Human Resource officers report an alarming increase in workers habitually arriving late to work.  While traffic was cited as the number one reason for tardiness, a recent article highlighted some of the more unusual excuses.  One lady reported being late because she incorrectly thought she had won the lottery.  Another complained that her roommate was angry with her and cut the cord to her cell phone charger so her alarm didn’t go off.  One honest fellow said, “ I wasn’t late; I never intended to be there at 8:00.”  My personal favorite was the individual who blamed being late on her cat’s hiccups. We often use excuses, but seldom appreciate them in others.  Recently the cruise ship Costa Concordia struck an underwater reef and flipped sideways costing about 30 people their lives.  Countering charges that [...]

A number of years ago, a 92-year-old preacher in Atlanta was asked to speak to his old congregation.  He was asked to answer the simple question: “What is the greatest lesson you have learned through over 50 years of preaching?”  After a slow shuffle to the pulpit, he briefly, but boldly, said that the greatest lesson was summarized in these familiar lyrics: Jesus loves me this I know, For the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong, We are weak, but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me… Yes, Jesus loves me… Yes, Jesus loves me… The Bible tells me so. Today may not be your best day.  You may have health or financial concerns.  There may be those in your family who have hurt you or written you out of their lives.  [...]