Monthly Archives: August 2018

Biting ourselves

Posted on August 12, 2018 by vincentsmithauthor

There’s an old saying that no matter how long you nurse a grudge, it won’t get better. It reminds me of an American wildlife expert who claimed that a rattlesnake, if cornered, will sometimes become so angry it will bite … Continue reading →

Posted in Anger, Bitterness, Self Destruction, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

“While you’re carrying a grudge, they’re out dancing.”

Posted on August 12, 2018 by vincentsmithauthor

There are few things that cause greater misery than bitterness of spirit. It can even destroy those who understand human behaviour best. Sigmund Freud, the father of modern psychology died a bitter and disillusioned man. Despite his knowledge he had … Continue reading →

Posted in Anger, Bitterness, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Understanding the question

Posted on August 12, 2018 by vincentsmithauthor

When taking an exam it’s important to come up with the right answers to the questions; nearly right answers don’t count. Here are some of the answers that English schoolchildren gave in a Religious Studies exam: Noah’s wife was called … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized, understanding | Leave a comment

Wherever you go, there you are

Posted on August 12, 2018 by vincentsmithauthor

Mac Anderson, in his book The Road to Happiness, tells of the wisdom he picked up from an immigrant taxi driver. He said, ‘I asked him a hypothetical question: “If you could live anywhere in the world, and if money … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundant life, Happiness, Treasure, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

How rich is rich?

Posted on August 12, 2018 by vincentsmithauthor

How rich is rich? According to a survey conducted by investment managers Neuberger & Bergman, the answer is between one and five million dollars in assets. They sponsored a survey of people who stood to give or receive inheritances and, … Continue reading →

Posted in Riches, Treasure, Uncategorized, wealth | Leave a comment

Religious acts are no substitute for true spirituality

Posted on August 12, 2018 by vincentsmithauthor

Mark Twain once had a heart to heart discussion on religion with a prominent Boston business man, well known for his ruthless business practices. With great sincerity, the businessman told the writer, ‘Before I die I mean to make a … Continue reading →

Posted in Spiritual discernment, Spirituality, True and False Religion, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Making the best, even when you don’t have it.

Posted on August 12, 2018 by vincentsmithauthor

A nurse wrote about having removed some stitches from an elderly man who was anxious to keep another appointment. She assumed it was with one of the doctors in the clinic, but it turned out that he wanted to have … Continue reading →

Posted in Acceptance, Choices, Christlikeness, love, Positive Thoughts, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Turning up the heat

Posted on August 12, 2018 by vincentsmithauthor

The Bible talks about God ‘Sitting as a refiner and purifier of silver.’ A group of women, trying to understand the implications of this visited a silversmith to watch him work. They watched him hold a piece of silver over … Continue reading →

Posted in Reflecting, Tested, Transformation, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Happiness is not the same as fun

Posted on August 12, 2018 by vincentsmithauthor

Dr Vera Ranki, writing in the Sydney Morning Herald, said that the first lesson towards achieving happiness is to realize that happiness is not the same as fun. In our desperate pursuit of happiness we often forget that when we … Continue reading →

Posted in Abundant life, Blessedness, Blessings, Happiness, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Calming our confused internal chatter

Posted on August 12, 2018 by vincentsmithauthor

According to an article in the Sydney Morning Herald entitled ‘Scientists Find Biological Reality Behind Religious Experience’, scientific research shows that when people pray and meditate things happen in their brains which give a sense of connectedness to a reality … Continue reading →

Posted in Peace, Peace of mind, Prayer, Revealing God, Silence, Uncategorized | Leave a comment