General Stanley McChrystal, the commander of Joint Special Operations Command, was given a monumental task by President George W. Bush: find and terminate Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of a brutal terror network known as Al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI).
Complacency
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- CheatingChoicesCommitmentComplacencyDedicationFoodHealthLifestyleTemptationWill Power
Cheating Vegetarians
by davidrsmithby davidrsmithWhen perfectly sane humans with functioning taste buds swear off meat, they’re labeled vegetarians. The remainder of their sad, miserable lives is filled with the memories of how wonderful a medium-well ribeye tasted. Fortunately, a few vegetarians have discovered a way of coping with temptation.
They just eat meat.
- AccidentBlindComplacencyDoctorElderlyHealthProblemTransformationWaste
Fixing Eyes, Fixing Lives
by davidrsmithby davidrsmithPierre-Paul Thomas was born blind. For him, life was reduced to little more than grey shapes that only varied in size and shade. Then, in his mid-sixties, he suffered an accident that would totally change his life…for the better.
Trust me. You won’t see this one coming.
- AdviceBad DecisionsComplacencyDangerDeathDecision-MakingDisasterEscapeNeighborPossessionsSurvivalTaking ActionUrgentWarning
Fatal Hesitation
by davidrsmithby davidrsmithWhen Jon Smalldridge went to bed on Saturday night, October 25, 2003, he was aware of the wildfires burning 15 miles away in San Diego. However, he wasn’t aware the fires could spread so quickly. When the flames and smoke woke him just a few hours later, he knew he had to move quickly to survive.
Sadly, many others didn’t quite see the urgency.
- AppearanceAttractiveBeliefsComfortComplacencyDesireEvidenceHumansPhilosophyQuotesReasonThinking
Blaise Pascal on Belief
by davidrsmithby davidrsmith“People almost invariably arrive at their beliefs not on the basis of proof but on the basis of what they find attractive.”
- ActionsComplacencyDietrich BonhoefferEvilGod's JusticeGuiltyQuotesTaking a StandTaking ActionWordsWorks
Dietrich Bonhoeffer on Complacency
by davidrsmithby davidrsmith“Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.”
- Bad NewsComplacencyConsequencesExpensiveIgnoreLearnMechanicsMoneyNeglectProblemRepairSinVehicle
A Lesson From My Mechanic
by davidrsmithby davidrsmithI was the unfortunate recipient of some bad news at my mechanic’s shop last month. He walked me into the bay where my SUV sat cradled on a lift and pointed to something on the suspension, called it something I’ve never heard of, and then told it would cost me something like $400 to repair.
But that wasn’t even the bad news.
- BishopChurchCommitmentComplacencyCompromiseEmperorEnemyFaithfulHistoryMartyrPersecutionRomansSuffering
Decius’ Decree
by davidrsmithby davidrsmithDecius came from a long line of Roman Emperors who hated Christ and His followers. But unlike those who had gone before him, he would be quite successful in ridding the empire – and world – of the Jesus disease.
And, for the most part, he wouldn’t even have to use a sword to do it.