This column is written as a reminder of what everyone knows will happen on a particular day in the future. I’m not talking about Armageddon or the end of the world as we know it. I’m not speaking of the last judgment or the second coming of Jesus Christ. I am not referring to your death or mine (though some of these events may be related). I’m talking about the day that few have bothered to conceive, that even fewer have pondered and…
Three people were having breakfast early one morning, having been awakened by a beeping noise, as insistent as it was annoying. The fourth member of the group, somehow still asleep, had not yet arisen. What was that sound, they wondered. “It’s getting light outside,” one observed, buttering a half-slice of toast. “But not here in the kitchen,” muttered another. “Why don’t you open the curtains?” The person nearest the window obliged. The sunlight just admitted into the room illuminated a light haze hanging in the air,…
Successful people from all walks of life tend to be adept communicators. The best of these learn to stir the emotions as well as the intellect. They become skillful at simplifying complex ideas through storytelling. These stories tap into common experiences from everyday life that establish instantaneous connection with others and serve to highlight or illustrate main ideas. Abraham Lincoln is an acknowledged past master, as was humorist Will Rogers. Examples abound among prominent writers, politicians, entertainers, and teachers—especially teachers. In this category, none is so…
As a child I suffered from occasional nightmares. And for a period of time after each, I’d be anxious about falling asleep, for fear of having another. This was not a clinical condition, but an experience common among children of a certain age. I’m talking garden variety, “there’s a monster under my bed”-type stuff. Problems, worries, a scary film, an encounter with a barking dog that suddenly lunges, all can manifest themselves in the visions produced in the subconscious, as we sleep. These nocturnal…
In the days since the Manhattan Project brought the world the atom bomb and the threat of nuclear annihilation on a planetary scale, dramatists have popularized phrases like, “dystopian future” and, “post-apocalyptic fantasy.” Having no real idea of what “dystopian” means, I looked it up. The gist of what I found is that it means a really bad place to be. A “dystopian future,” whether imagined or ultimately experienced, is one in which there is misery and suffering because of prevailing conditions in…
We live in perilous times. If you are a sentient being you know this and do not need it explained to you. Evil, corruption, violence and chaos swirl around us. The rising tide of darkness, madness and hysteria threatens to overwhelm us, engulf us, drag us down. The world is changing rapidly and radically, but definitely not for the better. All except those in deepest denial recognize that something supernatural is at work here. The demons are industrious, laboring incessantly, to steal, kill and…
A gospel salesman arrived in our town the other day. I had no pressing business to pursue, so I decided to observe him for awhile. His first official act was to select a shady park bench near the square and sit down. By and by, he rummaged in a battered train case for a brown paper bag, from which he extracted a sandwich. He bowed his head for a moment, eyes closed, and hands folded in his lap. Then he picked up the sandwich…
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16) Sharing the life of Christ with young children is actually much harder than one may think. The healings, the raisings from the dead and the other miracles are accepted readily enough. But the rejection, the blind hatred, and the suffering—how to frame that? It’s a serious question and a vitally important one, because every youngster deserves…
Those who have taken even a short course in first aid should be familiar with techniques for use when encountering an apparently unconscious person. One priority is to ascertain whether the individual is responsive to stimuli. This may be accomplished by gently shaking a shoulder (or tapping the body firmly) and asking, “Are you okay?” or words to that effect. What to do next is dependent upon the victim. If there is a reaction, one path is taken; if no reaction is observed, another…
“Good morning and welcome to the Christian Recruiting Center. It’s gratifying to see so many fresh, eager faces—people seeking joy, peace, love and mercy; people hungry for change, adventure, excitement, and a chance to see the world, perhaps…? “Hmm-m? Yes, that’s definite. Anyone who truly believes will see the glory of God. Any other questions before we get started? Yes? Did everyone hear the question?” [Repeats it:] “Is it true that those who serve the Master will get a chance to meet Him?” Affirmative. Our God is willing to have a personal…