June Florilegium: Gleanings from My Readings

1. "If there is no God, everything is permitted." Fyodor Dostoyevsky

2. "We do not need a censorship of the press. We already have a censorship by the press." G.K. Chesterton

3. "If I will take care of my character, my reputation will take care of itself." D.L. Moody

4. "Some theological expressions, just as some prayerful petitions, are too deep and too profound for mere words. So, the Scriptures instruct us in such cases to resort to song." Matthew Henry

5. “I have noticed that nothing I never said ever did me any harm.” Calvin Coolidge

6. “Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the thinks you can think if only you try!” Dr. Seuss

7. “Gargantuanism and the care of souls cannot coexist.” Thomas Chalmers

8. "There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal." C.S. Lewis

9. "The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them." Mark Twain

10. "Good works do not make a man good, but a good man does good works.” Martin Luther

11. "Reading feeds the brain. It is evident that most minds are starving to death." Benjamin Franklin

Why Even Attempt the Uttermost?

Why would any sane person attempt to run 500 miles, bike 1500 miles, and swim 13 miles this summer?  Perhaps, the simplest eleventary answer is:

1. A mile more or a mile less just wouldn't add up (at least not this year).

2. A great cause warrants a great challenge.

3. It's more than a marathon, more than an ultra, more than a triathlon, even more than an ironman--it's an uttermost.

4. Where would the fun be if we just straight-up asked for money for the Chalmers Fund.

5. Risk-reward necessitates risk AND reward.

6. Our team's Latinate slogan pretty much demands it.

7. We have a whole slew of deserving, needy students for whom we need to provide scholarships.

8. What better way could we find to whip our bodies into shape?

9. These are the sorts of stunts bucket lists were designed to accommodate.

10. After all the years and all the miles there is still just a little bit of jock in us trying desperately to get out.

11. Well, perhaps it's not particularly sane after all.