Do you know the word “fickle”? It means changing frequently especially regarding loyalties, interests or affection. It does not take much to change our minds. Look at politics for example. We are in an age of instant communication which can lead to swings in opinion polls based on who said or did what on any particular day. This is not a new phenomena but just a reflection of our instant mood changes based on who or what is influencing us around the world. The terrorists acts in Brussels caused immediate reaction to all of us around the world. Everyone has their own opinions on what actions need to be taken. Unfortunately, opinions are held in high regard to the person stating the opinion but causes reaction by others who do not share the same. A few thousand years ago the news media was much slower but the fickle nature of us humans have not changed. The story of Jesus’ triumphant entry into the City of David riding a colt with the crowds shouting praises found in Luke 19 quickly turned to a vicious attack of the same Jesus leading to his horrific death as chronicled in Luke 22 and 23. This is a classic story of happy crowds changing into an angry mob. How did that happen? It only takes a few antagonists in the crowd to create the mood swing. We are indeed a fickle people. Thank God we are not judged based on fickleness! What wondrous love is this? Listen to my brief message and remember he lives.
Month: March 2016
Past, Present or Future?
Have you ever knew someone stuck in the past? How about stuck in the present not giving one consideration to the future? I suppose we are all guilty of being stuck in one time phase especially the past. It bothers me a whole lot when I do something really stupid or hurt someone because of my actions. I tend to dwell on my past actions with contempt for myself. But, no matter how hard I try to relive the past to fix it, I cannot fix it. Is it not better to move on into a brighter future and correct the sins of the past by living a better present? What if you are satisfied with your present state? It is just as hard to move on to the future if you have a comfortable present state? Fear of the future holds a lot of us back so we just live our lives only in the present. The past is not a good place to live as it brings back good and bad memories that holds us from moving on with our lives. I think the present sometimes becomes our comfort zone and we can not get beyond its safe boundaries. I have heard it said that fear is on the fringes of that safe comfort zone. Success is beyond the fringes of fear. Look at it from a door opening into a new world with new adventures. There will be plenty of failures along the way but failure leads to success. Read Philippians 3:13-14 and reach out for a higher goal into a faith filled future then listen to my brief message on forgetting about the past and reaching out for a bright future.
T
Art of
You can fill in the blank with many words but for this message I complete the sentence with “Reconciliation”. There has been many battles leading to all out war without reconciliation. It is tough when we have our own thoughts that we want to get off our tongues. Out of the abundance of the heart the tongue speaks. What does that mean? Well, it could mean that we have put good ideas and positive consideration into our hearts so that when we speak, we are heard with understanding. Or, it could mean that we have put garbage ideas and negative thoughts into our hearts so that what we speak is thrown out by others so that there is no compromise. I believe the art of reconciliation is listening before speaking then taking the time to allow your positive response to overcome your spontaneous outburst. As I listen to the candidates from both sides of the presidential race, I have a hard time seeing signs of reconciliation. We are all humans and therefore full of faults (sin). Why not accept our weakness and look to a higher strength to help us learn reconciliation. According to 2 Corinthians 5:18, we are given the “ministry of reconciliation”. Remember the story of the lost son in Luke 15? The father accepted him back in-spite of his rebellion even at the expense of hurting his other son who never strayed from home. The wayward son was lost and now is alive. What if the father had written him off as useless trash? Let us all practice the art of reconciliation and pray for peace. (Hear my message below.)
T
A Second Chance
Endurance over temptation. A second chance. “He won’t allow you to be tempted beyond your abilities. Instead, with the temptation, God will also supply a way out so that you will be able to endure it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13) Isn’t it great to know that we can find a way out? When we get way over our head with materialistic things that do not really improve our stature in life, we can choose to fight alone or we can ask for help. It is our choice but we can have a second chance as He will supply the way out if we will only take Him up on the offer. Listen to my brief message below.
T
What are you?
In an earlier blog, I asked a series of questions about what direction are you going? (Down, sideways or Up) This was according to my preacher’s perspective. Now, from a teacher’s perspective, consider what role do you play in the game of life. I have seen students that seem to simply show up to class and expect to learn. How they learn is a mystery to me as they take zero notes and some appear to not even listen. In fact, many tend to communicate with their neighbors so much as they disrupt those who are attempting to learn. These students I suppose use a phenomenon to learn called osmosis which is a “spontaneous net movement of solvent molecules through a semi-permeable membrane into a region of higher solute concentration, in the direction that tends to equalize the solute concentrations on the two sides”. Say what! My guess is that their brains are being equalized but to what? Now, their are other students who appear to absorb knowledge by taking notes, asking questions and successfully completely assignments. Still, their are a few students who rebel any notion of the whole learning experience. Am I being too critical? Perhaps, but I truly believe the game of life has three very distinctive groups. They are “Spectators”, “Blockers” and “Enablers” according to my perspective. Corporations are full of all three groups and so are Institutions. I believe the verdict is still out if our Government has the “Enablers” group but you can be the judge of that. I much prefer the “Enabler” group as in my opinion that is where success is achieved by helping another achieve their goals. I know we need all three groups in the game of life but thank goodness we have those that consider their achievements one successful student at a time. “When the student is ready, the teacher appears.”
T