Our Daily Bread

The newspaper reported a tragic incident of violence that took place in a South American country. A peasant killed his best friend while they were arguing about political differences. When asked why he did it, he replied with these chilling words: “We began peacefully, and then we argued. I killed him when I ran out of words.”

One of the pitfalls of living in our troublesome world is that we can become problem-centered rather than God-centered. When this happens, we lose the proper perspective. Gradually, all our problems begin to look huge and the strength of almighty God seems small. Instead of moving mountains by faith, we become constant worriers, creating mountains of needless pressure for ourselves and others.

I’m a fisherman. I know how to catch the smallmouth and walleye and panfish that inhabit the lake by our small cabin. I know where the fish lurk, their feeding habits, and the best times to fish. I have my own proven lures and successful strategies. So I’m reluctant to take the advice of someone who rows over and tells me how to catch the fish in “my” lake.

David Lykken, Emeritus Professor at the University of Minnesota, has developed what he calls a “set point” theory of happiness. He contends that most people return to their previous level of happiness within 6 months to a year after dramatic events like the sorrow of losing a loved one or the thrill of moving into a dream home. He calls that original reference point of happiness their “set point.”

You are a leader. Yes, you! You may not be the president or manager of an organization, but you will be called on to lead others.

What does it mean to “believe on the Lord Jesus Christ”? (Acts 16:31). Here’s an illustration that may help to answer this question:

Homeless children who wander the streets of the world’s great cities are often called “vermin.” They are branded as such because they beg, steal, sell their bodies; and if they survive, they grow up to be hardened criminals. To eliminate this social cancer, unscrupulous business leaders in some cities have even hired people to kill them. Imagine! Killing homeless children because they are a social problem!

A young boy was in a church service with his grandfather. Full of curiosity, the boy kept asking, “What does that mean?” Grandpa quietly explained everything that was going on. When the minister began his sermon, he took off his watch and placed it on the podium. The boy whispered, “What does that mean”? Grandpa, who had heard many long sermons that sent the service into overtime, answered, “Not a thing, sonny. Not a thing.”

The editors of the newspaper admitted they had not reported the facts accurately. In a correction, they cleared the name of a person they had linked to a criminal case.

Judy’s rare brain condition required delicate surgery.  The risky procedure took place in the operating theatre at a research hospital with many doctors and medical students observing.