I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now…

Philippians 1:3-5

When I give workshops on leadership, I typically ask the participants to pause for a moment and call to mind someone who had led or influenced them in a significant way during their life. I ask them to share about that person just a bit for the group, and it becomes a very meaningful and often poignant time in the session.

After the sharing, I suggest that if that person they named is still alive, that they contact that person in some way- by phone, letter, text, whatever- and say something like, “Today in a workshop, the facilitator suggested that we identify a person in my life that was important and significant in my growth. I named you.”  

It is important for leaders to recognize those who helped them to get to the place of leadership that they now have. Then of course, we need to pay it forward by helping others reach their potential, and pouring into their lives just like we had help along the way ourselves.

So today, I will take my own advice, and publicly name one of those important and influential people in my life. Many of my readers may know him. He is Rev. Michael (Mike) Slaughter.

Mike was pastor of Ginghamsburg Church for 38 years, building it from a congregation of about 60 people, to a high of over 3,000 people before he left. More importantly, he had great influence in the Church writ large- Christians all around the world. His books and teachings have touched untold thousands of people. He did, and still does, speak truth boldly, speaking truth to power. He unabashedly calls to task Christian nationalism as something that benefits neither the church nor the nation. He emphasizes that our allegiance as Jesus followers is the primary priority in our life.

So, Mike, thanks for speaking into my life.

I am forever grateful.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for placing great people in our life. Help us to recognize them with gratitude, Amen

“The price of liberty is eternal vigilance” Thomas Jefferson (attributed)

The highway of the upright avoids evil; those who guard their ways preserve their lives Proverbs 16:17

We are coming up on the anniversary of the D-Day invasion of June 6, 1944. It will be 82 years since that fateful and world changing day. There is even a new movie about that day, Pressure, involving the decisions about weather concerns that could carry or destroy D-Day.

We rightly celebrate the heroism and leadership of D-Day, and we are reminded of incredible leaders like General Dwight Eisenhour, and the armies he led. We are also reminded that the evil those brave soldiers faced in putting down Nazi Germany has not been erased from the earth.

The quote, “The price of liberty is eternal vigilance” has been attributed to Thomas Jefferson. Perhaps it was stated by others in different ways and different times as well. Regardless of the origin, the quote holds truth for our present time. The evils of Fascism, racism, and hatred in general lurk in this world. We must be ever vigilant to guard against such evils, and confront them with faith and vigor.   

Prayer: Lord, give us the eyes to see and the strength to challenge evils in this world, Amen

 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes                                                             James 4:14

Our pastor had a sermon some time ago about passages in our life. He talked about how we grow from using that little toddler seat on wheels, and how that progresses to bikes, cars, and often, eventually, to a walker. We progress quickly through this life. In fact, as we age it seems to go more quickly than when we were young.

That is because it is true!

No, time progresses at the same rate, at least in the dimension in which we live, but our perception of it does change. Why is that? Well, it is simple math.  Think of it this way. When we are, say, 10 years old, one year of our life is 10% of our entire life. That is a sizable chunk!

Now consider what one year is in the percentage of my own life of 76 years. That would be (I did the math) 1.31%. That does not feel like very much- because it isn’t! So, my experience of the length of a year is very different than that of my 10-year-old grandson.  A year is just a blip for me. For my grandson, waiting a year for Christmas or his birthday feels like an eternity.

I recall one year when I was just a kid, maybe 7 or 8, my older brother Ed (Ed, you may not remember this but I do!) said to me on Christmas Eve- the best day of the year ever by the way- “just think, only 366 days until next Christmas!”

Fortunately, he told me on Christmas Eve and I was excited to open presents that night. Had he told me the next day that Christmas was 365 days away, I would have been pretty bummed out. But my brother was kind to me, as usual.

My point here is this- life is short and must be savored. We need to cherish every day, every hour, and use it to God’s glory and for our good, and the good of others.

Prayer: Lord, you give us the gift of life daily. Help us to use it wisely and well, Amen

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,                                                                                          Acts 2:46

I recently spoke with a client about sincerity. He is a genuine, sincere man, but he often struggles with his self-image. He is a craftsman, so I though it might be a good idea to give him the root words that make up the word sincere.

Sincere come from two Latin words, sine and cereus. Putting them together give us the concept, without wax. The back story is this. In old Roman and Greek times, sculptors might cover up a small flaw in a marble statue by applying a bit of wax. It would blend in nicely, but the statue could not be considered flawless. It had a cover-up.  It could not be called sine cereus.  

In order to carry the that marker, the carving had to be without pretense or cover up. It had to be, as we would now call it, sincere. My client immediately took to this story, as I noted that he could be called “sincere”. Yes, he, like all of us, is imperfect, but as we do not try to hide such flaws, we can be called sincere.

So, my friends, while we do not claim to be perfect, we can also celebrate the sincerity of owning those flaws that we possess. We may not celebrate them, but we can be honest, own those flaws, and celebrate our sincerity.

Prayer: Lord, we are grateful for the opportunity to celebrate who we are, loved where we are by you, Amen 

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things         Philippians 4:8

We have been surrounded by news and social media clips that tend to take us to a negative place. One of our pastors spoke Sunday about the cynicism that has become the mood of our age. Indeed, just thinking about the changes in political mood over my lifetime, we have gone from an era of political trust to one of distrust. Yet, that is not my point today, although it informs this blog.

Over the past several weeks my wife and I have been settling down in the evening to watch a series that was originally aired on PBS years ago. The show is titled Call the Midwife. The series is set in London starting in 1957. The award-winning series is now in its 16^th season, a testament to its staying power and the depth and beauty of the writing and acting.

The show is an oasis in a world of stringent and often toxic media productions. The simple spiritual values presented, the wholesome relationships developed, and the generally optimistic tenor are a welcome balm in these days of doomscrolling. One leaves the show feeling refreshed and encouraged.

So, my friends, if you are so inclined, take a look at this simple yet profound piece of programming. I think you will be glad that you did.  

Prayer: We seek joy and calm in the midst of turmoil, and we can find that it is right among us if we look, Amen

This is a lookback to a June blog from several years ago. It reminds us that ordinary things can become special…

Children’s children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.

Proverbs 17:6 (KJV)

This day in history is, to my understanding, nothing special. However, it became special to me when I found an old church bulletin from St. Bonaventure Church from that date. You see, on the other side of this church bulletin, my dad had kept the box score from the game that day between the Boston Bees (now the Atlanta Braves) and the Cincinnati Reds. In his own hand, he captured the action that day between two teams that played at old Crosley Field in Cincinnati.

I had heard him talk about Ernie Lombardi, Ival Goodman, Lew Riggs, Kiki Cuyler, and Alex Kampouris, but here they came to life because my dad had kept score. The Reds lost that day 8-3. Just another in the long line of games that go on daily in baseball. But this one is captured for all time. I framed that somewhat messy, pencil smeared box score, and it will stay in my office as long as I can keep it.

Just another day, another in a long succession of baseball games, is now a cherished keepsake because my dad decided to capture it that day. Why he kept it, I do not know. Was he at the game? Did he score it while listening to the game on radio? I am sure that I will never know. I do know that this is a piece of him that was dear to him, and therefore, it is dear to me.

Maybe it was just another lazy summer day. Maybe it was special to him.

I know it is special to me.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for giving me parents who loved me and cared for me so well, Amen

I thank my God every time I remember you.  In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy…                                                                                                                                     Philippians 1:3-4

So, dear friends, just a quick word to you on this last day of May. June is coming up tomorrow, and I have to tell you, it is my favorite month. Yes, my birthday is this month, and that is part of it. June contains the summer solstice- the longest and lightest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. So, in anticipation of that large amount of light this month, think about your own light. By that I mean, recognize the things that you do, the little things, that are the good decisions of the day.

I suggest to my clients that they reflect at the end of the day on a few of the good decisions they made that day. It could be anything- exercise, a good diet habit, a friendly call on a neighbor, etc.  I call it Intentional Positive Self-Talk (IPST for short).

So, as we prepare for more light this coming month, shed some positive light on yourself!

Blessings…

One more thing- I see you Belgium, Hong Kong, Singapore, North Bergen, and Ireland. Keep coming back! 😊

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the light that you give us, Amen

This is a post from the past, but its message is timeless. Please enjoy it again…

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus…                                        Philippians 2:5

My cousin recently sent me a short video from Rabbi Shais Taub. Taub does work in addiction recovery and has a following in both Jewish and Christian communities. Rabbi Taub explains in this short video that there are two types of people- thermometer people and thermostat people.

He goes on to explain that thermometers measure the temperature in the room. They merely reflect what the present environment is. Thermostats, on the other hand set the temperature of the room. They influence their environment, and are not merely recipients of the atmosphere- they set it.

So it is with attitude. We can be thermostats and be responsible for setting the attitude we want, or we can feel subject to reflecting the present attitudes around us. Given the current unrest and irritability of the culture at this time, we have a choice as to how we want to respond. Do we want to set a tone of love and acceptance, or will we be overrun by the anger and mistrust we often find around us?

Prayer: Lord, help us to set a tone of peace and love wherever we go, Amen

Today I share with my readers a poem sent to me by a client who has struggled with depression for many years. I think hearing directly from someone who has dealt with significant depression is important for all of us. I share this too because it speaks of his courage, and willingness to do the hard things- things that are monumentally difficult for one whose motivation has been sapped by major depression.

During the course of treatment, I had suggested to this client that he volunteer at a nearby nursing home, visiting people who have no others to talk with them. The idea, I stated, is that feeling follows doing.  Doing good things is followed by feeling good. One cannot wait to feel good in order to do good.  

To his credit, he told me that right after our session, he promised himself that he would make that phone call to the nursing home. He did it.

Soon after, he called the social worker, found out the steps he needed to do, and he visited the nursing home. By the next counseling session, he said that he had felt a change in his mood. He had gotten some momentum, and for a number of weeks, his work at recovery has continued and grown.

I don’t mean to oversimplify the work in overcoming depression. This client continues to take his medication, and he works other daily routines to keep himself active and positive.

His work remains. Every day he is trying some new things, pushing himself toward a more stable and elevated mood. I am so happy for him.

Here is that final stanza which is so powerful:                                                                                          

So don’t let depression 

Make you give up on life

You can get better

It’s well worth the strife

Now, the full poem:

My Depression Recovery

Some said I was going through a season

And I know they meant well

But when it comes to depression

That season’s called hell

It doesn’t feel like you’re on fire

Actually you’re just barely lit

Everyday so dark

It’s hard not to quit

But don’t give up

Continue to fight

A smoldering ember

Can again burn bright

Reach out for help

Look for it everywhere 

You just need a spark

It’s somewhere out there 

Getting out of depression 

Is no easy climb

For me it took hard work

And a good amount of time

So don’t let depression 

Make you give up on life

You can get better

It’s well worth the strife

Verb: (used without object)

to feel, show, or express grief, sorrow, or regret.

to mourn deeply.

Noun:

an expression of grief or sorrow.

a formal expression of sorrow or mourning, especially in verse or song; an elegy or dirge.                                                                                                       

(Dictionary.com)

Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge                                  Psalm 62:8

There are situations in our personal life, and in world events where the only response we have is “lament”. This word is either a noun or a verb, depending on the usage and intent. We can actively lament something e.g., mourning, or have deep regret, for example. We can also be in a “state of lament” and perhaps in that state, express it, as the definition suggests, in a formal way.

Either way, it is important to become aware of this lament and own it. As I have stated before, some emotions come out in ways that are not good indicators of the true feelings inside. For example, fear may come out looking like anger. Sadness may come out as sullenness or withdrawal, and so on.

There are numerous instances in the Bible where people like David, and Jeremiah, Amos, and many others described their state of lament. They cried out to God for various situations wherein they saw themselves as helpless, and in the pain of mourning or deep sadness.

Getting in touch with our state of lament is healthy and important. Often, world situations such as the misery and violence in Gaza and Israel, the horrific invasion of Ukraine, mass shootings, dire poverty, and natural disasters cry out for lament. Personal tragedies such as a devastating illness also can bring us to a state of lament.

Lament does not necessarily mean “helpless”, but it is a recognition of the current suffering we face. That recognition may help us to share it with others, and get the help and support we need at the time.

So, we come to realize that lament is part of life, and that we are not alone in it.

Prayer: Lord, you have designed a crucial plan where you are our refuge in times of trouble, Amen