Quotes Well Worth Reflecting On

Quotes Well Worth

 Reflecting On

¨    When a deep injury is done us, we never recover until we forgive. - Alan Paton

¨    My life is in the hands of any fool who makes me lose my temper. - Joseph Hunter

¨    If a small thing has the power to make you angry, does that not indicate something about your size?

¨    The more a man knows, the more he forgives. - Catherine the Great

¨    One of the most lasting pleasures you can experience is the feeling that comes over you when you genuinely forgive an enemy - whether he knows it or not. - O. A. Battista

¨    People who invite trouble always complain when it accepts. - Lane Olinghouse

¨    People who fight fire with fire usually end up with ashes. - Abigail Van Buren

¨    I always prefer to believe the best of everybody it saves so much trouble. - Rudyard Kipling

¨    Love is an act of faith, and whoever is of little faith is also of little love. - Erich Fromm

¨    People hasten to judge in order not to be judged themselves. - Albert Camus

¨    To do injustice is more disgraceful than to suffer it. - Plato

¨    In order that all men may be taught to speak truth, it is necessary that all likewise should learn to hear it. - Samuel Johnson

¨    If I were to begin life again, I should want it as it was. I would only open my eyes a little more.

¨    If all but myself were blind, I should want neither a fine house nor fine furniture. - Benjamin Franklin

¨    To have more, desire less. - Table Talk

¨    To ease another's heartache is to forget one's own. - Abraham Lincoln

¨    There are two freedoms: the false where a man is free to do what he likes; and the true where a man is free to do what he ought. - Charles Kingsley

¨    Love is what you've been through with somebody. - James Thurber

¨    The quickest way to become an old dog is to stop learning new tricks. - John Rooney

¨    Show me the man you honor, and I will know what kind of man you are.- Thomas Carlyle

¨    Doubt isn't the opposite of faith; it is an element of faith.- Paul Tillich

¨    How you spend your time is more important than how you spend your money. Money mistakes can be corrected, but time is gone forever. - David B. Norris

¨    Dig the well before you are thirsty. - Chinese Proverb

¨    Always put off until tomorrow what you shouldn't do at all. - Morris Mandel

¨    I have always held firmly to the thought that each one of us can do a little to bring some portion of misery to an end. - Albert Schweitzer

¨    Reflect upon your present blessings - of which every man has many- not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some. - Charles Dickens

¨    To err is human; to admit it, superhuman. - Doug Larson

¨    The hardest thing in the world to open is a closed mind. - Modern Maturity

¨    In about the same degree as you are helpful, you will be happy. - Karl Reiland

¨    Do not let the good things in life rob you of the best things. - Buster Rothman

¨    Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored. - Anonymous

¨    There is nobody so irritating as somebody with less intelligence and more sense than we have.  – Unknown

¨    A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.  - Reader's Digest

¨    Patience is the companion of wisdom. - St. Augustine

¨    Know yourself. Don't accept your dog's admiration as conclusive evidence that you are wonderful. - Ann Landers

Well Said

WELL SAID      

In My Utmost for His Highest, Oswald Chambers writes “the author who benefit you most is not the one who tells you something you did not know before, but the one who gives expression to the truth that has been dumbly struggling in you for utterance."

Max Lucado sure does that for me.  Following are some miscellaneous Scripture verses followed by his thoughts on them. See if you do not find, as I did, great expression, and grace in them as well.

Matthew 6: 12  Give us the food we need in Christ each day.  Forgive us our, sins just as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.

    We've all have made mistakes and will all make some more.  The line that separates the best of us from the worst of us is a narrow one, hence we'd be wise to take seriously Paul's admonition: why do you judge your brothers or sisters in Christ?  And why do you think you are better than they?  We will all stand before the Lord to be judged  (Romans 14:10)

Your sister (brother) would like me to remind you that she (he) needs grace.  Just like you need forgiveness, so does she (he).  There comes a time in every relationship when it's damaging to seek justice, when settling the score only stirs the fire.  There comes a time when the best thing you can do is accept your brother (sister) and offer him the same grace you've been given.

Isaiah 46:4    Even when you are old, I will be the same.  Even when your hair has turned gray, I will take care of you

    Growing old can be dangerous.  The trail is treacherous and the pitfalls are many.  One is wise to be prepared.  You know it's coming.  It's not like God kept the process a secret.  It's not like you are blazing a trail as you grow older.  It's not as if no one has ever done it before.  Look around you.  You have ample opportunity to prepare and ample case studies to consider.  If growing old catches you by surprise, don't blame God.  He gave you plenty of warning.  He also gave you plenty of advice.  Your last chapters can be your best.  Your final song can be your greatest.  It could be that all of your life has prepared you for a grand exit God’s oldest have always been among His choices.

Be a good listener. Your ears will never get you in trouble.

Light From Many Lamps

My Dear Friends,

I have edited a truly representative selection of inspiring quotes that have done much to encourage and instruct me. I trust that you too will find something in these quotes to amuse you, to instruct you, and pleasantly while away a few moments of leisure time that you don’t know what else to do with. I suggest that you keep these quotes at the bedside or on a close table, to dip into as needed. Browse them now and then and enjoy in small stimulating portions. I hope you find something keyed to one of your needs.    Al T

"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."  
Gandhi

"We are shaped and fashioned by what we love."
Goethe                                                                       

"If you haven't any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble."         Bob Hope

"The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight but has no vision."    Helen Keller                                                                                                                                                             

"Joy is not in things! It is in us!"                                                                              Benjamin Franklin

"Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see."                     Mark Twain

"By the time a man realizes that maybe his father was right, he usually has a son who thinks he's wrong."                                                                                                     Charles Wadsworth                                                                                                              

"Where all think alike, no one thinks much."                                                              Walter Lippman

"To avoid criticism do nothing, say nothing, be nothing."                                             Elbert Hubbard

"You learn something every day if you pay attention."                                                     Ray LeBlond

"We all need someone who inspires us to do better than we know how."                           Anonymous

"All who have meditated on the art of governing mankind have been convinced that the fate of empires depends on the education of youth."                                                          Aristotle
                                                                      
"The recipe for perpetual ignorance is: be satisfied with your opinions and content with your knowledge."                                                                                                                   Elbert Hubbard

"It is the responsibility of every adult to make sure that children hear what we have learned from the lessons of life and to hear over and over that we love them." Marian W. Edelman                                          

"Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it."  

George Santayana

"I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma."                                        Eartha Kitt

"If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail."  Abraham Maslow

"You can educate a fool, but you cannot make him think."                                                The Talmud

"The monotony and solitude of a quiet life stimulates the creative mind."                  Albert Einstein

Lord, You are the light of the world, be the light of my soul. Make me eager to hear your voice and to follow your holy words in my daily life. Grant me a great unselfish generosity to give You more of my time and attention. I ask this in the Light and Truth of Your Holy Name.   Amen

The Dart Test

                                                        

The Dart Test

A young lady named Sally, relates an experience she had in a seminary class, given by her teacher, Dr. Smith. She says Dr. Smith was known for his elaborate object lessons. One particular day, Sally walked into the seminary and knew they were in for a fun day. On the wall was a big target and on a nearby table were many darts. Dr. Smith told the students to draw a picture of someone that they disliked or someone who had made them angry, and he would allow them to throw darts at the person's picture.

Sally's girlfriend drew a picture of a girl who had stolen her boyfriend. Another friend drew a picture of his little brother. Sally drew a picture of a former friend, putting a great deal of detail into her drawing, even drawing pimples on the face.

Sally was pleased with the overall effect she had achieved. The class lined up and began throwing darts. Some of the students threw their darts with such force that their targets were ripping apart. Sally looked forward to her turn, and was filled with disappointment when Dr. Smith, because of time limits, asked the students to return to their seats. As Sally sat thinking about how angry she was because she didn't have a chance to throw any darts at her target, Dr. Smith began removing the target from the wall.

Underneath the Target was a picture of Jesus. A hush fell over the room as each student viewed the mangled picture of Jesus; holes and jagged marks covered His face and His eyes were pierced. Dr. Smith said only these words...

"In as much as ye have done it unto the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me." Matthew 25:40. No other words were necessary; the tear-filled eyes of the students focused only on the picture of Christ.

We pray today for the victims of violence and war. We ask your healing, O Lord, for those who have been wounded in body, hurt emotionally, and broken spiritually. For the refugees who have been forced out of their homes because of war and destruction, we ask your protection and guidance. Amen

Shalom

Question: What Happens After We Die on Earth?

                         QUESTION: WHAT HAPPENS                                                  

AFTER WE DIE ON EARTH?

George Barna is founder and president of the Barna Research Group, a marketing research firm in Ventura California. He has been named among the most influential Christian leaders in the nation.

I found this story in one of his books. (He is a best selling author of more than 30 books).

THE STORY IS TOLD of an encounter with the devil. Satan entered the home of a man, sat down on his couch, leaned forward with a big smile, and made his pitch.

"I'd like you to sell me your soul."

The man's eyes narrowed as he sized up the devil. "What are you prepared to offer?"

Still smiling, the evil one replied, "In exchange for your soul, I'll give you all the money you could ever want plus fame, power, and respect."

The man sat back in his chair and pondered the offer for several minutes. Finally he muttered out loud, "Hmmm, there must be a catch."

I make bold to speak like this, but that man, along with millions of Americans, and most Christians today truly has no clue. The exchange summarizes the relative unimportance many people attach to their spiritual essence. Millions do not understand the existence and workings of evil, grace, salvation, the soul, Heaven, and Hell. Displaying typical American optimism, we assume that if we mean well and try hard, everything will work out for the best. Barna says, “our national surveys consistently identify a paradox. On the one hand, most people have not confessed their sins and accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. On the other hand, more than nine out of ten adults believe that when they die they will experience eternal life. Of course, this is a contradiction only if you possess a biblical worldview. Otherwise, that pair of perspectives seem to fit together as naturally as eggs and bacon.”

Scripture asserts that your soul is the most important aspect of your existence because it is eternal and its vitality is directly related to your experience with God.

(See Matt. 16:26)

You engage in thinking, speaking, and behaving through your physical being, but the final effect is experienced by your soul. Therefore, how you express interest in and commitment to loving and obeying God will determine your soul’s ultimate outcome. (See Proverbs 24:12, Matt.10:28, Isaiah55:3).

After you die, your soul will continue to exist in the eternal state. What can you do to prepare your soul for a positive eternal experience?

I again remind you: fervent study and religious discussion honors God.

                                                                                                                         Al

Christmas Thoughts

          

 I wish you from the bottom of my heart a New Year filled with kindliest benedictions

Al Thiery

HERE ARE A FEW QUOTES FOR 

 “SPIRITUAL THINKERS”

Such is our dependence upon God that we are obliged not only to do everything for His sake, but also to seek from Him the very power. This happy necessity of having recourse to Him in all our wants, instead of being grievous to us, should be our greatest consolation. What a happiness is it that we are allowed to speak to Him with confidence; to open our hearts and hold familiar conversation with him, by prayer! He Himself invites us to it.

                                                                                                                     ... François Fénelon

Two thousand years of failure have not taught some reformers that you can't stop sin by declaring it illegal. Two thousand years have not taught them that you can't save a man's soul by force -- you can only lose your own in the attempt. Drunkenness and gambling and secularism and lechery -- various hopeful churchmen have earnestly tried to outlaw them all; and what is the result? A drunken nation, a gambling nation, a secularist nation, an adulterous nation. And, often, a ruined Church. ...                                                               Joy Davidman,

We find not in the Gospel, that Christ hath anywhere provided for the uniformity of churches, but only for their unity.                                                                                  ... Roger Williams

I have a capacity in my soul for taking in God entirely. I am as sure as I live that nothing is so near to me as God. God is nearer to me than I am to myself; my existence depends on the nearness and the presence of God.                                                                 ... Meister Eckhart

There is much that is bad and meaningless in the universe, and the universe contains men who know that much is bad and meaningless. The Christian answer is that this is a good world gone wrong, but with a memory of what it should have been.       ... Kathryn Lindskoog

Heaven will be the perfection we've always longed for. All the things that made Earth unlovely and tragic will be absent in heaven.                                                      -Billy Graham

May Peace be your gift at Christmas and your blessing all year through!

Advent Ark 2

"But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. "Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will        come.”              (Mt. 24:36-39, 42)   

My Dear Friends,

   I do hope that you found the “Advent Ark” series thought provoking. Christ Jesus will be coming again! We are to be ready.

   Now few things in this earthly life are absolutely certain. But one thing for certain and undebatable is death. Every man, even the atheist will admit this. Death, however is not the very last event in this life ours. If we have honestly done our best and follow the commandments of God, we shall be rewarded with a perfect life of heaven. If, however, we have disregarded God's loving directions and refuse to make use of His generous help, we shall be condemned to hell. We want to live each day as we would want to live the last day of our life. Too many have died suddenly and unprepared. "The Son of Man will come at that hour when He is not expected."

   How many have deceived themselves into thinking that they still had plenty of time. And they were snatched unexpectedly from this life. Death, with all its uncertainties, is the fact. 

   How sad to see so many young people looking only to the joys and satisfactions of this world. But perhaps we remember when our thinking was at one time like theirs “why think about heaven or hell, when death is still so far off?” Now being older and hopefully wiser worldlings, we know how brief and even disappointing some of life’s pleasures can be. The one who lives only for what this life can offer is due to face great disappointment.

   It is possible for the prayerful person to gain some heavenly liberty from this earthly life while still in it. (Jn.17:15-16) But believe this….this liberty cannot be understood by the worldly person.

   We think straight on so many things, but when it comes to thinking about eternity, our thinking slows down or stops altogether. God does not forbid us the enjoyments of earthly life, as long as we use them intelligently and rightly; keeping in mind that God asks us to prepare ourselves for eternity. “Keep building your ark” by a life of goodness and wisdom on earth.                                                                                                     Al T.

   Let us pray: My God, in You I place all my hopes and desires. To You, I offer all my sorrows, trials, and disappointments. Let me never treasurer what can take me away from You; nor desire anything which can keep me from doing Your holy will. No one, nor any created things can take Your place in my life. Stay with me and teach me how to live my life in union with You. Enlighten me, strengthen me, and correct me, so that I may seek You  first in love… You above all else… Amen

                                                            

Our Advent Ark

THE VINE AND BRANCHES

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:5
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Dear Friends in Him,

We’re looking at John 15:1-8. The lesson in brief is that Christ invites us to abide in him so that he might make it possible for us to bear much fruit.
These verses are an allegory, and symbolically express: The Father is the vine grower (v. 1).
Christ is the vine (v. 5). The disciples are branches (v. 5). Those who do not abide in Christ are useless branches (v. 6
Where is the church here? "Abide in me as I abide in you" (v. 4a). These words are also addressed to the church, whose communal life and ministries of social justice are no more than branches to be tossed into the fire, apart from the indwelling Christ. “Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me" (v. 4b). The church is always tempted to look elsewhere -- to politics or wealthy donors for strength, but Jesus tells us that fruitfulness starts in a very different place. As long as we are in his presence, his strength becomes ours. As soon as we turn our back on him, our strength begins to drain away.
"Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me" (v. 4b). Abiding in Jesus enables the branch to bear fruit. What fruit? Jesus commands us to love one another (13:34; 15:12), so love must be one of the fruits. Jesus calls us to obey his commandments (v. 10), so obedience must be one of the fruits. Jesus promises joy (v. 11), so joy must be one of the fruits.
But perhaps the fruit involves more than is revealed in this chapter. Paul mentions the fruits of the Spirit -- love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22). Surely abiding in Jesus must produce each of these in some measure.
Jesus is saying that all the useless foliage in our lives needs to be cut away. We may think this foliage makes us look attractive especially to the world, but will not in anyway help us to bear fruit that will bring glory to God. For example: in business greed, selfishness and disregard for the feelings of people or for their needs might be the way to get ahead, but must be pruned away to allow the fruit of generosity, kindness and humility to grow. If you are joined to Christ you cannot look the other way when someone is in need. As a branch attached to Christ we don't hold back our forgiveness, we try to be understanding and helpful, we want to be encouraging instead of being negative and critical. Being a branch to Jesus means that you will seek reconciliation instead of adding fuel to any disharmony. It means showing love and patience to those whom you don't think deserve it.
In other words, being joined to Jesus has practical implications for the way we live our every day lives; and bearing fruit isn't an option for us.

GETTING THE WORLD IN FOCUS

Dear Friends,

Would you agree that the above heading certainly speaks volumes today? Let me suggest though, that there could be a way to bring things into better focus. Let me begin with this brief story: A young man was packing his suitcase for a trip when his friend entered his room. “Well,” the traveler said, “I am just about packed. But I need to take a guidebook, a map, a compass, a mirror, a microscope, a telescope, a hammer, a volume of poetry, a few biographies, a songbook, a set of devotional works and the history book that I have been reading.” The man's friend looked down at the suitcase and said, “That's impossible. You have only a small space left.” His friend took his Bible and put it into the suitcase and said, “The Bible contains all the things I just mentioned.”

As those of you who know me know; I believe that the Bible is a book to be read, learned, studied and taken to heart. It tells us what God wants us to believe and do, in particular I think the Gospels say it clearly. Jesus taught that to be in focus requires compliance with God's law.

What we have today is a total disregard, to God’s law and even our own nation’s rule of law. Our once beautiful, powerful, prosperous example of a Constitutional Republic has fallen by the wayside. Incrementally our nation is being dismantled to lead it towards a global plutocracy (government by the wealthy)) which is alien to our liberties and justice for all. We are supposed to have a government represented by the People, not top down autocratic ruling. Americans should not have to bow to Kings or the plutocrat’s financiers; for when we, the bastions of freedom are taken down so will the hopes for the rest of the world.

Let me remind you of some scripture along this line: Jeremiah 9:23-24, Thus says the Lord: Do not let the wise boast in their wisdom, do not let the mighty boast in their might, do not let the wealthy boast in their wealth; but let those who boast boast in this, that they understand and know me, that I am the Lord; I act with steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord.

James5:1-6, Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered innocent men, who were not opposing you.

Think of how we as a blessed nation have dishonored God by continuing to have millions of people in poverty in our nation. There are 2000 verses on poverty in the Bible. And how we the richest country in the world do not have health-care for everyone. We’ve left Jesus waiting outside the hospital door. In observing so many of our present day American churches; it truly pains me to say it, but to a degree I have to agree with William Temple who says that Christianity is "the most avowedly materialist of all the great religions."

I’m well aware how those that have it and control it are uncomfortable about the subject of money, especially when you mix spirituality with it.

How do we get the present world financial difficulties in focus? Here’s the way one in the Bible did it. In Luke 19:8 ..Jesus made Zaccheus aware of his greed and history of cheating others; and then Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, 'Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.' What a bailout!! Jesus said that it's hard for the rich to enter the kingdom of God, but Zacchaeus was a rich man who did enter the kingdom.

God's Word says that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Unfortunately, so many suffering all around the world today will attest to this.

I’ll finish (for now) by reminding us of these additional few scriptures from God’s word.

Matthew 6:24 and Luke 16:13 No-one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.'

Ecclesiastes 5:10 Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income.

1 Timothy 6:9 People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction.

Proverbs 3:9-10 Honor the LORD from your wealth, And from the first of all your produce; So your barns will be filled with plenty, And your vats will overflow with new wine.

Jesus says in Luke 12:33 -34 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Is this another form of bailout?)