped up their streaming capacity enough to accommodate the demand. They weren’t prepared.

    When the work week begins, most of us are ready for whatever the week holds for us. The unprepared just show up and see what happens. Taking a few minutes to review your schedule on Sunday evening won’t solve all your work challenges, but it will help you in your preparation for what can happen.

    Asking God to guide us as we go through the day helps greatly. He wants to be involved in our lives, not relegated to being a spectator. Talk to Him.

    Yesterday was about sayings. Today I will close with one: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail…

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    Sayings

    “Early to bed, early to rise makes a man…” you know the rest. There’s a lot of cute, catchy sayings that are meant to teach us something. Life is the best teacher of all. We take to heart the lessons we learn through experience.

    All my life I’ve heard people say, “you know, they say” this or that. Who are they??? I wish they would show themselves because I have a few things to say to they!

    When we are seeking wisdom, go to the Book of Proverbs. Written by King Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, it’s full of solid advice to guide us in life. His writings were inspired by God so we know they are true. God gave us a guidebook to navigate life on this planet. We are being prepared for eternity.

    Remember, God didn’t create us and forget about us. We are in His thoughts. Always…

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    #inspiration, #spirituality

    Time Out

    In sports, teams call a time out when they need to regroup or rethink their strategy. Perhaps some people in the United States should call a personal time out.

    The division in this great country has been building for 20 years. The last time we were united was immediately after 9/11. It makes me sad to see how divided and angry we have become. It doesn’t have to be this way.

    Democrats are raging anger about losing the election. I have seen some Republicans gloating and throwing it in people’s faces. Both are wrong. We can be better, if we are willing.

    Second to the Bible, the United States Constitution is the greatest document ever written. Our republic will still be here in 2028, no matter peoples opinions.

    I encourage you to take time away from the noise. Get away. Travel. Enjoy time with your family and friends. The noise is always there if you feel some need to revisit it.

    We are better together…

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    The Car Wash

    Many gas stations have automatic car washes available for a fee after you fill your tank. Recently, I used one and the similarity between the car wash and people struck me. The car may be clean on the outside, but inside it’s still dirty. It needs some attention on the interior.

    Some people look great when you meet them. But as you get to know them you begin to see a different person emerge. Arrogance, insecurity, even cruelty are hidden beneath the surface. Suddenly their outer beauty melts away and you see them in a whole new way.

    Jesus spoke of this when he called out some of the Pharisees. He criticized them for being “clean on the outside but unclean on the inside.” Jesus can see straight through to the heart of mankind. It takes us a little longer!

    I encourage you to look beneath the surface. Look at the heart. It’s revealed by our actions.

    A kind heart is a special kind of beauty…

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