"Often I have marvelled how each one of us loves himself

above all men, yet sets less store by his own opinion of

himself than by that of everyone else."

Marcus Aurelius - Painting by Jeffrey R. Watts.

I watched a moving and inspiring documentary tonight titled “Darfur Now”. It informed the viewer about the atrocities going on in Sudan’s war torn Darfur, but it focused on six people, all with one desire to do something to help.

One young man who became an activist to get legislation passed that would help put financial pressure on the oppressing regime. One man a international prosecutor working to bring to justice the war criminals, one Sudanese woman (pictured below) who enlisted in the rebel army to protect the people, another man a leader of the World Food Program, another man working in the refugee camps to help people who have lost everything, and an internationally know actor who labors to find all means to achieve justice.
To see each of these people devoted in their own way, with their own abilities all working towards one goal was so inspirational. Such heroics, courage and faithfulness as they each work towards justice and mercy for the Sudanese in Darfur using their different talents.

The message was simple: each person can play a role in overcoming evil, whatever your talent, whether you go or send, use your hands or the political system, each of us can do something, must do something.

Photos from the Internet

"Do thou be wise. Prefer the person before money, virtue before beauty, the mind before the body: then thou hast a wife, a friend, a companion, a second self, one that bears an equal share with thee in all thy toils and troubles.
Choose one that measures her satisfactions, safety, and danger, by thine; and of whom thou are sure, as of thy most secret thoughts: a friend as well as a wife: which, indeed implies: for she is but half a wife that is not, or is not capable of being such a friend.
Sexes make no difference; since in souls there is none: and they are the subjects of friendship.
He that minds a body, and not a soul, has not the better part of that relation; and will consequently lack the noblest comfort of a married life.
The satisfaction of our senses is low, short, and transient: but the mind gives a more raised and extended pleasure, and is capable of a happiness founded upon reason, not bounded and limited by the circumstances that bodies are confined to..........

Between a man and his wife, nothing ought to rule but love. Authority is for children and servants; yet not without sweetness.
As love ought to bring them together, so it is the best way to keep them well together.
Wherefore, use her not as a servant, whom thou wouldst, perhaps, have served seven years to have obtained." William Penn.

I think this quote is proof that evolution is false, because this piece, written in the 1600s, is high above many of the motives for marriage today. Certainly many understand his simple logic and made choices accordingly, but far too many follow the impulses they let run riot as teens and seek to perpetuate them in marriage.

Photo from the Internet

"Those who love their own noise are impatient of everything else. They constantly defile the silence of the forest and the mountains and the sea. They bore through silent nature in every direction with their machines, for fear that the calm world might accuse them of their own emptiness."

I have read many quotes by Thomas Merton and he always makes me stop and take immediate inventory of myself. Now when I was a young man, busy to fill the emptiness, my self-concern machine left a trail of debris wide and long and wreaked havoc among many a soul. Wish it were not so.
Also wish I could say I am guiltless now.

Thomas Merton - Photo by Kharlamov Sergey.

The following piece is by George MacDonald, a somewhat mystical Christian writer, and he chooses an interesting scripture to expound -"To him that overcometh, I will give a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. “ Rev. 2:17
He gives his insights on what this new name is. This will be very meaningful for some but I can see why it may not have as broad an appeal as some topics. I enjoyed it; the thrust of it is, we each are unique to God.


The true name is one which expresses the character, the nature, the being, the meaning of the person who bears it. It is the man’s own symbol, - his soul’s picture, in a word, - the sign which belongs to him and to no one else. Who can give a man this, his own name? God alone.
For no one but God sees what the man is, or even, seeing what he is, could express in a name-word the sum and harmony of what he sees.

For the name is one “which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.” Not only then has each man his individual relation to God, but each man has his peculiar relation to God. He is to God a peculiar being, made after his own fashion, and that of no one else; for when he is perfected he shall receive the new name which no one else can understand. Hence he can worship God as no man else can worship him, - can understand God as no man can understand him. This or that man may understand God more, may understand God better than he, but no other man can understand God as he understands him. God give me grace to be humble before thee, my brother, that I drag not my simulacrum (something that looks like or represents something else) of thee before the judgment-seat of the unjust judge, but look up to thyself for what revelation of God thou and no none else canst give.
As the fir tree lifts up itself with a far different need from the need of the palm-tree, so does each man stand before God, and lift up a different humanity to the common Father. And for each, God has a different response. With every man he has a secret – the secret of a new name. In every man there is a loneliness, an inner chamber of peculiar life into which God only can enter.
I say not it is the innermost chamber – but a chamber into which no brother, nay, no sister can come.
From this it follows that there is a chamber also….a chamber in God himself, into which none can enter but the one, the individual, the peculiar man, - out of which that man has to bring revelation and strength for his brethren. This is that for which he was made – to reveal the secret things of the Father……

“God has cared to make me for himself,” says the victor with the white stone, “and has called me that which I like best; for my own name must be what I would have it, seeing it is myself. What matter whether I be called a grass of the field, or an eagle of the air? A stone to build into his temple, or a Boanerges to wield his thunder? I am his; his idea, his making; perfect in my kind, yea, perfect in his sight; full of him, revealing him, alone with him. Let him call me what he will. The name shall be precious as my life. I seek no more.”

Now I have no doubt I will be "grass of the field" but I can add beauty for the eye, shade for the grasshopper, and nourishment for the cow.

Photo from the Internet

"If thou must love me, let it be for naught
Except for love's sake only."

I like this quote by Elizabeth Barrett Browing because it reminds me of one of the main reasons that brought me to Christ. I saw a woman at a church drawing posters for an upcoming event for the children. She was hard at it and I asked her something which I now forget, but I left realizing she was doing her task on volunteer time, for no reason other than her love for children. I was about 22 years old, childless, and in my world nothing was done unless there was a payback.

I sometimes wonder if we betray love when we befriend a person with the motive of converting them. I know that sounds odd, but if I am befriended by someone and later find out they wanted to sell me Amway products, I'm let down.

I chose this picture by Pietro Elice, because it reminded me that we love animals but for naught, but loves sake. I wonder if humans don't deserve the same?

When I was a young Christian, we would go down to skid-row with the express intention of just helping whoever we saw that needed help. I remember one older man in a phone booth who went in to use it for a toilet, and in his drunken state collapsed with his pants down to his thighs, we just helped him up, pulled up and fastened his pants and helped him find a place to lay down. I never forgot that incident.

"The fruit of the spirit is love....goodness..."

Just my ramblings.

Pious fits

"We allow the arguments of religion to have so little impression upon our spirits, that they operate but like the discourses of childhood, or the problems of uncertain philosophy: A man talks of religion but as of a dream, and from hence he awakens into the business of the world, and performs that deliberately, with perfect action and full resolution, and he contrives, considers, and lives in it: but when he falls asleep again, or is taken from the scene of his own employment and choice; then he dreams again, and religion makes such impressions as is the conversation of a dreamer, and he acts accordingly.
Theocritus tells of a Fisherman, that dreamed he had taken a Fish of gold, upon which being over-joyed he made a vow, that he would never fish anymore: But when he waked, he soon declared his vow to be null, because he found his golden Fish had escaped through the holes of his eyes, when he first opened them. Just as we do in the purpose of religion; sometimes in a good mood we seem to see heaven opened, and all the streets of Heavenly Jerusalem paved with gold and precious stones, and we are ravished with spiritual apprehensions, and resolve never to return to the low affections of the world, and the impure adherencies of sin, but when this flash of lightning is gone, and we converse again with the inclinations, and habitual desires of our false hearts, those other desires and fine considerations disband, and the resolutions taken in that pious fit melt into indifferency, and old customs."

I would call this a pessimistic paragraph if I hadn't proved it so many times in my life. Times when I was "ravished with spiritual apprehensions" so rich and pure that I walked in the afterglow for days........ but then a little of this business, a little of that worry, and I slip back into my typical "habitual desires of my false heart." Thank God for mercy that endureth forever!

Jeremy Taylor - photo by Andrew Hefter

I love both of these photos although the contrast of emotions is so dramatic. The little girl in the top photo so intent on paying back her unseen adversary, drenched in summer fun. Action in her taut arm muscles and circular gush of water. Memory laden with days of my youth.

The second dramatic, haunting photo, void of all the above emotions and captured so emotionally by the photographer, immediately snaps me into a world where need is the overwhelming reality.

Top photo by Flowsnow - songkran

Bottom photo by Birte Person

"When preaching on Isaiah 27:5, which says - "Let him take hold of my strength, that he may make peace with Me," Mr. Toller of Kettering at once threw a flood of light on the text, and melted his audience into tenderness and tears, by saying, "I think I can convey the meaning of this passage so that every one may understand it by what took place in my own family within these last few days.

"One of my little children had committed a fault for which I thought it my duty to chastise him. I called him to me, explained to him the evil of what he had done, and told him how grieved I was that I must punish him for it. He heard me in silence, and then rushed into my arms, and burst into tears. I would have sooner cut off my arms than have then struck him for his fault. He had taken hold of my strength, and he had made peace with me." -- Sunday at Home.

I take that to mean that God's Mercy is His strength. I like that.

Photo taken from the Internet

In the following quote from Isaac Watts’s book “Improving the Mind”; he addresses how we should take into consideration all circumstances surrounding an action; the persons, the time, place, manner, the purpose, etc. He uses a great little illustration to make his point. Now please, dog lovers don’t be prejudiced by the first line….

“Let me give a plain instance for the illustration of this matter. Mario kills a dog, which, considered merely in itself, seems to be an indifferent action: now the dog was Timon’s and not his own; this makes it look unlawful. But Timon bid him do it; this gives it an appearance of lawfulness again. It was done at church, and in time of Divine service; these circumstances added, cast on it an air of irreligion. But the dog flew at Mario, and put him in danger of his life; this relieves the seeming impiety of the action. Yet Mario might have escaped by flying thence; therefore the action appears to be improper. But the dog was known to be mad; this further circumstance makes it almost necessary that the dog should be slain, lest he might worry the assembly, and do much mischief. Yet again, Mario killed him with a pistol, which he happened to have in his pocket since yesterday’s journey; now, hereby the whole congregation was terrified and discomposed, and Divine service was broken off, this carries an appearance of great indecency and impropriety in it: but, after all, when we consider a further circumstance, that Mario, being thus violently assaulted by a mad dog, had no way of escape, and had no other weapon about him, it seems to take away all the colors of impropriety, indecency, or unlawfulness, and to allow that the preservation of one or many lives will justify the act as wise and good.
Now, all these concurrent appendices of the action ought to be surveyed, in order to pronounce with justice and truth concerning it.

There are a multitude of human actions in private life, in domestic affairs, in traffic, in civil government, in courts of justice, in schools of learning, etc. which have so many complicated circumstances, aspects, and situations, with regard to time and place, persons and things, that it is impossible for any one to pass a right judgment concerning them without entering into most of these circumstances, and surveying them extensively, and comparing and balancing them all rightly.”

Photo from Internet

Out of the blue I picked up an old book of mine and read the following two stories, which I decided to post for all our inspiration, and they are great stories to tell your children and discuss the obvious applications.


Dionysius, a man of strange and capricious temper, though of great abilities, became a general and won many battles for his countrymen. His lust for power led him to forcefully establish his power and control over the city in which he lived. This power was not according to the laws but he was an exceedingly able man and know one dared to attempt to overthrow him. He made the city much more rich and powerful. There is a famous anecdote told about a friend of Dionysius named Damocles, who was overheard saying he wished to be in Dionysius’s position of wealth and power for just a night. Dionysius decided to give him his wish and for one night Damocles found himself at a banquet with everything that could delight his senses; delicious food, costly wine, flowers, perfumes, music; but with a sword and its point almost touching the top of his head, and hanging by a single horsehair! This was to show the condition in which the usurper Dionysius lived!

Story from "The Book of Golden Deeds". - photo from the Internet

Dionysius was in a constant dread and once put his barber to death for boasting that he held a razor to the tyrant’s throat. Many lost their lives to the tyrant and among those that came under the tyranny and distrust of Dionysius was a man called Pythias, who was sentenced to death, according to the usual fate of those who fell under his suspicion. Pythias owned land and had family in Greece, and he entreated Dionysius to do him the favor of allowing him to return home for a specified time after which he would return to face his death. The tyrant laughed his request to scorn. Once safely away who would answer for his return? Pythias made reply that he had a friend, who would become security for his return; and while Dionysius, the miserable man who trusted nobody, was ready to scoff at his simplicity, another friend of Pythias named Damon, came forward, and offered to become surety for his friend, engaging that, if Pythias did not return according to promise, he would suffer death in his stead.
Dionysius, much astonished, consented to let Pythias go, marveling what would happen. Time went on, and Pythias did not appear. The whole town watched Damon, but he showed no uneasiness. He said he was secure of his friend’s truth and honor, and if any accident had caused the delay of his return, he should rejoice in dying to save the life of one so dear to him.
Even to the last day Damon continued serene and content, however it might turn out; nay, even when the very hour drew nigh and still no Pythias. His trust was so perfect, that he did not even grieve at having to die for a faithless friend who had left him to the fate to which he had unwarily pledged himself. "It was not Pythias’ own will, but it must be the winds and waves that prevent him", he still declared, when the decree was brought and the instruments of death made ready. The hour had come, and a few moments more would have ended Damon’s life, when Pythias duly presented himself, embraced his friend, and stood forward himself to receive his sentence, calm, resolute, and rejoiced that he had come in time.
Even the dim hope they owned of a future state was enough to make these two brave men keep their word, and confront death for one another without quailing.
Dionysius the tyrant looked on more struck than ever. He felt that neither of such men must die. He reversed the sentence of Pythias, and calling the two to his judgment-seat, he entreated them to admit him as a third person in their friendship.

Story from "A Book of Golden Deeds". - Photo from internet

“Many a man conscientiously goes up to the weekly pulpit-feeding, through storm and sickness, as a matter of duty, who never thinks of doing a work of Christian mercy, or engaging in any kind of ministry during the week…….

Now the Christian world knows its duty well enough. It has no need of half the teaching it gets. It is always feeding beyond the necessities, and, as I honestly believe, to its own damage. Let it ask itself which would please its Master best –
Teaching some ignorant child the way of life, or going to hear a great sermon – visiting and consoling some poor mourner, or going to a prayer meeting – stirring up some weak soul to duty, or seeking for an hour of emotional excitement – going to meeting always, or laboring occasionally for the reclamation of some sad wanderer from the path of virtue?

Timothy Titcomb - photo by Taci Yuksel

“It is the narrowness of mind that awakens the surprise and aversion of some persons, when they hear of doctrines and schemes in human affairs, or in religion, quiet different from what they have embraced. Perhaps they have been trained up from their infancy in one set of notions, and their thoughts have been confined to one single tract, both in the civil or religious life, without ever hearing or knowing what other opinions are current among mankind; or at least they have seen all other notions besides their own represented in a false and malignant light, whereupon they judge and condemn at once every sentiment but what their own party receives, and they think it is a piece of justice and truth to lay heavy censures upon the practice of every different sect in Christianity or politics. They have so rooted themselves in the opinions of their party, that they cannot hear an objection with patience, nor can they bear a vindication, or so much as an apology for any set of principles besides their own: all the rest is nonsense or heresy, folly or blasphemy.”

I suppose if there is any one fault of the evangelical church it is spelled out in this post, especially in the last sentence. If a new thought arises it is immediately demonized and pulpits pound outrage and condemnation, and the large part of the congregation loves it so. How will improvement every come?

Isaac Watts - photo by Tony Hnojcik

“Come all you beasts of the field,
come and devour, all you beasts of the forest!
Israel’s watchmen are blind,
they all lack knowledge;
they are mute dogs,
they cannot bark,
they lie around and dream,
they love to sleep.
They are dogs with mighty appetites,
They never have enough.
They are shepherds who lack understanding,
They all turn to their own way,
Each seeks his own gain.
“Come”, each one cries, “let me get wine!”
Let us drink our fill of beer!
And tomorrow will be like today,
Or even far better.” Is. 56: 9-12

I read these verses this morning and somehow on the eve of a new President with promises of change, I have little hope of it coming to fruition lest I heed this
warning.

The words that stuck out to me were blind watchmen. In a world where through the many mediums of communication we see so much need I can find myself turning a blind eye and not even offering a prayer.

“They lack knowledge”-- I have doctrine, creeds, Bible studies, but the poor are lying at my gate, will my creed house them, feed them, rescue them?

Oh yes I love to dream, to pledge, to promise! …….. but I also love to sleep.

How will I lead even a flock of one without understanding?

Where is living simply so others may simply live? I must have my way and my possessions.

Do I then seek more of the intoxication of the world believing this is the narrow way?

Maybe change is coming for America -- I think I hear a howling.

Photo by Banovich

The following is written by the photographer Yanglong7 from Flickr - "This guy is badly deformed and unable to rise. Each day he writes a poem on the pavement that describes his background and the difficulties he faces. Most people don't bat an eye at this in Guangzhou, and some even trampled over the words he had poured out."

"If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered". Pr. 21:13

I see that the photographer knows how often this man comes, what he writes about, and has told his story. I have no doubt that he heard the cry of this poor man and has offered what he could to him. God help me to hear and see and act.

Private matter

Please know that Sue and I are heartsick and we are here for you at any time, you are in our prayers and we hope you trust your instincts during this storm. In warmest affection fom both of us, love Fred and Sue.

“We should be very curious in examining all propositions that pretend to this honor of being general principles; and we should not, without just evidence, admit into this rank mere matters of common fame, or commonly received opinions; no, nor the general determinations of the learned, or the established articles of any church or nation, etc.; for there are many learned presumptions, many synodical and national mistakes, many established falsehoods, as well as many vulgar errors, wherein multitudes of men have followed one another for whole ages almost blindfold. It is of great importance for every man to be careful that these general principles are just and true; for one error may lead us into thousands which will naturally follow, if once a leading falsehood be admitted.”

“These are some of the advantages which arise from the eighth rule, viz: Pursue every inquiry and study in proportion to its real value and importance.
Have a care lest some beloved notion, or some darling science, so far prevail over your mind as to give a sovereign tincture to all your other studies, and discolor all your ideas; like a person in the jaundice, who spreads a yellow scene with his eyes over all the objects which he meets. I have know a man of peculiar skill in music, and much devoted to that science, who found out a great resemblance of the Athanasian doctrine of the Trinity in every single note, and he thought it carried something of argument in it to prove that doctrine. I have read of another, who accommodated the seven days of the first week of creation to seven notes of music, and thus the whole creation became harmonious.”

These two paragraphs have so many applications; we can believe doctrinal issues that are in error and like the first paragraph, "that lead us into a thousand which will naturally follow", so in natural science, like evolution, one error can lead to the denial of God to some. Lately, this applied to me regarding a person, and applying error to misunderstanding them and finding a "jaundice tincture" coloring all conversation.

When I post things like this I don't mean we should question every thing we are taught, but after one has learned and become founded in a belief, this quote cautions us to not become settled and content to look no further. I am reminded how heretics were commonly killed by both Catholic and Protestants because of a blindness to fuller truth. The list of examples are endless, and who knows what each of us considers to be truth that may very well be error? Does this bring to mind any that have made the news lately?

Painting by Lord Frederick Leighton

.....But while prosperity is apt to harden the heart of pride, adversity in a man of resolution will serve to ripen it with fortitude. To use the words of Burke, "Difficulty is a severe instructor, set over us by the supreme ordinance of a parental guardian and instructor, who knows us better than we know ourselves, as He loves us better too. He that wrestles with us strengthens our nerves, and sharpens our skill; our antagonist is thus our helper." Without the necessity of encountering difficulty, life might be easier, but men would be worth less. Samuel Smiles.

I looked at a number of pictures before choosing this one to go with this post; I see in this man's rugged exterior a look of kindness, and of course pride in whom I consider to be his child. He has a rough-hewn appearance and his hands are no stranger to hard labor. I have no doubt I would find conversation with him a pleasure. He holds his daughter with tenderness but who would doubt those arms would turn to violence if she needed protection.

Photo by Mitchel Kanashkevich

I had no idea what a gem I had found in Isaac Watt’s book titled “Improving the Mind”, I have since read up on him and found out he was a prolific writer, not only of Christian hymns, which he wrote over 750, but he also wrote many other books and his book on Logic became the standard text on logic at Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard and Yale; being used at Oxford University for well over 100 years. The following excerpt is so timely with elections so close at hand, but I think every one should take this piece to heart as they engage in conversation, whether it is politics, religion or what ever topic they enter in. I have heard some strange conversations regarding the elections this year, from “Thus saith The Lord” emphatically prophesied by some, to hateful outbursts by those unwilling to entertain a thought outside their opinion. This of course is normal dialogue for some in sharing their faith; so, hopefully this will give us some practical guidelines to consider.


Nor is it every sober person of your acquaintance, no, nor every man of bright talents, or rich in learning, that is fit to engage in free conversation for the inquiry after truth. Let a person have ever so illustrious talents, yet he is not a proper associate for such a purpose, if he lie under any of the following infirmities:

1. If he be haughty and proud of his knowledge, imperious in his airs, and is always fond of imposing his sentiments on all the company.

2. If he be positive and dogmatical in his own opinions, and will dispute to the end; if he will resist the brightest evidence of truth rather than suffer himself to be overcome, or yield to the plainest and strongest reasonings.

3. If he be one who always affects to outshine all the company, and delights to hear himself talk or flourish upon a subject, and make long harangues, while the rest must be all silent and attentive.

4. If he be fretful and peevish, and given to resentment upon all occasions; if he knows not how to bear contradiction, or is ready to take things in a wrong sense; if he is swift to feel a supposed offence, or to imagine himself affronted, and then break out into a sudden passion, or retain silent and sullen wrath.

5. If he affect wit on all occasions, and is full of his conceits and puns, quirks or quibbles, jests and repartees; these may agreeably entertain and animate an hour of mirth, but they have no place in the search after truth.

6. If he carry always about him a sort of craft, and cunning, and disguise, and act rather like a spy than a friend. Have care of such a one as will make an ill use of freedom in conversation, and immediately charge heresy upon you, when you happen to differ from those sentiments which authority or custom has established.

In short, you should avoid the man, in such select conversation, who practices anything that is unbecoming the character of a sincere, free, and open searcher of truth.”

Photo by Jose Miguel Rodriguez