Morning Briefings

Come to me all you who are burdened and I will give you rest.

– Matthew 11:28

Your beliefs are in jeopardy only when you don’t know what they are.

–
This I Believe

People spend their whole lives showing off the biggest and the best. Sometimes the most interesting people are just subtle.

– Christine Whelan
Why Smart Men Marry Smart Women

The things you learn in maturity aren’t simple things such as acquiring skills. You come to understand that most people are neither for you nor against you; they are thinking about themselves. You learn that no matter how hard you try to please, some people in this world are not going to love you, a lesson that is at first troubling and then really quite relaxing.

– John Gardner
from a 1993 speech

So if you faithfully obey the commands I am giving you today-to love the Lord your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul- then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and oil.

– Deuteronomy 11:13,14

Yom Kippur (Hebrew yom hakippurim, ‘day of atonement’) is the most sacred holy day in Judaism and is a day of confession, repentance, and prayers for forgiveness of sins committed during the year.

–
Encarta Encyclopedia

The difference between greatness and mediocrity may be two inches. That is my recurring nightmare. Someday I will be with God and He will say, ‘Jimmy, you were two steps away from greatness. Why didn’t you take them?’ I will not be condemned by the lack of those two steps. I will be embarrassed by my failure to take them.

– James O’Leary
I Think I Am Happier Than I Think I Am

When the seventy-two disciples returned, they joyfully reported to him, ‘Lord, even the demons obey us when we use your name!’….’Don’t rejoice just because evil spirits obey you; rejoice because your names are registered as citizens of heaven.’

– Luke 10:17, 20
TouchPoints for Leaders

One day in a moment of great crisis, I came to understand the words of my [dying] father, ‘If I die, it will be glory; if I live, it will be grace.’ That faith was his evening star–the faith in a power greater than man.

– William O. Douglas
This I Believe

You should regularly review your credit report, keeping an eagle eye out for such things as unrecognizable names, a change of address, accounts you don’t recall opening or past-due notices on accounts that you did open but no longer use. An additional barrier to identity theft is a “freeze’ on your credit report, meaning that the credit bureau cannot release your report to anyone without your approval.

– Terri Cullen
The Wall Street Journal Complete Identity Theft Guidebook: How to Protect Yourself from the Most Pervasive Crime in America

Where courage is lacking, no other virtue can survive, accept by accident.

– Samuel Johnson

First American to eliminate 1,300 jobs: Title insurer will cut about 4% of its workforce.

– The Orange County Register, September 5, 2007

Your work is one of the most interesting things about you. That is why folks on airplane trips nearly always make the first question they ask their seatmates, “And so what do you do?” The question is really, “How do you help humanity?”.

– Rabbi Daniel Lapin
Three Spiritual Steps to Building a Business, Successful Living Magazine

The Glory of God is the human person fully alive. How do we get there? How do we become fully alive? One day at a time - in prayer.

– Reverend James O’Leary
I Think I Am Happier Than I Think I Am

Giving up command is never easy. But it may prove especially difficult for the large number of baby boomers, accustomed to working hard in a fast-paced economy. The oldest among them will turn 62 next year and will begin to face the difficulties involved with passing the baton.

– The Wall Street Journal, September 4, 2007
How Do You Quit Your Life’s Work? A Retiring Boss Struggles with Transferring Control

Jesus knew what he was doing when He said, Do this in memory of me, because He knew the disciples would, even if their future faith were suffering: they’d eat again, they’d at least do that, they’d share a meal again, and when they did, they’d think of Him.

– Liam Callanan
All Saints

We bring our calling to our work every single day, by expressing our gifts, passions and values in a manner that is consistent with the legacy we want to leave.

– Richard J. Leider and David A. Shapiro
Whistle While You Work: Heeding Your Life’s Calling

If there lurks in most modern minds the notion that to desire our own good and earnestly hope for the enjoyment of it is a bad thing, I submit that this notion is no part of the Christian faith.

– C.S. Lewis
The Weight of Glory

My son, keep your father’s commands and do not forsake your mother’s teachings. When you walk, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; when you awake, they will speak to you.

– Proverbs 6:20, 22
Proverbs for Parenting