Just as people eat for a variety of reasons, people crave certain foods for the same reasons. We eat because we are hungry, for social reasons (we are at an event with food,) for comfort. We can crave food, or certain foods for all the same reasons. Some research even suggests that we crave certain foods because of nutritional deficits in our body. The problem is our cravings can be a poor way to satisfy those deficits.

But what can we do about these pesky cravings, or at least steer them in a healthier direction ?

1) Drink plenty of water. Proper hydration is a good step toward a healthier you in any case. Water also helps us feel full. So if you are craving food in general instead of something specific, something as simple as downing a glass of water may help.

2) Get plenty of rest. Without enough rest we may crave things like caffeine, just to keep us going. While they may get us through that project, extra shift etc. nothing you can put in your mouth can replace adequate rest/sleep. Caffeine among other ingredients in excess can actually be detrimental to your overall health.

3) Reduce Stress. I know easier said than done, especially in today's hectic world. But where we get trapped is cravings start, among other places in areas of the brain tied to pleasure and memories. When we are stressed or feeling down our brains are " hard wired" to direct us to foods that bring us happiness, or remind us of fonder times. Unfortunately such emotional eating, can lead to over eating or poor nutritional choices.

4) Get Out and About. If you are craving food in general instead of something specific, you might just be bored ! Just like with emotional eating this can lead to poor choices. Take a walk, change your environment, visit a friend you haven't seen in a while.

5) Keep a cravings journal I ran across this idea at WebMD while researching this article, and its a good one. By keep track of what you crave, when and what you were doing at the time, you can get a better idea of what is truly going on. Then you can attack the root cause, instead of the craving which in many ways may just be a symptom.

6) Its not your fault. Cravings are associated with areas of the brain which deal with pleasure, memories, comfort etc. Cravings are a normal process. Add to that the thousands of times per day we are inundated with advertising messages encouraging us to eat this or eat that. Nobody should blame anybody for their cravings. Even so we can learn to understand and control them.

I'm not trying to turn anybody into some kind of food monk. A couple of cookies now and then, or some cake at your grandchild's birthday party is probably not going to kill anybody. So splurge a little occasionally. But we could all do better at understanding our cravings, and controlling our eating choices instead of letting our cravings do it for us.

Robert A. Crutchfield is Creator/ Chief Culinarian at Crutchfield Cooks on Facebook. He is a graduate of the Pre-Commis Course at WorldChefs Academy, and The Masters of Beef Advocacy 2.0 Program of the National Cattleman's Beef Council. He is Beef Quality Assurance Cow/Calf Certified. He also has experience working as a meat clerk. His recipes and articles have been seen nationally at Recipes Now. and Yummly learn more about him at http://www.facebook.com/CrutchfieldCooks

Like a talented chef creating a stew, Author Dee Brestin has melded together scripture, real world experience as a mother, bible teacher, widow and prison minister, and the work of other Christian leaders into a book  worth savoring. The Jesus Who Surprises has two main  themes, 1) Finding Jesus in surprising places in scripture, such as the books of Isiah, Psalms, and Song of Solomon. 2) Finding Jesus in surprising times and places in our lives, such as when Brestin  lost her husband, and father of her children in his fifties.

Brestin does three things well in this book,

First she provides a strong, deeply researched case that  Jesus can indeed be found in action throughout scripture, even in the Old Testament.  She then illustrates how Jesus can be found in surprising places in our lives, particularly those where we need him most. She then explains how these two realities intersect.

Second she makes good use of real world examples to make this a book of action. Drawing on her own experiences, as well as those she has encountered as a bible teacher, and prison minister,  She shows how the surprising places Jesus can be found can give us stronger and happier lives. Brestin spends  a significant amount of time and effort on how this impacts our prayer life. She teaches us how to “Pray through the Psalms, and to use that to allow Christ to navigate us through the struggles life invariably brings our way.

Third she has created a book, born to be taught from ! There are discussion questions at the end of the chapter. Facilitator notes for  every chapter can be found at the end of the book. She has even provided videos for each chapter on her website ! This is in every way a book, not a “bible study,” but an empowering course or small group study could easily be created from it as Brestin has already done much of the hard work.

This is not a book to be read in one sitting. You will want to spend time with this book, to be immersed in it. Like the chef we talked about earlier Brestin has created a masterpiece.

Word has been rampant this week that the Office of Management and Budget is considering massive cuts to the U.S. Coast Guard’s already anemic budget. This is one of the worst ideas any administration from either party has come up with in decades, and there are several reasons why. In fact the idea is so bad, that word barely broke before a group of 23 U.S. Senators ( almost 25%) signed a letter asking that the cuts be reversed. Such a step by so many senators so early in the process is almost unheard of ! In their letter they stated in part,

““We urge you to restore the $1.3 billion cut to the Coast Guard budget, which we firmly believe would result in catastrophic negative impacts to the Coast Guard and its critical role in protecting our homeland, our economy and our environment,”

Some of the specific reasons this is such a bad idea include,

The Coast Guard is a vital cost effective multi mission agency. The Coast Guard has 11 statutory missions mandated by Congress, This missions span National Defense, Law Enforcement and Homeland Security. The fact is most of the time these missions are conducted by the same people facilities and equipment simultaneously. It is the Coast Guard’s ability to multi-task vital missions which makes it so cost effective. It also helps explain why further cuts would be so disastrous.

The Coast Guard’s capital ships and planes are rusting away. The Coast Guard’s Acquisition Budget alone has already been cut 40% between 2010 and 2015. Much like its much larger cousin the U.S. Navy too many of its ships are already serving past the end of their service life even after maintenance designed to extend their service life. This endangers the life of every Coast guard member that we ask to serve us in these outdated ships and even buildings. In their letter the group of 23 senators even point out that these cuts will likely lead to an expnasion of the “ice breaker gap.” In others words there will be an eeven longer period of years where the U.S. will have NO large ice breaking capability. The need for this function is increasing with the reduction in the polar ice cap, not reducing and certainly not going away.

Moves us backward on Immigration Control Our current president campaigned hard on reducing illegal immigration. In fact part of the supposed rational behind these cuts is to finance the wall at the U.S. Mexico border. However these cuts show a severe lack of understanding, or commitment on the issue of immigration. The Coast Guard including the port Security Teams etc. have a leading role in preventing illegal immigration.  Hardening the target against illegal immigration by building a wall at the U.S./Mexico border will force those involved to attempt to find another way in. This makes the Coast guard’s contributions in the area of immigration control more vital than ever, not less so. In fact a strong argument can be made that the border wall, and Coast guard anti-immigration efforts are and must be part of the same strategy and must both be funded accordingly.

Puts Drugs on the Streets. The Coast guard is thought of as a sea going service, and for good reason. However there is not a street in America it does not protect. The service’s drug interdiction efforts alone take tons of drugs of American streets every year. Cut the funding and those drugs will go straight back on our streets. The link between the international drug cartels and funding international terrorism also cannot be ignored. By cutting the Coast Guard’s budget not only do we put drugs on our streets, but bring better funding to groups around the world who would bring violence to our door steps !

The Coast Guard is an easy target for budget cuts because most Americans give it little thought. That is partly intentional. The better the Coast Guard performs its 11 statutory missions the less we should have to thing about it. However because of the reasons above an others we need to defend OUR Coast Guard against those who would slash its budget after it has already been slashed so much, so many times.

Robert A. Crutchfield was granted the rank of Admiral, Texas Navy by the Governor of Texas in 1986 at the age of 24. He served as a staff officer inthe U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary from 1989-1995.  He has also served as Chairman of the Republican Party of the Sixth State Senate District of Texas. Later he was a local board member with the U.S. Selective Service System. He also is a Life Member of the Navy League of the United States. Follow him on Twitter

In many cities modern traffic lights have what is called preemption equipment installed. Fire Engines, Police Cars, Ambulances etc. have transmitters on them that trip this equipment. The point is to turn all the lights green for the first responders so they can get where they need to be as quickly and as safely as possible. They “ Clear the lights.” The obstacles presented by traffic and red lights are kept from their path.

On Tuesday, July 12^th 2016 I had an experience that showed me all too clearly that my savior Jesus Christ is like having my own set of preemption equipment. I had a heart attack. Shortly after waking up, I felt pain in my chest. I had suffered indigestion, bronchitis etc. so it wasn’t the first time my chest had bothered me. But Jesus spoke to me and made me understand this time it was different. From this point on many things could have gone wrong,many obstacles could have gotten in my way.

The type of heart attack I had kills one in four people in minutes. If I had blown it off as some weird case of indigestion, or waited to “see how it goes,” I would be dead now. But I didn’t, Christ Cleared the Lights ! I might not have had the presence of mind to call 911. Christ Cleared the Lights ! The ambulances could have been on other calls,but they weren’t. Christ Cleared the Lights ! The Hospital ER bays could have been full, the Cath Lab could have been busy, The doctors and nurses already tending to some other urgent case. Obstacle after obstacle between me and what I needed fell away. Christ Cleared the Lights ! Like the first responders and their preemption equipment, I was sped along. Christ cleared all the lights !

Many would say that it was just a string of happy coincidences. Others that it always happens so well. Sadly for others it doesn’t always turn out so well, and that’s an awful lot of coincidences. Some would think because I give Jesus Christ so much credit I must be ungrateful to the doctors, nurses, medics, clergy, and family members who united around me to make sure I was so well cared for. Nothing could be more ridiculous ! I have thanked God for each one of them many times in my prayers over the past week, and I do so again here, now. However I am left with the sense that Jesus Christ is the one who made sure they were all where I needed them when I needed them. And it was he who Cleared the Lights to get us all where we needed to be.

Chances are you are not having a heart attack so what does this mean to you ? Easy, we are all facing challenges in our lives. We all have obstacles between us and where we need to be. More importantly as Christians, we all if we choose to call on him have our own sort of “preemption equipment” to move the obstacles of this world aside. We have a comforter, and healer when we need one. Like 911 that Tuesday,he’s waiting on us to call to spring into action. He is Jesus Christ ! He is waiting to Clear the Lights for you just like he did for me !

Rev. Robert A. Crutchfield is founder of FaithInspires.Org, a Christian news and information blog read in over 195 countries. Crutchfield and his work have been seen everywhere from Katy Christian Magazine to SelfGrowth.Com, Google News, ChristianHeadlines.Com, Bing News etc.

In this world there will always be challenges in life. We are after-all imperfect people living in a fallen world. “ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” Romans 3:23. Since none of us are perfect our lives cannot be perfect, things happen. When things happen even though they may be unintentional we end up with consequences to deal with. We are also affected by the consequences of the people around us. It is here that our ability to overcome the consequences of this world is called upon.

It has been my observation over the years that our internal infrastructure which allows us to overcome the challenges of this world can be separated into four categories. I call these the Four Spheres of Overcoming. They are not distinct, and quite often overlap. They are Physical, Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual. I often use grief as an example of how these spheres work because, grief is such a profound challenge that it often involves all four spheres. The same dynamic however can be seen in how we confront a wide range of challenges.

Let's look at each one more closely,

1. Physical – Our bodies have their limits. Even though we can train to expand and extend those limits, there will always be boundaries to what our physical bodies will allow us to do. Adrenaline among other chemicals within our design can also expand our physical abilities beyond their normal state for a short period of time.

2. Mental- This sphere is defined by both the physical structure of the brain, and by our accumulated knowledge. Studies have even shown that as we accumulate knowledge, the structure of the brain changes over time. Certain mental illnesses (depression for example) can also alter the physical structure of the brain. Depression in many cases can even be seen on a PET scan. So its not just “all in your head.” We can also read, take classes etc. to expand our knowledge. Including how to handle whatever challenges we face in our lives. The mental sphere can have great affect of the physical. World class athletes, and soldiers both talk of “mental toughness.” They literally train themselves to use their minds to expand their physical abilities. People of faith have been known to use their faith in much the same way. I remember years ago, I was a volunteer at the U.S. Gymnastic Championships. I got to see some of the world's best athletes up close. Even now I am in awe of their mental focus. The way they can control their thoughts, and use their thoughts to control their bodies is beyond amazing !

3. Emotional – Anger, sadness,and other emotions are most often normal reactions to abnormal external stimuli. Some emotions, anger for instance will even affect the physical sphere. Anger can cause an increase in in heart rate and Adrenaline levels as part of the fight or flight response. Of course we have to exercise caution when our emotions rise to the point that out body launches a physical response. Inappropriate or even dangerous behavior can result when such natural responses are left to run their own course.

4. Spiritual- Particularly as Christians we take great comfort from our faith. Obviously as a minister I spend the most time working within this sphere. Verses such as John 16:33, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." Can offer much strength when challenges arrive in our lives. The fellowship we share as Christians can also serve as a readily available support network It can also serve to strengthen and enlarge any support network you may have. Support networks can be vital to dealing with some challenges. Support networks can also vary according to the need at hand, so having the largest possible pool of people to draw from can be helpful.

   
   These four spheres are my attempt to outline the internal resources we have when we face challenges, and how our body uses them. Obviously there are other factors that can come into play, the reaction of others for instance. Hopefully what it said here has given you a start. I invite you to consult your pastor, doctor, or other adviser to continue your journey to facing life's challenges in a more productive way.
   

Rev. Robert A. Crutchfield is an internationally known Christian writer and minister. He is the founder of FaithInspires.Org a Christian news and information blog read in 195 countries. He has been seen in ChristianHeadlines.Com, Google News, SelfGrowth.Com etc.

Facebook as you may have heard has announced that they will start giving posts by people you know, priority over posts from The “official” pages of the many media outlets out there. This has resulted in quite a few “ Chicken Little” type comments around the net. Its easy to see why. Over 40% of web traffic referrals come from Facebook. This gains even more importance when you understand that a large and growing segment of society gets their news online. However there are at least two big reasons that this development is not the media Armageddon you might think.

1. Change is part of life on the net- Early adopters will remember Compuserve. It was THE way most people got on the net coming out of the days of bulletin board gateways. Then AOL was king of the heap. Practically everybody on the web was on AOL. Now almost every house on the average block probably has a different provider. Even in the early days of SEO everything was about links, links, links. There was time brief time when it didn't seem like there could be such a thing as a bad link. Even now, the right links can be very important ! Then it was all about search engines. First came Yahoo, and more recently Google. Even with almost half of web traffic referrals coming from Facebook, search engines are still very much in play. The point is if you are going to make it in the world of the web, you are going to have to learn to change as the web changes. The majority of media sites out there already understand this. I have no doubt that they will stronger, not weaker coming out of this change.

2. Journalists and Editors have Personal Pages too. - Facebook's change will bump a story down a users newsfeed coming from the outlet's official page. However the change will actually make the story higher in the newsfeed of the “friends” on a reporter or editor's own Facebook page. As these friends share the article, and those people's friends share the article you can still be reaching an awful lot of people !! Here at Faithinspires.Org for example, every article goes out to both my Facebook page and FaithInspires's Facebook page. So when our articles go out from my page they will be getting ranked higher on 5,000 newsfeeds without us even doing anything different !

Will there be changes in the way the media interacts with people on Facebook ? Absolutely ! Will some outlets lose ad revenue if only temporarily ? With the way publishing works these days, that's possible no matter what Facebook chooses to do or not do. Will SEO specialists have to alter their strategies to take this change into account ? Yes but that is what they do. Is it the end of the world for the  media on the web ? I seriously doubt it !

Its a question often asked, why is the weatherman always wrong ? Or people will say, “I don't listen to the weather their always wrong anyway.” As we will see this is not exactly correct. Such an attitude can also deprive a person of much needed information at a critical time, and as a result put them in much more danger than need be.

Much of the answer comes down to understanding how weather forecasting works. Modern forecasting makes use of various mathematical models. These models contain as many as hundreds of variables. They are in fact large multi-variable equations. The problem as any first year algebra student can tell you is you can't have a multi-variable equation. So forecasting in a way is based on a fallacy. have to do in this situation is assume a value for every variable except one. Of course modern meteorologists are very good at estimating all those missing values. These values can include temperature, wind speed, wind direction, elevation and many other things. It is for just this reason that nearly every forecaster, will use a half dozen or more models In forming their forecast. By combining input from several forecast models which use different kinds of data, and weigh that data differently you reduce the rate of error when your assumed values inevitably change. The tricky nature of working with forecasting models was made clear in a course a took called, “Challenges of Forecasting in the West.” It was based on a workshop the National Weather Service held for its own forecasters. Using several examples from the pacific northwest, the class showed how even if all the data in a model is correct the model may be wrong in its result. This is because of unique local conditions that differ from the base assumptions built into that specific model. This is why the knowledge and experience of the forecaster is so important, and “adds value” to the forecast. This is particularly true in terms of the forecasters knowledge of his or her local area.

So why use mathematical forecast models at all ? After all, the atmosphere is a fluid. The variables are never going to remain the same. They in fact will change constantly. This of course will reduce the accuracy of our model, and our forecast. Because despite their faults in many cases and in many ways they are the best tools we have. A weather forecasting model is the same as any other tool in this respect. Any tool, no matter what type has its strengths and weaknesses. Mathematical forecast models are no different, and it helps to understand them if you understand this basic reality.

There is also the concept of confidence level. Many times especially if you are dealing with the forecast discussion produced by the National Weather Service's local Weather Forecasting Office it will say something like “Confidence is low in this forecast.” Such a comment can refer to the forecast as a whole, or a single element of it. What this means is even though the best available information says the weather will play out in a certain way, the forecaster for a variety of reasons may think otherwise. Information on the forecaster's “confidence” in a forecast is most often not relayed to the general public.

A third factor relating to how accurately we can predict the weather relates to public safety. Weather information is rarely utilized in real time. In case of bad weather people need time to prepare, make alterations to their routines, or even evacuate. The more lead time a forecaster wants to give people, the more opportunity there is for the variables on which the forecast is based to change. For this reason many of not most forecasters build a safety margin of sorts into their predictions. In terms of public safety it is better to risk the public being over prepared, than under warned. Of course the danger here is if you over predict enough, often enough you will be seen as “crying wolf.” If this happens your creditibility, and usefulness to the public will be greatly damaged. So as you can imagine this part of the process can be quite a balancing act !

So we can see when we evaluate how wrong we think the weatherman is, it helps to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the process involved. No human process of course is perfect. Weather forecasting is no exception. Also as we have seen, when dealing with public safety being “wrong” tp a point may be the best thing to do.

Robert A. Crutchfield is a veteran weather spotter working with NWS/Skywarn. The Severe Weather Spotter Team of the Fort Bend County (Texas) Office of Emergency Management, and Storm Pins a cell phone app affiliated with Houston's NBC TV affiliate. Other emergency management/disaster recovery functions he has performed in the past include shelter volunteer, mass care logistics, crowd control, search and rescue, and fire department chaplain. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/revcrutchfield.

Pastor Robert A. Crutchfield founder of FaithInspires.Org an internationally known Christian News and Information blog released the following statement on the death of Nancy Reagan, ” First we lost Justice Scalia, now this morning we learned that Nancy Reagan passed away from congestive heart failure. In less than a month Christian Americans, Conservative Americans, and our nation’s cultural heritage lost a huge portion of our hearts. Even many among those who disagreed with her husband’s politics respected Nancy Reagan as a woman of class and dignity. As an actress she gave us many hours of entertainment. As First Lady she made us proud. May God’s comfort and strength be with her family, and many friends as they travel through their grief. My thoughts, prayers, and condolences go out to them all.”

By Rev. Robert A. Crutchfield, Founder and Editor, FaithInspires.Org

In Acts Chapter 10 we find the story of Cornelius the centurion. A man who was not just a soldier but a man who commanded 100 soldiers in battle after battle. Verse 2 tells us, “ He and his whole household were pious,Gentle God worshipers. He gave generously to those in need among the Jewish prayed to God constantly.” Later in Verse 22 his messengers said of him, “ … a centurion and righteous man, a God worshiper who is well-respected by all Jewish people.” Acts Chapter 10 even tells us of God sending angels to talk to Cornelius. From this we can tell that God is concerned about those who serve in the military. They flourish under God's care just as we all do.

In considering the responsibility of a member of the military from a Christian faith perspective we look at Ezekiel 33:6 where it says “But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes someone's life, that person's life will be taken because of their sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for their blood.” What we learn here is that while God hates war, he understands that in this imperfect world war happens. Knowing this he provides us with men and women endowed with the necessary gifts to defend us when needed. God holds those charged with our defense accountable for our safety. This same need is echoed from our American History in the words of George Washington, "To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace." God not only prepares us for war when it must happen, He also prepares those who defend us, through his relationship with them. We saw this with Cornelius where scripture tells us he “prayed to God constantly.” I know first hand that many of our military members do this even today. So while we very much be very grateful to every individual who has ever worn our nations uniform, as Christians we should also be grateful to God for providing us with such amazing unique individuals for our defense in the first place.

I served in the Texas State Guard many years ago. I also served in the Coast Guard Auxiliary along active and reserve Coast Guard members. I am a life member of the Navy League of the United States, and a former local board member with the U.S. Selective Service System. So I have been lucky to observe and be around members of our military from a variety of perspectives. So when I tell you that on Veteran's Day that those who serve to protect us deserve our enduring gratitude. I speak from first hand experience, up close. One of the best ways we as Christians can thank our veterans is to pray for them. Many bear emotional scars years after the battle that the rest of us cannot even imagine. Some of them have suffered financially because of their service. Some have lost arms or legs, or have suffered head injuries that have caused many difficulties. The cost of our defense can be high to those who are charged with our defense. God's comfort, strength, and companionship can be critical to them. You may not think you even know any veterans. As in all things, this does not restrict your prayer. God knows the names, God knows the needs. No sincere prayer will ever go unneeded or unheeded..

When I was in uniform I was blessed to not see combat. But I served, and as one who served I want to extend my prayers, and my enduring gratitude to every single person who has ever honorably worn our nation's uniform. Thank you for giving me the right, and opportunity to say Happy Veteran's Day, and God bless you for your service !

Best selling Christian Author Loree Lough celebrates the release of her latest book, “ Guardians of the Heart.” With this release Internationally known minister, and Founder of FaithInspires.Org makes his second appearance as a character in one of her novels. Previously he was the inspiration behind Bob Crutchfield a 911 dispatcher in the novel “ A Man of Honor.” In this latest novel he is a minister in 1880's Denver. Crutchfield's “The First Responders Prayer” was also featured in all three of Lough's “First Responders Series” of novels.

Guardians of the Heart is described at Amazon.com and other places as follows,

“Nell Holstrom wanted no part of her grandfather's barren gold mine that had taken the lives of her mother, father, and younger brother; even if there may still be hidden wealth inside. Instead, she went to Denver and took a job as housekeeper at the old Stone Hill Inn. Asa Stone was barely more than a boy when his father dragged him and his brothers to fight with Colonel John Chivington. But Asa refused to participate in the raid on the peaceful Cheyenne and Arapahoe; and when the smoke cleared, his father and brother lay among the slaughtered. Besieged by guilt, Asa wandered the West for years before returning to Denver to rebuild the old inn he'd inherited. Together, Nell and Asa work hard to restore Stone Hill. But when disaster hits the inn, Asa retreats into despair and Nell is forced to return to her family's mine. Asa faces the hard fact: He'll never be the man Nell deserves. Can he overcome the dark secrets of his past? And will Nell still love him when she learns the truth?”

Rachel Muller herself the best selling author of Letters From Grace, had this to say about Guardians of the heart, “ Engaging and suspenseful, with an unforgettable cast of characters and a plot that keeps pages turning, Loree Lough's latest novel, Guardians of the heart is a masterful, collaboration of history, romance, redemption, and forgiveness. A must-read for every historical romance fan !”

Crutchfield is Pastor of Compassion Church of Katy. He is also Founder and Editor of Faith That Inspires Action also known as FaithInspires.Org. Faith Inspires is a Christian News and Information blog reaching about 1,500 visitors per day, from as many as 15 countries. He is a former Chaplain of the Katy Fire and EMS Department. He is also the Chaplain General of the Order of St. Isidore of Seville, making him that groups third highest ranking member.

Loree Lough is a former professional musician turned writer. She is the author of over 105 published novels many for major publishers. Her books have sold a total of over 5 million copies. She has taught for Writer's Digest Schools and at writer's conferences in many parts of the country.

Talking about the release of the book Crutchfield said, “ Loree is a great talent, and a pleasure to work with. The publicity our ministry will get from this will expose us to people we would never otherwise reach. For an author of Loree's caliber to include small fragments of my work in her own is an honor that blesses me a great deal.”

Guardians of the Heart is available now at Amazon.com, and other leading online and brick and mortar booksellers. Fpr more on Pastor Crutchfield or Faith That Inspires Action go to FaithInspires.Org

Humility in our modern world is a much neglected quality. Yet for Christians it is a very necessary one. Consider this from St. Augustine the early church leader, " Humility is the foundation of all the other virtues hence, in the soul in which this virtue does not exist there cannot be any other virtue except in mere appearance. " So here we see that no other virtue we seek is possible, until we first master humility.

Humility prepares us to learn from God, and his word. Think about what scripture says in Matthew 10:24 “Students are not greater than their teacher, and slaves are not greater than their master.” Human logic will not allow us to learn from someone that we believe knows less than we do. Such a person will have no creditability with us. So our humility actually allows God's creditability to grow, which increases our ability to learn from him.

Humility is evidence that we have learned from God himself. John Newton who wrote the hymn Amazing Grace put it like this, " I am persuaded that love and humility are the highest attainments in the school of Christ and the brightest evidences that He is indeed our Master."

We are called to be humble because Jesus was humble, and we are called to be Christ like. We see this in John 5:30, “ I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.” Humility then is part of what links us to God's will in our lives. How could we submit to Christ, or grow to be more like Christ unless we have the humility to submit to the source of his authority.

Humility is what leads us to greatness in God's kingdom. Christ himself had this to say on the topic, “ An argument started among them as to which of them might be the greatest. But Jesus, knowing what they were thinking in their heart, took a child and stood him by His side, and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in My name receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; for the one who is least among all of you, this is the one who is great.” Luke 9:46-48 The author C. S. Lewis also taught about how humility illustrates our true status when he wrote “ "A man who is eating or lying with his wife or preparing to go to sleep in humility, thankfulness and temperance, is, by Christian standards, in an infinitely higher state than one who is listening to Bach or reading Plato in a state of pride."

Humility also has the effect of authenticating our faith, and making it plain for those around us to see. Andrew Murray said it this way, " The greatest test of whether the holiness we profess to seek or to attain is truth and life will be whether it produces an increasing humility in us. In man, humility is the one thing needed to allow God's holiness to dwell in him and shine through him. The chief mark of counterfeit holiness is lack of humility. The holiest will be the humblest."

Humility prepares us to be servant leaders. We see this first in Mark 9:35 “ And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.” The same idea is also found in Matthew 23:11-12 “ But the greatest among you shall be your servant. “Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted. “ Even in the secular world it is often said that you cannot be a great leader, unless you can be a great follower. So if we desire success in this world or more importantly the next we must first seek to be humble.

It would seem that our modern world frowns on the idea of humility. Yet as we have seen it can be one of the most important virtues of a true Christian. As Christians our most important goal should be to become more Christ-Like. However we can never attain this goal to any large degree without first allowing ourselves to become humble.

Rev. Robert A. Crutchfield is editor of FaithInspires.Org, and pastor of Compassion Church of Katy (Texas.) He formerly served as Chaplain-General of the Order of St. Isidore of Seville, and chaplain of the Katy Fire and EMS Department. His work has also appeared at SelfGrowth.com, and Katy Christian Magazine among other places.

By Rev. Robert A. Crutchfield Editor, FaithInspires.Org

You may have seen his commentary on Fox News, or read his articles in the Christian Post. Or even read his book Carrying Greatness. Frank Shelton's fiery outgoing style has rocked churches and high school gymnasiums across the country. Beginning April 27^th you can hear from him every Monday at 7a.m. on his new show By Faith. The show will air on Sky Angel T.V. and will also be carried on Dish Network on Channel 262. Sky Angel will soon begin airing a 30 second promo to generate interest in the new show. The show will be aired right before Joyce Meyer's . It is estimated that as many as 14 million people will view each episode.

Shelton is known for his humility, and approachability, much of which is expected to translate over to the new show. He is very active on Facebook keeping his many friends and fans “ in the loop,” about what his ministry is doing. There he had this to say about his ministry journey leading up to this new show, “When I was 10 years old the Lord used me to bring 22 FRIENDS to Vacation Bible School in one week in 1982 at a country church in MD. Three years later, my godmother and I shared the Gospel in Hollywood, CA with Sylvester Stallone. Then we shared with FAMOUS. In 2012, I was honored to serve as a chaplain and tapped Evangelism Chairman of Olympics outreach in London, England and was blessed to share the Gospel with the finest athletes in the world. For past four years, it's been an honor on multiple times to be a religion contributor on Fox News in their Capitol Hill, Dallas TX & New York City studios and now God graciously paved the way to speak weekly to a FEW more on the Dish Network. “

The first episode will also feature an appearance by Christian singer Nicole C Mullen. Mullen has sung backup for both Michael W. Smith and the Newsboys. She has done songwriting for Jaci Velasquez, and choreography for Amy Grant. Her own album Talk About It was certified gold in 2008.

Shelton has credited the sacrificial giving of Tabernacle Church of Praise in Calhoun, GA., and the efforts of. Sky Angel T.V., and the staff at CTN 10 in southwest Florida for helping make the show possible. He has also expressed his gratitude for the friends and prayer partners who have gotten him to this point. In fact in announcing the show on Facebook he asked his followers “ Please pray for boldness, clarity, humility and wisdom as we point people far from God to a personal relationship with the Living Lord. Half the episodes will be clips of me preaching across the Country and also interviewing some friends from the road.”

Read more news and information from Pastor Crutchfield at Faith That Inspires Action.

By Rev. Robert A. Crutchfield

When someone close to us dies many companies will give you a few days off with pay to recover. Much of the rest of our society seems to believe that grief is something very temporary. If only it were that simple or easy. Grief is not about forgetting or “ getting over it. “ It is about learning new ways to embrace what the one you lost means to you. Your mind, emotions, and soul need time to adjust to the new reality of your relationship with your loved one who has passed away. Tom Attig, Author of The Heart of Grief: Death and the Search for Lasting Love describes it this way, “Grieving is a journey that teaches us how to love in a new way now that our loved one is no longer with us. Consciously remembering those who have died is the key that opens the heart, that allows us to love them in new ways.” As Attig points out grief is best thought of as a journey.

Neither is grief a short journey. It is not a matter of hours or days. Your journey through grief will take months, years or even a lifetime. In fact grief may never go away because those important to us, remain such a part of us, that even death can pluck them out of us. This is an important point. Our relationship with our lost loved one does not end with death. The reasons we loved them, the reasons we miss them to the point of physical pain, will always remain part of us. The relationship changes very dramatically when their physical presence with us ends with their death. However the relationship itself does not end but enters a new phase. Ashley Davis Bush describes this aspect of the grief process in Transcending Loss, “Grieving is not a short-term process; it’s not even a long-term process; it’s a lifelong process. ‘Having a future’ now means that although your life will flow again, it will flow differently as a result of the loss. Your grief will become incorporated into your life history, become a part of your identity. And you will continue now, and forever, to redefine your relationship with your deceased loved one. Death doesn’t end the relationship, it simply forges a new type of relationship – one based not on physical presence but on memory, spirit, and love.”

Grief hurts worse when it is new, when the journey has just begun. However that does not mean that the pain will remain almost unbearable forever. The journey will get easier. However it is not like traveling downhill. There will be curves, and ups and downs. Sometimes just as the journey gets easier it will get harder. But just as it will get harder it will once again get easier. The Hospice Foundation of America uses the following analogy to explain how our journey through grief plays out, “Grief is a roller coaster, not a series of stages….Like many roller coasters, the ride tends to be rougher in the beginning, the lows may be deeper and longer. The difficult periods should become less intense and shorter as time goes by, but it takes time to work through a loss.” The important thing is to allow yourself the time to let your grief journey take its own path and pace. Rushing through grief is almost always a mistake !

If we are going to have people in our lives that we care about we are going to grieve when their physical life with us is over. To never care about anybody or be cared about would give us a very hollow, shallow life. So the fact is there will be times in our lives when we grieve. We must learn to understand what is happening to us when we begin this journey over someone we love. The journey through grief is often hard. We sometimes fear that if the hurt fades, the memories will go with them. However grief is about finding a new home in our hearts and minds for those emotions and memories, not moving away from them. Grief is a long difficult journey, but you can and will find your way.

For more by Pastor Crutchfield visit Faith That Inspires Action.

Related articles

• 6 great resources for the grieving and bereaved (memovalley.com)
• Helping others Grieve (thechristiangazette.wordpress.com)

 By Rev. Robert A. Crutchfield Editor, FaithInspires.Org

In today's world we are surrounded by more information, more often than any other time in history. The set of thinking skills we use to determine what is true or useful is called discernment. This set of thinking skills is more important in regards to our faith than any other part of our lives. Consider what the Bible says at Leviticus 10:10” “ And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;” (KJV) So obviously if the Bible addresses it directly it is very important. Even as adults we can fall subject to what is called peer pressure. Our actions are sometimes ruled by our need to be popular. They of course should be guided by God's word instead. Look at what is said in Proverbs 21:2. “Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.”(KJV) Everybody wants to feel independent, to be an original. But are these desires the best way to grow our faith ? Not in a vacuum they are not.

Navigators at sea always take care to consider error and deviation. Magnetic deviation has to do with the earth's magnetic field being different in different parts of the world. Error on the other hand has to do with every compass being different. In much the same way when we looking to guide our thinking and decisions, we need to make sure that the information we are using is accurate. We also need to make sure we are using the right information to get us where we want to go. Without God's word, and his leading through the Holy Spirit we lack a vital perspective in our decision making.

So how are we to make the right choices ? Psalm 119 verse 125 tells us, “I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies.” (KJV) So the obvious answer in this case is the right answer. If we want help correctly aligning our thinking with God's thinking we should ask him directly ! It may seem odd that we keep coming back to prayer. However we cannot overstate the importance of prayer and the connection to God that it feeds.

Often when people want to learn a new language they use what is called “immersion” training. How this works is they bring their new language into every part of their life. They literally surround themselves with what they are trying to learn. We as Christians are not trying to just learn a new language, but a whole new way of thinking and behaving. If that is true, why do we think we can get so much more done, with so much less effort ? After we pray for discernment we should surround ourselves with God's word. We should “immerse” ourselves in God's way of thinking to the point that our thoughts become one. 1 John 2:15-17 sums it up quite nicely. “ Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” So when you are looking for discernment to guide your decisions in life, make sure you are using the right “compass.” Always remember to the Christian the only compass needed is God's word prayerfully considered.

Read more from Rev. Crutchfield along with Christian News and Information at Faith That Inspires Action.