In a Nutshell
Tidbits – January 2025
Flying Duck Orchid
God's inventiveness is sometimes so shockingly inventive, it might make you laugh out loud. This is a real flower called the "Flying Duck Orchid" that actually looks like the bird in flight (see above).
Is Christianity good for the world?
God's critics love to attack all the good He gives. But Gary Bates, the former CEO of Creation Ministries International, once told a short story that shows just how apparent God's goodness is, even to those who try to deny it.
"Two of my colleagues were speaking on an Australian Christian radio station a few years ago....and a young geology student....told my colleague that Christianity was "not much good," and that she was drawn to religions like Buddhism or Islam. My colleague asked her what country in the world she would choose in which to raise her future children.
“'Australia, of course,' she replied.
"He shot back: 'If it couldn’t be Australia, what would be your next choice?'
“'Umm … America, I guess … or maybe England.'
“'And if that isn’t possible?'
“'Well,' she replied, hesitating, 'probably Germany … or Switzerland …'
"After she had been prodded to consider several more, my colleague pointed out that she did not cite any predominantly Buddhist or Islamic nations. Her ‘wish list’ was made up entirely of countries that most would define as having a Christian foundation (despite their rapid decline into secularism)."
My colleague wrote: “Of course, our young lady’s choices were neither unusual nor surprising. Not even the most vehement Christian-bashers would prefer to bring their children up in Iran, Burma, Saudi Arabia or the like. But rarely would any of them make a connection between their choice of countries and the Bible.”
SOURCES: Gary Bates' 2013 End of the year letter; He culled the story from Dr. Carl Wieland's "One Human Family"
On reputation
“Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”
– Coach John Wooden
Hebrews 12:6-7 in fiction
In Russell Hoban's Bedtime for Frances, Frances is having some troubles staying in bed. Thankfully, when Frances has once again gotten out of bed and padded to her her parents' room, her Father knows just what to say.
"'How can the wind have a job?' asked Frances.
"'Everybody has a job,' said Father. 'I have to go to my office every morning at nine o'clock. That is my job. You have to go to sleep so you can be wide awake for school tomorrow. That is your job.'
"Frances said, 'I know, but...'
"Father said, 'I have not finished. If the wind does not blow the curtains, he will be out of a job. If I do not go to the office, I will be out of a job. And if you do not go to sleep now, do you know what will happen to you?'
"'I will be out of a job?' said Frances.
"'No,' said Father.
"'I will get a spanking?' said Frances.
"'Right!' said Father.
"'Good night!' said Frances, and she went back to her room.”
On the pull of power
"Power is a poison well known for thousands of years. If only no one were ever to acquire material power over others! But to the human being who has faith in some force that holds dominion over all of us, and who is therefore conscious of his own limitations, power is not necessarily fatal. For those, however, who are unaware of any higher sphere, it is a deadly poison. For them there is no antidote."
– Alexander Solzhenitsyn
Two great lines from a great book
"Don't trust in your strength, because there is such a thing as pride.
"Don't despair in your weakness, because there is such a thing as forgiveness."
– Trevin Wax, from his "Clear Winter Nights"
Democracy needs Christ as King
“If you want to defend democracy, you must first understand why. It’s not because the people are always right, as some hyper-democrats have claimed. Remember that, given the choice, the people cried, 'Give us Barabbas!' The reason we defend democracy is that, in a fallen world, no man or woman can be trusted with absolute power; so those who govern must be made accountable to those they govern.
“But the electorate, in turn, must have a standard to which the government is held accountable – a fixed standard of right and wrong. And unless that standard is transcendent – from a source higher than the shifting tides of public opinion – society will inevitably descend into the Law of the Jungle: 'Might makes right.' The transcendent, immutable standards of Biblical justice and compassion are the only reliable protection for the weak and helpless."
– Ron Gray, former leader of the Christian Heritage Party of Canada
A peculiar blessing
“I have been driven many times to my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had absolutely no other place to go.”
– attributed to Abraham Lincoln
7 one-liners
- Give Satan an inch and he'll become a ruler.
- Morality, like art, consists of drawing a line somewhere.
- Don't put a question mark where God put a period.
- When it comes to giving, some people stop at nothing.
- A Bible that is falling apart probably belongs to someone who isn’t.
- If evolution is true, why do mothers have only two hands?
- Give God what’s right…not what’s left.
SOURCE: from material circulating the Internet
A man in a pit
A man fell into a pit and couldn’t get himself out.
A liberal came along and said, “I feel your pain.” A conservative walked by and said, “Only bad people fall into pits.”
A politician promised, “We’ll pass a law banning pits.” An optimist said, “Things could be worse.” A pessimist claimed, “Things will get worse.” A news reporter wanted the exclusive on the pit. A socialist was angry there weren’t more rich people in pits. A capitalist left to look for investors to build a toll bridge over the pit. A self-pitying person said, “You haven’t seen anything until you’ve seen my pit!” A fire and brimstone preacher thundered, “You deserve your pit!” A psychologist noted, “Your mother and father are to blame for you being in that pit.” A self-esteem therapist said, “Believe in yourself and you can get out of that pit.”
A Christian, seeing the man, said, “Jesus would want me to help you out of this pit,” took him by the hand and lifted him out.
Source: adapted from a bit in Cal and Rose Somra’s "More Holy Humor"
The wit and wisdom of Will Rogers
Years ago, comedian Will Rogers got a laugh when he noted: “We don't seem to be able to check crime, so why not legalize it and then tax it out of business?” Today governments in North America and Europe are using this method to deal with prostitution, illegal drugs and gambling. They’re turning Rogers’ small, gentle joke into a big bad one.
