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posted by Donald on 01/30/12

Is thy cruse of comfort failing?
     Rise and share it with a friend,
And through all the years of famine
     It shall serve thee to the end.
Love divine will fill thy storehouse,
     Or thy handful still renew;
Scanty fare for one will often
     Make a royal feast for two.

For the heart grows rich in giving;
     All its wealth is living grain;
Seeds—which mildew in the garner—
     Scattered, fill with gold the plain.
Is thy burden hard and heavy?
     Do thy steps drag wearily?
Help to lift thy brother’s burden—
     God will bear both it and thee.

Numb and weary, on the mountains,
     Wouldst thou sleep amidst the snow?
Chafe that frozen form beside thee,
     And together both shall glow.
Art thou stricken in life’s battle?
     Many wounded ‘round thee moan;
Lavish on their wounds thy balsam,
     And that balm shall heal thine own.

From the periodical, Gems of Truth

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posted by Donald on 01/4/12

Donald, Michael, Esther, James, Daniel, Jonathan, Robert & Kendalyn, and I had a lot of fun at the creation museum, learning about scientific proof that God created the world in six days, and that there was a worldwide flood. It was the first time most of us had been there. Their presentation of creation and the gospel message was clear and convincing. The climax for me was being at the planetarium. The projection on the domed ceiling was so 3-D, that it made some of us dizzy.  

What an amazing Creator God is!

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posted by Donald on 08/30/11

I pledge allegiance to the Constitution

of the United States of America,

And to the Bill of Rights which It includes:

One document

underwritten by our fathers,

indivisible,

with Liberty and Justice for all.

1 Comment » | posted in Politics

posted by Donald on 08/23/11

After seeing the divine protection that surrounded General Washington when they fought him with muskets which otherwise “knew not how to miss”, the chiefs among the Deleware (Lenape) Indians wisely decided to find out what they could about the God of George Washington.

They  found Washington and diligently requested that he take a selected group of young people from their tribe to be trained in school. Washington encouraged them saying that Congress would look on them as children of their own, later telling the chiefs:

You do well to wish to learn our arts and way of life, and above all the religion of Jesus Christ. These will make you a greater and happier people than you are. Congress will do everything they can to assist you in this wise intention.

May we also be a wiser and happier people by giving all diligence to add to our faith virtue, to virtue knowledge and to knowledge self-control. . . .

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posted by Donald on 08/16/11

The thrills of fiction are far outweighed by the accounts of history. I came across this one from Seventh Day Baptists in Europe and America (Vol. II, pp.1164-1167, available through CBD for about $75), about Peter Miller, the man called upon by Jefferson to translate the Declaration of Independence into seven languages of Europe. This story recounts an appeal he made to George Washington . . .

Picture from MountVernon.org.

“Nor should Peter Miller be remembered for his scholarship alone. One of the most touching episodes in American history is that of his efforts to save the life of Michael Widman, an acknowledged Tory who was condemned to be hung as a traitor. He had been particularly abusive to Peter Miller, even spitting in his face on one occasion. But when sentence was pronounced Peter Miller set out on foot for Washington’s headquarters at Valley Forge to plead for mercy. Washington had great respect for Miller, but replied:

‘Friend Miller, there is scarcely anything in this world that I would deny you, but such is the state of public affairs that it would be fatal to our cause not to be stringent, inexorable in such matters, and make examples of renegades to the cause of Liberty; otherwise I should most cheerfully release your friend.’

‘Friend!’ replied Miller . . . ‘He is my worst enemy—my most incessant reviler. For a friend I might not importune you; but Widman being, and, having been for years, my worst foe, my malignant, persecuting, enemy, my religion teaches me “To pray for those who despitefully use me”.’

“The tears coursed down the brave old Commander’s cheek and, taking Miller by the hand, he replied: ‘My dear friend, I thank you for this lesson of Christian charity. I cannot resist such a manifestation of our divine religion; the pardon shall be granted on one condition, and that is, that you be the bearer of it yourself, and hand it to the commanding officer at Turk’s Head in Widman’s presence.’

“Traveling twenty miles by foot that night, Miller arrived in time to deliver the pardon as directed. As Michael Widman at the foot of the gallows confessed his treacherous acts and asked for forgiveness from those whom he had wronged, including Peter Miller, the pardon was delivered.”

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