Inspirational Articles
Articles may be reprinted in their entirety but must include:
"Used with permission from Regenesis.net"

You Say & God Answers
It's impossible.    All things are possible (Luke 18:27)
I'm too tired.   I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30)
Nobody loves me.   I love you (John 3:16 & John 3:34)
I can't go on.   My grace is sufficient (2 Corinthians 12:9)
I can't figure things out.   I will direct your steps. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
I can't do it.  You can do all things. (Philippians 4:13)
I'm not able.  I am able. (2 Corinthians 9:8)
It's not worth it.  It will be worth it (Roman 8:28)
I can't forgive myself.   I forgive you. (1 John 1:9 & Romans 8:1)
I can't manage.   I will supply all your needs. (Philippians 4:19)
I'm always worried.   Cast all your cares on me.(1 Peter 5:7)
I don't have enough faith.   I've given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3)
I'm not smart enough.  I give you wisdom. (1 Corinthians 1:30)
I feel all alone.  I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5)
I'm afraid.  Be not afraid for I am with you. (Genesis 26:24)   BACK

Paragon Rising Above the Madness
On Tuesday the best man I know will do what he always does on the 21st of the month. He'll sit down and pen a love letter to his best girl. He'll say how much he misses her and loves her and can't wait to see her again. Then he'll fold it once, slide it in a little envelope and walk into his bedroom. He'll go to the stack of love letters sitting there on her pillow, untie the yellow ribbon, place the new one on top and tie the ribbon again.

The stack will be 180 letters high then, because Tuesday is 15 years to the day since Nellie, his beloved wife of 53 years, died. In her memory, he sleeps only on his half of the bed, only on his pillow, only on top of the sheets, never between, with just the old bedspread they shared to keep him warm.

There's never been a finer man in American sports than John Wooden, or a finer coach. He won 10 NCAA basketball championships at UCLA, the last in 1975. Nobody has ever come within six of him. He won 88 straight games between Jan. 30, 1971, and Jan. 17, 1974. Nobody has come within 42 since.

So, sometimes, when the Madness of March gets to be too much -- too many players trying to make SportsCenter, too few players trying to make assists, too many coaches trying to be homeys, too few coaches willing to be mentors, too many freshmen with out-of-wedlock kids, too few freshmen who will stay in school long enough to become men -- I like to go see Coach Wooden. I visit him in his little condo in Encino, 20 minutes northwest of L.A., and hear him say things like "Gracious sakes alive!" and tell stories about teaching "Lewis" the hook shot. Lewis Alcindor, that is. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

There has never been another coach like Wooden, quiet as an April snow and square as a game of checkers; loyal to one woman, one school, one way; walking around campus in his sensible shoes and Jimmy Stewart morals. He'd spend a half hour the first day of practice teaching his men how to put on a sock. "Wrinkles can lead to blisters," he'd warn. These huge players would sneak looks at one another and roll their eyes. Eventually, they'd do it right. "Good," he'd say. "And now for the other foot."

Of the 180 players who played for him, Wooden knows the whereabouts of 172. Of course, it's not hard when most of them call, checking on his health, secretly hoping to hear some of his simple life lessons so that they can write them on the lunch bags of their kids, who will roll their eyes. "Discipline yourself, and others won't need to," Coach would say. "Never lie, never cheat, never steal," Coach would say. "Earn the right to be proud and confident."

You played for him, you played by his rules: Never score without acknowledging a teammate. One word of profanity, and you're done for the day. Treat your opponent with respect.

He believed in hopelessly out-of-date stuff that never did anything but win championships. No dribbling behind the back or through the legs. "There's no need," he'd say. No UCLA basketball number was retired under his watch. "What about the fellows who wore that number before? Didn't they contribute to the team?" he'd say. No long hair, no facial hair. "They take too long to dry, and you could catch cold leaving the gym," he'd say.

That one drove his players bonkers. One day, All-America center Bill Walton showed up with a full beard. "It's my right," he insisted. Wooden asked if he believed that strongly. Walton said he did. "That's good, Bill," Coach said. "I admire people who have strong beliefs and stick by them, I really do. We're going to miss you." Walton shaved it right then and there. Now Walton calls once a week to tell Coach he loves him.

It's always too soon when you have to leave the condo and go back out into the real world, where the rules are so much grayer and the teams so much worse. As Wooden shows you to the door, you take one last look around. The framed report cards of the great-grandkids. The boxes of jelly beans peeking out from under the favorite wooden chair. The dozens of pictures of Nellie.

He's almost 90 now, you think. A little more hunched over than last time. Steps a little smaller. You hope it's not the last time you see him. He smiles. "I'm not afraid to die," he says. "Death is my only chance to be with her again."

Problem is, we still need him here.

By Rick Reilly of Sports Illustrated - March 2000   BACK

Irreducible Complexity
Those that hold fast to the concept of Darwinist evolution insist that all life evolved from nonliving matter through natural processes. Part of the explanation of extremely complex organisms (like you and me) is that they evolved from "simple" cells. When Charles Darwin was alive, that theory could pass muster since the understanding of cell structure was very primitive. Darwin himself admitted that his theory would rise or fall on the scientific discoveries that followed. He was right and science hasn’t been kind to his theory.

As it turns out, even the smallest cells are extremely complex. They have the ability to eat, breath, feel, see, reproduce and a myriad of other functions common to complex organisms like humans and jellyfish. What is more intriguing is that, even at the cellular level, there exists "irreducible complexity". And what does mean you ask? For evolution to work, it relies on minute changes happening over thousands (or millions) of generations over millions of years. Irreducible complexity means there are systems even in cells that are so complex that they simply won’t work unless all their component parts are present and working as they should.

Consider the flagellum of a bacterial cell. The flagellum is a rotary propeller device that allows bacteria to move. The flagellum essentially hooks into an organic rotor drive that causes it to rotate in the same way a weedeater does. Thousands of scientific papers have been written on this subject but not one has ever been published explaining how such a machine could develop under gradual evolution. Irreducible complexity is the real sticking point in evolution and there are untold numbers of examples that confirm it exists. Size clearly has little to do with complexity. Since evolution can’t account for irreducible complexity, there must be another answer.

What would you say to someone that said your CD player built itself? "Fool!" you’d say. "Everyone knows that CD players are designed by engineers and manufactured under strictly controlled conditions. Even I don’t understand how they work!"

Well, a bacterial cell is far more complex than any CD player ever built and it replicates itself! If you can’t imagine the natural evolution of a relatively simple machine like a CD player, how could something infinitely more complex like a bacteria perform that miracle? And if the evolution of a single cell can’t be scientifically proven, how did all the species evolve that depend on that starting point? Exactly.

Our world, indeed universe, screams intelligent design. Where there is intelligent design, there must be a designer of supreme intelligence and power. Since the origins of those designs are beyond our understanding, so is the designer. But I’m okay with that. It gives me comfort to know there is a power holding it all together for me. It helps me sleep a lot better.

For more on this, read Darwin’s Black Box by Michael J. Behe.  BACK

How Do You Know?
How do you know what you know...not in some deep philosophical sense, but on a practical everyday level? On any particular day you might tell someone that your living room is painted green, that the Philadelphia Eagles are going to win the Super Bowl, that the earth goes around the sun, that democracy is the best form of government and that you know the way to San Jose. These are different assertions based on different ways of knowing.

The first way to know something is through personal experience. You know your living room is painted green because you’ve been there and saw it.

Similarly, you know what a bird is and how to get to the mall, all by direct experience.

The second way to know things is by authority. That is, you rely on some source of information, believing it to be reliable, when you have no personal experience of your own. Most people believe the earth goes around the sun even though no one can really detect the motion. Many people believe democracy is superior to other forms of government even though they haven’t lived under any other type. They rely on the authority of textbooks and politicians. Of course other societies do the same and their defenders rely on authority too. You know the way to San Jose because you can consult a map that informs the way.

But how about those Eagles? How do you know they are going to win this year? You are not basing it on their recent record which has been abysmal. In fact, you don’t know that they are going to win. "Knowing" in this sense is just a figure of speech.

You can also know by faith. This means you know that there is a power that is in control of processes and events that you can’t comprehend. Is this form of knowing blind or uninformed? It can be. Taking someone’s word for the inexplicable without question or reflection can lead to tragic results like the Heaven’s Gate cult of 1997, the Branch Davidians of 1993 and the Jonestown mass suicide in 1978. Even faith should be based on reason and empirical evidence. Blind faith relies on the integrity of others that "interpret" it. All too often that integrity is lacking and self servers lead the blind faithful off the edge.

So really knowing what you know takes careful consideration. Do you know because you really know or do you know because you have blindly taken someone’s word for it? One thing is clear: The universe is immense, yet carefully crafted. We live in a complex matrix of cause and effect. Those that claim to understand it, know very little and those that admit they know very little are wise beyond measure.

Excerpts taken from Darwin’s Black Box by Michael Behe.  BACK

Less Stress is Best
"Then Jesus said, "Let’s get away from the crowds for a while and rest" There were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat." Mark 6:31

Ever feel like your life and schedule are out of control? You can’t eliminate stress, but you can manage it. Jesus experienced huge stress and pressure, yet it didn’t seem to disturb his peace of mind. His life reflected a calm sense of balance. What was his secret?

Know who you are. Eighteen times, Jesus publicly defined himself. There was no doubt in his mind who he was. If you’re unsure of your identity, you’ll allow others to pressure you into their molds. Trying to be someone you’re not causes stress.

Know who you want to please. You can’t please everyone. Jesus never let fear of rejection manipulate him. No one can pressure you without your permission.

Set clear goals. Jesus said, "I know where I came from and where I’m going." Preparation prevents pressure while procrastination produces it.

Focus on one thing at a time. Jesus knew how to handle interruptions without being distracted from his primary goal.

Don’t try to do everything yourself. Jesus enlisted twelve disciples. Don’t allow perfectionism, or the fear that others may do a better job, keep you from involving others in the task.

Make a habit of reflection. No matter how busy he got, Jesus found time to be alone. A Quiet Time is a great stress decompression chamber.

Take time to enjoy life. Balance is the key to stress management.

By Rick Warren - Author of The Purpose Driven Life  BACK

Does Evil Exist?
A professor challenged his students with this question: Did God create everything that exists? A student bravely replied, "Yes, he did!"

The professor answered, "If God created everything, then God created evil. Since evil exists and our works define who we are, then God is evil."

Another student raised his hand and said, "Professor, does cold exist?"

"Of course it exists. Have you never been cold?" The students snickered at the cutting reply.

The young man replied, "In fact, sir, cold does not exist. According to the laws of physics, what we consider cold is really the absence of heat. Absolute Zero (-460 degrees F) is the total absence of heat. At that temperature, all matter becomes inert. We use the word "cold" only to describe how we feel if we have no heat. The student continued. "Professor, does darkness exist?"

The professor responded, "Of course it does."

The student replied, "Once again you are wrong. Darkness does not exist either. Light we can study, but not darkness. We can use a prism to break white light into many colors and study the wavelengths of each color. But darkness can’t be measured. A dark space is defined by the amount of light that is present. So "darkness" is a term used to describe what happens when there is no light present."

Finally the young man asked the professor. "Sir, does evil really exist?"

The professor responded, "Of course. We see it every day. It is the evidence of man's inhumanity to man. It is proven by crime and violence everywhere in the world. These manifestations are nothing else but evil."

To this the student replied, "Evil does not exist sir, or at least it does not exist unto itself. Evil is simply the absence of God. God created the concept of love. Evil is what happens when man does not know and practice God's love. It's like the cold that comes when there is no heat or the darkness that comes when there is no light.  BACK

The Dollar Bill
The US One Dollar Bill, in its present design, rolled off the presses in 1957. This so-called paper money is in fact a cotton and linen blend, with red and blue interwoven silk fibers running through it. A special secret blend of ink is used which is overprinted with symbols. The bill is starched to make it water resistant and pressed to give it that nice crisp look.

On the front of the bill is the United States Treasury Seal. On the top is the scales for a balanced budget. In the center is a carpenter's square, a tool used for an even cut. Underneath is the Key to the United States Treasury.

On the reverse side are two circles which together, comprise the Great Seal of the United States. The First Continental Congress requested that a committee which included Benjamin Franklin design a Seal. It took them four years to accomplish this task and another two years to get it approved.

In the left-hand circle is a Pyramid. The Pyramid is uncapped, signifying that America is not finished. Inside the capstone is an All-Seeing Eye, an ancient symbol for divinity. It was Franklin's belief that one man couldn't do it alone, but with the help of God, all was possible. "IN GOD WE TRUST" appears on the bill.

"ANNUIT COEPTIS" appears above the pyramid and is Latin for, "God has favored our undertaking." The Latin inscription below the pyramid, "NOVUS ORDO SECLORUM", means, "a new order has begun." At the base of the pyramid is the Roman Numeral for 1776.

The Bald Eagle was selected as a symbol for victory because he is not afraid of a storm and he wears no crown that would suggest royalty (remember King George?). At the top of the shield is a white bar signifying Congress, a unifying factor. In the Eagle's beak are the words "E PLURIBUS UNUM," meaning, "one nation from many people."

Above the Eagle, you have thirteen stars, representing the thirteen original colonies. The Eagle holds an olive branch and arrows in his talons which symbolizes that "we want peace but are ready to fight".

The philosophical and historical significance of the Dollar Bill should never be forgotten. It epitomizes core American beliefs. Some veterans have given up too much to ever let the meaning fade. Some veterans have come home to an America that didn't care. Too many veterans never came home at all. Remember the lessons and honor those that protect our freedom.  BACK

Noah Good One?
Noah was a faithful servant of God. He and his sons built The Ark that allowed his family and two of each kind of animal to survive a global flood. His diligence in following directions are source of a number of life lessons:

1. Don't miss the boat.
2. We’re all in the same boat. Be patient.
3. Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.
4. Stay fit. When you're old, you may be asked to do something really big.
5. Don't cave into criticism; Do the job that needs to be done.
6. Build your future on high ground.
7. For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
8. Speed isn't always an advantage. The Ark was shared by both snails and cheetahs.
9. When you're stressed, drift a while.
10. The Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
11. When you follow God, there's always a rainbow waiting.   BACK

The Cracked Pot
An elderly woman had two large water pots, each hung on the end of a pole, which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For years, this went on daily with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water. The perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. The poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do.

After what the cracked pot viewed to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman: "I am ashamed of myself because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way to your house."

The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side? I have always known about your flaw so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them. Because of this, I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."

Like the cracked pot, we all have flaws. But it’s the cracks and flaws that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding.   BACK

I Am A Corporal
During the Revolutionary War, a group of soldiers was ordered to raise a heavy timber which the enemy had used to block the road. The soldiers could scarcely lift it yet a young corporal stood by, urging the men to lift hard, shouting, "Now boys, right up!"

With each subsequent failure to move the immense timber, the corporal's commands became more and more severe.

A superior officer passing by observed the efforts of the men and the sharp commands of the corporal. He rode up to them, dismounted, and lent his own strength to the task, lifting with the men.

When the timber was in place, the officer asked the corporal why he did not help with the task.

"Why, I am a Corporal," he replied.

"And I am a General," responded George Washington.   BACK

Not So Fast
A drunk man reeking of booze sat down on a subway next to a priest. The man's tie was stained, his face was plastered with red lipstick and a half-empty bottle of whiskey was sticking out of his coat pocket. He opened his newspaper and began reading. After a few minutes the man turned to the priest and asked, "Say Father, what causes arthritis?"

The priest eyed him for a minute and then replied, "My son, it's caused by loose living, drunkenness, contempt for your fellow man, sleeping around and failure to bathe."

The drunk muttered in response, "Well, I'll be damned," then returned to his paper.

The priest, thinking about what he had said, nudged the man and apologized. "I'm very sorry, my son. I didn't mean to come on so strong. How long have you had arthritis?"

The drunk answered, "I don't have it, Father. I was just reading here that the Pope does."

MORAL: Make sure you understand the question before offering the answer.    BACK

By Michael McKinney     BACK

Calling It Like It Is
Harry S. Truman was a different kind of United States President. He probably made more important decisions than any of the other President preceding him. However, a measure of his greatness may rest on what he did after he left the White House.

The only asset he had when he died was the house where he lived in Independence Missouri. His wife had inherited the house from her parents. Other than their years in the White House, they lived there their entire.

When he retired from office in 1952, his income was a U.S. Army pension of $1351 a year. Congress, in 1958 enacted the Former Presidents Act later granting a pension of $25,000 per year which he collected until he died. NOTE: Effective in 2012, the pension is $199,700 a year and also includes medical benefits, lifetime Secret Service protection and $96,000 a year for staff and office expenses.

After President Eisenhower was inaugurated, Harry and Bess drove home to Missouri by themselves. There was no Secret Service following them.

When offered corporate positions at large salaries, he declined, stating, "I turned down all of those offers. I knew that they were not interested in hiring Harry Truman, the person, but what they wanted to hire was the former President of the United States. I could never lend myself to any transaction, however respectable, that would commercialize on the prestige and the dignity of the office of the Presidency."

In May 6, 1971, the House of Representatives was considering awarding him the Congressional Medal of Honor. He refused to accept it maintaining that the Medal of Honor was for combat bravery and that changing the requirements in his case would detract from the merit of the award. He further wrote, "I don't consider that I have done anything which should be the reason of any award, Congressional or otherwise."

Today, some in Congress have found ways to cash in on the Presidency. Many have become quite wealthy. Political offices are now for sale. Harry Truman was correct when he observed, "My choices in life were either to be a piano player in a whore house or a politician. And to tell the truth, there's hardly any difference!"      BACK

By Michael McKinney www.FoundationsMagazine.com     BACK