And ye shall be hated of all men for my name\u2019s sake, but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. <\/i><\/p>\n
\u2014Mark 13:13<\/i><\/p>\n
1159<\/b> Why Half-Dead? <\/b><\/p>\n
Dr. Park Tucker, former chaplain of the federal penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia, told of walking down the street in a certain city, feeling low and depressed and worried about life in general. As he walked along, he lifted his eyes for a moment to the window of a funeral home across the street. He blinked his eyes a couple of times, wondering whether his eyes were deceiving him. <\/p>\n
But sure enough, he saw in the window of that funeral home was this sign, in large, bold words: \u201cWhy walk around half-dead? We can bury you for $69.50. P.S. We also give green stamps.\u201d Dr. Tucker said the humor of it was good medicine for his soul. Many people are walking around half-dead because worry has built a mountain of problems over which there is no path, and they have surrendered to fate. <\/p>\n
\u2014Gospel Herald<\/i><\/p>\n
1160<\/b> Illegal To Be Discourager<\/b><\/p>\n
Do you know that a man was once court-martialed and sentenced to a year\u2019s imprisonment for being a discourager? It happened during the Boer War at the siege of Ladysmith. The fortunes of the town and garrison were hanging in the balance. This civilian would go along the lines and speak discouraging words to the men on duty. He struck no blow for the enemy, not one. He was just a discourager, and that at a critical time. The court-martial judged it a crime to speak disheartening words in an hour like that. <\/p>\n
\u2014J. A. Clark<\/p>\n
1161<\/b> Devil\u2019s Best Tool<\/b><\/p>\n
The devil, according to legend, once advertised his tools for sale at public auction. When the prospective buyers assembled, there was one oddly-shaped tool which was labeled \u201cNot for sale.\u201d Asked to explain why this was, the devil answered, \u201cI can spare my other tools, but I cannot spare this one. It is the most useful implement that I have. It is called Discouragement, and with it I can work my way into hearts otherwise inaccessible. When I get this tool into a man\u2019s heart, the way is open to plant anything there I may desire.\u201d<\/p>\n
1162<\/b> One (Last) Try Did It<\/b><\/p>\n
A discouraged minister once dreamed that he was standing on the top of a great granite rock, trying to break it with a pickaxe. Hour after hour he worked on with no result. At last he said; \u201cIt is useless; I will stop.\u201d<\/p>\n
Suddenly a man stood by him and asked, \u201cWere you not allotted this task? and if so, why are you going to abandon it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMy work is in vain; I can make no impression on the granite,\u201d was the minister\u2019s reply. <\/p>\n
Then the stranger solemnly replied, \u201cThat is nothing to you; your duty is to pick, whether the rock yields or no. The work is yours, the results are in other hands; work on.\u201d<\/p>\n
In his dream the minister saw himself setting out anew his labor, and at his first blow the rock flew into hundreds of pieces. <\/p>\n
1163<\/b> Lincoln\u2019s Depression<\/b><\/p>\n
Many years ago a young midwestern lawyer suffered such deep depression that his friends thought it wise to keep all knives and razors from him. During this time he wrote, \u201cI am now the most miserable man living. Whether I shall ever be better, I cannot tell. I awfully forebode I shall not.\u201d He was wrong. He did recover and went up to become one of America\u2019s most-loved presidents, Abraham Lincoln. <\/p>\n
\u2014C. R. Hembree<\/p>\n
1164<\/b> Discouraged Horses<\/b><\/p>\n
I saw a span of horses drawing a very heavy load of logs, and as they came to a hard place they struggled and tried with all their force, strained every muscle to the highest tension, but they could not start the load. Then the driver took some of the logs off and tried to get them to start the load, but they would not. He rolled off some more, but those horses would not start. He rolled off still more, and at last took off every log, and then they started up the road. <\/p>\n
Those horses had been utterly discouraged; they had pulled with all their strength and failed, and any one doing that, be it man or beast, is not able to accomplish half as much as a man who has not lost heart. <\/p>\n
\u2014Current Anecdotes<\/i><\/p>\n
ENCOURAGEMENT<\/p>\n
1165<\/b> Thoughtfulness On The Elevated<\/b><\/p>\n
A young man who rode the elevated to work regularly noticed that in one place where the train moved slowly, he could see into a room where an elderly woman was apparently convalescing. For several weeks he had observed her there, so one day he learned the woman\u2019s name and sent her a get-well card, signing it, \u201cJust a young man who rides the elevated.\u201d<\/p>\n
A week later as he rode the train homeward through the dusk he noted that the bed was empty and a sign, illuminated by a table lamp, was hanging on the window. It read, \u201cBless you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Selected<\/p>\n
1166<\/b> First Steamboat Passage Money<\/b><\/p>\n
Robert Fulton was utterly discouraged with his invention of the steamboat and the jeering public response it had brought him. But then one day a man went on board the boat, and this conversation ensued:<\/p>\n
\u201cMr. Fulton, I presume?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you return to New York with this boat?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe shall try to get back, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCan I have passage down?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou can take your chance with us, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow much is the passage money?\u201d<\/p>\n
Fulton had never thought about that. After a moment\u2019s hesitation, he named the sum of six dollars. The man became the first person to pay for a steamboat passage in history! <\/p>\n
Four years later, Fulton met this man and told him: \u201cThe vivid emotions caused by your paying me that first passage money will always be remembered. That, sir, seemed the turning point in my destiny\u2014the dividing line between light and darkness\u2014the first actual recognition of my usefulness from my fellowmen.\u201d<\/p>\n
1167<\/b> How To Grade Discouraged Pupil<\/b><\/p>\n
A professor in a small New England college, beloved by students and alumni, adopted this wise plan early in his teaching: Whenever he discovers a student who is discouraged about his work, he makes a point of giving that boy a better mark than he really deserves and of seeing that the others in the class know about the good mark. \u201cAlmost invariably,\u201d says the professor, \u201cthe boy perks up and earns<\/i> that kind of mark the next time around. It\u2019s a sly little secret\u2014maybe not exactly according to Hoyle\u2014but it works magic!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Gerald Horton Bath<\/i><\/p>\n
1168<\/b> Ford Encouraged By Edison<\/b><\/p>\n
Henry Ford once said that the ability to encourage others is one of life\u2019s finest assets. The auto inventor and manufacturer knew the power of encouragement. He had learned of it as a young man. <\/p>\n
Memorable to him was the time, at the beginning of his career, when he made a drawing of his newly-built engine for Thomas. A. Edison. Young Ford had endured criticism and ridicule. Most mechanical experts of that day were convinced that electric carriages would be the popular passenger cars of the future. <\/p>\n
But attending a dinner one evening at which Edison was present, Ford began explaining his engine to men nearest him at table. He noticed that Edison, seated several chairs away, was listening. Finally the great man moved closer and asked the young inventor to make a drawing. <\/p>\n
When the crude sketch was complete, Edison studied it intently, then suddenly banged his fist on the table. \u201cYoung man,\u201d he said, \u201cthat\u2019s the thing! You have it!\u201d<\/p>\n
Years later, Ford recalled, \u201cThe thump of that fist upon the table was worth worlds to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014Jack Kytle<\/p>\n
1169<\/b> Burns Encouraged Scott<\/b><\/p>\n
When Sir Walter Scott was a boy he was considered a great dullard. His accustomed place in the schoolroom was the ignominious dunce corner, with the high-pointed paper cap of shame on his head. When about twelve or fourteen years old he happened to be in a house where some famous literary guests were being entertained. Robert Burns, the Scottish poet, was standing and admiring a picture under which was written the couplet of a stanza. He inquired concerning the author. None seemed to know. <\/p>\n
Timidly a boy crept up to his side, named the author, and quoted the rest of the poem. Burns was surprised and delighted. Laying his hand on the boy\u2019s head, he exclaimed. \u201cAh, bairnie, ye will be a great man in Scotland some day.\u201d From that day Walter Scott was a changed lad. One word of encouragement set him on the road to greatness. <\/p>\n
\u2014Indian Christian<\/i><\/p>\n
1170<\/b> Rubinstein Encouraged Paderewski<\/b><\/p>\n
A red-haired, talented Polish lad wanted to be a pianist. However, teachers at the conservatory gave no encouragement. He was told that his fingers were too short and thick for the piano. Later he bought a cornet. The same answer was given to him with the statement that he should try another instrument. Passed around like a hot potato, he went back to the piano. <\/p>\n
Embittered and discouraged, he chanced to meet the famous composer and pianist, Anton Rubinstein. The young Pole played for him. Rubinstein praised and encouraged him. The lad promised to practice seven hours a day. Words of praise changed the entire world for Jan Paderewski. <\/p>\n
\u2014Loy C. Laney<\/p>\n
1171<\/b> Webster\u2019s Encouragement<\/b><\/p>\n
Daniel Webster left his country home and went to Boston to study law. He entered, without invitation, the office of Christopher Gore, then head of the Massachusetts bar. There he was looked upon as an intruder, and nobody paid any attention to him. One day Rufus King saw the lonely, solitary student. He warmly shook his hand and said, \u201cI know your father well. Be studious and you will win. If you need any assistance or advice, come to me.\u201d Years later, after he had achieved greatness, Webster said: \u201cI can still feel the warm pressure of that hand, and hear those challenging words of encouragement.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u2014God\u2019s Revivalist<\/i><\/p>\n
1172<\/b> Epigram On Encouragement<\/b><\/p>\n
\u2022 Both optimists and pessimists contribute to society. Proof? The optimist invents the airplane and the pessimist invents the parachute. <\/p>\n
See also:<\/b> Fear ; Hopelessness ; Trust ; General Index.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
And ye shall be hated of all men for my name\u2019s sake, but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. \u2014Mark 13:13 1159 Why Half-Dead? Dr. Park Tucker, former chaplain of the federal penitentiary in Atlanta, Georgia, told of walking down the street in a certain city, feeling low and … Continue reading “DISCOURAGEMENT”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5001","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-sermons"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5001","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5001"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5001\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5001"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5001"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.biblia.work\/sermons\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5001"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}