Homes And Other Treasures
Recently I decided to renovate the living room of our old terrace house. I painted the ceiling and replaced the ugly and dated lights. I took down the faded curtains and put up roller blinds. I spent hours on the walls—sanding off flaking paint, filling the many dents and holes, resanding, then applying multiple coats of new paint. A cement slab in the corner was removed and new tiles were laid. The fireplace also needed to be replaced. Finally, I sanded back the skirting boards and repainted them with gloss. It was hard work, but I felt proud of the changes I saw each day.
no regrets
Take a guess: What do you think are the top five regrets of the dying? A palliative nurse listed her findings in a book. Here they are:
fixed
I love excellence and I even battle against perfectionism from time to time. But there are times I find speed more desirable than precision. As evidence, behind every picture on my walls is a cluster of tiny pinholes. It’s no wonder that the occasional picture falls from its place. After all, I can’t expect much from a technique that relies on a hairbrush in lieu of a hammer, and a good eye instead of a tape measure. My attempts simply seemed faster than measured accuracy.
give what you have
Last year, a few foreign exchange college students from Saudi Arabia celebrated Christmas with our family. When they arrived, they told us they had never experienced a Christmas in the US and were looking forward to it with great anticipation.
okay to be great?
Is it a sin to be great? Over the years, I’ve heard statements that imply it is. Some have said, “It’s not about me. It’s about God.” Or, “People need to see God, not me.” Yes, we should avoid self-promotion, but I wonder if believers in Jesus can take it too far?
To those who think it’s a sin to…
telling the truth
Professional integrity and a commitment to excellence are the working philosophies which guide us on a daily basis.” This is one of the introductory sentences from a Web site designed to provide fictional explanations, fake employment references, and verification for unexcused absences. A more accurate sentence would be “professional lying and commitment to providing false testimony are what guide us…
marvelous
Last year, the opening ceremonies of the Beijing Summer Olympics were spectacular. The 17 days of competition, full of world-record-shattering performances, were sensational. But were the 2008 Summer Games marvelous?
Before answering, first consider what the word marvelous means. The American Heritage Dictionary defines marvelous as: (1) Causing wonder or astonishment. (2) Miraculous; supernatural. Webster's Dictionary says marvelous means: (1) Exciting wonder or surprise; astonishing;…
3 questions
The one thing I desire in ministry is to give God the best that I’ve got. I don’t always succeed, but I aspire to give him my best. How can we be sure that we are giving God the best we’ve got? Based on 1 Corinthians 3:10-15, here are three very important questions that can help us to achieve maximum…
