Encourage Others

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Encourage others. Nice words – but do we truly follow them? I was a baller when I was younger. One of the things I learned on a playground on Addison Road in Seat Pleasant and later – on the playgrounds of Annapolis and the courts at some of the housing developments – was to get into the head of your opponent. Trash talking was a must. Anything you could say to get into their heads – make them doubt their game – was fair game. It wasn’t about encouraging them – it was about making them doubt themselves. To encourage the opponent on the court might be giving them an advantage. If you allow a lesser opponent to stick around by encouraging their game – they just might beat you.

Encourage others. Nice words – but do we truly follow them? We live in a competitive world and society. Phrases like dog eat dog – do unto others before they do unto you – hit or be hit and the strongest survive are what many live by these days. At times – it seems that we need to get over someone else for that promotion or job. We often seem to be faced with a cutthroat business world. To encourage someone striving for the same prize might be counterproductive. I mean – would we really want to encourage someone and allow them to get the position we’re striving to get?

Encourage others. Nice words – but do we truly follow them? Even in the ministry – among colleagues – encouragement is not as common as it should be. Instead of rejoicing when someone has a successful ministry project or does something unique in ministry – often we immediately turn the conversation to what we have accomplished or have planned. It seems that the art of encouragement seems to need a boast – even among those who should be encouragers.

Encourage One Another

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Encourage one another. Nice words – but do we truly follow them? I was a baller when I was younger. One of the things I learned on a playground on Addison Road in Seat Pleasant and later – on the playgrounds of Annapolis and the courts at some of the housing developments – was to get into the head of your opponent. Trash talking was a must. Anything you could say to get into their heads – make them doubt their game was fair game. It wasn’t about encouraging them – it was about making them doubt themselves. To encourage the opponent on the court might be giving them an advantage. If you allow a lesser opponent to stick around by encouraging their game – they might just beat you.

Encourage one another. Nice words – but do we truly follow them? We live in a competitive world and society. Phrases like dog eat dog – do unto others before they do unto you – hit or be hit and the strongest survive are what many live by these days. At times – it seems that we need to get over someone else for that promotion or job. We often seem to be faced with a cutthroat business world. To encourage someone striving for the same prize might be counterproductive. I mean – would we really want to encourage someone and allow them to get the position we’re striving to get?

Can We Be a Better Witness for Jesus?

Ephesians 4:29

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

This year – the year of our Lord 2020 – our nation will go to the polls once again – to place our vote for the POTUS and for others to lead our nation. I urge everyone to register to vote and to get out and vote for the person or persons you believe will help to make us a better nation. It is our legal duty and responsibility as citizens of this country to vote.

If you’ve been listening to the news or to TV – or the radio – or have read anything on the internet – you have probably heard what I have heard – or read what I have read. Men and women – people in political office – radio jocks – TV and movie stars – entertainers – comedians – folks on social media – and in other places – say or write some horrible things about the persons they do not support. I would rather hear positive things about the person(s) they support. Their choice of words leaves a lot to be desired. I mean – I’ve stopped listening to programs on TV because of the language being used. I’ve even had to turn off some sports programs on my favorite all-sports channel. I won’t watch certain shows on TV and don’t go to too many movies. I’ve unfriended or hidden some folks on social media because of the language they use (not always foul language but not uplifting language). Some do take the Lord’s name in vain – and laugh about it! There is a commandment about that with a warning I believe!

Can We Be More Encouraging?

Ephesians 4:29

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

In 2020 – our nation will go to the polls once again – to place our vote for the POTUS and others. I urge everyone to register to vote and to get out and vote for the person or persons you believe will help to make us a better nation. It is our legal duty and responsibility as citizens of this country to vote.

If you’ve been listening to the news or to TV – or the radio – or have read anything on the internet – you have probably heard what I have heard – or read what I have read. Men and women – people in political office – radio jocks – TV and movie stars – entertainers – comedians – folks on social media – and in other places – say or write some horrible things about the persons they do not support. I would rather hear positive things about the person(s) they support. Their choice of words leaves a lot to be desired. I mean I’ve stopped listening to programs on TV because of the language being used. I’ve even had to turn off some sports programs on my favorite all-sports channel. I won’t watch certain shows on TV and don’t go to too many movies. I’ve unfriended or hidden some folks on social media because of the language they use (not always foul language but not uplifting language. Some do take the Lord’s name in vain – and laugh about it! There is a commandment about that with a warning I believe!

We Should Consider What We Say and Who is Listening

Ephesians 4:29

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Less than four weeks from now – our nation will go to the polls for the mid-term elections. I urge everyone to register to vote and to get out and vote for the person or persons you believe will help to make us a better nation. It is our legal duty and responsibility as citizens of this country to vote.

If you’ve been listening to the news or to TV – or the radio – or have read anything on the internet – you have probably heard what I have heard – or read what I have read. Men and women – people in political office – radio jocks – TV and movie stars – entertainers – comedians – folks on social media – and in other places – say or write some horrible things of late. Their choice of words leaves a lot to be desired. I mean I’ve stopped listening to programs on TV because of the language being used. I’ve even had to turn off some sports programs on my favorite all-sports channel. I won’t watch certain shows on TV and don’t go to too many movies. I’ve unfriended or hidden some folks on social media because of the language they use. Some people use such foul language! They even take the Lord’s name in vain – and laugh about it! There is a commandment about that with a warning!