The people's voice of reason
The people's voice of reason
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Several years ago, I took my daughter on a medical mission trip to southern Zimbabwe. Ciara had just graduated from high school and was about to begin nursing school. We were working with our ministry partners there, Saving Safaris; while I helped with drilling wells and renovating schools, Ciara worked in medical clinics fitting people with glasses and volunteering at Mutare Provincial, a Methodist mission hospital that has been around for decades. It was a wonderful time with my girl, who seal...
In my life journey, I have discovered that attitudes and opportunities go hand in hand! We must seek to keep a good attitude in the midst of life’s ups and downs so that we can actually recognize opportunities when they appear. I like the attitude of the young lieutenant in this story: After World War II, a general and his young lieutenant boarded a train in England. The only seats left were across from a beautiful young lady and her grandmother. The general and the lieutenant sat facing the w...
I think one of my favorite U.S. Presidents would have to be Teddy Roosevelt. He was so full of life and accomplished a great deal. “The Man in the Arena” is also one of my favorite quotes: It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again a...
The two biggest land deals in U.S. history almost never happened and many critics thought at the time that they were two of the worst mistakes in American history. How wrong the critics were…. The real estate industry may see some large land deals these days such as the $2 billion Antilla building in Mumbai or the 105,000 square foot mega mansion in Los Angeles known as “The One” which recently listed for $295 million and is the most expensive listing in the U.S. right now. But these pale in co...
When I was in seminary I served as the Volunteers in Mission Coordinator for all the United Methodist volunteer mission teams that came to serve with the Methodist Church of Mexico. I served directly under Methodist Bishop Alejandro Ruiz who was the Bishop of the Central Conference of the Methodist Church of Mexico. My territory included all of central and southern Mexico so I traveled with teams extensively in this region of this beautiful country. On one my journeys I went to visit the...
Here are three of my favorite reflections taken from my book: Perceptions, Collection of Favorites, Volume 2. Complain, Complain A certain monastery enforced a vow of silence. Each monk could utter only two words every five years, and those two words had to be spoken in the presence of the abbot. One of the monks, when given his opportunity to speak, said, "Bad food!" Five years later, his two words were, "Bed hard!" When given his third opportunity to speak five years later, he said, "I quit!"...
John Wesley, who founded the Methodist movement back in the 1700s, impacted the world and the church in ways that many people, even Christians, don’t really understand. Most haven’t a clue who John Wesley was, and many Christians have no idea the influence that his teachings, his thoughts, and his writings still have upon the church today. The Methodist movement later became the Methodist church and the Wesleyan churches around the world, but Wesley’s influence was far greater than just the M...
Courage is defined as “the ability to control fear and to be willing to deal with and face something that is dangerous, difficult or unpleasant.” Another source defines courage as “the quality of being brave: the ability to face danger, difficulty, uncertainty, or pain without being overcome by fear or being deflected from a chosen course of action.” This certainly describes Jesus Christ, especially during Holy Week as he faced the brutality of the Roman form of execution on a wooden cross....
1. Speak to people. There is nothing as nice as a cheerful word or greeting. 2. Smile at people. It takes seventy-two muscles to frown, only fourteen to smile. 3. Call people by name. The sweetest music to anyone’s ears is the sound of his or her own name. 4. Be friendly and helpful. 5. Be cordial. Let’s speak and act as though we are grateful people. 6. Be genuinely interested in people. If we try, we can like almost everyone. 7. Be generous with praise – cautious with criticism. 8. Be consi...
On January 10, 2022, Georgia finally won the NCAA College Football Playoff by beating the University of Alabama in the National College Football Championship game. They are now the undisputed National Champions. Stetson Bennett, the Georgia Quarterback, was named the Offensive MVP of the Championship Game. Bennett is 23 years old and was a walk-on to the Georgia Football Team in 2017. He is 5-foot 11˝˙'´, 175 pounds. Not very big for an SEC QB. But he had had a dream since he was a kid. He dr...
Get Outside I recently read that the average person spends 93% of their life indoors! Wow! That is unbelievable. And sad. That means that if you live to be 100 years old, you will have spent 93 of those years indoors and only 7 years in God’s amazing and beautiful creation. God created us to be outside and to enjoy His creation. Our souls need it. Our bodies need it. Our minds need it. In the 23rd Psalm we witness one of the most important ways God soothes our souls, “He makes me lie down in...
John’s version of the Christmas story begins like this: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that was made. ... The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us.” – John 1:1-3, 14 The Word, as referred to here, in the Greek language is Logos. The Logos is the Word, reason or plan. In Ancient Greek philosophy and early Christian theology the Logos is the...
“The wise can see where they are going, but fools walk in the dark.” Ecclesiastes 2:14 “For the evil person has no future; the lamp of the wicked will be put out.” Proverbs 24:20 In his bestselling book, Necessary Endings, Dr Henry Cloud explains to us that there are three kinds of people: the wise, the foolish and the evil. One of the most memorable talks I have ever heard and actually remembered was Dr Clouds talk on this same subject. I have found this to be some of the most helpful advice...
A young boy was the key witness in an important lawsuit. The attorney had put the boy through a rigorous cross-examination and had been unable to shake his concise, damaging testimony. He had given clear answers to all questions. In a stern voice, the attorney asked, “Your father has been telling you how to testify, hasn’t he?” “Yes,” said the boy. “Now,” said the attorney with smug satisfaction, “just tell us what your father told you to say.” “Well,” replied the boy, “My father told me that th...
Where were you when the world stopped turning on that September day? Were you in the yard with your wife and children Or working on some stage in L.A.? Did you stand there in shock At the sight of that black smoke Risin’ against that blue sky? Did you shout out in anger In fear for your neighbor Or did you just sit down and cry? Did you weep for the children who lost their dear loved ones Pray for the ones who don’t know? Did you rejoice for the people who walked from the rubble And sob for the...
Only four people ever successfully escaped to freedom from the federal prison on Alcatraz Island. The following story is an excerpt from my book, Free For All, which explores the different ways we can experience God’s amazing grace. It is only by God’s grace that we can be truly free! Alcatraz Island sits in the middle of San Francisco Bay, surrounded by almost two miles of turbulent and treacherous water. For nearly one hundred years, the island housed a prison, and the place earned the nic...
Can you name the person that Life magazine named the number one man of the past millennium? He had over 1,000 inventions and held more patents than any other person in the world – at least one every year for 65 consecutive years. Are any lights coming on? You guessed it – his name is Thomas Edison. We should give thanks for his genius every time we turn on a light or listen to recorded music! Thomas Edison also said some remarkable things: “Genius,” he declared, “is 99% perspiration and 1% in...
At 29,035 feet, Mount Everest is one of the most inhospitable places on earth. Everest is very remote and the altitude incapacitates all but the hardiest and most experienced climbers. On top of that the weather is ruthlessly unforgiving and extreme. Because Everest is the highest mountain in the world, many have tried to summit the great peak. Between 1920 and 1952, seven major expeditions tried to summit Mount Everest and all of them failed. In fact, the mountain is littered with at least 120...
Would you take 3 simple steps to discover who God created you to be? Sounds too easy? Maybe. Maybe not. Try taking the steps and see for yourself! I learned these 3 steps and started trying to practice them years ago when I first read a little book by John Maxwell entitled, Think On These Things. I share them now with you. Step 1: Discover Your Potential I love the story of a young farm boy whose father raised chickens in the mountains of Colorado. One day the adventuresome boy climbed a high pl...
Ash Wednesday. Lent. Palm Sunday. Maundy Thursday. Good Friday. Easter. The Season of Lent and Easter are full of strange names and words that many people do not understand. I have found that a great many people do not know the meaning and significance of these “Churchy” words and Holidays in the Season of Lent and Easter. In fact, most people probably don’t know that the word “holiday” comes from the old English word “Haligdaeg” which literally means “Holy Day.” So, let’s see if we can help...
I’m writing this article from a deer stand as I look out into the woods and onto a small green field on a beautiful and sunny winter day! I love deer hunting, and I just love being in the woods! There is something about men and women hunting and the connection many of us have with the wilderness. Now I know a lot of women who love the woods, too, and I know a few that love to hunt as well. My wife, Janeese Spencer, doesn’t like to hunt, but she has a very special appreciation for God’s creat...
MOST OF US ARE READY FOR AND EXCITED ABOUT THE ARRIVAL OF 2021, AND MOST OF US ARE GLAD TO BE PUTTING 2020 IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR, RIGHT? Everyone I know is anxious to return to some semblance of normalcy, and it is tempting to look toward 2021 as the cure for all our problems related to this past year. But as much as I and many others want to do just that … it might be a big mistake! Now, I view myself as a very positive leader. One of my favorite quotes is this: * A pessimist complains about t...
In this season of Giving, may you discover that Generosity is Good for You! Generous people discover something about giving that selfish people will never understand. What is it you may ask? Generous people discover 7 reasons why generosity is good for you: 1) It guarantees that your priorities are served. Think about it – you can’t always spend your time on your priorities, but your gifts can see to it that the work you deeply believe in goes on. 2) It breaks the hold of selfishness. In every o...
Civility is formal politeness in behavior and speech! Civility comes from the Latin word “civis” which means “citizen”. So, civility is civilized conduct. The Bible actually has a lot to say about civility. “Treat others the way you want to be treated.” - Jesus, Luke 6:31 “Let your conversations be always full of grace and seasoned with salt.” - Paul, Colossians 4:6 “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” - James, James 1:19 Well, I think it is safe to...
Political discord. Civil unrest. Violence in the streets. Toxic division. Ugly accusations. Harmful words. In the minds of many, these words define the state of our wonderful country right now! The lack of respect and civility in our country in recent months and years is very alarming and downright scary to me! It is a red flag waving in the wind for us as Americans, and we should tread very carefully in determining how we as a people in these great United States Of America will personally...