REPENTANCE

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          There are over 900 stories and commentaries on this blog that began Nov 24, 2009. It is added to daily.

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"If all the sleeping folks will wake up,  and all the lukewarm folks will fire up,  and all the disgruntled folks will sweeten up, and all the discouraged folks will cheer up, and all the depressed folks will look up, and all the estranged folks will make up,   and all the gossiping folks will shut up, and all the dry bones will shake up, and all the true soldiers will stand up, and all the church members will pray up, and if the Savior of all will be lifted up . . . then we can have the greatest renewal this world has ever known." --Richard Cardinal Cushing

During the Revolutionary War one Captain John Calendar was found guilty of cowardice at Bunker Hill.  After he had been court-martialed, General Washington discharged him.

It was after this that John Callendar, set an example that more men might follow.  Though he had been a captain, he re-enlisted as a private.  Some months later he displayed such courage in a battle, Washington publicly revoked his court-marshal and restored him to his previous rank of captain.

No matter what we have done or left undone, it is never too late to repent and remake a life.

“He who rejects change is the architect of decay.  The only human institution which rejects progress is the cemetery.”  ~Harold Wilson

Philippians 4:13 – “We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.”

Proverbs 4:23 - Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it are the issues of life.

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 

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            TO WATCH NEIL WYRICK IN HIS ONE MAN DRAMAS (Presented to millions all around the world) (Ben Franiklin, Martin Luther, Charles Wesley and Abraham Lincoln (this Lincoln film takes 11 seconds to download but is worth the wait)

        CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING

http://www.speakerneil.com/

                                    To Order and Read Neil's 9th book THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN

                                     GO TO amazon.com

 Then go to New book...and get it for $2 "from author" which is less than used book prices you will see!!!

QUOTES ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL INSPIRING INFORMATIVE book

 

"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

THE FEAR FACTOR

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          There are over 900 stories and commentaries on this blog that began Nov 24, 2009. It is added to daily.

          To Visit neil's other blog Wyrick's Writings click on the following

                     http://wyrickswritings.blogspot.com

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you,

not as the world gives do I give to you.

Let not your heart be troubled,

neither let it be afraid.

Just remember...courage is not the absence of fear but the mastery of it.

A John Hopkins University doctor says, "We do not know why it is that worriers die sooner than the non-worriers, but that is a fact."

And we are certainly creative in all the fears...

Unusual fears: Ophthalmophobia - fear of being stared at;

Arachibutyrophobia - fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth; Paraskavedekatriaphobia - fear of Friday 13th;    Genuphobia - fear of knees;

Pogonophobia - fear of beards;

Alektorophobia - fear of chickens;   Coulrophobia - fear of clowns;

Dendrophobia - fear of trees;    Didaskaleinophobia - fear of going to school; Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia - fear of long words;

Thanatophobia - fear of death; Athazagoraphobia - fear of being forgotten or ignored;

Ochlophobia - fear of crowds;

Nyctophobia - fear of darkness;

Scopophobia - fear of being looked at by other people;

Kakorrhaphiophobia - fear of failure;     Monophobia - fear of loneliness;

Gamophobia - fear of marriage;

Peniaphobia - fear of poverty;

Hypengyophobia - fear of responsibility;       Categelophobia - fear of being made fun of;       Schoolphobia - fear of school;

Theophobia - fear of God;

Hadephobia - fear of Hell.

And yes...fear of fear

Can anxiety be banished, never to return again?  ’Fraid not.  Can it be managed so that it becomes a weight you can live with?  Sure can.

So then, is there a cure for excessive worry?  Where and how can a pound of fortitude be found to control a pound of fear before it becomes a ton of anxiety?  And that’s the rub, because many a fear that was wise can become an anxiety that isn’t. 

What then can God do about it?  

Wait upon the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thy heart. (Psalm 27:14)  It is good to be able to stand on your own two feet, but some additional propping up by God certainly isn’t out of order.

Put it this way... Sometimes the Lord calms the storm. Sometimes he lets the storm rage and calms his child.

Thou wilt keep Him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee… (Isaiah 26:3)  Call it prayer partnership.  Call it linking with your Creator.  Call it spiritual common sense.

…though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil. (Psalm 23)  Be not afraid to live and you will not be afraid to die.

An Indian fable talks about a mouse that was constantly in fear of cat.

So one day, a magician changed the mouse into a cat.

But then the cat was afraid of a dog. So the magician changed the cat into a dog. But the dog was afraid of a tiger.

So the magician changed the dog into a tiger. But then the tiger was afraid of a hunter. Finally, in exasperation, the magician said, "Be a mouse again, you have only the heart of a mouse and I cannot help you."

        I like the way one little old lady, almost ninety, put it.  She lived all by herself far out in the country.  When asked if she was ever afraid she simply replied, “Why should I be?  Faith closes the door at night and Mercy opens it in the morning.”

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            TO WATCH NEIL WYRICK IN HIS ONE MAN DRAMAS (Presented to millions all around the world) (Ben Franiklin, Martin Luther, Charles Wesley and Abraham Lincoln (this Lincoln film takes 11 seconds to download but is worth the wait)

        CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING

http://www.speakerneil.com/

                                    To Order and Read Neil's 9th book THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN

                                    GO TO amazon.com

Then go to New book...and get it for $2 "from author" which is less than used book prices you will see!!!

QUOTES ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL INSPIRING INFORMATIVE book

"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

EVANGELISM-BREAKTHROUGH OR BREAKDOWN?

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          There are over 900 stories and commentaries on this blog that began Nov 24, 2009. It is added to daily.

          To Visit neil's other blog Wyrick's Writings click on the following

                     http://wyrickswritings.blogspot.com

Matthew 28:16-20

Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go.  When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.  Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Did you know that over 60,000 people must be converted to Christ every day to just keep even with the world’s growth?  That’s 2500 plus every hour, 45 every minute - because 70 million get added to the world’s population every year. 

Which brings us to the nitty-gritty of the situation.  How many people did you invite to church last year? 

In the last five years? 

The last ten?  In your lifetime? 

I don’t mean how many deep theological discussions did you have.  I don’t mean how many person to person Bible studies did you lead.  I mean just a simple straightforward invitation, looking at someone, and in relation to YOUR  Church said “Come on down.” 

If the answer is few or none, has it made a difference as to how many are in church attendance this next Sunday morn? 

If each member in your church would give one hour a month, that’s averaging 2 minutes a day, in extending a welcome to people to come to your church that would add up to a tremendous number of invitations. 

And most likely a tremendous number of no’s - but also some yeses.  

One thing is for sure…if you don’t ask you don’t get.

Let’s put it this way, if the Lord has given you solace in times of sorrow, strength in times of weakness, or guidance when you were confused; then are you not selfish if you do not share this power and this blessing with others? 

It’s just a question, but perhaps a loaded question.

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            TO WATCH NEIL WYRICK IN HIS ONE MAN DRAMAS (Presented to millions all around the world) (Ben Franiklin, Martin Luther, Charles Wesley and Abraham Lincoln (this Lincoln film takes 11 seconds to download but is worth the wait)

        CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING

http://www.speakerneil.com/

                                    To Order and Read Neil's 9th book THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN

                                

                                  GO TO

amazon.com

and get it for $2 "from author" which is less than THE used book prices you will see!!!

QUOTES ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL INSPIRING INFORMATIVE book

"Positive, powerful utterances...skillfully enhancing our unjderstanding 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

POWER

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          There are over 900 stories and commentaries on this blog that began Nov 24, 2009. It is added to daily.

          To Visit neil's other blog Wyrick's Writings click on the following

                     http://wyrickswritings.blogspot.com

Most people don’t really understand power with a capital P.  And if they do think about it, the P also stands for Plus.  For they understand what it can do for them much more readily than what it can do to them.  Without even trying to study the ins and outs of what it would be like to have complete control, most people think it would really be a great idea - who could ask for anything more?   But power can and does corrupt, and  too many people, if they get it,  abuse it.  Far too few realize power is a tremendous and frightening challenge.

            Jesus understood. 

It is why in a sense He told the devil to go back to hell and stop wasting His time trying to tempt Him.  There they were on top of a mountain, Jesus and the Devil.  And Satan swept his devilish hand around as if to encompass the whole world, “Jesus,” and I paraphrase his remarks, “think it through, wouldn’t it be better to choose a throne room rather than an upper room?  You don’t really want to ride some day into Jerusalem on a donkey when you should really be riding in as a ruler on a horse.”   

Indeed, it could have been a heady ride into Jerusalem that day by this Son of God. 

But Jesus understood. 

Understood that that mountain-time with the Devil was a power-play-offer of earthly wealth and not an offer of that which “…neither rust nor moth can destroy…or thieves break through and steal… (Matt 6:20)   But Jesus refused.  Knew that He would be  trading grandeur for grim.

And so the Son of Man and the Son of God...knowing his destiny...moved forward to fulfill that destiny.

    The devil visits our days on a regular basis...offering pride and power...and it behooves all of us to think on the dangers of not being able to handle that which can make other people jump.

 
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            TO WATCH NEIL WYRICK IN HIS ONE MAN DRAMAS (Presented to millions all around the world) (Ben Franiklin, Martin Luther, Charles Wesley and Abraham Lincoln (this Lincoln film takes 11 seconds to download but is worth the wait)

        CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING

http://www.speakerneil.com/

                                    To Order and Read Neil's 9th book THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN click on the following http://www.magnuspress.com/ (and see some of their other unusual books)

or GO TO amazon.com

QUOTES ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL INSPIRING INFORMATIVE book

"Positive, powerful utterances...skillfully enhancing our unjderstanding 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

HOW TO BE PERFECT

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          There are over 900 stories and commentaries on this blog that began Nov 24, 2009. It is added to daily.

          To Visit neil's other blog Wyrick's Writings click on the following

                     http://wyrickswritings.blogspot.com

I used to be perfect but I gave it up because it made people nervous.

        Of course I am not perfect and neither are you (my reader).  But that does not mean we cannot constantly aim at the bull's-eyen when afterwards we don't even hit the target.

        I read a lot and when I run across a power thought aptly put I want to run out into the middle of the road and put to practice that old saying "teacher says share."

            The following was one of those moments that I now joyfully share It is from thebook, The Human Being, byWalter Wink.  In aiming at the dilemma of perfection he states...

“The goal of life, then, is… to become what we truly are – human. We are not required to become divine: flawless, perfect, without blemish. We are invited simply to become human,

which means growing through our sins and mistakes, learning by trial and error, being redeemed over and over… It means giving up pretending to be good and, instead, becoming real.”       

        Jesus is clear on the matter.  Time and time again He is saying to us that we change from the inside out.  Not by the following of some rigid rules and regulations.

        Rather MAKE SPACE FOR THE HOLY SPIRIT. That's right.  "Here am I Lord, take me " and other such spirit power phrases repeated countless times for the rest of your life.

        In short, your heart has openings for God and His holy spirit...and that is who you have to choose to fill these openings.

        An yes think on the following applications of a loving God seeking attitude.

        Train yourself to act nice when you don't feel nice.  It will make you and the person you are responding to, the both of you nicer, just by the ambience such an attitude process.

        Admit your weaknesses because we all have them.  You won't improve for the better if you don't won't shine a spotlight on the areas you can and should improve.     

        Give compliments on a regular basis.  Opportunities abound...you just have to train yourself to see them and not be shy about congratulating people

        Put your brain in gear before you speak.  You owe it to the both of you...you and that person to whom you are speaking.

        Whatever gifts God has given you;..share with others...if your greatest gift is a super smile take it to a nursing home and give that smile to dozens of folk who maybe haven't been smiled at for months or years.  If you can sing, then good, take these folks some songs...but anyone can smile and a super smile...well...

        Have your children been behaving themselves and doing their chores and in general practicing exemplarity behavior.  Has your spouse been thoughtful and worthy of praise.  Then give PRAISE...don't hold it back...it is difficult to give too much of this wonderful commodity.

        And will all this mean you will become perfect?...HARDLY  

           

        

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            TO WATCH NEIL WYRICK IN HIS ONE MAN DRAMAS (Presented to millions all around the world) (Ben Franiklin, Martin Luther, Charles Wesley and Abraham Lincoln (this Lincoln film takes 11 seconds to download but is worth the wait)

        CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING

http://www.speakerneil.com/

                                    To Order and Read Neil's 9th book THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN click on the following http://www.magnuspress.com/ (and see some of their other unusual books)

or GO TO amazon.com

QUOTES ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL INSPIRING INFORMATIVE book

"Positive, powerful utterances...skillfully enhancing our unjderstanding 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 WAS THE FIRST TIME YOU EVER CURSED AND DO YOU DAILY RECOMMEND IT?

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 that began Nov 24, 2009. It is added to daily.

          To Visit neil's other blog Wyrick's Writings click on the following

                     http://wyrickswritings.blogspot.com

James 3:8-10
 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.
Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

            This is my second notation in a row on cursing and because the number of folk who do so is legion the reaction of some will be he should know when to stop on a subject.  But then repetition makes all of us consider a subject to a far greater agree than if a subject is spoken to only once.

            And who would say that verbal pollution is good for us. If it were why would in various ways do we put out warnings..."not for children."

            GD this and GD that and to what avail.

            Meaning I guess that fouling the air is alright for one age group but not for all ages.

            And I wonder is poison always poison or when does it stop being poison?

The Third Commandment is not a suggestion – not an item for debate, it is a commandment.  When we take God’s name in vain, we trivialize it.  To take God’s name in vain is to lift it up for unholy motives.  “GD you,” someone will say and if they really mean it, how can one so blindly and blandly say it.  And if someone says “GD you,” and does not mean it, how can one be so frivolous with the name of God?

Lift up the name of God in praise, or throw it to the dogs in the midst of idle chatter. 

Lift up the name of God in praise, or trample it underfoot in anger or angst. 

Lift up the name of God in prayer and praise, or make light of the Creator as a habit gone badly astray.

Or as someone put on a billboard You say His name often enough on the highway.  Why not try saying it in church?

 “Jesus Christ is my Savior,” says the man or woman who would not even consider taking the name of Jesus in vain.  “Right-wing, conservative, fanatic,” cry out some. 

“Jesus Christ” and it is a curse and many think, “That’s cool man.   I can see you’re not up tight.  You’re alright.”

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            TO WATCH NEIL WYRICK IN HIS ONE MAN DRAMAS (Presented to millions all around the world) (Ben Franiklin, Martin Luther, Charles Wesley and Abraham Lincoln (this Lincoln film takes 11 seconds to download but is worth the wait)

        CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING

http://www.speakerneil.com/

                                    To Order and Read Neil's 9th book THE SPIRITUAL ABRAHAM LINCOLN click on the following http://www.magnuspress.com/ (and see some of their other unusual books)

or GO TO amazon.com

QUOTES ABOUT THIS WONDERFUL INSPIRING INFORMATIVE book

"Positive, powerful utterances...skillfully enhancing our unjderstanding 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 of Cunard