Devotional

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you

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Upon this
proverb many religions have built their philosophy. It is one of the oldest
sayings known to man. This particular version comes from the words of Jesus in Matthew 7:12. It first
appeared in English in 1535 in the Miles
Coverdale Bible. “Therfore
what soeuer ye wolde that men shulde do
to you, eue so do ye to them.”

In various
forms, the principle expressed in this proverb is conveyed in the classic
literature of ancient Greece, Rome and the holy writings of Islam, Taoism, Sikh
and other religious texts.

Faith

The battle is not yours, but God’s

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In my newly released
book, Turning Point at Gettysburg, based on the true story of my
great-great grandfather who was severely wounded and captured in Pickett’s
Charge, the most highly proclaimed conflict of the American Civil War, the main
character was captivated and influenced by a sermon he heard while AWOL to see
his newly born son who was ill. It was from II Chronicles 20:15 “…for the
battle is not yours, but God’s.”

That verse stuck with
him through all of his suffering and incarceration in a prisoner-of-war camp. It helped him to see the sovereignty of God, and realize that he and our nation
must heal, and that he could be a part of the solution. We are in a similar
position right now in our politically divided nation. Our loyalty must be to
God and our faith must be in Him to bring us through to ultimate victory.

Devotional

Turning over a new leaf

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At the beginning of a
new year there is a lot of talk about making resolutions, and perhaps ‘turning
over a new leaf.” First, let’s look at where that came from. As you know, this
expression has to do with beginning anew, making a fresh start. It comes from
turning over a new page, formerly known as leaves, in ‘the book of life.’  Though it was obviously in use before this,
the earliest known citation is from Saducismus Triumphatus: Or, Full and Plain Evidence
Concerning Witches and Apparitions by
Joseph Glanvil, 1581, page 223:

“…l am now come to tell you, That there is a God and a very just and terrible one, and if you do not
turn over a new leaf
(the very expression as is by the Doctor punctually remembered) you will find it so (the Captain
proceeded)…”

As
Christians we know that new starts have to begin with a true desire to do
something differently. Even then, it is almost impossible to do it without help
and inspiration. Our greatest source for help in is God.

Devotional

For Auld Lang Syne

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For some of us
the New Year can’t come too soon. We must all admit that the past year has not
gone the way that any of us expected or hoped for. In keeping with my motto,
which I have previously declared is “like my blood type, B positive,” I am
trusting that ‘wrong shall fail and right prevail.’

On New Year’s,
likely the most popular tune year after year has been “Auld Lang Syne.” But I
would wager that many of us have no idea what those words mean, and some don’t
know the origin of the song itself. Let’s start with
the words. The literal translation of the Scots Gaelic words is, “old long
since.” 

Our version of
the song is from a poem accredited to famed Scottish bard, Robert Burns, in
1780.

Devotional

The Christmas Star

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Tonight Jupiter and
Saturn will align in a way they have not done for 800 years, causing the
formation of what will appear in the heavens much like we imagine the star
looked like that was followed by the Magi to find the Christ Child over 2,000
years ago. We know now that Jesus was
not born at the exact time that the Gregorian calendar starts over measuring
our years, months and days. We also know that it is highly unlikely that His birth
was in December. But the star was real. Around the time of His birth there were
some alignments in the heavens which could have been used by God to announce
the birth of our Savior.

Christmas

An Interesting Comparison at Christmas

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When winter comes we sometimes wish for warmer days. “Hotter than the Fourth of July” has become a
popular metaphor for an extremely hot day. In 1980 Stevie Wonder released his
nineteenth album on the Tamia Motown label. It was titled Hotter than the Fourth of July. That no doubt popularized expression.

Faith

Are we up to the challenge?

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In December our thoughts turn to the birth of our dear Savior and bringing light and peace into our hurting world. Several of the sayings that we have come to know were made popular in Christmas stories. One of these was having one’s work cut out for them. We are living in a day of dread, division, disaster and disease. This common
saying has been linked to the tailoring business as far back as the early 17th
century.

Devotional

Afterthought

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This word conveys the notion that an idea or reflection
expressed was not a part of one’s original train of thought or plan. It has,
according to a major dictionary online, been in our vernacular since 1655-1665. The concept of an afterthought is found in the Greek word for repentance, which
is demonstrated by turning around and demonstrating the opposite point of view
and practice. In the Bible in Matthew 11:20–21,
the original Greek word here for repentance is μετάνοια
(metanoia), which translated literally is ‘thinking
after’ or ‘afterthought.’

The earliest verifiable printing of the actual word, in
the original text hyphenated from one line to the next, is in the English
translation by George Stanhope, D.D., of the French work by Pierre Charon, Of 
Wisdom, Three Books,  1697:

“…and to all he conversed
with; nay, to stake his Reputation for the Truth of  an Opinion and yet Time and AfterThought have demonstrated the direct Contrary;
This bold confiding Man, I say, will be taught from hence to distrust such
hasty Arrogance…”

As Christians and Templars God and His work and will should
never be an afterthought. God must come first in our lives.

"Babies" by Mika Peltomaa is licensed under CC BY-ND 4.0
1 Corinthians

The Greatest Commandment

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Don’t let judgment cloud your love

35  Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, 36  Master, which is the great commandment in the law? 37   Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38  This is the first and great commandment. 39  And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

Cookies

Ella and Ava: Into the New Year

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Cookies, pastels, spring flowers, and God’s love

7  Then the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. Genesis 2:7 (NASB)

“Spiced Chocolate Chip Cookies” by EvilShenanigans is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0

For the New Year I would like to go to the beginning, the
lesson of Genesis, and children. My older brother, his age prompting a visit,
put me in a place to fly out and visit. 
I had not seen my family in California in many years. Amongst those
would be my niece and nephews and now their families. Flying out my nephew Robert and Jenn invited me to stay at
their home.