Fill Up Your Heart
M
y grandfather, Dr. John Lincoln Brandt, was an orator of the old school—a great writer, teacher, preacher, and lecturer. He really knew the language and grammar, style, and oratory. He was an artist at public speaking. Whenever he gave a speech or lecture, sometimes standing in the dark on the platform, pointing to pictures of his travels or this or that, which I was showing on a slide projector, he never used a note. So I asked him one time, “Grandfather, how are you so fluent? You manage to cover all these points, sometimes in one-two-three-four order and go on and on with various illustrations and stories”—he was very systematic and analytical—“yet you never seem to forget anything. You’re never at a loss for words. You hardly ever pause. It just pours out! How do you do it?” And he told me something I have never forgotten—and I thank the Lord for it, because I’ve used it ever since. He said, “David, I do my studying beforehand. I read, study, think, pray, and get totally full of my 65