Thursday, March 10, 2011

There are some things that money can't buy

Here's a factoid from 'U.S.A. Today' titled "If I were a rich man."

In a poll of multi-millionaires the question was asked: "What would you give up half your fortune to possess?"

The answers were revealing.

9% wished they could be married to childhood sweet-heart or a lost love.
23% wished they could be president of the United States.
10% wished for the recovery of lost health.
4% wished to travel to a far off planet.
19% wished for abiding peace of mind and happiness.
30% wished for an assured place in Heaven.
The rest wished for miscellaneous dreams to come true.

To the 30% who opted for a place in Heaven, I would say,
"Save your millions. Your berth has already been booked courtesy of Jesus Christ. Pick up your ticket ASAP.

To the other 70% with Heaven not even on their radar, I would say, "Wake up, smell the coffee and then drink it with your Bible open to Mark 8:36-37.

"What shall it profit a man if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul?"

You're right. There are some things that money just can't buy!

Ian

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

A new meaning to "Asleep on the job."

Here's a beauty from the New York Times. It well illustrates the oft quoted phrase: "We are only cogs in the big machine."

Bosses at a New York firm are trying to figure out how one of their long-standing employees, George Turklebaum, sat dead at his desk for five days before anyone noticed.

The short answer to that question is: "No one really cared."

George was a 30 year veteran at his company. The autopsy showed that he died on Monday of a heart attack and was not discovered until Friday when folk were leaving for home.

No, cheery "Good Mornings"; no "How are you doing today, George?" No, "Can I get you a coffee, George?"

Nothing! George, sat dead at his desk and nobody noticed.

This morning, make an extra effort to be kind to someone.

Step across the room and involve that lonely, odd-person out.

Share something of the love of God with them or, at the very least, give them a nudge to make sure that they are still breathing!

Ian

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Roll the dice: all or nothing!

This is a worthy news flash.

A British man, Ashley Revell, a 32 year old Londoner, sold all his possessions and took $135,000 to the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas.

In a rented Tuxedo, with breathless parents in tow and surrounded by a crowd of supporters he put everything on RED.

The wheel spun, the crowd went wild, the ball bobbled and then BINGO, it came down on RED 7.

He had doubled his money.

No more trying his luck. The next day, after taking his mother on a shopping spree, he was back on the plane to London.

Crazy? Perhaps, but he had had his moment and beat the odds.

Two thousand years ago Jesus Christ challenged his disciples to stake everything and follow Him in a wild gamble of faith.

I think Ashley Revell would fit right in with that crazy bunch.

Ian

Monday, March 7, 2011

Sex. To have or not to have, that is the question.

Brandon Davies has been suspended from the basketball team at Brigham Young University, and the sports world is in an uproar about it.

Did this gifted young athlete sign an illegal contract with the Utah Jazz? Did he rifle through the pockets of his team mates in the locker room?

No. Brandon Davies had premarital sex with his girl friend.

The libertine press is outraged. "How dare Brigham Young intrude into this young man's personal affairs and bring upon him such humiliation?"

Not so fast. Brandon Davies, like the rest of the basketball team, signed an honor code that included a vow to live a chaste, pure life and to abstain from all substance abuse.

Brandon violated the code.

Thus speaks his coach: "In such matters, maintaining the honor code is more important to us than winning the championship."

Perhaps more clubs, professional and non-professional, could embrace such a worthy standard.

Ian

Sunday, March 6, 2011

This Week. Gag ya or Gaga.

Lady Gaga, the latest bizarre creation from the underworld of music, turned up in Toronto last week.

Midway through her show she introduced Maria Aragon, a ten year old from Winnipeg, as her special guest.

For the next few minutes the audience was mesmerized by the spectacle of Gaga, all but naked in her black underwear, cavorting with sweet Maria to the jungle beat of " I was born this way."

The entertainment press, not surprisingly, is giving rave reviews.

But I would ask, "where has our sense of decency gone? Is there no shame left in our culture?"

Such questions seem not to reside in the minds of sweet Maria's parents who are all set to sign up this pubescent star to a multi-million dollar contract.

Decency be damned! let's talk about money.


Ian