John Harrell's Blog, page 49

Government Formation

There are those who are trying to change the truth about how the government of the United States was created. They want you to believe that there were no biblical principles in the thinking of the founding fathers. They are lying to you.

Isaiah 33:22 says:

For the Lord is our judge,
    the Lord is our lawgiver,
the Lord is our king;
    it is he who will save us.

The judge gives us the Supreme Court, the lawgiver our Congress, and the king is our president. There it is in plain sight, but we have strayed so far from the original intent I’m sometimes uncertain we can ever right the ship. Being an optimistic man, I refuse to give up.

Biblical truth will stand the test of time. The word of the world will perish…

What Are You Thinking?

You have heard it said that we become what we think about, and it’s true. Our thoughts are powerful, and they control our actions to an extent that is more than we realize. Thus, be diligent with controlling your thoughts.

If you want to regain your health, fill your mind with information about healthy eating and exercise. Start an exercise routine. Focus on your long-term goals, and realize that you are making progress every day. Think about what you are gaining by jettisoning a crappy diet and sedentary lifestyle.

Nowadays it seems most people are thinking about politics. That is wasted energy. Congress will continue wasting trillions of dollars while the time you spend fuming about “the other side” has robbed you of valuable time. Regain control of your time.

Decide what you want from your life. It’s been written to begin with the end in mind, so think about how you want to be remembered. Then put your thoughts into action…

Reviews

To me, reviews are not worth reading. I prefer to experience things for myself, whether it’s a restaurant or a movie. Had I listened to the reviews of “Caddyshack,” I would have never seen the movie. And it is hilarious.

In lieu of reviews, I ask for referrals. I have found great doctors that way. Restaurants, too! And hotels. The list goes on.

Word of mouth is the best review, good or bad…

Simplicity

Life can be complicated. I spent years learning subjects in school that I wasn’t sure I would ever use. Reading and spelling were helpful to prepare me for life. Yet, I still cannot understand why geometry was so important.

We are all capable of making life harder than it should be. Some things can be accomplished through simple solutions. If it’s too easy, we question whether we might have missed something.

Simplicity reigns. We should take the time to rid ourselves of clutter and unnecessary noise. Focus on important things like family, friends and making a difference.

Keep it simple. It’s not that hard…

Do Nothing

Everyone can use a day off. Sometimes we just need a break. And that’s okay. In fact, it’s healthy.

American culture has tried to dictate to us that if we aren’t the busiest person around, then we have little or no worth. This isn’t true. Being productive is far superior to just busyness. To be our best, we need to rest and recharge.

Take some time off occasionally. The work will be waiting for you upon your return…

Bullying

Bullying gets a lot of attention nowadays. And it should.

Bullies aren’t born that way. Something inside of them makes them act that way. At their core, bullies are the most frightened person around. They are scared so they want others to feel scared. If you want them to change their behavior, you must change their hearts. Then the change is lasting.

Rachel’s Challenge is the most effective in-school program that creates safer, better connected schools. A story, Rachel’s story, gives students the desire to change, the “want to” if you will.

Change the heart, change the world. It begins with a story…

Verified

There is a tsunami of information that flows our way every single day. How do you know what’s true and what is either inflated or just an outright lie?

Facebook, Instagram and X have programs where you can become a “verified user.” You are who you say you are. Yet verifying one’s identity doesn’t prevent people from spreading lies and exaggerations. And no one has enough time to vet everything.

The one true book that has stood the test of time, and always will, is The Bible. It covers everything from our health to our money. The Bible is the original self-help book, but when we apply its principles we have another helper named God. God cannot write one thing and then do another. If He could, there would be no order, only chaos.

Start your day with some biblical wisdom. Avoid the noise of the world. Stay focused…

But Everyone is Doing It!

Peer pressure is huge when you are a child. Kids desperately want to “fit in” and be included in the group. This is especially true during the period when boys and girls bodies are changing, and teenage rebellion kicks in. Things might not be great at home, so kids go looking for acceptance elsewhere.

This carries over into adulthood, too. If you have ever worked in a team environment, there is usually one person who wants the others to see things their way. Unity isn’t always the best option. Thinking differently brings different results.

You were created as one unique individual. There is no one like you, and there never will be. Don’t be concerned about fitting in, especially if groupthink goes against your values and beliefs.

Make your life count. Use your unique gifts and talents to leave the world better than you found it…

Difficult Relationships

With the divorce rate of 50% for first marriages, someone isn’t getting along with someone else! But that’s not the difficult relationship I want to address today. I’m talking about my relationship with the unseen.

God doesn’t want more religion from me. He wants a relationship with me. It’s a challenge for me because of a variety of reasons. I can’t see God, yet when I talk to Him he listens. Every time. He has an interest in my life, but I’m not always aware of His presence. And there’s a lot of noise in the world which gets my attention. Man, is there a lot of noise.

God thought of us before the earth was formed. And there’s a great purpose attached to me being here. I wish He would just tell me what my purpose is and I would do it. Or would I?

Moses talked to God and said “you’ve got the wrong guy for the job!” Jonah ran the opposite direction God told him to go. What makes me any different?

My willingness to believe and trust will get me farther in life than I can get on my own. I’m willing…

Mystery

I love mysteries and puzzles. My innate curiosity keeps me interested in trying to figure things out.

When someone is unnecessarily rude, I figure that something is going on inside of them that has caused the behavior to manifest. It has nothing to do with me. They might have received some really bad news, or perhaps they are just struggling to make ends meet. It’s expensive to live, and it’s not getting any cheaper.

Sometimes things aren’t as they appear to be. Take time and be patient with your fellow man. We are all in this thing called life together, and we are better together…