Let there be no filthiness, nor silly talk, nor levity, which are not fitting; but instead let there be thanksgiving (Ephesians 5:4).
There is entropy in every relationship. If you remember your science, entropy is the inevitable movement from order to disorder that exists in every system, institution, relationship and communication. The effect of entropy in relationships is to make them grow stale and fall apart. How is it then that marriages and friendships can last a life time so they seem to be impervious to relationship entropy? Whether the people in these relationships realize it or not, there is on constant in these relationships that resists entropy, gratitude.
In truth, a good relationship is not easy to come by. Yes, in our culture and in our time, we go in and out of relationships all the time. We think that someone will always be there, but when the time inevitably comes when one needs absolute faithfulness, Semper Fi, is there anyone who will really care? Step 1 in building, strengthening and restoring relationships is to be thankful for the one you already have! Be grateful for the ones around you who care! Let them know that you are thankful for them--it will make a big difference in their feelings about you. So thank God for your spouse and your friends and express genuine, heart-felt thankyou's to them. This will generate a lot of positive emotion in your relationship that will last.
One of my rules in marriage counseling is that the negative talk stops! There will be no name calling, sarcastic humor, making a joke at the other person's expense or laughing about what has hurt the other. A marriage cannot survive this kind of negativity so this kind of behavior has to stop. What will heal it is a genuine gratitude felt for and expressed to the other.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
IS IT WORTH IT TO EAT RIGHT AND EXERCISE?
Train yourself in godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for this present life and also for the life to come ( I Timothy 4:7-8).
I have said it before and I will say it again, the reason I do physical exercise and try to eat in a healthy way is not to live longer, my times are in the Lord's hands, but to use this life to the fullest. I want to be a companion to my wife, not to have her as my nurse. I want to be able to enjoy my grand children, not to have them feel sorry for me. I want to be able to travel, doing short-term missions, teaching, preaching and counseling.
My doctor obsesses over her patients. Being 65 I went on medicare this year. At the beginning of the medicare process the government wants each one to have a physical check up, so I had one this week. All of my numbers were good. Blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, PSA were very good except my heart rate was slow, 45. So, she called me into the hospital today for me to have another EKG. Everything checked out okay, but my heart rate was still 50. She still was not happy, but I told her, "Doc, I feel fine, I exercise 45 minutes a day. I'm going to be okay."
My testimony is this: Last year, having some medical problems was a wake-up call to me. I had been self-medicating on some over-the-counter heart-burn medications, was on a prescription blood-pressure medication plus other medications need to deal with my cancer treatment, so I was a medication mess. Though I thought I had been living a reasonably active life, I decided to become more disciplined in working out and eating right, though I do not obsess about it. As a result, I now breath deeper, feel better, I am off the heart-burn and blood-pressure medications. I have still a ways to go. I might not live longer, but I think I will get more out of the life I have.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
I have said it before and I will say it again, the reason I do physical exercise and try to eat in a healthy way is not to live longer, my times are in the Lord's hands, but to use this life to the fullest. I want to be a companion to my wife, not to have her as my nurse. I want to be able to enjoy my grand children, not to have them feel sorry for me. I want to be able to travel, doing short-term missions, teaching, preaching and counseling.
My doctor obsesses over her patients. Being 65 I went on medicare this year. At the beginning of the medicare process the government wants each one to have a physical check up, so I had one this week. All of my numbers were good. Blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, PSA were very good except my heart rate was slow, 45. So, she called me into the hospital today for me to have another EKG. Everything checked out okay, but my heart rate was still 50. She still was not happy, but I told her, "Doc, I feel fine, I exercise 45 minutes a day. I'm going to be okay."
My testimony is this: Last year, having some medical problems was a wake-up call to me. I had been self-medicating on some over-the-counter heart-burn medications, was on a prescription blood-pressure medication plus other medications need to deal with my cancer treatment, so I was a medication mess. Though I thought I had been living a reasonably active life, I decided to become more disciplined in working out and eating right, though I do not obsess about it. As a result, I now breath deeper, feel better, I am off the heart-burn and blood-pressure medications. I have still a ways to go. I might not live longer, but I think I will get more out of the life I have.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Monday, January 21, 2013
METRICS OF DECLINE part 2
He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together (Colossians 1:17).
Much of the time my postings on Silver Bullets can use some refinement. With my previous post, The Metrics of Decline, this is true. Liberals and "progressives" would deny that the United States is in decline at all. Often times, before the fall of a great civilization, it seems as if everything is well when, on close examination, it is not. In the previous post I listed 4 metrics of decline that characterize the United States:
1. A reductionist view of human life, for example, a preborn baby is nothing but and unviable tissue mass;
2. The loss of personal freedom,
3. The lack of monetary and budget credibility;
4. The mainstream news media becoming the propaganda machine of the government.
While revising this post for publication elsewhere I had a moment of clarity when I realized I had left off the most important measurement of decline:
5. The rejection of a Christian moral compass. The denigration of Christian holidays, institutions and morality occurs with regularity. In America, we understand that free speech is one of our God-given rights so if one wants to denigrate our Christian foundation that is their right. Free speech also helps us to measure where the hearts and minds of our people truly are. It is true, however, that denying the One who holds all things together surely means that America will come apart.
Decline can be reversed, but it is dependent on God's help and our commitment to His service.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Much of the time my postings on Silver Bullets can use some refinement. With my previous post, The Metrics of Decline, this is true. Liberals and "progressives" would deny that the United States is in decline at all. Often times, before the fall of a great civilization, it seems as if everything is well when, on close examination, it is not. In the previous post I listed 4 metrics of decline that characterize the United States:
1. A reductionist view of human life, for example, a preborn baby is nothing but and unviable tissue mass;
2. The loss of personal freedom,
3. The lack of monetary and budget credibility;
4. The mainstream news media becoming the propaganda machine of the government.
While revising this post for publication elsewhere I had a moment of clarity when I realized I had left off the most important measurement of decline:
5. The rejection of a Christian moral compass. The denigration of Christian holidays, institutions and morality occurs with regularity. In America, we understand that free speech is one of our God-given rights so if one wants to denigrate our Christian foundation that is their right. Free speech also helps us to measure where the hearts and minds of our people truly are. It is true, however, that denying the One who holds all things together surely means that America will come apart.
Decline can be reversed, but it is dependent on God's help and our commitment to His service.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
THE METRICS OF DECLINE
This is the interpretation of the matter: MENE, God has numbered the days of your kingdom and brought it to and end; TEKEL, you have been weighed in the balances and found wanting; PERES, your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians (Daniel 5:26-28).
E.J.Dionne Jr wrote an opinion piece that appeared in the January 15th Sioux City Journal titled, America isn't in decline and isn't retreating. His piece has a very defensive tone, but he is a a socialist so the tone is understandable. To the socialists in America, utopia is just over the horizon where there will be no guns, everyone will have a neat little abode with a few grains of rice and a bureaucrat watching their every move--Oh, I just described North Korea.
Dionne set me to thinking about what the metrics of national decline really might be. My measurements would include the following:
1. 55 million abortions in the 40 years of legal abortion. Our most innocent have been routinely "flushed down the toilet" since Rowe vs Wade as a matter of convenience. This is a reductionist view of human life that is held by most of our legislators, our president and Justices and is reflected in "Affordable" Care Act.
2. The loss of freedom. Generally, people get the kind of government they deserve because government is a reflection of the national character. Only a responsible people can be a free people. What does it mean for us when we have government by executive order? I thought we fought a war over that matter.
3. The lack of monetary and budget credibility.Trillion plus dollar budget deficits a head as far as the eye can see and, in fact, the democrats want no limits on borrowing authority. There is nothing in obamanomics that can assure anyone that dynamic economic growth is ahead. High unemployment and underemployment is the new normal. Higher taxes and high inflation are on the horizon for everyone.
4. The incompetence, or worse, of the handling and the cover up of the Benghazi affair. The lack of resolve to bring to justice the radical Islamists who murdered Ambassador Stevens is criminal. Is that interpreted as weakness and decline by the radicals in the Middle East? Absolutely. The cover up of this, and like incidents, by the government with the full compliance of the main-stream news media to further a political agenda is certainly a metric of decline. When the main-stream media becomes a propaganda machine for the government, our freedom is in jeopardy.
Blessed by God, America is a dynamic country and a land of great opportunity for all. Each one must look into their own heart and determine if they are willing to be responsible and sacrifice so that our children can inherit the same opportunities that we did.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
E.J.Dionne Jr wrote an opinion piece that appeared in the January 15th Sioux City Journal titled, America isn't in decline and isn't retreating. His piece has a very defensive tone, but he is a a socialist so the tone is understandable. To the socialists in America, utopia is just over the horizon where there will be no guns, everyone will have a neat little abode with a few grains of rice and a bureaucrat watching their every move--Oh, I just described North Korea.
Dionne set me to thinking about what the metrics of national decline really might be. My measurements would include the following:
1. 55 million abortions in the 40 years of legal abortion. Our most innocent have been routinely "flushed down the toilet" since Rowe vs Wade as a matter of convenience. This is a reductionist view of human life that is held by most of our legislators, our president and Justices and is reflected in "Affordable" Care Act.
2. The loss of freedom. Generally, people get the kind of government they deserve because government is a reflection of the national character. Only a responsible people can be a free people. What does it mean for us when we have government by executive order? I thought we fought a war over that matter.
3. The lack of monetary and budget credibility.Trillion plus dollar budget deficits a head as far as the eye can see and, in fact, the democrats want no limits on borrowing authority. There is nothing in obamanomics that can assure anyone that dynamic economic growth is ahead. High unemployment and underemployment is the new normal. Higher taxes and high inflation are on the horizon for everyone.
4. The incompetence, or worse, of the handling and the cover up of the Benghazi affair. The lack of resolve to bring to justice the radical Islamists who murdered Ambassador Stevens is criminal. Is that interpreted as weakness and decline by the radicals in the Middle East? Absolutely. The cover up of this, and like incidents, by the government with the full compliance of the main-stream news media to further a political agenda is certainly a metric of decline. When the main-stream media becomes a propaganda machine for the government, our freedom is in jeopardy.
Blessed by God, America is a dynamic country and a land of great opportunity for all. Each one must look into their own heart and determine if they are willing to be responsible and sacrifice so that our children can inherit the same opportunities that we did.
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
Friday, January 11, 2013
2012 WAS A BIG YEAR FOR TOM AND HELEN STEELE
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
Here we are, almost to the middle of January 2013 and I am just trying to put 2012 into perspective. I made a resolution to quite procrastinating, but that will have to wait until next month. It must be noted that 2012 was one of the most eventful years of Helen's and my married lives. More could be written, but what follows are some of the most salient:
1. Helen's dad, Charles Huff passed away and he is greatly missed. A genuine war hero, elder in the church, youth leader, scout leader in about every capacity from volunteer to executive, active in community service organizations he was an inspiration and a former of character in the lives of a lot of people. Charles was a servant of Jesus Christ so we know that, according to God's promise, he is waiting and watching for us to join him in heaven.
2. Daughter Rebecca, husband, Kirk, grandchildren, Faith, Deacon and Parker moved from Ceres, California to Indianola, Iowa. They are much closer and easier to visit--what a blessing!!!
3. This spring our family grew a little when the best dog I ever had joined us. His name is now Scoobie, a pit bull. He is faithful, gentle. He just appeared on our farm one early spring morning. We do not know where he came from, but he has been a joy to have around.
4. This year Helen has experienced a great deal of success with weight loss, so much so that if you have not seen her in a year you would be amazed. She is even more the "lovely and gracious Helen."
5. New siding and a new roof were installed on the house. The dust from a heavily traveled gravel road would not allow the paint to stick, but now I think we are done with painting for good.
6. We moved my mother from her lake-side house to the Willoway Heights Apartments. She is 93.
7. Tom has experienced some significant health issues this last year so he reconditioned a bike and rides every day. I don't know if I will live longer, but hopefully, I will be able to get the most out of every day that I can.
8. 2012 was the year of the big drought. It has been more than 50 years since we had a drought like this. I hope we do not have a drought 2 years in a row!
9. Tom bought a Mustang convertible. It is a vintage "7Up" Mustang, 1990 5.0. The pipes are the best music this side of heaven.
10. Of least importance, Tom turned 65 and went on Medicare. That is a whole education in itself.
2013 will bring more significant events, a couple of them will happen soon, but I will save them for next year's letter. Helen and I are doing well and doing our best to enjoy each moment the Lord gives us. The older we get, the more precious each moment is.
Our Father's Love,
Tom & Helen Steele
Here we are, almost to the middle of January 2013 and I am just trying to put 2012 into perspective. I made a resolution to quite procrastinating, but that will have to wait until next month. It must be noted that 2012 was one of the most eventful years of Helen's and my married lives. More could be written, but what follows are some of the most salient:
1. Helen's dad, Charles Huff passed away and he is greatly missed. A genuine war hero, elder in the church, youth leader, scout leader in about every capacity from volunteer to executive, active in community service organizations he was an inspiration and a former of character in the lives of a lot of people. Charles was a servant of Jesus Christ so we know that, according to God's promise, he is waiting and watching for us to join him in heaven.
2. Daughter Rebecca, husband, Kirk, grandchildren, Faith, Deacon and Parker moved from Ceres, California to Indianola, Iowa. They are much closer and easier to visit--what a blessing!!!
3. This spring our family grew a little when the best dog I ever had joined us. His name is now Scoobie, a pit bull. He is faithful, gentle. He just appeared on our farm one early spring morning. We do not know where he came from, but he has been a joy to have around.
4. This year Helen has experienced a great deal of success with weight loss, so much so that if you have not seen her in a year you would be amazed. She is even more the "lovely and gracious Helen."
5. New siding and a new roof were installed on the house. The dust from a heavily traveled gravel road would not allow the paint to stick, but now I think we are done with painting for good.
6. We moved my mother from her lake-side house to the Willoway Heights Apartments. She is 93.
7. Tom has experienced some significant health issues this last year so he reconditioned a bike and rides every day. I don't know if I will live longer, but hopefully, I will be able to get the most out of every day that I can.
8. 2012 was the year of the big drought. It has been more than 50 years since we had a drought like this. I hope we do not have a drought 2 years in a row!
9. Tom bought a Mustang convertible. It is a vintage "7Up" Mustang, 1990 5.0. The pipes are the best music this side of heaven.
10. Of least importance, Tom turned 65 and went on Medicare. That is a whole education in itself.
2013 will bring more significant events, a couple of them will happen soon, but I will save them for next year's letter. Helen and I are doing well and doing our best to enjoy each moment the Lord gives us. The older we get, the more precious each moment is.
Our Father's Love,
Tom & Helen Steele
Monday, January 07, 2013
HOW IS YOUR CHARISMA SHOWING?
May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord (II Peter 1:2).
Of all people, Christians should be people who are optimistic about the future, who are approachable and pleasant to meet because they have a smile on their face, warmth in their voices and love in their hearts. That is "charisma." There are a lot of different applications of the Greek word, "charis," but generally the formal dictionary definitions tell us that charisma is a compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others. It seems to be a quality that leaders have. Charisma can be a divinely conferred power or talent. In any case, "charis," itself, is a gift of grace that is not earned, but can certainly be refined and polished to bring glory to God and inspire others to greater service for Him.
For Christians who appear to not be "charismatic" I would ask the question, "What is going on with your faith? Do you feel hopeless?" Christians are human beings too, so they can be troubled with the same physical pains, illnesses and mental illnesses as anyone else. As a result, there are some compelling dynamics for not having a smile on the face. Also, extroversion and introversion are genetic factors so it is very difficult for an introvert appear to be as charismatic as an extrovert. Nevertheless, Christians can exude a peace, because of their faith in a faithful God.
It must also be added that, being people of faith in God, we do what is gracious whether we feel like it or not. The truth is that our emotions often follow our actions. When, in faith, we give thanks we will then feel thankful. When, in faith, we show love, it is then we feel love. When, in faith, we forgive, we feel forgiveness.
In Christ, you are a charismatic person. Let it show!
Grace & Peace,
Tom
Of all people, Christians should be people who are optimistic about the future, who are approachable and pleasant to meet because they have a smile on their face, warmth in their voices and love in their hearts. That is "charisma." There are a lot of different applications of the Greek word, "charis," but generally the formal dictionary definitions tell us that charisma is a compelling attractiveness or charm that can inspire devotion in others. It seems to be a quality that leaders have. Charisma can be a divinely conferred power or talent. In any case, "charis," itself, is a gift of grace that is not earned, but can certainly be refined and polished to bring glory to God and inspire others to greater service for Him.
For Christians who appear to not be "charismatic" I would ask the question, "What is going on with your faith? Do you feel hopeless?" Christians are human beings too, so they can be troubled with the same physical pains, illnesses and mental illnesses as anyone else. As a result, there are some compelling dynamics for not having a smile on the face. Also, extroversion and introversion are genetic factors so it is very difficult for an introvert appear to be as charismatic as an extrovert. Nevertheless, Christians can exude a peace, because of their faith in a faithful God.
It must also be added that, being people of faith in God, we do what is gracious whether we feel like it or not. The truth is that our emotions often follow our actions. When, in faith, we give thanks we will then feel thankful. When, in faith, we show love, it is then we feel love. When, in faith, we forgive, we feel forgiveness.
In Christ, you are a charismatic person. Let it show!
Grace & Peace,
Tom
Wednesday, January 02, 2013
SIX WAYS TO MAKE TIME
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise men, but as wise, redeeming the time because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15-16).
It is important to start off the new year with a resolution to make the most of the time you have, after all, we only have a limited amount of it before we die. According to the cited Scripture text, not only are we to make the most of the time we are given, we are to buy-up time, or to rescue time for good use because the days are evil. So here are my 6 ways to buy-up, rescue or make time so that it can be put to proper use*: 1. Get an education. I believe in life-long learning, so the process never ends as long as we can draw a cognizant breath. True education is not is not cheap, but it does free time for its best use.
2. Eat right, exercise and get proper amounts of sleep. In other words, do the things that make for good physical health. Though we do not have complete control of our health, there are many physical and mental health problems that can arise because we do not take proper care of ourselves. How many opportunities are wasted because of poor health!
3. Seek salvation in Jesus Christ. Salvation is wholeness. It is finding comfort in your relationship to God, in human relationships and eyes to see the things that are really important so that time is not wasted on lessor things. These few lines from a prayer attributed to Francis of Asissi are appropriate here: For it is in giving that we receive, It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
4. Take a risk. Though this might seem to be contradictory to #2 because risks are dangerous, sometimes there are no opportunities if there is no risk-taking. I know doing the Lord's work is not safe because we are in spiritual combat against the world. According to Jesus, in the parable of the talents, the servant who refused to take a risk was called, "wicked."
5. Pray. God is the God of all time, past, present and future. He is the only One capable of time travel. When situations seem to be impossible, He is the only one who can make them possible. Our Father answers the prayers of His children in ways that we do not expect. To make time we need God, our Father's, help!
6. Honest self-examination. To make time we need to understand what it is about we, ourselves, that is hindering us. There is nothing more time wasting as pet sins of which we keep dragging around; as well as bad habits. You have got to do some honest personal housecleaning!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
*These are not necessarily in proper order and there might be some of which I have not thought. You are welcome to suggest more if you like.
It is important to start off the new year with a resolution to make the most of the time you have, after all, we only have a limited amount of it before we die. According to the cited Scripture text, not only are we to make the most of the time we are given, we are to buy-up time, or to rescue time for good use because the days are evil. So here are my 6 ways to buy-up, rescue or make time so that it can be put to proper use*: 1. Get an education. I believe in life-long learning, so the process never ends as long as we can draw a cognizant breath. True education is not is not cheap, but it does free time for its best use.
2. Eat right, exercise and get proper amounts of sleep. In other words, do the things that make for good physical health. Though we do not have complete control of our health, there are many physical and mental health problems that can arise because we do not take proper care of ourselves. How many opportunities are wasted because of poor health!
3. Seek salvation in Jesus Christ. Salvation is wholeness. It is finding comfort in your relationship to God, in human relationships and eyes to see the things that are really important so that time is not wasted on lessor things. These few lines from a prayer attributed to Francis of Asissi are appropriate here: For it is in giving that we receive, It is in pardoning that we are pardoned, It is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
4. Take a risk. Though this might seem to be contradictory to #2 because risks are dangerous, sometimes there are no opportunities if there is no risk-taking. I know doing the Lord's work is not safe because we are in spiritual combat against the world. According to Jesus, in the parable of the talents, the servant who refused to take a risk was called, "wicked."
5. Pray. God is the God of all time, past, present and future. He is the only One capable of time travel. When situations seem to be impossible, He is the only one who can make them possible. Our Father answers the prayers of His children in ways that we do not expect. To make time we need God, our Father's, help!
6. Honest self-examination. To make time we need to understand what it is about we, ourselves, that is hindering us. There is nothing more time wasting as pet sins of which we keep dragging around; as well as bad habits. You have got to do some honest personal housecleaning!
Our Father's Blessings,
Tom
*These are not necessarily in proper order and there might be some of which I have not thought. You are welcome to suggest more if you like.
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