First Anniversary

          Yesterday we very sadly observed a major day in history – the first anniversary of the start of Russia's senseless invasion of Ukraine.

          During this year we have seen the evil workings of a Satanic leader who has no value for life.  He cares nothing of families and children.  He is content to bomb schools and hospitals.  He destroys homes and cities and now he threatens the use of nuclear weapons.

          We have seen such horrible scenes of death, separation of families and folks becoming refugees or gone into hiding.  Death and destruction are everywhere.  Putin is destroying the country day by day.

          Now there are threats of China joining the war.  I can see no reason for that except maybe to help Russia fulfill Bible prophecy.  And if there is no surprise peace move, I could see this quickly turning into World War III.  There is little hope of anything else.

          It is very difficult to watch the daily news reports and pictures without a knowledge of Biblical prophecy.  Putin and Satan will not win.  Unfortunately, the United States might not win either.  As a country we no longer deserve the Lord's support. We have turned our back on Him – maybe too often.  But God will be victorious. The Scripture makes that plain.

          Now do all of Putin's evil actions make the Lord's return more imminent?  I would hope so, but no human knows for sure.  We just need to live each day in a state of anticipation.  Maybe it will be today.

 

1    Soon and very soon we are goin' to see the King,

Soon and very soon we are goin' to see the King,

Soon and very soon we are goin' to see the King,

Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

we're goin' to see the King!

 

2    No more cryin' there we are goin' to see the King,

No more cryin' there we are goin' to see the King,

No more cryin' there we are goin' to see the King,

Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

we're goin' to see the King!

 

3    No more dying there we are goin' to see the King,

No more dying there we are goin' to see the King,

No more dying there we are goin' to see the King,

Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

we're goin' to see the King!

 

4    Soon and very soon we are goin' to see the King,

Soon and very soon we are goin' to see the King,

Soon and very soon we are goin' to see the King,

Hallelujah, Hallelujah,

we're are goin' to see the King!

Then And Now

          It was about 1950 when we moved from a home on the campus of Elizabethtown College to 448 N. Queen St. in Lancaster.  We lived on the second floor of this house in inner city Lancaster while my aunt and uncle lived on the first floor.  We stayed that way for about a year until their new house was finished and they moved, giving us the entire home to live in.

          During that time I learned to enjoy the city.  It was very safe and had much to offer.  I would walk to school everyday and would come home for lunch.  After school I would often walk the few blocks to the downtown and visit many interesting stores in a vibrant shopping area. I used to walk to the YMCA for swimming lessons.
          During those years our church was formed.  Our first pastor had an apartment around the corner from us.  Some of the young men from Berean Bible School who came to assist stayed with us while they served.  Our church rented a hall downtown for service and my family regularly walked the city streets to attend both day and night.  So many good memories.
          In those days Lancaster, known as the Red Rose City, was safe.  There were no break ins or vandalism.  Shootings were unheard of.  Times were different.

          Over the decades many things have changed.  Years ago we used to watch the evening news and hear of the daily shootings in Harrisburg.  They soon caught up to Reading in killings.  But Lancaster remained generally free of violence.  It was a city where it was still safe to walk or drive anywhere.

          Then several years ago the news began to be filled with shootings in the White Rose City of York.  Unfortunately, it has never slowed down.

          Then a couple of years ago the violence spread to the Red Rose city and now we live with almost daily shootings and killings.  Gangs and drugs are the main causes.  Violence is the new normal and there is no difference between crime in the White Rose City and the Red Rose City.
          And there is no end in sight.  Now Lebanon is starting to catch up with these other cities with violence.
         Is there any hope?  Just the return of Christ.  

          Oh Lord, we yearn for your return.

Think On This

Miraculous Healings. (LB)

This blog was shared here in September of 2012.  Except for the pandemic, maybe not oo much has changed in churches since then.

To My Dear Friend, Pastor Phil Blowhorn:

          I sure hope attendance at your church was better'n my church. Mercy, pastorin' ain't always easy, now is it? We had us a bunch of sick folk, and them added to all the shut-ins made for a whole lot of pew cushion to look at from the pulpit. I got to admit, I was feelin' somewhat put out, but I went ahead and preached anyhows. 

          Only thing was, with all them people missin' the echo in the church gave me a hoot of a headache. My wife said I needed to git out and ride a bit 'cause the fresh air would make me feel better. Well, she took to drivin' and I took to ridin' and sure 'nuff, she was right. Not only did my head clear up, but what I saw renewed my faith in the Good Lord. I tell you, Brother, I seen miracle after miracle!  

          My Sunday School superintendent, Hank Weaselbaum, had called to tell me that he was so deathly sick, he wouldn't make it to church. But there he was, drivin' down the road with his favorite fishin' pole stickin' out the window. I tell you, only a miracle coulda' snatched him out'a the jaws of death that way!  

          Then there was my head deacon, Wilbur Snooch. He had done left a message on my answerin' machine that his back was so jerked out'a line that he thought he might have to have surgery. But I want you to know that when we drove past the golf course, there he was, hittin' golf balls on the drivin' range. Hallelujah, our prayers worked! 

          Edna Brump sent word with her sister that she wouldn't make it 'cause her stomach was all upset and she didn't want to take a chance on havin' a mishap in the church. But glory! There she was, standin' in line at the Feedin' Trough Smorgasbord. Another healin'!  

         All told, we saw that 20 of our sick folk had takin' a turn for the better and were up and about. Not only that, but I just couldn't help from rejoicin' over all our shut-ins that got themselves healed too. There was Sam Burply, who don't attend church much causin' of him being allergic to crowds, and he was in line to buy a ticket at the ball park. 

          Margaret Guffhunker, who's been feelin' all poor and sickly that she's done missed the last eight Sundays, she was comin' out of the mall with both arms full of packages.  And then there was Horace Dweedle, who ain't been to church in six months cause'a his bum knee; he was playin' basketball down at the park. Seein' all these mighty miracles and healin's got me so worked up, I started singin' the Doxology! 

         Yes, sir, Brother Blowhorn, I'm excited! I just know we'll be havin' us a packed house next Sunday, what with all the sick and shut-ins revived by such a touch from Heaven. I look forward to givin' you right nice report.

 

Your good friend, 

 

Pastor William Robert ("Billy-Bob")

So Much To Learn

          It's hard to believe that another January is already gone and February is here.  With the new month comes Valentines and Ground Hog days, snow and sleet, preseason baseball and the Super Bowl.   But for many it marks the return to education activities.

          For several weeks now K-12 classes have been back in session throughout the country.  My youngest grandson, Brodie, is in the midst of the second semester of his junior year.  This is an important time in his life because what he does this year can have a big effect on his future.  Juniors were always my favorite class to teach because they were generally still motivated without senioritis.

          A few weeks ago, most colleges returned to session for a new semester. My youngest granddaughter, Lexie, returned to Susquehanna University, after earning Deans List as an English major.  Both her grandfather and great grandfather graduated from there with honors.

          Graduate schools are also back in session.  My granddaughter, Chloe, is back at the University of Maryland where she is in the doctorate program working on a Phd in History.  She completed her first semester and was awarded a large scholarship grant for her outstanding work.

          And her cousin, Noah, is also back to the educational grind as he gets closer to a doctorate in ophthalmology.  He has one more semester of classes and labs and then a year of four internships, two in Pennsylvania, one in Annapolis and one in North Carolina. Then off to find a job.

          But education is not limited to K-12 and college students.  We should all be life-long students.  So much is changing and workers need to continually upgrade their knowledge and skills.  But while we have the need to grow intellectually, there is a much greater need for us to grow spiritually.  And yet that need is so often neglected by believers.   Since whatever absorbs our thinking will ultimately control our actions, it is so important for a Christian to let the way of the Lord become the controlling force in his life. The means by which we can learn the way of the Lord is by knowing what He has revealed in the scripture. Thus, our prayer to Him should always be, "Teach Me Thy Way."  

          This prayer is the title and theme of a text written by Benjamin Mansell Ramsey (1849-1923) in 1916. For many years he was a well-known teacher and musician in the Bournemouth, England, area. He was a prolific composer of part-songs (usually SATB), piano pieces, and carols. In addition, he produced works on music theory and a number of hymns.   After 1920, this hymn began to have wide popular usage among student groups in England.  It gradually spread to sincere believers in other places who genuinely desired to have a greater knowledge of their Lord. 

          It makes this request in several specific areas by which the Lord can help us walk in His way.  Stanza one asks that He help us walk more by faith and less by sight.  Stanza two asks that He help us in times of loneliness, distress, and failure. Stanza three asks that He help us by making our pathway plain.  Stanza four asks that He help us by being with us as long as we run the race.  

          Nothing could be found about why this hymn was written.  However, Benjamin's son, Lawrence, was injured in the war.  He spent much time in hospitals and then was dismissed from the military due to a nervous disposition.  He died in 1919 in a mental hospital. It was during this time of heartbreak for the family that this hymn was written.  Perhaps this experience helps to explain some of what was written.

          The hymn is actually a practical daily prayer for believers.  We should want to learn more about His ways daily, even when we are sad or lonely, in times of success and failure, through times of sorrow, grief and pain, "wherever our lot may be cast". Learning the ways of the Lord should be a daily goal.  "Until the race is run, until the journey's done, until the crown is won, teach me Your way!"  Lord, that is our prayer.  "Help me to walk aright, more by faith, less by sight; lead me with heavenly light, teach me Your way!"  Is that your desire?

 

1      Teach me Your way, O Lord, teach me Your way!

Your guiding grace afford, teach me Your way!

Help me to walk aright, more by faith, less by sight;

lead me with heavenly light, teach me Your way!

 

2      When I am sad at heart, teach me Your way!

When earthly joys depart, teach me Your way!

In hours of loneliness, in times of dire distress,

in failure or success, teach me Your way!

 

3      When doubts and fears arise, teach me Your way!

When storm clouds fill the skies, teach me Your way!

Shine through the wind and rain, through sorrow, grief and pain;

make now my pathway plain, teach me Your way!

 

4      Long as my life shall last, teach me Your way!

Where'er my lot be cast, teach me Your way!

Until the race is run, until the journey's done,

until the crown is won, teach me Your way!

 

Listen to men sing the first verse   MEN

Listen to a beautiful rendition by children   CHILDREN

Listen to it here.   THY WAY