It is an old story, but it is true and it is good. The famous British author John Ruskin, one night in his later years, sat watching a lamplighter who, with a torch in his hand, was lighting the lamps on a distant hill. The man himself could not be seen, but the lights would […]
“God so loved the world that he gave…” begins the most familiar statement in Scripture. Giving is how love expresses itself. Giving is to love what eating is to hunger. The test of love is that it gives even when there is no expectation of a return. Ann Lamott wrote of an eight-year-old boy who […]
“Today’s message was written by my friend, Rev. Roger Kunkel, founder of Dial Hope.” -Joe Many years ago, someone asked Pavlova, the great Russian dance, what she meant – what she was saying in a certain dance. She replied, “If it could be said in words, there would be no need to dance it!” Certain […]
Today I want to suggest an exciting idea – I want you to try giving yourself away. I once knew a man who suffered a nervous breakdown, during which he sat for months in gloom and mental darkness. One day I suggested he try to turn off his dark, depressing thoughts by practicing thanksgiving. I […]
One of my favorite baseball stories is about three umpires who were discussing how they did their jobs, especially when they were working behind the plate, calling balls and strikes. The first umpire said, “Some of ’em are balls; some of ’em are strikes. But I calls ’em as I sees ’em.” The second one […]
It is no secret that I have a passion for encouraging people to base their life on gratitude. Paul put it like this, “Give thanks in all circumstances.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18a). Let me point out that Paul didn’t say to give thanks “for” all circumstances. Obviously, we don’t give thanks for cancer or heart attacks, […]
“Today’s message was written by my friend, Rev. Roger Kunkel, founder of Dial Hope.” -Joe In John 1:5 we read, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not over it.” Friend of Dial Hope, many of you are groping in darkness right now. Separation and divorce come, but they always seem to […]
One of the greatest compliments a person can give is to say, “l need you!” The words melt our hearts and impel us to want to help. We all need to feel needed. A crucial part of friendship is to be able to admit our inadequacies and say to others, “l need you!” We can […]
Ingratitude is a serious shortcoming. I agree with Martin Luther that “unthankfulness is theft.” In his Inferno, Dante placed in the center of his hell not those guilty of fleshy sins, but morose, gloomy, ungrateful men and women. Shakespeare wrote in “As You Like It,” “Blow, blow, thou winter wind, Thou art not so unkind […]
“Today’s message was written by my friend, Rev. Roger Kunkel, founder of Dial Hope.” – Joe Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). We have all read about those astounding night goggles that help military personnel […]
