Double Up Your Dollars
It has been said that the quickest way to double your money is to fold it in half and put it back in your pocket.
Contentment is the key to plenty. “Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. ... So if we have enough food and clothing, let us be content” (1 Timothy 6:8-9, cf Proverbs 21:20, 21:5).
Wag Those Tongues to God's Glory
If you haven't heard the Tyrolean Tongue Choir (from the Austrian Alps region of Tyrol) perform "a rumbling, a cappella chorus by flicking their tongues back and forth," frantically within their mouths, then you have clearly never truly experienced music! (Obviously spoken "tongue in cheek" LOL).
But seriously, it actually is a thing! Click here to listen to their moving version of "Moscow Nights," performed exclusively with their linguae naturales.
If you actually watch the video, you'll likely not get through it without either laughing or crigning. But if you close your eyes and just listen, it's actually quite entertaining.
Scripture has some pretty harsh words concerning the influence of the tongue.
"[T]he tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell" (James 3:5-6, ESV). ...
"But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison" (James 3:8, ESV).
But take heart, all is not darkness! If anything, it's a pretty mixed bag ...
"Death AND LIFE are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits" (Proverbs 18:21, ESV).
"With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God" (James 3:9, ESV).
We CAN learn to discipline our tongues for both our own good and the good of others.
"There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing (Proverbs 12:18, ESV).
"For 'Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit'" (1 Peter 3:10, ESV).
"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear" (Ephesians 4:29, ESV).
"A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit" (Proverbs 15:4, ESV).
"Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble" (Proverbs 21:23, ESV).
Since the tongue can be such a duplicitous vessel, we must be sure to petition the Lord to "Set a guard, O Lord, over [our] mouths; keep watch over the door of [our] lips!" (Psalms 141:3, ESV). To do anything less, puts us in great peril of judgment. "I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned" (Matthew 12:36-37, ESV).
We can get a good chuckle out of the Austrian Tongue Choir. But it's such a riotously funny illustration of how the tongue CAN be used to make life more harmonious and pleasant.
Amidst the cacaphony of crassness, crudeness, cursing, and cruelty. Be the Austrian Tongue Choir, and wag those tongues to the rhythm of and to the glory of the grace of God!
Take My Spot, Please
The Independent reports that, a "Japanese company has implemented a radical parking strategy that has caught the world’s attention."
The strategy, which involves early employees sacrificing their parking spots for harmony, reflects the deep-rooted cultural values of cooperation and consideration in Japanese society.
To address the issue, they have adopted a system where employees who arrive early enough to secure a parking spot must forfeit it to a colleague who arrives later.
This selfless act ensures that those who live farther away or have more difficulty finding alternative transportation can have a guaranteed spot.
The Independent continues:
The system is a demonstration of the Japanese work ethic and the value placed on teamwork and mutual support. It underscores the importance of considering the needs of others and working together for the common good, even at the expense of personal convenience.
Critics might argue that such a system could lead to resentment or abuse, but reports indicate that it has been well-received by the company’s employees. The strategy seems to foster a sense of community and shared responsibility, reinforcing the bonds between colleagues and promoting a positive work environment. ...
[The program] offers a compelling case study of the power of collective action and the importance of prioritizing community over individual gain.
As Christians, the Lord calls us to adopt just such a "radical stratedgy" in ALL our dealings with others, putting the needs of others above our own. In this way, we can build a genuine sense of community among the brethren, and demonstrate a genuine desire to be witness to Christ's selfless love to the unsaved.
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others" (Philippians 2:3-4, NIV).
"For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself'" (Galatians 5:14, ESV).
"Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another" (Romans 12:10, NKJV).