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In his last moments John Knox had a sharp conflict with self-righteousness though he had preached against it with all his might, and knew, with a clearness seldom given to men, that salvation is of the Lord alone. Even within an hour of glory he had to make a stand against that vile thing, the pride…

Many years ago a captain was sent out in one of the government ships, the Thetis, to discover a shoal, a rock, or some other obstruction said to exist in the Mediterranean Sea. The captain was an old salt who knew little about navigation as a science and cared less for rules, books, theories, and so…

I have heard of a vessel that was in a storm once—not a very severe one—but a gentleman on board thought it was. He went about among the sailors and passengers finding fault with the captain’s management of the vessel, and saying that he was sure the ship would go to pieces, and that all on board would…

I remember an old countryman saying to me, long ago, “Depend upon it, my brother, if you or I get one inch above the ground, we get just that inch too high”; and I believe it is so. Flat on our faces before the cross of Christ is the place for us; realizing that we ourselves are nothing, and that Jesus…

I once preached in a certain city, and I was the guest of a gentleman who treated me with great kindness, but I noticed on the third occasion of my preaching that he suddenly left the room. One of my friends followed him out of the place and said to him, “Why have you left the service?” “Well,” said…

I have known persons try to humble themselves by will-worship. I have stood in the cell of a monk, when he has been out of it, and I have seen the whip with which he flagellated himself every night before he went to bed. I thought that it was quite possible that the man deserved all he suffered, and…

There have been some men who, puffed up with vanity, have in their hearts said, “I can do all things.” Their destruction has been sure, and near at hand. Nebuchadnezzar walks through the midst of the great city; he sees its stupendous tower threading the clouds. He marks the majestic and colossal size…

Do you see that Christian there with the sparkling eye and the light footstep, the man who is swift to run upon his Master’s errands? That man has many troubles, but when he wakes in the morning, if he retains remembrance of them he bows his knee and leaves them with his God. He goes home, and the day…

Many years ago a certain prince visited the Spanish galleys, where a large number of convicts were confined, chained to their oars to toil on without relief—I think nearly all of them condemned to a life sentence. Being a great prince, the King of Spain told him that he might in honor of his visit set…

I might illustrate the willfulness of many a supplication by that of a little boy who was very diligent in saying his prayers, but was at the same time disobedient, ill-tempered, and the pest of the house. His mother told him that she thought it was mere hypocrisy for him to pretend to pray. He replied,…

When a dove flies over a landscape it sees the clear streams and the fields of corn, but when a vulture passes over the same landscape what does it see? A dead horse here and there, a carcass, or a piece of carrion. Everybody sees according to his eyes. A graceless, impure-minded man cannot see purity.…

I remember talking once to a lady who assured me again and again that she prayed daily for me that I might be kept humble. I told her that I would pray the same prayer for her. When she said, “Oh, I am never tempted to be proud,” I replied, “Well, dear friend, I am afraid you are very far gone in that…

The growth of social media has created an increase of self-portraits or “selfies.” Google estimates that millions of selfies are taken every day, and the majority of them are taken by women. A Mashable report said that there were more selfie related deaths than shark-related deaths in 2015. Samuel Jay,…

In an attempt to attract more women, the regional authorities in southern Taiwan have built a church in the shape of a massive high-heeled shoe. The shape of the building is a poor excuse for going to church. Further investigation discovers it is a government building designed to bring brides to the…

A woman who was hit by a drunk driver has filed a lawsuit seeking $4,600 to replace the clothes she was wearing at the time. She is seeking the money for clothing in addition to the cost of her medical bills. In a court statement, Susan Layne said the accident left her with bruises, scratches, and pains.…

In 2019 Forbes magazine deemed reality tv star Kylie Jenner “the youngest self-made-billionaire ever.” Further checking has revealed that she fudged on documents related to the sale of her cosmetics company. The real figure of her worth is only $900 million. She fell $100 million short. The Week, June…

Caelie Wilkes admits she was proud of one of her plants, calling it “a beautiful succulent,” and the “perfect plant.” The 24-year-old California woman watered it according to a meticulous schedule for two years. She was so proud of it that when she found a really cute vase she decided it would be the…

Police arrested Jeff Waters when he tried to cash a $368 billion check. When questioned by police Waters claimed he bought the check for $100 from a man named Tito. “Blame Tito,” Waters told police. “I’m as innocent as a schoolgirl.” It is hard to tell which delusion Jeff Waters had was the most serious.…

A Vermont company has created a toaster that will allow individuals to burn their images onto a piece of toast. The president of Vermont Novelty Toaster Corp says, “You don’t have to be famous or Jesus to have your face on toast.” Burning your image onto your morning toast may just be the epitome of…

A 50-year-old British woman decided 40 years ago, when she was only ten, that she didn’t want to have wrinkles when she grew older. She had been told that smiling would cause laughter lines to develop around her mouth, eyes, and forehead as she aged. She determined to never smile to avoid developing…

In July, a19-year-old Utahan, Gavin Zimmerman, was hiking in New South Wales, Australia. While taking a cliff-side selfie Zimmerman fell to his death. He is just one of at least 259 people around the world who have died while taking selfies in the last six years. Researchers at All India Institute of…

Arthur Brooks is quoted in the New York Times as saying, “Bar none, the unhappiest people I have ever met are those most dedicated to their own self-aggrandizement—the pundits, the TV loudmouths, the media know-it-alls.” He says that celebrities describe fame as being like drugs and alcohol, once you…

Passengers on a Greyhound bus bound for New York City from Cleveland realized that they were seeing some of the same sights repeatedly. The driver was going in circles. He returned to the Cleveland terminal and started all over. After an extra four and a half hours, it arrived in New York. During the…

Arizona State Representative Paul Mosley was stopped by a sheriff’s deputy for driving 97 mph in a 55 mph zone. The deputy’s body camera captured Mosley stating that he sometimes drove 130, 140, or 120 on the road because he was in a hurry to get home. The written report said Mosley told him not to waste…

The Oxford University Press declared that “selfie” is the new word of the year for 2013. Selfie is when you take a picture of yourself with your smartphone. Usually that self portrait is taken with the idea of sharing on social media. I am reminded that Paul calls us to regard others as more important…