Half Full Or Half Empty?

A friend told me a story yesterday about two young boys. One was an optimist and one a pessimist. Each boy was put in a room by themselves for four hours.

The pessimist found every toy he ever dreamed of in his room. The optimist was placed in a room filled with six feet of manure.

Four hours later, the door was opened to the pessimist's room. He was found crying. When asked what was wrong, he responded, "I don't know what to play with first!" Then he also whined, "Something might break!"

When the door to the optimist's room was opened, he was found to be happily digging away. When asked what he was doing, he said with an expectant smile on his face, "With all this manure, there's got to be a pony in here somewhere!"

So which one are you?

Truth

It's late fall and the Indians on a remote reservation in South Dakota asked their new chief if the coming winter was going to be cold or mild.

Since he was a chief in a modern society, he had never been taught the old secrets. When he looked at the sky, he couldn't tell what the winter was going to be like.

Nevertheless, to be on the safe side, he told his tribe that the winter was indeed going to be cold and that the members of the village should collect firewood to be prepared.

But, being a practical leader, after several days, he got an idea. He went to the phone booth, called the National Weather Service and asked, "Is the coming winter going to be cold?''

"It looks like this winter is going to be quite cold," the meteorologist at the National Weather Service responded.

So the chief went back to his people and told them to collect even more firewood in order to be prepared.

A week later, he called the National Weather Service again. "Does it still look like it is going to be a very cold winter?''

"Yes," the man at National Weather Service again replied, "it's going to be a very cold winter."

The chief again went back to his people and ordered them to collect every scrap of firewood they could find.

Two weeks later, the chief called the National Weather Service again. "Are you absolutely sure that the winter is going to be very cold?''

"Absolutely," the man replied. "It's looking more and more like it is going to be one of the coldest winters we've ever seen.''

"How can you be so sure?" the chief asked.

The weatherman replied, "The Indians are collecting firewood like crazy."

This is a funny story but it is a story that is played out in our lives all the time. Yes, times are tough. However, that does not mean we have to listen to the doom and gloom portrayed in the media. The media is often wrong. Besides, the media's job is to sell papers and advertising. Good news rarely does that.

We must focus on what is truth. There is only one place I know that we can be assured of truth...and that is the Word of God, the Bible.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28

A New Perspective

For years my favorite movie has been It's a Wonderful Life. We watched this in our house on Saturday. Actually we do this every year. Really, my family does this for me, because they know I love it so much. They also like to watch me cry at the end.

I suppose I love this movie because one of the main themes of the film is that we all make a difference in the lives of others, even if we don't realize it. In other words, we all have a purpose.

In the movie, George Bailey (played by Jimmy Stewart) is a depressed, frustrated young business man who is never able to chase his dreams. He feels trapped and feels that his life is a waste. When he finds out that his company (a savings and loan) is short a large sum of money (due to an error on his uncle's part), he realizes that he would be better off dead than alive. His life insurance money would more than cover the deficit.

Clarence, George's guardian angel visits him and shows George what life would be like had he not been born. It takes George a little while before he realizes he truly has had a wonderful life and that others have been greatly impacted because of his presence in their lives. He realizes the truth of his situation and he decides he wants to live again regardless of the circumstances.

God hears that prayer and he rushes home to find the bank examiner and the police waiting for him to arrest him. He says to the policeman, a friend of his, "And I'll bet that's a warrant for my arrest, isn't that wonderful!"

This reminded me of the apostle Paul who, while in prison, told us to "Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again: Rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4)

How could he say that while in prison? Because he had a new perspective. Just like George Bailey, he was shown what was truly important. As a result, his tough circumstances didn't really matter.

I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. Philippians 4:11

Thankfulness In All Circumstances

We are instructed in the Bible to give thanks in all circumstances. This is not something I frequently do well. However, this past weekend was an exception for some reason (perhaps it was because it was Thanksgiving weekend).

Friday night, Connie and I were watching a movie at home with Robbie, our son. All of a sudden, all of our smoke detectors throughout the house started going off. We quickly determined there was not a fire and we disconnected each of them so they would be quiet. They are all hard-wired into our house so this isn't as easy of a task as one might think. We then changed some of the batteries thinking that might be the issue and plugged them all back in. I don't know why, but they were all quiet.

This normally would have frustrated me, but this time I said to Connie, "I am so thankful this happened right now rather than when we were out and the kids were home alone or rather than 3:00 in the morning!" And, I truly was thankful.

The next morning, Robbie and I were headed downtown to the farmer's market to pick up some apples and cider. On the way, I decided to get my car washed. We pulled in, got out of the car and went to pay as my car went through the wash. At the end of the conveyor, I saw one of the workers frantically trying to start my car, to no avail. He then quickly got some help to push my car out of the way.

My battery had died.

However, they brought a car around and jumped it for me without incident. I then took it to a nearby Battery Wholesale who determined that all I needed was a new battery (no alternator). I got that replaced and we were on our way. I told Robbie, "I am so glad that just happened."

He said, "Why is that dad?"

I said, "Had we not gone to the car wash, we would have been stuck downtown in the cold with a dead battery. This worked out great."

I'm not sure what came over me, but I liked my attitude in these situations. If something like this can happen to me, that should give everyone hope.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Encouragement

In Saturday's Toledo Blade, an article appeared about Joel Osteen who was in Detroit last weekend. The popular preacher from Houston was in town speaking to a large group and promoting his wife Victoria's new book, Love Your Life.

Obviously this part of the country has been hit hard by the downturn in the economy. However, Osteen was being his optimistic self and preaching a message of prosperity which he says is very biblical.

Here are a few examples of “Osteenisms,” or words of encouragement, that Joel Osteen delivered at the Palace of Auburn Hills Oct. 24:

• “The Scripture says that God will prosper you in the desert. He said he’ll cause you to flourish even in a famine.”
• “You’ve got to believe that you can become everything God’s created you to be.”
• “I know maybe you’re thinking, ‘Well, Joel, I haven’t had a good year so far,’ but listen, you’ve got two more months left.”
• “You’ve got to get a vision on the inside. If you can see it on the inside, God can bring it to pass on the outside.”
• “It’s not enough to see it, you need to say it. What kind of words are coming out of your mouth?”
• “Every morning when I get out of bed, after I thank God for what he’s done, I just say it under my breath: ‘Something good is going to happen to me today.’ ”
• “Don’t let another day of your life go by that you’re not enjoying life. Someday may never come. You need to enjoy this day.”
• “Don’t make excuses. Make a decision.”
• “Even when it looks like there isn’t a way, God can make a way. God has a plan.”
• “God is getting you prepared and every day you’re faithful, every day you go to work and get there on time and give it your best, every day you do the right thing when the wrong thing is happening, that is a day that you’re passing the test. You’ve got to know that God has great things in your future. He is getting you prepared.”

Very good stuff! God does have great things in store for us!

Contrarian Indicators

I used to pay a lot of attention to the stock market. I actually used to study it and try to pick stocks just as they were breaking out and hopefully going upward. It was kind of a hobby of mine. Those times are long gone for me as I just couldn't keep up with it as too many other things became more important.

However, one thing I remember very well. That is a contrarian indicator. Investor's Business Daily had several key indicators they used to show when a stock was worth buying. One of them was the overall health of the market. They showed over the course of history that when optimism in the market was very high, that is when markets crashed and conversely, when it is very low, that is when markets did very well. In other words, the crowd is always wrong in investing (as is the case in much of life).

I am not trying to give investment advice and I certainly would not recommend anyone buying stocks right now. What I am saying is that I am optimistic. From a worldly standpoint, all this fear is good for the market. From a Christian perspective, I believe all this is good also (in fact I know God will use it for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose - Romans 8:28 paraphrased).

I read an interesting article this morning in which the author had this to say about our uncertain times:

So why am I hopeful? Because I believe the coming years are going to reveal some pernicious weeds in our culture for what they are. One of the characteristics of weeds is that they suck up resources from other plants. They are quick-growing, quick-spreading, invasive. They do not coexist with the other plants in the garden, they overtake them. Kudzu is a weed not because it is unattractive in its own way or even has no rightful place in the ecosystem, but because it grows over and chokes out other valuable and beautiful things. Weeds are, as every gardener knows, the easiest thing to grow.

And I believe the fundamental weed in the American garden is, in fact, ease. Easy-ness. Effortlessness. Along with the incredible benefits of the rise of technology has been this terrible weed: the idea that things should be easy. The Staples office-supply chain has profited handsomely selling the ultimate symbol of our times: a plastic button that does absolutely nothing but is great fun to push, labeled "easy."

To read the rest of this story, go here.

So are you worried or fearful today? If you love God and are called according to His purpose, then be encouraged by Romans 8:28. God will work all this out for good!

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

Romans 8:28

Garbage In, Garbage Out

It seems like all I hear on TV anymore is gloom and doom. "The economy stinks, our president is the cause of all our problems, Yada Yada Yada..."

I'm getting tired of it.

A steady diet of that stuff can make you depressed. There is an old computer saying that goes Garbage In, Garbage Out. The same can be said of our minds.

How about you? Are you tired of the negative media? Are you letting it affect you? If so, turn it off! There is a lot of good out there, focus on that!

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

Philippians 4:8

Optimism

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Philippians 4:4

Many of you who know me know that I am a "glass is half-full" kind of guy. That may be why I am sick and tired of all the reports of how bad things are from the media. Granted, there are some areas that are hurting. But I don't think we need to focus only on the bad news.

I recently received this email from a friend and I wanted to share it here. This is often credited to Jay Leno. But it wasn't said or written by Jay, it was written by Craig R. Smith. Only the closing paragraph is by Leno. Warning: this isn't very politically correct, but here it goes:

The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true, given the source, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67% of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed, and 69% of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence, two-thirds of the citizenry just ain't happy and wants a change.

So being the knuckle dragger that I am, I started thinking, "What're we so unhappy about?"Is it that we have electricity and running water 24/7? Is our unhappiness the result of having A/C in the summer and heating in the winter?

Could it be that 95.4% of these unhappy folks have a job? Maybe it's the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time, and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?Maybe it's the ability to drive from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state? Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we'd find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough.Or could it be that when we wreck our cars, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all, and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.Perhaps you are one of the 70% of Americans who own a home. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames, thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.

Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.

This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?Maybe that's what has 67% of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we're the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the USA, yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are: the most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the President who took us into war and has no plan to get us out? The President who has a measly 31% approval rating? Is this the same President who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The President who cut taxes to bring an economy out of a recession? Could this be the same guy who's been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks?

The Commander-in-Chief of an all-volunteer army that's out there defending you and me? Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or on a talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy, that you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it. Are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the media told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day?

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There's currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go.

They're able to refuse to go and end up with either a "general" discharge, an "other than honorable" discharge or, worst case scenario, a "dishonorable" discharge after a few days in the brig.So why then the flat-out discontent in the minds of 69% of Americans? Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds, it leads; and they specialize in bad news.

Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this, and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by justifying them in one way or another.

Stop buying the negativism you're fed every day by the media. Shut off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your birdcage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad.

We're among the most blessed people on Earth, and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.

With hurricanes, tornadoes, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?

~Craig R. Smith and Jay Leno~

Gas Prices

On Tuesday of this week, my daughter Kristin called me to tell me that gas was going up by about $.30 a gallon. Her call was very timely as my car was running on fumes. I left my office and found a gas station that had not changed their prices yet. I then waited in line...for gas priced at $3.67 per gallon. I never thought that would ever happen!

As I was pumping gas, several others around me were talking with each other and complaining about the price of gas. Everyone seemed in agreement that this was absolutely terrible. Most seemed to be in a really bad mood as a result.

In my post yesterday I talked about someone I know who always seems to be in a good mood. The reason for this is she chooses to be this way in spite of her circumstances.

A way to do this is to realize that our situation (no matter how bad it is) is not as bad as it could be. I think there are millions of other people around the world who would like to be where we are, even with our negative circumstances. Do you think there are people in Myanmar and China who have lost everything in their recent disasters who wouldn't trade their situation for our "terrible" high gas prices?

Attitude

I recently read something by Chuck Swindoll which is probably not new to anyone, but I believe it to be so true and I thought I would share it:

The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than success, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, gifted ability, or skill. It will make or break a company, a church, a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace from that day. We cannot change our past, we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing that we can do is play on the one string that we have, and this string is attitude. I am convinced that life is ten percent what happens to me and ninety percent how I react to it. And so it is with you…WE ARE IN CHARGE OF OUR ATTITUDES.

Optimism

I just read something interesting.

Martin Seligman in his book Learned Optimism reports on the level of optimism shown by USA presidential candidates between the years 1900 - 1984. American voters chose the more optimistic-sounding candidate in eighteen out of twenty-two elections. People seem to want a vision of hope and opportunity, and respond well to those messages.

How optimistic are you?

Invaded

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8

Let the record show that we have not seen any lions, but...

Last night my niece shouted that we had something moving in the yard of the chalet we are staying in and we rushed out to see a large black bear approaching our garbage cans. This is the third bear we have seen this trip.

We also have had some raccoons in the attic - and large ones at that based on the sounds they've been making.

It has been an awesome week in the Smokies, although I feel as if we are being invaded. Much like our everyday lives when the enemy throws obstacles in our path to knock us off course. In spite of this, remember the plans God promises for you: ...plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. (Jeremiah: 29:11b).

Developing an Abundant Mind

Have you ever been really down? Have you ever felt like things just weren't going your way no matter what you did? Perhaps you feel that way now. Michael Pink had this to say on his blog about an experience he had:

Years ago at a New Year’s Eve celebration, we were part of an intimate gathering of friends in a home. All of us had just come through a difficult year and none of us felt like celebrating. That’s partly why we came together - for support. The host suggested we go around the room and share one significant thing the Lord had done for us that year. As we called to mind the good report and shared it with the group, our bones were made strong! Our faith was lifted! Our hope was restored! Our mind had been filled with abundance. It wasn’t long before it showed up in our natural lives. Whose report are you listening to? Which one will you believe?

To read the rest of his article, go here.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." Philippians 4:8