Peace by Choice

Peace is an everyday challenge. It’s often hard to feel calm or safe when so many things happen over which we have no control. Peace exists both on the outside, in the world around us, and on the inside, as reflected in our feelings and emotions.

The world can cover up anxiety and postpone worry, but it’s a temporary fix. Jesus can calm the waves of anxiety and winds of worry that come and go unbidden. Here’s a good example.

The disciples were frightened by a mighty windstorm that threatened their boat on the Sea of Galilee. Jesus was sleeping in the stern, so they shouted, “Wake up! Don’t you care that we’re going to drown?” Jesus got up and said to the winds, “Be still,” and the winds died down. You can read about it in Mark 4:35-41.   

Jesus’ peace can keep us steady. Sometimes we’re climbing the mountain of anxiety, and other times we’re stumbling into the valley of despair. Hard times come to all of us, but like the disciples, we can call upon Jesus for help.

The world’s way to peace often involves alcohol, drugs, sexual pursuits, or adrenaline highs, but none are long-lasting. Jesus says His peace differs completely from the world’s (John 14:27).

Jesus experienced the peace of God Himself. Consider these examples:

•          Satan tempted Jesus as He does us (Luke 4:1-13)
•          Jesus endured great opposition from religious leaders (Matthew 16:1, Matthew 21:23)
•          He was misunderstood by the people closest to Him (Mark 6:1-5)
•         Jesus was faithful, even unto death (John 19:28-30)
•          He forgave His enemies while dying on the cross (Luke 23:33-34)

How is Jesus’ peace accessible to you? His peace comes through a relationship. Matthew 11:28-30 mentions taking Jesus’ yoke and learning from Him. Walking closely with Him will give us rest for our souls. That kind of peace sounds good to me.

Receive His peace by choice: (1) Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, (2) believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, and (3) you will be saved and justified before God (Romans 10:8-11).

You can also read “The Road to Salvation” in Romans 3:23, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9-10, and 10:13.

Pixabay: Lake, Boat, Fisher; huynetsoft.

What Am I?

A passing comment this week caught my attention and wouldn’t fade away. By the time you finish reading this, you might ask yourself the same question.

I don’t remember who said it, but here’s the comment: The word “disciple” comes from the word “discipline.”

I had always thought of discipline as a verb: Action taken to train, control, or punish those who didn’t see any need to obey/follow certain rules.   

Now I was reminded that discipline could also be a noun, meaning: Mental self-training or preparation, while developing a system of obedience to rules of conduct.

Here’s where it becomes personal! Jesus said the Holy Spirit would come and lead us into all truth (John 16:12-14); however, it is always our choice to follow what we learn, or not.

Why do I say that? For two reasons:

(1) Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone wants to come after Me, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24 and Luke 9:23).  

(2) Jesus’ final instructions were to “make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey all I have commanded you” (Matthew 28:18-20).

Words tend to change meanings over time. For example: (1) In Acts, disciples were all who believed in the risen Lord, (2) Then, with the Great Commission, disciples became those who responded in faith to Jesus Christ for salvation, and (3) Eventually, “disciple” became an equivalent to the word “Christian” (Christ One).

In our time, the Great Commission resembles a Great Evangelism program. I really appreciate the ministries that: (1) Not only call people to salvation through faith in Jesus, but (2) Also offer materials and further teaching on how to become a committed “disciple,” learning/obeying Jesus’ teachings.

So, I’ve asked myself, “What am I: A Christian, or a Disciple?”

I’ve always considered myself a Christian, believing in Jesus as my Savior. Now, I’m going deeper and identifying as a disciple.

By God’s grace and the help of the Holy Spirit, I desire to: (1) Continually learn and obey Jesus’ teachings, and also (2) Try to encourage others with what I learn.

How about you?

Pixabay: Screen, TV, Watch TV; geralt.

Be Wise, Not Foolish

I don’t know anyone who wants to be considered a fool. Even the least among us wants to be known for something positive.

Paul advises Christians about spiritual life. We are not to live “as unwise,” but “wise,” redeeming the time because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15-16).  Being alert and aiming to do good would be one way to redeem evil days.  

He also advised us not to be foolish, but to understand the Lord’s will (Ephesians 5:17). There are many places in the Bible where we are told how God wants us to live; however, when in doubt, we can ask, and God will answer (James 1:5).  

We get a few practical guidelines in Ephesians 5:18-20. We’re not to get drunk, lose our good sense, and act rashly or recklessly. Instead, we are to be filled with the Holy Spirit, who will help us do good and positive things, pleasing to God.

With psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, we can sing to the Lord and/or encourage each other. And we must always remember to give thanks to God in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is seated at the Father’s right hand, always ready to make intercession for us (Romans 8:34).

At the beginning of Creation, there was only darkness. The first thing God did was bring in light (Genesis 1:3-4). Jesus said people love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil (John 3:19-20).  

He also declared, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

Why be foolish and stumble away from God in the darkness, when He has offered light so we can clearly see how to live in His presence?

The result of living to please yourself will be destruction. The result of living to please the Spirit will be eternal life (Galatians 6:7-8).

Will you be foolish or wise? You don’t have to be a genius to know the difference, and the choice is yours!

Pixabay: signpost, waypoint, sign; succo.

 

A Healthy Choice

Today I was inspired by Proverbs 17:22. A joyful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.  

Three references explained a broken spirit. One indicated it could be sorrow, another anxiety, and the third mentioned bitterness (Proverbs 12:25, 15:13, and 14:10).

I thought back to 2007 when I was in Phoenix for treatments of Stage 3 Breast Cancer. We had purchased a small co-op the year before, thinking it would be a nice vacation place two hours from our place of ministry.

There, on my own, I pursued a daily Bible Study. *Intervarsity Press had some nice **inductive, topical study booklets with about eight lessons each.

I learned to appreciate the Psalms. David poured out his heart to God, and so did I. To this day, I thank God for the nearness of His Presence during nine months of chemo, surgery, and radiation.

But one day, the “merry heart” verse from my childhood came to mind. I was already practicing being thankful. At bedtime each night, I would count off ten things I was thankful for from THAT day, no matter how small.

I was at peace, but to me, a merry heart meant laughter. I thought back to some old sitcoms I had enjoyed, and purchased a season of Mary Tyler Moore. Then someone gave me some “Mayberry” episodes. It felt good to laugh out loud.

I refused to be downhearted, homesick, or depressed. I looked to the Psalms for help and focused on Psalm 34:4-5: I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces shall never be ashamed.

Make a healthy choice. Choose to let go of despair. Seek to be cheerful. Improve your outlook. Perk yourself up and improve your mood.

Seek God in His word and through prayer. Do your part, and He’ll do His.

Pixabay: Emoji, Face, Smile; Mohamed_hassan.

*Check online for Intervarsity Press study booklets. I purchased mine from ChristianBooks.com.

**Inductive Bible studies are not complicated. They ask a question, you read the recommended scripture, draw a conclusion, and write your answer in the space provided.

 

A Matter of Will: Part 2

Thanks to our will, we get to make choices day by day, even moment by moment. Choices come first (our will), then actions. The same can be said for God.

Recently, I was intrigued by all the choices mentioned in Psalm 78. It was a reflection on the days of the Exodus. God had made His will known by giving some commands and laws (Psalm 78:5-7). Yet, the people made some bad choices.

God’s will exhibited as anger at times, and mercy at other times. We’ll touch on a few highlights, but I encourage you to read Psalm 78 for yourself. Notice the will of the people and the will of God.

God never leaves us clueless. We are blessed with His written word, plus the work of the Holy Spirit in our hearts, but He never overrides our will . . . the choice is ours.

First, we must choose to read or listen to His Word. Then we must choose to accommodate it. That may mean making some changes in our lives, but will we choose to obey, or not?

Let’s consider some bad choices. That would include refusing to live by God’s law, forgetting all the wonderful things He has done, willfully testing Him, speaking negatively against Him, not even believing Him nor relying on His salvation (Psalm 78:10-11, 18-19, 22).   

What about God? Was He smiling away at all this rebellion? No. The psalmist said He was filled with anger and wrath against them. Yet, He continued to lead them with a cloud by day and fire by night and fed them with manna in the wilderness (Psalm 78:21-25).     

God is longsuffering, but even He has limits. Way back in Genesis 6:3, He said, “My Spirit shall not contend with man forever.” The unbelieving people that are written about in Psalm 78 turn up again in Hebrews with a warning for us against unbelief (Hebrews 3:16-19).    

There will be a day of judgment for all people (Revelation 20:11-14). The “deed” to be judged on that day is found in John 3:16-18.

Please, don’t take that choice lightly.

Pixabay: Thinker, Thinking Person; Clker-Free-Vector-Im.

 

A Matter of Will: Part 1

I've been thinking about matters of will. Not the legal read-me-after-I-die kind, but something I think is more important.

I love reading Genesis One because item by item, day by day, God expressed His will as He made choices in creating sky, land, and sea.

When it came to the creation of mankind, God also made His will clear: (1) He created us in His image with a will and the ability to make choices, plus (2) He gave us an earthly assignment (Genesis 1:26).

Here's a story I wrote several years ago. I'm using it as an introduction to A Matter of Will: Part 2 which I will send next week.

DEAR WILL

What a pleasure to write this letter. I want you to know how much I appreciate having you in my life.

Thanks to you, I can make thoughtful decisions and not rush blindly into dangerous situations. You are the one who enables me to choose what to do, where to go, and what to say.

I appreciate the freedom you give me and how you wait while I search things out and review information to make a good choice.

Because of you, I am the captain of my own ship in many ways. Even when the storms of life cause me grief and troubled times, I don't have to bob along on unsettled waves. I can decide which life-saving actions to pursue.

I have learned from experience that you can be quite flexible. If I need strength and boldness, you rise to the occasion and people call me "strong-willed." If I choose to shrink back and let circumstances and others' choices control me, I get labeled "weak-willed." Either way, you stick with me.

I appreciate your respect. Others may try to pressure me into doing their will by threatening to affect my life in any number of uncomfortable ways, but you quietly wait in the background for my decision. Once it's made, you support me while I follow through. 

I thank God for you, Will. You have helped make me who I am today and will continue to impact my life right to the end. You accompany me as a companion, not a dictator.

My wrong choices cause discomfort, but you remain loyal, hoping I will see the error of my ways. I consider you an invaluable friend.

TWO EXAMPLES OF WILL AT WORK 

Ruth, in the Old Testament, chose to accompany her mother-in-law back to her homeland. She said, "Wherever you go, I will go, and wherever you live, I will live . . . wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried . . ." (Ruth 1:16-17).

In the New Testament, before the crucifixion, Jesus prayed to His Father, "Take this cup from Me. Yet, not what I will, but what You will" (Mark 14:36).

I'm grateful God gave me Will. How about you?

Pixabay: Thinker, Thinking Person; Clker-Free-Vector-Im.

Warnings and Rewards Redo

Oh, boy. I hit the wrong button and published an unfinished draft by mistake. I corrected my layout, but when I hit publish it said I could not update the time on an already-published article, so let's see if this will allow you to read the corrected version.

With the new year, I’ve started a new study. I’m focused on The Book of Psalms. I’ve read it many times, memorized verses, and even turned a couple of chapters into songs for easier memorization. Years ago, I enjoyed playing my autoharp and singing from a Psalter during private devotions.

The Bible is an amazing book. It has been revered, read, and applied to life by people from generation to generation. Can you imagine how many people besides you and me have noticed both warnings and rewards from Genesis to Revelation?

These two things are basic to life. Caring parents try to warn children to keep away from certain things or to avoid acting in certain ways. Children who choose to ignore those warnings usually learn some hard lessons. On the other hand, children who choose to listen up may find life more rewarding.

Psalm 19:7-11 shares this same principle along with some interesting descriptions of God’s Word:

                       Scripture is declared to be:

                        Perfect . . . reviving the soul

                        Trustworthy . . . making wise the simple

                        Right . . . bringing joy to the heart

                        Clear . . . giving insight for living

                        True . . . God's laws are fair

                        Do you see any personally desirable things there? 

                        I sure do.

How about two more warnings and rewards scriptures?

 When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild.

But whoever obeys the law is joyful.

Proverbs 29:18 (NLT)

I have followed your commands,

which keep me from following cruel and evil people.

Psalm 17:4 (NLT)

By now the value of choices is clear, but here’s a clincher: Words alone will not discipline a servant; the words may be understood but they are not heeded. Proverbs 29:19 (NLT).

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by Permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.  

Photo from Pixabay a few years back.

The Advent of Christmas: Week 1

The Christmas Season has arrived once again with the advent of Black Friday and Cyber Monday Sales. This year they seemed extended even more days before and after Thanksgiving.

Advent means something is approaching and will eventually arrive, or make an appearance. We can add meaning to this Season by purposefully giving ourselves a spiritual focus four weeks before celebrating Jesus Christ's arrival as a baby in Bethlehem.

I did not grow up in a church that celebrated Advent. I was in my late twenties when I attended a Greater Los Angeles Sunday School Convention and chose that session out of curiosity. I must say that after learning about it, I felt a little cheated.

It wasn't that our church didn't celebrate Christmas. We always had choir cantatas and children's programs and plays put on by the young people. But our Christmas focus was usually just the week before Christmas, and then it was over.

As I remained in ministry, it was my joy to help churches celebrate Advent whenever I had an opportunity. It seems such a simple thing to do. The Advent wreath holds four candles on the outside ring, and one candle in the middle, The Christ Candle.

How you celebrate Advent is up to you. The types and colors of candles can vary. Some people use a circular wreath. Others set four candles in a row and do not add the Christ candle. I always chose four red plus a white candle in the center. Don't lose your focus! It's not the candles, but Christ's birth that we are celebrating.

One candle is lit each week and there are Advent Devotionals to help guide your thoughts. I checked several devotionals online and this week's word is a favorite of mine . . . every day, not just Christmas.

HOPE! Where would we be without it?

Here's my favorite scripture on HOPE: Lamentations 3:22-24 NKJV*

Through the LORD'S mercies we are not consumed,

Because His compassions fail not.

They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.

"The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I HOPE in Him." 

Photo by Theo Crazzolara on Pixabay

*NKJV: The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc. 

The World in Words

I’ve always enjoyed words.  Mom was a whiz at Crossword puzzles. Not me. I preferred Word Search. We both enjoyed Scrabble, but try as hard as I might she was always the winner.

Writing was always my thing. I wrote in my diaries, journaled, and wrote summaries of vacations daily for several years. I started blogging about ten years ago.

I published a *book of inspirational stories, and even wrote a few poems, though I don’t consider myself a poet. Here’s one I’ll share with you:

 *WORDS of LIFE

Darlis Sailors

Words have length and words have power

Say “I” and it marks my place

The world is big, and I am in it

Say “you” and life gets larger

I admit there are others

I have a place, but so do you

 

You and I can join as one

Show strength as “we,” a force for change

We, as a team, produce good or evil

 

Alone I am one, my choice

With you, I must learn to give

Our spaces touch and new vision emerges

 

How will we live, part you - - - part me

Our plan is formed with give-and-take

Small words of life with power

 

This concept of you and me is an ancient one. Jesus is quoted in the New Testament as saying, “All the Law and the Prophets hang on two commandments” (Matthew 22:37-40 NIV). The first is to love God with all your heart, soul, and mind. The second is to love your neighbor as yourself.

Way back in the writings of Moses, love your neighbor as yourself appears in Leviticus 19:18. Something with such a long shelf life deserves our close consideration.

“I,” “you,” and “we” make up our world from day to day. Relationships matter, so don’t give up if you’ve messed up. Do what it takes to give yourself a fresh start.

*REFLECTIONS: Inspirational Stories from Everyday Life, Darlis Sailors, Available from BookLocker.com, copyright 2016.

**Words of Life, REFLECTIONS by Darlis Sailors, P. 165.                                              

Thank You: Politeness or Prayer

At an early age, most people are taught to say, “Thank you.” Parents beam when their young children get it right, but that’s not always the case.

At a pre-Christmas family dinner, an aunt and uncle were visiting from another state. They had brought their nephew's son a child’s nativity set.

He was busy handling the figures when his mom said, “What do you say to Aunt B?” He looked up and said, “Bye-bye.” Oops! More training was on the way.

This week I was enjoying my colorful breakfast. Why I noticed it, I don’t know. It was a familiar combination. But there I sat admiring the white yogurt, the “blue” berries, brown and beige cereal, and white almond milk.

Besides being colorful, it blended together in a tasty way. As I crunched on my favorite cereal, I mentally reviewed Genesis, Chapter One, where God created trees and plants with seeds inside to keep on reproducing food. God included “seeds” in all of Creation . . . birds of the air, sea creatures, animals, and people to reproduce “their kind.”

In my family, prayers before meals were routine. By that, I do not mean rote. Usually, mom or dad prayed over the food, but somewhere in the back of my mind does hover a child’s prayer: God is great, God is good, let us thank Him for this food. Amen. So maybe I’m just short on early memories.

My Catholic friends were encouraged to bow their heads and say a silent prayer, then end with the sign of the cross. Being a Protestant I joined them in bowed head and silent prayer, but was lost at the sign of the cross.

It does amaze me, however, that so many people simply dig into their food without so much as a two-second “God, I thank You for this food. Amen.”

Throughout my day I say “thank you” quite often. I’m polite to waiters and waitresses, store associates, bank tellers, and friends and family. I think it’s just as important to say “Thank You” to the God of the Universe who provided my food from the beginning.

If you haven't given it a thought lately, I hope you’ll join me. You don’t even have to bow your head, just say the words and mean them from your heart.

  

A Reason for Deep Respect

A friend gave me a workbook for Second Samuel.  It was quite challenging, but I enjoyed learning more about David, shepherd boy, king, and writer of about half of the Book of Psalms.

While fighting cancer in 2007, I began studying the Psalms, which means “praise.” I was surprised by some of the laments, but Psalms has remained a favorite. Modern readers will find The Book divided into 150 chapters, some long, some short, with a variety of messages.

My Bible *dictionary explains better than I can some basic categories. They’re helpful for understanding, though not rigid:

             Prayers of lament, or crying out to God

                Psalms of thanksgiving, or praise

                Hymns, even some of our spiritual songs contain words from Psalms

                Psalms of enthronement; David over Israel; God over all Creation

                Penitential psalms cry out for restoration to a right relationship with God

                Wisdom psalms that deal with two kinds of living, godly or evil

True wisdom produces a change in behavior. Wisdom is “applied knowledge.” That requires a personal decision. After we read or hear the word of God, we have to decide . . . follow it or not. Obey it or not. Serve God or self.

David wrote, Come, you children, listen to me; I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Who is the man (or woman) who desires life, and loves many days, that he (or she) may see good? (Psalm 34:11-12 NKJV)

Some people check out right there . . . not interested. But those who continue see some good advice: Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it (Psalm 34:13-14 NKJV).

Why would David mention teaching fear? He’s not talking about fear as anxiety or worry or utter terror. Fear of God is our response to respect His authority. Read the Psalms, and you’ll see Him as King of the Universe, mighty in power, and righteous in His judgments.

A healthy fear of God honors Him as the source of true Wisdom, worthy of our obedience and worship. Even reading that description leaves you with a personal decision. Believe it or not.  

*The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Psalms, Book of, p. 1343, Left Column, Holman Reference, Nashville, TN, 2003.

Photo by mahyar motebassem on Unsplash 

No Fear in Love

When I fell in love with my husband, I had no fear. I trusted him implicitly. I knew he cared about me, and I cared about Him. Our love was mutual.

At one point, we lived in a coastal town not far from where the NO FEAR brand was born. According to Wikipedia, this American lifestyle clothing company created its popular logo, along with slogans and quotes. It was later sold to a company in the UK.

NO FEAR advocated the virtues of extreme sports. I’ve watched a variety of them on TV, but rarely for long. The participants are certainly not lazy or held back by a fear of death. They are worthy of admiration, but I’ve never desired to join them.

I prefer to focus on a different version of no fear. Just recently I’ve been inspired by a new look at an old verse. I John 4:18 (NIV): There is no fear in love.  But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment.

It dawned on me a few days ago that I’ve always looked at that as if we were at fault for not loving God enough. But today I see it as not trusting Him enough. He loved us so much that He gave His only Son as the perfect sacrifice to take away our sins. (John 3:16)

It’s awesome to know that when Jesus died on the cross, the curtain in the temple that separated people from the holy of holies was torn from top to bottom (Matthew 27:50-51 NIV). From that time on we were to enter God’s presence through Jesus, seated at the Father’s right hand (Hebrews 10:12 NKJV). There would be no more animal sacrifices for sin.

Read The Book of Psalms and you’ll find repeated references to God’s steadfast love and faithfulness. Who could be more worthy of trust and love than someone with those two characteristics?

So where do you stand in your relationship with God? Psalm 51, David’s prayer of repentance, shows no fear. Instead, he rejoiced in God’s loving kindness and tender mercies. 

A Choice of Bread

Are you a bread person - - - fond of bread? Though considered the staff of life, I have friends who are “not into” bread, but my close friends know bread is a personal favorite.

My German grandma made many dishes with flour and water, but never baked bread. My English grandma seemed to be into pies, so how I became such a bread lover is a personal mystery.

Bread with the same name may vary in quality. For example, I like Sourdough and have been known to drive a little farther to get a favorite brand. When pressed for time, I shop closer to home. There I can choose from a variety of brands, but I have not found one that compares to my favorite. 

It would be easy to over-indulge in daily bread, but I have learned to set limits. It is more important to have some bread, rather than no bread. We need to find a balance.

Jesus said it this way: Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. (Matthew 4:4 NKJV) The Bible is known as The Word of God. (2 Peter 1:20-21 NKJV)

So how much of His word do you take in, or eat, daily? Some people read full chapters, and some a few verses. Some read a devotional or do a Bible study book. Pick up your favorite Bible, or download a *Bible app, and get started.

The choice is yours. The important thing is that you decide when and how to eat and enjoy your spiritual bread each day.

*A couple of Bible apps people seem to enjoy:  Bible Gateway and/or You Version.

All Good Gifts

“God is great. God is good. Let us thank Him for this food.” That’s OK for a child’s prayer, but there is much more to His goodness than the provision of our daily bread. 

Not all of my friends offer a prayer of thanks before they eat. I always miss that, but I try to give God thanks. After all, He created all kinds of wonderful things we can eat and gave us bodies to see, taste, touch, smell, and digest them, too. 

All good gifts come from above (James 1:17). To me, good gifts include 1) Jesus Christ, God’s Son, (2) the Holy Spirit, and (3) God’s written word, the Bible. But we all rank many other good gifts differently, based on our needs and experiences. 

Have you considered thanking God for His steadfast love and faithfulness that extend to all generations and people groups? These two gifts are mentioned over and over in the Book of Psalms. 

What about other good gifts like healing, peace, energy, and a will to persevere through good times and bad? Or, how about mentors and good examples of how to live positively in a negative world. 

Jesus spoke of peace. Consider John 14:25-29, for example. Also, in John 16 He warned of hard days ahead, but said, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth, you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world” (John 16:33, NLT).  

When Jesus walked this earth, He was moved with compassion. He forgave sins and healed people. He still does, but now He is seated in a place of honor at God’s right hand (Mark 16:19).  

God is good. In this blog, I’ve mentioned about fifteen good gifts from our heavenly Father. It should be easy to thank Him for more than our daily bread.

  

The People Connection

Barbara Streisand is known for a popular song about a people connection. It’s still a pleasure to hear her singing, “People who need people are the luckiest people in the world.”

I recently ran across an article about *working from home. The author listed several positives but closed with one drawback: social isolation.

Mr. Schindler wrote, “While we can meet virtually, you really need face-to-face interaction with other humans. People need people. You can’t really do that on a phone or computer.”

COVID updates also reflect this theory. Would you believe children were slower in learning to talk? The cause? For months caregivers wore a mask and children could not observe lip movements.

Also reported were setbacks in education due to online classes. Adults may do well with such options, but it seems children still need personal classroom interaction.

People needing people is nothing new. I heard a teaching today on Acts 2:42 that caught my attention. After Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost, verse 41 says about 3,000 people believed his message and were added to the church.

That’s what makes verse 42 (NKJV) fascinating:  And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.

I grew up with the idea of “fellowship meetings” where people gathered from churches in our district for a morning service, followed by a potluck meal. Years later, the district aspect was gone, but fellowship continued locally.

Is fellowship the same as the breaking of bread? “The breaking of bread” always meant communion to me, but Acts 2:42 lists 4 separate activities, so I took a deeper look. 

Fellowship indicates a friendly association of people with shared interests. There is a feeling of companionship, conviviality, and concern for one another. Their fellowship included a shared meal, followed by communion and prayers.  

People need people. But even when Covid-19 restrictions were lifted, church attendance dipped. One reason may be that many churches developed online ministries. Another reason may be our affluent lifestyles create no felt need for one another.

Loneliness, suicide, and depression are sometimes due to isolation. A people connection is important, and fellowship in a church is a viable option.

When we change our ways, good things can happen.

*Arizona Rated Eighth Best State for Working from Home, Kevin Schindler, QCBN; Quad Cities Business News, Prescott, AZ, June 2023, p. 4. 

Opinions and Criticisms

We live in a strange world today. It seems filled with what could be considered malicious opinions and criticisms. There may be other terms for this phenomenon, but people seem determined to tear each other down rather than build up.

Social media makes it easy to hit and run. You are a faceless entity to a majority of readers, and you don’t even have to use your real name if you don’t want to.

Certain character traits produce negative communication. People full of bitterness, anger, a fighting spirit, or slanderous thoughts find it nearly impossible to say or write something positive. Ephesians 4:31 speaks clearly to these traits---get rid of them!

Ephesians 4:29 NIV gives three guidelines for positive communication:

Don't let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth (or in print)

Speak (or write) only what is helpful to build others up according to their needs

Your words should benefit those who listen (or read) 

These guidelines are easy to grasp. But people aren’t looking for Godly guidelines. Why bother when our society declares we can each decide our own truth?

Here’s a daily scenario: Someone reads something someone has written. They may have never written an article, but that doesn’t mean they can’t give their opinion. Opinions and criticisms float around like bubbles without substance.

It’s easy to be an armchair critic. Such opinions lack respect for the amount of work it takes to be a writer, the skill to be a baseball player, the education to be a lawyer, or the self-discipline to run a business.

It’s a wanton disregard and lack of appreciation for the rights or accomplishments of others.

It’s happening so much now that people are getting tired of it. Many are realizing it’s useless to fight back. The best thing is to let it go. Why? Because people bent on tearing others down will not accept correction.

After all, it’s only your truth, not theirs.

 

Up With Encouragers

That’s a play on words, of course. Encouragers lift us up, and we need many more such people in our world.

Have you ever heard of a man named Barnabas? No, not from a TV sitcom, from a story about the first Christians. It seems a man moved from the island of Cyprus to Jerusalem and became active in the early Christian church.

The Apostles called him Barnabas, which means Son of Encouragement (Acts 4:36 NKJV). This was no fly-by-night act to win favor. You can read about his further encouragement of believers in Acts 11:19-26.

I’m always intrigued by words. I’m thinking “encourage” would imply “in-courage.” I’ll have to look it up sometime. I know the Bible tells us to encourage one another and build one another up. In our time; however, we are more familiar with “enforcers,” and the contrast is not hard to see.

Everyone thinks his opinion is the most important, and instead of encouraging one another, our world has become ridden with “cancel culture.” It’s really a cancer in our culture because it’s killing people’s communication and relationships big time!

To encourage someone is to give positive support or raise their spirits. Encouraged people have a new sense of hope, and become enlivened to pursue something they felt insecure about earlier.

Encouragement can come packaged big or small. Have you ever noticed the uplifting power of a smile? Rich or poor, sometimes the little things make our day.

When I can, I like to encourage with words and a smile. After lunch at a popular place, I went to use the restroom. A mom came in with her little girl, age 4 or 5. The little girl went into the stall, and when she came out, she was going to walk out when Mom said, “You need to wash your hands.”

On my way out, I smiled and said, “You’re doing a good job, Mom.” She gave me a big smile back.

This is a hurting world. Practice your own kinds of encouragement, but remember . . . it’s not your thoughts that count, but your words and your actions!