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Inspiring Voices - Bernie Brown

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129 pages

English

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This is an intriguing and inspiring collection of devotionals based on messages gleaned from signs along the roads we travel. It can be meaningful to adults, fascinating to children, and even helpful to youth learning to drive. Each message is supported by words of wisdom from the ancient Book of Proverbs. If we will just slow down and observe, even something as seemingly mundane as a road sign can convey a powerful lesson. Mr. Brown, in the future, I would appreciate it if you would pay attention to them (road signs) and act accordingly. As he handed me the ticket, he said, Have a good day. North Carolina State Trooper My goodness, Bernie, this is amazing. Never thought of this but it is simple and profound. We can see road signs differently after reading your devotionals. The pictures are wonderful, too and Proverbs come alive in a new way. Lucy Adams, Author and Cofounder of the Western NC Christian Writers Fellowship Our city, like others, devotes a tremendous amount of resources toward placing directional and informational signs along its streets for guidance and to insure the publics safety. It is amazing how Bernie Brown has extracted additional meaning from many of these road signs to assist each of us on our individual lifes journey. This fascinating little book will not only inspire you but will assist you in passing your spiritual drivers license test. Steve Thunder Tumlin, Jr., Mayor, city of Marietta, GA (Bernies home since 1971; he was named Marietta Citizen of the Year in 1990)

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Philosophie et théologie

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Publié par	Inspiring Voices
Date de parution	18 mars 2014
Nombre de lectures	0
EAN13	9781462409235
Langue	English

Informations légales : prix de location à la page 0,0240€. Cette information est donnée uniquement à titre indicatif conformément à la législation en vigueur.

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FIFTY-TWO MODERN-DAY PROVERBS

BERNIE BROWN

Copyright © 2014 Bernie Brown.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™ All rights reserved.

Inspiring Voices books may be ordered through booksellers or by contacting:

Inspiring Voices
1663 Liberty Drive
Bloomington, IN 47403
www.inspiringvoices.com
1 (866) 697-5313

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.
Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4624-0922-8 (sc)
ISBN: 978-1-4624-0923-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014904321

Printed in the United States of America.

Inspiring Voices rev. date: 03/13/2014

CONTENTS
Foreword
Preface
Appreciation
Introduction

Road Signs: Modern-Day Proverbs
1My Daddy Works Here
2Stop
3Yield
4Railroad Crossing
5Work Zone
6Rest Area
7Crossroads
8Speed Limit
9Detour
10One-Lane Bridge
11One Way
12Truck Route
13Do Not Enter
14Speed Bump
15No U-Turn
16No Horn Blowing
17Bridge Ices Before Road
18Low And Soft Shoulder
19Narrow Bridge Ahead
20Call Box
21Click It Or Ticket
22Uneven Pavement
23No Parking
24Deer Crossing
25Rock Slides
26Keep Off The Median
27Fog Area
28Weigh Station
29Runaway Truck Ramp
30Winding Road
31Fire Station
32Handicap Parking
33Share The Road
34Toll Road
35Historical District
36Photo Enforced
37School
38Adopt A Highway
39Roundabout
40No Throwing Trash
41Tunnel
42They Kill (Dui) Don’t Do It
43Church
44Lights On When Raining
45Terrapin Xing
46Evacuation Route
47Scenic View
48Destination And Distance
49City Limit
50No Outlet
51Slow Grandparents At Play
52Hospital

Bonus: A Few Other Messages
Reflections And Conclusions
Epilogue: Photography Experiences
Study Guide
Study Guide Form
Other Books By Bernie Brown

To the transportation and highway departments throughout our cou ntry,
who place road signs on our streets, highways, and roadways
that lead to our earthly homes, and to the
Holy Spirit, who guides our paths
on our journeys to our
heavenly home

FOREWORD
Once again Bernie Brown has taken a uniquely creative look at an ordinary situation and offered profound insight into underlying truths. Those of us who are familiar with his other works are not at all surprised. After all, he took a simple motto (“Professionally We Serve, Personally We Care”) to inspire the work force of one of the largest healthcare organizations in the country. He used a simple “Yield” sign to offer a new glimpse into servant leadership, and he took a line from an old ballad (“Frankie and Johnnie were sweethearts”) to provide a view into his own creative and loving marr iage.
In this new work, Bernie is prepared to take us on a ride, but he has not chosen “a road less traveled.” Instead, this is the road that we travel every day—through the countryside, down the freeway, to the office, to school, to the grocery store. It involves the road signs encountered along the way that we often dismiss. Bernie uses those simple signs to grab our attention, to express his own faith and core values, and to encourage us to learn something about ourselves and God’s claim on our l ives.
This is neither a drive-by book nor is it to be considered flippantly. It is not for the casual passer-by and not a ninety-mile rush through the journey. Instead, it’s for the one who wants a contemplative look into his/her faith with an experienced churchman, a dedicated husband and father, an accomplished business leader, and an all-round good guy.
Now grab your hat and coat. Watch the road! Bernie will take you on a ride that can change your life.
—Dr. Sam R. Matthews, Senior Minister
First United Methodist Church, Marietta, GA
************************
Bernie Brown has given us a gift! In his distinctive, affable, winsome, South Georgia style he has imaginatively taken something out of everyday living and given it wings. Who could have ever so creatively considered how a road sign speaks to the human heart … but Bernie did. He takes a common piece of life and living and makes it come a live.
As you pour through these pages, you will be awestruck at the common sense, hope-filled spirituality that he places before us to digest. You’ll be amazed at the richness of the language, the impact of the instruction, and the poignancy of the message. It is Bernie Brown at his finest. Well, more than that, it is the God of Bernie Brown resourcefully taking us to a place where enlargement of our soul oc curs.
Reader beware! If you take to heart the pages you are about to experience, you will undoubtedly find the winds of transformation blowing through your life. Moreover, you will never, ever look at a road sign again without thinking of the way of Jesus and a remarkable Jesus-following servant named Be rnie.
Thank you, Bernie, for the gift!
—Dr. Charles (Chuck) W. Wilson II, Senior Pastor
Long’s Chapel United Methodist Church, Lake Junaluska, NC
Bernie and Snookie Brown have been members of Marietta First UMC for forty three years and affiliate members of Long’s Chapel UMC for twelve y ears.

PREFACE
Several of my friends have asked me, “How did you come up with the crazy idea of observing road signs?” I honestly can’t remember what enticed me to begin this unusual but fascinating journey. However, in retrospect, I do recall one incident that may have prompted my inquiry. And as Snookie, my wife, always says, “It wasn’t a coincidence. It was a God-incid ence!”
Several years ago, we were taking a scenic drive with friends on I-40 up in the mountains of western North Carolina. I noticed a state trooper pull out as we passed a ramp. I was not going too fast, but to be safe, I set the cruise control on sixty-four miles per hour, just below the limit. He followed us for about five miles, and then I saw and heard what all drivers dread: flashing lights and a blaring siren. My first thought was that my rear lights weren’t working; I knew that my license tag was current. I stopped and had to wait a few minutes before the trooper came up to the car. I’m sure he was first checking me out on his computer. Snookie and our friends didn’t say a word, and my face was flushed with fear and embarrass ment.
After Sergeant Valentine introduced himself and asked for my license and registration, I proceeded to plead innocent to every possible traffic infraction. I even pointed out that I knew that he was following so I was doubly cautious and placed my cruise control on sixty-four miles per hour to make certain I wouldn’t exceed the speed l imit.
After listening patiently, he informed me that the speed limit up in the mountains was fifty-five and that going around curves above that speed would be very dangerous. Then, in an authoritative, stern voice, he said something I remember to this day: “Mr. Brown, the state of North Carolina has spent millions of dollars to place signs along our roads to get you home safely. In the future, I would appreciate it if you would pay attention to them and act accordingly.” As he handed me the ticket, he said, “Have a good day.” Across the piece of paper was written the word Warning . And, sure enough, as we returned home, I noticed the fifty-five miles per hour speed-limit signs on that stretch of winding mountain hig hway.
If there was a beginning point for my interest in road signs, it probably was that day. And what I remember most was the officer’s directive: “Pay attention to them and act accordi ngly.”

APPRECIATION
A special thanks to those who have assisted in obtaining the photographs of road signs that inspired the messages included in this work. In this effort, my wife, Snookie, was a trooper, as always. She took the majority of the photos, bravely standing on roadways in four different states during this past year. Some other new friends who provided several of the unusual and hard-to-find signs include Stuntman Stu ( My Daddy Works Here ), Cory Doctorow ( No Horn Blowing ), the freephotooftheday website ( Rock Slides ), Roy Schreffler ( Fog Area ), and Peter Ubriaco ( Toll Road ).
I would like to express my deep appreciation to my two senior pastors, Dr. Sam Matthews (Marietta First United Methodist Church) and Dr. Chuck Wilson (Long’s Chapel United Methodist Church), who have given their encouragement and support, and were kind enough to write the foreword for the book.
I also offer a special thank-you to t