A 3 PART SERIES ON ANXIETY BEGAN NOV 1st. I THANK THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE BEEN SHARING IT
WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
These
One A Days are added to daily. There are over 1100 stories and commentaries
on this blog. It is
added to daily.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND THIS BLOG TO A FRIEND COPY and
paste THE FOLLOWING URL
AND THEN PASTE IN AN EMAIL.
Click on http://wyrickswritings.blogspot.com
to read selected Sermons from
over 50 years of Rev. Wyrick's ministry.
To view Rev. Wyrick in 4 of his highly
acclaimed One Man Dramas click on the below
In her twilight years, a widowed woman stands broken and afraid, shouting to the
heavens
that no one is worse off than she.
Even when she walks in sunshine she sees
nothing but clouds.
It is not that her tragedy is not real
and terrible. It is that she seeks no
better way to live and therefore gives up on living.
Another woman does not berate the Creator
for the death of her loved one, she too weeps and feels the wrath of her
sorrow, but in the midst of it all she also daily reminds herself that it is
better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
A man’s investments go downhill and they don’t make it all the
way back uphill, so he does nothing but fret and stew about his losses.
It never crosses his mind to consider
that what he has left may will be more than many others have ever had.
He is frozen with frustration, a captive
of his pessimism. And from that point on
he becomes his own worst enemy.
Another man loses a well paying job but
is willing to work at another one paying less, being fully aware that there are
many who have no job at all.
His salary may, or may not, get back to
what it was but meanwhile he will still enjoy life despite rather than because.
He
is not frozen with frustration, rather he is blessed with an on-going optimism.
A former athlete watches his limbs daily
grow more twisted and immobile, wallowing in self-pity.
Another, who can no
longer walk, challenges someone to a wheel chair race, or a legless man races
in the Miami
marathon on a skateboard.
A couple has a dream and the first time that dream begins to
fail, they embrace failure as if there is nothing else that they can do.
Another couple is an
object of courage determined to make things better for themselves, and easier
for others around them.
As one injury or tragedy or adversity after the other pile up along
the highway of life, one person takes suffering and turns it into stumbling
blocks while another turns the same suffering into stepping stones.
The times of challenge never end. The times of choices never end. We all choose whether to be molded by self
pity or strong faith. Face life looking
down at the ground or raise our head to the stars.
The stars?
Of course, remember that though all around them is darkness they
never notice…they are too busy making light.
And beyond the shadow of a doubt, one of the best ways to handle
adversity if it isn’t yours but the adversity of a friend is to follow the
actions of some of the friends of Job.
He had a problem. They cared.
So for seven days,
seven friends or more sat around and were just there for him.
They didn’t offer great words of wisdom. They didn’t give out massive quotes of
scripture - that wasn’t who they were, they didn’t feel qualified.
So they just showed up
and let him know they cared.
When I first went into the ministry I thought that anytime I
walked through a door where calamity had
visited I had to make statements that were wise and worth holding on to.
I soon found I had better
get rid of that notion because I wasn’t always going to be able to do it.
I did learn that my being
there, my caring, my compassion and concern were my greatest strengths. And
they are yours, also.
You want to help someone through misery, through abject pain, through
problems large, medium or small.
Just let them know you care.
With a word.
With a note.
With a presence.
Just let them know you care.
One of Aesop’s fables wraps up this truth in another of his
pointed stories.
It is about a father who had seven sons. To each son he gave a
stick.
Each was then asked to break the stick, which he did
easily.
Then the father bound seven sticks together and asked his sons
to now break them.
Not a one could do it.
It was impossible.
When all seven were bound together their strength was too
great.
If the sticks were people, the bonding that takes place by
compassionate togetherness creates a strength that no one can ever match by
strictly trying to go it alone.
+++++++++++++
QUOTES ON HANDING PROBLEMS
We have
no right to ask when sorrow comes, "Why did this happen to me?"
unless we ask the same question for every moment of happiness that comes our
way. ~Author Unknown
Some of God's greatest gifts are
unanswered prayers. ~Garth Brooks
Bad is never good until worse happens.
~Danish Proverb
If you don't like something change it; if
you can't change it, change the way you think about it. ~Mary Engelbreit
A bad grade is only one letter in the
Essay of life. ~Lee Drake
When it is dark enough, you can see the
stars. ~Ralph Waldo Emerson
When written in Chinese the word
"crisis" is composed of two characters - one represents danger and
the other represents opportunity. ~John F. Kennedy,
==========
A
new quote below from Rev. Wyrick's 9th book THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM
LINCOLN (read the rave reviews
below the quote)
If Lincoln
had not died he would have given the South back its pride as soon as possible. Some may
refuse to accept the Lincoln
his words portrayed.
Others may find it difficult to see so much of
a Pollyanna-future, had his life been spared.
Yet,
even the most negative should be willing to admit that more charity and less
malice could have begun to save some of the day.
This leader had so often spoken as much like
a
philosopher/theologian as a politician.
Not
haranguing the South for its foolishness or suggesting punishment, but rather
advocating too much forgiveness that never sat well with what was still a
divided house.
The death
of many of his dreams followed his death.
Hatred of the South was an easier sell.
++++++++++++++
"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 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 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.
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