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WITandWISDOM(tm) - August 14, 2007 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: So much of what we call management consists in making it difficult for people to work. - Peter Drucker Source: Quotes of the Day, http://www.quotationspage.com/qotd.html ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: On the first day teaching his class 250 college freshmen, R. C. Sproul carefully explained the assignment of three term papers. Each paper was due on the last day of September, October, and November. Sproul clearly stated there would be no extensions (except for medical reasons). At the end of September, some 225 students dutifully turned in their papers, while 25 remorseful students quaked in fear. "We're so sorry," they said. "We didn't make the proper adjustments from high school to college, but we promise to do better next time." He bowed to their pleas for mercy, gave them an extension, but warned them not to be late next month. The end of October rolled around, and about 200 students turned in their papers, while 50 students showed up empty-handed. "Oh, please," they begged, "it was homecoming weekend, and we ran out of time." Sproul relented once more but warned them, "This is it. No excuses next time. You will get an F." The end of November came, and only 100 students turned in their papers. The rest told Sproul, "We'll get it in soon." "Sorry," Sproul replied. "It's too late now. You get an F." The students howled in protest, "That's not fair!" "Okay," Sproul replied, "you want justice, do you? Here's what's just: you'll get an F for all three papers that were late. That was the rule, right?" "The students had quickly taken my mercy for granted," Sproul later reflected. "They assumed it. When justice suddenly fell, they were unprepared for it. It came as a shock, and they were outraged." By Matt Woodley, in the sermon "The Grieving Heart of God," PreachingToday.com Source: Preaching Today, http://tinyurl.com/328jd ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: Questions to Ponder When an agnostic dies, does he go to the "great perhaps"? Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour? Do you think Houdini ever locked his keys in his car? Can atheists get insurance for acts of God? If the #2 pencil is the most popular, why is it still #2? Isn't it strange that the same people who laugh at fortune tellers take economists seriously? If practice makes perfect, and nobody's perfect, why practice? Why is there always one in every crowd? If all the world is a stage, where does the audience sit? Is it possible to have déjà vu and amnesia at the same time? How do you know when it's time to tune your bagpipes? Source: Preaching Now, http://www.preaching.com/newsletter/preachingnow/ ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: Just as I began my sermon, the electricity in the church failed. The ushers and I found some candles from the previous year's Christmas Eve service and placed them around the sanctuary. Then I re-entered the pulpit, shuffled my notes and muttered, “Now, where was I?” In the dark at the back of the church, a voice called out, “Right near the end!" Submitted by Lorraine ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: A restaurant in China is providing a new service offering diners the chance to smash plates and other breakables. The "Dark" restaurant in Beijing city is setting aside three rooms for diners to release their stress. Only diners whose bill is over $100 can qualify. Submitted by B. B.