#1824 Homecoming

Home Coming

(Abortion has many victims beyond the child who is destroyed. Were all the abortions to stop tomorrow, the Church's work of healing these other victims will have only begun)

            There is no hill for the self possessed victim to climb. God loves you as you are, wherever you are , but he refuses to leave you there. We all had a starting point, before the foundation of the world, God chose each of us for life (Psalms 139) Marvelously created, one sperm cell of a father, one of millions fertilizing the cell of our mother, producing an individual unlike any other person who has ever lived on this earth. Each of us have 64 trillion cells in the body, each cell capable of producing 100's of pages of data detailing ones ancestry. Life has no guarantees, many innocent babies actually aborted. On one of this world travelers trips to communist China, my guide told me that his sister had produced five baby girls, each of which were strangled by her husband. In that communist, godless society, one child law to a couple, the husband wanted a boy but, this old blind veteran cringes to think that America is heading in the same way as communist China...57 million babies aborted in America since the Supreme Court decision of 1973... the most innocent life, they had never done anything bad to anyone. And yet, we have the nerve to talk about terrorism in other places. Just think, and how could anyone not believe in the omnipotence of the creator of the universe when you consider that like every snowflake that has ever fallen- every grain of sand on a seashore- every person possesses a personhood, finger print, voice and even flex in the iris of the eye, different from any other person who has ever lived. We wonder why 72% of the children from church-going homes leave the church after they enter college. They have seen their parents and church members base their "supposed" faith on feeling, not fact. Christianity is not complicated, just difficult. Christianity is fact not feeling. Even at the old country church (built by my great grand parents in 1874) as a child, I saw everyone base their redemption on a bellhop type salvation, they just called on God when he was needed.

            Even the thousands of different denominations, each thinking it has the true message, believes that God needs them rather then they needing God. In my lifetime, 85 years, with the world completely changed, I have seen organized religion turn into a Madison Ave. type fantasy. Who needs the Grace of God when you have government largess, when you have welfare handouts instead of hard work, when you have politics instead of prayer?

            The one message I have had great difficulty getting across, speaking in pull pits, before groups of every type, the supernatural redemption gift of God when the old man of sin and redemption is replaced with the new creation, salvation experience of being born again by the holy spirit of God. You have within you something which only you can understand, which your family, friends, and no one else can comprehend unless they too have been filled with the holy spirit of God. When you have this new creation, Christ in you, when God looks at you he sees Jesus.

            Perhaps I can explain patriotism on very much the same level. Church members like to fight the battle against Satin from air condition fox holes, they really don't believe, they really don't believe in the mission of the church. The warrior , on the front line, having within himself the spirit of love for God, family, Country will risk his very life. Only the true warrior; true soldier knows the inner conflict of seeing his fellow soldiers dead bodies (in Korea) stacked up like cord wood. ... in the middle east, from Islamic; radical; terrorist comrades must pick up the pieces of their friends. This is what the inner neurology of mankind endures.  With much of the same emotion, the child loves his home. In this writer's prayer life every day, I pray for the refugees, migrants, hungry children all over the world, displaced by the warfare of mankind. They do not have a home. I have written about it before. What I saw on the border of Pakistan... refugees from Afghanistan carrying everything they owned in big sacks on their backs...small children, barefooted in rags, clinging to the only thing they had regarding a home, their parents.  

            The home place where I was raised, in my family for many generations, the first thing my old uncles would do when they arrived at our home, go to the old well (hand pump), a clean glass for my mother and start drinking the water. King David of the old testament wanted water from his home place in Bethlehem (2 Samuel 23:15, 23:16) even Jesus taught us about a drink of water. No water like the clean water from the country home place (the tragedy of modern city living, water poisoned by chloride and floride)...the lie of the century, drinking poisoned water top prevent tooth decay.

            Down the road, up a path from the farm where I was raised, the old Hinnant homestead, one Saturday, each summer, the large beautiful cars would pass our house headed for the long deserted house in a big grove of trees where the family would still have their homecoming. The land had stayed in the family...no one lived in the old house but a family member kept the grounds in order, the old hand pump in working condition. God helps people who have no memories; no love affair with parents, family who have gone on. They would bring their lunch, would take flowers out to the graveyard where parents; grandparents were buried and have a good time rejoicing in the memories of their childhood...their heritage. They were all people of wealth, but not to "stuck up" to remember.

            Likewise, in the woods, not far from my home, on the land of another relative, an old black church ...just crewed benches one Saturday to the year, wealthy black people from town, driving large cars would park up and down the highway, make their way with food baskets and fold up tables to sing and praise God for his blessings, then and now.

            As a child, I never could understand the homecoming at our old country church. when old people, some living far away would show up for that day. Only in recent years, as an old person myself, can I understand their tears as they would enter the church hearing the old hymns that they knew as a child. It is mans possession of a soul, that gives him these emotions, separating man from his fellow lower animals. 

MFS ( More Free Stuff)

April 16, 2016

#1815 Sink or Swim

2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.

The man with words, Mr. Webster, shows us in many dictionaries that words mean something. In my lifetime, 85 years, I have seen the honor of work replaced by the desire for indolence... Generations of people growing up in homes depending on welfare checks... willing to live off the hard working people who pay taxes. Shame is a lost word in most vocabularies. It is no longer a shame not to work. To honor illegitimacy, whether a baby born to UN-witted biological parents, cheating-deceiving at the tax office, with a plastic card or anywhere else that the law does not extend. 

We would never have believed, as Americans, that a socialist-communist such as a Senator Sanders would ever have been elected to the U.S. Senate, let alone, become a "rock star" among young college students as he seeks the Presidency. I come from a generation where it was an honor to have a job, to provide for your own future and that of your family. My parents, ancestors never thought about retirement, vacations, or even entitlements. Our social security came from hard work and faith in an omnipatent God. Adam and Eve, wearing leaves, were imposed with clothes by God and were told to spend their lives working. Everywhere on this earth that communism has been tried, it has failed. Basic as breathing, basic as a conscious, the fulfillment-enjoyment of work.

Mr. Sanders and other liberal socialist, mostly of the Democrat party, want free college, free public housing, free food. This writer knew the fulfillment-joy of hard-work ( Going to school during the day and working at night) to get through 8 years of University education, I received no "free stuff" from any direction.) In my mind, as I worked to get my education, was the hardworking parents at home, not ashamed of their sweat as they had labored to get me through my early years of schooling.  The thought was always there "They had done the best they could".  My meager preparation, small country school, thirteen in my high school graduating class. Hardly prepared me for the University, but " there was no free stuff", it was a matter of swim or sink.

The best education in the world, the best preparation in the world for dealing with people, selling bibles, door to door, in the hot summer months. My ability to deal with patients, my ability to "hold on" to a dollar, to empathize with common people, came from these years of struggle. God help anyone who has not been through the struggle. "Free stuff", regardless of things or idols do not contribute to a productive future. The LARGER your egotism-your desire for entitlements- the more your dependence on government, the SMALLER your God.

It took me a long time to unpack the excessive baggage I was carrying around... the poverty I had experienced and seen,  the injustice all around us, such as, "Why good people suffer" and the rich and famous seem to escape all responsible behavior.  I could not understand the abuse of children, abuse of the disabled, abuse of the elderly, and the abuse of innocent animals. Abuse of any type is so ugly.  Our world is chewed up with ugliness and God does not like ugly. "How could God allow such injustice?" and then came the military... my experience with warfare. How could God allow the destruction of innocent children... homes for which poor people had worked and, as I traveled the world, how could I understand the inequities in many cultures-nations. God let me know that he did not prevent the sadistic treatment of his own son... Gods own son, perfection personified. Jesus, went to a cruel cross, the most sadistic method of death.

On a remote island in the South Pacific a University professor from a great center of Education, asked me if I would still believe in God IF he could prove to me that God does not exist. I told him, "Your efforts would be futile. You see, the holy spirit of God lives in my soul. God is as real to me as the very air I breathe."

There is a difference in the words free and gift. Mankind is besieged by the four letter words sale or free. God gave man the world and everything in it. He gave us his only son as a gift and belief in his son gives us life eternal.  This is true liberty, true freedom.

#1807 "Running On Empty"

#1807

"Running On Empty"

      

"My people have committed two evils: 
   they have forsaken Me--the Fountain of living waters, and 
   hewed out cisterns--broken cisterns, that can hold no water." 
Jeremiah 2:13

  This writer was born a conservative, I get a little sick of hearing politicians and talk show hosts talk about conservatism.  Most know nothing about conservation. When one has lived in poverty, when one has made every penny count, when one has lived totally dependent on the sovereign god of the universe he can call himself conservative and not just conservative in finance but conservative in thinking. Eating, Dressing, responsible for every action, the true conservative does not throw away food, clothing or anything that can be used by himself or someone else. This writer does not own one article of clothing that was not bought second hand or one piece of furniture in my house that was not purchased second hand (you cannot invest one dollar that you have spent). Since I have lived so frugally I have been able to invest, multiply many-times every dollar I have ever made and have been able (because of this frugal lifestyle) to give "cheerfully" (God loves a cheerful giver - 2 Corinthians 9:6-7) to Christian causes around the world.

  Often, this has gotten me into trouble, attempting to drive a car on gas fumes or attempting to reach a gas station with cheaper gas, you could call this "Running On Empty". I do not believe that I have ever bought groceries or anything else which I needed unless buying from a sales paper. If I cannot buy things I need on "special sale" then I do not need it. Their is a great deal of buying what we want than instead of what we need. I never knew what it was like to order from a restaurant menu what I really wanted, rather I always bought just what I needed at the cheapest price.

  Now, you can well imagine my consternation in thinking that I must choose from those "Running for On Empty", wanting to be president of the united states, "What a choice"...a communist such as Sanders - the wife of a decedent - impeached president such as Clinton or on the other side of the card a billionaire "sideshow" performer such as Donald Trump.

   I once owned a condo in Manhattan for many years at the corner of 56st and Park Ave. On the corner of 56th and 5th ave, NYC, was the Trump Tower. A friend took me into the Trump Tower one time (which Trump lives on the very top). Limousines where constantly pulling up to the outside bank of elevators that took the Trump crowed up to the Trump penthouse. The place was well guarded and my friend said he had never seen so much brass and gold "reminders of Solomon's Temple". After the little "blowup" between  "The Donald" and "The Vatican's Pope" (the Vatican also a place of much brass and gold) Trump "testified that he was a good Christian". God is much more interested in how we achieve than what we achieve, I wonder if Trump wants the American public to find out how he achieved his wealth. What we are in Christ, in Gods economy not like the worlds economy or an IRS form, completeness in Christ. Trump boasts of his success, mankind has a way of measuring success, money-power-things, this is not Gods measure of success. The truly successful man discounts self and has a measure of humility.

  Satan hates the idols of men, "hunger for power", greed for money, anything that keeps men from loving one another. "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. - John 13:34.

  This old, blind, veteran wants to remind all of you that will vote, "YOUR COUNTRY IS RUNNING ON EMPTY". Firstly, your country is broke, 19 Trillion dollars admitted debt, 100 Trillion dollars in debt to pay all the "Gimmie-Feel good extravagances of politicians buying boats". For instance, to show you the extent of debt which your decedents will pay - 1 Millions seconds was 12 days ago, 1 Billion seconds was in 1976, 1 Trillion seconds 31,709.8 years ago. Yet, you have politicians "running on empty" promising your children and grand children "free healthcare, free college education as well as freedom in all lifestyles".

  Their was a time when young people where lauded for working there way through college. This writer, (born in poverty on a dirt road). no power, phone or water-lines) worked his way through 8 years of university education, took much pride in giving his professional healthcare services to those in need. There was a time when responsible men and women of faith and patriotism did not covet welfare and did not conjure up reasons for living off the work of others.

  Secondly, your country has lost its moral foundation, "Running on Empty" your country has become a profane culture. Nothing marks this more than the abomination-holocaust of abortion. God will not allow any nation to escape the wrath that tears his chief creation from the womb of the mother. Abortion is casual in a Godless culture such as the Godlessness of communist China and Communist Russia. But, remember, their are more Christians in communist China than the population of the United States. Christianity is contagious in every communist country because the evil heart of man, on either side of any boarder is gratefully redeemed by the righteousness found in the knowledge-atonement of Jesus Christ.

  Thirdly, most real Christians know the absurdity of same sex marriage. The born again Christian knows the evil involved in the Homosexual agenda. The child of God knows the consequences of armed forces where "political correctness" putting women on the front lines in war will only bring disaster. We do not worship a "Bellhop God"  one on whom we call just when we need him. He is either lord of all or not lord at all. He is worthy of our life and every action of life.

  In the Christmas movie "It' a Wonderful Life" The  father of George bailey ,Peter Bailey to George "At the end of life the only thing worth having is what you have given away" "Running ON Empty", it is hard to give anything away.

#1806 Cleanliness and Godliness

#1806

Cleanliness and Godliness

 People who are trying to do good for their families and the planet by living a simple life based on traditional skills are facing yet another assault. Artisanal soap makers say new regulations, proposed by Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-California) and Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), will put them out of business.

The view of Sen. Feinstein and her corporate backers (listed below) is that the Personal Care Products Safety Act (Senate Bill S.1014) will make the world a safer place by scrutinizing “everything from shampoo and hair dye to deodorant and lotion.” She says the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act should be more progressive like laws in Europe rather than antiquated US regulations in effect since the 1930s.

If the industries that back this law are really so concerned about safety, why don’t they voluntarily make healthy products, like the small time producers already do?

Feinstein does not propose to ban these dangerous ingredients from soaps and cosmetics, just regulate them with tests and warning labels, fees, and recall authority. She thinks some of these products, though harmful to health, magically become “safe when used by professionals in a salon or spa setting.”

Companies and brands that support the bill:

• Johnson & Johnson, brands include Neutrogena, Aveeno, Clean & Clear, Lubriderm, Johnson’s baby products.
• Procter & Gamble, including Pantene, Head & Shoulders, Clairol, Herbal Essences, Secret, Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Ivory, CoverGirl, Olay, Sebastian Professional, Vidal Sassoon.
• Revlon, brands include Revlon, Almay, Mitchum
• Esteee Lauder, brands include Esteee Lauder, Clinique, Origins, Tommy Hilfiger, MAC, La Mer, Bobbi Brown, Donna Karan, Aveda, Michael Kors.
• Unilever, brands include Dove, Tresemme, Lever, St. Ives, Noxzema, Nexxus, Pond’s, Suave, Sunsilk, Vaseline, Degree.
• L’Oreeal, brands include L’Oreeal Paris, Lancome, Giorgio Armani, Yves Saint Laurent, Kiehl’s, Essie, Garnier, Maybelline-New York, Vichy, La Roche-Posay, The Body Shop, Redken.

  Sighted people learned long ago that society does not care and can not improvise with them, and so it is with poor people, poverty stricken cultures, those who know nothing about there life, there methods of survival cannot appreciate there struggles.

All those sightless," a blind veteran" god wanted me to sense the world and I have been a world traveler most of my life.  I was often invited to embassies and wealthy homes. But, my main interest was in seeing what the common folks where doing.  I had come from the common people, born on a dirt road, no power, phone or water lines.

   The heart of any people in Africa or Asia is the village market. 50 years ago when I began my round the world exploits, like the home in which I was raised. These village people did not have the technology of power lines, refrigeration or any of the convinces of modern living.

 They, like early America, depended on there own "common since skills for survival". Cleanliness and sanitation was as important to the poverty stricken people just as it was the wealthy. There was just home made methods for gaining it.

  I still remember 80 years ago, my mother and grandmothers making soap in a large black wash pot in the "wash house" or over a fire in the backyard.  My folks were land owners and in addition to our home was a smoke house, milk house and a wash house "a place where laundry was done". This was long before the washing machine "It was the time of the washtub and scrub board".  The lye soap which my ancestors formulated and made was used for laundry and everything else...this was before the time of Soap Operas on T.V. and radio. They knew nothing of laundry detergents. Rather, owned a washtub, scrub board and a large piece of lye soap that they used for washing clothing and bedding.  Such was hung on lines in the fresh air and sunshine. Today's youth resent using a machine, with many cycles doing all the work and a heat dryer doing everything but hanging their  clothing in there closets. It would do the worlds youth (especially spoiled Americans) so much good to live like my primitive ancestors, at least for a few weeks. So they could appreciate what has been handed to them at such a great cost

  My grandmother referred to store bought soap as sweet soap. I remember, only to well, the first piece of sweet soap I ever saw. One of my mothers friends (a school teacher) gave me a small piece of ivory soap that a promoter had given to her to give to her students.

  Often, remote corners of the world among really poor people, me, staying in a nice hotel, I would take the hotel soap and give to the women in the village markets. These mothers were almost as happy with a piece of soap as their children were with a piece of candy.

  Africa, Asia, even in eastern NC when I was a child, water was a very valuable gift. Water was the one uniting substance that met the needs of our blessed lord and a sinful woman at a well. Weather buried with Christ in baptism, "raised to walk in newness of life" nothing in life is more important than water. This old Army Doctor would lecture to the troops  "Your water canteen is more important than your weapon". The two female U.S. Senators have probably never wanted for anything and have never known anything accept the aroma of expensive cleansing agents. "Don't expect those who have never wanted anything to understand the problems of those who have had little or nothing".

#1805 Detoxify or Die

Detoxify or Die

Song of Solomon 2:15

"Catch the foxes for us, The little foxes that are ruining the vineyards, While our vineyards are in blossom."

  In Shakespeare's Hamlet, " To tine own self be true." This writer is true to his creator ( truth is truth whether anyone believes it or not). And, we can only imagine the holiness of God and history. When God created the world, and everything in it. He placed for man's benefit everything that a man would need.

  When this writer was in Pisa, Italy, looking at his great leaning tower (The Baptistery outside the cathedral), I can only imagine Galileo on it's balcony, with his little telescope surveying the greatness of the universe. One can only surmise Zacharias Jansen, inventor of the microscope, when he saw the microbiology available with such magnification.  This primitive technology, compared to today's bottomless ocean of technology was hidden from men for thousands of years.

  Sixty years ago, when I was a student of Biology, Cytology: Histology, bacteriology. Most of today's most threatening diseases were unknown... Such as cancer and diabetes. Likewise, mystery of mysteries how a small pill entering the gut could so influence the homeostasis of any organism. We could not conceive that the gut itself possess almost as many bacteria as the trillions of cells in the body.... such cells determining the digestion and health of the organism. Nor could I conceive of the effect "trace chemicals and minerals" could have on the organism and pathologies that effect it... Even can cause death.

  For those of you with allergies, sneezing, wheezing, just put a taste of natural honey in the mouth and see how fast your allergies will stop. And, we wonder why honey is referred to in God's words... The answer book for all problems.

  As a health practitioner I would say to patience, " Subtraction is as important as addition, elimination of waster from your boy is as important as adding nutrition to your body... and by that I mean correct nutrition. Not the man made substitutes. (Most food stuffs found in grocery stores have less nutrition than the packaging in which they arrive.) Your body, the greatest of God's creation is a temple not a dumpster.

  I remember the invention of plastics into our world. Until then, paper was on your dry cleaning, you used paper cups, plates, napkins, chair coverings. Now, everything you use in your daily living contains the chemical equations of plastic. EVEN, we know without a doubt, that plastics are used for "fillers" in our food, particularly in pet food. The organism cannot assimilate, digest synthetics. AND, we wonder why there is so much sickness why the greatest part of the family and the nations wealth is spent on "sick care." Your doctor never talks about cures, only treatments. "Big Pharma" wants every person taking several expensive pills everyday.  Notice your TV/Radio ads. Almost all are promoting medicines of one type or another.

  One escapes most of lives challenges, even the challenge of disability and sickness. One never escapes what poverty does to you. as one raised in poverty (Dirt road, without power, phones or water lines.) I know the cost of poverty. And, from patients of poverty I know the cost of putting off going outside in bitter weather to an outhouse for elimination/urination.  The first step in detoxification is elimination and urination. You must remove the refuse of digestive and cell metabolism from your body. Children should be taught, just as important as real food, the importance of constipation and bowel/colon cleansing. I have found that most skeletal (joint pain) comes from abuse to the metabolism of the organism.

  Most of the vital organs of our organism function to cleanse (liver, kidneys, lungs etc.,). The largest organ of the body is your skin. And your skin has the ability to detoxify. when people got dirty, hard farm work (sweating), the skin in direct contact with the "good earth" with all the earth's store house of minerals, there was a great detoxifying of the organisms. But, we got so sissy, so clean, (showers everyday, chemical deodorants etc.,) And, in the auxiliary areas where there was the greatest need for detoxifying pores engorged with chemicals.

 

  As important as detoxifying, keeping healthy the organism, detoxifying the mind. Most of today's sicknesses are triggered by stress and discontent. One of my aunts said to me one time, "the greatest sound I ever heard was your grandmother laughing." You don't hear much laughter anymore. This writer remembers those days eighty years ago. when people would go to town on Saturday. There would be visiting up and down the streets, laughter of friends. On Sundays, our Lord's day, the church yards would be filled with that "outer court experience" of believers greeting and showing affection to one another before they entered the house of worship where, in true Christianity, they had that all important experience of truly detoxifying their minds. By filling their minds with the great spiritual experience involving the love of God through their redemption in Jesus. Just as important as the physical detoxification to the human body is the spiritual detoxification of the human mind. When the mind is detoxified (anger/greed/jealousy/lust etc.,) One does not need addictive chemicals such as alcohol, tobacco products, and products of the poppy field( heroines and opiates).

  God has chosen you for life. The healthy mind wants to stay alive. Living is more than getting or even giving. Living is learning to get rid of things that limit your longevity and enjoyment of life. Detoxify or die, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

#1804 Charles, and all the redeemed, R.I.P.

#1804

Charles, and all the redeemed, R.I.P.

"The Lord delights in you!" Isaiah 62:4

Is It Possible, that such poor, depraved, unworthy creatures--can be the objects of Jehovah's delight? Yes! The infinite love of God has been fixed upon us from eternity! Because He loved and chose us, He sent His only-begotten Son to die for us! He sent His Holy Spirit into our hearts to regenerate us!

"You have loved them--AS You have loved Me!" John 17:23
Yes, the Father has loved us--just as He has loved Jesus--with an infinite love! 

Every believer, though . . .
  his faith is weak,
  his fears are many,
  his corruptions are strong,
  his troubles are great, and
  his temptations are sore--
is the object of Jehovah's delight!

Let us therefore endeavor to pass through this day, yes, and every day--believing and realizing: 
"I am Jehovah's delight!
 I am the object of His highest love!
 I am the subject of His sweetest thoughts!
 I am His portion for evermore!"

O incomparable privilege! 
Wondrous source of comfort, holiness, and love! 
You have more cause for gratitude than an angel!

  This week I learned of the death of my friend Charles Couey, Nashville, TN.  Like this writer Charles was blind, a committed Christian, Pastor, husband-father and friend of my only Child (Dr. John Morris - South Western Seminary). The last time I talked with Charles by phone, we talked about our eternal life and the glory of having eye sight.  He said "I most want to see my blessed Lord". The greatest grace and greatest desire of the real Christian - To see our Savior face to face.

  How do the unsaved approach the inevitable certainty of death?  The mortality rate is still 100%. I simply believe that most people with whom I come in contact just refuse to face the fact of death. Most think that everyone is going to heaven, even though there was never repentance of sin or any evidence that they trusted in God.

  I so remember the day of my own mothers death. We had returned from the hospital from where she had died. Family and friend had begin to fill our wonderful country home. The wife of one of my mothers cousins, a woman who my mother loved dearly, came over and sat next to me on the front porch. Of course everyone new of my mothers impending death from cancer.  This cousin had lost her only child in an automobile accident a few years before.  She said "Thomas, I do wish I told Sallie to tell Eddie how much I still love him". It never occurred to her that her son, who had never given any evidence of being Christian, never attended church and lived a boisterous- rowdy life had gone anywhere but to the same place as my Christian mother. When are believers and nonbelievers going to realize that everyone that dies will not rest in peace "RIP"

  The greatest consolation-comfort in the world, at ones own death or the death of a loved one is the grace of redemption which Jesus paid for on Calvary. This writers greatest wealth, and I have been blessed with making the wealth of capitalism is the certain knowledge that I am already enjoying eternal life at the sunset of my life, age 86, I know that I will experience clinical death. The unsaved, will not only experience clinical death but are already dead while living.

  Charles and I could not experience, from sightless eyes the beauty of this world-sunsets-flowers-tasty food BUT, because we have a great insurance policy, because we signed a blank check giving our lives, our all, to the cause of Christ we will have the enjoyment of seeing what God has prepared for those who love him.

Wasteland

 

 January 25, 2016              #1803

      

Wasteland    

                                                                 

Turn off the television
It is not necessary for relevance. And it is a deadly place to rest the mind. Its pervasive banality, sexual innuendo, and God-ignoring values have no ennobling effects on the soul. It kills the spirit. It drives God away. It quenches prayer. It blanks out the Bible. It cheapens the soul. It destroys spiritual power. It defiles almost everything. It is unnecessary for most of you, and it is spiritually deadly for all of you. (John Piper, "Preaching as Worship: Meditations on Expository Exultation," Trinity Journal 16, 1995)



Television, the Great Life-Waster
Television is one of the greatest life-wasters of the modern age. And, of course, the Internet is running to catch up, and may have caught up. You can be more selective on the Internet, but you can also select worse things with only the Judge of the universe watching. TV still reigns as the great life-waster. The main problem with TV is not how much smut is available, though that is a problem. Just the ads are enough to sow fertile seeds of greed and lust, no matter what program you're watching. The greater problem is banality. A mind fed daily on TV diminishes. Your mind was made to know and love God. Its facility for this great calling is ruined by excessive TV. The content is so trivial and so shallow that the capacity of the mind to think worthy thoughts withers, and the capacity of the heart to feel deep emotions shrivels. (John Piper, "Don't Waste Your Life" 2003)

"I have kept my feet from every evil path, so that I might obey Your Word." Psalm 119:101 

   ~  ~  ~  ~

This Writer, Speaking at a youth conference, Southern Baptist Convention 1955 said, "If Satan had wanted to design something to make children just as mean-sinful as possible he would have designed a television set" So enticing, addictive, this sewer of decadence has invaded almost every American home... seducing young people into its "coma" of indolence.  I understand that most children spend many hours a day just watching the trash and why not? They watch their parents, TV Lounge Lizards spend their good hours in this waste land

Do you understand why murder, sexual perversion and every known sin of decadence, how this nation has become so profane ?

There are so many examples I could give about the extravagances of television watching:

Adult-Intelligent men addicted to watching millionaire sports figures running up and down an athletic field.

Adult-Intelligent women living their life fantasies via soap opera characters (Most of whom are well known sexual pervert who have nothing to offer the world but their looks and voices) AND, if the desert of television were not enough, comes the computer and the snare of the internet, AND, if the sewer of the internet were not enough, now comes all of the temptation-decadence  of the ages wrapped up into a small hand held instrument called the cell phone. And, parents can not understand why their children have become so irascible and unconcerned about everything decent, Why the prisons are full, Why the court houses-half way houses are full.

Most education comes through the eyes, light impulses gathered by the retina of the eyes and transferred through the optic nerves of the eyes, through the brain and registering- interpretation at the back of the brain. You do learn some things through hearing-smell other senses. This blind man eye doctor reminds you to thank your blessed lord for your sight. Guard what you see and limit through the righteousness of a Holy God . The seducing attractions of the world which Satan so easily provides.

Have you noticed that the American dumbed-down society-civilization has become so addicted  the television that every fast food restaurant, every health care office, EVEN the garage where you get the car repaired has a T.V. set running non-stop . As I have told so many parents, Satan wants your children and he has found that he can seduce-captivate your children, Just as he has done with adults by offering to them every carnal thought seductive to the heart of man. " As a man thinketh in his heart, so he is               Proverbs 23:7

#1802

Conscience-Technology and Common Sense                                      # 1802  Jan 21, 2016

Did you ever hear the dream of Gutenberg?

(George Everard, "The Importance of Reading" 1885)

Did you ever hear the dream of Gutenberg? He was just about to put forward his invention of the printing press, and it seemed to him as if an angel came and spoke to him:

"John Gutenberg, you have made your name immortal--but at what a cost! Think well what you are doing! The ungodly are many more than the godly. Your work will but multiply their blasphemies and lies. You have uncovered the bottomless pit--and a swarm of seducing spirits shall henceforth come out and turn earth into Hell. Oh think of millions of souls corrupted by your achievement. See the poison of fiends distilled into the souls of boys and girls, making them old in the experience of sin! See that mother weeping over her depraved son, and that grey-haired father hiding his face from his daughter's shame. Destroy your press, for it shall be the pander of blasphemy and lust! Destroy it, and forget it! Forbear, by multiplying the resources of the wicked, to make yourself through all ages the partaker of their crimes!"

We are all aware that the dream has had a very sorrowful fulfillment. Amidst the vast amount of printed matter sent forth daily, it is to be feared that the evil sadly exceeds the good. None can tell how the minds of multitudes are corrupted by the publications that they peruse. Therefore, my friend, be careful what you read!

Give heed as to what you read. If you knew that on the table there were poisoned dishes, as well as food that was wholesome and nourishing--you would be on your guard, and touch nothing about which you were doubtful. Just so, exercise wise forethought as to the books and magazines you take up and peruse.

It is true that "as a man thinks in his heart, so is he." But it is no less true that as a man reads--so very much will he think. Mind, memory, conscience, imagination, will, affection--all will be influenced by that which you read.

The questionable novel, with its picturing of the worst passions of the soul, as is too often the case--ought not to be devoured as if it would leave no bad impression behind. I know quite well, that we all need recreation, but it is not genuine recreation to spend hour after hour pouring over that which is trashy, nonsensical, and worse--and will only unfit you for anything higher and holier.

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You may want to read Miller's superb 2 page article, "Books Worth While".

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

            21st Century Life is a bottom less ocean of Technology. Your Blind Writer, Veteran of The Korean War Era was for many years an Army Eye Doctor with s field Grade Officer rank . I studied Eye Development in Children By the age of 5 there is enough bi-lateral muscle control so a child can read... All of the knowledge of the Ages. This Writers passion was books. One can recover from most diseases, Even Disabilities but, you never recover from poverty. I n books you can escape and in your mind seek and find anything even the eternal

            Like all things, always the other side human beings  waste 4.4 billion hours each year viewing pornography. by way of the eyes the optic nerve system which goes through the brain giving sight at the back of the head, seeing is a learning process. I still remember, 60 years ago, the first pornography magazine I ever saw  ... Shown to this young boy by an adult. But, Just think of all the great books I have read studied collected. I have 5000 wonderful first editions here in my house I can not see or read them but I do enjoy feeling them. thanks to Gutenberg and others  I can still see my grandmother reading the large print testament Which I gave her. Thanks to Alexander Gramm bell and Others my ancestors could talk by phone  with family members who they seldom saw. Much Evil comes from the Telephone and the Television, The Computer, The Micro Wave Oven Even The motor vehicle. But think of the good. With empty hands you grab for the good', Rid your hands of the trash your conscience - common sense knows the difference And, God knows and Cares

Happy New Year ...Quo Vadis

#1801 Dec 31 2015

Dec 31,  2015                                                                                             #1801

           

                                           Happy New Year....Quo Vadis

  Follow! Follow! I would follow Jesus! Anywhere, everywhere, I would follow on!- Hymn I would follow Jesus.

 "Jesus said unto him: Follow Me!" John 21:19 

the different phases of His Life. We have heard many of His words. Now it remains only for us to follow Him. The outcome of seeing and knowing Jesus--should be holy living and doing. The last day of the year suggests also the same duty.

Who is satisfied with his life as it appears in retrospect? The past, however blotted, must go as it is; we cannot change it, and we need not waste time in regretting. But the new year is before us, and if we would make that better than the stained past, it must be by following Christ more closely.

If you are as rich as the queen of England , Bill Gates Or Donald Trump at the end of life, Clinical Death, You can not buy one more minute

Whether many years pass, or even this past year, you can not erase one cruel word or one callous action that did affect someone else nor, can you change one word or action directed at you. it is all a matter of forgiveness...The beauty of Life is the matter of  giving god, The Giver of Life(No Scientist has ever been able to produce life...Plant or Animal), God gave his son AND His Son gave His Life to Redeem we mere mortals from a life of sin and rejection I can this as a health professional If You Want healing , Learn to forgive. One Great Spinal Surgeon told me, "Most back pain can be cured by the simple act of forgiving"

This Writer Left  organized religion years ago because I had so much trouble with pretenders and performers Jesus just wants me to follow him. I have so much trouble with the generalized, mostly American Montra of calling most people not jewish-muslim-Buddhist Or some other "religion" Christians . The Word Christian means Christ Like and I Know very few church members who are Christ like . Most of us Can not even Imagine the Holiness of God. Most of us can not measure up to the "Ideals" of the truly surrendered Christ-like life

In the Famous Play " A Street Car Named Desire" The Heroine Blanche Dubois Said, Before the final Curtain, " That She Owed so much to Strangers

In Traveling the World, My Life, in many places , I am sorry to  report to you That often Strangers shown This Blind Man more Empathy-Consideration-Kindness Than people on the street where I live, Even my Fellow Man at the Church house , Court House or Even Family Houses

The Christian Life is a relationship with god, real not conjured by any activity. Things and people that have impressed my life came mostly from strangers or people that i will never know . I will never forget that poor-shack  Church House, in the woods where, during the blight of Slavery , black human beings met to worship the God of us all I still remember as a child , 80 years ago , The black people around our farm ( there were few cars even for white people) walking long miles to their church...even in bad weather. I still remember seeing migrants on the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan ( Carrying everything they owned in large sacks on their backs,) dressed in rags, children barefoot on an icy road fell on their faces when the call for prayer came from a mosque AND, Thank God, I still have a memory of my own father going early to our country church to build fires or open windows, winter and summer for the comfort of our fellow church people I am so glad that I have seen real worship which is truly following one worthy of worship. 

We are not stuck where we start I rejoice That I know Salvation. I Take Joy in Knowing that the Real, The Best, Is Ahead. We Do not live a life of checklists Churchianity, Certain things you do : Certain things you do not do. We do not live a life of "Bell Hop" Religion, Calling on God when you need him. True Christianity is not complicated, But Difficult. Our Redemption is a gift. following Jesus gives us the joys of eternal life now as well as later. So, Happy New Year, Quo ...Vadis (Where are you going?) : This Year, Any Year, I can Attest, You may Fail Him, But He Will Never Fail You