Category Archives: Posts

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How Big Is His Brain?

Everyone knows at least one or two facts about the human brain. In the movie, Jerry McGuire, I always remember when little Ray says, “Do you know that the human head weighs 8 pounds?”  He was right of course, and inside our eight pound head is an amazing brain that weighs only three pounds.  

Over the last few days I have heard a number of different things about our brains. A video playing in the chiropractor’s office said that to match the number of “bits” of information the brain holds, a computer would have to be about the size of Texas.

It is a proven fact that we humans have the most complex brain of any animal on earth.  Scientists estimate that 70,000 is the number of thoughts that the human brain produces on an average day.  What in the world are we all thinking about anyway?

100 Billion

Then as I was walking through the family room at my house, I overheard on the National Geographic channel my wife was watching that the human brain has something like 100 billion nerve cells, all of them tucked away neatly in a three pound package.

A couple of days later, I saw part of a program on the History Channel about the brain.  They were talking about what the brain does during REM sleep.  REM sleep is that period late in our sleep cycle in which the brain and body become active, increasing heart rate and blood pressure.

They speculate that the brain files all of the past day’s date during REM sleep. It puts things into permanent memory storage, throws out unnecessary things, etc.

There are still many things about the brain that they admit is just speculation at this point.  One thing that all scientists will agree on is that there is a lot that we just do not know about the human brain.

Why Am I Blogging About The Human Brain?

So what in the world does all this have to do with having confidence in God and living your life with joy?  Is this article on the wrong blog?    Well, hang on to your hat; or better yet, put your hat on your brain and read on.

After hearing different and interesting things about the human brain over a 6 or 7 day period I started thinking, which of course is what the brain does.  I first, for just a moment or two, thought about evolution.

Am I really to believe that this magnificent three pound computer just evolved from the mud and the monkeys?  Our personal computers have certainly evolved over the years, but not all by themselves!

And, as a side bar, I often wonder if those who really do honestly believe that we evolved from monkeys ever go to the zoo and sit compassionately in front of the monkeys and try to console them.  They could say things like, “Gee, I’m so sorry you haven’t made it yet.  I don’t know why we did, and you didn’t; I am so sorry for you.”

Okay, I digress.

How Big Is His Brain?

But what I really thought about was the brain of God.  You may remember that back in Genesis, after everything was ready, God formed, made and created human beings.  And so I thought, if our brain is so magnificent and so complex that we can’t even figure it all out, how big must the brain of God be?

What kind of intelligence did it take to design and make the human brain?  It would have to logically be an intelligence that far, far surpasses that which He has made.  That’s logical, isn’t it?

Perhaps that’s why the Bible says that the foolishness of God is wiser than man.  I always think of that as if God ever cracked a joke, we wouldn’t get it.

The Bible also talks about how the wisdom of man is foolishness to God.  I always think of that as if God were to look at a blackboard filled with computations by Albert Einstein He would say, “Gee that’s really nice, Albert.”  To God it would look like Albert just figured out two plus two equals four.

The Scriptures make it very clear when it says of God, that His thoughts are not our thoughts, and that as the heaven is high above the earth, so are His thoughts higher than our thoughts.

And Here’s The Really Cool Part!

God imparts His wisdom.  The Bible is full of His wisdom that we can apply in our everyday life situations.  The wisdom from the Bible is both practical and logical.  That is one of the big things that attracted me to the Bible in the first place.  Someone showed me that it was logical, and that I didn’t have to close my eyes and just take everything on faith.

And God can also impart His wisdom to us personally, because He is a personal God.  It was Jesus Christ who introduced the world to the concept of God being our Father.  A loving human father would certainly want to impart his wisdom to his children, right?  What about our Father God?

Since the wisdom from God far surpasses all of our wisdom, we can have confidence in looking to God for wisdom to help with our situations and circumstances.  We can look to the Scriptures for real practical answers.  And we can also ask Him for more wisdom, having confidence that He will do what He said He would do, and that is to work within us.  He will impart wisdom to you if you but ask Him.

Living your life based on His wisdom is indeed living with confidence and joy.

(And by the way, if you know a cool fact about the brain, share it with us in a comment below.)

Mike Verdicchio

Please Note: On the right hand column of this page, under, “From The Archives of Enriching Your Life Now,” I put a new PepCast, called, “It’s Your Choice.”  It has some information about what you can expect despite the economy.

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He Got A Promotion And A Raise!

When is the last time someone you know got a promotion?  It seems these days that being promoted is pretty rare.  But here is a short interview with a friend of mine who not only got a promotion, but he got a raise, too!

Interview

As you listen to us talk, take note of some very important principles that everyone could apply at their workplace.  Just click on the player to hear the interview.
[audio:http://confidenceandjoy.com/wp-content/audio/ts-interview-2-09.mp3]

Prayer Is Important, But…

Yes, prayer is very important.  But we also need to continue to do our part.  Remember the record of Joseph in the Bible.  He was in a horrible situation.  He had been sold as a slave and found himself working for a man named Potiphar.

But Joseph continued to apply himself to the task at hand,  to the point that God continued to bless him, despite his current circumstances.  And, as you know, he eventually ended up second in charge in Egypt.

Nothing Puts God Out Of Business

There is nothing that puts God out of business.  We can have confidence in our God to bring us the solutions that we need.  We do our best, pray and ask Him for what we need, and then allow Him to bring the answer to us however He chooses.

What joy we have when we receive that answer.

Mike Verdicchio

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True Comfort In Times Of Sorrow

This is not an easy topic to write about.  But, since this is what I have been involved with the past few days, I thought I would share some insight with you.

My dear friend asked me to do the memorial service for his mother who passed away.  I agreed, and on Tuesday, we had the services for Nancy Mae Young.

I have performed many of these services over the years, and it is never easy.  You are standing in front of a group of very sad people, and rightfully so.

As I stood before family and friends, I reminded them that it really doesn’t matter what denomination you belong to, or what country you are from, or in what type of culture you were raised.  In fact, it doesn’t matter what your religious beliefs are. In these circumstances everyone has sorrow.

I went on to share that for Christians, the Scriptures teach that even though we do have sorrow over the loss of a loved one, we do not have sorrow like those who have no hope.

We Have Hope

Now I am very well aware that there are many different teachings regarding what happens to you when you die.  That fact becomes very apparent to me whenever I do a memorial service for someone.

But I wasn’t there to try and convince anyone of anything.  I was there to help and to love and to comfort all those who were grieving.  And since the Scriptures are pretty plain about what words will comfort those who are grieving, I chose to share what I knew and believed from the Scriptures in a very loving manner.

As I spoke to this sad gathering of people, some were just so overwhelmed with grief that they seemed to be oblivious to what I was sharing.  But then again, you never know.

Some were partially listening, but obviously distracted.  Others were pondering what I was saying, maybe hearing it for the first time.  And there were those to whom this was a familiar message and it was indeed comforting to them in their time of sorrow.

He Is Coming Back!

If you are a fan of the Bible then you know that God has promised to one day send His Son, Jesus Christ, back for us.  At that day, and not before, all those who are “born again,” including those who have died, and those who are still alive, will be gathered together and given a new body, similar to Jesus Christ’s resurrected body.

(Now this is very logical, right?  If we have been promised eternal life, the body that we are living in right now is simply not going to make it that long!  If we are truly going to live forever, we are certainly going to need a new body, a much better body than we have now.)

I pointed out that the Scriptures really cause us to stop and think when we read that if in this life only we hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.  And that is so true isn’t it?

If this life that we are living right now is all there is, then what’s the point of anything?  Even if you lived to be a hundred and fifty years old, if this is all there is, then what is the point?  There is no point.

They Are Asleep

I went on to tell them that many times in the Scriptures you read the word “sleep” referring to death.  Why?  Because for the believer, death is temporary.  There is a day coming when those who have died will be raised from the dead.

It really is comforting to know and understand what happens when you die, and, also, what is going to be happening in the future when Christ returns.  The Scriptures declare that God does not want us to be ignorant concerning this topic.  God does not want us to guess or believe something that came from the mind of man.  That means that the answers must be in the God inspired words of the Bible.

And while there is sorrow and grief, those that hear these words are comforted because they can readily see that there is a day coming; they can have real and true hope.

Waves

I did mention to everyone that grief is similar to the waves in the ocean.  At the onset of grief, those waves are big and those waves are frequent.  But as time goes by, the waves do get smaller and less frequent.

There will be times for all of us when we lose a loved one and find ourselves attending a memorial service.  It will never be pleasant.  But at those times we can take great comfort that one day, God will indeed send His Son.

We can have confidence that our God will fulfill what He has promised and that He will indeed send Jesus Christ back.  That day will be a day of incredible joy.

It is a day that I certainly anticipate with great expectation.

Until Then

But until then, until that day, as I told everyone at the service, we need to live the life that we have been given.  Life is a precious gift.  We should live it to the fullest the best that we can.  And, really, all we can do day by day is live our lives the best that we can for that day.

We can live our lives with confidence in our God to perform what He has promised in the Bible.  And as we continue to see His hand of blessing, our lives will be full of joy.

Mike Verdicchio

PS – If you think this article might bring some comfort and understanding to someone else, you can email them this link:  http://confidenceandjoy.com/true-comfort-in-times-of-sorrow/

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There Just Has To Be A Solution!

Neil Armstrong working at the Apollo Lunar Module

I was working in Chicago for Ozark Airlines on July 20, 1969.  A few of us were sitting in the break room and the radio was on.  We all listened as Neil Armstrong stepped out on the surface of the moon.  He looked up, and saw the earth.

I know, today we send space ships to Mars, but back then, in 1969, it was a very big deal. On that mission, two human beings, Neil Armstrong and “Buzz” Aldrin, actually spent time on the surface of the moon.

Today, flying in an airplane from one end of the country to the other is no great feat. Thousands do it every day.  But at one time, it seemed impossible for men to fly.

It’s Just Impossible!

There will always be those who view their problems as impossible to overcome, at least for them anyway.  But there are others who take the opposite point of view.  Their focus in life is on possibilities and solutions; they are problem solvers.  They live with an attitude of, “Well, there just has to be a way!”

Many times in our lives we are faced with challenges.  Those with a positive attitude address those challenges as great opportunities for success.  And when someone accomplishes what most everyone else thinks is impossible, it is very inspiring; at least it is to me.

I Couldn’t Believe This Story!

I remember a few years ago when I first heard about Erik Weihenmayer.  I was almost stunned.  It’s one of those stories that when you first hear it, your mouth almost falls to the floor.

Almost all of the seeing population on the planet would never even consider climbing Mt. Everest.  Yet, Erik Weihenmayer, a blind man, did just that.  He has also climbed the highest peaks on all of the other 6 continents as well.

Erik’s first book, Touch the top of the World, is really something to read.  When you read this, it starts at a really low point, but hang on!  It’s going to take you up high, really high.  Publishers Weekly said:  “In this moving and adventure-packed memoir, Weihenmayer begins with his gradual loss of sight as a very young child. By the time he became fully blind in high school, he had already developed the traits that would carry him to the summits of some of the world’s highest mountains.”

I put a link for the DVD, Farther Than The Eye Can See – Mount Everest (2003).  I have seen parts of this video documentary. It is an intimate look inside one of the most successful Mount Everest expeditions ever. It’s 75 minutes and it really captures the emotion, humor and drama of Erik’s historic ascent as well as four other remarkable ‘firsts’ on Mount Everest.

I recently found out that it has won 21 International Film Festival awards, was nominated for two Emmy’s, and was ranked by Men’s Journal as one of the top twenty adventure DVDs of all time.  So, if you’re interested at all, just use the links at the bottom.

Are You Planning To Climb Mt. Everest?

Now, you and I may never climb Mt. Everest and we may never walk on the moon.  Perhaps you will be inspired to remember these and other seemingly impossible tasks when you face challenges of your own.

I think that remembering seemingly impossible great accomplishments are not only inspiring but they tend to make our problems look a lot smaller, and more solvable.  What do you think?  Does hearing about those kinds of things inspire you?  Does it help you to look at your challenges and see them as solvable?

One of the reasons that I like to say, “There has to be a solution,” is because if you’ve read some of the Bible then you know that God is in the solution business. And He has provided some very miraculous, over-the-top solutions.  In fact, He is very good at it!   He can help you and He can direct your path.

There Just Has To Be A Solution!

Mike Verdicchio
(I mentioned Erik Weihenmayer climbing Mt. Everest.  There is a DVD movie about it called, Father Than The Eye Can See – Mount Everest. This movie brings truth and new meaning to the phrase “You can do anything if you put your mind to it.” Erik Weihenmayer is an inspiration to blind people and sighted people alike. Not only was this film inspiring, a great story, and a historic landmark, but it is beautiful to watch too.)

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Having Some Problems?

Have you ever noticed how easy it is to be happy and positive when things are going well?  When there are no interruptions, obstacles or problems around you, it’s easy to enjoy life.  You might even say, “I’m feeling pretty good and everything seems to be just fine; life is great!”

But what is your reaction when something unexpected interrupts your life?   What about when something unpleasant comes up? Suddenly, for many, it’s not so easy to remain positive; or is it?

No one welcomes problems with open arms, no matter how insignificant they seem.  I don’t know of anyone who anticipates having to deal with something unpleasant.  However, you and I both know that things are going to happen from time to time; that’s just how life is.  Tires wear out, drains get clogged, and people, at times, do stupid things.

When something unpleasant occurs, most people stop being happy and positive. Whatever it is that happens, it’s enough to change their attitude. And for some people even the slightest bump in the road and they change from happy to angry in a matter of seconds.

We really can choose what thoughts we are going to think. The thoughts that we choose to think have a direct effect on our feelings and our emotions.  We can’t always choose what happens, but we can always choose how to think about what happens.

I’m not trying to imply that we should live in a make-believe world where you just tell yourself, “Nothing is wrong; everything’s okay.”  When something comes up we most certainly need to assess the situation.  We need to find out what is going on before we issue a positive statement.

What?

A positive statement?  Yes, a positive statement: a solution-oriented statement.  I know some will say that certainly is not a proper reaction to a negative or unpleasant situation!  Or is it?

Suppose you come home from the grocery store and find that your bread is smashed like a pancake in the bottom of the bag because of the way your groceries were packed.  What would your reaction be to that situation?  Would you become completely livid? Some people would.

“I am so mad!  Now I’ve got to go all the way back to the store!  Why don’t they teach those young kids how to do it right?  I knew that kid packing up my groceries had a lousy attitude!  He probably piled those heavy cans on my bread on purpose.  I’m going to talk to the manager about this! ”

Hold on just a minute!  Chill out!

Now this may sound like a silly illustration to you, but as a teenager I worked at a grocery store, and saw far worse reactions than in this example!

Instead of having that kind of an attitude, why not have a positive attitude and make a positive statement? What?  Say something positive about your smashed bread?  A positive statement? Sure, why not?

“Okay, I’ll just take the bread back and exchange it.  I wonder if there is anything else I need that I forgot to pick up at the store.  I’m sure glad that they have more bread.  In fact, I’m glad that there is so much food available.”

Hey!  But what about the guy who smashed my bread?

Here’s the point: Our thoughts trigger our emotions and feelings. And our actions so many times follow our emotions and feelings.  In fact, the kind of mood you are in right now is not somebody else’s fault. It is because of your decision to think the way that you are thinking.

The next time something unpleasant comes up, take note of how you react.  Observe where your thoughts go.  What emotions are triggered?  Those emotions are directly tied to some information.

Now stop and think about it for a minute.  Do you really expect that everything is always going to go perfectly smooth without any hitches?  No one that you will ever deal with will ever make a mistake, right?  We all know that is never going to happen.  We do not live in a perfect world.

So then why are we so surprised when someone makes a mistake?  Why get angry over something that someone did that inconvenienced us?  It wasn’t the first time and it will not be the last time.

The real question you need to ask yourself is not, “Why did he smash my bread?” but rather, “Why am I so angry about this?”

Do you expect perfection in all that you do?  Do you beat yourself up when you make a mistake?   These are interesting questions, and it is important to find out just why you are angry.  You certainly don’t want to live with anger, do you?  You don’t want to see yourself as an angry person, do you?

Once you recognize the anger, and see how it is attached or tied into situations, for whatever reason, then choose to get rid of it.  Look that anger right in the eye, and say, “Anger, you need to go.  I don’t want to live with that emotion any longer.  I may have been angry in the past, but now, I choose to get rid of this anger.  And, in its place, I choose to put in patience, understanding, and, forgiveness.

Most people just keep looking at the incident.  As a result they stay angry.  Then, they just love to relate the incident to someone else.  As a result they stay angry.  How does that help you to live your life with confidence and joy?  It doesn’t.

You see, it really doesn’t matter if they smashed your bread on purpose or by accident.  What matters is do you want to control your own life, or, do you want to have your life controlled by circumstances and situations.  Do you really want other people’s actions to determine your own happiness?

Your own life is in your own control.

Thomas Edison’s workshop burned to the ground one day and he had no insurance.  They asked him, “What are you going to do now?”  He answered, “We’ll start rebuilding tomorrow.”

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I’m Happy!

I started my day “happy” this morning; did you?

Some people wake up and are not very happy to face the new day.  For them, each day is another struggle.  All their problems from yesterday are still there.  And, most of the time they have nothing to look forward to.

But I rolled out of bed “happy” this morning.  Why?  Because I have no problems, no challenges and no opportunities; my life is perfect and everything always goes according to plan!

I Am Being Facetious

Everyone has challenges; it’s part of life; we don’t live in a perfect world, at least not yet.  But I am happy first of all to be alive!  Life is a gift, a precious gift.  There are no guarantees.  I have been given another day to live.

I am also happy because I am expecting and anticipating a great day today.  Why not?  I am looking for and expecting His blessings throughout the day.  I am looking for and expecting open doors to help someone else too!

And Here’s The Best Part!

I am happy because I know that our God is a God of solutions.  He is an ever present help in time of need.  He is the One Who said to cast all our cares on Him!  He wants to help us.  Knowing that, I am not only happy, but I am really full of joy, having confidence in a loving God Who promised He would never leave or forsake.

Life was meant to be lived to the fullest!  Yes, there will set backs and obstacles at times, but no matter what happens, nothing is too big for our God, and His promises are still true!

Choose to have a great day!

Mike

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Are You Lost?

Some people think they are lost.  I’ve even had people tell me, “I’m so far gone that God would never take me back. I’m just lost.”  Well, let me tell you a story.

My wife has a real long suit in trusting God to help her find things.  She is not usually someone who misplaces things.  But, when things go missing, she is almost always the one who ends up finding them.

She found the timers we use for our holiday lights several weeks ago. I looked all over the house, and I even looked in the closet of my office three times!  That’s exactly where she found them.  But, that’s nothing compared to the little diamond she found.

A Lost Diamond!

A couple of years ago, for our 35th wedding anniversary, I got Kathy a new diamond ring to replace the one she has been wearing since 1971.  The diamond in the ring from 1971 was so small I do not know how they could have even called it a diamond.

But I got her a new one, and it certainly wasn’t extravagant.  It has three diamonds in it, and I think they are pretty tiny.  And if you were to lose one, well who in the world could ever find it?  Kathy could, and she did.  Twice!

We have a metal shed in the back yard that we use for storage.  Kathy had been cleaning it out and noticed the next day that she was missing one of her tiny little diamonds.  She looked everywhere, including in the yard where she had been working.

She looked in the grass hoping to maybe see a glimmer of light.  She looked in and around the three cardboard boxes that were still out there near the shed.  No diamond.

Then, almost two days later, she walked over toward the shed again, and looked. On one of the open flaps of one of the boxes, there it was!  She had found her diamond.

We were so grateful.  She told the people at the jewelry store where we purchased it that there must be something loose.  We had hoped that when they put that little diamond back in the setting that they would have fixed the problem.  After all, they had the ring in the repair shop for two and a half weeks.

No, Not A Second Time!

But scarcely a week went by with the repaired ring on her finger and, no!  It couldn’t be.  The same stone was again missing.   Now I told you Kathy is great at finding things.  But could she find her tiny diamond again, the second time?

About six hours after she noticed it missing, and having looked everywhere, she had a feeling it was in the kitchen.  But how could you possibly even see it if it were in the kitchen?

Nonetheless, she looked around the kitchen here and there, but no diamond.  She checked out the counters, no diamond.  In the sink, perhaps?  No, no diamond.  But wait!  What’s was that tiny sparkling little shining on the tile floor?  Well what do you know?  She had found it again, for the second time in less than three months.

Now here’s my point.  If my wife Kathy, who is so wonderful, but only human, can find a little lost diamond, twice, could a person ever be so lost that God could never find them again?

The truth of the matter is that God is waiting for us to come back to Him.  Read about it in the parable in the Gospel of Luke, often mistakenly referred to as, the parable of “The Prodigal Son.”  It really ought to be called the parable of “The Forgiving Father.”

People feel lost because of their own actions.  They condemn themselves for what they have done.  They end up feeling so badly about what they have done that they feel too ashamed to even approach God.

But, from God’s point of view they are not lost; they have just chosen to distance themselves.  The open and forgiving arms of our loving Father are never far away.  His love does not waver.  No one is ever lost to Him.

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What Direction Are You Going?

I have been busy putting up content here on Confidence And Joy.com.  I have been preparing for some time now.  Today, with most of the building of the site completed, I decided to post a good amount of content.

The site still needs some minor tweaking, but hopefully that will be done soon.

Just below the navigation bar, you’ll see a little box with three tabs.  If you click on the tab labeled, “Confidence Articles, you will one called, “How Big is Your God?”  That was the first real post on this site.  And i did that for a reason.  If you want to read it you can just Click Right Here.

Well, it is a brand new year – 2009. I guess i can still say that, right?  I mean we are still in January.

So, what direction are you going?  Do you have any big exciting plans for your life in ‘09?   A lot of people have already started off this new planning on spending the year as a victim of circumstances?  It’s sad, but a lot of people see their lives that way.

Destination?  Problems

Have you noticed that people who complain a lot never seem to run out of things to complain about?  They are focused on “what’s wrong?”  As a result, that is the direction they have chosen for their lives. Their destination is, “problems.”  And that is exactly where they end up.  They have problem after problem after problem.

We really do attract into our lives the things that we choose to dwell on.  It is true that if you want to see things change in your life, you do it by first changing your thoughts.  But be prepared!  You must do this consistently, it takes effort.

LA to NY

If you’re driving from Los Angeles and you want to get to New York City that means you need to drive east for a long ways.  But, when you get to Nevada, if you decide to go north for awhile you are no longer on your way to New York City.

You could then go West and head back to California.  In fact, you could go in circles for weeks if you wanted to.   As long as you have gas and the car is running, it will go in the direction you point it.  Sadly, so many people spend their whole lives just going around in circles.

Where are you going?

Get clear on what you desire for your life for this year.  Refuse to be a victim.  Refuse to allow the circumstances to dictate how your life is going to be.  Focus on where you want your life to go without wavering and flipping back and forth.

God promised that He would give you the desires of your heart.  He can still bring you all that you need to live a fulfilled and successful life.   Your job is to keep your mind pointed in the right direction.  Set your course, and stay on that course until you get there.

Choose to have a great day, and choose to have a great year!

Mike Verdicchio

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Based on a True Story

I like to watch movies based on true stories.  Recently, I saw for the first time the movie, “Music of the Heart.”  It is the amazing story of Roberta Guaspari who started an amazing violin program in East Harlem.

Most of the time, these kinds of movies inspire us.  That is certainly the case with the movie, “Miracle,” one of my favorites.   It is based on the true story of the USA Olympic Hockey Team in 1980.

But, my all time favorite is “Seabiscuit.” To watch and see the three main character’s lives change is remarkable.  I love the line in the movie, which comes up at least twice:  “You don’t throw away a whole life just because it’s banged up a little.”

Those movies are inspiring!

Movies like that really can inspire us, can’t they?  We think, “If Roberta could accomplish all of that she did with so many obstacles to overcome, then I can accomplish what I want to as well.”

“If the USA could beat the unbeatable Russians, then I can win and be successful too.”

“If Charles Howard could regroup after all that he went through, well then, so can I. If Tom Smith could find a new direction and purpose, so can I. If Red Pollard could let go of his past and become who he really wants to be, then so can I.”

Here’s my point

If movies based on true stories inspire us, why shouldn’t the stories in the Bible inspire us as well?  Too often, Biblical stories are dismissed as fables, myths, or, just something that somebody made up.

Movies about true stories are identified as, “based on a true story.”  The records you read in the Bible are not just based on a true story; they are the actual and real true stories!  No embellishment, no Hollywood additions, no adapting the screenplay was necessary to make it fit into a ninety minute time frame.  What you read is what really happened.

Many of those stories have a miraculous triumph or a supernatural event in the story.  Perhaps that’s why some people might just dismiss the story.  They think that something like that could ever happen.

If movies based on true stories can inspire people, just think how much more the true stories in the Bible could inspire people, if they only accepted them as being true.  They could really lift a person’s confidence toward God to new heights.

This is a true story

One of those stories is about a woman and her son who found themselves right in the middle of a famine.  This was something completely out of their control.  They didn’t cause the famine.  But there they were with no food.

It had come down to the woman having only a little bit of food left for one more meal.  She was going to prepare it for her and her son, eat the meal, and then die.  That was it.

But then, God did something remarkable.  The woman shared some of her last bit of food with a man of God.  He then stayed with her for over a year, and during that time, that little bit of food never ran out.  All around her was famine and starvation, but in her house, day after day, there was food to eat.

How inspiring is that record if you choose to believe that it really is true?  How much more confidence in God does that give you in light of your own circumstances?  How much more trust in God to help you supply what you need does that give you?

If He did it for her, then He could do it for me too.

On the other hand, if you choose to not believe it, what does that story do for you?  Absolutely nothing, it is just entertainment.

One must wonder and ponder carefully why there are such records in the Bible.  Are they there for our amusement?  Are they there make the book bigger and more impressive?  Are they there because someone had a wild imagination?

Or, are they divinely inspired and placed so that those who want to have more confidence and trust in a powerful and delivering God can read them, get inspired, and grow in their confidence and trust in God?

Easy answer!

Mike Verdicchio