photo by GAC "A so-called free society has never been remarkable for its feeling towards its casualties. It is invariably richer in charity than in compassion, probably because charity is tax-deductible whereas compassion is merely time-consuming." Peter Ustinov, Krumnagel. New York: Little, Brown, & Co. 1971, page 152.
Tag: kindness
Prayer Note #62: Holy Kindness/Kind Holiness
Sawtooth Mountains, Idaho; photo by GAC Father, it is so hard for me to hold your terrifying holiness and your gentle kindness together in my conception of you. My mind wavers and falls out of balance as I try to keep those true aspects of your character in healthy tension. Then you either become a … Continue reading Prayer Note #62: Holy Kindness/Kind Holiness
Quote of Note #125: Kindness and Gentleness
Photo by GAC "We were created for kind and gentle living. Indeed, kindness and gentleness are two of the fruit-of-the-Spirit characteristics that the apostle Paul mentions in Galatians 5. When Christians fail to measure up to the standards of kindness and gentleness, we are not the people God meant us to be." Richard Mouw, Uncommon … Continue reading Quote of Note #125: Kindness and Gentleness
Quote of Note #121: Honoring All People as Divine Works of Art
Photo by GAC "All human beings are God's handiwork. Each person is a very precious work of divine art. To make light of an artist's work within the artist's earshot is a cruel thing to do. To demean one of God's most precious artworks when God is listening--and he always is--crudely dishonors the divine artist." … Continue reading Quote of Note #121: Honoring All People as Divine Works of Art
Pastor Note #92: Living Out Love
There are many factors that help a church to be healthy and effective—biblical and theological faithfulness, creativity and boldness in outreach, members who are diligent and committed to growing in their faith. But few things can wreck a church faster than bad relational ethics. Relational ethics in a church are one of the most important … Continue reading Pastor Note #92: Living Out Love
Quote of Note #90: Grace for Neighbors. . . and Enemies
"To be people of amazing grace is to see ourselves as recipients of kindness and understanding not owed to us, and if we really believe it's been lavished upon us undeservedly, maybe we can lavish a little upon the people we find ourselves least inclined to view generously. If we're showering only the people we … Continue reading Quote of Note #90: Grace for Neighbors. . . and Enemies
Quote of Note #61 — Generosity and Compassion
"There are people who are known to be very liberal [generous], yet they never give without scolding or pride or even insolence. We are sunk to such a depth of calamity in this awful age that scarcely any alms are given, at least by the majority of men, without haughtiness and contempt. The corruption of … Continue reading Quote of Note #61 — Generosity and Compassion
Quote of Note #44: Instruments of Grace to Others
"Bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, and malice [Ephesians 4:30-32] are characteristic of words that qualify as ungracious speech. These are forbidden vices that grieve the Holy Spirit. God has a personal concern that His children use their speech in kind and merciful ways and not at all in ways that are harmful: 'But love … Continue reading Quote of Note #44: Instruments of Grace to Others
Quote of Note #42: Passing on God’s Generosity
"Scripture urges and warns us that whatever favors we may have received from the Lord, we have received them as a trust on condition that they should be applied to the common benefit of the church. The legitimate use of the Lord's favors is liberally and kindly to share them with others. You cannot imagine … Continue reading Quote of Note #42: Passing on God’s Generosity
Bible Note #23: Blessing without Regard to Deserving & the Gracious Heart of God
Proverbs 21:12-13 [NET] The Righteous One considers the house of the wicked; he overthrows the wicked to their ruin. The one who shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and will not be answered. It runs counter, I think, to our stereotypical understanding of the book of Proverbs … Continue reading Bible Note #23: Blessing without Regard to Deserving & the Gracious Heart of God