《Sermon Illustrations (D~F)》(a compilation) table of contents
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Statistics and StuffIt is estimated that 500,000 Americans have counterfeit diplomas or credentials. Prokope, July-Aug, 1988. DECEPTION OF SELFJessica Hawn, former church secretary who committed immoral acts with Jim Bakker (former host of the PTL Club), and later brought down the PTL empire, said today (9-28-87) that God gave her "real peace" about granting an interview to Playboy magazine and posing for topless pictures. On 9-29-87 the news reports that she still considers herself a Christian, but goes to God "one-on-one," not through any church or organization. Also: she doesn't consider herself a "bimbo." But her mother does. 
Some early studies concerned with prejudice show that we're quite capable of reordering our perceptions of the world around us in order to maintain our conviction that we're right. A group of white, middle-class New York City residents were presented with a picture of people on a subway. Two men were in the foreground. One was white, one was black. One wore a business suit, one was clothed in workman's overalls. One was giving his money to the other who was threatening him with a knife. Now as a matter of fact it was the black man who wore the suit, and it was he who was being robbed by the white laborer. But such a picture didn't square with the prejudices of the viewers. To them, white men were executives, black men were blue collar workers. Blacks were the robbers, whites the victims. And so they reported what their mind told them they saw--that a black laborer was assaulting a white businessman. As human beings who desperately desire our lives to be consistent and untroubled, we'll go to great lengths to reject a message that implies we're wrong. Em Griffin, The Mindchangers, Tyndale House, 1976, pp. 48-9.
A school teacher lost her life savings in a business scheme that had been elaborately explained by a swindler. When her investment disappeared and her dream was shattered, she went to the Better Business Bureau. "Why on earth didn't you come to us first?" the official asked. "Didn't you know about the Better Business Bureau?" "Oh, yes," said the lady sadly. "I've always known about you. But I didn't come because I was afraid you'd tell me not to do it." The folly of human nature is that even though we know where the answers lie--God's Word--we don't turn there for fear of what it will say. Jerry Lambert. DECISION Statistics and StuffThe words of Eleanor Roosevelt ring true: One's philosophy is not best expressed in words. It is expressed in the choices one makes. In the long run, we shape our lives and we shape ourselves. The process never ends until we die. And the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility. Tim Kimmel, Little House on the Freeway, p. 143.
Years ago a professor at Stanford devised a check lest of nine questions that can be applied to any problem. Used as a self- quiz, the questions spur imagination. They are: 1. Is there a new way to do it? 2. Can you borrow or adapt? 3. Can you give it a new twist? 4. Do you merely need more of the same? 5. Less of the same? 6. Is there a substitute? 7. Can the parts be rearranged? 8. What if we do just the opposite? 9. Can ideas be combined? Bits & Pieces, February, 1990, p. 20.
While an open mind is priceless, it is priceless only when its owner has the courage to make a final decision which closes the mind for action after the process of viewing all sides of the question has been completed. Failure to make a decision after due consideration of all the facts will quickly brand a man as unfit for a position of responsibility. Not all of your decisions will be correct. None of us is perfect. But if you get into the habit of making decisions, experience will develop your judgment to a point where it is better to be right fifty percent of the time and get something done, than it is to get nothing done because you fear to reach a decision. H.W. Andrews.
Actually, a manager needs the ability not only to make good decisions himself, but also to lead others to make good decisions. Charles Moore, after four years of research at the United Parcel Service reached the following conclusions: 1. Good decisions take a lot of time. 2. Good decisions combine the efforts of a number of people. 3. Good decisions give individuals the freedom to dissent. 4. Good decisions are reached without any pressure from the top to reach an artificial consensus. 5. Good decisions are based on the participation of those responsible for implementing them. Charles W.L. Foreman, "Managing a Decision Into Being," from the Management Course for Presidents, pp.3-4.
What kind of person is best able to involve others and himself in good decision making? J. Keith Louden lists seven qualities: 1. The ability to look ahead and see what's coming -- foresight. 2. Steadiness, with patience and persistence and courage. 3. A buoyant spirit that in spite of cares generates confidence. 4. Ingeniousness, the ability to solve problems soundly yet creatively. 5. The ability to help others. 6. Righteousness, the willingness to do the right thing and speak the truth. 7. Personal morality of a quality that commands the respect of others.** J. Keith Louden, "Leadership," from the Management Course for Presidents, pp 10-11.
Directory: Topics Topics -> ES18 topics intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (ipcc) Working Group I Topics -> Non-Governmental Organizations And Their Relation to Transboundary Water Resources Topics -> United Nations Peacekeeping Operations and Mandatory hiv testing August 1996 Topics -> Policy Options for Connecting and Enabling the Next Billion Download 1.31 Mb. Share with your friends:
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