Ecclesiastes 12:10

  Dad always used to say “Can’t never could do nothing”. I know that isn’t grammatically correct but it is correct when it comes to life.   If we think it can’t be done, we prove it so even if it wasn’t true to begin with. However, it isn’t just can’t that will kill our efforts, it is our effort.   I can’t tell you how many times I have seen a good idea or project die a painful death not because it was a bad idea or a misguided plan but because the people wouldn’t go along with it enough to make it work. Often the lack of energy comes from those that know the thing is good but don’t want the thing. So rather than oppose with reason they undermine with laziness.   But good things often only come with effort and enthusiasm.  Success isn’t about just doing something; it is about doing it with enough zeal to make sure it gets done who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealou...

  It's a time of year when phrases like peace on earth and goodwill to man are thrown about. Yet it is also a time when we overbuy and stress out. A time that reminds us of a once common belief yet also seems to be a time to fight over beliefs. A time of hope and charity but also a time of indulgence and materialism.   The Bible gives us no command to celebrate a certain date as the birth of Jesus. The time people pick doesn’t seem to be close to the indicators we have in the account of his birth. Most of the details of the story get confused and mistaken by the masses.   Yet as one elder told me long ago, “At least they are taking the time to consider Jesus”.   That’s really what makes this time of year special. The more we do consider Jesus the more it drives us to good and loving things. Jesus’ example does make us long for peace, not only between men but also between God and man. His message tells us how much better of a place this is when we love ...

  As Dave Carrol was getting to his seat on the plane, he overheard one of the passengers exclaim that “the baggage handlers were literally out there throwing guitars”. This worried Dave since he and his band were musicians traveling to a gig and they had just checked their guitars.   Sure enough, when he picked up his baggage, his guitar was damaged beyond repair. He was of course upset and tried to get the airline to fix its mistake. Yet, like many companies in our time, they didn’t seem to care much about customer service. After spending months trying to get them to pay for the damaged equipment, the airline only said they you give him a $1500 voucher rather than pay for the $3500 guitar. Except they would do that either because they said Dave had made the claim incorrectly.   So, what could a musician do about it?  He wrote a song about it. His ballad United Breaks Guitars was a catch little ditty about his poor experience with the airline. The song went v...

  If the band is out of tune, you’re going to notice. When the singer is off-key, it catches your attention. When the tires are unbalanced, you will feel it in your spine. When the harmony of anything is off, people can tell.   That is why scripture tells us to live in harmony with one another (Romans 12:16). If there is discord among brethren it won’t just be seen by us.   So how do we avoid it?   Notice what that passage tells us: Don’t Be Haughty – If we think of ourselves as best, it’s hard to ever think of others. Associate with the Lowly – If we don’t spend time with others, it’s hard to figure out to get along. It’s easy to judge from a distance. Don’t Be Wise In Your Own Estimation – If we think we are right all the time, we are not. Others have valid viewpoints we need to consider.   Living in harmony with others starts not with fixing everyone else but with fixing ourselves. The Scripture commands us to have a unity of ...