IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND
THIS BLOG TO A FRIEND COPY and paste THE FOLLOWING URL
There are over 900
stories and commentaries on this blog. It is added to
daily.
Click on http://wyrickswritings.blogspot.com
to read selected Sermons from
over 50 years of ministry.
++++++++++
There are answers to
the title question that deserve your attention.
A train of thought you should ride for
awhile.
If
it is difficult to believe that God is good because of all the evil that
resounds and abounds...is it not equally as difficult to prove that God is bad
when not a day passes that you do see beauty and goodness as well.
If death shouts there is not a loving
God then what does life shout
If
the presence of hate denies God's goodness what does love affirm?
If what you have lost has made you bitter, what was
thanksgiving before you suffered the loss.
Do
you doubt a loving heavenly Father? Then
what and who was Jesus... come to earth to sooth your soul and assure your mind
and quicken your heart to the eternal promises from on high.
Does the fact of sin disturb you? It should.
But at the same time remember that Jesus taught there is an instant
readiness on the part of God to forgive, your sin and the sins of those those
around you.
I always like to say that I used to be perfect but I gave it up
because it made people nervous. Pray
more...sin less...with hallelujah's accept the forgiveness of your loving
forgiving God.
And never forget...The parable of the lost sheep shows a never ending cup of concern.
And never forget...The parable of the lost sheep shows a never ending cup of concern.
Does
God care?
Does death fill you with sadness? What does resurrection fill you with?
There
is a truth and it deserves the emphasis of capital letters. WHAT GOD OFFERS MAN CANNOT ALWAYS UNDERSTNAD,
BUT WHAT GOD OFFERS IS ALWAYS WITH UNDERSTANDING.
Could it be said that the goodness of God is not
something to be defined but rather something to be described?
Definitions
set limits, draw lines, restrict.
I cannot define beauty, but I can describe that which is
beautiful.
I
cannot define love, but I can describe what it feels like to give it or receive
it.
I cannot define the goodness of God but I can describe
what it can do and has done to my immortal soul.
Matthew 7:11
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!
Gary Thomas, a friend of Rick Warren,
noticed that many Christians were stuck in a worship rut. He raised the
question, “Since God has intentionally made us all different, why should
everyone be expected to love (worship) God the same way?”(1) Gary has
discovered that for 2,000 years Christians have used many different paths to
enjoy intimacy with God.
In his book
Sacred Pathways, Gary identifies nine ways that people draw near to God:
· Naturalists love God best when they are outdoors.
· Sensates love God best when all their senses are engaged.
· Traditionalists love God best when they are able to stick close to ritual, symbols, and familiarity.
· Ascetics love God best in solitude and simplicity.
· Activists love God best when they are battling injustice and evil.
· Caregivers love God best through caring for those who hurt.
· Enthusiasts love God best by experiencing celebration.
· Contemplatives love God best through adoration and meditation.
· Naturalists love God best when they are outdoors.
· Sensates love God best when all their senses are engaged.
· Traditionalists love God best when they are able to stick close to ritual, symbols, and familiarity.
· Ascetics love God best in solitude and simplicity.
· Activists love God best when they are battling injustice and evil.
· Caregivers love God best through caring for those who hurt.
· Enthusiasts love God best by experiencing celebration.
· Contemplatives love God best through adoration and meditation.
Philippians 4:6
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
a. We say- It’s impossible. God says- All things are
possible with Me.
b. We say- I can’t do it. God says- You can do all things through Christ.
c. We say- I’m too tired. God says- Come to Me, I will give you rest.
d. We say- I’m always worried and frustrated. God says- Cast all your cares on Me.
e. We say- I can’t go on. God says- My grace is sufficient for you.
f. We- I can’t figure things out. God- I will direct your steps.
g. We say- I’m not able. God says- I am able.
h. We say- It’s not worth it. God says- It will be worth it.
i. We say- I can’t manage. God says- I will supply all your needs.
j. We say- I’m afraid. God says- I have not given you a spirit of fear.
k. We say- I don’t have enough faith. God says- I’ve given everyone a measure of faith.
l. We say- I’m not smart enough. God says- I give you wisdom.
m. We say- I feel all alone. God says- I will never leave you or forsake you.
b. We say- I can’t do it. God says- You can do all things through Christ.
c. We say- I’m too tired. God says- Come to Me, I will give you rest.
d. We say- I’m always worried and frustrated. God says- Cast all your cares on Me.
e. We say- I can’t go on. God says- My grace is sufficient for you.
f. We- I can’t figure things out. God- I will direct your steps.
g. We say- I’m not able. God says- I am able.
h. We say- It’s not worth it. God says- It will be worth it.
i. We say- I can’t manage. God says- I will supply all your needs.
j. We say- I’m afraid. God says- I have not given you a spirit of fear.
k. We say- I don’t have enough faith. God says- I’ve given everyone a measure of faith.
l. We say- I’m not smart enough. God says- I give you wisdom.
m. We say- I feel all alone. God says- I will never leave you or forsake you.
Isaiah 12:2
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. (NIV)
Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. (NIV)
++++++++++++++++
BELOW ARE QUOTES FROM POSTINGS ON WYRICK'S
WRITINGS DURING THE LAST FEW MONTHS...
Click on the URL below
and it will take you to this Wyrick's Writings blog.
+++++++++++++
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 ENTITLED
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 ENTITLED
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 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 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
Friday, June 29, 2012
DO YOU WANT PEOPLE TO SAY NICE THINGS ABOUT YOU?
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND
THIS BLOG TO A FRIEND COPY and paste THE FOLLOWING URL
http://oneadayyourspiritualvitamins.blogspot.com/
AND THEN PASTE IN AN EMAIL.
++++++++++
One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man."
Elbert Hubbard
AND THEN PASTE IN AN EMAIL.
There are over 900
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 ministry.++++++++++
One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man."
Elbert Hubbard
Think you can, think
you can't--either way, you'll be right."
Henry Ford
Henry Ford
What the caterpillar
calls the end of the world, the master calls a butterfly."
Richard Bach
Richard Bach
If you want people to say nice things about you in every day
conversation or on Facebook or by way of a tweet simply do the obvious...BE
NICE.
And..if God were to talk
about you in heaven, what would He say?
When people in his
time said that Roger Bacon was a scientist brave and true, these were not just poetic
words without meaning, for he was every inch a man carrying out his scientific
experiments in the face of the threats and terrors of the Inquisition.
When they made fun of Kagawa as a
fool, it was greater fools trying to name a fool, this little Japanese
Christian who didn't have to but did, go down into the slums to feed not only
the stomachs but the souls of those poor people.
When they said Hitler was a madman, a murderer, a tyrant, and a
dog, what they said was true and they could have said a lot worse and it be
true.
What is it that makes one man live a life worthwhile and
another man's life worthless or evil or both?
Why does a person chose to cross the dividing line between
greatness and greediness?
Why is one husband or wife or child or Christian or neighbor
better than another?
Why is it when you talk about some people you have to look high
and wide to find something nice to say about them?
Two stories will begin
to give an answer.
There
was a collision at sea off the coast of Massachusetts between a steamer called
the "Fairfax" and a tanker named the "Pinthia."
The
Fairfax caught on fire. The crew
deserted their post. Some of them leaped
into the sea.
All
except one man...a "wiper" by the name of Lester Kober.
When
everything turned into chaos Lester Kober calmly worked his way back to the
engine room through the smoke and the fire until he found the source of the
fire and put it out.
During the investigation that followed he was asked why
he had decided to do as he did. His answer
was simple and to the point, "I saw that someone was needed
there."
The second story is from the Gospels and concerns one Jesus and a time when a clever little truant slithered up to him with a crowd of truants and placing a coin with a picture of Caesar on it asked him to whom it belonged.
The second story is from the Gospels and concerns one Jesus and a time when a clever little truant slithered up to him with a crowd of truants and placing a coin with a picture of Caesar on it asked him to whom it belonged.
Jesus
never paused an instant and gave this immortal answer. "Render unto Caesar the things that are
Caesar's and unto God the things that are God's."
Would you have people say nice things about you. Then be governed by your insides that are
governed by God. Do not shelter your
mind and heart and soul from the influence of the Almighty. Tag into God's teaching that can filter through
all the false message that otherwise besiege you each and every day. Pray your way to wisdom rather than allow
yourself to be signed on as a crewman on a ship of fools.
The
Father of minister, man of courage, firm in his convictions, Martin Niemoller once was asked during World War II what it was like to have
a son in a concentration camp.
He
answered this way, "Yes, is a terrible thing..but there would be something
more terrible for us, if God had needed a faithful martyr and our Martin had
been unwilling."
Are you willing to do and be what is required of someone
who has earned the right to have people say good things about them?
Proverb
1:7 reads "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools
despise wisdom and instruction."
It is possible to run with the pack and mimic and mouth
foolish deeds and thoughts. It is
possible to lead a life that is a waste because it seems the easier thing to
do.
God's
wisdom gets in the way of sin by calling it what it is and how worthless a way
it is to live.
What
they to do so that you will become the person that is a blessing to you and all
live around and with you.
1.
Pray a prayer that begins with the
words, "Lord, I really do want to live a life that is better than what I
am living now." (For all of us
there is always room for improvement)
We
must not give only what we have, we must give what we are."
Cardinal Mercia
Cardinal Mercia
"Each day we
make deposits in the memory banks of our children."
Charles Swindoll
Charles Swindoll
It is never too late
to be what you might have been."
George Eliot
George Eliot
When you have
exhausted all possibilities, remember this... you haven't."
Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison
We are, each of us,
angels with only one wing, and we can only fly embracing each other."
Luciano Decrescenzo
Luciano Decrescenzo
I have an
irrepressible desire to live till I can be assured that the world is a little
better for my having lived in it."
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
We either make
ourselves miserable, or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the
same."
Carlos Castaneda
Carlos Castaneda
We all have the means
to bestow on others the most lavish gifts; love, joy, peace, hope, kindness,
acceptance, encouragement, laughter, forgiveness, time. There is not enough
money to buy them and not too little money to give them. The more you spend,
the wealthier you become; yet nothing will cost you more than what you freely
possess to give."
Eden Eliot
Eden Eliot
"A bad habit
never disappears miraculously, it's an undo-it-yourself project."
Abigail Van Buren
Abigail Van Buren
++++++++++++++++
BELOW ARE QUOTES FROM POSTINGS ON WYRICK'S
WRITINGS DURING THE LAST FEW MONTHS...THESE POSTINGS ARE
SERMONS REV. WYRICK HAS PREACHED DURING THE LAST 50 PLUS YEARS.
Click on the URL below
and it will take you to this Wyrick's Writings blog.
+++++++++++++
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.
"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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