Tag Archives: #faith

Spirituality

Revealed

Social media has given people a public platform. People who thought they never had a voice now have one. It isn’t always pretty.

Most recently, the assassination of Charlie Kirk had some people practically dancing on his grave. These people didn’t like what he said or what he stood for, so, to them, he won’t be missed. What has happened to the heart of mankind? The man was a husband, father, son, friend and an inspiration to many young people.

I have heard people say that social media has changed people. I disagree. Social media has revealed what lies in the heart of people.

Since the beginning of time as we know it, the world has been in a spiritual battle. The battle has intensified. Don’t believe me? Look around. Keep the people angry and divided and fuel whatever evil fire burns inside them. Don’t fall for it.

Agree or disagree, we are better together. It’s all about the heart…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

The Hunger for Truth

In May I was speaking in a men’s prison. Somehow I brought it up that I was taught that Christopher Columbus discovered America. Then I told the crowd that I was shocked to find out it was a lie when I took history in college. A few of the inmates were surprised to learn this lie we were told.

People want the truth. We want people who will tell us the truth, without bias. We want the truth about why we are here. We want to be able to go to church and not hear a perverted Gospel message.

In today’s society, people talk about “my truth.” There is only one truth. You cannot bend the truth to fit what you want it to be.

The sole source for the truth is the Bible. It has stood the test of time for multiple generations. It is true today and it will be true in 1000 years.

Accept nothing less than the truth. Turn the television off at the first sign of a political narrative. Do the same with newspapers. They aren’t telling you the truth. News media are telling you what they want you to believe.

Look through a biblical lens. The truth might startle you, but at least you can count on it…

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Spirituality

Shocked

The country is in trouble. There’s no margin for differing opinions or beliefs. While I refuse to give up hope, I’m watching the division widen. This doesn’t look like the country I grew up in.

We have always argued about politics. The old saying was, if you want to get along with others, don’t talk about politics, sports or religion. Sports and religion have taken a backseat to politics. In some ways, politics has become some people’s religion.

The recent assassination of Charlie Kirk has brought out some real ugliness in people. The comments and celebrations about this mans death are inhumane. It doesn’t matter what his politics or what his organization stood for, a 31 year old man was killed, leaving a young wife and two toddlers behind. I cannot understand how decent people could be happy about this. Perhaps they really aren’t decent, just sick, twisted and dark.

It would be wonderful if bad things didn’t happen in this world. But that would mean this world would be Heaven. It’s not Heaven, just an imperfect place for us to live until we reach eternity.

Take care with your words. The tongue is a dangerous weapon…

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Spirituality

The Power of Gratitude

Are you someone who looks for the good in life? Perhaps you have been described as a “glass half full” kind of person. That’s quite a compliment.

Everyone has challenges in their lives. Everyone struggles occasionally. But we can always find something good within the difficulty. Can you see? Is your mind still working? If you answered yes, you have all the tools necessary to bring you through the mess. Add some active faith to the mix and you will be unstoppable.

Actively practicing gratitude changes your brain in a good way. You focus on the good in your life and not on what you lack. Comparison is no longer part of the equation. Peace and contentment reign, not chaos and anxiety.

Take inventory. Write, physically write down all the good in your life. Keep the list with you and add to it when something comes to mind.

Try it for 30 days. Your outlook will change greatly. What do you have to lose other than a little chaos? And that’s a good thing to lose…

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Spirituality

Caution

Are you a risk taker? Before you answer, consider that every day you are alive is a risk. Driving to work has risks. So does going out to eat. Anyone who has ever had food poisoning will attest to that.

Calculated risks are part of life. If I don’t risk driving to work, then the consequence is I don’t get paid. Life is full of trade offs. We just don’t think about them.

Consider the hell you will live with when you don’t pursue your purpose. Yes, it can be scary and difficult. There are hurdles to leap over and setbacks to pick yourself up from. But the truth is, when you are pursuing what God wants you to do, you cannot fail. God isn’t in the business of failing. We do the work, with applied faith, and He does the behind the scenes work. Trust him.

Doing what you were put here to do is going to be full of challenges. Our unseen enemy wants to keep us from living a fulfilling life. Giving glory to God, even during the painful times really pisses Satan off.

So, throw caution to the wind and believe. Believe in yourself and believe in the one who created you. He’s our biggest cheerleader…

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Spirituality

Gunned Down

One day he was living his life, enjoying his wife and children and engaged in a challenging career. The next thing you know, he was assassinated right before our very eyes. From all appearances it seems that he died instantly.

In the aftermath, his wife and children had to learn to navigate life without their husband and father. The dreams they had for their life together went cold. Life for them, and us, was forever changed.

Daily life became like existing in the nebula, a giant cloud of gas and dust. Yet, inside the nebula many stars are born. Good can come from evil. Light will shine in the darkness. You just have to look for it.

Our nation has survived since the assassination of John Kennedy in 1963. The Secret Service learned from it. And we have never forgotten the impact that President Kennedy had on the world…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

Feel It

The home I grew up in had a policy: you don’t talk, trust or feel. That’s right! You stuff your feelings down until you become numb. This wasn’t healthy.

If you had a similar experience growing up, there’s good news. You can heal from the dysfunction and pain. It takes work, but it is possible. It gets uncomfortable when feelings come to the surface, but over time it becomes comfortable. Then you will become whole again.

The great Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung famously said, “Neurosis is always a substitute for legitimate suffering.” What Jung meant was, if we don’t process our trauma it will show up in a more damaging form. Anxiety, depression and compulsions are prime examples of unresolved trauma.

People who experienced abuse and violence are way more common than you realize. No one talks about it because they believe they are the only ones who have this experience. They believe they are outliers. They aren’t outliers, and they aren’t alone.

I’m eternally grateful for my early life. It gave me a relatable story I can take into schools and prisons, encouraging others to face their demons. They aren’t the giants we can build them up to be.

A lot of people are faking their way through life. Get rid of the fakery. You face it until you make it…

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Spirituality

Super Sized

The 2004 documentary, Super Size Me brought the ill effects of fast food to the forefront of American society. For one month, the documentary filmmaker had to eat three meals per day at McDonalds. He was required to say “yes” every time the server asked if he wanted to super size his meal. The fast food diet seriously compromised his health.

Morgan Spurlock, the filmmaker and star, gained 24 pounds. His cholesterol shot up to 230 from 178, and his liver developed non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Spurlock became depressed, and he found himself craving McDonalds food. This only took one month to come about. Yet, it took him a year to lose the weight and regain his health.

Robert Kennedy, Jr. is catching hell for leading the efforts to clean up our food. Children have been affected the most. A majority of kids already have a chronic disease, and childhood obesity is skyrocketing. Parents want answers and they want healthier choices. Politicians want to quiet Kennedy because the money from lobbyists is enormous.

A new voice has arrived in Washington DC. In our local communities, we must demand that recess returns to the school day. Kids need to get active and work up a sweat for an hour each day. Adults do, too…

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Spirituality

Hate Me

Many people have a strong desire to be liked by everyone. They seek attention and get validation through “likes and comments.” I’m cut from a different cloth. It’s nice to be liked, even admired, but that’s not my motivation.

Telling the truth is vital for building trust, and trust is built over time. Sometimes the truth is a painful message. When you find yourself in the position of having to deliver a difficult message, do it with some gentleness and self-control.

Politicians are the worst at pandering. They will say whatever pisses off the fewest people in order to secure votes. Getting elected to Congress is a pretty good gig. I believe if we removed the fourth branch of government, special interests and lobbyists, we would attract better candidates. When the money leaves, so do the grifters, the pandering masses.

There are a small handful of people who criticize me for spreading encouragement and hope. Their hateful comments don’t bother me. I figure they need encouragement more than most if they find fault with what I write. They might need a little examination of their heart as well.

God alone is in the business of changing the heart of mankind. My job is to continue writing what he inspires me to write. The hate will continue, but so will I…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

The Battle Rages On

What do you spend your time reading or watching? The New York Times used to be the gold standard for accurate reporting. Not anymore. CNN made its mark by starting out as a solid, independent news source. That died a long time ago.

Recently, a college student was told to leave a children’s literature class because the student told the professor they objected to course material about gender identity. Isn’t college the place we are taught to challenge our beliefs and our thinking? And I’m not sure what gender has to do with children’s literature.

We are in a spiritual war. The war has intensified recently. There is good news and there is some bad news. The bad news is, it’s going to get worse before it gets better. The good news? God wins. We are on the right side.

Keep praying. Pray for our country. Pray that our leaders make good, wise decisions. Pray for the protection of our children.

The battle will end one day. Until then, stay strong…

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