Imperfection

You are not perfect. Expect, therefore, to be disappointed in yourself.

(This was an original observation though I have seen "No one is perfect. Therefore do not expect too much.")

Criticism

Always take note of criticism. There's usually some truth in it.

Emotions

There are times when emotions need to be suppressed and times when they need to be stirred up.

Trouble with a capital "T"

Trouble with a capital "T" was a favourite of my mother's. I was delighted when years after I had first heard it the Irish band Horslips came out with a song of the same title.

For the high jump

My mother (and sometimes my father) would warn me that I was for the high jump. Once I was in senior school or a little younger and aware of the high jump competition, it was always tempting to take it literally. It refers, of course, to punishment for doing wrong. It is apparently military slang originally, in connection with a horse and really refers to facing a difficulty of any sort.

Taking down a peg or two

My mother would talk about me needing to be taken down a peg or two sometimes.

According to the Wordsworth Dicitonary of Idioms it refers to making (a proud person) more humble. Example: She thought she was very clever, but she was taken down a peg when she failed the exam. The reference is apparently to tuning musical instruments, and dates from the 16 Century.

Encouraging

In general, our calling is more to encourage than to humble. God will do the humbling.

(This arises from something I heard preached once. The context is my mother's feeling that I needed "taking down a peg or two" [must blog that next] at times, which I did. I think God does that though so we don't need to worry about it.)

Obsession

To varying degrees, there is something obsessive in us all. We need to use this and not be used by it.

Little by little

Little by little in all things - the only way. This is the teaching of Scripture and Providence.

Tiredness

If tiredness comes, then you must fight.
It will pass; just sit tight.
A nap's okay, if you feel dead,
Just don't go back to bed.

(Tiredness during the day is not the problem it once was for me but I still think this is good advice).

Morning Communion 04

To go from sleep to prayer
Is not an easy thing
The posture's too akin
Stand up and take in air
And then "thy suit prepare".

Morning communion 03

The joy of meeting God
At the start of the day
The self-denial required
Will always far outweigh

Apologetics and heresy

An apologetics agenda has often given the impetus to heretical views

(This was prompted largely by something I heard Dr P J Williams say)

Shouting at a spouse

Never shout at your wife. Even if it is the reason, she will never guess that it is because you love her.

Shouting

Don't shout at anyone in temper. It destroys all respect they may have for you.

Shouting at children

I've often failed to obey my own advice, sadly.

Never shout at a child. Defeat his will by your calm persistence.

Doctrine Paradox

I found this statement at the end of an old sermon of mine recently. I think it is original.

Christian doctrine is a wonderful thing – it is, paradoxically, to be held on to and passed on. It is there to encourage believers and to refute false teachers.

Morning communion 02

I eventually found my missing notebook of maxims, compiled many years ago (the first entries must be from October 1991 and I think the final entries are from September 1998). See the right hand column of this blog. It actually contains some 245 maxims. This will keep us going for a while then.
The first is a sort of syllogism:

For communion with God,
Silence is desirable.
The best way to find this is to rise early in the day.