A psychologist once asked a group of college students to jot down, in thirty seconds, the initials of the people they disliked. Some of the students taking the test could think of only one person. Others listed as many as fourteen. The interesting fact that came out of this bit of research was this Those who disliked the largest number were themselves the most widely disliked. When we find ourselves continually disliking others, we ought to bring ourselves up short and ask ourselves the question 'What is wrong with me.' (James Keller)
A man on a hiking trip through the Blue Ridge Mountains came to the top of a hill and saw, just below the crest, a small log cabin. Its aged owner was sitting in front of the door, smoking a corncob pipe, and when the traveler drew close enough he asked the old man patronizingly 'Lived here all your life' 'Nope,' the old mountaineer replied patiently. 'Not yet.' (James Keller)
Recently a large group of problem children were given the assignment of writing essays on the difficulties they had with their parents. The papers they turned in were misspelled but lively, listing a number of rather predicable faults gushing, nagging. (James Keller)
Some time ago we heard a strange story. The pilot of a small plane said that he had been caught in a one hundred fifty mile gale, which held his plane perfectly still. The motor was roaring, he claimed, but the plane was not moving. 'It was weird,' he said, 'to be going one hundred fifty miles an hour and yet not be going anywhere at all.' (James Keller)
Sir William Blackstone, the great English jurist, writing in his Commentaries on the Laws of England in 1769, was most explicit in emphasizing the weakness of mans nature. As he observed '... if our reason were always, as in our first ancestor before hi. (James Keller)
Just before he ascended the gallows following the Nuremberg trials, Hans Frank, one of the top Nazis who controlled Poland, made a statement. He claimed he had little idea, until it was too late, that turning away from God could have such destructive and deadly consequences. 'It was not only because of technical reasons and unfortunate coincidences that we lost the war. It was not just ill luck and treason. Rather God has passed sentence on Hitler. He has passed it on him and his system which we served in a state of mind hostile to God.' He then implored that everything be done to warn others not to follow in his path. 'Not even one step,' he emphasized, since the way he followed was 'the way without God, the road from Christ, and in the final outcome the road of political stupidity, of disaster and death.' (James Keller)
A young lady went into a bookstore and asked the clerk for Irving Stones book, 'Immoral Wife.' 'The title is 'Immortal Wife,' the clerk replied. 'Ill get it for you.' 'Oh, please dont bother, If thats the correct name of the book, I dont think Id care for it. I had something else in mind.' (James Keller)
A Seattle lawyer once interrupted his lengthy cross-examination of a witness and exclaimed, 'Your Honor, one of the jurors is asleep.' 'You put him to sleep,' replied the judge. 'Suppose you wake him up.' (James Keller)
A high-school girl, seated next to a famous astronomer at a dinner party, struck up a conversation with him by asking 'What do you do for a living' 'I study astronomy,' he replied. 'Really said the teenager, wide-eyed. 'I finished astronomy last year.' (James Keller)
During a rehearsal of Beethovens Ninth Symphony the members of the orchestra were so overwhelmingly moved by the conducting of Arturo Toscanini that they rose as one man and applauded him. When the spontaneous cheering has subsided, Toscanini turned to his men, tears glistening in his eyes. 'Please ... please Dont do this You see, gentlemen, it isnt me you should applaud. Its Beethoven' (James Keller)
A suburban local was stalled by a blizzard one winters night, and so deep was the snow that its passengers were unable to leave the car. Next morning the hundred and fifty-odd half-frozen commuters were startled to see a manned signal tower only a few hundred yards away. The signal-station attendant had seen the stalled train the night before, but when asked why hed done nothing about it, he answered, 'Its not in my territory.' (James Keller)
One day, the Devil decided to go out of business. His tools, therefore, being for sale, were put on display and Malice, Jealousy, and Pride were soon recognized by most of his prospective customers. There was one worn, tiny wedge-shaped tool bearing the highest price, however, which seemed difficult to identify. 'What is that' someone asked. 'I cant quite place it.' 'Oh that' Satan answered. 'That is Discouragement. It is my most valuable tool. With it I can open many hearts, since so few people know that it belongs to me.' (James Keller)
The Metropolitan Museum of Art some time ago held a display of contemporary art at which 52,000 was awarded to American sculptors, painters, and artists in allied fields. The award for the best painting went to the canvas of an Illinois artist. It was described as 'a macabre, detailed work showing a closed door bearing a funeral wreath.' Equally striking was the works title 'That which I should have done, I did not do.' (James Keller)
The will of a wealthy New York woman, in addition to distributing her worldly goods to her children, left them the following advice Love one another. Hold fast to that whether you understand one another or not, and remember nothing really matters except being kind to one another in the name of Christ and to all the world as far as you can reach. (James Keller)
A young man, just beginning the study of musical composition, once went to Mozart and asked him the formula for developing the theme of a symphony. Mozart suggested that a symphony was rather an ambitious project for a beginner perhaps the young man might better try his hand at something simpler first. 'But you were writing symphonies when you were my age.' the student protested. 'Yes, but I didnt have to ask how.' (James Keller)