Why Your Faith Must Be Uncompromised

 Do you know anyone in your circle of friends with uncompromising faith?  If you do, count your blessings.  If you don't, keep in mind you are living in dark times controlled by the enemy of our Creator.  Those with uncompromising faith offer a way out of the darkness.

There are three areas of my life intertwined with today's story...food, finances, and faith.  All three of these happen to be where the Enemy has struck with vengeance.  I will share the details in "Live Long and Prosper."

The flip side of my life's story is where the Dark Side has the most power.  Most of the world has been bamboozled, tempted, and shut out, especially in the darkest days we are now living in.  We are the frogs in hot water and we are boiling to death without really being aware how dangerous the temperature happens to be.  The Enemy turns up the heat one degree at a time to keep us from noticing.

Let me offer one specific example...How are you doing with attendance at your house of worship?  What is the reason you fall short?  What are you going to do to get back on track?  Are you willing to be uncompromising when it comes to doing what the Creator asks of you?

Those 10 Commandments Moses hand carried from the top of the mountain are for you and me.  11 tribes out of 12 were already deep in false worship when Moses returned after a short absence.  They suffered great consequences.  The one tribe willing to put God first was the only tribe allowed to lead worship services.  If 11 tribes out of 12 of God's Chosen Ones can blow it in front of someone like Moses, what are your chances of survival in these times?  Maybe that's a valid reason for you to become uncomprising in your pursuit of God.  Have a great day.

Day 272 CIY

There are about three months to go in my yearlong quest to understand what's contained in "Catechism in a Year" or CIY.  It all started when I decided to delve into a daily Bible podcast my mother discovered on YouTube.  The journey was eye-opening.  Part II of the journey to get closer to God happened at the beginning of this year with CIY.  It's like studying the theory of relativity and you happen to have Albert Einstein as your professor.  Day one is like being lost in space.  You don't know if you belong in the class but you stick around.

I would like to thank my mother for her willingness to share her faith with me.  What a journey this is.  Stay tuned for the rest of the story.  Have a great day.

Moving Mountains and Walking on Water

 Jesus teaches us that if we have faith the size of a mustard seed we can move mountains and walk on water.  I believe I'm beginning to get a glimpse about what he means.  There is a hint in the wrist band I wear inscribed with one of my all time favorite scripture verses, Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Walking on water and moving mountains has nothing to do with me and everything to do with Jesus.  This gift Jesus gives us is the secret sauce.  The Holy Spirit is the steam shovel moving the mountains.  Yes, the mountains are moving.  More on this later.  Stay tuned.  All I can say is I'm in awe of his ways.  Have a great day.

Is Your Morning Routine Healthy?

 Are you having trouble managing your time and getting things done?  If so, this story may shed some light.  I'm discovering the idea of consistency, especially in the first hour of my day.  Loved ones know it's nearly impossible to reach me after 8pm as I'm already shutting down and preparing for eight hours of sleep in order to get a quality start first thing in the morning.

Think about how you start your day.  Is your wake-up time consistent?  Are you well rested?  Do you have your top three priorities in place?  Are these goals written?  How likely are you to accomplish these goals before the day is over?

It's now 6am as I'm writing this story to be released at my scheduled time, 8:08AM, Pacific Time.  Despite a handful of missed deadlines, this is my top priority for over 5,000 days.  The morning prayer/meditation prior to writing helps me get in an ideal state of mind.  The early wake-up at 4am gives me a couple of hours free of distractions.

This is a great time of year to work on an improved morning routine.  It doesn't need to be perfect.  Make small changes as you approach the end of the year and set yourself up for a lifetime of healthy habits.  Make that first hour of your day the best it can be.  Have a great day.

Rain or Shine Barbecuing

 Maybe these rain drops falling this morning are tears of joy from Heaven.  I may be away from my dad's weber grill he gifted my family shortly before his earthly departure, but that's not stopping me from grilling steaks rain or shine.  The key is to get the grill up to 400° and add the steaks quickly without extinguishing the flames during the storms.

Heaven has a clear view of what I'm doing, usually twice a day at my hotel as there is no shelter above the grills.  I like to think my dad is watching from above every time I fire up the grill.  Life is good.  In fact, I'm writing today's story from the indoor pool area adjacent to my grill at the hotel during yet another storm.  It's time to head to my morning tennis drills after I eat my ribeye.  Have a great day, rain or shine.

Tennis and/or Pickleball?

 It's a day off today and tomorrow.  There are three activities I would like to pursue during my time off.  The first priority is to participate in tennis drills with the locals at the neighborhood YMCA.  The indoor courts sport the best lights I've ever seen.  Next on the list is Pickleball.  If it's raining, we move indoors to a second facility nearby also run by the YMCA folks.  My hope is to visit McDonough Park which overlooks the Chippewa River where onlookers can see the fall foliage which is getting more brilliant every day.

The question people ask me when I tell them I play tennis AND Pickleball is, "why both?" They ask because many have heard most play one or the other but not both.  For me, playing both fulfills two needs- the need to enjoy tennis at the highest possible levels with amazing teammates who thrive on maximizing their abilities.  The other need is to participate in activities that are more social in nature that can be learned quickly.  My wife is quite fond of our time together on the Pickleball courts.

The world already has enough conflict to fight about choosing which activity is better. Some tennis players argue Pickleball shouldn't be classified as a sport.  Tell that to the 400 hundred or so locals playing in Eau Claire who are playing as often as daily.  They look very fit to me.  They also remind me of my teammates who are at the top of their game.  Yes, I do believe that no matter how you classify Pickleball or whether you choose to play tennis Pickleball, or both, you can get along with others who have differences of opinions.  As far as the weather goes, rain or shine, I'm playing tennis and Pickleball today and tomorrow.  Maybe I will see you on the courts.  Have a great day.

Murray's On Main

 

Please pardon me for my zealous tendencies about sharing red meat stories.  In my opinion, the benefits of red meat as a primary food source are often hidden from public discussion.  Maybe one of the reasons for this is because there are few people who know how to maximize the flavor.  

Mike Murray stopped by our table last night to check on us.  Even though I missed Mike's mouth-watering description of the prime rib special, I quickly ordered it as soon as I sat down.  All I can say is this is the best prime rib I've ever eaten.  The weeklong preparation process is the owner's secret to success.  If you are ever in Tomah, Wisconsin on a Saturday night, go to Murray's on Main and order the prime rib special.  Have a great day.

My Earliest Morning Barbecue

 

What does a traveler do when the local restaurants are closed and food choices are limited?  I found an interesting solution in a small town that people are flocking to for the 50th anniversary of the cranberry festival in Warrens, Wisconsin where I am for a day job assignment.

Cudos to Quick Trip for selling angus beef and being open at 4am when I was hunting and gathering my morning breakfast.  The ribeye you see pictured here was barbecued on a small hotel grill using charcoal.  My plastic utensils worked great and I enjoyed my breakfast before heading to the cranberry festival.  It was an amazing day.  This will be one of my most memorable breakfasts ever.  Have a great day.

Cranberry Festival Starts Today

 I'm on my way to breakfast at Denny's in Warren, Wisconsin.  It's almost 4am. Soon this community will be overrun with over 120,000 visitors for the next three days.  More on this later.  Right now the priority is eating and arriving to support my teammates at a booth surrounded by over 1,200 vendors.  Have a great day.

Training Tips for Service People

 Customer service is the key to finding and retaining loyal customers.  Training and development is often overlooked.  I found two sources of inspiration in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.

I give five stars to the folks at Scheels who examined a bike pump I struggled with since my initial purchase four months ago.  The pros verified my pump was defective and swapped mine out without ever looking for my original receipt.  

I returned a second time with a flat tire.  The fee to replace it was nominal.  Much to my surprise, they adjusted my breaks to eliminate the noisy squeeks without asking.  High five to the folks at Scheels.

The final example of first rate service is Grizzly's, my favorite eatery in Eau Claire.  Last night was my third visit.  My primary server was on her second night of employment.  I wasn't disappointed.  Another server waited behind her as a shadow in case something unusual came up.  Team teaching is also what Scheels does.  This is how great culture is passed on.  Have a great day.

A Hidden Gem Along the Yellowstone Historic Trail

 

There's something really special going on along the historic Yellowstone trail that stretches across thirteen states from Plymouth, Massachusetts to Puget Sound, Washington. It's located near the Chippewa River in Eau Claire, Wisconsin where I'm on a day job assignment.

Finding this place on my first day off last week was like searching for a needle in the haystack.  Road construction blocked the only entrance to Mcdonough Park located a couple of blocks away from the original Yellowstone Trail.  

I discovered how the neighborhood park was transformed from a couple of dilapidated abandoned tennis courts slated for demolition to a state-of-the-art facility when I met Marilyn, a 30yr resident of Eau Claire who earned her PhD in Sports Management from the University of Iowa before making Eau Claire her home.  Marilyn introduced me to two more movers and shakers in the community during my third visit to the park. Sandy assists with the activities and Julie Booth serves as the recreation program supervisor.

The place was bustling when I showed up to play pickleball with my wife and another teammate who was also on a day off.  Marilyn described how she submitted a grant to reinvigorate the park with 12 picklebar courts, two steel ping pong tables, outdoor gym equipment, shuffle board, a playground, and a view to the Chippewa River which was made possible when Marilyn convinced the city to remove trees so park visitors could sit in park benches and take in one of the best views in Eau Claire.

That's not the end of the story.  Marilyn said plans are underway to expand the courts.  The group now boasts 400 players.  Check out the photos below and make sure you stop at Mcdonough park the next time you find yourself on the Yellowstone Historic Trail.  Have a great day.

Grace

You ask, "What is Grace?"  I found a good response in today's CIY podcast from the youth pastor who hails from Duluth, Minnesota.  This pastor talks of two kinds of Grace, habitual and actual.  

The best way I can share today is to quote from the podcast I listened to before writing today's message.  Here goes...

Sanctifying grace is a habitual gift, a stable and supernatural disposition that perfects the soul itself to enable it to live with God, to act by his love.

Habitual grace is the permanent disposition to live and act in keeping with God's call.

Actual grace is an answer to a specific prayer.  Actual grace is God's intervention in our lives.  It's an answer to a specific need we have where Divine assistance is necessary.

St. Augustine tells us, "Without God's grace we can do nothing."

Think of grace as God's favor.  Think of it as something God gives you to help you get closer to him.  We don't deserve this gift.  We don't earn it.  God gives us grace because that's how much he loves us.  He wants us to be his children.  

It's our choice to accept God's grace.  Actual grace is like an infusion of everything we need to become a new creation.  Once infused with the Holy Spirit, it's up to us to follow God's plan every moment of every day.  Amazing things happen when we live in cooperation with God's desires.

Ask for the gift of grace today.  You will begin to see the world around you as God sees the world.  You will see yourself as God sees you.  You will see your call as an invitation to be closer to God.  You will never be afraid to share God's love with your family, your friends, and even your enemies.  Have a great day.

When Neuroplasticity and Justification Meet

  I woke up in deep gratitude for all that transpired yesterday on a day off.  The stars were in alignment.  My wife showed up yesterday afternoon at my hotel a day earlier than planned.  I found an evening worship service at the local university we could attend together after her 5 hour drive.

Worshiping alongside college students is special.  The pastor who led the evening service shared how thankful he was for the prayers as his mother passed away at the beginning of the school year.  Last evening's service was only the second week of the new semester.  

The message was about how you can rewire your brain simply by paying attention to new ideas.  This is called neuroplasticity.  I remembered hearing about this topic, so I went home to learn more from Andrew Huberman.  Much to my surprise, this Stanford University School of Medicine neuroscientist was sharing his faith as a way to rewire your brain.  It corroborated everything shared in the message at the chapel.

I put my headphones on this morning and jumped into day 261 of CIY from my mom's favorite YouTube pastor entitled Justification.  Boom! It hit me.  It's like peanut butter and jelly.  Justification is what the Holy Spirit does inside your heart when you turn away from sin and toward God.  Put neuroplasticity and justification together and you have a complete brain and heart makeover.  You are born again!

Once again, I am in awe of God's perfect timing.  There is much to soak up during my next two days off with my wife.  We will be bike riding together after my morning tennis drills with the local pro.  If all goes well, we will play some pickleball before sunset.  Have a great day.

The Naked Caveman in My Family Ancestry

Today's story is dedicated to the history/theology buff I met earlier this week while on the side of the road.  Matthew, as a seeker of knowledge, this story is dedicated to you.   I may not have all the answers you are seeking but I do know one thing; history and theology are connected at the hip just as I am to my caveman ancestors.

I never got to thank the stranger who visited our house of worship while I resided in Southern California many moons ago so I'm considering this message as a "pay it foward" moment for a new blog follower.  Here goes:

When you have time, look up La brana 1.  The Letter "n" in brana has a tilde above it.  That's where you will find my caveman ancestor I told you about who was buried in Northern Spain a stone's throw from my mother's ancestors in the town of Rubalcaba nearby.  You will find the blue-eyed, dark-skinned hunter gatherer who died 7,000 years ago leaving behind the oldest DNA of all times that was used to reconstruct what he looked like.

The next clue in the story has to do with the cavemen possessed by demons who also dwelled in caves about 2,000 miles east of the Spanish caveman.  Although separated in time by 5,000 years,  these two most likely share a genetic link.

Now the third and final clue...the Bible story in Luke 8: 26-40.  I mentioned to you in your Bible study group that this demoniac was a publisher.  Even the most diligent of Bible scholars won't make this connection as it's as rare as finding buried treasure in the desert.  Well, I found it in the Douay-Rheimes version of the vulgate Bible I rarely opened until the visitor urged us to open our Bible and look in the mirror.  In an effort to save you time verifying my story, here you go.  It's pasted here for your review...

39 Return to thy house, and tell how great things God hath done to thee. And he went through the whole city, publishing how great things Jesus had done to him.  40 And it came to pass, that when Jesus was returned, the multitude received him: for they were all waiting for him.

Regular story telling resumes tomorrow at 8:08 AM, Pacific Time.  Have a great day.

Lost Anything?

 Today's story is for those who are dealing with loss.  May this story help you on your healing journey.  It's inspired by my new friend, Matthew, who asked for the web address to my blog while we were chatting in a parking lot.  I complimented his son, Hunter, for his cross he was wearing while we were waiting for my teammate to finish some paperwork.  The lull in our busy day allowed Matthew to share his two favorite passions, history and theology.  Matthew put the blog address in his phone and told me he would check out my stories.  I welcomed him to our family once my teammate completed the paperwork.

I showed up to Matthew's bible study group at 6am yesterday.  Hunter was by his side, wearing the cross that opened the door to my invitation to join the group of men from all walks of life.  Without divulging anything that is meant for the men in the group who opened their hearts to a visitor, I want to acknowledge how deeply I was moved.  

Each participant shared what the stories from Luke 15 meant to them.  When it was my turn I was told I could defer or share.  I decided to make myself vulnerable and share what it meant to be welcomed as an outsider.  "I was the lost sheep Jesus searched for.  You represent those in Heaven who have been waiting for me to come back to the fold."

If you are feeling lost or you lost something, take a moment and search for Luke in the Bible.  Luke was a doctor in search of the Creator.  Although not part of the "chosen" ones, he found Jesus and was accepted into the fold.  Luke shares the parables of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son in chapter 15.  I will forever remember my time with these men who came together when the doors were shut at their individual houses of worship during the pandemic.  

Thank you, men, for sharing time yesterday.  Matthew, I'm glad you found the link to my daily stories.  Have a great day.

Breakfast with Champions

 If all goes well, I will be joining a group of men of all faiths who have been meeting once a week for years.  I've never seen anything like this.  I will share more about this later.

The tennis drills yesterday were amazing.  I followed the drills up with a 3 mile hike.  The bike rides are upcoming.  My body is adjusting to life on the road.  Have a great day.

First Day Off on Assignment

 Today is my first day off on assignment in Eau Claire as support staff.  Highs will be in the upper 70's with clear skies.  It's the perfect day to explore the area and get a good workout in.

I'm headed to the local YMCA for a one hour drill session on the indoor tennis courts about six miles from my hotel.  Next stop is the bike trails.  It's going to be a great day.  

I'm happy to be reunited with teammates from all over the Midwest.  There is serious work ahead.  Today is reserved for my body to get super active.  Stay tuned.  Have a great day.

Human Soladarity

 The adjustment process working away from home in new communities can sometimes appear overwhelming.  My routine is out of whack.  I do my best to find consistency amidst the chaos.  This morning I woke up early enough to get current with my daily podcasts from my mom's favorite YouTube pastor.  Yesterday's podcast, Human Soladarity, helped me connect the dots at the perfect time.

Human soladarity is about connecting with others.  Sure, it's easy to connect with those who come from similar backgrounds, like members of a specific congregation.  What about those outside your circle of friends?  I had one of those moments yesterday when Matthew returned to our tent to sign up for a membership.  I was on a lunch break so my teammate handled the paperwork.  Matthew was waiting in his vehicle when I walked up to chat.  Matthew brought up two of his favorite interests, history and theology.  History is a safe subject.  Theology means many thing to many people.  Perhaps that why there are so many denominations throughout the world.  Matthew surprised me when he invited me to visit his men's group later this week to participate in an ongoing discussion about theology with a group of people from all walks of life representing multiple denominations.

"I'm 90% in" I said, sharing that my schedule it at the discretion of the local management team I'm serving.  Matthew asked for my blog address and told me he would check out my stories.  If this works out, this will be a great example of human soladarity that Matthew and his team have been practicing for years.  I'm thankful for the invitation.  Stay tuned.  Have a great day.

Not an Inch to Spare

 If you were around yesterday when I picked up my "midsize" rental car you would have laughed uncontrollably.  By the way, I'm having trouble understanding what midsize really means.  Maybe if you were on the set of The Wizzard of Oz and you were one of the muchskins.  Not really midsize when you're hauling a bike and a couple of suitcases.  Well, it worked.  I used every nook and cranny without having to disassemble my road bike.

I have a new motto for my life on the road...work hard, play hard, and pray harder.  I spotted a couple of barbecue grills at my hotel.  Yes, burgers for breakfast are atypical.  Barbecuing in cold weather is also indicative of faulty circuitry in my brain.  Maybe it's because I rewired my cranium to believe writing stories with one finger is not outside the standard deviation of "normal."

Thank you for keeping in touch.  There is much to do in my new setting.  Stay tuned.  Have a great day.

Road Trip

 The geese are flying south and I'm driving north.  This next adventure is in Eau Claire, Wisconsin.  It's a college town about five hours due north of our home.  There is much support work to be done between now and opening day which is scheduled for the day before Thanksgiving.  All I can say is I have much to be thankful for.  I'm happy to contribute to my teammates who are arriving from surrounding states to help launch a new location.  It's time to get on the road.  Stay tuned.  Have a great day.

Packing My Bags

 This year is shaping up to be a year of travel.  This time it's another day job adventure.  I got so busy packing my bags I forgot to share a blog story.  This is a one finger swipe post on my cell phone to keep in touch.  We have a heavy down pour right now at my day job.  It's cooling off.  Hopefully, the road trip tomorrow to Wisconsin will be smooth.  Have a great dsy.

A Birthday Shout Out

 This is a long distance shout out to my first cousin, John, who is celebrating his birthday today.  I'm thankful for him and his family.  He made my childhood better and he makes the world better.  I'm most thankful for his intervention at a time in my life when my body was misbehaving due to eating the wrong foods.  Dr. John Mulligan set up a food experiment to see if it was possible to go against the grain and eliminate any and all foods that could be considered peligroso.  His food experiment was a success.  Thanks to my cousin, I'm free of prescription pills.  My life will likely be extended beyond my wildest expectations.  Who knows?  You may see the two of us playing tennis two or three decades into the future.  Happy birthday, cousin.  Have a great day.

Visitors Depart

Our out of town company is on the road.  Oh, what a week we had together.  My cup runneth over.  It's back to normal for three days.  The next adventure is on Monday.  Stay tuned.  Time to get to my day job.  Have a great day. 

Is Jesus Real?

 Today's question is directed to the doubter/non-believer.  Maybe you can relate to Thomas, one of the 12 closest followers of Jesus who simply could not fathom the idea of someone brutally killed coming back to life again.  His friends saw him but Thomas was away.  Thomas told his friends, "I need to see the wounds in his hands and thrust my hand into his side before I believe."

Jesus came back again.  He asked Thomas to examine his hands and thrust his hand into the side where the Roman soldier lanced Jesus with his spear.  That was the moment Thomas believed.

If Thomas didn't believe in the Resurrection until he became an eye witness, how are doubters to believe when we have been over 2,000 years removed from the event?  I like the documentation from all the historical accounts.  I thrive on all the supernatural events that are all around us.  One of the greatest mysteries is the Mother of Jesus.  How can she keep visiting even though she was born over 2,000 years ago.  Are these visitations real?  If you are a doubter/nonbeliever, I challenge you to examine these visitations.  Have a great day.

In a Pickle Today

 The temps are cooling off outside while things are heating up indoors at our local recreation center next door.  We have out of town company visiting.  We are headed to the pickle ball courts for some mixed doubles.  This is day two.  My wife is my doubles partner.  Yesterday we learned the rules.  Today we are putting it all together.  I'm super excited.  Have a great day.

Got Overflow?

Scarcity seems common in these times.  If you are one of those people experiencing lack, consider the possibility of a new source of abundance.  When I speak of abundance, the kind of abundance I'm referencing is beyond human imagination.  This story won't do this idea justice because I'm limited in my capacity to express the idea from my human viewpoint.  I only see glimpses from my perspective.  Those who have crossed over ahead of us are living in an eternity of overflow.  

King David of the Old Testament discovered this overflow and he wrote about it in order to inspire future generations.  You can find this and other quotes from him in the Book of Psalms.  Part of Psalm 23:5 goes like this..."My Cup Runneth Over."  In my opinion, a great way to understand this verse is to think about what you need in your life.  If you are thirsty, think of a cup of water.  Drink the cup and soon you get thirsty again.  That's scarcity.  What if the cup had a hose connected to it and the hose was connected to a spring?  There is no "off" valve so the cup is always overflowing.  There is so much water coming from this spring that you feel compelled to share the cup with others who are thirsty.  That's what living in overflow mode looks like.  Connecting your hose to the spring is like finding your own connection to God.  I believe God will always provide more than you need if you seek him.  Have a great day. 

Happy Labor Day

 We have much to be thankful for in our household today – out of town visitors, time off from my day job, and sunny skies.  A third "granddog" was added to our extended family when our daughter adopted her second pet who was pulled out of a river just in time by a fishing guide who saw him fighting for his life.  In my opinion, rescue pets are the best because they seem to have an instinct for gratitude.  That's what I'm feeling today – gratitude.  May your day be blessed.  Happy Labor Day.  Have a great day.

The Joy of a Good Decision

Those of you who have followed my stories see a familiar theme; I'm the guy who seems to make mistakes often.  There are enough missteps in my life to reach the moon and back.  One may wonder, how can one guy mess up so much?  Perhaps it comes down to one simple thing – decision.  Everything that is good begins with a good decision.  Are you with me?  If not, think back to a time in your life when you made a bad decision.  What happened?  I bet you discovered the bad decision led to trouble.  Perhaps you wish you could take back some of those bad decisions.  

If small decisions lead to small victories, what happens when you make big decisions?  I'm referring to decisions that are life altering...decisions with eternal consequences.  Sure, I may have blown it most of my life when it comes to poor small decisions.  Despite all these wrong turns, I made one very good decision that cancels out every screw up.  This decision is my choice to get closer to God.  For those of you who don't know God, my recommendation is for you to discover who God is.  Not knowing God is a decision albeit a choice that will get you in hot water.  Ignorance is simply a bad choice.  

Like it or not, your judgment day will come at the end of your life.  Jesus is going to look you in the eye and ask, "Are you with me?"  Your life on earth will be your answer.  You can't cheat on your answer.  Make a good decision today.  Choose to be closer to Jesus with every step you take.  Should you make a misstep, ask Jesus to forgive you and try again.  My prayer for you is that you discover the joy of a good decision.  Have a great day.

Family Time Ahead

 There is a three-day weekend on the horizon.  It's not really over the weekend but close enough.  I'm spending three days in a row with family beginning on Monday.  Before that begins I need to crack the whip and take care of the people we serve today and tomorrow.  All I can say is I'm super excited to be with my family soon.  Have a great day.

This is a Great Time to Be Bold

 The world is upside down.  The debt ceiling rises.  Fear is creeping back in.  In my opinion, this is the time to be bold.  This is the time to celebrate all the good that is all around us.  There are times when it's hard to see the good.  Perhaps that's why I cut the cable years ago.  My heart broke when my wife told me Maui was on fire.  I didn't even know because I was so disconnected from the news.  Well, there happens to be some good news coming out of all that devastation on the island we feel so connected to.  The house of worship we attend on family vacations in the center of all the devastation still stands.  Not a single flower wilted inside.  The people of Lahaina need hope.  They need our prayers.  They need a place to seek God in the midst of their tragedy.

How about you?  Are you facing turmoil in your life?  How are you going to face your challenges?  If you feel overpowered and you have nowhere to turn, why not visit your local house of worship and ask God to give you the gift of boldness?  If you feel weak, ask God to give you strength.  Yes, this is a great time to be bold.  Have a great day.