WHAT HAS A LIFE OF ITS OWN?

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IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND THIS BLOG TO A FRIEND GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS BLOG AND CLICK ON THE ENVELOPE.
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Do you know how much the average person speaks in a lifetime? One billion, four hundred millions words.

That’s enough to fill fourteen hundred books, each three hundred pages long.

The gossip was spreading like a wildfire.

Did you know our minister went to a meeting his wife was attending and that he highly disapproved?

He publicly berated her and then completely lost control and dragged her bodily out of the meeting, put her in his car and drove her home.

At first the minister when he heard the story saw it as so ridiculous and unbelievable that he felt no one would believe it and simply ignored it.

But it had a life of its own and several people in the community as they spread the story beefed it up with more adjectives and colorful descriptions.

Finally the minister decided he had to do something.

So the next Sunday morning from the pulpit he made the following statements.

First, I never attempted to influence my wife in the choice of a meeting.

Second, my wife did not attend the meeting in question.

Third, I did not attend the meeting myself.

And fourth and most important I AM NOT MARRIED.
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Jesus said, “Every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account of in the day of judgment.”
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QUOTES FROM TOMORROWS BLOG entitled THE SECRET OF SURVIVAL THAT IS REALLY NO SECRET AT ALL

“The old man was feeling the affect of his oldness. He no longer kept track of his ailments. The list was growing too long. But he was content, so content that there was always someone who knew of his condition and some of the health problems and other problems that had assailed him would ask, “How do you do it?”

He would patiently relate once again where his thinking stood…”
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A New Series on PAIN AND PROBLEMS

began on his other blog “Wyrick’s Writings” Thursday September 16,

the 2nd in series on Sept 19…

and will continue Each SUNDAY until finished.

Then a new Series on PRAYER will begin..

To read these and a variety of topics

CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING URL below
http://wyrickswritings.blogspot.com/
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Each Tuesday on Wyrick’s Writings there is a continuation of the Serialization of his Internationally distributed novel RUST ON MY SOUL.

PERFECTION IS THAT PERFECTION WAS?

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IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND THIS BLOG TO A FRIEND GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS BLOG AND CLICK ON THE ENVELOPE. Added to daily!
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Are you chasing the perfect church, the perfect friend, the perfect mate?

And you say…of course not…but people do…or their comments certainly infer that is what they are doing.

And when we don’t find it we are too often less than understanding.

“That’s stupid” we say…meaning I would never do or say anything that stupid.

And at that moment we become Imperfection finding fault with imperfection.

And finding unhappiness also…a great deal of unhappiness.

And Jesus talks of ways to be less condemnatory…and thereby more content.

He talks of forgiving each other seventy times seven…
And practicing a special kind of love and understanding.

And we can do the math but we don’t complete the opportunity.

We condemn and find fault and give up on humanity and…

Some do more than others…but all stamp their foot in anger more often than pray a prayer for compassion.

And who are you in this condemnation game?

If you are a person who has pulled yourself up by your own bootstraps do you find yourself extremely condemnatory toward others who do not have your drive to succeed?

If you have a large savings account and your neighbor spurges on a new boat and a new television set and…what do you say when you speak of him?

What then are we called to as we live together and work together?

How can we learn to live with each others imperfections as we one and all stumble two steps forward and stumble back again another step.

How can we notice in others their forward progress or forgive them if seems they are making no forward progress at all.

By practicing love…there is that challenge again…the love Christ taught…when we feel like it …and when we don’t.

And this we should do…and this we must do…else we become hypocrites standing on the corner shouting “I am glad I am perfect and not like all the ignorant hyper sinners and malcontents all around me.”

I close with a story.

Once upon a time, there was an island where all the feelings lived: Happiness, Sadness, and all of the others, including Love.

One day it was announced to the feelings that the island would sink, so all repaired their boats and left.

Love was the only one who stayed. Love wanted to persevere until the last possible moment.
When the island was almost sinking, Love decided to ask for help.

Richness was passing by Love in a grand boat. Love said, "Richness, can you take me with you?"

Richness answered, "No I can't..There is a lot of gold and silver in my boat. There is no place for you here."

Love decided to ask Vanity, who was also passing by in a beautiful vessel, "Vanity, please help me!" "I can't help you Love. You are all wet and might damage my boat," Vanity answered.
Sadness was close by so Love asked for help, "Sadness let me go with you." "Oh...Love, I am so sad that I need to be by myself!"

Happiness passed by Love too, but she was so happy that she did not even hear when Love called her!

Suddenly, there was a voice, "Come Love, I will take you." It was an elder. Love felt so blessed and overjoyed that he even forgot to ask the elder’s name.

When they arrived at dry land, the elder went her own way. Love, realizing how much was owed the elder, asked Knowledge, another elder, "Who helped me?"

"It was Time," Knowledge answered.

"Time?" asked Love. "But why did Time help me?

Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding how great Love is.

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Jesus said, "A new commandment I give you; love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." John 13:34-35
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QUOTES FROM TOMORROWS BLOG entitled WHAT HAS A LIFE OF ITS OWN

“The gossip was spreading like a wildfire.

Did you know our minister went to a meeting his wife was attending and that he highly disapproved? He publicly berated her and then completely lost control and dragged her bodily out of the meeting, put her in his car and drove her home.

At first the minister when he heard the story saw it as so ridiculous and unbelievable that he felt no one would believe it and simply ignored it.

But it had a life of its own and several people in the community as they spread the story beefed it up with more adjectives and colorful descriptions.
Finally the minister decided he had to do something.”
*******************************************
A New Series on PAIN AND PROBLEMS

began on his other blog “Wyrick’s Writings” Thursday September 16,

the 2nd in series on Sept 19…

and will continue Each SUNDAY until finished.

Then a new Series on PRAYER will begin..

To read these and a variety of topics

CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING URL below
http://wyrickswritings.blogspot.com/

**********************************************
Each Tuesday on Wyrick’s Writings there is a continuation of the Serialization of his Internationally distributed novel RUST ON MY SOUL.
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LIVE IN SUCH A MANNER GOD CAN BELIEVE IN YOU

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IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND THIS BLOG TO A FRIEND GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS BLOG AND CLICK ON THE ENVELOPE.
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In one of the late Lloyd Douglas’ novels, Dean Harcout says to a troubled man, “Don’t worry so much right now about believing in God; first conduct yourself in such a way that God can believe in you!”

God is trying to get some things done in this world, and His own self-imposed limitations make it impossible unless you back up some of your prayers with action.

So, don’t pray for God to put love in men’s hearts and then go out and practice prejudice.

Don’t pray for God’s church to have a greater impact on the community and society and then go out and do nothing yourself.

Don’t pray for God to give you a heavenly home and then go out and treat your husband, wife or children like hell.

The best of prayers must be followed by the best of actions for the best results.

Indeed...

Every morning lean your arms awhile
Upon the windowsill of Heaven
And gaze upon your Lord,
Then, with this vision in your heart,
Turn strong to meet the day.
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Matthew 7:24-27
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
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QUOTES FROM TOMORROWS BLOG entitled PERFECTION IS THAT PERFECTION WAS?

"When they arrived at dry land, the elder went her own way. Love, realizing how much he owed the elder, asked Knowledge, another elder, "Who helped me?"
"It was Time," Knowledge answered.
"Time?" asked Love. "But why did Time help me?
Knowledge smiled with deep wisdom and answered, "Because only Time is capable of understanding how great Love is."
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A New Series on PAIN AND PROBLEMS

began on his other blog “Wyrick’s Writings” Thursday September 16,

the 2nd in series on Sept 19…

and will continue Each SUNDAY until finished.

Then a new Series on PRAYER will begin..

To read these and a variety of topics

CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING URL below
http://wyrickswritings.blogspot.com/
********************************************

Each Tuesday on Wyrick’s Writings there is a continuation of the Serialization of his Internationally distributed novel RUST ON MY SOUL.
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SELF CONTROL ON THE WAY TO GOD CONTROL

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IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND THIS BLOG TO A FRIEND GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS BLOG AND CLICK ON THE ENVELOPE. (A new thought is added each day)
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During his term as President of the U.S., Lyndon Johnson was somewhat overweight. One day his wife challenged him with this blunt assertion: "You can’t run the country if you can’t run yourself." Respecting Mrs. Johnson’s wise observation, the President lost 23 pounds.

If you can accept the basic principal that we all have areas in our lives that need better self controlling then continue on…

The great philosopher Aristotle said it “I count him braver who overcomes his desires than him who conquers his enemies; for the hardest victory is the victory over self.”

Galatians 5:22 puts it well, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness.” That’s a pretty good pay off when we have faced the challenge of self control in whatever area; mind, body or spirit.

The merchant had falsely accused an innocent Quaker and when the Quaker called at his home to explain, the merchant told his wife to tell the Quaker he was wasting his time and that he would not speak to him.

Calmly, the old Quaker spoke through the open door and said “God put thee in a better frame of mind, my friend.”

The patient reply so disturbed the merchant that after listening to the Quaker he profusely apologized.

He then asked the Old Quaker how he had been able to bear the abusive rejection of him.

The reply was priceless, “I have observed that one in passion always speaks much too loudly and to little benefit. Therefore, with God’s help, I continue to make an effort to use a moderate voice.”

The Quaker had learned that verse in the Bible that says “he that can rule his spirit is better than he that can conquer a city.

To achieve self-control one must have a goal. No goal…most likely no self control.
I will eat less. I will exercise more. I will be more patient. I will save more for my future. I will pursue my faith with due diligence. I will…

To achieve self-control one must have a goal. No goal…most likely no self control.

Would you gain more self control? Then consider that your heart is a large parcel of ground on which woods and brush have been growing for years and not always under control.

Now think back to the days of homesteading and ready yourself for the following analogy.

Imagine that you have your 160 acres and there are long and arduous days ahead. Trees must be felled, brush evacuated and most of all no roots or stumps can be left buried beneath it all.

Do this and your cleared land will not be cleared at all. In a very short time the area will be covered by a second growth because you did not use enough self discipline to do the job right in the first place.

So do it right the first time…or better still read Hebrews 12:15 “Looking diligently lest any fail of the grace of God; less any root of bitterness springing up, trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.”
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A New Series on PAIN AND PROBLEMS

began on MY other blog “Wyrick’s Writings” Thursday September 16,

the 2nd in series on Sunday Sept 19…

and will continued Each SUNDAY until finished.

A new Series on PRAYER will begin when this series ends

To read these and a variety of topics

CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING URL below
http://wyrickswritings.blogspot.com/
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YOU AND YOUR INFLUENCE

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IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND THIS BLOG TO A FRIEND GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS BLOG AND CLICK ON THE ENVELOPE. (A new thought is added each day)
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Many years ago, a boy ran away from home and became a seaman.

Once, while in port, he entered a church and at the service gave his heart to Christ.

Later he became a minister himself.

His messages inspired a young man named Thomas Scott to enter the ministry.

Scott in turn influenced Cowper, who wrote many of our most beautiful hymns.

Cowper inspired Wilberforce in his fight which led to the freeing of the slaves in England.

The domino affect is alive and well and you never know who is watching you and listening to you and being influenced by you.

“I am who I am because of who you are.” It may be a child who says that to you or thinks that of you and you may be that child’s mother or father or friend or someone of whom you are not aware and never will be.

We are all sales persons and most of the time we are not thinking of what we are selling…a way of life.

We are someone’s future because they have been studying our present and our past.

Whom we love the most and are loved by…they are who we influence so greatly either for the good, the bad or the in-between.

See that shadow on the ground? It stretches far and wide…it is our shadow of influence.

Henry Drummond was a very special man of God.

The following story about him explains this statement.

Late on a Saturday night, a woman knocked at his door and said the following, “My husband is diein’ Sir. He’s no able to speak to you and he’s no able to hear you and I dinna know as he can see you; but I would like him to have a breath o’ about him afore he dies.”
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Ephesians 3:17
”Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.”
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Quotes from tomorrow’s blog entitled SELF CONTROL ON THE WAY TO GOD CONTROL

"To achieve self-control one must have a goal. No goal…most likely no self control.
Would you gain more self control?

Then consider that your heart is a large parcel of ground on which woods and brush have been growing for years and not always under control.

Now think back to the days of homesteading and ready yourself for the following analogy.

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A New Series on PAIN AND PROBLEMS

began on MY other blog “Wyrick’s Writings” Thursday September 16,

the 2nd in series on Sunday Sept 19…

and will continued Each SUNDAY until finished.

A new Series on PRAYER will begin when this series ends

To read these and a variety of topics

CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING URL below
http://wyrickswritings.blogspot.com/
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CREATIVE IS BETTER THAN CANTANKEROUS

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IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND THIS BLOG TO A FRIEND GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS BLOG AND CLICK ON THE ENVELOPE. (A new thought is added each day)
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There are creative ways to avoid letting things get out of hand.

One family I know of has a family whistle that hangs on a hook with the car keys.

When a family member is getting upset or has already achieved this dubious honor, he or she grabs the whistle and interrupts everyone with its screeching sound.

It is a signal…the signal is “I am getting mad and I want you to know why.”

Then as he or she speaks everyone is, according to the rules required to listen.

When he or she is finished, a rebuttal is allowed by anyone who wishes to speak.

The whistle blower must now listen without interrupting.

Everyone gets it off their chest. There is a time limit of two minutes max. They have learned that after that time one just keeps repeating the same problem couched in different terms.

They follow yet another rule. No one is to shout or underline their argument with curses.

Everyone, if possible tries to follow the philosophy, “If keep your mouth shut, you will never put your foot in it.” It helps them to monitor the content of what they are saying.

And most of the time it works.

If it doesn’t …now there is a new time limit, another two minutes allotted and the timer is started.

When it rings at the end of 30 minutes the arguments cease. Everything would just be counter productive.

Long before the 30 minutes are up most everyone has said everything there is to be said and several times over. But the 30 minutes is there and no one feels rushed in expressing their opinion.

Then everyone bows their heads and prays a prayer for patience and forgiveness.

Is there sometimes seething? Probably.

Does it work most of the time? I am told it does.

This family to reach this point had to have followed certain basics.

Each family member had to ask the question? Am I part of a solution or part of the problem?

Am I willing to be honest with myself in answering this question? Am I willing to do my part and even a little extra if another family member is holding back?

They didn’t reach where they are now without a lot of stumbling, two steps forwards and one step backwards…but oh what they have achieved.
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Ephesians 4:31-32 KJV)
”Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you”.
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Quotes from tomorrow’s blog entitled YOU AND YOUR INFLUENCE

“Whom you love the most and are loved by…they are who you influence so greatly either for the good, the bad or the in-between.”
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A New Series on PAIN AND PROBLEMS

began on MY other blog “Wyrick’s Writings” Thursday September 16,

the 2nd in series on Sunday Sept 19…

and will continued Each SUNDAY until finished.

A new Series on PRAYER will begin when this series ends

To read these and a variety of topics

CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING URL below
http://wyrickswritings.blogspot.com/
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GOD HAS NO GRANDCHILDREN

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IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEND THIS BLOG TO A FRIEND GO TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS BLOG AND CLICK ON THE ENVELOPE. (A new thought is added each day)
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Someone once wrote, “God has no grandchildren.”

And that is what being a Christian is all about. Each new generation raising up children of God all over again.

Christianity always just one generation away from becoming extinct.

Challenging you and me to not be ashamed of our faith to such a degree that the next generation will have no faith to be ashamed of.

How does the Psalmist put it, “Who rises up for me? Who stands up for me?” .(Psalm 94 16)

I follow these comments with two stories and yes they are longer than usual but please stay with them…for the second story is what is called a wrap up and well…it all ties in with what I have written above.

Once upon a time on the side of a road there stood a man with a large birdcage.
A little boy walking by stopped and asked, “Where did you get those birds?”
“Oh, all over the place,” replied the man.

I lure them with crumbs. I pretend I am their friend and then when they are close, I net them and shove them into my cage. “The little boy saw the meanness in the man’s face so he began to cry and asked, “And what are you going to do with them?”

The man enjoyed the little boy’s misery. It is what he had been trying to provoke.

“Oh, I am going to poke them with sticks and get them so mad at each other they will poke out each others eyes and maim each other and many will be killed.”

The little boy stopped crying and reaching into his pocket began to pull out nickels and dimes and some crumbled dollar bills.

It was every cent he had.
It was money to buy a new bike.
To do what he was about to do was a great sacrifice.

“I will buy your birds.

The man hid a smile that had started to grow on his face.

“And how much do you have?”

“$22.47 cents. It is all I have. I was saving it to buy a bike.”

“It just happens to be the sale price for these birds plus that new jacket you are wearing and that baseball glove your are carrying.”

The little boy never hesitated.

All of the money dropped into the man’s hand.

]The glove also and the jacket. And the, well, by now…of course…you have guessed what happened next…he opened the birdcage door and let the birds fly free.

And, certainly, if one once upon a time story is good…then two must certainly be better.

Once upon a time…on the side of the road of life stood Satan…and he smelled of the stench of hell…and his smile was diabolical...and by his side was a very very large cage filled with people of every kind you can imagine…old people and young people, well people and sick people, of every race and every nation.

And along came a man who seeing the cage filled with men and women filled with such misery he asked, “Where did you get those people?”

“Oh, from all over the world,” the Devil replied, “I lured them with drink, drugs, lust, lies, anger, hate, greed and all of like kin and kind. I pretended to be their friend. And then as soon as I got my chance I grabbed them and put them in my cage.”

“And what are you going to do with them now?” asked the man.

Satan began to laugh. He laughed so hard that for a little while he could not even speak.
Finally he answered, “Those who do not destroy themselves I will destroy. None will escape me.”

“Can I buy them from you?” asked the man.

Satan snarled, “yes, but it will cost you your life.
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So Jesus Christ, the Son of God, paid for their release from Satan’s trap, with His own life, on a thirty pound cypress cross at Calvary.

And he opened the door and set them free.
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Colossians 1:13-14.
”For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
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Quotes from tomorrow’s blog entitled CREATIVE IS BETTER THAN CANTANKEROUS

Each family member had to ask the question? Am I part of a solution or part of the problem? Am I willing to be honest with myself in answering this question? Am I willing to do my part and even a little extra if another family member is holding back?
They didn’t reach where they are now without a lot of stumbling, two steps forwards and one step backwards…but oh what they have achieved.
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A New Series on PAIN AND PROBLEMS

began on MY other blog “Wyrick’s Writings” Thursday September 16,

the 2nd in series on Sunday Sept 19…

and will continued Each SUNDAY until finished.

A new Series on PRAYER will begin when this series ends

To read these and a variety of topics

CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING URL below
http://wyrickswritings.blogspot.com/
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