Monthly Archives: January 2015

Moving on

Posted on January 28, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

You may remember the story of Aaron Ralston who, a few years ago, while climbing in Utah, pushed his arm into a crack in the rock face and then got trapped by a large boulder. Everthing he tried failed to … Continue reading →

Posted in Courage, Endurance, Overcoming, Pain, Trials and testings, tribulation and trouble, Tried, Troubles | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Purification by proxy

Posted on January 28, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Every twelve years, millions of Hindus flock to Allahabad to bathe in the River Ganges, believing that they will be cleansed from sin. Sadly, scores of pilgrims regularly get injured in the crush as the crowds rush to the water. … Continue reading →

Posted in Forgiveness, New Life, Purification, Salvation | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Better than any spa

Posted on January 28, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

According to The International Spa Association the number of hotels or resorts offering spas has multiplied over the past few years. Spas are offering exotic treatments indigenous to their location, including “lava rock massages in Hawaii, papaya scrubs in the … Continue reading →

Posted in New Life, Second chance, Spiritual blessing, Transformation | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Numbered Days

Posted on January 28, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

A few years ago an Indian holy man nearly incited a riot by failing to die as foretold. He’d predicted that his soul would leave his body sometime on the morning of November 17, and fifteen thousand people showed up … Continue reading →

Posted in Life, Life's journey, Living Life, Wisdom | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Truth in love

Posted on January 4, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

It’s always difficult to know what to do when someone asks you to write them a reference for a job you know they’re not up to. But Robert Thornton, a professor of economics, once composed the ideal letter to fit … Continue reading →

Posted in Life's journey, love, References, Speaking the truth, Truth | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Breaking with the law of the playground

Posted on January 4, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

British style writer Neil Boorman, a few years ago, caused a stir when he decided to burn all his brand-name possessions. “I am addicted to brands,” he confessed in a magazine article: “From an early age, I have been taught … Continue reading →

Posted in emptiness, Faith, God in us, God's faithfulness, Life, Life's journey, Living Life, Living simply, Materialism, satisfaction | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

‘Man sees the deed, but God sees the intention.’

Posted on January 4, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

I remember my little daughter once deciding to buy me an ice-cream with her own money. But on the way back from the Mr Whippy van the ice cream started to melt. So she began to lick the sides of … Continue reading →

Posted in Acceptance, Failure, Faith, Forgiveness, God, God's faithfulness, Grace | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Touching the untouchable

Posted on January 4, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

One of the greatest men of the Twentieth Century was Mahatma Gandhi. Most people know him for having led India in its struggle for independence and for his advocacy of non violent protest. But Gandhi did other great things too. … Continue reading →

Posted in Acts of Kindness, God in us, God with us, Justice, Living Life, Losers, Love of Christ, Mercy, New Life, Regeneration, Spiritual blessing | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Why does everybody call me ‘Fruit stand.’

Posted on January 4, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

When the San Francisco hippie community started to move to cheaper areas down the coast, pre-schools in Santa Cruz got an influx of children with names like Frisbee, Moonbeam, Timewarp and Precious Promise. The strangest one, however, was a little … Continue reading →

Posted in Life's journey, Mistakes, New Life, Parental mistakes, Starting afresh | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

God’s alternative makes sweeter music

Posted on January 4, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

There was once an Italian boy named Antonio. He loved music and wanted above everything else to become a singer, but whenever he tried to sing his friends laughed at him. However, his village was home to Nicolo Amati, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Attitude, Disappointed, Discerning God's Will, God's faithfulness, inner yearning, Making the most of what you've got, Music of life, satisfaction, Second chance, Seeing the possibilities, Stradivarius | Tagged , | Leave a comment