Years ago I indexed a publication that went back to 1885. It was fascinating, and I was amazed at how up-to-date the articles were; they could have been written today. I would like to share these thoughts with you now and then. Most of these are from the 1923 issue:
“Never fancy you could be something if only you had a different lot and sphere assigned you. The very things that you most deprecate as fatal limitations or obstructions, are probably what you most want. What you call hindrances, obstacles, discouragements, are probably God’s opportunities.” Anonymous.
“There is no sense is always telegraphing to Heaven for God to send a cargo of blessings unless we are at the wharf to unload the vessel when it comes.” F.B. Meyer.
“What have I done that I should be anathematized? Am I not strong and green and pleasant? Have I injured anyone? Have I done harm in any way? It is not what you have done, but what you have not done. You have received God’s gift of sunshine and shower and returned nothing but leaves. The world of hungry people expected fruit from you. They found it not.” Exchange.
“LET IT OUT” -- Not the harsh word. Not the prompt and perhaps justifiable censure. Not the sarcasm which bites and stings. These slip out all too easily. Ordinarily they were best kept in. We shall rarely reproach ourselves in after years for failing to say cutting things. But the kind word, the praise which cheers, the encouragement which everybody needs -- let it out. If there is any good you can say, say it eagerly. Where got we the heathenish idea that gracious words are to be saved as a miser saves pennies? Say the very best thing you can think of concerning your friends, or even your enemies. Better far to exaggerate his virtues than his faults. If we must err, let it be on the side of kindness. -- George Clark.
THE THREE C’s
The three C’s will carry you, as an individual or as a class, through almost any situation.
I will be CHEERFUL. -- The grouch never gets anywhere. If he happens to have an idea no one is willing to help him work it out, and one cannot do much alone. It takes cheerfulness to grow success, just as it takes sunshine to grow flowers. Don’t let the glums get a hold upon your or upon your class.
I will be COURAGEOUS. -- Courage begets confidence. Face one difficulty and you will gather confidence to face a greater one. And there is nothing to be afraid of, if we only knew it. If you, or your class, set out to do a thing that is right and worth doing, man cannot stop you unless you are a coward and let him.
I will be CREATIVE. -- This does not mean that you must paint a great picture, or write a great book, or build a great building. It means that you must think your own thoughts, plan your own plans, work out your own ideas. The individual or the class that never tries anything except what someone else has tried before will soon get into a hopeless rut. -- Exchange.
“The woman who is successful in making a true home, where peace and love dwell, in which the children whom God gives her feel the sacredness and holy meaning of life, where her husband renews his strength for the struggles and activities of his life, in which all unite to promote the happiness and highest welfare of each other -- that woman has won the best crown there is in life, and she has served the world in a very high degree. The union of man and woman for the creation of a home breathing an atmosphere of love is Christ’s best parable of the highest possible spiritual union where the soul is the bride and he is the Eternal Bridegroom, and they are one.” Exchange.
“Don’t delude yourself into thinking there is any new morality. We are still bound by the old eternal values that have not changed and will not change, and that make the Ten Commandments the only rule of life.” Dorothy Dix.
“The first five books of the Bible are called Penteteuch. Moses is the writer. It covers one-third of human history. It starts in a garden and ends in a wilderness. The books are:
Genesis -- The way down. The Fall, the Flood and the famine.
Exodus -- The way out. Moses, miracles and morals.
Leviticus -- The way up. Compassion, Confession, Communion.
Numbers -- The way around. Wandering, wondering, wonderful.
Deuteronomy -- The way home. Reviewing, renewing, returning.
Anonymous.
(From a 1920 issue): BE STILL: "Life today is a mad, wild rush. This busy, bustling age is so set on doing things that we scarcely have time to eat or sleep, much less rest or think. Consequently many are old before their time, grow weary of the strife, and occasionally put an end to it all. And slow suicide accomplishes the same end as razors, pistols and poison. but we have no more right to destroy life gradually than we have to destroy it instantly. And the restless rush of the day counts against us spiritually as well as physically. Of course, He is present everywhere, but we feel Him more plainly and feel Him more sensibly in the quiet of the closet than in the stir of the street. Therefore, for body's sake, for the mind's sake, and for the soul's sake, sit down some time and think whence you came, what you are, and whither you are bound. `Be still and know that I am God.'--Psalm 46:10.” Anonymous.
"Cheerfulness is what greases the axles of the world; some people go through life creaking." Anonymous.
THE MASTER'S REWARD (1912 issue): "The master commits five talents to the servant, and the trust is shrewdly managed. The five become ten, and the master is fully satisfied. What reward does he propose for his servant? Is it a release from labor and responsibility, a future in contrast with the past? No; the past shapes the future, and this servant having served his apprenticeship, becomes himself a master, `ruler over many things.' So he entered into the joy of his Lord. And the joy for which Jesus endured the cross is a patient and perpetual ministry. Life will be raised, not reversed; work will not be closed, it will be emancipated. The fret will be gone, not the labor; the disappointment, not the responsibility. Our disability shall be no more; our capacity shall be ours forever, and so the thorns shall be taken from our crown." Ian Maclaren.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Dear Jesus - 70 x 7 Again?
Dear Jesus - 70 x 7 Again?
Me: Jesus, it's me again. Forgive me for bothering you so much, but this problem is eroding my innards. I had a terrible row with him today--again. Sometimes I really despise him. Of course, as you know, being a good Christian, I didn't tell him. Heavens, I have offices in the church, and I have to be careful of my image.
Jesus: Image, my all-seeing eye! That's ridiculous. I saw your heart, and it was one big spiritual aneurysm. It was only my grace that kept it from blowing bits of poison through your rotten system.
Me: O Jesus, how can you say that? Why, he started the whole thing. He always does, spending ten-dollar bills on ten-cent problems. Why does he do that?
Jesus: Never mind what he does. I'll take care of him in due time. It's you we need to patch together here. Remember that sentence your friend wrote for you, "Meekness is the lack of self-justification?"
Me: Well, yes. In fact, I have it right over my desk and I read it every day.
Jesus: It isn't doing you much good, is it? Now, for your penance I want you to repeat that sentence once every hour.
Me: But I left those "works" years ago! I thought we weren't supposed to do that penance bit any more.
Jesus: I'm the High Priest and I'm telling you, repeat that sentence twice an hour for arguing about it. Now, that card you spotted in the grocery store. . .
Me: Yes, Jesus, that was really unfair. You didn't give me any time to get my wits together to tell him off. Why, that card hit me right in my madness!
Jesus: It was supposed to. I sent my Holy Spirit down there just before you went storming into the store, and had him inspire one of the clerks to put it where I knew you couldn't miss it. You see, I know your habits, even the one of lingering in front of card racks.
Me: But Jesus, that card?! It looked really neat, though--so colorful. "GOD LOVES YOU!" Wow! Like you said, I couldn't miss it. And then when I read what it said inside, "And what's good enough for God is good enough for me!" Well, Jesus, I got your message. I bought it and put in on his desk.
Jesus: Good! You did just what I wanted you to do. You followed the promptings of my Spirit, finally.
Me: It did help. He came in and apologized after he read it. But I'm still mad at him!
Jesus: That's a good word, mad. Of course you are. You're filled with pride and selfishness.
Me: But Jesus, you just don't understand. . .
Jesus: Now don't start that canard. I died for you, lady--no, woman--no lady would act the way you did that day. As for my not understanding, nonsense. Remember, I walked that same earth, and human nature hasn't changed much, unfortunately. I got murdered by people who thought they were doing the world a favor. You only got chewed out.
Me: I got spit out!
Jesus: Well, remember – I got spit on. But anyway, see what it's done for you. It's sent you to my Word. And it's humbled you a bit. We do need to work on that. But at least you're searching and praying, and I've been rushing my Holy Spirit to you to clean up that cesspool in your heart.
Me: Mercy, Jesus! Is it that bad?
Jesus: Indeed it is. You can't see it, but I can. Speaking of mercy, do you realize it's my mercy that keeps you from doing even worse things? Have you ever thought to thank me for that?
Me: O yes, Jesus! When I look at what other people do, why, I'm so grateful I'm not that bad!
Jesus: You Pharisee, I didn't mean it that way. There but for my grace and pardon, you would be doing all manner of unrighteousness. And you certainly didn't win any celestial points with that awful outburst last week. You know, woman, if you would just keep quiet you'd stay out of a lot of trouble. To borrow back from Shakespeare who I inspired anyway, "The lady doth protest too much, methinks." And because of my dreadful experience with Pilate, I inspired Shakespeare to write this, too: "The silence of pure innocence persuades when speaking fails." Only you aren't pure innocence.
Me: But Jesus, I didn't even do what he kept saying I did. Silence surely would not have convinced him.
Jesus: Did all that yelling help? Remember when I stood before Pilate and said nothing? My friend Matthew recorded that Pilate marveled greatly at that silence, because it's so human to defend ourselves. I didn't do a thing to deserve being hung on a cross. You're far from innocent, and when you are accused wrongfully you scream inwardly and outwardly. Shock him and say nothing. He'll marvel at your silence, believe me.
Me: Well, I suppose I didn't have to make that wisecrack about his German distemper when he hit me with that "You and your Irish temper. . ."
Jesus: Yes, I should give you a permanent stiff upper lip for that one. The trouble is, even if you never said it you'd think it, and it's the thought that gives birth to the deed, always. That was one of the purposes of my Sermon on the Mount: clean up your thoughts and then you'll clean up your act.
Me: I know, Jesus, but if only he...
Jesus: Oh, there you go, with your "but if onlys" again! There are no excuses and no exceptions. You're supposed to be my portrait just as I'm the portrait of my Father. It's an affront to me when you insult one of mine, and you certainly insulted him that day. He's my child, remember?
Me: Well. . . I'm sorry, Jesus.
Jesus: Yes, I believe you. Of course sorry has several connotations, but I'm Love and I'll accept it as true repentance. Now, let's see what we can do to help you better understand forgiveness. One very important thing, it's unconditional, absolutely no strings attached.
Me: Do you mean that no matter what anyone says or does, I'm supposed to drop it all as if it never happened?
Jesus: That's it!
Me: Impossible, Jesus. . .
Jesus: True, but that's without me. With me all things are possible, and that includes a brand new heart of love, and a new mind, too: my mind. My friend Paul had lots to say about the mind. Study Romans 8:6: "To be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Your mind can't be at peace when it's filled with hate and resentment.
Me: Yes, Jesus. I have to admit I haven't been too peaceful since this last row.
Jesus: Of course not. But you can free both of you by forgiving him. Besides, I have promised the earth to the meek and humble, and the peacemakers I call my special children. But before you inherit the everlasting earth you need to change your character. It may shock you to hear this, but if you can't get along with him and forgive him here, you may not have a hereafter!
Me: Somehow that doesn't seem quite fair!
Jesus: But that's the way it is. Why did I die for your sins in which you persist? I did it because I love you. Why can't you forgive for the same reason? But - I have to stress that I don't love your sins, and I can't excuse them or allow you to excuse them.
Me: But Jesus, if it's someone else's fault. . .!
Jesus: Oh, there you go again! Besides, how do you know that? You may be just as much at fault as the other person. It's your reaction that tells on you. Your pride is piqued so you lash out. If you had a humble spirit and if you think about me and the sacrifice I made for all of you, these things wouldn't get your goat so much. Speaking of goat, you humans have a gift for making scapegoats of others when the fault lies within your own noisome spirit. You're acting like a goat, you know--very unruly. Read up on sheep and remember that I plan to put the sheep on my right. The goats will be out in left field.
Me: Yes, Jesus. I feel very sheepish. . .
Jesus: You should. And while we're on this subject of right- and left-handed choices, the final distinction is the sanctified and the unsanctified, not the rich and the poor, the educated and the uneducated, and all those divisions and so-called discernments you humans are so fond of inventing.
Me: Well, Jesus, I do try not to judge others. . .
Jesus: Ah, but you do! The moment you entertain an unforgiving thought you are judging. The first word you utter in anger is a judgment. Think about that. And I know what you wanted to call him, too! You can thank my Spirit that you at least had the grace not to say it. My friend Matthew recorded what I had to say about name-calling. Anyone who calls another a fool is in danger of the second death. You're to treat all with tenderness.
Me: But it's so hard to remember that in the heat of anger. . .
Jesus: If you had my mind you'd have no heat. You need the heat from my lamp, my
Word, not the world's words. And don’t have the last word!!
Patricia Erwin Nordman
Me: Jesus, it's me again. Forgive me for bothering you so much, but this problem is eroding my innards. I had a terrible row with him today--again. Sometimes I really despise him. Of course, as you know, being a good Christian, I didn't tell him. Heavens, I have offices in the church, and I have to be careful of my image.
Jesus: Image, my all-seeing eye! That's ridiculous. I saw your heart, and it was one big spiritual aneurysm. It was only my grace that kept it from blowing bits of poison through your rotten system.
Me: O Jesus, how can you say that? Why, he started the whole thing. He always does, spending ten-dollar bills on ten-cent problems. Why does he do that?
Jesus: Never mind what he does. I'll take care of him in due time. It's you we need to patch together here. Remember that sentence your friend wrote for you, "Meekness is the lack of self-justification?"
Me: Well, yes. In fact, I have it right over my desk and I read it every day.
Jesus: It isn't doing you much good, is it? Now, for your penance I want you to repeat that sentence once every hour.
Me: But I left those "works" years ago! I thought we weren't supposed to do that penance bit any more.
Jesus: I'm the High Priest and I'm telling you, repeat that sentence twice an hour for arguing about it. Now, that card you spotted in the grocery store. . .
Me: Yes, Jesus, that was really unfair. You didn't give me any time to get my wits together to tell him off. Why, that card hit me right in my madness!
Jesus: It was supposed to. I sent my Holy Spirit down there just before you went storming into the store, and had him inspire one of the clerks to put it where I knew you couldn't miss it. You see, I know your habits, even the one of lingering in front of card racks.
Me: But Jesus, that card?! It looked really neat, though--so colorful. "GOD LOVES YOU!" Wow! Like you said, I couldn't miss it. And then when I read what it said inside, "And what's good enough for God is good enough for me!" Well, Jesus, I got your message. I bought it and put in on his desk.
Jesus: Good! You did just what I wanted you to do. You followed the promptings of my Spirit, finally.
Me: It did help. He came in and apologized after he read it. But I'm still mad at him!
Jesus: That's a good word, mad. Of course you are. You're filled with pride and selfishness.
Me: But Jesus, you just don't understand. . .
Jesus: Now don't start that canard. I died for you, lady--no, woman--no lady would act the way you did that day. As for my not understanding, nonsense. Remember, I walked that same earth, and human nature hasn't changed much, unfortunately. I got murdered by people who thought they were doing the world a favor. You only got chewed out.
Me: I got spit out!
Jesus: Well, remember – I got spit on. But anyway, see what it's done for you. It's sent you to my Word. And it's humbled you a bit. We do need to work on that. But at least you're searching and praying, and I've been rushing my Holy Spirit to you to clean up that cesspool in your heart.
Me: Mercy, Jesus! Is it that bad?
Jesus: Indeed it is. You can't see it, but I can. Speaking of mercy, do you realize it's my mercy that keeps you from doing even worse things? Have you ever thought to thank me for that?
Me: O yes, Jesus! When I look at what other people do, why, I'm so grateful I'm not that bad!
Jesus: You Pharisee, I didn't mean it that way. There but for my grace and pardon, you would be doing all manner of unrighteousness. And you certainly didn't win any celestial points with that awful outburst last week. You know, woman, if you would just keep quiet you'd stay out of a lot of trouble. To borrow back from Shakespeare who I inspired anyway, "The lady doth protest too much, methinks." And because of my dreadful experience with Pilate, I inspired Shakespeare to write this, too: "The silence of pure innocence persuades when speaking fails." Only you aren't pure innocence.
Me: But Jesus, I didn't even do what he kept saying I did. Silence surely would not have convinced him.
Jesus: Did all that yelling help? Remember when I stood before Pilate and said nothing? My friend Matthew recorded that Pilate marveled greatly at that silence, because it's so human to defend ourselves. I didn't do a thing to deserve being hung on a cross. You're far from innocent, and when you are accused wrongfully you scream inwardly and outwardly. Shock him and say nothing. He'll marvel at your silence, believe me.
Me: Well, I suppose I didn't have to make that wisecrack about his German distemper when he hit me with that "You and your Irish temper. . ."
Jesus: Yes, I should give you a permanent stiff upper lip for that one. The trouble is, even if you never said it you'd think it, and it's the thought that gives birth to the deed, always. That was one of the purposes of my Sermon on the Mount: clean up your thoughts and then you'll clean up your act.
Me: I know, Jesus, but if only he...
Jesus: Oh, there you go, with your "but if onlys" again! There are no excuses and no exceptions. You're supposed to be my portrait just as I'm the portrait of my Father. It's an affront to me when you insult one of mine, and you certainly insulted him that day. He's my child, remember?
Me: Well. . . I'm sorry, Jesus.
Jesus: Yes, I believe you. Of course sorry has several connotations, but I'm Love and I'll accept it as true repentance. Now, let's see what we can do to help you better understand forgiveness. One very important thing, it's unconditional, absolutely no strings attached.
Me: Do you mean that no matter what anyone says or does, I'm supposed to drop it all as if it never happened?
Jesus: That's it!
Me: Impossible, Jesus. . .
Jesus: True, but that's without me. With me all things are possible, and that includes a brand new heart of love, and a new mind, too: my mind. My friend Paul had lots to say about the mind. Study Romans 8:6: "To be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace." Your mind can't be at peace when it's filled with hate and resentment.
Me: Yes, Jesus. I have to admit I haven't been too peaceful since this last row.
Jesus: Of course not. But you can free both of you by forgiving him. Besides, I have promised the earth to the meek and humble, and the peacemakers I call my special children. But before you inherit the everlasting earth you need to change your character. It may shock you to hear this, but if you can't get along with him and forgive him here, you may not have a hereafter!
Me: Somehow that doesn't seem quite fair!
Jesus: But that's the way it is. Why did I die for your sins in which you persist? I did it because I love you. Why can't you forgive for the same reason? But - I have to stress that I don't love your sins, and I can't excuse them or allow you to excuse them.
Me: But Jesus, if it's someone else's fault. . .!
Jesus: Oh, there you go again! Besides, how do you know that? You may be just as much at fault as the other person. It's your reaction that tells on you. Your pride is piqued so you lash out. If you had a humble spirit and if you think about me and the sacrifice I made for all of you, these things wouldn't get your goat so much. Speaking of goat, you humans have a gift for making scapegoats of others when the fault lies within your own noisome spirit. You're acting like a goat, you know--very unruly. Read up on sheep and remember that I plan to put the sheep on my right. The goats will be out in left field.
Me: Yes, Jesus. I feel very sheepish. . .
Jesus: You should. And while we're on this subject of right- and left-handed choices, the final distinction is the sanctified and the unsanctified, not the rich and the poor, the educated and the uneducated, and all those divisions and so-called discernments you humans are so fond of inventing.
Me: Well, Jesus, I do try not to judge others. . .
Jesus: Ah, but you do! The moment you entertain an unforgiving thought you are judging. The first word you utter in anger is a judgment. Think about that. And I know what you wanted to call him, too! You can thank my Spirit that you at least had the grace not to say it. My friend Matthew recorded what I had to say about name-calling. Anyone who calls another a fool is in danger of the second death. You're to treat all with tenderness.
Me: But it's so hard to remember that in the heat of anger. . .
Jesus: If you had my mind you'd have no heat. You need the heat from my lamp, my
Word, not the world's words. And don’t have the last word!!
Patricia Erwin Nordman
Darrell Scott's Testimony on the Death of His Daughter Rachel Joy Scott
Darrell Scott's Testimony on the Death of His Daughter Rachel Joy Scott
“Since the dawn of creation there has been both good and evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers.
“The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used.. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain’s heart.
“In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA – because I don’t believe that they are responsible for my daughter’s death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel’s murder I would be their strongest opponent.
I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy — it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best.
Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
Your words are empty air.
You’ve stripped away our heritage,
You’ve outlawed simple prayer.
Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
And precious children die
You seek for answers everywhere,
And ask the question “Why?”
You regulate restrictive laws,
Through legislative creed..
And yet you fail to understand,
That God is what we need!
“Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation’s history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine’s tragedy occurs — politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties… We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts.
“As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA — I give to you a sincere challenge…Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone!
”My daughter’s death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen again.”
Darrell Scott
“Since the dawn of creation there has been both good and evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers.
“The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used.. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain’s heart.
“In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA – because I don’t believe that they are responsible for my daughter’s death. Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel’s murder I would be their strongest opponent.
I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy — it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best.
Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
Your words are empty air.
You’ve stripped away our heritage,
You’ve outlawed simple prayer.
Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
And precious children die
You seek for answers everywhere,
And ask the question “Why?”
You regulate restrictive laws,
Through legislative creed..
And yet you fail to understand,
That God is what we need!
“Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation’s history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine’s tragedy occurs — politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties… We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts.
“As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA — I give to you a sincere challenge…Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone!
”My daughter’s death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen again.”
Darrell Scott
A Parable - Anonymous
Two cars were waiting at a stoplight.
The light turned green, but the man didn't notice it. A woman in the car behind
him is watching traffic pass around them. The woman begins pounding on her
steering wheel and yelling at the man to move. The man doesn't move. The woman
is going ballistic inside her car, ranting and raving at the man, pounding on
her steering wheel and dash. The light turns yellow and the woman begins to
blow the car horn and screams profanity and curses at the man. The man, looks
up, sees the yellow light and accelerates through the intersection just as the
light turns red. The woman is beside herself, screaming in frustration as she
misses her chance to get through the intersection.
As she is still in mid-rant she hears a
tap on her window and looks up into the barrel of a gun held by a very
serious-looking policeman. The policeman tells her to shut off her car while
keeping both hands in sight. She complies, speechless at what is happening.
After she shuts off the engine, the policeman orders her to exit her car with
her hands up. She gets out of the car and he orders her to turn and place her
hands on her car. She turns, places her hands on the car roof and quickly is
cuffed and hustled into the patrol car. She is too bewildered by the chain of
events to ask any questions and is driven to the police station where she is
fingerprinted, photographed, searched, booked and placed in a cell.
After a couple of hours, a policeman
approaches the cell and opens the door for her. She is escorted back to the
booking desk where the original officer is waiting with her personal effects.
He hands her the bag containing her things, and says, "I'm really sorry
for this mistake. But you see, I pulled up behind your car while you were
blowing your horn and cussing a blue streak at him. Then I noticed the:
"Choose Life" license plate holder, the "What Would Jesus
Do" bumper sticker, the "Follow Me to Sunday School" bumper
sticker, and the chrome plated Christian fish emblem on the trunk. So,
naturally . . . I assumed you had stolen the car."
The Value of One - Anonymous
It was early morning. On the beach was
an elderly man. He walked with a cane, carefully surveying the beach that the
receding tide had left exposed. Every now and then he bent to pick something up
and toss it into the ocean. I watched with fascination as he carefully scanned
the beach before him. It was then that I realized he was looking for starfish.
Every time he saw one lying helpless in the sand, unable to get back to the
ocean on his own, he would lovingly pick it up and toss it gently back into the
sea. Curious as to why he was doing this, I approached him. He told me,
"The starfish are left behind after the tide goes out. If they don't get
back into the ocean they will dry up and die beneath the hot summer sun."
"But there are endless miles of
beach and there must be millions of starfish," I said. "Surely you
don't think you can save them all. What difference can your efforts possibly
make?" Slowly the old man bent over and picked up another starfish. As he
tossed it into ocean he looked at me and said, "It makes a difference to
that one."
I was deeply touched by this story. How
easy it is to become so discouraged by the sheer magnitude of the task that
Christ has set before us that we fail to focus on the value to Him of each one.
We are called to be faithful in scanning those "beaches" and in
making a difference to "that one" and "that one" and "that
one" in the name of Christ.
Anonymous
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
My precious Daughter!
My beloved Daughter:
God sent you to earth, one of His very special angels, to make this world a much better place! My first prayer every morning is one of gratitude to our Father for you and your splendid family. The movie with James Stewart, It's A Wonderful Life, sums it up - if you weren't here, then it would be such a different, and such a bleak, world. Equal thanks go to your awesome husband for recognizing the gift you are the moment he saw you - I thank him with an overflowing heart for making all our lives so much better!
Through the years you have amazed me with your gifts of compassion and discernment. I have wondered at times if God has given you the talent of mind-reading. You have no idea how grateful I am to you for the blessings you have showered on us all!
God bless you, my beautiful Daughter!
Mom
PS - A huge thank-you for our AWESOME grandchildren, too -- I try not to brag too much!!
God sent you to earth, one of His very special angels, to make this world a much better place! My first prayer every morning is one of gratitude to our Father for you and your splendid family. The movie with James Stewart, It's A Wonderful Life, sums it up - if you weren't here, then it would be such a different, and such a bleak, world. Equal thanks go to your awesome husband for recognizing the gift you are the moment he saw you - I thank him with an overflowing heart for making all our lives so much better!
Through the years you have amazed me with your gifts of compassion and discernment. I have wondered at times if God has given you the talent of mind-reading. You have no idea how grateful I am to you for the blessings you have showered on us all!
God bless you, my beautiful Daughter!
Mom
PS - A huge thank-you for our AWESOME grandchildren, too -- I try not to brag too much!!
Monday, February 24, 2014
The world needs men...
The World Needs Men . . . .
. . .who cannot be bought;
. . .whose word is their bond;
. . .who put character above wealth;
. . .who possess opinions and a will;
. . .who are larger than their vocations;
. . .who do not hesitate to take chances;
. . .who will not lose their individuality in a crowd;
. . .who will be as honest in small things as in great things;
. . .who will make no compromise with wrong;
. . .whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires;
. . .who will not say they do it"because everybody else does it";
. . .who are true to their friends through good report and evil report, in adversity as well as in prosperity;
. . .who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning, and hardheadedness are the best qualities for winning success;
. . .who are not ashamed or afraid to stand for the truth when it is unpopular;who can say "no" with emphasis, although all the rest of the world says "yes."
Charles Swindoll
Living Above the Level of Mediocrity
. . .who cannot be bought;
. . .whose word is their bond;
. . .who put character above wealth;
. . .who possess opinions and a will;
. . .who are larger than their vocations;
. . .who do not hesitate to take chances;
. . .who will not lose their individuality in a crowd;
. . .who will be as honest in small things as in great things;
. . .who will make no compromise with wrong;
. . .whose ambitions are not confined to their own selfish desires;
. . .who will not say they do it"because everybody else does it";
. . .who are true to their friends through good report and evil report, in adversity as well as in prosperity;
. . .who do not believe that shrewdness, cunning, and hardheadedness are the best qualities for winning success;
. . .who are not ashamed or afraid to stand for the truth when it is unpopular;who can say "no" with emphasis, although all the rest of the world says "yes."
Charles Swindoll
Living Above the Level of Mediocrity
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