What a great time to be alive! We have self-driving cars, immediate access to the internet without going through a squawking box, robotic surgery and way too many other incredible things to list. I’m constantly amazed at what I see.

But with all of the modern marvels in our world, let’s not forget the most important part: people. People are important. All people. It matters not whether they are poor or have great resources. Everyone matters.

Our world is facing an enormous challenge. We live in the most connected era ever, yet more people than ever are experiencing loneliness. According to many polls, about 20% of our population are experiencing loneliness and isolation. It doesn’t have to be this way.

If you haven’t heard from your friends in a while, take a moment to reach out and check on them. Your simple act of kindness might be exactly what someone needs right now. Take the time…

Everyone falls and experiences setbacks and temporary failures. In this life you cannot escape it. Failure is never final unless you decide it is.

The world is hard. This isn’t eternity where everything is perfect. So, what do you do when you get knocked on your ass? You get right back up and keep going. You must develop the mindset that you’re unstoppable. This doesn’t mean you will run over people to get where you want to go. It means you refuse to give up when the droughts of life appear.

The world is watching you, too. Sadly, most people like to see you fail. That’s sick, but it’s just how some people are. When you have a small handful of people who are pulling for you, praying for you and wanting you to succeed, keep those people close. They are a treasure.

Be your own best advocate. Don’t let anyone or anything stop you in your pursuit of a fulfilling life. And the best news? God is pulling for you. He created you exactly how he wanted you to be. He doesn’t make mistakes, nor does he have second thoughts.

Your next success is probably around the next corner. But you gotta turn the corner to find it…

As long-term readers know, my childhood was not filled with happy memories. My parents were cruel, angry people who projected their brokenness into the lives of their children. Fear, chaos and sometimes violence ruled the day in our home.

There has been a lot of good that came from my background. After doing the work to become a whole person through forgiveness, I have been fortunate to share my story with others who were raised in a similar manner. Dysfunctional homes are way more common than you think. And the cycle continues unless you make a decision that it stops with you.

Another benefit I was gifted with is a condition called tachypsychia. This means that when the shit hits the fan all around me, my thinking becomes crystal clear and lucid. Time seems to slow down and there’s no panic for me. There have been too many times when this has happened to me before to describe.

Everything can be used for good. Things happen, sometimes really bad things that we didn’t ask for. You can wallow in it, full of self-pity, or you can work through it. My choice was to face my inner demons and extract them from my psyche. It was not easy, but it was worth it.

My encouragement to you is, you aren’t alone even though you may feel like you are. Do the work…

This morning I saw an advertisement for a prepared food company that said they are “the easy way to get healthy.” Of course they were appealing to people’s desire to take shortcuts and do things without leaving the comfort of their couch.

It’s not easy to get healthy, but it’s not hard, either. It does require commitment. The “get rich quick” schemes are scams, too. You can build wealth over time. But this requires commitment as well.

For centuries the scammers have attempted to take our money with the promise to deliver something worth more than what we paid for it. It was a lie in the past, it’s a lie today and will be a lie until the end of the age. Don’t fall for it.

Follow the principles God laid out in his Word. The Bible covers everything. God didn’t create us and then let us wing our way through life. No, He told us how to eat, build wealth, and he even warned us of the charlatans. But you gotta read it!

I have no doubt the food company I saw the advertisement for was telling the truth about their food. Yet, I know the part about the ease of getting healthy by just eating is grossly inflated. Get healthy through diet and exercise, not scams…

We live in a selfish world. The culture of The United States is greed. I have seen a bumper sticker that says, “the one with the most toys wins.” No, they die.

There’s nothing wrong with accumulating wealth. Our resources allow us to live in a nice home, send our children to good schools, and we don’t go hungry. But the challenge with wealth is the desire to hold onto it too tightly. That’s the intersection of greed and charity. Which way will we turn?

Our government has tremendous, almost unlimited resources. They are the worst I have ever seen at getting those resources into the hands of the people who need it. Want to move heaven and earth? Put those resources in the hands of the faith and philanthropic communities. They are on the ground in their communities and waste very little.

God cares greatly for widows and orphans, the marginalized. He talks about it a lot. It’s our duty to care for those who cannot care for themselves. Otherwise, what good does our wealth do? Holding onto too tightly can turn you into a bitter, resentful person.

Over the course of my life, I have known some people of great means. They are, to a person, the most charitable people in their communities. They give money, but they will go deliver food and other items in the sketchiest areas of town. They are inspiring role models.

I encourage you to get involved. Find causes that touch your heart. We can’t help everyone. The poor will be with us always. But everyone can help someone…

How do you spend your free time? There are many opportunities to serve your community. Every organization needs help and volunteers allows them to defray costs.

Many people give money to support their favorite charities. That’s wonderful because it takes financial resources to make the machine go. The men and women who choose to make philanthropy their life’s work aren’t doing it for fame or fortune. They work in service to others because they want to help.

Getting involved at the ground level places you alongside the recipients of charity. Consider working a Habitat For Humanity build, or a food bank. When serving others, we are getting involved with “the least among us” as Jesus talked about.

Find the organization(s) that reach your heart. Make contact. Get involved. You never know where God will take you when you do…