Friday, November 9, 2012

WR-WR-WR-WRONG


109 – SEPTEMBER 2012

                     THINK ABOUT IT

WR-WR-WR-WR-WRONG 

Proverbs 29:23  “A man’s pride will bring him low, But the humble in spirit will retain honor.” 

I have noticed that of all the “things” we struggle for (wealth, power, recognition, & praise), we expend the most energy and emotion in a doggedness to be right. 

In the old TV series "Happy Days", the Fonz would experience anxiety when having to say that he was wrong.   Whenever he was in a position to admit an error he would uncomfortably and reluctantly say, "Okay - I'm wr-wr-wr-wr-wrong!
            It was quite funny!  The humor was fixed in the reality that we all have trouble admitting error and in the impersonal manner in which our pride is exposed.   

Proverbs 21:23  “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue Keeps his soul from troubles.  

When 2 people have a disagreement, it becomes amazing at the efforts that each go through to assure their rightness.    This phenomenon explodes when an end to a relationship is involved.   Friendship, courtship, divorce, employment, business deals … ,   
 
With great effort to protect your dignity and honor, here's a proven way to do it:
The first step is to e-mail to the enemy.   Take great care to perfectly word your case and, make sure to accuse the other of their "fault/s."
They will e-mail you back.  (Because they have the same plan going.)   They’ll rebut with a similar fleshy tone, stating their case and popping out their own well worded stinging accusations.
Make sure to e-mail again!
And again!
All the while, be sure to telephone the friends that you know will side with you.
Then call all mutual friends - to convince them of your honorable position in the matter at hand.
Lastly, contact all other mutual acquaintances that you never really gave much time to.   Carefully entertain them.   Wine them and dine them to your side.  

Just kiddin’.  

Sadly, however, I have witnessed some very wonderful people that have acted in this peculiar manner.   I have seen people that I look up to, people that are strong in their Godly faith, and people that are very nice and loving fall into this unpleasant self-deceit. 
It's a fraudulent satisfaction that leaves you empty.    It's a trap that I have put myself in and I look back with embarrassment and regret to the times I have allowed myself to fall. 

Proverbs 12:15  “The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice."Cross references:

              During the exhausting process, some friends will tell us to relax, to drop it, to let it go, to love, to forgive ..., but what do they know? 

Think about it!   After the damage is done and we finally shake the grip of the drama, we realize that they were the calm and wise ones.

This is just the way I see it.   Of course, I could be wr-wr-wr-wr-wrong.

                                                                                                            Chris


 

 

 

 

THE GOATS, THE FROG, AND THE PEACOCK


110 – OCTOBER 2012

                    THINK ABOUT IT
THE GOATS, THE FROG, AND THE PEACOCK 

             Two little goats needed to get home.   As they prepared to take the shortcut through Jockey Hollow, the farmyard frog jumped into view.   He let out a loud croak and, with his unpretentious red-neck jargon, he cautioned the little goats;
“Why, kids, I’m a thinkin’ that ya might take the long way this time.   Just last nite I was a hearing a wolf down in that there holla.   If’n you go down, you mightn’t not just never come back.”
As it was being said, a proud peacock was walking by.   Newly elected to the farm council, he was more concerned with his communicative skills than with the correctness of his eloquent opinion;
“My dear little ones, there has been no wolf incidents since I have been elected to the counsel.  The frog is new to the farm yard and, although he is very charming, I am not sure that you should hearken to his assistance.”
I have heard no howling and would recommend that you be unrestricted in your decision to take the shorter route to home.”
The two goats were impressed by the peacock and took the shortcut.
They were met by the wolf and were never heard of again. 

Moral:     I’d rather have someone say “I seen somthin.” (when they saw it) … than to have someone say “I saw something.” (when they didn’t see nothin’.)

Chris 

OR     Zechariah 8:16 “These are the things that you shall do; speak ye every man the truth to his neighbor; execute the judgment of truth and peace within your gates.” 

OR     Ehpesians 4:25  “Wherefore, putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

UPLOOKING


  111 – NOVEMBER 2012

                   THINK ABOUT IT

UPLOOKING

Are you an uplooker or a downlooker? 
             I am a “downlooker/uplooker wanna be.”
             Okay – So, when I walk I tend to look down.    That makes me a down looker.    Since I have realized this, I watch everyone a bit more closely and have found that 62% (I made that up) of folks are downlookers.    We sacrifice seeing the world around us so that we do not trip.   I love to walk on the beach and yet I find myself looking down to avoid stepping on broken shells … or something.   I guess.   

I don’t want to be a downlooker and begrudge the folks that keep their eyes up and don’t seem to care about exactly where their feet might land.

Maybe it’s not a fear of tripping.    Maybe it’s just a bad habit.    Maybe it’s a deep psychological thing revealing that I am still more concerned about myself than the world in need.    Regardless – I want to be an uplooker.   And, I have been working on it since I discovered the thing. 

Uplooker   up.look.er   noun :   1.  one who is carefree, cheerfully untroubled    2.  One who likes to explore, a swashbuckler

I’m getting better yet I find that, without concentrating, it’s easy to slip into my downlooking tendency.

Think about it!      Concrete and cracks and concrete and cracks and cigarette butts and concrete and dried gum (a lot of gum) and cracks and on and on.     That certainly makes for safe walking … and a visual menu of ho-hum nothing.    Think of all the things you might be missing.

Mt 6:27  “Can any one of you, by worrying, add a single hour to your life?”

Life is short.    I want to start worrying less about tripping and spend more time looking up.    Be less shielded and more adventurous.    Hit for the green when you know you should ‘play up’!!!         Walk bare foot more often!!!     Pack lighter!!!    Keep a light on – for no reason at all!!!     Be silly!!!      Giggle!!!      Be 5 minutes late for a meeting !!!     Hug more!!!   Kiss more!!!!     Get an earring!!!  (Just kidding.   I’m not that free yet.)         

Chris … the uplooker

P.S.  I couldn’t do more than 5 minutes late for a meeting.    Believe me – I’m “old school” in this department and 5 minutes is about as carefree as I could be.
            P.S.S.    I confess.    I made up the definition.   I threw caution to the wind.   You won’t find the word anywhere.

* Bible thought:  There are 58 verses in the Bible that say “… lift up your eyes and see…” or “…lift up your eyes and behold...”   Each one is followed by a particular   imagery or revelation that God unveiled to any person who might “lift up their eyes”.
And my friend Phil might reply, “Hmmmmm!!!”   

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

OFFENDING THE GIFT


105 – MAY 2012

                     THINK ABOUT IT

                                                                            OFFFENDING THE GIFT
                  
 I was overwhelmed by all the bad news on TV and commented, “Without God, we are nothing but animals.”
To which, my friend replied, “That’s an insult to the animal kingdom.”

The animal kingdom is free from the horror stratum of human intelligence.  No animal wants to be a politician in order to pontificate their invaluable opinions.    None have a desire to amass territory and rule the world.   They don’t need to war against anyone in order to enforce their flawless religious or political views.    They don’t have the urge to wear a mask and cut off someone’s head, or to strap a bomb and wipe out a bunch of innocent men, women, and children.  

 Genesis 1:27  “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

           What the heck happened?  

Why, throughout history, has man offended this unique God given human intelligence?   There a lot of great answers but I will give you one the way that I answer a lot of questions lately, “I dunno!”   

Now - from a lighter and more personal stage, I have begun to evaluate Coco, our cat.    

I notice that she often rolls on her back for a bit of petting.    She meows and purrs and naps a lot.    She falls asleep easily … without a lot of tossing and turning!   She loves being alive and she judges no one!   
            There are no “uppers” or “downers” in her medicine cabinet.    Her mind seems to be free of any concerns or stresses regarding a success planned life.  She seems rather happy without being daily fixated to check the stock market.  She does not battle resentments or unforgiveness.  She has no thoughts of ending her life because of depression or hopelessness.   She has no lack of self-esteem (because she doesn’t know what that is).  She seems rather content!
             Coco has no Things-To-Do list and she has accumulated no “stuff!” - No lawnmower, no Rolex, no junk drawers, and no “living will” to distribute her accumulated wealth.    She has no cell phone.   No Facebook.  And, believe it or not, she even walks out of the TV room in the middle of “American Idol.”      
 
             Romans 12:2  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
 
              With these thoughts in mind, I realize that I also offend the gift and need to transform to more Godly intellect.  I need to be more like Jesus.    I need to unseat myself from my glorious throne and become more compassionate, more forgiving, and more kind hearted.    

I certainly need to be more thankful!    Thankful for breathing!  Thankful for all the things that work!   And, especially thankful for my family and friends!   

Okay, I’m on a roll!   Stay with me a bit longer!  I need to be more lighthearted, more tolerant, and less know-it-all.    I need to spend time more wisely, talk less and listen more.   And I need to be more easily contented.   Yes! - I’m running out of space!

I need to take more time to close my eyes and smile and feel the presence of God in my life.  

Let’s “take inventory”!
            Eliminate:  “I wants”.     Add:  Serve.  Love.  Keep your nose clean.
            
             Maybe I should roll on my back and purr?   
             Maybe not!     Sorry!   That’s now a visual that you will want to get out your head!

Friday, April 20, 2012

WHISPERS

104 – APRIL 2012
THINK ABOUT IT

        1 Kings 19:12  “and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.”    (The NIV translation says a gentle whisper.” )

It’s a great blessing to be able to hear the voice of God.    I know of people that have heard an audible voice but my experiences have been more like a whisper of the Holy Spirit of God.   It happens many times and, most often, when I am in need of God’s correction, direction, protection, wisdom, warning, or encouragement.

I have recalled just a few times:                                                                    

          * One of the first was when I was foolishly engaging in a reoccurring pity party and I heard a very unmistakable whisper, “Grow up!”   
           It sounds a bit rough, but it was exactly how I had to hear it.

* Another time came when I had a busy schedule and was wondering why taking the time to play with my kids was so important.       I reasoned to myself, “I don’t recall anything when I was 1, 2 or 3 years old, so why should I expect them to remember this particular instance rolling on the carpet … tickling and laughing?”
            I did not realize that anyone was listening to my thoughts, when the great whisper of wisdom breathed across my soul, “They may not remember the instances but the person that they become will be a result from them.”
          Now, you just won’t get that kind of insight from any flesh and bone guru

          John 6:63  “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”

* A long time ago, I pondered my assumption that people I “gave” to were the ones who most ill-treated me and I continued my thought process to protest to God about His word that says to ‘give and you will receive’.    Another wonderful whisper (one of my favorites) followed, “The direction that you give may not necessarily be the direction from which you will receive.”

* Quite often, when my brain is racing with thoughts and with so many things to do, the Holy Spirit whispers, “Shhhhhh!”        I really like that!
* One special morning, after a particular unhappy experience, I was sitting at my desk wondering ‘if there was any one in the whole wide world that I could trust’.   Immediately, I felt a breeze and saw a piece of paper (that I had taped to my desk lamp) descend upside down and on to the desk like a falling leave.    I flipped it back over to see my forgotten taped picture of Jesus - with the words, “Jesus, I Trust You.”    
I smiled and thought,  “Wow!  That’s pretty cool, Lord!”

So, I have found it to be true that God wants to communicate with us.   He takes interest in our life and He takes great pleasure in sharing His love with us.

Revelation 3:20  “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.

We need to believe that God would like to speak to us more.   To be more precise – that He would like us to listen more.     It should be the norm and not just an occasional happening.    It makes sense to me.  Think about it!    If we could develop ears to hear, if we would seek Him more intently, if we would stop doing all the talking … how much more exciting our lives might be!

Saturday, March 31, 2012

WHAT'S GOING WITHOUT SAYING

103 – MARCH 2012
THINK ABOUT IT


When I am in a group of people, usually 4 or more, I really like to ask “conversational starter questions”? The only rule is that everyone must answer. This engages everyone to be involved and opens people up for continued conversation.
I have always done this. It drove my kids crazy!!!! (Which, in my parental thinking, was some sort of payback!)
Anyhow - it included some questions such as:
* If you could write yourself a letter now … and send it back to when you were 16 years old - What advice would you give to yourself?
* If you could be “Scotty, beam me up” to anywhere in the world - Where would you visit?
* If you could be “Scotty, beam me up” to anytime in the world - What era would you visit?
* My favorite – “If you could spend 1 hour in conversation (right now) with someone (famous or personal, alive or deceased )… who would you choose?

For a long time, I chose Winston Churchill. Then I switched to Will Rogers. But, for the last many years I have selected my Dad.
My father, Armand Joseph Beltrami was from generation “old school”. Old school = World War 2 experiencers, patriotic, hard working, anti social-handouts, and non conversational about their “growing up”. This great generation was a bit stoic, non touchy-feely, and … totally misunderstood. I figured this all out a bit late in my life. And I feel like crying now! OK! Deep breath!
I would love to sit and talk with my Dad. One hour would be frustrating! I would want 4 hours … Or more! So many things to tell him. So many things to hear.

The following lyrics are from a wonderful song writer, Paul Overstreet.

'Cause when you love someone
You gotta let 'em know
When you're thinking of someone
You need to tell 'em so
Don't know what makes us think
Our minds and our hearts can be read
What's going without saying should be said

There is so much more that I could say. I could write another 4 pages but I wonder if you just need to ‘think about it’.
Chris

The song is worth your time to listen to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOUOHzc7NLs

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

SORRY, I'M NOT FROM HERE

102 – FEBRUARY 2012
THINK ABOUT IT


Pat and I are in Florida for the month of February and, last week, we went to an outdoor “Home and Garden” show. As we went from booth to booth, I found myself repeating “Sorry, I’m not from here!”
One vendor wanted to sell us a termite service. I told him my home was in Vermont and therefore, “Sorry, I’m not from here!”
One began to talk about a huge garage door screen and I quickly cut him short with “We really do not need that for where we are from!”
Another showed us a hurricane shelter. It was big metal coffin like box that dropped below the garage floor. It had stairs and could fit 2 or 3 people. I laughed and said “Sorry! We’re just visiting.”
Finally, my favorite! This person wanted to sell us a golf-cart-turn-around-pivot-thang. Drive your golf cart into the garage and onto this invention. Next morning, you simply pivot 180 degrees and drive out frontwards. Although my neck does not turn as freely as it used
to, I told the guy “Great invention but … Sorry, I’m not from here!”

This home show adventure was quite timely as I have begun to be a bit annoyed with “stuff”. It seems to be everywhere and I wish that, over my lifetime, I had used the “Sorry, I’m not from here!” line more often. The bible continually uses the phrase “this world” to insist that we are only here on some sort of a pilgrimage that lasts for 80-years-on-average.

Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind …”

We are only passing through. We are pilgrims on a short journey through this world. Actually, we are citizens of a different world. Just visiting. Gonna go back home soon. I want to embrace this “visitor” truth in my spirit. I want to lay aside the stuff … Every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us (Hebrews 12:1).
I would like to say, in a more easy manner, “Sounds good. I’m sure it’s useful for somebody. But, sorry, I’m not from here!”

Timothy 6:7 ”For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”

Saturday, January 21, 2012

RELIGIOUS MILITANTS

101 – JANUARY 2012
THINK ABOUT IT


mil•i•tant n. A fighting, warring, or aggressive person or party.

Okay, I have a question.
Why do some people violently hate others for the way they believe?
Think about it!
Why do some militant Muslims want to put a hood over their face and chop off someone’s head with a sword? That’s savage! That’s evil!
Why does the militant Westboro Baptist Church picket and protest other peoples’ beliefs with such hateful signs and yelling? Demonstrating at a young man’s funeral because he fought in the war - That’s outrageous! That’s cruel!
Why, even, do some atheists become militant towards people who believe in God?
They can be quite mean also.
It seems as though some Darwinian Academia are repulsed with God-believers. They seem to view them as 2nd class living beings of the human race, mocking their beliefs and ridiculing their prayers. I dunno - They just seem to be so mad! Because someone believes in God! Especially Christians! Not so much Hindu! Nor Buddhist! Especially … Nor Muslim!

Now, many people believe that there is a God and that through Christ, when they die, there will not be one millisecond of time where their soul and spirit are not still alive. I believe that! I believe that when I die, I will slip out of my body and be in the presence of God, who created all things.
Other people don’t believe that way. Some say that your soul and your spirit will disappear into nothingness and your body will be burned to ashes or rot away in the grave.
Now, I don’t believe that … But, I’m not mad at them for the way they believe.
I’m not mad at anybody for the way they believe.

There is no real reason to be militant.
We should not want to fight or war against those who do not believe the same way.

Proverbs 11:12 “He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.
Romans 12:18 “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.
Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but
that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Let’s be filled with love and peace and grace. Let’s desire that we might be able to offer something good to anyone who is “running on empty” and asks for help. Usually one person at a time!
You cannot change the world. But, you can help to change the world for someone.

James 3:17 “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.