It may be tough to lift a mountain and move it out of the way unless you move one stone at a time. Why not just go over, around, or through it.
Anyone who would take the burdens of the world on their own shoulders by themselves, after watching the world is falling apart news, is setting themselves up to make drug companies and psychiatrists rich.
No runners have ever won the race without crossing the finish line before others. Years ago Rosie Ruiz was stripped of two Marathon Crowns, Boston and New York, because she spent most her ‘winning’ times on the subway.
“Her friend Steve Marek told the Boston Globe that Ruiz had admitted her ruse to him, but that she didn’t intend to be the first woman to cross the finish line”, according to the Post.
“She jumped out of the crowd, not knowing that the first woman hadn’t gone by yet,” Marek said. “Believe me, she was as shocked as anyone when she came in first. But at that point they had put the crown on her, gave her the medal and told her she’s the winner. How could she say, ‘No, I’m not’?”
Ruiz joined race in final half mile.
She jumped into the final stretch of the race to finish ahead of Jacqueline Gareau, who set a course record of 2:34:28 that would not be recognized until days later when Ruiz was disqualified.
Ruiz drew suspicion when she seemed clueless about common marathon jargon in a post-race interview with race commentator Kathrine Switzer.
“Have you been doing a lot of heavy intervals?,” Switzer asked Ruiz about a marathon training technique.
“Someone else asked me that,” Ruiz responded. “I’m not sure what intervals are. What are they?”
Other runners said that they hadn’t seen her on the course, and her bib number was not recorded at numerous race checkpoints.
A pair of Harvard students later confirmed that they saw Ruiz join the race in its final stage.” (1)
You can win by cheating.
Everything done in secret will be laid bare.
Going underground, sneaking about to gain an edge may grant some momentary advantage but will end badly.
Emerging from the subway or basement for the last half mile does not give you, other participants, or interested parties a clear view of you or the true situation.
Rosie Ruiz’ cheating caused her to change her last name and legal problems. She eventually lost her ten year battle with cancer at 66. For forty years she carried the burdens of her world wide renowned cheating.
When you face the mountain and go over, under, or through the mountain you can be inspired by those cheering you on. That inspiration can assist you in your endeavor. Ask any real athlete how the roar of the crowds made a difference to encourage them to make that extra effort and capture the win.
Go for the fair, clean win, with honor and integrity, something your mother would be proud of.
The fully gowned graduating class of engineers sat ready to hear from a class leader waiting for an encouraging send off. With his stoic Dad sitting in the front row my cousin opened with: Yesterday I could not spell engmaneer… today I are one. My uncle led the approving applause.
Educating our children, our future, as we know it today is a far cry from where we started out in our country. Reading was taught at the mother’s knee and continued in the barns, fields, or shops by the father’s side.
The private system of education in which our forefathers were educated included home, school, church, voluntary associations such as library companies and philosophical societies, circulating libraries, apprenticeships, and private study. It was a system supported primarily by those who bought the services of education, and by private benefactors. All was done without compulsion. Although there was a veneer of government involvement in some colonies, such as in Puritan Massachusetts, early American education was essentially based on the principle of voluntarism.[1]
Two hundred years in American history, from the mid-1600s to the mid-1800s, public schools as we know them to day were virtually non-existent, and the educational needs of America were met by the free market. In these two centuries, America produced several generations of highly skilled and literate men and women who laid the foundation for a nation dedicated to the principles of freedom and self-government.
The cornerstone of early American education was the belief that “children are a heritage from the Lord.”[2] Parents believed that it was their responsibility to not only teach them how to make a living, but also how to live. As our forefathers searched their Bibles, they found that the function of government was to protect life and property.[3] Education was not a responsibility of the civil government.
Home education was so common in America that most children knew how to read before they entered school. As Ralph Walker has pointed out, “Children were often taught to read at home before they were subjected to the rigors of school. In middle-class families, where the mother would be expected to be literate, this was considered part of her duties.[4]
For many, formal schooling was simply unnecessary. The fine education they received at home and on the farm held them in good stead for the rest of their lives, and was supplemented with Bible reading and almanacs like Franklin’s Poor Richard’s.
Philadelphia also had many fine evening schools. In 1767, there were at least sixteen evening schools, catering mostly to the needs of Philadelphia’s hard-working German population. For the most part, the curriculum of these schools was confined to the teaching of English and vocations.[5] There were also schools for women, blacks, and the poor. Anthony Benezet, a leader in colonial educational thought, pioneered in the education for women and Negroes. The provision of education for the poor was a favorite Quaker philanthropy. As one historian has pointed out, “the poor, both Quaker and non-Quaker, were allowed to attend without paying fees.”[6]
A college education is something that very few of our forefathers wanted or needed. As a matter of fact, most of them were unimpressed by degrees or a university accent. They judged men by their character and by their experience. Moreover, many of our founding ‘fathers, such as George Washington, Patrick Henry, and Ben Franklin, did quite well without a college education. Yet for those who so desired it, usually young men aspiring to enter the ministry, university training was available. Unlike England, where the government had given Cambridge and Oxford a monopoly on the granting of degrees,[7] there were nine colleges from which to choose.
Education is as important today as it has been since the settling of our nation. What a child learns in school at an early age shapes generations to come.
Before the left sought and succeeded in removing God from schools they had the goal of running the education system. With professors and teachers indoctrinating and pushing anti-American socialism and communism the left could take over American. Their plan requires government run public schools as the only option where they control the message. To be successful they must shut down private and charter schools and all homeschooling by any means possible.
The China virus lockdowns have caused a variety of harms according to reports and studies. Hunger, unemployment, Fear, Anxiety, Depression, Domestic Violence, Child Abuse, Suicide, and Homicides have skyrocketed since the China virus lockdowns began. Indeed Homicide rates have exploded by double digits and experts blame school and church closings alongside the anti-police movement, reports the Wall Street Journal. (8)
It is time to support Homeschooling, Private and Charter schools and leave the socialist and communist indoctrination prevalent in public schools behind.
This month we celebrate victory over a hard fought battle against the best military of its time to win independence in order that we may have Life and Liberty, and pursue Happiness.
According to Jefferson: The “the object of the Declaration of Independence,” he wrote, was “not to find out new principles, or new arguments, never before thought of, not merely to say things which had never been said before; but to place before mankind the common sense of the subject, in terms so plain and firm as to command their assent, and to justify ourselves in the independent stand we are compelled to take. Neither aiming at originality of principle or sentiment, nor yet copied from any particular and previous writing, it was intended to be an expression of the American mind.”
Jefferson restated these noble sentiments in the Declaration of Independence, simplifying the prose: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” (1)
Today’s battles include the tyranny of those who are attacking the First Amendment especially Free Speech and the Freedom of Religion. The Second Amendment is also in the attacker’s sights.
To put it mildly, there are some who have strayed from the founding principles of respecting “certain unalienable Rights… [such as] Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness” for all. A certain combination of evil groups have banded together to try to turn our country into a third world nation.
First, there was the China virus attack which caused hurt, pain, and death from cabin fever, domestic violence, fear, anxiety, suicides and the catastrophic illness.
Then there is the invented word which has caused fear, pain, violence, and destruction of property since 1927. The word was invented in 1927 to browbeat dissenters of the communist ideology by Leon Trotsky and is still used today to shut down all nonconformists and businesses; the word is “racist” The destruction caused by and the misuse of the word “racist” is beyond measure and has become increasing vicious.
Since we can identify the perpetrators of this evil, it is incumbent upon us to stand up to these bullies and prosecute them for their appropriate crimes.
Bad apples can be found in many groups and organizations and they must be held accountable and if appropriate prosecuted as well.
Since we are a nation of laws, law and order must be reestablished in rogue areas.
And since we are a nation of laws, due process needs to be afforded to all, by all, without politically motivated knee jerk firings.
A close examination of the tactics of those trying to turn this country into a third world nation will reveal that they are using the communist playbook.
Fortunately we have some leaders, including the White House, who are leading the battle against the evil doers.
Together we will get back to the ‘American Mind’ that Thomas Jefferson wrote about, as we stand together against the bullies.
We know that good triumphs over evil. God is in charge. Let’s follow His lead.
For five years, from hospital to nursing home and back a few times, he was a model and inspiration to all those who ever thought of giving up. In high school he was known as ‘Smiley Jackson’. Even through it all he stood tall without a complaint. I had the privilege of speaking with him about the same time most mornings with no subjects off the table.
At one nursing home during the 2016 election, whether by walking, wheelchair, or by walker, he made sure that he looked in on every patient, even if it was just a wave or smile. I asked if him if he was running for mayor and he replied “Yes.” After the election some nurses even called him Mayor.
Matthew was known for his gentle and kind spirit. His smile was infectious. He was an avid Boston Red Sox fan and followed all the Boston sports teams.
Playing Santa for the kids was his favorite Christmas honor. Actually Matthew loved anything Christmas.
Matthew was a devout Christian and an active member in the Brockton Greek Orthodox Church.
Mathew was a longtime, and well respected, employee of the Heights Crossing Assisted Living home in Brockton.
Matthew suffered a severe brain injury in 2015 and throughout his difficult rehabilitation he fully cooperated and never complained and achieved remarkable improvement.
Unfortunately the Coronavirus was a challenge he could not win. His journey in this life was much shorter than that for which we had hoped. At 61 he went to be with Jesus April 10, 2020.
Throughout these recent difficult medical times Matthew maintained his positive, friendly and gentle disposition.
“What started as a small group of families gathered around a kitchen table in 1979 (NAMI) has blossomed into the nation’s leading voice on mental health. Today, we are an association of more than 500 local affiliates who work in your community to raise awareness and provide support and education that was not previously available to those in need.” https://www.nami.org/About-NAMI.
One kitchen table in Massachusetts that grew to more than 500 local affiliates was my mother’s with three other women. The impetus and inspiration for the kitchen table meetings was her son, my, brother, Matthew.
The usual onset for a mental illness for boys is in the late teens to early twenties. Matthew started showing signs in high school by hearing voices and writing about it. In the 1970s there was no internet, no organizations, and no support groups.
A few mothers started meeting to gather information which would help the mentally ill and their families cope. I joined in the search; soon the meeting grew too large to meet in the house.
Another goal of the mostly mothers group was to educate the public, media, and lawmakers about mental illness and end the stigma associated with it. The original name chosen was AMI, Alliance for the Mentally Ill.
Through it all he stood tall. I told Matthew more than once that he was a great example for anyone to persevere, no matter how bad things seemed to be and his reply was always “Thank you”.
Matthew enjoyed a lot of successes at the “Club House” in Brockton, BAMSI http://www.bamsi.org . While I was the President of NAMI Greater Framingham, our local clubhouse in Marlborough called “Employment Options” www.employmentoptions.org was a shining example of how a clubhouse should be operated.
Another program which has been duplicated and worthy of review is the “Jail Diversion Program” program run by “The Advocates” https://www.advocates.org
Matthew never made it to Phoenix, however his spirit to stand tall through it all did.
Now its time for Matthew to continue to be an example for others to stand tall through it all, be the impetus and inspiration for a Club House in Phoenix, to be called “Matt’s Place”.
I won’t hear his morning greetings again. I will repeat his often said closing: “Go Red Sox!”
Recent events highlight the great divide between those with and those without a backbone to stand against evil. Many of those without a backbone to stand against evil are either perpetrating it or enabling evil.
At the time of his death, Major General Smedley Darlington Butler, also known as “The Fighting Quaker”, was the most decorated Marine in US history; he was the only person to be awarded a Marine Corps Brevet Medal and a Medal of Honor for two separate military actions. He had also become an unrelenting voice against the business of war.
General Smedley is quoted as saying: “There are only two things we should fight for. One is the defense of our homes and the other is the Bill of Rights.”
General Smedley:
Received 16 military medals, 5 for valor. Is one of 19 men to receive the Medal of Honor twice.
Wrote the 1935 exposé that linked business and the military titled “War Is A Racket.”
Ran for Senate as a Republican in 1932.
In 1934, Butler went before the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) to expose a conspiracy against the government. He had been recruited by a group of wealthy Pro-Fascists who had hoped to use him in a coup against President Franklin D. Roosevelt. He went along, gathering intelligence about the plot, and took it to Congress. Butler’s assertions were not aggressively pursued, and the matter was largely dismissed. However, an internal report to Congress from HUAC confirmed the veracity of the plot. (1)
In the Second World War we had many outstanding civilian and military leaders which worked to win the war against evil. One such Military Leader is General George C. Patton, see the video below:
Plots to over throw governments go back thousands of years in history. Various groups stated various reasons for their coup or attempted coup. At this time it appears our country has a group who attempted to subvert the will of the voters. Maybe their methods were different today than the ones General Butler testified to, but the results would have been the same had they been successful, the forced removal of a duly elected sitting president.
Perhaps those participants in the attempted coup are so narcissistic they take no care for fear, anxiety, and despondency they cause in others. The participants don’t realize they are exposing themselves to be the obnoxious, insecure, morally bankrupt, mental runts of the litter that they are. Those participants were hoping to foment civil unrest; it turns out the general populace saw through and didn’t fall for the participants scam.
The participants would have us not protect ourselves. In six seconds a murder was stopped, much faster than police could arrive. See the graphic video below:
NEW: Video shows man opening fire at Texas church before he is shot by a security guard; 2 dead, 1 critical (blurred to hide victims, viewer discretion is advised) pic.twitter.com/hulXR7MYIy
Schoolyard bullies have a smaller territory than dictators of countries and smaller territories than the coup participants.
Keep your backbone in place, defend your home and your Bill of Rights or you may loose them both and wake up under a ruthless dictator.
West Freeway Church of Christ Senior Minister Britt Farmer: "I’m thankful our government has allowed us the opportunity to protect ourselves" pic.twitter.com/5fLSnSjQzg
I admit sometimes I forget, and sometimes I can’t remember, and I don’t remember which it is. I tell the kids don’t get old and that I don’t know how that can be done, just don’t get old. Yes, they just look at me.
Where does one call to find out the offense of day, moment is? Is there a central clearing house? It sure seems like you can turn TV stations to find the same words and the same outrage coming from different talking heads. I figure someone is passing out words to say. Would someone please give me the phone number of who has a list of the current offense words, hats or whatever? This growing list is giving me a headache.
When I grew up our news came from newspapers where opinions were found in the Editorial section. News contained facts not propaganda.
Newspapers were printed once, maybe twice a day, or weekly.
There were no computers, cell phones, texting, emails, twitter, facebook or other such things that instantly post pictures and information to people worldwide. When someone needed or wanted to pass along information or pictures if they didn’t meet in person they put them in the mail.
TV news was on early in the morning, at noon, 6 and 11pm in black and white. There were no twenty four hour TV stations. AM radio was mostly music, FM broadcasts were rare.
No one was shot up into space yet. President Eisenhower had not yet warned us of the dangers of the military industrial complex.
In others words people looked each other in the eye and spoke to each other.
Yes, in some ways you could say life was slower compared to today. In some ways life was more relaxed than today.
There actually is a way to support my statement that life was more relaxed then. The amount of people suffering from anxiety, which is the activation of the Fight or Flight System, rose in response to increase to the strains of everyday life from the 1950s on.
“The common psychological features of these problems include a mélange of symptoms involving nervousness, sadness, and malaise. The typical physical symptoms consist of headaches, fatigue, back pain, gastrointestinal complaints, and sleep and appetite difficulties, often accompanying struggles with interpersonal, financial, occupational, and health concerns. These complaints account for a large proportion of cases found in outpatient psychiatric and, especially, in general medical treatment.” (1).
Am I suggesting we go back in time, not quite? There are very many good uses of modern technology. The biggest downside I see to modern instant communications is the lack of interpersonal communications.
Interpersonal communication is the process by which we exchange information, feelings, and meanings through verbal and non-verbal messages through face-to-face communication. It is not always what is said, but how it is said and the expressions used. The absence of interpersonal communications can lead to a misinterpretation of what was said which today could lead to quite a flurry of tweets.
My suggestions include: count to ten before sending an instant message, perhaps you’ll change what you want to say; text less; meet as many people as you can in person to talk face to face; and take walks. You just might find your quality of life will improve as will those around, doing your part to make the world a better place.
Let’s start by looking in the mirror….I’ll let you know when to turn away from the mirror.
In the Christmas story of Rudolph: Rudolph and his elf buddy Hermey don’t fit in with the others. Rudolph looks different than the others. Hermey is not interested in making toys. In an odd plot twist, Hermey wants to be a dentist. Not surprisingly, his elf supervisor is upset with the unproductive Hermey. So the two misfit outcasts set off to find their fame and fortune.
In the mirror you see the times on the playground or gathering where you did not fit in and felt like an outcast, a misfit.
Who among us doesn’t occasionally feel battered, bruised, broken? And sometimes it’s because of something we’ve done to ourselves.
Feeling battered, bruised, and broken can lead to fear of the future, fear of success, anxiety, depression and even suicide.
Thankfully God has perfect vision, unlimited resources and doesn’t give up so easily on battered and broken people. Psalm 85 describes people who were perfect candidates for restoration and God is able to restore. God is the God of restoration and forgiveness; those who humbly come to Him are never without hope. He remarkably and wonderfully made us, He does not make junk.
Crime victims, First Responders, and Combat Veterans may have suffered different traumatic events leaving them feeling battered, bruised, and broken and suffering the same Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), feeling like a misfit.
Then there is Eponine who seems the most like a social outcast misfit. She belongs to a gang of wretched people, and she is very poor. She has been through so much in her short life, things she should not even have experienced. She has abusive parents who don’t give two hoots about her, and she feels as if no one loves her and she is alone in the world. In the song on my own she talks about how the man she loves is I love with someone else and how she wishes he would love her. She knows he will never love her like that and sadly comes to terms of being alone because the single man she loves does not love her back. She is like the social out casts of today, because she is in a very bad group of people and usually people that are just looking for directions now a days end up in bad situations like her. Many people feel alone just like she does and many people these days go through though times where the person they love does not love them back. She has no where to go and no one good in her life to help her. She is in a hopeless situation of having terrible parents loving a man that will never love her and she abused by her father. No doubt she has lived a terrible life, and her situation is worst than most social out cast of our world today.
Often victims of abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault become the abusers. It does not have to be that way. Breaking the cycle of abuse can be accomplished saving medical bills and lives.
Throughout life you can be a misfit because you look or dress differently or because you don’t think or talk like others around you. Just because you may look or dress differently or because you don’t think or talk like others around you it does not make you wrong, just different. Being different just may even bring to light a better way.
How many times did you recognize yourself as a misfit in the mirror? Still looking in the mirror? How many times did you overcome those situations you were a misfit? What do you still need to overcome?
If you have had more than one boyfriend or girlfriend, more than one job or overcome a misfit situation – you have been recycled. Being recycled in this manner means you still had plenty of good days ahead.
Continue to recycle your misfit situations for healthy growth. Stay looking in the mirror as long as you need.
Unless you have been exceptionally lucky (hint, I don’t believe in luck) then you have a scar or two. Some scars are visible and some are not. Do you remember the time you bumped into the table when you were three, probably not.
We get scars from accidents, surgery, combat wounds, or perhaps from being a victim of a violent crime. Physical scars can heal faster than emotional or psychological scars. Emotional or psychological scars may need assistance from someone else. That assistance could come in the form of a listening ear or by way of trained individuals.
Scars can be tender or sensitive to the touch especially when fresh. Once healed, tapping the healed scar and deep massage around the scar are two excellent ways of speeding up the scar desensitisation process.
Healing could include forgiveness for someone who harmed you. Forgiveness does no mean forgetting.
“Most psychologists recommend mustering up genuine compassion for those who have wronged us and moving on from the past, instead of allowing bitterness and anger to perturb our emotional well-being.
It is critical to remember that forgiveness doesn’t automatically mean a reconciliation. We don’t have to return to the same relationship or accept the same harmful behaviors from someone who has hurt us.
Although burying the hatchet usually brings peace to the soul, there may be some exceptions to that advice, such as a case of sexual abuse. Sometimes a victim becomes more empowered when they give themselves permission not toforgive.
Equally, and perhaps more important, is learning to acknowledge your missteps and forgive yourself. Self-forgiveness is often the first step toward a more loving and positive relationship with yourself, and therefore with others.” (1)
“One reason we resist forgiving is that we don’t really understand what forgiveness is or how it works. We think we do, but we don’t.
Most of us assume that if we forgive our offenders, they are let off the hook — scot-free — and get to go about their merry ways while we unfairly suffer from their actions. We also may think that we have to be friendly with them again, or go back to the old relationship. While God commands us to forgive others, he never told us to keep trusting those who violated our trust or even to like being around those who hurt us.
The first step to understanding forgiveness is learning what it is and isn’t. The next step is giving yourself permission to forgive and forget, letting go of the bitterness while remembering very clearly your rights to healthy boundaries.” (2)
We have a two hundred and forty plus year old relationship I want to discuss. This week we celebrate the birth of our country. Just like any family, group, town, state or country we have had some bumps along the way. Yes, we have accumulated some scars along the way. Despite the scars or perhaps because of the scars we are the greatest country that ever existed, warts and all. We have the greatest country that ever existed because we have a good foundation, and because people have defended her against enemies both foreign and domestic.
Not everyone in our country agrees on defining the issues or how to address them. We have the right to disagree and peacefully air out our differences without becoming disagreeable. Violent protests are an end in and of itself and rarely produce willing converts. Violent protests create greater divisions.
My fellow veterans and those currently serving did so and do so in order to preserve our hard fought freedom and liberty. May I suggest that we as a country look for more ways to heal our scars rather than reopening or opening new wounds?
Healing our wounds and scars will lead to glorious birthday celebrations. We can accomplish more healing by working together than we can by being at odds with each other.
What is the story behind your scars? Do you have any scars that need to be healed, if so today is a good day to begin the healing?
Fair play seems to be a complex concept that comprises and embodies a number of fundamental values that are not only integral to sports but are relevant in everyday life.
Fair competition, respect, friendship, team spirit, honesty, integrity, care, excellence and joy are part of fair play that can be learned, experienced and exhibited.
Fair play is really conformity to Godly rules. Cheating is obtaining advantage by unfair or fraudulent means; dishonest behavior; deception; trickery.
If you have to win by cheating you have not won.
If you alter official documents to win; you have in reality proved you are on the loosing side of the issue.
If you have hidden certain relevant information to win; you have in reality proved you are on the loosing side of the issue.
Altering official documents and hiding certain relevant information could find you in need of a good criminal attorney.
The Boy Who Always Won
There was once a boy who liked nothing more in the world than to win. He loved winning at whatever it may be: football, cards, video games… everything. And because he couldn’t stand losing, he had become an expert in all kinds of tricks and cheating. He could play tricks in practically every situation, without being noticed; even in video games or playing alone. He could win without ever being caught.
He won so many times that everyone saw him as the champion. It meant that almost no one wanted to play with him; he was just too far ahead of everyone. One person who did play with him was a poor boy, who was a bit younger. The champion really enjoyed himself at the poor boy’s expense, always making the boy look ridiculous.
But the champion ended up getting bored with all this. He needed something more, so he decided to apply for the national video games championship, where he would find some competitors worthy of himself.
At the championship he was keen to show his skills but, when he tried using all those tricks and cheats he knew from a thousand different games, well… none of them worked. The competition judges had prevented any of the tricks from working.
He felt terribly embarrassed: he was a good player, but without his cheats, he couldn’t beat a single competitor. He was soon eliminated, and sat there, sad and pensive. Finally, they announced the name of the tournament champion. It was the poor boy from home. The one he had always beaten!
Our boy realized that the poor boy had been much cleverer than him. It hadn’t mattered to the poor boy if he lost and got a good beating, because what he was really doing was learning from each of his defeats. And from so much learning he had been transformed into a real master.
From then on, the boy who had loved winning gave up wanting to win all the time. He was quite happy to lose sometimes, because that was when he would learn how to win on the really important occasions. (1)
Today’s news shows a few boys and girls who believed they were entitled to always win. They were used to cheating and covering for each other. They believed they were going to get away with their hoax that almost destroyed our Constitutional Republic. I don’t see evidence they have given up wanting to will all the time.
These few boys and girls caused a lot of good people to become anxious and fearful. These few boys and girls who ruined lives and reputations in their quest to always win continue their spiral into marginality. These few boys and girls simply can not accept the will of the people and the fact they lost. Perhaps a closer look at these few boys and girls will find they exhibit antisocial personality disorders.
Sooner or later, cheating is always uncovered. I believe these few boys and girls are headed for a great uncovering.
If you find you always have a need to win at all costs it is time to reevaluate yourself before you run into a rude awakening.
Temporary solutions to permanent problems are never temporary or a solution.
If you always do what you always did you will always get what you always got. Just because you do not know the answer right now, it does not mean there isn’t one.
Ever had a time when mountain dropped right down right in front of you while the walls around you closed in? Did you immediately have a panic attack or work your way out?
Are you dealing with a broken marriage? Is your spouse filing for divorce? Do you want to save your marriage but right now feel helpless? I know the answer to your problem.
Have you been dealing with significant health problems? Have your problems negatively impacted your career, marriage, parenting, finances, and your desire to be active at church? I know the answer to your problem.
Have a child who is going astray?
Just lost your job?
Got cancer?
Struggling with depression?
Not sure what to do with your life?
Now what?
Will you curl up in a corner, snivel, and cower in fear?
How do you deal with STRESS?
There is no such thing as a stress-free job in the world. Everyone in his/her work is exposed to tension, frustration and anxiety as he/she gets through the duties assigned to him/her. In order to make our work experience and environment as pleasant as possible, it is better that we learn the technique of moderating and modulating our personal stress levels
Your reaction depends upon your view.
Are you like the ten spies who came back scared and afraid of the giants in the land or are you like Joshua and Caleb?
Remember what happened when the Israelites reached the Promised Land?
They had just been rescued out of 400 years of slavery. They had walked through the Red Sea and had watched the Egyptian army drown. They had been miraculously guided through the wilderness, and been promised a land flowing milk and honey.
Eleven days after God gave them His Law and His promises, the children of Israel arrived at the border of the Promised Land. Moses chose 12 men – the top leaders out of hundreds of thousands – to explore the land and see if God was telling the truth.
After 40 days they returned with evidence: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit” (Numbers 13:27).
Is there evidence in your life of God’s promises fulfilled? A job, education, home, relationship, circle of friends? Maybe you should be divorced – and God healed your marriage. Maybe you should be in jail – and your case was thrown out. Maybe you should be dead – and you were healed.
Or on the other hand, maybe your life is proof that NOT believing God’s promises is fruitless. Maybe you’re still addicted, or angry, or sad and hopeless. Maybe you’ve forgotten God’s character and God’s promises and have accepted second best – which is just what the evil one wants us to do.
Joshua and Caleb saw the same scary things as the other ten spies. Joshua and Caleb trusted God, encouraged the Israelites to believe God’s promises: “Let us go up at once and take possession, for we are well able to overcome” (v. 30).
The other 10 spies got scared by the scary things and doubted God (v. 31-33): “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we.” They said they saw giants “and we were like grasshoppers in our own sight …”
That lack of faith spread like an infection through the entire congregation of Israelites, who promptly forgot all the miracles they had seen and doubted the nature of God – plus had the nerve to try to stone Joshua and Caleb!
Throughout human history, God has communicated His promises to us over and over, but still we demand “proof.” It’s our fallen nature to doubt, to hold off from trusting until we see everything in place in a way that makes us feel comfortable. Of course, that’s not trusting. That’s saying, God, You aren’t who You say You are.
Today, if you’re more like the 10 spies than like Joshua and Caleb, you may feel like a “grasshopper” facing a giant. All you need to do is trust. It’s as simple as that.
Enter your promised land – your daily walk with God and wherever He takes you – and watch God bless you! Now you know the answer also.
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