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There are over 900 stories and commentaries on this blog that began Nov 24, 2009. It is added to daily.
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I first read this poem over half a century ago. It burned it's passion into the fabric of my soul. God...give us courage...the time demands, great minds, true hearts and ready hands.
We need people who have opinions and a will,
those who will not lie,
Those who can stand before a demagogue and damn his treacherous flatteries, tall sun crowned folk who live above the fog in public duty and private thinking...
For while the rabble with their thumb worn creeds, mingle in selfish strife, lo freedom weeps,
wrong rules the land,
and waiting justice sleeps.
Woodrow Wilson gave a special spice of courage to the air when he said "I had rather be defeated in a cause that will ultimately triumph than triumph in a cause that will ultimately be defeated."
There are terrible things that happen and they continue to happen until the right man or woman, even at the risk or cost of their own life speak out. And then things change.
A Roman ruler put a slave to death merely to amuse a guest who had never seen a man die.
In time it would not be taken for granted that this should be accepted. But not without courageous voices speaking out against such attitudes and actions.
In this same arena of time 10,000 men fought in an arena for 123 days till all but one lay dying on the ground.
In time it would not be taken for granted that this should be accepted. But not without courageous voices speaking out against such attitudes and actions.
There was, of course, the Holocaust of our own time and eventually courageous voices would speak out against this horror and even during the time there were those few who would risk their own lives to save even a few.
Always there is injustice...and some speak out and more seek the safety of silence...and some few hear and act upon the truth...
“You must grow in grace or you will grown in disgrace.”
And some find their better selves...and make a better kinder more compassionate world...and some are self centered...and each individual must make a choice and properly use or improperly misuse the gift of life.
And always...the ultimate two questions come marching up and ask our response.
What do you stand for? What do you stand against?
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QUOTE FROM THOUGHT PIECE POSTED ON WYRICK'S WRITINGS THURSDAY APRIL 10 FROM THOUGHT ENTITLED
So I ask two questions: What do you want out of life? And what does God want out of your life?
QUOTE FROM THOUGHT PIECE POSTED ON WYRICK'S WRITINGS THURSDAY APRIL 5 FROM THOUGHT ENTITLED "Who Are You? Whose Are You?"
This is an old quote, and a romantic one as well but, nevertheless, can anyone say of you, “I love you not because of who you are, but because of who I am when I am with you.”
QUOTE FROM THOUGHT PIECE POSTED ON WYRICK'S WRITINGS TUESDAY APRIL 3 FROM THOUGHT ENTITLED
" WHEN A NATION STRAYS TOO FAR FROM BEING MORAL IT IS WELL ON IT'S WAY TO BECOMING A MESS
James 4:17
To him therefore who knows to do good, and doesn’t do it, to him it is sin.
Someone once said: “A belief is what you hold, a conviction is what holds you!”
So what holds you, constructs you, leads you with a push when needed?
Quotes POSTED ON WYRICK'S WRITING THURSDAY MARCH 29th THOUGHTS ENTITLED WHO ARE YOU?
NO…WHOSE ARE YOU?
In a Peanuts cartoon strip Peppermint Patty is shown talking to Charlie Brown.
“Guess what, Chuck? It’s the first day of school and I got sent to the principal’s office.
And it’s your fault!”
Charlie Brown responds, “My fault? How could it be my fault? Why do you say everything is my fault?”
To which she declares, “You’re my friend, aren’t you, Chuck? You should have been a better influence on me.”
In the comics, it’s funny… but in real life it’s much more complicated.
Would you like to read the entire thought piece? Then... TO TAKE YOU TO THE WYRICK'S WRITING'S SITE
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Yes, God loves you the way you are but he loves you too much to let you stay that way.
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Click on the URL below to WATCH NEIL IN HIS WORLD FAMOUS ONE MAN DRAMATIZATIONS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN, BEN FRANKLIN, CHARLES WESLEY AND MARTIN LUTHER
To Order and Read Neil's 9th book THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN
GO TO amazon.com
QUOTES ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL INSPIRING INFORMATIVE book
STILL RECEIVING RAVE REVIEWS 8 YEARS AFTER IT'S PUBLICATION.
"Positive, powerful utterances...skillfully enhancing our understanding and appreciation of Lincoln while revealing the Divine source of his strength."
Lt. Colonel C.A. Olsen (Ret.) Asbury College (Professor Ret.)
"The Spiritual Abraham Lincoln is an extremely well written book that investigates what might be termed the spiritual side of President Lincoln. It's both scholarly and very readable. I came away impressed at Mr. Wyrick's portrayal of the President and with an altered and enlarged vision of the man:'
William Hoffman, Award winning fiction writer; author of Blood and Guile, and Wild Thorn
"Wyrick has authored a wonderful examination of the spirituality of one of American history's most devoutly religious leaders...a pleasant and readable book that has a rich depth of information."
Maynard Pittendreigh Presbyterian minister
"When it comes to invoking religion in support of any of their decisions, politicians need to sit at the feet of Abraham Lincoln. Reinhold Niebuhr once called him 'America's greatest theologian.' Why so great? Because he invariably distinguished between human works and the works of the Almighty. As Wyrick says, 'He wore the mantle of humility easily: because he was more impressed with what God was doing in the world than with what he, president of the United States in the midst of an awful crisis, was doing. That is why in his last major speech he distinguished between both human causes in the Civil War and the Almighty's 'own purposes.' Lincoln would have agreed that it is better to leave God-talk out of politics than to decorate human proposals with divinity. This is a book for our American time. Through his careful study of Lincoln's career, Wyrick compels us to remember that piety belongs in politics only when piety transcends politics."
Dr. Donald W. Shriver
Emeritus professor at Union Theological Seminary in New York. Author of An Ethic for Enemies: Forgiveness in Politics
"v. Neil Wyrick's fine work allows the reader to appreciate Abraham Lincoln's Christian commitment and his prophetic role in American history. Should have a wide readership."
James H. Smylie Professor of Church History (Ret.) Union Theological Seminary, Richmond, Virginia
"Neil Wyrick's The Spiritual Abraham Lincoln should be read by anyone attempting to understand the man who was probably the most complex person to ever hold the office of president of the United States. Dr. Wyrick is intent on demonstrating that the spirituality so often expressed in Lincoln's writings and speeches was not merely lip service to a Deity, but rather expressions of a profound faith in a real God. It was this faith that provided the wisdom, compassion, insight and sometimes steel that Lincoln would need in full measure as he led the United States through the Civil War. Dr. Wyrick's clear and unpretentious style of presentation is very much in keeping with the character ofhis subject, and in so doing, Wyrick makes his point very well that Lincoln, his beliefs, and the faith that formed them, are as relevant to a troubled America in 2004 as they were in 1863."
Daniel Allen Butler, author of "Unsinkable"; The Full Story of the RMS Titanic, The Lusitania and The Age o f Cunard
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