Daily Stop & Thinks

It is easy to fly into a passion—anybody can do that—but to be angry . . . in the right way—that is not easy. (Aristotle, 4^th century B.C. Greek philosopher)

His more complete statement: “… to be angry with the right person to the right extent and at the right time and right object . . . that is not easy, and it is not everyone who can do it.” There is such a thing as righteous anger, but many people struggle with how and when to express it properly. That requires character, integrity, and inner strength.

Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. (Ecclesiastes 7:9)

Be loyal to your friends. Popularity is overrated; friendship is not. (Dave Barry, Pulitzer Prize- winning author and columnist)

In a world of instant and almost universal news, celebrity often comes quickly to athletes, entertainers, and politicians. Then there are their followers, called groupies, who almost live off the popularity of their hero. But celebrity and fame often evaporate quickly, and the groupies disappear just as fast. As Barry points out, it is true friendship that endures.

The righteous choose their friends carefully. (Proverbs 12:26)

Thought precedes action as lightning precedes thunder. (Heinrich Heine, 19^th century German author)

Lightning and thunder are phenomena of nature that are both fascinating and frightening. Lightning comes first, traveling at the speed of light, then comes the thunder because sound travels much more slowly. That phenomenon is constant. Heine uses this scientific reality to emphasize the importance of planning (thinking) before you take action.

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. (Proverbs 16:3)

Change of pace + change of place = change of perspective. (Mark Batterson, minister and author)

It seems like a simple formula, doesn’t it? Many of us are creatures of habit. We live, work, and play at a certain pace, and we often pursue those activities in the same places. People of routine often find it difficult to make changes in their schedule, but, if we were to vary our habits a bit, Batterson’s principle promises a new and, perhaps, better view of things.

A discerning person keeps wisdom in view, but a fool’s eyes wander to the ends of the earth. (Proverbs 17:24)

Values last longer than financial gain or mere public recognition. (Jesse Deloe, writer and editor)

There’s little you can do to guarantee the safety of your financial investments. The stock market may rise, but now and then it falls, too. That’s like reputations sometimes. Fame is often very fleeting. The athlete may be praised highly for his or her achievement in one event and become the goat the next time around. So, hitch your wagon to lasting values.

If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. (1 Corinthians 3:18-19)

Everything you want in the world is just right outside your comfort zone. Every single thing you could possibly want! (Jamie Lee Curtis, actress and author)

To many of us this sentence might be a bit of an exaggeration, but there is a lesson to be learned. We so often are trapped in a figurative “box.” We don’t want to venture into an experience that we’re not familiar with and may not feel prepared for. But when we stay in our comfort zone, we may miss much that’s just a step away.

God had planned something better for us. (Hebrews 11:40)

The authority of those who teach is often an obstacle to those who want to learn. (Cicero, 1^st & 2^nd century B.C. Roman philosopher)

Today, authority is often questioned. We prize our Independence and disparage the influence of duly appointed leaders. Cicero spoke of a different problem: teachers who flaunt their authority. When we have positions of influence, we must always be ready to listen with an open mind to the ideas of our followers.

Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. (Romans 13:1)

Vision … is essential for survival. (Charles Swindoll, pastor and author)

Swindoll continues: “[Vision] is spawned by faith, sustained by hope, sparked by imagination and strengthened by enthusiasm. It is greater than sight, deeper than a dream, broader than an idea.” We all like to see the end before we begin, but that takes faith and is accomplished by persistent effort.

Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it. (Habakkuk 2:2)

Ideas [can] stand on their own. (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 20^th century pastor and martyr)

Great minds discuss ideas. But to support our personal opinions, we often look for analogies or axioms that will win the argument of ideas. As Bonhoeffer suggests, however, ideas that reflect truth do not need to be propped up. We must search diligently for what is really true. Abe Tannenbaum argues that we “can afford to wait for the right ideas.”

Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge. (1 Timothy 6:20)

The recipe for perpetual ignorance is: Be satisfied with your opinions and content with your knowledge. (Elbert Hubbard, American writer and publisher)

Teachers might ask themselves, “Are we creating merely satisfied students or motivating curious learners?” Good teaching is far more than merely transferring knowledge from the mentor to the student. It should also create in students a dissatisfaction with their current ideas, so they will pursue greater understanding and discover deeper truths.

[Some evil doers are] always learning but never able to come to a knowledge of the truth. (2 Timothy 3:7)

Readers are leaders. (Michael Hyatt, author and publisher)

Conversely, leaders are readers. Hyatt continues: “Reading makes us better thinkers, improves our people skills, and helps us master communication.” Eric Metaxas, another current author writes, “If you want to change the world pick up a book and read.” How can we find time to read in our busy lives? Exchange TV and social media time for reading time.

Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture. (1 Timothy 4:13)

Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex. It takes genius to move in the opposite direction. (E. F. Schumacher, 20^th century British economist)

In the United States, April 1 is jokingly referred to as “April Fools’ Day,” often involving pranks and jokes played on unsuspecting “victims.” Schumacher takes a more serious view when he suggests that the really foolish person is one who wants to accomplish the grandiose rather than achieve the wise and more beneficial purpose.

The way of fools seems right to them, but the wise listen to advice. (Proverbs 24:7)