Persian King Xerxes tried to build a bridge across the Dardanelles to get to Greece faster, but a storm destroyed the bridge. Infuriated with the sea, Xerxes ordered his soldiers to punish it by whipping it with chains 300 times and poking the water with red-hot irons. Handcuffs were also tossed into the water to…
The story is told of a man walking down the street on a very cold day in a poor part of town. He saw two boys playing, neither of whom had gloves. So the man removed his wool gloves, then walked over and handed them to one of the boys. Almost immediately, the boy removed…
Dr. David Susman, clinical psychologist, has written a helpful article, “10 Keys to Recovery.” One of his keys to recovery is this: Develop a plan. Susman explains, “Without direction, it is impossible to get from Point A to Point B. Your plan should include action steps. It must be written down and it ought to…
Let’s talk about the “P” word – purity. Charles Spurgeon said, “I would rather be holy and happy.” But it is not enough to maintain a pure lifestyle. Motive trumps actions. Saint Augustine said, “God bestows more consideration on the purity of the intention with which our actions are performed than on the actions themselves.”…
Words matter. Don’t take my word for it. Consider the testimony of the wisest man who ever lived. Solomon said, “It is wonderful to say the right thing at the right time” (Proverbs 15:23). The average person speaks anywhere from 2,000 to 10,000 words a day, depending on which study you trust, and whether the…
Things aren’t always what they appear. Did you know that Minnesota, the “land of 10,000 lakes,” actually has about 12,000 lakes? Meanwhile, neighboring Wisconsin has 15,000 lakes. Here are some other things you may not have realized. There are a lot of things that may surprise you, even in the area of sex and addiction.…
One night, at the dinner table, the wife told her husband, “I remember when we were first married, you always took the smallest piece of steak and left me the largest piece. Now that we’ve been married for 25 years, you always take the larger piece of steak. You don’t love me anymore!” Her husband…
One day Jesus encountered a blind man named Bartimaeus. Then he asked Bart what seemed to be a really strange question. “What is it that you want me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51). The man’s need was pretty obvious. He wanted to regain his sight. But Jesus didn’t put words in his mouth; he…
You are special. We all are. C.S. Lewis wrote, “You have never talked to a mere mortal.” In the eyes of the Creator, you aren’t a “mere” anything. In December, 1968, Apollo 8 orbited the moon ten times, looking for the perfect landing spot for a future mission. Astronaut Bill Anders took a picture of…
The French poet Jacques Reda had a habit of walking the streets of Paris with the intention of seeing something new every day. That is how he renewed his passion for the city he loved. It is important to renew your passion for the things you see every day. Elizabeth Barrett Browning wrote, “Earth’s crammed…