Bible or TV

The Bible was once the standardizing influence

 

for the English language – many read that Book (no TV).

 

Now TV is seen/heard by more people than the Bible

 

             (which has been diluted).

 

TV is now a unifying force in modern thinking and language.

 

                        – eab, 6/20/06

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FAMILY KNEW

They stood up at his funeral,

And spoke words full of flowers,

Songs and accolades went on,

On for minutes, perhaps hours.

 

And they placed his feet beyond

Pearly gates, placed a halo on his head,

But some of his family knew him better.

He was pacing already the streets of dread.

                – eab, 8/17/09

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Haldor Lillenas – death, Aug. 18, 1959

The Bible Stands

 

The Bible stands like a rock undaunted
’Mid the raging storms of time;
Its pages burn with the truth eternal,
And they glow with a light sublime.

Refrain

The Bible stands though the hills may tumble,
It will firmly stand when the earth shall crumble;
I will plant my feet on its firm foundation,
For the Bible stands.

2. The Bible stands like a mountain towering
Far above the works of men;
Its truth by none ever was refuted,
And destroy it they never can.

3. The Bible stands and it will forever,
When the world has passed away;
By inspiration it has been given,
All its precepts I will obey.

4. The Bible stands every test we give it,
For its Author is divine;
By grace alone I expect to live it,
And to prove and to make it mine.

Haldor Lillenas died this date 8/18/1959 at Aspen, Colorado. Lillenas (born 11/19/1885, on Stord Island, Norway) emigrated to the States with his family who settled in Colton, South Dakota.  Later they moved on to Oregon.

He attended Deets Pacific Bible College in Los Angeles, CA (later named Pasadena College) and afterward studied music at the Siegel-Myers School of Music in Chicago, Illinois.  He was given an honorary Doctor of Music degree from Olivet Nazarene College.

His first pastorate was in Lompoc, California in 1910; he later pastored in Redlands, California, and Indianapolis, Indiana.  He founded Lillenas Music Company (1924).  After the Nazarene Publishing Company bought it (1930) he worked there as an editor.  He retired in 1950.

Haldor married Bertha Mae Wilson, who was also a songwriter.  He and Bertha were elders in the Nazarene Church,  He is said to have written some 4,000 hymns and songs.

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Right or Righteous?

Some have more desire to “be right”

            than to be righteous.

But those who are righteous

            do not want you to notice they’re righteous.

 

– eab, 11/02

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CARNAL CARS?

Cars can be carnal expressions of the owner,

With flash, vroom, and speed.

Or, they can be “necessary evils.”

Bought and maintained by need.

It’s not the car alone (that can be seen)

The vehicle is the minor part,

Carnality can be “bright” or “black.”

The problem is always in the heart.

                – eab, 8/17/09

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George Croly – birth, Aug. 17, 1780

Spirit of God, descend upon my heart;
Wean it from earth; through all its pulses move;
Stoop to my weakness, mighty as Thou art;
And make me love Thee as I ought to love.

I ask no dream, no prophet ecstasies,
No sudden rending of the veil of clay,
No angel visitant, no opening skies;
But take the dimness of my soul away.

Teach me to feel that Thou art always nigh;
Teach me the struggles of the soul to bear.
To check the rising doubt, the rebel sigh,
Teach me the patience of unanswered prayer.

Hast Thou not bid me love Thee, God and King?
All, all Thine own, soul, heart and strength and mind.
I see Thy cross; there teach my heart to cling:
O let me seek Thee, and O let me find!

Teach me to love Thee as Thine angels love,
One holy passion filling all my frame;
The kindling of the heaven descended Dove,
My heart an altar, and Thy love the flame.

George Croly was born this date 8/17/1780 at Dub­lin, Ire­land.  He grad­uated from Dub­lin Un­i­ver­si­ty with an MA 1804 and took ho­ly or­ders.  He worked in Ire­land un­til about 1810 when he moved to Lon­don and de­vot­ed him­self to literature.  In 1819 he married Margaret Helen Begbie.  1831 saw him receive the LLD from Dub­lin Un­i­ver­si­ty.  In 1835, he be­came as­so­ci­at­ed with St. Ste­phen’s, Wal­brook, and St. Be­net Shere­hog.  He produced num­er­ous prose works in ad­di­tion to con­tri­bu­tions to Black­wood’s Mag­a­zine.  Croly penned at least six other songs before his death (11/24/1860) at Hol­born, Eng­land.

His “Spirit of God, Descend Upon My Heart” (1854) is remembered more than his various biographical, historical, and religious writings.  Oh, how a man’s fame can rest on one poem even one line.

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Bible

The Bible is to be taken

 

 

as literally as a driver’s manual or college catalog.

 

 

Its  uncomfortablepassages are as important

 

 

& CURRENT as comfortable ones.

– eab, 11/15/99

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EVERYONE’S DOING IT

Kids say (thinking they have a hit),

“But Dad, everyone’s doing it.”

Most times “every” is slightly wrong,

But every bit of earth’s huge throng,

IS aging today, every bit.

                – eab, 8/12/09

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E M Bounds – birth, Aug. 15, 1835

…the preacher…makes or mars the message from God to man.

– Preacher and Prayer (Chicago: Christian Witness, n.d.), 7.

Preachers are not sermon makers but men makers.

– Preacher and Prayer (Chicago: Christian Witness, n.d.), 11.

Preachers who are great thinkers, great students must be the greatest prayers or else they will be the greatest of backsliders, heartless professionals.

– Preacher and Prayer (Chicago: Christian Witness, n.d.), 27.

The prayer which gives color and bent to character is no pleasant, hurried pastime.  Prayer is a most serious work of our most serious years.      

– Preacher and Prayer (Chicago: Christian Witness, n.d.), 30.

…the whole man aflame with love, with desire for more faith, more prayer more zeal, more consecration – this is the secret of power.

– Preacher and Prayer (Chicago: Christian Witness, n.d.), 60.

E M Bounds was born this date, 8/15/1835 in Shelby Co, Missouri.  E. M. (Edward McKendree) Bounds was converted to Christ 1857.  He wrote Preacher and Prayer,

Bible Men of Prayer, Heaven a Place, a City, a Home.  He died 8/24/1913, at Washington, Georgia.

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Yes, THAT B O O K

Is everyone going to heaven?

If not, how is God going to draw the line –

a BOOK He wrote?   

-eab 1992

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