Thought for the Day
Robert E. Chatfield
WE'RE BAAACK!!!!!!!!
Thank heavens we had the presence of mind to alert all there might be a three week problem regarding our sending daily thoughts. At the time we gave no details as to our destination.
Months ago we made plans with our friends, Bob and Ruth Morton, to go on a three week cruise to Europe, including Scandinavia.
In the interest of time and space let me say that it was the "Worst, best, three weeks of our life." When we recover (literally) we'll provide more information.
I had hopes for TFTD not missing a beat, as we were advised that an Internet package allowing one hour a day usage was available for $29.95. Upon boarding the ship we were advised that option had be cancelled two weeks prior. Internet access would now cost $255.00.
Considering all the other expenses forthcoming we opted to go cold turkey for three weeks.
That, plus there being serious phone problems, kept us in the dark totally for the full three weeks.
What an empty period of time!
Please forgive our absence. We have repented and pray it will be a very long time before another day is missed.
We missed you all immensely.
Bob and Joan
“We are free to choose our paths, but we can't choose the consequences that come with them.” Stephen Covey
“We all make choices, but in the end our choices make us.” Ken Levine
“Choices made, whether bad or good, follow you forever and affect everyone in their path one way or another.” J.E.B. Spredemann,
"Positive consequences shape behavior far, far better than do negative consequences"
Dr. Glenn L. Latham
IF PAYMENT IS DELAYED
A customer sent an order to a book club for the one they were offering that month. The distributor noticed that the bill for a previous book hadn't been paid. The collections manager then sent their form letter saying, "We can't ship your new order until you pay for the last one."
The collections manager received a note a few days later, "Please cancel the order. I can't wait that long."
We live in a society where people expect to receive things without paying for them -- at least for a long, long time. That's why credit cards are so popular. You don't have to have any money. Just hand them that little piece of plastic. The bill will come later? You can worry about it then. A popular form of advertising says, "Buy now -- no payments for six months!" or "No payments until January 2016!"
Companies know that we are more likely to buy something if the payment can be delayed because if it is far enough away, we won't think about the hardship it may cause.
Satan operates in much the same way. If he can convince us that the consequences of sin will not be experienced for a long, long time (if at all), then we will be more likely to give in. Listen to how Solomon put it:
"Because the sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil." (Eccl. 8:11)
But credit card bills eventually arrive in the mail, merchants eventually expect us to pay for any merchandise that we carry home with us, and sin will eventually have its consequences.
"Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and his days be prolonged, yet I surely know that it shall be well with them that fear God, which fear before Him. But it shall not be well with the wicked; neither shall he prolong his days, which are as a shadow, because he feareth before God." (Eccl. 8:12-13)
Have a great day!
Alan Smith
Robert E. Chatfield
"All happiness, all success, all glorious achievements rest with the individual. He can make a heaven or hell upon the earth." Ezra Taft Benson
Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
"The thoughts we think, the deeds we do, the lives we live influence not only the success of our earthly journey; they mark the way to our eternal goals."
Thomas S. Monson
The Best Advice I Ever Received
By Rex Barker
You're at the top when you clearly understand that failure is an event, not a person. That yesterday ended last night and today is your brand new day.
You're at the top when you've made friends with
your past, are focused on the present, and optimistic about the future.
You're at the top when you know that success (a
win) doesn't make you; and a failure (a loss) doesn't break you.
You're at the top when you're filled with faith,
hope and love, and live without anger, greed, guilt, envy or thoughts of
revenge. When you're mature enough to delay
gratification and shift your focus from your
rights to your responsibilities.
You're at the top when you know that failure to
stand for what is morally right is the prelude to being the victim of what is
criminally wrong.
You're at the top when you are secure about who
you are so that you're at peace with God and in fellowship with man.
You're at the top when you've made friends with
your adversaries and have gained the love and respect of those whom you know
best; when you understand that others can give you pleasure, but genuine
happiness comes when you do things for others.
You're at the top when you're pleasant to the
grouchy, courteous to the rude, and generous to the needy.
You're at the top when you love the unlovable,
give hope to the hopeless, friendship to the friendless and encouragement to
the discouraged.
You're at the top when you can look back in
forgiveness, forward in hope, down in compassion, and up with gratitude.
"You're at the top when you know that he
who would be the greatest among you must become the servant of all."
Robert E. Chatfield
"Satan is not fighting churches; he is joining them. He does more harm by sowing tares than by pulling up wheat. He accomplishes more by imitation than by outright opposition." Vance Havner
C. S. Lewis said, "The best argument for Christianity is Christians: their joy, their certainty, and their completeness.' He also warned, however, that Christians can be "the strongest argument against Christianity, when they are somber and joyless, when they are self-righteous and smug, when they are narrow and repressive, then Christianity dies a thousand deaths.
Along the same lines
“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” Mahatma Gandhi
LOOKING LIKE A
CHRISTIAN
A little old Jewish lady is flying out of New York
City on her way to Miami Beach. She looks at the businessman sitting next to
her and asks him, "Excuse me sir, but are you Jewish?"
The man responds politely, "No, ma'am, I'm not
Jewish."
After a little while she again queries him.
"You're really Jewish, aren't you?"
Again he responds, "No, ma'am, I am not
Jewish."
Barely 10 minutes later, the little old lady asks him
once more, "Are you sure you're not Jewish?"
To which, in exasperation and in a final effort to
shut her up, he replies, "OK. Yes, ma'am, I am Jewish."
"Funny," she says, looking puzzled.
"You don't look Jewish!"
Makes me wonder. If anyone approached me and asked
me, "Are you a Christian?" and I answered, "Yes", would
they be inclined to say, "Funny, you don't look like a Christian"?
I'm not talking about looking like the world's
stereotype of a Christian -- a sour-looking guy with a scowl on his face, not
enjoying life at all. I merely wonder if my Christianity is something
that can be seen by the people who see me every day. I know what I
believe, but is that belief translating into action? Can anyone tell?
"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is
set upon a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle and put it
under a bushel, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light unto all that are in
the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your
good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16)
Do you look like a Christian? Alan Smith
Robert E. Chatfield
"When nothing seems to help, I go and look at a stonecutter hammering away at his rock perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred and first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not that blow that did it - but all that had gone before." Jacob Riis, Photographer and Journalist
"Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated failures. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent." Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States
Perseverance Pays
Dick Innes
"And let us not be weary in doing good: for
in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."1
Had Thomas Edison not been a man of faith,
perseverance and determination, we may still be working by gaslight or, at
least, it may have been many years before the first electric light was seen. It
has been reported that Edison failed over 6,000 times before perfecting the
first electric light bulb.
On one occasion a young journalist challenged Edison saying to him, "Mr. Edison, why do you keep trying to make light by using electricity when you have failed so many times? Don't you know that gas lights are with us to stay?"
To this Edison replied, "Young man, don't you realize that I have not failed, but have successfully discovered six thousand ways that won't work!"
Because Edison believed an electric light was possible, he refused to give up. He tried countless types of material in his search for a filament that would work. He sent men to China, Japan, South America, Asia, Jamaica, Ceylon and Burma to search for fibers to test in his laboratory--all to no avail.
On October 21, 1879, after thirteen months of repeated failures, Edison finally succeeded in finding a filament that would work. While experimenting, the thought came to him, "Why not try a carbonized cotton fiber?" After going through two spools of cotton, he eventually perfected a strand only to break it while trying to place it in a glass tube. He still persevered with this idea for two more days and nights without sleep. Finally he succeeded in placing a carbonized thread into a vacuum-sealed bulb! Eureka! It worked.
1. St. Paul (Galatians 6:9).
Robert E. Chatfield
Engage in at least one act of random kindness every day.
Kindness is a hard thing to give away; it keeps coming back to the giver.
Ralph Scott
It is a bit embarrassing to have been concerned with the human problem all one's life and find at the end that one has no more to offer by way of advice than 'try to be a little kinder.' Aldous Huxley
Treat every person with kindness and respect, even those who are rude to you. Remember that you show compassion to others not because of who they are, but because of who you are. Andrew T. Somers
One of the best examples of kindness (and sportsmanship) I’ve ever seen was sent on 11 December 2009 (Probably my most favorite Thought of the past 15 years).
I was reminded of this the other day and felt it was worthwhile to send it again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ttkBP2XDZvE
(You’ve seen the story, now
watch the movie
http://zanylol.com/home_run.html)
Here is what reminded me of the above.
A Team Without Fans
It’s hard to imagine a sports team without any fans, but that’s the case when it comes to the Gainesville Tornadoes basketball team. The team members are from the Gainesville State School in Texas, a juvenile correction facility for felony offenders. They are used to playing without fans, but that all changed thanks to two basketball players at Vanguard College Prep in Waco. There’s a lesson in here for everyone to learn about how to play sports and be a winner no matter what the final score is.
Robert E. Chatfield
Lighten up time.
Attached you will find some Church signs that might bring a smile.
Seeing those reminded me of the multitudinous pages of church bulletins in my files. I’ll not forward all at once, just a sampling. I think you’ll get a kick out of some of these.
CHURCH BULLITANS
The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes snacks and meals
The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.' The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.'
Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.
Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say 'Hell' to someone who doesn't care much about you..
Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.
Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I will not pass this way again, ' giving obvious
pleasure to the congregation.
Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends
a friendship that began in their school days.
A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.
At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice.
Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new
members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled.
Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you
will want remembered.
The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and
gracious hostility..
Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow.
The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B. S. Is done.
The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the Congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.
Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7 PM. Please use the back door.
The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7 PM. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First
Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
Song Lyrics: What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and briefs to bear.
Church sign: Jesus Saves! Safeway sign across the street: Safeway saves you more!
For the group of ladies called Moms Who Care and pray for the children in school. When their meeting was cancelled one week: There will be no Moms who care this week.
Don’t forget, see the attached.
Robert E. Chatfield
"Few things can help an individual more than to place responsibility on him, and to let him know that you trust him." Booker T. Washington
If you could kick the person in the pants responsible for most of your troubles, you wouldn't be able to sit down for a month.
This is a story about four people: Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody.
There was an important job to be done and Everybody was asked to do it.
Everybody was sure Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it.
Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought
Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it.
It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when actually Nobody asked Anybody.
On Personal Responsibility
"…..I being in the way, the Lord led me……..."1
Somebody has pointed out that there are two
ways to reach the top of an oak tree—you can climb it or sit on an acorn and
wait!
I was criticized once for suggesting that I wanted Jesus to be my co-pilot. I was informed that Jesus is to be our pilot.
I know that sounds good. However, in the Christian life it is sometimes difficult to discern how much God does for us and how much we need to do for ourselves. One thing is certain, God will do for us what we are not able to do for ourselves (that's why He sent Jesus to die in our place to pay the penalty for all our sins), but He won't do for us what we are quite capable of doing and need to do ourselves. If He did, He would be being codependent and that would keep us over-dependent, irresponsible and immature.
God has promised to give us wisdom if we ask for it, guidance if we seek it, and be with us wherever we go if we ask Him to—providing we stay within the limits of His guidelines and boundaries. The fact is, however, that we are always responsible for the decisions we make and the actions we take. We are in charge of our life.
When Abraham sent his chief servant (possibly Eliezer)2 to seek a wife for his son, Isaac, as he set out to do this, he prayed for God to direct and help him make the best choice. He didn't sit around waiting for "the right person" to come along. He went looking for her. However, as he did his part, God led him. That is why he said, "I being in the way, the Lord led me."
Doing our part is accepting personal responsibility. As I do this, I can rest assured God will do His part. We will sit and wait for a long time if we expect otherwise.
1. Abraham's servant, Genesis 24:27
2. See Genesis 15:2.
Robert E. Chatfield
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight. Isaiah 5:20-21
"Don't cut your conscience to fit this year's fashions." Lillian Hellman
"There's no doubt politically correct history was in the making with the 2012 presidential race. We may have had either the first Black president, the first Woman president, or the first Mormon president. Could have killed three birds with one stone - if we had elected Gladys Knight president we could have called it a day." Lloyd Benson & Kyle Stephens, Sandstone Stake
Political Correctness Oxymoron
"But thou, O man of God, 'flee' these things; and 'follow' after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 'Fight' the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses" ('emphasis' mine).1
If there were ever a day when people and
churches need to take a stand for moral living it is today. If abortionists and
homosexuals have their way it may, in the not too distant future, be a crime
for anyone, including the church, to quote the Bible regarding these issues and
argue for God's position. Just writing on this topic is bound to get me
criticized—it pretty much always does.
According to Chuck Colson: "Particularly some younger evangelicals are
suggesting that we stay away from divisive issues like abortion and
homosexuality altogether and just go back and be like the first-century
Church—stay out of politics, tend to our spiritual knitting.
"I wonder what early Church they are talking about. Take just the issue of
abortion. The early Church was outspokenly pro-life right from the beginning
just as the Jews had been. In the second chapter of the Didache,
one of the first discipleship books for young Christians written in the first
century, was this stern injunction: 'Thou shall not murder a child by abortion
nor kill them when born.' Justin Martyr wrote about this in his first apology.
And in the second century, Athenagoras wrote a plea to Emperor Marcus Aurelius:
'We say that women that use drugs to bring abortion commit murder and will have
to give an account to God for the abortion.'"2
Churches and Christians who refuse or fail to
take a stand for that which is morally right according to God's Word are
not like the early Christians. They are being controlled by political
correctness which, in reality (much of it) is political incorrectness and will,
if we continue to allow it, eventually weaken and make the church ineffective
as it has become in much of Europe. While Jesus always loved sinners, He never
approved of sinful behaviors in any form—nor was He ever concerned about being
politically correct.
Had He been, we would not have a Savior or the gift of salvation and God's
forgiveness. We would be eternally lost.
Today, Christian churches and we who call ourselves Christians need to stand up
and be counted; that is, as the Apostle Paul commissioned Timothy: Flee all
sinful immoral behavior … Follow after righteousness … and Fight the
good fight for truth and that which is morally correct rather than that which
is politically correct.
1. The Apostle Paul (1 Timothy 6:11-12).
2. Chuck Colson, BreakPoint, August 1, 2006 www.breakpoint.org.
Robert E. Chatfield
"It is the soldier, not
the reporter,
Who has given us freedom of the press.
It is the soldier, not the poet,
Who has given us freedom of speech.
It is the soldier, not the campus organizer,
Who has given us the freedom to demonstrate.
It is the soldier, who salutes the flag, who serves
beneath the flag, and whose coffin is draped by the flag,
who allows the protester to burn the flag."
Father Dennis Edward O'Brien, USMC
When you go home
Tell them for us and say
For your tomorrow
We gave our today.
Anonymous
From outside the Marine cemetery on Iwo Jima (Flags of Our Fathers, James
Bradley, 2000)
On this Memorial Day we must share a couple videos.
The first has been around for a long time, tells a sweet story worth seeing again.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyZ9b4My6NU
Another sent by Gary Kohl that touched a nerve on Joan and I.
Be sure and see the mailing of our trip to Cherbourg, France to see why.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=97&v=8k9Si28k0Fk
Robert E. Chatfield
|
I predict today's thought will elicit one of three reactions: 1. "Oh, yes, yes, yes, that is so true!!!!!!!!!" 2. "And the eternal principle is?????" 3. "Come on, get real, you've got to be kidding! No way that is reality!" You can guess from whence we come. |
|
"You can say any foolish thing to a dog, and the dog will give you a look that says, 'Wow, you're right! I never would've thought of that!'” Dave Barry
"A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he
loves himself."
“The world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog.” M.K. Clinton
“The better I get to know men, the more I find myself loving dogs.” Charles de Gaulle
“Once you have had a wonderful dog, a life without one, is a life
diminished.”
"My Dog is NOT Human" By Bob Perks
Okay, I want to settle this once and for all.
I see much discussion on the internet about whether dogs are really people.
Often times people feel that their dogs are exhibiting human qualities and traits.
I will admit that I was caught up in this foolishness, too.
After much research I finally have come to the conclusion that "My dog is NOThuman."
Please don't try to convince me otherwise.
Don't start sending me your video clips and recent studies either.
I am a sensitive, caring man and have over recent months experienced the loss of two of my three dogs.
At the time I was convinced that I had lost two of my best friends.
I went into deep depression and it took many weeks to accept this.
But they were dogs. "Best friends" are meant to be people.
So, how did I come to this conclusion?
Simple.
If I have a bad day, my dog doesn't care. I can walk in the door and he will greet me with all the enthusiasm he can muster.
He never carries a grudge.
What human does that?
If I am upset and yell at him, his ears go back and he can feel the anger, but immediately within seconds, his tail begins to wag and he wants to go on as though nothing is wrong. Within seconds!
What human does that?
If I am suddenly overwhelmed with life and begin to cry, he senses it and doesn't tell me to stop, or "get over it!" He approaches carefully and climbs upon my lap.
At the first opening he kisses me like I had been gone all day and he is happy for my return.
What human does that?
If I am broke and my bills are piling up, He doesn't love me any less. His commitment to me is constant and without change whether I am rich or poor.
What human does that?
I can live in a castle or a cardboard box and he would be content just because I was there with him.
If I must travel and he is left with others, he doesn't get mad because I didn't take him with me. All he cares about is that I came back.
If I have the flu he doesn't stay away fearing he might catch something. He remains by my side no matter what.
The world could hate me and he would not care, for he loves me for who I am to him, not by world standards.
If he is sick he comes to me because he knows that I care enough to help him.
When the time comes and he is old and can no longer run, play, or follow me from room to room, he will let me know that it's time for him to go.
He will trust that I will make the right decision no matter how painful it is for me.
He completely, without question trusts, without conviction loves, and without formal, legal, contractual obligation stays.
It truly is an unspoken vow, "to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better,for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish,till death do us part"
What human does all of that?
No, my friend. My dog is NOT human. I wouldn't want to insult him by saying so.
He is far better than that. And I am far better because of him.
When all else have gone, when everyone has gvien up on me...he remains.
I ask you, "What human does that?"
"I believe in you!" J Bob Wait...SIT! STAY!
Enjoy this video...
|
Robert E. Chatfield
"God has entrusted me with myself." Epictetus
Victories in life come through our ability to work around and over the obstacles that cross our path. We grow stronger as we climb our own mountains. Marvin J. Ashton
Don't go through life, grow through life. Eric Butterworth
Continue to invest in your personal development. Expand your occupational horizons by constant study . . . look to your present job as a stepping-stone along your career path. Take time to think. The dimensions of most jobs are constrained only by the mind of the uncreative worker. I like what one business man counseled: If at first you do succeed, try something harder!!! J. Richard Clarke
"Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still." Chinese proverb
Wise Advice
"You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift. You cannot help small men by tearing down big men. You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong. You cannot lift the wage-earner by pulling down the wage-payer. You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich. You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income. You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred. You cannot establish security on borrowed money. You cannot build character and courage by taking away men's initiative and independence. You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves."
Abraham Lincoln
Robert E. Chatfield
What does not kill me makes me stronger. Friedrich Nietzsche
"Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict."
William Channing
"If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere."
Frank A. Clark
When everything seems to be going against you, remember the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it. Henry Ford
There is no
oil, if olives are not squeezed...
No wine, if grapes are not pressed...
No perfume, if flowers are not crushed...
Have you felt any pressure in life today?
Don't worry... God is just bringing out the best in you!
Sometimes it is the hardest things in life that bring us closer to our Heavenly Father.
Bearing our burdens with Hope
Robert E. Chatfield
"The holy scriptures represent mankind's spiritual memory." Neal A. Maxwell
"If you pray for an angel to visit you, you know what he'll do if he comes. He'll just quote the scriptures to you - so you know you're wasting your time waiting for what we already have. Though you are amused by my saying this, I'm quite serious about it." Hugh Nibley
"On the straight, narrow path, which leads to our little Calvarys, one does not hear a serious traveler exclaim," Look, no hands!" Neal A. Maxwell
Mark Twain once said, "Most people are bothered by those Scripture passages that they cannot understand. But for me, the passages in Scripture that trouble me most are those that I do understand."
Ignoring the Warnings
"And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment."1
I read about a West Virginia State Trooper who stopped a woman driver for going 15 miles over the speed limit. After handing her a ticket, the driver asked him, "Don't you give out warnings?"
"Yes, ma'am," he replied. "They're all up and down the road. They say, 'Speed Limit 55.'"2
I can imagine that many people—who have rejected God all their life and failed to accept His forgiveness for their sins—when they stand before God at the end of life's journey and are required to give an account of their life and receive God's judgment are going to want to say the same as the lady above: "Don't you give out warnings?"
I can imagine God saying, "Yes, sir/madam, the Scriptures are filled with warnings from cover to cover to prepare for life after death. And every year of your life you were reminded of my offer of forgiveness and eternal life at both Christmas and Easter."
1. Hebrews 9:27
2. from Reader's Digest, "All in a Day's Work," by Patricia Greenlee.
Robert E. Chatfield
For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:6
We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel Third Article of Faith
"Mercifully, our errors can soon be swallowed up by resilient repentance, showing the faith to try again--whether in a task or in a relationship. Such resilience is really an affirmation of our true identities! Spirit sons and daughters of God need not be permanently put down when lifted up by Jesus' Atonement. Christ's infinite Atonement thus applies to our finite failures!" Neal A. Maxwell
If we could only understand
All we have heard and seen,
We'd know there is no greater gift
Than those two words--"Washed clean!"
The Mediator
Great video parable explaining the Atonement.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VTMWVpzx4M
CREATE IN ME A CLEAN HEART
Two bachelors were talking one day, and their conversation drifted from politics to sports to cooking.
One of them said, "I got a cookbook once, but I could never do anything with it."
The other one said, "Too much fancy work in it, huh?"
You first one said, "Yeah, it sure was. Every one of the recipes began the same way - 'Take a clean dish.'"
Our relationship with God is much the same. God says, "Take a clean life", and we go, "Wait a minute, that's a problem." Because "… all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." (Romans 3:23). Our lives are not clean. We're stained by sin.
Making the matter even more difficult is the fact that we do not have the ability to cleanse ourselves: "Who can say, 'I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin'?" (Proverbs 20:9). The answer is, "No one."
Fortunately, God offers cleansing through the blood of Jesus Christ. So our plea to God is that of David: "Wash me thoroughly from mine sin, and cleanse me from my sin.....Create in me a clean heart, O God…..." (Psalm 51:2,10)
May our attitude be such that we are willing to do what God says
in order to receive the cleansing he offers. And praise be to God for his
willingness to make clean what we cannot!
Have a great day!
Alan
Smith
Robert E. Chatfield
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the alter, and there rememberst that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the alter, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy Gift. Matt 5:23, 24
"A good way to have the last word is to apologize." Barbara Johnson
Never ruin an apology with an excuse. Kimberly Johnson
Six Powerful Words
Dick Innis
"And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his chest, saying, 'God, be merciful unto me a sinner.'"1
I have read how a parts manager for a small electronics shop had occasion to order part No. 669 from the factory. But when he received it he noticed that someone had sent part No. 699 instead.
Furious at the factory's incompetence, he promptly sent the part back along with a letter giving them a piece of his mind. Less than a week later, he received the same part back with a letter containing just four words: "TURN THE PART OVER."2
Sadly, too many of us are too quick to blame others for our "mistrakes" and too slow to apologize for them.
When it comes to relationships, blaming others for our problems can be disastrous. Tell me … I've taught in divorce recovery classes for years and I'd say about 90 percent of the divorcees I've worked with primarily blame their former spouse for the breakup of their marriage—without even considering that every one of us contributes something to a failed relationship.
True, we all make mistakes, but the one who wins in the long run is not the one who plays the blame-game but the one who can say and genuinely mean the following six words: "I was wrong. Please forgive me."
Furthermore, the only person God can help is the one who can say from the heart, "God, be merciful unto me, a sinner."
1. Luke 18:13
2. Sunday Funnies Humor, http://www.net153.com/best.htm
Robert E. Chatfield
Trials, temptations, disappointments -- all these are helps instead of hindrances, if one uses them rightly. They not only test the fiber of a character, but strengthen it. Every conquered temptation represents a new fund of moral energy. Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before. James Buckham
Difficulties strengthen the mind, as labor does the body. Seneca
I asked God to take away my pain
God said, No. It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up
I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.
God said, No. Her spirit was whole, her body was only temporary.
I asked God to grant me patience.
God said, No. Patience is a by-product of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is earned.
I asked God to give me happiness.
God said, No. I give you blessings. Happiness is up to you.
I asked God to spare me pain.
God said, No. Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.
I asked God to make my spirit grow.
God said, No. You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.
I asked for all things that I might enjoy life.
God said, No. I will give you life so that you may enjoy all things.
I ask God to help me LOVE others, as much as he loves me.
God said... Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.
Don't be afraid of pressure. Remember that pressure is what turns a lump of coal into a diamond.
You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you stop to look fear in the face. Eleanor Roosevelt
The Refiners Fire is real
Robert E. Chatfield
"Conscience is the inner voice that warns us somebody is looking."
Henry Louis Mencken
A conscience is what hurts when all your other parts feel so good.
A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory
"Every time I've done something that doesn't feel right, it's ended up not being right." Mario Cuomo
Your conscience may not keep you from doing wrong, but it sure keeps you from enjoying it.
"There is no pillow so soft as a clear conscience." French proverb
Your Key Is Still in the Ignition
"Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the later times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils. Speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their conscience seared with a hot iron."1
Some time ago I read the following story in Focus on the Family magazine
about a man who bought a car that had replaced warning lights with spoken
instructions from a woman.
In a soft voice, his little woman, as he called her, would say, "Your door
isn't closed properly." "Your key is still in the ignition."
"Your seatbelt isn't fastened properly."
On one occasion, he recalled how the voice of his little woman said, "Your
fuel level is getting low."
The driver thanked her and, figuring he had sufficient fuel to take him fifty
more miles, ignored the voice and kept driving. Soon his little woman repeated,
"Your fuel level is low." The longer he drove, the more his little
woman repeated her warning.
Getting frustrated, he stopped his car, searched under the dashboard, and found
the appropriate wires. One quick jerk and his little woman was silenced.
Imagine the look on his face when, a few minutes later, his car sputtered and
jerked to a standstill—out of fuel! One could almost imagine a grin on his
little woman's face!
We all have a little voice within. It's called conscience (The light of
Christ). It can get very annoying at times, too. Sometimes we "pull its
wires" and, too late, we discover we are "out of fuel."
One danger, when we ignore the voice of our conscience and don't live according
to our convictions, is that our mind experiences what counselors call
"cognitive dissonance." That is, mental disharmony. Because this is
too uncomfortable to live with, we switch off our conscience.
When we do this often enough, our mind not only switches off the voice of
conscience, but turns up the volume on the voice of rationalization and
justification.
The sad fact is that if we don't live the life we believe, we end up unhappily
believing the life we live. The Scriptures call this having a seared
conscience. It is a dangerous and self-destructive path to follow.
Robert E. Chatfield
"If you do what you have always done, you'll get what you've always gotten."
"Do not doubt your abilities. Do not delay your worthy impressions. With God’ Help, you cannot fail. He will give you the courage to participate in meaningful change and purposeful living.” Marvin J. Ashton
"If in the last few years you haven't discarded a major opinion or acquired a new one, check your pulse, you may be dead." Frank Gelett Burgess
Change is not merely necessary to life, it is life." Alvin Toffler
The Agony of Defeat
For years, the opening of "The Wide World
of Sports" television program illustrated "the agony of defeat"
with a painful ending to an attempted ski jump. The skier appeared in good form
as he headed down the jump, but then, for no apparent reason, he tumbled head
over heels off the side of the jump, bouncing off the supporting structure.
What viewers didn't know was that he chose to
fall rather than finish the jump. Why? As he explained later, the jump surface
had become too fast, and midway down the ramp, he realized if he completed the
jump, he would land on the level ground, beyond the safe sloping landing area,
which could have been fatal.
As it was, the skier suffered no more than a
headache from the tumble. To change one's course in life can be a dramatic and
sometimes painful undertaking, but change is better than a fatal landing at the
end.
Robert E. Chatfield
"The secret of a happy marriage is to serve God and each other. The goal of marriage is unity and oneness, as well as self-development. Paradoxically, the more we serve one another, the greater is our spiritual and emotional growth." Ezra Taft Benson
"True love is not so much a matter of romance as it is a matter of anxious concern for the well-being of one's companion." Gordon B. Hinckley
"Men and women are of equal value before God and must be equally valuable in the eyes of each other." Marion D. Hanks
"Think to Thank. In these three words are the finest capsule course for a happy marriage, a formula for enduring friendship, and a pattern for personal happiness." Thomas S. Monson
Every Marriage Needs Four Things
By Kent Crockett
A party was thrown in honor of a couple's 50th
wedding anniversary. The husband wanted to honor his wife, who was hard of
hearing. In the presence of all, he said,
"My dear wife, after fifty years I've found
you tried and true!"
Everyone clapped but his wife looked bothered.
She loudly asked, "WHAT DID YOU SAY?"
He spoke louder, "After fifty years of
being married I've found you tried and true!"
The upset wife shouted back, "And after
fifty years of marriage I'm tired of you, too!" Four things will keep you
from getting tired of your spouse and will insure a happy marriage.
1. Commitment--holds your marriage together. A
marriage is only as strong as the husband's and wife's commitment to the Lord.
If your spouse is faithful to the Lord, he or she will also be faithful to you.
A study on marriage revealed that the divorce rate for a
married couple who attended church every week,
regularly read the Bible, and prayed together at least once a day was 1 in
1,015.
2. Caring--keeps the love alive. If your
marriage has lost its love, the Lord can resurrect it because "God is
love" (1 John 4:8). He will show you what to do because we are
"taught by God to love one another" (1 Thess. 4:9).
3. Compromise--minimizes your differences.
Compromise doesn't mean that you violate your integrity, but that you negotiate
your differences and come to an agreement. "Do not merely look out for
your own interests, but also for the interest of others" (Phil. 2:4). My
wife and I used to argue about where to set the thermostat in the house. I like
it 76 degrees and she wants it 72 degrees. We agreed to set the thermostat at
74 degrees. End of argument. If you are arguing about issues, figure out how to
meet in the middle and quit fighting about it.
4. Communication--makes marriage run
smoothly. Communication stops when
yelling begins. If a husband and wife don't enjoy talking to each other, they
will drift apart and the marriage will slowly die. Learn to talk positively
about what interests your spouse.
It will take both spouses doing these four
things to make your marriage work, but change usually starts with one spouse
taking the initiative. You make the first move and let God deal with your
spouse.
Robert E. Chatfield
[Speaking of a book of scripture:] "He who reads it oftenest will like it best."
Joseph Smith
"We live and will one day die. And when we do, we will know our Savior, for we will have searched the Holy Scriptures and felt His nearness as He walks with us on our journey home." Ardeth G. Kapp
"I have reached the stage where I have nothing more to say. As far as I am concerned the scriptures say it all." Hugh Nibley
"Brothers and sisters, you don't have to be a natural student to read the scriptures; you just need to love the Lord." J. Richard Clarke
Almost Persuaded
Dick Innes
"'King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe' Then Agrippa said to Paul, 'You almost persuade me to become a Christian.'"¹
Brett Blair writes how "on January 23, 1909, a small invention played a crucial role in the lives of 1500 people. The New York-bound ocean liner, the Florida, rammed into the Republic. Jack Binns, the Republic's new wireless radio man, reassembled his contraption which had been destroyed in the collision. He sent out distress calls for the next 12 hours until the crew and passengers were rescued in the dawn light of Sunday morning. Only a few died.
"Jack Binns became a national hero. He was given a ticker tape parade. Songs were written about him. He even testified before Congress on the importance of regulating wireless technology on all ships. Congress listened politely but ignored his message.
Binn gave up his quest, accepted no profit from his celebrity, and went back home to England to await reassignment. Three years later he received an assignment aboard a ship that he turned down. He had fallen in love and was soon to marry. The turned down assignment? The Titanic.
"It is now felt that Binn's message was ignored because so few lives were lost on the Republic. It took tragedy on the scale of the Titanic for the importance of wireless to be understood."2
King Agrippa was an almost-persuaded ... but lost. Be certain not to wait until it is too late to take heed of God's warnings in the scriptures. Be sure you have accepted God's Plan of Salvation. Whatever you do, don't be an almost-persuaded.
1. Acts 26:27-28
2. Brett Blair, www.eSermons.com, December, 2000
Robert E. Chatfield
"The truth of the matter is that you always know the right thing to do. The hard part is doing it."
Gen. Norman Schwarzkoff
There may be a wrong way to do the right thing, but never a right way to do a
wrong thing.
"The time is always right to do what is right." Martin Luther King, Jr.
"It may not always be easy, convenient, or politically correct to stand for truth and right, but it is always the right thing to do. Always." Elder M. Russell
FORCED TO DO RIGHT
An investment counselor was doing well in her business and realized that she needed an in-house counsel, so she began interviewing young lawyers.
"As I'm sure you can
understand," she started off with one of the first applicants, "in a
business like this, our personal integrity must be beyond question."
She leaned forward. "Mr. Peterson, are you an *honest* lawyer?"
"Honest?" replied
the job prospect. "Let me tell you something about honesty.
Why, I'm so honest that my father lent me fifteen thousand dollars for my
education and I paid back every penny the minute I tried my very first
case."
"Impressive..... And
what sort of case was that?"
The lawyer squirmed in his
seat and admitted, "He sued me for the money."
Sometimes we do the right
thing simply because it's the right thing to do. But sometimes we do the
right thing because we have no choice. Our motivation may not always be
clear to those around us, but it will eventually become evident.
For example, I see it often
with college students and young soldiers. For years, they attended church
with Mom and Dad. But as soon as they get out on their own, making their
own decisions, it becomes evident whether they attended all those years because
they thought it was the right thing to do or merely because they were forced to
go.
What is your
motivation? Do you serve God because you feel that you have to, or
because you believe it's the right thing to do? May we all seek to have
the attitude of David:
"I rejoice at Your word
as one who finds great treasure....I love Your law.....My soul keeps your
testimonies and I love them exceedingly.....Let Your hand become my help, for I
have chosen Your precepts. I long for Your salvation, O Lord, and Your
law is my delight." (Psa. 119:162,163b,167,173-174)
Robert E. Chatfield
A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance. Eccl 3:4
"A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs--jolted by every pebble in the road." Henry Ward Beecher
So, let’s lighten things up a little.
Winston Churchill's Witty Sayings
Churchill loved paraprosdokians
Have you ever heard or seen that word before?
A paraprosdokian (/pærəprɒsˈdoʊkiən/) is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence, phrase, or larger discourse is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to reframe or reinterpret the first part. It is frequently used for humorous or dramatic effect, sometimes producing an anticlimax. For this reason, it is extremely popular among comedians and satirists.[1] Some paraprosdokians not only change the meaning of an early phrase, but they also play on the double meaning of a particular word, creating a form of syllepsis.
1. Where there's a will, I want to be in
it.
2. The last thing I want to do is hurt
you, but it's still on my list.
3. Since light travels faster than sound,
some people appear bright until you hear them speak.
4. If I agreed with you, we'd both be
wrong.
5. War does not determine who is
right--only who is left.
6. Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a
fruit. Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
7. They begin the evening news with
"Good Evening," then proceed to tell you why it isn't.
8. To steal ideas from one person is
plagiarism. To steal from many is
research.
9. I thought I wanted a career. Turns out,
I just wanted pay checks.
10. In filling out an application, where it
says, "In case of emergency, notify:" I put 'DOCTOR.'
11. I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was
blaming you.
12. Women will never be equal to men until they
can walk down the street ... with a bald head and a beer gut, and still think
they are [attractive].
13. Behind every successful man is his woman.
Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman.
14. A clear conscience is the sign of a fuzzy
memory.
15. You do not need a parachute to skydive. You
only need a parachute to skydive twice.
16. Money can't
buy happiness, but it sure makes misery easier to live with.
17. There's a fine line between cuddling and
holding someone down so they can't get away.
18. I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not so
sure.
19. You're never too old to learn something
stupid.
20. To be sure of hitting the target, shoot
first and claim that wherever you hit was the target.
21. Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.
22. Change is inevitable, except from a vending
machine.
23. Going to church doesn't make you a Christian
any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.
24. I'm supposed to respect my elders, but now
it's getting harder and harder for me to find one.
Maybe not from Winston Churchill, but possibly the ultimate.
In Memorium
With all the sadness and
trauma going on in the world at the moment, it is worth reflecting on the death
of a very important person, which almost went unnoticed last week. Larry
LaPrise, the man who wrote "The Hokey Pokey" died peacefully at age
93.
The most traumatic part for
his family was getting him into the coffin. They put his left leg
in. And then the trouble started.
Robert E. Chatfield
"There are many ways of going forward, but only one way of standing still."
Franklin D. Roosevelt
"Human development . . . consists of both refusing to do evil and choosing to do good." Neal A. Maxwell
"Only if you reach the boundary will the boundary recede before you. And if you don't, if you confine your efforts, the boundary will shrink to accommodate itself to your efforts. And you can only expand your capacities by working to the very limit." Hugh Nibley
"I do not believe that any man lives up to his ideals, But if we are striving, if we are working, if we are trying, to the best of our ability, to improve day by day, then we are in the line of our duty. If we are seeking to remedy our own defects, if we are so living that we can ask God for light, for knowledge, for intelligence, and above all for his spirit, that we may overcome weaknesses, then I can tell you, we are in the straight and narrow path that leads to life eternal. Then we need have no fear." Heber J. Grant
KEEP GETTING BETTER
even if you think you're good enough
BE HONEST -- even when others aren't and it may cost more than you want to pay.
KEEP YOUR PROMISES -- even when it's costly or
inconvenient.
TREAT EVERYONE WITH RESPECT -- even if they
don't deserve it.
FULFILL YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES -- even if you
could dodge them.
DO WHAT'S RIGHT -- even if you have a right to
do something less.
BE ACCOUNTABLE -- even if you have a good excuse
or scapegoat.
BE FAIR -- even when you can take more than your
share.
BE KIND -- even to strangers and people who
can't help you.
PLAY BY THE RULES -- even when others aren't.
KEEP GETTING BETTER - even if you think you're
good enough.
This is Michael Josephson reminding you that
character counts.
Robert E. Chatfield
And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. Luke 19:17
"It's the little things that make the big things possible. Only close attention to the fine details of any operation makes the operation first class."
J. Willard Marriot
"It's the little things that bother us and put us on the rack, you can sit upon a mountain but you can't sit on a tack!"
It's the little things that make the big things possible. Only close attention to the fine details of any operation makes the operation first class.
Little things can do great damage: a little lie here, a little cheating there, a little stealing, a little gossip, and/or a little unresolved conflict—like a little gash in a mighty ship—can open a floodgate of damage somewhere down the track.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y97rBdSYbkg
The Little Things
Mary Dawson Hughes
It really is the little things
That mean the most of all...
The "let me help you with that"
things
That may seem very small.
The "I'll be glad to do it"
things
That make your cares much lighter,
The "laugh with me, it's funny"
things
That make your outlook brighter...
The "never mind the trouble"
things,
The "yes, I understand,"
The interest and encouragement
In everything you've planned.
It really is the little things,
The friendly word or smile,
That add such happiness to life
And make it more worthwhile.
Source: Inspiration Peak at:
http://www.inspirationpeak.com/
Robert E. Chatfield
For those who are not with us on Facebook.
1. Today’s thought was so well received a couple days ago we thought we would share it here.
2. Why aren’t we friends on Facebook. More spiritual thoughts there.
I must apologize in advance for today’s post.
I know, it is not very charitable.
It’s just a hoot.
And sometimes, you just have to sit back and
laugh.
We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard to remain stupid. Benjamin Franklin
Life is tough, but it's tougher if you're stupid. John Wayne
The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits. Albert Einstein
Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Robert E. Chatfield
"Time is numbered only to man. God has your eternal perspective in mind."
Ezra Taft Benson (November 1988 Ensign, page 97)
Time is a very precious gift of God; So precious that it's only given to us moment by moment
In truth, people can generally make time for what they choose to do; it is not really the time but the will that is lacking. Sir John Lubbock
The Italian government is considering installing a clock in the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The reason? What good is it if you have the inclination, but you don't have the time?
People who make the worst use of time may be the same ones who complain that there is never enough time.
Make Today an Investment
"This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; in its place is something that you have left behind ... let it be something good."
Robert E. Chatfield
............... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord Joshua 24:15
"It is one thing to talk about the gospel, but it is quite another to live it. It is one thing to preach about Christ, but it is another to follow in his footsteps." Angel Abrea
"What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say." Ralph Waldo Emerson
“Live so that others will want to know Christ because they know you.” R. Quinn Gardner
If you were sued for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you.
DID YOU REMEMBER TO LIGHT YOUR CANDLE?
A circus owner walked into a restaurant to see everyone crowded around a table watching a little show. On the table was an upside down pot and a duck tap dancing on it.
The circus owner was so impressed that he offered to buy the duck from its owner. After some wheeling and dealing they settled for $10,000 for the duck and the pot.
Three days later the circus owner runs back to the restaurant in anger, "Your duck is a rip-off! I put him on the pot before a whole audience and he didn't dance a single step!"
"So?" asked the duck's former owner, "did you remember to light the candle under the pot?"
Well, that might be one reason that someone would put a lighted candle under a pot, but that's not what candles are for! As Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount, candles are meant to "giveth light unto all that are in the house." In like manner, our Christian lives are to "shine before men." (Matt. 5:16-17). The reason is that we are to be a positive influence on others around us.
We sometimes speak of a "secret Christian" as if that's a possibility. The truth is, unless our lives are reflecting the light of Jesus Christ, we're not living Christian lives at all. If we don't influence the world around us for Christ, the world will influence us.
"For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord.
Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth)." (Eph. 5:8-9).
Did you remember to light your candle?
Robert E. Chatfield
SOMEONE WILL NEED ME
By Julie O'Brien
Someone, yes, someone
Will need me today.
I don't know who
Or in what way.
But, our paths will cross
And I will be given
The chance to help someone
In his daily living!
It may be a "friend",
Or a "passer-by"
Whose life I can touch
If I really try.
I'll give of myself
For today I'm aware
Of showing another
That I " REALLY CARE " !!
Lord, grant me kindness
In what I do and say
For someone, yes, someone
Will need me today!
A man and his wife were awakened at 3:00 AM by a loud pounding on the door.
The man gets up and goes to the door where a
drunken stranger, standing in the pouring rain, is asking for a push.
"Not a chance," says the husband,
"it is 3:00 in the morning!"
He slams the door and returns to bed.
"Who was that?" asked his wife.
"Just some drunk guy asking for a
push," he answers.
"Did you help him?" she asks.
"No, I did not, it's 3 in the morning and
it's pouring rain out there!"
"Well, you have a short memory," says
his wife. "Can't you remember about three months ago when we broke down,
and those two guys helped us? I think you should help him, and you should be
ashamed of yourself! God loves drunk people, too, you know."
The man does as he is told, gets dressed, and
goes out into the pouring rain.
He calls out into the dark, "Hello, are you
still there?"
"Yes," comes back the answer.
"Do you still need a push?" calls out
the husband.
"Yes, please!" comes the reply from
the dark.
"Where are you?" asks the husband.
"Over here on the swing," replied the
drunk.
Robert E. Chatfield
“The price of greatness is responsibility.” Winston S. Churchill
“Most people do not really want freedom, because freedom involves responsibility, and most people are frightened of responsibility.”
Sigmund Freud
“Eventually we all have to accept full and total responsibility for our actions, everything we have done, and have not done.” Hubert Selby Jr
“Liberty means responsibility. That is why most men dread it.” George Bernard Shaw
“Your life begins to change the day you take responsibility for it.” Steve Maraboli
Be Responsible—Do Right
"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatever ye do, do all to the glory of God."1
Today's Thought was written by Commander
Eric J. Berryman.
The USS Astoria (C-34) was the first U.S. cruiser to engage
the Japanese during the Battle of Savo Island, a night action fought 8-9 August
1942. Although she scored two hits on the Imperial flagship Chokai, the Astoria
was badly damaged and sank shortly after noon, 9 August.
About 0200 hours a young midwesterner, Signalman 3rd Class Elgin Staples, was
swept overboard by the blast when the Astoria's number one eight-inch gun
turret exploded. Wounded in both legs by shrapnel and in semi-shock, he was
kept afloat by a narrow life belt that he managed to activate with a simple
trigger mechanism.
At around 0600 hours, Staples was rescued by a passing destroyer and returned
to the Astoria, whose captain was attempting to save the cruiser by beaching
her. The effort failed, and Staples, still wearing the same life belt, found
himself back in the water. He was picked up again, this time by the USS
President Jackson (AP-37), he was one of 500 survivors of the battle who were
evacuated to Noumea.
On board the transport, Staples, for the first time, closely examined the life
belt that had served him so well. It had been manufactured by Firestone Tire
and Rubber Company of Akron, Ohio, and bore a registration number.
Given home leave Staples told his story and asked his mother, who worked for
Firestone, about the purpose of the number on the belt. She replied that the
company insisted on personal responsibility for the war effort, and that the
number was unique and assigned to only one inspector. Staples remembered
everything about the lifebelt, and quoted the number. It was his mother's
personal code and affixed to every item she was responsible for approving.2
When we always do what is right, the person
we help the most in many ways is most likely to be our own self and that of our
loved ones.
1. 1 Corinthians 10:31
2. Commander Eric J. Berryman, U.S. Naval Reserve,Proceedings, U.S. Naval Institute, vol. 15/6/1036 (June 1989), P. 48; via www.SermonCentral.com. Cited on PreachingNow, March 28, 2006. http://www.preaching.com/
Robert E. Chatfield
Woe unto them that call evil good and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. Isa 5:20, 2 Ne 15:20
“God did not create evil. Just as darkness is the absence of light, evil is the absence of God.”
“In each of us, two natures are at war – the good and the evil. All our lives the fight goes on between them, and one of them must conquer. But in our own hands lies the power to choose – what we want most to be we are.” Robert Louis Stevenson
“Poor God, how often He is blamed for all the suffering in the world. It’s like praising Satan for allowing all the good that happens.”
Received this from Howard Gallamore
There might be hope yet! A Pastor with GUTS
Thought you might enjoy this enjoy interesting prayer given in Kansas at the opening session of their House of Representatives on January 23, 1996 by Pastor Joe Wright.
It seems prayer still upsets some People... When Minister Joe Wright was asked to open the new session of the Kansas Senate, everyone was expecting the usual generalities, but this is what they heard:
Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your Direction and Guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe unto them that call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done.
We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values.
We have exploited the poor and called it The Lottery.
We have rewarded laziness and called it Welfare.
We have killed our unborn and called it Choice.
We have shot Abortionists and called it justifiable.
We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building Self-esteem.
We have abused power and called it Politics.
We have coveted our neighbor's' possessions and called it Ambition.
We have polluted the air with profanity and Pornography and called it Freedom of expression.
We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment.
Search us, Oh, God, and Know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free.
Amen!
The response was immediate. One legislator walked out. During the prayer in protest.
In 6 short weeks, Central Christian Church, where Rev. Wright is Pastor, logged more than 5,000 phone calls with only 47 of those calls responding negatively. The church is now receiving international requests for copies of this prayer from India, Africa and Korea.
With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called 'one nation under God.'
Hear the prayer here Pastor Joe Wright's Prayer
Robert E. Chatfield
This is for those who immediately identify with this problem and those who say, “This will never happen to me!”
My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, "Grandma, do you know how you and God are alike?"
I mentally polished my halo and I said, "No, how are we alike?''
"You're both old," he replied.
Everyone has a photographic memory. Some just don't have film.
At my age, I've seen it all, done it all, heard it all...I just can't remember it all.
"Youth would be an ideal state if it came a little later in life." Herbert Henry Asquith
Looking for wallet
Tom Rush
Robert E. Chatfield
One more thought you can also find on Facebook.
How to make life a real upper!
Life is mostly froth and bubble;
Two things stand like stone:
Kindness in another's trouble
Courage in our own.
Adam Lindsay Gordon
I found that all the important lessons of life are contained in the
three rules for achieving a perfect golf swing.
1. Keep your head down.
2. Follow through.
3. Be born with money.
Life is like an onion; you peel off one layer at a time and sometimes you weep.
Carl Sandburg
Uptime America
Robert E. Chatfield
"Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude." Zig Ziglar
"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens." John Homer Miller
There are no menial jobs, only menial attitudes. William Bennett
We either make ourselves happy or miserable. The amount of work is the same. Carlos Castaneda
"You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control your attitude toward what happens to you, and in that, you will be mastering change rather than allowing it to master you." Brian Tracy, Author
"Don't let yesterday take up too much of today." Will Rogers
This Is Long But Well Worth Your Time
Nick Vujicic - Attitude is Altitude.com / Life Without Limbs.org
Robert E. Chatfield
When men stop praying for God's Spirit, they place confidence in their own unaided reason, and they gradually lose the Spirit of God, just the same as near and dear friends, by never writing to or visiting with each other, will become strangers.
Heber J. Grant
"Prayer is the passport to spiritual power" Thomas S. Monson
"More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of." Lord Tennyson Alfred
Prayer is not an old woman’s idle amusement. Properly understood and applied, it is the most potent instrument of action.
Mohandas K. Gandhi
WRITTEN BY A 12 YEAR-OLD-GIRL in Boston
BY A
15-year-oldSCHOOL KID who got an A+ for this entry (TOTALLY AWESOME)!
The Lord's Prayer Is not allowed in most US Public schools any more.
Akid in
Minnesota , wrote
— NEW School Prayer: ~~~
Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.
If scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.
Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene..
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.
For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all..
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the State..
We're allowed to cuss and dresslike freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks...
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's 'inappropriate' to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such 'judgments' do not belong..
We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles...
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.
It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen
Robert E. Chatfield
Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." Mark Twain
"Take a chance! All life is a chance. The man who goes the furthest is generally the one who is willing to do and dare. The 'sure thing' boat never gets far from shore." Dale Carnegie
Behold the turtle. He only makes progress when he sticks his neck out. James Bryant Conant
"Chance favors those in motion." James H. Austin
"All life is a chance. So take it! The person who goes furthest is the one who is willing to do and dare." Dale Carnegie
THINGS I WISH I'D KNOWN
Someone (author unknown) has composed this list of "Things I Wish I'd Known Before I Went Out Into the Real World":
* Never continue dating anyone who is rude to the waiter.
* Some people are working backstage, some are playing in the orchestra, some are on-stage singing, some are in the audience as critics, some are there to applaud. Know who and where you are.
* The five most essential words for a healthy, vital relationship: "I apologize" and "You are right."
* Everyone seems normal until you get to know them.
* When you make a mistake, make amends immediately. It's easier to eat crow while it's still warm.
* The only really good advice that I remember my mother ever gave me was, "Go! You might meet somebody!"
* If he says that you are too good for him, believe it.
* I've learned to pick my battles; I ask myself, "Will this matter one year from now? How about one month? One week? One day?"
* The shortest line is always the longest.
* Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, it just means you've decided to see beyond the imperfections.
* If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You have another chance!
There's a lot of biblical truth in many of the statements above, especially the last statement. How often have you done something really stupid and said to yourself, "I wish I could have a second chance"? The truth is, God has given you a second chance. He's given you hundreds of second chances. You're not guaranteed another one, but the fact that you got up out of bed today means that you have one more opportunity to make right anything that has destroyed your relationship with God or others.
Many people have questioned why Jesus has not yet returned like he promised he would. Here's one reason:
"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise [to return], as some men count slackness; but it’s longsuffering toward us - not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)
If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You have another chance! Don't waste it.
Robert E. Chatfield
"Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Walk beside me and be my friend." Albert Camus
Many people will walk in and out or your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart.
"A true friend is one who not only is willing to love us the way we are, but is able to leave us better than he found us." Marvin J. Ashton
"A friend is one that knows you as you are, understands where you have been, accepts what you have become, and still, gently allows you to grow." William Shakespeare
Being an Indian-Type Friend
Dick Innes
"Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so
fulfil the law of Christ. 1
The North American Indians had no written
language before they met the white man. Their language, however, was far from
primitive. Many of the Indians had as many
words in their vocabulary as their English and
French exploiters. Some of their words were much more picturesque, too. For
example, "friend" to the Indians was
"one-who-carries-my-sorrows-on-his-back."
Everybody needs at least one trusted
"Indian-type" friend with whom he or she can share his or her deepest
sorrows and painful feelings. We all need a helping hand and a listening ear
when we're going through difficult times.
How do we find such a friend? First, by praying
and asking God to help us to be an "Indian-type" friend to others.
And then by asking God to help us find such a friend for ourselves.
1. The Apostle Paul, (Galatians 6:2).
Robert E. Chatfield
"A pessimist sees only the dark side of the clouds, and mopes; a philosopher sees both sides, and shrugs; an optimist doesn't see the clouds at all -- he's walking on them." Leonard Louis Levinson
The pessimist may be right in the long run, but the optimist has a better time during the trip.
"I always turn to the sports pages first, which records people's accomplishments. The front page has nothing but man's failures." Chief Justice Earl Warren
The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. Winston Churchill.
When a pessimist is told there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, he’s likely to assume it’s an onrushing train. According to journalist Sydney Harris, “A cynic is not merely one who reads bitter lessons from the past; he’s prematurely disappointed in the future.”
Pessimism and cynicism are fashionable these days, but it’s the people who see and celebrate the positive aspects of life who live best. According to a well-traveled story, when Tillie died in her 90s, her friends were taken aback when they viewed her body and noticed a fork in her right hand. Tillie knew this would provoke questions, and she had instructed her pastor to give anyone who asked about the fork a copy of a signed note from her that read: “I’m glad you asked about the fork. I’ve been to lots of church socials and potluck dinners in my life, and one thing I’ve noticed is when the dishes and flatware for the main course are being cleared, someone usually says, ‘Keep your fork.’ I loved that part because I knew dessert, the best part of dinner, was coming. So even as I pass from this life, I wanted a fork in my hand to remind you that the best is yet to come.” British wit Samuel Johnson called hope a species of happiness. To the extent we can discipline ourselves to choose our attitudes, it only makes sense to think positively and be hopeful.
Robert E. Chatfield
"Faith is a gift of God bestowed as a reward for personal righteousness. It is always given when righteousness is present, and the greater the measure of obedience to God's laws the greater will be the endowment of faith."
Bruce R. McConkie (Mormon Doctrine, Salt Lake City Bookcraft, 1966, page 264)
Faith in God develops a personal love for Him which is reciprocated through His blessings to us in times of need Rex D. Pinegar
"What is the difference between just ordinary prayer and a prayer of faith? As we consider that question, the difference is immediately apparent. The difference is FAITH, and what is faith? Of course, there are many definitions of faith, but one definition is 'A strong belief plus action.' It is not perfect knowledge, but real faith lets a man act as if he knows it is true when he really doesn't. Therefore, faith in a real sense is power -- power to act and perform without actual knowledge."
Hartman Rector Jr. (January 1974 Ensign, page 106-7)
By faith all things are possible with God and with man Joseph F. Smith
According to Your Faith
"'…………..If thou canst believe' (said Jesus unto him), 'all things are possible to him that believeth. And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, 'I do believe; help thou mine unbelief.'"1
Earl Nightingale tells about a strength test in which people were asked to
squeeze a dynamometer (a machine that tests the power of your grip) as hard as
they could. After that first squeeze had been measured, they were put under
hypnosis and told they were very strong. When asked to grip the machine again,
their scores averaged forty percent better.
Their physical strength did not increase under hypnosis. But their ability to
use that strength did. It wasn't the hypnosis that did it, but their belief
about themselves.
When we are led to believe we are stronger, we react accordingly. There is a
sense in which we all go through life "self-hypnotized" in that a
great deal of what we do is determined by what others have told us—and what we
have told ourselves—and believed!
What we need to do is listen to what the Scriptures say about us, believe it,
and act accordingly. As the Apostle Paul
said, "I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me" [that
is, things that are in harmony with God's will].2
If there is one thing I have learned over the years it's that God never calls any of us to do anything that he hasn't equipped us to do. And he calls all of us to be faithful servants in His work on earth, and to be faithful stewards of all that He has given to us: our time, talents, money, and our resources.
1. Mark 9:23-24
2. Philippians 4:13
Robert E. Chatfield
Promises. Keep them. If asked when you can deliver something, ask for time to think. Build in a margin of safety. Name a date. Then deliver it earlier than you promised.
The world is divided into two classes of people: the few people who make good on their promises (even if they don't promise as much) and the many who don't. Get in column A and stay there. You'll be very valuable wherever you are. By Robert Townsend
“In a world where vows are worthless.
Where making a pledge means nothing. Where promises are made to be
broken, it would be nice to see words come back into power.”
Chuck Palahniuk
“Promises are only as strong as the person who gives them ...” Stephen Richards
Promises, Promises
"Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations. The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and rasieth up all those that be bowed down."1
"In the latter days of the Vietnam War, an American Colonel named Earl
Woods made a promise. Woods believed that his friend, a South Vietnamese
colonel named Vuong Phon, saved his life. In gratitude for that act, Woods
promised to name his son after his friend, who was known as 'Tiger.' Sports
fans will immediately understand that the promise was kept. That son has
immortalized his father's friend for most everyone has heard of Tiger
Woods."2
When I was growing up in secular Australia,
in grade school every chapter in our English class readers [text books] had a
moral that applied to healthy everyday living, and on the header over the door
of every classroom was a motto. I still remember one of these that was from the
Bible: "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might."3 We
were also taught that "a man was as good as his word."
I also learned early in life that a man who didn't keep his word couldn't be
trusted—such was a serious character flaw. Sadly today for many, giving their
word doesn't mean a thing. Think of so many crooked business leaders who lie by
cooking their financial books, politicians who make promises to get votes,
promises they have no intention of fulfilling, and so many of the rest of us
who place little value on the word we give and the promises we make.
So I ask myself the question, "Am I as good as my word? Am I a man of
character who keeps his word and fulfills his promises?"
1. Psalm 145:13
2. By J. Michael Shannon, http://tinyurl.com/36bvwm
3. Ecclesiastes 9:10
Robert E. Chatfield
"A commandment is a lamp to show us the right course..."ElRay L. Christiansen
The adage goes that a woman told her Bishop 'It's so hard to be a Christian in modern times.' Her bishop's answer, 'But, my dear, Christians have always lived in modern times.'
In answer to the question, "Shouldn't the commandments be rewritten?" someone thoughtfully replied, "No, they should be reread." Richard L. Evans
Wo unto them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness, that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. 2 Nephi 15:20
"What is wrong is wrong, and trends do not make something right which is at variance with the laws of God.
Spencer W. Kimball
The Lord’s blessings are the fruits of obedience to the laws on which they are predicated.
Angel Abrea
BUT MAN'S LAWS CANNOT MAKE MORAL WHAT GOD HAS DECLARED IMMORAL!!!!!!
Dallin H. Oaks
Robert E. Chatfield
Money is merely a reward for solving problems." Mike Murdock
Money ... Money ... Money ... Warning
"Money
will buy a bed but not sleep;
books but not brains;
food but not appetite;
finery but not beauty;
a house but not a home;
medicine but not health;
luxuries but not culture;
amusements but not happiness;
religion but not salvation;
a passport to everywhere but heaven."
Author Unknown
25 April 2013
Ten Things Money Can't Buy
1. Manners
2. Morals
3. Respect
4. Character
5. Common Sense
6. Trust
7. Patience
8. Class
9. Integrity
10. Love
Robert E. Chatfield
"The average age of the world's greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the following sequence:
From bondage to spiritual faith;
From spiritual faith to great courage;
From courage to liberty;
From liberty to abundance;
From abundance to complacency;
From complacency to apathy;
From apathy to dependence;
From dependence back into bondage."
When Columbus came to America, there were no taxes, no debts, and no pollution. The women did all the work while the men hunted or fished all day. Ever since then, a bunch of do-gooders have been trying to "improve" the place.
The American Republic will last until it's politicians discover that they can bribe their own people with their own money.
Alexis Detuterville
"One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors." Plato
"Christmas is a time when kids tell Santa what they want and adults pay for it. Deficits are when adults tell the government what they want and their kids pay for it Richard Lamm
Robert E. Chatfield
"If I had to select one quality, one personal characteristic that I regard as being most highly correlated with success, whatever the field, I would pick the trait of persistence." Richard DeVos
“When I thought I couldn’t go on, I forced myself to keep on going. My success is based on persistence, not luck.” Estee Lauder
Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all. Dale Carnegie
"When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Your most valuable asset can be your willingness to persist longer than anyone else. Brian Tracey
"What may break you, may also make you"
By Bob Perks
Pressure.
Unexpected loss.
Time.
Deadlines.
Cancellation.
Failure.
It just seems sometimes that nothing you do or say goes right.
Like right now...I'm here to say "You are wrong."
There is always something right in every wrong.
There is always something good occurring somewhere at the very moment that bad rules your day.
When you fall flat on your face and you think you can't win, it is in that moment when winning will begin.
You are broken and afraid. You are beaten down.
You fear you can never get back up again.
Good. Be there. Take whatever time you need to get the crying and moaning out of your system.
Because the truth is, you will never be able to rise again with all that negativity weighing you down.
Spit it out. Scream at the top of your lungs.
Tell the world you quit and then walk away.
You are broken.
But what may break you may also make you.
The act of defiance against all that is good,
Means that deep down inside you did all you could.
So, now is the time to face the new you.
You've been there all along, that's truer than true.
You've learned who you are and shed what you're not,
It's time my good friend to give all that you've got.
The falling is easy and quitting is too.
The rising again is all up to you.
So remember this...
1. What breaks you makes you
2. What ends always has a new beginning
3. The one who continues on always wins.
I believe in YOU!
J
Bob
Robert E. Chatfield
"Let us have compassion upon each other, and let the strong tenderly nurse the weak into strength, and let those who can see guide the blind until they can see the way for themselves." Brigham Young
"When we get emotionally and spiritually involved in helping a person who is in pain, a compassion enters our heart. It hurts, but the process lifts some of the pain from another." Glenn L. Pace
"One may have many talents and knowledge but never acquire wisdom because he
does not learn to be compassionate with his fellow man." Marvin J. Ashton
There are feet to steady,
Hands to grasp,
Minds to encourage,
Hearts to inspire,
And souls to save.
Are we doing all we should?
Thomas S. Monson
Saying the Right Thing
When someone you care about is suffering greatly, what’s the right thing to say to make him or her feel better?
There are all sorts of traumas that can send us to the darkest dungeons of despair – the death of a loved one, being raped, getting a divorce, losing a limb, seeing a child sent to jail or on drugs. Whatever the cause, when we become so despondent or depressed that we start wondering whether life is worth living, we need a real friend.
I’m no expert in conveying condolences, but one thing I’ve learned is that trying to command, cajole, or convince a broken person to repress, reject, or disguise his or her feelings is more harmful than helpful.
Telling someone whose loved one died not to feel bad because “She lived a long life” or “At least he’s not suffering anymore” might offer some consolation, but it doesn’t go to the core of the hurt or acknowledge the loss of the person left to deal with the tragedy’s aftermath.
Even less helpful are remarks like “It’s not as bad as it seems,” “It could have been worse,” or “You’ll get over it.” However well-intentioned, attempts to give a grieving person a long-term perspective probably won’t work while the pain’s still intense and fresh.
Worst of all, telling a person to “Cheer up” or “Look at the bright side” as if the individual simply has to flip a switch implies that the person ought to be handling his or her sorrow better.
Finally, what makes us think we’re helping a grief-stricken friend by using his or her tragedy as an excuse to talk about ourselves? (“I know how you feel. I lost my dad last year” or “You’ll get over it. I did.”)
In the early stages, grief isn’t just an attitude, it’s an affliction. It can’t be turned off or toned down. It often has to run its course. Yes, there may be times when we can redirect a friend to other matters and more positive thoughts, but generally he or she has to experience and work through all the natural emotions that flow from the calamity including self-pity, resentment, anger, and fear.
The bottom line is, this is tricky territory. Most of us just aren’t as good as those who write Hallmark cards.
On the other hand, it’s just as bad if we become so self-conscious about saying the wrong thing that we fail to be there at all. All we can do is speak through our hearts, hoping our awkward words will be forgiven and our good intentions appreciated.
The best antidotes to hopeless grief are sincere expressions of love and support that prove life is worth living.
What do you think? Is there a right thing to say? What have you said or written to someone that meant a lot to that person? If you’ve ever experienced deep grief, what did someone do that uplifted you?
Robert E. Chatfield
A young boy about five or six years was talking on the telephone. As his dad listened on, the youngster told his grandparents dejectedly, "Mom is in the hospital, so the twins and Roxie, Billy, Sally, the dog, and me and Dad are all home alone."
Any child can tell you that the sole purpose of a middle name is so he can tell when he's really in trouble with Mom.
MOM'S NOSE KNOWS
Be aware that moms can tell
A lot about you by your smell.
And you will worry her to death
If you sneak in with Snicker's breath.
Dorito's always stain your face.
Taco aroma's not hard to trace.
Mother's have been known to yell,
"Is that a Twinkie that I smell?"
French fry odor tends to cling
And cola gets on everything.
To be greeted by mom's happy shouts
Munch a bunch of Brussels Sprouts!
By Grandpa Tucker
A mother may hope that her daughter will get a better husband that she did, but she knows her son will never get as good a wife as his father did.
Why God Made Moms...
|
Answers given by 2nd year school children to the following questions:
Why did God make mothers? 1. She's the only one who knows where the sellotape is. 2. Mostly to clean the house. 3. To help us out of there when we were getting born.
How did God make mothers? 1. He used dirt, just like for the rest of us. 2.. Magic plus super powers and a lot of stirring. 3. God made my mum just the same like he made me. He just used bigger parts.
Why did God give you your mother and not some other mum? 1. We're related. 2. God knew she likes me a lot more than other people's mum like me.
What kind of a little girl was your mum? 1. My mum has always been my mum and none of that other stuff. 2. I don't know because I wasn't there, but my guess would be pretty bossy. 3. They say she used to be nice.
What did mum need to know about dad before she married him? 1. His last name. 2. She had to know his background. Like is he a crook? Does he get drunk on beer? 3. Does he make at least 1 million a year? Did he say NO to drugs and YES to chores?
Why did your mum marry your dad? 1. My dad makes the best spaghetti in the world. And my mum eats a lot. 2. She got too old to do anything else with him. 3. My grandma says that mum didn't have her thinking cap on.
Who's the boss at your house? 1. Mum doesn't want to be boss, but she has to because dad's such an idiot. 2. Mum. You can tell by room inspection. She sees the stuff under the bed. 3. I guess mum is, but only because she has a lot more to do than dad.
What's the difference between mums and dads? 1. Mums work at work and work at home and dads just go to work at work. 2. Mums know how to talk to teachers without scaring them. 3. Dads are taller and stronger, but mums have all the real power 'cause that's who you got to ask if you want to sleep over at your friends. 4. Mums have magic, they make you feel better without medicine.
What does your mum do in her spare time? 1. Mothers don't do spare time. 2. To hear her tell it, she pays bills all day long.
What would it take to make your mum perfect? 1. On the inside she's already perfect. Outside, I think some kind of plastic surgery. 2. Diet. You know, her hair. I'd diet, maybe blue.
If you could change one thing about your mum, what would it be? 1. She has this weird thing about me keeping my room clean. I'd get rid of that. 2. I'd make my mum smarter. Then she would know it was my sister who did it not me. 3. I would like for her to get rid of those invisible eyes on the back of her head.
|
Robert E. Chatfield
Some causes are worth giving one's all.
This article is quite long, but well worth the read, especially when we consider what is happening in these modern days.
"The Americans Who Risked Everything"
"OUR LIVES, OUR FORTUNES, OUR SACRED HONOR"
It was a glorious morning. The sun was shining and the wind was from the southeast. Up especially early, a tall, bony, redheaded young Virginian found time to buy a new thermometer, for which he paid three pounds, fifteen shillings. He also bought gloves for Martha, his wife, who was ill at home.
Thomas Jefferson arrived early at the statehouse. The temperature was 72 and the horseflies weren't nearly so bad at that hour. It was a lovely room, very large, with gleaming white walls. The chairs were comfortable. Facing the single door were two brass fireplaces, but they would not be used today.
The moment the door was shut, and it was always kept locked, the room became an oven. The tall windows were shut, so that loud quarreling voices could not be heard by passersby. Small openings atop the windows allowed a slight stir of air, and also a large number of horseflies. Jefferson records that "the horseflies were dexterous in finding necks, and the silk of stocking was as nothing to them." All discussion was punctuated by the slap of hands on necks.
On the wall at the back, facing the President's desk, was a panoply--consisting of a drum, swords, and banners seized from Fort Ticonderoga the previous year. Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold had captured the place, shouting that they were taking it "in the name if the Great Jehovah and the Continental Congress!"
Now Congress got to work, promptly taking up an emergency measure about which there was discussion but no dissension. "Resolved: That an application be made to the Committee of Safety of Pennsylvania for a supply of flints for the troops at New York."
Then Congress transformed itself into a committee of the whole, The Declaration of Independence was read aloud once more, and debate resumed. Though Jefferson was the best writer of all of them, he had been somewhat verbose. Congress hacked the excess away. They did a good job, as a side-by-side comparison of the rough draft and the final text shows. They cut the phrase "by a self-assumed power." "Climb" was replaced by "must read," then "must" was eliminated, then the whole sentence, and soon the whole paragraph was cut. Jefferson groaned as they continued what he later called "their depredations." "Inherent and inalienable rights" came out "certain unalienable rights," and to this day no one knows who suggested the elegant change.
A total of 86 alterations were made. Almost 500 words were eliminated, leaving 1,337. At last, after three days of wrangling, the document was put to a vote.
Here in this hall Patrick Henry had once thundered: "I am no longer a Virginian, Sir, but an American." But today the loud, sometimes bitter argument stilled, and without fanfare the vote was taken from north to south by colonies, as was the custom. On July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted.
There were no trumpets blown. No one stood on his chair and cheered. The afternoon was waning and Congress had no thought of delaying the full calendar of routine business on its hands. For several hours they worked on many other problems before adjourning for the day.
Much to lose...
What kind of men were the 56 signers who adopted the Declaration of Independence and who, by their signing, committed an act of treason against the Crown? To each of you the names Franklin, Adams, Hancock, and Jefferson are almost as familiar as household words. Most of us, however, know nothing of the other signers. Who were they? What happened to them?
I imagine that many of you are somewhat surprised at the names not there: George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, Patrick Henry. All were elsewhere.
Ben Franklin was the only really old man. Eighteen were under 40; three were in their 20s. Of the 56, almost half--24--were judges and lawyers. Eleven were merchants, 9 were land-owners and farmers, and the remaining 12 were doctors, ministers, and politicians.
With only a few exceptions, such as Samuel Adams of Massachusetts, these were men of substantial property. All but two had families. The vast majority were men of education and standing in their communities. They had economic security as few men had in the 18th century.
Each had more to lose from revolution than he had to gain by it. John Hancock, one of the richest men in America, already had a price of 500 pounds on his head. He signed in enormous letters so "that his Majesty could now read his name without glasses and could now double the reward." Ben Franklin wryly noted: "Indeed we must all hang together, otherwise we shall most assuredly hang separately." Fat Benjamin Harrison of Virginia told tiny Elbridge Gerry of Massachusetts: "With me it will all be over in a minute, but you, you will be dancing on air an hour after I am gone."
These men knew what they risked. The penalty for treason was death by hanging. And remember: a great British fleet was already at anchor in New York Harbor.
They were sober men. There were no dreamy-eyed intellectuals or draft card burners here. They were far from hot-eyed fanatics, yammering for an explosion. They simply asked for the status quo. It was change they resisted. It was equality with the mother country they desired. It was taxation with representation they sought. They were all conservatives, yet they rebelled.
It was principle, not property, that had brought these men to Philadelphia. Two of them became presidents of the United States. Seven of them became state governors. One died in office as vice president of the United States. Several would go on to be U.S. Senators. One, the richest man in America, in 1828 founded the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. One, a delegate from Philadelphia, was the only real poet, musician and philosopher of the signers (it was he, Francis Hopkinson--not Betsy Ross--who designed the United States flag).
Richard Henry Lee, a delegate from Virginia, had introduced the resolution to adopt the Declaration of Independence in June of 1776. He was prophetic is his concluding remarks:
"Why then sir, why do we longer delay? Why still deliberate? Let this happy day give birth to an American Republic. Let her arise not to devastate and to conquer but to reestablish the reign of peace and law. The eyes of Europe are fixed upon us. She demands of us a living example of freedom that may exhibit a contrast in the felicity of the citizen to the ever increasing tyranny which desolates her polluted shores. She invites us to prepare an asylum where the unhappy may find solace, and the persecuted repose. If we are not this day wanting in our duty, the names of the American legislators of 1776 will be placed by posterity at the side of all of those whose memory has been and ever will be dear to virtuous men and good citizens."
Though the resolution was formally adopted July 4, it was not until July 8 that two of the states authorized their delegates to sign, and it was not until August 2 that the signers met at Philadelphia to actually put their names to the Declaration.
William Ellery, delegate from Rhode Island, was curious to see the signers' faces as they committed this supreme act of personal courage. He saw some men sign quickly, "but in no face was he able to discern real fear." Stephen Hopkins, Ellery's colleague from Rhode Island, was a man past 60. As he signed with a shaking pen, he declared: "My hand trembles, but my heart does not."
"Most glorious service"...
Even before the list was published, the British marked down every member of Congress suspected of having put his name to treason. All of them became the objects of vicious manhunts. Some were taken. Some, like Jefferson, had narrow escapes. All who had property or families near British strongholds suffered.
Francis Lewis, New York delegate, saw his home plundered and his estates, in what is now Harlem, completely destroyed by British soldiers. Mrs. Lewis was captured and treated with great brutality. Though she was later exchanged for two British prisoners through the efforts of Congress, she died from the effects of her abuse.
William Floyd, another New York delegate, was able to escape with his wife and children across Long Island Sound to Connecticut, where they lived as refugees without income for seven years. When they came home, they found a devastated ruin.
Phillips Livingstone had all his great holdings in New York confiscated and his family driven out of their home. Livingstone died in 1778 still working in Congress for the cause.
Louis Morris, the fourth New York delegate, saw all his timber, crops, and livestock taken. For seven years he was barred from his home and family.
John Hart of Trenton, New Jersey, risked his life to return home to see his dying wife. Hessian soldiers rode after him, and he escaped in the woods. While his wife lay on her deathbed, the soldiers ruined his farm and wrecked his homestead. Hart, 65, slept in caves and woods as he was hunted across the countryside. When at long last, emaciated by hardship, he was able to sneak home, he found his wife had already been buried, and his 13 children taken away. He never saw them again. He died a broken man in 1779, without ever finding his family.
Dr. John Witherspoon, signer, was president of the College of New Jersey, later called Princeton. The British occupied the town of Princeton, and billeted troops in the college. They trampled and burned the finest college library in the country.
Judge Richard Stockton, another New Jersey delegate signer, had rushed back to his estate in an effort to evacuate his wife and children. The family found refuge with friends, but a sympathizer betrayed them. Judge Stockton was pulled from bed in the night and brutally beaten by the arresting soldiers. Thrown into a common jail, he was deliberately starved. Congress finally arranged for Stockton's parole, but his health was ruined. The judge was released as an invalid, when he could no longer harm the British cause. He returned home to find his estate looted and did not live to see the triumph of the revolution. His family was forced to live off charity.
Robert Morris, merchant prince of Philadelphia, delegate and signer, met Washington's appeals and pleas for money year after year. He made and raised arms and provisions which made it possible for Washington to cross the Delaware at Trenton. In the process he lost 150 ships at sea, bleeding his own fortune and credit almost dry. George Clymer, Pennsylvania signer, escaped with his family from their home, but their property was completely destroyed by the British in the Germantown and Brandywine campaigns.
Dr. Benjamin Rush, also from Pennsylvania, was forced to flee to Maryland. As a heroic surgeon with the army, Rush had several narrow escapes.
John Morton, a Tory in his views previous to the debate, lived in a strongly loyalist area of Pennsylvania. When he came out for independence, most of his neighbors and even some of his relatives ostracized him. He was a sensitive and troubled man, and many believed this action killed him. When he died in 1777, his last words to his tormentors were: "Tell them that they will live to see the hour when they shall acknowledge it [the signing] to have been the most glorious service that I rendered to my country."
William Ellery, Rhode Island delegate, saw his property and home burned to the ground.
Thomas Lynch, Jr., South Carolina delegate, had his health broken from privation and exposures while serving as a company commander in the military. His doctors ordered him to seek a cure in the West Indies and on the voyage he and his young bride were drowned at sea.
Edward Rutledge, Arthur Middleton, and Thomas Heyward, Jr., the other three South Carolina signers, were taken by the British in the siege of Charleston. They were carried as prisoners of war to St. Augustine, Florida, where they were singled out for indignities. They were exchanged at the end of the war, the British in the meantime having completely devastated their large land holdings and estates.
Thomas Nelson, signer of Virginia, was at the front in command of the Virginia military forces. With British General Charles Cornwallis in Yorktown, fire from 70 heavy American guns began to destroy Yorktown piece by piece. Lord Cornwallis and his staff moved their headquarters into Nelson's palatial home. While American cannonballs were making a shambles of the town, the house of Governor Nelson remained untouched. Nelson turned in rage to the American gunners and asked, "Why do you spare my home?" They replied, "Sir, out of respect to you." Nelson cried, "Give me the cannon!" and fired on his magnificent home himself, smashing it to bits. But Nelson's sacrifice was not quite over. He had raised $2 million for the Revolutionary cause by pledging his own estates. When the loans came due, a newer peacetime Congress refused to honor them, and Nelson's property was forfeited. He was never reimbursed. He died, impoverished, a few years later at the age of 50.
Lives, fortunes, honor...
Of those 56 who signed the Declaration of Independence, nine died of wounds or hardships during the war. Five were captured and imprisoned, in each case with brutal treatment. Several lost wives, sons or entire families. One lost his 13 children. Two wives were brutally treated. All were at one time or another the victims of manhunts and driven from their homes. Twelve signers had their homes completely burned. Seventeen lost everything they owned. Yet not one defected or went back on his pledged word. Their honor, and the nation they sacrificed so much to create, is still intact.
And, finally, there is the New Jersey signer, Abraham Clark. He gave two sons to the officer corps in the Revolutionary Army. They were captured and sent to the infamous British prison hulk afloat in New York harbor known as the hell ship "Jersey," where 11,000 American captives were to die. The younger Clarks were treated with a special brutality because of their father. One was put in solitary and given no food. With the end almost in sight, with the war almost won, no one could have blamed Abraham Clark for acceding to the British request when they offered him his sons' lives if he would recant and come out for the King and parliament. The utter despair in this man's heart, the anguish in his very soul, must reach out to each one of us down through 200 years with his answer: "No."
The 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence proved by their every deed that they made no idle boast when they composed the most magnificent curtain line in history. "And for the support of this Declaration with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor."
by Rush H. Limbaugh, Jr.
Robert E. Chatfield
Criticism is best which sounds like an explanation.
"Criticism should not be querulous and wasting, all knife and root-pulling, but guiding, instructive, inspirational - a south wind and not an east wind." Ralph Waldo Emerson
Blowing out the other fellow's candle won't make yours shine any brighter.
Never criticize a man until you've walked a mile in their moccasins. American Indian Proverb
Criticism should always leave people with the feeling that they have been helped.
Creative Boredom
"A young boy complained to his father that most of the church hymns were boring to him—too far behind the times, tiresome tunes and meaningless words. His father put an end to the discussion by saying, 'If you think you can write better hymns, then why don't you?' The boy went to his room and wrote his first hymn. The year was 1690. The teenager was Isaac Watts. 'When I Survey the Wondrous Cross' and 'Joy to the World' are among almost 350 hymns written by him. Feeling Bored? Let the world remember you for 300+ years!"1
I recall reading about a lady who said to
Evangelist Dwight L. Moody, "I don't like the way you preach," to
which Mr. Moody replied, "I don't either. How do you do it?"
Constructive criticism is fine—providing we are prepared to do something about
what we are being critical about - rather than just being negative and becoming
a part of the problem.
1. Richard Jones, Parish Bulletin, Good Shepherds Wailuku, Diocese of Hawaii.
© The Anglican Digest. Cited in Encountermagazine
(Australia) Vol. 38, No. 1, 2007.
Robert E. Chatfield
"I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took an excuse." Florence Nightingale
"Every man dies.
Not every man lives.
The only limits to the possibilities in your life tomorrow are the "buts" you use today."
Les Brown, Bandleader
NO MORE
ALIBIS
A farmer in Wyoming once asked his neighbor if he could borrow a rope. "I'm very sorry," the neighbor responded, "I'm using it to tie up my milk."
"Tie up milk?" replied the perplexed farmer. You can't use a rope for
that!"
"I know," said the neighbor, "but when you don't want to do something, one excuse is as good as another."
I am sure you have heard dozens of flimsy alibis people offer for avoiding action, not following through on their promises, or not succeeding. Often the logic defies explanation.
If the individual doesn't know the true reason for his failure, he will invent one - and you can usually spot it immediately. Thomas Fuller was perceptive when he observed, "Bad excuses are worse than none."
Instead of a blatant excuse, others will rationalize - hiding the true motives
of their beliefs and desires behind the veil of a plausible explanation.
Rudyard Kipling wrote, "We have forty million reasons for failure, but not
one single excuse." Attempting to justify your deficiencies is futile.
It's time to take total responsibility for your actions and adopt a personal
"no alibi" policy. Neil
Eskelin
Robert E. Chatfield
"Don't ever take a fence down until you know why it was put up." Robert Frost
"Do not wait; the time will never be 'just right.' Start where you stand, and work with whatever tools you may have at your command, and better tools will be found as you go along." Napoleon Hill
"Things do not happen. Things are made to happen." John F. Kennedy
"My father instilled in me that if you don't see things happening the way you want them to, you get out there and make them happen."
Susan Powter
Robert E. Chatfield
True happiness is not made in getting something. True happiness is becoming something. Marvin J. Ashton
"A life can never be happy that is focused inward. So if you are miserable now, forget your troubles. March right out your door, and find someone who needs you." Robert L. Backman
Real happiness is cheap enough, yet how dearly we pay for its counterfeit.
It is not our situation or problems that make us unhappy; it is our failure to properly resolve them. Marvin J. Ashton
Is Happiness Around the Corner?
For lots of people, happiness is just around the corner. They just need to get their degree, a particular job, a promotion, or a raise. Maybe they're waiting to get married or have a child. Perhaps they will be happy when they retire.
Alfred D' Souza said, "For a long time it seemed to me that life was about to begin. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, or a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life."
John Lennon put it another way, "Life is what happens while you are making other plans."
The point is our lives are happening now. If we are to get the satisfaction and fulfillment we want, we have to learn to draw pleasure and joy from everything that happens to us and around us because these experiences are the very essence of our life. The more conscious we are that life consists of the journey, not the destination, the more likely we are to get the most out of it.
So, if there are things you want to do, begin to fit them in now or accept the fact that you can be happy whether or not you do them.
Happiness isn't just around the corner. It's now or it's never.
The good news is you have everything you need to be happy. Philosophers, poets, and scientists all agree it can't be attained through money, prestige, or power. Happiness is not a fact, it's a mindset. All you need is optimism and gratitude.
Robert E. Chatfield
Your Word
Isn't it
disappointing when someone says they will do something: get back to you, call
you, etc. and they don't?
When you tell someone you will do something, then do it! If anything, do it better. Do it sooner than you promised. Others will trust and have faith in you. Be a person of your word. If someone is asking something of you that can't be done (or you don't want to do it) then tell them up front. Be honest about it. They may not be happy, but you will keep their respect and your own. – Ray Lammie
Editor's Note: "Keeping one's word is a character issue. Men and women of character always keep their word."
Talk Is Cheap
"In all labour there is profit, but the talk of the lips tendeth only to penury (poverty, destitution)."1
A man bought a parrot at an auction after some heavy bidding. "I hope this bird talks," he told the auctioneer.
"Talk?" the auctioneer replied, "Who do you think has been bidding against you for the past ten minutes?"
Sad to say we seem to be living in a day when a person's word has less and less value. Once upon a time a man's word was his bond. Not any more I'm afraid. For far too many their word doesn't mean a thing. We've become pretty adept at parroting what we think people want to hear.
I remember one of my college professors teaching us that a person's character (among other things) could be measured by what value he or she puts on his/her word. People who don't keep their word have a character issue and cannot be trusted.
Fortunately, however, of one thing we can be certain, God always keeps his word and always keeps his promises. To be Christ-like we need to do the same! For after all, it's what we do, not what we say, that says the most of all.
Robert E. Chatfield
The unique value of Christianity lies in those things which would never in a million years occur to men if left to themselves. Hugh Nibley
For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures. 1 Cor 15:3
"Christ stands at the door and knocks, but he never kicks it in. We must open the door.” Stephen E. Robinson
A Christian....
is a mind through which Christ thinks,
is a heart through which Christ lives.
is a voice through which Christ speaks.
is a hand through which Christ helps.
The Son, The Son
A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection, from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art.
When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very courageous and died in battle while rescuing another soldier. The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.
About a month later there was a knock at the
door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands.
He said, "Sir, you don't know me, but I am
the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and
he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart and he died
instantly. He often talked about you,
and your love for art.' The young man held out this package. 'I know this isn't
much. I'm not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you
to have this.'"
The father opened the package. It was a portrait
of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier
had captured the personality of his son in the painting. The father was so
drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young
man and offered to pay him for the picture. "Oh, no sir, I could never
repay what your son did for me. It's a
gift."
The father hung the portrait over his mantle.
Every time visitors came to his home, he took them to see the portrait of his
son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected.
The man died a few months later. There was to be
a great auction of his paintings. Many influential people gathered, excited
over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for
their collection.
On the platform sat the painting of the son. The
auctioneer pounded his gavel. "We will start the bidding with this picture
of the son. Who will bid for this picture?"
There was silence...
Then a voice in the back of the room shouted,
"We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one."
But the auctioneer persisted: "Will
somebody bid for this painting? Who will start the bidding? $100, $200?"
Another voice angrily. "We didn't come to
see this painting. We came to see the Van Gogh's, the Rembrandts. Get on with
the Real bids!"
But still the auctioneer continued. "The
son! The son! Who'll take the son?"
Finally, a voice came from the very back of the
room. It was the longtime gardener of
the man and his son. "I'll give $10
for the painting." Being a poor man, it was all he could afford.
"We have $10, who will bid $20?"
"Give it to him for $10. Let's see the
masters."
The crowd was becoming angry. They didn't want
the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their
collections.
The auctioneer pounded the gavel. "Going
once, twice, SOLD for $10!"
A man sitting on the second row shouted,
"Now let's get on with the collection!"
The auctioneer laid down his gavel. "I'm
sorry, the auction is over."
"What about the paintings?"
"I am sorry. When I was called to conduct
this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed
to reveal that stipulation until this time.
Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit
the entire estate, including the paintings. The man who took the son gets
everything!"
God gave His son over 2,000 years ago to die on
the Cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is: "The Son, the Son, who'll take the
Son?"
Because, you see, whoever takes the Son gets
everything!
"For God so loved the world that He gave
His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have
everlasting life" (John 3:16).
Robert E. Chatfield
"Opportunity may knock only once, but temptation leans on the doorbell."
Don't wrestle with a pig, you both
get dirty and the pig likes it.
"If we don't want temptation to
follow us we shouldn't act like we are interested. No one ever fell over a
precipice who never went near one." Richard L. Evans
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKfg5VgUBAo
Spiritual Crocodiles
Robert E. Chatfield
Give thanks to God for the friends who are a blessing in your life. And let those friends know how special they are to you! Alan Smith
Look closely at your friends. Cultivate good friends. They're so valuable. Remember the Savior valued his friends so highly that he would lay down his life for them. Malcolm S. Jeppsen
Hold a true friend with both hands. Nigerian Proverb
Treat your friends as you do your pictures, and place them in their best light.
Jennie Jerome Churchill
"A friend is a possession we earn, not a gift." Elder Marvin J. Ashton
My
Twilight Years ~ Clint Eastwood, at age 83
As I enjoy my twilight years, I am often struck by the inevitability that the party must end.
There will be a clear, cold morning when there isn't any "more." No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat. It seems to me that one of the important things to do before that morning comes, is to let every one of your family and friends know that you care for them by finding simple ways to let them know your heartfelt beliefs and the guiding principles of your life, so they can always say, "He was my friend, and I know where he stood...."
Robert E. Chatfield
"A good plan is like a road map: It shows the final destination and usually the best way to get there." H. Stanley Judd
“A goal without a plan is just a wish.” Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” Benjamin Franklin
“Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” Abraham Lincoln
“If you don't know where you are going, you'll end up someplace else.” Yogi Berra
“The time to repair the roof is when the sun is shining. John F. Kennedy
TOO SLOW OR TOO HASTY?
The story is told of five
doctors went duck shooting one day. Included in the group were a General
Practitioner, a pediatrician, a psychiatrist, a surgeon and a
pathologist. After a while, a bird came flying overhead. The first
to react was the GP who raised his shotgun, but then hesitated.
"I'm not quite sure it's a duck," he said. "I need
to get a second opinion." And of course by that time, the bird was
long gone.
Soon another bird appeared in the sky. This time the pediatrician aimed his gun. However, he too was unsure if it was really a duck in his sights and besides, it might have babies. "I need to do some more investigation," he muttered, as the creature made good its escape.
Next to spy a flying bird was the sharp-eyed psychiatrist. Shotgun shouldered, he was more certain of his intended prey's identity. "I know it's a duck, but does it know it's a duck?" While the doctor wrestled with this dilemma, the fortunate bird disappeared.
Finally, a fourth fowl sped past and this time the surgeon's weapon pointed skywards. BOOM!! The surgeon lowered his smoking gun and turned nonchalantly to the pathologist beside him: "Go see if that was a duck, will you?"
We've all been guilty at times of shooting first and asking questions later. That's why we have the proverb, "Look before you leap." Of course, we also have a proverb which tells us of the danger in delay -- "He who hesitates is lost." So which is it? Which is the wiser advice?
If you look to the scriptures for the answer, you may end up just as confused:
"How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou rise out of thy sleep?" (Proverbs 6:9)
"....everyone that is hasty, only to want. (Proverbs 21:5b)
The truth is, there's danger in both extremes. It is necessary to look ahead and plan before taking action (Jesus called that "counting the cost"), but we have to be careful not to procrastinate so much that we never get anything accomplished. It is a wise man indeed who can find the proper balance.
Robert E. Chatfield
“Earth
provides enough to satisfy every man's needs, but not every man's greed.”
Mahatma Gandhi
“Successful people are always looking for
opportunities to help others.
Unsuccessful people are always asking,
"What's in it for me?”
Brian Tracy
“He who is not contented with what he has, would not be contented with what he would like to have.” Socrates
“You have
succeeded in life when all you really WANT is only what you really NEED.”
Vernon Howard
“Greed is a
fat demon with a small mouth and whatever you feed it is never enough.”
Janwillem van de Wetering
Takers Vs Givers
"So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don't be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world."1
"According an old fable, attributed to Aesop, a dog was carrying a bone as he crossed a bridge. He looked into the water and saw his own reflection. He took this to be another dog and another bone. He desperately wanted the other bone so he dropped the one he had to scare the 'other dog.' Of course there was no other bone and he lost the one he had into the water. Such is the nature of human greed. In the effort to get what we want, we frequently lose what we have."2
1. Colossians 3:5
2. Source: http://tinyurl.com/2wkv2z
Robert E. Chatfield
"If you want to understand the meaning of happiness, you must see it as a reward and not as a goal." Antoine de Saint-Exupery
"Make others happy, and you will be happy yourself . . . I have heard Brother Heber C. Kimball state that when he was very much downhearted, he would find somebody worse than himself, and endeavor to comfort him up. And by so doing he would comfort himself, and increase in spirit and in life." Lorenzo Snow
"Happiness is a byproduct of helping others. No man ever finds happiness by thinking of himself. True happiness comes when we lose ourselves in the service of others - when we are merciful to our fellowmen." Royden G. Derrick
"The truly happy people are those who have faith in the Lord and keep the laws of the gospel, those who forget self in their desire and effort to bless others."
Joseph Anderson
"Our eternal happiness will be in proportion to the way that we devote ourselves to helping others." George Albert Smith
Happiness and the Golden Rule
Jesus Christ said, "Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets."1
"A fascinating study on the principle of the Golden Rule was conducted by Bernard Rimland, director of the Institute for Child Behavior Research. Rimland found that 'the happiest people are those who help others.'
"Each person involved in the study was asked to list ten people he knew best and to label them as happy or not happy. Then they were to go through the list again and label each one as selfish or unselfish, using the following definition of selfishness: a stable tendency to devote one's time and resources to one's own interests and welfare—an unwillingness to inconvenience one's self for others."2
"In categorizing the results, Rimland found that all of the people labeled happy were also labeled unselfish. He wrote that those 'whose activities are devoted to bringing themselves happiness … are far less likely to be happy than those whose efforts are devoted to making others happy.' Rimland concluded: 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.'"3
1. Matthew 7:12
2. Rimland, "The Altruism Paradox," Psychological Reports 51 [1982]: 521.
3. Ibid., p. 522. Cited in: Martin & Diedre Bobgan, How to Counsel from Scripture, Moody Press, 1985, p. 123. Source:http://www.bible.org/illus.php?topic_id=697