SCRIP-BITS

1 John 5:3.    For this is the LOVE of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
 
Oh Friends, today’s the big day; my mother’s funeral! The ole fella will be called on to be front and centre and show the example of walking with God that my mother displayed. Pray for me that I will walk worthy of both her and the Lord. By the way, the visitation went exceptionally well yesterday evening. A fair amount of friends and family showed up, some I’d only heard about but never met before. Everybody was happy with the way the ole girl looked; peaceful and calm, as though she was just napping and would wake up at any minute. The room was quite lively as many memories and reminiscences were shared. It will be even greater today, as there will be more people. Thankfully too, nobody said or did anything to upset me, so I came out smelling like a rose. (smile) Let’s hope I can do as well today, seeing that there will be a bigger crowd, and thus more opportunity to be antagonized. But I’m leaving all of that in the Lord’s hands. I’m just going there to celebrate the life and times of my dear departed mother, and whatever happens happens. I know it will be a wonderful celebration anyway! And really, all we can do on this earth is what our Bit says: ‘For this is the LOVE of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous (burdensome).’  Yes my brethren, once we sincerely try to follow God’s commandments, which basically boils down to walking in LOVE, then we’ll be all right. As John says earlier in his first epistle, when talking about the true tests of knowledge: ‘And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.’ (1 John 2:3) That’s gospel Friends! We can only truly know God if we do as he desires. And in verse 6, John spells it out even clearer: ‘He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.’ (1 John 2:6) And isn’t that the living truth people! Though we can’t walk as sinless as Jesus walked on earth, His followers are indeed required to replicate to a great degree His devotion to His Father and to show much compassion to others. And as we saw yesterday, and it’s worthy to be repeated today, Jesus told His disciples: ‘If ye LOVE me, keep my commandments.’ (John 14:15) Yes my people, those are some of the most important words Jesus ever spoke. Just like in every organization, unless we follow the dictates of the leadership, we can’t be considered true followers of the organization. And what really amazes me is that people are so afraid to embrace and accept Jesus as their Lord and Saviour because they consider His rules and regulations to be too hard and difficult to follow. Hogwash! Because Friends, it’s the exact opposite, as the last part of our Bit truthfully declares: ‘and his commandments are not grievous (burdensome).’ Jesus Himself said so: ‘For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.’ (Matt.11:30) Meanwhile, of the scribes and Pharisees, of the earthly church organizations, He declared: ‘For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne (had to bear), and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.’ (Matt.23:4) That’s an indisputable fact! It happened back then, and unfortunately it’s still happening today! Many of the church leaders expect a lot from their congregations, but refuse to do the same things as they should, preferring to live above it all, in ease, ungodliness and hypocrisy. That’s why there are so many sad scandals in the church leadership these days. But my brethren, though Jesus’ expectations of His followers are high, the rules are simple and not hard to abide by if we sincerely desire to be His followers. Listen to Micah tell it: ‘He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to LOVE mercy (LOVING-kindness), and walk humbly with thy God?’ (Mic.6:8) That’s all that’s required of us Friends; doing good, showing kindness and justice while walking humbly with God. That’s not onerous at all, unless your heart is dead set on evil! So come on people, let’s get really serious about Jesus nuh, about truly being His followers, by pulling up our socks and raising the level of our LOVE Walk. He’s depending on us to change the world, to spread the good news of His Death, Resurrection and Ascension to the entire world, selfless actions that have provided the greatest gifts available on earth; the unsurpassable benefits of salvation and eternal life. So please, I implore us, let’s not let Him down nuh. Much LOVE!…do good…walk good…talk good…live good…that’s the true Christian’s duty…
 

1 John 5:3.     For this is the LOVE of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
 
Ah Friends, yuh see how the ole fella was so burnt out yesterday that he dated the Bit 8th of November instead of September? Hn, hn! I was two months ahead of everybody else. I hope that those of you who noticed it chuckled, then said a little prayer for me, because I need the prayers of many people right now, to help me through these trying times. Visitation for my mother is this evening, so you can imagine the hoopla and the hoops I will be required to jump through. But I’m really not worried about that, for I know the Good Lord will look after me. The problem is whether I can look after my part of the bargain; keep my peace when someone comes up with some nonsense, which is sure to happen. But be all of that as it may, today is Friday, the weekend is here, and we’re thankful for it, so let’s chant our Friday Chant. ‘Oh Lord, thanks for getting me safely through another week of work! It hasn’t been easy, but with your generous help, I made it through. Now, please help me to get sufficient fun, fellowship, rest and relaxation in these two short days off, so that I can be renewed and refreshed in soul, body and mind, to go back out and do it all over again next week, furthering your glorious kingdom with each step I take. I pray this in Jesus name. Amen.’ And having set the right tone for the weekend, let’s go out and do what our Bit says: ‘For this is the LOVE of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous (burdensome).’ Those are certainly words of awesome truth my people! Indeed, when we keep God’s commandments, it shows that we truly LOVE Him. Jesus, in promising to send the Holy Spirit to his disciples after His ascension, put it plainly and simply, as was His wont. ‘If ye LOVE me, keep my commandments.’ (John 14:15) Yes Friends, there’s nothing in that statement to cause uncertainty or confusion. If we LOVE Him, then we’ll do as He asks; no ifs ands and buts. Then John, in his second epistle, when talking about the commandment of LOVE, boldly declares: ‘I rejoiced greatly that I found (some) of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father. And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we LOVE one another. And this is LOVE, that we walk after (according) to his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.’ (2 John 4-6) Ah mih breddren, I know that walking in LOVE is much easier said than done, but if we consider ourselves to be true believers, loyal followers of Jesus Christ, then that’s the route we need to go. That entails making serious decisions regarding our basic lifestyle, our prayer time and our fellowship with other believers. For it’s only as we invest time and energy in those areas, that our faith will grow, and we’ll be able to walk a better walk than we were previously walking. It’s not going to happen overnight, for we are all works in progress at different stages in the building of our Jesus-like character. So we’ve got to be somewhat patient with ourselves. And as we’ve said so often, it’s only the emotion of LOVE that can save our world. But we also need to realize and remember that just talking LOVE doesn’t make it happen, because LOVE is an action word! And my people, we need to put it into action asap, without delay, if we want to improve our lot in life. So let’s sit down this Friday and examine ourselves nuh, find out where we’re falling down in our LOVE walk, and make every effort to correct it. That way, we will be true reflections of Jesus, like we ought to be. More on this tomorrow, if we don’t read our names in the obits. (smile) Much LOVE!…commandments are words…that require action to fulfill them…
 

James 4:10.     Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
 
Oh Friends, what’s happening with our world eh? If it’s not internal strife, or strife between nations, then it’s natural disasters trying to destroy us. The U.S. is finally feeling the brunt of some of them. Sadly, after Irene wreaked havoc on the east coast a week ago, Tropical Storm Lee, did the same this weekend in some of the Southern states, like Georgia and Mississippi with its flooding and terrible tornadoes. Then we have Katia priming herself in the Atlantic, to make landfall, who knows where. Oh my people, it’s obvious that some of the calamity befalling us is directly connected to the sinful, ungodly, idolatrous society we’ve become. Our LOVING and merciful God is trying to warn us of the deadly consequences of continuing this wicked way of life, to which we’re apparently fully committed. And it won’t get any better until we smarten up and make some serious changes. We’re already living in fear of terrorist threats and subversion, adding fear of natural disasters to that will certainly be overwhelming and lower the quality of our lives even further. But are we paying attention to these things and considering the interconnection between them; between our lifestyle and the desires of our God? I don’t think that many of us are doing so. But my brethren we definitely need to do so, because our lives won’t improve until we realize that we can’t help ourselves, especially in those areas, despite what the world says. Only the Lord God Jehovah can offer true and serious assistance there. And until we fully comprehend the seriousness of our situation, humble ourselves before the Lord, repent and return to the godly lifestyle of our fathers, we’ll find ourselves continually bombarded by calamity, both from human and natural sources. That brings us to our Bit: ‘Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.’ Oh Friends, our Bit does not only refer to the humility of individuals, but also of societies, of nations, of our entire world! This proud, independent, rebellious, we can do it all in our own strength, without any help from God attitude that’s currently in vogue is totally false, and consequently it’s leading us down the sorry road to certain destruction. Why is that fact so difficult for us to accept eh, despite the numerous examples throughout history? Do the flimsy, flashy, fickle pleasures and creature comforts of the world have such a stranglehold on us that we can’t see what’s happening? Or are we like the saying goes; none so blind as those who refuse to see? Oh my people, the Lord in His LOVING-kindness is issuing warning after warning that he’s fast losing patience with us. Our wickedness has become so abominable, that as a just and righteous God, He has to act, to render some sort of judgement against us. Obviously He doesn’t want to destroy us, His most beautiful creation, made in His very image, but we’re not giving Him any choice through the evil, disobedient lifestyle we’re living. Listen to James, as he tells it like it was back then, and also like it is right now. ‘Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of (with) the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will (wants to) be a friend of the world is the (makes himself an) enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy (yearns jealously)? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh (near) to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye doubleminded.’ (James 4:4-8) Oh my brethren, if we want our society to continue, and to prosper, we have to let go of the worldly desires that permeate our souls and our thinking. That means drawing away from the evil forces that are currently pulling our strings, and drawing closer to the kind, LOVING, forgiving, merciful God of our fathers, who caused them to prosper in their obedience and faithfulness to Him. Friends, it is a difficult task, but obviously not an impossible one, with Jesus on our side. But we first need to get serious about doing it, then seriously and diligently turn to Almighty God for His help, otherwise our society as we know it, will keep deteriorating until it destroys itself, or is destroyed. We have two choices; to stay on this path to certain destruction, or the one to life. As Moses put it to the Israelites so long ago, Friends, I’m putting it to us today: ‘I call heaven and earth to record (as witnesses) this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.’ (Deut. 30:19) Please my people, I implore us, let’s choose life nuh, so that our children and our world can survive. It’s the only wise and sensible decision. And I pray that we make it, in Jesus’ name. Amen. Much LOVE!…serve the enemy…and you’ll die…serve God…and eternal life will be yours…
 

James 4:10.    Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

James 4:10.    Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

Psalm 15:1.    Lord, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?
 
Oh Friends, this funeral business is something else yes! There are so many details to attend to, much more than in birth. And believe me, none of the things you need to do come cheaply. Everyone wants his or her share of the pie, especially the government. No wonder so many families have money problems, in addition to their grief, after burying a LOVED one! Even the cheapest burial available is too much for many families to afford. But I guess that’s the way our society is set up, so we just have to do it as best we can. Anyway, the worst is over now, most of the important preparations have been made and hopefully I can now get back to writing my Bit at an earlier hour. (smile) Sadly though, now there’s only one thing I must do everyday; that’s write the Bit. No longer will I be reading prayers for my mother over the phone. And believe me, it does seem as though a part of me is missing, because I read for her every day. And if she figured I was taking too long to call, she would call and say something like: ‘Randolph. This is your mother.’ That would be all, and I’d know what she wanted. But all good things must end sometime, they say, and we just have to move on. So in concert with that opinion, let’s consider our Bit; interesting words from Bruh David. ‘Lord, who shall abide (sojourn) in thy tabernacle? Who shall dwell in thy holy hill?’ Basically, the psalm’s about qualifications for service in the Lord’s sanctuary. And here are the qualifications Bruh David thinks are required for such service: ‘He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. He that backbiteth not with his tongue…’ (Ps.15:2-3a) That means people with personal purity, which all believers are supposed to have. And the qualifications continue: ‘nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up (receives) a reproach against his neighbour. In whose eyes a vile person is contemned (despised); but he honoureth them that fear the Lord. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.’ (Ps.15:3a-5) Oh Friends, that describes interpersonal integrity, which all of us ought to have. That therefore boils down the basic qualifications to work in the Lord’s house as also the basic qualifications for being a true believer. We need those qualifications to do any work whatsoever for our God. But since we’re human, and thus naturally sinful, we won’t always come up to such lofty heights of Christian maturity. However, one of our mandates is also to help those weaker than us. Hear Bruh Paul explain it to the Galatians: ‘Brethren, if a man be overtaken (caught) in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.’ (Gal.6:1-2) Yes Friends, to a certain extent we are to be our brother’s keeper, but with meekness and humility, lest we get too prideful and fall into the same trap. That’s the basis of our Christian faith; helping, sharing, exhorting, encouraging and considering each other’s plight with a humble heart. Therefore, as believers, our aim, our goal should be to get qualified enough to work in the Lord’s sanctuary, even if we never actually work there. As Bruh David says in Psalm 24: ‘Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity (to an idol), nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.’ (Ps.24:3-5) Oh my people, currently there are way too few of us who can qualify to work in God’s sanctuary, or ascend to His holy hill, for evil and the enemy have become too much a part of our daily, earthly lives. Please, let’s try and change that nuh, let’s rise higher, to heights of excellence, as Jesus desires, and aspire to make those attributes our life’s goal, so that we can glorify God and thus further His kingdom. That would be so pleasing to our wonderful God. Much LOVE!… a believer’s duty…is to be the best that he/she can be…
 

Proverbs 31:30.     Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.

Oh Friends, It’s Friday! And this one you all are especially glad to see because it’s the Labour Day weekend, and the shouts of ‘TGIF!’, Thank God it’s Friday!’ are emanating loud and clear from all over North America. Unfortunately the ole fella’s not shouting this weekend as he was last weekend because I’mfinally back in T.O. Not in my comfortable, cluttered basement office, but actually by Molls, where I’m writing this Bit.
Before I go any further, I want to address one problem. It seems that some people are annoyed with me, that I wasn’t here when Molls died, that I was out of the country. But all I have to say those people is that if they knew the relationship I had with my mother, and some of them did, they would know that I would NEVER go away if I thought she was sick and possibly on her death bed. And though I was angry when I first heard of it, I’m now more saddened that people could think so little of me. Anyway, that’s water under the bridge. I can’t control other people’s thinking and talking. I learned that from my mother long ago. The only difference is that she was strong enough to let it wash over her, but I have to get it off my chest first. And now that we’ve done with the negative stuff. Let’s get to the good stuff.Yes Friends, I went to visit the ole girl in the morgue this afternoon, and did she ever look beautiful! The lady who took us down warned that she might not look too good, so I was a bit apprehensive. However, Friends, when they brought‘M’ into the room where Denise, her caregiver and I were, a sudden quiet, refreshing feeling of joy came over me because she looked just the same as she did before. Oh Friends, I hugged and kissed her face and ran my hands through her hair as I was wont to do. Obviously ‘the tears in my eyes could not hold anymore,’ and I said I was sorry that I didn’t get to see her before she went home, but that was the way the Good Lord wrote the script. And being the kindly, forgiving soul that she was, she forgave me, because she knew deep down that I wouldn’t do that on purpose. Ah people, as I write this Denise is showing me some pictures of her in younger years and the tears want to flow. But I have to control them so I can write properly. Anyway, I’m going to take abreak here, eat some food then go up the street to check out a funeral home and finalize some burial arrangements. Hopefully by the time I come back, I will have something concrete to tell you all. Li’l more time. And I’m back now, about nine fifteen in the evening, this time in my even more cluttered than usual basement office. At least we have one thing settled: The funeral will take place on Saturday September 10, at one o’clock in the afternoon at the Highlands Funeral Home at 3280 Sheppard Ave. E. That’s Sheppard and Warden Avenues. Visitation will be on Friday 9 September between 5 and 9 p.m, also on Saturday before the service between 12 and 1. The place of burial hasn’t been finalized as yet. Hope to do so tomorrow. Oh my people, it’s been a long day and tiring day. I haven’t slept since I don’t know when, but just seeing Molls made it all worthwhile. Thank you Lord! Although it was rough not seeing her before she went home, I know that she’s in a much better place now, where there is no night, only day, and no pain and sorrow, only peace and LOVE. And that’s the way she tried to live her life, even recently when the pain racked her fragile body. And yuh know what friends, though I won’t be going to New York to celebrate Labour Day as I used to, I will stay in T.O. and celebrate the life of a wonderful, kind, generous, LOVING woman, my late departed Mother, Molly Claire O’Brien. And I can say that with great certainty, because that’s how I saw her live from I was old enough to understand. Her life wasn’t easy, but you’d never hear her complain. Often we’d fall out when I thought she was going overboard for something or  somebody who didn’t seem to be worth her time and effort, but she would say that she was doing it for me. And believe me people, there have been many times in  my life where I have been specially blessed because I was Molly O’Brien’s son. What more can I ask eh? And most of you who knew her would certainly agree with me. Anyway, that’s  it for today. I’ve got to go and find a Bit now, so I can publish this while it’s still Friday. And as usual Friends, you can see that the Lord came to my rescue in less than five minutes: ‘Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.’ Friends, my old mother was  beautiful in her younger days, but she was also a woman who feared, revered, lived for and LOVED the Lord. Again, I’m sure that most of you who knew her would agree. No she wasn’t a saint, but as close as one could come, while still being a sinner! Much LOVE!…live right…walk good…and do good…those are the hallmarks of a true Christian…

 Psalm 9:2.  I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou Most High.

Well Friends, September is here, meaning the end of carefree summer vacations, the resumption of school and the descent into winter in the northern climes. It’s also the last morning for me to enjoy my California home office with the scenery outside, to watch the bright sun come up over the mountains. (smile) Tomorrow morning I’ll be back in my comfortable but cluttered basement office with no scenery. But that’s life! I’m sorry too that I don’t have any adventures from yesterday to share with you. I had planned to go to another beach, Marina Del Rey, but once I heard about my mother’s untimely passing, I just lost the enthusiasm to drive there by myself, and there was no one available to go with me. So I just hung around the house; ate, slept, read, cried, contacted some people, and pondered the life and times of my darling mother. In the evening, the family gathered together for some fellowship. We ate some food, played a little music, then some went out, some went home and some went to bed. Include me in the latter group. So it was just another sad, mundane but peaceful day; like so many of our days are. That shouldn’t stop us from enjoying them though, else we’d miss enjoying most of our life. Excitement and adventure are nice, but you can only handle so much of them. They are the exception rather than the rule, which is boring, same old, same old days. However, as believers, we ought to have the attitude Bruh David talks of in our Bit: ‘I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou Most High.’ Yes Friends, that’s the way we ought to live our earthly lives!  If we truly believe that we have such a wonderful, LOVING, merciful and forgiving God, then it follows that most of the time we should exist in a state of joy and peace. Otherwise we’re just wasting all the great benefits and blessings of our omnipotent God. And as the psalmist so rightly says: ‘I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the Lord.’ (Ps.104:33-34) Yes my people, being full of peace and joy, with meditation and songs of praise is the best way to serve the Lord God Jehovah! For as Bruh David advises in Psalm 5: ‘But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest (protects) them: let them also that LOVE thy name be joyful in thee. For thou Lord wilt bless the righteous; with favour wilt thou compass (surround) him as with a shield.’ (Ps.5:11-12) And that sure is gospel Friends! So we’ve got to stop allowing the world and all its negativity from getting us so despondent and miserable that we forget the amazing and awesome benefits available to us as believers through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, many times when the world comes against us, we tend to forget about Jesus and try to handle the problems in our own strength. But that’s oh so wrong my brethren! For it’s in the rough times that we most need to remember and cling to our wonderful God and Saviour. It’s only with their sterling help we can successfully ride out and/or overcome the many trials and tribulations that beset us in this primarily evil and ungodly world. If our God is so great, powerful, merciful, forgiving, LOVING and kind, then we should indeed be leaning on Him at ALL times. ‘That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the Most High over all the earth.’ (Ps.83:18) Ah Friends, I know I sound like the proverbial pain in the rear end because I keep repeating that if we supposed Christians would truly live the Christian life, then we’d be much happier, with much more peace and joy than we currently have. But as usual, the problem is that we talk the life very well, but don’t truly live it. However, it’s the living of that righteous way of life that’s important to our God. So please, let’s turn our focus, channel our energy to truly living the believer’s life nuh. Let’s allow the unbelievers, the wicked, the worldly to see the joy and peace we obtain through living for Jesus. Then we can get them to want what we have and further Christ’s kingdom. And the best way to do that is by following the wise advise of the psalmist: ‘It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High: To show forth thy LOVING-kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night…For thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.’ (Ps.92.1-2,4) Oh Friends, if we do that constantly, then there’ll be no stopping us; our God will  certainly be magnified and His kingdom multiplied! Much LOVE!…it’s a believer’s duty…to LOVE the Lord…and LIVE that LOVE…