Leo Rosten, the Polish born Jewish writer once wrote, “The purpose of life is not to be happy. The purpose of life is to matter, to be productive, to have it make some difference that you lived at all. Happiness, in the ancient, noble verse, means self-fulfillment and is given to those who use to the fullest whatever talents God or luck or fate bestowed upon them.”
Really? Where did Rosten ever get that idea? Continue reading
My Franklin Day Planner has an inspirational thought of the day. On this day there is this quote by Abraham Lincoln: “And in the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years.”
This quote caused my mind to race back over 37 years to a cemetery in Cartersburg, Indiana. Norma Jean and I sat by my parents and listened to Aude McKee offer the grave side eulogy for my twenty-three year old brother, Bill. Continue reading
Filed under Life
Yesterday I had a Bible study with a man named Mike. As we began he shared with me some personal things about his life. Then he looked me in the eye and said, “I’m tired of doing things my way.” Continue reading
Filed under Christian Living, Life
Michael and Mary were driving home after purchasing a new luxury car. As they rode along, Mary said, “You know, Michael , if it weren’t for my money, we probably wouldn’t have this new car.” Michael just drove and didn’t say a word.
As they drove up the lane admiring their beautiful new custom home, Mary remarked, “You know, Michael, if it weren’t for my money, we probably wouldn’t have this new home.” Again, Michael was silent. Continue reading
Filed under Life, Purpose, Uncategorized
What if you were told you only had six months to live? What would you do? What would you tell your wife? Your children? Your friends? What advice would you offer? If the elders gave you an opportunity to speak to the church, what would be your final words?
Randy Pausch, a terminally ill computer science professor at Carnegie Mellon University, was given that opportunity. On Continue reading
How quickly things can change. We’ve all experienced it. That heart-rending phone call with a sobbing voice on the other end with tragic news. The results of a test and the Doctor’s unfavorable prognosis. The husband announces that he’s leaving to the shock of his wife and children. A close associate who betrays your trust. A once devoted friend who cowardly leaves when you need him the most. Continue reading
Filed under It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!, Jesus, Life
I’ve been feeling a bit melancholy lately. Maybe reflective is a better word. Or meditative. Or Contemplative. I don’t know if it’s the number of funerals that I’ve attended or preached lately that reminds me of my own mortality. Maybe it’s been the process of sifting through all our ‘stuff’ during our move that has become a weariness of the flesh! Or perhaps it’s the moral mess our country is in that is dismaying. Continue reading
Filed under Life
Even though we are 1248 miles away, we were watching. Waiting. Wondering. Would tropical storm Isaac become a hurricane? Would it hit Tampa? What would happen if Tampa took a direct hit? How severe would it be? And why did we care from so far away? Continue reading
Filed under It's Friday. But Sunday's Coming!, Jesus, Life
Stephen Covey died Monday. He was a former professor at BYU, an author, a motivator, and a business coach. He was probably best known for his best-selling book “Seven Habits of Highly Successful People.” I have applied the “7 Habits” paradigm to church growth and personal discipleship, as have many others. His organizational tools through Franklin-Covey stores have helped many of us stay focused, organized, and on time!
Covey was a great believer in personal responsibility and accountability. He taught something he called the 90/10 principle. What does it mean? Continue reading
“We’re so young. We’re so young. We’re 22 years old. We have so much time,” wrote Marina Keegan.
I had never heard of Marina, the talented and aspiring writer who landed a job with the New Yorker. Until today. Her final column for the Yale Daily Continue reading
Filed under Life, Uncategorized
