“What you do speaks so loudly, I can’t hear what you’re saying,” was once noted by Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Emerson’s observation reminds us that influence is often communicated more by what we do than by what we say. Continue reading
Tag Archives: John Maxwell
Reputation Matters: The Value of a Good Name
On this day, September 4, 1957, Ford Motor Company introduced its much-ballyhooed new model, the Edsel.
The Edsel was a pet project of Henry Ford II, the President and CEO of Ford, who named the model after his son, Edsel, who died in 1949 at the age of 49. Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship
Growing Through Trials
“Chippie the parakeet never saw it coming. One second he was peacefully perched in his cage. The next he was sucked in, washed up, and blown over.”
“The problems began when Chippie’s owner decided to clean Chippie’s cage with a vacuum cleaner. She removed the attachment from the end of the hose and stuck it in the cage. The phone rang, and she turned to pick it up. She’d barely said “hello” when “ssssopp!” Chippie got sucked in.” Continue reading
Filed under Sowing Seeds for Spiritual Growth
Stretch Yourself
Growing up as a kid in Indiana, basketball was a part of my life for as long as I can remember. Later in High School, I added Cross Country and Track. P.E. was also a regular part of the school curriculum in those days.
There was also one common denominator in all of these activities. Stretching. Before scrimmaging or running, the coach always required various stretching exercises to increase muscle flexibility and decrease the risk of injuries Continue reading
Filed under Sowing Seeds for Spiritual Growth
Growth Requires Consistency
“Consistency is hard work,” says a Tennessee preacher, Matthew Morine.
He illustrated this principle in his efforts to exercise regularly. He gets up every morning at 6:00 A.M. and goes to the gym. Matthew says that going once or twice a week is not enough. “The key in working out is consistency.”
Filed under Sowing Seeds for Spiritual Growth
Focus on Self-Development, Not Self-Fulfillment
“Something in human nature tempts us to stay where we’re comfortable,” wrote the late Fred Smith, a Dallas businessman and board member of Christianity Today.
In an article in Leadership Magazine Smith wrote about “Training to Reach the Top.” The theme and thesis of his article spoke to the importance of personal growth, getting out of one’s comfort zone and development in the business world, especially for those in leadership positions. Continue reading
Filed under Sowing Seeds for Spiritual Growth
Be Teachable
When I was a student at Florida College back in the mid to late 60’s, Homer Hailey was one of my Bible professors.
Brother Hailey was known for his expertise in the Old Testament, his insight into the book of Revelation, and his ability to quote scripture, as well as his class on “The Scheme of Redemption.” I can recall classes where he would fill a blackboard with scriptural references, quoting each one. Continue reading
Filed under Sowing Seeds for Spiritual Growth
Growing Pains
“Jesus took Daddy home,” Cheryl McGuinness told her 14-year-old son and 16-year-old daughter.
The news that their father, Tom, had died was not only unexpected, but was tragic and publicly known world-wide.
Tom McGuinness Jr. was the first officer on American Airlines Flight 11, the first plane hijacked and flown into the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001. Continue reading
Filed under Sowing Seeds for Spiritual Growth
Get Over It
Today, March 9th is National Get Over It Day, according to the National Day Calendar of unusual holidays.
Jeff Goldblatt, an entrepreneur from Atlanta, George, created this day when he was struggling to get over a romantic breakup. He even wrote a poem and began a website to promote this day.
The National Holiday website offers this explanation. Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship
Choose Growth
I grew up on a small farm in central Indiana just West of Indianapolis. In addition to a few cows and pigs and some field corn for the animals, we always had a garden. A large garden. At least an acre.
We grew green beans, sweet corn, tomatoes, lettuce, cabbage, potatoes, peas, peppers, carrots, cucumbers, squash, radishes, turnips, beets, onions,
eggplant, watermelons, cantaloupes, and strawberries.
Can you guess why we planted such a big garden every year? Continue reading
Filed under Discipleship, Sowing Seeds for Spiritual Growth
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