Month: January 2016

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Free Thinkers

Today is the birthday of Thomas Paine, so obviously it is Freethinkers Day!

This is probably a good day to revisit the workings of Paine. We could use some Common Sense right about now!  Just look at how that pamphlet ends and think about our current state of affairs.

Let the names of Whig and Tory be extinct; and let none other be heard among us, than those of A GOOD CITIZEN, AN OPEN AND RESOLUTE FRIEND, AND A VIRTUOUS SUPPORTER OF THE RIGHTS OF MANKIND AND OF THE FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES OF AMERICA.

Speaking of free thinking, just imagine how  this statement from a different radical was received when it was spoken so many years ago.

21 “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be ]liable to the court.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.  Matthew 5 NASB

Challenge the status quo and make things better today!

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That My Soul is Free

Yesterday’s post bugged me all day.  I knew that phrase was from a song, but I could not recall the rest of the words.  I spun through Farther Along, To The Work and We’ll Work Til Jesus Comes before it hit. As I walking through the hallway around 2 pm, the remainder of the song quickly arose from way down deep in my brain.  It’s Let Me Live Close to Thee.  Down in the second verse the song goes like this

Not the crown nor renown
that the world might see
I would work, never shirk
blessed Lord, for Thee
But to know where I go
that my soul is free
Let me live close to Thee each day

Here’s a great version by The Chestnut Grove Quartet.  I love the way these voice sound, it takes me back and brings my heart great joy.

These songs have such great deep meaning in the words.  Take a look at the rest of the verses.  Phrases like ‘In the fight for the right I would dare and do’ and ‘Help me bear and to share some poor pilgrim’s load’ contain great encouragement for us to be bold in our daily walks as we impact those we meet and greet each day.

Yeah, let’s not shirk, for our soul is free!

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:37

 

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Never Shirk

It’s not that I have a huge obsession with work right now, but when I logged on this morning and was reminded of the title of yesterday’s post, immediately the words to the old hymn  came to mind.

Especially the “I will work, never shirk” bit in the chorus.

Do you remember this hymn?  I can’t see to locate the actual hymn this morning, but during my search I was reminded of the classics “We’ll work Til Jesus Comes” and “To the Work”!

Anyway, that led my mind back to Colossians 3, where it has been spending a lot of time lately, and the bit about doing everything for the Lord.

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Don’t shirk today, and give what you have to the Glory of the Savior!

 

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Toil

The last two days have found my mornings a full of greatness, but short of time to write.  Today, a simple thought about the work we are heading off to do!

A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God, NIV Ecclesiastes 2:24

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What you need

Just a quick thought on a Monday morning.

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬