"To do nothing at all is the most difficult thing in the world, the most difficult and the most intellectual." This quote from 19th-century writer Oscar Wilde was used in a psychology article that I read recently. The article explained the characteristics of manic defense. An example of manic defense is the person who spends all of his or her time rushing around from one task to the next, unable to tolerate even short periods of inactivity. The more I read about manic defense, the more I Continue Reading
Living Out What We Preach {Atlanta Journal Constitution Column}
If looks could kill, I would have fallen cold on my kitchen floor immediately. My daughter’s eyes pierced me with a mixture of indignation, pain and confusion. No wonder. My attitude was a far cry from the truths that I wrote about all day long. And she knew it. Children always know it. Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Gentleness. Faithfulness. Self-Control. In just a couple of minutes, I was able to open my mouth and crush every single one of the attributes of the fruit of the Continue Reading
Quitting… At the Edge of the Promise Land {Atlanta Journal Constitution Column}
It’s February. The graveyard of most new year’s resolutions. It seems harsh, but unfortunately, it’s just numbers. I did a little research and, according to a statistics website, 25 percent of people drop their new year’s resolutions by the end of the first week of January. The number goes up to 36 percent after the first month, and only 34 percent of people will remain committed to their goals past June. I am not proud to confess, but I have been on the team of those who don’t seem to be Continue Reading
USA’s Initial Trust In God Was Vital {Atlanta Journal Constitution Column}
“Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom and withall thy getting, get understanding.” “The light shineth in darkness, and the darkness comprehendeth it not.” I immediately recognized the quotes engraved on the walls of the Library of Congress — one from the Old Testament, the other one referring to Christ in the New Testament. These verses are well known to me. I stood in the Reading Room, astounded by the beauty and majesty of the architecture, while my heart raced with the Continue Reading
Comparison – Joy and Purpose Killer {Atlanta Journal Constitution}
A story is told about a king who went into his royal garden one morning, only to find every tree and plant withering and dying. He approached the oak tree and asked what its trouble was. The oak tree said it was tired of life and decided it wanted to die, since it could never be as tall as the pine tree. The pine tree felt discouraged and withered because it could never bear fruit like the grapevine. The grapevine was determined to die because it could never stand tall and bear large fruit like Continue Reading
What if the Trial You Face Isn’t About You? {Atlanta Journal Constitution Column}
Our children sat at the other end of the table, giggling as teenagers do, oblivious to the seriousness of our conversation. As my girlfriends and I bowed down to pray, it didn’t matter that we were in a busy restaurant at lunchtime. My friends had spent the past couple of hours sharing their burdens, seeking advice and wisdom, and we knew that only God could truly give them direction, help and meaning to their valley. As I prayed for each of them, it dawned on me — I was once more able to Continue Reading
