John Harrell's Blog, page 34
November 1, 2024
True or False
We have a tendency to either stretch the truth or sugarcoat things so they don’t seem so bad. Why not just tell it like it is?
There’s been a growing trend where people don’t call a lie a lie. Substituting the word falsehood or disinformation might sound more palatable to some, but it doesn’t change what it is. If it isn’t the truth, it’s a lie.
The truth will stand on its own. There’s no need to exaggerate to make a point. God’s word is always true, so you can rely on it no matter the situation. In fact, God cannot tell a lie. It goes against his nature. What he said 2,000 years ago is still true today. Our exaggerations pass in a moment.
I encourage you to see things clearly. Question everything except the word of God. He’s the only one who will tell us the truth every time…
October 31, 2024
The Popular Vote
Because it’s election season in the United States, the popular vote is being talked about. Who will be the winner? Popularity isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
If you are living your life with a strong desire to be liked, you will be disappointed. Not everyone is going to like you when you stay true to your values. It’s not a bad thing to try to get along with others, but turning into a chameleon so you will be liked and avoid confrontation is weak. It just doesn’t work.
Jesus certainly wasn’t loved by everyone during his ministry, and he is the Son of God! He wasn’t trying to be popular or to establish rule over the Romans. In fact, his desire to not be made a king got him killed (although his death on the cross had been prophesied).
Decide what you value and stand up for it. You are going to piss some people off and that’s okay. If you’re taking a stand for what’s true, noble and right, you will be following the example Jesus set for us.
And that’s a good thing…
October 30, 2024
Come Back
All throughout the Old Testament, God is saying “turn back to me. Stop worshipping idols and put me first.” I believe the message is the same today. It gets lost in the noise.
We live in the most connected world there has ever been. You can call anywhere in the world and you can watch events unfold in real time. But have we lost our connection with the eternal? We place so much importance on what we possess, our status, and our work that we forget that everything good in our lives are gifts from God. He deserves our thanks and praise. He deserves to be number one in our lives. He expects us to help others who are less fortunate.
It’s not too late. We can turn this ship around and rise to greater heights than we can imagine.
He’s waiting on us. It’s not the other way around…
October 29, 2024
Almost There
In the United States, we are one week away from finding out who our next president will be. I, for one, am ready to get this election season behind us.
Every year it seems like the rhetoric gets more amped up. This year one party is calling their opponent Hitler while the other candidate calls his opponent a low IQ individual. Neither comment is acceptable. Hitler was a genocidal maniac who killed 11 million people. Insulting someone’s intelligence is questionable, at best, and unnecessary.
Our country will survive no matter the outcome. Next to the Bible, the United States Constitution is the greatest document ever written. It will stand. Our republic will remain intact.
Words have consequences. Let’s tone down our rhetoric and take the time to think before we speak…
October 28, 2024
Holding On
Great memories are treasures we hold in our hearts. Moments in time permanently etched in the fiber of our being.
What are we holding onto that doesn’t serve us well? This could be anything from a bad habit to people who aren’t good for us. It’s a real challenge to let go.
Changing a habit takes about three weeks. Even after that we have a desire to return to old behavior. If we aren’t careful, we will allow our minds to play tricks on us. The tricks are real.
Letting go of people is challenging, too. There was a time in my life where I eliminated every person who wasn’t edifying and enriching to my life. I was lonely for a while, and loneliness sucks. But I held on to a stronger belief that I knew the loneliness would pass. I focused on myself. The healthier I got, the more healthy people I attracted into my life. It was worth the effort to make myself a priority.
I encourage you to take inventory of your own life. If there’s something you need to rid yourself of, take the brave first step in a new direction.
You might experience some loneliness, too, but the darkness will pass. Every time…
October 27, 2024
The Floor is Yours
Parents know this: your children are watching everything you say and do. If they call someone an asshole, it’s because they heard it from you first! Children are constantly learning while their neural pathways are being formed. We have a great responsibility to teach them well.
Adults are watching you, too. They watch you at work, in restaurants, at parties, basically everywhere. People pay attention to how you treat others. Are you kind, or do you take great satisfaction in being rude? Be kind. Always.
Our outer behavior reflects what is in our hearts and minds. We are either building trust or we are tearing it down. People let their guard down when they know you won’t shred their emotions.
Confidence is attractive, arrogance is not. If there’s something you don’t like about yourself, go to work on it. The work is internal. Change comes over time.
Remember parents, your little ones are watching. The floor is yours…
October 26, 2024
Welcome The Challenges
Sometimes life goes smoothly, but sometimes life is hard. Really hard. When we are in the middle of a storm we wonder if it will ever end. It will.
I encourage you to welcome the challenges that are thrown your way. Difficulties require us to grow, to stretch ourselves. And along the way our faith strengthens. When the shit hits the fan is the time many people cry out to God to help. He will answer us every time, although it might not be the answer we want. God knows what is best. Trust Him.
No one gets to live life without challenges. They will pass, and you will find yourself in the dark periods, your strongest self…
October 25, 2024
Feel The Heat
To purify gold you must heat it to a temperature of over 1000 degrees Celsius. The final result is absolutely beautiful. Gold becomes so shiny you can see yourself.
Feeling the heat means you are under pressure. You have a deadline, or you are facing an extremely stressful situation. When we are dealing with difficult circumstances, we have a choice: melt or rise to the occasion. It’s yours and yours alone to decide.
In the heat of the battle we find out just how strong we are. And oftentimes we surprise ourselves.
Strength is tempered when things are hard, not when life is easy. Once you have risen to the challenge and conquered whatever you are facing, there’s no going back.
You are forever changed…
October 24, 2024
Verify
As you are aware, there’s a lot of news thrust upon us 24/7. How do we discern what is true from the lies?
When I cite something like a statistic, I have checked its validity from three independent sources. The only pieces I read are scientific, not opinion based. I have an opinion but that doesn’t make it true. I have this unique ability to get things wrong sometimes!
The MSM has turned themselves into talking heads who spout the stories they want you to believe. Oftentimes they omit parts of questions and answers, or they edit them in ways to promote their outright lies. Purposely misleading people is wrong. No wonder podcasts are exploding while nightly “news” is barely hanging on. People want unfiltered news.
No one has the time to check out everything. Select what’s important to you. Do your research with an open mind. Consider things from all angles.
The truth is out there. You just gotta look for it…
October 23, 2024
Hatred
Why do people hate others? Everything from the neo-Nazis to the KKK exists so they can isolate and marginalize others, keeping them living in fear. Although these groups are small, they can inflict great harm to people.
Anti-Semitism is rampant on college campuses and in mainstream society. Two weeks ago I attended a “Breakfast For Israel” meeting to learn about the battles Israel is facing. The Israelis are in a fight for their lives, their very existence. There was security everywhere to keep the attendees safe. This really saddened me.
Hatred is the default mechanism of a weak and empty society. Blame is oftentimes a companion of hate. People believe they have been victimized so they blame the people who aren’t like them.
People fear what they don’t understand. I encourage you to get to know people, learn about them and their culture. You will see that we are all pretty much the same inside…
