I’ll say it right up front. I’m for it. I believe it’s good to encourage yourself. Just as it’s good to encourage others. So, don’t misinterpret what I say about the following “psychological” advice. Because it’s easy to encourage yourself into selfishness. Here’s a definition of selfish, right out of (gasp!) a dictionary: lacking consideration for others; concerned chiefly with one’s own personal profit … The rest of the story…
Category Archives: Faith Hope and Love
Rest in peace. Three simple words. And probably a large percentage of people who say those words actually mean them. In other words, they aren’t just something to blurt out without any thought of the meaning. But there’s also a large percentage of people who just speak the words. Because it’s crucial to rest in peace before you die. Otherwise, you might spend an … The rest of the story…
Shh. Be quiet for a sec. Do you hear that? Yeah, there it is again. It’s getting louder. And it’s definitely Monday morning music. Wow. How cool is that?! Here it is, the second Monday of September 2024, and there’s music in the air. Literally and figuratively. Just in case you haven’t had your favorite wake-up beverage, yet, and your ears aren’t tuned in … The rest of the story…
Jimmy Buffet sang about how changes in latitude could maybe help with this problem. Hank Williams Jr wrote about it from another perspective. “It was an attitude adjustment, I guess it was his first time. An attitude adjustment, now he understands just fine.” Have you ever dealt with someone who needed an attitude adjustment? And was it because they seemed to have that kind … The rest of the story…
I write, with sincere care, about how much I want you to live in paradise forever. Because your Creator wants me to do that because HE wants you there. But my daily flashes of light from the power of God’s love aren’t seen as care or love by most people. Because most people don’t even recognize sincere care anymore. That shouldn’t come as any … The rest of the story…
I have hope within. But not for cliché things like “world peace” or “random acts of kindness” or how we can all “coexist.” No, my hope is for the Creator God of the universe to one day return to earth and put an end to our human selfishness. And this hope flows to and from my soul and spirit because of the Truth. And … The rest of the story…
“Who is creating the conditions for people to find hope and possibility?” That was a question Seth Godin posed to the person who interviewed him for her podcast audience. The two of them were talking about AI (for those of you who’ve been living in an underground bunker, that stands for artificial intelligence). And he mentioned how it can replace mediocre tasks and people. … The rest of the story…
Maybe you’re familiar with the expression, “It was a real red letter day.” But just in case you’re not, maybe you’ll find this next part interesting. Current usage of “red letter day” is like decaf coffee. You get the flavor. But none of the oomph. One language origins site describes current usage like this: “In modern usage, a red letter day is often associated … The rest of the story…
Over ten years ago I wrote about what it takes to be a healthy, happy human. And I said, “First, you have to be a human. Next, you need to be healthy and happy.” Sounds sensible enough. Right? And I added some suggestions for getting outside to soak in some fresh air and sunshine. Doesn’t take much but consistency. And fresh air and sunshine … The rest of the story…
Finnar and Sami were what you might call “fast friends.” Well, I certainly would anyway. Because that’s an old and established way to describe a solid friendship built on mutual trust. And only a solid friendship could have done what they did. Keep in mind, now, every word you’re about to read is based on hand-me-down information. So, you know what that means. Yep. … The rest of the story…
I remember learning the Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep prayer way before I “went to school.” Naturally, I didn’t get the full meaning of it, at the time. Because I was a little kid. I just loved the sound of the rhyme. “Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep.” Did you ever learn that … The rest of the story…
According to some information I read, recently, Christian books for kids are supposed to “beautifully blend faith, morals, and storytelling.” And that should help provide “essential tools for young readers’ spiritual and moral growth.” And apparently Christian books for kids come in various genres. Because the variety helps children “enjoy and grasp the content appropriate to their developmental stage.” So, here are some types … The rest of the story…
Elgielene and I buy frozen blueberries. And we don’t thaw them out. Just thought I’d share that with you. Ha! No, I brought it up for a reason. And not because she says the frozen blueberries are like tiny, round popsicles. I mentioned them because they remind me of a frozen embryo story I wrote about. You know a frozen embryo is a human … The rest of the story…
What if you were the only person on earth? Kinda spooky to think about isn’t it? It might make you think of movies about the last survivors on the planet. And what an awful place it would be. And that totally makes sense. Because it would be an awful place if you were all alone. You might not have to fight off zombies like … The rest of the story…
“I remember when you were only knee high to a grasshopper.” Did you ever go to a family reunion, when you were a kid, and hear that? I sure did. And I remember how the wacky grownups, who told me that, were also the ones who made sure there was plenty of good food and fun to be had. We’d eat fried chicken, ham … The rest of the story…
It’s what selfish people do. And, for some, it’s almost like they wouldn’t tell the truth even if it sounded better. Yeah, selfish people lie. They have to lie to make themselves look and feel better than everybody around them. And they spread lies about other people to try and make those other people look bad to their friends. Then they get so used … The rest of the story…
Gonna talk about truth and mercy right now. So, get ready to take some mental notes. Yeah, put away those silly tablets and other writing accoutrement. Because I don’t want your brain distracted by an urgent need to jot notes. The value of truth and mercy is too important to miss. So, before I go any further, I know your brain is already distracted … The rest of the story…
And should you trust your gut? Search the internet and you’ll find plenty of books and articles about the power of intuition. Some say it’s real. Some say it isn’t. Others say it’s psychological. And still others say the research is up for grabs. But one thing’s for sure. The power of intuition isn’t in your actual gut. I’m sure you know the gut … The rest of the story…
I wield my superpower from a secret desk, behind a sonic curtain, high above the world, in my Blueberry Tower. And I focus this intense power on little minds of mush. So… Hide your kids. Or at least cover their ears. Unless you’re willing to let them be controlled by my superpower. Because I can activate their different brain lobes all at the same … The rest of the story…
Cow secretions and bee vomit. Yum, yum. I don’t know about you, but I’ll be goin’ back for seconds. Oh yeah! But first, here’s my desire as I share a little something with you today: Let my teaching drop as the rain, My speech distill as the dew, As raindrops on the tender herb, And as showers on the grass. I can’t (and don’t) … The rest of the story…