History Of A Murder
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."
Above Your Problems
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.
The Master Fisherman
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.
What Is Your 'Set Point'?
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."
Leadership Lessons
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.
The Only Remedy
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:
The Value Of 'Vermin'
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!
Questions
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."
Honest With God
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.
Prayer With Thanksgiving
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.
The Mystery Of Time
Time is a tyrant that has us under its control. Little by little it makes us feel and look older as it relentlessly pushes us toward the day when we will die. Time determines when we plant or reap, when we laugh or cry, when we keep something or throw it away (Eccl. 3:1-8). And sometimes it seems as if we are just helpless pawns in a cosmic game.
Be All There
A friend of mine has a view of life that is summed up in one of his favorite sayings: "Wherever you are, be all there." That is, whatever your situation, be the very best you can be.
Enough For Everyone
An elderly Scottish woman stood in the doorway of her cottage and basked in the light and warmth of the summer sun. According to author J. R. Caldwell, she shaded her eyes as she looked up and exclaimed, "I've got a whole sun to myself!"
Unfailing Love
Why does God wait when we plead for His swift response?
Frustrated Or Content?
King Solomon, who had studied diligently and worked hard for worthwhile earthly goals, realized that at his death his fortune would go to people who had not worked for it and might misuse it. This caused him to become resentful because of all the "sorrowful" days and sleepless nights (2:23) he had invested. He's not alone in feeling this way.
A Life Worth Living
What makes life worth living? Is it popularity, power, and influence? Not according to Harold Hughes, who after serving as Iowa's governor was elected to the United States Senate. What makes life worth living, according to this distinguished American, is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
God Of New Beginnings
How did you learn to skate?" someone asked the winner of a competition. "By getting up every time I fell down," was the reply.
An Answer For Everything
Dad, can I have 10 dollars?" "Dad, can you help me with my math?" "Dad, what's the capital of Maine?" "Dad, why can't we get another car?" "Dad, I didn't make the team."
Do What You Can
Several years ago, an article was published in Time magazine about a doctor who lived through the terrible bombing of Hiroshima. When the initial blast occurred, Dr. Fumio Shigeto was waiting for a streetcar only a mile away, but he was sheltered by the corner of a concrete building. Within seconds after the explosion, his ears were filled with the screams of victims all around him.
Church Membership
Church membership has never gotten anyone into heaven. But this doesn't mean it's unimportant to be committed to a local church. I once said in a group, "I think every believer should join a church," to which a Christian couple replied, "But we are not joiners."
Lightning And Thunder
When we see lightning flash across the sky, we expect the roar of thunder to follow. If there were no lightning, there would be no thunder because one causes the other.
Consider The Landing
A page in the 365 Stupidest Things Ever Said calendar had this amazing quote: "If you bought our course, 'How To Fly In Six Easy Lessons,' we apologize for any inconvenience caused by our failure to include the last chapter, 'How To Land Your Plane Safely.' Send us your name and address and we will send you the last chapter posthaste. Requests by estates will be honored."
Too Much With Us
William Wordsworth wrote, "The world is too much with us." He meant that too often we get caught up in the world's mad rush and fail to appreciate God's creation. But it's also easy to feel that the world is too much with us when we see people suffer for their faith in God.
Core Values
A successful advertising agency has inscribed these words on the floor of a rotunda in its headquarters: Community, Integrity, Restlessness, Freedom and Responsibility,
Two Lives, Two Views
Ecclesiastes 2:12-16 reminds me of the story about two brothers whose lives went in opposite directions. The younger one broke the hearts of his parents by his godless lifestyle. He became a bitter cynic and died relatively young. Few people mourned his passing.
What's Ahead?
If we consider what people thought years ago about life in the future, we realize how hard it is to know what's ahead. For instance, what if everyone had believed the patent office worker who, in 1899, said, "Everything that can be invented has been invented"? Or what if folks in the 19th-century had believed this memo from Western Union: "The telephone has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication"?
Turning Evil Into Good
The apostle Paul told the believers at Thessalonica that he and his co-workers wanted to visit them but Satan hindered them (1 Th. 2:18).
The Light Of The World
Scholar and historian Will Durant wrote11 volumes titled The Story Of Civilization. Across the pages of that monumental work moves a procession of the world's outstanding persons—rulers, philosophers, military heroes, artists, scientists, and explorers.
No Other Way
Have you ever had an argument with God? My friend David did. Although he was a Christian, he questioned God's justice in allowing His innocent Son Jesus to be so cruelly punished on behalf of guilty people. As David tried to make sense out of Christ's horrible death on the cross, he became extremely agitated. One day as he cried out, "Why?" God comforted his troubled mind with this thought: It was the only way!
The First Step
There are many ways to handle an overwhelming task. We may keep putting it off, hoping that God will miraculously take care of it. Or we can take the first step in the right direction.
Painful Farewells
Saying goodbye to someone you love can be awkward and difficult. Down deep you wonder, Will I ever see this person again? You almost wish you had never gotten so attached. It hurts so much to let go.
