One hour a day withdrawn from frivolous pursuits and profitably employed would allow any man of ordinary capacity to master a complete science. One hour a day would in ten years make an ignorant man a well-informed man.

Orison Swett Marden

Do you ever look back on your day and wonder where the time goes... or upon last year and wonder why you didn't accomplish more... or upon the vast expanses of your life and wonder what happened? If so, then welcome to the club - but what will you do now? Will you be content to fritter away these precious hours that make up this beautiful gift of life that the Master has so generously given? Far too many people have resigned themselves to do just that.

I suspect, though, since you are taking the time to read the thoughts of someone who may be a complete stranger, there is likely something within you that yearns for a more meaningful existence. This yearning is good, for God has created each one of us with a capacity for excellence, if we would sincerely be willing to pay the price.

So, what is the price of excellence?

Mr Marden, who sold millions of books in his day, suggested that the carving out of one wasted hour a day would be time enough to make you proficient in any area that you deem important. When you consider that the average American spends about six hours a day with TV or computers, you will quickly see that you have more than enough time to relax and still have time left over for the worthwhile.

What is worthwhile to you? Do you realize that an hour a day spent in Bible study (note that I did not say in the study of books written by people who talk about the Bible) would likely make you more literate in the word of God than most ministers? What kind of servant could you become in an hour a day?

What dreams do you have that would merit an hour a day of intense efforts towards that dream? I suspect that such effort, even on the limited scale of sixty minutes a day, would go a long way in the pursuit of matters that are of real importance to your existence.

"But", (I can almost hear you say),"in ten years I will be thirty... or forty... or fifty years old - or older! True! But how old will you be in ten years if you do not start taking a reasonable amount of time each day to live the life that is truly worth living?

You were called for a life of excellence and have been given the tools to accomplish that lofty goal. When will you start?

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore, be not unwise, but understand what the Lord's will is.

Ephesians 5:16-17

A woman is like a tea bag. You can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water.

Eleanor Roosevelt

I had the privilege of taking a small part in a funeral service for one of the most special ladies in town. Her name was Ruth Sims, and she passed away this last week just shy of her 90th birthday.

I knew Mrs. Sims because she taught my two oldest children. She taught the 5th and 6th grades prior to her retirement at the ripe old age of 78. Mrs. Sims had an impressive resume, from her service in the Navy during WWII to her service in the Air Force during the Korean War . She was decorated with the Victory Medal and the Defense Service Medal.

Most impressive was the story of how Dwight D. Eisenhower wanted her to serve as his personal assistant, but how she turned him down when she had the better offer to become the personal assistant and wife of her sweetheart. Just Eighteen years later her husband died, leaving her with two sons to raise. Seven year later she lost her oldest son in a car wreck, and took his sweet daughter to raise as her own.

This would have (and has) brought lesser women to their knees, but not Mrs. Sims. The hot water that she was placed in revealed a woman of strength and honor and love. She went back to school, earning three masters degrees over the years, and taught hundreds of children over a thirty-one year span.

And I remember Mrs. Sims at my children's 6th grade graduation. While all of the other teachers took about five minutes each to talk about their classes, Mrs. Sims took a full half-hour to tell everyone how special each and every one of her students were. And we as parents didn't mind a bit, because we thought our children were pretty special too!

So, here is to you Mrs. Sims! You were a woman of exceptional strengths, and you will always have a "special" place in the hearts and lives of all those you have touched.

One last thing: If you have a Mrs. Sims in your life, why not tell her now - while you still have the chance - how very much she means to you. I guarantee that it will have a special meaning that will be treasured throughout your lifetimes.

"Let her works bring her praise"

King Solomon

Be prepared... The Boy Scout Motto

This article will be a bit different in theme in order to address a common area of concern among many Christians. We live in uncertain times, with spiraling debts, high unemployment and dire economic predictions from countless sources. So, what is a Christian to do?

Since my background is in finance and economics, I have probably spent way too much time considering such issues. Still, after spending years obtaining degrees in business, economics and finance, I have learned this important truth: The Bible is hands down the best resource for learning what to do in uncertain times. One of the clear instructions of God's Word is that we handle our money as good stewards. So, again, what is a Christian to do?

The first thing to do is to trust in God. Economic uncertainty is not unique to our times and people have survived everything from worldwide depressions to personal bankruptcy. Our duty is to serve God and part of that duty is stewardship in the way we handle our money. Since no one knows what will happentomorrow, it pays to make reasonable preparations concerning our finances. This realization has led me to develop a simple plan that has worked for our family, and which you might be able to adjust for your own unique circumstances:

Step One: Start a pantry with at least a one month supply of food

Step Two: Stock up on non-perishable items that you use on a regular basis. Have a minimum of three months to a maximum of one year's supply on hand. A pleasant benefit is that once you have an inventory built up you will never have to buy necessities except when on sale

Step Three: Do Not Take On Unnecessary New Debt

Step Four: Have one to three month's living expenses in savings

The point of having a simple financial plan is to prepare yourself for emergencies. Unexpected events that affect your finances can happen at any time - that's why they are called emergencies. If we as Christians will make reasonable preparations for the unexpected, it will help us avoid the unnecessary vice of worry and provide peace of mind.

I do want to add a note of caution: I am not making a prediction bad times ahead, nor am I making a recommendation to hoard worldly goods. Neither am I suggesting that we trust in our own abilities; rather, I am simply offering a simple plan to help make rational preparations within a scriptural framework for life's unexpected events.

Our trust is to be in God, not things, but we are also required by God to be good stewards of the possessions that He has entrusted to our care. It's a bit tricky to obtain a proper balance between trust in God and appropriate preparations for bad times, but this is precisely what proper stewardship demands.

A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.

Proverbs 22:3, NIV

The last acceptable form of bigotry in America is bigotry against Christianity.

Today, the most popular star on the most popular show on cable television was suspended from the show... for agreeing with God.

It seems that Phil Robertson quoted the wrong passage of Scripture for the world of intolerant bigots who believe that the word of God should not be referred to when it comes into conflict with their lifestyle. In this case, Phil honestly pointed out that homosexuality was a sin. This apparently has angered those who like this sin.

I want you to know that homosexuality, like any other sin, can be forgiven if it is repented of. Like every other sin, Jesus died for those who would become entangled in it. However, we must not fool ourselves with the notion that those who refuse to repent of this, or any other sin, have any rightful hope of salvation - the Bible certainly gives no such hope, and neither should we.

The thing that disturbs me is how many people mistakenly think that love for others means letting them do whatever they want - even if that thing is bad for them. Often this mistaken sense of love translates into intolerance towards those who would dare to point out that God considers certain activity sinful in the first place.

Maybe this illustration will help: Suppose a two year old is playing in the middle of the street. One person warns the toddler not to do so, another person, seeing how much the toddler wants to play in the street, tells him it is okay. Which person will the toddler like? Will it not be the one who lets him do what he wants to do? However, which person truly loves the child? Is it not the person who warns him of the danger?

The fact is that we are going to have to stop going along with the crowd of those who like sin, and start going along with God. Doing so will require courage... it will also require love. Sometimes, it will make you unpopular.

Congratulations to Phil Robertson for having the love and courage to warn others of the consequences of sin. Shame on anyone who lacks that courage and love, and shame on anyone who would attempt to silence those who understand that God's word is to be respected and honored and obeyed!

...two people observe a toddler playing in traffic. One warns him to stop, the other tells him it's okay. Which person are you?

Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. In the same way the men also abandoned natural relationships with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error. Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, so God gave them over to a depraved mind, so that they do what ought not to be done.

Romans 1:26-28, NKJV