I was reading 2 Cor. 6:1-10 this morning and verse 10 jumped out at me.  

"Sorrowful yet always rejoicing." 

When we are involved with those in crisis: the hurting, struggling, oppressed, we enter a world of sorrow. As the heart of Jesus pours out his compassion and mercies through us, we are caught up in such emotional drama that it can sometimes weigh and drag us into melancholy. Oh but as He touches their mind and hearts, and we share in His presence, we can't help but leave rejoicing!  

There are sects of Christianity, even among the Orthodox denominations, that will influence their members to avoid reading anything but the Bible. Of course the Bible encourages just the opposite, but rather urges us to --

"To understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles." Pr. 1:6

"One who walks with wise people will be wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm." Pr. 13:20

To submit to one voice, even of a pastor, is what can lead to cultic like thinking.

TO MY OLD FRIEND, WILLIAM LEACHMAM

Fer forty year and better you have been a friend to me,
Through days of sore afflictions and dire adversity,
You allus had a kind word of counsul to impart,
Which was like a healin' 'intment to the sorrow of my hart.

When I burried my first womern, William Leachman, it was you
Had the only consolation that I could listen to—
Fer I knowed you had gone through it and had rallied from the blow,
And when you said I'd do the same, I knowed you'd ort to know.

But that time I'll long remember; how I wundered here and thare—
Through the settin'-room and kitchen, and out in the open air—
And the snowflakes whirlin', whirlin', and the fields a frozen glare,
And the neghbors' sleds and wagons congergatin' ev'rywhare.

I turned my eyes to'rds heaven, but the sun was hid away;
I turned my eyes to'rds earth again, but all was cold and gray;
And the clock, like ice a-crackin', clickt the icy hours in two—
And my eyes'd never thawed out ef it hadn't been fer you!

We set thare by the smoke-house—me and you out thare alone—
Me a-thinkin'—you a-talkin' in a soothin' undertone—
You a-talkin'—me a-thinkin' of the summers long ago,
And a-writin' "Marthy—Marthy" with my finger in the snow!

William Leachman, I can see you jest as plane as I could then;
And your hand is on my shoulder, and you rouse me up again,
And I see the tears a-drippin' from your own eyes, as you say:
"Be rickonciled and bear it—we but linger fer a day!"

At the last Old Settlers' Meetin' we went j'intly, you and me—
Your hosses and my wagon, as you wanted it to be;
And sence I can remember, from the time we've neghbored here,
In all sich friendly actions you have double-done your sheer.

It was better than the meetin', too, that nine-mile talk we had
Of the times when we first settled here and travel was so bad;
When we had to go on hoss-back, and sometimes on "Shanks's mare,"
And "blaze" a road fer them behind that had to travel thare.

And now we was a-trottin' 'long a level gravel pike,
In a big two-hoss road-wagon, jest as easy as you like—
Two of us on the front seat, and our wimmern-folks behind,
A-settin' in theyr Winsor-cheers in perfect peace of mind!

And we pinted out old landmarks, nearly faded out of sight:—
Thare they ust to rob the stage-coach; thare Gash Morgan had the fight
With the old stag-deer that pronged him—how he battled fer his life,
And lived to prove the story by the handle of his knife.

Thare the first griss-mill was put up in the Settlement, and we
Had tuck our grindin' to it in the Fall of Forty-three—
When we tuck our rifles with us, techin' elbows all the way,
And a-stickin' right together ev'ry minute, night and day.

Thare ust to stand the tavern that they called the "Travelers' Rest,"
And thare, beyent the covered bridge, "The Counter-fitters' Nest"—
Whare they claimed the house was ha'nted—that a man was murdered thare,
And burried underneath the floor, er 'round the place somewhare.

And the old Plank-road they laid along in Fifty-one er two—
You know we talked about the times when that old road was new:
How "Uncle Sam" put down that road and never taxed the State
Was a problem, don't you rickollect, we couldn't dim-onstrate?

Ways was devius, William Leachman, that me and you has past;
But as I found you true at first, I find you true at last;
And, now the time's a-comin' mighty nigh our jurney's end,
I want to throw wide open all my soul to you, my friend.

With the stren'th of all my bein', and the heat of hart and brane,
And ev'ry livin' drop of blood in artery and vane,
I love you and respect you, and I venerate your name,
Fer the name of William Leachman and True Manhood's jest the same!

 This is such a beautiful church, and as awe inspiring as it is, worship is directly designed to lead us when we go out to recognize God in our own nature and to see in men His children; to respect ands serve them for their relationship to the Divinity, to see in them signatures of greatness amidst all their imperfections, and to love them with more than earthly love. We must not look round the universe with awe and on man with scorn.

God dwells in every human being more intimately than in the outward creation. The voice of God comes to us in the ocean, the thunder, the whirlwind; but how much more of God is there in his inward voice, in the institutions of reason, in the rebukes of conscience, in the whispers of the Holy Spirit. I would have you see God much more in the clear judgment, the moral energy, the unselfish purpose, the pious gratitude, the immortal hope of a good man, than in all of nature. 

Go from this house to worship God by reverencing the human soul as his chosen sanctuary. Revere it in yourselves, revere it in others, and labor to carry it forward to perfection. Worship God within these walls as universally, impartially good to his human offspring; and go forth to breathe the same spirit. 

Go forth to respect the rights, and seek the true, enduring welfare of all within your influence. Carry with you the conviction that to trample on a human being of whatever color, clime, rank, condition, is to trample on God's child; that to degrade or corrupt a man, is to deface a holier temple than any material sanctuary.  

Mercy, Love and compassion are more acceptable worship to God than all sacrifices or outward offerings. The most celestial worship ever paid on earth was rendered by Christ when he approached man, and the most sinful man, as a child of God; when he toiled and bled to awaken what was Divine in the human soul, to regenerate a fallen world. 

Go forth to do good with every power which God bestows, to make every place you enter happier by your presence, to support all human interests, to throw your whole weight into the sale of human freedom, and improvement, to withstand all wrong, to uphold all right, and especially to give light, life and strength to the immortal soul. 

He who rears up one child in Christian virtue, or recovers one fellow-creature to God, builds a temple more precious than Solomon's or St. Peters, more enduring then earth or heaven."          William Ellery Channing. 

YOU WILL HAVE MANY QUIET REVOLUTIONS.

MUTED APPLAUSE IN THE SHADOWS.

SILENT TRANSITIONS WITH BEAUTIFUL OUTCOMES.

IT WILL LOOK UNEVENTFUL AT TIMES, IT WILL FEEL POINTLESS IN

MOMENTS, BUT THIS IS HEALING, THIS IS GROWTH.

  I turned 74 this month, and I've been a Christian for 52 years now, and the biggest change I've seen in the church over the last half century is we are taught to share our faith but not our heart. Many think if they simply share a verse or dispense some Biblical truth they are planting a seed. But planting requires cultivating the ground first, that is done heart to heart, cheek to jowl. 

 

  "The lips of the righteous feed many." Pr. 10:21

  If we examine our lives and find that our lips are not feeding many, it is, perhaps, because we we don't discern the presence of God because He is too close, too near, too inward. Jesus said the kingdom of God is within, and those who need to be fed the Bread of Life will not reveal their hunger on the outside: it is inward, within the soul, and we, like God, must learn to speak to the secret, inward places of others. We must tune our ears to the hearts of others. God has given us His spirit of compassion, and this sensitive voice is often His only prompting; follow it, it is the gateway into the souls of others. We must have "eyes that see and ears that hear" the deep need of others. 

  

 

 

 

  "God has not always been worshipped as a Father, even among Christians, as we well know. Men have always been inclined to think that they honor God by placing Him on a distant throne, much more than by investing Him with the mild luster of parental goodness. They have made Him a stern sovereign, giving life on hard terms, preferring His own honor to the welfare of his creatures, demanding an obedience which He gives no strength to perform, preparing endless torments for creatures whom He brings into being wholly evil, and refusing to pardon the least sin, without an infinite satisfaction." William Ellery Channing. 

 The author provokes me to think and consider how I perceive God and His ways among men. I believe it's good to have our established thoughts challenged, and certainly the unbelieving world considers these very thoughts, and "always having an answer for the hope that is within us" demands we understand what we share as Gospel. 

 

  "God gives birth to the mind, that it may grow and rise for ever, and its progress is the end of all his works. This outward universe, with its sun and stars, and mighty revolutions is but a school in which the Father is training his children. God is ever present to the human mind, to carry on its education, pouring upon it instruction and incitement from the outward world, stirring up everlasting truth within itself, rousing it to activity by pleasure and pain, calling forth its affections by surrounding fellow-creatures, calling it to duty by placing it amidst various relations, awaking its sympathy by sights of sorrow, awakening its imagination by a world of beauty, and especially exposing it to suffering, hardship, and temptation, that by resisting it may grow strong, and by seeking help from above it may bind itself closely to its Maker. Thus He is the Father." William Ellery Channing.  

 

"The bricks have fallen down, but we will rebuild with hewn stone. The sycamores have been cut down, but we will replace them with cedars." Is. 9:10

Reading this verse today it stuck out and I considered what application could be made for me today. Here's mine - 

 As Christians if we continually lose spiritual battles, we want to take care not to just continue doing the same things again, only with more and greater determination. The Israelites lost their battle and decided they needed stronger stones and wood for building defense against their enemy; but the problem wasn't their building materials, it was a matter of the heart. Sometimes we lose battles and determine to fortify what we have already been doing such as reading the Bible, praying, attending church, and giving. If we only do it more we will have a break through; but it may be your building materials are already good, but you have overlooked the weightier matters of seeking justice, showing mercy, and being faithful to the less fortunate.   

This is a photo of the Big House at The University of Michigan. It is the largest football stadium in the United States and holds 107,601 people!

Now imagine a crowd 7.4 times this size...

...that’s how many children go missing every year.

Now ask yourself...

Is this not a pandemic as well?

Why doesn’t main stream media address this?

Where are the celebrities and athletes speaking up for awareness?

If not us, then who will speak for them?

Demand answers. But also, support organizations that stop Human Trafficking; if every Christian helps it can make a HUGE difference!

   The following quote will no doubt strike each of us a little differently. My background in Christianity is varied and over fifty years long; so I've seen many methods of worship, Christian charity, as well as methods of sharing our faith and communicating. I offer this quote as a balance and not a carved in stone declaration of how all worship, preaching, witnessing or conversation should be. But simply the opinion of some.

  "We interpret with much rigor those precepts of Christ, which forbid ostentation, and enjoin modesty and retirement in devotion. We dread a showy religion. We are disgusted with pretensions to superior sanctity. We believe that true religion speaks in actions more than in words, and manifests itself chiefly in the common temper and life; in giving up the passions to God's authority, in inflexible uprightness and truth, in active and modest charity, in candid judgment, and in patience under trials and injuries. We think it's no part of true devotion to publish its fervors, but prefer a delicacy in regard to these secrets of the soul; and hence, to those persons who think religion is to be worn conspicuously and spoken of passionately, we may seem cold and dead, when perhaps were the heart uncovered, it might be seen to be "alive to God" as truly as their own."  William Ellery Channing. 

 

Why do I love God? What a great question! Not one I can answer in a few words, so forgive me if I get a bit long winded and mix some quotes of others with my answer. The reason I love God is because Jesus Christ revealed to me by His words, actions and presence at my time of my greatest need, the exact representation of God, because Jesus is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His nature and moral goodness. And I can't think of another reason we would love God, or any person, apart from their moral goodness. It is the moral beauty and grandeur of His character to which alone we are bound to pay homage. The claim of God to the love of his offspring rests on the virtue, benevolence, generosity, mercy and compassion of His will. I can't imagine any being that can have any claim to affection but what rests on his character, meaning by this, the spirit and principles which constitute his mind and from which he acts. In Jesus we see His spotless purity, His moral perfection, His unrivaled goodness. It is the spirit of His religion, which is the Spirit of God. From this view you see that love to Jesus is a perfectly "natural" sentiment, and by that I mean, our natural sense of right, our conscience and our reason joins and approves His words; and our minds are constituted to feel and to cherish the words and example given to us in Christ, and they harmonize with the noblest instincts and highest aspirations of our soul. This description contains my thoughts and the thoughts of others that love Him and can express it far better than I: but my heart resonates with every line.

Here are comments by people that viewed this modern painting of the Nativity.

"I had to look at this like FIVE TIMES to register all the layers of symbolism going into the piece by Patterson of the Present day Nativity.

The hoodie as a veil.

Weisman cigarettes - refers to the three wisemen and the camels.

Each of them is haloed by an advertisement sticker.

No Vacancy sign on the motel.

Dove sticker over Maria’s head. The paper at José’s feet has an advert for Shepard Watches Maria’s hoodie says Nazareth High School The sign above José’s head proclaims ‘Good News!’

Neon sign with a star symbol also over Maria’s head.

The crown over the ‘Dave’s City Motel’ sign. “New Manger.”

The sign behind Jose’s elbow likely says ‘Herod.’

The wee little plant growing through the cracks at their feet.

Mary rode in on a donkey, and Maria is sitting on a plastic pony.

The artist added - "The verse from the prophet Ezekiel in the graffiti on the phone kiosk, the way the “Save More!” behind Mary’s head looks kinda like “Ave Maria!,” and the two ads for “Glad” and “Tide” on the newspaper (get it?)."

And "New Man" on the motel sign.It’s like a New Testament ‘I Spy.’ I love it!"

 We all have times and seasons of great spiritual reward, joy and power. None of us have them continually. They ebb and flow, so the quotes here are to prepare us for when the Spirit seems to have left forever.  

 "He who is too secure in time of peace will often be found too much dejected and fearful in time of war. It is good counsel that when you have received the spirit of fervor that you should meditate how it will be with you when that light shall leave you. And when it shall happen, remember that the light may return again, which, for your instruction and God's glory, He withdrew from you for a time." Thomas A Kempis

 "The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” Jn. 3:8

 

 

"I hate, I reject your church gatherings, Nor do I delight in your solemn assemblies. 

Take away from me the noise of your praise and music. 

But let JUSTICE roll down like waters.!" Amos 5:21,23,24

  

We cannot put God in a box; just like this tree; how it gets water, fertilizer and light defies nature! And yet, it grows. Just like this tree God will seek and save in the Catholic church, the Mormon church, the Jehovah witness church as well as Protestant churches, even the ones that seem lifeless. 

 

 

I remember hearing this story years ago. 

  They say that the Eskimos, in order to catch a wolf, take a knife and coat it in blood, let it dry and re-coat it, again and again, until there is a thick layer of frozen blood on the blade. Then they take it in the woods and bury the handle, with the blood soaked blade above the snow. The wolf is attracted by the scent of blood and begins to lick the blood from the blade; and as his frenzy increases, he licks so hard his tongue is cut and he begins to bleed: but not being able to recognize his blood from the blood on the blade, he ends up wounding and killing himself by his own blood-lust. 

The application to ourselves is easy. 

Context is everything when reading the Bible: read the words of Christ considering this homeless woman -- 

"Give to everyone who asks of you, and whoever takes what is yours (like a gift of money or time) do not demand it back. (expect in return the goal you desired for it.) 

And just as you want people to treat you, treat them in the same way. And if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same thing. But love your enemies, and do good, expecting nothing in return; (your desired goal) and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men. 

Be merciful as your Father is merciful. And do not judge and you will not be judged; and do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; pardon, and you will be pardoned. For by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you in return." Lk.6:30-

So each of us must examine our standard of measure......
 

 When I first read this I thought, God is good, when no one's there, he will bring a dog or animal to show unconditional love; and many testify that if it weren't for an animal they may have given up. 

But then I thought, what a tragedy that when someone really needs a hand, all they find is a paw! Oh soul of mine, Oh brothers and sisters, there is a world out there in great distress and suffering, may none of them ever need a hand and only find a paw. 

 

This passage really stood out to me today --

"Because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high shall visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace." Luke 1:78-79

I looked up the word "Darkness" and my Bible dictionary said, "Obscurity, including the idea of sinfulness and the consequent calamity", among other things. 

The impression I was left with is, that as Christians, upon whom God's tender mercy has shown upon, we are to seek those in obscurity suffering calamity as a consequences of their sin. 

When I was a young Christian, I spent most of my time wrangling with people that were not in these conditions, and, frankly, bore little fruit. Of course we should be prepared to share "in season and out of season" because we never know if they are in the season of "darkness, obscurity and calamity" which humbles the soul and opens the heart. 

 

  This photo really convicted me, here is a girl who has apparently taken her life, and her classmates are oblivious to the tragedy right in front of them. I couldn't help but think that tragedy is around every one of us; the suicide rate in teens is at an all time high, drug addiction is epidemic, nearly a third of our girls are sexually molested before age 18, violence is celebrated in all forms of media, God is mocked and the church in America is rapidly vacated by the young. Mercy, we all know the state of our country and our world, which is crying out for answers and direction. So may it never be that we,--me, act like these pictured. 

"The fields are ripe and ready for harvest, but the workers are few." 

 

   "My hearers, immortality is a glorious doctrine; but not given to us for speculation or amusement. Its happiness is to be realized only through our own struggles with ourselves, only through our own reaching forward to new virtue, and devotion. To be joined with Christ in Heaven, we must be joined with Him now in spirit, in the conquest of temptation, in charity and well-doing. Immortality should begin here. The seed is now to be sown which is to expand for ever."  

"Be not weary then in well-doing; for in due time we shall reap, if we faint not." 

  

  "The growth of our mind and spirit is inexhaustible; in every step of its progress we see a new impulse gained, and the pledge of nobler acquirements. We see within us that virtue by illustrious efforts replenishes instead of wasting its life; that the mind, by perseverance in well-doing, instead of sinking into a mechanical tameness, is able to conceive of higher duties, is armed for a nobler daring, and grows more efficient in charity. The mind, by going forward, does not reach insurmountable prison-walls, but learns more and more the boundlessness of its power, and of the range for which it was created."  William Ellery Channing. 

 

 "When I was in Rome, Onesiphorus eagerly searched for me, and found me." 2 tim. 1:17

Onesiphorus was a Christian brother that often refreshed and encouraged Paul in his many distresses. What stuck out to me was how Onesiphorus approached Paul's need: he "eagerly searched." 

Paul chose the word eager, which means, "wanting to do something very much; marked by enthusiastic interest." I asked myself, am I EAGERLY SEARCHING for others I'm enthusiastically trying to bless?  

 

   I don't know who it was, but I remember the feelings of encouragement he gave me, when an older Christian man encouraged me to read about faith and the works of wisdom. I'm so happy I took his advice because now I have a fifty year old collection of classic Christian works of faith and inspiration, and frankly, in all of my den, I like looking at the beauty of old books more than anything else. 

 

 Thomas Sowell observes that every new generation is an "invasion of civilization by little barbarians, who must be civilized before it's too late." 

What do you see here?

Opportunity!

If I were let loose in this crowd for a week, what could I accomplish? How many could I touch? How many could I leave a lasting impression on? Am I equipped if I had the opportunity?

These are deeply important questions we must ask ourselves, don't you think? What would be the very first thing you would do?

 

  Hannah, in her emotional affliction, went to the temple to pour out her heart to the Lord; in her distress she wept bitterly and prayed to herself quietly, only her lips moving. Eli, the mature Priest, Judge and leader of God's people, noticed her and saw her lips moving but heard not her voice and thought she was a drunk, and rebuked her. 

Will I see some poor, homeless person and make Eli's mistake? 

"Truly I say to you, unless you are turned and become like children, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven." Matt. 18:3

This is one example of Christ's meaning; children have to be taught to hate.

  

"The name passive virtues has been given to humility, patience and resignation; and I fear that the phrase has led some to regard these noble qualities as allied to inaction, as lacking energy and determination. Now the truth is that the mind never puts forth greater power over itself than when, in great trials, it yields up calmly its desires, affections and interests to God. There are seasons when to be still demands immeasurably higher strength than to act. Composure is often the highest result of power. Think you it demands no power to calm the stormy elements of passion, to moderate the vehemence of desire, to throw off the load of dejection to suppress every repining thought, when the dearest hopes are withered, and to turn the wounded spirit from dangerous reveries and wasting grief to the quiet discharge of ordinary duties? Is there no power put forth when a man, stripped of his property, of the fruits of a life's labor, quells discontent and gloomy forebodings, and serenely and patiently returns to the tasks which Providence assigns? I doubt not that the all-seeing eye of God sometimes discerns the sublimest human energy under a form and countenance which by their composure and tranquility indicate to the human spectator only passive virtues."   William Ellery Channing. 

When we're young and seeking a spouse we have our eyes filled with moonshine and stardust; but marriage, like all of life, is uncertain, and when we pledge our lives to someone we may be called to love more deeply than we ever imagined. It's not all about sex and romance, laughter and thrills. Many a person on this web-site can attest to it.