The Plumbline

Life Hack #25: According to Webster, a crisis is a "turning point" in a set of circumstances where the future outcome is determined . The point of crisis in any issue we face is pivotal to where we will end up - it is not 'pre-determined' for it to end one way. Understanding how to hold up in the midst of the "point of turning" can be the most important part of actually making it through. Most of us just think of a crisis as something ugly happening to us at the moment and it is a little difficult to endure. If we begin to see it as a "turning point", we might just handle it differently. We might just decide we don't like what is determined and embrace a different path back into the arms of Jesus! If you fall to pieces in a crisis, there wasn’t much to you in the first place. (Proverbs 24:10) In times of crises the things we focus on make all the difference. If all we see is the insurmountable odds against us, we will tend to see only the...

Kissinger once quipped, "There cannot be a crisis next week. My schedule is already full." Many of us would share his sentiments. Our schedules could not manage a crisis of any nature - much less a little 'hiccup' along the way. The more busy our schedule, the more we can count on something to disturb it, though! The moment we are too busy for any type of 'crisis', that is the moment we are too busy for life! Life isn't going to stand still so we can manage through some crisis - it keeps coming at us at whatever pace we had 'scheduled' and the crisis will loom until we pay it some mind. 12 Dear friends, don’t be bewildered or surprised when you go through the fiery trials ahead, for this is no strange, unusual thing that is going to happen to you. 13 Instead, be really glad—because these trials will make you partners with Christ in his suffering, and afterwards you will have the wonderful joy of sharing his glory in that coming day when it will b...

By definition, a crisis is a "turning point" in a set of circumstances where the future outcome is determined.  As such, the point of crisis in any issue we face is pivotal to where we will end up.  So, understanding how to hold up in the midst of the "turning point" can be the most important part of actually making it through.  Most of us just think of a crisis as something ugly happening to us at the moment and it is a little difficult to endure.  If we begin to see it as a "turning point", we might just handle it differently. If you fall to pieces in a crisis,   there wasn’t much to you in the first place. (Proverbs 24:10 MSG) As we face crises, the things we focus on make all the difference.  For example, if all we see is the insurmountable odds, we will tend to see only the difficulties and not the possibilities.  Even insurmountable odds have possibilities.  We think of crisis as a point of instability in our lives - when things are...

Today I find myself writing my blog in the late evening.  This is indeed an oddity for me.  You see, I usually rise early and hammer these out long before the sun rises.  Today, April 3, was different.  A blog posting went out like clockwork at 0500 this morning - simply because God has graced me with eight days of writing in advance of posting.  I have a "reserve" of posts just in case a day like today comes along.   Last night, I found it necessary to take my 93 years young mom to the hospital.  An intestinal virus had almost done her in!  She was weak, confused, and getting worse by the hour.  Thanks to a great team of physicians, nurses, nursing assistants, healthcare professionals, family, and many friends, the load of the past 40 hours has really been a blessing, not a curse!  I returned home long enough this morning to shower, change my clothes, and make a beeline to work.  As I spent an hour after work with mom, she coaxed...