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The music from the 1960’s and 1970’s was some of the best ever written and produced. James Bond is always cool. Men wear white shirts after 5:00, and thank God the disco-era clothes didn’t last! But there are some intangibles that never go out of style. Kindness is always welcome. So is meekness. Meekness gets a bad rap. People believe a meek person is weak. Far from it. Meekness means “strength…

This week in Texas, a young man named Karmelo Anthony was found guilty of murder. His defense attorney called it self defense, but his case was very thin. The jury sentenced Anthony to 35 years in prison. He could have gotten 99. What started as a scuffle between two high school kids escalated when Anthony pulled a knife from his backpack and stabbed Austin Metcalf. It didn’t have to happen. I’m…

Objective journalism died with Walter Cronkite. No one has been able to take his place. But even in the days just after Cronkite, the news media was more respectful than they are today. For an example, watch the final interview with Ronald Reagan in the Oval Office, conducted by Tom Brokaw. The news is even harder to tolerate because they aren’t always truthful. They report what they want us to…

For the next few days, I’m in Washington, DC. This city stirs something in me. Although the United States is a relatively young country, we are rich with history. Today I will be visiting the National Archives, home of the Constitution, Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence. These are the documents this unique country stands on. From there, on to the American History Museum, the…

For as long as I can remember, I have been a grateful man. This isn’t to suggest I haven’t been through some difficult times. There have been some, but I refused to give in to any anger or resentment. Those things will destroy you from within. Actively practicing gratitude changes the biochemistry of your brain. You begin to see the world through a bigger, more beautiful lens. But this comes at…

Recently, I had a podcast interview scheduled but the guest backed out at the last minute. From what I’ve observed since, this may have been a good thing. The person I’m talking about here posts multiple times per day on her social media. This started a couple of months after she cancelled. Her posts have a common theme, herself. There’s nothing wrong with that, it just strikes me as a little…

Is it just me or, or have you noticed more and more inaccurate information on the internet? People make stuff up and broadcast it to the masses. And there are some who never question anything. I’m skeptical by nature. This comes from having a scientific brain. Asking if something is true or not shouldn’t have to happen as often as it does nowadays. Politicians certainly do it. We have a guy…

As awe-inspiring as Artificial Intelligence is, it will never take the place of human connection. We are hardwired to be with other people. We want this in our casual conversations, too. Ask yourself, when contacting customer service, would you rather talk to a chat bot or a real person? All of us have a thousand acquaintances. But how do you move from the surface to knowing others at a deeper,…

In the Bible, we are instructed to “walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). When you stop to consider it, we are doing this every day. Atheists are doing it, too! Most of life is routine. You might even say life is predictable. But is it? If you have had an unanticipated event happen, then you know that sometimes things go awry and our said routine is disrupted. But the unknowns are…

Every year companies put on awards ceremonies to recognize their most productive employees. These are wonderful celebrations and a tribute to their hard work and commitment. I’m all for these. Everyone wants to be seen, heard and understood. This is universal. With over 8 billion people in the world, not everyone will get the opportunity to know each of us individually. Even if you achieve…

There are times you have to fight. When you witness someone harming or misleading a child, you must step in to protect the most vulnerable among us. We are in an invisible war. We have been since the beginning of time as we measure it. Just because we can’t see the fight doesn’t mean it’s less real. We can’t see gravity, either, but we know it works. Angels are God’s messengers who protect us…

Yesterday I went on a long walk. For some reason, probably laziness, I didn’t stretch before or after my walk. This morning my hamstrings are tight, reminding me to stretch next time. Our bodies give us clear signals. But I want to address a different type of stretching: stretching our faith. In yesterday’s column I wrote about my experience with tithing. Tithing stretched my faith which means I…

Some people get uncomfortable when we talk about tithing. I understand. People hold on tightly to their money. I’m careful with mine, too. Several years ago, due to my own irresponsibility (and stupidity), I found myself in serious financial trouble. There was no quick fix. In that moment I wasn’t certain there was a way to solve my problem. Then I remembered something from Scripture. In The…

The recurring theme throughout the Bible is that God wants the heart of man. He gives us free will to love and worship Him. It’s never forced upon us. It’s our choice. There has been a trend over the last twenty years or so. People refer to themselves as “spiritual but not religious.” That’s a safety net because people don’t know God, really know Him. Many believe if they start to get to know…

Since 1997 I have driven a Lexus. It occurred to me this morning as I brought my car in for service, that the level of customer service I receive has never wavered. It has consistently been a pleasant experience. It all comes down to hiring the right people. Customer service has become an oxymoron. Slow, sloppy service is a serious turnoff. While I understand the person waiting on me might be…

Some people return to church after something goes wrong in their lives. This tells me two things: 1) They believe in a Deity; and 2) They believe He can do something about their situation. For many, this reunion is the beginning of God reaching them in a deeper way. But there have been those who were manipulated by the people they sought help from. Someone in a weakened, vulnerable position is…

You know how actions speak louder than words. Empty words are no more than giving lip service to a cause or belief. There’s no heart in it. What do you believe in? I mean really believe in. If you say you care for your fellow man then show it. If you have children and you love them, show them by spending time with them, not showering them with gifts. We spell love T. I. M. E. Our time is our…