Category: Random

He can quote a verse of poetry or a page from Dickens or Thackery, but these are only leaves springing from a root out of dry ground. His vital forces are not fed, and very soon he has given out his all.”

—Harriet Blaine on VP Chester Arthur after US President James Garfield died

If a man would speak without any present study, he must usually study much. This is a paradox perhaps, but its explanation lies upon the surface.

If I am a miller, and I have a sack brought to my door, and am asked to fill that sack with good fine flour within the next five minutes, the only way in which I can do it, is by keeping the flour-bin of my mill always full, so that I can at once open the mouth of the sack, fill it, and deliver it. I do not happen to be grinding at that time, and so far the delivery is extemporary; but I have been grinding before, and so have the flour to serve out to the customer. So, brethren, you must have been grinding, or you will not have the flour.

Continue reading Spurgeon on Sermon Preparation

The early church didn’t have the modern technologies we have today. There were no billboards or direct mail campaigns to announce Jesus was coming. The disciples didn’t tweet or blog the Sermon on the Mount or other messages Jesus gave during his ministry. The one thing the early church did have, however, was captivating stories worth telling. People couldn’t help but tell their friends and family all that they had seen and heard, and proclaim the redemptive work of Christ and the hope of the gospel.”

Tim Schraeder, OUTSPOKEN: Conversations on Church Communication

New Testament people had compelling stories to tell and the world was turned upside down with the stories they proclaimed. This is totally opposite of what people do today. Today, people can talk for hours and write thick books without any compelling, life-changing substance.

Years ago, when you read something that really strikes a chord in your heart, you go for introspection. You toss the idea at the back of your head a hundred times over and ponder on how it can change your life.

Today, when an idea strikes you nicely, you tweet and update your Facebook status. No more rumination, no more thinking things over. We simply regurgitate what came into our systems.

[From Francis J. Kong’s PhilStar Column, September 24, 2011]

I was working out in a gym one time, and standing beside me was a tall guy who was smiling at me. Apparently he recognized me. I smiled back and said, “You’re so tall you must be a basketball player.” He replied, “Oh yes. I do play once in a while.”

The gym attendant looked at me with amazement. He couldn’t understand what had just happened. When the tall guy walked away, the attendant asked me, “Sir, you don’t follow basketball do you?”

“Unfortunately not,” I said, “Why?”

And the attendant replied, “That gentleman is a professional basketball player in the country! He’s a superstar – and you don’t know him?! Tsk, tsk, tsk…”

The funny thing is, I used to play basketball for my high school varsity team, until one day I realized that basketball is not for midgets like me. I’m 5’7” and a half.

I remember somebody saying that he doesn’t like sports. “I’ve had it! I quit that business once and for all,” he ranted. “You won’t be able to get me near one of those places ever again!” Here are some reasons why people won’t go to sports games:

• Every time I watch a game, people ask me for money!
• The people with whom I had to sit didn’t seem very friendly!
• The seats are too hard and not at all comfortable!
• I went to many games, but the coach never came to call on me!
• The referee made a decision I didn’t agree with!
• Some games go into overtime, and I get late going home!
• The band played some numbers that I’ve never heard before!
• It seems that games are scheduled when I want to do other things.
• I was taken to too many games by my parents when I was growing up.
• I don’t want to take my children to any games because I want them to choose for themselves what sport they like best.
• I suspected that I was sitting with some hypocrites – they really came to see their friends and what they’re wearing rather than to see the game.

You can read the whole thing HERE.