Ten Bible Stories You Probably Don't Know # 1

The Revolt at Korah (Numbers 16:1-35)

Nelson B. Demille would have loved the drama. James Cameron and George Lucas would appreciate the effects. Martin Scorcese would make millions from the mayhem.

After years of wandering in the wilderness of limbo, the people of Israel grow weary of Moses and his leadership. There are grumblings. There are gripes galore. Some desire to return to Egypt. At last, in a terrible fit of anger and frustration, the Lord God opens the earth and the majority of the people perish in a giant sink hole. A big one. Large enough, from the sound of it, to swallow the Empire State Building whole.

End of bitching.

Let this story be a lesson to all the boys and girls out there who complain about cabbage soup or spinach. Let the spouses who complain about needing a larger living room beware. Watch your backside, everyone who thinks the "good old days" were really all that "good" to begin with. Let us all take care in raising voice against leaders.

If you hear any rumblings or see any cracks in the earth . . . make a run for it!

Ten Ways to Look at a Problem # 10

As an Ending

All good things come to an end, the saying goes. But the converse is equally true. All problems come to an end also. Many problems are, in fact, an ending in themselves. A problem can take us to that end of the road, and then we turn around and head another direction. But in the turning, the problem is no more.

Have a problem at work? Count on this: some day the circumstances that have given rise to the problem (people, economy, bad karma, boss, working conditions, etc.) will change, evaporate, or lead you to another work. The old problems will not persist unless you desire to remain forever in them.

Have a problem at home? Eventually, time and effort will bring change. Children grow up and move out; spouses learn to communicate differently; job changes and the next move bring an end to the old ways.

Have a problem you can't seem to lick? Keep praying for the wisdom and strength and time to see your way through it with effort and assistance. Even personal weaknesses and needs eventually evaporate in God's grace.

The end, as many say, is near. There's truth here, and not just eschatalogically. It's about change and embracing the new thing God is doing. With the end comes the beginning.

Begin! (Next up: 10 Bible stories you probably don't know & 10 Things we all learn in High School)

Ten Ways to Look at a Problem # 9

As a Burden

There's an old song that sings: "Pack up your troubles in your old kit sack and smile, smile, smile." It's Pollyanna all the way, but does contain some marginal truth. A problem can be a burden at times. But burdens can be carried, laid aside, or given away.

In truth, the gospel doesn't address problems so much as burdens. Burdens are what Christ carried. Burdens are what we give to God. Burdens can be redeemed.

I'm not sure what all of our problems are. But I've got them. My neighbor does, too. Often the difference between one person and the next has nothing to do with the size of the burdens they are carrying and everything to do with where or how they lay them aside. Burdens that are given to God are no longer heavy.

Everyone can carry a burden for a time. But eventually, it's best to give it up. Let it go. Let the BIG SHOULDERS have it.

Ten Ways to Look at a Problem # 8

As a Trampoline

As Yukon Cornelius discovered, "Bumble's Bounce!" Problems are like that, too. The bigger the problem, the more likely it is to bounce.

Many a problem can be a springboard to something better. Anyone who has jumped on a trampoline long enough also understands that, when a problem is put on the tarp, sooner or later it's going to fly off the edge.

Perhaps that's what we mean we we say we have to "roll with the punches" or "go with it" or "just let it go." Not every problem in life demands our attention, or is an emergency of the highest priority. Some problems can, indeed, be ignored for a time, and many, through time, dissipate in oceans of larger problems or new insights. A problem that can be ignored probably wasn't much of a problem to begin with. Let it go.

And now that we've done this, we can bounce along to something else. There are better days around those edges.

Ten Ways to Look at a Problem # 7

As a Burden

Some problems are burdens. But burdens don't necessarily have to be heavy . . . as Jesus taught ("my burden is light"). And burdens come in all sizes and shapes, and some of them make us stronger people.

Those who would, for example, desire to improve their muscular or aerobic stamina or strength, must inevitably place strain upon the body. As the old saying goes, "No pain, no gain." A burden that produces wisdom, strength, resiliency, insight, perseverance, faith or hope can also been seen as a blessing . . . .

And, of course, burdens are meant to be laid down eventually. We can give our burdens to God, as the old hymn suggests, or lay them down at the riverside, and the lightness of being that accompanies this surrender is, indeed, sweet. Whatever doesn't kill us makes us stronger. But whatever we can't carry we give to God, Lord of the Big Shoulders.

Ten Ways to Look at a Problem # 6

As Potential

Not all problems are real. Some are potential. Some could occur . . . if. In fact, we may sit on our hands, duck for cover, procrastinate or live in a rut because we don't want to create the potential for a problem.

But the fact is, any decision that is worth making could be fraught with problems. The alcoholic who makes a decision to go to AA is going to encounter more problems, initially. There will be confession, introspection, a courageous study of the self and amends to be made . . . and these hurt. These changes can cause rifts and upset the delicate balance of the alcoholic's home and work.

The same holds true for any. There are problems on the horizon any time we attempt to change an organization (business, church), or when we are honest about another person's performance (or our own), or when we make any decision that involves money. Potentially, someone could feel slighted or hurt. Priorities are re-established.

In spite of these potential problems . . . we must anticipate them nonetheless if we want to grow. Nothing worth having or doing is free of pain or discomfort. Anyone who sets out to run a mile, or lift a heavy weight is going to have to sweat, sacrifice and struggle against the goal. The gut will hurt, the limbs will ache, the lungs will scream for relief.

Forge ahead. Create a good problem for yourself. See your potential problem as a solution rather than a worry.

Ten Ways to Look at a Problem # 5

As a Detour

Not all problems in life create dead-end spaces. Some problems catapult us into creative orbit. Some cause us to think. Others are merely detours.

How often have we found ourselves stifled by some problem for years, only to discover, later, that the problem merely sidetracked us. In time, we often find ourselves getting back on the fast track, taking up where we left off.

Careers can often be like that. We work in one area for a time, perhaps even for decades, and then suddenly discover another avenue of work for a brief period. We foray into the unknown, scout around in uncharted territory, and then reemerge on the other side of a thicket of years to take up residence again in the same house we were forced to abandon.

Many a problem goes away, as they say, in time. Or, to put it another way: time heals all wounds. Perhaps. Sometimes the wounds still leave a mark; others cast us off with a limp. But certainly it takes time to begin the process of healing. But healing also requires energy and commitment.

Consider where you are . . . you are likely not far from home. You may be merely on a detour. But time will bring you around. There are signs to guide you.

Ten Ways to Look at a Problem # 4

As a Lesson

Most of the important lessons we learn in life begin as problems. Few people learn how to manage money well until they have experienced a lack of it. Most great marriages are not only built upon the pinnacles of mutual respect and love, but have also been forged in the low valleys of struggle. And there's not a parent anywhere (not any good ones anyway) who have not learned the art of parenting through the slippery problems of changing diapers and crying over spilled milk and dented bumpers. Problems and pain are life's greatest teachers.

Somewhere in the problem mix of today, there is a lesson to be learned. It may not be a lesson we desire (who wants to get pummeled?), but if we are attentive and receptive, we can learn of the new path and even learn to trust God more as we navigate the orange cones of life. Some of the lessons make us better people. Some weigh us down. But all lessons can eventually be three-hole punched into our spiritual inventory.

Problems, like tests in school, remind us that we must be life-long learners. Like it or not. School is still in session. The bell is ringing. It tolls for thee.

Ten Ways to Look at a Problem # 3

As a Possibility

Many of the problems we face in life are actually possibilities. We just need the problem to push us to another place or get us off our duff or make us think creatively about a solution.

No one worries about manufacturing a better tire until there is a problem with a tire. No one thinks about finding a cure for cancer until all the other means have been exhausted. And most people simply lament change or gripe about it instead of working on the creative solutions to grow a business, find the new angle, or market to the new demographic.

Problems are for solving. And without problems in our lives, we grow lazy, apathetic, complacent, and uninvolved.

Look at your problems carefully. Some of them may be the key to your first million dollars or your next move or your future happiness. The possibilities are endless.

Ten Ways to Look at a Problem # 2

As a Question

Many of life's most vexing problems resist easy solutions or knee-jerk reactions. But complexity can also breed rigidity or inexactitude, even passivity or apathy. And so finding solutions to most of our deepest problems demands that we ask questions.

These questions are not always easy to come by. And great questions are what often lead us to astounding answers. But in fact, it is the inability to ask questions that often leads to the problem in the first place, and so self-absorbed or unrelated questions need not apply.

We may, for example, begin this day with a relationship problem, a financial problem, a work-related problem, or perhaps a most mundane problem such as a broken faucet. The solutions we seek may not always come from within ourselves. Often, the expertise of another must be sought, whether it be the marriage counselor or the plumber. But somewhere in that mix, we must ask the question to quick-step toward a solution. Whom can I call? What realities have led to this juncture and what steps do I need to take to fix it?

Other problems are so large and dynamic, we must find ourselves asking the good questions over long periods of time. What can I do to help overcome racism? How can I help the poor? Where's the best place for me to serve God?

These overwhelming problems require conversation and an array of questions that we must continue to ask. But a problem isn't just a problem. It is a question, too. And at the end of every question mark, we may be on our way to some small answer or resolution.

Ten Ways to Look at a Problem # 1

As a Possibility

When we encounter a problem in our lives we often approach it with complaint, fear, or worry. But many problems are, in fact, possibilities. The problem itself is evidence enough that life can be better and that, through struggle or prayer or a new approach, the tide may turn to reveal possibilities undreamed.

Once we begin to contemplate a problem (different than useless worry) we often create solutions for ourselves and others, and some problems, we find, are not really problems at all. Some problems evaporate as soon as we make a decision to step out in faith or in the confidence that we can make a difference.

"All things are possible with God," the scriptures tell us. Indeed. And this means that all problems are possibilities with God.

Many a great discovery or social change has been wrought in the crucible of pain, but through struggle and time, possibilities have emerged bright as diamonds. In fact, we may not have many problems at all. What we have are the potential and essential parts for a new day. We just have to assemble them.

See You Monday!

On Monday I'll begin a new set of Monday-Friday reflections on the theme: Ten Ways to Look at a Problem. See you then! Thanks for reading!

Ten Ways to Appraoch a New Year # 10

As Another Birthday

Tennessee Ernie Ford used to sing of getting "another year older and deeper in debt." A year can do this to a person, but can also offer us presents and blessings.

Perhaps the thought of another birthday, at some point, no longer stirs the juices as it once did, but the progression of birthdays marches on nonetheless and at some point in the coming months, we each shall have our shot at one. It's that, or immortality.

As many have suggested, we may wish to embrace another birthday as the greatest of all celebrations. "You are here," the birthday announces, "and the world is better for your existence."

Enjoy 2011 completely until your turn comes. Wait for it. And you'll soon be blowing out candles and celebrating the fact that you are not pushing up daisies.

Another year. Another birthday. But only one YOU.

Ten Ways to Approach a New Year # 9

As Four Seasons

The world turns and offers to the bulk of humanity four seasons. Our calendars, with their rich photographic plates of snowclad barns and luxurious summer evenings, reflect the spinning axis upon which we are held in place by gravity's pull. And we endure. There is ice to contend with, along with the insatiable allure of crocuses popping and cicadas signing of the end of another summer, and we watch the leaves swallowing us in gold and flaming red and think to ourselves, "another year has almost passed." We bring out the Perry Como Christmas CD and steady ourselves for another New Year.

Even the ancients counted by seasons. The signs are everywhere. And if there is a human being anywhere who has not sickened on snow and longed for a little green grass, the cave drawings don't reflect it. The four seasons are as natural as two arms and two legs. It's a human construct, but one of the few that make sense.

Of course, we in the north begin a new year in deep hibernation, which is a plus, as with the first hint of spring we get to begin a new year with plenty of track ahead of us. We feel that we are on to something big when the world turns and warms our faces and tells us that all that is ahead shall be sunshine and fresh peaches.

Naturally, we want to make the most of the four seasons, which is why we listen to 50's platters. Somebody out there in the wider world is singing because it is spring (somewhere) and their voices are very high and trilling with expectancy. OOOOEEEEOOOO! Four part harmony.

Ten Ways to Approach a New Year # 8

As a Twelve Step Program

The twelve months of a new year afford us an opportunity for sweeping changes. How would our lives be different if, during the month of January, we repeated the mantra: Here is my problem, and I admit me weakness. February could be devoted to admitting that there is a higher power upon which we must rely if we are to overcome our weakness. And so on . . . .

Today, in a culture built upon the highs and lows of addictions and accepted mores, a twelve step year might be just the ticket to healing and change. At a recent workshop I attended, the presenter offered us a list of common addictions we find in our society. A short list includes: alcohol, drugs of various sorts, money (desire for it, or constant focus for lack of it), sex, pornography, control, work, fame, media, following celebrity, sports, television, internet, facebook, food, food, food . . . .

Well, we get the picture. Twelve steps to a better you. Twelve steps to a better me.

I wonder what December would look like after taking the twelve steps seriously?

Ten Ways to Approach a New Year #7

As a Change

The ancient Greeks believed that life was constant change, that nothing could stay the same, that life--like an ever-flowing river--would carry us forward into uncharted seas. How strange that we moderns live our lives with such an insatiable urge for stability, comfort, and similarity. It is as if we expect no changes and people are frequently thrown into fits when life is tossed out of balance by the unexpected and the new.

But a new year will bring change. In fact, there may even be changes we would welcome or would work for. There may be changes we have discussed. Changes that would make for a marked improvement over the old "us" or the old worlds we inhabit.

Some people may welcome the new year as a means to change some aspect of their behavior, to embrace the change of a fewer pounds, to work on their marriage, to be a better parent, to learn more, to complain less. Others will simply go about the business of the old, the trite, the tired . . . but will discover that change, in other forms (not usually anticipated), has thrown them for a loop.

Expect the coming year to be a year of change, for it most certainly will be. All things change, including the bad situations and the depressive state of affairs. All things change, including that slow step into the unemployment line and the meager pay.

And where change is slow in coming, we can count on life's inevitable flowing river to cut new banks and boundaries and offer us a tide that might transport us to another port of call. All we have to do is be willing to board the boat.

Ten Ways to Approach a New Year #6

As a Blank Slate

We don't know much about slate in our modern society, but word has it that students used to use "Blue Books" for final exams and teachers, in the primeval world, often wrote on chalk boards. A new year, though not completely a tabula rasa, affords us an opportunity to take a fresh test on a blank slate. We may be carrying luggage from past lives, but we can certainly shed some of the weight and pick up a fresh pen and write our own Blue Book essay come January.

It's only natural. Trees and flowers and fields begin to rewrite their own stories in the Spring, the world turns, and suddenly the world as we know it is erasing past sub plots and characters and scribbling in new directions and personalities. The beginning of a New Year, perhaps, affords us these same affects and offers us a surprising word count in which to resubmit another chapter of our lives.

So . . . there are outlines to be written, chapter headings to create, major personalities to understand and develop. Some of these belong to us.

There's a Blue Book waiting for us in 2011, a freshly-erased blackboard free of dust. Some may choose to create anew. Others will copy the work of others or simply trace over the vestiges of a past life, unchanged and unwilling. But there's something inspiring about a blank slate, isn't there?

Ten Ways to Approach a New Year #5

As a Goal

The design of most sporting events is to succeed by achieving a goal. Basketball, footfall, hockey, soccer, baseball, rugby, even ice curling . . . all have their respective goals, end-zones, or home plates. The struggle to reach a goal is, in itself, the endeavor.

Contemplating a year ahead, we have our various goals in mind. Some of these are so minuscule as to remain unnoticed or unappreciated, while others bear a greater weight in our struggles and work and focus. Some might be relational, others personal, some financial. We might even have goals that are so extreme, so large, that it will take years to achieve them.

There are 365 days, each a small goal in itself, and we are promised none of them. So what we do with a day, or in a day, makes a marked difference in the total of the year.

Setting goals is important. And from time to time, when we succeed, it's good to run out into the street and shout: Ggggoooooooaaaaaaalllllllllllll!!!!!!!!!!!

Ten Ways to Approach a New Year # 4

As Time

Much has been written about time . . . like an ever-flowing stream. Indeed, there is only time, and time is what makes us truly human. In classical thought, the gods were timeless as were all things divine. But time is the playground of humanity.

What do we do with the sand in the hour glass?

That is, of course, the biggest question that defines our lives . . . our work, our passions, our goals, our outcome. Time sharpens the sword edge of human existence but also provides respite from all cares within time.

And so a year seems like such a small space from which to create and grow and laugh and play, but in essence it is all we have. What we each do with the time allotted to us in our hourglasses will, in many ways, reveal our own reflections in the glass.

Or, as the apostle said, "Now we see through a glass, dimly." But the brightness we reflect may not be our own, but the divine wonder and mystery all around. Only time will tell.

Ten Ways to Approach a New Year #3

As Possibility

Advertisers and Marketers speak of "the endless possibilities" and we frequently purchase with these goals in mind. The aim of much of business and commerce is to inspire the sales force to move product toward the "possibilities" of greater profit margins. And a new year often finds us dreaming of the "possibilities" of our situation, with more robust happiness thrown into the mix.

Of course, faith is not without its consequences, too. "All things are possible" the apostle writes, and we, with joy, assume the best with God's help.

But indeed the possibilities are endless for the coming 365 days. In the best of all possible worlds, many outcomes require no effort on our part. The best just falls into our laps. Other possibilities, however, do not materialize without effort, sacrifice, or hard work. And other possibilities remain unfulfilled or unrealized until a later time . . . or as they say, "there's always next year."

Well, next year is here. So now we expect the best. Perhaps, we think, this one could be the Mother of All Years. The Big Kahuna. And we all dream that the world will be our oyster.

Ten Ways to Approach a New Year #2

As An Ending

The start of a new year may also be regarded as the ending of the old, and January, for all of its impotencies and harsh realities as lived in the Northern Hemisphere, might also be a final lap out of December 31 and the waving of the checkered flag. Another year has come to an end even as the new one begins.

In the endings we see most clearly our successes and our failures, and it is, as they say, in retrospect that we grasp most easily the yin and yang of our life's labors and leisures and discover, at last, the energy to fight the good fight and journey forward.

That, and as any reader will tell, many a great book contains an epilogue that ties up the loose ends of the novel and brings the saga to a tightly-laced denouement, pretty as a bow. January can serve the same function in the well-lived life, and it is in the looking back that we glimpse the ending of the silent movie and celebrate its pristine messages.

What we have learned is, on the other hand, quite the question. And for many lessons, we need yet another year to find the answers.

10 Ways to Approach a New Year

#1: As a Beginning

We are aware that all things have a birth. Even inanimate objects like rocks, stars and galaxies have primordial beginning and continue their emergence, their becoming. A new year is a human attempt to begin afresh, a tabula-rasa of possibilities, an unpainted canvas, an unwritten book, a song unsung. The Lord God speaking through the prophet Isaiah once declared, "Behold, I am doing a new thing."

It is refreshing to know that God is as tired of the old as we are. God is still in the business of spraying new car smell into old jalopies.

2011 now offers us a Bada-bing-bada-boom of possibilities, it is the mother-of-all years, the Big Kahuna of open doors. We are growing old, but we still want to begin again. We can become diamonds. Time and pressure are the key ingredients. Precious stuff, this beginning.