The Weekly Thursday's Thought
A weekly devotion to encourage, challenge and inspire you to live out your faith and to be better follower of Jesus of Christ.
A weekly devotion to encourage, challenge and inspire you to live out your faith and to be better follower of Jesus of Christ.
We are into Week 3 of the Covid-19 pandemic that pretty much shuts down our nation and community. I am praying for you that you are safe and find God’s peace and presence in your heart.
There are several ways this pandemic preaches the Gospel to all of us.
May you find God's peace, presence, protection and provision during this time.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4
Posted: March 26, 2020
There are several ways this pandemic preaches the Gospel to all of us.
- We cannot depend on ourselves for our salvation. We may have all the science and technological advancement, but it hasn’t stopped over 20,000 people from death. All it takes is a single virus to cripple the whole world. We need to be reminded that we were created to be dependent on Creator God. As we grow and mature in our faith, we are to move from independence to greater dependence on God.
- God is sovereign and He is still at work. Whenever our helplessness is on full display, God’s power and amazing grace shine through. God is not shocked or surprised by any of this. We don’t have to make sense of everything. Just know that God is bigger than the virus. Why He hasn’t contain or wipe it off the face of the earth, we don’t know. What we do know is that God is good and faithful. He promises to be with us and take care of us. We just need to keep trusting Him.
- There is a greater and more dangerous pandemic. That is SIN. Not everyone will test positive for the coronavirus, but everyone has been infected by sin from birth. Sin is eternally more destructive than the Covid-19 will ever be, but there is a known cure. God sent his one and only Son to be the cure for our sin by shedding his blood on the cross so that "whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life" (John 3:16).
- This pandemic reminds us that nothing in all of creation can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:31-39). We may be apart from each other with physical and social distancing. But God is never far from us. He assures us of his love, care and presence. He draws especially near to the lonely and the broken-hearted in times like this.
May you find God's peace, presence, protection and provision during this time.
Even though I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4
Posted: March 26, 2020
One of the most recognizable ad campaigns of the last 20 years was put out by the milk industry. You all have seen the advertising slogan "Got Milk?"
This slogan was quite effective showing countless celebrities like Taylor Swift, David Beckham, Elton John and Heidi Klum sporting a milk mustache.
This slogan is no more because it has been replaced by a new tagline "Milk Life." The ads will feature everyday people instead of famous people.
In 2013, the USDA released a report showing that consumption rates of milk had steadily declined since the 1970s. In order to reverse the decline, the milk industry began a national campaign to combat the problem.
What do we do when we Got Problems?
In a way problems are messages. A health problem is a message that you are not well and need to take better care of yourself. A financial problem is a shout out telling you're not managing your money properly or that you're not preparing for the rainy days of life. A relational problem tells you that something is not right, and something needs to be done to resolve or restore the relationship.
In a way, problems are messages from God. He uses problems to get our attention and to correct or to protect the wrong course of our journey.
Got Problems? God may be trying to get your attention. Go to Him. He's waiting for you to help resolve your problems.
My troubles turned out all for the best. They forced me to learn from your textbook. Truth from your mouth means more to me than striking it rich in a gold mine. Psalm 119:71-72 (Msg)
Posted: November 5, 2015
This slogan was quite effective showing countless celebrities like Taylor Swift, David Beckham, Elton John and Heidi Klum sporting a milk mustache.
This slogan is no more because it has been replaced by a new tagline "Milk Life." The ads will feature everyday people instead of famous people.
In 2013, the USDA released a report showing that consumption rates of milk had steadily declined since the 1970s. In order to reverse the decline, the milk industry began a national campaign to combat the problem.
What do we do when we Got Problems?
In a way problems are messages. A health problem is a message that you are not well and need to take better care of yourself. A financial problem is a shout out telling you're not managing your money properly or that you're not preparing for the rainy days of life. A relational problem tells you that something is not right, and something needs to be done to resolve or restore the relationship.
In a way, problems are messages from God. He uses problems to get our attention and to correct or to protect the wrong course of our journey.
Got Problems? God may be trying to get your attention. Go to Him. He's waiting for you to help resolve your problems.
My troubles turned out all for the best. They forced me to learn from your textbook. Truth from your mouth means more to me than striking it rich in a gold mine. Psalm 119:71-72 (Msg)
Posted: November 5, 2015
Marshall Goldsmith is an executive coach who defines his purpose as "helping successful people achieve positive, lasting change in behavior." In his book Mojo, he tells about a research done by the company DDI revealing that the average American worker spends about 15 hours a month criticizing or complaining about their boss. At first he was skeptical about this research, so he sets out to do his own research. To his surprise, he came to the same conclusion. The average worker spends a lot of time complaining - almost two work days a month. That means people complain almost twenty days out of a year.
We may not realize it, but we probably spend more time complaining than we want to admit. Complaining or criticizing others can become a habit that is hard to get out of. A complaining spirit suggests that one is unhappy about a situation. Of course, there are some complaints that are legitimate, but most complaints are unwarranted.
If we as average Americans spend two days a month complaining about our work and our boss, how many days do we spend complaining about our family, our church, our government, our finances and traffics?
When you think about it, our complaining accomplishes nothing except to erase time from our calendar.
If you are a complainer, reclaim your lost time. Take back the twenty four or more days each year that you give up to this sinful habit. Start today!
"Do everything without complaining..." (Philippians 2:14)
Posted: June 18, 2015
We may not realize it, but we probably spend more time complaining than we want to admit. Complaining or criticizing others can become a habit that is hard to get out of. A complaining spirit suggests that one is unhappy about a situation. Of course, there are some complaints that are legitimate, but most complaints are unwarranted.
If we as average Americans spend two days a month complaining about our work and our boss, how many days do we spend complaining about our family, our church, our government, our finances and traffics?
When you think about it, our complaining accomplishes nothing except to erase time from our calendar.
If you are a complainer, reclaim your lost time. Take back the twenty four or more days each year that you give up to this sinful habit. Start today!
"Do everything without complaining..." (Philippians 2:14)
Posted: June 18, 2015
One afternoon a man named John, dressed in blue jeans, walked into a bank to finalize a business transaction. The teller told him that the officer he needed to see wasn't in and that he would have to come back the next day. John said OK and asked the teller to validate his parking ticket. The teller informed him that, according to bank policy, she couldn't validate his parking ticket because he had not completed a financial transaction. John asked for an exception, since he had come to the bank intending to do business, but wasn't able to because the appropriate officer wasn't in. The teller didn't budge. She said, "I'm sorry; that's our policy. Rules are rules."
So John decided to make a business transaction: he closed his account. And since John's last name was Akers, and he was the chairman of IBM, the account closed had a balance of 1.5 million dollars. To say the least, this qualified as a financial transaction and the teller was required to validate the parking ticket.
I'm not sure how true this story is. Maybe it is one of those urban legends. Despite, there's a great lesson to learn.
Following the black and white of the letter of law is easy; you don't really have to think about it. However, there are things in life that requires wisdom. Training is learning the rules and policies. Experience is learning the exceptions, but wisdom is knowing how to properly apply the rules to each situation.
Solomon said, "Every prudent man acts out of knowledge." (Proverbs 13:16)
May we seek wisdom and knowledge so that we can accurately apply God's Word to our lives and seek to do what is pleasing to Him.
Posted: June 11, 2015
So John decided to make a business transaction: he closed his account. And since John's last name was Akers, and he was the chairman of IBM, the account closed had a balance of 1.5 million dollars. To say the least, this qualified as a financial transaction and the teller was required to validate the parking ticket.
I'm not sure how true this story is. Maybe it is one of those urban legends. Despite, there's a great lesson to learn.
Following the black and white of the letter of law is easy; you don't really have to think about it. However, there are things in life that requires wisdom. Training is learning the rules and policies. Experience is learning the exceptions, but wisdom is knowing how to properly apply the rules to each situation.
Solomon said, "Every prudent man acts out of knowledge." (Proverbs 13:16)
May we seek wisdom and knowledge so that we can accurately apply God's Word to our lives and seek to do what is pleasing to Him.
Posted: June 11, 2015
Last Sunday 92-year old Harriette Thompson of Charlotte, NC completed the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll marathon with an official time of 7 hours and 24 minutes, making her the oldest woman to run a 26-mile marathon. I can barely run a mile, Ms. Thompson ran 26 miles averaging 17 minutes per mile. That is amazing. And she's 92!
Runner's World Magazine reports that Thompson took up running at age 76 and has been tackling marathons every year since. She's only missed one year while she was undergoing cancer treatment.
Cancer has affected Thompson's life deeply. She lost her husband of 67 years to the disease in January and now struggles with painful wounds on her legs. Thompson runs her marathons to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. In the 16 years she's been running, she has raised over $100,000 for the organization.
Thompson has become a celebrity in her own right. People wanted to take pictures with her. She said, "Since I'm so old, everybody wants to have their picture taken with me. Brenny (her son) says, 'Don't stop her, just take a selfie,' rather than stop and take pictures all the time, because I'd never get to the end."
Thompson's story has inspired me to start running again. If she can run at 92, so can I in my 40's. All of us should aspire to run a marathon at least once in our lifetime. If not a full marathon, maybe a half marathon. If you are not able to run, look for something challenging to do like reading the whole Bible in one year or climbing a mountain or raising $100,000 for charity. You just never know who you might inspire and encourage to do something special.
"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Prov. 27:17
Posted: June 4, 2015
Runner's World Magazine reports that Thompson took up running at age 76 and has been tackling marathons every year since. She's only missed one year while she was undergoing cancer treatment.
Cancer has affected Thompson's life deeply. She lost her husband of 67 years to the disease in January and now struggles with painful wounds on her legs. Thompson runs her marathons to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. In the 16 years she's been running, she has raised over $100,000 for the organization.
Thompson has become a celebrity in her own right. People wanted to take pictures with her. She said, "Since I'm so old, everybody wants to have their picture taken with me. Brenny (her son) says, 'Don't stop her, just take a selfie,' rather than stop and take pictures all the time, because I'd never get to the end."
Thompson's story has inspired me to start running again. If she can run at 92, so can I in my 40's. All of us should aspire to run a marathon at least once in our lifetime. If not a full marathon, maybe a half marathon. If you are not able to run, look for something challenging to do like reading the whole Bible in one year or climbing a mountain or raising $100,000 for charity. You just never know who you might inspire and encourage to do something special.
"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." Prov. 27:17
Posted: June 4, 2015
Jesus tells a story about a man who owns a vineyard. He needs workers to reap the harvest, so he goes out early in the morning to hire some men. They agree to a denarius - today's wage would be around $75 - for the day. They shake hands and get to work.
It turns out that the vineyard owner still needs more help. He has too many grapes for these men to handle. So he heads back out and hires more workers - for $75. Yet the crop is still too big and the workers too few. He has to go out three more times throughout the day to get enough help. Each time he offers and the men accept $75. So there are five groups of people all earning the same amount of money, but not all working the same amount of hours. You can already see the question of fairness coming up.
Well, the sun sets, and it's time to get paid. The last men to get hired get paid first. The paymaster hands over the $75, as they agreed. And it's the same with the next group, and the next, and the next. All this time the first group of guys is thinking about how they're going to get more. After all, they worked longer. But to their surprise, when it's their time to get paid, they received the same $75, and they are pretty upset. They complain, "These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day."
But the vineyard owner is unmoved. "Friend," he says, "I am doing you no wrong."
If you think about it, no one was getting shortchanged; both parties agreed on the $75. But now we come to the heart of it. The vineyard owner says:
"I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?"
Those were pretty harsh words. If we are honest, there are times in our life when we have this same feeling. Instead of being thankful for what God has given us, we start looking at other people around us and wondering - even questioning and complaining - why God is blessing them more than us (or at least, so it seems).
The simplest way to guard against this is to remain thankful and to focus on His glory and His goodness toward us, remembering that God is gracious to everyone who signs on to work the vineyard.
Be glad that God is not fair. If God is fair, we would get what we deserve. God is not fair, but He is faithful and gracious. Because He is faithful and gracious, we get what we do not deserve.
Posted: May 28, 2015
It turns out that the vineyard owner still needs more help. He has too many grapes for these men to handle. So he heads back out and hires more workers - for $75. Yet the crop is still too big and the workers too few. He has to go out three more times throughout the day to get enough help. Each time he offers and the men accept $75. So there are five groups of people all earning the same amount of money, but not all working the same amount of hours. You can already see the question of fairness coming up.
Well, the sun sets, and it's time to get paid. The last men to get hired get paid first. The paymaster hands over the $75, as they agreed. And it's the same with the next group, and the next, and the next. All this time the first group of guys is thinking about how they're going to get more. After all, they worked longer. But to their surprise, when it's their time to get paid, they received the same $75, and they are pretty upset. They complain, "These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day."
But the vineyard owner is unmoved. "Friend," he says, "I am doing you no wrong."
If you think about it, no one was getting shortchanged; both parties agreed on the $75. But now we come to the heart of it. The vineyard owner says:
"I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?"
Those were pretty harsh words. If we are honest, there are times in our life when we have this same feeling. Instead of being thankful for what God has given us, we start looking at other people around us and wondering - even questioning and complaining - why God is blessing them more than us (or at least, so it seems).
The simplest way to guard against this is to remain thankful and to focus on His glory and His goodness toward us, remembering that God is gracious to everyone who signs on to work the vineyard.
Be glad that God is not fair. If God is fair, we would get what we deserve. God is not fair, but He is faithful and gracious. Because He is faithful and gracious, we get what we do not deserve.
Posted: May 28, 2015
The baseball season is in full gear. Professional basketball is winding down with conference finals. Major League Soccer is almost half way through the season. Many people can't wait for the football season to begin despite the New England Patriots winning the Super Bowl in the midst of the "Deflategate" scandal. These team sports are part of our culture and help us cope with life's struggles and difficulties.
There's a story about a horse-pulling contest held at a county fair. The second place winner pulled a sled of 1000 pounds. The first place winner pulled a sled of 1500 pounds. But when the two horses were teamed up, together they pulled 4000 pounds of weight.
Life is a team sport. God intends for us to work together in order to achieve success. Helen Keller said, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."
Even King Solomon said...
"Two can stand back to back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple braided cord is not easily broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:12)
We can accomplish so much more when we can work with others and in a team. Resist the temptation to go it alone. Look for ways to help those around you pull more weight.
Posted: May 21, 2015
There's a story about a horse-pulling contest held at a county fair. The second place winner pulled a sled of 1000 pounds. The first place winner pulled a sled of 1500 pounds. But when the two horses were teamed up, together they pulled 4000 pounds of weight.
Life is a team sport. God intends for us to work together in order to achieve success. Helen Keller said, "Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much."
Even King Solomon said...
"Two can stand back to back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple braided cord is not easily broken." (Ecclesiastes 4:12)
We can accomplish so much more when we can work with others and in a team. Resist the temptation to go it alone. Look for ways to help those around you pull more weight.
Posted: May 21, 2015
Three months ago the sports world was engrossed in the "Deflategate" scandal over the New England Patriots football team possibly deflating the footballs under poor weather condition in order to have a competitive advantage over their opponent. Last week an NFL-commissioned report found that Quarterback Tom Brady was "at least generally aware" of the deflated footballs that helped his team secure the AFC Championship in January. Eventually, the Patriots' victory against the Indianapolis Colts would send them to the Super Bowl where they barely beat the Seattle Seahawks.
A couple of days ago, the NFL suspended Tom Brady without pay for the first four games of the 2015 season. His team has been fined $1 million, and will lose two drafts picks next year. This is not the first time the Patriots were caught doing something illegal. They have a reputation of doing literally whatever it takes to win such as illegal formations and spying on other teams. Even the coach has been dubbed as Bill "Beli-cheat" Belichick.
No one likes to be accused of cheating. What's worst is if you feel like that you have played fair only to be cheated and lost the game. On the other hand, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots may feel that they have been cheated by the "generally aware" report and not a definitive or forensic proof of guilt. This issue has created quite a controversy.
Despite which side you are on over this debate, as followers of Christ, this should teach us to live and conduct ourselves differently so that "you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world." (Phil. 2:15)
Even the Apostle Peter admonishes us to "live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." (1 Peter 2:12)
Let us strive to do what is right, stay out of the news and not shame the name of our Lord!
Posted: May 14, 2015
A couple of days ago, the NFL suspended Tom Brady without pay for the first four games of the 2015 season. His team has been fined $1 million, and will lose two drafts picks next year. This is not the first time the Patriots were caught doing something illegal. They have a reputation of doing literally whatever it takes to win such as illegal formations and spying on other teams. Even the coach has been dubbed as Bill "Beli-cheat" Belichick.
No one likes to be accused of cheating. What's worst is if you feel like that you have played fair only to be cheated and lost the game. On the other hand, Tom Brady and the New England Patriots may feel that they have been cheated by the "generally aware" report and not a definitive or forensic proof of guilt. This issue has created quite a controversy.
Despite which side you are on over this debate, as followers of Christ, this should teach us to live and conduct ourselves differently so that "you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world." (Phil. 2:15)
Even the Apostle Peter admonishes us to "live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us." (1 Peter 2:12)
Let us strive to do what is right, stay out of the news and not shame the name of our Lord!
Posted: May 14, 2015
Have you ever been in a situation where your back is against the wall? If something didn't happen fast, you would get crushed. King Hezekiah was in that situation. The king of Assyria threatened to attack Israel and wipe them out. The Assyrians were the local bullies in those days and had wiped out all other enemies who refused to bow to them.
The Assyrian king sent his representatives to Hezekiah and mocked the idea of having a God who could save them.
Do not let Hezekiah deceive you. He cannot deliver you! Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the Lord when he says, "The Lord will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria" (Isaiah 36:14b-15).
All around us is full of "Assyrian kings" who mock the idea of a living God who will save us and deliver us.
So what did King Hezekiah do? He did the only thing he knew to do. He prayed with all his heart. And because he prayed, God moved on his behalf. In fact, Hezekiah didn't even have to do anything.
God wants to act on our behalf if we will call on Him. Hezekiah cried out to God "so that all kingdoms on earth may know that You alone, O Lord, are God" (Is. 37:20).
This is what happened when God is glorified. He wants to be glorified in our school, in the marketplace, the office, at home, the ball field...everywhere...that the world may know the Lord is God.
"...because you have prayed to Me...." Isaiah 37:21
Posted: May 7, 2015
The Assyrian king sent his representatives to Hezekiah and mocked the idea of having a God who could save them.
Do not let Hezekiah deceive you. He cannot deliver you! Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the Lord when he says, "The Lord will surely deliver us; this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria" (Isaiah 36:14b-15).
All around us is full of "Assyrian kings" who mock the idea of a living God who will save us and deliver us.
So what did King Hezekiah do? He did the only thing he knew to do. He prayed with all his heart. And because he prayed, God moved on his behalf. In fact, Hezekiah didn't even have to do anything.
God wants to act on our behalf if we will call on Him. Hezekiah cried out to God "so that all kingdoms on earth may know that You alone, O Lord, are God" (Is. 37:20).
This is what happened when God is glorified. He wants to be glorified in our school, in the marketplace, the office, at home, the ball field...everywhere...that the world may know the Lord is God.
"...because you have prayed to Me...." Isaiah 37:21
Posted: May 7, 2015
Since I moved back to Houston, I haven't gotten into Houston Rockets basketball yet. Maybe when they win a championship, I'll jump in the bandwagon with everyone. This year they are doing quite well and are moving into the second round of the playoffs. For Mr. Mark Cuban and the Dallas Mavericks, their season ended sooner than they wanted to. It was a disappointing season. They will have the rest of the summer to ponder their future and where to go from here.
Maybe some of you feel like the Dallas Mavericks. Your season has ended a little earlier than it should have. If that is the case with you, remember the words of Micah...
Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise.
Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. (Micah 7:8)
In the verses that follow, Micah talks about bearing the brunt of your mistakes, receiving forgiveness, and experiencing restoration. And he says once again about the God you serve: "He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness."
All of us have had a season that ended too soon. You worked hard only to be defeated and left feeling disappointed. The good news is that you don't have to stay down. You will arise. And there's always a season to come. God will bring it your way. But don't just sit around during the off-season. Make plans and adjustments and be prepared when the new season comes.
Posted: April 30, 2015
Maybe some of you feel like the Dallas Mavericks. Your season has ended a little earlier than it should have. If that is the case with you, remember the words of Micah...
Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise.
Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light. (Micah 7:8)
In the verses that follow, Micah talks about bearing the brunt of your mistakes, receiving forgiveness, and experiencing restoration. And he says once again about the God you serve: "He will bring me out into the light; I will see his righteousness."
All of us have had a season that ended too soon. You worked hard only to be defeated and left feeling disappointed. The good news is that you don't have to stay down. You will arise. And there's always a season to come. God will bring it your way. But don't just sit around during the off-season. Make plans and adjustments and be prepared when the new season comes.
Posted: April 30, 2015
"I have so much to do."
"There's just not enough time in the day."
You've heard these statements before. Maybe you've even uttered those words.
When is enough...enough?
We all have so much to do. Sometimes we try to pursue several things at the same time. How many people feel frustrated by trying to do too much but achieve very little? We all have this subtle need to do and pursue more. There is a danger when we try to pursue more...more money, more exposure, more recognition, more stuff.
If we're not careful, we'll end up like King Solomon, lose focus and not really know what we're after. Solomon wrote an entire book called Ecclesiastes on perilous pursuits and eventually paid a hefty price. He lost his focus in life and desperately pursued several unrelated goals in a vain attempt to satisfy himself. Solomon was already rich beyond measure, but internally he was empty.
He couldn't fill the hole God placed in his heart with things or understand why he
lacked contentment. Regretfully, he tried to fill that hole with his outward pursuits of more. Solomon eventually narrowed his focus, but it took him a lifetime to figure it out. He finally determined what really mattered and what he really wanted.
What is it that you are working toward? Like Solomon, by doing less and narrowing your focus on your one thing, you can actually achieve more.
"I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?" Nehemiah 6:3
Posted: April 23, 2015
"There's just not enough time in the day."
You've heard these statements before. Maybe you've even uttered those words.
When is enough...enough?
We all have so much to do. Sometimes we try to pursue several things at the same time. How many people feel frustrated by trying to do too much but achieve very little? We all have this subtle need to do and pursue more. There is a danger when we try to pursue more...more money, more exposure, more recognition, more stuff.
If we're not careful, we'll end up like King Solomon, lose focus and not really know what we're after. Solomon wrote an entire book called Ecclesiastes on perilous pursuits and eventually paid a hefty price. He lost his focus in life and desperately pursued several unrelated goals in a vain attempt to satisfy himself. Solomon was already rich beyond measure, but internally he was empty.
He couldn't fill the hole God placed in his heart with things or understand why he
lacked contentment. Regretfully, he tried to fill that hole with his outward pursuits of more. Solomon eventually narrowed his focus, but it took him a lifetime to figure it out. He finally determined what really mattered and what he really wanted.
What is it that you are working toward? Like Solomon, by doing less and narrowing your focus on your one thing, you can actually achieve more.
"I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?" Nehemiah 6:3
Posted: April 23, 2015
Yogi Berra, the great baseball philosopher and Yankees catcher, is famous for his Yogi-ism such as "It ain't over 'til it's over" and "I didn't really say everything I said."
Yogi was known for his endless chatter behind the plate. He constantly was talking to his team and opposing players. In one World Series game against the Milwaukee Braves, Hank Aaron came to the plate to hit. Berra sought to distract him by yelling, "Hank, you're holding the bat wrong. The trademark needs to be face up so you can read it."
Hank Aaron never said a word. He simply hit the next pitch over the left field fence for a homerun. After he had crossed home plate, Aaron looked at Berra and said, "I didn't come here to read." Hank Aaron had started with his goal in mind and he stayed on track.
We're a quarter of the way done this year. Some of you have started out well, but somehow you've gotten off track. You've been tempted and distracted. You've taken your eyes off the ball and lost focus. This is a good time to refocus and try to get back on track if you've been off course. Don't worry about hitting homeruns. Just try to hit singles and get on base. Soon enough you will score runs.
"...for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones." Prov. 2:8
Posted: April 16, 2015
Yogi was known for his endless chatter behind the plate. He constantly was talking to his team and opposing players. In one World Series game against the Milwaukee Braves, Hank Aaron came to the plate to hit. Berra sought to distract him by yelling, "Hank, you're holding the bat wrong. The trademark needs to be face up so you can read it."
Hank Aaron never said a word. He simply hit the next pitch over the left field fence for a homerun. After he had crossed home plate, Aaron looked at Berra and said, "I didn't come here to read." Hank Aaron had started with his goal in mind and he stayed on track.
We're a quarter of the way done this year. Some of you have started out well, but somehow you've gotten off track. You've been tempted and distracted. You've taken your eyes off the ball and lost focus. This is a good time to refocus and try to get back on track if you've been off course. Don't worry about hitting homeruns. Just try to hit singles and get on base. Soon enough you will score runs.
"...for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones." Prov. 2:8
Posted: April 16, 2015
I hope you had a great Easter Sunday. Although it rained in Houston for much of the day, it did not dampen our spirit in celebrating our Lord's Resurrection.
The message of the Resurrection is still very fresh in many of our hearts and minds. The risen Lord makes all things new. Just like rain makes everything green around us and raises dead flowers, trees and plants back to life, the resurrection of our Lord raises us up to be alive again. He puts a new life in us.
By his life, we have His resurrection power to live each day. Through His power we can extend mercy and forgiveness to those who hurt us or offended us. Through His power we can show compassion and love to those who are different from us. Through His power we can put to death the spirit of anger, bitterness and resentment towards others. Through His power we can overcome temptations, bad habits, addictions and other sins that keep us from living out the abundant and victorious life that Jesus came to give us. Through His power we do not have to feel alone and abandoned because He is with us. And through His His resurrection power, we have a purpose in life; we are energized to get out of bed each day, go to work, work hard and give our very best.
When you allow God's resurrection power to live out through you, "be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." (1 Peter 3:15)
Posted: April 9, 2015
The message of the Resurrection is still very fresh in many of our hearts and minds. The risen Lord makes all things new. Just like rain makes everything green around us and raises dead flowers, trees and plants back to life, the resurrection of our Lord raises us up to be alive again. He puts a new life in us.
By his life, we have His resurrection power to live each day. Through His power we can extend mercy and forgiveness to those who hurt us or offended us. Through His power we can show compassion and love to those who are different from us. Through His power we can put to death the spirit of anger, bitterness and resentment towards others. Through His power we can overcome temptations, bad habits, addictions and other sins that keep us from living out the abundant and victorious life that Jesus came to give us. Through His power we do not have to feel alone and abandoned because He is with us. And through His His resurrection power, we have a purpose in life; we are energized to get out of bed each day, go to work, work hard and give our very best.
When you allow God's resurrection power to live out through you, "be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect." (1 Peter 3:15)
Posted: April 9, 2015
There's a Chinese proverb that says "The miracle is not to fly in the air, or to walk on the water, but to walk on the earth."
All of us have witnessed some sort of miracles at various times in our lives. It may be a miraculous healing, a supernatural intervention like keeping us from a major accident or from making a very bad decision, a divine provision at just the right time, or some other unexplained things that can only be attributed to God. These are miracles whether we want to admit it or not.
As we approach the Easter season, we can reflect on one more miracle. It is the miracle of having our sins forgiven. God through Jesus Christ takes away our sins and makes us a new person. He makes us alive again when we were once dead people walking on this earth. The great miracle through the resurrection is that he gives us the power to live...the power to walk on the earth...in victory, in peace, in love...every day.
Because we can wake up each day and walk on the earth, we can live out our hopes, goals and dreams. That's a miracle worth celebrating!
This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
Posted: March 26, 2015
All of us have witnessed some sort of miracles at various times in our lives. It may be a miraculous healing, a supernatural intervention like keeping us from a major accident or from making a very bad decision, a divine provision at just the right time, or some other unexplained things that can only be attributed to God. These are miracles whether we want to admit it or not.
As we approach the Easter season, we can reflect on one more miracle. It is the miracle of having our sins forgiven. God through Jesus Christ takes away our sins and makes us a new person. He makes us alive again when we were once dead people walking on this earth. The great miracle through the resurrection is that he gives us the power to live...the power to walk on the earth...in victory, in peace, in love...every day.
Because we can wake up each day and walk on the earth, we can live out our hopes, goals and dreams. That's a miracle worth celebrating!
This is the day the Lord has made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24
Posted: March 26, 2015
I love sports. Baseball season will start soon. College basketball playoffs are in full gear. Pro basketball playoffs will follow shortly. I especially love the Olympic games. The best Olympic moment I remember watching has to be Keri Strug sticking her landing to give the women's gymnastics team the gold in the '96 games in Atlanta.
Strug was not the best gymnast on the team. She was hardly known outside of gymnastic circles. When the tiny competitor raced down the floor to attempt her first vault, she slipped on the landing and injured her ankle. With one last chance remaining, she limped gingerly back to the starting line, testing her leg, fighting back pain and tears. With the encouragement of her coach and her teammates, she sprinted down the runway again, launched herself into a series of aerial twists, and executed a solid landing before reflexively lifting her injured foot, then collapsing in pain.
With victory assured, the courageous gymnast was carried off the floor by Coach Bela Karolyi.
It was a great Olympic moment of drama that brought millions of viewers to tears.
One could say that Keri Strug made that final landing not with her feet, but with her heart. It wasn't the outward appearance or reputation that mattered, but the stuff she was made of.
You may not have the appearance or ability of an athlete, but if you have a passionate heart, you can stick the landing and do great things. Keep pressing on!
I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Phil. 3:14
Posted: March 19, 2015
Strug was not the best gymnast on the team. She was hardly known outside of gymnastic circles. When the tiny competitor raced down the floor to attempt her first vault, she slipped on the landing and injured her ankle. With one last chance remaining, she limped gingerly back to the starting line, testing her leg, fighting back pain and tears. With the encouragement of her coach and her teammates, she sprinted down the runway again, launched herself into a series of aerial twists, and executed a solid landing before reflexively lifting her injured foot, then collapsing in pain.
With victory assured, the courageous gymnast was carried off the floor by Coach Bela Karolyi.
It was a great Olympic moment of drama that brought millions of viewers to tears.
One could say that Keri Strug made that final landing not with her feet, but with her heart. It wasn't the outward appearance or reputation that mattered, but the stuff she was made of.
You may not have the appearance or ability of an athlete, but if you have a passionate heart, you can stick the landing and do great things. Keep pressing on!
I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Phil. 3:14
Posted: March 19, 2015
Last month, a big scandal broke out that may cause NBC News anchor Brian Williams his job. Currently, he is under suspension for 6 months without pay. Instead of reporting the news, he became the news. What was the scandal about? During the Iraq War, Williams told the nation that a helicopter he had been traveling in during the invasion of Iraq had been forced down by a rocket-propelled grenade.
After this report, Williams achieved rock-star status. His nightly broadcast was No. 1. He went on every talk shows and gave speeches all over the country. He was ranked one of the most trusted people in America.
As everyone now knows, Williams exaggerated the truth in order to appear heroic and historic. For over 10 years, he got away with his story until some soldiers came forward and questioned his experience. Everything came crashing down for Williams when he was exposed of his lie.
The temptation to exaggerate or embellish a story was too great for Brian Williams. Like Williams, all of face temptations, and they come at us in different ways. Temptation in itself is not sinful. Jesus was tempted but he did not give in and sin. It is sinful when we give in to temptation.
For many Christians, this issue is seldom discussed or dealt with. They continue to live in frustration and pain over their failure and defeat. Paul encourages us with these words:
"Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." (1 Cor. 10:12-13)
God is trustworthy and will provide a way out. He is for you and with you. With His power and grace, you can overcome temptation. You must "watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matt. 26:41)
And even if you fall, God will be there ready to pick you up. He will still love you and forgive you. And He encourages you to keep going and keep trying.
Posted: March 12, 2015
After this report, Williams achieved rock-star status. His nightly broadcast was No. 1. He went on every talk shows and gave speeches all over the country. He was ranked one of the most trusted people in America.
As everyone now knows, Williams exaggerated the truth in order to appear heroic and historic. For over 10 years, he got away with his story until some soldiers came forward and questioned his experience. Everything came crashing down for Williams when he was exposed of his lie.
The temptation to exaggerate or embellish a story was too great for Brian Williams. Like Williams, all of face temptations, and they come at us in different ways. Temptation in itself is not sinful. Jesus was tempted but he did not give in and sin. It is sinful when we give in to temptation.
For many Christians, this issue is seldom discussed or dealt with. They continue to live in frustration and pain over their failure and defeat. Paul encourages us with these words:
"Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it." (1 Cor. 10:12-13)
God is trustworthy and will provide a way out. He is for you and with you. With His power and grace, you can overcome temptation. You must "watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak." (Matt. 26:41)
And even if you fall, God will be there ready to pick you up. He will still love you and forgive you. And He encourages you to keep going and keep trying.
Posted: March 12, 2015
On January 29, 1991, a woman named Wanda Holloway from Channelview made international headline. She had a 13-year old daughter who was trying out for cheerleading but did not make the squad. So she hired a hit-man to kill the mother of her daughter's rival.
Holloway approached her former brother-in-law who had a long criminal record, and asked him to get rid of the other girl's mother. As a down payment, she gave him $2,000 diamond earrings. Initially, she wanted both the mother and the girl killed. But the price was too high. So she decided the mother was good enough. By killing the mother, Holloway hoped that the rival daughter would become so distraught with grief that she would drop from the team and her spot would be given to her daughter.
The former brother-in-law turned her in to the police. They set up a hidden microphone to record the conversation. The brother asked Holloway, "You want her dead?"
She replied, "I don't care what you do with her. You can keep her in Cuba for 15 years. I want her gone."
In 1991 she was convicted and sentenced to 15 years but it was overturned. Then in 1996, she was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison, but only served 6 months. She had to pay $150,000 to the victims.
What possessed her to want to kill another person? Jealousy. She was so consumed with jealousy of the other girl and her mother that she would do the unthinkable.
Jealousy is a deadly sin that most of us seldom admit and confess having. William Shakespeare has called it the green-eyed monster. Because jealousy isn't content with what it has, it always wants more. Jealousy can destroy you and your relationships with others.
One way to combat jealousy is to look to God's goodness and count your blessings. When you are jealous of someone else, often time you think that God is not as good to you as to that someone else. When all you think is how God has blessed someone else, you have forgotten how God has blessed you.
Someone said, "Jealousy is when you count someone else's blessings instead of your own."
Jealousy is a deadly disease. When we are consumed with how we live in comparison to others, we live in anger, frustration and in pain. God does not want us to live that way. God wants us to live in peace, contentment and satisfaction. When you are tempted to be jealous of someone, turn your focus back on God, count your blessings and see what God has done for you.
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. James 3:16
Posted: March 5, 2015
Holloway approached her former brother-in-law who had a long criminal record, and asked him to get rid of the other girl's mother. As a down payment, she gave him $2,000 diamond earrings. Initially, she wanted both the mother and the girl killed. But the price was too high. So she decided the mother was good enough. By killing the mother, Holloway hoped that the rival daughter would become so distraught with grief that she would drop from the team and her spot would be given to her daughter.
The former brother-in-law turned her in to the police. They set up a hidden microphone to record the conversation. The brother asked Holloway, "You want her dead?"
She replied, "I don't care what you do with her. You can keep her in Cuba for 15 years. I want her gone."
In 1991 she was convicted and sentenced to 15 years but it was overturned. Then in 1996, she was convicted and sentenced to 10 years in prison, but only served 6 months. She had to pay $150,000 to the victims.
What possessed her to want to kill another person? Jealousy. She was so consumed with jealousy of the other girl and her mother that she would do the unthinkable.
Jealousy is a deadly sin that most of us seldom admit and confess having. William Shakespeare has called it the green-eyed monster. Because jealousy isn't content with what it has, it always wants more. Jealousy can destroy you and your relationships with others.
One way to combat jealousy is to look to God's goodness and count your blessings. When you are jealous of someone else, often time you think that God is not as good to you as to that someone else. When all you think is how God has blessed someone else, you have forgotten how God has blessed you.
Someone said, "Jealousy is when you count someone else's blessings instead of your own."
Jealousy is a deadly disease. When we are consumed with how we live in comparison to others, we live in anger, frustration and in pain. God does not want us to live that way. God wants us to live in peace, contentment and satisfaction. When you are tempted to be jealous of someone, turn your focus back on God, count your blessings and see what God has done for you.
For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. James 3:16
Posted: March 5, 2015
According to the AP story, a Connecticut man was arrested over the weekend at his home on charges of breach of peace and criminal mischief. Alan Becker, 47, was unhappy with his haircut. He became enraged and started to throw things around the salon. He became even more angry when he discovered that the cost of the hair cut was $50. Police said Becker kicked a hole in the wall, was hostile toward the staff and customers and threw a candle display and other items before leaving. This is going to be one expensive haircut when it's all over.
We live in a world filled with anger. It is a God-given emotion that in itself is neither good or bad. It's bad or sinful when we express it in a way that hurts others. Then we feel bad or regret what we said or did. Many people do not know that anger is a secondary emotion. Another word, our anger doesn't just come out of nowhere. Another feeling triggers or causes us to get angry. We become angry when we feel hurt or offended by another person's word or action. We get angry when we feel frustrated or irritated (like in traffics). When we feel threatened, fear causes us to get angry. Or when our pride has been bruised and we feel ashamed, anger kicks.
Because anger is a secondary emotion, it requires a response. The Bible tells us "in your anger do not sin; do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold" (Eph. 4:26-27). That means that we have to respond appropriately and not fall into sin and give the devil an opportunity to turn our anger into resentment, hatred, revenge, and murder.
There are some practical ways to respond to anger. One way is to delay expressing our anger. We step away and take time to cool down. My wife goes shopping when she is mad at me. Another way is to try to diffuse it. It is discussing and trying to understand the situation better. It is saying, "I could be wrong." There is yet a third way. That is, reversing your anger by doing good. Paul suggests in Eph. 4:32, "And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." You handle anger with kindness and forgiveness. You find some way to show God's love.
When you do good to those who has hurt you and do you wrong, you bring shame to them. Doing good to people who has hurt you is extremely difficult to do. But God enables you to do it when you allow him to work in you because you know He loves you and will take care of you. And when you do that, the spirit of anger will begin to drain away. You deal with anger by reversing it and releasing it to God.
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. James 1:19-20
Posted: February. 26, 2015
We live in a world filled with anger. It is a God-given emotion that in itself is neither good or bad. It's bad or sinful when we express it in a way that hurts others. Then we feel bad or regret what we said or did. Many people do not know that anger is a secondary emotion. Another word, our anger doesn't just come out of nowhere. Another feeling triggers or causes us to get angry. We become angry when we feel hurt or offended by another person's word or action. We get angry when we feel frustrated or irritated (like in traffics). When we feel threatened, fear causes us to get angry. Or when our pride has been bruised and we feel ashamed, anger kicks.
Because anger is a secondary emotion, it requires a response. The Bible tells us "in your anger do not sin; do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold" (Eph. 4:26-27). That means that we have to respond appropriately and not fall into sin and give the devil an opportunity to turn our anger into resentment, hatred, revenge, and murder.
There are some practical ways to respond to anger. One way is to delay expressing our anger. We step away and take time to cool down. My wife goes shopping when she is mad at me. Another way is to try to diffuse it. It is discussing and trying to understand the situation better. It is saying, "I could be wrong." There is yet a third way. That is, reversing your anger by doing good. Paul suggests in Eph. 4:32, "And be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you." You handle anger with kindness and forgiveness. You find some way to show God's love.
When you do good to those who has hurt you and do you wrong, you bring shame to them. Doing good to people who has hurt you is extremely difficult to do. But God enables you to do it when you allow him to work in you because you know He loves you and will take care of you. And when you do that, the spirit of anger will begin to drain away. You deal with anger by reversing it and releasing it to God.
My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. James 1:19-20
Posted: February. 26, 2015
Connie Mack was one of the greatest managers in the history of baseball. One of the secrets of his success was that he knew how to lead and inspire men. He knew that people were individuals. Once, when his team had clinched the pennant well before the season ended, he gave his two best pitchers the last ten days off so that they could rest up for the World Series. One pitcher spent his ten days off at the ball park; the other went fishing. Both performed brilliantly in the World Series. Mack never criticized a player in front of anyone else. He learned to wait 24 hours before discussing mistakes with players. Otherwise, he said, he dealt with the goofs too emotionally.
In the first three years as a major league baseball manager, Connie Mack's teams finished sixth, seventh, and eighth. He took the blame and demoted himself to the minor leagues to give himself time to learn how to handle men. When he came back to the major leagues again, he handled his players so successfully that he developed the best teams the world had ever known up to that time.
Mack had another secret of good management: he didn't worry. "I discovered," he explained, "that worry was threatening to wreck my career as a baseball manager. I saw how foolish it was and I forced myself to get so busy preparing to win games that I had no time left to worry over the ones that were already lost. You can't grind grain with water that has already gone down the creek."
(Bits and Pieces, December 13, 1990)
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matt 6:34
Posted: February 19, 2015
In the first three years as a major league baseball manager, Connie Mack's teams finished sixth, seventh, and eighth. He took the blame and demoted himself to the minor leagues to give himself time to learn how to handle men. When he came back to the major leagues again, he handled his players so successfully that he developed the best teams the world had ever known up to that time.
Mack had another secret of good management: he didn't worry. "I discovered," he explained, "that worry was threatening to wreck my career as a baseball manager. I saw how foolish it was and I forced myself to get so busy preparing to win games that I had no time left to worry over the ones that were already lost. You can't grind grain with water that has already gone down the creek."
(Bits and Pieces, December 13, 1990)
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matt 6:34
Posted: February 19, 2015
Do you feel anxious if your cellphone isn't on you? Does the thought of losing your phone make your heart pound? Do you go to bed with your smartphone?
If your answer is a resounding YES, then you may be a nomophobe. And you are not alone.
Nomophobia is a term that was first coined in 2008 by the UK Post Office for fear of no mobile phone.
An online poll in the United Kingdom found that 66% of 1,000 people surveyed say they fear losing or being without their phone. Just four years before a similar survey found that only 53% of people suffered from nomophobia.
Women are the group who are most fearful of being a nomophobe. Seventy percent of female respondents fear losing their phones and feeling disconnected, compared to 61% of male respondents. People 18-24 tend to be the most nomophobic (77%), followed by people aged 25-34 (68%). The third most nomophobic group is 55 and older.
In a separate research by the University of Missouri reported in Smithsonian.com, people experience great anxiety and perform at a low level when they are separated from their cellphone. Researchers monitored participants anxiety levels, heart rate, and blood pressure while they do word search puzzles with their phone on hand. They appeared to be relaxed and performed well. Once their phones were taken away, the results changed dramatically. Not only did the participants' puzzle performance decline significantly, but their anxiety levels, blood pressure and heart rates skyrocketed.
What these studies suggest is that people see their phone as an extension of themselves. When separated, anxiety kicks in as they experience a lessing of "self."
Is there a cure for nomophobia?
The cure is in finding our security and identity in Christ. We began to see ourselves as God sees us...wonderfully and fearfully made and loved by Him...we can feel secure and find our worth in God, not in a cellphone. In Christ, we are made complete.
"...and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority." Col. 2:10
Posted: February 12, 2015
If your answer is a resounding YES, then you may be a nomophobe. And you are not alone.
Nomophobia is a term that was first coined in 2008 by the UK Post Office for fear of no mobile phone.
An online poll in the United Kingdom found that 66% of 1,000 people surveyed say they fear losing or being without their phone. Just four years before a similar survey found that only 53% of people suffered from nomophobia.
Women are the group who are most fearful of being a nomophobe. Seventy percent of female respondents fear losing their phones and feeling disconnected, compared to 61% of male respondents. People 18-24 tend to be the most nomophobic (77%), followed by people aged 25-34 (68%). The third most nomophobic group is 55 and older.
In a separate research by the University of Missouri reported in Smithsonian.com, people experience great anxiety and perform at a low level when they are separated from their cellphone. Researchers monitored participants anxiety levels, heart rate, and blood pressure while they do word search puzzles with their phone on hand. They appeared to be relaxed and performed well. Once their phones were taken away, the results changed dramatically. Not only did the participants' puzzle performance decline significantly, but their anxiety levels, blood pressure and heart rates skyrocketed.
What these studies suggest is that people see their phone as an extension of themselves. When separated, anxiety kicks in as they experience a lessing of "self."
Is there a cure for nomophobia?
The cure is in finding our security and identity in Christ. We began to see ourselves as God sees us...wonderfully and fearfully made and loved by Him...we can feel secure and find our worth in God, not in a cellphone. In Christ, we are made complete.
"...and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority." Col. 2:10
Posted: February 12, 2015
Thank God the Super Bowl has come and gone. And if you watched the game, it was one of the most exciting Super Bowl games in recent years. It came down to the wire. The Seattle Seahawks led much of the game, but the New England Patriots came back in the fourth quarter to lead by 4 points in the final minute. Seattle had a chance to win with 26 seconds left at the one yard line. What did they do? Seattle coach Pete Carroll chose to pass the ball instead of running it with one of the NFL's best running backs. Quarterback Russell Wilson threw an interception which sealed their fate to the Patriots.
The call by Pete Carroll was immediately questioned and ridiculed by pretty much everyone except the Patriots fans. Maybe you're one of them. One analyst called it "the worst play call in Super Bowl history."
Of course, had the play worked, those same analysts and sports talk show guys who never played an NFL game would be praising Carroll's courage and innovation while molding a bronze head in his image. (It's annoying when these same guys talk about legacy or dynasty.)
I think analysts and critics have the easiest job in the world. They themselves have no goal-line decisions to make. They have only to applaud what succeeds and second-guess what doesn't.
Analysts and fans like me and you can only observe from the stands or the sofa. We'll never be the ones calling the plays or making things happen.
Same way in life, you can either be a leader making tough calls or an analyst waiting to evaluate others, but not both. You can be either a decision-maker or a second-guesser, but not both.
If you choose to lead, sometimes you'll look like a genius. Other times you'll look like you don't know what you're doing. That's the risk you take.
However, win or lose, being part of the action beats being a spectator every time. Every day you are faced with opportunities to either lead or second guess. Which will you do?
Paul tells us to run the race in order to win, because we strive for an eternal prize. (1 Corinthians 9:2-25)
Posted: February 5, 2015
The call by Pete Carroll was immediately questioned and ridiculed by pretty much everyone except the Patriots fans. Maybe you're one of them. One analyst called it "the worst play call in Super Bowl history."
Of course, had the play worked, those same analysts and sports talk show guys who never played an NFL game would be praising Carroll's courage and innovation while molding a bronze head in his image. (It's annoying when these same guys talk about legacy or dynasty.)
I think analysts and critics have the easiest job in the world. They themselves have no goal-line decisions to make. They have only to applaud what succeeds and second-guess what doesn't.
Analysts and fans like me and you can only observe from the stands or the sofa. We'll never be the ones calling the plays or making things happen.
Same way in life, you can either be a leader making tough calls or an analyst waiting to evaluate others, but not both. You can be either a decision-maker or a second-guesser, but not both.
If you choose to lead, sometimes you'll look like a genius. Other times you'll look like you don't know what you're doing. That's the risk you take.
However, win or lose, being part of the action beats being a spectator every time. Every day you are faced with opportunities to either lead or second guess. Which will you do?
Paul tells us to run the race in order to win, because we strive for an eternal prize. (1 Corinthians 9:2-25)
Posted: February 5, 2015
I have an office that has a window. I put my desk right right where I can look out the window. My wife doesn't think it's good feng shei, but I told her I needed to be able to look out. It's not a big window, but big enough to see cars pass by, rain drops and sunshine. There were times when I'm loss in my thought and then found myself just staring out the window.
Then something profound hit me. Having a window to look out allows me to have a view in order to take a long look at things and get a perspective. And perspective makes all the difference for me. Sometimes taking a long look at life is the best medicine. For example, if something is bothering me, by taking a long look and trying to get a perspective to see beyond what it is that is bothering me, I am not suffocated and bottled up with problems. By having a view, it helps me to look away---far enough away and beyond them to get a perspective.
Perspective allows us to refocus on what it is we are called to do. I think of Jesus as a prime example. When he received news of his cousin John's death, he withdrew by himself to a lonely place to think, to pray, to look out his window. When the needy crowds heard where he was, they followed him. After a time of reflection and getting his perspective, Scripture says that he looked up, saw the multitudes and had compassion on them and healed their sick. Jesus got his perspective. If it were me, I might say to them, "Can't you guys leave me alone? Don't you know I'm hurting?" Jesus had a view. Later on he performed one of the greatest miracles...feeding over five thousand people. Jesus took time to get a perspective, and it allowed him to refocus on his calling and do great things to impact lives.
Next time something is nibbling at you, find a window in your car, house or office and take the time to look out far enough away to get a perspective. When you get a perspective, it makes you the master of your circumstances and not the victim.
"They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength..." Isaiah 40:31
Posted: January 29, 2015
Then something profound hit me. Having a window to look out allows me to have a view in order to take a long look at things and get a perspective. And perspective makes all the difference for me. Sometimes taking a long look at life is the best medicine. For example, if something is bothering me, by taking a long look and trying to get a perspective to see beyond what it is that is bothering me, I am not suffocated and bottled up with problems. By having a view, it helps me to look away---far enough away and beyond them to get a perspective.
Perspective allows us to refocus on what it is we are called to do. I think of Jesus as a prime example. When he received news of his cousin John's death, he withdrew by himself to a lonely place to think, to pray, to look out his window. When the needy crowds heard where he was, they followed him. After a time of reflection and getting his perspective, Scripture says that he looked up, saw the multitudes and had compassion on them and healed their sick. Jesus got his perspective. If it were me, I might say to them, "Can't you guys leave me alone? Don't you know I'm hurting?" Jesus had a view. Later on he performed one of the greatest miracles...feeding over five thousand people. Jesus took time to get a perspective, and it allowed him to refocus on his calling and do great things to impact lives.
Next time something is nibbling at you, find a window in your car, house or office and take the time to look out far enough away to get a perspective. When you get a perspective, it makes you the master of your circumstances and not the victim.
"They that wait on the Lord shall renew their strength..." Isaiah 40:31
Posted: January 29, 2015
Do you see yourself as an optimist or a pessimist? This is an area where the Bible does not leave us with much option. If we believe in the Resurrection, we can't help but be optimistic about the future. Regardless of what happens in the here and now, we know that ultimately everything will work out for our good and for God's glory.
Paul was an optimistic person. While sitting in a Roman jail, he could see the benefits of his imprisonment. There was no pending release date and the prison conditions were less than ideal. Yet, Paul remained optimistic about the future. This is what he said:
For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better. (Phil. 1:21)
These aren't the words of a doomed man. Paul clearly believed the best about the future, because he believed in a God who is good, merciful and loving.
If Paul can be optimistic in a Roman dungeon, we too can be optimistic. In spite of what is happening around us, we know that God is with us and for us. Then we can say, "To live is Christ, and to die is to be in His presence forever."
Posted: January 22, 2015
Paul was an optimistic person. While sitting in a Roman jail, he could see the benefits of his imprisonment. There was no pending release date and the prison conditions were less than ideal. Yet, Paul remained optimistic about the future. This is what he said:
For to me, living is for Christ, and dying is even better. (Phil. 1:21)
These aren't the words of a doomed man. Paul clearly believed the best about the future, because he believed in a God who is good, merciful and loving.
If Paul can be optimistic in a Roman dungeon, we too can be optimistic. In spite of what is happening around us, we know that God is with us and for us. Then we can say, "To live is Christ, and to die is to be in His presence forever."
Posted: January 22, 2015
A title of an article in last week's Yahoo! Health (Jan. 9, 2015) caught my attention. It says, "The One Universal Secret To A Lasting Marriage." I was curious as to what that secret is so I kept on reading. It wasn't what I expected though.
What is the universal secret of a lasting marriage? Let your wife be the boss and make all the decisions? Forgive and never go to bed angry? Don't keep secrets from each other? Agree to disagree? None of these.
A new research has boiled the key to spousal success down to one simple tip. And this tip holds true worldwide, across cultures, ages and incomes: Find a significant other who is also your best friend.
The National Bureau of Economic Research analyzed well-being data from two national surveys in the United Kingdom and the Gallup World Poll to search for common threads that weave together a happy marriage.
They found that the biggest similarity among happily committed relationships worldwide - and the largest point of difference among those who are not married or partnered - was friendship.
Approximately half of married people and of those who are cohabiting list their partner as their best friend. Conversely, less than 5 percent of people in any other marital status consider their partner to be their best friend.
According to the study, married individuals who are BFF with their spouse also seem to be more satisfied in life, enjoying nearly twice as much additional life satisfaction than those who are not.
What this study says in general is that people long for deeper relationship and communion. That's the way God created us. While we long to connect with a best friend, God has also made us to long for Him. He has put eternity in our heart (Ecc. 3:11). When we are in a loving relationship with our Creator, he satisfies all our longings, needs and desires. We find peace, happiness and a sense of purpose in life.
My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death. (Phil. 3:10)
Posted: January 15, 2015
What is the universal secret of a lasting marriage? Let your wife be the boss and make all the decisions? Forgive and never go to bed angry? Don't keep secrets from each other? Agree to disagree? None of these.
A new research has boiled the key to spousal success down to one simple tip. And this tip holds true worldwide, across cultures, ages and incomes: Find a significant other who is also your best friend.
The National Bureau of Economic Research analyzed well-being data from two national surveys in the United Kingdom and the Gallup World Poll to search for common threads that weave together a happy marriage.
They found that the biggest similarity among happily committed relationships worldwide - and the largest point of difference among those who are not married or partnered - was friendship.
Approximately half of married people and of those who are cohabiting list their partner as their best friend. Conversely, less than 5 percent of people in any other marital status consider their partner to be their best friend.
According to the study, married individuals who are BFF with their spouse also seem to be more satisfied in life, enjoying nearly twice as much additional life satisfaction than those who are not.
What this study says in general is that people long for deeper relationship and communion. That's the way God created us. While we long to connect with a best friend, God has also made us to long for Him. He has put eternity in our heart (Ecc. 3:11). When we are in a loving relationship with our Creator, he satisfies all our longings, needs and desires. We find peace, happiness and a sense of purpose in life.
My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death. (Phil. 3:10)
Posted: January 15, 2015
Most people never heard of Floyd Patterson. Floyd was the youngest Undisputed Heavyweight boxing champion at age 21. He was also the first heavyweight boxer to regain the title. He had a record of 55 wins, 8 losses and 1 draw, with 40 wins by knockout. He won the gold medal at the 1952 Olympic Games as a middleweight. (Source: Wikipedia)
He was interviewed by a sportswriter who mentioned that he was knocked down more than any other heavyweight champion in history.
Patterson's reply was, "Yeah, but I also got up more than any other fighter in history."
Floyd Patterson had a great comeback and made a great point.
In the Gospel of Luke, the doctor tells a story about a group of fishermen who had spent the night fishing, but had caught nothing. Jesus came along and said, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Peter started to object, as he was prone to do, then finally said, "Because you say so, I will let down the nets."
What happened next was an amazing miracle.
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. (Luke 5:6)
The disciples learned an important spiritual lesson that day: The power of doing it again. It's the secret to success in any endeavor: Keep casting your net. Keep getting back up when you're down. God can redeem our failures, but he can't do much when we quit and stay down.
Patterson may have been knocked down more than anyone else, but he also got up more than anyone else. Patterson inspires us to keep getting up. Jesus inspires us to keep casting our net.
You'll be amazed at what can happen when you decide to keep at it.
Posted: January 8, 2015
He was interviewed by a sportswriter who mentioned that he was knocked down more than any other heavyweight champion in history.
Patterson's reply was, "Yeah, but I also got up more than any other fighter in history."
Floyd Patterson had a great comeback and made a great point.
In the Gospel of Luke, the doctor tells a story about a group of fishermen who had spent the night fishing, but had caught nothing. Jesus came along and said, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch." Peter started to object, as he was prone to do, then finally said, "Because you say so, I will let down the nets."
What happened next was an amazing miracle.
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. (Luke 5:6)
The disciples learned an important spiritual lesson that day: The power of doing it again. It's the secret to success in any endeavor: Keep casting your net. Keep getting back up when you're down. God can redeem our failures, but he can't do much when we quit and stay down.
Patterson may have been knocked down more than anyone else, but he also got up more than anyone else. Patterson inspires us to keep getting up. Jesus inspires us to keep casting our net.
You'll be amazed at what can happen when you decide to keep at it.
Posted: January 8, 2015