Saturday, May 5, 2012

THE POWER OF THE SECOND MILE

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       There are over 900 stories and commentaries on this blog that began Nov 24, 2009. It is added to daily.
       To Visit neil's other blog Wyrick's Writings click on the following (Here you will find selected sermons that he has preached during the last 58 years.)  Just click on the URL below
        http://wyrickswritings.blogspot.com
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 Under Roman law a Roman soldier could compel a Jew to carry his burden for him one mile wherever he told him to walk.  It didn’t matter if the Jew had other plans in a different direction or was short of time.  It was all quite simple.  The Roman said “Do it” and there was no room for negotiation.

And then into this dilemma steps Jesus with His usual logic and fine-tuned way of living.  In so many words He says, “Oh yes, there is room to negotiate.  It’s just that I want you to negotiate to do more, not less.” 

You want utter madness?  This, to his listeners, was certainly getting close.  It was frustrating enough to have to obey the Romans in the first place, but to offer, of their own free will, to do more?  Incredible!  A Jew might feel like giving the Roman a fist full of knuckles and a belly full of contempt, but bottom line…he reached down, lifted up and began his required 5,280 foot journey.  Oh, he could refuse if he wanted free room and board in the local jail, but that didn’t make a lot of sense.  So what Jesus was saying to them was either totally crazy or first class advice. 

Leave it to the Master.  He knew what He was talking about.  He knew that every step of that first mile, carrying that ordered burden, produced an ever increasing amount of resentment.  It had to.  It was a loss of control.  Therefore, Jesus wasn’t saying - don’t get mad, get even; rather He was emphasizing gain back control.  Carry the load a second mile because you have volunteered to do so.  Now that second mile is your decision.  Your exercise of free will.  The first mile is a burden – both physically and emotionally, but when you volunteer the second mile it is only a physical burden.  Your physical burden by choice – now you are in charge.

Unfortunately, human nature, in any century, is often much more inclined to do less not more.  Ready to take more often than to give.  People don’t want to be put upon, and laziness comes naturally.  And then smack dab into the middle of these psychological hang ups Jesus drops a bombshell, “Whosoever shall compel thee to go one mile, go with him two.”

I doubt if many of you have ever run a two mile race.  It is not a distance one should run without sufficient training.  Yet when I ran track in college, it was my favorite distance and one of the reasons was that my second wind would kick in.  One minute, I was running out of steam and then suddenly I felt like I was running with the wind.  I believe this is what Jesus was talking about.  Of course, not a second mile measured in feet, but a second spiritual mile in which one receives a Spiritual second wind.  You see, as one champion distance runner put it, “You run the first mile with your legs, the second mile with your heart.”

So let’s make a spiritually logical leap and apply this to every day living.  Have you ever met someone who upon first meeting you realized the chemistry just wasn’t there?  Your first mile wasn’t too much of a success in setting up a relationship.  Fact of the matter, it was a burden.  You may even have prayed a short prayer, “Lord, I’m going to need some help with this one.”  But then you stuck with it, reached out with Christian charity that let you look and listen a little more closely.  Looking and listening for some good chemistry which you were determined to find.  Something about the person you could like.  And you found it.  And then you found other goodly things.  You went the second mile and you found it, and now you had a new friend.

The world is full of people who try to get by with as little as they possibly can - never extending themselves.  The worker who nails no more nails, fixes no more motors, paints no more doors than he has to.  The clock-watcher who works only for the gold he can get, rather than for the glory he or she can give.  First-mile-people complaining every foot of the way.  Speak to them about a second mile, extra effort and they will look at you as if they think you are from another planet.

The mother who complains about her motherhood and makes it clear to her child that she believes he or she is a burden.

The Christian who looks for excuses instead of opportunities.

Let me ask this question.  If two people pray and one has gleaned the secret of the second mile, is his or her prayer different than the one prayed by someone who has not? 

        Listen to two prayers and you tell me which is prayed by a man or woman who has learned the secret of the second mile.

Dear Lord,

So what’s on for today?  Whatever it is, make it easy, for I am tired and do not wish to extend myself.  It’s as simple as that, Lord.  Amen.

Or….   Dear Lord,

Guide me this day toward what I can and must do.  I do not ask for easy tasks.  I only ask for strength.  I do not ask for easy answers.  I only ask for patience and persistence to learn from whatever problems may come my way.  Thank you, Lord.  Amen.

The answer is obvious, of course. And the difference in the attitude of their prayers makes my point.  In so many words they both went the first mile.  But only one went the second mile.

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"Wyrick's Writings" are selected sermons from those Neil has preached during the last 55 years.

     Below is a quote from Neil's other blog Wyrick's Writings...posted Thursday May 3

SERMON TITLE...HOW TO LESSEN ANXIETY

     It's an old joke, I went to the doctor and I said, “Doc, when I do this, it hurts.” And the doctor said, “Then don't do that.”

      How many things have you been anxious about that were things which you knew before you got into them were probably going to create some problems for you?  And if you asked your doctor, or your minister, or common sense and your God, all of them would have said, “Don’t to that.” 

     Below is a quote from Neil's other blog Wyrick's Writings...posted TUESDAY MAY 1

To buy into the community of accountability we have to realize that like bikers we are divided into two categories.  Those who have fallen and those who will fall for None of us are perfect.

       Think on it this way, some philosopher of old wrote it and it endures because there is so much truth in it… every right implies a responsibility; every opportunity, an obligation; every possession, a duty

      Below is a quote from Neil's other blog Wyrick's Writings...posted Sunday April 29th....

One writer put it this way: “If we could see ourselves as God sees us, we would rise up and never be the same again.”

       TO GO TO "WYRICK'S WRITINGS" TO READ SELECTED SERMONS FROM OVER 50 YEARS OF HIS MINISTRY

CLICK ON THE URL BELOW


Some of the sermon titles posted recently


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Before you decide to purchase or not purchase his book THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN.... view his Award Winning One Man Dramatization of Lincoln (since he wrote the script for this drama it will give you an insight into what you will find in the book itself)

Available on Amazon.com in printed form and on Amazon Kindle Books. and at many other sites

TO VIEW THE LINCOLN One Man DRAMA and 3 other dramas; Ben Franklin, Martin Luther & Charles Wesley

click on the following URL

http://www.speakerneil.com/

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BELOW ARE MORE QUOTES FROM NEIL'S RECENTLY POSTED SERMONS

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A QUOTE FROM THOUGHTS POSTED ON MY OTHER BLOG WYRICK'S WRITINGS ON SUNDAY APRIL 15. ENTITILED



       Two stores faced each other across a very busy street.  Their owners were in constant competition with each other.  One day, the owner of one store put out a sign that read – If you want it, we have it!

Almost immediately the other owner put out a sign –If we don’t have it, you don’t need it!



A QUOTE FROM THOUGHTS POSTED ON MY OTHER BLOG WYRICK'S WRITINGS ON THURSDAY APRIL 13TH. ENTITILED

WHO ARE YOU?

NO…WHOSE ARE YOU?

       Who are you?  Whose are you?

You influence and are influenced according to the answer you give.     

Are you are the flavor of the month because you are determined to be like everyone else no matter what?  If so, consider being more independent in our thinking and actions...because God wants you to grow up.

It may be easier being someone's shadow but wouldn't you really rather be a sun. 



       QUOTE FROM THOUGHTS  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

                                        click on the following


          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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