The Truth Shop

I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw the name of the shop: THE TRUTH SHOP.
The salesgirl was very polite: What type of truth did I wish to purchase, partial or whole? The whole truth, of course. No deceptions for me, no defences, no rationalisations. I wanted my truth plain and unadulterated. She waved me on to another side of the store.
The salesman there pointed to the price tag. "The price is very high, sir," he said. "What is it?" I asked, determined to get the whole truth, no matter what it cost. "Your security, sir," he answered.
I came away with a heavy heart. I still need the safety of my unquestioned beliefs.

from Anthony de Mello, The Song of the Bird

They said it...

“The Americans have need of a telephone, but we do not. We have plenty of messenger boys.” - Sir William Preece, in 1876; Chief Engineer of the British Post Office

“I think there is a world market for about five computers” - Thomas J Watson, Head of IBM forecasting confidentially in 1958

“Man won’t fly for a thousand years.” - Wilbur Wright to his brother Orville after a disappointing flying experiment in 1901

“Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?” - Harry M Warner, in 1927 Head of Warner Brothers Silent Pictures

What will God “never do” in your life...???!!!

A Small Beginning

The journey to discovery of your strength and your beauty begins as a tiny seed nurtured through the droughts and the harsh winters struggling towards the light to form a single bud which slowly opens its petals to reveal its beauty for the world to gaze in wonder.

Another Way of Being

Dear God, we pray for another way of being: another way of knowing.
Across the difficult terrain of our existence we have attempted to build a highway and in so doing have lost our footpath. God lead us to our footpath: Lead us there where in simplicity we may move at the speed of natural creatures and feel the earth's love beneath our feet. Lead us there where step-by-step we may feel the movement of creation in our hearts. And lead us there where side-by-side we may feel the embrace of the common soul. Nothing can be loved at speed. God lead us to the slow path; to the joyous insights of the pilgrim; another way of knowing: another way of being. Amen.

from Leunig, The Prayer Tree

A Hasidic Tale

Late one evening a poor farmer on his way back from the market found himself without his prayer book. The wheel of his cart had come off right in the middle of the woods and it distressed him that this day should pass without his having said his prayers.
So this is the prayer he made: “I have done something very foolish, Lord. I came away from home this morning without my prayer book and my memory is such that I cannot recite a single prayer without it. So this is what I am going to do: I shall recite the alphabet five times very slowly and you, to whom are all prayers are known, can put the letters together to form the prayers I can't remember.”
And the Lord said to his angels, “Of all the prayers I have heard today, this one was undoubtedly the best because it came from a heart that was simple and sincere.”

Anthony de Mello, Prayer of the Frog

Recognising Value

This little gem has been in my possession for a few years. It was a letter from a minister to his congregation.

Dear Friends,

It has been said that if you can't get what you want, you should want what you get. The wisdom of this idea is aptly illustrated by a story told to me by a friend during our recent holiday.
Many years ago it was the custom to hold annual "Hiring Fairs". At these fairs, farm workers offered themselves and their abilities to farmers for a mutually agreed price.

One such fair was held in Totnes in Devonshire. A certain farmer unavoidably arrived late at the fair and found that those who had arrived before him had selected the workers of their choice. There were only three workers remaining who had not been offered employment. Each of them had a particular disability. One had a wooden leg, one had a hump-back, and the other a "drag-foot". The farmer was delighted, promptly agreed a price with them and took them into his employment.

He had recently ploughed a large field in which to plant potatoes. His hired men were a god-send, for he had been quick to see the advantages of their relative disabilities. The man with the wooden leg was to walk up and down the rows in the field. Everywhere he went he would leave a hole in the soil. He was followed by the man with the hump-back, who would plant each potato in the holes made by the man with the wooden leg. Finally the man with the drag-foot was to follow them and cover the potatoes which had been planted. In this way, the entire field was planted to the farmer's satisfaction. He learned that a person's disability is his own special talent.

Blessed is the church that discovers how to use each member's disabilities as talents!

Generations

Do not confine your children to your own learning,
for they were born in another time.
- Hebrew proverb -

Who am I?

People travel to wonder at the height of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea , at the long courses of rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motion of the stars; and they pass by themselves without wondering.

- Saint Augustine -

Lessons from the Ark

All I really need to know I learned from Noah’s Ark:
1. Don’t miss the boat
2. Don't forget that we're all in the same boat.
3. Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.
4. Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone might ask you to do something REALLY big.
5. Don't listen to critics -- do what has to be done.
6. Build on high ground.
7. For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
8. Speed isn't always an advantage. The cheetahs were on board, but so were the snails.
9. If you can't fight or flee -- float!
10. Remember that the ark was built by amateurs and the Titanic was built by professionals.
11. Remember that the woodpeckers INSIDE are often a bigger threat than the storm outside.
12. No matter how bleak it looks, if God is with you, there's always a rainbow on the other side.

Food waste

Research suggests Australians are wasting at least $700 million a year on ditched fresh fruit and vegetables. Most households claimed to throw out more than $100 worth of spoiled produce a year. Busy families that buy then throw out fruit and vegetables because they have no time to cook are big culprits, but working couples with no children are the waste generation ringleaders. Older people on tight budgets were least likely to let food go bad. Food Science Australia experts said correct refrigeration temperature and proper storage kept food in good condition, warded off poisonous bacteria, and cut waste.

Herald Sun February 1, 2002

Freedom

When I want to be free at all costs, I am already beginning to bind myself.
When I pursue my own wishes, I throw myself in chains.
I do what I don’t want to do; I am at my own mercy.
And when I finally consider myself free, Freedom becomes a burden
Because I must make decisions Which I am unable to make
And my freedom turns into a new prison. I can only find freedom
In the ropes that bind me To you.

- Ulrich Schaffer -

Waiting to Live

There are those of us who are always about to live. We are waiting until things change, until there is more time, until we are less tired, until we get a promotion, until we settle down - until, until, until. It always seems as if there is some major event that must occur in our lives before we begin living.

- George Sheehan -

Strange...

This is pretty strange or odd how it worked out this way.
What is the shortest chapter in the Bible? Answer - Psalm 117
What is the longest chapter in the Bible? Answer - Psalm 119
Which chapter is in the centre of the Bible? Answer - Psalm 118
(There are 594 chapters before Psalm 118 and there are 594 chapters after Psalm 118)
The verse at the centre of the Bible – in the middle of Psalm 118 is Psalm 118:8. What does this verse say about God's perfect will for our lives?
The next time someone says they would like to find God's perfect will for their lives and that they want to be in the centre of His will, just send them to the centre of His Word! Psalms 118:8 (NKJV) "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man."

However, in the interests of accuracy, consider this.

Stem Cells and Ethics

There has been much discussion over the future of embryonic stem cell research over recent days. The following was relayed to me recently:
Theologian Stanley Hauerwas (Notre Dame) confronted a medical researcher who was defending experiments on foetal tissue. He posed the following question: 'What if it were discovered that foetal tissue were a delicacy; could you eat it?' He happened to believe that no amount of benefit to medicine could justify experimenting on foetal tissue: either it is human and deserves respect, or the door is open to all kinds of uses. (The medical researcher was forced to admit that, given the researcher's own logic, there is no reason to forbid Hauerwas's ghastly suggestion).

Sound Familiar?

An auto mechanic received a repair order that read: "Check for clunking sound when going around corners." Taking the car out for a test drive, he made a right turn, and a moment later he heard a 'clunk.' He then made a left turn and again heard a 'clunk.' Back at the shop he opened the car's trunk, and soon discovered the problem. Promptly he returned the repair order to the service manager with the notation, "Removed bowling ball from trunk".

The Local Church

When did the idea of the congregation degenerate into the idea of a local club? It was a perfectly natural development. The majority of people didn’t believe in Christianity at all. They commonly thought of it as a device for safeguarding their private prejudices… their private prejudices were public enough to enable them to form a club for their common protection against the gospel.

- Geddes MacGregor -

Solitude

Solitude, though it may be silent as light, is like light, the mightiest of agencies; for solitude is essential to man. All men come into this world alone; all leave it alone

- Thomas De Quincey, writer (1785-1859) -

Successful Ageing

The Study of Adult Development has tracked more than 800 American men and women for 60-80 years. The study concludes that:
* interaction with good people facilitates an enjoyable old age
* alcohol abuse consistently predicts unsuccessful old age
* learning to play and create after retirement and learning to gain younger friends are important
* a sense of humour, learning from your children and letting people are common elements in a happy old age.

(Melbourne Age Mar 18 2002)

The World Village

If we could shrink the earth's population to a village of precisely 100 people, with all the existing human ratios remaining the same, it would look like this:
There would be:

• 57 Asians 21 Europeans 8 Africans
• 14 from the Western Hemisphere (north and south)
• 70 would be non-white, 30 white
• 70 would be non-Christian, 30 would be Christian
• 59% of the entire world's wealth would be in the hands of only six people and all six of them would be citizens of the United States.
• 52 would be female and 48 would be male
• One would be near death, one would be near birth
• 50 would suffer from malnutrition
• 80 would live in substandard housing
• 70 would be unable to read
• Just 1 would have a college education
• Just 1 would own a computer.

Wisdom and Wonder

Every now and again take a good look at something not made with hands - a mountain, a star, the turn of a stream. There will come to you wisdom and patience and solace and, above all, the assurance that you are not alone in the world.

- Sidney Lovett -

Saved at Last

After years of scrimping and saving, a husband told his wife the good news: "Honey, we've finally saved enough money to buy what we started saving for in 1979."
"You mean a brand-new Cadillac?" she asked eagerly.
"No," said the husband, "a 1979 Cadillac."

Unlock your potential

Michaelangelo worked on forty-four statues and completed fourteen of them. The unfinished ones are in a museum in Italy - the unfulfilled potential of a great genius. What's sadder to see are people who could become masterpieces - if only they were developed. You say, "How do I discover and develop my gifts?" First , look up. Find somebody who's a little bigger and a little better than you are, then spend time with them. That's what Joshua did with Moses and Timothy did with Paul. It's still God's way.

Next, give up. You've got to be willing to give up what you are, in order to be what you can become - Abraham gave up his home to seek a better country. Moses gave up the riches of Egypt to identify with the people of God. Paul gave up the comfort of being a Pharisee to pay the price of being an apostle. Every achiever has a 'give up' story - nothing comes free!

Finally, show up. If you want to win the game, you must face your opponent! Jephthah said, " . . . I have opened my mouth unto the Lord and I cannot go back." (Judg 11:35) In spite of his terrible family background and his personal problems, he became Israel's youngest judge and finished up with the heroes of faith in Hebrews chapter 11. God can do it for you too - if you'll let Him!

God Uses

God uses
what you have
to fill a need,
which you could never have filled.

God uses
where you are
to take you where
you never could have gone.

God uses
what you can do
to accomplish what
you never could have done.

God uses
who you are
to let you become
who you never could have been.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual act of worship

- Romans 12:1-2 -

Change

When Thomas Edison invented the lightbulb, he didn't start by trying to improve the candle. He decided that he wanted better light and went from there.
- Wendy Kopp, Founder and president, Teach for America –

Time With Dad Worth More Than Money

A number of years ago, Dr. Robert Schuller was on a whirlwind book promotion tour, visiting eight cities in four days. It was an exhausting schedule in addition to the normal duties Dr. Schuller had on his shoulders as pastor of a large church. As he was going over his schedule with his secretary for his return home, she reminded him that he was scheduled to have lunch with the winner of a charity raffle. Schuller was suddenly sobered when he found out the winner of the raffle, for he happened to know that the $500 the person bid to have lunch with him represented that person's entire life savings. How did he know that? The person was his own teenage daughter.

Subject: Pastoral Search Committee

In our search for a suitable pastor, the following scratch sheet was developed for your perusal. Of the candidates investigated by the committee, only one was found to have the necessary qualities. The list contains the names of the candidates and comments on each, should you be interested in investigating them further for future pastoral placements.
Noah: He has 120 years of preaching experience, but no converts.
Moses: He stutters; and his former congregation says he loses his temper over trivial things.
Abraham: He took off to Egypt during hard times. We heard that he got into trouble with the authorities and then tried to lie his way out.
David: He is an unacceptable moral character. He might have been considered for minister of music had he not 'fallen.'
Solomon: He has a reputation for wisdom but fails to practice what he preaches.
Elijah: He proved to be inconsistent, and is known to fold under pressure.
Hosea: His family life is in a shambles. Divorced, and remarried to a prostitute.
Jeremiah: He is too emotional, alarmist; some say a real 'pain in the neck.'
Amos: Comes from a farming background. Better off picking figs.
John: He says he is a Baptist but lacks tact and dresses like a hippie. Would not feel comfortable at a church potluck supper.
Peter: Has a bad temper, and was heard to have even denied Christ publicly.
Paul: We found him to lack tact. He is too harsh, His appearance is contemptible, and he preaches far too long.
Timothy: He has potential, but is much too young for the position.
Jesus: He tends to offend church members with his preaching, especially Bible scholars. He is also too controversial. He even offended the search committee with his pointed questions.
Judas: He seemed to be very practical, co-operative, good with money, cares for the poor, and dresses well. We all agreed that he is just the man we are looking for to fill the vacancy as our Senior Pastor.
Thank you for all you have done in assisting us with our pastoral search.
Sincerely,
The Pastoral Search Committee

The Perfect Pastor

After hundreds of years the perfect pastor has been found!!! He is a church leader that will please everyone! He preaches exactly 20 minutes and then sits down. He condemns sin but never steps on anybody's toes. He works from 8 in the morning til ten at night doing everything from preaching sermons to sweeping. He makes $500 a week and gives $100 of that to the church. He drives a late model car, buys lots of books, wears fine clothes and has a very nice family. He's 36 yrs. old and has been preaching for 40 yrs. He's tall on the short side and heavyset in a thin sort of way. His eyes are either blue or brown, to fit the occasion. And he wears his hair parted in the middle - left side dark and straight, right side brown and wavy. He has a burning desire to work with the youth and spends all of his time with the senior citizens. He smiles all the time while keeping a straight face because he has a keen sense of humour which finds him keeping seriously dedicated. He makes 15 calls a day on church members, spends all of his time evangelising non-members and is always found in his office studying when he's needed. Unfortunately he burned himself out and died at the age of 32!

22 Thought-Provoking Questions

These are 22 questions the members of John Wesley's Holy Club asked themselves each day in their private devotions over 200 years ago.

1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am better than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?
2. Am I honest in all my acts and words, or do I exaggerate?
3. Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence?
4. Can I be trusted?
5. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work, or habits?
6. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self justifying?
7. Did the Bible live in me today?
8. Do I give it time to speak to me everyday?
9. Am I enjoying prayer?
10. When did I last speak to someone else about my faith?
11. Do I pray about the money I spend?
12. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
13. Do I disobey God in anything?
14. Do I insist upon doing something about which my conscience is uneasy?
15. Am I defeated in any part of my life?
16. Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?
17. How do I spend my spare time?
18. Am I proud?
19. Do I thank God that I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisees who despised the publican?
20. Is there anyone whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold a resentment toward or disregard? If so, what I am doing about it?
21. Do I grumble or complain constantly?
22. Is Christ real to me?

Looking forward

It is a mistake to be always turning back to recover the past. The law for Christian living is not backward, but forward; not for experiences that lie behind, but for doing the will of God, which is always ahead and beckoning us to follow. Leave the things that are behind, and reach forward to those that are before, for on each new height to which we attain, there are the appropriate joys that befit the new experience. Don't fret because life's joys are fled. There are more in front. Look up, press forward, the best is yet to be!

F. B. Meyer in Our Daily Walk

Dreams

Dreams are renewable. No matter what our age or condition, there are still untapped possibilities within us and new beauty waiting to be born.
- Dr. Dale Turner -

New Year’s Thoughts

"...If we believe that God has come then of necessity we will believe that God will come (forever comes!). This belief should radically change the way we live our lives. We will not say 'it does not matter', for, because Christ comes, everything matters.
* Because Christ comes, we will not leave until tomorrow that which we should do today.
* Because Christ comes, we will be careful over what we do, preparation is worthwhile.
* Because Christ comes, we will leave space for surprises, we will allow our lives to be filled with awe and wonder.
* Because Christ comes, we will believe in a future for the young, that they might believe in one too.
* Because Christ comes, we will look at each other with anticipation and respect, for fear that he may come disguised as our own familiar friend.
"Living with hope is arguably the greatest gift that the Christian community can bring to the world. We all know that hopelessness is the great 'dis-ease' of our time. As we prepare ..., may it be our personal resolve to live a life of hope..."
- George Browning, Anglican Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn