SCRIP-BITS

Oh Friends, it’s been another one of those ‘funny-curious’ days in my area; warm and sunny, but with a strong wind cavorting to and fro. I even had to take down the covering on my deck before I was ready since the wind seemed intent on doing it for me. Our weather is surely being unpredictable, for I can’t remember ever seeing such strong, warm winds at this time of year? It shouldn’t be surprising though, because 2010 is set to break the record in these parts for the year with the highest average temperature. But despite our weather not being well balanced, here’s a quote that shows why our lives should be. ‘Physical courage, which despises all danger, will make a man brave in one way; and moral courage, which despises all opinion, will make a man brave in another. The former would seem most necessary for the camp; the latter for the council; but to constitute a great man, both are necessary.’ Those words, attributed to C.C Colton, are the living truth my Friends! To be good, solid believers, we need to be well rounded and balanced in all we do. As Bruh Paul recommended; moderation in all things, with common sense prevailing. We can be brave as all hell on the battlefield, but at the peace table, if we don’t have the rectitude, the moral parts to stand and be courageous there too, then our battlefield courage is wasted. That brings us to our Bit: ‘Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell in unity.’ Oh Friends, this is one of the most important verses in the Good Book, and if we’d only abide by it, at least seventy percent of our problems, if not more, would be readily eliminated because it’s disunity that’s causing most of our problems, from the basic family unit to the worldwide brotherhood. And here’s a great example of why our problems persist: It’s reputed that a couple days ago, at the U.N’s General Assembly Meeting, while the President of Iran was making his speech, thirty odd leaders and/or delegations walked out, ostensibly because they disagreed with his rhetoric. He claims that the world powers refuse to give Iran the respect they deserve, but the powers view Iran as a rogue nation who steadfastly refuses to toe their line. So when shall the twain meet eh? At the rate we’re going, it will be never. The same goes for Israel and Palestine, with both sides refusing to compromise, so they live in a constant state of anger, resentment and strife. But my people that’s such stupid, wasteful, ignorant behaviour on all sides! Further confrontation and strife will only bloom into all out war and destruction, as it has done before, from which there’ll be no real winners. Why can’t we humans get that into our stubborn, egotistic heads eh? Oh Friends, war has never really solved anything; it just puts off the real problems for another time, while fomenting new ones to add to the list. At the end, the vanquished are indeed brought low, but the victors have also suffered severe death and destruction. I’d call that a lose – lose proposition. Now listen to one of the best examples of how to conquer strife. We’re talking of the strife between Abram and Lot’s herdsmen when the cattle of both camps were too plentiful for the land to support. Instead of living in constant strife and conflict, ‘Abram said unto Lot, Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen; for we be brethren. Is not the whole land before thee? Separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left.’ (Gen.13:8-9) Oh Friends, that was so simple! But note Abram’s overriding concern: ‘for we be brethren.’ Granted, not all problems are so easily solved, but there’s always some way to avoid violent confrontation if people are willing to conscientiously sit down and find a solution that doesn’t entail further strife or all out war. Hear how Bruh David describes the joy of brotherhood: ‘It is like the precious ointment (oil) upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron’s beard: that went down to the skirts (edge) of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the Lord commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.’ (Ps.133:2-3) Oh my people, doesn’t that sound a whole lot better than steel on steel, or steel on flesh, than bullets whizzing by, and canons roaring? Any day mih people, any day! What’s wrong with peace, LOVE and togetherness eh, that so many are choosing to go the other direction? Bruh Paul told the Romans in no uncertain terms: ‘Let LOVE be without dissimulation (hypocrisy). Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned (affectionate) one to another with brotherly LOVE; in honour preferring (giving preference to) one another.’ (Rom.12:9-10) That’s so much better than the negative emotions that are currently running and ruining our world. But this brotherly LOVE and unity will never happen until, or unless it begins at the smallest unit of society; the family, and then spreads out to societies, nations and the world, for generally speaking, we bring to the world what we learn at home. But if families are in constant strife, as too many are right now, brotherly LOVE and unity will only ever be a pipe dream. That means Jesus’ hard work, suffering and sacrificial efforts would have all been in vain. Friends, we can’t allow that to happen. We need to do much better than we’re doing. And don’t for one moment think that it’s only unbelievers who are living in strife, for many believers are also playing right into Lucifer’s hands with the anger and resentment they either cause or possess. Call me stupid, naïve, or whatever, but I find it difficult to bear grudges and be resentful for any length of time, and I like it so, for then bitterness and hatred don’t get a chance to take root in my soul. But if we allow the negative stuff to grow and foster in our souls, then we can never hope to live in brotherly LOVE and unity, since those emotions are not conducive to that lifestyle. My people, I don’t know what else to say to get us seriously thinking in the right direction, so I’ll let the author of Hebrews take us home; perhaps he’ll have a more positive impact on us. ‘Let brotherly LOVE continue. Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Remember them that are in bonds (prison), as bound (if chained) with them; and them which suffer adversity (are mistreated), as being yourselves also in the body.’ (Heb.13:1-3) Yes Friends, we’re to consider all those who are suffering as if it were us. That’s the first step to attaining brotherly LOVE and harmony; having it in our hearts. Please think seriously on these things and let’s try to make a difference in the world. Much LOVE!…family unity…it blesses…sanctifies and solidifies…just like Jesus desires…

Oh my beautiful Friends in Christ, it’s Monday; time for the Monday Morning Battle Hymn! ‘Oh Lord God Almighty, Creator of the universe and all therein! We, your humble servants, praise your Holy Name and thank you that this Monday morning we have jobs to go to. They might be jobs we don’t like, jobs that are unfair, difficult and even dangerous, but they serve a useful purpose on this our earthly journey; keeping lives, limbs and families together in fairly comfortable circumstances. We also thank you Father for the renewed vitality and enthusiasm you’ve wrought in our weary souls over the last two days. It’s that rejuvenation of Spirit which allows us now to sally forth with confidence into the evil, ungodly world that surrounds us, to begin a new week of work, where we’ll be constantly buffeted and bombarded by the enemy’s wicked taunts, wiles and lies. But heavenly Father, we’re not afraid, for we know that the evil enemy cannot harm us once we’re protected by your powerful, protective aura. We humbly ask that you let your Holy Spirit guide and protect us all as we go out to meet the enemy in battle. Fill us with steadfast faith, so that we can make worthwhile inroads into the enemy’s ranks, and thereby further your glorious kingdom here on earth. We pray this in the Holy Name of your Son, and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen!’ Oh Friends, that passage right there answers Job’s questions! ‘What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?’ If we don’t, we possibly won’t even have the little we do have, since He’s the Provider of all things, and deep down Job knew that. However, it’s understandable that his faith was badly shaken by the very magnitude and suddenness of his calamities. When one is in severe pain, especially suffering trials for no apparent reason, or fault of your own, it’s extremely difficult to keep one’s faith alive and kicking. But that’s exactly what we need to do my people. It’s in those rough times when our faith is being tested that we need to come up exceedingly strong. You really couldn’t fault Job for thinking the way he did, but the important thing is that his faith did not completely disappear, neither did he curse God, just questioned the rightness and justice of the whole situation. Today, many of us tend to do the same thing when we see the wicked prospering and we, the righteous suffering. But let’s not lose faith my brethren; remember the wicked only prosper for a time, and only on this vanishing earth. As believers, we have to look to the life after this one, that’s the important one, where Jesus is preparing a stately home for us. It’s definitely not easy to suffer the pangs of misfortune, then immediately turn around and say: ‘Thank you Lord!’ though it’s the attitude we need to adopt. Note too Friends, that Job wasn’t the only one to question the Lord’s omnipotence and justice. Long before that Pharaoh asked: ‘Who is the Lord, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let Israel go?’  (Ex.5:2) But after several deathly plagues befell his prosperous land of Egypt, he certainly became aware of the Lord’s identity and power and let His people go. Job’s friend, Eliphaz, accuses him of terrible sin, asking: ‘Hast thou marked (will you keep to) the old way which wicked men have trodden? Which were cut down out of time, whose foundation was overflown (washed away) with a flood: Which said unto God, Depart from us: and what can the Almighty do for (to) them? Yet he filled their houses with good things: but the counsel of the wicked is far from me.’ (Job 22:15-18) Ah mih people, our world is so confusing, and our supposed friends so fickle, that it takes a strong faith and heart to overcome the injustices we face. Job is the perfect example of that. Instead of empathizing with him in his most sorrowful time, his friends accuse him of being extremely wicked and sinful. We heard Eliphaz, now listen to Elihu. ‘What man is like Job, who drinketh up scorning (derision) like water? Which goeth in company with the workers of iniquity, and walketh with wicked men. For he hath said, It profiteth a man nothing that he should delight himself with God.’ (Job 34:7-9) Job must have been deeply hurt by the venomous accusations of his friends when he knew that he’d done nothing to justify his sudden misfortune. Most likely he’d expected their comfort and reassurance rather than the harsh berating of being evil and sinful. And his questioning God’s purpose and right to be worshipped only fuelled the fire of their righteous indignation. But my brethren, unlike Job’s fickle friends, as true believers, we must learn not to pass judgement too quickly; neither on those who suffer serious misfortune or on those who achieve overwhelming fortune, for things are never simply what they seem to be on the surface. We know that our Lord’s plans are higher, wiser and more complex than we can ever understand, so when seeming irregularities pop up, let’s think carefully before judging the recipients. But like Job too, when we’re falsely accused of serious stuff, we have to refute the accusations as best we can, but also stand strong in faith and let the Lord fight the battle for us, because He knows men’s ways. As Job confidently stated: ‘But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.’ (Job 23:10) Yes Friends, the Lord knows all our doings, and if we’re honest and sincere with Him, He’ll certainly fight our battles for us. So let’s not be foolish and doubt or disrespect Him, for He can make or break us in the twinkling of an eyelash. He is our Creator, our strong Provider and sure Help in times of trouble, and deserves our undying praise, thanks, worship and adoration. Let no one make us ever doubt that. Much LOVE!…to bite the hand that feeds and nurtures you…is totally foolish…

Ah mih Friends, the ole fella’s searching his fuzzy brain for a suitable intro, but unfortunately nothing’s coming forth. Steups!  So we’ll simply forego the fancy intro and just jump right into the deep end. (smile) And I have to laugh, because as I wrote that last line, a memory, some fifty odd years old, suddenly flooded my aging cranium. It’s the memory of how I learned to swim. While pretty young, possibly seven or eight, living out Bacolet Street in Scarborough, on God’s Little Acre of Tobago, there was this small, rocky inlet appropriately called ‘Creek’ where we would bathe. Now there was a big rock a little ways out, don’t remember the name, but it was a popular jumping off point for those who could swim. Well at that stage I couldn’t swim, but would always envy some of my older friends who could, and would dive off the rock while I splashed in the shallows. I don’t know what got into me that day, guess I was always a tad adventurous, but I decided I was going to jump off the rock too. So I walked along the rock formation out to it and jumped off. Next thing yuh know, I’m floundering in the deep water, trying to stay afloat. But through dogged determination and an unshakeable will, that said I was not going under for keeps, I eventually made it back to shore. Thereafter, I was a swimmer! Oh Friends, I just realized that was one of the first of many times that the Good Lord bailed me out of a very crucial situation. I couldn’t swim, but under His ever watchful eye, kept battling until I was safe. Praise the Lord mih people! Else you wouldn’t be reading these words now. He obviously knew His plans for me some fifty years hence. Isn’t He a most marvellous God! And He certainly moves in mysterious ways. Here I am, almost a lifespan later, trying to find a suitable intro, and suddenly remember that memorable event, which I can now recognize as His saving grace, and which ties in nicely with what I want to say. And the first matter on the agenda is to share this most appropriate quote of James J. Corbett, where he wisely advises us to: ‘Fight one more round. When your feet are so tired you have to shuffle back to the center of the ring, fight one more round.’ He’s using the boxing ring as an analogy here for life. But isn’t that the living truth my people! Even though we dog tired, we got to keep on fighting; one round at a time, one day at a time. That’s especially true if you’re a believer and want to live right, then you just can’t give up. I guess that day back in the Creek, I must have figured that our subconsciously, because I just wasn’t prepared to go under. And that’s exactly what Cousin Sol is trying to tell us in our Bit: ‘For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.’ Yes my brethren, the righteous always rises again, regardless of how many times they fall. Why is that? Two reasons: because as a believer they have the ‘don’t give up mentality’ indelibly imprinted on their souls, and most importantly, the hand of the Holy Spirit of the Lord God Almighty is always there to help them up each time they stumble and fall. And all God’s people chorused: ‘Thank you Lord!’ Nobody knew this better than Bruh David, and Psalm 34, the Lord hears the righteous, is a treasure trove of scripture to back that up, For example: ‘I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were lightened (radiant): and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.’ (Ps.34:4-6) And if that doesn’t satisfy you, then try this: ‘The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth, and delivereth them out of all their troubles. The Lord is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite (crushed) spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all. He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken.’ (Ps.34:17-20) Oh Friends, to keep the righteous strong and secure is one of God’s most venerable promises. And you know that we can depend completely on Him, for He is faithful that promised. And Micah put the whole thing in its proper perspective when speaking of God’s concern for His people: ‘Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me.’ (Mic.7:8) Wow mih breddren! What a tower of strength is our God, that Micah could be so confident in Him! However Friends, the lot of the evil doer is not as fortunate, since Cousin Sol solemnly declares: ‘but the wicked shall fall into mischief.’ For certain sure people, the wicked shall stumble and fall into all sorts of calamity, with death, destruction and damnation being their eventual end. In Psalm 34, Bruh David also expresses the sorry fate of the wicked. ‘The face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off (destroy) the remembrance of them from the earth…Evil shall slay the wicked: and they that hate the righteous shall be desolate (condemned or held guilty).’ (Ps.34:16, 21) Oh my people, the destruction of the wicked is recorded so much throughout the Good Book, that it’s indeed a rather foolish person who will align himself with iniquity workers having heard so much about their eventual demise. Time and space won’t allow me to go through many of them, but this one example should suffice. It happens in Babylon, when Haman, the king’s wicked right hand man plots to destroy the Jews, but Esther the queen and her uncle Mordecai thwart his evil intent. When the king finds out, he’s quite angry, but what follows is too convenient, and is surely the Lord’s doing. The Good Book recounts it this way: ‘And Harbonah, one of the chamberlains (eunuchs), said before the king, Behold also, the gallows fifty cubits high, which Haman had made for Mordecai, who had spoken good for the king, standeth in the house of Haman. Then the king said, Hang him thereon. So they hanged Haman on the gallows that he had prepared for Mordecai. Then was the king’s wrath pacified (subsided).’ (Esth.7:9-10) Nuff said mih people! So let’s walk in righteousness that we can get back up every time we stumble and fall nuh. It’s the Lord’s faithful promise to those who walk obedient to Him. Much LOVE!…when things not right…hold on tight…doh leggo…doh leggo…

Oh Friends, it’s a new day, we haven’t seen our photos or read our names in the obits, which means we’re alive. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that all’s right in our world, for some of us might be shaking it fairly rough in these tremulous, uncertain times. However, I want us all to remember these most encouraging words: ‘This I recall to mind, therefore I have hope. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.’ (Lam.3:21-23) And all God’s people said a grateful: ‘Thank you Lord!’ Now isn’t that an excellent way to segue into our continuing Bit? It sure is! Strong words from Jeremiah; a man who suffered imprisonment and many other indignities in spreading God’s Word. But God had made such a strong, indelible impression on him, that even in lamenting his situation, he remembers the faithfulness of our God, His compassions and mercies, and refuses to give up. ‘The Lord is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.’ (Lam.3:24) Yes Friends, regardless of what problems we’re currently facing, we all need to acquire and hold on to that positive feeling Jeremiah had. And please notice where that strong surge of faith and trust came from: ‘The Lord is my portion, saith my soul.’ It wasn’t his mind telling him that, but his soul; the very heart of his being, that little corner of us all that God reserves for Himself. It can only be filled by God, and if it isn’t, then we feel miserable and empty, despite all our worldly power and possessions. And in Bruh Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians, he reminds them of what he said in the first. ‘But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you and keep you from evil (the evil one).’ (2 Thess.3:3) Oh Friends, that’s something we need to be continually reminded of, because life is so complex and confusing with the wily enemy always on the prowl, that if our souls are not completely focused on God, then we’ll be an easy target for him. Meanwhile, the author of Hebrews wisely advises us: ‘Let us hold fast the profession (confession) of our faith (hope) without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised.)’ (Heb.10:23) And in the next chapter, the one on God’s many faithful servants, he reminds us: ‘Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of (bore) a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who hath promised.’ (Heb.11:11) I know it’s not always easy to keep up that constant trust mih breddren, especially when many things in our lives are going wrong, but it’s essential that we do, for at least with that faith we have hope, but if we lose the faith, then the hope dies, and everything crashes. Bruh David in Psalm 40, a Praise for answered prayer, said it thus: ‘I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy LOVING-kindness and thy truth from the great congregation.’ (Ps.40:10) And Ethan the Ezrahite, in Psalm 89, God’s sure promises to David, had this to say: ‘I will sing of the mercies of the Lord for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations.’ (Ps.89:1) Now listen to Peter, the rock on which Christ built His Church. And if anybody knows about this topic, he should. ‘Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.’ (1 Pet.4:19) Oh Friends, the Christian life is certainly a hard road we’ve chosen to travel, but remember that all worthy things are not easily gained, and involve some amount of struggle. And the excellent thing about being a servant of the Most High God Jehovah, is not only, ‘Faithful is he that calleth you,’ but ‘who also will do it.’ Yes mih kinfolk, our God not only calls us to do His will, but also enables us to do it. Bruh Paul explained this to the Philippians: ‘Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform (complete) it until the day of Jesus Christ.’ (Phil.1:6) Oh yes people, our God will certainly enable us perform all endeavours in His Name till Christ returns! And as Jesus told the group in Capernaum who asked Him: ‘What shall we do that we might work the works of God? Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.’ (John 6:28-29) Yes my brethren, God’s work is for us to believe in His Son Jesus, whom He sent to die for us, so that He could reclaim our sinful souls. Let’s acknowledge Him in word and deed as our Lord and Saviour nuh, and go out and tell it to the entire world, as he asked us to do. That’s the Christian thing to do! (smile) And in closing Friends, it’s very important we realize that we’re not dealing with a wishy-washy, unreliable deity, but a strong, reliable, upstanding, righteous, and just God; He of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. And if you don’t believe me, listen to what Jesus told Peter as they passed by the withered fig tree that Jesus had cursed, and Peter drew His attention to it: ‘Have faith in God.’ (Mark 11:22) Yes my people, four simple words from our Master that say a whole lot. Please take them to heart and walk in peace, LOVE and blessings, till we meet again tomorrow, God willing. Much LOVE!…faithful…faithful…faithful…forever faithful is our God…