The Christmas Meal

Well, we have had a perfectly lovely day. I hope everyone else had a happy one too. It was relatively quiet for us. I always believe Silence Is Golden. No visitors this year. Everyone is either too broke, too far away or had other plans. That’s alright. There were not presents or cards this year either but I’m not complaining. I don’t need any more junk anyway. Besides we eat like Royalty!

Our meal was Cornish Game Hens, Mixed Vegetables, Mashed Cauliflower, Chicken Gravy, Cranberry Sauce, Italian Bread, Cinnamon Raisin Bread, Wine and Hot Tea. All very yummy!

After that scrumptious meal, Steve spent this afternoon putting together the final touches for what will be our niece’s Christmas gift. They’ll be here on New Year’s Day. That will be our real Christmas. I. AM. SO. EXCITED! [smile] What’s he making? My husband is a self-taught skilled craftsman. Anything he undertakes he does it well. He’s very much the Renaissance man. He is constructing a primitive archer’s bow pull rate of about 12 lbs. and an arrow set, complete with hand stitched leather quiver, arm guard and tab. And the doggone thing is fantastic to behold! It shoots like a dream (I’ve already given it some trial runs). Nope, no pictures. Not yet. I am snapping them as he works his magic and will share those after Niece has the gift. So more treasures to be shared at a later date.

Merry CHRISTMas y’all!

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky

Two Minutes With The Bible ~ A Gift For You

A Gift For You

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

Berean Bible Society
Printer Friendly Version

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

In the light of the Pauline epistles these well-known words have become more appropriate than when our Lord first spoke them. Through Paul, Christ’s redemptive work at Calvary has been proclaimed and fully explained. In this light, then, we suggest that our readers take the time to really meditate on this passage about God’s greatest gift to man.

Think of the love that prompted it! “God so loved….” We were the “children of disobedience” and “by nature the children of wrath, even as others” (Eph. 2:2,3). We deserved judgment, “but God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us,” gave His best, His all, to save us (Eph. 2:4).
Think of its priceless value! “His only begotten Son — everlasting life.” Christ, the holy One, had to be given up to disgrace and death in order that our sins might be justly dealt with, and that we might become the rightful heirs of everlasting life (Rom. 3:25,26).

Think of your need of this gift! “…that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish….” How perilous not to accept “the gift of God, eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Rom. 6:23)! What folly to spurn or ignore a gift we need so sorely!

Finally, think how gracious the offer! “…that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” Whosoever believeth! Any sinner may have this gift by simply believing, accepting in simple faith what God says about Christ paying for our sins at Calvary. In fact, this is the only way we can become the recipients of this wonderful gift, for Rom. 4:5 declares:

“But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith [believing] is counted for righteousness.”

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To the Reader:
Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.

 

 

Merry Christmas To All And All That

Wishing you all a very happy Christmas.

I found the YouTube video below

of what is undoubtedly a cousin of

our lovable Jack Russell Terrorists:

I wish I could train my two to do that!

And with that I'll say, from our home to yours, stay safe out there on the highways and byways. And most especially watch out for those reindeer! [lol] We're gonna stay home where it's warm, toasty and away from the wildlife. :)

God bless from our home to yours.

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky and Steve
Lucy, Jack and Sam

Two Minutes With The Bible ~ Melting Hearts

Melting Hearts

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

Berean Bible Society
Printer Friendly Version

Melting hearts, in Scripture, are consistently associated with discouragement and fear. Note a few examples:

“And he also that is valiant, whose heart is as the heart of a lion, shall utterly melt…” (II Sam. 17:10).

“Therefore shall all hands be faint, and every man’s heart shall melt” (Isa. 13:7).

“The heart melteth and the knees smite together…” (Nah. 2:10).

Christians, therefore, should not pray for melted hearts, as so many do. There are too many believers with melting hearts now! Indeed, men of God, down through the ages, have always found it a real task to keep the hearts of Christians from melting. Fear can easily become cowardice and cowardice, like courage, is extremely contagious. For this reason God explicitly instructed the military officers of Israel to announce to their armies:

“What man is there that is fearful and faint-hearted? let him go and return unto his house, lest his brethren’s heart faint as well as his heart” (Deut. 20:8).

If ever God’s people needed confidence and courage it is in the day of crisis — especially spiritual crisis — in which we live. Here Paul’s word to the Ephesian believers is appropriate:

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against [wicked spirits] in high places” (Eph. 6:12).

Thank God! While the opposition of our adversary during “this present evil age” calls for special courage and steadfastness of heart, God has made particular provision for us, for He has given us more light on His Word than was given those of former ages and we can meet the enemy with “the whole armor of God.” Moreover we have God’s Word through Paul, that battle-scarred warrior:

“God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me, His prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God” (II Tim. 1:7,8).

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To the Reader:
Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.

 

 

Two Minutes With The Bible ~ Not Dying For Lack Of Love

Not Dying For Lack Of Love

by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam

Berean Bible Society
Printer Friendly Version

It has been said that “the world is dying for the lack of a little bit of love.” When this statement is examined in the light of Scripture, however, it is found to be the exact op- posite of the truth. Listen to what God’s Word says about this:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

“God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8).

“In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (I John 4:9,10).

Many about us are dying in their sins, but not “for the lack of a little bit of love.” It is rather because they reject the great love that God has manifested to us in His Son. We are told in John 1:10,11 that “He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.” This is the problem: men are rejecting His love. “And this is the condemnation,” says John, “that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light” (John 3:19).

But while others reject Him, you may accept Him as your Savior and know the joy of sins forgiven and of everlasting life, for “as many as received Him, to them gave He the power [Lit., right] to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name” (John 1:12).

“The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into His hand.
“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on Him” (John 3:35,36).

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).

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To the Reader:
Some of our Two Minutes articles were written many years ago by Pastor C. R. Stam for publication in newspapers. When many of these articles were later compiled in book form, Pastor Stam wrote this word of explanation in the Preface:

"It should be borne in mind that the newspaper column, Two Minutes With the Bible, has now been published for many years, so that local, national and international events are discussed as if they occurred only recently. Rather than rewrite or date such articles, we have left them just as they were when first published. This, we felt, would add to the interest, especially since our readers understand that they first appeared as newspaper articles."

We hope that you'll agree that while some of the references in these articles are dated, the spiritual truths taught therein are timeless.

 

 

Funny Friday ~ Jokes To Sleigh You

With the Christmas Season upon us I would like to share a personal experience with my friends about drinking and driving. As you may know some of us have been known to have brushes with the authorities from time to time on the way home after a "social session" with some friends.

Well, two days ago I was out for an evening with friends and had several beers followed by a couple of bottles of some rather nice red wine with our dinner.

Although feeling only a little jolly, I still had the sense to know that I may be slightly over the limit.

That's when I did something that I've never done before: I took a cab.

Sure enough, on the way home there was a police Ride® roadblock but since it was a cab, they waved us past and I arrived home safely without any incident.

This was a real surprise.

 

As I had never driven a cab before.

 

I don't know where I got it.

 

And now that it's in my garage, I don't know what to do with it.

So if you want to borrow it for your holiday travels, give me a call.

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky

Baby It's Cold Outside

After 7 years of owning this thing, we finally fired up the fire pit. The fire jumped up so high I'll bet satellites could pick it up! [ha ha] It's only about 46 degrees, which is downright balmy compared to what many of my friends are going through tonight further North, but hey, this is chilly for Southeastern Georgia!

I bundled up nonetheless. I have a propensity towards sore throats, so, I'm not taking any chances! I've been plagued with this since a child. I hate taking antibiotics.

 

"The Boys", Jack and Sam the Jack Russell Terrorists "helped". Yeah, riiiiight! [lol] Lucy, the boxer, stayed inside. She's having trouble with her right rear wheel. Her ankle keeps giving out on her and many days she can barely walk. Poor thing. I can relate to how rough it is to get old.

I was hoping we would witness the meteor shower that's suppose to be this evening. Alas, no luck. I do enjoy weather and atmospheric events.

Have a great evening folks!

~ Ride Safe ~

Sparky