15 Saturday Jul 2017
Posted in Quotes
Simplicity is the order of the day.
Jesus doesn’t make it complicated for me. His challenge to me is to love. That is it.
Love everyone I come in contact with. Love God.
“I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things in life which are the real ones after all.“ –Laura Ingalls Wilder
21 Friday Apr 2017
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Jesus is Life
Jesus is the way to wisdom. Without him I wander around trying to find the right answer.
Jesus challenges me to trust him. Jesus is the way.
I have yet to see any problem, however complicated, which, when you looked at it in the right way, did not become still more complicated. ~~ Paul Anderson
27 Sunday Nov 2016
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Jesus is clear. Jesus doesn’t ask me to do complicated things. Jesus challenges me to love. That is really all.
Simple but not easy.
“Let us learn to live simply, so that others may simply live.” ~~Mahatma Gandhi
13 Sunday Nov 2016
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It is movement from one level to another. It is a journey.
Jesus makes this clear. We start as a child and move forward.
“From native simplicity we arrive at more profound simplicity.” ~~Albert Schweitzer
08 Saturday Oct 2016
Posted in God Thoughts
Jesus challenges us
Oh how we value the articulate and charismatic preachers. The powerful of this world. The smart ones. The bright ones. The good looking ones.
That is not God’s way. That doesn’t impress Jesus.
There is a simplicity in telling others the good news about Jesus.
God’s power and the Holy Spirit is in the simplicity of that message. When we step into His way we won’t struggle with how good we sound.
We don’t have to. Jesus will use our simple words to convict and bring others to Him.
You’ll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God’s master stroke, I didn’t try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did—Jesus crucified. 1 Corinthians 2:1-2
25 Monday Apr 2016
Posted in God is God, God Thoughts
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Child of God
Remember the song: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so”?
The simple song of a child. Oh how I used to love to sing that song over and over again. The simplicity of a child is a stunning thing to behold. There is no doubt. They honestly believe. They trust, without any sense that they shouldn’t.
Jesus beckons me to start over like children. Can I have that level of faith and simplicity? Can I humble myself so I can get a good look at God’s country and His new plan?
God’s goal for me is to believe in his son Jesus, the Messiah (anointed ruler in God’s country). That requires a simplicity of faith like a child’s.
May I become simple and elemental again. May I have the faith of a child.
At about the same time, the disciples came to Jesus asking, “Who gets the highest rank in God’s country?” For an answer Jesus called over a child, whom he stood in the middle of the room, and said, “I’m telling you, once and for all, that unless you return to square one and start over like children, you’re not even going to get a look at the country of God, let alone get in. Whoever becomes simple and elemental again, like this child, will rank high in God’s country.
~Jesus — Matthew 18:1-5
23 Sunday Aug 2015
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Simplicity
We can make things way too complicated. Our focus should be on what is the right thing. There is a right way to do the right thing. Of course, there is also a right time to do it.
Success is simple. Do what’s right, the right way, at the right time.
~Arnold Glasow
28 Saturday Feb 2015
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Some activities just aren’t that complex. Fishing is one of them.
It does teach patience however and that is a good thing.
“Fishing is much more than fish. It is the great occasion when we may return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers.” ~~Herbert Hoover
23 Monday Feb 2015
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Ronald Reagan
There is nothing wrong with simplicity. In fact, there is a lot right with it.
Simplicity, however, should not be confused something being easy.
They say the world has become too complex for simple answers. They are wrong. There are no easy answers, but there are simple answers. We must have the courage to do what we know is morally right. ~Ronald Reagan
20 Friday Feb 2015
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Simplicity
Being flashy is not the way to go. Jesus challenges us to not pray, be charitable or fast in public as a show of our religiosity.
The outward reflects our character. We should reflect the inward character that Jesus wants us to be.
Simplicity in character, in manners, in style; in all things the supreme excellence is simplicity.”
~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
12 Monday Jan 2015
Posted in Quotes
We know what to do. We need to focus on getting it done. While that is simple, it is not so easily done in a world that can constantly distract us. Perfectionism is deadly at its core since it delays hitting a deadline.
Let’s get on with it! Let’s ship the product. Let’s get it out the door.
“I take a simple view of living. It is, keep your eyes open and get on with it.” — Sir Laurence Olivier
20 Saturday Dec 2014
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Simplicity
It is easy to fall into the trap that design (why something is important) and what function you want it to perform are not important. Design is essential. More time should be spent on the “why” than is spent on the “how”.
Simply said, design matters.
Clutter and confusion are failures of design, not attributes of information. ~~Edward Tuft
03 Wednesday Dec 2014
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Simplicity
Do we get interested in extremely complex issues and ideas?
Do we gravitate to simple and elegant solutions?
“Anything simple always interests me.” ~~David Hockney
28 Friday Nov 2014
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Dr. Seuss
We hear of questions and most of them are very complicated, begging for complicated answers.
Will we resist the obvious and focus on simplicity?
Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple. ~~Dr. Seuss
26 Wednesday Nov 2014
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Simplicity
Will we have courage to make things simpler?
It is the question to ask.
Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius—and a lot of courage—to move in the opposite direction. — E. F. Schumacker
13 Thursday Nov 2014
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Winston Churchill
Truth can be spoken in many ways. We get to chose how to pair it.
Winston Churchill learned that by coupling truth with simplicity, we can be of great service to ourselves and to others.
A vocabulary of truth and simplicity will be of service throughout your life. ~Winston Churchill
10 Monday Nov 2014
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Former General Electric Chairman Jack Welch
Life can be hard.
Work can be complicated.
We should endeavor to simplify everything we can. It just doesn’t have to be hard just because we want it to be that way. We can choose to do things simpler. If nothing else, try a simpler way and see if it will work.
Don’t make the process harder than it is. ~~Jack Welch
02 Sunday Nov 2014
Posted in Quotes
Simplicity
Sometimes simplicity is the thing you do yourself and not as a part of a team.
Decisions do get made by groups. Who owns the decision? When you make the decision, you own it. Can you both recommend and approve something. Yes, you can. That is simplicity in it’s finest.
“And yes, there’s a simplicity to writing books because you’re not a member of a team, so you make all the decisions yourself instead of deferring to a committee. “ ~~Bernard Cornwell
26 Sunday Oct 2014
Posted in God is God, God Thoughts
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Church Building
Jesus has powerful but simple things He wants us to do. We don’t need a lot of equipment to complete His mission today.
He will supply us everything we need. He does His work through us. We are the equipment.
This is hard to keep in mind. In our world, we think the more we have, the better the buildings, the better off we are. We mistake a building for God’s church. God isn’t impressed. Jesus isn’t amused.
In God’s World (Kingdom), He doesn’t need our equipment. He is God. He can do anything and takes pleasure in turning water in wine.
I think it may even amuse Him to confound us. Just saying!!
“Don’t load yourselves up with equipment.” ~~Jesus (Luke 9 The Message)
09 Thursday Oct 2014
Posted in God Thoughts, God's Goal
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Simplicity
Jesus summed up what God wants us to do. It was nothing new.
God is all about simplicity. God goal for us is to love Him and to love everyone else we know. That’s it.
To do that, we need to be able to focus. That requires we live our lives simply.
“Keep your lives simple and honest.” God to Zechariah (8:17)
01 Wednesday Oct 2014
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Eleanor Roosevelt
Simplification is important for a rational life. When things become too complex, it gets confusing.
A little simplification would be the first step toward rational living, I think. ~~Eleanor Roosevelt
29 Monday Sep 2014
Posted in God Thoughts, God's Goal
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Radical Sayings of Jesus
Jesus challenges us to not get wrapped up in all “stuff” that keeps us from fulfilling His mission for us. He sent His 12 disciples out to proclaim the good news of God’s World (Kingdom). He told them to not take any equipment with them. The challenge from Jesus is radical. Jesus sent His disciples out to do miracles.
In God’s World, we are the equipment that He uses to reach others. He is radically transforming our lives and that is what people see. People are longing to see the power of God, not the paltry equipment of the failed churches that we build.
We must keep it simple and not forget what transforms us all. It is Jesus not the buildings.
Jesus now called the Twelve and gave them authority and power to deal with all the demons and cure diseases. He commissioned them to preach the news of God’s kingdom and heal the sick. He said, “Don’t load yourselves up with equipment. Keep it simple; you are the equipment. And no luxury inns—get a modest place and be content there until you leave. If you’re not welcomed, leave town. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and move on.” (Luke 9:3 The Message)
26 Friday Sep 2014
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Isaac Newton
Isaac Newton figured out a few things about nature.
After that, he concluded that simplicity is important.
That is a pretty good hint for us. Jesus challenges us with simplicity. The goal God has set out for us is love. Love God, love everyone we come in contact with and love ourselves.
“Nature is pleased with simplicity.”
~~Isaac Newton
20 Saturday Sep 2014
Simplicity
Simplicity in our life brings simplicity all around us. We see things through the prism of simplicity.
Life is how we see it.
“As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler; solitude will not be solitude, poverty will not be poverty, nor weakness weakness.” ~~Henry David Thoreau
19 Friday Sep 2014
Ever see a design so simple it took your breathe away?
Leonardo knew the secret.
Simplicity rules the day.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. ~~Leonardo Da Vinci
05 Tuesday Aug 2014
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Simplicity is amazing. How many times do we try to cut something we could untie?
“Never cut what you can untie.” ~Joseph Joubert
06 Sunday Jul 2014
Posted in God Thoughts, God's Goal, Quotes
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Fools, King Solomon, Learning, Priority, Proverbs 1, Simplicity, Wisdom, Wise Sayings
Wisdom
God offered Solomon anything he wanted. All Solomon asked for was wisdom.
God gave it to him. Here is his suggestion so I think I should pay attention to it. Simple advise.
Start with God.
That’s it. Start with God. That is God’s goal for us. It is stunning in simplicity. It is about priorities.
Start with God—the first step in learning is bowing down to God; only fools thumb their noses at such wisdom and learning. Proverbs 1:7
17 Tuesday Jun 2014
Posted in God Thoughts
Love One Another
Sometimes I am stunned by the simplicity of how God speaks to us. Through Paul He gave it to us pretty straight. He didn’t say, a few things or occasionally or if I feel like it. Nope.
God’s goal for us is to do everything in love. May I live this daily.
Do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14
08 Sunday Jun 2014
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Charles Mingus – Simplicity
It is easy to take something simple and make it very complicated. It happens every day.
The more difficult challenge is to take something that is inherently complicated and make it simple.
Now that is talent. Not everyone can do that.
“Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that’s creativity.” ~Charles Mingus
06 Sunday Apr 2014
Posted by Μιχαήλ (Michael) Wilson | Filed under Quotes
