IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND THIS BLOG TO A FRIEND GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS BLOG AND CLICK ON THE ENVELOPE.
There are over 900 stories and commentaries on this blog. It is added to daily.
To visit Neil's other blog Wyrick's Writings click on the following
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
At the back of many churches is a clock. It reminds us we are mortal. Behind the preacher is a cross. It reminds us that we are also immortal. We are both because of Easter. And
though we celebrate the Resurrection towards this Easter time (today),
we should consider the next 50 days Easter as well, because the Bible
tells us that for 49 days Jesus continued to appear here on earth and
then on the 50th day He ascended to heaven.
But
what really underlines the truth of Easter and the Resurrection, was
the affect it had on those to whom He appeared to in those following
weeks. The disciples changed from weak and inept to powerful and
evangelistically persistent. What they had been and what they became was the difference between night and day.
It
all started with a shock treatment - Good Friday was certainly a shock
to everyone’s system, and then a mystery – an empty tomb. Mary Magdalene and the other women running back into Jerusalem shouting that the tomb was empty! The reason why? No bodily theft, rather a resurrection. It was a heavenly miracle too good to be believed.
Too good to be believed? Not when death is defeated. Not when life continues. That’s one whale of a victory. That’s
headline news that has been enough for the first doubting Thomas and
for millions of other briefly doubting Thomases for the last 20
centuries.
One
thing is for sure, if one knew only the beginning of the Easter story, a
very bad beginning, and not the magnificent ending, it certainly
wouldn’t foster a religion. But Jesus, come to call on the road to Emmaus, to Mary, in the Upper Room, and then the Ascension – now victory reigned.
By way of emphasis, let me tell you about another moment in history - what happened after the Battle of Waterloo. It
was a battle between the English army led by the Duke of Wellington and
the French army led by the arrogant Napoleon, who wanted to rule the
world. The outcome would determine the fate of Europe. When finally it was over, light signals began to send word of the victory back across the English Channel. But a heavy fog was fast rolling in and only the first two words of the message were received, “Wellington defeated…..” and then further communication was impossible. Hours later when the fog had finally lifted, the message was completed - “Wellington defeated the enemy.”
And that is how it was and is. The Lord’s story had a bad beginning, Jesus defeated….. but when the fog of fear lifted and the message was gloriously completed, it read….. Jesus defeated the enemy, death.
++++++++++++++++++++++
QUOTE FROM A PIECE POSTED ON WYRICK'S WRITINGS 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 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 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.
"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
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment