Monthly Archives: November 2014

Friends forever

Posted on November 13, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

Leonard Syme, a professor of epidemiology at the University of California, believes that social ties and support systems have a great impact on mortality and disease rates. He points out that Japan is the world leader in health and longevity, … Continue reading →

Posted in Friends, Healing, relationships, Wellbeing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Winners

Posted on November 13, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

World famous golfer Arnold Palmer has a plaque in his office that says, ‘If you think you are beaten, you are. If you think you dare not, you don’t. If you’d like to win but think you can’t, it’s almost … Continue reading →

Posted in Believing, Defeated, Faith, Losers, Winners | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Walking into the light

Posted on November 13, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

The Russian novelist Andrei Bitov, who grew up during the days of state sponsored atheism when the churches were forbidden to propagate their message outside of their own aging congregations, said that God got his attention one dreary day while … Continue reading →

Posted in Despair, God, Light, Light of Life | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Not Alone

Posted on November 13, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

A few years ago, best selling writer Philip Yancey wrote these words: ‘For all its faults and failures, the church offers a place to bring wounds and to seek meaning in times of brokenness and struggle. Visiting them I heard … Continue reading →

Posted in Courage, Faith, Mystery, Prayer, Spiritual growth, Spiritual Insight, Strength, Troubles | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Sightless eyes

Posted on November 13, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

One of the most prolific hymn writers of all time was Fanny J Crosby, a blind woman who lost her sight as a young child. But it’s obvious through her hymns that morally and spiritually she could see wonderfully well. … Continue reading →

Posted in Blessedness, Blessings, Blindness, Positive Thoughts, Sight, Spiritual blindness, Spiritual Insight | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Hamlet looking for Shakespeare

Posted on November 2, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

With the exploration of space again in the news we recall that the first words sent back to earth from the astronauts who had circled the moon were the majestic opening words of the Bible, ‘In the beginning God created … Continue reading →

Posted in creation, Faith, God, humility | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Feelings can change when actions do

Posted on November 2, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

George Crane tells of a woman who came to him for marriage counselling. She was very bitter about her husband and wanted to divorce him in a way that would hurt him like he’d hurt her. So George, craftily, suggested … Continue reading →

Posted in Actions, Acts of Kindness, Feelings, Revenge | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Worship in human form

Posted on November 2, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

There’s great symbolism in the traditional designs of places of worship. Hindu temples are built in the form of a man. The outer court represents the human body, the inner court the mind, and the shrine room the soul; teaching … Continue reading →

Posted in Cross, God, Places of Worship, Way to God, Worship | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Paradise Lost for ten pounds

Posted on November 2, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

The poet John Milton sold the copyright of Paradise Lost to a London publisher for five pounds, plus another five for subsequent editions – a grand total of ten pounds for one of the greatest works in the English language. … Continue reading →

Posted in Cost, selling our souls, Value, Wasted Opportunity | Tagged , | Leave a comment

God shaped holes in the unlikeliest hearts

Posted on November 1, 2014 by vincentsmithauthor

When Svetlana Stalin, daughter of Joseph Stalin, history’s greatest mass murderer and leader of the world’s first atheistic state, defected to the West, she said: ‘I found it impossible to exist without God in one’s heart. I came to that … Continue reading →

Posted in Agnosticism, Atheism, Conversion, Faith, Fingerprints of God, Futility, God, God shaped holes, God with us | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment