Daily Stop & Thinks

The single biggest problem with communication is the illusion that it has taken place. (George Bernhard Shaw, 19th-20th centuries Irish playwright)

It happens way too often, doesn’t it? We leave someone, thinking we have communicated our expectations clearly, only to find out later that we weren’t understood at all. We must really make sure that what we want someone to remember is actually heard and understood. Repetition and follow-up questions might ensure that we have been heard aright.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up . . . that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29).

Do not depend upon teachers to educate you … follow your own bent, pursue your curiosity bravely. . . (Will Durant, 20th century American historian and philosopher)

Durant goes on to say, “In the end, education, like happiness, is individual, and must come to us from life and from ourselves.” Durant certainly was not disregarding the value of teachers, but he makes an important observation. To learn effectively with long-lasting value, students must experience life and gain from the pursuit of personal learning.

Let the wise listen and add to their learning. . . . Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning. (Proverbs 1:5; 9:9).

Much wants more and loses all. (Aesop’s Fables)

How much is enough? For a lot of people it seems that there is never enough—enough money to buy what we want; enough time to do all we want. Aesop is telling us that when we continue to want more (when nothing is ever enough), we will lose the ability to appreciate the value of what we already have.

I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. . . . I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation (Philippians 4:11-12).

If a man wants to read good books, he must make a point of avoiding bad ones. (Arthur Schopenhauer, 18th century German philosopher)

His reason: “Life is short, and time and energy limited,” he said. That’s good advice for more than just the reading of books. To save time and energy we would all do well to avoid bad movies, bad TV shows, and any activity that doesn’t add anything positive to our lives. Follow worthy pursuits to learn, advance, and make worthy contributions to others.

See then that you walk circumspectly . . . redeeming the time, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15-16).

The act of self-giving is a personal power-releasing factor. (Chelle Thompson, editor and publisher)

Thompson continues: “When you become detached mentally from yourself and concentrate on helping other people with their difficulties, you will be able to cope with your own more effectively.” Many have found this counsel to be true. When we put others first, helping them cope with life, we discover that we are better able to handle our own troubles.

Praise be to . . . the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

What you believe must determine how you behave. (Warren Wiersbe, preacher and author)

Why do we do the things we do? What determines our actions and behavior? There may be different influences that cause us to do this or that, but in the end we most often act on the basis of what we believe. When we think something is true, we’ll move in light of that truth. If, on the other hand, we doubt it, we most likely will not act on it.

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity (1 Timothy 4:12).

There is a language in actions. And in some cases the language of action is much more clear and convincing than words. (Jonathan Edwards, 18th century Puritan theologian)

Perhaps Edwards’ words are the basis for the more modern expression, “Actions speak louder than words.” In spite of what someone might say, the evidence of his activity will usually reveal the true intent of his heart and mind. We might well tell him, “What you do speaks so loud, I can’t hear what you say.” Work hard to make your deeds and words match.

Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth (1 John 3:18).

Accepting the conundrum that arrogance is weakness and humility is strength builds foundations for rich leadership. (Dan Rockwell, leadership writer)

A conundrum is a puzzle, an unusual idea. Rockwell explains this one a bit: “Arrogance creates emptiness. Humility builds connections.” In modern minds, humility is often seen as a weakness. People say, “You have to stand up for yourself; don’t let others walk all over you.” In this perspective, just the opposite is true. Avoid pride; create a healthy self-image.

Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment (Romans 12:3).

If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world. (C. S. Lewis, 19th century British academic and Christian apologist)

We are born we all kinds of desires, and most of them are satisfied as we grow and have experience. Channeling those desires into appropriate venues will bring satisfaction and contentment. But, as Lewis suggests, there may be an innate, unsatisfied longing that cannot be filled by any of life’s experiences. There is an eternal void that longs for eternity.

[God] has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing. (Martin Luther, 15th-16th century German Reformation leader)

People turn to religion for a variety of reasons. For some it’s to fill a sense of emptiness. Others are looking for help, like hanging on to a rabbit’s foot for good luck. Martin Luther, who held onto his faith at great personal cost, understood that genuine faith in God opens a relationship with Him that may involve difficulties designed to produce spiritual growth.

We are . . . heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. . . I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us (Romans 8:17-18),

Dream no small dreams for they have no power to move the hearts of men. (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 18th & 19th century German statesman and writer)

Similarly, Marcus Aurelius, 2nd century Roman emperor had said, “Dream big dreams; only big dreams have the power to move men’s souls.” Perhaps it’s true that little ideas come from little minds while great ideas come from great minds. In any case, the greater the challenge, the more likely that people will be moved to participate in fulfilling the vision.

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails (Proverbs 19:21).

The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams. (Eleanor Roosevelt, former US First Lady and political activist)

Two lessons can be seen in Roosevelt’s quote. 1) To have an impact on the future, you must be a dreamer—someone who has a vision for what can be done. 2) The dreamer must be more than a visionary; he or she needs to have a strong sense of confidence in the dream. And then, of course, the dreamer will have to put every effort into achieving the vision.

Where there is no vision, the people perish (Proverbs 29:18).