Joe Barnett

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.                       —Ecclesiastes 4:12 “Two are better than one,” wrote Solomon. “Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken” (Eccl 4:9, 12). In Old Testament days, combat […]

Is not wisdom found among the aged? Does not long life bring understanding?                              —Job 12:12 “As you grow, you learn more,” said Morrie Schwartz, in Tuesdays with Morrie. “If you stayed at twenty-two, you’d always be as ignorant as you were

Live as children of light.     —Ephesians 5:8 Most of us are not beacons, just small lights: not playing on the big stage, but filling an important, though unheralded, role on a small platform. Whatever the part, someone saw something in us, believed in us, encouraged us. For me, it was parents, friends—and other

[L]et us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.         —Hebrews 10:24 A common ingredient in the lives of people who have lived up to their potential is the gift of encouragement. Someone believed in them, supported them, ignited the fire. For John Wesley, it was

As iron sharpens iron,so one man sharpens another.                              —Proverbs 27:17 You might never have heard of the apostle Paul if Barnabas hadn’t run interference for him. He stood up for him in Jerusalem, where church leaders wanted nothing to do with

A student is not above his teacher.          —Matthew 10:24 John Glenn: astronaut and four-term U.S. Senator. American flags were flown at half-staff for nine days following John Glenn’s death on December 8, 2016. His history of accomplishment is on display at Ohio State University’s John Glenn College of Public Affairs. One

[T]here is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.   —Proverbs 18:24 In 1957, Sam Rayburn—the longest-tenured Speaker of the House of Representatives in history—received the news late one night that a friend’s teenage daughter had died in an accident. Early the next morning Sam walked through his friend’s front door, went to the

If one falls down, his friend can help him up.                   —Ecclesiastes 4:10 At a Special Olympics race—where children with disabilities were competing—a cute kid named Timmy quickly took the lead and was far ahead. He was nearing the finish line when he looked back and saw

[W]e shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.     —1 John 3:2 When we were children, we put our small feet in dad’s or mom’s big shoes. We couldn’t wait to be big enough to wear grown-up shoes. My dad has been gone for years, but his shoes are

[F]rom generation to generation we will recount your praise.      —Psalm 79:13 Patek Philippe, the luxury Swiss watch manufacturer, buys full-page ads in classy magazines—mostly white space, with this brief text: You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely take care of it for the next generation. You may not be ready to