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There are over 1100
stories and commentaries on this blog that began Nov 24, 2009. It is added to
daily.
Click on http://wyrickswritings.blogspot.com
to read selected Sermons from
over 50 years of
What to do when tragedy strikes? Don't be surprised. Rather be prepared.
Then study the stumbling block and start
working to turn it into a stepping stone.
The name of the businessman was H. G. Spafford. He and his family were to vacation together
in England. He had sent them on ahead of
him. He would soon follow.
The ship on which they sailed shipwrecked
and sank. His wife survived but his four
daughters drowned.
He was overwhelmed by grief. Tears fell on the sheet of paper in front of
him. On the sheet of paper he had just composed
that great and favorite hymn of so many, "It is well with my soul."
He turned a tragedy into a triumph.
Joseph Scriven was a brilliant young man in love with and
engaged to a beautiful young lady. The
night before the wedding his bride to be was pulled from a pond where she had
drowned. In the midst of this terrible time
that overwhelmed him he wrote, "What a friend we have in Jesus."
And so, Joseph Scriven turned a tragedy
into a triumph.
The young film director, Robert Flaherty had worked for months
shooting 70,000 feet of film in the far north that fascinated him.
He spent months editing the film to make
a documentary. Soon after he finished, a
match from a cigarette he had just lit fell on the celluloid and in a moment
the conflagration had destroyed all the film and badly burned the young film
director.
His response to the disaster? He returned to the far north to produce a
film on Eskimo life that as he said "people will never forget."
He did just that and the 1922 award
winning classic "Nanook of the North" was the results.
And so, Robert Flaherty turned a tragedy
into a triumph.
Almost 200 years ago, 1818, a young boy
of 9 was seated in his father's harness-maker workshop.
He had been asking when he could began to
be a harness maker himself and so his father relented but warned him to be
careful.
With enthusiasm the young boy took the
hole-puncher and hammer in hand and began to learn the trade. Shortly, however, when he struck the
hole-puncher it flew out of his hand and struck his eye. He lost his sight in that eye immediately.
In not that long a time he lost sight in
the other eye as well.
Then one day while holding a pine cone he
ran his sensitive fingers over the idea and as he did a revelation came to
him. Why not reduce the alphabet to
raised dots on paper so that the blind could see by feeling.
And so, Louis Braille, turned a tragedy
into a triumph.
John Fitzgerald Kennedy said it and he got it right, " in the
final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small
planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's
future. And we are all mortal."
future. And we are all mortal."
And taking this truth to heart it
behooves us to absorb into our very being such truths as Hebrews 13:8 - "Jesus Christ the
same yesterday, and to day, and for ever." or Isaiah 40:31 -
But they
that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with
wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not
faint.
We are mortal and we have the promise
of immortality and when these two truths meld we meet the power of the timeless
Holy Spirit and we are never the same again.
What was it
Paul said to the Corinthians? "'Death is swallowed up in victory.'
'O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?'"
Tragedy has a thousand ways and paces in
its coming. Sometimes slow and you can
see it coming. Sometimes fast and it
catches you completely unaware. But how
to handle it remains the same.
First, like all emotional spiritual victories
of life...see how often what seems like absolute darkness is not...for on the
darkest night and the sky swept by city lights erases sight of the stars...there
are still stars...even if you cannot see them.
They wept and
their plates were filled with despair...there was no hope...they had made a
triumphant entry into Jerusalem and now their Jesus had died in agony on a
cross.
And then the stone across the tomb that
spoke with such finality was rolled away.
And death was swallowed up in victory.
And they were about to spread the truth of a resurrected Christ that
would sweep across the world.
And a tragedy became a triumph.
Would you make
tragedy into a triumph? You must chase
sunshine and stars and rainbows and the light of hope and accept the fact that all
things work together for good "for them that love the Lord."
Please note that Jesus did not say "I am finished."
He said,
"It is finished."
And that is a
difference that is all the difference in the world. When we read it in English
it is three words. When you read it in
Greek, it is one. "Tetelestai!”
And this one last word was not lost in a
gasp. It echoed across Golgotha hill as
a victory shout.
Not said by someone crumbling but by a
conqueror of the moment.
Stay with me.
The word is used
in the perfect sense. That’s significant
because it refers to an action that has been completed in the past with results
continuing into the present.
The past
tense says, “This happened.” The perfect tense adds the idea that “this
happened and it is still in effect today.” It literally means, “It was finished
and as a result it is forever done.” Or, “It was finished in the past, and it
is still finished in the present, and it will continue to be finished in the
future.”
·
We could say it this way: “All has been done that
needed to be done. Nothing more is needed.”
Those in the first
century would understand the word because it was used in many ways:
A farmer would look at a field planted and the harvest grown ripe with success and say "Tetelestai!"
A carpenter such as Christ was for so many years look at a finished work and be pleased. And then with satisfaction say "Tetelestai!"
A sculpture would gaze upon the results of hours of carving and pleased at the results would say, "Tetelestai!"
A servant would follow his masters request and when the job was finished and well done would say, "Tetlestai!"
And, perhaps most importantly, this was a banking term. When a person would fully pay off His debt, the banker would hand him a receipt with the word Tetelestai stamped on it.
ANOTHER WAY TO SHARE THESE ONE A DAYS WITH
FREIENDS...CLICK ON MORE AT TOP LEFT OF THIS BLOG PAGE AND FROM THERE IT SHOULD BE EASY
CHURCH BOOK CLUBS ARE
USING REV. WYRICK'S 9TH BOOK "The Spiritual Abraham Lincoln."
It is
available on amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and many
other book sites.
A new quote
(posted SEPT 21) below from
Rev. Wyrick's 9th book THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN (read the rave reviews below the quote)
If
Mary had not instigated another of her famous feuds the assassination might never
have happened, at least at this time in this way.
She had raised the ire of the wife of
Ulysses S. Grant and so Julia Grant refused to attend the play at Ford Theater
in her company.
Had the General been present that evening,
there might have been more guards.
Instead, the Lincoln’s sat alone enjoying
“Our American Cousin,” until John Wilkes Booth put a bullet in his head.
It placed him in a coma and pushed the
nation further toward chaos.
The time was 10:15.
"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
,
QUOTE BELOW IS FROM WYRICK'S
WRITINGS
There
is no other organization in the world like the church. It is a breed unto itself. It is a congregation of sinners, not a
country club for saints. To become a
member you have to profess your unworthiness.
CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING TO TAKE YOU THERE
(These are selected sermons from over 50 years of ministry and as a worldwide evangelist Rev. Wyrick preached them all the United States and all over the
world)
+++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++++
CLICK ON www.go60.us
IT WILL TAKE YOU A NEW WEBSITE FOR SENIORS....click on
"Voice" on the home page and then on the list of authors click
on Neil Wyrick
Recent articles Rev. Wyrick has
written for this web site are: REFLECTIONS
·
Here Comes Summer (July 2012)
·
Spring (May 2012)
·
Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow
(April 2012)
·
Wayward and Windy (April 2012)
Just
remember that “the pain of discipline will cost you pennies, whereas the pain of
regret will cost you millions.”
++++++++++++++++++
How can we keep our faith from being a weak and
fruitless thing? How can we not be
foolish little men and women groveling in the dark shadows of overeager
egos.
Well, first we must do more than just pray. We must believe in our own prayers.
+++++++++++++++++++
Anxiety
out of proportion makes us become like a centipede trying to put his best foot
forward.
++++++++++++++++++
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 do that.”
++++++++++++++++++++
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 anything. 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
++++++++++++++++++++++
Some
of the sermon titles posted recently
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
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/
++++++++++++++++++++++
BELOW
ARE MORE QUOTES FROM NEIL'S RECENTLY POSTED SERMONS
++++++++++++++++++
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.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
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.
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