A couple of days from now most men will be scrambling around to get to the local florist and Hallmark store to make their wives day special.  As a married man we dread this day more and more each year as we always feel the pressure to outdo last year’s festivities much less anyone else that our wives may know that might embarrass our feeble attempts at ingenuity. This is not to say that Valentine’s Day is not a special day that we should express our undying love for our wives; then again shouldn’t we as Christian men be doing that every day? We are taught throughout scripture (repeatedly) that we should love our wives, neighbors, enemies and well anyone that may ever cross our path right?  Nowhere does it say “men buy your wife a box of chocolate, ridiculously expensive flowers and a card to express your love to her.” Granted that probably sounded a bit blasphemous to those that don’t know any better and think that they are remiss if jewelry, flowers and chocolate are not bought (preferably before the day of gentlemen) for Valentine’s Day to be special. Valentine’s Day originally started out as a liturgical celebration of one of the early Christian saints, Valentinus(Saint Valentine).   It has also been associated with a Roman festival that involved sacrificing goats and dogs and then flogging women with the skins of the sacrifice.  It was not until the time of Geoffery Chaucer that Valentines was associated with love, cupid and the sort. So gentlemen […]

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This past Sunday at church I got a little fired up! Fired up in a good way that is.  The sermon was on the differences between being a thermostat and a thermometer in your spiritual walk. This is an old adage that I think is deserving a revisit from time to time. We all know that a thermostat controls the temperature whether for your air handler or under the hood of your car.  Meanwhile a thermometer merely reflects or measures hot or cold with no controls. My question for you is ‘do you influence or control the tone in your life or do you simply react and measure the ups and downs?’ Our thermostats in our homes have been working overtime lately with all the weather changes. Are you working just as hard to influence your house as well?  What about at work, in the community or even at church? Many of us act as thermometers where we gauge our surroundings and allow them to dictate out moods and behavior.  If our work is stressing us out, or our home life is in shambles so are we.  Rather than being a leader that inspires others we become irritable and difficult and thereby diminish others’ trust in us. Being a leader that works as a thermostat, you have the opportunity to check the temperature and make necessary adjustments.  This type of leader is caring and aware of the mood or temperature and with their finger on the pulse is able to adjust accordingly. The purpose of […]

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  Is it a challenge to be a Christian in the workplace? Many people hide their faith and beliefs at work as they are terrified of being ostracized, picked on or possibly even fired.  Why should we be ashamed of the one thing that gets many of us through the day? Now I am not saying that we need to be Bible beating witnesses that preach to our co-workers and have a crucifix on our desk.  We all need to be sensitive to the religion and beliefs of others that may differ than ours.  I am sure it would probably bother you if someone adorned their desk with fish, peace signs and Stars of David as well. However, our actions can be a reflection of our faith even if our cross is hidden beneath the collar of our shirt. Personally, I have found if you treat others with humble generosity, and are polite and polite, faith will shine through.  Whether it is through simple gestures that many associate with being chivalrous such as opening doors for others, waiting for others to enter or exit a room or elevator.  Maybe you quietly bow your head and bless your food before you eat in the cafeteria, a potluck even when you eat alone at your desk. You know what you believe and you can be the mirror that shines and brightens someone else’s day without saying a word.  Do you say ‘Bless you’ if a co-worker sneezes?  What if they are an atheist do you still bless them?  Of […]

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