Jesus went with them; but just before arriving at the house, the captain sent some friends to say, “Sir, don’t inconvenience yourself by coming to my home, for I am not worthy of any such honor or even to come and meet you. Just speak a word from where you are, and my servant boy will be healed! I know, because I am under the authority of my superior officers, and I have authority over my men. I only need to say ‘Go!’ and they go; or ‘Come!’ and they come; and to my slave, ‘Do this or that,’ and he does it. So just say, ‘Be healed!’ and my servant will be well again!”

 Jesus was amazed. Turning to the crowd he said, “Never among all the Jews in Israel have I met a man with faith like this”                                                                    Luke 7:6-9

This is a great story from Luke chapter 7 about the faith and humility of a Roman centurion who had great faith in Jesus. The soldier had been recommended by Jewish leaders to Jesus because he was seen as a man sympathetic to Jews. Indeed, he even helped build a synagogue.

This leader of men however, had the humility to ask Jesus for a healing act- not for himself, but for his servant boy. He did not believe that he had the right to approach Jesus directly, but he had Jewish leaders intercede for him to Jesus.

Then, the centurion recognized his unworthiness to have Jesus even enter his home, because to do so might make Jesus ceremonially unclean. At the least, he did not want to have Jesus get into any more trouble than he probably already was with both Jewish and Roman authorities.

This reminds me of an old saying- a man of authority must also be under authority. Great leaders understand the value of accountability. This Roman soldier knew that well, and he practiced it with Jesus and others.

Jesus then honored this soldier publicly, saying “Never among all the Jews in Israel have I met a man with faith like this.” High praise indeed from Jesus.

Would that we all understand and merit such praise.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for this great example of faith and humility, Amen

So, let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.                               Hebrews 10:22-25 (Living Bible)

We met the other day as a group of four couples who have known each other for over 40 years. We went to church together for many years, raised our families together, and now we meet to discuss and pray for our children, and grandchildren, and now, even a few great-grandchildren. Yes, we have been friends and have journeyed through life together for decades.

We met to celebrate a birthday of one of the group (which we do almost every month), and the birthday girl (who turned 81) took some time to recall all the people in her life who were so important and meaningful to her. She gave her gratitude to God who has sustained her through some very difficult times, and she listed friends, family, and others for whom she was so grateful. Gratitude is a hallmark of our group ethic.

Members of the group have attended many funerals together for parents, friends, family, and church members. We have visited one another in the hospital, attended weddings of children, prayed for one another- well, you name it. This, I contend, is a way to journey together through life.

One of the markers for a long life is strong social and spiritual connection.

I know this to be true.

Prayer: Lord, we are indeed grateful for friends who are more like family, and become strong together, Amen 

Day is done, Gone the sun, from the hills, from the lake, from the skies. All is well,

Safely rest, God is nigh, Go to sleep, Peaceful sleep, May the soldier, Or sailor, God keep.

On the land, or the deep, Safe in sleep. Love, good night, Must thou go,

When the day, And the night Need thee so?

All is well. Speedeth all, to their rest. Fades the light; and afar goeth day,

And the stars shineth bright, Fare thee well, Day has gone, Night is on. Thanks and praise,

For our days. ‘Neath the sun, ‘Neath the stars, ‘Neath the sky, as we go, this we know,

God is nigh.

(The words to Taps)

I got thinking about this haunting melody, Taps, as I was winding down my day. I then flashed to some funerals over the past years where I had conducted the service for a number of men and women who had served their country in the armed services. Several times, there was a bugler present at the graveside who played Taps, while the small group gathered around the casket being lowered into the ground for the final resting place.

To say that this is a moving experience is to put it mildly. I always found it hard to maintain a dry eye as this scenario unfolds. It is a sacred experience.

I always hoped that people had honored that deceased loved one as well during their life as they did at death. I trust that this was usually the case. But it is a reminder to us. We have the opportunity to honor people while they still live for the service they have given to their country, their family, and their community.

 Let us keep that always in mind.

 Prayer: Lord, help us honor the living and the dead for all they have contributed to us.

So oftentimes it happens that we live our lives in chains
That we never even know we have the key

The Eagles- from “I’m Already Gone” 

I was listening to music while cutting the grass the other day, and I heard the old Eagles song, I’m Already Gone. Those of us from a certain generation remember this song fondly. The Eagles were a transformative group who occupy, deservedly, a place in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  

When I heard again those famous lyrics, as cited above, I knew that there was a psychological truth there. So oftentimes it happens that we live our lives in chains, that we never even know we have the key.

So often, we hold ourselves in chains not formed by others, but by ourselves. I recall hearing some church recovery service testimonies that essentially said, “I met my problem when I looked into the mirror each morning”.

Recognition that we ourselves hold the keys to overcoming our fears and addictions- that these problems are not outside of us- that is the key to recovery and healing. Submission to this, and the recognition that our Higher Power loves us and can sustain us in the program for healing, is the start to recovery and wellness.

So, the Eagles spoke a real truth to us. Glad we can still hear their songs, and even their wisdom even today.   

Prayer: Lord, thank you for truth that comes to us in many different ways, Amen

Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones                    Proverbs 16:24

Look for ways to affirm people.

That was on my some time ago when we traveled and stayed in a bed and breakfast inn. At a B&B, you typically eat breakfast around a table with other guests whom you are meeting for the first time. It is a kind of fun experience, even for a quasi-introvert like me.   

One of the couples at the table explained that they were there (in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania) for their 40^th wedding anniversary. By the way, there were four couples around the table, and the couple celebrating their 40^th were the “newlyweds” at the table.

The anniversary couple stated that they were returning to where they had met- at a Lutheran seminary nearby. I asked the husband if he were a pastor, and he laughed and said, no, he works as a consumer advocate for the California public utilities commission. He is a “watchdog” to ensure that public utilities are giving the best service to consumers at the lowest reasonable cost.

I commented to him, “Well, you are a shepherd, just to a different flock”. He smiled and mentioned that he took that as a warm compliment. I meant it as a way to affirm him in his life’s work. Clearly, he was touched a bit, and I hope it made his day a little better.

It did for me.    

Prayer: Lord, help us to look for opportunities to affirm people, Amen  

“It’s better to look ahead and prepare, than to look back and regret.”                                – Jackie Joyner-Kersee

I was speaking the other day with a client about the concept of the “future self”. The client has used this technique for some time to good effect. The premise is quite simple- when you are considering the advisability a decision in the moment, consider how your future self will evaluate that decision.

That could be yourself twenty minutes into the future, twenty days into the future, or twenty years into the future. The point is, the importance of taking time to think about the results of that decision sometime in the future.

Often, we feel pressured to make decisions about purchases, relationships, even simple behaviors without thinking of the results on our future self. Regarding a major purchase, I know that I have always felt that a decision would be as good tomorrow as it is today. In the past, car salespeople would sometimes apply pressure to make a decision quickly or the deal might go away. At that point I would say, if it goes away, maybe it wasn’t the deal for me. I always wanted time to make a clearheaded decision about a major purchase.

That is not to say I always made wonderful decisions about buying cars. But at least my future self- the one who lives in that future now- feels generally pretty good about those past decisions.

Prayer: Lord, you have given us discernment to use your resources. Thank you for those opportunities, Amen

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible….                         Hebrews 11:1-3

Hey readers, today is another one of my celebrations of little known, fun, and mostly useless facts! So, here goes.

On this date in 1927, Werner Heisenberg formulated the uncertainty principle. This fundamental concept in quantum mechanics states “that it is impossible to simultaneously know both the position and velocity of a particle with certainty.”

Why is that a big deal? Well, this concept shook many of the most renowned physicists in the world at the time. The atom was being explored and understood in amazing ways, but this concept confounded the scientific world  (and still confounds me!).

The concept of “not knowing” is something that scientists accept, but it leaves them curious and even restless to find certainty. Science looks to find answers and it will not rest until explanations are found. Trouble is, there are often more questions than answers.

Accepting uncertainty is an act of humility, and an act of wisdom. Knowing that we do not know is a first step in learning and growing.  

Of that, I am certain!

Prayer: Lord, we accept that there are many things we do not understand, but we do trust in your provision, Amen

“In the happiest of our childhood memories, our parents were happy,”                                  – Robert Brault

I was speaking with a client recently about the trauma of his early childhood where he was essentially abandoned by a mother who had gone through a series of men in her life. My client never really knew his father, and he was left to manage on his own from an early age.

He is currently struggling with how to deal with his situation. His mother takes no ownership of her behaviors, and fails to appreciate what she had done to her children. My client has overcome this trauma exceedingly well, having married, and become a successful father, husband, and businessman. He is a good dad.

Yet, he has pain over his mother’s emotional dismissal of her family, and her failure to understand how her actions caused them a great deal of pain over the years. He is left with trying to make sense of the family chaos in which he was raised.

This led to our discussion about the fact that anyone can father or mother children, but it is a special gift to be a mom or a dad. Having just passed Mother’s Day, we wrestle in our hearts and minds with those mothers who may not have been very good moms. We strive to be loving moms and dads, and a large majority of parents do their absolute best, imperfect as we are. Indeed, we are grateful for the multitudes of parents who take seriously the privilege and responsibility of being great moms and dads.  

Prayer: Bless us all as parents, and Lord, give us strength to be great moms and dads, not just mothers and fathers.

For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
 He has removed our sins as far from us
as the east is from the west.                                                                                                                                    Psalm 103-11-12

As I see it, baseball can be a very useful metaphor to reflect life. There are a lot of life lessons that baseball can teach, and today I share one.

Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens were pitchers on the New York Yankees for a number of years. Both were highly successful to say the least. Roger Clemens is considered by many as one of the greatest pitchers of all time. Andy Pettitte is a borderline Hall of Famer, and may someday get into that hallowed place.

Both of them had a problem.

Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens were named in the Mitchell Report (a commission to investigate performance enhancing drugs) as users of the substance HGH- Human Growth Hormone. HGH was banned by baseball due to its misuse by players. During the investigation, Pettitte was interviewed and mentioned that teammate Roger Clemens had introduced him to the substance when Pettitte was rehabbing an injury. Clemens himself had been widely known to use HGH and other performance enhancing substances, but he denied such use with vehemence.

Pettitte, soon after the report, acknowledged his use of HGH as an aid to rehabilitation. Human Growth Hormone does indeed speed recovery from injuries and is used medically for that purpose.

Roger Clemens, on the other hand, went to great lengths to deny his use of the substance. He even appeared before a Congressional sub-committee to testify and was brought up on charges of obstruction of Congress. While he was later found not guilty of those charges, his inconsistencies and his strident reactions have continued to cause him a lot of problems. One of those problems is that he, recognized as an all-time great, is still not in the Baseball Hall of Fame 13 year after his retirement from baseball. He is the only 300-win pitcher not in the Hall of Fame.

What is the difference between Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens? Andy Pettitte rather quickly acknowledged his use of HGH. People rarely remember much about the controversy with Pettitte. Clemens chose to deny his use and vilify those who accused him. He still awaits Hall of Fame recognition.

The moral of the story? When we admit to a wrong or a failure without blaming others and we take full ownership of the problem, people tend to quickly move on, forgiving, sometimes even forgetting the offense.

Recently the author Malcolm Gladwell was asked what characteristic is missing in our leaders today. Gladwell responded, “They do not own their mistakes and admit when they were wrong”.

I think Gladwell is right. People can believe and trust good leaders when they own their humanity, including admitting mistakes. The Bible teaches that when we confess our sins, God forgives, and he even chooses to forget that it even happened.

The things is, people tend to remember.

Prayer: Father, thank you for the forgiveness you so freely give, and the result of wiping away our failures, Amen.

But as for you, teach what is fitting of sound doctrine: Older men should be sober, serious, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience.                                                                   Titus 2:1

Today is May 18^th, and that means something special to me, and also my older brother, Ed. This is his birthday. Ed has been my mentor and role model since I was, well, as long as I can remember. I followed in his footsteps through high school, college, part time jobs, wiffle ball baseball- you know, I followed what he did.    

He is six years my elder, but he took time and energy to mentor and guide his little brother through the steps of a young man’s life. So, brother Ed, happy birthday! I won’t say how many, but you are always older than me, and wiser too!

Today is also the birthday of my friend of 60 years, Bob. Yes, 60 years! We met in high school, and we have remained as friends for all these years. What a blessing to have brothers, and friends who feel like brothers!

Here is the message for today. Recognize the people who poured into you, and helped you to get to where you are. If your mentor is alive today, reach out to them and tell them that you love and appreciate what they have done for you. Let them know how much you appreciate them and love them.

It will be good for both of you.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for the people in our lives who have helped to shape us, Amen