Mar 8.38
“Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous & sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
“The gospel alone is sufficient to rule the lives of Christians everywhere – any additional rules made to govern men’s conduct added nothing to the perfection already found in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”
– John Wycliff
How much of this world’s entertainment do “christians” crave? I speak not of God’s sunrise/sunset. Nor His mountain scene or seascape. These are not entertainment per se. But how many events, games, parks where dollars are exchanged for a few hrs of “music,” competition, stage drama. Please don’t write this off as a smart aleck question. If one gets too attached to earthy thrills, to even “clean” performances, he’s creating a false appetite – one that’ll have no counterpart in either *Heaven or *Hell. – 6/30/22
“I believe that in the end
the truth will conquer.”
– John Wycliff
WHY DAD, WHY?
A father may assent to a certain belief,
(Be it ten volumes long or half-page brief)
Daily touting its precepts to the sky.
He may claim to live by its law every day,
Say that he agrees with it in every way,
But if children follow not–I’m tempted to ask “Why?”
Be his doctrine in theories austerely fiscal,
Or universally educational,
Or so pragmatic as to just “get by.”
If a son does not follow his distant sails,
If his daughter never walks his distinct trails,
It’s natural to ask, to ask a solemn “Why, dad why?”
He may have convinced a friend, some fellow student
And many more he claims are very prudent,
Have a million “sheep” when he comes to die.
But if the family who knew him; knew him best,
Doesn’t belong to the great flock, like the rest,
Should it be painted so wrong to voice a little why?
A creed, theory, grandiose idea unique
If truly lived-out in dad’s life every week,
Even by ultra quiet “Mr. Shy,”
May find a few followers among close friends
But if not one child “sees” him right when life ends,
Not one agrees with his lifelong creed-Why tell me why?
Did they see it “impractical,” to say the least?
Some weird life that was all fast (maybe all feast),
Or all hilarity or some wild cry.
Did they see him champion a cause long dead,
Or see him as “la cabosa” in the head?
Why did his offspring not follow dad? Do you know why?
The above could be written ‘bout business or money,
‘Bout facets of life; bad or “sweet as honey,”
About slow plans or deals that “really fry.”
Religion?! If it was important to him
If he lived it in plenty and when years were slim,
Yet not a child walked his road – it’s no sin to ask “Why?”
Yes, sons are free moral agents; they’re free to choose.
Yes, daughters have wills; wills to win, wills to loose.
All souls must buy the truth or buy the lie.
But if dad really lived up to what he taught,
Practiced that for which he supposedly fought,
Why didn’t son believe? “Can anyone say why?”
Not all sons follow farmer daddies, or do law
Nor weld, teach, paint, nor build like him (without flaw)
Not choose the trade of that “Grand-OLE-Guy.”
True religion is no trade nor profession,
It’s about a constant, growing relation,
Did kids see dad’s religion as unreal, is that “Why”?
God says, “Train up a child in the way he should go.”
Training’s not easy, its not “Go with the flow.”
It was attached strings, and knots, bows, and ties.
(Even lowly ball has “Three strikes and you’re out!”)
Training sees big goals beyond tuck-head or pout.
No training?! Does that explain unexplainable “Whys?”
It matters not how a man may teach (even preach),
If his life did not touch his children; Reach Each!
Words/deeds must agree to solidify.
Right’s always right; though evil may appear strong,
Dads must positively, lovingly, oppose wrong.
To silence his children’s every seriously poised “Why.”
– eab, 7/1/98
I try to write on a variety (as I feel clear with God) of subjects. Do I expect you to always agree with me? Listen, I’ve been too long behind a teacher’s desk & a pulpit to expect that. If you agree with everything I type you may Not be thinking. Do I expect you to disagree with Everything? If you disagree with 99.99% eab posts, you probably aren’t thinking either! (Maybe you’ve decided you don’t like Bryan.) I encourage you to think. When you disagree but T*H*I*N*K, that can have benefits. – 6/30/22
“Trust wholly in Christ; rely altogether on His sufferings; beware of seeking to be justified in any other way than by His righteousness. Faith in our Lord Jesus Christ is sufficient for salvation. There must be atonement made for sin according to the righteousness of God. The person to make this atonement must be God and man.”
– John Wycliff
There was a time, as I understand, the only Bible perhaps for miles around, was a big Bible chained to the pulpit in a village church. If I have the right info, church was unlocked & you were free to walk in & read God’s Word, standing in the sanctuary. This was the sole way souls hungry to hear from God could read His Book. My imagination says that many a person stood there a little longer trying to memorize those precious Life-Giving Words before they trudged home. Read YOUR Bible today??? – 7/1/22
Joh 17.17
“Sanctify them through thy truth:
thy word is truth.”
TRUTH. How would you describe your relationship with Mr TRUTH? 1.) Never heard of “him” nor do I care to meet “him.” 2.) Heard of Mr Truth but think he makes too many folks uncomfortable. 3.) Kind-a-like the old guy – when “he” agrees with what I *Already thought. 4.) Find myself on the same page with Truth – perhaps more now than a decade ago – would say we have a growing relationship. 5.) Love, Love, Love Mr Truth – He’s right & since I want to also be right, I agree with him 100%. – 7/1/22
“Englishmen learn Christ’s law best in English.
Moses heard God’s law in his own tongue; so did Christs apostles.”
– John Wycliff
Separate-Holy 
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