For many, the rise of the internet has corresponded to a decline in visits to the bookstore/library. But sometimes a stroll through the volumes can be an interesting journey. Recently, as I walked through the library, I saw some eye-catching book covers, which were prominently displayed. Though I couldn’t help but notice them, I wasn’t really tempted to pick any of them up, and it occurred to me how little the cover of a book really matters. After all, the real value of any book is based on what is contained within. As I thought about my favorite books, I couldn’t even picture what their covers looked like, though I’d have no trouble describing how their content has impacted me over the years. I certainly couldn’t imagine getting rid of one of these simply because that cover was no longer in good shape. And as I pondered all this, it dawned on me that I feel the same way about my favorite people.
Archive for the ‘Thought for the Day / Quotes’ Category
Thought for the Day – Used Books
Posted in Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged book covers on March 21, 2014| 1 Comment »
Thought for the Day – A Matter of Conscience
Posted in Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged clear conscience, seared conscience on February 27, 2014| 1 Comment »
It’s easy for a person with a seared conscience to mistake it for a clear conscience; after all, neither one generates a pang of guilt.
Thought for the Day – The Middle of the Road
Posted in Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged balanced approach, happy medium, mediocrity, middle of the road on February 6, 2014| Leave a Comment »
One man’s “happy medium” is another man’s “stuck in the middle”. What represents a “balanced approach” to one, can seem like “mediocrity” to another.
Thought for the Day – Finding the Time
Posted in Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged finding the time, making the time on February 5, 2014| Leave a Comment »
Generally, the best way to “find time” for what is important is to “set aside a time” to make it happen. The former is incidental, while the latter is intentional. Thus, when we claim that we can’t seem to “find the time” for something, I would submit that we are unwittingly making a statement about our motivations.
Thought for the Day – A Warm House
Posted in Prayers, Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged gratitude, hard times, warm house on January 28, 2014| Leave a Comment »
This morning, the thermometer outside my window said that it was – 7 degrees F (that’s without wind-chill). By Midwest standards, that’s cold. Of course, I was standing inside my kitchen at the time, which was a balmy 68 degrees F. As economic times have gotten tougher in the last several years it has been easy to succumb to the notion that things are “bad”, but days like today remind me of how blessed we still are. Yeah, I live in a 54 year old, non-descript house, that I’ll likely never have fully paid for. But it’s a well insulated, brick house, with a high efficiency gas furnace. Yeah, I drive a 16 year old car with almost 200,000.00 miles on it. But this morning it kicked right over when I turned the key. Yeah, the cost of food is putting a big time strain on my budget, but no one in my house went to bed hungry last night, and there’s plenty of provision in the cupboards for today as well. It’s not lost on me that within just a few blocks of our home there are people who couldn’t make those claims and that around the world, there are many people who will never experience such prosperity. When the kids were young, I used to lay down with them, and on cold nights I’d pray, “Father, thank you for a warm house on a cold night, and we pray for everyone who is seeking shelter tonight. Father, thank you for the abundance of food on our table, and we pray for everyone who is hungry tonight. And Father, thank you for the wonderful family that you’ve given us, and we pray for everyone who is alone tonight.” Today, as I walked toward my office, and the frigid air burned in my nostrils, I once again found that prayer on the tip of my tongue.
Thought for the Day – An Apple a Day
Posted in Thought for the Day / Quotes on January 21, 2014| 1 Comment »
The best way to compel someone toward a love of apples is not to preach against oranges, or to engage in some endless dialogue as to the virtues of the Red Delicious versus the Granny Smith. Nor is it to author the definitive work on how to grow a tree. In truth, it is far more effective to be a lover of apples, who cultivates their own orchard and who allows their neighbors to freely partake of their fruit. And so it is with the man, Jesus Christ.
Thought for the Day – Reading Between the Lines
Posted in Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged reading between the lines on January 13, 2014| Leave a Comment »
It seems that those who pride themselves in their ability to read between the lines often neglect the understanding of what is written on them.
Thought for the Day – The Impossible Dream
Posted in Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged I Am, impossible on January 12, 2014| 1 Comment »
The difference between the possible and the impossible is I (A)m.
Thought for the Day – 50 Years
Posted in Personal, Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged Turning 50 on December 12, 2013| 9 Comments »
Today is the first day of my fiftieth year, and it’s hard to wrap my head around the fact that I’ve been on the planet for half a century. For most of my life I wouldn’t have guessed that I’d make it this far. To say that I struggled in the early years would be an understatement, but I was blessed to be born to parents who persevered with me, and a couple of big brothers who saved my life a time or two. Though there were many days that I thought might be my last, I eventually learned to just keep going, and now I’m glad I did. Along the way there have been many mistakes, and lots of good friends, and great struggles, and moments of incredible beauty. I have been loved, and ridiculed, and ignored, and loved again. There have been times when I’ve glided on top of the waves and times that I got water up my nose. But tonight, as I sit here in the quiet, I know that I am incredibly blessed. Thank you Jesus for your amazing patience and mercy. Thank you for loving me, even when I was ignoring you. Thank you for the wonderful family you brought me from, and thank you for the beautiful family that you’ve given to me. Thank you for using the foolish things to confound the wise, and thank you for allowing me to share the journey with people who’ve truly loved me. I pray that in the days that I have left there will be something about my life that blesses your heart and fulfills your plan. Thank you for 50 years and every year beyond that.
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Thought for the Day – Fruitful Plains & Barren Lands
Posted in Commentaries, Thought for the Day / Quotes, tagged decline of America, forefathers, Reaping what you sow, scoffing at the wisdom of the past on December 10, 2013| 3 Comments »
When you grow up in your father’s cornfield, you can convince yourself that you know something about farming. But over time, a lack of good seed, and neglect of the soil, take their toll. With each successive generation expecting more, and less willing to replenish the land, a once fruitful plain slips into barrenness. Such is the story of America, where we’ve scoffed at the wisdom of those who came before us, and find ourselves reaping of the hybrid seed we’ve chosen to sow.
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