Posts

Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People?

Why Do Bad Things Happen To Good People? - This is a question that most people grapple with from time to time and it has largely been on my mind this past week. You see one of the best people I know -- my Uncle Carl -- had a very bad accident this week. While working on the wood lot with his son, his hand got caught in a log splitter. In the end the damage was so severe that his left hand had to be amputated. Although no longer a young man, my uncle is very active and enjoys working with his hands. He is right handed but clearly the use of two hands was an important part of his former life and just as clearly that will have to change. I was devastated when I heard the news and am still shaken by it -- even more so when I think about how much worse the accident could have been. My whole family is upset, especially Uncle Carl's wife and children, most notably my cousin John who was with him at the time. As I worked through my worry and grief I kept asking myself that question: Why D...
Post a Comment
Read more

Would you rather fly or be invisible?

Would you rather fly or be invisible? - Recently one of my son's favorite TV stations conducted a survey of children. They asked kids which superpower they would rather have: the ability to fly or to be invisible? To me it seemed to be a no-brainer--to fly most definitely! First of all, I think the ability to fly offers a lot more opportunity for fun, adventure, and freedom. Just think about being able to go anywhere, anytime you want, without worrying about traffic, road conditions, or gas money! While being invisible offers a range of opportunities as well it just seems so sneaky to me that I feel uncomfortable even thinking about it. My son agreed with me. He thought flying would be a lot more fun. No surpise there as he is a physical child who enjoys being on the go. Then I really started to think about the question. What does our choice say about us? I think I would really want to know why a child would choose invisibility over flying. I would fear that a child who chose that...
Post a Comment
Read more

You Are Empowered By God

You Are Empowered By God - Did you know God has provided ways in His word to empower His children?  Did you know there are specific things you can do to contribute to answered prayer, good health, a peaceful life and more?  It's true! Once we are saved, we don't just float through our days hoping to catch God in a good mood when He is willing to answer prayer or provide for our needs.  His word gives us many things we can do continually to set His hand in motion. Covenant Promises Open your Bible to some of the verses where God states the promises He is willing to bestow on His children.  For instance, Deuteronomy 28 is filled with blessings.  What do you notice about how this chapter begins? "Now it shall come to pass, IF you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God…" Then, at the end of the blessings section of this chapter (verse 13) what do we see again?  "And the Lord shall make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only and not be b...
Post a Comment
Read more

You Are Empowered By God In Your Finances

You Are Empowered By God In Your Finances - In the first article I wrote dealing with empowerment ("You Are Empowered By God"), I outlined several principles that pertain to God's word with relation to answered prayers.  We saw how God makes covenant promises (contract or agreement promises) and how we are empowered by God Himself to bring about many of the blessings that are mentioned in the Bible.  Now let's look at how Father empowers us specifically in the area of finances. <B>We Are No Longer Under Law, But Under Grace</B> When we, as Christians, discuss finances the subject almost always goes toward tithing.  One of the most popular scriptures quoted in relation to tithing is Malachi 3:10 which says,  "Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this," says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be r...
Post a Comment
Read more

You are Magic

You are Magic - “Magic (ma-jic): an extraordinary power or influence seemingly from a supernatural source”. The attempt to define magic is difficult at best. It is used more as a word to define, than one that can be defined. The same can be said for who you are. We attempt to define ourselves, yet no adequate words exist to describe the complexity of who we are. We can describe what we look like, the type of work we do, our ethnic heritage or gender. Yet, that comes nowhere near the truth of what animates your being. You are a mystery. You are magic.  Historians, philosophers, scientist and theologians have been searching for the origins and meaning of existence since the beginning of time. Various religions have been born out of an attempt to define the indefinable. We often engage in the endless pursuit to define who, what and why we are. We measure ourselves against others and their accomplishments. We are deluged each day with media images of what is acceptable or unacceptable...
Post a Comment
Read more

You Are The Actor or Actress Of Your Own Story

You Are The Actor or Actress Of Your Own Story - Many thinkers and writers, both past and present, have described human beings in this world as actors and actresses on a big stage, this life, to one great play. Ask yourself, what role are you playing? Who's writing your script? Are you acting out your own story? Or are you simply going through the motions in someone else's play?  We each have a set of ideas or beliefs about ourselves that define us as a central character in a "story" that we're living out. All of the elements of the story have been passed down as part of our culture or upbringing, taught or ingrained, or simply fabricated in our own minds. We then go about enacting our stories as if they were true.  The thing is, most of us don't even realize that we're enacting a story, much less someone else's story. Because of this, we're completely at the mercy of the story and its writer, how it unfolds, how we react to certain events, and th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Your Mediocre Mind

Your Mediocre Mind - I've always had a love affair with that particular quote. Today, while doing some organizing I came across my favorite quote again. As I looked at it, a higher level of awareness sang out a deeper meaning than I'd ever recognized in the past. Realizing we are spiritual beings, we each have a Great Spirit within us crying out for a well-lived life without fear, without compromise, without limitation. You recognize that deep inner desire, don't you? It's greatness is specific to you, your desires, mine is specific to me, my desires. Initially, our spirit is always battling opposition from the opinions of others, media, peer pressure, and family obligations. Then I realized that there is more. Just like that, a flash of insight revealed something I had never seen before. My Great Spirit has encountered violent opposition from my own mediocre mind! I was stunned with the insight. Our mind is a tool for the body and for the spirit. Identifying ourselves...
Post a Comment
Read more