The Bible

[buddy]

I no longer spend my time waiting for opening lines or studying previous performances of both teams involved.

Nope. That stuff is a distant memory.

Now I spend some of my time reading the bible, watching Christian TV or listening to testimonies of faith and conversion whenever and wherever I can.

Last night, I was on cbn.com glancing through nearly 150 introductions of testimonies (which could be viewed and heard), trying to find something I could relate to. I found several and they were both comforting and encouraging.

Anyway, this topic was supposed to be about the bible. Yes, that book full of thees, thous, hithertos, wherefores, knowest, walketh and last but not least (one of my favorites, btw), begat.

Some parts of the bible (maybe most?) can be difficult. Chronicles, if not the most difficult, is probably one of the top three.

But there are other parts of the bible that are worth every second of one's time and effort.

My pastor said the Psalms were intended for the afflicted or those suffering some trial or tribulation.

Today at church, the pastor preached on Psalm 34 and his message was powerful. Both comforting, yet bittersweet.

Romans is another good chapter. So are the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.

Just thought I'd pass this along.

 

[Happy Hippo]

I have read the Bible a few times, and Ecclesiastes is by far my favorite, especially Chapter 3.


And not from the Bible, but my favorite prayer that I try to read daily from St. Francis of Assissi:


Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O, Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.


I read about your recent problems involving your daughter - I hope everything works out OK for her. Many lessons in life are only learned through hardship that we endure, but I hope that she is given the chance to make a better life for herself. Your family is in my prayers.

 

[buddy]

Happy Hippo,

Thanks for your reply. I am going to copy/paste the prayer you posted and send it to our daughter. Our pastor said recieving mail is very important. He has had a prison ministry since 1981. He said nearly 80% of all inmates do not recieve mail. The effect is devastating he said. He also said when they do recieve mail, they carry it with them throughout the day.