Sound Words (Page 17)

Respect Mankind has tremendous capacity to surprise. Perhaps I have become disillusioned living in proximity to a sizable city where manners and courtesy are in short supply. Gracious grammar has been replaced with curt and casual replies. “Thank you” has been replaced with “no problem”. “I’m sorry, that was my fault” is now “my bad”. The lack of respect is most apparent while commuting. That experience can range from frustrating to downright terrifying. My preference is for a more peaceful…

Zeal To have zeal is to have great energy or enthusiasm. That energy is usually directed toward a cause or area of interest in our life. Such was true of the Apostle Paul. “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. I persecuted this Way to the death,…

A Self-made Man Benjamin Franklin is the quintessential “self-made man.” He was a successful inventor, scientist, musician, and author. In his spare time, he helped found a country and then serve as her diplomat. Not bad for a kid who was born into a poor family and only receiving two years of formal schooling. The key to Franklin’s success was his drive to constantly improve himself and accomplish his ambitions. Early on in his life, Ben Franklin set a goal:…

Preparation Life takes unexpected turns. We respond in disbelief and typically observe that we were not prepared for the situation. It is difficult to prepare for the unknown. After all, “You don’t know what you don’t know.” It is impossible to prepare for every possibility. God does not want man to live in a constant state of worry about the trivial aspects of living. “Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your…

God is not a Republican Sometimes we have to write what we ourselves need to hear. So here it is, for me as much as anyone. God is not a Republican. And what’s more, I don’t think Jesus would be, if he were here today. Nor a Democrat either.  Before I go further, please understand I am NOT saying we shouldn’t vote, or join a political party, or be a responsible citizen, or hold office, or try in all the…

Knowing This Knowledge is empowering. The simple recall of knowledge may be useful if one were to be a contestant on Jeopardy. Otherwise, the true power of knowledge is in the application. This is especially true of God’s word. When mixed with faith, God’s word provides access to eternal life. Knowledge that is not put into practice has no benefit. “For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did…

It Is Not Easy Being Told, It Is Not Easy Telling How would you describe children? Your children? What is remarkable about children? One that gets overlooked is their innate honesty. I call it brutal honesty. This honesty makes for some memorable situations, embarrassing and hilarious at the same time. Mine can’t hold back. It is not that they are nit-picky to be overly critical, I think it is just who they are, who most kids are. “Dad, you got…

Growing: For the Better? Growth is a progression. We typically think of growth in a positive sense. Plants, puppies, and children start out small and grow up. We like to see our savings account grow. God wants to see our faith grow and so should we. However, not all growth is for the better. We often refer to aging as “growing old”. Our senses dim and our strength fades. The world in which we presently reside is also aging. God…