I’m preaching to myself this morning, and thought I’d let you be part of my one-person congregation.

Here’s what is true. You are carrying a burden that gnaws at your mind and heart. It’s heavy, isn’t it? That feeling of something being not quite right, of decisions left unmade or actions not taken. This burden? You know it well because, truth be told, it’s self-inflicted. You know what to do but won’t do it. It’s like knowing the path but refusing to walk it. And I get it. We’ve all been there.

But here’s the thing about this burden – it’s corrupting your life, your relationships, everything. It’s like a little bit of rust that, left unchecked, weakens the strongest metal. It’s not just about you anymore; it’s about how this burden spills over into every interaction, every relationship. It might start small, but it has a way of growing, doesn’t it?

Now, let’s pause for a second. I know this sounds serious but hold on. Here comes the good part. Listen closely. In Christ, you have nothing to hide. You see, those things we bury deep inside, those mistakes or regrets we’re afraid to face, in Christ, they’re out in the open – and yet, we’re safe. There’s no need to put on a mask, to pretend to be someone you’re not.

Nothing to prove. That relentless drive to show the world how capable, how successful, or how unbothered we are? In Christ, that pressure is off. You’re already valued, loved, more than you know. It’s not about what you do; it’s about who you are in Him.

Nothing to fear. This is a big one. Fear can be paralyzing – fear of failure, of rejection, of the unknown. But in Christ, fear loses its grip. It’s like stepping out into a storm and realizing you’re not alone, and the one who’s with you can calm the wind and the waves.

And finally, nothing to lose. In a world where we’re constantly told to protect our assets, our status, our egos, it’s liberating to know that in Christ, what truly matters can’t be taken away. It’s a security that isn’t based on the shifting sands of circumstance but on the solid rock of His love and grace.

So, what’s the solution to this burden you’re carrying? It’s simple, yet profound. Repent. Obey. Repentance isn’t just about saying sorry; it’s about turning around, going a different way. It’s about choosing a path that leads to healing and wholeness. And obeying? It’s about aligning your steps, your heart, your life with His. It’s about taking those steps, even when they’re hard.

I just gave you and me the solution to basically every problem we have. He wants to make you whole again. It’s not just a nice thought; it’s a promise. A promise of a life filled with purpose, peace, and joy. A promise that no matter how far you’ve strayed, you’re never too far from His reach.

So, take a deep breath. Let go of that burden. Step into the light of His love. You’ve got this, not because of who you are, but because of who He is in you. And remember, in Christ, you truly have nothing to hide, nothing to prove, nothing to fear, and absolutely nothing to lose.

I love the Bible. Some folks struggle to read it. Me, I eat it up.

It hasn’t always been that way. I’d say, “Okay, Tony, you’re gonna read the Bible all the way through this year.” Out of a sense of obligation – sort of like taking a daily dose of cholesterol medicine or something – I’d start reading.

Genesis was great. There are so many good stories and colorful characters in that book! So I’d breeze through Genesis, feeling pretty good about myself.

Exodus was next and, again, there were plenty of compelling stories to engage me.

Next – Leviticus. This is where I’d finally miss a couple of days reading, then maybe a week, and ultimately – I’d gradually cave and forget about my plan. Leviticus, right? Whew.

Later in life, though, the Bible took on a life of its own. I’m sitting here trying to remember the progression, what brought me to a point of being utterly dependent on my reading, but something triggered my passion. Part of it might’ve been finding a good reading plan (or more.) It may have been looking at my reading as a joy instead of an obligation. Who knows?

Couple that with filing a shelf with study Bibles. I’m a seminary graduate, but my degree is in religious education, so I didn’t have to study languages … Greek and Hebrew. While the theology majors were doing their thing, we education students were learning how to divide people into groups and how to use scissors.

I digress. Study Bibles – that’s where I can at least partially make up for my lack of language studies. Plus, a good study Bible makes scripture accessible and easier to understand. A good study Bible inspires and equips.

Recently I was given the opportunity to receive a free copy of the NIV Study Bible, published by Zondervan. I got this as a member of the Bible Gateway Blogger Grid. Bible Gateway is the Internet’s most visited Christian website. Good folks; highly recommended! Check out their store at https://bit.ly/3ZOM2DM. While you’re at it, visit the Amazon page for the Bible at https://amzn.to/3lhifos.

The Bible, according to the cover copy, “is specifically designed to help students understand and navigate the Bible text with tools like a 3-Track Reading Plan, Book Introductions, Highlights and insights into confusing verses, and personal profiles of 100 People You Should know.”

This Bible delivers the goods. It’s geared toward students, but the more I delved into it, the more I realized that restricting it to simply an audience of “students” does the rest of us a disservice. I’ll use this one in my own studies. It’s that helpful.

A few things of note:

The 3-Track Reading Plan is a terrific way to develop a love for scriptures at whatever level you want to invest in. Track 1, for instance, asks for a commitment of two weeks at a time, reading a chapter a day. It’s sort of a “greatest hits” plan. Tracks 2 and 3 get progressively deeper, with Track 3 asking for a commitment to read every word in the Bible over a three-year period. All the tracks do a fine job of battling overwhelm and discouragement.

Other unique features include accessible introductions to each book, insights scattered throughout the text that are written like magazine articles, and notes that parallel the Track 2 reading plan.

Want more? I loved the reference section covering a host of well-known events. If you’re prone to get bogged down in the Old Testament when trying to follow and connect rulers – 38 kings and a queen – there’s a section that breaks this down in one of the most understandable ways I could imagine. There is also a Subject Guide, not really a concordance, but rather a list of major subjects of interest, along with the appropriate Bible passages. This is some good stuff.

There are plenty of other features to delve into, and you can go to the links I shared earlier to get details.

My takeaway? For students – whoever self-identifies as such – I think this is one of the best Bibles out there. I hope they sell a boatload of these. I’d love to see it in as many hands as possible.

Talk soon!

#BibleGatewayPartner

Procrastination. I’m so good at it I could teach it on the graduate level.

I’ve tended to blow procrastination off as just a “thing,” a tendency that isn’t exactly laziness but just a desire to put things off. Never put off anything until tomorrow unless you can put it off till next week, right?

Yet, in a couple of life areas and ambitions these days, procrastination is hurting me. For real. So, I thought I’d do some digging around, and lo and behold, I’ve found that there are some Christian principles that can help you and me deal with this sneaky scourge. 

If you’re a procrastinator, see if this helps. 

Procrastination is a common struggle that affects individuals from all walks of life. As Christians, we are not immune to this challenge. However, we have the advantage of Christian teachings and principles to guide us in overcoming procrastination.So, then, we will explore the reasons behind procrastination, and how we can use our faith and Christian values to overcome it.

To get us on the same page, here’s my definition of procrastination:

Procrastination occurs when we put off tasks or delay taking action, often in favor of less important or more enjoyable activities. This behavior can be rooted in fear, self-doubt, perfectionism, or a lack of motivation. Whatever the cause, procrastination can hinder our growth, both personally and spiritually.

I’ve succumbed to all four of those root causes at some point or another. Yeah, I’m pathetic.

What to do about procrastination? Here are my eight thoughts:

1 – Recognize the Spiritual Implications of Procrastination

Procrastination can often stem from fear, self-doubt, perfectionism, or a lack of motivation. I mentioned those earlier. It is essential to recognize that these feelings can be detrimental to our spiritual growth. Ephesians 5:15-16 reminds us to “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil.” By addressing the spiritual aspects of procrastination, we can begin to understand the importance of using our time wisely and for God’s glory. Funny to think about how procrastination might be hindering what God wants to do in and through you.

2 – Trust in God’s Strength

One reason for procrastination may be the fear of failure or the belief that we are not capable of completing the task at hand. I never thought of a fear of failure being a contributing factor, but it sure can be.  As Christians, we can overcome this fear by putting our trust in God and relying on His strength to help us accomplish our goals. Philippians 4:13 reminds us that “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” (What a verse … it can address most anything!) By leaning on God’s strength, we can overcome our self-doubt and push forward with confidence. 

3 – Pray For Guidance and Strength

Is procrastination, at its heart, a spiritual matter? I think it is.

As we strive to overcome procrastination, prayer is a vital tool to help us focus on God’s will and seek His guidance in our lives. Philippians 4:6-7 encourages us to “not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” By consistently turning to God in prayer, we can find the strength and wisdom needed to tackle our tasks and live purpose-driven lives.

4 – Seek God’s Wisdom

In this season, I’m all into this wisdom thing. I’m not talking about just being smart, or even making good decisions. I’m talking about being wise and making wise decisions.

Procrastination can sometimes stem from a lack of direction or understanding of our purpose. To combat this, we should turn to God for wisdom and guidance. Proverbs 3:5-6 – a favorite for many of us – encourages us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.” By seeking God’s guidance, we can gain clarity and direction in our lives, reducing the temptation to procrastinate.

5 – Develop a Sense of Purpose

How many times do we have to hear “you were put here for a reason” before it actually sinks in and becomes a reality?

Understanding our purpose as Christians can provide us with the motivation to prioritize our time and energy effectively. Reflect on the unique gifts and talents that God has given you, and consider how you can use them to serve others and glorify God. Colossians 3:23-24 reminds us, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward.”

6 – Set Realistic Goals and Break Tasks into Manageable Steps

Procrastination can just melt away when I put goals in writing, and tease them out into steps I can measure.

There are beaucoup tools that help me move the needle. Zig Ziglar has been a tremendous help. And the Self Journal by Best Self Co. is my go-to. Once I settled in and actually used these resources, things really changed for me. 

To combat procrastination, it is crucial to set realistic goals and develop a plan to achieve them. Break tasks into smaller, manageable steps to reduce feelings of overwhelm and make progress more achievable. Proverbs 21:5 states, “The plans of the diligent lead to profit as surely as haste leads to poverty.” By planning and setting achievable goals, we can work diligently and use our time wisely.

7 – Practice Self-Discipline

Procrastination and the “D” word. I can’t get around it. Discipline has to be part of the plan. Sorry. 

Self-discipline is a virtue that Christians are encouraged to develop, as it helps us remain focused on our spiritual growth and resist worldly temptations. 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 highlights the importance of self-discipline, likening the Christian life to a race that requires dedication and perseverance. To overcome procrastination, we must develop self-discipline by setting realistic goals, creating a schedule, and holding ourselves accountable.

Seeking accountability from fellow believers, such as friends or family members, can encourage us to stay on track and fulfill our responsibilities. You’ll just have to figure out what that looks like for you.

8 – Embrace the Power of Grace

Finally, it is important to remember that we will not always be perfect in our efforts to overcome procrastination. In these moments, we must rely on God’s grace and forgiveness. 2 Corinthians 12:9 reassures us, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

I beat myself up so often that I should cover myself in bubble wrap. Grace, y’all. If you’re weak, in procrastination or in other areas, it’s okay. God wants to do the heavy lifting, and if you’ll let Him, you’ll have one powerful testimony.

Overcoming procrastination is an ongoing process that requires intentionality, self-reflection, and reliance on God’s guidance. You won’t ever be completely free of this burden, but you can manage it.

Hope this encourages you. Be well!

Perseverance. Hanging in there.

We need to talk about perseverance. I’d contend that a lot of the problems and issues we face are due to simply giving up too soon. We got tired, or distracted, or listened to our inner demons.

Our lives are made up of a series of adversities, obstacles, and setbacks. Perseverance means we are to persist in the face of hard times and keep working toward a goal, whatever it is. 

Let’s break this perseverance thing down. What keeps us from persevering and giving up too early? Here are three barriers. I’m sure there are more. 

Fear. Fear can take all sorts of forms, but sometimes we’re simply afraid that life is too hard. So we pivot away from what we know we should be doing, and take the proverbial path of least resistance. We could also talk about a fear of failure – I mean, who actually likes to fail?

Doubt. We might look at the times historically when we’ve messed up and we then convince ourselves that we aren’t going to be any better. We don’t persevere, because we’ve failed before. Why should this time be any different?

Disappointment. I don’t particularly like being beat up over and over again. It makes me tired. Perseverance would ask me to keep trying. I don’t want to try if it isn’t going to make any difference. I convince myself that there is a virtue in giving up, because it helps me avoid any more hurt.

Perseverance isn’t a trait that comes naturally for me, for those three reasons. Your list of reasons might be different. 

Still, I know that I could solve myself a lot of grief if I didn’t fold so easily. I’ll admit that what I’m sharing isn’t something I can personally testify to. Blind leading the blind? Maybe. I hope I can help you and me both. 

It might be helpful if we took a look at some role models, some people who displayed perseverance. You probably know most of them. I’d contend they are just like us; the difference is that they hung in there. This is pretty inspiring:

Abraham Lincoln: Lincoln faced numerous setbacks and failures throughout his life, including losing eight elections, two business failures, and the death of his son. He persevered and eventually became the President of the United States, leading the country through the Civil War.

Martin Luther King Jr.: Of course, Martin Luther King Jr. was a key figure in the American Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and 1960s. He faced many obstacles, including arrests, physical attacks, and death threats, but he persevered and played a pivotal role in the fight for racial equality.

Thomas Edison: Edison is known for his perseverance and determination. He conducted thousands of experiments in his quest to invent the light bulb, and is said to have failed over 10,000 times before finally succeeding. His perseverance led to the development of the first practical incandescent light bulb, which changed the world forever.

J.K. Rowling: J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series, persevered through many rejections before finally getting her book published. Her perseverance led to the creation of one of the most beloved and successful book series in history.

Malala Yousafzai: Malala Yousafzai is a young activist who persevered through the Taliban’s attempts to silence her and her message advocating for girls’ education. Despite being shot in the head by the Taliban, Malala recovered and continued her activism, becoming the youngest Nobel Prize laureate in history.

Marie Curie: The first woman to win a Nobel Prize, Marie Curie faced many obstacles throughout her life. She had to overcome poverty, discrimination, and the loss of her husband, Pierre Curie, but her perseverance and determination led her to make groundbreaking discoveries in the field of physics and chemistry, including the discovery of the elements radium and polonium.

I know what you’re thinking: These folks were superstars. I’m nowhere close to showing that level of success.They had big goals, for sure. But perseverance can help in small ways, which should be a big personal deal: for example, learning a new skill, getting through difficult times, or reaching a specific target.

It might just be that the only real difference in them and you is that they persevered. Can you “learn” perseverance?

I think you can. Here are six real benefits:

1. Achieving goals: Perseverance is essential for achieving goals, whether they are personal or professional. When individuals persevere through difficulties, they increase their chances of success. With perseverance, we are better equipped to overcome obstacles and achieve their goals.
2. Developing resilience: Perseverance helps us develop resilience, the ability to bounce back from setbacks and challenges. When we persevere through difficult times, they become stronger and more capable of handling future challenges.
3. Developing a growth mindset: Perseverance is also closely linked to having a growth mindset, the belief that one’s abilities can be developed through hard work and effort. When we persevere, we learn that they can improve their abilities and achieve more than they initially thought possible.
4. Building self-efficacy: Perseverance helps us build self-efficacy, the belief that we can accomplish what we set out to do. When we persevere through challenges and achieve our goals, we develop a sense of self-efficacy that can help us tackle future challenges with greater confidence.
5. Improving problem-solving skills: Perseverance can help us improve our problem-solving skills by encouraging us to come up with new solutions to problems and to keep trying until we find the right one. This can help us become better equipped to handle challenges in the future.
6. Enhancing mental and physical well-being: Perseverance can also have a positive impact on mental and physical well-being. When we persevere through difficult times, we tend to feel more satisfied and fulfilled, which can lead to a greater sense of well-being. Additionally, when we persevere through physical challenges, we can improve their physical fitness and health.

Good, self-evident stuff there, right?  Let’s make this perseverance thing practical. 

Again, I’m sharing from a place I haven’t arrived at yet. Goals, right?

Perseverance is a trait that can be developed and strengthened over time. Here are a few ways to learn to persevere:

1. Set challenging but achievable goals: Setting challenging goals for yourself can help you develop perseverance. Make sure the goals you set are achievable, but also require effort and determination to reach.
2. Embrace failure: Failure is a natural part of the learning process and should be embraced as an opportunity to learn and grow. Instead of getting discouraged by failure, use it as motivation to keep going and try again.
3. Break down big goals into smaller steps: Breaking down big goals into smaller, more manageable steps can make them seem less daunting. This can help you stay focused and motivated as you work towards achieving your goal.
4. Learn from role models: Look to role models who have demonstrated perseverance in their own lives. Study their experiences and learn from their strategies for overcoming obstacles and achieving success. I gave you a good starter list.
5. Stay positive: Maintaining a positive attitude is crucial for persevering through difficult times. Try to focus on the progress you’ve made and the positive aspects of the situation, rather than dwelling on the negative.
6. Develop a support system: Surround yourself with people who will support and encourage you. Having a support system can help you stay motivated and on track when things get tough.
7. Look to Jesus: He was the Son of God, but He didn’t waver from His task. I truly believe that there were times when, in the flesh, He could have turned back. He didn’t. 

It’s worth mentioning that perseverance is not about being stubborn or insisting on doing something even if it is not the best option, it’s about being persistent and determined to achieve a goal or overcome a challenge, while being open to change and adapt when necessary. Additionally, it’s important to know when to take a break and recharge.

Hang in there. Perseverance. We can do this.

There are some things that take up too much headspace for me – specifically, things that are out of my control.

I realized when I started writing this particular blog that I had way too much to share in just one sitting. So this will be continued next time, okay? (Teaser!)

Fact is, there are plenty of things out of my control, and yours, too.

I thought I’d share seven of these. This isn’t some magic number, but I’m guessing that at a minimum these seven are close to universal. I’ll just air these out, and next time I’ll give you some encouragement.

Here ya go: 7 things out of my control.

1. The actions of others.

Think about the folks you come into contact with regularly. If you want to think globally, that’s fine, but maybe we need to restrict this to your immediate circle.

It’s a hard truth that you can’t control what others do. Maybe you can be an influencer, and I hope you are. (Of course, this implies that you know what’s best for others, and that might be a little sketchy.)

People are inherently self-serving, and it takes some effort for them to overcome that … if that’s a goal they have. Chances are, you’ve experienced some hurt because of what others have done. You’d like to help them see how wrong they were (subtle sarcasm there.)

You got nowhere. This is one of those things out of your control.

2. The opinions of others.

Well, yeah. People have strong opinions about, y’know, stuff. They may have strong opinions about you, too. Does that make you uncomfortable? And if so, why?

I know of a lady who was scrupulous about making sure her house was in order, the beds made up, etc., before leaving each morning for work. Her rationale? “If the house catches on fire, I’d hate for the firefighters to see my house in a mess.”

Well, now, my sense is that they wouldn’t care. That’s something out of my control.

Still, she was motivated by the opinion of others. Even complete strangers.

You can’t do anything about what others think. Again, you might be an influencer, but it’s up to them as to what their opinions are.

3. How others take care of themselves.

There is a series of commercials/PSA’s I see frequently about quitting smoking. I’ve never smoked, so this doesn’t really apply to me. But the minute-long spots show vignettes of people who are grotesquely scarred because of surgery, of children having to take care of cancer-ridden parents, and patients dealing with a whole host of horrific ailments.

It may be that someone close to you doesn’t take care of themselves. Maybe they’re morbidly obese. Perhaps they know what they’re doing is unhealthy – not only physically, but emotionally and mentally. It grieves you.

You can’t fix that. People will, or won’t, take care of themselves based on where they are in life and what circumstances surround them.

I had a relative who straight-up said, “Smoking is the only pleasure I have left.” So there’s that.

4. What happens around me.

So here you are, plunked down in a physical location right now. It’s an environmental thing, and it’s not just physical. You may find yourself in an environment made up of other people, circumstances, things like that.

Those things are out of my control. They might not change. Perhaps I can remove myself from that environment, but that doesn’t change the “things” themselves.

As I write this, Jackson, Mississippi, is in a legitimate crisis. I live in metro Jackson, and what is happening doesn’t directly affect me. Jackson is without water, basically, and that means none to drink, none to bathe in, none to cook with, none to flush toilets. It’s really, really bad. We’re on the national news.

I can’t do anything about that. It’s out of my control.

I would say, though, that while I can’t change things, I can serve in the midst of them. While the circumstances themselves are out of my control, I’m not helpless. So maybe this one isn’t totally out of my control. There have been other things over the years I couldn’t do squat about.

5. The past.

This one is pretty self-evident. What’s done is done. We don’t get do-overs. We can commit to not doing boneheaded things from here on out, but it doesn’t change what’s already happened.

If you’ve been following me for some time, you know this is a “thing” for me. People are burdened, crippled by the past. It shouldn’t be this way, but realistically, it is for many.

I can’t change the past. That’s out of my control. It’s easy to say “get over it,” but that’s really, really hard, especially if you have something in your past that looms up in your thoughts like some demonic presence.

6. The future.

Here’s a companion thought to #5. You can’t control the future.

There may be sort of an exception to this. You can make decisions right now that will indeed change the future.

But – you can’t control what those changes are. Be wise, think things through, and in God’s providence make the right calls.

In spite of all that, you don’t get to dictate the outcomes. You can in no fashion control the future. You don’t know what’s out there. If the supervolcano under Yellowstone chooses to blow, it’s gonna blow. That’s out of my control. Fundamentally, the future before you is out of your control, too.

7. What other people think of me.

This one is a bit like #2. The distinction I’d like to make is that while the opinion of others might involve, say, politics, what people think of you is personal, directed at you.

That’s out of my control for sure. I don’t really like that.

It may be that you’ve tried to be charming, or forceful, or used any number of tactics to make people like you.

How’d that work out for ya?

You simply can’t control what other people think of you. You can do all you can to present yourself in a winsome, positive way, but they are still going to have their own opinions of you. Those opinions might change over time. Or not.

In all my years of youth ministry, I finally came to the realization that some kids simply didn’t like me. I can’t imagine anyone not liking me, but it’s true. Oh. The horror.

What other people think of you is out of your hands. As I’ve said, you can be an influencer, but people are going to have their opinions of you no matter what.

So, there you go. There are many things out of my control. There are many things out of your control.

My admittedly lame counsel is for us to collectively get over it. I know, right?

Next time I’ll give you a list of things that are in your control. That’s what we want to major on.

Talk soon!

John Maxwell says, “Leadership is influence,” and that’s what spurred me on to today’s blog, because you make a difference whether you mean to or not.

My blog is all about encouragement, being hopeful, and keeping your head high in chaos. Maybe your primary concern is just getting through the day. That’s a big deal, you know? Many people barely squeak by in the course of 24 hours. Their daily lives are a slog.

Perhaps, then, being an influencer is way down on your list of priorities. Finding your keys may be your biggest accomplishment for the day.

However. You make a difference whether you mean to or not. It all depends on how you want to make a difference.

Do you want to be purposeful and make a difference, or do you want to be random?

Because the choices you make, small or large, can and do make a mark in your corner of the world.

I’d like to illustrate this with a little history lesson.

I am a product of the South. I am not ashamed of that. My “southernness” is a huge component of who I am. But I am not an apologist for the Confederate States of America. Both of my great-grandfathers fought for the Confederacy. While that may seem reprehensible to many today, please understand – we cannot discern the mindset or prevailing culture of our ancestors, nor should we interpret what happened in 1861 through the sensibilities and hindsight of 2019. We don’t know what we would have done back then if that was all we knew.

That, by the way, is why I am secretly amused when people talk about being “on the right side of history.” How can you know that? The Third Reich thought it was on the right side of history, too. I’m wondering if our descendents will look back on these days and ask, “What the heck were they thinking?” But I digress.

I’ve been a War Between the States buff for decades. I’m pretty well-versed in that part of our history, and I can carry on a decent conversation about battles and politics and leaders of that era. That fratricidal war can make a difference even today.

There is a Union officer I want to make you familiar with. He is Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain of the 20th Maine.

Ever heard of the Battle of Gettysburg? It was a pretty big deal. Chamberlain was responsible for repulsing the Confederate advance on Little Round Top, a key geographical position on the high ground of the battlefield.

By all accounts, this event turned the tide of the battle. Short on ammunition, Chamberlain employed a bayonet charge against a much superior force. (I have a link for you to check out. Humor me – it’s a compelling story, even if you aren’t a history buff.)

Chamberlain said, “I had, deep within me, the inability to do nothing.”

Read that again.

I had, deep within me, the inability do do nothing.

Still here? Consider this.

Andy Andrews says, “Historians have discovered that, had Chamberlain not charged that day, the South would have won at Gettysburg. If the South had won at Gettysburg, historians say, the South would have won the war. Now, I had always thought that if the South had won, we would be the North and South, but historians say that had the South won, we would now have a continent that looks more like Europe, fragmented into nine to thirteen countries.

“Which means that, had Chamberlain not charged, when Hitler swept across Europe in the 1940’s, the United States of America wouldn’t have existed to stand in the breach. When Hirohito  systematically invaded the islands of the South Pacific, there would not have existed a country big enough, powerful enough, strong, populous, and wealthy enough to fight and win two wars on two fronts at the same time. The United States of America exists today because of one man who made a decision to charge. One man decided he was a person of action.”

This haunts me.

Part of it has to do with something of a certain self-centeredness I deal with. It’s that “looking out for number 1” philosophy. Self-care is important, but not to the extent that you forget about others.

There are needs all around you. You ever, providentially, wonder if you are the one to meet those needs? Think you can make a difference?

I wonder if Chamberlain ever looked back at the battle for Little Round Top and fully understood what a difference his choice of a bayonet charge made, not only at Gettysburg, but on the outcome of the war itself.

You may not ever lead others in battle, at least in the military sense. There is a battle raging all around you all the time, even if you aren’t aware of it.

It may be that one of the best way you can be encouraged and embrace hope is to act directly on the things you can do something about. It’s getting out of yourself and looking at the higher cause.

At best, you may be able to encourage someone else, help them have hope in what seems to be a hopeless situation.

I can imagine the Union troops looked at the advancing Confederates and wondered, “What are we to do?” And their commanding officer gives some very unconventional orders. It paid off.

I guess what I want you to understand is this:

Act.

Don’t allow yourself to be paralyzed. Take action. The longer you brood and worry, the harder it will be to do something.

Don’t be Tony on a bad day. Tony’s bad days dictate that I spend all my time trying to figure things out. Be faithful to what you know you need to do. It will make a difference in the lives of others … and you.

Are you stuck and need to be unstuck?

Here’s what I mean about needing to be “unstuck.”

It may be that in these challenging days you feel like you’re mired in some mudhole. You can’t budge. Your mindset stinks. Your environment is holding you captive. You’re stuck in a pandemic, in a dead-end job, in a toxic relationship, and you are trying to figure out how to get unstuck with grace and integrity. You have to move on. You need to grow.

You’re worn out. You are stuck, and there doesn’t seem to be any way to get unstuck, moving, and growing.

The thing is – life doesn’t stand still. You are either growing or decaying. You are either stuck (which means you need to get unstuck) or moving along.

As I type, I’m looking at a plant in a window. It’s a little succulent. It’s something I’ve managed not to kill.

That little thing is growing. There are a couple of flowers on it. That excites me. But I’m aware that it has a lifespan, like all living things, and one day it’ll just die.

So here you are, at some point in your life journey, and you are either growing or decaying. Let’s call it “maturing.”

You may find yourself stuck – morally (you have some vile habit you haven’t been able to shake), intellectually (your mind takes you to some unhealthy places, and it’s because you won’t open yourself up to other thoughts and possibilities), physically (I won’t go there, other than to note that I don’t need to see a plate of cookies laying around), spiritually (you are distant and isolated from God, and nothing seems to help), or relationally (you’re struggling in a personal relationship, or at least know it isn’t where it needs to be.)

You feeling me?

What, then, can you do to get unstuck? How can you free yourself from the grip of fear, isolation, unease, fatigue, or something else? I mean, dang, this COVID stuff. I’ve decided that everyone is gonna get it at some point. It’s just a matter of severity.

Fact is, getting unstuck is ultimately an act of God. But you can position yourself to let God do all the heavy lifting.

Here are three thoughts.

1. If you want to get unstuck, then you have to keep the end in sight.

Christians tend to get this backwards. These days, frequently, I say “Come, Lord Jesus!” I mean that. But heaven isn’t my goal. It’s my destination. There is a difference. My goal is to become more like Jesus, not to end up in heaven.

The implications are pretty significant. If the goal (the end) is to be like Jesus, I need to take purposeful, intentional steps in that direction.

Again, Christ does the heavy lifting. He puts me and you in situations, struggles, and relationships that stretch us. That might not be pleasant at the time. His desire is for us to be like Him, and He has tons of tools at His fingertips to grow us and get us unstuck from whatever place we find ourselves.

The end, then, is Christlikeness. That’s why what is happening to you is happening.

2. To get unstuck, you have to commit to being unstuck.

Some people seem pretty content in the place they’re in. It’s a weird thing. People hang out with others who drag them down. They embrace a habit that is causing harm. They purposefully read and expose themselves to things that make them feel awful because they’re looking for “the truth.”

No way do you need to be that person. Me either.

It’s a commitment thing, and that isn’t easy. Sorry. No quick fix.

When I perform a wedding, and do the vows, some of the traditional phrases are “for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health,” etc. What I’m saying is “Y’all are making a lifelong commitment. It’ll be hard. It doesn’t matter if it’s hard. You’re going to work through everything.” The couple has no idea what’s coming. They just go for it.

You’ll get stuck from time to time. But before you get stuck, you need to commit to get unstuck. It doesn’t matter what the sticking place is. The decisions are made before you get stuck. You forbid yourself to stay there.

As an aside, the trick is to trust God. Obvious, right? You place your life in His hands, no holding back, and you die to your own agenda and goals. I’ll just bet most of our getting stuck has to do with us taking matters into our own hands instead of seeking His will and yielding to it.

3. People who are stuck should value the process of getting unstuck as much as the state of being unstuck.

That quick fix I mentioned earlier? We’re always looking for those ten easy steps to … whatever.

Got an unpleasant truth for you. Most growth (or getting unstuck) doesn’t happen in one whack. It tends to be a process rather than an event.

I’m not discounting those times when you had a major breakthrough. God used a speaker, an incident, a book, or other definitive point in time to completely realign your life and keep you moving and growing.

My experience is that change comes in the tiny incremental decisions I make. My prayer, for instance, is “just for today, Lord, help me not to be stupid.” It’s not a one-and-done thing. It’s a journey.

I believe the secret to getting unstuck is bound up in our daily routines. I’ve written plenty of times about the personal necessity I have of spending time along with God daily. I can face a day having no idea what it holds, but I can by-golly control those first few minutes.

The constant is that God shows up every morning. The rest of the day just unfolds as it will.

This won’t affect your final grade, but if I were giving a challenge or assignment, it would be for you to identify that one simple step you can take to get unstuck from whatever is bogging you down, and dealing with it.

In other words – determine what it is you need to do to get unstuck, and do it.

It’s not like crossing the Alps. It’s that baby step.

Talk later!

“Do the next right thing.” That’s pretty much a call to action, right?

The problem with follow-through is complicated, though.

• You have analyzed your situation until you’re paralyzed.
• You’re not comfortable where you are, but it’s more comfortable to stay there than it is to take a risky step.
• You aren’t even sure what the next right thing is.

If you’re a Disney fan (and, unapologetically, I’m one of the most passionate), you may recognize “The Next Right Thing” as the title of a song from Frozen 2. If that leaves you saying “Huh?”, never fear. I’ll get you caught up.

© Disney

Without getting bogged down in the plot (which is really dense and thought provoking), we have a character named Anna. Anna is one of two sisters from the mythical kingdom of Arendelle. (Maybe it’s not all that mythical!)

You’ll need to watch Frozen 2 to appreciate this (and Frozen too, of course. Trust your Uncle Tony on this.)

At the darkest point in the movie, when Anna thinks she’s lost her sister Elsa and the beloved snowman Olaf, she sings this:

I’ve seen dark before
But not like this
This is cold
This is empty
This is numb
The life I knew is over
The lights are out
Hello, darkness
I’m ready to succumb

I follow you around
I always have
But you’ve gone to a place I cannot find
This grief has a gravity
It pulls me down
But a tiny voice whispers in my mind
You are lost, hope is gone
But you must go on
And do the next right thing

Can there be a day beyond this night?
I don’t know anymore what is true
I can’t find my direction, I’m all alone
The only star that guided me was you
How to rise from the floor
When it’s not you I’m rising for?
Just do the next right thing
Take a step, step again
It is all that I can to do
The next right thing

I won’t look too far ahead
It’s too much for me to take
But break it down to this next breath
This next step
This next choice is one that I can make

So I’ll walk through this night
Stumbling blindly toward the light
And do the next right thing
And with the dawn, what comes then?
When it’s clear that everything will never be the same again
Then I’ll make the choice
To hear that voice
And do the next right thing*

This. Do the next right thing. The song is a study in depression – not what most folks would anticipate from a Disney movie.

Kristen Bell portrayed Anna. Here’s what she said about the song:

A lot of people feel that feeling: What do I do when I don’t know what to do? My personal mantra is you just do the next right thing. It also stems from when I am experiencing anxiety and depression. What do I do when I don’t want to get out of bed in the morning? You just do the next right thing, and that’s stepping out of bed. The next right thing is brushing your teeth. The next right thing is eating your breakfast. The next right thing is looking at your calendar and going to work. This idea of having an intrinsic motivation versus extrinsic motivation is something that as a parent I know is incredibly important to show kids and to help them cope. I really wanted Anna to be representative of that.

You’re probably way ahead of me already. This is a blog about encouragement.

Between the song lyrics and Kristen Bell’s astute observations, I don’t have a lot to add. But I’ll try to help us collectively determine what the next right thing is for us.

• You may be in a mental and emotional place that is really bleak. Or not; perhaps you’ve been there in the past and know you could easily be there again. It’s in your nature, right?
• You look toward the future. Maybe it isn’t hopeless, but it IS discouraging at the very least.
• You tend to project your anxiety because of all the “what if’s.”

Let’s make some progress here.

• You are not psychic. Maybe you think you are. Fact is, while you may have some sense of what’s coming next, there is no way you can know every detail of the future.
• If you’re a Believer, then your future is already secure. That doesn’t mean that you won’t face some excruciating challenges, but the final outcome is settled.
• If you don’t know what to do – right now – then take some counsel. The next right thing might be to simply stand up and stretch. Eat something. Latch onto at least one thing you are thankful for (a pulse? Somewhere to sleep? An upcoming meal?)
• After you’ve done that thing, take a deep breath. Then do another thing.
• These are baby steps, but they are steps. They are actions. They are little victories. Compounded, you can engineer a whole stretch of wins.
• Don’t wait until you feel like doing the next right thing. Do something anyway. Your feelings will catch up.
• There is no shame in letting someone you trust know you’re struggling. I can’t stress this enough. And if you don’t have anyone trustworthy enough or understanding enough in your life, there is plenty of help available.

This is all personal to me, no doubt. Since my head injury, depression is an unpleasant addition to my life. I am progressively getting better, and I’m so grateful for that. I’ve learned, though, that my improvement is largely in my own hands. I can’t passively sit around wishing things were different. I’m not ready for postmortems yet.

Sometimes you simply have to act. Do the next right thing.

Be blessed.

Tony’s Question: Without going into any detail – a simple yes or no would work here – do you know what the next right thing is in your own life? Share, if you’re comfortable doing so.

*Written by: Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez

Lyrics © Walt Disney Music Company

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

What is success, anyway? Volumes have been written on this, and the definition of success is oh-so subjective. Your success criteria and mine might be in two different places.

Still, I’d like to tackle this one. As always, this is the gospel according to Tony, and you might think you know better. That’s entirely possible, and I’m at peace with you about that. Success can be in the eye of the beholder.

Foundationally, I’d say that unless you think you’re a success it doesn’t matter what the world thinks of you. For instance, you can be a gazillionaire and the world thinks you’re amazing. Yet your soul is barren and your relationships are wretched. See what I mean? Success has to be an internal thing if it’s to have any meaning to you. I love this quote from Thoreau:

“A man is rich in the proportion of things he can let alone.” So as we ponder success, remember that I ain’t necessarily talking about finances. (Although, I’d say that anyone who says that money isn’t important will lie about other things, too.)

So what are some factors to consider?

1. Purpose. I’m all about goals – goal setting and goal achieving. I believe that’s critical to success. Maybe one day I’ll post a bibliography of helpful books and resources. In the meantime, just latch onto this: You’re always moving toward some kind of goal, either by purpose or default. Life will mean something if you’re going somewhere purposeful and of your choosing. Habakkuk 2:3 says, “For still the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end – it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay.”

• Consistency. If you’re remotely aware of how baseball works, you know that a batting average of .500 is pretty much a walk-on-water statistic. That means that half the time you’re batting, you get a hit, and, conversely, you miss just as many. Stated differently, you fail just as much as you succeed. If you’re successful, then count on having plenty of moments of failure. Wrap your head around this: you’re gonna screw up. But rather than burning energy worrying about what you did or didn’t do, how about using that energy on learning from what happened, sucking out whatever lessons you can, and moving on? It’s a matter of being consistent and not beating yourself up. Perseverance, in other words. How about this? “For the righteous falls seven times seven times and rises again, but the wicked stumble in times of calamity.” – Proverbs 24:16.

• Cost. Hey, guess what. There is no success for free. There are no shortcuts or work-arounds. I mean, what good is there in being successful if there wasn’t real effort to achieve it? It’s that old thing about how lottery winners tend to squander their gains because they didn’t have to work to get them. It needs to be hard, and God help us and others in our culture of entitlement. No one owes you squat. I can’t cite where I heard this, but I recall that a Steinway concert grand piano has 243 strings that exert a pull of 40,000 pounds on an iron frame. Music comes from tension, in other words. Isn’t that good? “Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” – Proverbs 16:3.

• Being pleased. This isn’t an original thought with me, but … success may be won with tears but it must be crowned with laughter. Hey, if success doesn’t please you and give you satisfaction, then it really isn’t success, now is it? Ultimately, you are the only one who can know what gives you pleasure in accomplishment. You sort of have to not give a rip about what anyone else thinks. If you’re pleased, poop on ‘em. What do they know? So be satisfied and don’t apologize. That means … you may be an abject failure in the eyes of the world, but if you’re content because you’ve reached a meaningful personal goal, good for you. Psalm 37:4 is a good one here: “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Note it’s YOUR heart and no one else’s!

• Spiritual faith. All this talk of success ultimately has to be grounded in belief. We Americans have been taught to be individualistic, to pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps, be self-made men or women, ad infinitum. As a Christian, however, I yield to the connectedness that comes from being part of a purpose bigger than myself. In my naïve worldview, I just can’t see how I could feel successful without acknowledging the Author of my purpose. This, it seems, is the great leveler. Someone might be a successful yard man and another be a successful oil company executive. Both of these can be honorable positions in life, provided that those individuals feel that they’re successful in what they do, although they are separated by a huge financial gulf. But their spiritual faith – faith in God – could be exactly the same and just as meaningful. Different thread, common tapestry!

The key, I suppose, is to courageously be yourself.

Be well. Comments welcomed and encouraged!

Y’all know I purely love having guest bloggers. So I’m so so pleased to welcome Adam Trest to our special place!

Here’s his official bio:

Adam Trest is a full time studio artist working and living in Laurel, MS with his wife Lily, and his daughters Fincher and Poppy. He is represented by The Caron Gallery in Tupelo, MS and T. Clifton Art in Memphis, TN.  His work is often seen on episodes of HGTV’s HomeTown and prints of his work can be purchased online at the Laurel Mercantile.

I’ll put some links at the end of his blog. But Adam’s a great guy. Our daughter Amy worked for him and Lily for a time and she just loved them. And that HGTV HomeTown connection is way cool, too … Ben and Erin Napier, good friends, worked their magic on a farmhouse they purchased, and you can find out about that whole experience right here. It’s a fun story.

I’ll step out of the way and let Adam tell his story. You’ll be encouraged.

Holding Out for Hope

I started drawing when I was 3, or at least that’s what my mom always told me. She was an english teacher, but she could never find it in her heart to get on to me when I would color over the illustrations in my story books. She always said that I was just trying to make them better. Having that type of support system is dangerous for an artist, because I grew up with the spiderman way of thinking. With great power comes great responsibility, right? Only in my family, we replaced “power” with “talent”. 

The T word was thrown at me my whole life, and to some extent I really do believe some people have greater talents than others, but I really prefer the term gift. What I have is so much more than an ability that I was born with. I believe that the Lord gifted me with a desire to create. Between that desire, and the encouragement of my family, I was given the perfect equation for becoming an artist. 

When I look back at my life thus far, the hardest times were when I’ve not trusted that the Lord gave me adequate gifts to carry out his plan for my life. It was the years I spent in architecture school dealing with anxiety and depression because I thought I knew that being an architect was going to make me happy. I was given amazing opportunities to intern in West Palm Beach, and design actual buildings… all things that are dreams for architecture students. But I found myself lost and struggling. 

Returning to school that fall after my internship, I was drowning with my decision about what to do with my life. I truly believe that the Lord put a professor named Brent in my life to help put me back on my path. Sitting in his office, broken, he mentored me through the toughest decision of my life, and for the first time in my college career I saw a glimmer of hope. I changed my major, and poured myself into studio work. I honed the gifts the Lord blessed me with, and used my remaining time in college as a springboard into my professional life. 

The roller coaster of life has been full of highs and lows. Seasons of hopefulness and hopelessness. Hindsight has always proven those peaks were when I was trusting in my gifts, knowing that the Lord would provide because I was honoring him through those talents…. until December 4, 2011. 

I talked to her an hour before we got the call. There had been an accident, and just like that, my mom was gone. My number one cheerleader, my encourager, my toughest critic. Hopeless doesn’t begin to describe the feeling. When you’ve had that kind of support taken away, it feels like the floor has been pulled out from under you. I moved home. I stopped painting. I was hopeless. 

I remember sitting in the front pew of the funeral home and seeing the chapel bursting at the seams, because that is something that you should know about my mom: She used her gifts as a teacher to touch so many lives. Seeing the physical accumulation of her gift fill that room, generations of students, parents, and coworkers that she touched. It was a glimmer of hope. 

That day was long, and so was that following week. As a family we celebrated family birthdays and anniversaries, followed by our first Christmas without her. As hard as those days were, there was also a celebration of a life well lived. In that celebration of stories and memories, the glimmer of hope grew into a challenge. A challenge to live my life using my gifts to honor the One who gave them to me. My mom lived that every day, and for the last nine years I have tried to do the same. The artwork I create doesn’t have anything to do with my talents or abilities. My work is a gift that I get to share, because I find my hope in Christ. 

Links:

Adam Trest : https://www.adamtrest.com

The Caron Gallery : https://thecarongallery.com/product-category/artists/adam-trest/

Clifton Art : https://www.tcliftonart.com

Laurel Mercantile : https://www.laurelmercantile.com/collections/adam-trest-home

“Why don’t you drink?” This question has cropped up numerous times over the years in my work with teenagers as a youth minister, and to explain why I don’t drink has always struck me as odd. Alcohol is the only drug in my experience that I’ve had to explain why I don’t use it. And I was asked the question just this past week. I’m intrigued.

So I’m diving into this today. Now – pay attention: this is NOT a discussion as to why you shouldn’t drink, Christian or not. So, I’m not riding some moralistic high horse here. I am not doling out judgement. There are many Christians who will drink wine with a meal, or have the occasional craft beer.

The only thing I would say is that “Is it wrong?” is NOT the only question a Christian needs to ask, and I’ll leave it at that.

I’m Southern Baptist by choice. There are those semi-humorous tags that come along with that. It’s all those don’t’s … over the years, it’s been stuff like Baptists shouldn’t dance, shouldn’t play cards, shouldn’t go to movies, shouldn’t drink – you get the picture. That’s not what this is about.

I’ll try to explain why I don’t drink, and I’ll start with some scriptural acknowledgements. These are well-known:

• Jesus’ first miracle was the changing of water to wine at the marriage in Cana. I’ve heard people try to explain that the wine of that day didn’t have the alcohol content of what we have today. Well, the word for wine in Greek is oinos, and this is the same word used when the Good Samaritan poured oil and wine on the man’s wounds (there’s an antiseptic quality here).
• Paul famously told Timothy to take a little wine for his stomach’s sake. That oinos again.
• Ephesians tells us to “not be drunk with wine.” Yeah, that’s oinos. What Jesus made at Cana would make you drunk.

Scripture doesn’t speak of abstaining from alcohol. But it does say plenty about drunkenness. Some simple research will affirm that: Proverbs 20:1, Galatians 5:19-21, Luke 21:34, Proverbs 23:29-35, Isaiah 5:11, and lots more. Drunkenness isn’t going to be a neutral state. Scripture says “Nope.”

In our culture, it’s almost as if sobriety makes people uncomfortable.

Storytime!

When our daughter Amy was preparing for her wedding and subsequent reception, she and Teresa looked at several different venues to host the reception. They trusted me enough to do a little vetting, with the understanding that they had the final say.

One spot I visited was gorgeous. The menu they could put together makes me salivate just to even think about it.

The owner asked me if we wanted an open bar. I said, “Thanks, but no. We won’t be serving alcohol.”

He looked at me like I had seven heads. “W-what?” he stammered.

I repeated myself, but didn’t offer any explanation. Once he composed himself, his face sort of clouded and he said sarcastically, “Well, I hope you folks enjoy your punch and cookies!”

That was that.  I thanked him for his time and left.

Going back further, I could talk about the alcohol-fueled experience that was college life. I sampled stuff a couple of times, and didn’t see the appeal. (More later.) There wasn’t any real pressure on me – about the only comments were along the lines of “What could it hurt?” or “You’d be so funny drunk.”

There was one horrific experience in New Orleans when our marching band performed at halftime for a Saints football game. Afterwards, there were shuttle buses running all night from the French Quarter to our hotel. The little group I was hanging with wanted to go to Pat O’Brien’s, home of the notorious hurricane. I thought the glasses this rum concoction came in were pretty cool, and I wanted one. Of course, I didn’t realize that (a) I could have just purchased a glass, and (b) I could’ve got a non-alcoholic version. I got one for the glass, and figured if I chugged it quickly it wouldn’t affect me. I’ll leave the rest to your imagination. I’m not proud of any of that.

About the only other experience I had was as a kid at a wedding reception. There was champagne, and I’d always heard about how wonderful champagne was. I took a sip when no one was looking. It tasted like a burp.

One and done.

There’s your background. I’ve heard every argument for and against. Maybe you’ve gotten curious and have done the same kind of research, and come up with an answer that is consistent with what God teaches you.

For me, here are seven of my reasons for not drinking – why I don’t drink. They may or may not be yours. This may be a non-issue for you.

1. I just don’t like the taste. Pretty basic, huh? I’d much rather have sweet tea.
2. We all have this great freedom because of Christ on the Cross. Because of that freedom, we’re allowed to do certain things as Christians without fear of condemnation. (Paul does a deep dive on this in 1 Corinthians 10). But just because I have the freedom in Christ to do something doesn’t mean that I should.
3. If there is such a thing – this is scientifically debatable – I have an addictive personality. Personalities are complex, and there is no one factor in an addiction, other than you have to be exposed to that substance. Look – I’ve struggled with weight all my adult life, and trying to eat right is a bear. Sugar, for instance, or carbs. Ack. For some folks, it may be drugs, or porn, or social media, or Candy Crush. Perhaps, God forbid, SEC football. Even running! Shopping! Chocolate! You feelin’ me? I just know once something gets ahold of me, shedding it is perfectly awful. Drinking would be a really, really bad idea for me.
4. If I don’t drink, I don’t have to worry about abusing it.
5. I’ve seen the bad side of alcohol too, too many times. After performing a few funerals for adults and teenagers who died because of alcohol, you start asking those hard questions. No one sets out to be an alcoholic. Everyone begins with the attitude of “I’m just a social drinker and there’s nothing wrong with it. God doesn’t forbid it.” All those destroyed people, friendships, marriages, life itself – gone. Chocolate typically doesn’t cause that kind of destruction. (We can make a case how someone who doesn’t take care of their health can certainly hurt those they love, too.)
6. I don’t see how it would make me any closer to God. Okay, bingewatching The Mandalorian, or cheering for the New Orleans Saints doesn’t either. Still, it’s a matter of what would do me the more heinous damage. And it’s also a matter of what has the greater influence on me. Jesus hung out in some seedy places, with folks of questionable character, but He was also the Son of God.
7. The big one for me, as for why I don’t drink, comes down to the issue of being a stumbling block. There are some areas in life where I don’t want others to follow my example. I’ve been aware, as a father and a student minister, that impressionable eyes were watching me. There’s an argument out there that, as a parent, I could’ve shown my kids how to “drink responsibly.” You know, demystify it. Don’t make it glamorous or treat it like some forbidden fruit. Show it as a part of day-to-day living. Perhaps. But if I were to drink responsibly, and one of my kids couldn’t, or didn’t, then I would struggle with some real guilt there. The exercise of my freedom in Christ would have not been a good thing.

Those are seven of mine. And again, I’m not obligating you to come up with any reasoning, for or against.

In my walk with Christ, I want to stay as close to Him as possible. If anything interferes with that, I need to kick it to the curb and be done with it. Lord knows I struggle with consistency on this one! It’s easy for me to justify most anything. I just don’t want alcohol to be added to that list. There is enough I have to contend with already.

I want to become one with Christ. That means that I shouldn’t do things that get in the way of that.

Be well.

I sure would appreciate your comments below.

We’re talking about a food mindset today. It’s always a joy to introduce y’all to a guest blogger. I ran across Chad Gramling more or less randomly, like I’m prone to do.

He’s multifaceted, for sure, and his book, Food Thrifting, is available on Amazon at the link. Man, it’s good. It goes way way beyond just money saving. I’ve had a wonky relationship with food all my life, and this helped me get some sense and focus.

Chad hangs out at 1Glories.com. His blog is darn good, and he’s one worth following.

Check this out. It’s good stuff!

How Your Food Mindset Can Improve Your Wellbeing

Like it or not, we all have relationships with food and money. The same reasons we seek out “retail therapy” may be the same reasons we go for a pint (or gallon) of ice cream. Could be a bad day. Could be that you have reason to celebrate. Whatever the reason, there is a relationship.

It’s proof that, as people, we are prone to misplacing our relationship emphasis on stuff, like food and money. This is instead of with God and God’s people.

Of course, the food suppliers and marketers of our world know we behave this way. They know we lack discipline over our spending and eating. Couple this with being a noisey culture that’s constantly busy; and healthy — or even unhealthy — eating as a family becomes less frequent. A rarity, perhaps, for some families.

In our noisy culture, food is fast. Food is fuel. Food is a substitute. Something to “fill us.” It’s a substitute for the connection of a relationship.

Righting Your Food Mindset

Having the good fortune of growing up with the influence of both sets of grandparents who were products of the Great Depression, I got many lessons on stewarding food resources. So much so, it became a pillar of my personal worldview.

That’s why I can’t help but notice when I see people who would gain value in knowing and adopting some of these behaviors into their own lives.

Years back, I felt a calling from God to share these lessons by compiling them into a book. The book had a few starts and stops. I put it off, and then something changed that compelled me to finally finish it.

Food and Poverty

As our worst fears over the Coronavirus started becoming real, and the whole world essentially lurched toward a shutdown, people — as would be expected — panicked. Store shelves were depleted and food suppliers couldn’t replenish fast enough.

The impact of seeing this upon my psyche was pretty severe. You see, during the course of researching and writing my book, FoodThrifting, I took a deep dive into the state of food, food distribution, and skills for preparing food in this country. What I had observed convinced me that the food industry is one of the big reasons poverty exists here and elsewhere in the world.

While witnessing the shelves being emptied and meat markets unable to keep up with demand, I took it all in. I thought about the single-parent on a limited income or a family living paycheck-to-paycheck. And then, once they had funds to get their regular groceries, possibly couldn’t find anything to buy. I thought about the households where cooking wasn’t a skill they were taught while growing up and therefore relies more on restaurants, which were mostly closed. I thought about the kids that get much of their food through free school meals, which were at risk of not being available.

Relationships with Food Matters

Poverty is a very real part of life. And Jesus said there will always be poverty (Matthew 26:11). I don’t think he said this to tell us to just accept it as fact. No, I think he said it as a mandate to live and love by his example.

How so?

Well, dig into your Bible and you will see Jesus using food, not as a substitute, but as a facilitator of relationships. Author, professor, and preacher, Leonard Sweet, notes, that food “was the language Jesus used to introduce us mortals to the wisdom of God and the ways of creation. Think about it. Every time you turn around in the Scriptures, Jesus is eating and drinking. These feasts are significant. They tell us of a God of Joy and celebration, a God of life and health, a God who offers us ‘soul food,’ the very ‘bread of heaven.”

Following the example of Christ and his ministry, we can use food to facilitate relationships. To help people achieve increased wellness in their lives, whether physically, financially, or spiritually. Truthfully, as I have learned, all three go hand-in-hand. And being a responsible steward of your food and money resources – thereby being well in your own life and being able to help others in theirs – allows you to work towards all three at once.