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…
Author: Alan Holden
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…
Persuasion
Negotiation Skills The art of negotiating is something you learn at an early age. You’d be amazed how many teenagers get their first car by asking for a motorcycle. Strategy for Interpersonal Convincing Never try to prove to the other person that you are right. It is human nature to object to anyone who insists…
Perfection
A Perfectionist A perfectionist is someone who take infinite pains—and give them to others. Punctual People People who are too punctual lead lonely lives. –Gerald Rothstein The Perfect Husband While vacationing recently in Palm Desert, California, I heard Pastor Dean Miller share this story about perfection: It seems the pastor was saying to the people…
Peace
Peace, Peace A true story: A retired coupled was alarmed by the threat of nuclear war so they undertook a serious study of all the inhabited placed on the globe. Their goal was to determine where in the world would be the place to be least likely affected by nuclear war. A place of ultimate…