...for you, as expressed below:
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
A “Happy New Year” is our wish to you,
Dear family, and friends, and all of you who
Live near us in miles, or very far away,
Whose acquaintance we’ve made some other bright day.
Your year almost past now – happy has it been?
Think about it, please, as you wipe the slate clean,
To enter so soon a completely new year, --
We hope each day brings you true happiness and cheer!
Joy and real blessings may here fill our lives,
Through work, and accomplishment, husbands or wives,
Sports, recreation, concerts, and all
That transforms the humdrum, removes bitter gall.
But always we’re reaching for something that’s higher,
More beautiful or pleasing, our heart’s strong desire;
Whatever it is that we longingly want,
It can’t make us happy, and true joy it may daunt.
For all that this world affords us at times,
There’s something far better in Heavenly climes,
Awaiting each one who in God now will trust,
Approach Him through Jesus, His Son – that’s a must!
We meet the true God, and our Savior, His Son,
In the Book that God left us, finished and done,
Genesis to Revelation, one Bible, one God,
Salvation the theme, and Christ’s grace we applaud!
-- Poet Les
(12-29-2007)
Showing posts with label Savior. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Savior. Show all posts
Saturday, December 29, 2007
Tuesday, August 7, 2007
Art Replies!
Dear PapaPops,
It was good to hear from you, to receive your recent letter. It surely has been a long time, hasn’t it? Yes, I agree that those “old times” to which you refer are good to remember. I’m glad for your encouragement in this way, and I surely want to be an encouragement to you, too.
It is true that I have been successful in my chosen field of business, and have therefore been able to accomplish a lot of the things you have spelled out. It has been gratifying to help my children get a good start on their own careers in life. And the traveling that my wife and I have done has taken us to some very beautiful spots here on Planet Earth. Isn’t this an amazing place? It’s inhabitable, complex, and has tremendous variety which is available to us every day.
I can’t help but congratulate you on the work you have done in the Gospel ministry. It must be a very good feeling to help bring about positive changes at the “deep places” of people’s lives. Your work, compared to mine through the years, seems to have had the greater impact in the things that matter most. Do you think so?
Now I’ll admit that I feel a little uneasy, PapaPops, when I consider the question of “What next?” after I’ve done all that I can do. Certainly, as with everybody else, I’m on the road to that place in life where my health and natural abilities will have greatly diminished. I really don’t like to contemplate that. Do you? I wish for the best, both here and hereafter, but I’m concerned that I don’t have much solid hope, as you seem to have. Is hope of that nature and magnitude really possible for people like you and me?
How can you say that you know, yes, actually know, that you will be “at home with our Lord and Savior,” to use your words, when your earthly journey is done? It seems too good to be true, doesn’t it? How can anyone know what is ahead for us beyond the grave? Shouldn’t we be responsible for ourselves, rather than rely on a payment from somebody else, on our behalf, as your “Gospel” maintains?
PapaPops, I’m a little mystified in your writing about “our Savior” as someone who is alive today, and personal. And who can know that he or she will be somehow “saved” forever?!? How can the death of any person that occurred some two thousand years ago make a real difference in your life or mine today? Isn’t this wishful thinking, -- perhaps an expression of a religious sentiment long-ago described as the “opiate of the people?”
As for reading the Gospel of John, in pursuing your suggestion, is it really worth the time that would take, do you think? After all, the Bible is an old book (very old), and how can it anticipate today’s problems? How can it suggest workable, high-value answers to those problems? Can it really put forward a satisfying solution for people like you and me? I don’t mean to suggest that what you say is superfluous, but tell me -- what is an “honest doubter” to think?
With great appreciation for your willingness to help me find true meaning and a lasting purpose, I am –
Sincerely yours, -- Art
It was good to hear from you, to receive your recent letter. It surely has been a long time, hasn’t it? Yes, I agree that those “old times” to which you refer are good to remember. I’m glad for your encouragement in this way, and I surely want to be an encouragement to you, too.
It is true that I have been successful in my chosen field of business, and have therefore been able to accomplish a lot of the things you have spelled out. It has been gratifying to help my children get a good start on their own careers in life. And the traveling that my wife and I have done has taken us to some very beautiful spots here on Planet Earth. Isn’t this an amazing place? It’s inhabitable, complex, and has tremendous variety which is available to us every day.
I can’t help but congratulate you on the work you have done in the Gospel ministry. It must be a very good feeling to help bring about positive changes at the “deep places” of people’s lives. Your work, compared to mine through the years, seems to have had the greater impact in the things that matter most. Do you think so?
Now I’ll admit that I feel a little uneasy, PapaPops, when I consider the question of “What next?” after I’ve done all that I can do. Certainly, as with everybody else, I’m on the road to that place in life where my health and natural abilities will have greatly diminished. I really don’t like to contemplate that. Do you? I wish for the best, both here and hereafter, but I’m concerned that I don’t have much solid hope, as you seem to have. Is hope of that nature and magnitude really possible for people like you and me?
How can you say that you know, yes, actually know, that you will be “at home with our Lord and Savior,” to use your words, when your earthly journey is done? It seems too good to be true, doesn’t it? How can anyone know what is ahead for us beyond the grave? Shouldn’t we be responsible for ourselves, rather than rely on a payment from somebody else, on our behalf, as your “Gospel” maintains?
PapaPops, I’m a little mystified in your writing about “our Savior” as someone who is alive today, and personal. And who can know that he or she will be somehow “saved” forever?!? How can the death of any person that occurred some two thousand years ago make a real difference in your life or mine today? Isn’t this wishful thinking, -- perhaps an expression of a religious sentiment long-ago described as the “opiate of the people?”
As for reading the Gospel of John, in pursuing your suggestion, is it really worth the time that would take, do you think? After all, the Bible is an old book (very old), and how can it anticipate today’s problems? How can it suggest workable, high-value answers to those problems? Can it really put forward a satisfying solution for people like you and me? I don’t mean to suggest that what you say is superfluous, but tell me -- what is an “honest doubter” to think?
With great appreciation for your willingness to help me find true meaning and a lasting purpose, I am –
Sincerely yours, -- Art
Thursday, April 12, 2007
A personal question, if you please....
Friend, Do you pray?
If so, when and under what circumstances?...
In wartime, many have been known to pray -- remember the old saying, “there are no atheists in foxholes?”
In the Bible, many prayed, including these --
David (II Sam. 7:27; I Chr. 29:19); Abraham (Gen.18:23-32); Daniel (Dan. 6;10); Paul (Acts 9:11); Jesus (John 17)....
Circumstances vary, but many people pray, -- at least, “Help, Lord!”.
The One Who made us all, desires communication with us.
Today I met with others in another city to pray for our State.
And here are some of my thoughts in poetic form.
PRAY
Now pray for our towns, our cities, our State,
Let not our desire for God long abate;
God cares for us all with love true and strong,
He’s patient and caring, to Him we belong!
Let’s pray to our Father in Heaven above,
Pray in the Name of the Son of His love;
It’s Jesus our Savior Who for us gave all,
That God might forgive every sin, large or small!
God’s mercy and grace, amazing and true,
His power and His splendor no one can outdo;
His plan for His children is holy and pure,
And following our Savior, the outcome is sure!
He made us for this, -- to Him to bring pleasure,
His design was with purpose, for we are His treasure;
But when we fall back or from Him we stray,
We then must repent, -- there’s no other way!
Now pray for revival of God’s work today,
From His work in us, oh let us not stray;
But when we’re revived by His Spirit and Word,
God’s work will be blessed, -- all praise to the Lord!
-- Poet Les
If so, when and under what circumstances?...
In wartime, many have been known to pray -- remember the old saying, “there are no atheists in foxholes?”
In the Bible, many prayed, including these --
David (II Sam. 7:27; I Chr. 29:19); Abraham (Gen.18:23-32); Daniel (Dan. 6;10); Paul (Acts 9:11); Jesus (John 17)....
Circumstances vary, but many people pray, -- at least, “Help, Lord!”.
The One Who made us all, desires communication with us.
Today I met with others in another city to pray for our State.
And here are some of my thoughts in poetic form.
PRAY
Now pray for our towns, our cities, our State,
Let not our desire for God long abate;
God cares for us all with love true and strong,
He’s patient and caring, to Him we belong!
Let’s pray to our Father in Heaven above,
Pray in the Name of the Son of His love;
It’s Jesus our Savior Who for us gave all,
That God might forgive every sin, large or small!
God’s mercy and grace, amazing and true,
His power and His splendor no one can outdo;
His plan for His children is holy and pure,
And following our Savior, the outcome is sure!
He made us for this, -- to Him to bring pleasure,
His design was with purpose, for we are His treasure;
But when we fall back or from Him we stray,
We then must repent, -- there’s no other way!
Now pray for revival of God’s work today,
From His work in us, oh let us not stray;
But when we’re revived by His Spirit and Word,
God’s work will be blessed, -- all praise to the Lord!
-- Poet Les
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Three Days of the Greatest Week
Three days there are which tower over
The finest days of time;
The days Christ died and rose again,
God’s work of love so prime!
Fierce nails pierced through His hands and feet, --
They nailed Him to a cross;
His lashed back and crown of thorns
How deep His pain and loss!
Instruments of death these were,
But could not take His life;
Instead He gave all up for me,
My children and my wife!
With Him in death two thieves that day,
Three crosses side by side;
One mocked and died in unbelief,
But one for mercy cried.
His plea was heard, and Jesus said,
With words both kind and pure,
“With me today in Paradise --
Your future is secure!”
Now on the Cross His work all done,
“It’s finished!” Jesus said;
His spirit He dismissed at once,
His body truly dead!
Keen friends then take His body down
And lay it in a tomb;
Throughout the sabbath day it stays
In that cold, stony room.
Though final all now thought His death,
No faith! No hope! No cheer!
No enemy could hold Him back,
He promised to reappear!
The long night past, and then the dawn
Of Resurrection day!
In triumph He arose, Who is
The Life, the Truth, the Way!
On these three days my Savior did
What none could ever do;
He paid the debt of all my sin,
And death He conquered, too!
I’m glad today, so very glad
For those days long ago,
Because the Gospel I've believed,
The Savior I now know!
This greatest blessing on life's way,
No secret to you and me,
Is meant for all who want Him, too,
Believe! And you will see!
-- Poet Les
The finest days of time;
The days Christ died and rose again,
God’s work of love so prime!
Fierce nails pierced through His hands and feet, --
They nailed Him to a cross;
His lashed back and crown of thorns
How deep His pain and loss!
Instruments of death these were,
But could not take His life;
Instead He gave all up for me,
My children and my wife!
With Him in death two thieves that day,
Three crosses side by side;
One mocked and died in unbelief,
But one for mercy cried.
His plea was heard, and Jesus said,
With words both kind and pure,
“With me today in Paradise --
Your future is secure!”
Now on the Cross His work all done,
“It’s finished!” Jesus said;
His spirit He dismissed at once,
His body truly dead!
Keen friends then take His body down
And lay it in a tomb;
Throughout the sabbath day it stays
In that cold, stony room.
Though final all now thought His death,
No faith! No hope! No cheer!
No enemy could hold Him back,
He promised to reappear!
The long night past, and then the dawn
Of Resurrection day!
In triumph He arose, Who is
The Life, the Truth, the Way!
On these three days my Savior did
What none could ever do;
He paid the debt of all my sin,
And death He conquered, too!
I’m glad today, so very glad
For those days long ago,
Because the Gospel I've believed,
The Savior I now know!
This greatest blessing on life's way,
No secret to you and me,
Is meant for all who want Him, too,
Believe! And you will see!
-- Poet Les
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