Tag Archives: #hope

Spirituality

Make or Break

Nelson Mandela spent 27 years in prison for opposing South Africa’s apartheid government. He was labeled as a domestic terrorist. In 1994, Mandela became South Africa’s first black president. In his autobiography, Mandela said “prison didn’t break him. Confinement strengthened his resolve.”

Life is going to throw some real shit our way. In those moments we have a choice. We can use them to grow us or they can destroy us. Resilience is built during the dark times, not when things are easy. We find our inner strength when we are tested.

All of life is an unknown. We think we know how each day will turn out, and most of the time we are right. Then something unexpected happens. When this happens I encourage you to face it. Face it until you make it. Ask for guidance from above and hold on to hope.

And remember, you have made it through every dark moment you have faced in the past. Keep going, no matter what…

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Spirituality

Rebellion

When I was a teenager, I grew my hair long. It was stylish back then, but the parents of that generation saw it as rebellious behavior. If you had long hair then you must be on “dope.”

Every generation tries to break free and establish their independence (even though they are still living at home). It’s a normal part of growing up. As a parent I didn’t like always being questioned by my kids, so I had to remind myself why they were doing it. Those reminders became a daily thing.

The ultimate rebel was Jesus. Not only did he disrupt the religious leaders of his day, he created something that has lasted for over 2,000 years. But Jesus taught peace and forgiveness, not overthrow of Rome. A lot of people missed his intentions because they wanted freedom from Roman rule.

Now that’s a true rebel, a rebel for good…

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Spirituality

Decision Time

Where we are in life is the result of a series of decisions we made. We have goals and dreams for our lives that we set in motion to achieve. Our goals are like the destination on a road map. We figure out which roads to take to get us there. Wrong road? Try a different route.

No one sets out to get divorced, go to prison, or become homeless. Sometimes bad things happen. The legacy we are born into plays a part, but we still have a choice no matter what our circumstances are. We can decide to be better.

Victimhood is on the rise. But here’s my observation about victims: if you can walk and talk, you can think and do. No one is a victim of their circumstances.

If you are feeling stuck or bogged down in life, you must decide to change. You will get to where you want to be through hard work and discipline. But those are decisions only you can make.

The choice is yours. It’s time to decide…

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Spirituality

Conflict Resolution

Resolving conflicts is necessary for healthy relationships. You will have disagreements but they don’t have to shred the relationship. Successful conflict resolution begins with trust.

Divorce rates have come down some, yet still hover around 44%. It is estimated that 80% of the couples who stay together aren’t fulfilled in their marriages. Part of the issue is we don’t know how to resolve conflicts in a healthy way. This has generational implications.

We are taught how to argue by watching our parents. If one parent strong arms the other, we learn it’s “my way or the highway.” That’s not going to work in the long run because the counter party feels unimportant. Resentments build, and if they go unexpressed it turns to bitterness. Bitterness destroys you from the inside.

From my own observations around 80% of families are dysfunctional. It’s the same for one parent homes. Kids need structure to feel secure. If they aren’t getting it at home they will find it somewhere.

If dealing with conflict is a challenge for you, I encourage you to learn how to do it better by reading books and periodicals. Practice. Be willing to listen to the person you are in conflict with. Communicate how you feel.

This might make you uncomfortable, but staying comfortable never works. You can learn and grow, even through conflict…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

Lifelines

Sometimes we need a lifeline. It could come in the form of helping someone out of a mess, or just showing up for someone after they experienced a devastating loss. We are here to help others.

It’s not weak to ask for help. It doesn’t make you any more flawed. It’s best to ask rather than let something fester and grow.

As you know, I write a lot about self work. The right psychotherapist can be the lifeline you need to live a fulfilling life. Internal damage, also known as trauma, doesn’t go away on its own. We have to work through it. This resets our brains in the right way. It’s work, but it’s worth it.

Is there anything bothering you on the inside? Has it been gnawing at you for quite a while? Take the brave first step. Reach for a lifeline…

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Spirituality

The Devil Inside

There is a battle going on. We can’t see it, but that doesn’t make it less real. One side is fighting to win you over to their side while the warriors on the side of good are fighting to protect you.

We have a part to play in the fight. We can lessen the evil intentions through prayer. Or we can choose to give into temptation. It’s up to us. God gave us a way through, but we have to believe and execute.

The Apostle Paul wrote about his own struggles with temptation. In Romans 7:18, Paul wrote “For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.” As great as Paul was, he was human.

It starts with the desires of your heart. There are temptations all around us. The devil has slowly crept deeper and deeper into culture. He has tried to make the abnormal seem normal. We need good people to take a stand.

The battle will rage on inside of us and all around us until we reach eternity. Take a stand. Do what’s right. The world needs strong men and women…

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Spirituality

What AI Can’t Do

Artificial Intelligence is awe-inspiring. It is an excellent tool for research, inventory management, and AI will speed up finding cures for rare diseases. People use it to write memoranda, notes, even books. Personally, I enjoy writing my own thoughts. None of my content has been generated by AI. Yet, as crazy cool as AI is, it has limitations.

Loneliness is a public health issue, per the Surgeon General in 2023. Loneliness is different from solitude. Solitude is a peaceful quiet. Loneliness can be debilitating. Feelings of loneliness increase the risk of heart disease, dementia, depression; it even weakens your immune system. A legitimate question is why.

We have become more reliant on technology than any generation. People have abandoned getting outside in nature for screen time. Social media has created an artificial exchange. We text instead of calling. The truth is, we are hardwired to be in community with others. We have allowed phones to replace people. Catch the irony?

Another ironic phenomenon is that the human race is more connected than ever. We can call anyone. We can travel almost anywhere. We must take the initiative before it’s too late.

I’m not suggesting our phones aren’t necessary. They are. But human connection is direly needed for our ongoing well being. Reach out and check on people if you haven’t heard from them in a while. Make the call…

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Spirituality

Mexico

Parts of Mexico are locked down. Tourists are trapped in their hotels while local citizens can’t get to work. Schools are closed indefinitely. This is both a good thing and a bad one.

Here’s the good news! The cartels took a major hit following the death of their leader, “El Mencho.” The Federales took on a dangerous group within their country. They did this at great risk. Now all hell has broken loose. It is my hope that they will continue to root out the evil empires known as the cartels.

Now for some bad news. Common citizens are hunkered down so they can remain safe. It’s unknown how long this will last. My heart bleeds for the people. Mexicans are kind, gentle, good people. They live in a corrupt country. The people deserve better.

The time will come when Mexico becomes reasonably safe to travel to again. The economic cost may run high. Tourism is second to oil in the Mexican economy.

Take a moment to remember Mexico in your prayers. They desperately need them…

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Spirituality

Power Within the Church

Where did all the rules of religion come from? Here’s just a few I’m curious about: no dancing, divorced people aren’t allowed to go through communion, no drinking, and if you eat a hamburger on Friday you are going straight to hell!

Jesus taught differently. He taught mercy and compassion. And he spoke with authority. Jesus gave many of the religious leaders fits because some of them had taken it too far. The synagogue was the epicenter of social interaction, and people feared getting kicked out. So they kept their heads down and complied.

It is my belief that the rules are all about power and control. If you break a rule, your guilty conscience will allow us to manipulate you. There might be a monetary benefit involved. Jesus spoke about giving, too. His version doesn’t involve guilt as a motive.

Rules can be taken too far. This is true in business as well. You will have people walking on eggshells trying not to do something wrong. No one can flourish in that environment.

Jesus told us to love God and love others. Two rules. Not always easy to follow, but good enough for me…

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Spirituality

Lent

The season of Lent begins today. After a night of revelry (Mardis Gras), it’s time for some calm. Lent is a time designated for us to grow closer to God.

It might surprise you to know Lent isn’t mentioned in the Bible. It’s a man made construct dating back to the 2nd century. The theme of 40 days follows a biblical pattern.

Some people have thought of Lent in negative ways. I’m “giving it up for Lent” is a common phrase. But that might miss the point. The focus should be on what we gain which includes closeness to God, clarity and wisdom. These are good things.

At the end of Lent we celebrate Easter. The resurrection of Christ is the birth of Christianity. As Christians, all hope lies here.

If you choose to grow during Lent, it is my hope for you that you have a successful outcome. But more important, God is pulling for you, too…

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