Saturday, April 30, 2016

PEACE; AN ONGOING QUEST

" ONE LINERS FOR YOUR SOUL" & ONE A DAY

      Take these two seeds of thought below and turn THEM into a wisdom tree.

A NATION CALLED GREED

 In this nation called Greed, it is brother against brother, house against house, labor against management and management against labor.  All actions and votes in its representative bodies are governed by super imposed selfishness.  It is mandatory that if you are a butcher you weigh your thumb as well as the piece of meat.  If you are a student you must pledge not to study and learn.  You must rather cheat and stay stupid.  When it is time to give, just don’t.  It is that simple.

  BELOW IS...YOUR 'ONE A DAY' for Today

PEACE, AN ONGOING QUEST


These thoughts are added to each day. Scroll down and read previous One A Days.)

(Use in your personal or church newsletters) (365 stories a year)

Serialization of Neil’s Internationally Distributed Novel (Rust On My Soul) (Published by Bridge Press(1985) starts on his blog Wyrick’s Writings until finished. Thursday and Sunday will continue to cover a variety of subjects.
To view this blog CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING URL
http://wyrickswritings.blogspot.com/

Since 3600 B.C. there have been 14,150 wars and only 292 years of peace. They have been responsible for the slaughter of three and one-half billion people. It has cost enough to buy a band of gold large enough to span the globe, 100 miles wide, 30 feet thick.

But still men of faith have
known and continue to know what a 23 year old wrote over sixty years ago. It was yet another war. He had been caught as a spy. The next morning he was to be executed.

Still he penned:

Dear Dad:

It is difficult to write this letter to you, but I have to tell you the Military Court has pronounced a very heavy sentence upon us. Read this letter alone and then tell Mother very carefully…In a little while it is going to happen and it is not so terrible. I do not fear. I have the firm conviction that I may look forward to a death in Christ.

It is after all, one moment and then I shall be with God. We must be courageous. Be the same. They can only take our bodies. Our souls are in God’s hands.

God bless you all. Have no hate. I die without hatred. God rules everything.

Your son

“…fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
—Isaiah 41:10

I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;
—1 Timothy 2:8
Have you considered sharing this site with family or friends?

Just have them go to Google Search and type in “Neil Spiritual Vitamins”

And, yes, maybe they will back track a few weeks to read other of my musings.


DO YOU HAVE A BLOG OR FACEBOOK? IF YOU ENJOY THESE WRITINGS COULD YOU CALL ATTENTION TO THIS BLOG? IF YOU DO, THANKS IN ADVANCE.


Have you considered sharing this site with family or friends? Just have them go to Google Search and type in “Neil Spiritual Vitamins”.
 
     OR HAVE THEM CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING URL 
 
     And, yes, maybe they will back track a few weeks to read other of my musings.

     DO YOU HAVE A BLOG OR FACEBOOK? IF YOU ENJOY THESE WRITINGS COULD YOU CALL ATTENTION TO THIS BLOG? IF YOU DO, THANKS IN ADVANCE.
       click on the FOLLOWING URL

     to go to Rev. Wyrick's other blog Wyrick's Writings

  Check out Neil's 2 still available books on amazon.com.    

THERE ARE OTHER USED COPIES OF HIS 7 OTHER USED BOOKS AT MANY SITES

       THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN (AVAILLABLE ON KINDLE) & BEN FRANKLIN'S ALMANACK FOR THE 20TH CENTURY
   
       TO VIEW REV. WYRICK'S AWARD WINNING ONE MAN DRAMAS Click on the following http://www.speakerneil.com/

       BELOW ARE SOME OF THE RAVE REVIEWS ABOUT "THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN."

++++++++++++++++

      "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 Lincolnshould 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 fullmeasure 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, April 29, 2016

A FATHER'S LOVE...A FATHER'S SACRIFICE

These thoughts are added to each day. Scroll down and read previous One A Days.)

(Use in your personal or church newsletters) (365 stories a year)

Serialization of Neil’s Internationally Distributed Novel (Rust On My Soul) (Published by Bridge Press(1985) starts on his blog Wyrick’s Writings until finished. Thursday and Sunday will continue to cover a variety of subjects.
 
To view this blog CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING URL
http://wyrickswritings.blogspot.com/

The bridge spanned the river and most of the day it ran parallel to the river so that boats could easily pass on by.

At certain times the sound of an approaching train would cause the bridge operator to turn the bridge sideways so the train could safely cross the river.

Then, as always, when he heard the whistle of the approaching train he waited at the controls until the train was at the proper distance away. Then he would activate the controls and as it had hundreds of times before, the bridge would move into its proper position and lock.

All went well, until he realized the bridge was not locking and that unless he could get it to lock the train would plummet into the river and all aboard would perish.

He hurried from the control room and swiftly moved to a lever switch that he would now manually hold the tracks in place until the bridge had passed.

It required great strength and had no doubt he could keep everything in place.

Then to his horror he heard a little voice, “Daddy, where are you?”

It was his little son crossing along the tracks having left the control room.

He thought to call out “Run back to the control room. Run back” but he realized the tiny legs would never make it in time.

What could he do?

He could leave the lever he was holding, run and pick up his child and carry him to safety. But! If he did so the train would crash into the river and hundreds would die.

It was the easiest and most difficult decision he would ever make in his whole life. As the train sped safely by, no one aboard noticed the tiny broken little body thrown mercilessly into the river. Nor were they aware of the pitiful sobbing figure still clinging to the lever long after the train had passed.

Consider this.

Yet another father experienced this pain after he had sent His son to earth. Our heavenly Father sacrificing His son to save us.

Remember how the earth trembled and the skies darkened on that Golgotha day. And how often do we with thanksgiving literally bursting from and within our heart pray “Thank you Lord for loving me that much. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.”

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16).

Have you considered sharing this site with family or friends?

Just have them go to Google Search and type in “Neil Spiritual Vitamins”

And, yes, maybe they will back track a few weeks to read other of my musings.


DO YOU HAVE A BLOG OR FACEBOOK? IF YOU ENJOY THESE WRITINGS COULD YOU CALL ATTENTION TO THIS BLOG? IF YOU DO, THANKS IN ADVANCE.



Thursday, April 28, 2016

WHO SAID PARENTING WAS EASY?

" ONE LINERS FOR YOUR SOUL" & ONE A DAY
 
       Take these two seeds of thought below and turn THEM into a wisdom tree.
 
       ANXIETY?  SMOTHER IT SOME WITH SOME OTHERNESS
 
It is natural and to a degree necessary to be concerned with our own well being..  Complete 100 % altruism is both impossible and destructive   Nevertheless for mental, emotional, physical and spiritual well being we all need to care about someone besides ourselves.  And go the extra mile in the process
 
  BELOW IS...YOUR 'ONE A DAY' for Today

WHO SAID PARENTING WAS EASY?
 
These thoughts are added to each day. Scroll down and read previous One A Days.)

(Use in your personal or church newsletters) (365 stories a year)

Serialization of Neil’s Internationally Distributed Novel (Rust On My Soul) (Published by Bridge Press(1985) starts on his blog Wyrick’s Writings and continues until finished. Thursday and Sunday will continue to cover a variety of subjects.
To view this blog CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING URL
http://wyrickswritings.blogspot.com/

I first read this many years ago and have used it both in private conversations and pulpit proclamations more than once. It is, of course, timeless and that is both good and bad.

She’s a woman with a mission, it’s her heaven born ambition to reform the world’s condition, I’d have you know understand.

She’s a
model of propriety, she’s a leader of society and she has a great variety of remedies on hand.

Each a sovereign specific, just a little scientific, for the care of things mortific that vex the people’s souls.

For the swift alleviation, of the evils of the nation, is her foreordained vocation on this subliminary show.

But while she’s up and coming, always hurrying and humming and occasionally slumming, this woman of renown.

Her neglected little Dickey, ragged, dirty, tough and tricky, with his fingers soiled and sticky, is the Terror of the Town.

Proverbs 19:18 “Discipline your son, for in that there is hope; do not be a willing party to his death.”
Have you considered sharing this site with family or friends?

Just have them go to Google Search and type in “Neil Spiritual Vitamins”

And, yes, maybe they will back track a few weeks to read other of my musings.

DO YOU HAVE A BLOG OR FACEBOOK? IF YOU ENJOY THESE WRITINGS COULD YOU CALL ATTENTION TO THIS BLOG? IF YOU DO, THANKS IN ADVANCE.


Have you considered sharing this site with family or friends? Just have them go to Google Search and type in “Neil Spiritual Vitamins”.
     OR HAVE THEM CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING URL 
     And, yes, maybe they will back track a few weeks to read other of my musings.
     DO YOU HAVE A BLOG OR FACEBOOK? IF YOU ENJOY THESE WRITINGS COULD YOU CALL ATTENTION TO THIS BLOG? IF YOU DO, THANKS IN ADVANCE.

       click on the FOLLOWING URL

     to go to Rev. Wyrick's other blog Wyrick's
Writings

 Check out Neil's 2 still available books on amazon.com.    

THERE ARE OTHER USED COPIES OF HIS 7 OTHER USED BOOKS AT MANY SITES

       THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN (AVAILLABLE ON KINDLE) & BEN FRANKLIN'S ALMANACK FOR THE 20TH CENTURY
     
       TO VIEW REV. WYRICK'S AWARD WINNING ONE MAN DRAMAS Click on the following http://www.speakerneil.com/

       BELOW ARE SOME OF THE RAVE REVIEWS ABOUT "THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN."

++++++++++++++++

      "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 Lincolnshould 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 fullmeasure 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

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

CREATIVE GIVING

" ONE LINERS FOR YOUR SOUL" & ONE A DAY
 
      Take these two seeds of thought below and turn THEM into a wisdom tree.
   
ATTICS
 
I have not always lived in these southern climes.  I was born in Virginia where we had attics and I thought them a treasure trove, filled with all kind of wonderful things of our families past.
       But like most attics there were things saved that could best have been thrown away.
       And I got to thinking.  The same thing is true of the attic of our minds.
       Indeed, got any old hates lying around rotting in the shadows?  Got any old jealousies all shined and bright and deadly?  Got any sins you have never brought out into the bright light of God’s forgiveness
 
  BELOW IS...YOUR 'ONE A DAY' for Today
 
CREATIVE GIVING
 
These thoughts are added to each day. Scroll down and read previous One A Days.)

(Use in your personal or church newsletters) (365 stories a year)

Serialization of Neil’s Internationally Distributed Novel (Rust On My Soul) (Published by Bridge Press(1985) starts on his blog Wyrick’s Writings. Thursday and Sunday will continue to cover a variety of subjects.
To view this blog CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING URL
http://wyrickswritings.blogspot.com/

The man gave his wife a birthday present…a scholarship to a Christian College but not for her…rather for a poor student who could not afford it.

A woman gave the gift of a new shirt and tie to her husband but not for him…instead for a small boy in an orphanage who could not afford it.

Is it almost birthday time for someone around your house.
Have you been discussing a birthday present?

Give a gift to someone in need in the name of someone you love? And let them know what you did? What will be…would be…the response? The answer to that question is in itself monumental…now isn’t it?

How does that scripture read “Inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren…”

Have you considered sharing this site with family or friends?

Just have them go to Google Search and type in “Neil Spiritual Vitamins”.

Or…go the bottom of this article and click on “Tell a Friend.”

And, yes, maybe they will back track a few weeks to read other of my musings.

DO YOU HAVE A BLOG OR FACEBOOK? IF YOU ENJOY THESE WRITINGS COULD YOU CALL ATTENTION TO THIS BLOG? IF YOU DO, THANKS IN ADVANCE.

Have you considered sharing this site with family or friends? Just have them go to Google Search and type in “Neil Spiritual Vitamins”.
     OR HAVE THEM CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING URL
     And, yes, maybe they will back track a few weeks to read other of my musings.
     DO YOU HAVE A BLOG OR FACEBOOK? IF YOU ENJOY THESE WRITINGS COULD YOU CALL ATTENTION TO THIS BLOG? IF YOU DO, THANKS IN ADVANCE.

       click on the FOLLOWING URL

     to go to Rev. Wyrick's other blog Wyrick's
Writings

  Check out Neil's 2 still available books on amazon.com.    

THERE ARE OTHER USED COPIES OF HIS 7 OTHER USED BOOKS AT MANY SITES

       THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN (AVAILLABLE ON KINDLE) & BEN FRANKLIN'S ALMANACK FOR THE 20TH CENTURY

 
       TO VIEW REV. WYRICK'S AWARD WINNING ONE MAN DRAMAS Click on the following http://www.speakerneil.com/

       BELOW ARE SOME OF THE RAVE REVIEWS ABOUT "THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN."

++++++++++++++++

      "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 Lincolnshould 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 fullmeasure 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

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

WORRY IS SUCH A WASTE

" ONE LINERS FOR YOUR SOUL" 
 
     Take these two seeds of thought below and turn THEM into a wisdom tree.
    
POLISH  REGULARLY THE SILVER LINING OF YOUR CLOUDS
If you really want to be happy you need to fall in love  with your own life as it is over and over again.  To search out and polish up the silver lining on your clouds.  To look up at the night sky and see both stars and darkness, but allow yourself to be over-whelmed by the twinkling lights rather than by the deep dark blackness of outer space.   
 
   BELOW IS...YOUR 'ONE A DAY' for Today
 
WORRY IS SUCH A WASTE these thoughts are added to each day. Scroll down and read previous One A Days.)

(Use in your personal or church newsletters) (365 stories a year)

Serialization of Neil’s Internationally Distributed Novel (Rust On My Soul) (Published by Bridge Press (1985) starts on his blog Wyrick’s Writings Thursday and Sunday will continue to cover a variety of subjects.

To view this blog CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING URL


Thomas Carlisle once wrote, “Our main business is not to see what lies dimly at a distance but to do what lies clearly at hand.”

Was yesterday a success? Good. Be thankful.

Was it a failure? Unfortunate. Learn from it.

Will next week be too busy? Are you worn out just thinking about it?
Save your energy for doing. Don’t waste it by worrying.

The man who can say, “My goal is what counts. Obstacles may slow me down but they’ll never stop me. Only death will stop me and then I am fulfilled because I did not quit,” is the kind of man who knows how to live.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?" Psalms 27:1

Have you considered sharing this site with family or friends?

Just have them go to Google Search and type in “Neil Spiritual Vitamins”.

Or…go the bottom of this article and click on “Tell a Friend.”

And, yes, maybe they will back track a few weeks to read other of my musings.


DO YOU HAVE A BLOG OR FACEBOOK? IF YOU ENJOY THESE WRITINGS COULD YOU CALL ATTENTION TO THIS BLOG? IF YOU DO, THANKS IN ADVANCE.

Have you considered sharing this site with family or friends? Just have them go to Google Search and type in “Neil Spiritual Vitamins”.

     OR HAVE THEM CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING URL 

     And, yes, maybe they will back track a few weeks to read other of my musings.
     DO YOU HAVE A BLOG OR FACEBOOK? IF YOU ENJOY THESE WRITINGS COULD YOU CALL ATTENTION TO THIS BLOG? IF YOU DO, THANKS IN ADVANCE.

       click on the FOLLOWING URL

     to go to Rev. Wyrick's other blog Wyrick's
Writings

 Check out Neil's 2 still available books on amazon.com.    

THERE ARE OTHER USED COPIES OF HIS 7 OTHER USED BOOKS AT MANY SITES

       THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN (AVAILLABLE ON KINDLE) & BEN FRANKLIN'S ALMANACK FOR THE 20TH CENTURY
    
       TO VIEW REV. WYRICK'S AWARD WINNING ONE MAN DRAMAS Click on the following

       BELOW ARE SOME OF THE RAVE REVIEWS ABOUT "THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN."

++++++++++++++++

      "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 Lincolnshould 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 fullmeasure 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