Daily Stop & Thinks

Look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see, and wonder at what makes the universe exist. Be curious. (Stephen Hawking, late theoretical physicist)

Hawking claimed to be an atheist, yet his suggestion sounds a bit like a person of faith who looks to the heavens and sees the hand of God in it all. His encouragement to be curious and ponder what is all around us is not just good advice for the scientist who looks for explanations about reality; it might open up more than scientific knowledge. It might lead to faith.

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

I not only use all the brains that I have, but all that I can borrow. (Woodrow Wilson, 28^th president of the United States)

Although some people seem to know it all, most of us are well aware that there is a lot we don’t know and a lot that would be helpful to know. Acknowledging our limited capacity may be the first step to achievement. Seeking counsel from competent sources in libraries, on the Internet, or from knowledgeable people will certainly help us move forward.

Plans succeed through good counsel (Proverbs 20:18). If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you (James 1:5).

Social change always comes when the next generation decides to no longer accept what the last generation accepted. (Mike McCaman, consultant)

While McCamen’s observation is obviously true, its results can be either good or not so good. When we disregard traditions that hold to strong values and morals, the result will be disastrous. When new learning reveals the faults of popular traditions, then we must pursue change that will support and improve the quality of life.

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world (Romans 12:2). Stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed on to you both in person and by letter. (2 Thessalonians 2:15)

Get a life in which you are not alone. Find people you love, and who love you. And remember that love is not leisure, it is work.” (Anna Quindlen, author and columnist)

Some people seem to be lonely even when they’re in a crowd of people, whether it’s at work or school, in a mall or at church. How can that be? Interaction and relationships are key to a good community feeling. And, as Quindlen suggests, love is important, but understand that love is more than just a good feeling. Look for the lonely, and act toward them in a helpful manner.

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. (Hebrews 10:24)

If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always be where you’ve always been. (James Emery White, pastor and author)

White concludes, “For most of us, that’s not good.” His suggested solution: “Constantly innovate. Try new things.” Whether it’s personal habit, office routine, or organizational policy, it’s difficult to accept a new way to do things. We resist change, because we’re comfortable with the routine we know. But without change, there will likely be no growth or expansion.

Anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Whatever America hopes to bring to pass in the world must first come to pass in the heart of America. (Dwight D. Eisenhower, 34th U.S. president)

What Eisenhower said about American would be true of any nation and its people. The bigger question, however, is “What is the source of hope?” For Christians, who celebrate Easter today, the answer is that genuine hope comes from God, and it is guaranteed by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. (Romans 15:13)

Live in the sunshine, swim the sea, drink the wild air. (Ralph Waldo Emerson, 19^th century essayist)

Emerson’s sentiment might be summed up in the popular expression, “Stop and smell the roses.” Apparently, even in his day people were so busy with the activities of daily life that they failed to appreciate the wonders around them, just waiting to be enjoyed. It would be good for us, no doubt, to pause awhile and enjoy what God has provided for our pleasure and benefit.

So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that these pleasures are from the hand of God. (Ecclesiastes 2:24)

Good health and good sense are two of life’s greatest blessings. (Publlius Syrus, 1^st century B.C. Latin writer)

Benjamin Franklin said that taxes and death are the two certainties of life. Syrus, on the other hand, suggests two great blessing of life. When you’re ill—even if it’s just a head cold—you really miss and long for good health. Today, many of us wish there could be a return to common sense, a blessing that too often seems to be missing from 21^st century thinking.

My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them. (Proverbs 3:21)

The more I know, the less I know. (from a Puritan prayer)

In an age of unlimited information, no one can know something about everything or everything about something. In fact, the more we learn about a particular subject, the more we realize there is a lot more to know. That’s what makes learning such an important activity for everyone. It’s even a motivation for more study and research. What will you learn today?

Intelligent people are always ready to learn. Their ears are open for knowledge. (Proverbs 1:15)

Life is like a mirror; we get the best results when we smile at it. (from a Norman Rockwell calendar)

Rockwell’s iconic artwork is still instantly identifiable. Reading today’s quote can make you think you see the kind of picture he drew to illustrate it. It’s really true, though, isn’t it? When we smile, we tend to see things more positively. Smiles start inside, and when we are happy, it will show in our face. So, let’s keep smiling. Maybe it will catch on.

A glad heart makes a happy face. (Proverbs 15:13)

Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves. (J. M. Barrie, 19^th-20^th centuries Scottish novelist and playwright)

Have you noticed how many people walk with their heads down as if they were counting the cracks? Maybe we know someone who doesn’t walk that way literally but seems to have that kind of attitude, not lifting their face to see the beautiful world all around them. If we know people like that, we have the great privilege (responsibility?) to be an encouragement to them.

Encourage one another and build each other up (1 Thessalonians 5:11).

It is easier to cry against a thousand sins of others than to kill one of your own. (John Flavel, 17^th century English clergyman)

We are sometimes distressed by the cruelty and violence we see in the world, and we want to cry out against it, demanding that the guilty be punished for their gross sins. Quite often, however, we are not even aware of our own shortcomings, perhaps not as gross and public but no less offensive to a holy God and hurtful to others. Clearly, Flavel is right.

Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. . . . Why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? . . .  Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. (Matthew 7:1-5)