Morning Briefings

Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we shall go into such and such a town, spend a year there doing business, and make a profit.’–you have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears.

– James 4:13
The New American Bible

Apparently you never realized that some of those who failed to get high grades in school have been the greatest successes outside of school. Just because somebody gets an A in college doesn’t make him the greatest man in the United States, because maybe his As will stop when he gets his diploma, and the fellow who got Cs will go on later to get the real As in life.

– Dr. Norman Vincent Peale
The Power of Positive Thinking

Above all we need, particularly as children, the reassuring presence of a visible community, an intimate group that enfolds us with understanding and love.

– Lewis Mumford from Dwight Currie’s
How We Behave at the Feast

One of my most inspiring friends was the late Harlowe B. Andrews of Syracuse, one of the best businessmen and competent spiritual experts I ever knew. He said the trouble with most prayers is that they aren’t big enough. ‘To get anywhere in faith,’ he said, ‘learn to pray big. God will rate you according to the size of your prayers.’ Doubtless he was right, for Scripture says ‘According to your faith be it unto you.’ (Matthew 9:29)

– Dr. Norman Vincent Peale
The Power of Positive Thinking

Heaven truly is the vacation that never ends. And don’t bother packing–not even your toothbrush–because this is one resort that is really all-inclusive.

– Anthony DeStefano
A Travel Guide to Heaven

Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.

– Mother Teresa

Ethical behavior defines who you really are. If you believe in God, isn’t doing the right thing, honesty, accountability, transparency, humility and consistency all supposed to be our behavioral standard every day because He sees all?

– Mike Paul
The Reputation Doctor

We could never learn to be brave and patient if there were only joy in the world.

– Helen Keller

Bank Closing In Illinois is 110th of Year: Since the recession began, more than 270 banks have failed.

– Meena Thiruvengadam
The Wall Street Journal

To an unusual degree people now feel they have to protect themselves from each other. You have to put forward the rules of behavior, every day. But such vigilance is tiresome. Most of us give up and accept the thousand daily breaches and violations. In a service economy in the age of no manners, everyone gets on everyone’s nerves.

– Peggy Noonan
We Pay Them to Be Rude to Us from The Wall Street Journal