(Cool things I’ve heard somebody pray, #1…)
Joyce is an editor for New Hope publishing. I’m working with her on a book project, and last week we got together by phone to talk about it.
Joyce is also a prayer warrior. And before we did anything of a business nature, she wanted to pray. “You go first,” she said. So I committed our time and the project to the Lord, asked for His direction on our conversation, etc. – the kinds of predictable things anyone would ask the Lord’s blessing on.
Then Joyce prayed.
And I went back to school. [click to continue…]
by Andy Wood on December 23, 2007
in Spoofs
I found this link on Josh Harris’ blog site to “Cletus Take the Reel” – a spoof on Carrie Underwood’s hit song. I had never heard of Tim Hawkins before, but he’s hilarious.
If you’re in the South Plains (Texas) area, Tim will be here in January.
It came with all the usual markings of a Christmas card – a small-sized envelope, personally addressed, arriving in early December. But inside was a surprise. All that was in the envelope was an ordinary, well-used playing card – the three of hearts. Across the front of the card, an anonymous friend had written, “Merry Christmas, from one soldier to another.” [click to continue…]
I’ve done reunions badly, if at all. Never went to a high school reunion. And while I do have my share of sentimentality, somewhere in my brain is a switch that flips with life changes. “Move on,” it says, and typically I do.This year was different. Somehow in one of those once-in-a-lifetime periods of alignment, I had two reunions in exactly the same location within a week of each other. [click to continue…]
The Encourager’s Creed
by Andy Wood
Today and every day I will offer the most elegant gift another human can receive: the gift of encouragement. I will recognize that my gift is theirs to receive or to refuse, and that it comes with no expectations or demands.
Today and every day:
I will give the lonely a reason to believe in companionship again. And in so doing, I will banish loneliness from my own heart forever.
I will give the open-hearted a reason to grow – to expand their knowledge or their experience, their character or their self-confidence. And in so doing, I will discover paths of my own growth I never knew existed.
I will give the dreamer a reason to achieve – to accomplish a major step toward a goal or project. And in so doing, I will find myself closer to my own dreams than ever.
I will give the sojourner a reason to feel connected – to God, to self, to me. And in so doing, I will embark on my own wondrous journey of intimacy.
I will give my coworkers a reason to say, “Thank You,” but I will not demand that it be said. And in so doing, I will experience the exhilaration of true teamwork.
I will give the ordinary a reason to feel respected. And in so doing, I will possess greater respect from myself and from others.
I will give the solemn a reason to laugh or smile. And in so doing, I will be reminded again not to take myself too seriously.
I will give the decision-maker a reason to say, “Yes” with enthusiasm, or, “No” with courage. And in so doing I will be delivered from my own inaction.
I will give the weary a reason to go on, refusing to quit. And in so doing I will sow the seeds of my own prevailing strength.
I will give the apathetic a reason to be passionate about the things that really matter. And in so doing, I will face the trivial and meaningful in my own life.
I will give the cautious a reason to get out of that dull routine and live a little. And in so doing I will protect my own spirit from stagnation.
I will give the cynic a reason to believe the world is a beautiful place. And in so doing, I will rediscover for myself the splendor of the grand and the grace of the simple.
Most of all, I will recognize that this day is a gift to me. Today and every day I will take the time to encourage the encourager. I will recognize that my greatest gifts become available to others only when I offer them first to myself and to my God.
Seth Godin shared this head-turning picture taken at a market in Greenwich Village. Here’s an idea sure to get somebody a promotion – Hanukkah ham! Seth’s comment: “Sometimes a little knowledge isn’t such a good thing.”
Where would we be without ideas? And where would the good ideas be without a few Hanukkah hams thrown in for good measure? Pets.com, New Coke, Volkswagon’s “Thing” and ketchup-flavored potato chips come to mind. Seemed like good ideas to somebody at the time.
Years ago Mad Magazine did a list of ad slogans that never quite made it to TV. Things like: [click to continue…]
Take a look in the mirror. There you’ll see somebody you hope comes across as decent, caring, and human at least. Godly at best. Imagine, however, that you could look through the veil at the thoughts of people around you. Chances are, sometime over the last several weeks, you walked right past them. Absorbed in your own world, you dissed ‘em. And though you were clueless, they caught it.
You jerk. [click to continue…]
