Impressions. We each make and receive them. There are also different types of impressions. There are the first-time-you meet personal ones we make on people, a sort of “snap-shot” of who we are perceived as being. There are, of course, the lasting impressions…the one’s that stay with people. Over these latter impressions we may either cringe or rejoice. Then there are the tangible impressions that are made on materials…usually very hard materials. I’m thinking of wax, copper, bronze, silver, gold, etc. In other words, the impressions that are made on coins, seals, documents and the like. While in Israel recently, I visited the restored site of “Solomon’s Mines” in Timna. As at many other restored sites in Israel, they have come up with a modern way to help you remember the site. Which being interpreted means; they’ve discovered ways to sell you souvenirs. One clever gadget at Timna was a coin impression device. You placed an appropriately sized blank of copper/bronze in a press and then forced the head of the heavily weighted impression to fall on the blank. The result was a “coin” that stated “King Solomon’s Mine” in English on one side and in Hebrew on the other. I thought, “Why not? It might be a little something to give to the grandkids.” And so I purchased a few blanks and had at it. The first attempt was semi-feeble…and so was the impression. I learned in a hurry that if you wanted to make a good stamped impression on metal you had to really come down hard on the blank. The final three attempts were much improved. Now, I don’t suggest that you go throughout your Christian life trying to make lasting (hard) impressions on other people’s lives. However, you may need to make more than one attempt. I was told that good salesmen are persistent, three to seven attempts persistent. Is it possible that we too easily excuse our attempts at loving people to Christ with a one-time feeble effort? I wonder how many times Jesus had to teach His disciples the same truth over and over. We know that the matter of humility and “who was first in the kingdom” was not a quick learn on their part. Take the time to improve your impressions for Christ; your pick, English or Hebrew!