peace to live by

What is Good is Good to Us, Part 1 (TMF:2465)

Friday, October 18, 2024
Peace to Live By: What is Good is Good to Us, Part 1 (TMF:2465) - Daniel Litton
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       I generally stand by the phrase that “I like what I like.” Seems simple, and I think generally speaking, it is true. I have found it to be important to keep this in mind because if I don’t, I could easily start to consider that I want something that really doesn’t match what I know that I like. This could be with food, in considering a lady to ask on a date, or with making a purchase. We call have different preferences when it comes to these things, but I think it is good to know what you usually like. One reason for us to be ‘aware’ inside of ourselves of our individual preferences is because sometimes we can be tempted to go for something because of it seeming to be scarce. What I mean is that we might start to become interested in a person because they are the only person around. We aren’t considering that there is time, and not every moment in life is going to manifest what we want. Sometimes we need to wait for the good that we like to come. Same can be true with making purchases. We can be lead to believe that because only two options are currently available, that we must purchase one of those options.

Info from Outside Sources, Part 3 (TMF:2464)

Thursday, October 17, 2024
Peace to Live By: Info from Outside Sources, Part 3 (TMF:2464) - Daniel Litton
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       If one is lead to believe otherwise, to accept things that contradict the Scriptures, then that person’s faith wasn’t really rooted and grounded to begin with, was it? Perhaps it’s a test for the individual self to see where one stands. If one is easily lead away, then that may be an indication that they really aren’t rooted in the beliefs they say they have in the first place. So, me, myself, I like to get varying perspectives on things. Generally, I like to agree with an author at least 2/3 of the time to spend a lot of time focusing on their work. But, I will read those with whom I agree less with, but probably won’t spend a lot of time with them. But I think it’s important to consider the views of psychologists and self-help teachers who are outside the faith because, often times, they can teach use life skills that we cannot get anywhere else. They can teach us important things that usually aren’t in Christian books. I don’t see anything wrong with this at all. It’s important for us to be as sharp as we possibly can be, and as long as we aren’t following sin, I don’t see anything bad about self-improvement from those who don’t come from where we come from.

Info from Outside Sources, Part 2 (TMF:2463)

Wednesday, October 16, 2024
Peace to Live By: Info from Outside Sources, Part 2 (TMF:2463) - Daniel Litton
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       I’ve even noticed churches that fall into this trap. I mean, there are churches that have fenced in everything they learn. They will only learn from certain teachers and certain books. So, what happens is that the pastors and elders get ‘tunnel vision’ where they end up getting hurt by what? Well, the end up getting hurt not by what they know, but by what they ‘don’t know.’ Yes, if people surround themselves by only those who are like minded, there will be a lot that they end up not knowing. I think often there is the prevailing fear that by listening to other voices outside the accepted beliefs that there could be a leading astray that takes place. There can a fear that people will be led astray by other teachings. However, I think this usually doesn’t happen. If one believes the Bible to be the absolute truth, then what is the danger in learning from varying perspectives? If one is lead to believe otherwise, to accept things that contradict the Scriptures, then that person’s faith wasn’t really rooted and grounded to begin with, was it? Perhaps it’s a test for the individual self to see where one stands.

Info from Outside Sources, Part 1 (TMF:2462)

Tuesday, October 15, 2024
Peace to Live By: Info from Outside Sources, Part 1 (TMF:2462) - Daniel Litton
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       One important thing I have learned over the years through practice is that it is important to read other things that don’t necessarily or completely align with our personal beliefs. This includes listening to teachers as well. To state it plainly, the reasoning and logic behind this is that, well, simply, others can teach us new things that cannot be learned otherwise. If we surround ourselves with only books and people who teach what we already believe, then there really isn’t much chance to learn anything new at the end of the day. In fact, I would argue that it can be dangerous to do so. I mean, we’ve seen this concept from time to time in corporate America. We can likely name one or two corporations that failed or were severely hurt by not considering things outside of their own way of doing things. They were closed minded, and it ended up costing them dearly, literally so to speak. I’ve even noticed churches that fall into this trap. I mean, there are churches that have fenced in everything they learn. They will only learn from certain teachers and certain books.

Not Frightened by the News, Part 3 (TMF:2461)

Monday, October 14, 2024
Peace to Live By: Not Frightened by the News, Part 3 (TMF:2461) - Daniel Litton
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       Really, it’s a comforting thought to consider this. It means that God didn’t lose control in the past when bad things were happening back then, and so he’s certainly not going to lose control now when bad things are happening. Jesus truly does hold everything together by his power and love. And speaking of bad events, remember also that Jesus told us not be frightened by bad things that are happening in the world as we approach the end of our current world setup. Surely, as we approach the end of our current phase, the earth is getting ready for the next phase. No need to really worry, no matter how much are minds try to convince us we should. In the next phase of the world, Christ will reign as King of the world. And in that time, everything, no matter what you consider—people, organizations, laws, whatever—everything will be in alignment with him, with goodness in its full manifestation. So, that will be a time and place of continued peace, and certainly a lot of happiness. Happiness will be 100 percent dominant in that time.

Not Frightened by the News, Part 2 (TMF:2460)

Friday, October 11, 2024
Peace to Live By: Not Frightened by the News, Part 2 (TMF:2460) - Daniel Litton
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       For the bad news that there is, there is probably at least a hundred times as many neutral and good things that have happened. The vast majority of the time, things go how there are supposed to go. Use your own life to understand that point. It’s rare your car breaks down, or that you are sick in bed, or hopefully that you get in a big fight with someone. It is rare that your residence has a major problem, that your possessions get stolen, or that things even take a turn for the worse at your workplace. The Bible clearly tells us that what is happening now has already happened in the past, that really, in the final analysis, there is nothing new going on. Remember? That’s what King Solomon has taught us in Ecclesiastes. At times it seems like something new is happening, but really it has already happened in some way, shape, or form. Sure, new technology might be invented, but even that can be similar to what has been in the past. Really, it’s a comforting thought to consider this. It means that God didn’t lose control in the past when bad things were happening back then, and so he’s certainly not going to lose control now when bad things are happening.

Not Frightened by the News, Part 1 (TMF:2459)

Thursday, October 10, 2024
Peace to Live By: Not Frightened by the News, Part 1 (TMF:2459) - Daniel Litton
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       With so much bad news in our world, wherever it is coming from, there can be the easy temptation to become downtrodden by it. There can be that temptation to think that really the world is a messed up place, and that everything is going down the tubes. Certainly, messed up things happen. There’s no doubt about that. We need to remember, however, that the news we hear is generally the worst of what has happened, I mean, that’s why it has made the headlines. Or, it involves big names or big organizations. With that in mind, we need to remember that for just as much bad news as there may be, there is much, much more in the world that didn’t go wrong, but things that have gone normal and right. You see, when we are focused on what has gone wrong and what could have gone better, we are only zeroing in on those things. What we often fail to consider in our minds is all the things that are going neutral and right. I mean, think about it. For the bad news that there is, there is probably at least a hundred times as many neutral and good things that have happened. The vast majority of the time, things go how there are supposed to go.

Unnecessary Dependency to Despair, Part 3 (TMF:2458)

Wednesday, October 09, 2024
Peace to Live By: Unnecessary Dependency to Despair, Part 3 (TMF:2458) - Daniel Litton
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        So, I think it would be better for a person to be not dependent and live by themselves (even if they have less money), and still yet have the sense of hope and success within themselves.  Let’s stop and think about it. I’m going to get a little tuff here, and remember, I’m talking about people here who don’t have to be dependent. How could a person who is, say, 40 years old and still living at home feel happy about their state of life? I just don’t see it. And, I think there are a few people out there who need to hear this message. It would be better for a person to take responsibility for themselves than have bad thoughts flowing through their minds. A person doesn’t have to be married either to be one their own. Even if one’s parents don’t mind the person staying at home, that’s not that point. True happiness can only be present when one is responsible for themselves, for their way of living. And sometimes that means making a big change.

Unnecessary Dependency to Despair, Part 2 (TMF:2457)

Tuesday, October 08, 2024
Peace to Live By: Unnecessary Dependency to Despair, Part 2 (TMF:2457) - Daniel Litton
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       The longer the dependency goes, the more debilitating it can be to how a person feels. The Apostle Paul talked about this in the New Testament, in that he said a person should not be dependent on anyone. The problem with dependency is that it can lead to despair. That is, the longer one goes in the dependent world, the more one will lose hope of a better future. That’s not good because that feeling over a long period of time could lead someone to not want to continue to live. That’s a very bad place to be in. So, I think it would be better for a person to be not dependent and live by themselves (even if they have less money), and still yet have the sense of hope and success within themselves.  Let’s stop and think about it. I’m going to get a little tuff here, and remember, I’m talking about people here who don’t have to be dependent. How could a person who is, say, 40 years old and still living at home feel happy about their state of life? I just don’t see it.

Unnecessary Dependency to Despair, Part 1 (TMF:2456)

Monday, October 07, 2024
Peace to Live By: Unnecessary Dependency to Despair, Part 1 (TMF:2456) - Daniel Litton
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       One thing that needs to be understood, and is understood by many, is that unnecessary dependency takes away happiness. This is why people move away when college is over, or even a few years later. It’s no fun to be dependent when you don’t need to be. It creates the feeling that perhaps one is not as successful as they should be. It creates the feeling that one is not carrying one’s own load. I think there is a small sense of shame behind it that is often covered up. The truth is, when people are dependent it makes them not feel good about themselves. And while it might be more economically friendly, it probably won’t be that psychologically friendly to one’s mind. That being the case, perhaps being happier and freer is more important than the money one might save. The longer the dependency goes, the more debilitating it can be to how a person feels. The Apostle Paul talked about this in the New Testament, in that he said a person should not be dependent on anyone. The problem with dependency is that it can lead to despair.