Inspiration is that moment when you catch the sweet aroma of Divine breath over your shoulder.

“We remember...your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1Thess.1 NIV

To be inspired is to be divinely influenced. You can hear the word Spirit when you say it aloud. God is always speaking to us by speaking in us. He is the voice of doubt before we do something questionable. He is the voice of faith that encourages us to step out. He is that inner prompting to forgive and the hand that moves us to charitably give. He inspires hope in difficult times; comfort in times of sorrow. He is often heard when a good friend sits with us. Conversations Within” ts 8/24/2013 (Hayneville, AL)

Inspiration is that moment when you catch the sweet aroma of Divine breath over your shoulder.

“We remember...your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1Thess.1 NIV

To be inspired is to be divinely influenced. You can hear the word Spirit when you say it aloud. God is always speaking to us by speaking in us. He is the voice of doubt before we do something questionable. He is the voice of faith that encourages us to step out. He is that inner prompting to forgive and the hand that moves us to charitably give. He inspires hope in difficult times; comfort in times of sorrow. He is often heard when a good friend sits with us. Conversations Within” ts 8/24/2013 (Hayneville, AL)

“In the midst of winter, I find within me the invisible summer...” Leo Tolstoy

“I have called you friends.” Jesus

Christ is the fire within; that desire to do right; to forgive an injury, to love and show compassion. He is the Son that shines in our darkest night and the song we sing to see it through. He encourages with a smile when we expected a scowl. His greatest gift to man is the gift of Himself, not only as our God, but as a partner and a friend. Conversations Within” ts 8/23/2013 (Camp Farrrington, AL)

“In the midst of winter, I find within me the invisible summer...” Leo Tolstoy

“I have called you friends.” Jesus

Christ is the fire within; that desire to do right; to forgive an injury, to love and show compassion. He is the Son that shines in our darkest night and the song we sing to see it through. He encourages with a smile when we expected a scowl. His greatest gift to man is the gift of Himself, not only as our God, but as a partner and a friend. Conversations Within” ts 8/23/2013 (Camp Farrrington, AL)

“Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead.” C. S. Lewis

“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” Jesus

A seed is only a seed until you bury it. So too is every talent in us. Only when we die to our own designs can we begin to discover God’s. Then and only then will we accomplish anything of lasting value. But once surrendered, even the smallest act can produce a harvest of enduring joy. The hard part is to lay down. Of course, the struggle ends the moment we do. The seed must be buried in order to become; we must die to self before we can be resurrected.

Conversations Within” ts 8/22/2013 (Camp Farrrington, AL)

“Nothing in you that has not died will ever be raised from the dead.” C. S. Lewis

“Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” Jesus

A seed is only a seed until you bury it. So too is every talent in us. Only when we die to our own designs can we begin to discover God’s. Then and only then will we accomplish anything of lasting value. But once surrendered, even the smallest act can produce a harvest of enduring joy. The hard part is to lay down. Of course, the struggle ends the moment we do. The seed must be buried in order to become; we must die to self before we can be resurrected.

Conversations Within” ts 8/22/2013 (Camp Farrrington, AL)

“Until you have given up your self to Him you will not have a real self.” C. S. Lewis

“If you lose your life for my sake you will find it.” Jesus

What is a wheel without an axle or a lock without a key or man without his Maker? Each and every one of us has been beautifully designed for a purpose. To discover it, we must look outside of ourselves to our Inventor. No need to worry about finding one’s self. I get the distinct impression that God will introduce me to the real me or I should say to the me He is creating.  Conversations Within” ts 8/21/2013 (CampFarrington, AL)

“Until you have given up your self to Him you will not have a real self.” C. S. Lewis

“If you lose your life for my sake you will find it.” Jesus

What is a wheel without an axle or a lock without a key or man without his Maker? Each and every one of us has been beautifully designed for a purpose. To discover it, we must look outside of ourselves to our Inventor. No need to worry about finding one’s self. I get the distinct impression that God will introduce me to the real me or I should say to the me He is creating.  Conversations Within” ts 8/21/2013 (CampFarrington, AL)

“We can play as we can eat to the glory of God.” C. S. Lewis

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him.” Col.2.6

The initial transfer of trust in God for many people may begin with notions of how to get to heaven. In this we stop trying to earn the right to go and simply accept Heaven as a gift earned for us by Christ. It is silly to think that this is all that God offers. We must continue to transfer our trust away for our understanding and learn to trust God for all of life, marriage, work, even play--especially play!  Conversations Within” ts 8/20/2013 (Hayneville, AL)

“We can play as we can eat to the glory of God.” C. S. Lewis

“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him.” Col.2.6

The initial transfer of trust in God for many people may begin with notions of how to get to heaven. In this we stop trying to earn the right to go and simply accept Heaven as a gift earned for us by Christ. It is silly to think that this is all that God offers. We must continue to transfer our trust away for our understanding and learn to trust God for all of life, marriage, work, even play--especially play!  Conversations Within” ts 8/20/2013 (Hayneville, AL)

Before we can fully trust God we must to some degree surely stop trusting ourselves.

“What is impossible with men is possible with God.” Jesus

A great deal, if not the whole of Christian living, is learning to transfer our trust. We must discover that we cannot, before we will ever know that God can. Like the drowning man we must stop struggling and transfer our trust to the lifeguard. Until we give up faith in our own weakness we can never know faith in the power of God.  Conversations Within” ts 8/19/2013 (Hayneville, AL)

Before we can fully trust God we must to some degree surely stop trusting ourselves.

“What is impossible with men is possible with God.” Jesus

A great deal, if not the whole of Christian living, is learning to transfer our trust. We must discover that we cannot, before we will ever know that God can. Like the drowning man we must stop struggling and transfer our trust to the lifeguard. Until we give up faith in our own weakness we can never know faith in the power of God.  Conversations Within” ts 8/19/2013 (Hayneville, AL)

“You're blessed when you stay on course.” Ps.119 (The Message)

Set a good course each day and hold to it. There may be many things that try to steer us off course, but once you know the direction you are going is a good one, hold steady the helm. It is not the initial decision toward goodness but all the other decisions that reinforce it that will get us there. Hold fast and finish every good course.  Conversations Within” ts 8/16/2013 (Fort George Island, FL)

“You're blessed when you stay on course.” Ps.119 (The Message)

Set a good course each day and hold to it. There may be many things that try to steer us off course, but once you know the direction you are going is a good one, hold steady the helm. It is not the initial decision toward goodness but all the other decisions that reinforce it that will get us there. Hold fast and finish every good course.  Conversations Within” ts 8/16/2013 (Fort George Island, FL)

“Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.” Frank Zappa

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” Jesus

It is silly to keep on keeping on, doing the same-old same-old and expect things to move forward if we are not already making progress. It doesn’t take an Einstein to see that "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." If we are going to make positive progress, we need a new perspective. Jesus said we need a new partner and called Him the Spirit of truth. Silly me, I sometimes forget to get His input.   Conversations Within” ts 8/16/2013 (Fort George Island, FL)

“Without deviation from the norm, progress is not possible.” Frank Zappa

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” Jesus

It is silly to keep on keeping on, doing the same-old same-old and expect things to move forward if we are not already making progress. It doesn’t take an Einstein to see that "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." If we are going to make positive progress, we need a new perspective. Jesus said we need a new partner and called Him the Spirit of truth. Silly me, I sometimes forget to get His input.   Conversations Within” ts 8/16/2013 (Fort George Island, FL)

“Progress means getting nearer to the place you want to be. And if you have taken a wrong turning, then to go forward does not get you any nearer.” C. S. Lewis

“Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.” Ps.130.1

Sometimes the best way to go forward is to go back.  We may be drowning in debt, overdrawn in our relationships, or have written checks our body cannot cash. No matter how far off the path we have wandered, we are never beyond the power of Christ to lead us back. This does not mean going back will be easy. A friend of mine once said, “Five miles out is five miles back.” But there is no need to walk it alone. Conversations Within” ts 8/16/2013 (Fort George Island, FL)

“Progress means getting nearer to the place you want to be. And if you have taken a wrong turning, then to go forward does not get you any nearer.” C. S. Lewis

“Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.” Ps.130.1

Sometimes the best way to go forward is to go back.  We may be drowning in debt, overdrawn in our relationships, or have written checks our body cannot cash. No matter how far off the path we have wandered, we are never beyond the power of Christ to lead us back. This does not mean going back will be easy. A friend of mine once said, “Five miles out is five miles back.” But there is no need to walk it alone. Conversations Within” ts 8/16/2013 (Fort George Island, FL)

”...you've gotta know when it's time to turn the page.” Tori Amos

“Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Jesus

Knowing when it is time to move on is one of the things that can keep us moving forward in life. If you think about it, this is what God’s call to repentance is all about. In effect, He is saying, “You have tried it your way, let’s see if mine will work.” Don’t get stuck. Move on, and when you do, move in the right direction. Do not keep repeating failures. Learn from them, turn the page; start a new chapter. Conversations Within” ts 8/16/2013 (Fort George Island, FL)

”...you've gotta know when it's time to turn the page.” Tori Amos

“Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” Jesus

Knowing when it is time to move on is one of the things that can keep us moving forward in life. If you think about it, this is what God’s call to repentance is all about. In effect, He is saying, “You have tried it your way, let’s see if mine will work.” Don’t get stuck. Move on, and when you do, move in the right direction. Do not keep repeating failures. Learn from them, turn the page; start a new chapter. Conversations Within” ts 8/16/2013 (Fort George Island, FL)

"Never confuse movement with action.” Ernest Hemingway

“It is to my Father’s glory that you bear much fruit.” Jesus

Being busy is not the same as being fruitful. It is not only important to get things done but to get the right things done. Peter Drucker has written, “Efficiency is doing things right. Effectiveness is doing the right things.”  The Spirit of God offers His help with this every moment of every day if we will but listen. It may just be that the most important thing we do each day is to set aside time for a staff meeting with Him.  Conversations Within” ts 8/15/2013 (Fort George Island, FL)

"Never confuse movement with action.” Ernest Hemingway

“It is to my Father’s glory that you bear much fruit.” Jesus

Being busy is not the same as being fruitful. It is not only important to get things done but to get the right things done. Peter Drucker has written, “Efficiency is doing things right. Effectiveness is doing the right things.”  The Spirit of God offers His help with this every moment of every day if we will but listen. It may just be that the most important thing we do each day is to set aside time for a staff meeting with Him.  Conversations Within” ts 8/15/2013 (Fort George Island, FL)

“Those who do not move, do not notice their chains.” Rosa Luxemburg

“Those who do not move, do not notice their chains.”  Rosa Luxemburg

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness...” 2 Peter 1

Like a garden overrun with weeds is the person who neglects personal growth. If you are not growing, you're dying. If you are not adding to, you are taking away. All you need to do to destroy your marriage, your health, indeed your very soul, is nothing! Conversations Within” ts 8/14/2013 (Atlantic Beach, FL)

“Those who do not move, do not notice their chains.” Rosa Luxemburg

“Those who do not move, do not notice their chains.”  Rosa Luxemburg

“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness...” 2 Peter 1

Like a garden overrun with weeds is the person who neglects personal growth. If you are not growing, you're dying. If you are not adding to, you are taking away. All you need to do to destroy your marriage, your health, indeed your very soul, is nothing! Conversations Within” ts 8/14/2013 (Atlantic Beach, FL)

“Here is the test to find whether your mission on earth is finished. If you're alive, it isn't. Richard Bach

“Be fruitful and multiply...” Gen.1

What is the meaning of life? I suggest that one simple way of looking at it is simply to love and be loved. Surely this is a worthwhile mission in life. I am not referring to the love of feelings where we are drenched in romantic emotion, rather that we drench others in beneficial service. Imagine the joy of rising each day to be useful to God and others--always encouraging, coming alongside, making burdens lighter, rendering acts of kindness.   Conversations Within” ts 8/9/2013 (Atlantic Beach, FL)

“Here is the test to find whether your mission on earth is finished. If you're alive, it isn't. Richard Bach

“Be fruitful and multiply...” Gen.1

What is the meaning of life? I suggest that one simple way of looking at it is simply to love and be loved. Surely this is a worthwhile mission in life. I am not referring to the love of feelings where we are drenched in romantic emotion, rather that we drench others in beneficial service. Imagine the joy of rising each day to be useful to God and others--always encouraging, coming alongside, making burdens lighter, rendering acts of kindness.   Conversations Within” ts 8/9/2013 (Atlantic Beach, FL)

“Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you only spend it once.” Lillian Dickson

“As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.” Jesus

If we understand the Bible correctly, there are matters which are assigned to this life only. For instance, Jesus told us there is no marriage in heaven, so I can only be a good husband in the here and now. So too is our witness to those who have yet to discover the value faith. God has promised to close up shop one day and to call our productivity for these earthly tasks to account. I find the bumper sticker “Jesus is coming! Look busy!” funny but I am sure just looking busy won’t cut it.  Conversations Within” ts 8/8/2013 (Atlantic Beach, FL)

“Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you only spend it once.” Lillian Dickson

“As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.” Jesus

If we understand the Bible correctly, there are matters which are assigned to this life only. For instance, Jesus told us there is no marriage in heaven, so I can only be a good husband in the here and now. So too is our witness to those who have yet to discover the value faith. God has promised to close up shop one day and to call our productivity for these earthly tasks to account. I find the bumper sticker “Jesus is coming! Look busy!” funny but I am sure just looking busy won’t cut it.  Conversations Within” ts 8/8/2013 (Atlantic Beach, FL)

”A life without cause is a life without effect.” ~Barbarella

“He must increase and I must decrease.”

If I desire to affect some good in this world, I surely need a worthwhile cause. As a Christian, my cause is the cause of Christ--or it should be. The cause of Christ is not the Christian religion. The cause of Christ is Christ. He has come into the world to invade and infect each of us but as a good virus; the symptoms of which are faith, hope and love. In His words: I am the true vine...No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” Christians do not seek a religion but a union. Conversations Within” ts 8/7/2013 (Atlantic Beach, FL)

”A life without cause is a life without effect.” ~Barbarella

“He must increase and I must decrease.”

If I desire to affect some good in this world, I surely need a worthwhile cause. As a Christian, my cause is the cause of Christ--or it should be. The cause of Christ is not the Christian religion. The cause of Christ is Christ. He has come into the world to invade and infect each of us but as a good virus; the symptoms of which are faith, hope and love. In His words: I am the true vine...No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” Christians do not seek a religion but a union. Conversations Within” ts 8/7/2013 (Atlantic Beach, FL)

“Life has no meaning. Each of us has meaning and we bring it to life. It is a waste to be asking the question when you are the answer.” Joseph Campbell

“Apart from me you can do nothing.” Jesus

Life without God would be nothing more than a cosmic accident. Remove God from the equation and you remove meaning.  Saying that my life has meaning does not give it meaning no more than saying a spilled bucket of paint is a portrait. Any meaning we make up to life is adding a zero to another zero. A zero is only a zero until you add a One to it.  Conversations Within” ts 8/6/2013 (Atlantic Beach, FL)

“Life has no meaning. Each of us has meaning and we bring it to life. It is a waste to be asking the question when you are the answer.” Joseph Campbell

“Apart from me you can do nothing.” Jesus

Life without God would be nothing more than a cosmic accident. Remove God from the equation and you remove meaning.  Saying that my life has meaning does not give it meaning no more than saying a spilled bucket of paint is a portrait. Any meaning we make up to life is adding a zero to another zero. A zero is only a zero until you add a One to it.  Conversations Within” ts 8/6/2013 (Atlantic Beach, FL)

“If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning...” C. S. Lewis

“The LORD will fulfill [his purpose] for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever...” Ps.138

I cannot accept the Big Bang explanation for life no more than I could believe that the Mona Lisa is the result of an explosion in a paint factory. I believe there is an intelligent design witnessed in all the universe. If this is the case, then there is meaning to all existence just as there is meaning and purpose to a hammer or nail. It makes perfect sense, at least to me, that you talk to the Inventor if you want to discover the proper purpose for something He has made.   Conversations Within” ts 8/5/2013 (Atlantic Beach, FL)

“If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning...” C. S. Lewis

“The LORD will fulfill [his purpose] for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever...” Ps.138

I cannot accept the Big Bang explanation for life no more than I could believe that the Mona Lisa is the result of an explosion in a paint factory. I believe there is an intelligent design witnessed in all the universe. If this is the case, then there is meaning to all existence just as there is meaning and purpose to a hammer or nail. It makes perfect sense, at least to me, that you talk to the Inventor if you want to discover the proper purpose for something He has made.   Conversations Within” ts 8/5/2013 (Atlantic Beach, FL)

“Meaning is healthier than happiness” Emily Smith

“Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding.” Prov.3

A recent study concluded that when happy people have no real defining purpose to their life beyond a selfish pursuit to be happy, they tend to have poorer health. This makes perfect sense to me. To find my happiness only in pleasure or just pleasing myself can lead to all kinds of nasty habits. People who base their happiness on some purpose greater than themselves tend to develop healthy habits. We would all do well to ask, “What defines my life?” What gives meaning to it?   Conversations Within” ts 8/4/2013 (Atlantic Beach, FL)

“Meaning is healthier than happiness” Emily Smith

“Happy is the man who finds wisdom, And the man who gains understanding.” Prov.3

A recent study concluded that when happy people have no real defining purpose to their life beyond a selfish pursuit to be happy, they tend to have poorer health. This makes perfect sense to me. To find my happiness only in pleasure or just pleasing myself can lead to all kinds of nasty habits. People who base their happiness on some purpose greater than themselves tend to develop healthy habits. We would all do well to ask, “What defines my life?” What gives meaning to it?   Conversations Within” ts 8/4/2013 (Atlantic Beach, FL)

“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.”~ Michael Althsuler

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” Ps.23

I have little to say about the length of my life. But in vital union with its Creator, we have much to say about its quality. The quality of our life is determined by how we live, not how long. After all, what is quantity without quality? A good life is found in the goodness and mercy of God. Faith embraces it and makes the promise of it our reality.  Conversations Within” ts 8/2/2013 (Atlantic Beach, FL)

“The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.”~ Michael Althsuler

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” Ps.23

I have little to say about the length of my life. But in vital union with its Creator, we have much to say about its quality. The quality of our life is determined by how we live, not how long. After all, what is quantity without quality? A good life is found in the goodness and mercy of God. Faith embraces it and makes the promise of it our reality.  Conversations Within” ts 8/2/2013 (Atlantic Beach, FL)

“We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” T.S. Eliot

“Behold I make all things new.” Jesus

The Spirit of God is able to reintroduce us to the familiar. He can make new what has become old. He rekindles the fire and stirs the pot of our involvement so that a song we have sung for the thousandth time can be as if we sing it for the first. He is the master of making things new. God is never bored. So too the heart that is united to His.  Conversations Within” ts 8/2/2013 (Atlantic Beach, FL)

“We shall not cease from exploration and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” T.S. Eliot

“Behold I make all things new.” Jesus

The Spirit of God is able to reintroduce us to the familiar. He can make new what has become old. He rekindles the fire and stirs the pot of our involvement so that a song we have sung for the thousandth time can be as if we sing it for the first. He is the master of making things new. God is never bored. So too the heart that is united to His.  Conversations Within” ts 8/2/2013 (Atlantic Beach, FL)

“To fall in love with God is the greatest romance; to seek him the greatest adventure; to find him, the greatest human achievement.” Augustine of Hippo

“Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” Jer.33

The curve in every road; the bend in every river; every unclimbed mountain and the unexplored cave stir the soul of every adventuresome spirit. Why would it be any different where God is concerned? He hides to be found. He is clothed in mystery to stir our hearts to explore Him. He is interestingly elusive, sparking in human hearts a powerful urge to pursue. God tempts no one to evil but surely He tempts us as hidden treasure to be found. Conversations Within” ts 8/1/2013 (Atlantic Beach, FL)