Monthly Archives: June 2015

No taking a bath on the main street during banking hours

Posted on June 29, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

In a classic Frank and Ernest cartoon, the two of them stand facing hundreds of books in a Law Library. Frank says to Ernest: ‘It’s frightening when you think that we started out with just Ten Commandments.’ And so it … Continue reading →

Posted in Grace, Laws, Legalism, Loving God, Loving other people | Tagged | Leave a comment

Legacies

Posted on June 29, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Best known for its elegant and expensive watches, Swiss watchmaker Patek Philippe has also become well-known for its clever advertising slogan which says: ‘You never actually own a Patek Philippe; you merely take care of it for the next generation.’ … Continue reading →

Posted in accountability, Legacies, Life, Life's journey, responsibility, Stewardship | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Preferring prison

Posted on June 27, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Some years ago Danny Villegas was sentenced to six years in gaol for robbing a bank. However, following his release, he decided he preferred prison life to working for a living. So he held up a credit union and then … Continue reading →

Posted in Bondage, Freedom, Prisoners, Truth | Leave a comment

‘He won’t let me love him when he’s awake.’

Posted on June 27, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

A friend told me about a boy who was the apple of his parents’ eyes. But in his teens he went off the rails, dropped out of school and began hanging around with a bad crowd. Early one morning he … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, God's love, love, Mother's love | 2 Comments

Clothed with kindness

Posted on June 26, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Researchers from the University of Utah found there’s a price to pay when couples don’t get along. They found that women who buried anger were more likely to succumb to heart disease than wives who were vocal, and that women … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundant life, Compassion, Gentleness, Healing, humility, Kindness, Patience, relationships | Leave a comment

Pick yourself up, dust yourself down.

Posted on June 26, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

Do you remember that song that Fred Astaire sang to Ginger Rodgers in the old movie, Swingtime? It went like this: ‘Nothing’s impossible I have found, for when my chin is on the ground I pick myself up, dust myself … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundant life, Encouragement, Failure, Faith, God with us, God's love, New Life, Overcoming, Second chance | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Photographing the presence of God

Posted on June 25, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

The famous neurologist Professor Andrew Newberg actually takes photographs of what believers call ‘the presence of God’. He invites people to meditate and pray in a secluded room. Then, when they are most deeply absorbed in their devotions, he injects … Continue reading →

Posted in Calmness, God, God with us, God's presence, Peace, Prayer, Silence, Tranquility | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Prayers that become a curse

Posted on June 25, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

The ancient Greeks had a story about Aurora the goddess of the dawn, who fell in love with Tithonus, a mortal youth. So Zeus the king of the gods, offered her any gift she might choose for her lover; and … Continue reading →

Posted in Blessings, Curses, God, Prayer | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

You always leave a scar

Posted on June 24, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

A man once taught his young son to control his violent temper by making him hammer a nail into a wooden fence each time he lost his cool. On the first day the boy hammered thirty seven nails into the … Continue reading →

Posted in Anger, consequences, scar, Self-control | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Succeeding at something that doesn’t really matter

Posted on June 24, 2015 by vincentsmithauthor

A few years ago a woman in North Carolina attempted to set a world record while playing a convenience store video game. After standing in front of the game for fourteen hours and scoring an unprecedented seven and a half … Continue reading →

Posted in Failure, Futility, Life, Meaninglessness, Purpose in life, Success | Leave a comment