An Old
Friend
02-27-15
Proverbs
27:10 (NASB) 10 Do not
forsake your own friend or your father's friend, And do not
go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far away.
Just a short thought today. The Lord took my mother(Memaw) home a couple of
weeks ago. Her passing was so very peaceful and for that, I am grateful to God.
I mention my mother because over the past three years she had become my
friend. For most of my life she was my mother. You know how that goes. Mom calls
every now and then to check on her little boy. Tell him what he's doing right
and wrong !! (smile) Scold him for not calling or stopping by. Sound familiar?
Maybe, maybe not. But, for me that was the way it had always been. She was Memaw
to me.She did her thing and I did mine. Close, but not really intimate.
Well, that changed for me while I stayed with her. Oh no, we didn't have
some heavy spiritual relationship, no, not at all. And we butted heads from time
to time. But, she became my friend. We developed an "easiness" with each other
that had been missing for all my life. We shared some good talks on many
different occasions. Mostly about the same things over and over. (Turkey and the
end times certainly comes to mind!) You had to be there to understand. But, my
point is that we developed a relationship over a relatively short time; and it
was a good thing. And now that she is gone I am most appreciative of the time I
had to get to know Memaw better. I say that to say this.
Pay attention to the first part of that scripture. It's an independent
statement and stands alone. Also, it speaks to an old friend. Not necessarily in
years but in time spent. I am reminded of the Don Henley song "New York
Minute."
"....if you find somebody to love in this world You better hang on tooth and
nail..."
People come and go in our lives.But occasionally one strolls by who is a
keeper. You know, a kindred spirit. One that will stick by you through thick and
thin.One who has your interests at heart.It takes time to really know who those
people are.It takes time to pass that litmus test. They aren't perfect, but
neither are we! Ya feelin' me here on this one? But, if they have been by your
side for a while, don't throw them away just because they sometimes rub you the
wrong way. I'll stop preaching.
In this ball of confusion we call life, we all need somebody. God has
designed it that way. It's a microwave culture and we are tempted to discard
anything that doesn't supply immediate gratification. Or if those who surround
you aren't profitable, get rid of them. If that were the case, we would all be
islands standing alone. Listen, brothers and sisters, if you have someone who is
truly on your side, take heed once more to the above scripture.
Proverbs
27:10 (NASB) 10 Do not
forsake your own friend or your father's friend, And do not
go to your brother's house in the day of your calamity; Better is a neighbor who is near than a brother far
away.
Mark these words. The day is coming that a true friend is
going to be difficult, nigh impossible to find.
Hang on tooth and nail.
Proverbs
17:17 (NASB) 17 A friend
loves at all times, And a brother is born for
adversity.
God Bless
Friday, February 27, 2015
Saturday, February 7, 2015
Quid est Veritas?
02-07-15
John 18:37-38 (NASB) 37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."
38 Pilate *said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and *said to them, "I find no guilt in Him.
What is truth? That question is as compelling today as it was in Pilate's time don't you think? It begs and pleads for an answer. Some time ago, years actually,I was listening to the radio while delivering the mail. It was a talk show host, a household name then and now. I was surprised, actually shocked to find out that he considered himself an entertainer first and a journalist second. As I let this sink in I decided then and there, that very day, that I would never listen to him again. And I never have.
We live in an age today where entertainers pass themselves off as journalists. Not just individuals, but entire media outlets are committed to ratings as opposite the truth. Truth, or at the very least, common objectivity has given way to sensationalism and ideology, all for the sake of the advertising dollar. Choose your media outlet. Television, radio, internet they are all poisoned. I don't know whether or not it is possible to find the TRUTH about anything anymore. Then I was reminded. I had a scripture thought come to mind today.A thought that I thought, most relevant.
Hebrews 12:26-27 (KJV) 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Do you feel it? There is a shaking going on isn't there? Ideals and values we thought once unassailable are under relentless assault. Precepts precious to our hearts are undergoing revision. Things that we were taught in school might not have actually happened the way we were taught. It's unfortunate and saddening but nevertheless seemingly true. But now, it has taken on a new brashness. These days there is no attempt to hide the deception and editing that occurs. It is shameless and has tainted virtually everything we see and read. It's all ENTERTAINMENT AND.....
NEWSFLASH!! It's all by design. Come on Ronnie, you really believe that? Let me say emphatically, YES I DO. There is a shaking going on and everything that can be shaken, will be. Folks, anything coming from the heart and mind of man...from the highest philosophy to the most brazen journalism is basically and essentially flawed. It is offered, no matter if from the purest motivations, from a sin nature. It is not now, nor will it ever be TRUTH. Pilate's question has but one answer. There is but one truth. One foundation. One rock. One anchor for the soul.
John 14:6 (NASB) 6 Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes the Father but through Me.
My ailing mother called me over today and took hold of my hand. With difficulty she mouthed very softly "I am ready to go." The first thing that crossed my mind was that she was ready to retire and go to the bedroom. So, I told her to wait a minute and I would get her medicine and wheel her into her bed. She shook her head and whispered, "no, I am ready to go to Heaven." I just smiled and said "O.K. whenever Jesus is ready, He will come and get you." We held hands and soon the moment was over. I mention that here to say this. My 95 year old ailing mother has no illusions about who and what the truth is. She doesn't need CNN, FOX or anyone else to tell her what is truth. She KNOWS without a doubt the answer to the age old question. Amen and Amen.
Psalm 23:4 (NASB) 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
God Bless
John 18:37-38 (NASB) 37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, "So You are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say correctly that I am a king. For this I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice."
38 Pilate *said to Him, "What is truth?" And when he had said this, he went out again to the Jews and *said to them, "I find no guilt in Him.
What is truth? That question is as compelling today as it was in Pilate's time don't you think? It begs and pleads for an answer. Some time ago, years actually,I was listening to the radio while delivering the mail. It was a talk show host, a household name then and now. I was surprised, actually shocked to find out that he considered himself an entertainer first and a journalist second. As I let this sink in I decided then and there, that very day, that I would never listen to him again. And I never have.
We live in an age today where entertainers pass themselves off as journalists. Not just individuals, but entire media outlets are committed to ratings as opposite the truth. Truth, or at the very least, common objectivity has given way to sensationalism and ideology, all for the sake of the advertising dollar. Choose your media outlet. Television, radio, internet they are all poisoned. I don't know whether or not it is possible to find the TRUTH about anything anymore. Then I was reminded. I had a scripture thought come to mind today.A thought that I thought, most relevant.
Hebrews 12:26-27 (KJV) 26 Whose voice then shook the earth: but now he hath promised, saying, Yet once more I shake not the earth only, but also heaven.
27 And this word, Yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain.
Do you feel it? There is a shaking going on isn't there? Ideals and values we thought once unassailable are under relentless assault. Precepts precious to our hearts are undergoing revision. Things that we were taught in school might not have actually happened the way we were taught. It's unfortunate and saddening but nevertheless seemingly true. But now, it has taken on a new brashness. These days there is no attempt to hide the deception and editing that occurs. It is shameless and has tainted virtually everything we see and read. It's all ENTERTAINMENT AND.....
NEWSFLASH!! It's all by design. Come on Ronnie, you really believe that? Let me say emphatically, YES I DO. There is a shaking going on and everything that can be shaken, will be. Folks, anything coming from the heart and mind of man...from the highest philosophy to the most brazen journalism is basically and essentially flawed. It is offered, no matter if from the purest motivations, from a sin nature. It is not now, nor will it ever be TRUTH. Pilate's question has but one answer. There is but one truth. One foundation. One rock. One anchor for the soul.
John 14:6 (NASB) 6 Jesus *said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes the Father but through Me.
My ailing mother called me over today and took hold of my hand. With difficulty she mouthed very softly "I am ready to go." The first thing that crossed my mind was that she was ready to retire and go to the bedroom. So, I told her to wait a minute and I would get her medicine and wheel her into her bed. She shook her head and whispered, "no, I am ready to go to Heaven." I just smiled and said "O.K. whenever Jesus is ready, He will come and get you." We held hands and soon the moment was over. I mention that here to say this. My 95 year old ailing mother has no illusions about who and what the truth is. She doesn't need CNN, FOX or anyone else to tell her what is truth. She KNOWS without a doubt the answer to the age old question. Amen and Amen.
Psalm 23:4 (NASB) 4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
God Bless
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