Daily Stop & Thinks

Freedom

Nothing is more wonderful than the art of freedom, but nothing is harder to learn how to use than freedom. (Alexis de Tocqueville, 19th century French historian)

Americans are proud of their liberty, which was gained for them by the heavy price of war and the sacrifice of many who fought to gain and maintain it. We rejoice in our freedom, but we also have seen how it can be abused when everyone does what seems right to them, to use the biblical observation. (You can read the disastrous results in the Book of Judges.)

Everyone did what was right in his own eyes (Judges 21:25).

Ideals

It is your responsibility . . . not just to be zealous in the pursuit of your ideals, but to be sure that your ideals are the right ones . . .  (Antonin Scalia, late Supreme Court Justice)

Scalia completes the sentence, “. . . —not merely in their ends but in their means.” Having ideals (principles) is important, but you can have an ideal that is based on an inadequate moral premise. So, we need to be sure we’re following ethical standards that include not just high ideals but the methods and strategies to attain them that are, themselves, ethical.

Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence (2 Peter 1:5).

Hard Work

Hard work beats talent if talent doesn’t work hard. (Kevin Durant, pro athlete, quoting Tim Notke, basketball coach)

Pro athletes have great talent, of course, but as Durant said, “Working hard is better than having talent and not putting effort or work in what you do.” To be successful in almost any of life’s endeavor requires a certain amount of talent, perhaps gained by exercising a latent skill. But without hard and persistent work, talent alone will not achieve the intended goals.

Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper (Proverbs 13:4).

Serving

God’s greatest invitations often come in life’s interruptions. (Bob Fetterhoff, retired pastor)

Don’t you hate to be interrupted—the phone call during family dinner or the doorbell during the last overtime of a thrilling ball game? If we could look at them as opportunities to make a difference in someone else’s life, we’d more likely recognize the serving opportunities that God sends our way. The challenge is to focus less on ourselves and more on the needs of others.

Use your freedom to serve one another in love (Galatians 5:13). 

For even the Son of Man (Jesus) came not to be served but to serve others (Mark 10:45).

Leadership in Action

Leadership is action, not position. (Donald H. McGannon, author)

Like a good combat officer, effective leaders can’t stay behind their desks all the time. They have to go ahead of the “troops,” leading by example. But movement alone isn’t enough, As Ernest Hemingway said, “Never confuse movement with action.” Effective leaders don’t stand still; they don’t move just for the sake of movement. It takes deliberate action worth following.

Without wise leadership, a nation falls (Proverbs 11:14).

If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. (Romans 12:8)

Troubles

God sometimes takes us into troubled waters, not to drown us but to cleanse us. (Author unknown)

It’s a paradox of Christian teaching, written in different ways. For example, in response to Paul’s prayer for healing, God replied, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Elsewhere, “Tribulation works patience” (Romans 5:3). Rather than beg to be freed from the difficulty, perhaps it would be best to seek God’s purpose in it all.

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. (Romans 8:28)

Consequences

When you choose an action, you choose the consequences of that action.  (Lois McMaster Bujold, fiction writer)

Many of us suffer from short-sightedness. We too often make a decision or take action before we’ve thought of the consequences. Some people don’t even want to consider what might happen as a result of their choices. Unless we give thought to those choices and potential outcomes, we may cause irreparable harm both to ourselves and others.

A prudent person foresees danger and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. (Proverbs 22:3)

The Present

Sometimes you will not know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory. (Dr. Seuss, pen name of Theodor Seuss Geisel, author of children’s books)

We live such busy lives, filled with urgencies—whether imagined or real—that demand our attention so that we think more of the future consequences than the present reality. Hence, we lose the value of the present. Only later, as Seuss suggests, will we look back at a memory and wish we had paid more attention to it. Plan for the future but live in the present.

Be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity. (Ephesians 5:15-16)

Impact

Life should end with the exclamation, “Wow! What a ride!” (Paraphrase of Hunter S. Thompson, 20th century journalist and author)

Thompson said, “Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well-preserved body. But, rather, [with a body] used up [and] totally worn out …” In other words, live life to the fullest, give it your best, don’t hold back. What an impact a life lived with that kind of attitude would have on one’s own sense of worth and value to others!

Use your gifts and abilities with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then everything you do will bring glory to God. (Paraphrase of 1 Peter 4:11)

Positivity

If we looked for the positive in everything how much better would the view be? (Matt Kowalczyk, athlete)

Have you ever noticed that some people walk with their head down as if they were counting the cracks in the sidewalk? Other walkers are always looking around, enjoying the landscape, the cloud formations, or observing the people around them. Which, do you suppose, are enjoying life more? Looking for the positive almost ensures a more enjoyable experience.

Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. (Philippians 4:8)

Faith

The worst moment for the atheist is when he is really thankful, and has nobody to thank. (Dante Rossetti, 19th century British poet)

It may take more faith to be an atheist than to believe in a personal, almighty God. To the believer it seems really hard to understand how one could deny the existence of God with the evidence of nature pointing to a master creator and the vacuum in men’s hearts to find something noble outside of themselves. A searching mind can find help studying the Bible.

The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. (Psalm 19:1)

Words: Part Two

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. (Robert Fulghum, author)

But, they do: words can hurt deeply. Here’s good advice when someone speaks evil of you: Try not to take things personally. Life coaches Marc and Angel Chernoff write, “Even when it seems personal, rarely do people do things because of you, they do things because of them.” Perhaps, you can forgive and forget and try to speak kindly to your critics. It will surprise them!

A gentle answer deflects anger (Proverbs 15:1).

Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them (Romans 12:14).