Luke 1:30-33

Luke 1:30-33 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

John 15: 5,8

John 15:5,8 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. Happiness is what we make it Not what we want Tom

John 11:25

John 11:25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; Great Message We rejoice in the knowledge of this Holy word from God's book. He made us aware even though we die we are still very much alive. It has always been a source of joy attending the home going of his own. We're all just away for a short time. God is lying in wait for us, waiting for our revelation on that beautiful Morning: when we all get there. Thank You Jesus for giving us this consolation even though death may take over, the hospital, nursing home etc. we still have that Blessed Assurance that keep on living. Save us oh Blessed Lord keep us close to your heart of Love. Tom

Colossians 3:16 Blessing Assurance

Blessings Assurance Colossians 3:16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms hymns and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. Blessing assurance is so great because we can hardly talk of it. How could any people, individual act like we do and still have blessed assurance. We should be so thankful, everyday, everywhere, we have that blessed assurance that Jesus is ours. Blessings on you this and everyday Tom

He Is Our Strength

Colisossians 3:17 And whatever you do in word or deed do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through him. He is our strength no matter what daily living will bring, We vask in the knowledge that he is taking care of us regardless Blessings this day and everyday Tom

Love, That Will Not Let Me Go

Love, That Will Not Let Me Go At the end of the road, we have blessed memories, one of the memories you can have as a professional doctor: 1- One who practice 2- One who takes care of their patients each one everyday 3- One that the elderly people loves you as much as the young people. The need to be a wondeful physician we know how wonderful it is for young people to love us, one of the love and trust that older people have for us they know the genuine article. Thank God most of my friends that's older know the Grace-Mercy-Love, we have between ourselves and our Wonderful Savior. Some old men needs attention too, your greatest accomplishments as doctor, people who love you. During the great flu epidemic of 1918 the local doctor stayed at my grandfathers house in order to take care of the stricken people of that area and he died there. I hope that my patients, friends, family will never forget the love and trust shown us by old people especially let us not forget old men, who receives some of the love and attention at home, we can do that in the office by letting them know that they are loved at the office because you never know what they are going through. I know everyone like the young children, but the old white haired men by their families. Never forget to show affection to men with white hair, they so need this so many have been neglected, they need the attention not just at Christmas or their birthdays--because so many are neglected by the home where he lives seeing that the children and home are taken care of and neglecting himself. Most old men would love the attention put on them instead of their children and grandchildren by their wives. Have you ever wonder what a person is going through especially the old gray white haired man who seems to be forgotten about. he took care of his family and friends and done for everyone but do you know how he is feeling? Do you ever think to ask? Blessings on you this and everyday Tom

John 17:17

John 17:17 Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. Truth is Truth, will always be there it never changes. I will confess to you right now that I have not always been as truthful as I should have been. On this day and everyday we need to take stock of activity of course. As sure as it came out in the news about my gift to UMO to The Glory of God and my FWB ancestors, they all and I am convinced they love God and their church. In this plight that started nine months ago in all the interruption I pray that you will help me to remember that God is still in charge of everything. Blessings Tom

Psalms 119:105

Psalms 119:105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path His Grace is sufficient his all consuming love who keeps us when everything else has failed. These past 9 months we need his assurance, this catastrophic in spite of the world is brnging it to our door steps. We can still depend on him. Praise God from whom all Blessings flow help these creatures here below. Keep us close to your loving care. I praise God for each and everyone of you who know my father- my saviour-my strength in this time of need. Blessing on you this day Tom

Inspirational Prayer

Inspirational Prayer As we present ourselves before the throne of Thy power, O Lord, we come to praise Thy name and to bring with us a large petition. We ask, nay even with boldness we claim the inheritance left us by our Elder Brother, His peace—the peace which the world cannot give, and which the world cannot take away. We dare not ask for wealth, with all its allurement to worldliness; we dare not ask for length of days, with prospect of aged weakness and dependence; we dare not ask for preferment among our brethren, realizing that if we honor ourselves, our honor is nothing; we dare not ask for freedom from sorrow, remembering that they who are not of this world shall in the world have tribulation; but we do ask our Father, that in perfect peace we may rest in Thee, knowing that He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, shall with Him also freely give us all things. Grant, Lord, that the peace of God which passeth all understanding, may keep our hearts and minds through abundance of grace in Christ our Redeemer. This our prayer we make in the name of Him Who loveth us and gave Himself for us, even Jesus Christ our Righteousness. Amen. Prayer by John W. Friend, Petersburg, VA.

I John 2:15-16

I John 2:15-16 On Not Loving the World Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. On this Veterans Day, this old-blind-total disable Veteran reminds all Veterans caught up in the vicariousness of military service brings us closer and closer to him. The one who gave us the joy of military or any other service job for others. On this Veterans Day I want those who saw the recent article about me and my military service to know that I was there then and here now because of my Love of country, my wonderful family, friends, and all who know the meaning of the word service, because we truly love one another When grateful to give self. There was nothing special about me then or now and I will admit that I love the things of the world but I love so much more of the father who gave me life. Life is what we make of it. At the crossroads of the world we come into contact with the Real values of the world: Life, Liberty, and The Pursuit of Happiness. Thank You Jesus for helping me to love completely. Blessings on You This Day Tom

Thanks For Your Service

Thanks for your service Good morning, Just a quick note to wish you a good Veterans Day and to thank you for your service to our country. Serving others is something you continue to do to this day, and UMO and others remain grateful. Thank You. My prayers continue for your health and well being. Blessings, Teresa Dr. Morris, I want to thank you for your service on this Veterans Day and every day. I appreciate you serving our country. My dad served 20 years in the Marine Corp and I have special place in my heart for all who have been in the Armed Forces. The United States is the greatest country because of you, my dad, and all who served to protect our freedom. Thanks and I pray you have a great day. Sincerely, Dwayne McKay Director of External Affairs for Athletics 586 Henderson Street|Mount Olive, NC 28365 (919) 658-7757 – Direct| (919) 658-1753 – Fax (800) 653-0854 ext. 1361| dmckay@umo.edu

Job 37:5-6

Job 37:5-6 God’s voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. He says to the snow, ‘Fall on the earth,’ and to the rain shower, ‘Be a mighty downpour. Gods goodness is beyond our understanding, He is ours and we are his. We rejoice in just a nodular of his present in our lives. Help us precious Lord to live as close to thee has we can possible get. Help us to be everything you want us to be. Blessings on all of you this day and always Tom

Joshua 24:15

Johusa 24:15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” My Christians friends, Let us rejoice in the joy of serving God. Time is to short, time is drawing near. We rejoice in his presents, we take great pleasure and pride in serving him. Let us never forget The Saviour of our world. The reason for our salvation we are his and he is ours, never forget the greatest plight of Christian servitude. Blessings Tom

UMO receives 1million dollars

UMO Receives $1 Million Gift November 2, 2020 Contact: Rhonda Jessup, Director of Public Relations The University of Mount Olive (UMO) has received a $1 million gift from one of its longtime friends and benefactors, Dr. Thomas R. Morris of Wilmington, NC. The contribution from Morris was inspired by his desire to invest in building opportunities for the University’s new innovative programs. He had initially planned for the money to be dispersed through his last will and testament, but at 90 years old, he decided to make the contribution while he was still living. “This gift is to glorify God and honor my Free Will Baptist ancestors,” Morris said. “On behalf of the Board of Trustees and the entire University, we are deeply grateful for this generous gift,” said UMO President Dr. H. Edward Croom. “Dr. Morris is a true friend of the University of Mount Olive. He understands the University’s roots in the Original Free Will Baptist Church and appreciates its Christian mission. This investment demonstrates a trust and confidence in the future of this institution. We commit to be good stewards of these resources as we provide new facilities and programs that will expand opportunities to equip our graduates for leadership and service.” Morris was born and reared in Wayne County with strong Free Will Baptist roots from Union Grove FWB Church where his parents and grandparents were all very active. He often reminisces about his great grandfather, the Elder P. T. Lucas, a leading FWB minister of his time. Morris graduated from high school in Nahunta and financed his way through UNC-Chapel Hill and the School of Optometry in Memphis, TN by working at night and selling books, cookware, and cemetery plots door-to-door during the summers. “I covered every pig path in eastern North Carolina,” he joked. After college, Morris returned to Wayne County and became not only a successful optometrist, but also a noted educational, civic, and church speaker, often sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Commissioned a medical officer in the U. S. Army during the Korean Conflict, Morris retired as a Lt. Colonel, but still remained active in the Army Reserves and National Guard. He has dictated over 2,000 posts about his life, travel, military experiences, and journey of faith in his personal blogs, which can be found at http://carolinahedgehog.blogspot.com. When diagnosed with glaucoma, a condition that resulted from his military experience and resulted in 100% disability, Morris was determined to see as much of the world as he could. On eight around-the-world trips, he traveled to every continent and both the North and South Poles, having his passport stamped in 157 countries. After becoming totally blind, Morris turned to real estate and other investments in the Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach areas in both commercial and residential properties. In addition to his shrewd business acumen, Morris, to this day, possesses a thrifty nature. He is well-known for his self-deprivation, often noting that throughout his lifetime he did his own cooking, cleaning, and only purchased his clothes from thrift stores. In reflecting over his investments and savings, Morris said, “God has abundantly blessed me even through my 40-years of total blindness and 14-year battle with prostate cancer.” Living out the Biblical passage Luke 12:48, “To whom much is given, much will be required,” Morris’ frugalness has enabled him to faithfully support the University for decades. He has given multiple and sizeable gifts that have funded various awards designed to encourage and reward excellence for student academic achievement, faculty teaching, and pastoral work and lay services to the FWB denomination. He has also generously contributed to other UMO projects including a $100,000 gift for the Free Will Baptist Heritage Room, which bears a portrait and plaque dedicated to Morris. Knowing, from personal experience, the hardship of financing a college education, Morris and his siblings established an endowed scholarship fund at UMO in memory of his parents, Joseph T. and Sallie Pittman Morris. “Dr. Morris’ life has been filled with both adversity and abundance,” said University Advancement Representative Teresa Hines. “Yet, he remains a humble and selfless man intent on sharing his wealth and his wisdom with causes that align with his beliefs. We are grateful beyond measure that he considers the University of Mount Olive to be one of those organizations.” Vice President for Institutional Advancement Jason Gipe said, “Dr. Morris’ unwavering support and generous financial backing over the years has and will make a profound impact not only on the University, but also on current and future students who benefit greatly from the programs, projects, and facilities made possible by his kindness and compassion.” Morris is the father of one son, Dr. John Michael Morris, the grandfather of two grandsons, Andrew Phillip Morris and Paul Robert Morris, all of whom have advanced degrees. Dr. Andrew Morris, along with his wife and daughter, are missionaries in South Korea. Dr. John Michael Morris is a professor at Southwestern Seminary and the pastor of a Southern Baptist church in Fort Worth, Texas. The University of Mount Olive is a private institution rooted in the liberal arts tradition with defining Christian values. The University is sponsored by the Convention of Original Free Will Baptists. For more information, visit www.umo.edu.

Amen

I Peter-5:8-9 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. We know the Love of God the fellowship of believers We know the way Christians should behave. God help us to understand and further anticipation your glacious love, tender mercies, and beautiful Holy Spirit. I pray that God will help all of us to be what he wants us to be. We rejoice in the knowledge of his nature that he does not want us to back up not one inch that we should never turn our backs to satan. God Bless you and keep you under his everlasting perfect arms. Blessings Tom

Ephesians 2:8-9

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourself, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast. Please Do Not Forget to Read the Message of The Gift. Tom Morris

For The Word Of God

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edge sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow: it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Great comfort in these trying days, more important than any pandemic, the love of God for us. He only wants two things, Faith and Trust. Let us trust him to see us through these times. The knowledge of his Mercy-Grace-Love is enough to keep us going. God keep us close to your heart of love and underneath your hand of protective care for we pray in your Holy Name, Forever and ever. Tom Morris

A Person Finds Joy In Giving

A person finds joy in giving an apt-reply- and how good is timely word: Poverbs 15:23 The attitude and attributes of Christian life. Nothing shows Christianity than one joyous attitude, joy in knowing your Saviour. The great beauty of Christian life - relationships in your life is not your own it's brought with a wonderful price. Your life should be a joy and not a burden. We get cast down and we should be taught that Christ and his wonderful Son Jesus was always there. We all find joy in a beautiful relationship with one another. Let us rejoice in the knowledge that we are capable of love one for another. Jesus tells us to love one another as we love him. What a challenge when we even consider how much he loves us. Blessings Tom

May These Words of My Mouth

May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14 This is a marvelous word from Gods word is a Challenge-Call-Mercy filling of the of the Grace and love manifest from the God of Glory. Everyday of my life, I must depend on my Blessed Lord, must depend on those who assist me to live a somewhat normal life. Please answer this question, Why is it that those ones who I trust, whom I must depend on: those who keep a watchful eye on my financial accounts get so negligence when they well know I do business with them because I depend on them? Someone in my condition should not and will not depend on these people for help. If you don't have some confidence in your doctor you need to make a change, this morning, I am aggravated to the core in placing my faith in someone to handle my business, he has shown me he is not interested in keeping my buisness. All of my friends, business associates enjoy what they assume is flattering of me being able to accumulate funds to show my love. I find that most family, friends, and business acquaintance never comprehend what it has taken to accumulate and stay in charge of my affairs a total blind person, total disable person I honestly believe that most people I know just think that things take care of themselves. Please pray that there is an awakening everywhere not just in my life. On this day I was feeling pretty good until knocked down by incompetency. I had to decide to make a gift now instead of in my death to UMO which I asked for it to remain quiet but to my amazement it has been told everywhere. I pray for all of you on this day and ask that the wall of protection from our Blessed Lord be extended to me. Please pray that our God of Love is sufficient for all our needs, Today, Tomorrow, and always Blessings Tom

The Start of An Era

North Carolina Minute FIRST MOVING PICTURE The first motion picture movie show in North Carolina took place in Wilmington in 1897, when Thomas Edison's projector known as the "Projectscope" showed several revolving moving pictures. Edison had purchased a projector invented by Thomas Armat in 1895 and improved its operation. Wilmington was selected because it was at that time the largest town in the state and t hey had a beautiful Opera House. Among the pictures that were shown were; a lone fisherman who gets dumped into the water, a hurdle race, a girl and a child feeding a flock of pigeons and the Buffalo Express running at 60 miles per hour. When the Express appeared on the canvas, it was headed straight into the Opera House audience. Most of them either got up and ran or tried to duck under their chairs. FIRST MOVIE THEATRE The first Movie Theatre was also established in Wilmington in 1906. The theatre was named the "Bijou Theatre" located at 225 North Front Street. The two owners James Howard and P. W. Wells met by chance and decided to settle down in Wilmington. One of the men owned a tent and the other owned a projector. This was the start of the Howard & Wells Amusement Company. A screen was set up and sawdust was sprinkled heavily on the ground and about 300 folding chairs were placed in the new facility. Later a framed front was constructed in order to stabilize the arrangement. Wells ran the projector and Howard was the "Barker.” You could hear Howard all day long, "Never out, never over, always going on. Only high class moving pictures shown. Nothing cheap but the price, only five cents.”

Blessings

New International Version For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Read at Bible Gateway Read all of Jeremiah 29 Blessings Tom

Thanks To Everyone For Coming Out and Helping Me Celebrate My 90th Birthday. Gods Blessings on each of you. Michelle Roberts is with Thomas Morris. 20h · I am privileged to call this man my friend. Happy 90th Birthday, Dr. Morris!

7 Things You Need To Know About the Postal Service

Placebo of The Soul In the cauldron if history, man's relationship with other men, and from the beginning, the need for a relationship and worship of a Higher Authority. There has been a ceaseless rebellion... it is nothing new... an attempt at a placebo or catholicon for the soul, a replacement for Almighty God. Of course, this writer well understands that there are those atheists, postmodernists, meta-narratives (story about a story) who in their own wisdom worship the creature not the Creator. There is no category or grouping for this type mentality. Academics, scientists, elitists are found in this demographic but so are the most ignorant among us. It is not necessary to sing like Sinatra to believe “I did it my way.” It is time to face the reality of what is happening to the soul of mankind. It started with the first of us, Garden of Eden, when man could have lived forever, free of all human foibles... work, disease, etc. He could not keep one commandment, so tempted by the fallen morning star, prince of the air, who could not obey from creation. Lucifer is only mentioned one time in the Bible. (Isaiah 14:12) From our first parents until this moment, Satan and his cohorts have manipulated our lives limited only by God. Weak, erring, human beings, have not been controlled by conscience, laws and commandments of the Bible, prophesies or promises leading both to the cross, the central point of history, and away from the cross. “God is love” (1 john 4:16) and because God wants goodness for us shows mercy toward us, the atheist cannot comprehend sin, evil, bad things happening to good people. He never questions why good things happen to bad people. Those who are most angry with God, who consider God immoral because He allows suffering, disasters, do not want to see hypocrisy or even shortcuts. The rules of the game do not allow the Olympic runner to cut across the end zone. The least informed among us understands Hitler’s promise that he would deliver the world from the oppression of Mount Sinai. Even the pirates of the 17th century and today's Somalian pirates have rules. Blackbeard did not allow his pirates to bring women aboard ship, they had strict routines, bedtime, wake up time. The early church knew absolutes, right and wrong. The Apostle Paul, chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15) to whom we owe most of church scripture, knew that the time would come that men would no longer believe in the atonement of Christ, no longer believe in the Gospel of the church, sin's ruin and Christ's redemption, would only want a tasty cocktail for itching ears. (2 Timothy 4:3) It is not just the new age agnostics, Oprah and her crowd, but mainline churches, particularly Episcopalians who tell us that the historical gospels no longer apply (Heterodoxia Jan. 28, 2007) and so, young people raised in the church. Those recent graduates in pulpits from Bible colleges and seminaries, those on pews entangled with the attractiveness of the world, now seek a placebo instead of the spirit of grace, faith, provided by God not only to die with but live by. Even Christ said, “When I return will there be any faith on earth.?” I feel sure there are clones around us but, more important, in nations where Western Civilization has been blessed by the knowledge of the Sovereignty of God. Many are now involved in computer worship, having humanized the computer, in many places, robots, becoming humanized. There is a frightening attempt to minimize Christianity, to maximize sin (abortion, romanticism of homosexuality, same-sex marriage, etc.) We see the slaying of evangelical Christians in Nigeria and other Muslim countries, the disenfranchisement of the disabled, those who do not fit our ideal of acceptable. I will never forget my aunt, genetic problem, obese her entire life. She cried as she told me how she had been treated by her fellow human beings, particularly her family. (people who play church) only the disabled, such as this writer, a 100% disabled veteran, knows the tumult of disability. Unless you have been called a “nut”, “fanatic” by your own family, you are not a real Christian. No sane, inquisitive mind can doubt the historicity, reliability, of God's Word. The parents of King Cyrus of Persia, conqueror of the Middle East thought they had named their son but, years before, the prophet Isaiah had named and prophesied about their son, ruler of Persia. God named John the Baptist, spoke directly with Moses and Abraham. The son of God, Jesus Christ was prophesied 700 years before His birth. On the fringes of time, punctuated most by geography, there are many religions, people seeking to fill a “whole” in the human heart. For the last 50 years, heart disease has been the number 1 killer in the world. The only cure for heart disease, no placebo is needed for the soul, a relationship with the Creator of the universe.

Forest and Trees “In some ways suffering ceases to be suffering at the moment it finds a meaning, such as the meaning of a sacrifice.” ― Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning: Gift Edition For this writer's entire life, in thinking of excellence, I have heard the expression, "You cannot see the trees for the forest..." other times, "You cannot see the forest for the trees." For the sightless person, you cannot see the forest or the trees, but, the sounds and smells tells you the woodlands are there. I still remember the day my father's oldest, I was a teenager, when he took me through hundreds of acres of woodlands to show me the boundary lines. I'm sure his father had done the same for him. This was before the time of spray paint, often it was just a large post driven into the ground. In fact, reading the descriptions on land deeds, the surveyor would refer to posts-rocks-certain trees etc... as boundary lines or corners. Landowners were very careful about their own land, he did not want an adjacent landowner coming across the line and selling some of his fine trees. Much of my father's woodlands had come down through many generations and much of it was virgin timber. He knew the value of certain wood, certain trees, oak, poplar, pine etc. Woodlands were sold and appraised by the value of individual trees. I can still see, from my childhood, oxen pulling the logs from the forest. Warning flares always indicate danger. Albert Einstein, perhaps the world's greatest mind, said, "Only two things are infinite, the Universe and man's ability to be stupid." The twentieth century saw mankind put his trust in men rather than God. We just refused to believe that there are exceptional people... that some trees stand out even in a forest. It sometimes takes a while to recognize these people. Of the eighty greatest personalities in the bible, most discussed, just a few were religious leaders. Such men as Abraham, Joseph, most of the disciples, like Luke the physician, would not be considered religious leaders. Moses, perhaps the educated man of his time, "And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in deeds."- Act 7:22 (Herded dumb sheep for 40 years before God saw fit to use him.) But God knew where he was the entire time. God knew where this child of Amram and Jochebad was, even when he was in a small basket in the Nile as his sister Miriam watched from a distance. At Myraba, Moses knew what it was like to deal with the three million "stiffnecked" former slaves whom he had led out of Egypt, led through the Red Sea, water piled up on two sides. Really, not one of them deserved to drink of the water. Salvation that neither he nor the children of Israel had done one thing about. For the entire history of the Jewish people, it was always God. When anyone tells you to prove the bible, just say there is a three letter word to prove the bible, J-e-w. We live in a time of stupid voters, genuflecting before politicians who ride around on private jets... eat from gold plates and laugh at you. Most of today's opinion molders-power brokers, no longer look for the exceptional mind, the exceptional morality, the exceptional integrity, rather, the lowest denominator of man who will bow to any decadent incredulity. They just want a "yes man". That "blah" individual that will never stand out in a crowd, those who would put forth the effort and faith to achieve. 90% of the christian faith is just raw courage. It takes courage to stand out, to be the exceptional person, to always present the best version of yourself whether in the classroom, on the sports field, their place of worship, in your chosen vocation. I live in the town in which Michael Jordan, one of the world's greatest basketball players, was raised. He had a passion for sports. In high school, college, even during his NBA career, he continued to practice every day. He paid the price for excellence. This writer knows discouragement, to never have been encouraged about anything, anytime. Many years ago, at a small baptist college, now a university, I established financial awards for excellence... two senior excellence awards of $3000 each, each year, faculty and staff financial awards for excellence of $4000 each, other financial awards for outstanding students. I feel that money is something which proves ones worth. My giving was continued for many years until liberal administrators did not want awards of excellence... let everyone "get a trophy just for playing." Likewise, and this is not to impress anyone, God knows my heart, I gave financial awards for outstanding pastors, Sunday School personnel, superintendents and teachers. I have letters from sunday school personnel that tell me they taught for thirty years and never received any recognition. If it is nothing but a gold star beside a child's name in a public school or sunday school, any child appreciates recognition... standing out from the crowd. With most personal fortunes, everything is gained with a wink or something diabolical. Former president L. B. Johnson, never made much money in his lifetime but retired as president with a $53 Million fortune. Other presidents, and you know who they are, compromising-conniving, have retired with great fortunes... so have the goldbrickers of industry-education-political intrigue. Many did not gain wealth or notoriety because of their ability but because of their notoriety. Never confuse accomplishment with celebrity. Remember Helen Keller and Madonna. "There are no such things as divine, immutable or inalienable rights. Rights are things we get when we are strong enough to make good our claim to them." -Helen Keller My friend, Dr. John East, ECU professor, U.S. Senator, spent most of his life in a wheelchair. He said to me one time, "The disabled life is hardly worth living." He later killed himself. You are not stuck where you start, or stuck in any suffering that befalls you. Give the best version of yourself and recognize the exceptionalism of others.

Friends, and all others that's concern about my welfare, I am well, we lived through the storm with little difficulties. We are concern about our friends and everyone else facing the same problem, power off, we was without power for a little while all my employees was able to get to work with no difficulties. We praise God for his goodness to us here in Wilmington. We rejoice in the knowledge that he is always going to take care of his own, just a matter of trust and faith. Continue to keep our world in your prayers many places were not so fortunate. We pray that God will keep us all close to his heart of love not just in times like these but all the time. This comes from a heart of gratitude and gratitude for his love. I pray Gods blessings on all of you especially those in our area affected by everything that causes one to cling to the household of faith, not just this day but everyday. I am always happy to hear from you and to know that you are concern. Blessings Tom

Unbelievable Is Now Reality #1793 The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has called for the end of bombing hospitals in war-torn Yemen, accusing U.S.-backed Saudi forces of carrying out the attacks. The ICRC says “close to a hundred” hospital attacks have occurred since March, with the latest in the city of Taiz. Al-Thawra hospital, which has cared for about 50 injured people every day, was shelled several times on November 8. Before that, a Doctors Without Bordershospital in Haydan district of Saada was attacked on October 26. “The neutrality of health care facilities and staff is not being respected. Health facilities are deliberately attacked and surgical and medical supplies are also being blocked from reaching hospitals in areas under siege,” Kedir Awol Omar, deputy head of the ICRC delegation in Yemen, said. Officials in Saudi Arabia have not addressed the most recent bombing, according to Common Dreams, but have denied being aware that the October airstrikes in Haydan targeted a clinic. “Saudi authorities are denying the evident truth of having destroyed a hospital,” Laurent Sury, head of Doctors Without Borders emergency operations, said. “This is an alarming sign for the Yemeni people and for those trying to assist them. How are we to draw lessons from what happened when all we face are denials? How can we continue to work without any form of commitment that civilian structures will be spared?” Amnesty International has criticized the U.S. and other states for fueling the conflict while doing little to stop human rights violations. “The U.S.A. and other states exporting weapons to any of the parties to the Yemen conflict have a responsibility to ensure that the arms transfers they authorize are not facilitating serious violations of international humanitarian law,” Donatella Rovera, Amnesty’s senior crisis response adviser, said. “Lack of accountability has contributed to the worsening crisis and unless perpetrators believe they will be brought to justice for their crimes, civilians will continue to suffer the consequences.” Your writer is a totally blind, 100% disabled, service connected Army Medical Officer, since WWII medical units no longer display the red cross which, for many warriors was a signal for help. When I was a young Officer, the red cross would be on a field medical tent. Ambulances were marked with a red cross but, we found that the enemy enjoyed destroying medical facilities. Todays, and even in my day, the Military Medical Officer must turn inside the collar of his shirt, so that the medical caduce/military rank cannot be seen. The enemy enjoys shooting doctor's and nurses. To show how things have changed, during the civil war, wounded on either side were cared for by medics. It made no difference what uniform they wore. We hear on radio and television the blarney about the care for Veterans. 22 warriors commit suicide everyday, the Veteran's Administration wishes all Veteran's would commit suicide, it is far cheaper to bury a Veteran in a cheap casket than to care for one. To show you just how much Veteran's are appreciated, last week, Veteran's Day, this 85 year old Veteran was invited to a Veteran's Day event at the local Arboretum, sponsored by New Hanover County, NC. I seldom get out of the house, but one of my friends insisted that I go. I put on my suit, Veteran's cap and went to the event. Not one member of the arrangements group approached me. Another visitor there, a man who like me had never been in the arboretum before, said, "Colonel, they are serving lunch, I am going to get you some lunch". I could tell he was very embarrassed and soon left. He brought back to me, on a paper plate, a hamburger roll and some beans. It was supposed to be a BBQ luncheon but the food had given out. They had no food for the honored Veteran's. I'm sure some of the politicians, their families, the bureaucrats and their families were well fed. I wrote a letter to the County Manager about this embarrassment, he admitted that they ran out of food. Is not the incipient attitude as the irrational, radical indifference frevelant on the local level as well as in these warring places with "strange sounding names". The VA took from me the promise of America/my future/my security/now my dignity. Can you even imagine what warfare is taking from other people in war torn areas?

South Korean church plant finds home When Stuart Robinson, an IMB missionary in Seoul, South Korea, went walking around his neighborhood one day, something new caught his eye. In the window of a café there was a small sign that read “Closed on the Lord’s day.” Robinson was immediately curious. Though South Korea has had a great harvest of believers in recent decades, it isn’t common to see such a clear expression of faith from a business owner. He ducked inside. Stuart and Ashley Robinson, IMB missionaries in South Korea After only a few minutes of talking with the owners, a Christian couple, he realized God might be answering a prayer his church plant had been praying for a year. In South Korea, new churches face the challenge of growth before they have their own space. Cults are common, and many Koreans assume a religious group that meets in someone’s apartment is another cult that should be avoided. Also, meeting in an apartment is only feasible with a small group that can be quiet. Most Koreans don’t live in houses, but in tightly packed high-rise apartments. A bigger group might be noisy and disrupt neighbors, which is culturally offensive in South Korea. After his first conversation with the café owners, the Mins*, Robinson returned a few weeks later with other church members to ask about renting the space. The Mins said yes so fast that IMB missionary Kesiah Morris, a member of the church, called Tree Church, thought they hadn’t heard the question. “We meant every Sunday for the church plant, not a one-time thing,” Morris clarified. “Yes, we know,” the Mins replied. Andrew and Kesiah Morris, IMB missionaries in South Korea The Mins told the church they had felt God calling them to use the space for a church when they first opened the café in October 2019. Though they didn’t know when God would give them that opportunity, they continued to pray and seek His will. They even turned down lucrative opportunities to rent the space on Sundays because they wanted to make sure they were using the space for God’s purposes and not their own. “We’re so amazed at how God works,” the couple told the church members. Morris said the church was amazed as well to see God’s provision so clearly. The café gives them a place not only to hold services, but also to plan community outreaches to college students and families. The simple choice of one couple to faithfully and generously steward their resources is helping God’s church in South Korea blossom and bear fruit. Finding a place to meet has been just one challenge of many that the church plant has faced in their first year, but missionaries said each challenge has also given God a chance to show them He will always provide. “We have been amazed that, for every difficulty and challenge mentioned above, God has proved Himself greater than each one already,” said Morris. “He continues to prove Himself faithful to the call He has placed upon our lives for this time.” Stella McMillian is an IMB missionary and contributing writer. Read how Tree Church is using YouTube to reach South Korea’s young adults.

The same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him!" Romans 10:12 This verse is full of precious consolation. As "Lord over all" He is able to enrich others. He possesses an inexhaustible stock of spiritual blessings, by which He can "be rich unto all who call upon Him." Note the objects of His enriching grace: "Unto all who call upon Him." He enriches the guilty one, with the pardon of all his sins, however numerous and flagrant. 1 John 1:7; Acts 13:38. He enriches those condemned by the law, with deliverance and justification. Acts 13:39; Romans 5:1; 8:1. He enriches the unrighteous and defiled, with cleansing grace and regenerating power, to make them "new creatures in Christ Jesus." 2 Corinthians 5:17. He enriches the outcast and abandoned, with adoption into His redeemed family, and all its precious privileges. He is a rich, full, free, and inexhaustible fountain! What more can be said? He enriches . . . the ignorant--with wisdom, the weak--with strength, the fearful--with courage, the depressed--with consolation, the soldier of the cross--with armor, success, and conquest, the tempted and tried--with support and a way of escape, the afflicted and bereaved--with strength according to the day, the dying--with the hope of immortality, and afterwards with Heaven itself! He can make all grace to abound to all His people! "The LORD gives grace and glory. No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly!" Psalm 84:11 (Above taken from daily Grace Gems subscription. We have published Grace Gems for JUNE, 2014 in one file! ~ ~ ~ ~ Feel free to forward these gems to others who may be encouraged or profited by them!) Addition Dr. Morris: This writer cannot imagine any human being, saved or unsaved, not being blessed at any time in life by reading the Psalms, God's "Song Book" to us. Perhaps Psalm 84 is my favorite. This world traveler was in a small, clapboard church on the island of Samoa (pacific ocean) in the brightness and clarity of a Lord's day. As with so many days, I was stumbling through a time of discouragement, despair and despondency with my blindness. The little church was filled with barefoot natives, they were so excited about the blind stranger in their midst. When I had come into the church, they were singing, in their language, "What A Friend We Have In Jesus", I knew this was the hymn because I could recognize the piano music (This was my grandmother's favorite hymn). A woman with a high-pitched voice (I think she was a missionary) came down the aisle to greet me and she said in English, Psalm 84:5, "Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee." That day, as this day, my life was changed because I knew that all the strength I needed for any minute, any day, any year would come from God. This year, Mt. Olive University honored me for my philanthropy to them. I said at the occasion, "You look at a totally blind man and think of disability. My greatest disability was not the poverty in which I was reared, the struggle for my education, my military experience (a 100% disabled, totally blind, medical officer veteran of the Korean War era) but rather, my greatest disability has been the lack of encouragement. Particularly, by family members, associates and those who the world would think would have concern but, as General Colin Powell said long ago, the lost word in most vocabularies is the word concern. I think this is particularly true when it comes to veterans and the disabled. Do not think for one second that I am playing the victim card, my strength is in Him, AND, as he has reminded me over and over He is all that I need. However, it is so sad, that in a world where 57 Million innocent babies have been killed, where we pay taxes to support abortion clinics ($500 Billion collectively last year) and where we pay taxes for our government drop bombs on innocent mothers and babies all over the world. There are so few disabled people at the church house, in the restaurants, or any other place you normal people like to go. One restaurant owner, actually said to me, we do not like the disabled here because it makes our other customers feel bad. My hard working tax paying God fearing, great hymn singing Daddy's birthday was on July 4th. He was always working too hard to celebrate his own birthday. Only those reared in the impoverished tobacco fields of eastern NC, 84 years ago when I was a child can know about poverty. My passport has been stamped in 157 countries in the world. I have never known worse poverty than that of my childhood in eastern NC. And yet, politicians-pastors-poets actually talk about illegals doing the hard work that Americans will not do. On this July 4th, 2014, please remember this if you forget everything else I have ever said from my platform or written in any form of communication. "In the American experience, next to slavery, the greatest shame of this nation has been its treatment of disabled veterans and the handicapped." Our fellow citizens may forget and not care about the disabled, the disenfranchised, the discouraged, but, there is nothing between us and our Savior. In that old church, in which I was reared, built in 1874, I can still hear my ancestors, now mostly in Heaven, singing that old hymn, "Nothing Between". 1 Nothing between my soul and the Savior, Naught of this world’s delusive dream; I have renounced all sinful pleasure; Jesus is mine, there’s nothing between. Nothing between my soul and the Savior, So that His blessed face may be seen; Nothing preventing the least of His favor, Keep the way clear! Let nothing between. 2 Nothing between, like worldly pleasure; Habits of life, though harmless they seem, Must not my heart from Him e’er sever; He is my all, there’s nothing between. 3 Nothing between, like pride or station; Self-life or friends shall not intervene; Though it may cost me much tribulation, I am resolved; there’s nothing between. 4 Nothing between, e’en many hard trials, Though the whole world against me convene; Watching with prayer and much self-denial, I’ll triumph at last, with nothing between. Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn/h/372#ixzz36PRuZFvh

June 26, 2020

#1755

For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass  withered, and the flower thereof fallen away: (Peter 1:24).

No airplane can do what a sparrow does. God gave man the intelligence to build an airplane. But, a plane is a very poor substitute for the maneuvering of a sparrow. AND, "God knows every sparrows fall" (Matthew 10:29). 

This writer doubts very seriously if God knows pity on the fighter pilot who shows no pity on his adversary.

In the lifetime of this old man, in spite of the wisdom of man, I have daily seen the portrait painted, pertaining the survival of mankind. Today, a few days after the Summer solstice, 2015 (the two moments during the year when the path of the Sun in the sky is farthest north in the Northern Hemisphere (June 20 or 21) or farthest south in the Southern Hemisphere (December 21 or 22)). The US Supreme Court handed down the most diabolical decision ever made in the history of America, Destroying the sanctity of marriage, the first established sacredness of God, after he designed human beings of different sex, man and women. 

Satan, always ready to take advantage of a situation, using the agenda of perverts, using the agenda of population control, has now forced upon the American people, forced acceptance of same sex marriage. We will see how long it takes the Liberal Theologians, the social religionists, those that have always found that with Christianity, as well as with the business world, as with international diplomacy, you go along to get along, the mantra of political correctness. 

Just yesterday, I lunched with two officials from a Baptist children's home. We discussed the phenomenon of orphans and foster care. I expressed to them the supernatural phenomenon, that I have observed my entire life, the bonding of children with their biological parents. We read and study about abuse in a home. Abuse of children by parents. And yet, there is an indescribable bond dynamic between a child and parent. As they said to me, "No matter how bad the home, no matter how good the foster home or the orphanage, the child still wants to return home."

"No matter how horrible has been the abuse of a parent, physical- psychological- sexual, the child will not talk of it, and still wants to return home." It makes no difference how many men another man will marry or, how many women another women might marry, no two men and no two women can produce a child. And certainly not a child with a bond between them. 

The most mixed up young man I have ever known in my long life, and many such young people have worked for me, both in the military service, and in civilian life, the most mixed up- confused- seething in decadents, was a young man raised by two lesbians. This pretender president, these pretending politicians, want to talk about love. If you want to see real love, parents for a retarded, or terminal sick child. If you want to see real love, as I have several times in my life, a husband who cares for a terminal sick wife, or a wife who cares daily for a husband with Alzheimer's.

God, in his infinite wisdom, we need not ask why... It is his business. Will have some people live a long time... Cant live, wont die. 

One of my friends, his wife at home, small children in school, he holding down a regular job at Sears, had a bed ridden wife. A neighbor or family member would go into their home and check on her during the day. But it was up to him to care for her otherwise (bathing, medicine, physiological stability). It was up to him to clean the house, clean the children, cook the meals, he had a full time job night and day. But he loved her and his children to much to let up one minute. As in our relationship with God, it is a love affair every minute, 1440 minutes in a day, everyday.

You don't think about vacations or retirement. 

I still remember the time before nursing homes, hospice care, even the present day methods of sanitation. It was the challenge of a husband- wife, other family members, concerned neighbors, concerned church members, to keep life worth while to those in a rapid retreat from life. 

This employer has had his fill of young people, who know nothing but cheap love- cheap sex- expensive addictions. I have known too many who, would rather lay on the bed and sleep after a night of carousing, boozing, addictive happy hour behavior, instead of getting up, going to work, and making a living.

This world traveler has seen, from one side of the world to the other, flora (weeds- bushes- trees), growing from cracks in rocks... Roots just stretching down towards nourishment. Loving life, reaching towards the sun. This is real love... Love of life. 

Every night of my life, I sleep on a very old, four poster bed. This is the bed in which my grandparents and parents slept... Normal people, male and female. Human beings who had enough love for life, to produce children, and more important, to raise their children.

The Supreme Court can issue as many edicts as it wishes. But no court house will ever change the love bond existing between parents and children, God and his precious children, precious human life, his chief creation.  

June 24, 2020

Lord, how can we know the way?

(J.R. Miller, "Evening Thoughts" 1907)

Thomas said to Him, "Lord, how can we know the way?"
Jesus said to him, "I am the way" John 14:5-6

This is the first day of a new year. We are setting out on a journey of which we can have no knowledge in advance. The road is one on which we never have gone hitherto. We know not what any day will have for us . . .
  what our duties will be,
  what burdens shall be laid upon us,
  what sorrows we shall have to endure,
  what battles we shall have to fight.

We cannot see one step before us! How can we know the way?

As we sit in the quiet, this first evening, and ask the question, we hear an answer which is full of comfort. Jesus says to us, "I am the way!"

All we shall have to do, therefore, will be to follow Jesus. He has made a way through this dark world for us. He has gone over all the journey and opened a road for us at great cost. He went over the way Himself--we shall find His shoe-prints at every step. 

He has a definite way for each one of us. Every mile of the journey He has chosen--and every place where I pitch my tent He has selected for me!

"Leaving you an example, so that you should follow in His steps!" 1 Peter 2:21

BONUS GEM!

"So Abraham called that place Jehovah-Jireh--The Lord Will Provide!" Genesis 22:14

(J.R. Miller)

Write deep in your heart this New Year's day, this word of sublime confidence: Jehovah-Jireh. It tells you . . .
   that you can trust God always;
   that no promise of His ever fails;
   that He does all things well;
   that out of all seeming loss and destruction of human hopes, He brings blessing.

"You have never traveled this way before." Joshua 3:4. There will be sorrows and joys, failures and successes, this year, just as there were last year. You cannot forecast individual experiences. You cannot see a step before your feet! Yet Jehovah-Jireh calls you to enter the new year with calm trust in Him. It bids you put away all anxieties and forebodings, "The Lord will provide!"

The Lord Will Provide-2014

--Addition Dr. Morris

            The above says it all. Facing the New Year, 2014.

            How does the unsaved face any day? The troubles and trials which we all encounter?

1 Peter 1:7  ^"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:"

            This writer, every day of my life, starts the day, early in the morning with prayer and a private communion service. When that four-inch thick veil was wrent top to bottom, we were given access to God. It is not necessary to go to God through a priest or a preacher. That veil, four layers, the layer closest to the holy of holies--white; purity; scarlet; sacrifice, purple--royalty, blue; humanity. Then, now, later, "Jesus paid it all." I take a taste of wine in humble thankfulness for His shed blood. A small piece of bread, humble thankfulness, for his healing. (You see, I believe that Jesus died for our healing as well as for our salvation.)

            And, I can go directly to Him seeking continuous forgiveness, continuous healing, continuous pleading for daily peace, providing. I know that He is at the crossroads before I get there.

            Too many have said to me, "I don't understand how a totally blind person can continue their faith when they have so many aggravations." For instance, this very day, I paid an employee to clean carpets in a large building which I own and rent out to others. . . I had already paid him for doing the work. Today, I find that he had not cleaned the carpets at all. He lied to me in order to get money from me. These are the "troubles and trials" of this present world (Mark 4:19). We have a generation of people who want something for nothing. How could I, an old, blind veteran, "keep on keeping on" unless I have "blessed assurance" that God is taking care of good as well as bad. This is the way you face every day of this New Year and every year.

"Trusting and Obeying--" Hymn

                                    In His Steps                                                                   June 16,2020



My friends and all those who know me, my sickness, my future as I comprehend it. My doctor tells me that the cancer has taken over so, we can expect death to take over and I want all of you to know that I am well with this.

I am more than convinced that prayers has kept me going on, there are so many that pray for me daily, I have received letters from 10 pastors who stated that they are praying for me also. This is the different that so many of our fellow Christians that don't understand that the very one we pray to for our needs, wants at anytime this most precious scripture comes to mind Hebrews 4:16 " Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need". I pray that we can all learn to pray with all integrity to our heavenly father. What will I do day after day if I didn't have the assurance of his blessings that everyone that pray for me. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You.

Sincerely
Dr. Thomas R. Morris

June 5, 2020

John Piper:

But as for me, I would seek God, And I would place my cause before God; Who does great and unsearchable things, Wonders without number. He gives rain on the earth, And sends water on the fields. Job 5:8-10

If you said to someone: "My God does great and unsearchable things; He does wonders without number," and they responded, "Really? Like what?" would you say, "Rain"?

When I read these verses recently I felt like I did when I heard the lyrics to a Sonny and Cher song in 1969: "I'd live for you. I'd die for you. I'd even climb the mountain high for you." Even? I would die for you. I would even climb a high mountain for you? The song was good for a joke. Or a good illustration of bad poetry. Not much else. But Job is not joking. "God does great and unsearchable things, wonders without number." He gives rain on the earth.".  (https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/the-great-work-of-god-rain).

Most of us choke on the fumes of judgment; we so like to judge one another. Three and a half trillion dollars spent each year in America on health care, which amounts to about $10,000 per person. I don't know how long we can keep this up but we should be glad that we live in a country where its citizens have health care available and we should not easily judge those who spend our tax dollars on frivolous psychological "troubles" or run to the emergency room for just anything that comes up. It is so easy to prevent, so easy to be careful about eating/sleeping/working. I am a great believer in supplements such as vitamins, they're cheap and really do work. Of course, Western medicine, our Western medical schools teach young, health care professionals, "that as long as you eat a good diet, you do not need supplements". Who eats a good diet anymore? All the good minerals have been extracted/leeched from the soil. Surely you can look at the groceries, the counter with vegetables and see that most of them were just hanging on, "mostly alive when harvested".

My main "gripe" with harvested vegetables, the poisons that were sprayed on them in an attempt to control parasites. Needless to say, some young people do not have the intelligence to wash well, their lettuce/cucumbers/peppers/beans, etc., before using them. Not only should they be washed well but soaked in a solution of water and vinegar. I cannot imagine anyone eating a salad that has not been thoroughly washed or anything else that hasn't been thoroughly cooked. Heat still destroys most bacteria/parasites. If you want to know how clean the food that you put into your "temple"; examine it with a magnifying glass.

I must depend on someone else to prepare my food, buy it at the store, etc.; I like vegetables with boiled eggs. One of my assistants brought in a bag of salad mix. I said, "make sure you wash it well". She said, "I think it is already clean, right out of the bag. I see them put it out at buffets, right out of a bag". I said, "get a magnifier and look at all that trash and all of those bugs in that salad mix plus chemical residue". I thought she was going to "throw up" on my food. Since I graduated from the university, almost 70 years ago, 88 new chemicals and chemical compounds have been produced to put on food crops. And we wonder why people get sick...it is not just a small amount but a cumulative effect that does damage to the body.

Rat poison is mostly harmless cornmeal, it is that small amount of arsenic that kills the rat and the genome of the rat is just 5 degrees from that of the human species. Your writer was raised on a farm. My daddy used to say that something was trying to eat everything he planted from the time he put the seed in the ground until the very last. What did our ancestors do before all of these chemicals? They let the birds, chickens, etc., take care of the problem. One of my great aunts had her flock of turkeys trained to walk down the rows of any garden or crop field and rid the plants of insects. She did not spend her time watching soap operas on television, dreaming of having a relationship with one of those "he-she's" that were so good looking, so cute. Like most of the world, television actors pretending to be someone they are not; the doctors on television could not put on a band-aid. I doubt if Martha Stewart has ever seen a butter churn.

We are all living on the corner of function and dysfunction, having lost the ability to think with common sense...now too lazy to even look at a wristwatch, rather we ask Google what time it is; too lazy to even write a complimentary note to anyone about anything. It is so easy to use a cell phone. What are we doing with all of this time we are saving? Do you see anyone, anywhere, involved in God's mission, his work, his ministry? How well I remember the saints at our country church, cleaning their own church, cleaning their own churchyard...and then going to the graveyard and cleaning it. Most of today's young people have not set one foot in their ancestral graveyard, have no idea about the lives, the DNA, that they have inherited.

The greatest forfeiture of the people I know, millennials, baby boomers, even the elderly; a lack of humility. We think we are so smart, take so much pride in having all these blessings of healthcare, technical advances, just dumped in our lap. Pride is the beginning of every sin and we are so proud of what we have accomplished. I never knew my maternal grandmother to get into a car without talking about how "good it rode". You see, she had known bumps in the road, weather beating in the buggy. Even when I was young there were so few paved roads in Eastern North Carolina (highways 17 and 301 going north and south, highway 70 going east and west). Intimacy with God brings humbleness. You function better when you realize that all the power, grace, mercy, of the creator of the universe, available just as much to you as to anyone... this gets you through the difficulties of life and living.

When you consider your hardships, think of our blessed Lord's mother, nine months pregnant, riding on a donkey. Most church people today have the "Pilot's" syndrome, we know what is right but we just want to wash our hands of the entire matter.

Dust and Decay

June 4, 2020

Dust and Decay

“Strong minds discuss ideas, average minds discuss events, weak minds discuss people.” ― Socrates

Loneliness is as accurate a predictor of early mortality as smoking cigarettes. Already, at age 87, I have explained my certain mortality from the disease of cancer. The loneliness of laying in bed gives you much time to think...I have had such an active, remarkable life...academic, military, professional, financial AND THEN, I reached down for a bottle of water by my bed and fell off my bed. My constant companion on my bedside table, Mr. Google Chrome, to whom I can ask any question, such as the population of any city anywhere, the temperature of any place on the earth; any scripture reference; any well known quotation; any telephone number and he says nothing, such as, "what are you doing trying to kill me?" Can anyone even imagine, in my lifetime, where, when I was young, a typewriter was a great invention, you can speak into a "technical marvel" on my bedside table and someone was smart enough to come up with such a development which can answer any question without even a pause. All I have to say is, "Mr. Google, what is the temperature in Perth, Australia? and he immediately replies, "the temperature is 60", no hesitation, no pause, an immediate computer answer. And so it is with anything this marvel of technology. But when I fell, however, he said nothing; my nurse came running and got me back on the bed.

The miracles of knowledge, that someone could, with the human mind, develop such technology. C.S. Lewis said you are never too old to set a new goal, dream a new dream. Modern technology for today's technology scientist is like finding 4 grains of sand on the seashore amid trillions of grains. The average person on a bar stool at a bar's "happy hour" has no comprehension of the ability involved in brain activity, such as analyzing the chemistry of microfibers, such as the physics and mathematics involved in calculating the bending of light rays entering water. This Dr., scientist, retired Army Lt. Col. must confess, here and now, first time in my life, that mentally enshrined in a world of so much knowledge, in order to pass an exam involving the world of quantum physics knowledge I was allowed to use a "tables book" in my exam so that I could look up certain mathematical determinants. I put "cheating" in the book, certain equations and formula's which I knew would come up and which I knew I had not memorized. Little does the world know of the knowledge involved when one has a doctorate such as knowing about the ability of an insect the size of a grain of rice to fly 1000's of miles to pollinate certain plants...transporting material on the insects legs...the ability to determine this DNA under the lens of a microscope. Such dust particle knowledge just keeps piling on, forever, and then, as the poet said, "you die and it all decays". As Shakespeare said "The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars / But in ourselves, that we are underlings.”

So well I remember the day we young, Army, officer, Dr's, filled an auditorium for a lecture on forensic detecting. We were told then that technology had been developed in microbe warfare, where 1 drop of a nerve gas was potent enough to kill everyone in that room. This was over 60 years ago before Russian/North Korea, started using such for their purposes.

We are stupid enough to think that everyone is born with our values, our God given sovereignty of "trust". We trust a piece of paper from the doctor, writing that no one can read and take pills we believe will help us. One of my ex-employees told me that in a restaurant where she worked, if a serviceman/policeman/fireman, anyone wearing a uniform came in, they would all spit into his food before it was delivered to them. Tutsi/Hutu warfare, 1 country, Rwanda, 300,000 killed, mostly with machetes, almost as horrible as the American Civil War where 600,000 were killed mostly with swords.

Hate, mindlessness, has not changed in spite of technology. All life is built around trust, trust that people will believe what you say or write. Trust that you will get what you order and pay for. The human experience of trust is like a holding a small bird in your hand; too tight, and you kill it; too loose, and the bird flies away. You trust others to obey traffic signs, the mechanic who works on your car; the pilot in the cockpit of the plane you are on; the surgeon standing over you in the operating room with a knife.

So, the dust of experience accumulated day after day, year after year and, when you have learned to appreciate human weaknesses as well as human strengths. All this accumulation ends in decay...no matter who you are...your status in life, your joy or challenge of living. How can anyone with good sense desire to spend eternity with the distrust and the hopelessness of decay? If anything would cause a human being to desire salvation the joys of eternal life, a free gift of the Creator of life, it is that certain sovereignty/love and kindness from the Creator of life. Thy love and kindness is better than life. KJV PSalms 63:3.

Interrogating the Interrogator

June 2,2020

Interrogating the Interrogator

Would thou still stand before me? , asked God, 
If I can no longer wash thy sins. 
Would thou still read my scriptures? , 
If I can no longer offer thee a place in heaven. 
Would thou still sing my praise? , 
If I can no longer grant thy selfish desires. 
Would thou still want to meet me? , 
If I no longer have my magical powers. 
No! Never! , said Man, 
Otherwise, I am not Human. 

Pradeep Dhavakumar

Our most valuable possession, our soul created for our conversation with God. It has been my experience in dealing with believers and nonbelievers that our greatest failures, we talk with God but do not listen when God talks with us.

Possession is far greater than professing, and we all have had our days of doubts and fears when all we need to do is just TRUST JESUS.

One of my first experiences in learning to trust Jesus, freshman college student, UNC-Chapel Hill, there at this great university, where I was completely unprepared for any college (from a small country school, 13 in my graduating class, less than 100 in the entire high school) but, there I was competing with the states best from large city schools/prep schools/wealthiest, most powerful families in the state and, it was necessary for me to work as well as take courses. My money had completely run out and my job (at the medical school) was not to pay me for several days and I needed money for food.  I was sitting on a stoned fence behind the Wilson Library, across from the Bell Tower, interrogating my interrogator whether I should call my father to come get me. I knew there was plenty of food at home. Having been given this great opportunity for education and, for the first time in my life, feeling that I was truly where I should be for mental challenge I was so ashamed to give in and give up. But, I told God, just as Job told God, "though you slay me, yet will I trust in You" (Job 13:15). God said to me, just as if he were speaking from the Bell Tower across the street, "in the library of the medical school where you work are large leather chairs. Money falls out of the pockets of those who sit in those chairs, you might want to search those chairs". And so, that night at work, (I worked in the medical school library) I found enough money to keep me going for many days. And so, from pulpits in churches, speakers platforms at civic clubs, my message has always been "though I have failed God many times, He has never failed me". And, now at age 87, body eaten up by cancer, a totally blind veteran for 50 years, I still listen when He speaks.

I was raised in a country church, built 1874 by great-grandparents on both sides of my family, fortunate enough to have known many saints in the family and community but I do not remember as a child, ever hearing preachers talk about this. What a shame that today's parents, today's church members, today's preachers do not talk to the disabled/dying about listening as well as asking. It is like the phrase, homeless veterans, there should be no such person as a  homeless veteran. What is wrong with the veterans groups, American Legion, American Red Cross, BVA, DVA and even churches and civic clubs who put out so much propaganda about their concern for veterans, not yet, has 1 veterans group, 1 church, 1 civic club ever come to my front door about helping me with anything but that is all right, God reminds me every day that He is all I need and we all know the assorted story about veterans administration ineptness. As a medical officer, army hospitals, veterans hospitals, politicians, they just don't care.

No matter what has happened to you, life cannot be afforded. you just thank God for life and living. I write on a piece of paper my prayers and 1 line is always there "take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to thee".

Yet, there must be laughter and enjoyment along with responsibility and the serious side of life. There is nothing wrong with enjoying good food, a good joke, good entertainment, even good clothing and an expensive car or expensive home. God does not bless us in order for us to live like paupers. He expects our best and will load us down with His best. I have seen ships go through both the Panama and Suez canals. They do not always wait for the locks to completely fill with water. There are times when God allows us to cut corners. We are all waiting for 84,600 seconds a day and He does not expect us to keep our nose to the grindstone every second; have some fun/a hobby. Just remember at the end, you cannot relive/purchase back 1 second that you have just thrown away; not even if you have as much money as Oprah or Bill Gates and his wife.

When you get my age you realize just how short life is but for believers we have already started living an eternal existence. This is just a "boot camp" here on this earth where God is determining if He wants us around forever, if we are worthy of His Glory. Just think, the Creator of the universe, the power, grace, mercy who through the stars into space, can measure the Himalaya's with his fingers, who actually took time to dictate a book for us live by "The Holy Bible". And most believers do not even take the time from a life of frolic with unbelievers to read and rejoice in this answer book...the 1 book in the world that has answers to every question, the 1 book in the world that tells us about a Savior by whose life we obtain salvation as a gift, by whose birthday every check/every document is written. Millions of dollars are spent each year by mystified human beings seeking answers from a psychologist or psychiatrist. One of the greatest mysteries of the modern day church, to a member or other having problems, a believer in God sends them to someone who does not believe in God to get an answer. God has told us "Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

My only child, my son, seminary professor, for many years a missionary on the mission field, said that on the mission field, an illness, new believers would pray before they even consulted a doctor. One of the last times I was ever in a churchhouse, a men's bible study, and they were all so happy to have me there. I began to feel like I was going to pass out. Patients have told me that when they get that feeling they soon hit the floor. So, I said to the fine man sitting next to me, I am very ill, I must leave. I apologized to the group and told them I was too sick to stay. The entire group began to pray and by the time I was driven to my house I was fine. 

God can heal cancer if he chooses to do so. "For with God nothing shall be impossible" (Luke 1:37). And to think there are so many so-called believers who never go to the Lord's table. "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes, we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5 King James Version)