Tag Archives: #inspiration

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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Spirituality, Uncategorized

Problems? What Problems?

In the United States, we do not have problems like the rest of the world. We aren’t perfect, but we are the most fortunate people on planet earth.

The politicians yell their fiery rhetoric on the challenges that many Americans face: the cost of living, safety, jobs etc. And the politicians love to make you believe they have solutions for every problem you are facing. The government can’t fix a flat tire which means they can’t fix anything in your life. Only you can. And you live in the one country that provides the opportunity.

We have citizens who are incapable of caring for themselves. The government should provide for their care from birth to death. But if you can walk and talk, then you can think and do. It’s the thinking and doing that stops many in their tracks. Victimhood reigns in some circles.

When you change your mindset to focusing on solutions rather than problems, you begin to dwell in possibility. Our brains are the greatest gift God gave us. Let’s use them for good. We, as individuals working together, really can leave the world better than we found it. Let’s get started…

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Spirituality

Books

When I was a child, I developed a love of reading. We didn’t have the internet so I used my imagination to create images of what I was reading. This love affair with books continues to this day.

Do you want to learn about history? Real history? Read books written by the people who lived through it. Here’s a great one: “Up From Slavery: An Autobiography” written by Booker T. Washington.

Are you interested in learning about a man who didn’t have indoor plumbing until he was six years old? Read “My Grandfather’s Son” by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. The only time I put this book aside was when I needed to pee! It’s that good.

There’s a faction that is trying to rewrite history to suit their agenda. Don’t fall for it. Learn from those who lived it.

Most of the time I’m reading 4-5 books at the same time. I like a variety of genres from novels to inspiration. And as I’m reading, my imagination continues to grow.

My encouragement to you is to read a little more than you watch television. Then go make your own history…

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Spirituality

Convenience

When United States Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was six years old, he and his mom and sibling moved into his grandparents home. Little Clarence would sit in the bathroom for hours flushing the toilet. He was amazed by it. You see, up until this time he had never experienced indoor plumbing. He didn’t even have an outhouse. Only a creek behind the shanty where they lived.

Entire industries have been created by the desire for convenience, to make life easier. Think about it. There’s an “easy chair,” fast food and 7-11 convenience stores. Henry Ford didn’t invent the assembly line. He perfected it. I immediately embraced the technology of a Keurig, and I don’t know what I would do without it!

The convenient or easy way isn’t always the route to take. Forgiveness isn’t automatic. It takes time. Healing from past trauma takes a lot of work. There’s no easy path to being made whole again. But God has given us a way through.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, but it did get built. Your life is built on a foundation of either substance or quicksand. Choose wisely…

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Spirituality

Are You Talking to Me?

Great communication is one of the foundations of relationships. You build trust when the words of people align with their actions.

How are you talking to yourself? We spend a lot of time inside our heads. Too much, sometimes. We must be honest with ourselves while, at the same time, forgive ourselves for the things we wish we hadn’t said or done. All of us make mistakes. That’s how we learn. These are useful lessons but we don’t need to drag ourselves through the mud and mire repeatedly.

Focus on the good you have done. Keep those moments in the forefront of your mind. Mistakes from the past are always stored in the subconscious. Acknowledge them but don’t dwell on them.

Remember that the road less traveled is not the easy road. There are potholes and curves along the way. Find it in yourself to keep going when everything inside of you wants to turn back. Just keep going no matter what happens…

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Spirituality

Works

Do you enjoy your life’s work? I believe it’s important that we have a fulfilling career, the kind you would do for free if you could.

God has given us work to do on this side of eternity. In many cases this is different from our career. This is where service and action meet. It’s an intersection you can avoid if you want to. Or you can dig in, get your hands dirty and serve others. The choice is always yours.

People are important. All people. In Austin where I live, there are panhandlers on every street corner. It’s impossible to know who has a legitimate need and who is conning people. I’ve had experience with both. I don’t give out money, but I will buy people a sandwich. You can, too, if you feel compelled. Only give if you feel moved to from the heart. Never give out of guilt.

We are in the season of giving. There are endless opportunities to help. In The Book of James we are reminded that “faith without works is dead.” God uses people to accomplish his will on earth.

Always stay in gratitude. If you have a few dollars in your pocket you are better off than 90% of the world. Focus on what you have, not what you lack…

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Spirituality

Echoes of the Past

Creating wonderful experiences with your friends and family turns into beautiful memories. They not only give us something to remember fondly, but we feel encouraged to create more of them.

Have you ever heard of triggers? Triggers are stimuli that cause a sudden, intense emotional reaction. The mind stores everything. Triggers are oftentimes a warning signal. The mind is trying to protect us from something even when we don’t understand what is going on.

The holidays can trigger me. From my observation there are many like me. Don’t misunderstand, I love the holidays but they evoke memories of disappointment. Perhaps the Christmas movies set a false expectation. On the other hand, those perfect holiday films give us something to strive for. We must keep believing.

I snap out of my funk by doing for others. Selecting thoughtful gifts for my children brings me great joy. I believe that when we are giving of ourselves we reflect the light of our Creator. Thinking of others removes our selfish nature.

Unresolved traumas can bring ugly echoes of the past. I encourage you to work through them. It’s not easy, but anything worthwhile never is. Keep putting one foot in front of the other, and you’ll get there…

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