“When [Jesus] was insulted, he did not answer back with an insult… (1 Peter 2:23, NIV).

              I overheard a conversation a few days ago between a mom and her pre-K son. Mom was reprimanding the boy for taking an unauthorized package of chocolate chip cookies from the grocery shelf. The young man defiantly looked at her and spouted, “Well, what about daddy? He buys cookies and you don’t get mad at him.” Dad was standing only feet away as his wife glared in his direction. I imagine it was a long drive home for all of them.

“If anyone thinks he is too great to stoop to this, he is fooling himself. He is really a nobody” (Galatians 6:3, TLB).

“I would never do such a thing.” Those are the words I was thinking when the car merging into traffic cut me off. I felt rather smug in my appraisal of the situation.

^“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice…Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done”  (Philippians 4:4&6, NLT).

In every life we have some trouble.
But when you worry you make it double.
Don’t worry, be happy!

     These are the words of Bobby McFerrin’s 1988 classic that reached number one on the Billboard Top 100 chart. McFerrin’s song became popular world-wide, particularly in Finland. This news should come as no surprise. The Finnish people are widely recognized as being the happiest people on earth.

“Every time I think of you; I give thanks to my God. ⁴ Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy” (Philippians 1:3-4, NLT).

              Barbara Johnson is one of my favorite Christian authors. Barb tells of the time she had overslept and was late for work. Then, several things happened at the office to contribute to her agitation. By the time she reached the bus stop for the trip home her stomach was tied into knots.

“When they were all full, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces left over; let us not waste a bit” (John 6:12, GNT).

              My cell phone has been acting up lately. The device is only a few years old. Planned obsolescence is the reason, so I’m told.

              It seems that many things made today are not built to last. From electronics to motor vehicles, clothing to major league sport rosters, most consumables are produced with a short shelf life in mind. In many instances, it’s more expensive to repair an item than to replace it. Such is life in a disposable society.

“In this life we have three great lasting qualities – faith, hope, and love.  But the greatest of them is love” (I Corinthians 13:13, J.B. Phillips).

     Several years ago, my father was approached by a member of the church he served. I’ll call her Darlene. Darlene sat down in my father’s office and spoke: