NCarolinian

                    Have you ever felt like your life has reached a point of staleness? Did you feel like your life was in a barren, desert wilderness or you were on the road, caught in a rut with a spinning, stuck tire or floating on the windless, doldrums of the sea?           In each case there is a stagnant experience. I would dare to venture that most of us would like to continue moving and in a positive direction. Sometimes the fruitless environment you are in is the tool used to strengthen your body, mind, spirit and character.           There are times as Christians when believers are brought into areas like these to wait upon The Lord. Then there are times like these that demand us to act. Those times are when we seek out nourishment in the desert or push our vehicle out of the rut or row through the calmness of the sea with the result being we gain strength a...

                    Why do superheroes attract such a large audience or followers? Whenever the first story was told of a human with a superhuman ability or abilities, I can see in my mind's eye a captivated audience. I believe the human desire to not only exist, but live above and beyond our limited capabilities has always been fuel for the imagination, a draw for story-tellers and a possible opportunity with technology for many.           Until movies came along, especially colored movies with special effects, all people had were either an oral tradition of storytelling for the illiterate or their books and their imaginations. Now, with movies, we are subject to the interpretation of the imagination of the Director/Producer of that movie, if the movie is based on a book. Sometimes the creativity in those films can be justified with our imaginations and other times, not so much. This is the pull -...

                    Aren't you grateful for thankful people? I gravitate toward people who do not feel like they are entitled to anything. There is a generation today that has this entitled attitude. It is ugly and a lie.           An ungrateful, unthankful heart, mind or attitude creates a spirit and behavior of entitlement. Pride knows how to look out for number one and where to get the assistance but does not submit any gratitude or honor to the helper.                   Before focusing on  the Ten Healed of Leprosy documented in Luke 17:11-19  allow me to introduce you Leviticus 14:1-32 .  The proper method of cleansing from infectious skin diseases according to the Old Testament is documented in Leviticus 14:1-32.  The big take away going into the main passage of study is that the priests personally knew who they were s...

                    God's forgiveness and forgetfulness of sin through Christ Jesus is amazing and Christians should do their best to not take His awesome package of grace for granted.           The prophet Jeremiah recorded The Lord's words to His people Israel about a future time when forgiveness of sin and forgetfulness of the same would be manifest.  Jeremiah 31:31-34 "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."           David, the warrior-poet-song-writer, was also inspired in this line of thought as he penned - Psalm 103:11-12 "For as high as the heavens are above the earth,  so great is his love for those who fear him;  as far as the east is from the west,  so far has he removed our transgressions from us."           However, Christians can now claim these awesome guarantees of for...

          Risking a shortcut seems to be part of the daily routine for many people now-a-days. Quality, required work and even above-and-beyond work seems to be the rarity and not the norm.            Today's impatient people do not see or follow the wisdom found in the Proverbs and Psalms concerning this subject. Solomon writes under the inspiration of God that the quality of the worker will marry the quality of the employer.   "Do you see someone skilled in their work? They will serve before kings; they will not serve before officials of low rank." - Proverbs 22:29           One of the influencers in taking shortcuts is haste or impatience. In a society that wants things yesterday and instant everything, waiting is not on a lot of menus, agendas or character traits. However, in addition to waiting, starting one's work and being persistent until its completion is at the heart of sev...

                      A company seeking and acquiring the best man/woman for a position within their ranks is one thing, onboarding the only person who qualifies to perform all duties and tasks perfectly is another. If there is such a person in the business world, their value is unmatched and any request by that person becomes a command.         " The Gospel of John was written by the apostle John, the son of Zebedee. He was a Palestinian Jew and a member of Jesus’ inner apostolic circle. John most likely wrote his account of Jesus between AD 70 (when Jerusalem was besieged by the Romans and the temple was destroyed) and AD 100 (the approximate end of John’s lifetime). Most likely he wrote his Gospel in Ephesus, one of the most important urban centers of the Roman empire. John’s Gospel was aimed at both Jews and Gentiles living throughout the Greco-Roman world. John frequently explains Jewish custo...

                    Representation or the idea of ambassadorship comes from the installation of dignity, self-worth and responsibility. I believe this begins in the family. If you do not have any dignity or self-worth, what is going to make you feel responsible about representing anything, especially your own family?            Lately, there have been several generations that expressed they don't care what or whom they represent.  This is a direct consequence of the standard or measure of dignity found within homes today. As I was growing-up, I carried a sense of worth for my own blood family. Wherever I went, whatever I did, whatever I said - I was representing my family and had a desire to represent them well.   I have heard it said, "If you don't stand for something, you will fall for anything."           I encourage all of us not to believe the lie t...