Problems & Solutions

#1760

"Open my eyes, that I may see. Glimpses of truth, thou hast for me."

Scatty, cold breath of mentality on the neck. We often project solutions before we understand the problem. Boundaries of all problems have solutions built on eternal values, values already established in Gods answer book, God's word, the holy Bible. One-third of early Americans landing on American soil died from Malaria. They did not know how to handle this disease caused by a small mosquito, Plasmodium Vivax. It is of historical note that most European missionaries seeking to bring Africa to the cross, died from malaria. Many died before they got off the ship, in which they were traveling from Europe to Africa... such a dreadful all consuming disease. Yet, twenty-first century, with a bottomless ocean of technology and chemicals (treatment and cures,) thousands of Africans still die every year from Malaria... when mosquito netting is so cheap, when pesticides are so available. After all, we are not living in a century when 50,000 in London died of the bubonic plague, simply because they didn't know how to handle the fleas on rats. After all, we are not living in a century such as the American Civil War, when 50% of all wounded soldiers died, simply because the doctors did not have sense enough to wash their hands. The greatest cause of disease distribution in the world, civilized or not, are the valuable instruments we find at the ends of our arms... hands with fingers. Hands which hold the dirtiest, germ infested,  much loved, fiat paper money, are holding next, food, which you are putting in your mouth and shaking hands with someone whose hands have been god knows where. We as mortal-mental human beings given by god the brain wiring to think and make decisions, do not have sense enough to control our hands, to wash and keep them clean, as germ free as possible. Microscopic hitch-hikers get into the bloodstream so easily. We have two thousand miles of blood vessels, nourishing every tissue, including the largest organ of the body... the skin. Those of us who study the human body, if we have enough intelligence to do so, marvel that any of us survive. Our institutions of biological sciences have become ivy towered cathedrals of gastrulating manipulation, a wonderland of investigation. Just enough human integrity to pick the pockets of endowment funds, foundations, government grants. Most medical scientists can not get their heads out of the clouds, of complex knowledge, to bring themselves and their patients to a level of common knowledge. When was the last time your doctor asked you about what you eat? The two things that determine health are nutrition and exercise. When was the last time your doctor actually touched you? Most of today's young health professionals can only use their fingers on a computer keyboard... without laboratory studies of your body, they know nothing. This writer has learned, personally, that going to a physicians assistant (PA) you get a better examination and concerned treatment, than you do from "the robber" in the white coat. Most old cemeteries are filled with graves of those who inherited European diseases. The true epidemics of yellow fever, influenza (the early 20th century,) erased entire families and communities from the earth. I'm old enough to remember my grandmothers description of the flu epidemic of 1918. When a family member would start coughing, others in the community still able to work, would start building a coffin. From the old sawmills, used to saw the lumber, for the building of homes and barns (put together with wood pegs.) Wide boards would be "seasoned" to use as coffins. This is what our ancestors endured to build this great nation, which atheists-liberal idea logs are so easily destroying. My progressive friends promote the idea of destroying America because of bad treatment to native Americans. They build hospitals for turtles, rehabilitation for birds, but do not even whimper at the destruction of millions of human babies. Then, to further verify their deity antagonism, they talk of the slaughter of the old testament. The seven civilizations in the "promised land," when the Jews crossed over the Jordan River on dry land, were pagan, sacrificing their own babies in fire to their pagan gods. Have things really changed? Would an aborted baby rather have life sucked from him, or quick immolation. Life and love are essential to healing. God is a great physician, "for I am the Lord who healeth thee..." (Exodus 15:26)

            The Christian should be so ready at the Lords table, to take bread for healing, wine for forgiving. Jews do not read Isaiah 53, it is a precious message for the Christian, written 700 years before the birth of Christ. If god does not choose to heal, "and by his stripes we were healed," (1 Peter 2:24) healed now or later, "Jesus paid it all." In my youth, everything was prosthetic, now I'm living in it. Many times I viewed the "awful" instruments used in surgery and obstetrics, on display in the medical library in chapel hill. It was hard for me to conceive the mental trauma involved, both from the doctor and patient. Yet, with all the advances in knowledge, seeking solutions, have we lost sight of the problem. There are still as many warriors killed from disease as are killed in battle, more soldiers die from suicide then die in battle. More young people die in car crashes and from "exciting" designer drugs, than live to make a better world for everyone. Knowing the value of life, knowing today's opportunities, why do young people seek destruction? If only this writer, from poverty-very poor preparation for anything, could have had a college grant, computer, good diet, maybe I could have made something of myself. No, it is not what we can do with self, as the great prince of preachers Spurgeon said, "anything that makes a man get down on his knees to god, is gain to him." There are those who live in virtual worlds, but we live in a very real world. Jesus, God-man, put on a tent of human flesh and dwelled among us... send us. "If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?" (John 3:12-17)

            In the countless years of my life, as I look at the political and spiritual condition of the world, man has been more interested in the politicians platform than the pastoral pool pit. More interested in what God can do for him, than what he can do for God. We, mortal men, want God in our image instead of our being in the image of God. Now, does the solution to the problem become more evident. We have tried to put the plow before the horse, solution before realizing the problem... same problem, same solution for thousands of years. 

Different

#1756

²⁶ For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called:

²⁷ But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;

²⁸ And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are:

²⁹ That no flesh should glory in his presence.

³⁰ But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:

³¹ That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. (1 Corinthians Chapter 1)

Today's Puritan Audio Devotional:

Thomas Watson's choice excerpts on Scripture
Play Audio! Download Audio

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We soon grow dull, cold, lifeless, and inactive!

(James Smith, "The Great Comforter" 1858)

"It is the Spirit who quickens; the flesh profits nothing." John 6:63

All real religion begins with the quickening of the Spirit. When we experience this . . .
  we begin to breathe after spiritual things; 
  we open our eyes in a new world; 
  we hunger and thirst after righteousness; 
  and at length taste that the Lord is gracious. 
We then have . . .
  new thoughts, 
  new desires, 
  new hopes, 
  new fears, 
  new joys, and 
  new sorrows. 
The eye fixes on Christ, 
the heart goes out to Christ, and 
the chief desire of the soul is to be like Christ. 

The Spirit not only quickens us at first--but all through life we need and are dependent on the Spirit's quickening. He quickens us to pray, and He quickens us in prayer. It is His quickening which puts . . .
  life into our graces,
  energy into our prayers,
  confidence into our expectations, and
  enables us to resist Satan, steadfast in the faith.

If His quickening power is withheld--we soon grow dull, cold, lifeless, and inactive! We have . . .
  no power in prayer,
  no enjoyment in ordinances,
  no liberty in speaking to the saints,
  nor profit in reading God's Word. 
Every duty becomes a task, 
every privilege becomes a burden, and 
every cross appears insupportable!

While under the quickening operation of the Spirit--we can do all things; but without His quickening--we can do nothing. 

Often, very often, have we to cry out from bitter experience, "My soul cleaves unto the dust; quicken me according unto Your Word!" Psalm 119:25

Quickening Spirit, daily quicken my soul!

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We have published J.R. Miller's helpful short article, "The Cure for Weariness".

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Feel free to forward these gems to others who may be encouraged or profited by them!

Dr. Morris-

      This writer, like most people I have encountered inside the church house, caught in the same satanic trap- snare- plight of not wanting to be "different" from those outside the church house. Our lives have been tainted by the need for acceptance of Satan's crowd... Our dress- language- idols. We had rather be popular- proud- peculiar, than show the born again righteousness of Christ which should be shown in any person who has experienced true repentance, lost that old life of sin and indifference. God inhabits the praise of his people (Psalm 22:3).

      Real Christians, different people, care little about the "acceptance" of an unsaved world. Every minute of every day, I want acceptance of a holy God. We find this in prayer. It is a lifelong learning experience that, when you have notoriety, education accomplishment, success in business, houses and lands, even family and friends, you have what THEY can do. But, when you have a daily minute by minute experience with the holiness of God through prayer, than you have what God can do.

      Look around, look at the news, look at what is happening to our world, WE NEED, WHAT GOD CAN DO.

Mothers in Aprons

20 Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.

21 Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

(Colossians 3:20-21 King James Version)

"Love was in the room And new life was born where only death had been Love was in the room And death and hell would never reign again When the glory of the Living God Broke through to the darkness of the tomb The earth was filled with His beauty And love was in the room"

Dolly Parton Hillbilly singer made famous these words in her tune "9 to 5",

"Workin' 9 to 5, What a way to make a livin' ,Barely gettin' by, Its all takin' and never given."

This writer, like Winston Churchill, when talking to his biographer about his mother said, "she was my first and greatest teacher". I thought, how could I explain to anyone that my mother always worked from 5 to 9. How could I possibly explain her tiredness when she sat at the table with her family, after working all day in the fields and otherwise, still preparing a meal and, When I was a child, (85 years ago) she had none of the modern conveniences. Every meal cooked on a wood burning stove. We did not have power lines so there was no refrigeration, no electric pots, toasters, mixers, or anything to make cooking easier.

 If anyone were to ask me the secret of what "propelled" this nation into this worlds superpower status... Super in military, education, research, commerce, Christianity. My answer would be "the mothers of our nation." Most mothers I know, certainly including mine, did not let their children bask in the comfort zone of laziness. Instead of letting them sit on their assets reading trash magazines more recent years, watching trash television, or the only exercise in their life; just moving their fingers on the computer, they made sure they were stuffing away in their minds, the brain power they would need in their chosen areas of endeavor.

Successful motherhood involved tough love. They love their children enough to discipline, made sure their children did not become what THEY wanted them to become,  but what GOD wanted them to become. No mother can be proud to think their child is a leech off their neighbors, or fellow productive citizens. I have never known a parent who did not take pride in productive children, grandchildren, even if as fortunate as this writer, great-grandchildren.

Most mothers I knew, and certainly my own mother, and grandmothers, did not make "idols" of their children... That their children could do no wrong. 

No one can grow or develop in a comfort zone, amid trust funds, amid the spoiling of parents and grandparents. "Into each life some rain must fall" on every beautiful rose bush, there are thorns, every road cannot be bump free, even Jesus said," In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). The apostle Peter told us that our trials and tribulations are worth more than gold. You must have slavery to self, in order to be truly free. The productive life does not come easy, homework, memorizing, reading, show me your books and I can predict your future. Fill me in on your habits, and I can predict your success. You must learn to separate your needs, and wants. We live among broken people, in a broken world. Surely with all the economic successes of this country, we have learned that nothing is forever... The man on the ladder to success, even in 21st century America, often finds that he placed his ladder on the wrong construction site. That is why it is so important to be kind to the little people on your way up, because you might meet them again on your way down. 

I still remember my mother preparing a plate of food for someone sick in the community. No matter what race, no matter what economic class, she wanted them to know that she cared, and everyone liked her cooking.

 How could a farm mother not be a Christian? My mother and grandmothers, were known for their aprons (a protective or decorative garment worn over the front of one's clothes and tied at the back).  I remember each of them with their aprons full of produce from their garden. Or a setting of small chicks taken from under a setting Hen. They knew about seed time and harvest, they understood young animal life... The preserving of excess food. The churning of milk for butter... Did not need a recipe book. My mother, grandmothers, and the women of their time, knew about drowning and drought- dry years and wet years. They knew about hard work, they honored having a husband who through sweat supported his family. They never thought about vacations or retirement... Would not know how to shuffle a deck of cards. But, they did know how to advise the young mothers in the community on the raising of children. They did know how to deliver babies when a family couldn't afford a doctor, lay out the dead when the family could not afford the mortician. 

I am so glad my parents dragged me to their country church to sit on hard benches. Showed me by example the "dignity" of hard work, showed me by example the treasury of savings. Showed me by example to profit and pleasures of reading. In that tomb AND our blessed lord was buried in a borrowed tomb, road on a borrowed staple. Love was all around, "God is love" (John 4:7-10). In the stable, in his tomb, every corner, every molecule of the walls-air-ground, love was "all around". When godly mothers are with children, friends, neighbors, we know that love is all around. 

#1727

Court Room Proof

Prove it!

"In thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

Psalm 16:11

Dr Morris's Favorite Verse off Scripture

(J.R. Miller, "The Glory of the Commonplace")

It is related that the famous French artist Gustave Dore was once wandering in the mountains of Switzerland, when some officials met him and demanded his passport. "I do not have it with me," he replied, "but my name is Gustave Dore." "Prove it, if you are," replied the officers, knowing who Dore was--but not believing that this was he. Taking a piece of paper, the artist hastily sketched a group of peasants who were standing near, and did it with such grace and skill that the officials exclaimed, "Enough, you are Dore!"

In the same way, the world cares little for a mere profession. We say we are Christians, and the challenge is, "Prove it!" If we are of Christ, then we must do the works of Christ, live the life of Christ, and show the spirit of Christ. The artist's skillful drawing proved his identity. Just so, we must prove that we are the followers of our Master by the love, the grace, the beauty, the holiness of our life.

Religion is not merely a matter of creed and profession, or of church-going and public worship; it is far more a matter of daily life. It is not how we behave on Sundays, nor the kind of creed we hold, nor the devoutness of our worship--it is the way we act at home, in school, in business, in society, in our associations with others. It is vitally important that all who profess Christ--shall manifest Christ's beauty in their life and character. It is not enough to preach the gospel in words alone; others must also read it in our daily life. "So that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders." 1 Thessalonians 4:12 

"Whoever says he abides in Christ, ought to walk and conduct himself in the same way in which He walked and conducted Himself." 1 John 2:6 

The favorite author of Dr. T.R Morris, is John Grisham, Oxford Mississippi. Grisham is one of the nations most prolific writers, a master of the legal thriller. Totally blind, Dr. Morris uses a reading machine. His favorite books are legal thrillers

In speaking, many places, many pulpits, Morris often asked the question, "If you were accused of being a Christian, would a capable-experienced lawyer be able to prove it?" Unbelievers have often asked Dr. Morris if he could prove the existence of god. There are two matters with which the Atheist cannot become satisfied in their un-belief. One is the fact that all human beings have a conscious. To know, at least to some degree, the difference between good and evil-right and wrong.

           

The other mystery to the unbeliever, that god is care taker of the planets. Like shells on the sea-shore we are discovering one galaxy after another. The Hubble telescope was put into outer-space in 1990, it has been repaired five times since. Each time, its reach into has been expanded... A further and further range, great dark spaces with stars. The universe not expanding, but the ability of the telescope to see further. From nothingness, to somethingness, the creator of this universes has every star named

"He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name." Psalm 147:4

Would the most radical evolutionist, the most stalwart unbeliever doubt this? If only those of us to claim the name of Christ could have such proof-positive identity.

Like the women crawling just to touch the hem of gods garment we need the holiness of god. For she was saying to herself, "If I only touch his Garment I will get well." Matthew 9:21

If only the Christian could realize the power of the creator, the fact that he always meets us at our need.

           

The scientist, the Christian, is not desperate to know the vastness-distances of the galaxies of the universe. But he does need to know his relationship with god. Those around him need to realize his relationship with god. It is the hypocrisy of Christians that keep more of their fellow man from god than their lives lead to god. If the un-believer saw within the life of the believer, a truth-trust so attractive that they would want the same thing, the world would have already been won to Christ.

I am so glad that I sat on those hard wood benches in that old country church built by my ancestors when I was a child. I am so glad that as a boy on the farm, nothing but hard work and hard times, in the good Earth, and from the rain clouds, I learned the proof of gods existence. The professors at the University were not able to wash this proof from my convictions. 

#1723

Out of Focus

#1565

June 17, 2013

"Out of Focus"

"Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
  In the light of His glory and grace."

           

            The people I have known all my life, family, my parents friends (and they knew everyone), never called me Doctor, always by my first name, the greatest compliment to me. Early one morning, Mrs. Blanche Davis, (a fellow student of my father in high school) called me at home (Thomas, I must see you in your office as soon as possible, I don't know what's wrong with me, but I'm in bad shape. My blood pressure is very high). When she arrived at the office, she said, "everything is so blurred, nothing in focus." This was at a time when styles of eye glasses had changed. The gold -rimless types have been replaced by a combination of gold and plastic, difficult to distinguish between men's and women's styles. It turns out, that she has put on her husbands glasses (Mr. Clee Davis) and evidently he was wearing hers. A simple problem for one truly remarkable wonderful couple. The problem, in my life time, the world and everything in it has gotten out of focus.

            In thinking of focus, most people think of a camera attempting to get a good photograph. I'm from the time of light meters, Traveling the world, (eight-round world trips, passport stamped in 157 countries) this mostly blind man carried five cameras, one with a internal light meter. Traveling associates would often make sure my camera was focused; and I have remarkable photographs.

            Doctors, lawyers, architects, even denominations, are organized within certain bounds of focus. It is beyond comprehension that professional groups, uncompromised church leaders, even concerned parents, would let the world -flesh -devil so drastically change their focus.

            Of course, we live in a world of change. In our all inclusive government, a government which has changed totally in my lifetime, Power which was limited to Newtons laws -power brokers, -economic and political power, changed our way of thinking in 1945 with the introduction to atomic power. Now, everyday of our life, we must consider the power of terrorism.

            Most fat -sassy people, overfed, (50% of the American population diabetic) forget that one of every six children in the world goes to bed hungry. We loose focus that a family of four tends to throw away $2,275 of food annually. There is nothing as barbaric as a buffet, fat people gorging themselves on food, plate after plate. There are people on my street, who actually order pizza delivered to them. This writer has never ordered food delivered to him in his life, not in a five star hotel. The world has made a big deal of the new pope, Father Cardinal, preparing his own food. Many of us, even those of us who are blind, has always prepared our own food (someone asked President Abraham Lincoln WHY he was polishing his own shoes, the down to earth focused President said, "I am the one wearing them".)

            Parents have lost focus with children. Can one even imagine a "bender day" in elementary school, boys coming to school dressed as girls, and girls dressed as boys. The gay agenda, homosexual parasites of this world (Obama and his ilk) must be happy in the knowledge that children and parents eyes are so easily dimmed and dumbed. And we are conflicted about physiologically troubled youth, the physiologist now the pastor.

            On every doctors desk (Doctors cannot remember everything), a P.D.R. (Physicians Desk Reference) some hypochondriacs have such. In the small print these books that get thicker every year, we find everything except the admonition (the body has a remarkable ability to heal itself). Stay focused on God's healing ability.

            When anyone says to you, I do not believe in God, bring the matter of rain to their ears. Gods magnificent plan for the universe, 3/4 of the Earth's surface covered in sea water, this water evaporates from the sea, condensates in the air, through magnetism, salt removed rain droplets, one billion 600 million gallons to cover an area of inch of rainfall,  dropped so lightly that the most tender plant is not bothered. Rain, plotting of blood, man cannot duplicate God's powerful focus.

            Recently, long -dry summer, rain finally came to the country side where I was reared. How well I remember the rejoicing of the farmers when rain finally came -crops growing inches over night. BUT that country church where I was reared, the pastor from his air conditioned fox hole, not when I was a child but now paved roads, "the ditches are full of water we will cancel prayer meeting".

            The greatest focus supernatural, beyond the comprehension of the unbeliever, a sinner, saved by grace born again, when the righteousness of Christ invades your very body and you no longer see trough your own eyes, but the righteous eyes of the holy spirit of Christ. Your entire focus is Christ, not the old you, because you are a new creation. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17.  Most loose focus of the rare jewel of salvation, even the spectators -pretenders who inhabit church houses.

            Surely Americans knew their government, their political system, was totally out of focus when they saw Monica Lewinsky testifying in the well of the U.S senate. Since the impeachment of that president, things have worsened.

            Surely, those who study their bible remember that God led three million slaves out of Egypt simply because he wanted to save them. But, in the wilderness, because of their unbelief they all died, except for a few, who like in the flood of Noah's day were saved (Noah, his wife, three sons and their wives saved in the great Deluge of 5000 B.C.) God's book has all the answers, believers need to stay focused.

Dr. T.R. Morris
Lt. Col USA Retired
Blind/Dictated
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Branded

Still in use today the old wild west method of branding livestock. Using a hot branding iron, burning into the hide so ownership is always clearly determined. With sheep or animals whose coat is of value, an ear-mark is used and, with a dairy herd, an ear tag in the ear. In this age of technology, a small chip less than the size of a grain of rice is installed in the hide of many pets and, according to the Obama plan, healthcare in the future will be determined by a small chip in the hide of human beings... a chip showing your identity, health history, etc.

When meeting a fellow disabled person, I often say, you are wearing and bearing your brand well. I truly believe that God has branded many of us for His own purpose, with the brand of blindness, deafness, crippled infirmity. Eternal life does not depend on your doing anything, God will take care of everything and, if it means wearing a certain brand, enduring a disability like the Christian life itself, we will handle it well.

The Christian life is an journey not a destination. I can tell you this without fear of contradiction, that if your family, friends, associates do not call you a nut, because of living your faith, you can be sure you are not a Christian. YOU NEED TO GET SAVED.

Jesus preached Himself. His resurrection authenticated His message. His resurrection was an eclismic experience to those who knew Him best. History tells us that Jesus lived, even the agnostics agree to that but, you must believe that He was raised from the dead.

Everything in the universe proves the existence of God, the heavens declare the glory of God. (Psalm 19:1) Our sins were forgiven before Jesus was born, but He expects repentance. And, the world, the flesh, the devil... the sophisticated. Comfortable church members want nothing to do with repentance. The Christian, disabled or not, is branded forever with the eternal security of knowing that in life or death we are protected by His powerful right hand. (1 Peter 5:6) Peter knew the powerful right hand, in the shortest prayer ever spoken, save me. One can always tell earnestness in prayer by it's shortness. Jesus did not ask him about his faith, He just saved him. Most of us depend on Jesus when we have run out of our own resources

They were on a boat in the sea, with storm, wind and waves. Jesus came walking on the waves toward them. Impetuous Peter stepped out of the boat to walk toward Him, and Peter did walk on the water. (Peter walked on water further than any of those who have criticized him) but, like most of us who are branded, he took his eyes off the Lord, looking at the wind and waves. Jesus reached down His hand for him, saved him and, as with us, he got into the boat with him, accompanied them all and, as with us, available for the next miracle.

As with us, the circumstances are always there before the miracle, before our time of need AND they were there afterward. God does not change the circumstances before or afterward, only us. Not one giant in God's Word was changed because of a change in circumstances.

Terrible Roman tyranny, terrible social problems, all fled the crucifixion scene except John BUT, something that proves the resurrection, something that fortifies your faith, those who witnessed His resurrection, amid the circumstances, experienced a radical change in life, they were never the same again. I have seen the Himalayas, I have seen India, one can only imagine the disciple Thomas walking that distance as a witness. Bartholomew, skinned alive in Armenia; Luke, hanged from an olive tree in Greece; Mark, dragged through the streets of Alexandria, Egypt; Peter, crucified, hanging upside down in Rome. There was no communication, no one had conjured up the resurrection story. They were alone, knew they would never see one another again. Men may die like this for truth, but not for a lie. They were witnesses, knew that He had come out of that grave. Molecular displacement was nothing to our blessed Lord, He created it. Near the very end of the Bible, we have these words which should be branded in your heart. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (Revelation 21:4)

I thought I understood the eternal security of God through Jesus Christ. Then, I saw a father walking down the street holding on to his son's hand. Then, I knew eternal security. It was not the son holding on to the father but, the strength, the eyesight of the father holding on to the son... Branded.

Ancient of Days

As one ages, younger think of you as being ancient. Speaking of the Depression of the Great Depression, even those of moderate means cannot imagine “What it could have been.” The IMF, and even England's Federal Reserve headed since 1973 by Sir Gordon Richardson, have said that we are headed into a Global Depression.

Even the prophet Isaiah, living around 800BC referred to olden times when the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea (1400 BC) as ancient times. (Isaiah 46:10)

Remarkable, the book of Isaiah, 66 Chapters, closely paralleling the 66 books of the Bible.

From Old Testament Isaiah, to the New Testament, about 600 years, the “so called” dumb years, when God did not reveal Himself to the world.

From Romans to Philemon, we have a message to the church. Perplexity and complexity of many, toward the Bible, the mixing of law with the redemption and grace, of Jesus Christ. Perhaps Paul, shown as a short, unattractive but brilliant Jew, was miserable in his explaining the Christian's relationship with the law as found in the seventh chapter of Romans... even more so in the book of Hebrews. Through, salvation, through Jesus Christ, freedom from the law, still trying to keep the law... Saturday, Sabbath, etc. Entire denominations, claiming Christ as their savior (Seventh Day Adventists). Employees telling me, that they will not answer a phone from 5pm on Friday afternoon until 5pm on Saturday afternoon. Much like visiting Israel, Jewish hotels, which serve cold food on their Sabbath. I have known women in Baptist churches who would not cook, on Sunday, the Lord's Day.

The very foundation of our knowing right from wrong, the Jewish law, on which all law is based, yet fulfillment by Christ of that law, giving us freedom.

Confusion comes in not understanding the difference in law and grace. The law of gravity, laws of motion, laws of sowing and reaping, were as fundamental in ancient times as modern times. Essential that we learn that God is all wise, Sovereign in everything, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.

Anyone can count low hanging apples on an apple tree, the seed inside one apple. We have not learned to “roll our burdens” onto God. (Psalm 37) We have not learned that God can determine all the apple trees from one seed, all wise God. 500 billion stars – He named them all. If your students, you send to college, were sufficiently indoctrinated by you about the wisdom of Ancient of Days, they would not fall so quickly prey to the wisdom of college professors (Romans 7:24) For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. (Romans 7:15) The important word in this seventh chapter is the word concupiscence (Romans 7:8) Sin is like a virus. The DNA of a virus leads to multiplication, supposed to multiply themselves, just as sin increases. You in Christ and Christ in you, redeems you from such.

Faith is a verb, “action based on belief, sustained by confidence.” We have the confidence of forgiveness. Sins of the past, present, and future.

Many of us are confused in the keeping of many laws, certainly not ceremonial law. But, the tithe is the Lord's, whether we give it or not. All my life, I have heard preachers and teachers who are supposed to know better, speak of giving your money as a tithe. We own nothing, all belongs to Him. We return His tithes to Him, along with our offerings.

The apostle Peter is the best example I can think of in his and our special relationship with Christ. Peter did not lie before Pilate, rather before servants. To whom do we lie? We have acts of faith everyday, valleys of weeping throughout life (Psalm 84) No room for compromise, just go through these valleys, prove Him, do not hesitate with tithes, offerings. (Malachi 3:10) (Although Peter denied Christ three times, on resurrection morning, Christ specifically asked that Peter be notified.) (Mark16:7)

We cannot reduce God to our performance. The Holy Spirit of God dwelling within the real Christian replaces the spirit of law and death.

It is time for men to put on the whole armor of God. Ancient Athenian warriors, going to war for Athens, returned from battle either walking or laying dead on their shield.

Cheapness

Martha Berry (1865-1942) founded the Berry Schools at Rome, Georgia, never marrying, she devoted her life to the education of poor children from the tenant farms of Georgia.  The schools were started in a small church called “possum trot” still on campus.  Later in life, many philanthropists including Henry Ford contributed much money to her efforts because of her philosophy that students must learn to use the hands head and hearts and her philosophy “not to be ministered unto but to minister.” They paid their way through college by working on the farm.

Early in Miss Berry’s educational vision she went to the richest man in America, John D. Rockefeller, an American billionaire even at that time, and asked him for help. He gave her one dollar (he was known for walking around the streets of NY and handing out dimes) she went back to Mr. Rockefeller, some years later, and thanked him for the dollar again, and told him she bought $1 worth of seed peanuts which were planted by the students on the Berry farm and that his one dollar had made thousands of dollars in peanut production.

Recently, I heard an uninformed young man on a radio talk show state that most wealthy people travel on their own private jets.  I called and informed them that J Paul Getty, another American billionaire, founder of Getty Oil Company, like Rockefeller, a world philanthropist, said, “ He would fire any man who worked for him who did not ride coach class in a plane”.

Once in my life, traveling the world, I was “upgraded” from coach to first class. I will have to admit that you are treated much better in first class. But someone as cheap as this writer, as frugal as I have been from my youth, I would ride in the rumble seat, on a plane, if it were cheaper and available. From my earliest days, I have been called cheap, miserly, etc.  My college friends called me “iron pockets”, I did not, and do not spend on anything, unless it is absolutely necessary. The money you spend, you can never invest, it is gone forever. By living frugally, my entire life, I educated myself (my education came long before the time of grants and scholarships), and with the help of God invested in securities and real estate, which has enabled me to be generous to schools, churches, and God’s work.

Cheapness is not just a matter of money. I cannot imagine any female cursing herself with cheapness, so that she would sell the intimacy of her body and soul to anyone on the street willing to pay for sex. But, like Hosea’s wife Gomer, she at least got paid for her sexual activity much to the disgrace of her husband Hosea. But to the church people of Hosea’s time who would criticize him for having a wife, just a common prostitute, he would say then as today, her clients pay her. The religious people then as now, are the prostitutes and they do the paying.

Almost as mysterious and nonsensical, those who consider their lives so cheap (remember, you only go around once, this is not a dress rehearsal), who abuse their bodies and destroy their health with drugs (alcohol is a drug), overeating, not getting enough rest, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Regardless of how conservative we can become in our purchases in the smart buying of real estate, securities, etc. we should still keep in mind that our fellow man has a right to make a living.  When I go to a restaurant, the service station for my car, or even paying my electric bill, I want to pay a fair price because I know the person who furnishes the service or pays people who furnish  his service, they have lives, families needs and they need to make a living in their chosen work.  Likewise, employees deserve to be paid as promised for the work they do “for the labourer is worthy of his hire”. (Luke 10:7)  it has never bothered me to pay someone to do something for me that I cannot do for myself.  I just want to be treated fairly.  I have told this to audiences for years, I have two rules for business practices, 1. I charge what I would be willing to pay. 2. I treat everyone as I wished to be treated.  If you will follow those two rules of business practice you will never be broke. 

A form of cheapness I will never understand, for those who are blessed with a good mind, why they do not learn everything possible.  There is so much knowledge in the world, so many good books have been written, so much good music has been recorded, so many good photographs have been taken, scenes painted, why not avail yourself of the worlds knowledge.  Instead of spending your time, using your eyes and ears, choking on bones when you could be gorging yourself with the meat of the ages.  A child wants to learn, who will soak up knowledge like a sponge. If a mother reads to a small child, that child will love reading and the mystic of a great imagination. Life goes by so fast, as you get older you realize it.  There is no time for the foolish exploits of mediocrity.

In life, every step we take is either towards God or away from God. Every step, every thought is important.  Don’t cheapen yourself by going in the wrong direction.  At the great Notre Dame cathedral in Montreal, Canada, I once saw a man crawling up the steps evidently crying and praying.  On the street outside Paro in Bhutan high in the Himalayas, I encountered a man who likewise was crying and praying as he crawled down the street. I do not believe either of these are expected, but we should be wise in our steps. Charles Shelton, in his famous book, In His Steps, states that our greatest work is that expended on others, the steps we take, the sounds we make, the work of our hands, is not cheap. We are the most expensive designs of God’s creation, there is nothing cheap about us. God valued us and put such a great price on us that he sent his beloved son to redeem us. There is nothing cheap about the redemption in Christ.