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It was an actual will written in 1935. It
read, "Unto my two daughters, Frances Marie and Denise Victoria, by
reason of their unfilial attitude toward a doting father, . . . I leave
the sum of $1.00 to each and a father's curse. May their lives be
fraught with misery, unhappiness, and poignant sorrow. May their deaths
be soon and of a lingering malignant and torturous nature." "May their
souls rest in hell and suffer the torments of the condemned for
eternity."
I
have preached on and quoted from so often the 13th chapter of
Corintians some have even called me Mr. 13th chapter of Corinthians.
I only wish I had been able to adhere to the monumental teachings of this scripture.
Nevertheless, inspired by it I have written the following.
In
a world of desktop publishing where the internet can repeat my anger
over and over again, if I choose to have it rather than control it, I do not make an Eden.
But I do make a hell.
If I am bilingual but do not have love I pepper the 21st century world with hate filled web sites and call such clanging obscenities inspired.
If
I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all
knowledge , but am filled only with pride because of my accomplishments I
am nothing.
Indeed, I may well become an audio or disc played over and over again.
If I have faith that can move mountains but do not care whom I hurt by such moving, I am nothing.
If I give all that I posses to the poor but do nothing but brag about such generosity, I belittle both the gift and the giver.
Without love, there is such a terrible meanness in the soul. Without love, I am not aware of a poverty of spirit.
Hate
and anger are always impatient, dedicated to the art of irritation,
filled with envy, tight-lipped, rude, unkind, ready or battle.
Looking for headlines.
Hate keeps non-erasable mental and emotional records of every real and imagined wrong. Hate will not forget. It wants to remember and get even.
Hate delights in evil, courts evil, is energized by evil.
It rejoice in lies. It never protects, never trust. It makes copies and mails them the old-fashioned way or multiplies animosity by e-mail.
Hate forgets the last lines of the 13th chapter of Corinthians. Sees weakness in faith, hope and love. Sees love not as the greatest of the these, but the greatest enemy it has ever known.
I
remember years ago, when I was fresh out of seminary, hearing an older
minister say as he rose at a Presbytery meeting, "I feel no zeal in this
matter, but..." and then for the next 20 minutes showed not only zeal but a great deal of corroding anger.
It is a normal human trait for people involved in a disagreement to turn into jackasses kicking holes in the stable of life.
But
when it happens, I have no doubt Christ on the cross bows his head and
cries out, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do."
No matter what the reason, unreasonable behavior is unacceptable. Certainly in the sometimes less than hallowed halls of denominational meetings.
And certainly before the throne of grace.
+++++++++++++++++++++++
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
...and get a brand new book for $2 "from author" which is less than used book prices you will see!!!
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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