If we were to examine the original Greek of the beatitudes, we would see that when Jesus said “blessed are the meek,” he could have meant, “blessed are the educable for they shall inherit the earth.” Educable people--those who are teachable--don’t suffer from a “know it all” attitude. They allow room in their life for growth. They listen. They’re not defensive. They’re not on an ego trip. Rather, they are on a success trip. If their way isn’t the best, they’ll switch. Blessed are the teachable, for they shall succeed.
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
Friday, 20 May 2011
SAY NO! BY SAYING YES!
In order to be satisfied we need healthy nourishment. We need to be selective in what we need feed our minds and our souls with. It’s not easy in today’s world when we’re surrounded by “junk food” thoughts. By that I mean the negative attitudes, negative reactions, and negative responses that bombard us everyday. We need to insulate ourselves against these negatives and diligently seek the positive, the good—righteous thoughts, righteous dreams, and righteous actions.
Thursday, 19 May 2011
PERSERVE IN DOING WHAT IS RIGHT
Today, the social and moral pressures in our pluralistic society threaten the Christian as never before! The temptations to “become like” the nonreligious persons around us can be terribly intimidating!
The temptations to adopt the value system of a secure society become a deadly serious form of insidious persecution. To my Christian reader: a warning! Compromise and abandon your principles and you will literally lose your soul; you’ll no longer be the person you were before. You will have lost your identity as a distinctive, independent person.
The temptations to adopt the value system of a secure society become a deadly serious form of insidious persecution. To my Christian reader: a warning! Compromise and abandon your principles and you will literally lose your soul; you’ll no longer be the person you were before. You will have lost your identity as a distinctive, independent person.
For when you give in, for fear of ridicule, to the pressure to be like everyone else, you’ll have allowed yourself to be absorbed in the total collective society. Run with the foxes, dash with the hounds, and become just another part of the mass of humanity. You will be a nothing! A no one! Yes, a non-individual! Only a blob absorbed in a mass!
For a little bit of you dies every time you surrender a cherished ideal, abandon a noble value, or discard a moral principle
For a little bit of you dies every time you surrender a cherished ideal, abandon a noble value, or discard a moral principle
Sunday, 15 May 2011
THE SECRET OF SATISFACTION
Satisfactions, happiness, fulfillment--all are as elusive and fleeting as shadows, when we search for them through fame, success, power, or sexual gratification.
How then can we find satisfaction? Jesus said, “blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” In this powerful sentence, Jesus shows us how we can satisfy the heart’s deepest hunger, its deepest longing.
Jesus says the way to satisfaction and happiness lies in seeking righteousness.
Saturday, 14 May 2011
THE UNHAPPY ATTITUDE
Is the way of anger and vengeance: “revenge!” “I’ll get even!” this negative attitude is a sure prescription for misery and unhappiness. People who are obsessed with fighting battles cannot be filled with joy. Their only satisfaction is having the bitter taste of frustration released through their spiteful, vengeful behavior.
Probably more times than we’ll ever know, the unhappiness of those who choose the unhappy attitude is multiplied through the break down of their physical health—high blood pressure, heart trouble, strokes, even cancer—produced by stress. This is the result of their choice of an un-happy attitude toward unfortunate circumstances.
Thursday, 12 May 2011
Sunday, 8 May 2011
BLESSED ARE THE KIND
This is the final key to understanding what Jesus meant when he said, “Blessed are the meek.” Without kindness the mighty are ruthless. Without kindness the emotionally stable are emotionally cold and hard. Without kindness the educable become arrogant.
The truly meek person is mighty, emotionally stable, educable—and kind. Without kindness we have only M-E-E, which is significant, for without kindness we are self-centered and surely doomed to failure and unhappiness. The M-E-E attitude is an un-happy attitude. The M-E-E-K attitude is a be-happy attitude.
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