Treasury of Inspiration

Greetings All!

As we approach the holidays, time -- which always "moves" at the same pace -- seems to kick into a higher gear and go faster!  My perception, I know, and not reality!  Yet, since you may be feeling the same as well, I will simply offer you some quick thoughts to ponder. Read a couple (as you have time), or read them all. They are taken from Herbert V. Prochnow's book, "Treasury of Inspiration." Enjoy!


"A man may go to heaven without health, without riches, without honors, without learning, and without friends, but he can never go there without Christ." 

John Dyer

"The biggest mistake we make is to do nothing out of a fear that we will make one."

Herbert Prochnow

"Only a comparative few recognize opportunity, because it is disguised as hard work."

Herbert Prochnow

"Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne and I myself have founded empires. But upon what do these creations of our genius depend? Upon force. Jesus alone founded His empire upon love; and to this very day millions would die for him."

Napoleon

"In a village cemetery in England there is a monument with these simple words: "To Thomas Cobb, who mended shoes in this village for 40 years to the glory of God."  What a tribute. We know little else about Thomas Cobb, but this simple epitaph speaks volumes. His cobbler's bench was the altar before which he served his God... It is one's high duty to make his occupation his vocation where he can serve to God's glory."

Paul Sturges

"We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give.  Many men owe the greatness of their lives to their tremendous difficulties. Remember that what you possess in the world will be found at the day of your death to belong to another, but what you are will be yours forever." 

Henry Van Dyke

"I have now disposed of all my property to my family. There is one more thing I wish I could give them, and that is my Christian religion. If they had that, and I had not given them one shilling, they would have been rich, and if they had not that, and I had given them all the world, they would be poor." 

Patrick Henry 

"No man ever got lost on a straight road." 

Abraham Lincoln

"Humanity is never so beautiful as when praying for forgiveness, or else forgiving another."

Richter

"There is no revenge so complete as forgiveness." 

H. W. Shaw

"I expect to pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it NOW. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again."

Anonymous

"Do thy duty, that is best; Leave unto the Lord the rest."

James Russell Lowell

"Only those are crowned and sainted;

Who with grief have been acquainted." 

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (Rom. 8:17)

"I thank God for my handicaps, for, through them, I have found myself, my work, and my God."

Helen Keller

"A sermon has two purposes. First, it should comfort the afflicted, and second, it should afflict the comfortable. Sometimes it will do the one, and sometimes the other." 

John Homer Miller

"More things are wrought by prayer than this world dreams of. 

Whereof, let thy voice rise like a fountain for me night and day.

For what are men better than sheep or goats,

That nourish a blind life within the brain,

If, knowing God, they lift not hands of prayer,

Both for themselves and those who call them friend?"

Alfred Tennyson

May you have a Christ-focused Christmas, Pastor Jeff

Election Day in America

Greetings All!

     Today is election day in America.  Therefore, I thought I would post some "thoughts" having to do with that topic.  It is 1:40 p.m. as I write.  I have not looked to see who is ahead or behind in the popular vote. All I know is that our church is a polling station and I have never seen such a heavy turnout in the 11 years I have been here -- the parking lot has been packed and the lines have been out the door since 7:00 a.m.

     Thus I offer you these thoughts in regard to our right and responsibility to vote.  We may feel our one vote won't make a difference, but it does.  The right to vote is itself a blessing many do not have.  And regardless of which side you stand on, be encouraged -- God is in control.

     Though Christ's "kingdom is not of this world," we still have the right and responsibility to vote for the people and issues that will affect, not only our immediate future, but set the stage for years to come. I trust you will take your privilege to do so seriously.  Enjoy.

     “Providence has given our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as privilege and interest of a Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers.”

William Penn, founder, Province of Pennsylvania

     “Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote…that he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country.”

Samuel Adams, Founding Father, United States of America

     "I urge you, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone -- for kings and all in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and come to a knowledge of the truth." 

The Apostle Paul,   I Timothy 2:1-4

     “Let us never forget that government is ourselves and not an alien power over us.  The ultimate rulers of our democracy are not a President and senators and congressman and government officials, but the voters of this country.”

Martin Luther King, Jr., Minister and American Civil Rights Activist

     “When a citizen gives his suffrage (vote) to a man of known immorality he abuses his trust; he sacrifices not only his own interest, but that of his neighbor, he betrays the interest of his country.”

John Witherspoon, Presbyterian Minister and Founding Father of the United States of America

     “Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.” 

Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States of America

     “Bad politicians are sent to Washington by good people who don’t vote.” 

Daniel Webster, US House Representative and Senator

     “If men of wisdom and knowledge, of moderation and temperance, of patience, fortitude and perseverance, of sobriety and true republican simplicity of manners, of zeal for the honor of the Supreme Being and the welfare of the commonwealth; if men possessed of these other excellent qualities are chosen to fill the seats of government, we may expect that our affairs will rest on a solid and permanent foundation.”

Noah Webster, Adviser to the Founding Fathers of the United States of America

     "Those who rule for the public benefit are true patterns and evidences of this beneficence of God, [but] they who rule unjustly and incompetently have been raised up by him to punish the wickedness of the people... we need not labor to prove that a wicked king is the Lord’s wrath upon the earth [Job 34:30, Hosea 13:11; Isaiah 3:4; 10:5; Deuteronomy 28:29]... Since a wicked prince is the Lord’s scourge to punish the sins of the people, let us remember, that it happens through our fault that this excellent blessing of God is turned into a curse."

John Calvin, Reformer and Theologian

     "The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD; he turns it wherever he wills."

King Solomon, Proverbs 21:1

     "God is sovereign, meaning He is ultimately in control of everything, including election results. No matter who is elected by human vote, God is also in control. It is not either/or, it's both/and. I came to this realization of biblical truth later in life. When I finally did, it brought great peace to know that while people do things, God is still in control. There is no situation where this is better described than in the issue of political leaders.  Romans 13:1 says, "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. (ESV)"

Mark Alan Williams, Speaker and Church Leader

     I trust that regardless of your country of origin, or citizenship, you will avail yourself -- if it is your right -- to vote.

Take time to be well-informed. Don't go by hearsay.  Be wise. Let scripture inform your conscience, and then vote according to your biblically informed and God guided conscience. And if you cannot bring yourself, for various reasons, to vote for a person, vote the issues -- but do vote. It is a privilege and it does matter.

Blessings upon your choices this day, Pastor Jeff

Quotes About Voting

Greetings All,

     Today is election day in Pennsylvania, and in our particular town they use our church as the voting site. It went as it does every election day (national or local).  As I walked from my car to the building to come to "work," I was stopped in the parking lot 4 times by different smiling individuals telling me the pro's of their candidate and trying to sway my vote before I got to the polling both.

     "Sorry," I said with a smile in return, "I'm just coming to work."  Once I said that I realized their enthusiastic interest in me was very short-lived!  It didn't offend me.  It's understandable. After all, there were other people walking in at the same time and they didn't want to miss the chance to sway them before they got to the voting booths too.

         Why the push?  Because we know life is about choices, and those choices lead to change (be it good or bad).  People know it. The Bible teaches that -- through the providence of a sovereign God our choices are used by Him to mold and form the future as He chooses to guide and direct it. That's why much time, and effort, and money goes into seeking to sway people's beliefs and opinions.

      Some persuasive methods are more overt and some are more subtle, but we are all constantly being "persuaded" to think or believe in one way as opposed to another.  Be it through politics, education, Hollywood, or religion -- through movies, commercials, editorials in the newspapers, billboards, Twitter, Facebook posts, the way news-worthy events are reported (with approving or non-approving glances), or what's actually considered important enough to report as opposed to what's left out -- there are very few people who don't seek to sway the opinions of others in some way. It's not wrong, it's just part of life!

           So for today I thought I would offer you some quotes that have to do with voting.  I am not sure if each person quoted lived up to the values they set forth, but I did think each quote was itself worth considering.  I prefer to keep politics out of the church, and have sought to keep it out of the pulpit. But as a reality of life in this country, and other countries, Christian's do need guidance on how to carry out their involvement. I hope these quotes give you some food for thought as you vote in accord with what your God-guided conscience allows.  Enjoy.

“I met those of our society who had votes in the ensuing election, and advised them
1. To vote, without fee or reward, for the person they judged most worthy
2. To speak no evil of the person they voted against, and
3. To take care their spirits were not sharpened against those that voted on the other side.”

John Wesley, 1703-1791  (Founder of the Methodist Denomination) 

"Let each citizen remember at the moment he is offering his vote… he is executing one of the most solemn trusts in human society for which he is accountable to God and his country." 

Samuel Adams, 1722-1803

"Providence has given our people the choice of their rulers, and it is the duty, as well as privilege and interest of a Christian nation to select and prefer Christians for their rulers." 

John Jay, 1745-1829 (First Chief Justice of the U.S. 

Supreme Court)

"When you become entitled to exercise the right of voting for public officers, let it be impressed on your mind that God commands you to choose for rulers, “just men who will rule in the fear of God.”  The preservation of government depends on the faithful discharge of this duty."

Noah Webster, 1758-1843 (Author of Webster’s Dictionary)

"Now more than ever the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature."

James Garfield, 1831-1881 (20th President of the United States)

"When the righteous rule, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan." 

William Paterson, 1745-1806  (Signer of the Constitution, and Supreme Court Justice quoting, Proverbs 29:2)

"Voting at elections is one of the most important rights of the subject." 

Alexander Hamilton, 1757-1804  (Author of The Federalist Papers, Secretary of the Treasury)

"It will be conceded that a Christian’s first duty is to God. It then follows, as a matter of course, that it is his duty to carry his Christian code of morals to the polls and vote them … If Christians would vote their duty to God at the polls, they would carry every election, and do it with ease …  If the Christians of America could be persuaded to vote God and a clean ticket, it would bring about a moral revolution that would be incalculably beneficent. It would save the country."

Mark Twain, 1835-1910 (Colliers magazine, September 2, 1904)

"Nobody will ever deprive the American people of the right to vote except the American people themselves—and the only way they could do this is by not voting." 

Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1882-1945 (32nd President of the United States)

"[S]ecularists are wrong when they ask believers to leave their religion at the door before entering into the public square. Frederick Douglass, Abraham Lincoln, William Jennings Bryan, Dorothy Day, Martin Luther King—indeed, the majority of great reformers in American history—were not only motivated by faith, but repeatedly used religious language to argue for their cause.  So to say that men and women should not inject their "personal morality" into public policy debates is a practical absurdity. Our law is by definition a codification of morality, much of it grounded in Judeo-Christian tradition." 

Barack Obama (44th President of the United States,  "Call to Renewal Keynote Address," Call to Renewal Conference on Building a Covenant for a New America, June 28, 2006)

"Proclaim liberty throughout all the land to all its inhabitants.”

Partial quote of Leviticus 25:10 inscribed on the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia

"Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence."

I Timothy 2:1-2

“He who rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.”

II Samuel 23:3

“Choose wise, understanding, and knowledgeable men from among your tribes, and I will make them heads over you.”

Deuteronomy 1:13

As I said, food for thought.   In His Service, Pastor Jeff

Thanksgiving History

Greetings All,

     Since those of us who reside in the United States are celebrating Thanksgiving Day in just two days, I thought a little history regarding the day would be helpful for carrying out your celebration more in keeping with the reason for which it was originally instituted.

Some useful facts are:

          1.) George Washington proclaimed the first nationwide thanksgiving celebration in America marking November 26, 1789 as "a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many and signal favours of Almighty God."  This was a one time observance and had more to do with the victory over the British, the establishment of the United States as a nation, and the growing prosperity of the nation.

     2.) Thanksgiving as we know it today did not became a nationally observed annual holiday until 1864 (see below).

     3.) It was instituted by Abraham Lincoln as a day to offer thanks to God out of gratitude for Northern (Union) military victories that seemed to suggest the war would soon be over, prosperity despite war, and the re-union of North and South an impending reality.

     4.) It included an admonition to, "reverently humble ourselves in the dust AND FROM THERE offer penitent and fervent prayers to [Almighty God as] the Great Disposer of Events."

     5.) The focus on the Pilgrims, strongly prominent in past years, but less prominent in our day, came to be the focus over time (after the Civil War ended), since it would have been hard for Southerners to celebrate a national day of thanksgiving in which they are referred to as, "the enemy, who is of our own household."

     6.) The first Thanksgiving celebrations were observed by the Pilgrims (celebrated in 1621, 1623, and 1631). The first celebration included 52 colonists [consisting of both Saints (or believers in Jesus), and Strangers (or unbelievers)] and 90 Wampanoag Indians. It apparently lasted three days.

     7.) The food they ate at that first celebration included: "goose, duck, swan, eels, clams, lobster, deer, Indian corn, chestnuts, gooseberries, and beer."

Proclamation 118 - Thanksgiving Day

October 20, 1864

By the President of the United States of America

A Proclamation

     It has pleased Almighty God to prolong our national life another year, defending us with His guardian care against unfriendly designs from abroad and vouchsafing to us in His mercy many and signal victories over the enemy, who is of our own household. It has also pleased our Heavenly Father to favor as well our citizens in their homes as our soldiers in their camps and our sailors on the rivers and seas with unusual health. He has largely augmented our free population by emancipation and by immigration, while He has opened to us new sources of wealth and has crowned the labor of our workingmen in every department of industry with abundant rewards. Moreover, He has been pleased to animate and inspire our minds and hearts with fortitude, courage, and resolution sufficient for the great trial of civil war into which we have been brought by our adherence as a nation to the cause of freedom and humanity, and to afford to us reasonable hopes of an ultimate and happy deliverance from all our dangers and afflictions:

     Now, therefore, I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, do hereby appoint and set apart the last Thursday in November next as a day which I desire to be observed by all my fellow-citizens, wherever they may then be, as a day of thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God, the beneficent Creator and Ruler of the Universe. And I do further recommend to my fellow-citizens aforesaid that on that occasion they do reverently humble themselves in the dust and from thence offer up penitent and fervent prayers and supplications to the Great Disposer of Events for a return of the inestimable blessings of peace, union, and harmony throughout the land which it has pleased Him to assign as a dwelling place for ourselves and for our posterity throughout all generations.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the city of Washington, this 20th day of October, A.D. 1864, and of the Independence of the United States the eighty-ninth.

By the President: ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

WILLIAM H. SEWARD,  Secretary of State.

------------------------------------------------------------------

     It is my hope that you might be moved to spend the day as Lincoln first envisioned it:

     "as a day of thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God, the beneficent Creator and Ruler of the Universe.  And I do further recommend to my fellow-citizens aforesaid that on that occasion they do reverently humble themselves in the dust, and from thence offer up penitent and fervent prayers and supplications to the Great Disposer of Events for a return of the inestimable blessings of peace, union, and harmony throughout the land..." 

In Grateful Praise to our Abundantly Gracious and Generous God, Pastor Jeff