The Truth About Loneliness

Alive and Active Life
Alive and Active Life
The Truth About Loneliness
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Do you remember the film, “Cast Away?” Tom Hanks plays a systems analysist named Chuck who is marooned on an island quite unexpectedly when his flight goes down over the Pacific Ocean. In this movie, you get a front-row seat on how a person might deal with loneliness. From hopelessness, to anger, to desperation, to finding a way. He’s alone on this island for four years! Meanwhile, he’s declared dead by family and friends back home. Chuck’s only friend is a volleyball that washed ashore from the plane wreckage. This ball becomes Chuck’s only friend: “Wilson.” Chuck becomes very familiar with the truth about loneliness. 
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Your Valuable Life

Alive and Active Life
Alive and Active Life
Your Valuable Life
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Have you had the joy of watching little kids when they get in front of a mirror? They have heart-warming and sometimes hilarious interactions. These little ones have such authenticity and vulnerability as they interact with “themselves” in the mirror. What about you? When you look in the mirror, who do you see? Do you value the reflection of that person? Are you authentically being “you” each day? It’s time to treasure your valuable life like God does.

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Feeling Down: 6 Helpful Tips

Alive and Active Life
Alive and Active Life
Feeling Down: 6 Helpful Tips
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Feeling down is a common, yet challenging condition to manage. Whether over-tired, mistreated, discouraged, or even struggling with depression – being on the “down side” is real.

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You Need A Sponge

Alive and Active Life
Alive and Active Life
You Need A Sponge
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Do you remember when you first learned how to clean up a mess? Whether it was your own mess or someone else’s, it stared you in the face, and you had to clean it up. So, what tools did you use to clean up the mess? From spills in the kitchen to oil overflows in the garage. Perhaps a pet issue or simply spilled milk. Whatever the mess to clean up – you need a sponge.

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I Am “They”

Alive and Active Life
Alive and Active Life
I Am "They"
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Many people feel invisible today. Some work hard and long to do the right thing – often behind-the-scenes – not for recognition or glory, but because it must be done. As a result, many folks with noble commitment go unnoticed. You’ve likely felt invisible in your hard work, faithfully doing what God asks each day. And “they” don’t seem to notice. But God notices. In fact, He says – “I Am They.”

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God’s Timing – Scripture Dissection

Alive and Active Life
Alive and Active Life
God's Timing - Scripture Dissection
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Surely you’ve wondered at least once – “what’s the deal with God’s timing?!” He seems to be on a completely different time schedule. Admit it with me: there are times you’ve wondered when God is going to answer your prayers. Whether it’s personal or global tragedies that happen without warning, waiting years for God’s intervention in a difficulty, healing a relationship, providing for a need, or personal matters of the heart – all certainly involve God’s timing.

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Learn Well – Live Well – Love Well

Alive and Active Life
Alive and Active Life
Learn Well - Live Well - Love Well
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As we go into today’s content . . . Learn Well – Live Well – Love Well . . . I first want to read off a list of one-liners we’ve heard over the years. They deal with the hum-drum of life:

  • Same old – same old
  • Been there – done that (bought the T-shirt)
  • Nothing new under the sun
  • Do it again – and again
  • Hummin’ right along
  • Another day – another dollar
  • Tomorrow never comes
  • Don’t hold your breath
  • Can’t trust anyone
  • Pie-crust promises
  • Where’s the beef? (that was a commercial)
  • Never thought I’d see the day
  • It ain’t gonna happen
  • In your wildest dreams

 

And on go the one-liners we’ve heard in a variety of ways. All seem to speak to an emptiness, dullness, boring repetition, and rather skeptical view of life.

But life is NOT hum-drum! Therefore, let’s explore a full, exciting, fresh-every-day, and rather hopeful view of life. Will you join me?

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This Is It!!

Alive and Active Life
Alive and Active Life
This Is It!!
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If you were to say – “this is it!!” – when would you say it?

  • After looking for years, you meet the person you want to marry.
  • You just found the house of your dreams.
  • Your friend serves the most mouth-watering dessert.
  • Political parties finally decide to work together for the good of a nation.
  • A tool you only dreamed about – but needed on occasion – is on the store shelf in front of you.
  • You made it to your 65th birthday and can retire.
  • The job of your highest hopes becomes yours.
  • The weather cooperates enough to “get out there and pull your crops in.”
  • After years of caring for patients, science finds a cure your patients need.
  • You find the perfect puppy for your kids.
  • After shopping for weeks – you find the exact outfit for a special occasion.
  • Plus – so many other times in life!

 

That’s right! This is it!!

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Live For More

Alive and Active Life
Alive and Active Life
Live For More
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It was the final episode of a TV series, and I’d been waiting for weeks for find out what would happen. So, with a cuppa and my TV glasses, I sat in my favorite chair with eager expectation. About half-way through, I thought – “What?! Surely not! I know it’s going to end better than this!” Incidentally – it didn’t. And I was so disappointed. Over weeks of anticipation, I really did hope for more than that! In a similar way of hope, we can live for more – and have more – each day.

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Boundaries Help

Alive and Active Life
Alive and Active Life
Boundaries Help
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We live with boundaries every day. Some examples: Your yard ends, and the neighbor’s yard begins. Countries have boundaries to define territory. Speed limits keep traffic in check to prevent accidents. The zoo has walls, cages, and glass to keep children safe as they enjoy animals. Walls and doors form rooms – helpful when you need to sleep or take a shower. Banks with safes protect money. Oceans caress the beach only to a certain distance. If boundaries are so common all around us, then why is it hard to place and keep boundaries to protect our hearts and minds? Afterall, boundaries help.

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