THE OLD PATHS

THE OLD PATHS

I like the old paths

When Moms were at home
Dads were at work
Brothers went into the Army
Sisters got married BEFORE having Children!

Crime did not pay
Hard work did
And people knew the difference

Moms could cook
Dad's would work
Children did behave

Husbands were loving
Wives were supportive
Children were polite

Women wore the jewelry
Men wore the pants
Women looked like ladies
Men looked like gentlemen
And children looked decent

People told the truth
And hated a lie
They came to church to get IN
Not to get OUT

Hymns sounded Godly
Sermons sounded helpful
Rejoicing sounded normal
And crying sounded sincere

Cursing was wicked
Drinking was evil
And divorce was unthinkable

The flag was honored
America was beautiful
And God was welcome !!

We read the Bible in public
Prayed in school
And preached from house to house

To be called an American was worth dying for
To be called a Christian was worth living for
To be called a traitor was a shame !!

Sex was a personal word,
And abortion was an illegal word.

Off color jokes were only told among dirty men folk
Preachers preached because they had a message
Christians rejoiced because they had the VICTORY !!

Preachers preached from the Bible
Singers sang from the heart
And sinners turned to there Lord to be SAVED !!

A new birth meant a new life
Salvation meant a changed life
Following Christ led to eternal life

Being a preacher meant you proclaimed the word of God
Being a deacon meant you would serve the Lord
Being a Christian meant you would live for Jesus
Being a sinner meant someone was praying for you !!

Laws were based on the Bible
Homes read the Bible
Churches taught the Bible
People quoted the Bible

Preachers were more interested in new converts
Then new clothes and cars
God was worshiped
Christ was exalted
And the Holy Spirit was respected

Church was where you found Christians on the Lord's
Day
Rather than in the garden,
On the creek bank
On the golf course
Or being entertained somewhere else.

I still like the old paths the best !


(The unknown Author is a retired American Minister who lives in Tennessee) 

HERE IS LOVE

HERE IS LOVE

A little boy’s  sister was fatally ill and needed a blood transfusion. She had a disease from which her little brother had survived and recovered from earlier, and her only chance of survival was to receive anti bodies which could help her fight the disease. Since her brother had the same rare blood type as hers he was the right donor.

The Doctor asked the boy, “Would you give your blood to your sister?

That was a tough question to the boy. His lower lip trembled as he hesitated for a moment. Then he grinned and said, “Sure for my sister.”

Lying side by side the brother and sister were wheeled into the hospital room. The boy was strong and healthy,  his sister pale and thin. They didn’t talk but when their eyes met  the boy smiled.

His smile faded as the Nurse inserted the needle into his arm and his blood began to flow through  the tube into his sister’s body.

The room was silent until the ordeal was almost over.  Then the boy spoke, “Doctor when do I die?”

The Doctor was stunned, realizing that the boy thought he was going to die, and he was willing to die for his sister, making the ultimate sacrifice to save her.

(From the book Written in Blood by Robert Coleman)

This story is a remarkable example of human love, courage and heroism which is but a  mirror of the  Lord’s great  love for sinful man, the love which transcends human understanding.

“You see at just the right time, when we were still powerless,  Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners (and we are all sinners) Christ died for us.”( Romans 5:6-8) But because of His great love for us God in His mercy made us alive in Christ…(Ephesians 2:4)

I pray that in the very depths of our human heart  we can reflect deeply about this truth.

THE TINDALO TREE PLANTED BY PRES. MANUEL L. QUEZON

PHOTO BY MARK WILL MAYO MAGALLANES

COMING HOME

COMING HOME

SOME DAY GOD WILL SEND FOR YOU

SOME DAY GOD WILL SEND FOR YOU

I love the story Charles Allen tells of a little boy named John Todd, born in 1800 up in Rutland Vermont. Shortly after John’s birth, the Todd family moved to the little village of Killingsworth. And by the time little John was six both of his parents had died. I’ll let Dr. Allen tell the rest of the story.

          The children in the home had to be parceled out among the relatives, and a kindhearted aunt who lived in North Killingsworth agreed to take John and give him a home. With her he lived until some fifteen years later when he went away to study for the ministry. When he was in middle life, his aunt fell desperately ill and realized that death could not be far off. In great distress, she wrote her nephew a pitiful letter- what would death be like? Would it mean the end of everything or would there be beyond death, a chance to continue living, growing, loving? Here is the letter John sent in reply:

          “It is now thirty years since I, a little boy of six, was left quite alone in the world. You sent me word you would give me a home and be a kind mother to me. I have never forgotten the day when I made the long journey of ten miles to your house in North Killingsworth. I can still recall my disappointment when, instead of coming for me yourself, you sent your colored man, Cesar, to fetch me.   I well remember my tears and my anxiety as, perched high on your horse and clinging tight to Cesar, I rode off to my new home. Night fell before we finished the journey and as it grew dark, I became lonely and afraid.

        “Do you think she’ll go to bed before I get there?” I asked Cesar anxiously. “Oh no” he said reassuringly. “She’ll stay up for you. When we get out of these here woods you’ll see her candle shining in the window. Presently we did ride out in the clearing and there, sure enough, was your candle. I remember you were waiting at the door, that you put your arms close about me and that you lifted me- a tired and bewildered little boy- down from the horse. You had a big fire burning on the hearth, a hot supper waiting for me on the stove. After supper you took me to my new room, you heard me say my prayers and then you sat beside me until I fell asleep.

        “You probably realize why I am recalling this to your memory. Some day soon, God will send for you, to take you to a new home. Don’t fear the summons- the strange journey- or the dark messenger of death. God can be trusted to do as much for you as you were kind enough to do for me so many years ago. At the end of the road you will find love and a welcome waiting, and you will be safe in God’s care. I shall watch you and pray for you until you are out of sight, and then wait for the day when I shall make the journey myself and find you waiting at the end of the road to greet me.”

-CHARLES R. SWINDOLL, Living On The Ragged Edge.-

THE MONDAY MORNING BLUES

THE MONDAY MORNING BLUES

The Monday morning blues usually afflict more and more workers as they get back to work from a weekend of rest.

 I have been suffering from this malaise for a number of years that one day I asked myself why I am in this kind of rut.  I would like to find meaning in the usual crap that I do that quite often I simply hate to go to the office, my office, which is not really mine but that of my employer.

At one time the Sunday before the dreaded Monday the subject of the sermon in Church struck my heart for the Preacher was expounding on how blessed a person could be when he is gainfully employed, especially, in times when people  struggle at the prospects of  unemployment.   I pondered deeply at the thought of how indeed one is truly blessed for having and holding a job which God’s Hand has provided.

Is there meaning in work . Is there meaning in mopping the floor which the utility man I meet every day does, or in managing a corporation,  which the haggard and ulcerated CEO does, or in running a troublesome government bureaucracy, which a highly pressured functionary does?

In our day of rapid social change, many despise their jobs as they see no meaning in the mundane tasks. It is only when one understands the meaning of work as God designed and meant it to be that the Monday morning blues could be driven away.

God’s Word teaches us that in our secular jobs our real master is not actually the human employer for whom we work but God Himself so we work not to please men but our Creator and Maker. And since our ordinary work belongs to God we make the delightful discovery that we serve our  Master and Heavenly Employer. It is because these earthly enterprises where we devote ourselves to do, belong to God, that  we can be obedient to those who are our earthly masters as to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians, Chapter 6: 7, declared:” Serve wholeheartedly as if you were serving the Lord, not men, because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is a slave or free.”   Furthermore Paul exhorts us to obey our earthly masters not only to win their favor when their eyes are on us but like slaves of Christ doing the will of God from our hearts.

When the Monday morning blues strike, it is refreshing to remind myself that this is another day that my Heavenly Father has made for me so I could humbly serve Him.   

THE 4 WIVES

THE 4 WIVES

There was a rich merchant who had 4 wives. He loved the 4th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes and treated her to delicacies. He took great care of her and gave her nothing but the best.

He also loved the 3rd wife very much. He's very proud of her and always wanted to show off her to his friends. However, the merchant is always in great fear that she might run away with some other men.

He too, loved his 2nd wife. She is a very considerate person, always patient and in fact is the merchant's confidante. Whenever the merchant faced some problems, he always turned to his 2nd wife and she would always help him out and tide him through difficult times.

Now, the merchant's 1st wife is a very loyal partner and has made great contributions in maintaining his wealth and business as well as taking care of the household. However, the merchant did not love the first wife and although she loved him deeply, he hardly took notice of her.

One day, the merchant fell ill. Before long, he knew that he was going to die soon. He thought of his luxurious life and told himself, "Now I have 4 wives with me. But when I die, I'll be alone. How lonely I'll be!"

Thus, he asked the 4th wife, "I loved you most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No way!" replied the 4th wife and she walked away without another word.

The answer cut like a sharp knife right into the merchant's heart. The sad merchant then asked the 3rd wife, "I have loved you so much for all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?" "No!" replied the 3rd wife. "Life is so good over here! I'm going to remarry when you die!" The merchant's heart sank and turned cold.

He then asked the 2nd wife, "I always turned to you for help and you've always helped me out. Now I need your help again. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?" "I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!" replied the 2nd wife. "At the very most, I can only send you to your grave." The answer came like a bolt of thunder and the merchant was devastated.

Then a voice called out : "I'll leave with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go." The merchant looked up and there was his first wife. She was so skinny, almost like she suffered from malnutrition. Greatly grieved, the merchant said, "I should have taken much better care of you while I could have !"

Actually, we all have 4 wives in our lives

a. The 4th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it'll leave us when we die.

b. Our 3rd wife ? Our possessions, status and wealth. When we die, they all go to others.

c. The 2nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how close they had been there for us when we're alive, the furthest they can stay by us is up to the grave.

d. The 1st wife is in fact our soul, often neglected in our pursuit of material, wealth and sensual pleasure.

Guess what? It is actually the only thing that follows us wherever we go. Perhaps it's a good idea to cultivate and strengthen it now rather than to wait until we're on our deathbed to lament

The Boy Who Prayed For Ice Cream

The Boy Who Prayed For Ice Cream And The Cranky Woman

Last week I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son had asked if he could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good. God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all, amen."

Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby, I heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice-cream. Why, I never."

Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?"

As I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him.

An elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer."

"Really?", my son asked. Then in a theatrical whisper he added (indicating the woman whose remark had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."

Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at his for a moment and then did something I will remember the rest of my

life.

He picked up his sundae and without a word walked over and placed it in front of the woman. With a big smile he told her, "Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes, and my soul is good already."

-- Author Unknown

NEED CENTERED PRAYER

NEED CENTERED PRAYER

One of the things lacking in Christian churches today is silent meditation. Believers spend so much time speaking to God in prayer that they never listen to God in return.

There is so much God would reveal to us if only we would slow down long enough to hear His voice.

He said Be still and know Me.

Many of our prayers are like shopping lists of things. After reciting the lists to God we walk away not pausing in silence to hear God’s reply.    It is a sad commentary that professing Christians project a relationship with God which is need-centered rather than God-centered. We are overwhelmed by our physical needs that we often pray, “God please do this for me and do it soon, amen.  Worst we doubt if God would really respond to our prayer list.

In a way this is what St. James is describing when he spoke of the doubter.

God said, “Be still and know that I am God.”

The doubter is one who is never still. He is like being tossed by the waves. He is shaken by his troubles and dashed about like a boat in a stormy sea. He is overwhelmed and agitated that his prayers are drowned out by the strong wind and waves of adversity that he could not remain still to discern and listen to the voice of God who speaks in the midst of the storm.