The late Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, known for his best-selling book The Power of Positive Thinking, once related this humorous incident.
Following one of his speeches he was shaking hands and greeting people when he noticed a woman looking at him with a steady gaze. Finally, he went over to her and asked, “Madam, did you want to speak to me?”
“Hello, Norman,” she said. “Don’t you remember me?”
“Well, you have a familiar look,” Peale replied. “But I can’t place you.” Continue reading
Filed under Word of the Week
“I believe that endeavor is one of the most beautiful words in the English language,” wrote Gary Henry in his Daybook Series, More Enthusiastic Ideas.
Gary further opined, “Living in a world that, despite its goodness, is tragically broken and where many of our desires and goals seem frustratingly out of reach, the fact that we continue to endeavor speaks volumes about the nobility of the human spirit. In the face of such discouragement, lesser creatures would give up. But we do not. We persevere. We stay the course. We endeavor.” Continue reading
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A man accused of petty theft, went before the Judge and was asked, “How do you plead?”
“Not guilty,” replied the thief.
“On what grounds?” asked the Judge
“Well, your honor, my arm reached through an open window and took a few trifling things. My arm isn’t really who I am. Surely you are not going to punish me for an offense committed by a single limb?” Continue reading
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Saturday night we set our clocks up one hour to begin the semi-annual debate about Daylight Saving Time.
Some like it. Others loathe it.
President Harry Truman called it “a monstrosity in time keeping.”
Benjamin Franklin justified Daylight Saving Time as having “the pure light of the sun for nothing,” as opposed to burning expensive candles. Continue reading
Filed under TIme
During World War II, Winston Churchill was forced to make a painful choice. The British secret service had broken the Nazi code and informed Churchill that the Germans were going to bomb Coventry.
He had two alternatives: (1) evacuate the citizens and save hundreds of lives at the expense of indicating to the Germans that the code was broken; or (2) take no action, which would kill hundreds but keep the information flowing and possibly save many more lives. Continue reading
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A woman woke up one morning, turned to her husband and said, “Honey, I just had a dream that you bought me a new gold necklace. What do you think it means?”
He answered, “I don’t know, but Valentine’s Day is coming soon. Then you’ll know.”
A few nights later, she again woke up after having a dream. She said, “This time, I dreamed you gave me a pearl necklace. What do you think it means?”
“You’ll know on Valentines’ Day,” he replied. Continue reading
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Years ago I read a book by Dr. Norman Vincent Peale entitled Enthusiasm Makes the Difference. In it Peale presents the thesis that while life is full of disappointments, discouragements and challenges, the one ingredient that can make the difference between success and failure is enthusiasm. Continue reading
Filed under Enthusiasm, Word of the Week
Today is a national holiday in the United States honoring slain civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Congressman John Conyers and Representative Shirley Chisholm are responsible for introducing the bill that President Ronald Reagan signed into law in 1983. Although Dr. King’s birthday is January 15, the holiday is always observed on the third Monday of January. Continue reading
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Clovis Chappell, a minister from the early 20th century, used to tell the story of two paddleboats. They left Memphis about the same time, traveling down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. As they traveled side by side, sailors from one vessel made a few remarks about the snail’s pace of the other.
Words were exchanged. Challenges were made. And the race began. Competition became vicious as the two boats roared down the mighty Mississippi. Continue reading
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There’s an old riddle that says “five frogs were sitting on a log. One decides to jump. How many are left?”
What’s your answer?
If you haven’t heard this before. Take your time. Think about it.
The answer? Continue reading
Filed under New Year, Word of the Week
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