At a certain dinner the host said that he would soon be going on a journey and therefore meant to lay his hands on a good walking stick.
A guest congratulated his host on his good luck. By chance the guest was something of an expert on the subject of walking sticks and could put his host in the way of acquiring an excellent specimen. (more…)
Matthew 19:
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
23 ¶ Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven.
24 And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.
Sunday School didn’t work quite like I imagined. (more…)
I am having a weird synchronicity WmJas style about the doctrine of the body.
It started leading discussions in Sunday School.
In a world where people are having trouble ‘adulting’, and where both lower and higher education are in complete shambles, it behooves us to understand what ideal education looks like. And what it is for.
Forgiveness heals even when you aren’t feeling hurt.
Years gone by my little daughter died of cancer. This is what I wrote on the birthday she never quite made it to that year.
Today you would be 22, Betsey. Little friends you had are all grown up now.
Happy Birthday, Betsey Pearl.
We bought roses for your birthday. “Fire go up and up ” “Yummy yogurt.”
You will not fade for us until we fade.
A contrajuxtaposition.
Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:
For from henceforth there shall be five in one house divided, three against two, and two against three.
The father shall be divided against the son, and the son against the father; the mother against the daughter, and the daughter against the mother; the mother in law against her daughter in law, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
And there shall be no disputations among you, as there have hitherto been; neither shall there be disputations among you concerning the points of my doctrine, as there have hitherto been.
For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.
Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away.
The OT warning against having a king was the wickedness they would lead people into and the oppressive burdens they would lay. Both get born out.
But one of the bigger problems is the realpolitick. The main point of having a king was the impressive power they could wield coordinating the Israelites against their enemies. The secondary point was the glamor of their magnificent life style.
But concentrated power and concentrated wealth . . . people will vie for that. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. (more…)
Not a total victory, but we were told that only abject surrender would accomplish anything.