Narrow Way

If the narrow way (Biblically narrow) cramps your “style” you would not be comfortable in heaven. Heaven is filled with souls who CHOOSE the narrow way. (Come, friend, die to yourself, and take the way Jesus wants for you.)

– eab, 8/15/15

Read Full Post »

You CAN Love the Narrow

 

You may not like the Narrow Way,

It may not suite your “taste.”

But if heaven is your real goal

Take the Narrow Way – with haste.

– eab, 10/16/12

Read Full Post »

THE NARROW WAY

 

 

You may not like the Narrow Way

 

 

It may not suite your “taste.”

 

 

But if heaven is your real goal

 

 

Take the Narrow Way – with haste.  

– eab, 10/16/12

Read Full Post »

Joseph John Gurney – birth, Aug. 2, 1788

…Beloved friends, the professing church of Christ stands in need of greater purification than it has yet attained to…there are many spots on her garments; she is defiled by the dust of the earth; and her garments are very much tattered. But when the professing church of Christ under every name, comes under the baptizing influence of the Holy Ghost, and comes to be led and guided in all things, by the uncompromising principle of life and light, then she will arise and shake her garments from the dust, then she will appear in her beauty, and there shall no more pass through her borders, the uncircumcised and the unclean.

            – From Sermon by Joseph John Gurney, North Meeting-house, New Street (Philadelphia) First-day                Afternoon, Second Month, Eighteenth, 1838.    Hopper, Edward. Sermons and Prayers Delivered in the      City of Philadelphia by Joseph John Gurney. Philadelphia: Kay & Brother, 1938.

…The guidance of the Spirit of truth, which leads into all truth and into all virtue, will never lead any man, either in opinion or practice to any thing which is Contrary to Holy Scripture.

            – From Sermon by Joseph John Gurney, North Meeting-house, New Street (Philadelphia) First-day                Afternoon, Second Month, Eighteenth, 1838.    Hopper, Edward. Sermons and Prayers Delivered in the      City of Philadelphia by Joseph John Gurney. Philadelphia: Kay & Brother, 1938.

…The Spirit of truth can never by any possibility contradict itself.

            – From Sermon by Joseph John Gurney, North Meeting-house, New Street (Philadelphia) First-day                Afternoon, Second Month, Eighteenth, 1838.    Hopper, Edward. Sermons and Prayers Delivered in the      City of Philadelphia by Joseph John Gurney. Philadelphia: Kay & Brother, 1938.

…The true reason, I believe, why so many who profess the name of Christ, are unwilling to be guided by the unflattering and uncompromising voice of the Spirit of God, which dictates a straight-forward course of unbending holiness, without turning to the right hand or to the left; they are displeased at the cross; they cannot bear the mortification of their heart’s lusts; the world, the world is their God; self is their idol; and they will not renounce the world; they will not renounce self, and walk in the narrow way.

            – From Sermon by Joseph John Gurney, North Meeting-house, New Street (Philadelphia) First-day                Afternoon, Second Month, Eighteenth, 1838.    Hopper, Edward. Sermons and Prayers Delivered in the      City of Philadelphia by Joseph John Gurney. Philadelphia: Kay & Brother, 1938.

 

…Though it is a narrow way, it is a way of peace.

            – From Sermon by Joseph John Gurney, North Meeting-house, New Street (Philadelphia) First-day                Afternoon, Second Month, Eighteenth, 1838.    Hopper, Edward. Sermons and Prayers Delivered in the      City of Philadelphia by Joseph John Gurney. Philadelphia: Kay & Brother, 1938.

 

We must follow him in the path of self-denial; we must follow him in his walk of holiness; we must follow him in his course of ever -abounding charity; we must, though at an immeasurable distance, imitate his patience, his meekness, his forbearance, his subjection to his Father’s will, his love for his enemies…if we would follow him and partake of his glory in the world of spirits.

            – From Sermon by Joseph John Gurney, North Meeting-house, New Street (Philadelphia) First-day                Afternoon, Second Month, Eighteenth, 1838.    Hopper, Edward. Sermons and Prayers Delivered in the      City of Philadelphia by Joseph John Gurney. Philadelphia: Kay & Brother, 1938. 

Joseph John Gurney was born 8/2/1788.

Read Full Post »

Here OR There

The next time you check, your checking account,

You smile with delight – what a fine amount,

Or you frown, disappointed at the low count,

Remember, it all stays here.

 

The next time you survey all the surveyor agrees,

Is yours to do with just as you please,

You’ve paid all taxes, paid on fees,

Remember, it all stays here.

 

The next time you sail on your sleek sailboat,

Your wind in your hair, a sea song in your throat,

Taper the glee, turn down the wild sailor’s gloat,

Remember, it all stays here.

 

The next time you climb into your favorite, fast car,

Or the other one that can travel on one gallon, so far,

Or the third that you polish and clean the least mar,

Remember, it all stays here. 

 

“Here” is the place for toys great, medium, or small.

“Here” is the arena for games of chance or of ball.

“Here” is the land for buildings spacious and tall.

‘Here” is were all the above stay.

 

There is, Thank God, beyond the blue clear.

Where the folly of all we’ve held so dear

Will fully, honestly, in cheapness appear,

And life there is one grand, glorious Day.

 

There is a place where streets are made of gold.

A land where bodies and souls are never sold.     
The hope of the holy and at the same time, bold.

The road to such serenity is called the “Narrow Way.”

 

Release your hold on fleeting toys of this short life.

Give in to God, give help to men, stop selfish strife.

Take your children, your siblings, your noble wife.

“You must be born again” and friend, you also may!  – eab, 3/25/08

Read Full Post »

Paul Wood Finch

P  Paul Wood Finch has turned the tassel,

          “Graduated” today.  

A  A long time ago he started this school

          Called Narrow Way.

U  Untold millions have done this course, of free will,

          not of force.         

L  Learning and loving to learn,

          growing in Christ every day.               

W  Would you believe in Jesus also,

          have Him as your Friend?                  

O  Our brother’s life imitate?

          He’s found a fabulous “end.”

O  Or let me say “beginning,”

          (only earth-life has ending).

D  Dead?  Oh, no.  Much more alive

          than those who condolence send.       

 

F  Father of five, yet spiritually,

          many more are alive

I  In Ireland, Africa, and home,

          he has descendants dear.

N  No allowance Finch would make,

          for old carnality’s sake.

C  Clean hands and a pure heart

          are available “now and here.”

H  Holiness lead Finch to heaven. 

          Oh, follow in his wake!  -eab, 7/8/03

Penned in Phoenix, AZ, the day I heard of his death.

Read Full Post »

They’re Gathering

There’s a crowd gathering on another shore,

The group’s grower larger every day.

They are gathering in from all directions,

Yet all came there by God’s narrow way.

 

That crowd had skins of different shades,

Spoke languages to each other quite unknown,

But they are connected by one Royal Blood,

For Christ firmly owns them for His own.

 

That crowd landed where they planned to land.

They found their long sought heavenly goal.

They weathered all life’s threatening storms,

Insisting on “saving” (at all cost) their soul.

 

Soon, Friend, you may be gathered with them,

Soon I may join the celestial number,

Where the Son is the light for all the day,

(And where we’ll need no night for slumber.)

 

Let us then be Faithful with a capitol “F,” 

To the Lord who rules that group, that shore,

And gather with the enumerable saints, young and old.

Gather to Christ, and gather to part nevermore.        – eab, 8/25/08  

Read Full Post »