“The finest men in all the world are not to be found in the warm, genial climates, where the earth has only to be tickled with a hoe, and it laughs with plenty; but the strongest and the most enterprising spirits have been found at the back of the north wind, where there are frosts and ice, and long, dreary winters, and men have a hard struggle for a livelihood. They become really men under that stern training. Now, if there were no thorns and thistles, no struggles and no trials, should we have any brave Christians? Should we have any great and noble souls at all? When did the Church yield her best men for her Lord’s service? It was in the persecuting times, when they had to swim through seas of blood to hold fast the truth of Christ. These are silken days, and we have wretched specimens of Christians everywhere; but if the times of persecution were to come once more, with the rough winds blowing, and the whole sea of the world tossed in tempest, we should then find brave sailors who would put the ship’s head to the wind, and ride safely over the stormy billows in the name of the Eternal God.” Spurgeon, C. H.
From the Thorns and Thistles Sermon, Vol 39.
Technology,Monday, February 13, 2006
Want some tips on caring for kids during those long car rides?
Backseat boredom among children could be a new driver for the worldwide electronics industry. Computer games, I-Spy and MP3 players are among the best products to prevent children from getting board in the back seat of a car, according to a new report. Click Here
the best games for keeping children entertained are: 1. I-Spy; 2. MP3/iPod/music systems; 3. computer game and consoles; 4. car-eoke; 5. built-in car DVD systems; 6. car bingo; 7. the number plate game/TLA (three letter acronyms); 8. I went to the market; 9. consequences; and 10. connections/word association.
Christianity,Monday, February 13, 2006
Feeling alone or unloved on Valentine’s day? God has something that can lift your spirit.
From today’s entry in “The Christian’s Secret of a Holy Life”,
My sister has had a glorious experience during her recent illness. She has entered into this life of abiding in Jesus, and is finding that it is a blessed life. She says she has been baptized with the Holy Ghost?that she feels that she never before has known what it is to be buried with Christ and risen with Him to newness of life. She is just overflowing.
Yesterday I had a similar letter from Abby Folwell who has also entered upon the way of holiness. She says that always before this Jesus has been in Heaven and she on earth, and faith has built a bridge between her soul and Him. But now, He is with her, is dwelling in her and it is no more she that lives but Christ that lives in her.
And I, too, know what it is to abide in Christ and to have Him abiding in me! I never did before. I never dreamed there was such a life to be lived before. One with Jesus! Oh how perfectly wonderful it is! All His wisdom and His righteousness and His sanctification are mine now, just as before His redemption was. I have had no wonderful manifestations, such as others seem to have had, but I have Jesus! He is my all and in all, and I am satisfied that He lives in my very soul. I could write all day of Him, of His love, His mercy, His grace, His power. I trust Him & He does save me.
?To Sally, 1866
Smith, H. W., & Dieter, M. E. (1997). The Christian’s secret of a holy life : The unpublished personal writings of Hannah Whitall Smith (February 13). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
What a wonderful joy they experience with Jesus. Everyone who wants this can have it. It may have cost God a lot, but he doesn’t charge you anything.
“The Spirit and the bride say, ?Come!? And let him who hears say, ?Come!? Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” (Revelation 22:17, NIV)
News,Friday, February 10, 2006
Experts feared the bird flu might reach Africa. This is a prime place for the virus to mutate. There is very little veterinary infrastructure to handle the infection of birds in Africa.
When birds become infected, they need to be killed so that they do not continue to infect other birds. This requires veterinary and other services to manage the bird population. However, Africa is severely lacking in this area. So the virus has more opportunity to mutate and perhaps become capable of transmitting from human to human.
Read the entire article at CNN’s website: Click Here
Family,Friday, February 10, 2006
Want a happy valentines day? How about every day?
Recent studies show that “altruistic” love, or self-sacrificial love is shown to make married people happier. But in general, people who show altruistic love are generally happier people. For Christian’s, Jesus Christ is the ultimate model of altruistic love. He sacrificed his life for our eternal happiness.
Read the complete article on WebMD: Click Here
Christianity,Friday, February 10, 2006
” ... I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4:10-13, NIV)
Stoics were people who seeked contentment by removing all desires and wants. Perfection, for the Stoic, was attained by being so self-sufficient, that even the death of a wife would not bother the Stoic. Their path to contentment also caused a path to an uncompassionate, inhuman heart.
In Philippians, Paul shows us a better contentment that can handle both the lack of and the abundance of the gifts of God. It is a contentment that is not based on Stoic self-sufficiency, but on the Christian’s God-sufficiency.
