James 3:16:  For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. I used this because it implies evil Have you noticed this to be true? I'll bet if you've thought about it or if you think about it now, you can attest to the truth of this. Jealousy is selfish and, of course, so is selfish ambition. How can there NOT be disorder if everyone is out for him/herself?  When others are looking out for themselves only, they will do or say anything - provided it benefits them. If it benefits others that's okay but that is not the goal. Jealousy feeds off of selfish ambition. Someone has what you want, but you only want it because they have it and you don't. Now think about the times where there was disorder and chaos. I'll bet you can find glimpses of jealousy and/or selfishness close by.  Disorder is defined as lack of order, confusion, irregularity, or disturbance. Jealousy can cause people to be confused o...

I went on the Walk To Emmaus a few years ago.  It is a 72-hour Christian leader-building weekend.  It was the most wonderful experience.  One of the main things I learned during that weekend is to "not anticipate"  The team members always say "Do not anticipate, participate".  Ok. Whatever. But I have to tell you that since then, that phrase pops into my head often.  I find that this one little phrase, if practiced, can make a huge difference in my attitude.  Sometimes, I worry about what is coming next.  Frequently when this happens, that phrase pops into my head. For example, I spent a lot of time at work worrying and fretting over having to oversee implementation of some big complex management system that I just knew I'd have to do (because I had to do all the previous ones!)  I don't know how many hours of sleep that I lost, certain that upper management wouldn't have a clue what they would be asking so they wouldn't supply adequate ex...

I've been without the Internet for several days so I haven't been able to post.  The other day, the same day I lost my Internet connection, I wrote down eight different verses that spoke to me.  I wondered if looking at the passages after several days would make me forget why I wrote them down.  It is interesting that today, some of them seem more intertwined than when I wrote them down.  Here are the passages I wrote down 3 days ago. Leviticus 19:32 "Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God. I am the LORD." Leviticus 19:14 " Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the LORD." Leviticus 19:16b "Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor's life. I am the LORD.   James 4:14b  "You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." James 4:17 "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins....