You want to be a positive person. You really do.
But every time you try to think positively, someone grabs you and pulls you back down to earth. Maybe it's a snarky comment, a pessimistic outlook on your situation, or just plain whining. Whatever it is these people keep dragging you down.
And it's not like you can just cut them out of your life. These people are your family. They are your co-workers. Or worse: they are your (gasp) fellow Christians.
Maybe it's just time to join the whiners and pessimists. It would be easier that way. Besides, they seem to lead happy lives, right?
One Thing That Might Help You Overcome Fear
Let's be honest: frugality had nothing to do with it. Frugality was just a shroud for terror.
The master had different words for it:
These two adjectives were the fruit of the servant’s fear. He didn't intend to be wicked or lazy, but fear had forced his hand.
In fact, the servant’s plan had worked: he didn't lose the bag of gold (or "talent" in other translations) given him by his master. He returned it exactly how it he received it.
So why wasn't the master pleased?
Had he wanted the servant to do nothing with the money, the master would have simply kept it himself. He could have buried his own gold. Instead he wanted the servant to invest it, to multiply, to use it.
But the fear of loss was too great.
I don't know about you, but I can empathize with the scared servant. Despite knowing my calling, I let my writing skills lie dormant for years. I was distracted. I was afraid of failing. I was scared I would be exposed as a fraud of a writer.
But there is one verse in the Parable of the Talents that should help you and me overcome that fear.
The master had different words for it:
You wicked, lazy servant!
Matthew 25:26
These two adjectives were the fruit of the servant’s fear. He didn't intend to be wicked or lazy, but fear had forced his hand.
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| Lawrence OP (CC) |
In fact, the servant’s plan had worked: he didn't lose the bag of gold (or "talent" in other translations) given him by his master. He returned it exactly how it he received it.
So why wasn't the master pleased?
Had he wanted the servant to do nothing with the money, the master would have simply kept it himself. He could have buried his own gold. Instead he wanted the servant to invest it, to multiply, to use it.
But the fear of loss was too great.
I don't know about you, but I can empathize with the scared servant. Despite knowing my calling, I let my writing skills lie dormant for years. I was distracted. I was afraid of failing. I was scared I would be exposed as a fraud of a writer.
But there is one verse in the Parable of the Talents that should help you and me overcome that fear.
Think Divorce Isn’t Really a Big Deal? Read This.
A shoe-polished message on the back of an old hatchback chevy broke my heart. It was a play on words, an irony, a defiance, but I knew it was tinged with sadness.
“Just Divorced.”
That’s what I saw written on the back window. It was over-compensation for his failure. It was this man trying to tell the world, “It’s not that big of a deal, I’m happy it happened. Don’t cry for me.”
It was a cry for help.
You know what the saddest part is?
Unlike his wedding when he was young, bright, hopeful, and his best man surreptitiously painted the words, “Just Married” on the back of his getaway vehicle, this time the man had to write the words himself.
There was no celebration, no one else to join him on this occasion. So he bought the polish. And after the paper was signed and his heart torn in two, he walked to his Chevy, drove somewhere by himself, and scrawled the words on his own car:
“Just Divorced.”
That’s what I saw written on the back window. It was over-compensation for his failure. It was this man trying to tell the world, “It’s not that big of a deal, I’m happy it happened. Don’t cry for me.”
It was a cry for help.
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| John Stevens (CC) |
You know what the saddest part is?
Unlike his wedding when he was young, bright, hopeful, and his best man surreptitiously painted the words, “Just Married” on the back of his getaway vehicle, this time the man had to write the words himself.
There was no celebration, no one else to join him on this occasion. So he bought the polish. And after the paper was signed and his heart torn in two, he walked to his Chevy, drove somewhere by himself, and scrawled the words on his own car:
How Reading the Bible Can Make You Spiritually Sick
I have a son who won't eat anything.
He'll only eat four things consistently: pancakes, pepperoni pizza, eggs (scrambled), and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
He doesn't like ice cream (even though he thinks he does). He doesn't like french fries. What he will eat one day, he may turn his nose up at the next.
Sometimes our approach to the Word is just like a 6-year-old’s eating habits.
He'll only eat four things consistently: pancakes, pepperoni pizza, eggs (scrambled), and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
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| Darwin Bell (CC) |
He doesn't like ice cream (even though he thinks he does). He doesn't like french fries. What he will eat one day, he may turn his nose up at the next.
Sometimes our approach to the Word is just like a 6-year-old’s eating habits.
The Real Reason Jonah Disobeyed God
I had Jonah all wrong.
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| Photo Credit: Caroline (Creative Commons) |
If you grew up in the church like I did, you've no doubt heard the story of Jonah and the whale (or fish) a thousand times. It's a great story for kids because it involves a giant animal, disobedience, and vomit.
But usually we don't tell kids the whole story when it comes to Jonah. We usually end the story after God spares Jonah, Jonah goes to Ninevah, and God forgives the Ninevites.
But have you ever read the whole book of Jonah? If not, you really should because there is a much larger lesson in the book than just "it's not a good idea to disobey God."
There's a reason God chose Jonah specifically and not someone else.
The Most Unbelievable Story in the Bible
Have you heard the most unbelievable story in the Bible?
It’s not Jonah surviving an encounter with a giant fish.
It’s not God parting the Red Sea.
It’s not Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.
No, the most unbelievable story in the Bible is a less well-known one.
It’s not Jonah surviving an encounter with a giant fish.
It’s not God parting the Red Sea.
It’s not Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.
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| Even St. Jerome can't believe it. (dbking, CC) |
No, the most unbelievable story in the Bible is a less well-known one.
This Verse Says You Should Be Like Satan
You shouldn’t ignore evil; it won’t ignore you.
Pretending like Satan doesn’t exist is a mistake. That’s exactly what he wants. He’s subtle: telling half truths, using our weaknesses against us.
Sometimes it’s easier to act like evil isn’t real because acknowledging it can be terrifying. Fear not. Jesus gave us some good advice on how to deal with evil. When He sent His disciples out to preach the good news He told them that they were in danger:
Without awareness of the wolves you are more vulnerable to temptation, more likely to stumble, more likely to play their game. This is why Jesus told the disciples to be like Satan in one regard:
Pretending like Satan doesn’t exist is a mistake. That’s exactly what he wants. He’s subtle: telling half truths, using our weaknesses against us.
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| Kool Cats Photography (CC) |
Sometimes it’s easier to act like evil isn’t real because acknowledging it can be terrifying. Fear not. Jesus gave us some good advice on how to deal with evil. When He sent His disciples out to preach the good news He told them that they were in danger:
I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Matthew 10:16a
Without awareness of the wolves you are more vulnerable to temptation, more likely to stumble, more likely to play their game. This is why Jesus told the disciples to be like Satan in one regard:
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