October 2011 Entries
Every time I return from a trip to the West Coast, I am overwhelmed by materialism. Something about L.A. makes me think I need a better car, bigger house, or Botox! The concentration of wealth, beautiful people, and great weather is a sight to behold. It is easy to be distracted by it all and focus on materialism. There is so much opulence that one has to constantly reign in the want of more.
Are you discouraged this week? Have you had bad news? Maybe you are unemployed, caring for your parents, dealing with difficult kids, battling an addiction, or financially stressed. Perhaps life isn’t turning out the way you planned. Whatever it is that is discouraging you, note the cure the psalmist David employed. It’s found in Psalm 103:1-5. David talks to himself in a way that uplifts his soul.
My birthday is next week. Steve Jobs and I were the same age when he died. As my birthday celebration approaches, I have been thinking long and hard about what is important when we leave this Earth. We never know how long our time is here. So many well-deserved commentaries have been published about Steve Jobs since his passing. He was an amazing man who made incredible contributions to our society and the world.
The subtitle of my latest book, Letting Go of Worry, reads “God’s plan for finding peace and contentment”. You may be asking yourself: how is peace possible in today’s worrisome world? Consider the apostle Paul. He sat under house arrest because of corrupt officials who made false charges against him. He knew too well what might be ahead of him. He had endured afflictions and suffered numerous hardships.