Good communication skills are key to any success in life, work, and relationships. Without effective communication, a message can turn into error, misunderstanding, frustration, or even disaster by being misinterpreted. We assume too much, not asking enough for clarification nor what was meant by what we, or someone else, said.

On the other hand, when communicating a message, we need to be clear and even ask the one we are communicating with what they heard or understood about what we said. Communication is only successful when both the one communicating a message and the one hearing the message understand the same information. How many times have we heard, “Well, I thought you meant this,” or, “I really believed you wanted this done,” etc.? It’s because something wasn’t clear. What was being communicated and what was being heard were not the same.

Clear communication will cause our lives to be less stressful. We need to ask questions. When communicating, we need to be clear, and we must work hard at not assuming anything. Our lives, our world, will be much more peaceful and fruitful if we don’t assume.

Just a thought,

PSS

The election that will determine the fate of America is upon us. What type of America do we want? 

People are so locked into a party instead of into God and righteousness and justice. When you look at both parties’ platforms, you will see there is a vast difference between them. One party wants to use our tax dollars to kill the unborn, while the other party wants to stop abortion. One party embraces the homosexual movement, while the other party believes marriage is between one man and one woman. One wants to tax all of us more, while the other wants to tax us less. One wants to appoint judges that will use their experience to interpret the constitution, while the other wants judges who will read the constitution and make decisions based on it. The differences couldn’t be clearer or further apart.

So, as Christians, I believe it is imperative for us to stand for righteousness and justice — those things which are moral and just. I believe, as Christians, we should have a say in who leads us — even if they are imperfect. It’s time we stand together as Christians and stand for what is right. I believe in life, and I believe that we should stand with those who also do.

Ultimately, it’s a choice only you can make. Let’s choose wisely. Let’s end the innocent murder of the unborn, and let’s get back to common sense regarding what is moral and what is not. 

Just a thought,

PSS

In a few days we will know what kind of America people will vote for — one that promotes religious freedom or one that promotes religious persecution, one that promotes our constitution or one that wants to fundamentally change it. The choice is real and very clear.

For today’s politics we have two parties with two different causes. One is about righteousness, doing the right thing morally; and the other is about justice, standing up against social injustice. What we must do is have a balance of righteousness and justice. We have to marry the two because God is both. Psalm 89:14 (NLT): Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne. Unfailing love and truth walk before you as attendants. Psalm 33:5 (ESV): He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the steadfast love of the Lord.

So, I believe we need both. I also believe that there is an issue that marries both views. May I say that my vote, one of my main fights, is for life? Everyone has a right to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. So, for me the main issue is abortion — the right for the unborn to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. This one issue brings both views into focus. I believe it should be our main focus — to protect those who cannot protect themselves.

There is only one candidate who says they are pro-life, while the other one believes that it is OK to abort a human being right up to the day the child would be born. Let’s believe in social justice for the unborn because we know it is unrighteous to kill them. 

Folks, let’s stand for righteousness and justice.

Just a thought,

PSS

The elections are upon us — so many opinions about whom to vote for, or even, Should we vote? Both candidates are flawed. One says things that there are no defenses for. One lies about everything. It is a good thing we are not voting for a pastor.

I believe the candidates are indicative of a godless society — a society which has no absolute, a society where the church has retreated to the inner sanctuary of the walls of the church, a society which believes these things don’t matter.

The history of the church has been to take a position that this is not our issue. Because of that, we have abortion on demand, and God removed from the public school system. When God (the Church) is not involved, society gets worse and worse. This election cycle, freedom of speech and freedom of religion are at stake.

The Supreme Court now legislates instead of determining whether laws are constitutional or not. One side is all about social justice, while the other side is about righteousness. For me, the abortion issue is the final determining factor for how to vote. I do believe we should all vote. I believe abortion brings both sides together. It’s social justice for the unborn — for babies to have a right to live. There is no justice when they are murdered. It’s righteousness because we would all agree murder is wrong — it’s immoral.

As Christians, we will have to decide these issues for ourselves. Hopefully, we will take a biblical perspective and side with life. Which candidate is for abortion, even in the third trimester, and which candidate opposes it? There is a clear choice.

I pray America chooses wisely. Our future depends on it. Please pray and seek God. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness!

Just a thought,

PSS

In this life, we will all have some time of adversity that will test the strongest among us. Adversity is defined as: a state or instance of serious or continued difficulty or misfortune.

Someone said, “He who learns to welcome misfortune learns that adversity is the prosperity of the great.” We will all have to face it. But how we face it, how we act, respond to it, will make the biggest difference in our lives — between success and failures, moving forward, or getting stuck in our past.

The greatest thing about dealing with adversity is that you get to choose: Do you allow it to hinder your life, destroy your beliefs, destroy your family, and destroy your future? Or do you face her (adversity), look her in the eye, and say, “I will overcome you — I will not allow you to hurt me to the point I quit in life, quit believing for the best, quit believing things can and will improve — I believe this too shall pass”?

For most of us, adversity is not permanent: it is only temporary, unless we allow it to become a permanent fixture in our lives. It’s up to us.

Adversity can make us stronger, or we can allow it to become something that remains hurtful in our lives. We are overcomers — we have been given that ability. But, of course, only we can make that decision for our lives. Let’s choose to work through adversity.

Just a thought,

PSS