When You Are Listening . . .
I have been thinking about the unity of several messages that each supports the others. A minister recently spoke of the unfortunate...
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BLOG BY JIM KOK
Thoughts from Jim are the musings and teachings of Dr. Jim Kok.
His writings range over a variety of topics,
but all are enlightenments in his mission of motivating people
to be more intentional in their offering kindness
to people around them.
- Aug 16
How About the Word 'Kind'?
Today, I'd like to have you consider some thoughts with me. In my previous posting, I spoke of being kind. And of course, you know that...
- Aug 2
Love Is Not A Feeling
It is accurate to call love "doing good". However . . . such behavior is not necessarily connected to feelings of affection, or...
- Jul 19
You Can Affect the Health of Others
I waxed eloquently previously (I hope you thought so!) on the benefit to your own health from smiling. But the other half of this reality...
- Jul 2
Smile Anyway
Smiling is important, I say. Does the Bible back me up on that? Actually, there are no words that give us a clue whether the Apostles or...
- Jun 19
Hopeful vs Hopeless
Are you, like most people, unsure how to relate to a person in a wheelchair? I've been there! Like, do I acknowledge that they are...
- Jun 6
Your Role in God’s Healing Touch
There is more to prayer than talking and crying out to Jesus. Often there is a hurting friend we are thinking of and concerned about when...
- May 23
A Mild Earthquake Is Good For The Soul
Earthquakes can be more unsettling than tornadoes, floods, and fires, even though the damage in the latter is usually horrifying....
- May 10
You Who Weep, Will Laugh
An ancient guru is reputed to have inquired of disheartened and dispirited people, those who were knowing no pleasure or joy in life,...
- Apr 26
Just Walk With Me
I have a problem. I want to tell you about it. No . . . I really don't. I'd rather keep it to myself; I should handle it alone. I do...
- Apr 12
Doing the Next Right Thing
There is almost always a risk in being a Good Samaritan. To stop by the side of the road, even when there appears to be no physical...
- Mar 29
4 Tips for Showing Friendliness
1. Greet People Warmly — "Good morning. It is good to see you." Become an enthusiastic, habitual greeter. Greet everybody, whether or not...
- Mar 15
Hugging Is Healthy
It Relieves Tension It Combats Depression It Reduces Stress It Improves Blood Circulation It's Invigorating It Elevates Self-Esteem It...
- Mar 1
Show Kindness Regularly
A fresh convert to the Care and Kindness campaign, or life style, asked an important question. “How often should I say something to...
- Feb 16
Thanking and Praising the Dental Hygienist
What do you think about lying there while the dental hygienist is carefully cleaning your teeth? You can't chat with her, or even watch...
- Feb 2
Give People Room for Their Feelings
People need to be allowed to 'feel'. The most helpful thing you can do for a person in a grief situation is to be able to express or pour...
- Jan 19
Loss Comes In Many Flavors
A minister told me of his entering his church one morning and coming upon the janitor. They exchanged greetings. The pastor asked him how...
- Jan 4
Post Office Friends
Stamps.com? No Thanks. It's supposedly a terrific idea. You can buy your U.S. postage stamps quickly and simply in your own home, using...
- Dec 22, 2023
Ready To Try Something New?
There are wonderful delights in being secure. There is comfort in sticking with the familiar. But . . . there are also special joys in...
- Dec 8, 2023
Sharing Your Hurts is Good
When persons are hit by a devastating event, pastors and counselors encourage them to talk about their feelings. It is believed this is...
- Nov 24, 2023
Are You Contagious?
It Could Be A Good Thing If You Are! You are a positive person, but when you see the word 'contagious', you think of bad things, don't...
- Nov 10, 2023
More on 'Dying for Others'
In my previous blog, I explained what I mean when I speak of 'dying for others.' Now that we have discussed it intellectually, let's take...
- Oct 27, 2023
What I Mean by 'Dying for Others'
Those of you who have read my books . . . who have heard me speak . . . have heard me use the term of 'dying for others'. I want to take...
- Oct 13, 2023
People Often Gloss Over Our Wounds
The statement in this title of this blog is true, but it is also very sad. The statement in the graphic is also too easily thrown out...
- Sep 29, 2023
God Needs Your Help
Think about your friends, relatives, acquaintances, colleagues and neighbors . . . For two or three of them, life is difficult right now:...
- Sep 15, 2023
Your Smile Can Heal
I was walking in the shopping mall, pondering over a couple of discouraging encounters that I had had earlier in the day. Suddenly, a...
- Sep 1, 2023
Thank Someone Today
. "Thanksgiving" cards are great. What an appropriate time to sit down and think of a number of people who have given us something, or...
- Aug 18, 2023
How Can I Show Up?
You've heard me frequently repeat one of my fundamental beliefs: that 90% of Helping Is Just Showing Up. Let's explore that concept more...
- Aug 4, 2023
Being Kind to Yourself
We’ve been considering the role of kindness in our lives. Our Care and Kindness Campaign seeks to raise people’s awareness of how...
- Jul 21, 2023
What is Your Kindness Quotient?
What is your kindness quotient? There are various tests you may have taken — an I.Q. test (intelligence quotient), perhaps a Risk...
- Jul 7, 2023
Listening Is Kindness
Listening is kindness. It provides healing. Showing love by taking time to listen is a wonderful thing. There is a Bible story that tells...
- Jun 23, 2023
Just Be There
Permitting Yourself To Be Uncomfortable I am an introvert. How many of you recognize yourself as being the same? It is hard for me to do...
- Jun 9, 2023
The Role of Enthusiasm
I love that word enTHUSiasm. As you may know, the 'thus' in the middle comes from the Greek word Theos. Theos means 'God' in the Greek...
- May 26, 2023
A New List of Kindness Suggestions
Readers of my books and my blog postings are all familiar with my message that we can offer acts of kindness daily as we go about our...
- May 12, 2023
More Things I Forgot
I Wish I Had Remembered When she was crying over her sudden loss, I hesitated to ask her questions about how it happened. I forgot she...
- Apr 28, 2023
Choices
Are You Making the Best Ones for Your Happiness? Every day we make countless choices. We decide whether to have a cup of coffee, or to...
- Apr 14, 2023
Stupid Phrases for People in Crisis (Part 3)
9. Maybe it happened for a reason. Remember what I said about punching someone in the face with a knife? Yeah – that. 10. Just call me if...
- Mar 31, 2023
Stupid Phrases for People in Crisis (Part 2)
5. God is good – all the time. Another one that is technically theologically correct. But is it helpful to say this when someone has just...
- Mar 17, 2023
Stupid Phrases for People in Crisis (Part 1)
The following blog was written by Marilyn R. Gardner on her page (communicatingacrossboundariesblog.com) and we are appreciative of her...
- Mar 3, 2023
Theology from an Astronaut
Getting away from it all works wonders, experience teaches us. Quiet-time, being alone, solitude, creates space for reality to regain...
- Feb 17, 2023
Life Is God's Gift
Disbelief, shock, then anger are the initial responses to a personal announcement of imminent death. It is rarely an acceptable...
- Feb 3, 2023
Things I Forgot
Things I Forgot When My Friend Was Hurting I forgot that when her crisis occurred, she needed someone right away, not hours or days...
- Jan 20, 2023
A Most Important Guideline
Not too long ago, I read a letter to Dear Abby that touched directly on some lessons I have repeated frequently from my 13 Secret...
- Jan 6, 2023
Be Responsive
Here are the final two suggestions from my 'thirteen secrets', which we began last month. Remember, however, that these ‘Secret...
- Dec 23, 2022
When Are the Twelve Days of Christmas?
We love to sing that joyful and slightly humorous song at Christmas time. But does anyone know what those twelve days are about? Is it...
- Dec 9, 2022
A Kindness Suggestion for Christmas Time
Last night, at about 8:00, I stopped at a home, the residents of which were strangers to me. I rang the door bell and a man came to the...
- Nov 25, 2022
Focus on People
We've been building a list over the the previous two blogs. Here are more to add to the list — you're getting the idea. Acts of kindness...
- Nov 11, 2022
We're On A Roll Here
We started talking in the previous blog about those little things that you can do daily . . . but, more importantly . . . INTENTIONALLY....
- Oct 28, 2022
Don't Be Misled!
Don't People Do These Things Automatically? Well, yes they do. They smile; they pay compliments; they act friendly. But mostly . . . they...
- Oct 14, 2022
Can You Believe It's So Simple?
Yes! It is so simple — so simple that we don't realize the impact of doing these things. People all around us are hungry for a touch of...
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