DON’T EXCEED YOUR LIMIT

 “Every man is a damn fool for at least five minutes every day; wisdom consists in not exceeding the limit.” - Elbert Hubbard

In 1982, "ABC Evening News" reported on an unusual work of modern art--a chair affixed to a shotgun. It was to be viewed by sitting in the chair and looking directly into the gun barrel. The gun was loaded and set on a timer to fire at an undetermined moment within the next hundred years. The amazing thing was that people waited in lines to sit and stare into the shell's path! They all knew the gun could go off at point-blank range at any moment, but they were gambling that the fatal blast wouldn't happen during THEIR minute in the chair. Yes, it was foolhardy, yet many people who wouldn't dream of sitting in that chair live a lifetime gambling that they can get away with sin. Foolishly they ignore the risk until the inevitable self-destruction.

It is foolhardy to be caught sitting on the fence in our Christian walk: we do no one good by being indecisive, it is better we chose now where we want to be, than to be undecided.

BE COURAGEOUS

“An open heart has greater power than a clenched fist.” - Matshona Dhliway

Rod Crowell writes for CBS Affiliate KDKA Channel 3, Philadelphia, reports of an unusual Christmas disturbance. Local resident Alan McCutcheon was busy putting up his Christmas lights on his home, when suddenly his ex-girlfriend, Mary Jo Smith, came barreling through his yard in her car. She made several tours through the yard screaming “Merry Christmas,” all the while Christmas carols blasted from her cranked radio through her open windows. At one point, she even took aim (thankfully, unsuccessfully) to run McCutcheon over. “She proceeded to do a pretty significant amount of damage to the outside of the residence,” Stefani Lucas with Pennsylvania State Police told CBS Pittsburgh.

Live is a combination of many things: decisions, experiences, choices and attitudes. We frequently hear of talks, seminars or even sermons about steps to success,

THINK BACK FOR A MOMENT

“We pray for the big things and forget to give thanks for the ordinary, small (and yet really not small) gifts.” - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

 

Jeff Dixon said “Sometimes we focus so much on what we don't have that we fail to see, appreciate, and use what we do have!” And Melody Carlson, in Faded Denim: Colour Me Trapped says, ”Instead of thanking God for my two strong legs that are able to run and jump and climb, I whined about my "thunder thighs" and "thick" ankles. Instead of rejoicing that I have two capable arms that can lift and carry and balance my body, I complained about the flab that hung beneath them. I have been totally and unbelievably ungrateful for everything.”

 

God is a mighty God: nothing is impossible with Him. He can move mountains, make the sun stand still and heal the sick. In Joshua, we see how He completed the mighty task of bringing the Israelites into the Promised Land. He led Israel out of slavery into freedom: just as He’d promised. He did not want the Israelites

AGENTS OF HOPE

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” - Helen Keller

From Parade magazine comes the story of self-made millionaire Eugene Land, who greatly changed the lives of a sixth-grade class in East Harlem. Mr. Lang had been asked to speak to a class of 59 sixth-graders. What could he say to inspire these students, most of whom would drop out of school? He wondered how he could get these predominantly black and Puerto Rican children even to look at him. Scrapping his notes, he decided to speak to them from his heart. "Stay in school," he admonished, "and I'll help pay the college tuition for every one of you." At that moment the lives of these students changed. For the first time they had hope. Said one student, "I had something to look forward to something waiting for me. It was a golden feeling." Nearly 90 percent of that class went on to graduate from high school.

Desmond Tutu said, “Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” As a drink of cold water is to the parched throat of a

KNOW FOR YOURSELF

"I think we risk becoming the best informed society that has ever died of ignorance." – Reuben Blades 

There is a frightening rumour about a current investment scheme making the rounds. This rumour is capable of causing serious unrest, and panic. Matter of fact, a young man has been weeping profusely as a result. He sold his family property, and invested the proceeds into the scheme expecting to make some profit before he's expected to release the proceeds to his family at Christmas. This young man is in a dilemma now because he has been told the scheme has crashed.

Out of curiosity, some people went to find out the real situation of things about this scheme. From their investigation, it was revealed that the investment scheme