Daily Stop & Thinks

STOP AND THINK – Too great length and too great brevity of discourse tend to obscurity. (Blaise Pascal, 17^th century French scientist, writer, and philosopher)

To paraphrase Pascal, “If you want people to remember what you say, don’t talk too long and be sure to hit the high points.” It’s difficult to hold people’s interest in a long speech, and a brief one is likely to overlook some important points. There are two important lessons here: 1) don’t bore your hearers with too many words; 2) be sure to make it memorable.

Unless you speak intelligible words with your tongue, how will anyone know what you are saying? (1 Corinthians 14:9).

STOP AND THINK – Age does not depend upon years, but upon temperament and health. Some men are born old, and some never grow up. (Tryon Edwards, 19^th century theologian and publisher)

Have you ever seen a young adult who thinks and acts like a much older person? You wonder if he even had a childhood. Or, maybe you’ve known people who’ve never matured, as if they just don’t want to grow up. In either case, we grieve that they are not experiencing life as God intended. The key may be to stay young at heart as you age.

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:4).

STOP AND THINK – Never fear dying … Fear living—that is a hard battle to fight, a stern discipline to endure, a rough voyage to undergo. (C. H. Spurgeon, 19th century British “Prince of Preachers”)

We fear death because we don’t know what it will “feel” like and we’re not sure if there’s anything beyond it. But life, also, is unknown. We plan and prepare, but we really don’t know what the future holds. Spurgeon says we must persevere and face life with discipline despite the unknown. He would remind us, too, to trust God both in life and death.

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).

STOP AND THINK – Stop judging others and offer grace instead. Remember, judgment is simply seeing yourself as superior. Stop it in its tracks. (Gail Rodgers, freelance writer)

It’s seems to be part of our human nature to be critical. We criticize someone who talks, looks, dresses, acts differently from us. Sometimes we pass judgment on what someone does because we secretly think we could do it better. Whatever the occasion, as Rodgers suggests, many of our criticisms come from our feeling of pride. Not a pleasant thought!

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you (Matthew 7:1-2).

STOP AND THINK – Does something seem terribly important to you today? Extremely, vitally serious? Almost to the point of distraction? (Charles Swindoll, pastor and author)

There are times, aren’t there, when we really feel pressured because that particular day has something extremely important about it—a job interview, an intervention, an important deadline to meet. Those things can distract us to the point that we overlook the really important, long-lasting values in our lives. Perhaps we need to readjust our outlook on life.

Teach us to number our days that we may gain a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12).

STOP AND THINK – It is not the facts which divide men but the interpretation of the facts. (Aristotle, 4^th century BC Greek philosopher)

Facts are universal—true everywhere and all the time. When men disagree about one thing or another—the subject of origins, for example—they have the same facts to consider. Did God create what we know today or did we evolve? The facts haven’t changed, but our worldview may well determine our understanding of them.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands (Psalm 19:1).

STOP AND THINK – Total peace will only come from total commitment. (Robert Schuller, late preacher and author)

Few of us have probably ever experienced total peace. Peace is more than just the absence of turmoil. It is a sense of security and well being whatever the circumstances. Schuller seems to suggest that we have something to do with acquiring a sense of peace. It involves, he says, a commitment. The question: commitment to what? It’s a trust in the true source of peace.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). Jesus: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you” (John 14:27).

STOP AND THINK – The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity. (Dorothy Parker, 20^th century American writer and satirist)

Children sometimes say, “I’m bored; I can’t find anything to do.” It’s the wise parent who tries to awaken the child’s interest in something different and unique—something that will pique his or her curiosity. William Arthur Ward wrote, “Curiosity is the wick in the candle of learning.” Arouse curiosity, and you’ve put the child on the road to learning.

I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw (Proverbs 24:32).

STOP AND THINK – Individual prominence is secondary to helping the community. (Opinion survey of Millennials)

Each generation of young people seems to develop characteristics that separate them from other generations; they become unique in one way or another. Millinnials (people reaching adulthood in the early 2000s) are different from the “me first” generation that preceded them. It’s encouraging and insightful to recognize this unique, unselfish attitude about community.

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! (Psalm 133:1)

STOP AND THINK – Genuine happiness consists in those spiritual qualities of love, compassion, patience, tolerance, and forgiveness and so on. (The 14th Dalai Lama, Thai Buddhist spiritual leader)

Many people think that happiness is to be found in activity of some kind. Or, it’s the result of having things that fill your life and home with beauty, comfort, or security. In reality, of course, we soon discover that happiness is not found in material things or the temporary pleasure they might give us. Happiness is a state of a mind that is settled in God.

Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4).

STOP AND THINK – Clarity of mind means clarity of passion, too; this is why a great and clear mind loves ardently and sees distinctly what it loves. (Blaise Pascal, 17^th century French scientist and Christian philosopher)

We seem to be living in a very passionate society. Whether its sports, games of chance, sex, or a host of other pursuits, many people are almost fanatical about their interest of choice. In many cases it appears that people are so fervent that their minds are clouded and their passion is misplaced. It’s critical, then, to think clearly about our zeal for life’s activities.

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord (Romans 12:11).

STOP AND THINK – Equipping and mentoring are more important than directing. (Sam Ranier III, president of Ranier Research)

Rather than just giving students the facts, which is merely the transferring of knowledge, educators must teach students to think for themselves. Learners must be given the tools for study and be trained in how to use them in order to gain facility with the knowledge they’re gaining. The result, then, will be useful wisdom and learners who grow and contribute.

Now may the God of peace … equip you with everything good for doing his will (Hebrews 13:20-21).