Blog Archives

COUNT THE COST 479

2/27/2017

COUNT THE COST

Wrote Earl Wilson..."Most of count
something...dollars, pounds, accomplishments,
   or calories."

      Browning counted the ways in which he loved
his wife.
   Bing Crosby offered those who worried sage
   advice as he sang, "When you're worried,
and you can't sleep, count your blessings instead
of sheep..."

Many of those incarcerated have counted the
   days until their release.

Jesus informed us that a true follower of His
   was like unto a man, intending to build a
   tower, who would sit down first and count
   the cost to see if he had "sufficient to finish
   it." (Luke 14:28)

May we become wise with our lives and count
   the cost, 'ere all is lost.

NO WEAK DAYS 478

2/27/2017

   NO WEAK DAYS

We have a good friend whose favorite
   saying is "Seven days without prayer
   makes one weak."

   Who among us really wants
To have a weak week
   With hours that are dreary
   And minutes that are bleak

   Fame, fortune, prestige
   Ah, now what do you seek
Aren't all our days pure vanity
   If we find our prayer life to be weak

We've devised many devices
To improve our physical physique
But what does a healthy body profit
   If we find our spirit weak

A Christian without a prayer life
Is like a schooner without a sail
Regardless of his high ambitions
His cause shall surely fail

BUTTONS AND BOWS 477

2/27/2017

   BUTTONS AND BOWS

Our family is growing by leaps and bounds.
As we entered our home the other day, our
   children greeted us with the news that a
   secret someone had given us the gift of two
small kittens.

   Instantly, we said, "You, can't keep them."
   For a few minutes, our wife agreed with us,
then she said, "Oh, honey, aren't they precious? We just can't give them away."

   As we said before, our family is growing by
leaps and bounds.

   Buttons is a cute little black and white kitten,
while Bows is a pretty orange and white striped
   male. (Hmmm, is the end in sight yet?)

   Buttons and Bows. That would make a neat
song title, don't you think?
   (All in favor, raise your right paw and say,
"meow."

(This article was written in 1978. For many
years, we had the pleasure of living with Buttons
   and Bows and their four off-spring.)

PSALM 125:1,2,4,5

2/22/2017

PSALM 125:1,2,4,5

They that trust in the Lord
Shall be as mount Zion
which cannot be removed
but abideth forever

As the mountains are round about
Jerusalem
So the Lord is round about his people
henceforth even forever

   Do good, O Lord, unto those that be  good
and to them that are upright in their hearts

   As for such who turn aside unto their crooked
ways, the Lord shall lead them forth
  with the workers of iniquity
but peace shall be upon Israel

DOING WHAT'S NECESSARY 474

2/22/2017

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DOING WHAT'S NECESSARY

The other day, we had the interesting
experience of getting involved in somebody
   else's business.

   It seems that a couple of our school's
   students decided to settle an argument
   via the unpretentious use of fisticuffs.

   We stepped in and stopped the fight
   without too much difficulty by applying the
   Biblical injunction, "A soft answer turneth
away wrath." (Proverbs 15:1)

Some of our colleagues thought we were
   brave but as we reflect on the incident,
we realize we simply did that which was
   necessary.

   To take a stand where risks are involved
   may qualify as bravery to some, but we
   view those times simply as moments where
there was a need for the appropriate action.

To exist, to survive, to progress, each of us
may from time to time, be called upon to
   perform tasks that highly important.

Blessed is the man or woman who accomplishes
   that which is necessary.

(Written in 1978)

THE VERY BEST 72

2/22/2017

     THE VERY BEST

"I do the very best I know how,"
   wrote Abraham Lincoln, "the very
best I know how."

   Of all our Presidents, Lincoln was
   able to understand the significance
   of the old adage, "Failure is never
   final."

   One of the greatest assets of our
   sixteenth President was his ability
   to carry on his present course with
much patience during the Civil War
   which brought much sorrow into his
      life, as did the death of his eleven-year
      old, son, William "Willie" Lincoln, while
   living .in the White House.

   Lincoln was a visionary who saw the
   day all men would be free, and slavery
   no more.

   But, it was in the present tense that
   Lincoln gained his fame and glory, for
   it was in the present that he did his
   very best. Honestly, decently, patiently.

   As with Lincoln, may this be the very
best day of our lives.

   (Originally written in 1977. This is a
revision, written on February 22, 2017)

AT THE ALTER

2/22/2017

  AT THE ALTER

                                            Have you got burdens that bother
                                            Have you got troubles and woe
                                            Give them to your Master and Savior
                                            Just drop them at the alter and go

                                            With a heart that's filled with mercy
                                            Jesus is looking for you
                                            He knows all your faults and follies
                                            Now there's only one thing to do

                                            Drop your sins at the alter
                                            Your years in battle with strife
                                            Come, take the hand of your Master
                                            Let Jesus be Lord of your life

                                            Go, go in peace
                                            Go in peace, sin no more
                                            Go, go in peace
                                            And sin, sin no more

(First posted June 1, 2012)

PSALM 124:2,3,7,8

2/16/2017

     PSALM 124:2,3,7,8

If it had not been the Lord
who was on our side
when men rose up
against us

Then they had swallowed
   us up quick
When their wrath was kindled
against us

   Our soul is escaped as a bird
out of the snare of the fowlers

   The snare is broken
and we are escapedf

Our help
   is in the name
of the Lord
   who made heaven and earth

WASHINGTON AND LINCOLN

2/16/2017

WASHINGTON AND LINCOLN

  We have always enjoyed the month
   of February, not only because of Valentine's
day, but also because we celebrate the birthdays
   of two of our greatest Presidents.

We believe that one of their greatest traits
   of nobleness was their ability to continue
   a course of rightness to its final conclusion
      regardless of the number of those who
  deserted them along the way.

Both had a vision of "one nation, under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

May we continue to promote and maintain
the freedoms which Washington and Lincoln
      preserved.

CONTENTMENT

2/16/2017

CONTENTMENT

Many have searched all of their lives
for that contentment that leads
to peace of mind.

Perhaps contentment comes from giving up
those things we cannot keep..for those things
that money cannot buy.

It has been said that "A tub was large enough
for Diogenes, but a world was too little for
Alexander."

As of late, we have become aware of the
pricelessness...
Of a silent starry sky.
Of the dawn's early blush.
Of children laughing innocently.
Of the burden lifting power of prayer.

Only as we learn to be content...shall
we be able to widen the channels of our
creativity.