Faith

FAITH

What is Faith and why is it a must for our lives?  Hebrews 11:1-3 tells us:

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.  By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things that are visible.”

I am struck by this first thought that faith is the substance of things hoped for.  Hope is what pushes people forward.  When we are hopeless we tend to isolate ourselves and dwell on negatives often to point of depression.  This biblical definition of faith pointing to hope is a great comfort.  As God’s people we need to remember that we have a great hope which should be evident in our lives and that is solidified by our faith.

Our faith is like many other areas of our life in that it will have its ups and its downs.  But when it is firmly rooted in biblical truths it will secure us from being overcome by the trials that we face.  Faith is something that we develop over time through observation, education, and intent.  No one creates a useful or abiding faith without intent.  In my own journey to a saving faith in Christ I remember having a conversation with a minister friend of mine in Jefferson City, MO who told me,

“I know that you will find what you need.

You have a good heart and are seeking the truth,

Just keep it up.”

He was right, I did find what I needed. One of the implications of his statement was that many do not seek after truth.  Without intent it is very unlikely anyone will stumble upon a meaningful faith, and without truth no faith can be meaningful.

So what about doubts?  Many people of faith will have doubts from time to time.  Occasional doubt is a good thing, in that when we don’t have doubts or insecurities it may indicate that we are becoming complacent or overconfident in our faith.  It has been said that “pride cometh before a fall,” and that very easily could be the state of our faith when we claim to have no doubts.  On the other side of things we cannot be in constant doubt, as this would indicate a very weak and passive faith.

Faith is a building block for us to build upon with so many other positive attributes as is shown in 2 Peter 1:5-7,

“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence,

Add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge,

To knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance,

To perseverance Godliness, to Godliness brotherly kindness,

To brotherly kindness love.”

This week examine your faith.  Where do you stand?  Do you have doubts?  Set your foundation in faith and add to it through prayer, study, and service.  In these things you will Do Well, and your faith will grow.  As your faith grows you will see a change in how you respond to trials and difficulties that come before you, and others will too.

Midweek Motivation #7

Midweek 

Motivation

#7

Success is the fruit of our past failures.  We must learn from our failures and even better from the failures of others.

Observe, Consider, Improve

www.workoutyourfaith.blogspot.com

Monday Morsel #17

Carpe Diem!

Seize the Day!
(If you don't it may seize you)

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ARITHMETIC

This is part three of my foundations for life series, Arithmetic.

The Math Question

Over the past two weeks I have discussed Reading and Writing as two of the fundamental building blocks for success in our lives.  Those two are intricately related to one another, the final piece of the puzzle, arithmetic, is different from the others but no less important.

When we are going through our school days it is vital that we learn, and learn well, basic math skills.  Improving our abilities and learning some advanced skills can be a key to further improving the outcomes of our lives.  In high school only the highly motivated and far-sighted students went into the most advanced courses and excelled.  Many of the rest of us pushed our way through Algebra I, then perhaps Geometry or Algebra II just because we thought we had to, and some went through only the basic math courses.  As we passed through these courses at some point each of us probably said something like this, "when will I ever use this stuff in real life?"

The Answer to that Question

Most of us use this stuff every day without even realizing it.  Every day we face challenges that are mathematical in nature from recalling blocks of numbers such as our social security numbers or various numeric passwords to cooking in the kitchen.  The real issue is understanding, since we often engage in mathematical concepts regularly what we really lack is the understanding of how or why certain things work.  Ahh, back to those inattentive and unmotivated days of high school.  If we only knew then what we know now, would it have resulted in a different outcome today?

How many of you have a checkbook?  Keeping it in balance is a mathematical practice.  Do you drive an automobile?  Managing the fuel gauge is an exercise in mathematics.  You must consider several variables, the fill percentage of your tank, the size of the tank, the current odometer reading, how far you are traveling, and perhaps how much you have available to purchase more fuel.  Also while driving you are constantly calculating distances between vehicles and obstacles, braking distances, acceleration rates, and so much more.

That automobile you are driving, how did you purchase it?  Most of these purchases are financed.  Oops, finance is a special branch of mathematics.  Again variables come into play, how much of a payment do you want to have, how long are you willing to finance, at what interest rate, do you have a down payment?  How will this vehicle impact my insurance, or property tax obligations?  As a dad of a fifteen year old daughter who is learning a bit about driving and looking toward getting her learner's permit I am having to consider, how will this impact our current insurance rates (they will go up), how do we afford another vehicle or manage our existing vehicles to permit her some access? 

Final Thoughts

Since you are using (and will continue to use) math daily get comfortable with it, and seek a better understanding.  With the tools we have available today there is no reason to lack a solid understanding of where mathematics intersects with our daily lives.  Furthering how you understand may begin with a better knowledge of the unique variables you face.  Learning is a lifelong adventure and the more we know the more we will be able to rightly apply as we come to decision points in our journey.  Look for knowledge so you might Do Well!  

I hope you have enjoyed this three part perspective on the 3 R's of old.  It has been a good time to look back at these as a basis to look forward to future success.  Many blessings to you!

Midweek Motivation #6

Earlier this week I was privileged to spend a couple of days watching a master at work.  Raynard Brown was a guest conductor working with the Arkansas Jr High Treble Honors Choir which convened in Little Rock.  This man set such a positive tone and shared tremendous insight with a group of about 50 students from across our fair state.  There needs to be more Raynard Browns positively impacting and shaping the lives of our young people.  How will you influence our youth?  To quote Mr. Brown, "it's not about you, it's up to you."  Do Well!

MONDAY MORSEL #16

Confirmation of the problem addressed in 7/17/16 Workout Your Faith post entitled Writing.  Do you see the error?

Writing

Writing

Last week I began a three part series on some of our fundamentals for success, the first installment was that old favorite reading.  Now as advertised we move to the next of the sequence writing.

In the early days of our nation the fundamental building blocks of education were known as the 3 R’s; reading, writing, and arithmetic.  Though we were not a highly educated nation at that time, by today’s standards, I would argue that we were a better educated people.  The level of proficiency in writing seen in many early-American writings show a far superior grasp of the English language and its grammatical structure than what is seen today.

Prevalence of a Problem

Who today, has not read a newspaper, magazine, book, or blog without finding an ever-increasing volume of mistakes?  What has happened?  It is my opinion, and you all can have your own as well, that we have diluted the value of this skill of writing, and its predecessor, reading.  When the professionals of the field such as publishers, editors, and newsroom copy writers can’t, or won’t, get it right how can we expect anyone else to get it right either?

I recognize that anyone reading my posts are likely to find several errors.  This actually goes to strengthen my case, in that it goes back at least as far as my education in the 1970’s and 1980’s.  This is not to be a complete indictment of the classroom teachers, many of whom are doing everything they can to educate our children, but rather to an educational bureaucracy that has been built separating the decision-makers in an elaborate hierarchy too far from those who must implement the programming on a daily basis, often struggling with elements of classroom dynamics that the decision makers cannot or will not consider.

Why is it Important?

Writing is integral to the transfer of knowledge, and the conduct of law and business.  Writing also provides a record of history and precedent, which is important when we consider the words of George Santayana,

“Those who do not remember the past

are condemned to repeat it.”

If the written word were not important then there is no reason for libraries, bookstores, or some exhibits in museums.  Were it not for the written word there would be no scripts for your favorite programming (this could be an advantage compared to some I have seen) and there would be no instructions for all those build-it-yourself furniture or toy purchases we have all encountered.  Most importantly the written word provides us with scripture that can be passed down in its entirety, not relying completely on traditions and oral transmission to keep it alive.

The Future

The future is now.  If we want to preserve our language we must insist on high quality, not settling for less than our best.  With our children we must be vigilant as they engage in writing to guide them in the finer points of what they write as well as being tuned in to how they spell and punctuate.  Yes this takes time, but it also is an investment in their future, and our own.  When we engage our mind in enrichment activity such as this we gain.  For our society to have hope of success for the future we must communicate effectively and writing is foundational to that hope.  So the next time you hack out that text message or social media post, proof it, and drop the goofy abbreviations for everything.  Perhaps, in a text, for brevity an occasional abbreviation would be acceptable, but I would encourage accuracy and clarity.

To Do Well, we should commit to clarity, conciseness, and simplicity in our written communications.  I look forward to seeing improved writing from those who may read this article, and hope that you would each pass this on to others encouraging written excellence!

Next week: Arithmetic

MIdweek Motivation #5

Midweek Motivation #5

"Be quick, be quiet, be on time."
Kelly Johnson engineer Lockheed "Skunkworks"

From "Think Simple" by Ken Segall

Monday Morsel #15

K.I.S.S.
Keep It Simple and Serve

Reading

Apart from a deep, abiding faith in Jesus Christ and Jehovah God there are few things more fundamental to our success than reading.  Reading opens doors of thought that cannot be opened in any other way making for a most constructive way of passing our time.  There is a saying that says,

Leaders are Readers

and despite your field of endeavor this rings true.  Those who read fuel their minds and are more able to make the connections that may otherwise be missed between seemingly random events of everyday life.  Readers make the best teachers, preachers, and trainers.  Readers seem to adapt better to change, which may be a reflection of the amount of information they have stored in their minds.  In our ever-changing society this can be a great advantage.

On the softer side readers of poetry and fiction may be carried away to places far away, or just enough away from their current reality to provide a safe escape which can lower their stress from day to day difficulties.  A far safer alternative of escape than drugs, alcohol, porn, and the like.  Those of faith can also be reassured by their readings from scripture.  Every word of scripture is inspired by God and as is stated in 2 Timothy 3:16-17

"All scripture is given by inspiration of God, 

and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof,

for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

that the man of God may be complete, 

thoroughly equipped for every good work."

From a practical standpoint one can gain insights on many useful subjects such as nutrition, health, and finances from a variety of readings.  Each of these subject areas and several other popular ones fill many shelves of libraries and bookstores as well as containing many e-titles to choose from.  With the right mindset there is something for anyone to read that can educate, inspire and enlighten.  My challenge to you is to build your personal library, take advantage of your local public library and connect with other ideas via on line sources such as websites, blogs, and the like that allow you to expand your knowledge in an area that interests you.  If you will choose to take a path to growing your reading list you will Do Well!

Next Week: Writing 

Midweek Motivation #4

"If you don't have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over."
John Wooden

Monday Morsel #14

Franklin, Jefferson, Adams, Washington, and the other founders were imperfect men with a vision.  Their vision came together to form the greatest experiment in governance ever contrived, yet today our society living abundantly under its success is ignoring, if not rewriting it in ways those men would find unfathomable.  Let's come together to restore the vision, and share further in the abundance.  God Bless America!

Beauty in Nature

Beauty in Nature

Each day the God of the universe has a splendid plan for us, and each day He opens the show with a different and uniquely beautiful sunrise.  The older I get and the more complex daily life seems to become the more I crave simplicity.  Nowhere is God's simplicity for our lives more evident than in nature.  Last week I wrote of the rejuvenating power of the simple road trip.  Today I follow that with a discussion of the simple things in life. 

Nature all around us provides so much richness that we often overlook.  God paints with a palette of colors that no other artist can match.  He captures our imagination with the magnificent sunrises and sunsets that bookend our days.  He arrays the fields and the forests with a wide range of colors and textures that cannot be adequately captured with the camera or the artist's brush.  The power and gentleness of the oceans, rivers and streams capture our imagination and take us to new places.  Snow-capped mountain peaks remind us of the majesty of God and the often seeming insignificance of our lives in the grand scheme of things.

One doesn't have to leave the confines of their own property to begin observing these things if we will discipline ourselves to see God's beauty in His creation.  

The heavens declare the glory of God;

And the firmament shows His handiwork.

2 

Day unto day utters speech,

And night unto night reveals knowledge.

3 

There is no speech nor language

Where their voice is not heard.

Psalm 19:1-3

We can observe the rising and the setting of the sun, the vastness of a clear starlit night, the precise cycles of the sun and moon, and amid these simple elements God is conveying His message, "I am here seek me."  

Then what do we do?  We fill our lives with extraneous "pleasures" that take our minds and hearts from God and leave us exhausted in the complexities of daily life.  This in turn lends itself to stress which is a silent killer to our health and well-being.  The confusion we face leads to mixed or inappropriate signals being sent to those around us which creates misunderstandings if not outright conflict, which is again a stressor making life more difficult, and suddenly we are in a vicious cycle and unsure of how to extricate ourselves from it.

3 Simple Steps

1) To borrow a sports term here, take a timeout!  When basketball or football games start to get out of hand and the momentum is turning in the opponents favor a wise coach will call for a timeout.  This allows his players to refocus and perhaps a new strategy to be implemented.  Our lives are the same way, we need to recognize the shifts in momentum and take some timeouts to restore our thought processes and regroup to move forward.

2) Look at the simplicity of the created world.  A simple walk through your neighborhood or a local park noticing the things God has created and paying less attention the things man has built.  This type of activity will lower our blood pressure and help us to see through renewed eyes.  It takes away the clutter and helps us to focus on the important.

3) Pray!  As a Christian we have no more powerful, yet simple, tool available to us than prayer.  Pray often and pray with an open mind and heart.  Seek God's wisdom and honor Him in simply seeking His will.

If we are to be fit for the journey a simpler approach to that journey would benefit us all.  May you DO WELL on your journey, and may it take a simpler turn this week.