THE PEN

No one has yet succeeded in silencing the voice of the pen. To ignore it is to be influenced by it, and to attack it is to promote it. Over the years the powerful have tried to banish, tarnish, and even vanish the pen. They vilified, conspired, unjustly tried, and imprisoned it. Then they executed it, consigned its burial to infamy, and made sure there was no tombstone for it. But somehow the ordinary pen outlives the sword of the mighty. Its spilled blood infuses life into the veins of new generations. Be “the pen of a ready writer” (Psalm 45:1). Dare to speak. Refuse to be silenced. For the pen of truth is the most effective weapon against the arrogance and tyranny of power. Be the pen!—SKP

HONESTLY MISTAKEN

Honest mistakes are almost inevitable in the quest for truth, innovation, and change. Those who’ve never made mistakes are those who’ve greatly accomplished nothing. Though costly, we shouldn’t be discouraged by mistakes. Mistakes afford an opportunity to learn and grow. They keep us humble and enable us to see reality—and ourselves—more clearly. Most mistakes can be forgiven and corrected, provided we’ll humbly submit to the truth. Our response to truth reveals whether we’re really honest or are frankly misguided, stupid, & deluded (John 3:19-21; 2 Thessalonians 2:9-12). For when truth is presented to the honestly mistaken, they either cease to be mistaken or cease to be honest.—SKP

THOUGHT NUGGET #49

By Samuel Koranteng-Pipim, PhD 

Courtesy to Our Critics

“We should not allow our feelings to be easily wounded. We are to live, not to guard our feelings or our reputation, but to save souls. … If impatient words are spoken to you, never reply in the same spirit. [Quoted Proverbs 15:1]. And there is wonderful power in silence. … Under a storm of stinging, faultfinding words, keep the mind stayed upon the word of God. If you are ill-treated or wrongfully accused, instead of returning an angry answer, repeat to yourself the precious promises: [Quoted Romans 12:21; Psalm 37:5, 6; Luke 12:2; Psalm 66:12]….Christ was courteous, even to His persecutors; and His true followers will manifest the same spirit.”—E.G. White (Ministry of Healing, pp. 485-489).

 

Proverbs 15:1: “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
Romans 12:21: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Psalm 37:5-6: “Commit your way to...

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THE POWER OF OUR WORDS

Our words can discourage or inspire, wound or heal, tear down or build up. An unknown poet wrote: “A careless word may kindle strife; A cruel word may wreck a life. A bitter word may hate instill; A brutal word may smite and kill. A gracious word may smooth the way; A joyous word may light the day. A timely word may lessen stress; A loving word may heal and bless." Solomon said it best: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (Proverbs 18:21). Someone near you is fighting life’s battles at great odds. Look out for that person today. Instead of harsh words, speak words of comfort and encouragement to inspire them with hope (see James 3:1-12).—SKP

BITTER OR BETTER

Life is full of injustice and undeserved hurt. These ill-treatments can make us bitter or better. From Joseph’s experience we learn that, we’ll be BITTER when we focus on the “I”—ourselves and the hurt we’ve unjustly suffered. But we’ll be BETTER if we view things from the perspective of “E”—eternity or God’s eternal plan (Genesis 40:14, 15; 45:5-8; 50:20).  When we’re unfairly treated, let’s yield to God’s plan. He can squeeze our bitter lemons of life into nourishing lemonade; He can cause the bitter pills forced down our throats to make us better people. To cherish bitterness, anger, or hate is to be faithless, miserable, and a loser. You’re much better than that. Forgive and move on!—SKP

THE IRONY OF MONUMENTS 

Monuments honor those who have long passed from the scene. But monuments also pay tribute to our betrayal. In Christ’s day, when our voices could have made a difference, we shouted “crucify Him!” Then we later esteem Him by exalting, and even adorning ourselves with, the very cross on which we crucified Him! That’s the way we reward our heroes. We vilify them when they are alive. Then we build monuments for them with the very stones we used to stone them to death. “Woe to us hypocrites”(Matthew 23:29-36)! One day our eulogies will impeach us. The only evidence needed for our conviction are our tributes—the very monuments of wood and stone we erected to honor those we murdered.—SKP

FROM THE DEEPEST VALLEY

From the mountaintop, some of have seen the Promised Land. But from the deepest valley, others have caught a vision of God Himself. Jacob of old, fearing, fleeing, and weighed down by his sin, had a dream of a mysterious Ladder. Seemingly cut off from man and God, the lonely wanderer saw a stair of angels and heard the voice of God atop the ladder (Genesis 28; John 3). From the depths of your deepest valley, you also can have the company of angels, catch a heavenly vision, and hear words of comfort and hope. Yes, even from the depths of your hell you can hear echoes of mercy that can transport you to your promised mountaintop. It is well, even in the well.—SKP

AFRICA HAS GREAT LEADERS

Only the ignorant and prejudiced will question the fact that Africa has produced some great leaders in its history. Today, however, it is highly debatable, to argue that Africa still has such great leaders—leaders who display excellence, humility and selfless service, and who inspire others to become effective future leaders. A majority of our “great leaders”—in both society and church—want to be leaders for life. They stay in power till they become senile, or are chased out of power, or are shot dead by someone. Thus, they will make sure that until they die, no one else will ever come up to positions of prominence. Success without a successor is failure. True leaders train others to succeed them; but great leaders develop others to supercede them.—SKP

 

 [NOTE: The above nugget was excerpted from the full version below. Be blessed--and challenged.]

 

(The Full Version) AFRICA HAS GREAT LEADERS

Only the ignorant and...

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AMEN—The Last WORD

“Amen” is a universal word, having been imported directly from the Hebrew into many other languages. AMEN (“let it be so”) expresses surety or absolute certainty. It’s a fitting last word in prayer, affirming our strong agreement with God regarding our petitions and their eventual outcomes. But AMEN is more than the last word in prayer. AMEN is also a Person. Jesus Christ is “the AMEN” (Revelation 3:14), always true and faithful. When circumstances, e.g. illness or death, seem to doom your fate, when your enemies and frenemies have done their worst, when men render their unjust verdict or write you off, and when all seem lost and hopeless, Jesus always has the last word. AMEN!—SKP

BIRDS OF PURPOSE

It's tragic to have no purpose in life. It's worse to misunderstand or lose one’s purpose. To cheer and keep his lonely father company, a successful young man presented a most valuable Christmas gift to his aged father. It was a talking bird—so versatile that it could speak five languages and even sing the national anthem. After Christmas the son asked his dad how he found the bird. The father replied: “I enjoyed it very much; it was delicious!”… How often have we also lost or killed our birds of purpose. Our identity is linked with our purpose. Let’s rediscover God’s purpose for our lives (Jeremiah 1:5), for life without purpose is an aimless, fruitless, and tragic existence.—SKP