Daily Stop & Thinks

Courage is being obedient when you don’t feel like it. (Jill Briscoe, British American author and speaker)

Briscoe referred to a coffee mug that was inscribed with a quote from actor John Wayne, “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.” She also said, “Courage isn’t a feeling. It’s a decision.” Note the two key words: obedient and decision. If we would always decide to obey what we know to be right, we would live lives of courage and integrity.

You will have success if you are careful to observe the decrees and laws that the Lord gave. … Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged (1 Chronicles 22:13).

The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. (Lou Huesmann, minister)

How do we react when political or social demonstrations break out in violence? Hatred is evident both in language and action. But what may be just as bad as the hatred is the indifference that grips many of us. We just don’t care much about it. . It’s what Huesmann calls “The Darkness of Indifference.” Such an attitude does not give much hope for the future.

“‘Now this was the sin of . . . Sodom: She . . . [was] arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; [she] did not help the poor and needy (Ezekiel 16:49).

Never before have we had so much access to information and so little wisdom. (James Emory White, speaker and author)

Certainly, we can all agree that there is more information available today than at any previous time in history. And the quantity of what we can know is increasing exponentially. But gaining more knowledge doesn’t necessarily make us smarter. White may have noted the reason in this observation in his blog, “The Lost Art of Independent Thinking.” Don’t just learn; think!

Brothers and sisters, stop thinking like children. In regard to evil be infants, but in your thinking be adults (1 Corinthians 14:20).

There was no such thing as new truth. Error might be old or new; but truth was as old as the universe. (Frederich Douglass, 19^th century social reformer)

Douglass’ statement needs to be emphasized again in our modern world: “There [is] no such thing as new truth.” Studious men and women are continuing to make new and exciting discoveries, but they are merely finding new uses or workings of already established principles of science. Recognizing the source of all truth will result in a great increase in wisdom.

Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. … Jesus: “I am the way and the truth and the life” (John 1:17; 14:6).

The highest reward for a person’s toil is not what he gets from it, but what he becomes by it. (John Ruskin, 19^th century English art critic)

Ruskin is probably not speaking against a fair wage or gaining a just benefit for good work and diligent service. What he has said causes us to realize that there is more to be gained by hard work than just a salary. The lessons learned from work, the experience gained, and the character that is formed are the long-lasting rewards for faithful work.

All hard work brings a profit (Proverbs 14:23). Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord (Colossians 3:23).

Where goodness and truth exist, there you will find beauty. (Pat Sajak, TV show host)

Sajak continues, “Our purpose is to seek truth in order to discover and to act on what is good and beautiful in this life.” He also quotes the website of Hillsdale College: “The good of anything is found in its ability to accomplish what it was created for.” So, to say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder is too subjective. Beauty is objectively displayed in truth and goodness.

[Speak] the truth in love. . . . For the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth (Ephesians 4:15; 5:9).

Great leaders never give up. (Jim Hines, Physician and gubernatorial candidate)

Perseverance is an essential quality in the pursuit of achieving worthy goals. Wannabe leaders who give in to the pressures of politics, societal demands, or distractions most often cannot recruit others to work with them. Wanting to lead demands the perseverance that involves diligence, focus, and commitment.

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up (Galatians 6:9). Be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded (2 Chronicles 15:7).

Success isn’t something you achieve. It’s who you become. (Kary Oberbrunner, motivational speaker and author)

Most of us probably look at success as something to be achieved by accomplishing some great feat, discovering a cure for illness, or inventing new technology which benefits society. The greater achievement, however, is the development of character and integrity that are noble and set an example for the benefit and growth of those who will follow us.

I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. (1 Chronicles 19:17) In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech. (Titus 2:7-8)

A true disciple is evidenced not by how much he or she knows but by how much he or she obeys. (Kip Cone, pastor)

Every leader—whether religious or secular—wants to have knowledgeable followers. They want the workers they are training to know their business and their targets (customers, users, etc.) well. But there is one requisite that is even more important. A good follower will stick to the leader’s instructions diligently.

Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask. (Philemon 1:21)

Don’t bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself. (William Faulkner, 20^th century Nobel Prize author)

We seem to be born with a great sense of competition. Even little children always want to win, to be first, and we never seem to completely outgrow that urge to triumph. No one can always be the best at everything, so Faulkner’s advice is well taken. Compete against yourself; seek to do better as you grow and mature. That is the kind of winning that brings satisfying results.

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. (Proverbs 3:3-4).

Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years. People grow old by deserting their ideals. Age wrinkles the body. Quitting wrinkles the soul. (Douglas MacArthur, late 5-star American general)

MacArthur was not speaking of physical age but growth in maturity or advancement. He saw that when a person leaves his moral standard, he or she seems to deteriorate in their real self—their heart and mind. The body may weaken, the face may wrinkle, but the soul remains healthy and strong if a person maintains integrity, holding on to what is right and good.

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James 1:4) Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature (Ephesians 4:13).

Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending. (James R. Sherman, 19^th century English minister.

This oft-repeated quotation may be overlooked because it is so simple and obvious. We often talk about starting over or going back to “square 1,” but that isn’t really possible. Times and circumstances have changed, making a completely new start impossible, but we can pick up where we are, work with renewed energy and purpose, and achieve a promising end.

The end of a matter is better than its beginning (Ecclesiastes 7:8). The desire of the righteous ends only in good (Proverbs 11:23).