Posts Tagged ‘Love’
Love that confronts
I don’t want to hurt anyone. I’ve experienced my fair share of pain, especially during my younger years. It’s not a pleasant feeling. Therefore, I naturally strive to avoid adding to someone’s suffering. However, I must address a question: “Is it always possible to avoid causing pain?” The answer is no. There are instances when…
Read MoreConsistency reflects character
Billy Graham said many profound things, but among them was this statement, “When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost.” Why is it that character plays such a huge part in leadership? Character is fundamental to effective leadership because good character builds…
Read MoreAnother “love” blogpost
I blog a lot about love. Love “makes the world go around,” right? Theologically, many believe that it is the primary attribute of God. Love is the “sriracha” sauce of healthy relationships. Hopefully, the love you demonstrate is reciprocal. But what if your love isn’t returned? When a parent ignores their own children. When a…
Read MoreDemonstration of true love
This morning, I experienced something indescribable. I can narrate the scene, but I struggle to convey its profound impact on me. I was working on my computer at McDonald’s (yes, I can work there!). An older couple entered and placed their order. They moved with a slow, hesitant gait. They settled into the booth next…
Read MoreTrue Community
Romans 13:2 “Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.” Those who make peaceful revolution impossible, make violent revolution inevitable. John F. Kennedy Community is not just a “buzz word” of our day; it’s how God designed us to live, “in community.” Now there are different…
Read MorePublic shaming
Public shaming is not just something that happened “way back then.” It’s alive and well in our world. Some versions of Sharia law in Islamic societies require that married or divorced persons found guilty of Zina (adultery) be executed by stoning. Countries that are predominantly Muslim or that have a large minority of Muslims vary…
Read MoreDaily sacrifices
John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” In the last few years, I’ve become a book guy. What I’ve found is that the more you read, the more you appreciate language. Our English language is remarkable. Creatives far more talented than I have…
Read MoreGod’s masterpieces
“Jesus was able to love because he loved right through the layer of mud.” “Tell me how much you know of the sufferings of your fellow man and I will tell you how much you have loved them.” Helmut Thielicke was a German Theologian, pastor, and author. He saw the atrocities of Nazi Germany first…
Read MoreYour greatest enemy
Pride is your greatest enemy, humility is your greatest friend. John R.W. Stott “In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that…
Read MoreReputation
By this time, a lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently. Luke 15:1 The Message Here’s a brief definition of “reputation” according to dictionary.com. “The estimation in which a person or thing is held, especially by the community or the public generally; a good name.” So, if people…
Read MoreDon’t you just love kids?
One day, children were brought to Jesus in the hope that he would lay hands on them and pray over them. The disciples shooed them off. But Jesus intervened: “Let the children alone, don’t prevent them from coming to me. God’s kingdom is made up of people like these.” After laying hands on them, he…
Read MoreIt’s right in front of your nose!
Observation is a lost art. I’m always fascinated by the life of Sherlock Holmes, either reading or watching some version of Sherlock Holmes investigating a crime. The fascinating part is his uncanny ability to see what other people can’t see. It’s called the power of deduction. I especially love how the great detective can tell…
Read MoreHospitals
Hospitals are unique. I’m not talking about the building, but the environment, the people, and the stories written on the faces of patients and visitors alike. Few people I know want to spend any more time than necessary there except for medical folks or hospital shareholders 😀. I’ve observed that this place tends to bring…
Read MoreIdioms
Language fascinates me. It’s my understanding that every language has something called idioms as part of its vocabulary. It’s an expression referring to a group of words with a figurative, non-literal meaning which can’t be understood by looking at its individual words. Here’s an example. Give someone food for thought. Now you understand you are not…
Read MoreExtending forgiveness
There are lots of things that help relationships. Good communication. Clarity concerning roles. Kindness always helps. But I believe the single greatest item in your relational toolbox is forgiveness. You already know what it feels like to receive it. But, are you aware of the power it has in your life when you extend it…
Read MoreI love my wife
I love my wife with all of my heart. She is the most important person in my life, and I cherish her and every moment I spend with her. Cherishing your spouse is a learned skill as well as a needed component of a successful marriage. Dictionary.com defines “cherish” as “to treasure, to care for,…
Read MoreWithout hope nothing works
Without hope, nothing works, at least in the “long term.” Dale Carnegie once said,”Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” One of the primary, central themes of the Bible is hope. The need for hope…
Read MoreMy dog died today
My dog died today. There’s not a person in my world who can’t relate with me on some level. Why so much pain? My little dog wasn’t human, so what’s the deal? Why am I feeling such loss? The simple answer is grief. The Bible speaks often and significantly to the grief we all experience.…
Read MoreI’m especially fond of you!
“I’m especially fond of you.” That’s a quote from the 2007 novel “The Shack” by William P. Young. The main character is Mackenzie Phillips and four years prior to the setting of the book, one of his children is abducted and killed while on a family camping trip. It turned him bitter at life and…
Read MoreTalk is cheap
How do you show your love for somebody? That’s a fair question. Now I’m not just talking about your boyfriend or girlfriend per se. In fact, let me rephrase the question. How do you show your love to anybody? As I ponder the question, there are several things that come to mind. It’s not just…
Read MoreSign language
Nothing too profound today, but I write this blog today at an outdoor coffee shop. Lots of people deep in conversations. But one girl at a table got my attention. She was making a ZOOM call on her computer. The interesting thing was she was deaf and she was not talking but using sign language.…
Read MoreUnreturned love
I blog a lot about love. Love “makes the world go around,” right? Theologically, many believe that it is the primary attribute of God. Love is the “sriracha” sauce of healthy relationships. Hopefully, the love you demonstrate is reciprocal. But what if your love isn’t returned? When a parent ignores their own children. When a…
Read MoreGood question
Great quote from Malcolm Forbes, “One who never asks either knows everything or nothing.” It’s interesting to me that Jesus was asked a bunch of questions from a variety of people. “By what authority are you doing these things?” “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Who is my neighbor?” But when asked in Matthew…
Read MoreHurt by somebody
I’m upset. Things aren’t turning out the way I had hoped for. It’s thrown off my equilibrium. I was put on indefinite hold. As I’m writing this blog, I’m on the phone trying to reason with a computer. Can you relate? Of course, you can. This is the standard operating procedure in our world of…
Read MoreLoving the mundane
Love should be experienced. Let me explain. We can say we love a job. What does that mean? I believe it has to do with the joy you receive from the work you do as well as the passion you have for engaging in it. Without love, life is rather mundane. Jennifer Williamson once said,…
Read MoreNaive faith
I heard an amazing testimony of faith the other day. This extraordinary leader came to believe in Jesus when he was at his absolute lowest point in life. Addicted and broken, he entered into a real relationship with Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Things changed…some quickly…some not so much. He grew in his faith…
Read MoreServant leadership
There is a paradox found in the Bible regarding leadership. To be a good leader, you need to be a servant. That’s certainly counter-intuitive especially in the workplace culture of today. But look at what Mark records: And Jesus called them to him and said to them, “You know that those who are considered rulers…
Read MoreChanged life
Love those who can’t love you back. I think that statement encapsulates the very heart of a changed life. There are many definitions and examples of how Jesus changes our life. A tax collector named Zacchaeus paid people back 4 times what he stole from them. God changed Rahab’s identity from a prostitute to a…
Read MoreLoving well
TIME magazine, February 23, 2015, makes an intriguing statement “research shows married couples enjoy greater longevity than singles.” That report makes “’til death do us part” even more of a commitment. Married couples have been found to have lower rates of substance abuse, lower blood pressure, and less depression than singles. Even though the study is a few…
Read MoreInsurance policy
Life insurance is a basic need. At least that what an op-ed in The Economic Times March 30, 2011, says. It’s the first step in financial planning. In a way, all investments are insurance against financial risk and all insurance is an investment for a better tomorrow, If you’re sitting in your easy chair any…
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