“The Difference It Makes”

A Simple Quiz

True or False? The following pairs mean the exact same thing.

1.       (a) Don’t stop.

(b) Keep going.

2.       (a) Don’t forget to...

(b) Remember to...

3.       (a) Nobody wants you to succeed

more than God does.

          (b) God wants you to succeed

more than anyone else.

The above pairs of statements mean the exact same thing. True or False?

“The Decision We Control Most”

One Bad Hit

Has this ever happened to you?

One afternoon a father took four kids to play miniature golf. One child started off great. At the end of 9 holes, Chris led the pack.

On the 10^th hole, Chris hit the ball too hard. Rather than ricochet off the back wall, it bounced over.

“What Is Your Wish?”

Decisions, Decisions

If you could be granted one wish for yourself, what would you choose?

Money?

Happiness?

Popularity?

Health?

Success?

Something else?

If your biggest wish could come true, why did you choose this particular wish?

“A Great Physician”

An Old Problem

“We’ve never done it that way before. We always do it this way.” When we love our comfort zones, why force a new normal?

We never know whose life may be saved.

Meet Ignaz Semmelweis, a Hungarian doctor. When Dr. Semmelweis was born in 1818, 1 out of 6 mothers died during childbirth. The cause was blamed on a disease known as “childhood fever.”

Dr. S found that a doctor’s daily routine began by performing autopsies. After cutting on dead bodies, without stopping to wash their hands, doctors went to the hospital.

They examined mothers in the maternity ward, thus passing on horrible germs.

“Who’s Got Your Back?”

A Real Dream

Years later, I still remember the dream.

A noise in the basement woke me. I flipped on the light at the top of the stairs and wiped sleep from my eyes. The old pine boards creaked with every step.

At the bottom I turned and saw a man.

The devil’s nondescript body lacked a red suit, pitchfork, pointy tale, sharp beard, and horns. But the evil oozing forth erased all doubts about his identity.

Satan spoke. I’ve forgotten his words, but I'm sure whatever he said was a lie.

“Cheering for the Other Team”

Good News in the News

Two recent basketball games in Texas made the news. Which one did the media highlight more?

#1: In college hoops, the Texas-Baylor game was overshadowed by a fight. Seven players were ejected (four from Texas, three from Baylor) for their role in the scuffle.

#2: In high school, the Vanguard College Prep boys in Waco hosted a game against Gainesville, a youth correctional facility for felony offenders.

The Gainesville basketball team consists of those rewarded for good behavior. Students not on the team can’t leave the school to cheer on their classmates. Few parents make the trip, so the Gainesville fan section often remains empty.

Then, Ben Martinsen and Hudson Bradley from Vanguard came up with a plan.