While I was studying for the Ministry, I recall hearing a lot of negative reactions to Norman Vincent Peale. He was to my very conservative friends a flaming liberal!

To many he was practically the "poster boy" for modernism and the new "theology" of depending on ourselves.

Well, I have always tried to be fair when I hear criticism because it can be a close cousin to gossip. We all know that you can not believe everything you hear.

When I first joined the Army Reserve and was off to Armor Basic Training, an aunt of mine sent me some booklets of Dr. Peale's.

They were all uplifting and encouraging which was what I needed. Well, time went on without much concern over the issue.

Then a few years ago I rented the audio tapes of the "Power of Positive Thinking" and heard him talk a lot about the power of prayer and what Christ can do for us if we believe and trust in Him.

Now, I am not as interested in singing praises of Norman Vincent Peale as I want to illustrate Matthew 7:1 & 2, "Judge not, that ye be not judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again."

My little boy, Blake, loves Thomas the Tank Engine. On one tape there is a music video entitled, "Don't Judge a Book By It's Cover."

In it Thomas sees Terence the Tractor for the first time and comments on how funny he looks because he is different. Terence gets the last laugh when Thomas gets stuck in the snow and Terence comes to his rescue. As the song goes, "Things aren't necessarily always what they appear to be!"

Remember, there is some good in the worst of people and some bad in the best of people. Think the best as much as you can of people and treat others like you want to be treated, after all, is that not the essence of the "Golden Rule?"