Loud Silence
The world famous master of mime, Marcel Marceau, was asked what the difference was between regular acting and pantomime. Marceau's response was interesting. He said, "In the case of a bad actor, the words are there even if the actor is no good. But when a mime is not good, there is nothing left. A mime must be very clear and very strong."
Strange Invaders
Back in the 1970s, the personal world of Francis Schaeffer, Christian thinker and theologian, was invaded by cancer. When asked how his diagnosis affected him, Schaeffer said that his reaction, though not without tears, was similar to the reactions of his four children. All of them, in their own way, said, "Dad, I couldn't have taken it if you hadn't emphasized the Fall so completely in your teaching."
Last Tree On The Lot
Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to be the last tree on the lot on Christmas Eve? People have passed you by because you were the wrong size or had gnarled branches or a poor shape or your needles were falling.
Money Trouble
When I was in Haiti, I saw a poor elderly woman at a mission station. She had walked miles for a meal, yet she was sharing her food with a young girl. When I mentioned this to "Granny," a veteran missionary, she said, "Herb, the very poor are much more generous than the very rich."
Wrapped Up In Greed
As followers of Jesus, we must be careful to guard our hearts from greed during this holiday season. In a society that has secularized Christmas, that's not easy.
How Are You Running?
Millions of people came to know Eric Liddell through the prize-winning film Chariots of Fire. It depicted this Scottish athlete's devotion to Jesus Christ and his refusal under severe pressure to violate his spiritual convictions—even at the expense of Olympic glory.
Remembering Heroes
Who are your heroes of the faith? Who are the ones you remember with a smile and a desire to follow their example? It's good to recall the people who lift our vision and challenge us to seek God's highest in life.
The Chemistry Of Change
The Bible clearly teaches that our lives will remain unproductive unless we begin to practice what we believe. We may combine large amounts of Bible reading, prayer, and churchgoing, but if we lack the essential element of faith, we will not experience any significant spiritual growth.
Tunnels And Bridges
A little girl was taking her first train ride. Wide-eyed with fascination, she watched as telephone poles, cars, and farms whizzed by. When the train approached a river, she became frightened and cried out, "Mommy! The train is going into the river!" But a bridge carried it across to the other side.
