Tag Archives: Life

May 18, 2018 · 6:50 am

This, Too, Shall Pass

This morning, from our Bible reading in Acts 27, I was reminded of this commonly quoted phrase, “This, too, shall pass.”

It is a paraphrase taken from the King James Bible, “and it came to pass.” It occurs 477 times in the KJV and 177 times in the NKJV. In more modern translations, it is used far less often.

It is an expression used by folks working through difficult circumstances. There is no definitive answer to the exact origin of this popular saying, but some believe it stems from a fable written by Persian Sufi poets. Others suggest it was a part of Jewish folklore and credit King Solomon, although it is not recorded in the Bible. Continue reading →

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March 22, 2018 · 7:38 am

Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff

“Often we allow ourselves to get all worked up about things that upon closer examination aren’t really that big a deal,” wrote Dr. Richard Carlson in his classic little book entitled Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff.

Carlson illustrates how we may “focus on little problems and concerns and blow them way out of proportion. A stranger, for example, might cut in front of us in traffic. Rather than let it go, and go on with our day, we convince ourselves that we are justified in our anger.”

There are so many little things that can divert our attention from the bigger, more important issues of life. Continue reading →

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October 27, 2017 · 5:14 am

Reflections on a Recent Visit to the Smoky Mountains

Norma Jean and I were recently in the Smoky Mountains for a short get-a-away. It’s been one of our favorite places through the years to visit and relax.

We were wondering how the Mountains would look since the fires last November burned over 17,000 acres of forest, destroyed or damaged more than 2000 homes and buildings and took the lives of 14 people, as well as injuring 145. Continue reading →

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May 17, 2017 · 4:31 am

Great Verses of the Bible: Ecclesiastes 2:10-12

Peggy Lee was an American jazz and popular singer, song writer of the 20th century whose career spanned six decades. Her signature song was a 1969 hit entitled “Is that all there is?”

The song begins with witnessing her house catching on fire as a little child. As the flames consumed it and she stood watching in her pajamas, she asked, “Is that all there is? Continue reading →

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April 25, 2017 · 7:07 am

What Really Counts?

My Franklin planner has this inspirational quote for today by Albert Einstein. “Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted.”

This thought raises the question, “What really counts in life?”

This question has been answered in different ways by many people. Continue reading →

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August 9, 2016 · 5:44 am

Short Sayings that Pack a Powerful Message

Discipline.accomplishment

President Calvin Coolidge was nicknamed “Silent Cal,” because of his dry wit and brevity of speech. He was the opposite of his vivacious wife, Grace, who was the life of the party. While she chatted, Coolidge remained quiet.

The story is told that the famous wit, Dorothy Parker, was once seated by President Coolidge at a dinner party. Miss Parker said to the president that she had bet a friend that during the course of the meal she could make him say more than five words. Continue reading →

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April 19, 2016 · 4:30 am

6 Essentials of a Good Life

 Life is Good

“The ultimate expression of life is not a paycheck. The ultimate expression of life is not a Mercedes. The ultimate expression of life is not a million dollars or a bank account or a home,” recently wrote Jim Rohn in a blog post. “The ultimate expression of life is living a good life.”

“But,” you ask, “What is a good life?” Continue reading →

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February 24, 2016 · 5:21 am

GREAT VERSES OF THE BIBLE: John 11:25-26

Jesus'Resurrction

The Englishman John Donne was one of the great Metaphysical poets of the 17th century. His most famous sonnet “Death Be Not Proud” is  part of a sequence of poems called “The Holy Sonnets.”

The poet personifies death and says you are not as tough as you think you are. Continue reading →

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August 4, 2015 · 5:49 am

Newsflash! All Lives Matter.

races babies

“We say so often … do black lives matter? And at the end of the day, we have to ask ourselves, do all lives matter — regardless of race, creed, color, economic status, what profession that person holds? All lives matter.”

The above quote is from an African-American, Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong. It was spoken at a news conference over the week-end following the murder of a Memphis police officer, Sean Bolton, 33, who was shot multiple times Saturday night. He was taken to a hospital in critical condition but later pronounced dead.  Continue reading →

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July 9, 2015 · 6:33 am

4 Challenges To Our Spiritual Focus

Focus Blurred

Several years ago I attended a seminar and heard a guy, Mike, tell the story about going to a movie. The movie began and the projector wasn’t correctly focused so that the images on the screen were distorted. After a minute or so and the problem was not corrected, a fellow stood up and turned back toward the projectionist and yelled FOCUS!” Continue reading →

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