The Surrendered Self E. Stanley Jones, well-known Christian missionary to India, tells of a situation where the fellow members of his ashram helped him in a problem regarding his spiritual reputation. It seems that for a number of years, Jones had supported a prominent man financially. And when the time came that he could no…
Author: Alan Holden
Role Models
Irritating but Good Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example. –Mark Twain Passing It On Small boys learn to be large men in the presence of large men who care about small boys. Amazing but True Professor Lowell of Harvard University was speaking many years ago to…
Responsibility
Blame Wives feel resentment when it is assumed that they are responsible for everything that goes wrong around the house. This is epitomized in the television ad in which the husband is upset because there’s a “ring around the collar.” The wife breaks into tears because her detergent has not removed the dirt from her…
Repentance and Confession
A Hearty Sorrow Repentance is a hearty sorrow for our past misdeeds, and a sincere resolution and an endeavor to the utmost of our power, to conform all our actions to the law of God. It does not consist in one single act of sorrow, but in doing works meet for repentance; in a sincere…
Pretense and Hypocrisy
The Ambiguity of Saints There is the story of the man who came down from the North Carolina mountains. He was all dressed up and carrying his Bible. A friend saw him and asked, “Elias, what’s happening? Where are you going all dressed up like that?” Elias said, “I’ve been hearing about New Orleans. I…
Pride
Filling In The bigger a man’s head gets, the easier it is to fill his shoes. Silly Goose Every goose is certain she could lay golden eggs if only properly fed. Keeping Up with the Joneses Two wellborn and blueblooded dogs were walking daintily along the street with their noses held high in the air….
Prejudice
An Understandable Bias The judge glared down from his bench at the prospective juror. “And just why is it,” he asked, “that you don’t want to serve on this jury?” The man replied, “Well, judge, I’m biased. One look at that man convinced me that he’s guilty.” The judge scowled and replied, “That man is…
Prayer
Prayer or Swear There is more religion in some men’s curses than in some men’s prayers, especially if the former is sincere and the latter perfunctory. –J. W. Mac Gorman Dominie at the Bedside Leslie Weatherhead tells the story of an old Scot who was quite ill, and the family called for their dominie, or…
Point of View
Seeing with a Different Perspective Sculptress Louise Nevelson says that she collects things “for my eye.” And she has an exceptional eye. She believes that any of use can live in great beauty anywhere, as long as we’re alive to our environment. She lives near the Bowery in New York City. Even from there, she…
Pessimism
Out of the Way Man who say it cannot be done should not interrupt man doing it. –Chinese proverb Philosophy of Dread Charlie Brown: “I have a new philosophy. I’m only going to dread one day at a time.” Nature, the Fault Finder Murphy’s Third Law: Nature always sides with the hidden flaw. Suspicious Altruism…