Category Archives: nuggets

Excellence vs. Mediocrity

Posted on August 9, 2014 by editor

Excellence is GOLD; mediocrity is polished brass. Excellence is REAL; mediocrity is fake. Excellence is being an EAGLE; mediocrity is being a chicken. Excellence is a PERSON; mediocrity is a shadow. Excellence is COMMITTED; mediocrity is involved. Excellence is a … Continue reading →

Posted in nuggets | Tagged being nice vs. crude, commitment vs. involvement, distinction vs. extinction, eagle vs. chicken, real gold vs. polished brass | Comments Off

Thorns of Roses

Posted on August 3, 2014 by editor

We are charmed by the grace of roses, but detest the thorns. Yet there’s never a rose without thorns. The thorns defend the rose from intruders, and their pricks inoculate the flower from infections attracted by its beauty and fragrance. … Continue reading →

Posted in nuggets | Tagged attraction, distress, flower, fragrance, grace of roses, infirmities, inoculate flower, persecution, pricks, rose, thorn in the flesh, thorns of life, trials | Comments Off

Senseless Violence

Posted on July 27, 2014 by editor

Violence is real and, far too often, absurd: Abel—slain because his brother’s gift was not accepted. Naboth—stoned because a greedy king wanted his vineyard. Zechariah—executed in the temple because King Joash was ungrateful. Uriah—set up and killed because David wanted … Continue reading →

Posted in nuggets | Tagged Calvary forgiveness, genocide, hate murders, holocaust, justice, racial lynchings, revenge, senseless violence, terrorist attacks, torture, vengeance, war crimes | Comments Off

Grow In the Storm

Posted on July 20, 2014 by editor

Character develops in the storms—when trials and afflictions test our strength, stability, and resilience. The Apostle Paul lists some of the storms as tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, and sword, and states emphatically that “in all these things”—i.e., in … Continue reading →

Posted in nuggets | Tagged afflictions, breezes, character, growth in storm, more than conquerors, persecution, Proverbs 24:10, pungent, resilience, sorrow, storms of life, strength, trials, trouble, turbulent | Comments Off

Stay With the Ball

Posted on July 13, 2014 by editor

There’s a saying in Ghanaian football: “The one with the ball is the one that’s attacked.” If you’re productively engaged in a worthy cause, prepare to be opposed and tripped. Adversaries will criticize, vilify, and try to pull down. But … Continue reading →

Posted in nuggets | Tagged attacked, criticism, football, fumble, hard-pressed, keep moving, not crushed, opposition, pull down, remain focused, struggles, the goal, trials, tripped, vilify | Comments Off

The Spirit of Courtesy

Posted on July 11, 2014 by editor

Let’s be gentle under provocation. E.G. White counsels: “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 … Continue reading →

Posted in nuggets | Tagged accusation, courtesy, false accusations, faultfinding, ill-treatment, impatient words, overcome evil, overcome evil with good, persecution, power in silence, provocation, soft answer, wrongfully accused | Comments Off

Wrestling With Pigs

Posted on July 5, 2014 by editor

“Never wrestle with a pig. You both get dirty, but the pig enjoys it” (An old adage). The Bible says: “Do not answer a fool according to his folly. Lest you also be like him” (Proverbs 26:4). At times the … Continue reading →

Posted in nuggets | Tagged false accusation, false report, nugget, pigs, slander, stones and dirt, wrestle with pigs | Comments Off

The Power of Ignorance

Posted on June 29, 2014 by editor

Ignorance in action is dangerous, especially if the ignorance is willful. Confucius states: “The hardest thing of all is to find a black cat in a dark room, especially if there’s no cat.” None is safe when power is in … Continue reading →

Posted in nuggets | Tagged bigotry, Confucius, half-truths, ignorance, ignorance with power, nugget, power, prove all things, willful ignorance, wrong assumptions | Comments Off

Safe And Sound

Posted on June 22, 2014 by editor

In Christ’s parable, the prodigal son returned home and his father gladly “received him safe and sound” (Luke 15:27). God knows how to lift us up out of our predicaments. He knows how to fix our broken worlds. He brings … Continue reading →

Posted in nuggets | Tagged brother, crushing weight, failure, foul-smelling, God can, new growth, nugget, prodigal, safe, sister, sound, sweet-smelling, ugly situations, unredemptive attitudes | Comments Off

Where Are the Men?

Posted on June 15, 2014 by editor

Father’s Day honors not only biological fathers, but all men who act as father-figures in our lives—stepdads, uncles, grandpas, husbands, teachers and other responsible adult males. The day isn’t for hollow hilarity, but for sober reflection and honest introspection. It’s … Continue reading →

Posted in nuggets | Tagged Adam, celebrate, children, Eden, Father's Day, grandpas, honest introspection, husbands, nugget, real men, restless, sober reflection, stepdads, uncles, women, zestless | Comments Off