Have you ever considered that crises in our lives often could be caused by being in the wrong job or career, the wrong place mentally, or in the wrong group of people? Sometimes God is saying amid the crisis, “Hey, I love you, but now it’s time to get you to the right spot, and that spot is not where you currently are.” In other words, if at first, you don’t succeed, then skydiving is not for you.

Throughout history, clarity has been a rarity. Joseph Pulitzer once said the following about writing to readers. “Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it, and above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light.”

What you could do if you didn’t know you couldn’t—I love that concept! Zig Ziglar uses that concept in one of the chapters in his book, Life Lifters.

I think most of us would agree that it seems like the world is spinning out of control in these current times. Worldwide, the spins caused by ‘spin’ are occurring with ever increasing velocity and potency.

I’m a card-carrying member of the baby boomer generation. I’m starting to notice that I look older and feel older. I take back all those times I didn’t want to nap when I was younger. I want to give a shout-out to everyone who can still remember their childhood phone number but can’t remember the password they created yesterday. You are my people. And younger people, don’t tell me about your childhood problems. I was forced to watch Lawrence Welk when I was younger. I’m old and wise because God protected me when I was young and stupid.

Well, Easter was last Sunday. While resurrection is still on our minds, let’s glean some transformational lessons about another ‘raised from the dead incident’ that preceded, foretold, and contributed to the Easter Resurrection. The event occurred shortly before the resurrection of Christ.

A man and his ever-nagging wife went on vacation in Jerusalem. While they were there, the wife passed away. The undertaker told the husband, “You can have her buried here in the Holy Land for $150, or we can have her shipped back home for $5000. The husband thought about it and told the undertaker he would have her shipped back home.

Sometimes the problem is not the problem. Consider this case: Diner: “I can’t eat this soup.” Waiter: “Sorry, sir, I’ll call the manager.” Diner: “Mr. Manager, I can’t eat this soup.” Manager: “I’ll call the Chef.” Diner: “Mr. Chef, I can’t eat this soup.” Chef: “What’s wrong with it?” Diner: “Nothing. I haven’t got a spoon.”

We live in a success-driven world that generally endorses the awkward value of ‘size equals impact.’ Everyone is impressed if we achieve the king of the hill, number one, or the sage on the stage status. That success, size, or influence validate our effort and significance.

Let’s start with some questions about individual and national crises. First, I’ll start with the subject of a individual crisis. Have you ever lost your direction, feeling like you are in the wilderness? Amid your crisis, could you have used some guidance? Or have you ever felt miserable, chained to the consequences of destructive personal choices that you made? Are you dealing with an unhealthy habit that is tearing your life apart? Are you currently navigating a crisis that came into your life caused by circumstances beyond your control?

It seems like the whole world is like a simmering pan on a stove. One wonders when it’s going to boil over. Everywhere I travel, many people feel used or even deceived by leaders or bureaucracies in every sector of society. It reminds me of a story by comedian Jackie Mason. “My grandfather always said, ‘Don’t watch your money; watch your health.’ So, while I was watching my health, someone stole my money. It was my grandfather.”

Author John Maxwell tells a story of a man who stopped to watch a Little League baseball game. He asked one of the youngsters the score. “We’re behind eighteen to nothing” was the answer.

A mother looked out a window and saw Bryson playing church with their three kittens. He had them lined up and was preaching to them. The mother turned around to do some work. A while later, she heard meowing and scratching on the door. She went to the window and saw Bryson baptizing the kittens. She opened the door and said, “Bryson, stop that! You’ll drown those kittens.” Bryson looked at her and said with conviction: “They should have thought about that before they joined my church.”

Well, Happy New Year. Have you heard about the question that everyone in the world missed? “So, in retrospect, in 2016, where do you see yourself in five years?” Enough said.