Practicing Thankfulness

“A blind boy sat on the steps of a building with a hat by his feet.  He held up a sign which said: "I am blind, please help." There were only a few coins in the hat. A man was walking by. He took a few coins from his pocket and dropped them into the hat.  He then took the sign, turned it around, and wrote some words. He put the sign back so that everyone who walked by would see the new words. Soon the hat began to fill up. A lot more people were giving money to the blind boy.  That afternoon the man who had changed the sign came to see how things were. The boy recognized his footsteps and asked, "Were you the one who changed my sign this morning?  What did you write?" The man said, "I only wrote the truth.  I said what you said but in a different way." I wrote: "Today is a beautiful day but I cannot see it." Both signs told people that the boy was blind. But the first sign simply said the boy was blind. The second sign reminded people that they were so blessed not to be blind. Should we be surprised that the second sign was more effective?” (Borrowed and adapted).

It’s easy to get caught up in the busyness of life and forget just how much we have for which to be thankful.  It can be especially problematic for those of us who live in this nation because we are so richly blessed in so many ways.  If we are not careful, we can begin to take even the simplest of God’s gifts for granted.  In such a setting, we have to be intentional about reminding ourselves of the extent to which God has been benevolent toward us.  With that in mind, especially as we enter the holiday season, allow me to encourage us all to remember to practice being thankful.  “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name”  (Psalm 100:4).

 

God loves you!

Mike

Reaping The Whirlwind

“For they sow the wind and they reap the whirlwind” (Hosea 8:7).

         If you have followed the news recently, you know that the entertainment industry has been rocked by numerous allegations of sexual misconduct.  Several actors and actresses are speaking out against the predatory practices of others in positions of power and influence in the business.  In many cases, the abuse took place years ago but wasn’t reported until now for fear of losing jobs or opportunities for jobs or because they were paid money to keep quiet.  But, emboldened by others who have stepped forward, these silent ones are also being heard.  The jury is still out, as they say, but due to the sheer numbers involved, it's naive to think these are all fabricated claims.  Time will tell.
         The contributing factors to this problem in the industry are likely numerous.  I have to wonder if at least some of problem has been fueled by the attitude that most of Hollywood has taken toward the “sexual revolution” in our country over the last few decades.  The entertainment industry has been at the forefront of stretching the boundaries of what is considered to be appropriate sexual behavior.  The “boys will be boys” mentality has been coddled if not glorified.  Sexual deviance and violence are more and more prevalent in movies and television.  Is it any wonder that the dividing line between acting and reality is increasingly blurred?
         Please make no mistake.  I’m not saying that these victims deserved what happened to them — that they somehow “had it coming.”  That would not be showing the attitude of Christ.  Sexual abuse should never be condoned regardless of the contributing factors.  I applaud the courage of those who have finally said “enough is enough!”  I am hoping that this example from one segment of society will help us all to realize that sometimes our choices can have devastating consequences.  Rather than pointing my finger at the entertainment industry, I need to first consider how my own “sowing” could be contributing to my own “whirlwind.”

God loves you!
Mike