Have you ever stopped to consider the multitudes of divisions that exist among the human family? It is really remarkable when you stop to think about it. There are ethnic divisions, economic divisions, societal divisions, cultural divisions, language divisions, political divisions, educational divisions, philosophical divisions, theological divisions, and the list goes on and on.

Sometimes these divisions will result in one person thinking that he is better than the other. An educated individual may look down on an uneducated individual. A wealthy person may look down on someone who struggles to make ends meet. Someone who would be considered to be a member of “high society” may look down on someone who is not on their level of societal sophistication. And again, the comparisons go on and on.

My question is, what causes one person to think that he is better than another? Do any of these divisions make one person better, more important, than another? Are the rich better than the poor? Are the sophisticated better than the unsophisticated? Are the educated better than the uneducated? Where did these divisions come from, and why are they so seemingly important among the human family?

For those of us who would identify ourselves as disciples of Jesus Christ, we would acknowledge the fact that the Bible recognizes such divisions. There are clear ethnic divisions. The Jewish people clearly believed that they were better than others. Their rabbis actually taught that the only thing Gentiles were good for was to fuel the fires of hell! That is certainly a clear line of delineation.

But what does the Bible teach about such divisions? First of all, we learn from Scripture that every individual human being is part of the human family. We are all created in the image of God. Thus, my reason for using the term “human family”. This family consists of all humans regardless of those divisions we have superimposed on the family.

There was an incident in the life of Jesus which perhaps will help us understand this concept a little better.

Then Jesus called a little child to Him, set him in the midst of them, and said, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’

Matthew 18:2-4, NKJV

This statement of Jesus was given in response to a question posed by the disciples concerning who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. When you think about it, this question was the epitome of arrogance. This question was couched in their understanding of the Jewish people being the greatest people of the human family, but it also showed their belief that among the Jewish family there existed a hierarchy. They believed that some were better, greater, than others.

So, what did Jesus do? He sat a little child in the midst of these ‘important’ people, and used the example of the child to bring them all down a few notches. ‘Whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.’

What do you think we are to learn from incident? What was the lesson Jesus was attempting to teach His disciples? We could discuss all the characteristics of a child, and learn some very important lessons for sure. But let’s keep in mind the question posed by the disciples that prompted this ‘teaching moment’. They asked who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven, and Jesus pointed to a child to give answer. Their question was based on division, and Jesus’ answer clearly showed that there is no division.

When children are together, they have no concept of division. All the children of the world – the reds, the yellows, the blacks, and the whites – play together indiscriminately. They give no consideration to the color of skin, to the economic/social status of their playmate’s parents, to the political affiliation of those parents, to the labels on the clothing of their playmates. No, none of these man-made divisions are acknowledged. They don’t come along until after the children are taught these divisions by ‘well-meaning adults’.

Billy Graham said in many of his sermons, ‘The ground is level at the foot of the cross.’ No one is on higher, or lower ground. We are all in equal need of a Savior, and this Savior, Jesus Christ, is no respecter of persons.

Let’s not give ourselves over to the erroneous thinking that someone is better than someone else simply because of some man-made notion that divisions exist. Let’s embrace the Bible’s teaching about the we are all created in the image of God, and that yes, indeed, we are all standing on level ground at the foot of the cross.

Blessings!

When you were a child, did you ever play with silly putty? It’s really amazing stuff! You can roll it, shape it, put it into a mold, or freehand it to make pretty much anything you can imagine. Then, when you are ready to make something new, all you have to do is wad it all up and start over. Fun stuff, indeed!

It’s fun to play games with silly putty, but it is not so much fun to observe the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual calisthenics some individuals jump through to conform themselves. They want so desperately to fit in with the crowd that they are willing to literally change their beliefs and behaviors to conform to the world’s standards. This is happening at an alarming rate in our present cultural and societal setting.

The apostle Paul, in his correspondence with believers in Rome, had much to say about this subject. Read carefully the following:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 12:1-2, NKJV

Paul uses two words to draw a sharp contrast for his readers: conformed and transformed. First, he cites the negative: Do not be conformed to this world. To be conformed to this world is to be forced into the mold of worldly attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and actions. I googled the word ‘conformity’ and the following definition/explanation was given:

Conformity is the tendency for an individual to align their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors with those of the people around them. It can take the form of overt social pressure or subtler, unconscious influence. Conformity denotes a wide-ranging phenomenon in which people (intentionally or unintentionally) shift their behavior or beliefs to fit in with a larger group.

Wow! Is this not an apt description of what we are seeing in our present cultural state? Are we not witnessing a mass movement in the direction of conformity to the cultural standards which are being accepted as ‘normal behavior’? Mainstream media celebrates and applauds lifestyles that are in direct contrast and opposition to the clear teachings of Scripture. This is something we would expect from non-believers, but it is not something that should be expected from followers of Jesus Christ. However, the trend is clear: Professing believers in Jesus Christ are becoming more and more conformed to cultural standards rather than being transformed by the renewing of their minds by the transformational teaching of the Word of God.

This trend has been steadily increasing for quite a while now, evidenced by the following excerpt from research done by Pew Research Center. The article is entitled, “Most US Christian Groups Grow More Accepting of Homosexuality”.

Acceptance of homosexuality is rising across the broad spectrum of American Christianity, including among members of churches that strongly oppose homosexual relationships as sinful… a majority of U.S. Christians (54%) now say that homosexuality should be accepted, rather than discouraged, by society… Among Christians, this trend is driven partly by younger church members, who are generally more accepting of homosexuality than their elder counterparts. 

Perhaps one reason younger church members are generally more accepting of homosexuality is because they are growing up in a cultural setting in which homosexual relationships are the norm of society. They see nothing wrong with it because it is so common.

But Paul says that we are not to be conformed to the world, but rather we are to be transformed by the renewing of our mind, bringing all under subjection to the teachings of the Bible. Our conformity is to be to God’s Word, not the ways of the world.

I respect anyone’s right to choose any lifestyle they prefer, but I refuse to be forced into conformity to those that are contrary to the clear teachings of Scripture. My desire is to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus Christ. I have a long way to go, but I choose to remain on the path of Biblical transformation rather than worldly conformity. And, I encourage all who profess to be followers of Jesus Christ to strive to have our minds transformed as we turn to the pages of Scripture for our understanding of God’s ways and will for us.

Blessings!

On the same day, when evening had come, He [Jesus] said to them, “Let us cross over to the other side.’ Now when they had left the multitude, they took Him along in the boat as He was. And other little boats were also with Him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that it was already filling. But He was in the stern, asleep on a pillow. And they awoke Him and said to Him, ‘Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?’

Mark 4:35-38, NKJV

How quickly things change! In a moment, in the blink of an eye, the unexpected happens. Plans made long ago are shattered. What had been an exciting and adventurous future is now altered irrevocably due to the unforeseen that has now crashed into our personal arena.

Can you imagine how the disciples must have felt? Jesus has instructed them to get into a boat and then sail to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. They did as He said, obediently following His instructions. Soon after the journey begins, Jesus, exhausted from the days activities, falls asleep.

It wasn’t long before the sailing vessel is being tossed about by the winds of a raging storm. These storms were quite common on the Sea of Galilee, so it was nothing that at least four of the disciples – Peter, Andrew, James and John – hadn’t experienced in the past. They were fishermen, after all, and would have known that such storms could come up without any forewarning. These four should have known what to do in order to maneuver the boat through the storm.

However, this storm must have been so violent that even these seasoned fishermen were in fear for their lives. So what do they do? They awaken Jesus! Four men who have been out in their fishing vessels many times, undoubtedly having had to maneuver their boat through stormy waters on previous occasions, awaken Jesus, a carpenter, because of their immense fear.

There are several lessons to be learned from this passage. First, it teaches us that storms in life can come at any time. We make our plans. Short-range plans; long-range plans; annual plans; retirement plans. We have everything mapped out to make sure our dreams are within reach. As the fulfillment of those plans draw closer, the excitement begins to build. But then, life happens. The unexpected occurs. Plans have to be discarded. Our peace is shattered with devastating news. The excitement of the coming adventure is replaced with the anxiety of the moment. Our peace is replaced with chaos.

Second, we learn from this story that when these storms arise even the strongest and stoutest are reduced to a state of fear and intimidation. Those four seasoned fishermen show us that these unexpected occurrences will bring us to our knees. Fear sets in; panic soon follows; a sense of total helplessness becomes the rule of the moment. We quickly forget the joy of the journey as the unexpected detour takes us down a path we neither planned nor wanted.

A third lesson is seen in the response of the disciples: they awaken Jesus. In one sense this is quite humorous, as these seasoned fishermen turn to a carpenter in their moment of panic. But in another sense, it is not humorous at all. These men, along with the others, are in fear of losing their lives due to the intensity of the storm. So, they turn to Jesus.

We don’t know exactly why they awaken Jesus. They go to Him and say, ‘Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing?’ In their state of frenzy and fear, they run to the Lord. At least they got this right: when our peace is replaced with chaos, our first response should be to run to Jesus.

One final lesson to be learned is that we can trust Jesus in the midst of the storm. Jesus rebuked the storm, causing it to immediately cease. The violent wind, and the crashing waves, stopped at Jesus’ command. The storm was not in control: Jesus was! No matter what the storm, or the intensity of the storm, or the sense of hopelessness and helplessness in the midst of the storm, the Lord is in control. So, Jesus rebuked the storm, and He rebuked the disciples for their fear of the storm.

This turned out to be a tremendous experience for the disciples, as they witnessed firsthand the astounding power of the Lord. No matter how overwhelming and insurmountable the storm may seem, He still has all things well in hand. There is peace in the midst of the storm.

What storm are you facing today? Does it have you engulfed in a sense of hopelessness? Has it consumed your every thought? Can you not see beyond the present moment of crisis, realizing that Jesus is in control? By faith, turn to Jesus. Even if it is just a little faith compelled by an enormous fear, turn to Jesus. And, by faith, look beyond the storm into the peace that will surely follow. That will get us through.

Shalom!

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

Ephesians 5:1-2, NKJV

Our lives influence others. Like it or not, you are someone’s role model. Someone is watching you, observing the way you conduct yourself, learning lessons from the life you are living. Thus the importance of striving to live as a good example for others to imitate.

Believers in Jesus Christ should be good role models for others to observe. Our lives should bear character traits which we have learned by following Christ. As we study the life of Jesus we begin to see clearly how all that He did was focused on glorifying His Father and striving to lead others to embrace the truth of His message of grace. He embodied behavioral patterns which showed clearly that His life was lived with purpose. So should ours.

The apostle Paul gave clear words of instruction on how to embody the same behavioral patterns as did Jesus. Reading on in the passage quoted above, he says:

But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.

Ephesians 5:3-7, NKJV

Sound words of instruction, and sobering words of warning! Not only does Paul teach that our lives should be good examples of Christlike behavior, but that lives lived in such a way as to disparage the name of Christ have no hope of eternal life in heaven with Christ.

The Bible makes it clear that once one has been born again into the family of God, his/her life should begin the process of becoming more and more conformed to the image of Christ. Again, turning to the words of Paul, we learn some key principles of making this a reality. Paul speaks of putting off and putting on. Listen carefully to his words.

But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:20-24, NKJV

Paul then follows this with specific examples of how to put off the old and put on the new (see Ephesians 5:25-32 for his wise counsel). The life of the believer should bear the family traits of being a child of God, not a child of the world. Before being saved by the glorious grace of God, my life bore the character traits of worldliness. After being born again into God’s family, my life began to take on the character traits of Jesus Christ. It has been an ongoing process that began on September 13, 1977, and continues to the present. It will continue until the day I am called from this life by way of death or the rapture.

Hopefully, when people see me now, they see more of Jesus in me than they did last year, or five years ago, or forty-six years ago. Hopefully, if they see me again next year, they will see still more of Jesus in me as I strive to put off the old and replace it with the new.

How about you? Have you embraced some worldly actions and attitudes that need to be discarded and replaced with Godly actions and attitudes? When you gaze into the mirror of God’s word, does your reflection depict true Godliness, or does it reveal worldly-mindedness which needs to be discarded and replaced? Are you living a lifestyle which is clearly denounced in Scripture? Are you engaged in relationships which are denounced by the Bible? Are you involved in activities which are clearly identified as sinful? Then it is time to put off the old, and put on the new. Then, and only then, will we be able to truly influence others in a Godly, Christ-honoring way.

Let me close with a reminder of some words spoken by Jesus Himself:

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16, NKJV

Let’s heed this strong word of admonition, and shine for Jesus.

Blessings!

A few days ago, I met a gentleman with whom I greeted with, “How are you doing?” At the time, I did not know that he was a citizen of another country who was visiting the United States for a few weeks. His response showed his confusion as to why I greeted him in such a way. He followed up my question with one of his own: “Why do you Americans greet each other with such a strange greeting?” I replied that it was just a customary greeting in the US – that it was our way of saying hello.

Since that conversation, I have given some serious thought to his question. I have come to realize that we really don’t want to know how the person we are greeting is doing, and, probably, if they started telling us how they were doing we would become a bit agitated that they were taking so much of our time.

I remember distinctly an occasion several years ago where I was asked that question. It had been an extremely stressful stretch for me, as I had officiated seven funerals in seven weeks – one each Wednesday for seven consecutive weeks. A few days after the last of those funerals I was visiting in the home of James and Billie Nelson, members of the church I was serving as pastor at the time. James was always such a source of encouragement for me. As we visited on that day, he asked that question, “How are you doing, pastor?” I responded with my pat answer: “I’m fine.”

However, on this particular occasion James was not satisfied with my response. He locked eyes with me, and said, “No, pastor. How are you really doing?” He was aware of the stressful stretch, and knew that I was probably experiencing the crushing weight of those seven funerals. It was there, in the Nelson’s living room, that I was able to release the pent-up stress, and literally cry on James’s shoulder.

There are times when we desperately need a shoulder to cry on, a strong arm to lean on. There may be the occasion when you ask the question, and someone responds by sharing the weight of the world that is crashing down on them. We may think to ourselves that we don’t have time to listen, but it is in those moments that we should allow God to use us as a source of encouragement for them. It may seem to be an infringement on our time, but it may be a source hope and help to someone in desperate need of a listening ear. They may not need, nor want, any advice. They may just need to unload.

Yes, most of the time people will know that our “How are you doing?” is simply our way of saying hello. But on those rare occasions in which someone responds by sharing with us their present state of struggle, let’s be sure to give them time to share. It may be the very thing that lifts them out of their stress.

So, how are you doing?

Blessings!

Have you stopped to think lately about all the gidgets and gadgets that you use every day – things that we, for the most part, take for granted? How many times a day do you look at your cell phone, or your computer, to check the latest email, or the last big news posted on social media? How many times do you flip that light switch, taking for granted that the moment the switch is moved to the “on” position you will instantly have light? How many times do you go to the refrigerator to grab a cool drink, or a quick snack, without giving thought to the convenience of having that appliance in your home? Or how about that automobile you get into, turn the key, and expect it to fire up so you can make it to your destination?

The list is veritably endless of the creature comforts we have grown accustomed to in this modern era. As a matter of fact, we think of most, if not all, of these as absolute necessities. We feel that we could not survive without them. Granted, it would be difficult to live life without many of these comforts, as we have become so accustomed to having them we can’t imagine being without them.

What about those who have lived in different periods of history. What about those who were born in a time in which the many modern conveniences we enjoy today had not yet been discovered, created, designed, and manufactured for use?

Jesus and His disciples lived in just such a time. He even stated at one time that the Son of man had no place to lay His head (see Luke 9:58). The comforts we enjoy, and take for granted, were non-existent in His day and time. As a matter of fact, many of the comforts we enjoy today have only been in existence for a relatively short period of time.

I, for one, am thankful for the many conveniences we enjoy and so often take for granted, I am so thankful for indoor plumbing, for electricity, for the many different types of heating systems to keep us warm in winter, and air conditioning to keep us cool in summer. I’m thankful for refrigeration so that we don’t have to go to the ice plant to purchase large blocks of ice to cool the “ice box”. I’m thankful for automobiles which zip us from one place to another, with the comfort of A/C and heat.

I may even think that I could not survive without all these modern conveniences. But history proves otherwise. All those who lived and died before the invention of these conveniences were able to survive without them, and so could we.

So, what’s the point of this blog? Simply this: to remind us of how blessed we are to have all of these modern creature comforts, and to encourage us to never take them for granted. God has given certain individuals the capacity to think of, and then to invent these amazing devices. We are the beneficiaries of their creative genius. But it is God who gave the wisdom and knowledge to these individuals. So, as we enjoy the usage of these many conveniences, let’s thank God for His giving these amazing abilities to those creative inventors, and for giving us the privilege and pleasure of enjoying them.

Then the Lord said to Moses, saying: “See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship.”

Exodus 31:1-5

Blessings!

We are created with the ability to repeat certain behaviors, actions, tasks, etc. We have the tremendous capacity to learn new skills and carry out new responsibilities which enables us to engage in jobs, careers, sports, etc. without having to be retrained each time we engage in that particular activity.

This ability vitally important in our day-to-day lives. It would be frustrating indeed if we had to be retrained each day to perform the same task. The amazing thing is that we need not have to be retrained over and over again, but we learn how to perform the task and then we do it every day, repeating the same actions that we have learned.

This affects all of life, from the most trivial to the most. We get out of bed and begin a series of actions that we have learned through repetition. My morning routine is certainly different than yours, but I do the same things every day as a matter of repetitive action. It is something so engrained in each of us that we do those things without even thinking about them. We actually take them for granted.

It’s like planning for a trip. If we are going to travel to a destination we have never been before, then we have to make sure that we have the route mapped out. This is certainly not as tedious a task as it once was, as we now have GPS systems, and navigational systems built into our automobiles. But even with that, we still have to be able to tell our GPS where to take us, and then we have to follow the directions. But if we have made the trip before, chances are we don’t need to rely so much on the navigational tools at our disposal.

For followers of Jesus Christ, it is imperative that we utilize this amazing ability by being habitually repetitive with certain actions and behaviors. The Christian disciplines – prayer, Bible study, Bible memorization, personal devotion, public worship, service, giving, just to name a few – should be practiced regularly and consistently. Our spiritual growth and development depends on us practicing these disciplines repetitively and habitually. In doing this we will continue to grow toward Christian maturity, until we become fully mature, being conformed to the image of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Growing in our Christian walk is not a mere suggestion in Scripture, but rather are expected of us. We are told to put off the old man, and replace it with the new man, made over in the image of God. We are to consistently put off those things that are displeasing to God, while replacing them with those behaviors that are pleasing to Him, and are consistent with the teachings of Scripture.

By being consistent with this, we begin to develop more and more a desire to do these things. They become part of our daily routine because we have repeated them over and over until we reach the point that we do them without thinking about it. It becomes who we are, not just an activity that we perform.

Our desire is to be more like Jesus with each passing day. Let’s make the commitment to do all that we can do to be like Him

Blessings.

Sometimes, oftentimes, the appearance of things can be so very deceiving. We may observe something, thinking it is one thing, and it turns out to be something far different than we thought. Appearances can cause us to believe something is real, and it proves to be nothing. It can be like heat rising off of hot pavement in the heat of summer. The appearance sometimes causes us to think that there is a puddle of water in the road ahead of us, but when we get there, no water is to be found. Appearances can be deceiving.

This must have been the way the disciples felt after the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Appearances would lead them to believe that all was lost. Their dreams, their hopes, their aspirations, had all been wrapped up in the belief that Jesus was the long-awaited Messiah. They were looking forward to the day that Jesus would go public with the announcement that He was now going to establish the kingdom. Israel would once again be a world power to be reckoned with. And they would be key figures in this newly established kingdom on earth.

But after the death and burial of their Leader, their hopes were dashed, their dreams were shattered, their aspirations were lost. All was lost. What would they do now? Where would they go? To whom would they turn? Jesus was dead. Would the same fate befall them?

Their darkness turned into distress, and their distress devolved into despair. Shaken, uncertain, fearful, perplexed, confused, bewildered – for three days they would remain in this state of shock. What must they have been discussing during those dark days? What plans were they now making? What actions would they now take? The appearance was that all was lost. Without Jesus, what could they possibly do now?

Have you been there? Have you experienced a life-altering event that, from all appearances, seemed to be insurmountable? Have you been in a situation that caused you to think all was lost? Have you been in that state of bewilderment, perplexity and confusion that seemed to be beyond all hope? Then the lesson learned by the disciples is a lesson we need to constantly be reminded of. Appearances can be so very deceiving.

The darkness of those days between the crucifixion and the resurrection were heart wrenching days for those men and women who had placed all hope in Jesus. But the light was about to shine. The tomb was about to be vacated. The dead was about to rise. The appearance of sure defeat was about to be replaced with the reality of a momentous victory.

Death could not hold Him. The tomb could not contain Him. Darkness could not overtake Him. Victory! Victory! Victory! Darkness is replaced with light. Despair is turned into rejoicing. Hopelessness is replaced with the reality of resurrection power.

What “appearance” has you in a state of bewilderment and perplexity today? Does all seem lost? Hopeless? Are you in a state of desperation? Then look to the empty tomb. Look to a risen Savior. Look to the One who has conquered death, hell and the grave. Look to Him who is in control of the circumstances, situations, and eventualities of life. Look beyond the “appearance” to the reality of ultimate victory in Jesus Christ. Let the power of His resurrection resonate in your heart, mind, soul and spirit. By faith, grasp the reality that lies just beyond the appearance.

I wish everyone a most blessed and wonderful Easter. Happy Resurrection Sunday!

Blessings!

Life is a journey. It takes us through many different twists and turns. Some are planned, while others are completely unexpected, random, and oftentimes catch us by surprise.

As we grow through the different stages of life, we are apt to get so caught up in pursuing our dreams, investing all of our time, energy, and resources into attaining our goals, that we lose the ability to enjoy special moments of life.

Please don’t misunderstand what I am saying. Goals are good. Making plans for the future is essential. Making wise investments in the pursuit of attaining those goals is certainly commendable and should be viewed as a worthwhile ambition. But we need to always be reminded that life does not always follow the path we have mapped out. Sometimes circumstances and situations arise that throw us completely off the path we have designed for ourselves.

So, what happens then? What do we do when life doesn’t go as planned? As I look back over my life, I see clearly those times when the path I had mapped out was dramatically altered due to unforeseen circumstances. I can now look back on those times and make observations as to how I reacted. Sometimes I think I did alright in adjusting to the changes, but other times I feel that I could have done a much better job in how I responded.

But, one thing stands out with stark clarity. I realize now – and oh how I wish I had realized this long ago – that I spent far too much time looking at the destination. I had the plan mapped out, and I knew where I wanted to go, what I wanted to be. And in doing that, I missed so much on the journey itself. I totally missed out on much pleasure and enjoyable moments in the present because I was so focused on the distant future. I was so focused on reaching the destination that I lost sight of the enjoyment I could have experienced along the way.

We have all heard the adage, “Stop and smell the roses.” But life is so busy – so many demands and deadlines as we strive to reach our destination – that we pass by those simple pleasures of life. I am now 71 years old, and as I look back I realize the enormity of missed opportunities to stop and smell those beautiful flowers.

I missed so many special moments in the lives of my three children because I was so focused on reaching my destination. I missed so many special moments with my wife because my ambitions and goals far too often took precedence. I think of times when we were going to get away for a few days. The destination was my focus, and I was not interested in any side trips along the way. Now, as I think back on those trips, I have regret that I did not listen to the requests of my wife and children to take a little side trip to a point of interest. But we didn’t have time! We had to reach the destination. Nothing could interfere with reaching our goal.

I am trying to change. I am trying to slow down. I am trying to stop on occasion and smell the roses. I want to enjoy the journey. Perhaps the arrival at my destination will be postponed a bit. Perhaps it may take a bit longer to get there. Perhaps there will be some delays and detours. Instead of becoming irritated about those delays, I want to take them as an opportunity to see something I might have missed had I been able to follow the mapped out route I had worked so tediously on.

Life is short. I have seen so many get to the end of their journey with sorrow and remorse over the fact that they missed out on so much because they were driven to reach their destination. And now, having reached it, they are left with a sense of emptiness because of what they missed, rather than a sense of celebration because they reached their goal.

Let’s enjoy our journey, taking advantage of every opportunity to stop momentarily and smell the roses. The trip will be far more enjoyable.

Blessings!

Wow! It seems like it has been so long since I last logged on to WordPress with the intent of writing a new blog. And actually, it has been a while since you have last heard from me in this blog post. For that I apologize, and ask that you be patient with me in getting back into the blogging saddle.

This brief blog is just to fill you in on what has been happening, and why I have been absent from the blogging world for several weeks. My wife, Teresa, has been experiencing some health issues in the past couple of months that has kept me pretty occupied with caring for her. She has been hospitalized twice, for two entirely different health issues, which have diverted my attention. Thankfully, she has recuperated from both of these issues and is well on the way to full recovery. Many of you have known about her health problems and have been praying for her healing. For that we are truly and sincerely grateful.

So, now I am ready to begin sharing a weekly blog and hope that you will continue being faithful in reading and responding to my thoughts. So many of you have been faithful in following my blog, and I am truly humbled by that fact. I always appreciate your comments and responses to my thoughts, and my prayer is that God uses each of them for His glory. That is the reason for my writing. I want God to use me for His glory, and to exalt His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

With that said, I will have an entry ready for publication this week, and hopefully will publish at least one per week as we move forward. I would remind each of you that I would appreciate any suggestions you might have for upcoming blogs, and that I am greatly thankful for responses you make to my thoughts. Even if you should disagree completely with my perspective in any of my blogs, I appreciate your sharing those thoughts with me.

Again, thanks for your faithfulness in reading and sharing my blogs in the past, and I thank you in advance for continuing to be an active follower of my writings.

Blessings!