cross

Stay-at-Home Parents

But far be it from me to boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.

Galatians [6:14]

Recently, when playing golf, I spontaneously made the sign of the cross. My playing partner saw me make this simple gesture and said, “I thought you were a Methodist; are you Catholic?” He had assumed because I made the sign of the cross that I had changed denominations.

No, I hadn’t, but I sometimes feel compelled when I feel the presence of God to outwardly thank God for existing and being in my life. Long ago, a friend of mine, Joe Bongiorno, explained to me what the sign of the cross meant to him. And I thought to myself, What a magnificent way to show my love for God. For me, it became a simple and personal way to recognize God and the importance of God in my life. A simple gesture to recognize the driving force of creation and all that is born of love.

Admittedly, while a stronger believer in the Methodist way, I admire the Catholic Church. Yes, I just said that. It doesn’t mean I am disloyal to my tribe, the Methodists; it means that I am a Christian first and admire any and all that is good from other denominations.

Some will criticize the Catholic Church.

There are things that the denomination has done to engender this criticism. Certainly, the child abuse debacle is one of those things. It is a horrific stain on the denomination.

There are also the indulgences that were sold in the Middle Ages and the Spanish Inquisition. The burnings at the stake for those who were considered heretics. And let us not forget about the scandals of the popes during the Holy Roman Empire. Yes, there are many horrific things that we can choose to judge the Catholic Church by.

But all denominations have had their problems.

John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist religion wasn’t always the righteous man of legend. He reneged on a marriage proposal and was thrown out of the United States in the eighteenth century. Martin Luther’s writings late in life contained anti-Semitic views that were later used to justify the massacre of six million Jewish people.

The Thirty Years War saw both the Catholics and Protestants fighting one another, leaving one quarter of Germany dead.

These acts, whether done by both Catholics and Protestant humans and are not acts of God. They are flawed and misguided acts of evil enacted by humans. Similar to humankind, all religious denominations have skeletons in their closets.

We always have the choice to focus on the good or bad in people and their beliefs. I choose to focus on the good. This doesn’t mean we should ignore the bad, but we should also not forget the many great contributions.

It was the Catholics who died bravely in the Coliseum.

It was Peter, the first Catholic, who nursed a backwater belief structure into becoming a powerful voice for Christ. And let us not forget Paul, who roamed the known world preaching the good news of Christ, despite many beatings and personal suffering.

Sure, we Protestants could take a position of judging the Catholic Church. But without the brave Catholics, there is much we would miss.

The Nicene Creed—a powerful statement of all Christian beliefs—was created by 150 Catholic bishops in a remote corner of Greece. Mother Teresa tended to the “untouchables.” Catholic charities here in the United States feed the poor, act as advocates for social justice, and are always one of the first to lend a hand during natural disasters.

It is more about how we look at and judge life. We always have the opportunity to either light a candle or curse the darkness. To only focus on the bad would mean missing the noble acts of millions of pious Catholics. It would mean missing the fact that Catholicism is growing worldwide. Since 1965, Catholicism has grown 70 percent and is expected to continue its growth. Not here in the United States, but in other parts of the world. Its message and ways are still bringing people to Christ, just like it did 2,000 years ago.

I can make the sign of the cross and still be a Methodist. But I am a Christian first and remain an admirer of the Catholic Church. I don’t ignore the harm done by some of the humans in the church, but I do want to remember the legacy of the many Catholics who have made the world better.

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

Dr. Bruce L. Hartman is the author of Jesus & Co. and Your Faith Has Made You Well.

Photo by Thanti Nguyen on Unsplash

We love to give exposure to budding photographers

stay at home parent

Stay-at-Home Parents

Train up a child in the way they should go; even when they are old they will not depart from it.”

Proverbs 22:6

On a sunny Tuesday, I took the afternoon off to pick up my two youngest at school, mostly to get an idea of what their day was like. I met my friend Rick at the school, who was a stay-at-home father. Upon arriving, I noticed a large group of other stay-at-home parents waiting for their children as well. We were fortunate to live in a town where the elementary schools were close enough that many of the children could walk home, but most parents chose to walk home with their kids.

I asked Rick why.

He explained to me that their days didn’t end with school. Many of the children had after-school activities, doctor or dentist office visits, or even tutoring. Rick’s job was to shuttle his kids off to their various post-school activities. He commented that he was “just” a bus driver for his kids every afternoon.

Rick’s wife was a very successful corporate executive and they had long ago decided Rick would be the stay-at-home parent. Each day, Rick had three children to nurture, drive, and help with homework. And, I must say, he was great at his assignment. Affable, always smiling, and very encouraging. He was this way with his kids and friends. He always had a pleasant smile and a wonderful joke to tell.

Family flexibility

Rick would introduce himself to new people as “just” a stay-at-home parent. Rick was unusual in that, even in today’s world, most stay-at-home parents are women. Today 27 percent of women are stay-at-home parents and 7 percent of dads stay at home. These are far smaller numbers than in 1967 when, during the “Leave it to Beaver” generation, 50 percent of all households had a stay-at-home parent. Today, the blended number, including dads, has dropped to 20 percent.

The primary reason stay-at-home parents exist is for “family flexibility.” In other words, to raise the children and run the house. 90 percent of stay-at-home parents cite this as their reason.

But the words “I am ‘just’ a stay-at-home parent,” aren’t really accurate.

They are extraordinarily productive people whose workday can be fifteen hours long: rising at 6:00 am to get the family ready for their days; running errands in the morning after everyone has left; tending to the house or the family financials; being a family “bus driver” after school, and then meal preparation.

Their daily to-do list is long.

I have been lucky to know many wonderful stay-at-home parents: my mom, Connie, Rick, Emily, Amy, and Ken. In my eyes, they are more than “just” stay-at-home parents. They are kind, smart, and caring people. They are like those of us who work outside the home.

The virtual worker is on the rise as well, and since 2000 there has been a 20 percent increase in stay-at-home parents. This is a trend that is good for the family.

We have many days to honor various segments of our society. There are Mother’s, Father’s, Nurse’s, and even President’s days. I think it would be nice if we had a “Stay-at-Home Parent’s day for the invisible people who “just” stay at home.

Creating our future

These are the people who raise children who will create our future. They are the people that hear and share the joys and fears of our kids. They are financial engineers, part-time therapists, chefs, house cleaners, bus drivers, and fix-it people. There is no training for this large segment of our population—it is real on-the-job training. They are the ones who have to wait in line at the Registry of Motor Vehicles or at the doctor’s office. They do their jobs invisibly and silently and they raise our children.

Proverbs 22:6 is a great verse about the importance of stay-at-home parents: “Train up a child in the way they should go; even when they are old they will not depart from it.” How true this is! My children still repeat the words, my wife, Connie, told them many years ago. Like their mother, they are filled with grace. They admire their mother, just as I am sure Rick’s kids admire him.

There are no statistics to tell us the emotional value a stay-at-home parent has to their children, but it is large. They are the unsung heroes of our society. The wheels of life turn because of them.

Today, reach out and thank a stay-at-home parent. Perhaps send a note or flowers to thank those who gave up their careers for their children.

They are not a “just.” They all work incredibly hard for their family.

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

Dr. Bruce L. Hartman is the author of Jesus & Co. and Your Faith Has Made You Well.

Photo by The Honest Company on Unsplash

We love to give exposure to budding photographers

happyness

Taking Responsibility and Being Accountable

“Each of us must take responsibility for doing the creative best we can with our own life.”

Galatians 6:5

I love the movie, Pursuit of Happyness. It reminds me about taking personal responsibility for my life. Sometimes I am good at it and sometimes not as good as I would like. Movies like this remind me of how I should be and what I ought to do.

If you aren’t familiar with the movie, it is a true story about a single father who has to care for a two-year-old boy without money or a job. For one year, Chris Gardner struggled mightily. He was an unpaid intern for a large brokerage firm, pursuing his life’s dream of becoming a stockbroker. He was forced into homelessness because of a bad business deal he had made. His wife left him and their son. While some of his problems were of his own making, many were not.

He never gave in to feeling sorry for himself

He accepted his lot and worked hard to correct his life. While at his internship he acquired many new customers for his firm. His personal style of friendly collegiality was critical to new customers. They knew they could trust Chris. While trouble swirled around him for that difficult year, he kept an attitude of taking responsibility for himself—no excuses or self-pity, just hard work.

Fast-forwarding to today, Chris is wealthy and gives graciously of his time and money. He did land a job with the brokerage firm where he served as an intern. He became the first African American to start a large brokerage firm, selling it twenty-five years later for a large amount of money. Today, he speaks around the country about faith and accepting personal responsibility. Not from the eyes of someone who hasn’t been there, but from the dark moments of his early life.

I am fortunate to know other people in similar situations.

Not necessarily as dire as Chris’s, but tough. Like Rich, who created his own mess and fixed his problem. Or Bill, who keeps helping the world when it doesn’t always help him back.

I marvel at these people. Life hasn’t always been fair to them, but it doesn’t mean they aren’t fair back. They quietly accept that it is their problem to fix. You help them when they are down, and they take your help with grace, then pay you back many times over. Not with words, but with deeds.

One man whom I know well hit hard times.

His son had just died, and his wife had left him. On top of that, he had been let go from his job. He was also an alcoholic. In a matter of a year, he went from having a good life to one of trouble. Like Chris, he didn’t make excuses. He knew he’d screwed up and checked himself into rehab, spending eight months away from his life in a place far from home.

He is in recovery today and has been for a few years. He’s since started his own business, which is thriving. I had loaned him a small amount of money to get started and helped him think about how to run his new business. He paid me back on time. He fixed his problem and moved forward.

Today’s verse, written by the apostle Paul, describes who is responsible for our lives. It is us. Some will have big problems and some small. But ultimately it is our life to lead, and our problems are ours to solve.

There are three sources of help—God, our neighbor, and ourselves. Some will see God as more than just a “genie” and will work with God. This is the way God works. God helps those who help themselves.

All of what God does is done with love. Enabling isn’t something God will do. Sometimes love is not giving what shouldn’t be given.

It is the same with friends—only we can create the action our friends suggest. Only we can stop the behavior that got us in trouble in the first place. We have to be standing beside our friends and shoveling our way out of our ditches.

Otherwise, we wear people out.

When we only have our hand out, our friends grow weary trying to find a way to get us to see that we hold the solution. Eventually, they may tire and move on.

People like helping people those who work with them. This is the greatness I see in humanity. People love helping people who creatively, and with ingenuity, work their way out of problems. Those that act get more.

We all have come upon desperation or tough times. Times we have to be creative and work hard. If we haven’t, we are way past due. Our character is improved and strengthened when we fight back against tough times.

What I have observed about successful people is that they take responsibility and are accountable in all things. They do what they ought to do, not what they want to do. They see failures as chances to learn and grow.

I love the movie, Pursuit of Happyness because it reminds me of I what I ought to do. Or as the Apostle Paul says in the book of Romans, “Each of us must take responsibility for doing the creative best we can with our own life.”

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

Dr. Bruce L. Hartman is the author of Jesus & Co. and Your Faith Has Made You Well.

Photo by Andreas Weiland on Unsplash

We love to give exposure to budding photographers

going to church

How Going to Church Can Help the Exhausted Majority

“For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.”

Matthew [18:20]

We travel a lot and oftentimes find ourselves in a different city on Sunday. Not wanting to miss church, we attend a local service. Sometimes it is a Catholic Mass or a Protestant church. Though we are Methodists, we are Christians first and enjoy the variety of the various denominations we encounter.

On a recent Sunday, we attended a Catholic Mass. From the moment we walked in, we felt a wave of hope and genuine Christian goodwill. The congregation was varied and represented all ages.

A skillful service

Upon reflection, I noticed the priest was unusually inviting. It was evident in his manner of talking and the way he recognized people in the pews. It was his flock to serve, and he took this responsibility full fold. He smiled and was humble in how he spoke. His message about the Gospel wasn’t diluted but was delivered in a hopeful and encouraging manner. He cared, and the people in attendance cared as well. If only every service was as skillfully and joyously delivered as this one, perhaps more people would attend church.

Today, only 20 percent of Americans regularly attend church, according to the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. And each year, fewer and fewer attend. Since 1967, church attendance has fallen by 1 to 3 percent every year, leaving many churches out of money and unable to survive. In fact, some of our existing denominations may no longer exist by 2030.

Amazing statistics, when you think that just a few decades ago, going to church was part of most family rituals. It makes us wonder if the exhaustion and frustration the majority of Americans feel today is correlated with this lack of church attendance.

The exhausted majority

As I discovered, most Americans claim they are tired of gun deaths, mean-spirited politicians, and a lack of quality news outlets. Fully 70 percent of Americans describe themselves as exhausted, resulting in a new American phenomenon called the “Exhausted Majority.”

I think going to church could help.

According to Pew Research, 80 percent who attend church on a regular basis claim they feel closer to God when they attend.

Remarkably, even with this low attendance, 90 percent of Americans believe in a higher power, and 70 percent profess to be Christian, according to Pew Research. These statement of faith are not much different then what existed in 1967. So why the decline, when churches make us feel better by bringing us closer to God and help our children develop a faith life?

Pew Research states that 44 percent of those who don’t attend church find a connection with God in other ways, like through social media, books, church at home, or daily Bible readings. Another group doesn’t attend because they feel the message is diluted or because they see the church as not living up to its values.

However, I feel that going to church on a regular basis will dim the effect that crazy headlines have upon us. We will move from being discouraged to hopeful. No longer will our dinner discussions focus on the inane ways of the world but will instead center on the ways of God.

So how do we find a church?

It will probably require a visit to a few churches to find one that speaks to you. Here are some helpful tips to know if you were in the right place:

  • Did you feel closer to God after attending?
  • Was there a mix of people of all ages and backgrounds?
  • Do they have small group Bible studies?
  • Do they have outreach programs?
  • Was the pastor inviting and caring?

If you can answer yes to all these questions, then you might have found a church to attend.

Denominational affiliation

Many people pick their church based on their past denominational affiliation. That may be a tough way to find a church. Denominational selection should be a secondary consideration, as all churches that strive to be a wonderful place of worship believe and support Jesus’s two commandments: “Love thy God and love thy Neighbor.”

Church is a wonderful place to reconnect with God. To sustain this relationship, there are other things we can do, such as:

  • Read the Bible daily. This will help draw you to the ways of God and away from the ways of the world. Heck, if you read the Bible just fifteen minutes a day, you can complete the Bible in a year.
  • Pray continuously. Every morning, speak to God about your day. Express your dreams and worries. Then patiently watch the answers you get throughout the day and into the coming week. God will answer.
  • Serve Others. Make helping others a priority. Perhaps through your church or a non-profit. You will feel better when you have helped others. It is part of the human condition—when we enact goodwill toward others, we feel better about ourselves.
  • Read about other Christians. There is no better way to change from despair to hope than spending time discovering positive people who have been great Christian leaders. Change how you spend your leisure time, and make it a time of discovery.

In my book, Your Faith Has Made You Well, I talk about moving away from the lure of dramatic headlines to developing a strong faith. When we begin focusing on our relationship with God and our neighbors, we develop an improved sense of well-being. We move our focus to what we can control and to God.

Our world brightens, and we begin to feel more fulfilled.

Sure, many are exhausted, but they don’t have to be. We can only change what we spend our time on. And perhaps focusing on God will become a ripple that makes the world a better place. When we come closer to God, we become optimistic and unburdened.

Maybe today is the day we leave the world behind. Attending church is a good start.

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

Dr. Bruce L. Hartman is the author of Jesus & Co. and Your Faith Has Made You Well.

Photo by Daniel Tseng on Unsplash

We love to give exposure to budding photographers

assisi

Saint Francis of Assisi: a Saint Who Moved to a Life of Purpose

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Romans [8:28]

Saint Francis once said, “Start by doing what is necessary, then do what is possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.” It is a simple statement about how to move to a life of purpose. Certainly, Saint Francis embodied this life, and this statement is a reflection of how he created the Franciscan order for the Catholic Church—one of the Church’s two most important group of monks.

What many don’t know about this famous pillar of Christianity is that, as a young adult, he was very far away from being a model Christian. He was born in 1181 in Italy into a wealthy family, and his father was a well-traveled merchant. He had all the things in life that provided for his comfort and a life without want.

Francis as a young man

As a young adult, Francis worked in his father’s business and hung out with other young men of means. He was considered handsome and dressed in colorful clothes. With his friends, he got into the normal trouble of youths. His future was going to be one of luxury and was well-planned out. But Francis was unsettled about this life of luxury.

One day while he was manning his father’s shop, a beggar arrived asking for a handout. Francis rejected the man’s request and sent him on his way. Later, Francis had misgivings, and in a remarkable act of charity, took everything the business had earned that day and proceeded to find the beggar. Eventually, he found the man and gave all he had in his pockets to the man.

Naturally, when his father found out, Francis was severely punished. Despite this, he later did something similar at a nearby church.

The priest stated the coins had come from ill-gotten gains and rejected his offering. This, despite the fact that the church was in disrepair. Francis just wanted to give the coins to help. In an act of anger, he threw the coins on the floor and left.

Later, his father went to retrieve the coins and again severely punished Francis. This eventually led Francis to disown his father and leave his life of wealth. On his own, he began to preach on the streets and, in the first year, eleven others joined him.

With a great deal of zeal and belief in this new direction, Francis went to see the pope to ask that he be allowed to establish a new order. Remarkably, the pope gave him an audience and listened intently to Francis. While the pope did not think that this band of twelve was big enough to form their own order, he gave Francis unofficial approval to continue. He was told to come back when he had more followers.

Converting the Sultan

Over the next few years, Francis’s small tribe grew very quickly, and the Franciscan order was approved by the pope. Francis’s order grew throughout Europe, and Francis himself went with a group of crusaders to visit the Holy Land. His goal wasn’t to attack the Muslims like his fellow travelers wished to, but to convert the sultan.

He didn’t convert the sultan, but he was so impressed with Francis’s piety, he allowed him to visit the holy sites of Christianity in Jerusalem.

Today, there are 290 houses and 5,000 friars worldwide, as well as the Order of Saint Claire which Francis helped form. From his meager beginnings, and with few to help at first, Francis created a legacy and organization that exists today to do good for the world.

There is so much more to the story of this devoted and colorful early Christian. Going back to Francis’s quote, we can see why he said what he did. Creating great faith or organizations doesn’t happen in a moment. It doesn’t happen just because we want it to happen. It happens because we start with the basics, building a foundation to do the impossible. With a persistent, but sometimes uneven effort, we build the foundation—one that with the help of God and our neighbors grows into the impossible.

Francis lived his life with purpose.

At first, he had to rid himself of a life forced upon him through his birth into wealth. It was a path he didn’t at first know was not his own, but gradually over time, he threw off the shackles that bound him and made him uncomfortable. Bravely, he let go of these binds and pursued the life which God intended for him.

There are people in my life, like my wife, sister-in-law Penny, and brother-in-law Ken whose compass was already directed to a life of faith. Most of us aren’t like this. There are bindings that hold us back—shackles that misinform us about our true purpose. Some, like myself, spend years resisting while the compelling force of God pushes.

Eventually and slowly, the walls crumble, and we take the necessary steps toward our faith. Billy Graham explains this by saying, “Conversion isn’t instantaneous, but a daily effort to become like Christ.” The path is rarely even, and many times it is bumpy, but by doing the necessary, we smooth out our course and begin to arrive where God wants us.

Saint Francis is a model of where we should go and who we should be. His example teaches us to leave behind those things that prevent us from fulfilling God’s purpose for our lives.

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

Dr. Bruce L. Hartman is the author of Jesus & Co. and Your Faith Has Made You Well.

Photo by megan on Unsplash

We love to give exposure to budding photographers

path

Corrie Ten Boom: Doing God’s Work by Hiding

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.

Romans 15:1

A woman with a suitcase and in desperate need knocked on Corrie Ten Boom’s door. It was 1942 in the Netherlands, and the Gestapo were close to finding the woman. The previous day, the Gestapo had gone to her apartment looking for her. The woman knew she could no longer go home; she was Jewish, and the Germans had begun the process of rounding up Jews in the Netherlands.

Corrie answered the knock and invited the woman into her house. She told Corrie about her trouble. When Corrie asked why she had come to her house, the woman replied, “I heard from a member of the Dutch resistance that you could help.”

Corrie lived with her father and sister Betsie in Amsterdam. Trained by her father, Casper, Corrie had become the first female watchmaker in the Netherlands in 1922. They agreed to allow the woman to stay with them despite the potential danger she posed.

The Hiding Place

As time wore on, more Jewish people came to their house, and the Ten Booms continued to conceal their visitors. Over time, the Dutch resistance helped build a concealed safe room to hide these visitors. Her house became known as the “Hiding Place.”

As the group of hidden Jews grew in size, feeding them became a problem. The Dutch people had been put on food rationing and were issued ration cards to buy food. Corrie went to a friend who was in charge of the ration cards. She had entered his office thinking she would ask for five books but instead blurted out, “Can I have one hundred?” Stunningly, the man agreed and gave her one hundred ration books.

Over time, the Ten Boom’s secret could no longer be kept. An informant told the Gestapo, who raided the house. The Ten Booms were arrested on February 1944.

Corrie, Betsie, and Casper were sent to concentration camps. While in prison, Corrie received a note that cryptically said, “All your watches are safe.” The Jews she had been hiding had all escaped. Sadly, her father, Casper, died six days after arriving in the camps.

Corrie and Betsie established a Bible study while in the concentration camp, using a concealed Bible that they’d hidden from their captors. Late at night, the group met, read the Bible and prayed. They were never discovered.

Betsie later became ill.

Before she died, she told Corrie, “There is no pit so deep that God isn’t deeper still.” These words of encouragement comforted Corrie through her nightmare.

Shortly afterward, Corrie was released from prison—the result of a clerical error. The following week, all the people in the concentration camp her age or older were sent to gas chambers.

Corrie returned home and set up the house to take in the mentally disabled, who were also being rounded up for execution. Mercifully, the war ended soon after, and the Dutch were free.

During the period immediately after the war, Corrie set up a refuge center to help those who had survived the concentration camps. Later, she went to Germany to meet with two prison guards who were particularly harsh towards Betsie. She forgave them for what they had done. Over the span of her life, she also wrote many books and became an international speaker. One of the books she wrote, called The Hiding Place, can be found on Amazon by clicking the blue link above.

Corrie lived a life of purpose.

From that first arrival at her doorstep in 1942, she directed herself to helping others. She was a forceful and persuasive person who engendered a large following. She endured much during the war years but never gave in to the terror of living in an occupied country or the horror of being in a concentration camp. Corrie faced up to the evil that abounded in her life and, despite efforts to contain her, she never gave in or gave up.

Corrie died in 1983 at the age of 91.

I admire people like Corrie, not just because they are inspirational, but because they are committed to the Good News of the Gospel, regardless of the potential price. They make me question myself: What would I have done in that situation? Would I have been as brave? Would I love my neighbor at the risk of my own life?

I can only hope I would!

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

Dr. Bruce L. Hartman is the author of Jesus & Co. and Your Faith Has Made You Well.

Photo by Fabian Irsara on Unsplash

We love to give exposure to budding photographers

angels

Angels Abound

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality as angels without knowing it.

Hebrews 13:1-2

We have all had those moments when we meet someone who is despairing. They’re trapped by their circumstances and have nowhere to turn. Their hope has been beaten down. For that individual, it seems they’ve reached a dead-end in life.

Making a difference

But there are wonderful stories of people who happen to be there when these moments arrive. They see the despair and act, knowing they can make a difference. They put aside their appointed rounds at these times and help. In these moments they become angels.

I read recently about a man from California whose car was sputtering on the highway.  Fortunately, he was able to coast into a nearby gas station and avoided blocking traffic. He called a tow truck company and waited.

As he was waiting, he saw a woman collapse to the ground. Without thinking, he went to her aid. Nothing seemed physically wrong with her, but she was sobbing and obviously distressed. She was driving an old Suburban, filled with clothes and three young children. Then everything came into focus for him—she wasn’t hurt; she was overcome.

He helped her up and began to ask her questions.

Over a few moments, he pieced together what had brought her to this point of despair. Her boyfriend had left her and the three children two months earlier. He had left her no money and no way to be contacted. She had no job and the rent was due.

For five years, she had not spoken to her parents. She had taken up with this man despite their disapproval and separated herself from her family. Now, five years and three children later, she had no place to turn.

She had called her parents and told them what happened. They told her to come home. She had left and began to drive back to her parents’ home, many miles away. But she had miscalculated the cost and was left at this gas station with no money, only a few hundred miles from her destination.

She had walked into the gas station office and asked if they would provide her with gas for the final miles she had to drive. They said no. She was so close to safety but had no way to get there. In that moment the events of her life had overwhelmed her, and she collapsed.

This was the man’s decision point: was he being conned, or was her story sincere? He chose to believe her. The old car, the pile of belongings, and the three young children were clues that she was being truthful.

The Decision

The man reached into his wallet and filled her tank. At a nearby McDonald’s he bought a couple bags of food for her and the children. Overcome with gratitude she asked, “Are you an angel or something?” Not knowing how to answer, he replied, “I’m not sure, maybe the regular angels are busy today and needed a stand-in.”

He had a lot to process in those few moments before deciding to act. Was she trying to scam him? What about his own problems? These were his thoughts. Deciding whether he was an angel never entered his mind.

But perhaps he was an angel in this moment.

Perhaps this was his day to be a tool for God. In my own life, I have had similar moments. Some I responded to and some I didn’t. There was the time in Disney World when I saw a man collapse and hit his head. Without any real thought, I found myself sitting next to him and comforting him as he emerged from a sleepy state of unconsciousness. When real medical help arrived, I made my way through the gathered crowd and silently went away.

But there have been other times when I did not act, only to feel sheepish as the hours passed. I found myself feeling sad that I hadn’t helped. Those moments built up my resolve to help the next time.

We all have these moments

We all have these moments; they are part of our individual journeys in life. They are personal and very intimate. These are moments of becoming an angel—moments when we are immediately thrust into God’s plans for us to help others.

Fortunately, I have had many people in my life whose good character has shown me how it’s done. People like EMTs. Or my friends Geoff, Lou, or Paul. They act quickly and care. These individuals are able to step away from their intended paths and move compassionately to aid others. They are angels offering a helping hand.

I never did find out the name of the man who wrote this story. He simply signed it “Anonymous.” But I can answer the woman’s question: He was a regular angel, not a stand in. I believe this is how God works. He uses us to help those in desperate need of help.

At some point, each of us will have to decide if we will help someone in need and momentarily become one of God’s angels.

How will we choose?

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

Dr. Bruce L. Hartman is the author of Jesus & Co. and Your Faith Has Made You Well.

Photo by Gavin Allanwood on Unsplash

We love to give exposure to budding photographers

chick fil a

Chick-fil-A Has a Bad Rep; Should They?

Be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.

1 Corinthians [15:58]

San Antonio and Buffalo recently banned Chick-fil-A from operating in its airports, largely as a result of its position on sexuality and its anti-abortion stance. For years, Chick-fil-A has been rock steady on these stances, which has infuriated some who disagree. Many have protested the restaurants, resulting in some bans in liberal communities. Certainly, as Americans, it is their right to protest, but is it fair?

There is another side to the story.

Chick-fil-A is a Christian-based business that lives up to its values. During the most recent Super Bowl held in Atlanta, the Chick-fil-A concession stand in the stadium was closed. The reason for the closure is their corporate position of remaining closed on the Sabbath. The choice between profits or sticking to their beliefs was easy: Chick-fil-A chose to close. While perhaps controversial in some of their beliefs, Chick-fil-A stands by them.

Perhaps you didn’t hear about the Chick-fil-A employee who leaped through a drive-thru window to save a choking child. The child was being strangled by his seat belt, and the employee, using a penknife, freed him.

Or the story of a homeless man who went into a Chick-fil-A begging for a few scraps and instead received a full meal and prayers.

Or how in Maryland, a Chick-fil-A store manager went to the aid of a ninety-six-year-old veteran and fixed his flat tire.

Or the boy who was scheduled for brain tumor surgery the Monday after Easter and requested a meal from Chick-fil-A. Even though it was a Sunday when the restaurant was closed, the manager of the local franchise went to his store, prepared the meal, and delivered it to the courageous young boy.

Chick-fil-A practices what it preaches through inspiring and empowering their employees and sticking to their beliefs. Despite protests from a few, Chick-fil-A can be counted on to stick to their guns.

Chick-fil-A is one of America’s fastest-growing food chains and currently ranks third—behind only MacDonald’s and Starbucks—in total volume. There is a reason for their remarkable success. Their stores are manned by happy and committed employees who are well trained, not only in the operations but in the right Christian attitudes. The ownership, in turn, always gives all credit for their success to God and their employees.

It’s just good business

In my own visits to Chick-fil-A, I am always amazed at their lines, whether in the drive-thru or in the store. They are long but orderly. The lines move quickly, and the employees are always smiling. Friendly people abound in Chick-fil-A’s restaurants. And, as a former business person, I am always impressed by the consistency of their operations from location to location.

Chick-fil-A is also very careful when deciding who to sell their franchises to. Potential franchisers must work for Chick-fil-A for two years before a candidate is considered. Only when you have worked the lines and are familiar with their operations will they sell you a franchise.

Perhaps ironically, the opposition against them only encourages their loyal customers to visit more often. After each protest, their sales skyrocket from the silent support of the many Christians who believe in the values that Chick-fil-A upholds.

In my new book, Your Faith Has Made You well, I give examples of Christian people and businesses to admire. We should admire a company that sticks to their beliefs despite the protests against them. Certainly, there are things we will disagree within any organization or person, and Chick-fil-A is no exception. Disagreements are opportunities for change, whether that change comes within ourselves or in others. To only seek out those who agree with us, narrows our views in life and restricts our Christian values.

I love going to Chick-fil-A.

The food is good, and I always smile. Any organization that hires the kind of people who will jump through windows to save children or give food to the poor will always get my business.

And many agree with me. Chick-fil-A isn’t successful because they say the right things, but because the character of their business is firmly in lockstep with their beliefs.

By the way, the FAA is now investigating why the two aforementioned cities refuse to allow Chick-fil-A in their airports.

Don’t visit them on Sunday, they will be closed.

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

Dr. Bruce L. Hartman is the author of Jesus & Co. and Your Faith Has Made You Well.

Photo by Jonathan Francisca on Unsplash

We love to give exposure to budding photographers

christian business man

Seven Christian Values Every Business Could Use

On our many travels this summer, my wife and I stayed in a number of hotels in small-town America. On a recent stay in Great Barrington, a hamlet in the Berkshires of Massachusetts, I was greeted early in the morning and offered coffee by the manager of the Fairfield Inn. In itself, this may not appear to be all that unusual, but when connected with the consistent friendliness of the staff it made me say to myself, “now I understand why everyone at this hotel is so friendly.”

I also noticed that the hotel was full, while another hotel next door was only half full. Over the course of the summer, I have had mostly good experiences at hotels. But along with a few of the other businesses that I frequent as a writer, I’ve noticed a disturbing trend of profit-seeking being put ahead of genuine customer service.

In one case, a vendor wanted me to sign up for a subscription service that provided little value. In another case, I was given a report that was really just a dump of information pulled from an internet search, leaving me to decipher its purpose and message. In both cases, I was charged well above their service was worth.

As for the hotel in Great Barrington, I was always met with smiles and simple accommodating efforts. Like the manager, there was a genuine interest in serving and not in taking.

In my book Jesus & Co., I point out the connectedness of good business values with the ways of the Gospel. Essentially, there are seven sure-fire ways to improve business results while staying true to Christian ideals. All involve valuing your customers as your neighbor.

Sell What Your Customer Needs

The best small businesses rely on referrals to generate traffic. Today in America, 80 percent of all visits to a business are made based on past customer reviews. Above four stars and you get new customers; below four, ugh! Could you imagine Jesus selling a product that wasn’t what the customer needed? But sometimes in the pursuit of sales, business leaders will contrive products and services that will generate extra profits but are not of value to their customers. In other words, sell the customer what they need. Customer reviews will improve greatly with this attitude, and so will your profits.

Follow the Golden Rule

In the Sermon on the Mount—Jesus’s primer on how to live—he says, “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also for them.” (Matthew [7:12]) Over the years, it has been simplified to “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This seems simple and a very a fair way to conduct business. But two things always stand in the way: selfishness on the part of the business, to get all that they can; or vengeful actions to get back at someone for a perceived offense. Neither of these options are good long-term business strategies, and they will only serve to corrode an enterprise’s reputation, both internally and externally.

Be a Good Example with High Moral Character

Employees, customers, and fellow associates all watch what we do as opposed to what we say. During a recent conversation with Jack Pattie, the long-serving radio host on WVLK AM in Lexington, Kentucky, he told me about a company in the northeast that he was always impressed with. He always felt they were a Christian-based business even though they didn’t advertise as such. However, over time he discovered they were, indeed, Christian-based. It was through the simple and consistent actions of doing the right thing that Jack observed their Christian values. The company didn’t demand that all their hires be Christians, but they did insist that they follow Christian ideals in their work. They are successful not based on what they say but on what they do.

Be a Faithful Employee

Jesus famously said, The Son is not able to do anything himself; he is able to do only what he sees the Father doing; whatever the Father does the Son does it in the same way.” (John [5:19]) It is a remarkable statement considering the great leadership ability of Jesus and a humble lesson for all of us. Jesus was completely committed to the mission and to the ways of God, not to himself. In my career, I saw many good employees stray from a path of alignment with the corporate mission or their boss. This is both unhelpful to a successful business and to the individual’s career. Sure, there may be times when the mission is wrong or the boss is misguided, but in those times, open protest won’t work. Informed and humble private conversations will.

Lead with Conviction and Compassion

Great leaders have a strong sense of conviction and know where they want to go. Without compassion for others, not many will follow them. There are times employees or customers need a break or a little extra kindness. Great leaders know when those times occur. The ability to balance the mission with the needs of employees and customers is a paramount leadership quality. Being committed only to the mission will create an apathetic following. Conversely, only being compassionate will lead to weak results. It is the ability to balance both that is critical to the success of a leader.

Great Businesses and Leaders are Great Servants

Any business or leader that doesn’t serve is bound to fail. Neither will survive if it is all about them. For a moment or two, they may find success, but ultimately they will be dragged down through their own self-interest. People and customers follow those who serve others as well as lead. Businesses and leaders who are willing to serve and respect the needs of their employees and customers engender loyalty.

Be a Great Communicator

Jesus was a preeminent communicator. His favorite vehicle was through the use of parables—stories with value but that also inspired imaginative thought. Businesses and leaders that communicate through vivid and clear messages inspire their followers to be great. One of the single most important leadership characteristics is letting everyone know where you are going. Not simply by telling but by inspiring. Telling stories that spark imaginative thought strengthens the listener’s memory and builds greater emotional attachment.

There are many great businesses and leaders, each with their own unique gifts. Those who embody Christian values strengthen their chances of success. Many will say that Christianity and business don’t mix. This is a myth. They are easily combined when one leads with  Christian actions and when their words are justified by their good deeds. In other words, “Be the Gospel; don’t just say the Gospel.”

Dr. Bruce L Hartman, Christian Author, and Story Teller. A former Fortune 500 CFO who left the corporate world to engage in a ministry of “Connecting The Lessons of the Gospels to Modern Life.”  His life mission is “Helping People Walk into a Brighter Future.”

[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”25″][vc_column_text el_class=”post-sign”]

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

Dr. Bruce L. Hartman is the author of Jesus & Co. and Your Faith Has Made You Well.

Photo by Jonathan Francisca on Unsplash

We love to give exposure to budding photographers

rome

Finlandia – A Simple Song that Could End Tribalism and American Discord

Recently, on a visit to Michigan, I attended a Catholic church. During the service, the entire congregation recited the Nicene Creed. As a Methodist, I have also recited this creed many times in my life. As I recited it along with the other attendees, the words rang clearly to me. I marveled at its elegant simplicity and its clear explanation of what we, as Christians, believe. It is a summary of our Christian faith.

The Origin of the Creed

As a student of theology, I knew more and began to reflect on how the creed came to be. In 325 AD, a group of 150 bishops gathered in Nicaea, an important town in ancient Greece. They had come from all of the various places where Christianity existed—Alexandria in Africa, Rome and Athens, and the various outposts of Europe. From throughout the Roman empire, they came.

Years earlier, in 313, Emperor Constantine won a great victory, which he credited to Jesus. After the battle, Constantine declared Christianity as the state religion of Rome, effectively moving Christianity from the catacombs of society to an approved state religion.

In 325, Constantine heard about a great divide in the church over the divinity of Jesus. Seeing that this divide was threatening to split the church, Constantine asked the bishops to convene and hammer out a solution.

Two Sides

On one side were the traditionalists, who viewed Jesus as divine and part of the substance of God. The other side were the backers of Arian from Alexandria, who believed Jesus was less than divine—perhaps a semi-God. For days, both sides presented their views, sometimes amiably and sometimes with rancor. The Arian’s were particularly aggressive in presenting their views.

However, the traditionalists won out, and with their victory came the creation of a creed that explained our belief structure centered on a triune God, or three persons in one. One of the key Bible verses that turned the tide was John 1:1 which says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” The author of John used the word “Word” (or “Logos” in ancient Greek) to describe Jesus. If you, therefore, read this verse with Jesus in place of the word “Word,” you can see how this group arrived at the answer that Jesus both was God and is with God.

The New Creed

Over the next fifty years or so, there were still minor disputes, so another group of bishops met in Constantinople in 381 to build upon the original creed. This new creed—while not theologically different—filled in a lot of the blanks. Scholars call this second creed the “Nicene-Constantinople Creed.” Outside of the scholastic world it is still shortened to and called the Nicene Creed. The version completed in 381 AD is the one we still use today.

One important thing to note is that ALL Christian Churches use this creed: Western Catholics, all Protestant denominations, and Eastern Orthodox churches as well. It is one of the few documents on which every denomination agrees.

The Debates

Later, in the twelfth century, a minor debate arose as to the source of the Holy Spirit. Does it come from both Jesus and God or God alone? This controversy is called the Filoque debate. While never fully resolved, the Western church believes that the Spirit emanates from both. The Eastern church believes the Spirit emanates only from God.

From my viewpoint, the creed is an impressive construction that has clearly stood the test of time.

Many of the bishops traveled great distances to participate in these meetings; some for months. And consider the enormity of this task without the literary capabilities that exist today. These early Christians performed a marvelous, God-inspired task.

Reading was hard in the fourth century.

Only a very small portion of the population could read and write. Most documents were written without spaces between words. While most books of the Bible already existed, the New Testament did not yet exist in today’s form and would not for almost another century after the creation of the creed.

The work was hard, but it produced a document that has survived close to two millennium and is universally accepted by all Christians. Given the many denominations of Christianity, this is no small feat!

Below is the English version of the modern Nicene Creed, or the profession of faith of all Christians. It is amazing to think that these words were so skillfully crafted so many years ago.

Nicene Creed (English Version)

We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
of one Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:
by the power of the Holy Spirit
he became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,
and was made man.
For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered death and was buried.
On the third day he rose again
in accordance with the Scriptures;
he ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen.

[/vc_column_text][divider line_type=”No Line” custom_height=”25″][vc_column_text el_class=”post-sign”]

Blessings, until next time,
Bruce L. Hartman

Dr. Bruce L. Hartman is the author of Jesus & Co. and Your Faith Has Made You Well.

Photo by Melanie van Leeuwen on Unsplash

We love to give exposure to budding photographers