Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Timely - with no comment
H. L. Mencken, American Journalist 1880 - 1956, quote "Elections are the advance auction of stolen goods."
Monday, November 1, 2010
Famly
Family is very important in the Bible, and, as this year’s Thanksgiving holiday approaches, I am especially thoughtful about how important my family is to me. These thoughts have been in my head for many years and I want to take a moment to share them with you today.
Alfred Jackson (Papa) Dalton – died in 1951 at age 63 of a cerebral hemorrhage when I was 7. He was a funeral director and, later, a coffin salesman. From him I learned love of grandchildren and family along with the wisdom of planning.
Effie Belle Johnson (Mama) Dalton – died in 1990 at age 97. From her, I learned the joy of Christian music and I can still hear her singing “Glory, Glory, Hallelujah”.
Frank Lambert (Grandpa) Hinton – died in 1973 at age 82. From him, I learned how a truly peaceful man can live – with a sense of humor. I can’t find anyone who ever saw him mad. I also learned a lot about business and finances.
Ellora Helphenstine (Grandma) Hinton – died in 1997 at age 107. From her, I learned a lot about true service to others and hard work – as well as honesty and integrity and faith.
Julia Lafell (e) Dalton Hinton – died in 1997 (9 days before Grandma) at age 75. From mom, I learned a lot about appreciation for literature, including poetry, and service to others. Mom was truly at her very best when someone needed help – whether she knew them or not.
Eugene Fay Hinton – died in 2003 at age 85. From dad, I learned a lot about work ethics. Seeing him put himself out to help those less fortunate, then not even charging them for the work made a lasting impression.
Nancy Gayle Hinton Buie – the middle child. She has always been there for me to discuss our most intimate details – about our childhood and adulthood experiences. Her openness and faith are exemplary. She made an excellent choice for a husband, James C. Buie, who has been there for her and his family through their developing years – with faith and diligence.
Janet Faye Hinton Fitzgerald – “Baby Faye-Faye” – Okay, she was dad’s favorite, but she is dear to us, too. She was there to help clean my apartment during my bachelor days which is just one example of how she learned the attitude of “service to others” from mom. In 1980, she made an excellent decision to marry Bill Fitzgerald who has been a perfect mate for her. Their friendship is an ideal example for a marriage.
Monica Hope Hinton – Some may ask why I am including a child who died before she was born, in 1969. Quite simply, from her (we did not officially name her, but chose this name many years later) I learned the importance of the unborn child. Her death heightened my awareness of abortion issues.
Janis Renee Hinton Proctor – What can I say? She is absolutely, from my prejudiced view, the most beautiful daughter ever and has my utmost admiration for her choice of a husband, for her intelligence, for her organizational skills and for her wonderful child-rearing skills.
Brian Wayne Hinton – Again, what can I say? Brian has surpassed any expectations I could have ever had for him. His intelligence, business and organizational skills are as exemplary as his sister’s. His honesty and integrity are beyond reproach. And, his care for his sons is beyond anything I could have ever wished. And, he has grown into an extremely handsome man.
Juanita Ann Smith Hinton – Last and most. This is the only member of my family that I chose to invite into it. That was clearly the best decision I have made in my lifetime. She has been stretched beyond her wildest expectations. She raised two children with care and concern that is immeasurable. We are still learning how to live together, and though the first years were great, our current lives together are wonderful beyond belief.
Alfred Jackson (Papa) Dalton – died in 1951 at age 63 of a cerebral hemorrhage when I was 7. He was a funeral director and, later, a coffin salesman. From him I learned love of grandchildren and family along with the wisdom of planning.
Effie Belle Johnson (Mama) Dalton – died in 1990 at age 97. From her, I learned the joy of Christian music and I can still hear her singing “Glory, Glory, Hallelujah”.
Frank Lambert (Grandpa) Hinton – died in 1973 at age 82. From him, I learned how a truly peaceful man can live – with a sense of humor. I can’t find anyone who ever saw him mad. I also learned a lot about business and finances.
Ellora Helphenstine (Grandma) Hinton – died in 1997 at age 107. From her, I learned a lot about true service to others and hard work – as well as honesty and integrity and faith.
Julia Lafell (e) Dalton Hinton – died in 1997 (9 days before Grandma) at age 75. From mom, I learned a lot about appreciation for literature, including poetry, and service to others. Mom was truly at her very best when someone needed help – whether she knew them or not.
Eugene Fay Hinton – died in 2003 at age 85. From dad, I learned a lot about work ethics. Seeing him put himself out to help those less fortunate, then not even charging them for the work made a lasting impression.
Nancy Gayle Hinton Buie – the middle child. She has always been there for me to discuss our most intimate details – about our childhood and adulthood experiences. Her openness and faith are exemplary. She made an excellent choice for a husband, James C. Buie, who has been there for her and his family through their developing years – with faith and diligence.
Janet Faye Hinton Fitzgerald – “Baby Faye-Faye” – Okay, she was dad’s favorite, but she is dear to us, too. She was there to help clean my apartment during my bachelor days which is just one example of how she learned the attitude of “service to others” from mom. In 1980, she made an excellent decision to marry Bill Fitzgerald who has been a perfect mate for her. Their friendship is an ideal example for a marriage.
Monica Hope Hinton – Some may ask why I am including a child who died before she was born, in 1969. Quite simply, from her (we did not officially name her, but chose this name many years later) I learned the importance of the unborn child. Her death heightened my awareness of abortion issues.
Janis Renee Hinton Proctor – What can I say? She is absolutely, from my prejudiced view, the most beautiful daughter ever and has my utmost admiration for her choice of a husband, for her intelligence, for her organizational skills and for her wonderful child-rearing skills.
Brian Wayne Hinton – Again, what can I say? Brian has surpassed any expectations I could have ever had for him. His intelligence, business and organizational skills are as exemplary as his sister’s. His honesty and integrity are beyond reproach. And, his care for his sons is beyond anything I could have ever wished. And, he has grown into an extremely handsome man.
Juanita Ann Smith Hinton – Last and most. This is the only member of my family that I chose to invite into it. That was clearly the best decision I have made in my lifetime. She has been stretched beyond her wildest expectations. She raised two children with care and concern that is immeasurable. We are still learning how to live together, and though the first years were great, our current lives together are wonderful beyond belief.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Live for today
Dr. Samuel Johnson is quoted as saying "Nothing heightens a man's senses so much as the prospect of being hanged in the morning."
Ecclesiastes 8:15 So I commended enjoyment, because a man has nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry; for this will remain with him in his labor all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 9:7 Go, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works.
Luke 12:19 'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."'
When we are young, an invincible, we can eat, drink and be merry - putting aside many things "for the future". We seem to know that the future is "out there" but it just simply doesn't matter much today.
If we knew for a fact at a young age, that we would not die until a certain age, we would most likely live even more dangerously than we do. But, when we know for certainty that our life if finite, our attitude changes completely. Our priorities are completely rearranged. For many, it is for the better. For many, it is for the worse - they are full of regret, fear and anger.
God says, in the Bible, that we should live a happy life. We should enjoy whatever He has given us to enjoy. The date of our death, for most of us, is unknown. Live today as if you will be hanged tomorrow morning.
Ecclesiastes 8:15 So I commended enjoyment, because a man has nothing better under the sun than to eat, drink, and be merry; for this will remain with him in his labor all the days of his life which God gives him under the sun.
Ecclesiastes 9:7 Go, eat your bread with joy, And drink your wine with a merry heart; For God has already accepted your works.
Luke 12:19 'And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry."'
When we are young, an invincible, we can eat, drink and be merry - putting aside many things "for the future". We seem to know that the future is "out there" but it just simply doesn't matter much today.
If we knew for a fact at a young age, that we would not die until a certain age, we would most likely live even more dangerously than we do. But, when we know for certainty that our life if finite, our attitude changes completely. Our priorities are completely rearranged. For many, it is for the better. For many, it is for the worse - they are full of regret, fear and anger.
God says, in the Bible, that we should live a happy life. We should enjoy whatever He has given us to enjoy. The date of our death, for most of us, is unknown. Live today as if you will be hanged tomorrow morning.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
What you say cannot be "unsaid"
John Sewel, a prominent Cadillac dealer in the Dallas area, is quoted as saying "You can shear a sheep for many years, but you can only skin it once."
We need to make wise decisions. Not all of them can be "undone".
I recall the story about the grandfather who was appalled by statements made by his grandson that had truly hurt someone. The boy simply did not understand why it was som important.
The grandfather gave a box of nails and a hammer to the grandson, then told him to go out to the back forty and hammer all of the nails into the wooden fence. When the boy was done, the grandfather told him to go out and take all of the nails out of the fence.
The grandson was frustrated, but did as he was told. When he was done, he went back to his grandfather and was told to look at the fence. The nails were gone, he pointed out, but the holes remained.
When we say something, we need to realize that the impact can oftern never be repaired.
Proverbs:
12:25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.
15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
15:23 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!
25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver.
James 3:
3 Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.
4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.
8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?
12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
We need to make wise decisions. Not all of them can be "undone".
I recall the story about the grandfather who was appalled by statements made by his grandson that had truly hurt someone. The boy simply did not understand why it was som important.
The grandfather gave a box of nails and a hammer to the grandson, then told him to go out to the back forty and hammer all of the nails into the wooden fence. When the boy was done, the grandfather told him to go out and take all of the nails out of the fence.
The grandson was frustrated, but did as he was told. When he was done, he went back to his grandfather and was told to look at the fence. The nails were gone, he pointed out, but the holes remained.
When we say something, we need to realize that the impact can oftern never be repaired.
Proverbs:
12:25 Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad.
15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger.
15:23 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, And a word spoken in due season, how good it is!
25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold In settings of silver.
James 3:
3 Indeed, we put bits in horses' mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.
4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.
5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.
8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?
12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
John Muir quote:
"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings; nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine into flowers; the winds will blow their freshness into you and the storms their energy; and cares will drop off like autumn leaves."
Psalm 46:
6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
"Climb the mountains and get their good tidings; nature's peace will flow into you as sunshine into flowers; the winds will blow their freshness into you and the storms their energy; and cares will drop off like autumn leaves."
Psalm 46:
6 The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved; He uttered His voice, the earth melted.
7 The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge.
8 Come, behold the works of the LORD, Who has made desolations in the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth; He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two; He burns the chariot in the fire.
10 Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!
Monday, October 25, 2010
Don't rely on own knowledge - seek wise counsel
Woodrow Wilson is quoted as saying "I use not only all the brains I have, but all I can borrow."
Proverbs 1:5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.
Proverbs 19:20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days.
Proverbs 20:18 Plans are established by counsel; By wise counsel wage war.
Prover 24:6 For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, And in a multitude of counselors there is safety.
Isaiah 19:11 Surely the princes of Zoan are fools; Pharaoh's wise counselors give foolish counsel. How do you say to Pharaoh, "I am the son of the wise, The son of ancient kings?"
Daniel 2:14 Then with counsel and wisdom Daniel answered Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon;
Proverbs 1:5 A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel,
Proverbs 12:15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But he who heeds counsel is wise.
Proverbs 19:20 Listen to counsel and receive instruction, That you may be wise in your latter days.
Proverbs 20:18 Plans are established by counsel; By wise counsel wage war.
Prover 24:6 For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, And in a multitude of counselors there is safety.
Isaiah 19:11 Surely the princes of Zoan are fools; Pharaoh's wise counselors give foolish counsel. How do you say to Pharaoh, "I am the son of the wise, The son of ancient kings?"
Daniel 2:14 Then with counsel and wisdom Daniel answered Arioch, the captain of the king's guard, who had gone out to kill the wise men of Babylon;
Friday, October 22, 2010
Surpassing the Master?
Nell Elam, teacher at the Starkville, Mississippi public school is quoted as saying "The disciple who doesn't surpass his master, fails him."
Jesus says the same. And, in this time of greater medicine for treatment of severe diseases, we can believe it. In His time, the world did not have the ability to move mountains as we do today on a routine basis to make roads and to build cities. Heart disease and cancer, the two leading causes of death, can be controlled and in many cased cured. In His time, only He had that power. He still has that power and more. But we have learned to do many things, and to progress.
John 14:
12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
13 "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.14 "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments.
16 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever--
17 "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
18 "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
19 "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.
20 "At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
21 "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."
22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?"
23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
24 "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.
25 "These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.
26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
Jesus says the same. And, in this time of greater medicine for treatment of severe diseases, we can believe it. In His time, the world did not have the ability to move mountains as we do today on a routine basis to make roads and to build cities. Heart disease and cancer, the two leading causes of death, can be controlled and in many cased cured. In His time, only He had that power. He still has that power and more. But we have learned to do many things, and to progress.
John 14:
12 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.
13 "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.14 "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.
15 "If you love Me, keep My commandments.
16 "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever--
17 "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
18 "I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
19 "A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also.
20 "At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
21 "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."
22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, "Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?"
23 Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
24 "He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me.
25 "These things I have spoken to you while being present with you.
26 "But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
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