Jesus to me (as I think upon and respond to the words of those around me): “Dave… Those who are full of talk and themselves know nothing; Those Who Are Wise speak very little, and then only cautiously, candidly, frankly, humbly, respectfully, and reverently of the little they do know, being careful to hint at The Source of Their Wisdom. Live out The Gospel, Dave, kind-heartedly, happily, and freely; and do so far more often than you ever talk about it. It’s hard to ignore a kind-hearted, happy, and free person. A life lived in such a way will communicate volumes and quell—through stillness and tender-heartedness—the accusing and slandering voices of the entrapped, injured, and crippled; the explosively enraged; the arrogantly hateful; the inordinately driven; the deceitfully harsh; and the painstakingly ignorant.”
It's been said, human beings can, typically, survive for only… 1/Thee seconds [see Note below] when attacked or mauled by a wild predator (such as a lion, bear, moose, boar, or wolf). Note: These times are not absolute (as everyone is different). These times are intended to represent only general, order-of-magnitude, time-frames. 2A/Three hours (without treatment) if bitten or attacked by a poisonous snake, insect, or arachnid. 2A/Three hours (in harsh weather conditions [see Note below]) without suitable shelter. Note: Cold and wet conditions tend to be harsher on human survivability than hot and dry conditions. More people die (or die quicker) each year from hypothermia (being chilled too much for too long) than hyperthermia (being warmed too much for too long). 3/Three minutes without air. 4/Three days without water. 5A/Three weeks without food. 5B/Three weeks without sleep. 6/Three years without friendship and companionship. - Most Holy God… You’re My Hiding Place, My Prote...
In many of the church circles in which I move these days, there’s much talk about God’s love (as there should be!) and the identity we now have in Christ (also, as there should be!). Yes, of course (!!), we’re loved by God! And, yes, of course (!!), we’re New Creations in Christ . And I don’t want to gloss over those holy truths in ANY MANNER . In fact, may Heaven and the entirety of God’s Kingdom forbid it! But (and I offer this with a bit of fear and trembling)… rarely do we talk about our sin and how its eradication from our lives is an important—if not central—component of God’s progressive conquest of grace in and through us. By “conquest of grace,” I mean His on-going and progressive works of redemption and salvation, through [ see Note below ]: Note : The below is not intended to be an exhaustively complete list of God’s work in our lives, for His works in and through us are infinite. Additionally, while I list these as discrete works, th...
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