If you are a fan of any major sport, you have probably spent time going over some great plays! Whether it was a clutch hit in baseball or a great shot late in a basketball game. Maybe it was a great goal in football (soccer) or ice hockey. A great pass or pass rush in American football, or your favorite tennis player finally won the match! It is tremendous fun to watch and rejoice over a great play made by your team. Having your team win is (for a sports fan) absolute joy and a great reason to celebrate. What about the great plays by the losing team? Do you even remember them? Let’s talk.
Read moreThe Desiderata
What a beautiful recommendation/prayer. I have realized that when I speed-read it, nothing sinks in. This affects my soul much, much more when I read it slowly, doing each little paragraph as a separate thing. The slower I read it, the better I feel and the better I behave later in the day! May this bless you as much as it blesses me.
Read morePlease Hear What I Am Not Saying
This is from Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul, by Charlie C. Finn. I have never thought that it applied only to teenagers, as I am one of the adults to whom it also applies. All of us need to be hugged, to have a stranger be kind to us. It reminds us of our value, especially when we have not been kind to that stranger. People are like animals caught in a hunter’s trap. They really need your help to get out, but the closer you get, the higher the odds that they will attack you. Release the trap anyways, even though you will get scratched!
Read morePraying the Lord’s Prayer
Let’s have a little fun. We certainly know how to interrupt another person while they are talking. Well, at least I am much too experienced at that! What if God interrupted us when we prayed to Him? If praying is like having a conversation, what we have below could be one such experience!
Read moreShort Stuff I
There are times when just a few words, or a short quote, tell us what we need to hear at that time. Here are some short, spiritual things that I hope that some of these will touch you and help you along your path. Some are in text, some in graphics. They are here to help you along in this life we share. Please take the time to think about them.
Read moreOver 120 Years Ago
A list of how things in America were back in 1900, which helps me be grateful for what we have now. (From a book called ‘When My Grandmother Was a Child’ by Leigh W. Rutledge, which begins, “In the summer of 1900, when my grandmother was a child…”). Remember as you read these, that no science has ever been 100% correct. Also, some countries are still having some of these struggles today!
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Supermarket Approach
It is easy to get caught up in the things about this life that we don’t like, especially for some of us. We tell ourselves and others that listen that we have ‘high standards’, yet in reality, we are … very intolerant of those that don’t think the way we do. To tolerate those ‘fools’ is unthinkable, yet in reality, the only one losing sleep and peace over those fools is … the foolish one. Here’s another way to look at other people and life.
Read moreActions-Attitude-Atmosphere
So many people try to lead or manage their workers by focusing on actions. People are told exactly what to do, how to do it, and when to do it. It’s as if the manager/leader is a “slave-master” and the employees are slaves! Some of these dinosaurs are still around today! When they run their whole country, they are called “dictators”. Understand that for people who are incapable of growth this is the only valid approach. I believe that people in some circumstances must be ‘cared for’ in this way, but those people that are very far from what we would consider ‘healthy’.
Read moreJudgement Day!
Whether you are a Christian, Jew, Muslim, or profess another religion, you have heard of “Judgement Day”. No, not like in the Terminator series of movies! It’s when we stand before God to answer for our deeds and thoughts in life. Was I good enough? Did I help enough people? Was I a drain on those around me? There’s just us, a defense attorney, the prosecution team, and the judge. Wow, that Judge has some desk! How will this play out? (This is the revised and expanded version!)
Read moreGod Responds!
Here is a short poem/story about a person in a sad place, who is crying out to God. Unfortunately, the response is right in front of them, yet it is ignored. I don’t know who the original author is. Certainly, I have lived almost all of these verses from time to time.
Read moreThe Teacher
Learn to see everyone as a teacher. Some will teach you by offering admirable qualities. Others will show you traits that you may wish to soften in yourself. Some will teach you to be yourself, because of how authentic they are. Everyone can offer a lesson. Be grateful for every relationship, no matter how long or short! Be grateful for what you have, which so many do not!
Read moreGod’s Voice
Does God speak to you? If someone else says that God speaks to them, are they hallucinating? What are examples of God speaking to someone, both in the past and today? These are all good questions, about something very important. Let’s take a look at the subject of God speaking to people.
Read moreDivorce 6 of 6: Scriptural Backing
One thing the scriptures listed next all state is that ministry is more important than tradition. We’ve forgotten this over the years as we take our traditions to foreign countries, and call it evangelism. Its good to bring the gospel to them, but it is not good to mix in our traditions and claim them as God’s. Sometimes, the rules that churches create keep people away rather than attract them. Let’s look at God’s Word through the prism of God’s love.
Read moreWho Cannot Be A Disciple
There are those who call Jesus ‘Teacher’, and that is good. I am glad that people believe that they can learn something from Jesus. There are those who call Jesus ‘Savior’, and that is also good. It is wonderful that some people have realized that they need Jesus as a defense attorney when Satan accuses them before God. There are those who call Him ‘Lord’, and that is very good. But there’s more to the story.
Read moreScripture Mistakes!
So many people claim to love scripture, yet don’t live their lives accordingly. True, each and every one of us is “off-track” and none of us has a totally clear and complete picture of God nor God’s plan. I have encountered many people that deeply value reading the Bible, which is good. However, I see little evidence in talking with them that they value their relationship with God. So, let’s have some fun (with no intention of being blasphemous) modifying some scriptures.
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