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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.
Positive Proof About Prayer
Finally, someone did some 'care'-ful scientific research on prayer. I was quite excited when I read of this research. I, of course,...
4 days ago
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Loving-Kindness Built the Church
There is convincing historical evidence, recently discovered, that proves it was the loving kindness of the early church that overwhelmed...
4 days ago
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A Compliment is Manna from Heaven
The man had done something very helpful for me, so I gave him a small gift in appreciation. He took it, wadded it up, dropped it on the...
4 days ago
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Thank Someone This Week
I think it would be a good idea if someone promoted Thanksgiving cards. Â No doubt Hallmark is trying, but people don't buy the idea...
4 days ago
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That's Phony!
One of the difficult things that I strive to help people overcome is saying, or doing something, that would definitely bless someone, but...
5 days ago
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Check Your Story at the Door
You've heard me say this before. But . . . it is advice that I find needs repeating, again and again, even to myself, because we find...
Jun 17
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Possibility of Miracles . . .
Over the years I have heard stirring stories from people of impeccable sanity. Often these stories recount edge-of-the-cliff rescues....
Jun 12
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Keep an Open Mind
In the small town of Cordova, in northern California, a Roman Catholic Church one day became the center of some excitement: a glowing...
Jun 12
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Memories to Cherish
Enjoy with me here a unique memory shared with my son. It's quite a story: I jumped crisply out of bed on a Friday at midnight when...
Jun 12
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Big People Mean a Lot to Little People
Children are always formed by those a step or two ahead of them. Young ones watch their brothers and sisters and the friends these older...
Jun 12
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Practical Advice to Comforters
We encounter people who are grieving the loss of someone. What do you do? What should you say? Here are some simple suggestions to guide...
May 14
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Acts of (un)Kindness Stick
We talk about intentionally doing acts of kindness, because they bless people. Those persons are affected by what we do. Unfortunately,...
May 9
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Terrible Circumstances
Annie Dillard, a Christian writer, says this: ''God is no more blinding people with glaucoma or testing them with diabetes or purifying...
Apr 25
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Finding Life
Here is the formula for effective, satisfying, and meaningful living — it is to behave in a way that is not naturally comfortable. It is...
Apr 11
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Thoughts Generate Chemicals
An Olympic Athlete Trainer was quoted as saying: " There are four negative feelings or thoughts that produce toxic chemicals in the...
Mar 28
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Disability Builds Faith
Popular opinion holds that a disabling life event is likely to destroy a person's faith. A research project studying 26 men and women who...
Mar 14
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Everybody Is Dealing With Something
The amount of stress that everyone is feeling these days can be overwhelming without the right attitude and an antidote by way of our...
Feb 28
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Why Do We Believe in Kindness?
Why are you kind to other people? Why do you do good deeds? Many of us grew up strongly believing that we were called to good behavior in...
Feb 14
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How Tall Are You?
Here is an interesting experiment you can try. I have done this before groups of people, and the results are quite interesting. Stand,...
Jan 31
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The Fifth Side Effect of Kindness
5) Kindness is Contagious When we’re kind, we inspire others to be kind, and studies show that it actually creates a ripple effect that...
Jan 17
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The Fourth Side Effect
4) Kindness Improves Relationships This is one of the most obvious points. We all know that we like people who show us kindness. This is...
Jan 3
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A Kindness Suggestion for Christmas Time
One 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...
Dec 20, 2024
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Kindness Slows Aging
Aging on a biochemical level is a combination of many things, but two culprits that speed the process are Free Radicals and Inflammation...
Dec 6, 2024
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Another Side Effect
My last posting began a series of sharings from Dr. David R. Hamilton, PhD,'s book , " The Five Side Effects of Kindness ", and today we...
Nov 22, 2024
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The Side Effects off Kindness
When we think of side effects, the first thing that springs to mind are the side effects of drugs. But who’d have thought that kindness...
Nov 8, 2024
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Teachable Moments
The kitty lay dead in the street when we woke up. Shocked and saddened, we prepared a burial spot in the backyard. Gently and reverently,...
Oct 25, 2024
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Reflecting on Rejuvenation
I am older than I've ever been. In fact, I've never been this age before! So, I've been thinking that we begin to get older actually...
Oct 11, 2024
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Friendliness Is So Much More Than A Feeling
When you meet someone, or merely pass a person on the sidewalk, a friendly greeting is called for-most of the time. You do not have to...
Sep 27, 2024
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Do You Use This Word Too Much?
There is a word that we all commonly use, but today I want you to consider that perhaps you use it too often. The word is ' just ', I'm...
Sep 13, 2024
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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...
Aug 30, 2024
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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 16, 2024
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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...
Aug 2, 2024
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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 19, 2024
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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...
Jul 2, 2024
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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 19, 2024
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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...
Jun 6, 2024
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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 23, 2024
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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,...
May 10, 2024
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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 26, 2024
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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...
Apr 12, 2024
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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 29, 2024
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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 15, 2024
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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...
Mar 1, 2024
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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 16, 2024
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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...
Feb 2, 2024
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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 19, 2024
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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...
Jan 4, 2024
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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 22, 2023
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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...
Dec 8, 2023
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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 24, 2023
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