“Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.” Ambrose Bierce

“Do not let the sun go down on your anger.” Eph.4

When it comes to anger, do not be like a bulldog on a bone but like the duck in water. Drop the bone that bothers you and learn to swim through insults without getting wet. Do not be like the brick that bashes or breaks but like the sponge; when you bend it out of shape it always bounces back. Conversations Within” ts 2/22/2013 (Birmingham, AL)

“Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret.” Ambrose Bierce

“Do not let the sun go down on your anger.” Eph.4

When it comes to anger, do not be like a bulldog on a bone but like the duck in water. Drop the bone that bothers you and learn to swim through insults without getting wet. Do not be like the brick that bashes or breaks but like the sponge; when you bend it out of shape it always bounces back. Conversations Within” ts 2/22/2013 (Birmingham, AL)

“Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.” Paul Boese

“Forgive one another as God has forgiven you.” Eph.4

I have read that forgiveness is like the ringing of a tower bell. You forgive when you stop pulling the rope, but the bell in the tower keeps ringing for a while. We may never forget the injury, but we can still forgive it if only by changing the way we view it. We remember not so much the hurt, but we remember the act of forgiving it. Do not bring up the past injury but your past decision to pardon it. Conversations Within” ts 2/21/2013 (Birmingham, AL)

“Forgiveness does not change the past, but it does enlarge the future.” Paul Boese

“Forgive one another as God has forgiven you.” Eph.4

I have read that forgiveness is like the ringing of a tower bell. You forgive when you stop pulling the rope, but the bell in the tower keeps ringing for a while. We may never forget the injury, but we can still forgive it if only by changing the way we view it. We remember not so much the hurt, but we remember the act of forgiving it. Do not bring up the past injury but your past decision to pardon it. Conversations Within” ts 2/21/2013 (Birmingham, AL)

“Celebrate diversity, practice acceptance...” Donzella Michele Malone

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Rom.15 NIV

Differences do not necessarily divide; they may serve to complement. Diversity or different points of view is one of the ways God can bring people together. This is never more true than in marriage. Husbands and wives must learn the skill of mutual submission by accepting the value of all that God desires to give us in a partner. God balances out-of-whack wheels this way. Conversations Within” ts 2/19/2013 (Camp Farrington, AL)

“Celebrate diversity, practice acceptance...” Donzella Michele Malone

“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.” Rom.15 NIV

Differences do not necessarily divide; they may serve to complement. Diversity or different points of view is one of the ways God can bring people together. This is never more true than in marriage. Husbands and wives must learn the skill of mutual submission by accepting the value of all that God desires to give us in a partner. God balances out-of-whack wheels this way. Conversations Within” ts 2/19/2013 (Camp Farrington, AL)

Learning how to properly ask forgiveness is as important as learning how to give it when it is asked of me.

“Forgiving one another...” Eph.4

We have all said things like “I’m sorry;” or “I was wrong, but you were wrong too;” or “What I did was wrong, but you provoked me.” Of course, none of these is really asking for forgiveness. Naming the offense without accusation or excuse lets the offended party know that we know we have hurt them. We may even communicate remorse by telling them that we are sorry we did it. But nothing communicates a desire to heal a relationship better than the simple words “I was wrong, will you forgive me?” Conversations Within” ts 2/20/2013 (On the road, AL)

Learning how to properly ask forgiveness is as important as learning how to give it when it is asked of me.

“Forgiving one another...” Eph.4

We have all said things like “I’m sorry;” or “I was wrong, but you were wrong too;” or “What I did was wrong, but you provoked me.” Of course, none of these is really asking for forgiveness. Naming the offense without accusation or excuse lets the offended party know that we know we have hurt them. We may even communicate remorse by telling them that we are sorry we did it. But nothing communicates a desire to heal a relationship better than the simple words “I was wrong, will you forgive me?” Conversations Within” ts 2/20/2013 (On the road, AL)

“One of the hardest things in this world is to admit you are wrong. And nothing is more helpful in resolving a situation than its frank admission.” Benjamin Disraeli

“Confess your faults to one another...” James 5

The ability to see your own faults is a necessary skill to maintain any healthy relationship. If we cannot see our own faults, how can we work to correct them? It is equally important not only to discern the error of one’s way, but to be able to confess it, ask forgiveness, and work to remedy it. Knowing when I am wrong is the first step: being able to set it right is the step that must follow. When it comes to others, this always involves knowing the proper way to ask forgiveness, which, in a word, is humbly. Conversations Within” ts 2/18/2013 (Camp Farrington, AL)

“One of the hardest things in this world is to admit you are wrong. And nothing is more helpful in resolving a situation than its frank admission.” Benjamin Disraeli

“Confess your faults to one another...” James 5

The ability to see your own faults is a necessary skill to maintain any healthy relationship. If we cannot see our own faults, how can we work to correct them? It is equally important not only to discern the error of one’s way, but to be able to confess it, ask forgiveness, and work to remedy it. Knowing when I am wrong is the first step: being able to set it right is the step that must follow. When it comes to others, this always involves knowing the proper way to ask forgiveness, which, in a word, is humbly. Conversations Within” ts 2/18/2013 (Camp Farrington, AL)

Love is its own reward.

“You hold my lot.” Ps.16

Some people are asked to endure a bad marriage just as others are asked to endure bad health. What can we do but accept the lot assigned to us and bear it with a thankful heart. Thankful for what, you say? Well, one thing that comes immediately to mind is the opportunity to love in the face of unreturned love. The reason this is something to be grateful about is that we are never more like Jesus than when we unconditionally love others. Love is its own reward. Conversations Within” ts 2/15/2013 (Jax, FL)

Love is its own reward.

“You hold my lot.” Ps.16

Some people are asked to endure a bad marriage just as others are asked to endure bad health. What can we do but accept the lot assigned to us and bear it with a thankful heart. Thankful for what, you say? Well, one thing that comes immediately to mind is the opportunity to love in the face of unreturned love. The reason this is something to be grateful about is that we are never more like Jesus than when we unconditionally love others. Love is its own reward. Conversations Within” ts 2/15/2013 (Jax, FL)

Just because your partner won't dance to the tune of a good marriage doesn’t mean you must sit out when the music starts. The abundant life that Jesus promises cannot be undone, even by a poor spouse.

“Your Maker is your husband.” Is.54

If your marriage isn’t what you want it to be, show up anyway. Do your part and do it just as if you were doing it for God. You will know you are doing this when, joy replaces misery and patient contentment replaces bitterness. Your spouse may never show up to do their part, but God will not abandon your service and devotion to Him. If God promises to be a husband to the widow will He not also show up on the dance floor when the music starts? Conversations Within” ts 2/14/2013 (Jax, FL)

Just because your partner won't dance to the tune of a good marriage doesn’t mean you must sit out when the music starts. The abundant life that Jesus promises cannot be undone, even by a poor spouse.

“Your Maker is your husband.” Is.54

If your marriage isn’t what you want it to be, show up anyway. Do your part and do it just as if you were doing it for God. You will know you are doing this when, joy replaces misery and patient contentment replaces bitterness. Your spouse may never show up to do their part, but God will not abandon your service and devotion to Him. If God promises to be a husband to the widow will He not also show up on the dance floor when the music starts? Conversations Within” ts 2/14/2013 (Jax, FL)

“Love...as distinct from "being in love" — is not merely a feeling. It is a deep unity, maintained by the will and deliberately strengthened by habit; reinforced by..the grace which both partners ask, and receive, from God...”

“And he is the head of the body...so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” Col.1

Rather than trying to get back those feeling of being “in love,” married couples should anticipate the next stage of it--a wellspring of deep affection that flows not just from their commitment to each other, but to laying hold of all that God intends when two are joined together by Him. In truth the purpose of marriage is designed as another means to discover the value and joy of knowing and loving God. As long as Christ is the apex which draws two lives together, the closer we get to Him, the closer we come to each other.Conversations Within” ts 2/13/2013 (Jax, FL)

“Love...as distinct from "being in love" — is not merely a feeling. It is a deep unity, maintained by the will and deliberately strengthened by habit; reinforced by..the grace which both partners ask, and receive, from God...”

“And he is the head of the body...so that in everything he might have the supremacy.” Col.1

Rather than trying to get back those feeling of being “in love,” married couples should anticipate the next stage of it--a wellspring of deep affection that flows not just from their commitment to each other, but to laying hold of all that God intends when two are joined together by Him. In truth the purpose of marriage is designed as another means to discover the value and joy of knowing and loving God. As long as Christ is the apex which draws two lives together, the closer we get to Him, the closer we come to each other.Conversations Within” ts 2/13/2013 (Jax, FL)

The love of action enriches the love of chemistry.

“Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.” Prov.18

People speak of putting the romance back in their marriage. Actually, it might be better to put marriage back at the forefront of their romance. If romance leads to marriage; why should it wane on the other side of it? Marriage is intended to mature romance into something richer and deeper. When marriage is practiced as it should be, temporal infatuations are transformed into deep affection and mutual respect. The love of action enriches the love of chemistry. This happens when two people in active partnership aggressively pursue all that God intended when He joined them together. What He intends is that we discover His purposes better together than we ever could have alone. Conversations Within” ts 2/12/2013 (Jax, FL)

The love of action enriches the love of chemistry.

“Whoever finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord.” Prov.18

People speak of putting the romance back in their marriage. Actually, it might be better to put marriage back at the forefront of their romance. If romance leads to marriage; why should it wane on the other side of it? Marriage is intended to mature romance into something richer and deeper. When marriage is practiced as it should be, temporal infatuations are transformed into deep affection and mutual respect. The love of action enriches the love of chemistry. This happens when two people in active partnership aggressively pursue all that God intended when He joined them together. What He intends is that we discover His purposes better together than we ever could have alone. Conversations Within” ts 2/12/2013 (Jax, FL)

If you do not want to fall out of love, do not give your heart things that cannot last.

“Where your treasure is there your heart will be also.” Jesus

Do we not treasure what we value and do we not value what brings us joy? The question each of us must ask is “Do I value what is truly valuable?” I suppose one way to test the value of something is not only to ask if it brings me joy but will it bring me lasting joy? When it comes to something like marriage, if I find my joy in the temporal things like physical chemistry, my joy is certain to fade. This is one reason why people fall out of love. Treasure those qualities in your spouse that will never fade but only brighten when the sun of this world has passed. Conversations Within” ts 2/11/2013 (Jax, FL)

If you do not want to fall out of love, do not give your heart things that cannot last.

“Where your treasure is there your heart will be also.” Jesus

Do we not treasure what we value and do we not value what brings us joy? The question each of us must ask is “Do I value what is truly valuable?” I suppose one way to test the value of something is not only to ask if it brings me joy but will it bring me lasting joy? When it comes to something like marriage, if I find my joy in the temporal things like physical chemistry, my joy is certain to fade. This is one reason why people fall out of love. Treasure those qualities in your spouse that will never fade but only brighten when the sun of this world has passed. Conversations Within” ts 2/11/2013 (Jax, FL)

“Being in love is a good thing, but it is not the best thing.” C. S. Lewis

“Love one another.” Jesus

I should think that most people know the difference between loving and being in love. Being in love is a feeling, a longing, an infatuation with someone. Being in love is what you get from the other person. Conversely, love is an action that seeks to benefit the one you love. Love is what you give to that person. This inevitably means that you learn to love someone even on days when you don’t like them. Romantic love as a feeling is good; not just some physical chemistry, but the magic that comes when two people are mutually committed to the other’s highest good. Conversations Within” ts 2/10/2013 (Jax, FL)

“Being in love is a good thing, but it is not the best thing.” C. S. Lewis

“Love one another.” Jesus

I should think that most people know the difference between loving and being in love. Being in love is a feeling, a longing, an infatuation with someone. Being in love is what you get from the other person. Conversely, love is an action that seeks to benefit the one you love. Love is what you give to that person. This inevitably means that you learn to love someone even on days when you don’t like them. Romantic love as a feeling is good; not just some physical chemistry, but the magic that comes when two people are mutually committed to the other’s highest good. Conversations Within” ts 2/10/2013 (Jax, FL)

“The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer someone else up.” Mark Twain

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Jesus

These golden words tell us that love is much more than not doing harm to our neighbor. They encourage not only to refuse to do harm but to aggressively seek to do good. Whatever good I want for myself, let me want and seek it for my neighbor. And, since giving is receiving, the surest means to bring goodness to me is to give it to someone else. Conversations Within” ts 2/8/2013 (Jax, FL)

“The best way to cheer yourself is to try to cheer someone else up.” Mark Twain

“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Jesus

These golden words tell us that love is much more than not doing harm to our neighbor. They encourage not only to refuse to do harm but to aggressively seek to do good. Whatever good I want for myself, let me want and seek it for my neighbor. And, since giving is receiving, the surest means to bring goodness to me is to give it to someone else. Conversations Within” ts 2/8/2013 (Jax, FL)

Are we not happiest when what we do agrees with what we know we should do?

“I do not understand what I do.” Rom7

I do not always do what I know I should do. When this happens, I am not only unhappy with myself, most of the time; what I have done has brought me no joy. Recently I came upon an admonishment that roughly said if I am unhappy with the choices I’ve made, I should make better choices. The reason we make these bad choices is because we often choose pleasure instead of joy. Why choose one without the other? Let your pleasure add to your joy, not steal it. This means doing only those things which God has approved. Conversations Within” ts 2/7/2013 (Jax, FL)

Are we not happiest when what we do agrees with what we know we should do?

“I do not understand what I do.” Rom7

I do not always do what I know I should do. When this happens, I am not only unhappy with myself, most of the time; what I have done has brought me no joy. Recently I came upon an admonishment that roughly said if I am unhappy with the choices I’ve made, I should make better choices. The reason we make these bad choices is because we often choose pleasure instead of joy. Why choose one without the other? Let your pleasure add to your joy, not steal it. This means doing only those things which God has approved. Conversations Within” ts 2/7/2013 (Jax, FL)

“Success is getting what you want, happiness is wanting what you get.” W.P. Kinsella

“Guard your heart for from it flows the well springs of life.” Prov.4

Most of us have experienced a desire for something, but when we finally get it, we realize we really do not want it at all. The strange thing is that our intense longing can actually turn into an utter hatred for the very thing we once fantasized having. I think one reason this happens is not only because we wasted time and energy wanting it, but once we get it, our disappointment reveals ugly things about us--things we would rather not know. We are warned by God's inner-encouragements to guard what we let into our heart. Experience isn't the only way to learn; it is not even the best way. Listening to those inner-encouragements is. Conversations Within” ts 2/6/2013 (Jax, FL)

“Success is getting what you want, happiness is wanting what you get.” W.P. Kinsella

“Guard your heart for from it flows the well springs of life.” Prov.4

Most of us have experienced a desire for something, but when we finally get it, we realize we really do not want it at all. The strange thing is that our intense longing can actually turn into an utter hatred for the very thing we once fantasized having. I think one reason this happens is not only because we wasted time and energy wanting it, but once we get it, our disappointment reveals ugly things about us--things we would rather not know. We are warned by God's inner-encouragements to guard what we let into our heart. Experience isn't the only way to learn; it is not even the best way. Listening to those inner-encouragements is. Conversations Within” ts 2/6/2013 (Jax, FL)

“For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Jesus

Anger, anxiety, depressions all rob the joy out of our lives; why waste a single moment on them? One of the greatest weapons to conquer these inner adversaries is simply our desire to be happy. I don’t like being unhappy, I am never happy when I surrender to any of these things so why give in to them? Next time anger or any thief of happiness approaches, learn to preach to your heart and say aloud, “I have been down this road before and there is no joy on it. I am never turning down this road again.” As Barney Fife would say, “Nip it, nip it in the bud.” Conversations Within” ts 2/5/2013 (Jax, FL)

“For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” Jesus

Anger, anxiety, depressions all rob the joy out of our lives; why waste a single moment on them? One of the greatest weapons to conquer these inner adversaries is simply our desire to be happy. I don’t like being unhappy, I am never happy when I surrender to any of these things so why give in to them? Next time anger or any thief of happiness approaches, learn to preach to your heart and say aloud, “I have been down this road before and there is no joy on it. I am never turning down this road again.” As Barney Fife would say, “Nip it, nip it in the bud.” Conversations Within” ts 2/5/2013 (Jax, FL)

I am the happiest when my thoughts, words, and actions agree with what I know is good, right, and true--not with whatever desire I happen to be having at the moment.

“I discipline my body and make it my slave...” 1Cor.9

I long for a different genre of consistency. I would be consistently agreeable to what I know is good, right and true rather than consistently inconsistent to them. I would live by my convictions and not by fleshly appetites. I want my body to serve me, not vice-versa. The happy man is a free man; free, not to do as He pleases, but to do as he ought. I will know that the Kingdom of God has come when my greatest pleasure and my deepest convictions are, at last, one. Conversations Within” ts 2/4/2013 (Jax, FL)

I am the happiest when my thoughts, words, and actions agree with what I know is good, right, and true--not with whatever desire I happen to be having at the moment.

“I discipline my body and make it my slave...” 1Cor.9

I long for a different genre of consistency. I would be consistently agreeable to what I know is good, right and true rather than consistently inconsistent to them. I would live by my convictions and not by fleshly appetites. I want my body to serve me, not vice-versa. The happy man is a free man; free, not to do as He pleases, but to do as he ought. I will know that the Kingdom of God has come when my greatest pleasure and my deepest convictions are, at last, one. Conversations Within” ts 2/4/2013 (Jax, FL)

Happiness eludes those who chase it, but follows those who go about the business of love.

“I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” Ecc.1

You may have heard the story that makes the point that some people chase happiness like the dog that chases its tail. Others have learned that if you go about the proper business of life, happiness will follow you wherever you go. There is no doubt that happiness is the motive behind all of our actions but chasing it is like grasping at the wind. Don’t grasp at the wind, plot the course of a useful life, raise the sails of faith and the wind of happiness will push you along to life’s destination. Conversations Within” ts 2/3/2013 (Jax, FL)

Happiness eludes those who chase it, but follows those who go about the business of love.

“I have seen all the things that are done under the sun; all of them are meaningless, a chasing after the wind.” Ecc.1

You may have heard the story that makes the point that some people chase happiness like the dog that chases its tail. Others have learned that if you go about the proper business of life, happiness will follow you wherever you go. There is no doubt that happiness is the motive behind all of our actions but chasing it is like grasping at the wind. Don’t grasp at the wind, plot the course of a useful life, raise the sails of faith and the wind of happiness will push you along to life’s destination. Conversations Within” ts 2/3/2013 (Jax, FL)

The soil into which a productive life is sown, is a neighbor in need.

“Give and it shall be given unto you.” Jesus

The purpose of life isn’t to be happy but useful. Happiness is the result of usefulness. The world's happiest people are those who have served others--who have lived not for themselves but for the benefit of the whole. Rouse yourself from the coma of selfish living and wake to the glory of love. Do not chase happiness; let it follow you. Conversations Within” ts 2/2/2013 (Jax, FL)

The soil into which a productive life is sown, is a neighbor in need.

“Give and it shall be given unto you.” Jesus

The purpose of life isn’t to be happy but useful. Happiness is the result of usefulness. The world's happiest people are those who have served others--who have lived not for themselves but for the benefit of the whole. Rouse yourself from the coma of selfish living and wake to the glory of love. Do not chase happiness; let it follow you. Conversations Within” ts 2/2/2013 (Jax, FL)

Do not steal pleasures; give thanks for them.

“Bless the Lord O my soul and do not forget all His benefits.” Ps. 103

Every lawful pleasure is intended by the Creator as a means to enjoy all that He desires to be for us in life. When we give thanks for it, we not only enjoy the pleasure, we enjoy the One who made it for us. Thanksgiving is an attitude that energizes pleasures like eating, or sex, or listening to music, or viewing some beautiful sight into an act of communion and worship. To partake of a pleasure without giving thanks for it is to steal it, corrupt it and ultimately enslave us to it. Conversations Within” ts 2/1/2013 (Jax, FL)

Do not steal pleasures; give thanks for them.

“Bless the Lord O my soul and do not forget all His benefits.” Ps. 103

Every lawful pleasure is intended by the Creator as a means to enjoy all that He desires to be for us in life. When we give thanks for it, we not only enjoy the pleasure, we enjoy the One who made it for us. Thanksgiving is an attitude that energizes pleasures like eating, or sex, or listening to music, or viewing some beautiful sight into an act of communion and worship. To partake of a pleasure without giving thanks for it is to steal it, corrupt it and ultimately enslave us to it. Conversations Within” ts 2/1/2013 (Jax, FL)

“A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.” Donna Roberts

“Encourage one another and build one another up...” 1Thess.5

Friends help friends stay the course, but only if the course is good for them. Learning how to encourage people is the gift of wisdom and the gift we give to our friends in needy times. Friendship finds its deepest expression when we make it our goal to help our friends reach their goal. Get out of yourself, then give yourself to those around you, and joy will be your constant companion and misery a stranger. Conversations Within” ts 1/31/2013 (Jax, FL)

“A friend is someone who knows the song in your heart and can sing it back to you when you have forgotten the words.” Donna Roberts

“Encourage one another and build one another up...” 1Thess.5

Friends help friends stay the course, but only if the course is good for them. Learning how to encourage people is the gift of wisdom and the gift we give to our friends in needy times. Friendship finds its deepest expression when we make it our goal to help our friends reach their goal. Get out of yourself, then give yourself to those around you, and joy will be your constant companion and misery a stranger. Conversations Within” ts 1/31/2013 (Jax, FL)

“The next best thing to being wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are.” C.S. Lewis

“I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel. Even at night my heart instructs me.” Ps.16

There is no way to measure the value of God’s fatherhood and friendship. But there is little doubt that His wise counsel is the meat of it. God not only knows what is always best, He knows the best way to accomplish it. A wise person has learned to hear God’s wisdom in the circle of wise friends. Surround yourself with wise friends and you surround yourself with divine light. Conversations Within” ts 1/30/2013 (Jax, FL)

“The next best thing to being wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are.” C.S. Lewis

“I will bless the Lord who gives me counsel. Even at night my heart instructs me.” Ps.16

There is no way to measure the value of God’s fatherhood and friendship. But there is little doubt that His wise counsel is the meat of it. God not only knows what is always best, He knows the best way to accomplish it. A wise person has learned to hear God’s wisdom in the circle of wise friends. Surround yourself with wise friends and you surround yourself with divine light. Conversations Within” ts 1/30/2013 (Jax, FL)

“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” Mother Teresa

“Am I my brother’s keeper? Cain (the first murderer)

Peace is the binding together of what has been broken. We certainly live in a broken world, evidenced in broken relationships. Christ has come to heal us--to bind us to each other in a community of friendship and love. We are our brother’s keeper. It is not enough “to live and let live.” We are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves--to seek all that is good for them as we do for ourselves. Conversations Within” ts 1/29/2013 (Jax, FL)

“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” Mother Teresa

“Am I my brother’s keeper? Cain (the first murderer)

Peace is the binding together of what has been broken. We certainly live in a broken world, evidenced in broken relationships. Christ has come to heal us--to bind us to each other in a community of friendship and love. We are our brother’s keeper. It is not enough “to live and let live.” We are to love our neighbor as we love ourselves--to seek all that is good for them as we do for ourselves. Conversations Within” ts 1/29/2013 (Jax, FL)

“To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with.” Mark Twain

“It is not good that the man should be alone.” Gen.2

Everybody needs somebody if life is to flourish in our hearts. Life was made to be shared. This is why we feel the need to “say it” when something “hurts” or is “beautiful.” Life’s experiences are not complete until we tell someone. That someone may be God, but even God decided that humans need other humans. This is probably one of the reasons Jesus became a man--so He could identify with us in every, way and share our joys and sorrows. Conversations Within” ts 1/28/2013 (Jax, FL)

“To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with.” Mark Twain

“It is not good that the man should be alone.” Gen.2

Everybody needs somebody if life is to flourish in our hearts. Life was made to be shared. This is why we feel the need to “say it” when something “hurts” or is “beautiful.” Life’s experiences are not complete until we tell someone. That someone may be God, but even God decided that humans need other humans. This is probably one of the reasons Jesus became a man--so He could identify with us in every, way and share our joys and sorrows. Conversations Within” ts 1/28/2013 (Jax, FL)

“Putting on Christ'...is not one among many jobs a Christian has to do; and it is not a sort of special exercise for the top class. It is the whole of Christianity. Christianity offers nothing else at all.” C.S. Lewis

“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ...” Rom.13

The goal for the Christian each and every moment is to experience the transforming power of union with Christ. Only in vital connection with Him can we lay hold of life as the Father intends. The measure of experiencing this isn’t whether we go to church or quote Bible verses, but is embodied in a singular attitude to live for God’s pleasure and find Him to be ours. Conversations Within” ts 1/25/2013 (Selma, AL)

“Putting on Christ'...is not one among many jobs a Christian has to do; and it is not a sort of special exercise for the top class. It is the whole of Christianity. Christianity offers nothing else at all.” C.S. Lewis

“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ...” Rom.13

The goal for the Christian each and every moment is to experience the transforming power of union with Christ. Only in vital connection with Him can we lay hold of life as the Father intends. The measure of experiencing this isn’t whether we go to church or quote Bible verses, but is embodied in a singular attitude to live for God’s pleasure and find Him to be ours. Conversations Within” ts 1/25/2013 (Selma, AL)