Setting Your Mark
On a farm, everyone has to pitch in to make things work. Once a lady who was inexperienced at driving a tractor was asked by her husband to drive a tractor across a field pulling a disc. Not sure how to do the job her husband instructed her to pick out an object at the end of the field and drive toward it, that way her path would remain straight.
So she put the tractor in gear and off she went toward the other end of the field. It wasn't long before she noticed her husband running alongside the tractor trying to get her attention. She stopped and asked, "What's wrong?"
Upon looking at him she noticed that her path was rather crooked as opposed to the straight line she needed to drive. Her husband again explained she needed to pick out an object and drive toward it. She said, "I did."
"What are you driving toward?" he asked. She pointed to the object down at the end of the row, which at that point she realized was a bird which had been hopping across the ground.
We have to be careful when we set our mark that we set it on something or someone that is sure and stationary.
The mark set by the world is ever-shifting, but the truths found in Christ are sure and stationary. To keep your life heading in the right direction, make sure you set your mark on Jesus.
"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2).
"Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." (1 Corinthians 11:1, NKJV)
Are You A Hypermiler?
Michelle Basch with WTOP reports:
Cline is a hypermiler, which means he tries to squeeze as many miles as he can out of every gallon of gas during his commute between Calvert County and the District.
The homemade plastic roof extension in back, called a kammback, looks a bit like a cape and is meant to reduce drag.
Cline, originally from Pennsylvania, also installed smaller-than-normal side mirrors for the same reason. And to reduce the weight of the car, he’s taken out the back seats.
Cline overinflates his tires, although that’s something AAA Mid-Atlantic advises against.
“The factory recommends 33 pounds at each corner, and I do 40,” he said.
Cline says the way you drive makes a difference too. For instance, speeding doesn’t help: “The higher you go, the more gas it takes to keep your vehicle at speed. Certain cars like certain ranges of miles per hour,” Cline said.
“My particular car does really well at 60. If I go 65, I start to reduce my miles per gallon, but if I go 55 I’m actually reducing too.”
If there’s a red light ahead, Cline slows down far in advance. “It actually makes more sense to slow down before you approach the light, so that when you get to the light it turns green and you’re already still rolling,” he said.
When you have a clear goal and you’re committed to it, you become very mindful of all the little things that must be done to reach that goal. That describes the Apostle Paul. He was the original hypermiler. No one else traveled so far, or comported themselves so efficiently, or lived with more purpose—all in an effort to reach his goal of spreading the message of grace.
What about you? What is your goal? And what sacrifices have you made to reach it?
“To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Corinthians 9:22).
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
New Year's Quotes
“Resolution One: I will live for God. Resolution Two: If no one else does, I still will.” Jonathan Edwards (1703 – 1758) was a Christian preacher, philosopher, and theologian, most famous for his sermon “Sinners In the Hands of an Angry God.”
“Look back in forgiveness, forward in hope, down in compassion, and up with gratitude.” Zig Ziglar (1926 – 2012) was an American author, salesman, and world famous motivational speaker.
“Now there are more overweight people in America than average-weight people. So overweight people are now average. Which means you've met your New Year's resolution." Jay Leno (1950 - ), former star of The Tonight Show, is an American comedian, writer, producer, and television host.
"For eleven months and maybe about twenty days each year, we concentrate upon the shortcomings of others, but for a few days at the turn of New Year we look at our own. It is a good habit." Arthur H. Sulzberger (1891 – 1968) was the publisher of The New York Times from 1935 to 1961.
“What the New Year brings to you will depend a great deal on what you bring to the New Year.” Vern McLellan (??), modern American author, speaker, associate pastor, broadcaster, and musician.
“Always bear in mind that your won resolution to succeed is more important than any other.” Abraham Lincoln (1809 – 1865) was the 16th president of the United States.
“Although no one can g back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.” Carl Bard (1898-1991) was an American writer and editor, best known for his poetry. He won two Pulitzer Prizes, one for his poetry and another for a biography of Abraham Lincoln.
“Dear God, my prayer for this New Year is a fat bank account and a thin body. Please don't mix these up like you did this year.” Author Unknown
“I can't believe it's been a year since I didn't become a better person.” Author Unknown
“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 – 1882) was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet.
“Take twelve fine, full-grown months; see that these are thoroughly free from old memories of bitterness, rancor and hate, cleanse them completely from every clinging spite; pick off all specks of pettiness and littleness; in short, see that these months are freed from all the past—have them fresh and clean as when they first came from the great storehouse of Time. Cut these months into thirty or thirty-one equal parts. Do not attempt to make up the whole batch at one time (so many persons spoil the entire lot this way) but prepare one day at a time. Into each day put equal parts of faith, patience, courage, work (some people omit this ingredient and so spoil the flavor of the rest), hope, fidelity, liberality, kindness, rest (leaving this out is like leaving the oil out of the salad dressing— don’t do it), prayer, meditation, and one well-selected resolution. Put in about one teaspoonful of good spirits, a dash of fun, a pinch of folly, a sprinkling of play, and a heaping cupful of good humor.” Author Unknown
“Any new beginning is forged from the shards of the past, not from the abandonment of the past.” Craig D. Lounsbrough (??) is prolific author/speaker and is also a Licensed Professional Counselor, ordained minister and Professional Life Coach.
“We desire an exciting future, but the demand for familiar and comfortable tempers our steps to the point that often our steps are little more than stepping in place.” Craig D. Lounsbrough (??) is prolific author/speaker and is also a Licensed Professional Counselor, ordained minister and Professional Life Coach.
“We incessantly vacillate between what’s behind us and what’s before us depending on the current barometer of our courage and the ambivalent nature of our vision.” Craig D. Lounsbrough (??) is prolific author/speaker and is also a Licensed Professional Counselor, ordained minister and Professional Life Coach.
“Youth is when you are allowed to stay up late on New Year's Eve. Middle age is when you are forced to.” Bill Vaughn (1915 - 1977) was an American journalist.
“An optimist stays up until midnight to see the new year in. A pessimist stays up to make sure the old year leaves.” Bill Vaughn (1915 - 1977) was an American journalist.
"Many people look forward to the new year for a new start on old habits." Author unknown
"A New Year's resolution is something that goes in one year and out the other." Author unknown
"Be at War with your Vices, at Peace with your Neighbours, and let every New-Year find you a better Man
Many of the above quotes provide their own points of application. They do not necessarily represent the views of Orthodox Christianity; neither do they necessarily represent the views of Illustration Exchange.