Tag Archives: empathy

Forgivness and Mercy: Our Greatest Strengths

Posted on September 7, 2026 by mitchteemley

Wounded Lion, Lucerne, Switzerland Thought for the Week: Forgiveness and Mercy Our current culture loves to point out people’s failings. It makes us feel strong and righteous. But how often do we really know why others act–or fail to act–the … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Inspiration and Motivation, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 26 Comments

Share the Reason for Your Hope

Posted on July 26, 2026 by mitchteemley

Photo by Lina Trochez Share the Reason for Your Hope “Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you help them become what they are capable of being.” ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ≅

Posted in Culture, For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes, Religion and Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 27 Comments

What Makes Us Civilized?

Posted on July 6, 2026 by mitchteemley

Photo by Biljana Martinic Thought for the Week What makes us civilized? Dictionary.com defines civilized as “having an advanced or humane culture.” One that responds collectively to the goodness that is intrinsic in each of us at birth. It’s what … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

The Two-Way Power of Forgiveness

Posted on February 1, 2026 by mitchteemley

Broken Stone, Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand (photo by Victor Guntin) The Two-Way Power of Forgiveness David Seamands, author of the counseling classic Healing for Damaged Emotions, once told my friend, pastor Jerry Kirk, that half the people in … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes, Religion and Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 38 Comments

Have You Discovered Your Superpowers Yet?

Posted on January 26, 2026 by mitchteemley

Thought for the Week: Have You Discovered Your Superpowers Yet? The Term Superpower… Often gets used tongue-in-cheek. I sometimes jokingly refer to my ability to burp-on-demand (despite frequent requests not to) as a superpower. But real superpowers exist. Seriously. Have … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor, Storytelling | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 62 Comments

Comfort Is Infectious – Pass It On!

Posted on October 5, 2025 by mitchteemley

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we may comfort others who are in trouble with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes, Religion and Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 32 Comments

Remember to Look for the Crack

Posted on October 4, 2025 by mitchteemley

“Listen to the mustn’ts, child. Listen to the don’ts. Listen to the shouldn’ts, the impossibles, the won’ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me… Anything can happen, child. Anything can be.” ~Shel Silverstein “Hold fast to dreams, … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Poetry, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 46 Comments

Grace Is a Living Stream

Posted on September 21, 2025 by mitchteemley

Grace isn’t a private pond It’s a living stream and if it doesn’t keep moving into us and through us into others it stagnates It was never meant to be hoarded ≅

Posted in Culture, For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes, Religion and Faith | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 30 Comments

You Are Never Truly Alone

Posted on September 10, 2025 by mitchteemley

“If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world,” observed C.S. Lewis. And thus it follows that we are being sought, longed for … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 24 Comments

Writers: Use Your Stories to Heal!

Posted on August 25, 2025 by mitchteemley

Thought for the Week In my fantasy novel The Wishing Map, a fierce impromptu battle breaks out between two groups of naims (gnomes) in the midst of a storytelling contest. One beloved old naim, Tuber, is fatally injured while trying … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Culture, Fiction, Movies, Writing and Blogging | Tagged , , , , , , , | 42 Comments