Total Eclipse
“…Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:13-14)
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Hi Men:
I’ve been thinking again about William Carey’s quote,
I’m not afraid of failure; I’m afraid of succeeding at things that don’t matter.
And then I get an email from the son of a dear friend. This young man is in his first year in college, and he ran across a summary by the C.S. Lewis Institute of Charles Hummel’s booklet, “Tyranny of the Urgent.” Here is a portion of what this young man said……..
I recently shared an article with my dad about the busyness of life and managing the “important” vs the “urgent”.
It’s been on my mind as of late how I need to be prioritizing my time in growing my faith while also having to deal with all of the other duties within busyness of life. It’s been something I’ve been struggling with as I am currently in probably the busiest season of life that I’ve ever been in. I found this article super convicting, but also helpful in that it has helped me see what I need to work on.
First of all, receiving an email from a young man with that kind of spiritual and mature focus truly did my heart good. Many of you read the original booklet years ago, but I want to encourage all of you to read the short summary he sent. Look below for “Tyranny of the Urgent.” It is profound.
PHOTO ABOVE
[My son sent me this image sometime back and it’s not AI]
I know what your thinking – what’s Dan up to? The next solar eclipse won’t occur until August 12th, and unless your on Greenland, Iceland or …… you’ll miss it 🤠.
But have you ever wondered why our total eclipses are so perfect? Well, glad you asked. It’s because:
- The sun is 400 times larger than the moon.
- The moon is 400 times closer than the sun.
Which results in the moon and the sun to appear the exact same size in our sky, a coincidence not shared by any other known planet-moon combination.
And while that’s happening, you’re standing on a planet spinning 1,037 mph, orbiting the sun at about 66,600 mph, while our whole solar system tears through the Milky Way around 450,000 mph. Just a couple of small factoids to meditate on……..
IN YOUR OWN BACKYARD
My Grandson helping Grampa with a project before the rain arrived
My son and daughter-in-law are in town with our two young grandsons. Later, Jane and I took everyone to the Adventuredome at Circus Circus.
Later while we were in the food court, I noticed a young gal behind the counter who was clearly overwhelmed and short-handed. When there was a brief pause, I said, “I have something for you. I’ve been watching how hard you’re working, and I know you’re short-handed.” I handed her some cash along with a tract about Jesus Christ. Her whole demeanor changed and a huge smile came across her face. It reminded me, that something very small to us can completely change someone’s day…. especially if Jesus is involved……
Ambassador to Christ,
Dan
(Gal 2:20)
“God will not reveal Himself to those who have
no intention of doing what He says”
Doing Before Knowing – Red Book Day 51
The purpose of these devotionals is to help you think Biblically
Solomon said, “As a man thinks, so is he”
Download a PDF copy and share it with others.
Lee Yih’s Letter – February
Men: Make sure you read the second paragraph………..
Download a PDF copy and share it with others.
Tyranny Of The Urgent
Is there really enough time to do all that God requires of you?
By Charles E. Hummel – First published in 1967
Men: Make sure you find the time to read this short summary of Charles Hummel’s book (see link below). Here are (2) paragraphs from the book:
P.T. Forsyth once said, “The worst sin is prayerlessness.” We usually think of murder, adultery, or theft as among the worst. But the root of all sin is self-sufficiency–independence from God. When we fail to wait prayerfully for God’s guidance and strength we are saying, with our actions if not our lips, that we do not need Him. How much of our service is characterized by “going it alone”?
You may also find it necessary to resist the temptation to accept an engagement when the invitation first comes over the telephone. No matter how clear the calendar may look at the moment, ask for a day or two to pray for guidance before committing yourself. Surprisingly the engagement often appears less imperative after the pleading voice has become silent.
If interested and you would like to know a bit more about Charles Hummel, here is a his bio. I did not know most of this information, including the fact that he had a Masters in Chemical Engineering from MIT
LINK TO THE SUMMARY – MAKE SURE YOU FIND THE TIME!
From R122conference.org/
“Our February installment comes from our brother in Christ, Lee Gowen. The article is timely as we begin to think about “spring cleaning” in early in 2026. Drawing from Paul’s second letter to Timothy, Lee draws our attention to what we must be about if we’re to effectively minister to others in this fallen world.”
From Lee’s Article:
Jesus is saying that to the degree I don’t clean up my life, I’m not going to be prepared for E2 (i.e., “…not prepared to do any good work”)……
One example from my life is, I have asked GOD to help me replace time invested in “worthless” activities. I have replaced it with time invested in Bible Study. Second, I get consistent regular time with men who are pursuing Christ and who have license to live out Heb 10:24-25.
Read Lee’s BLOG POST HERE
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LOVE OUR CHILDREN?
by Jonathan Henrichsen (2/19/26)
When I first became a parent, I remember thinking the Bible had surprisingly little practical guidance for raising children. Sure, there were a few standout verses—”Train up a child in the way he should go” and “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger”—but beyond those familiar passages, I found it surprisingly silent.
The more I’ve walked this journey with my five children, the more I’ve realized how wrong I was. Nearly everything Scripture teaches us about interpersonal relationships applies directly to parenting, because our children are fellow image bearers of God.
Today, I want to focus on the biblical commandment to love as it relates to our roles as parents. In some ways, our children are the easiest people on the planet to love. We come with an innate sense of love for them that pulls on our heartstrings like nothing else can. The emotions are right there—they don’t need much cultivation. But love in the biblical sense isn’t primarily about feelings. It’s about seeking the good of another person. Thomas Aquinas captured this beautifully when he wrote, “To love is to will the good of another.”
This understanding changes everything about how I parent. In any situation, I’m required as a father to ask: “How can I best serve my child today?” That question—and my willingness to answer it at whatever cost to myself—becomes the framework through which I parent. It means sometimes saying no when yes would be easier. It means discipline when permissiveness would result in less drama. It means having hard conversations when silence would be more comfortable.
Biblical love for our children isn’t about making them happy in the moment. It’s about willing their ultimate good, even when that’s difficult—even when it’s painful—for both of us.
With gratitude,
Jonathan
Personal Development Foundation
www.pdfdn.org
INSPIRED WISDOM – Corrie ten Boom
Here Is A YouTube Video (2 mins.) to send your friends. It will show them that “God’s love is deeper than your darkest moments.”
