In his book, Becoming a Person of Influence, John Maxwell tells about an experiment conducted by psychologists to measure people’s capacity to endure pain.
The experiment involved barefooted people standing in a bucket of ice water. They discovered one thing that made it possible for some people to stand in the ice water twice as long as others.
Encouragement was the key factor. Continue reading
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The Butterball Turkey Company used to set up a hotline to answer consumer questions about preparing holiday turkeys. One woman called to inquire about cooking a turkey that had been in her freezer for twenty-three years. The operator told her it might be safe if the freezer had been kept below zero degrees the entire time. But the operator warned that, even if it were safe, the flavor had probably deteriorated, and she wouldn’t recommend eating it. Continue reading
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In First Things First, Stephen Covey tells a story that one of his associates heard at a seminar. The presenter pulled out a wide-mouth gallon jar and placed it next to a pile of fist-sized rocks. After filling the jar to the top with rocks, he asked, “Is the jar full?”
The group replied, “Yes.” Continue reading
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In his book, The Winner’s Edge. Denis Waitley tells about the 1972 Australian swimmer, Shane Gould who early in her career came to the United States for a meet.
When asked by a reporter how she thought she would do, the 14-year-old replied. “I have a feeling there will be a world record today.” She went on to set two world records in the one-hundred and two-hundred meter freestyle events. Continue reading
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Charley. Frances. Ivan. And Jeanne. These are names we remember well. No, they’re not our grandchildren’s names. Or the names of family members. They were the 4 hurricanes that crisscrossed Florida in 2004 in what is known as “the year of the hurricane.” Continue reading
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Today is Labor Day in the United States. It’s a holiday. And ironically many people have the day off work.
Labor Day was first purposed by Peter J. McGuire to honor America’s work force. The first Labor Day celebration was on September 5, 1882, in New York City. Today there will be speeches. Parades. Flags will fly. And folks will bar-b-que.
What is lost on many people today, and sadly some Christians, is the spiritual component to work. The Bible has a great deal to say about work and our relationships in our work. Continue reading
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Yesterday afternoon as I watched the news reports of the incredible flooding of Houston neighborhoods, streets, and even interstate highways, I was soon struck by the unselfish kindness of complete strangers coming to the aid of others.
Volunteers were coming with their boats to rescue families trapped in their homes. Older people who were helpless in nursing homes. And some stranded in their cars.
One news commentator observed that it was ”the worst of times bringing out the best in people.” Another said, “Yes, it is neighbor helping neighbor.” Continue reading
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When the Russian comedian Yakov Smirnoff first came to the United States he jokes that he wasn’t prepared for the incredible variety of instant products available in American grocery stores.
“On my first shopping trip” he says, “I saw powdered milk–you just add water, and you get milk. Then I saw powdered orange juice–you just add water, and you get orange juice. And then I saw baby powder, and I thought to my self, what a country!” Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship, Word of the Week
A wise old man was once taking a stroll through a forest with a shiftless young fellow by his side. Seeking to teach him an important lesson he stopped and pointed to four plants close at hand. The first was just beginning to peep above the ground, the second was a little larger with some roots, the third was a small shrub, while the fourth had grown into a small tree.
The tutor said to his young companion, “Pull up the first plant.” The boy did so eagerly, using only his fingers. Continue reading
Filed under Habit, Word of the Week
Paul Aiello tells a story about the captain of the ship who looked into the dark night and saw faint lights in the distance. Immediately he told his signalman to send a message” “Alter your course 10 degrees south.”
Promptly a return message was received: “Alter your course 10 degrees north.”
The captain was angered; his command had been ignored. So he sent a second message: “Alter your course 10 degrees south–I am the captain!” Continue reading
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