There you go. The title of this article today is a definition of self-control. Self-control is just controlling yourself. Here’s an actual account of an event that happened in 1986. Self-control could and should have easily prevented this tragic occurrence.

Here’s a thought for you. Love is the irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.

One of the scriptures’ most influential and insightful books is The Song of Songs. It is a love story of two real-life characters and their relationship that happened long ago. One was a sun-beaten shepherdess at the bottom of the social spectrum. Her life and choices had beaten her up. She had given up on most anything other than the worst happening to her.

The following testimony is by author/speaker Ty Bennett. What Mr. Bennett says in this short testimony is a life-lifting principle for those who put what he says into practice.

I thought it would be interesting to share six short stories with loud and clear messages written by others. All I can say is read, grow, and enjoy. Oh, one more thing, don’t say to yourself, “My friend, my colleague, or my family member, really needs this story. It would help them so much.” The issue is not ‘them.’ The story is for you first and then ‘them.’ So, grab your cup of coffee and read on.

From time to time, most of us feel left out. We feel like misfits. Others seem so confident, so sure of themselves, “insiders” who know the ropes, old hands in a club from which we are excluded. So, what do the “outsiders” do? They form exclusive clubs too.

Have you noticed that some people are naturally likable? They find it easy. Other people may not possess the intangible of likability, but with a bit of work can be just as likable as those who find it easy. Consider the story below.

Let’s start with an illustration that applies to every human being at some time or another. It’s called ‘Rowing a Boat that Goes Nowhere.’

Billy Graham was 92 years old with Parkinson’s disease when this actual event happened. In January 2000, leaders in Charlotte, North Carolina, invited their favorite son, Billy Graham, to a luncheon in his honor. He hesitated to accept the invitation because he struggles with Parkinson’s disease. But the Charlotte leaders said, “We don’t expect a major address. Just come and let us honor you.” So, he agreed.

Have you ever considered that crises in our lives often could be caused by being in the wrong job or career, the wrong place mentally, or in the wrong group of people? Sometimes God is saying amid the crisis, “Hey, I love you, but now it’s time to get you to the right spot, and that spot is not where you currently are.” In other words, if at first, you don’t succeed, then skydiving is not for you.

Throughout history, clarity has been a rarity. Joseph Pulitzer once said the following about writing to readers. “Put it before them briefly so they will read it, clearly so they will appreciate it, picturesquely so they will remember it, and above all, accurately so they will be guided by its light.”

What you could do if you didn’t know you couldn’t—I love that concept! Zig Ziglar uses that concept in one of the chapters in his book, Life Lifters.

I think most of us would agree that it seems like the world is spinning out of control in these current times. Worldwide, the spins caused by ‘spin’ are occurring with ever increasing velocity and potency.

I’m a card-carrying member of the baby boomer generation. I’m starting to notice that I look older and feel older. I take back all those times I didn’t want to nap when I was younger. I want to give a shout-out to everyone who can still remember their childhood phone number but can’t remember the password they created yesterday. You are my people. And younger people, don’t tell me about your childhood problems. I was forced to watch Lawrence Welk when I was younger. I’m old and wise because God protected me when I was young and stupid.

Well, Easter was last Sunday. While resurrection is still on our minds, let’s glean some transformational lessons about another ‘raised from the dead incident’ that preceded, foretold, and contributed to the Easter Resurrection. The event occurred shortly before the resurrection of Christ.

A man and his ever-nagging wife went on vacation in Jerusalem. While they were there, the wife passed away. The undertaker told the husband, “You can have her buried here in the Holy Land for $150, or we can have her shipped back home for $5000. The husband thought about it and told the undertaker he would have her shipped back home.

Sometimes the problem is not the problem. Consider this case: Diner: “I can’t eat this soup.” Waiter: “Sorry, sir, I’ll call the manager.” Diner: “Mr. Manager, I can’t eat this soup.” Manager: “I’ll call the Chef.” Diner: “Mr. Chef, I can’t eat this soup.” Chef: “What’s wrong with it?” Diner: “Nothing. I haven’t got a spoon.”

We live in a success-driven world that generally endorses the awkward value of ‘size equals impact.’ Everyone is impressed if we achieve the king of the hill, number one, or the sage on the stage status. That success, size, or influence validate our effort and significance.

Let’s start with some questions about individual and national crises. First, I’ll start with the subject of a individual crisis. Have you ever lost your direction, feeling like you are in the wilderness? Amid your crisis, could you have used some guidance? Or have you ever felt miserable, chained to the consequences of destructive personal choices that you made? Are you dealing with an unhealthy habit that is tearing your life apart? Are you currently navigating a crisis that came into your life caused by circumstances beyond your control?

It seems like the whole world is like a simmering pan on a stove. One wonders when it’s going to boil over. Everywhere I travel, many people feel used or even deceived by leaders or bureaucracies in every sector of society. It reminds me of a story by comedian Jackie Mason. “My grandfather always said, ‘Don’t watch your money; watch your health.’ So, while I was watching my health, someone stole my money. It was my grandfather.”

Author John Maxwell tells a story of a man who stopped to watch a Little League baseball game. He asked one of the youngsters the score. “We’re behind eighteen to nothing” was the answer.