The Outlines section is no longer updated.

All I Really Need to Know I Learned from Noah's Ark

1. Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the ark. 

2. Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone might ask you to do something REALLY big. 

3. Don't listen to critics -- do what has to be done. 

4. Build on high ground. 

5. For safety's sake, travel in pairs. 

6. Two heads are better than one. 

7. Speed isn't always an advantage. The cheetahs were on board, but so were the snails. 

8. If you can't fight or flee -- float

9. Take care of your animals as if they were the last ones on earth. 

10. Don't forget that we're all in the same boat. 

11. When the doo-doo gets really deep, don't sit there and complain -- shovel

12. Stay below deck during the storm. 

13. Remember that the ark was built by amateurs and the Titanic was built by professionals. 

14. If you have to start over, have a friend by your side. 

15. Remember that the woodpeckers INSIDE are often a bigger threat than the storm outside. 

16. Don't miss the boat. 

17. For a believer, no matter how bleak it looks, there's always a rainbow on the other side.

Is Your Receive Working?

A Native American and his friend were in downtown New York City, walking near Times Square in Manhattan. It was during the noon lunch hour and the streets were filled with people. Cars were honking their horns, taxicabs were squealing around corners, sirens were wailing, and the sounds of the city were almost deafening. Suddenly, the Native American said, "I hear a cricket."

His friend said, "What? You must be crazy. You couldn't possibly hear a cricket in all of this noise!"

"No, I'm sure of it," the Native American said, "I heard a cricket."

"That's crazy," said the friend.

The Native American listened carefully for a moment, and then walked across the street to a big cement planter where some shrubs were growing. He looked into the bushes, beneath the branches, and sure enough, he located a small cricket.

His friend was utterly amazed.

"That's incredible," said his friend.

"You must have superhuman ears!"

"No," said the Native American.

"My ears are no different from yours. It all depends on what you're listening for."

"But that can't be!" said the friend.

"I could never hear a cricket in this noise."

"Yes, it's true," came the reply. "It depends on what is really important to you. Here, let me show you."

He reached into his pocket, pulled out a few coins, and discreetly dropped them on the sidewalk.

And then, with the noise of the crowded street still blaring in their ears, they noticed every head within twenty feet turn and look to see if the money that tinkled on the pavement was theirs.

"See what I mean?" asked the Native American. "It all depends on what's important to you."

What's important to you? What do you listen for? Some people say that there is no God, and that He never speaks to us anymore. But perhaps they can't see or hear Him because they aren't listening for Him. They are living for themselves, not for God. If you are in tune with God, you will be able to notice Him at work in your life and in the world. And you'll be able to hear Him when He speaks.