New York Times Evening Briefing email, August 21, 2019
quote:
Seventy-year-old Bob Long of Boise, Idaho, won the Mongol Derby, a grueling 1,000-kilometer competition across the steppes of Mongolia. Mr. Long rode about 100 hours in seven and a half days, on 28 different horses, by his tally.
The amateur rider began training in January with previous winners of the race, riding four or five horses a day as far as each could go, and learning how to change horses efficiently. The key to Mr. Long’s success? “Preparation trumps youth,” he said.
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
Who Jesus Is
Who Jesus Is
by Bear Grylls, from his new devotional, Soul Fuel
When I was growing up, Madonna once said, “Jesus Christ was like a movie star, my favorite idol of all.”(1)
Napoleon Bonaparte went further: “I know men, and I tell you Jesus Christ was not a man. Superficial minds see a resemblance between Christ and the founders of empires and the gods of other religions. That resemblance does not exist. There is between Christianity and other religions the distance of infinity.”(2)
And then there was novelist H. G. Wells: “I am an historian, I am not a believer. But, this penniless preacher from Galilee is irresistibly the centre of history.”(3)
There has never been a human quite like Jesus. He towers above us all in goodness and courage, in impact and influence. The greatest artists, leaders, and thinkers, all put together, are dwarfed by Him.
Yet Jesus did not come to impress us. He said He had come to save us, in total humility, as God come down among us. If He is who He says He is, and the Gospel is real, then this is very good news. He simply wants us to learn to reach out and trust Him to help and calm us, to forgive and restore us. If we are to live fully and empowered, then this has to be the first step.
So wherever you are with God — whether you are searching, are wanting more, or have turned your back and are walking away — this verse is truth:
The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. — Luke 19:10
(1) Scott Cohen, “Madonna: The 1985 ‘Like a Virgin’ Cover Story,” Spin, May 1985.
(2) Clayton Kraby, “Napoleon Bonaparte’s View of Jesus,” Reasonable Theology, https://reasonabletheology.org/napoleon-bonapartes-view-of-jesus/.
(3) Thomas A. Harris, I’m OK—You’re OK (New York: Quill, 2004).
by Bear Grylls, from his new devotional, Soul Fuel
When I was growing up, Madonna once said, “Jesus Christ was like a movie star, my favorite idol of all.”(1)
Napoleon Bonaparte went further: “I know men, and I tell you Jesus Christ was not a man. Superficial minds see a resemblance between Christ and the founders of empires and the gods of other religions. That resemblance does not exist. There is between Christianity and other religions the distance of infinity.”(2)
And then there was novelist H. G. Wells: “I am an historian, I am not a believer. But, this penniless preacher from Galilee is irresistibly the centre of history.”(3)
There has never been a human quite like Jesus. He towers above us all in goodness and courage, in impact and influence. The greatest artists, leaders, and thinkers, all put together, are dwarfed by Him.
Yet Jesus did not come to impress us. He said He had come to save us, in total humility, as God come down among us. If He is who He says He is, and the Gospel is real, then this is very good news. He simply wants us to learn to reach out and trust Him to help and calm us, to forgive and restore us. If we are to live fully and empowered, then this has to be the first step.
So wherever you are with God — whether you are searching, are wanting more, or have turned your back and are walking away — this verse is truth:
The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost. — Luke 19:10
(1) Scott Cohen, “Madonna: The 1985 ‘Like a Virgin’ Cover Story,” Spin, May 1985.
(2) Clayton Kraby, “Napoleon Bonaparte’s View of Jesus,” Reasonable Theology, https://reasonabletheology.org/napoleon-bonapartes-view-of-jesus/.
(3) Thomas A. Harris, I’m OK—You’re OK (New York: Quill, 2004).
Tuesday, August 06, 2019
Thich Nhat Hanh quotes
When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don't blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or less sun. You never blame the lettuce.
Yet if we have problems with our friends or family, we blame the other person.
But if we know how to take care of them, they will grow well, like the lettuce.
Blaming has no positive effect at all, nor does trying to persuade using reason and argument. That is my experience.
No blame, no reasoning, no argument, just understanding. If you understand, and you show that you understand, you can love, and the situation will change.
Thich Nhat Hanh
When another person makes you suffer, it is because he suffers deeply within himself, and his suffering is spilling over. He does not need punishment; he needs help. That's the message he is sending.
Thich Nhat Hanh
Yet if we have problems with our friends or family, we blame the other person.
But if we know how to take care of them, they will grow well, like the lettuce.
Blaming has no positive effect at all, nor does trying to persuade using reason and argument. That is my experience.
No blame, no reasoning, no argument, just understanding. If you understand, and you show that you understand, you can love, and the situation will change.
Thich Nhat Hanh
When another person makes you suffer, it is because he suffers deeply within himself, and his suffering is spilling over. He does not need punishment; he needs help. That's the message he is sending.
Thich Nhat Hanh
Friday, August 02, 2019
Bring Small Children to Church
To Those Who Bring Small Children to Church:
There you are at church. Your baby or toddler is restless. Perhaps even a little boisterous. You try to silence them, and nothing. You try to pacify them with food or toys, and nothing. Eventually, you resort to the last thing you wanted to do: you pick them up, and before a watching audience, you make the march out of the church. All the while you’re a little embarrassed, maybe a little frustrated too.
You might even think to yourself, “There’s no point in coming to church. I get nothing out of it because I have to constantly care for my kid.”
I want you - mothers and/or fathers - to know just how encouraging you are to so many.
The elderly woman who often feels alone beams with a smile at the sight of you wrestling with your little one. She’s been there before. She knows how hard it can be, but she smiles because to hear that brings back precious memories. Seeing young parents and their small children brighten her day; she may have just received bad news about her health but seeing the vitality of young ones removes - if but for a moment - her fears.
The older man who always seems to be grouchy notices you too. He’s always talking about how children in this day have no respect or sense of goodness. But he sees you - a young family - in church every week. Like clockwork, he can depend on the sight of you and your young family. You give him hope that maybe the Church isn’t doomed after all, because there are still young parents who love God enough to bring their restless children to church.
Bring your children to church! If we don’t hear crying, the church is dying. As hard as it might be for you as a parent who’s half-asleep, keep on doing what you’re doing. You are an encouragement, and you’re starting off your children’s lives as you should.
~ Author unknown
There you are at church. Your baby or toddler is restless. Perhaps even a little boisterous. You try to silence them, and nothing. You try to pacify them with food or toys, and nothing. Eventually, you resort to the last thing you wanted to do: you pick them up, and before a watching audience, you make the march out of the church. All the while you’re a little embarrassed, maybe a little frustrated too.
You might even think to yourself, “There’s no point in coming to church. I get nothing out of it because I have to constantly care for my kid.”
I want you - mothers and/or fathers - to know just how encouraging you are to so many.
The elderly woman who often feels alone beams with a smile at the sight of you wrestling with your little one. She’s been there before. She knows how hard it can be, but she smiles because to hear that brings back precious memories. Seeing young parents and their small children brighten her day; she may have just received bad news about her health but seeing the vitality of young ones removes - if but for a moment - her fears.
The older man who always seems to be grouchy notices you too. He’s always talking about how children in this day have no respect or sense of goodness. But he sees you - a young family - in church every week. Like clockwork, he can depend on the sight of you and your young family. You give him hope that maybe the Church isn’t doomed after all, because there are still young parents who love God enough to bring their restless children to church.
Bring your children to church! If we don’t hear crying, the church is dying. As hard as it might be for you as a parent who’s half-asleep, keep on doing what you’re doing. You are an encouragement, and you’re starting off your children’s lives as you should.
~ Author unknown
Thursday, July 25, 2019
Weekly Housekeeping Schedule
"So how did the Karkuts manage to keep this house looking like new for 57 years? Industrious parents who were willing to put in the time and effort, Mills says."
quotes:
Mom had everything planned:
Monday she would do the laundry and the ironing.
Tuesday was for running errands.
Wednesday she would change the sheets and clean the bedrooms.
Thursday she would clean the kitchen and the common rooms.
Friday was the bathrooms.
daughter Christina Mills explaining her mother Ann's housekeeping skills
https://www.phillymag.com/property/2019/07/25/house-for-sale-abington-midcentury-split-level/
Mr. and Mrs. E. Walter Karkut (Ann)
quotes:
Mom had everything planned:
Monday she would do the laundry and the ironing.
Tuesday was for running errands.
Wednesday she would change the sheets and clean the bedrooms.
Thursday she would clean the kitchen and the common rooms.
Friday was the bathrooms.
daughter Christina Mills explaining her mother Ann's housekeeping skills
https://www.phillymag.com/property/2019/07/25/house-for-sale-abington-midcentury-split-level/
Mr. and Mrs. E. Walter Karkut (Ann)
Wednesday, July 17, 2019
The 4 way test from Rotary International
The 4 way test from Rotary International:
- Is it the truth?
- Is it fair to all concerned?
- Will it build goodwill and better friendships?
- Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
Friday, July 12, 2019
no mistakes, just happy little accidents
“We don't make mistakes, just happy little accidents.”
~ Bob Ross, one of America’s most beloved artists, on his TV show, “The Joy of Painting”
~ Bob Ross, one of America’s most beloved artists, on his TV show, “The Joy of Painting”
Friday, July 05, 2019
“Lord, you are my life.”
Mark Galli quoting Pope Francis:
Pope Francis, in a recent homily, is not being antagonistic toward journalists (at least I hope not), just making this point:
Mark Galli
Editor-in-Chief, Christianity Today
The Galli Report (email)
Date: Fri, Jul 5, 2019 at 10:08 AM
Pope Francis, in a recent homily, is not being antagonistic toward journalists (at least I hope not), just making this point:
We may be curious about Jesus, or interested in church matters or religious news. We may open computer sites and the papers, and talk about holy things. … Jesus does not care about polls or past history. He is not looking for religion editors, much less “front page” Christians. He is looking for witnesses who say to him each day: “Lord, you are my life.”
Mark Galli
Editor-in-Chief, Christianity Today
The Galli Report (email)
Date: Fri, Jul 5, 2019 at 10:08 AM
Friday, June 21, 2019
man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone
“All of humanity's problems stem from man's inability to sit quietly in a room alone.”
~ Blaise Pascal, Pensées
~ Blaise Pascal, Pensées
Thursday, May 30, 2019
Jesus claimed to fulfill His mission by dying for us
John Stott, one of the most influential Christians of our time, said Jesus claimed to fulfill His mission by dying for us:
"And the reason for this emphasis by the apostles is that they had seen it in the mind of Jesus himself. It set him apart from the other religious leaders in history. They died of natural causes in a good old age, having successfully completed their mission. Muhammad was 62, Confucius 72, the Buddha 80 and Moses 120. But Jesus died the horrible death of crucifixion in his early thirties, repudiated by his own people, apparently a complete failure, yet claiming to fulfill His mission by His death. Indeed, during his last few days on earth, he was still looking forward to the accomplishment of his work.
"So the church has been right to choose the cross as its symbol for Christianity. It could have chosen he crib in which the baby Jesus was laid, or the carpenter’s bench, or the boat from which he taught the people, or the towel with which he washed and wiped the disciple’s feet or the tomb from which he rose again, or the throne he occupies today, any one of these could have been an appropriate symbol of the Christian faith. But the church passed them all by in favor of the cross, which stands for the necessity and centrality of his death."
John Stott, Why I Am a Christian (Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 2003), 50-51.
"And the reason for this emphasis by the apostles is that they had seen it in the mind of Jesus himself. It set him apart from the other religious leaders in history. They died of natural causes in a good old age, having successfully completed their mission. Muhammad was 62, Confucius 72, the Buddha 80 and Moses 120. But Jesus died the horrible death of crucifixion in his early thirties, repudiated by his own people, apparently a complete failure, yet claiming to fulfill His mission by His death. Indeed, during his last few days on earth, he was still looking forward to the accomplishment of his work.
"So the church has been right to choose the cross as its symbol for Christianity. It could have chosen he crib in which the baby Jesus was laid, or the carpenter’s bench, or the boat from which he taught the people, or the towel with which he washed and wiped the disciple’s feet or the tomb from which he rose again, or the throne he occupies today, any one of these could have been an appropriate symbol of the Christian faith. But the church passed them all by in favor of the cross, which stands for the necessity and centrality of his death."
John Stott, Why I Am a Christian (Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 2003), 50-51.
John Calvin's definition of faith
John Calvin gave this definition of faith:
“We must not think that Christian faith is a pure and simple knowledge of God, or an understanding of the Scripture, which flutters about in the brain without touching the heart. That is the opinion we normally hold of things which are validated for us by some reason which sounds probable.
Christian faith is, rather, a sure and solid assurance of the heart, by which we cling securely to the mercy of God which is promised to us through the gospel.”
John Calvin, Truth for All Time: A Brief Outline of the Christian Faith, Stuart Olyott, trans. (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1998), 28.
“We must not think that Christian faith is a pure and simple knowledge of God, or an understanding of the Scripture, which flutters about in the brain without touching the heart. That is the opinion we normally hold of things which are validated for us by some reason which sounds probable.
Christian faith is, rather, a sure and solid assurance of the heart, by which we cling securely to the mercy of God which is promised to us through the gospel.”
John Calvin, Truth for All Time: A Brief Outline of the Christian Faith, Stuart Olyott, trans. (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1998), 28.
Thursday, May 16, 2019
Einstein's cluttered desk
One study by researchers at the University of Minnesota found a messy environment can make us more creative, whereas orderly surroundings make us more likely to confirm to traditional expectations.
As Albert Einstein – the owner of a notoriously messy desk – put it: “If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?”
Can decluttering your house really make you happier?
By Sarah Griffiths
15 May 2019
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20190515-can-decluttering-your-house-really-spark-joy as of 5/16/2019
As Albert Einstein – the owner of a notoriously messy desk – put it: “If a cluttered desk is a sign of a cluttered mind, of what, then, is an empty desk a sign?”
Can decluttering your house really make you happier?
By Sarah Griffiths
15 May 2019
http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20190515-can-decluttering-your-house-really-spark-joy as of 5/16/2019
Friday, May 10, 2019
"Life is a process of accepting the messes and learning to clean them up."
Quote from email:
New York Times Thursday Evening Briefing
Date: Thu, May 9, 2019, 6:32 PM
"Life is a process of accepting the messes and learning to clean them up."
That's according to Kelley Schlise, a plumber's daughter who will attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the fall.
Hers is one of five college application essays about work, class and money selected by our money columnist Ron Leiber after his sixth annual callout to high school seniors.
New York Times Thursday Evening Briefing
Date: Thu, May 9, 2019, 6:32 PM
"Life is a process of accepting the messes and learning to clean them up."
That's according to Kelley Schlise, a plumber's daughter who will attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the fall.
Hers is one of five college application essays about work, class and money selected by our money columnist Ron Leiber after his sixth annual callout to high school seniors.
Friday, April 19, 2019
the most valuable result of all education
"Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself do the thing you have to do, when it ought to be done, whether you like it or not; it is the first lesson that ought to be learned; and however early a man's training begins, it is probably the last lesson that he learns thoroughly."
Thomas H. Huxley
English biologist (1825 - 1895)
Thomas H. Huxley
English biologist (1825 - 1895)
Sunday, March 03, 2019
Every time you make a choice . . .
"Every time you make a choice you are turning the central part of you, the part of you that chooses, into something a little different from what it was before. And taking your life as a whole, with all your innumerable choices, all your life long you are slowly turning this central thing either into a heavenly creature or into a hellish creature: either into a creature that is in harmony with God, and with other creatures, and with itself, or else into one that is in a state of war and hatred with God, and with its fellow- creatures, and with itself… Each of us at each moment is progressing to one state or the other."
~ C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
~ C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
Monday, January 28, 2019
The reality is that you will grieve forever. . .
"The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not 'get over' the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it.
You will heal and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered.
You will be whole again but you will never be the same.
Nor should you be the same nor would you want to."
~ Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler
www.whatsyourgrief.com
You will heal and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered.
You will be whole again but you will never be the same.
Nor should you be the same nor would you want to."
~ Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler
www.whatsyourgrief.com
Friday, January 25, 2019
The Work of Christmas
When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with their flocks,
the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal the broken,
to feed the hungry,
to release the prisoner,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among the people,
to make music in the heart.
By American poet Howard Thurman from his “The Work of Christmas”
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with their flocks,
the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal the broken,
to feed the hungry,
to release the prisoner,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among the people,
to make music in the heart.
By American poet Howard Thurman from his “The Work of Christmas”
Thursday, January 03, 2019
"when you fear God you fear nothing else"
WISDOM FROM OSWALD CHAMBERS
The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God you fear everything else.
“Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord”;…
from The Highest Good—The Pilgrim’s Song Book, 537 L
The remarkable thing about fearing God is that when you fear God you fear nothing else, whereas if you do not fear God you fear everything else.
“Blessed is every one that feareth the Lord”;…
from The Highest Good—The Pilgrim’s Song Book, 537 L
Wednesday, January 02, 2019
“Now it is today, and we can do so many stuff!”
“Now it is today, and we can do so many stuff!”
~ Daphne, upon awakening one morning
(Jenny's beloved six year-old granddaughter)
~ Daphne, upon awakening one morning
(Jenny's beloved six year-old granddaughter)
Friday, December 07, 2018
11 Inspirational Quotes from George H.W. Bush
11 Inspirational Quotes from George H.W. Bush
Life lessons from the former President of the United States.
By Lauren Hubbard
Dec 1, 2018
www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a20053077/best-george-hw-bush-quotes/ as of 12/7/2018
From his mild-mannered facade, few would have guessed that George H.W. Bush led such an eventful life: he served as a WWII combat pilot for the Navy, director of the CIA, and, of course, the 41st President of the United States, presiding over such momentous historical events as the fall of the Berlin wall and the end of the Cold War. Alongside Barbara, his beloved wife of 73 years, Bush dispensed words of wisdom long beyond his tenure in public service, inspiring many with his faith and hope for a better tomorrow.
Here, a few of Bush's best-loved quotes.
ON PROBLEM SOLVING:
"No problem of human making is too great to be overcome by human ingenuity, human energy, and the untiring hope of the human spirit."
ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
"International exchanges are not a great tide to sweep away all differences, but they will slowly wear away at the obstacles to peace as surely as water wears away a hard stone."
ON TEAMWORK
"In crucial things, unity. In important things, diversity. In all things, generosity."
ON THE FUTURE
"I do not mistrust the future; I do not fear what is ahead. For our problems are large, but our heart is larger."
ON LIFE
"Be bold in your caring, be bold in your dreaming and above all else, always do your best."
ON COOPERATION
"Don't confuse being 'soft' with seeing the other guy's point of view."
ON FREEDOM
"Freedom and the power to choose should not be the privilege of wealth. They are the birthright of every American."
ON DOING WHAT'S RIGHT
"No generation can escape history."
ON EDUCATION
"Think about every problem, every challenge, we face. The solution to each starts with education."
ON HIS LEGACY
"History will point out some of the things I did wrong and some of the things I did right."
ON AMERICA
"America is never wholly herself unless she is engaged in high moral principle. We as a people have such a purpose today. It is to make kinder the face of the nation and gentler the face of the world."
www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a20053077/best-george-hw-bush-quotes/ as of 12/7/2018
Life lessons from the former President of the United States.
By Lauren Hubbard
Dec 1, 2018
www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a20053077/best-george-hw-bush-quotes/ as of 12/7/2018
From his mild-mannered facade, few would have guessed that George H.W. Bush led such an eventful life: he served as a WWII combat pilot for the Navy, director of the CIA, and, of course, the 41st President of the United States, presiding over such momentous historical events as the fall of the Berlin wall and the end of the Cold War. Alongside Barbara, his beloved wife of 73 years, Bush dispensed words of wisdom long beyond his tenure in public service, inspiring many with his faith and hope for a better tomorrow.
Here, a few of Bush's best-loved quotes.
ON PROBLEM SOLVING:
"No problem of human making is too great to be overcome by human ingenuity, human energy, and the untiring hope of the human spirit."
ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
"International exchanges are not a great tide to sweep away all differences, but they will slowly wear away at the obstacles to peace as surely as water wears away a hard stone."
ON TEAMWORK
"In crucial things, unity. In important things, diversity. In all things, generosity."
ON THE FUTURE
"I do not mistrust the future; I do not fear what is ahead. For our problems are large, but our heart is larger."
ON LIFE
"Be bold in your caring, be bold in your dreaming and above all else, always do your best."
ON COOPERATION
"Don't confuse being 'soft' with seeing the other guy's point of view."
ON FREEDOM
"Freedom and the power to choose should not be the privilege of wealth. They are the birthright of every American."
ON DOING WHAT'S RIGHT
"No generation can escape history."
ON EDUCATION
"Think about every problem, every challenge, we face. The solution to each starts with education."
ON HIS LEGACY
"History will point out some of the things I did wrong and some of the things I did right."
ON AMERICA
"America is never wholly herself unless she is engaged in high moral principle. We as a people have such a purpose today. It is to make kinder the face of the nation and gentler the face of the world."
www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a20053077/best-george-hw-bush-quotes/ as of 12/7/2018
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