Joe Barnett

He who holds his tongue is wise.                  —Proverbs 10:19 Have you been on the receiving end of cutting words? Put it behind you. Replaying cruel words over and over is a recipe for misery. It’s giving the culprit control of your time, your thoughts, your attitude, maybe […]

What kind of people ought you to be?                               —2 Peter 3:11 Is there an “ought” in your life that keeps needling you? Something you ought to do? Something you ought to stop doing? I ought to write that letter. I

Do not let your hearts be troubled.                        —John 14:1 We live in a world gone terribly wrong. Nothing new about that. In one of his final broadcasts the late Paul Harvey said, “It’s good in times like these to remember that there have always

Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training.        —1 Corinthians 9:25 Striding to the stake in the Stadium of Smyrna, Polycarp prayed, “O God, make me a true athlete of Jesus Christ, to suffer and to conquer.” The New Testament compares the Christian to the athlete some 50 times. One

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good life.                  —James 3:13 Lessons we have learned, are learning, or need to learn. Part 5 … Never too bad, never too old, never too late to change. Our job is not to see

Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom.                                    —Proverbs 4:7 Lessons we have learned, are learning, or need to learn. Part 4 … I don’t determine the length of my life; only the use I make of it. I should

Whoever heeds correction gains understanding.                                 —Proverbs 15:32 Lessons we have learned, are learning, or need to learn. Part 3 … It requires no special talent to be miserable. Negative thoughts don’t produce positive results. Nothing can control my attitude

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom.                            —Proverbs 3:13 Lessons we have learned, are learning, or need to learn. Part 2 … Those who do the most good usually make the least noise. If I expect to see rainbows I will have

Come, my children, listen to me; I will teach you.             —Psalm 34:11 This week let’s think distilled wisdom—lessons we have learned, are learning, or need to learn. Part 1 … Defeat rarely comes because I try and fail, but because I fail to try. Success is often the fruit

Run in such a way as to get the prize.                  —1 Corinthians 9:24 Roger Bannister was expected to win the gold in the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki. He came in fourth. He went into strict training, obsessed with being the first person to run a sub-four-minute mile,