Daily Devotional; formerly Chaplains Corner

[jack404]

Good on you Terry , thanks for that ..

cheers eh

[ampaterry]

My devotionals are sometimes based upon something I have read. I have tons of notes and a failing memory that I draw upon, so sometimes I will have a devotional based on a note I had that does not cite the original source. I apologize for those times.
Today is not such a time: A portion of this devotional was based on the writings of C. John Weborg in The Covenant Companion.

I have talked to you recently about how I prefer an independent church over a church that is part of a major denomination.

I have also spoken of the importance of attending a local church as a family, and being sure your children are raised to consider this a vital regular part of their life.

But there is one more thing to watch out for: The longing, and subsequent search, for the Perfect Church. The goal of this quest is an illusion. Unbridled desire can be the death of reason, judgment, and discipline. Some form of satisfaction doesn't even stand a chance unless one settles down at a place and serves. The church is a feast, not a taste, a meal, not a nibble. You cannot be fed if you flit from congregation to congregation constantly seeking the perfect one. Jesus Christ is perfect. Everyone else has flaws. Our gatherings of believers are not immune to this fact. Every church has some problem or other, because they are all a gathering place for failed people. We cannot reach perfection, but we are not thus released from the necessity of trying!
We are to sit and serve with the same people week after week, receiving and being received, disappointing and being disappointed, hurting and being hurt, caring and being cared for. Church people are in it for the long haul, not the short term. The ordinary is more crucial than the extraordinary. The glory of church is the routine, not the exceptional.

The Bible tells us we are all one, and there are no separations:
Romans 12:5 (KJV);
"So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another."

Galatians 3:28 (KJV);
"There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."

And we are told to get along together:
1 Peter 3:8 (KJV);
"Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:"

May God bless each one of you in your assembly, and in your person.

[ampaterry]

I will never forget The Ice Storm of 1994! The telephone and electric lines were down all over this area, and the amount of work to get everything back up and running was so vast that many line workers from out of state were brought in to help. I was in Smithville when it hit, and I drove home early the next morning. Driving along a deserted interstate with cars abandoned where they had slid off the road was a very strange feeling, especially when I had to keep switching lanes to avoid all the trees that had fallen into the road itself. When I arrived home, Bethany road from the highway was impassible from all the trees laying across it, so I went around to the other end and came in the back way. There were fewer trees here, and those that were across the road had a nice vehicle sized hole cut through them; I later found that Judy had driven Randy out that way, and he had used a chain saw to cut a hole through the obstructions large enough for a vehicle to pass through. Over the next few days, chain saws were running everywhere, cutting up and removing all the downed trees and limbs.

There was one thing of note in this destruction, though.
Whereas the trees that were alone and isolated along the roads and highways were virtually ALL destroyed, very few trees in the woods were brought down by this. Many lost some branches, but the trees themselves stood strong. Why? Because they supported each other, and helped to share the burden of the ice among themselves. They also shielded each other from the full brunt of the wind that brought the others down.

Where trees stood alone, however, the effect of the heavy ice and wind was different. The branches had become heavier and heavier, and since there were no other trees to lean against, the branches snapped. They lay on the ground, dark and alone in the cold snow.
When the storms of life hit, we need to be standing close to other Christians. The closer we stand, the more we will be able to hold up.

The Word of God tells us about this:
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (KJV);
"Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up."

Stay together and stay strong, guys -

[ampaterry]

Good morning, guys -
I have to be in the Clarksville hospital at 8 AM tomorrow morning.
I PLAN to get up early enough to ring in here with a thought for the day before I leave, and I PLAN to be home tomorrow afternoon and be able to ring in here Tuesday morning as well. But, as the saying goes, the best laid plans of mice and men are wot to go awry -
I continue to solicit your prayers during this time -

And, considering the uncertainties in this life, I always think about a friend of mine. He is a Christian, extremely well educated, and a professor Emeritus at the University of Vermont. He has some very interesting theories concerning origins issues, which is what drew us together initially, and continues to be a fast bond between us. But, as with ALL people in this life, we do not agree on everything. He holds a firm belief in pre-determinism. He believes that all traits of the human personality are controlled by their genetic makeup. He believes that your genes determine whether you will be generous or stingy, a Democrat or a Republican, a Christian or Atheist. He quotes several very noteworthy scientists who agree.
The late professor Jacques Monod, a famous French geneticist and Nobel prize winner, in a television session in Toronto with Mother Teresa, professed this same belief. He said that in his opinion all our destiny was locked up in our genes, which shape and direct our character and outlook, thus destroying the individual.
As he spoke about it, Mother Teresa sat with her eyes closed and her hands folded, deep in prayer. On being asked by the program's host whether she had anything to say, she replied: "I believe in love and compassion," and resumed her devotions.

As the Professor was leaving the studio he muttered: "If I saw much more of that woman I should be in bad trouble!"

I have news for you, professor. You are already in bad trouble.

The Bible tells us it is GOD that gives us our spirit, not genetics:
Job 32:8 (KJV);
"But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding."

And it tells us we are created in God’s image:
Genesis 5:1 (KJV);
"This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that God created man, in the likeness of God made he him;"

And finally, it speaks of the great value of Charity:
1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (KJV);
"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing."
Nothing is predetermined in our life! The decisions are all OURS!

God bless you, guys -

[jack404]

good luck with everything Terry

Prayers from this side

[reflex1]

Good luck tomorrow Terry - our prayers lifted - if you don't make a statement each day after your surgery we all will understand - take care of yourself first!!

Thanks Terry!

[Airdale]

Best of luck Terry. Prayers from the Ozarks.

Amazing the out patient stuff they do these days. I had the same proceedure done plus another one (twofer). I hopped on the table about eight and was on the way home before noon. Sure beats a stay in the hospital!

[ampaterry]

Good morning, guys -

For some weird reason, I am not dwelling on my surgery this morning, but instead I am thinking about all of God's creatures. I am an animal person. I enjoy the things of nature very much, and do not kill, nor allow others to kill, any animals on our property. This is not some kind of tree-hugger vegan mindset, but is more a desire to create and maintain an oasis of safety here on our place in the midst of wholesale slaughter that goes on in this area. We lived here for years before we saw an squirrel or a rabbit, and longer before we saw a deer or a wild turkey, as all of these creatures had been hunted out. When I realized this was the case, I stopped hunting and closed our property to hunting, and they have all now become abundant once more. We have deer that eat and bed down in our yard, groundhogs that have come to the house to beg for carrots. We have many squirrels that live in our yard and eat the corn we give them, lots of birds including hummingbirds and wild turkeys that we feed and many other creatures that somehow sense the safety here.
But, as with all things, even this love and respect for nature can be carried to extreme, and become harmful. For an example of this, one can simply look at India. There, the difference between Christianity and paganism is well illustrated. There is in India a religious sect that hires people to pick up unwanted or dying insects! They are then fed and cared for. This is in a country where people starve to death on the streets every night!

Christianity teaches that all that exists was created for the use of people. Their needs must concern us far more than the needs of any animal, let alone insects.

The Bible tells us of the compassion of Jesus toward us:
Mark 6:34 (KJV);
"And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things."

And it tells us that Man is preeminent over all living things on the earth:
Genesis 1:26-28 (KJV);
"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth."

We must strike a balance between caring for nature and caring for human beings, and work to stay in that zone. For my part, I have found that zone and will live in it for as long as I am able.

And, in the final analysis, if TEOTWAWKI comes in my lifetime, we have a supply of food living right in our yard.

I will talk to you again tomorrow - and may God RICHLY bless you.

[jack404]

Cheers Terry

Prayers from this side

[ampaterry]

Good morning, guys!

Your prayers are MUCH appreciated -
I was pretty out-of-it yesterday afternoon and evening, but feeling a LOT better this AM. I am not REAL sure what the heck happened, but it seems they had a bit of an equipment malfunction and had to resort to the regular repair instead of laproscopic. I don't understand all of it yet, but this morning I see that I have tnree small incisions and one major large one.

We are travelers in this world, and it would seem my journey here is not over yet -
Which, to tell the truth, I thought it might be.

And that journey brings to mind the many wonderful motorcycle trips that Judy and I have taken. Missouri to Virginia, Main to Key West, we have covered the Eastern US on the bike, and enjoyed it very much. One source of that enjoyment was that we did not just view the areas we were passing though; we experienced them. We felt the temperature of the air, we felt the salt spray of the ocean, the drops of rain, the mist of early morning, and the occasional sting of snow and sleet. We smelled the dankness of the swamp in Mississippi and the greenery along the Nachez Trace parkway on the way back to Nashville. Journeying in a climate controlled automobile deprives people of this actual experience.

How about you when you travel? Do you attempt to experience the areas you are going through, or do you insulate yourself from them? Do you eat only at restaurant chains which you are familiar with, or do you sample the local food at new places? Do you check into a room at the Holiday Inn at night and watch the network TV broadcasts, or do you seek out the local color? Do you experience the culture of these new and different areas, or do you isolate yourself from it by bringing your culture with you in order to remain safe from any exposure to something new?

Paul Minear, a Bible scholar, addressed this same thing in regard to Bible study. He noted that "the guiding of travelers through the world of the Bible with a minimum of culture shock is often assumed to be the chief function of ministers and teachers. They preserve the illusion of travel, without its risk or its profit. They remain blissfully unaware of how completely they have destroyed the integrity and independence of that other world.”

The Word of God addresses this idea of completeness in Bible study:
Deuteronomy 4:2 (KJV);
"Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you."

Deuteronomy 12:32 (KJV);
"What thing soever I command you, observe to do it: thou shalt not add thereto, nor diminish from it."

And with a harsh warning:
Revelation 22:19 (KJV);
"And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book."

Enjoy the complete journey, guys -
If you don't, you are missing some great things.

[reflex1]

Welcome back Terry - everything appears to have gone well yesterday and you are "back in the saddle"!! Been down that travel road many times having spent over 22 years in the Air Force. Thanks again for your word of the day!

[ampaterry]

Thank you!

Four bandages off yesterday, feeling better yet this AM, but missing laying down FLAT to sleep! Recliners are very comfortable until you sleep in one for a couple of nights -

There has been a lot of conversations in this group regarding salvation and closeness to God, so I think todays devotional should fit right in.

Some people will tell you that you must come to church and walk the aisle in order to be saved. Others will tell you that you have to be baptized in order to be saved. Some claim that closeness with God can only be obtained when taking Communion, or when listening to the eloquent words of some preacher. Many people watch national broadcasts of great TV evangelists, and proclaim that there is no better way to draw near to God.

I disagree.

I have often failed to sense the presence of God when listening to famous preachers. I have never failed to sense his presence and power when standing on a mountain, looking up at the stars. I have seldom sensed the presence of God while reading the writings of Bible commentators, but have always sensed it when I stand listening to the roar of ocean waves breaking on the shore. I have never sensed God's presence when talking to people who believe they have arrived at complete certainty of God's truth. I have never failed to sense it when I walk silently through the woods and observe the beauty of his creation all around me.

Am I saying you should stay away from Communion, Baptism, or church attendance? Am I saying you should never read a commentary on the Holy Scripture, or talk to people about it? Not at all! These are the ways that you learn about God, and are obedient to God, and receive spiritual balm for the wounds of the world. What I am saying is simply that there is no better way to experience nearness to God than immersing yourself in the beauty of his creation. And there is no better way to gain humility in the presence of God than to lose yourself in the unbridled power of his handiwork.

The Word of God tells us of the requirement to step down in order to have a better view upward:

Matthew 18:4 (KJV);
"Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

May God bless each and every one of you!

[RunningOnMT]

Glad you are feeling better Terry. You'll be back in a bed in no time. Sleeping in a recliner is OK for dozing off for a bit while watching TV, but for good restorative sleep a bed is a must. Recliners are especially uncomfortable for a side sleeper such as myself.

I have also felt a nearness to God when marveling at His creation, but I think you really hit the nail on the head with the comment: Am I saying you should stay away from Communion, Baptism, or church attendance? Am I saying you should never read a commentary on the Holy Scripture, or talk to people about it? Not at all! These are the ways that you learn about God, and are obedient to God, and receive spiritual balm for the wounds of the world. The way to be closer to God is to know His word, and be obedient to it.

[ampaterry]

Slept in the bed last night, and sore as HECK this AM from it, but it is working out as the day progresses. Also I took a Percoset when I got up. Those work well for me, but I avoid them as much as possible as they make me drowsy. I took two on Monday, and no more until this morning.

For today:

“Whereas it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favor; and Whereas both Houses of Congress have, by their joint committee, requested me 'to recommend to the people of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer, to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favors of Almighty God - - -' ”

So begins the declaration made by George Washington to establish the day of Thanksgiving which we celebrate today. Notice the distinct lack, in the presidency and in both houses of congress, of objection to this obvious 'violation' of the 'separation of church and state'. This may be attributed to the fact that the colonists had not been educated in an Atheistic school system, and the ACLU had not been formed yet.
Our forefathers KNEW that their existence was due to the providence of God. They knew that the early colonists who arrived in 1620 had given thanks for their survival the following season, 1621, and held a grand feast to celebrate God's blessings on them. This was repeated each year at various times in the harvest season, but was not formalized until Washington made the first declaration. The date was set in 1941 to the present fourth Thursday in November, following a period of moving it around for marketing reasons, which brought many protests from the citizens of our nation.

Sometimes folks have a hard time keeping themselves in a continual attitude of thankfulness to God. We should work on this, and try to attain it. But on this day, at the very least, let us follow this passage from Psalms:

Psalm 95:1-6 (KJV);
"O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker."

I pray that each one of you has a joyous celebration today, and that each one finds they have much to be thankful for.

God bless you - -

[Woodnut]

Amen Terry. Very well put.
A prayer for a speedy recovery is sent to you from our house. Time and the grace of God will heal.

[ampaterry]

Thank you, Carl -
MUCH better this AM, and less than four days post-op!!

For today:


Jacques Plante, a former hockey goalie, once spoke of his career this way:
"How would you like a job where, if you make a mistake, a big red light goes on and eighteen thousand people boo?"

That is a truly frightening thought to most of us, isn’t it? People are so afraid of condemnation for their mistakes that many will turn backflips to avoid admitting they even made one.
I am the founder and moderator of several internet discussion groups where people on all sides of several issues come to share information and argue their viewpoint. It is amazing how often people will, once shown to be in error, attempt to show that they did not say what they plainly DID say. I have even had people go back and delete their own earlier statements rather than admit they were wrong in making them.

Guess what? We are Human! That means we make mistakes! The only person on this planet that never made a mistake was Jesus Christ; all the rest of us are fallible. When you make a mistake, admit it! People have had their careers destroyed, their reputation ruined, and alienated friends and family due to their unwillingness to admit their own error.

When those mistakes involve sin, the Word of God is very plain about what the proper course of action is. We come to God as David did:
Psalm 51:1-3 (KJV);
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

And the result is – our transgressions are removed. God promises to never hold them against us, because the price for them has already been paid by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
You will find that people are not as forgiving as God in these cases – but admission of your error is still much better than attempting to hide it.

God bless each one of you, guys!

[ampaterry]

Good morning, guys!

Many years ago, Freon was a very cheap gas that was used for many things, like Air Conditioners, Freezers, refrigerators, and even as a propellant in spray cans such as hair spray. Freon is heavier than air, so when released, it would settle to the floor or ground level, where it would spread out and dissipate relatively harmlessly. Some genius decided that this heavier-than-air gas was getting up into the upper atmosphere, where it was destroying the Ozone layer, so the chemical giants immediately got on the bandwagon and promoted this belief, pushing for legislation that would prohibit the use of Freon, and therefore create a market for their new patented refrigerants, which are MUCH more expensive. The result of this is that Air Conditioners, refrigerators and freezers are now more expensive and less efficient.

There is one good thing that came out of this ban, however. Freon was so cheap that it was used for things which it should not have been used for. In enclosed areas, it could sink to the floor in very large volumes, where it replaced the oxygen. In such areas, it was dangerous for a dog to enter, or a person to crawl around on the floor, but safe for a person who stands up. Several very sad news stories come from this time period.

As Christians, we live in two worlds at the same time; the world of the flesh and the world of the spirit. A Christian, living in the world of flesh, is constantly passing through areas like those with a layer of Freon on the floor. Let him keep his head erect in the spiritual world, and he is safe. He does this as long as he draws inspiration from the Son of God , and relies upon him for his motives, encouragement, and strength. But let him lower himself, and he is in spiritual danger -

The Word of God tells us:
Romans 12:1-2 (KJV);
"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. "


May God richly bless each one of you this day -

[ampaterry]

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent is a word meaning the coming, or the arrival of something important. The advent of television, for instance, or the advent of the computer.

In many Western Christian churches, however, it has a very specific meaning; it is a time preceding Christmas when we prepare for the appearance of the Christ. We consider Advent to begin on the fourth Sunday before Christmas, and end on Christmas Eve.

This time period is a double celebration; it is a celebration of Christ's first coming in his physical birth in Bethlehem as described in the synoptic gospels, and an anticipation of the second coming of Christ the King as described in the book of Revelation.

In the marvelous mini-series Broken Trail by Walter Hill, Robert Duvall speaks on more than one burial ceremony, and includes the words:

“We're all travelers in this world. From the sweet grass to the packing house. Birth 'til death. We travel between the eternities”

The Advent season we are entering fits precisely into this quote. You and I, all of us, are traveling though this world. We live here in a brief period between our birth and our death, in a historical period between the birth of Christ and his second coming.

We have the choice of living this brief life small, or living it large.

We can plod along from home to work, from birth to death, and pass into eternity leaving nothing of ourselves behind.

Or we can live our physical life as Christ showed us how to do. A life of service to others. A life of bringing comfort to those that are hurting. A life of support to those that are weak. I life of giving the message of hope to those that feel hopeless.

Make this Advent season a time of soul-searching for you. Seek God's will for your life, and strive to follow it.

1 Timothy 4:8 (KJV);
For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

May God bless each and every one of you as we enter this season of anticipation -

[jack404]

Make this Advent season a time of soul-searching for you. Seek God's will for your life, and strive to follow it.

great words Terry thanks eh

just not that easy at times , maybe thats why you put STRIVE.. cheers

[ampaterry]

I once read something that tied three observations of mine together in a very concise manner.

First of all, it has been my experience that people are far too dedicated to their jobs. It is fine to do work you enjoy, but some folks go overboard. I have seen marriages destroyed by men who were so dedicated to their jobs that they ignored their wives completely. People will live in locations they hate because their job is located there. I heard a man interviewed who had won millions in the lottery say he will continue to work at his job.

Secondly, I see people who work themselves into a lather over what they call ‘recreation’. Many times, I have passed people who are out bicycling for fun. When on the motorcycle, we would always wave at them and smile; I have yet to have one of them actually smile back; their expressions are grim, the sweat is pouring off their face, and they struggle to keep up their speed – and they call it fun.

Finally, I see many people who are not serious about Jesus Christ. They may attend church now and then, perhaps even regularly, but they have no real dedication to the spiritual side of their existence, they just want to dabble in it now and them, often just for appearances sake.

What I read that tied these together was in Leadership magazine, and was written by Gordon Dahl:
“Most middle-class Americans tend to worship their work, to work at their play, and to play at their worship. As a result ... their life-styles resemble a cast of characters in a search plot”

The Word of God tells us what our proper priorities should be:
Colossians 3:2 (KJV);
"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth."

Psalms 84:10 (KJV);
"For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness."

1 John 2:15 (KJV);
"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him."

Work as hard as you must for your livelihood -
Play as much as you enjoy -
Give Christ all the dedication you are capable of.

And God WILL bless you -

[cutter]

Great message!!! I try to put things in that order but sometimes loose track of what I am doing. I used to raise and compete with cutting horses. Long story short, I forgot my reason for doing it and became a person I did not like. Health reasons forced me to give up this sport and I have realized a lot of things! The most important one; without God I am nothing!! Thanks again Terry for hitting us where we need it!!

[ampaterry]

Late!
Slept in this morning - -
Something about healing causes an increased need for sleep, it seems -


Mixing religion and politics can mean many things.
It could mean a theocratic state,
or it could mean a political system like communism which represses religious thought and expression.
Neither of these is desirable.

It is, however, a religious duty to be a good citizen. As a good citizen, we must take part in the political process. If we attempt to separate our religious convictions from our political views, we can not be true to our country nor to our God.
This is not some right-wing whacko belief, but rather is the basic belief which first drove the Pilgrims here and later inspired is to declare our independence from Britain "with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence." It is the notion which drove the antislavery movement of the 19th century, and in which the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., took his message of racial harmony.

We must permit moral values to influence our thinking about important contemporary issues! Claiming spiritual values or morality are at the heart of our society is not establishing a state religion, it is only saying that we acknowledge that God is at the heart of our society. This admission is absolutely essential for the health of our country.

Romans 13:1-7 (KJV);
"Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same: For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God's ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour."

Matthew 5:14 (KJV);
"Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid."

God bless you, guys!

[ampaterry]

How often do we hear of miserly people who spend their entire lives accumulating wealth, and causing it to grow and grow - only to die in misery, never having relaxed enough to enjoy any of it? This is very common; look at the miserable old Howard Hughes, and how he lived out his final days. We read about many who eat poorly to save money, who live in abject poverty, who refuse to spend money for proper food, heat or medical care, but after death their residences are found to contain vast fortunes which were jealously guarded and protected – for what?

This is not only a HUMAN condition, either. It is not uncommon for me to watch a deer jealously guarding their little pile of corn. As other deer approach, they will leave the pile to fight them by smacking them with their front feet, driving them away from their little treasure of food. While they are chasing one of them, however, another comes in behind them to eat the corn. This continues until the corn is all eaten, and the deer that was so busy guarding it got none of it themselves. They are so focused upon keeping it that they lose it -

C. S. Lewis said "A man can't be always defending the truth; there must be time to feed on it."

The Word of God tells us that we are, absolutely, to LOVE the truth of God’s word:
Psalms 119:127 (KJV);
"Therefore I love thy commandments above gold; yea, above fine gold."

We are also told that we are to seek it out, and hold tight to it:
Proverbs 23:23 (KJV);
"Buy the truth, and sell it not; also wisdom, and instruction, and understanding."

And that God is the ONLY source of truth:
Romans 3:4 (KJV);
"God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged."

God bless you, guys -

[jack404]

cheers Terry

you live here now , there aint no credit system in Heaven

[ampaterry]

Never saw a hearse pulling a U-Haul, eh?