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.
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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
Below
this blog read a quote from Rev. Wyrick's highly accalimed 9th book THE
SPIRITUAL ARAHAM LINCOLN
+++++++++++
What is
truth,” asked Pontius Pilate. But was he
honest with himself when he asked the question, and then washed his hands of
the whole affair?
If or when you lie, is it just an error in judgment, a momentary
memory lapse or have you purposefully broken a trust?
And when it comes to trust, honor,
faithfulness to truth, do you have a conviction or is it just a matter of taste
and timing?
The first trust we have is as an infant. We are so small while all those around us are
so large and powerful.
We can do nothing and, so young and
innocent, we trust that our parents will do everything for us: feed us, love us
and keep us well.
For most babies such trust is quite well
placed. For
an unfortunate few any kind of trust is terribly misplaced, for there are
mothers and fathers who do not love their little ones.
Do
mistreat them.
Do
give them a terrible heritage upon which to build their lives.
The
results?
Children who grow up not trusting the world and quite often not
being someone who can be trusted.
We grow older and the challenge of trust expands.
We not only seek it, we must also allow
ourselves to be challenged to give it.
For if we lie or cheat we are the worst
kind of thieves because we shout to the world, “When it is to my benefit, I
lie.”
“Oh, you can trust me - to take care of myself first, for
remember, nice guys finish last.”
A tennis player argues that the ball is out when in reality it
is in. Oh, he or she may win the match,
but in the process loses infinitely more.
A golfer improves a lie and gains a
stroke, but loses his integrity.
A salesman stretches the truth and calls it not a lie but an
embellishment. He or she may even win an
award as Top Salesman of the year and may well increase their bank account, but
in the process decrease their honor.
There is a hardware store in hell and it sells off-and-on
switches for such consciences just described.
Every day these off-and-on switches fly off
the shelves as thousands of “Pilates” keep asking the question, “What is
truth?” Of course, many don’t stay
around long enough to receive the answer.
Every lie, every act of dishonesty or
shrinkage of honor, even if it is not punishable as a felony or a misdemeanor,
is a nail in civilization’s coffin. Even the great Roman Empire, when corruption grew and honor
shrank, began to die.
And the tragedy, the real live tragedy of
all of this?
Dishonorable men and women are watched by children and copied by
children. And some decide it is not what
they want to grow up to be, and some decide that yes, if that is the way it is,
then that is the way they will be, also.
Listen to a letter written by a 17-year-old that appeared in an Ann
Lander’s column:
“I’m tired of puppets instead of people. I’m tired of cynics who call themselves
realists. I’m tired of people
embarrassed by honor and honesty. Tired,
yes, very tired of things the way they are.”
And
not just children but fellow adults watch each other, as well. For the words, the thoughts, the actions are
really sent out in all directions to all ages that lying does sometimes
pay. So forget trust - think
profit. Think me, me, me and the devil
take the hindmost.
Do we really have to be trust worthy?
Should we truly have to
be honest in our faith and actions?
And since the answer is of course, “Yes,”
what can and must we do to promote a world in which more trust exists?
How can we, as individuals promote a more trustworthy
nation?
The beginning of an answer should be
obvious, simply bring the subject of trust and honesty up in every day
conversations on a regular basis to your children and grandchildren, family,
friends, strangers.
By way of example and suggestion: Have you just heard or read an
article about some thief on Wall Street or head of the local Savings and Loan? Do you immediately share it without
reluctance?
Then, with an equal lack of reluctance, do you find a story
about someone who did something good that counters it...and share that?
Why are so intent to spread the disease
of evil deeds and do not share anywhere near as many good and godly deeds...and
yes...that is right...they tried a newspaper that printed nothing but good news
a number of years ago...and yes...it failed.
Or try a few quotes: perhaps
something like what Will Rogers’ said, “I’d rather be the man who bought the
Brooklyn Bridge than the man who tried to sell it.”
Or quote Thomas Jefferson, “Honesty is the first chapter in the
Book of Wisdom…”
Am I suggesting that you should go around spreading little
sermonettes? Well, why not? Why not, indeed?
++++++++++++++++++++
QUOTES ON TRUST
A man who doesn't trust himself can never really trust anyone
else.
Cardinal De Retz
Trust in the Lord
with all your heart; and don't lean on your own understanding. In all things
acknowledge him, and he shall direct your way. [Proverbs 3:5, 6]"
"All I have seen teaches me to trust the creator for all I have
not seen." Ralph Waldo
Emerson
==========
A
new quote below from Rev. Wyrick's 9th
book THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN (read the rave reviews below the quote)
Was Lincoln,
before he died, overly proud that he had so much to do with the preserving of
the Union?
It
is more likely that he quoted once again words of one of his favorite poets,
William Knox, “Oh, why should the spirit of mortal be proud?”
As he walked the streets of Richmond, Virginia
in an unannounced visit after that city had fallen to the North, it was said
that he was the man of the people among the people.
When
an elderly Negro had run toward him shouting praise, Lincoln lifted his hat and bowed, and wiped
away a tear or two.
++++++++++++++
"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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