Troubles Adversity reveals genius. (Horace, 1st century B.C. Roman poet) The Greek philosopher Plato put it this way, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” When the need for something becomes imperative, we are forced to find ways to meet that need. According to...
Act Now Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do justly, now. Love mercy, now. Walk humbly, now. (The Talmud, Jewish religious law) In a world saturated with troubles within and without, it’s easy to give up in face of the daunting task of achieving...
Honesty If being a team player requires doing what is wrong, you're on the wrong team. (Chuck Swindoll, author) An American teacher overseas was offered an administrative position in his school. In the culture of that nation, it was not uncommon to be less than honest...
Knowing More Don't focus on what you don't know. It's too heavy for you and will crush your peace of mind. (Chris Suitt, pastor) For many of us what we don’t know sometimes stymies us to the point where we just can’t move forward. We think we must have that certain...
Be Still Lord, help me to relax about insignificant details beginning tomorrow at 7:42:23, PST. We’re more familiar with the similar prayer, “Lord, give me patience, and I want it right now!” “That’s ridiculous, we say.” Sure, both statements are absurd, but isn’t...
Priorities Let’s do our best to order our lives wisely and keep first things first. (Blaise Pascal, 17th century French writer) Pascal also wrote, “Man’s sensitivity to little things and insensitivity to the greatest things are marks of a strange disorder.” Isn’t it...
Contentment Discontentment is an appetite that’s never fully satisfied. (Mike Lee, pastor) Whether it’s an addiction or just an unfulfilled desire, discontent can lead to habits that can destroy your career and hopes. Haven’t you known someone who never seems to be...
Justice Man's capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man’s inclination to injustice makes democracy necessary. (Reinhold Niebuhr, late theologian) The unruly protests and even violent riots of last month well illustrate both of Niebuhr’s observations. The...
Friendship III I don't need a friend who changes when I change and who nods when I nod; my shadow does that much better. (Plutarch, early Greek philosopher) Some political leaders seem to have a lot of “Yes-men” around them, always agreeing with the boss and never...
Friendship II In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. (Martin Luther King, Jr.) Luther’s words seemed appropriate in recent upsets in our society. And they reflect earlier times in history as referred to by holocaust...
Friendship I My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me. (Henry Ford) Pastor David Miller put it this way, “A smart friend knows what’s best. A wise friend does what’s best.” And then he added, “Be a wise friend.” Sometimes it seems easier just to say...
Freedom May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right. (Peter Marshall, late chaplain of the United States Senate) We cherish our liberty and freedoms on this Independence Day, and rightly so. We thank God for...