The “restorative justice” system for resolving disputes was practiced by indigenous people for centuries. The basic principles of the system are applied in some Mennonite and Amish communities to this day. It came into wider popularity in the 1970s when Nelson Mandela took over as president of South Africa. He instated it in the courts…
People say money is not the key to happiness, but if you have enough money surely you can have a key made. Not so! Money helps us feel somewhat more secure, but it does not guarantee happiness. Buying something we think we need or want might make us feel better temporarily, but the feeling does…
A motivational speaker started his presentation by holding up a one- hundred-dollar bill. He asked, “What’s it worth?’ Someone in the front row said, “A hundred dollars if it’s real”. The speaker crumpled the bill, “Now what’s it worth?” “A hundred dollars!” came a chorus of answers.” Then the speaker threw the bill on the…
A farmer went to a big city to visit his sister for the weekend. He attended church with her. When he got home his wife asked how it was. He said it was okay, but all they sang were those praise songs. He said it would be like if I talked to you saying, ‘The…
What happens to us is less important than how we react to it. Take the case of the donkey that fell in a pit. The farmer who owned the donkey had trouble figuring out how to get him out. He decided just to bury the old donkey where he was by filling in the pit. …
Ole was the pastor of the Norwegian Lutheran Church. Pastor Sven was the pastor of the Swedish Covenant Church just down the street in their small town. One day they joined forces and were seen pounding a sign into the ground. It read, “DA END ISS NEAR! TURN YERSELF AROUNT NOW BAFOR IT ISS TOO…
A medical study conducted in Denmark with 607 patients who had heart disease, indicated that participants with more positive attitudes were 58 percent more likely to live at least another five years. It may have been partly because they were also more likely to be more active. A positive attitude may not only extend one’s…
A pastor asked his congregation to read Mark, chapter 17 in preparation for the next week’s sermon. The following Sunday he asked for a show of hands of those who had read the passage. Several in attendance raised their hands. Then, the pastor proceeded to give his sermon on honesty. What the pastor knew that…
Three pastors were having lunch together. One said, “I’ve been having trouble with bats in my church balcony. I’ve tried everything––noise, spray, cats, but nothing seems to scare them away.” Another said, “Me too. I’ve got hundreds living in my belfry. I’ve even had the place fumigated, and they won’t go away.” The third pastor said,…
A farmer and his brand new bride were riding home from the wedding chapel in a horse-drawn carriage when the old horse stumbled. The farmer said, “That’s once.” A little further along, the poor old horse stumbled again. The farmer said, “That’s twice.” After a little the poor old horse stumbled again. The farmer didn’t…