"To make no mistakes is not in the power of man, but from their errors and mistakes the wise and good learn wisdom for the future." --Plutarch
"Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself." --Martin Vanbee
MISTAKES
God sent us here to make mistakes,
To strive, to fail, to rebegin,
To taste the tempting fruit of sin,
And find what bitter food it makes.
To miss the path, to go astray,
To wander blindly in the night.
But searching, praying for the light,
Until at last we find the way.
And looking back along the past,
We know we needed all the strain
Of fear and doubt and strife and pain
To make us value peace, at last.
Who fails finds later triumph sweet.
Who stumbles once walks then with care,
And knows the place to cry "Beware"
To other unaccustomed feet.
Through strife the slumbering soul awakes
We learn on errors troubled route
The truths we could not prize without
The sorrow of our sad mistakes.
--Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Monday, November 30, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Count That Day Lost
If you sit down at set of sun
And count the acts that you have done,
And, counting, find
One self-denying deed, one word
That eased the heart of him who heard,
One glance most kind
That fell like sunshine where it went--
Then you may count that day well spent.
But if, through all the livelong day,
You've cheered no heart, by yea or nay--
If, through it all
You've nothing done that you can trace
That brought the sunshine to one face--
No act most small
That helped some soul and nothing cost--
Then count that day as worse than lost.
--George Eliot (1819-1880)
And count the acts that you have done,
And, counting, find
One self-denying deed, one word
That eased the heart of him who heard,
One glance most kind
That fell like sunshine where it went--
Then you may count that day well spent.
But if, through all the livelong day,
You've cheered no heart, by yea or nay--
If, through it all
You've nothing done that you can trace
That brought the sunshine to one face--
No act most small
That helped some soul and nothing cost--
Then count that day as worse than lost.
--George Eliot (1819-1880)
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
The Love of God
"For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38,39
Could we with ink the oceans fill
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above
Would drain the oceans dry,
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Tho' stretched from sky to sky.
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints' and angels' song.
--Words found on the wall of
a prison cell 200 years ago
Could we with ink the oceans fill
And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill
And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above
Would drain the oceans dry,
Nor could the scroll contain the whole
Tho' stretched from sky to sky.
O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure
The saints' and angels' song.
--Words found on the wall of
a prison cell 200 years ago
Monday, November 23, 2009
Simple Things
"Simplicity is making the journey of this life with just baggage enough." --Charles Warner
I Have Found Such Joy
I have found such joy in simple things;
A plain, clean room, a nut-brown loaf of bread,
A cup of milk, a kettle as it sings,
The shelter of a roof above my head,
And in a leaf-laced square along the floor,
Where yellow sunlight glimmers through a door.
I have found such joy in things that fill
My quiet days: a curtain's blowing grace,
A potted plant upon my window sill,
A rose, fresh-cut and placed within a vase;
A table cleared, a lamp beside a chair,
And books I long have loved beside me there.
Oh, I have found such joys I wish I might
Tell everyone who goes seeking far
For some elusive, feverish delight,
That very close to home the great joys are:
The elemental things--old as the race,
Yet never, through the ages, commonplace.
--Grace Noll Crowell
I Have Found Such Joy
I have found such joy in simple things;
A plain, clean room, a nut-brown loaf of bread,
A cup of milk, a kettle as it sings,
The shelter of a roof above my head,
And in a leaf-laced square along the floor,
Where yellow sunlight glimmers through a door.
I have found such joy in things that fill
My quiet days: a curtain's blowing grace,
A potted plant upon my window sill,
A rose, fresh-cut and placed within a vase;
A table cleared, a lamp beside a chair,
And books I long have loved beside me there.
Oh, I have found such joys I wish I might
Tell everyone who goes seeking far
For some elusive, feverish delight,
That very close to home the great joys are:
The elemental things--old as the race,
Yet never, through the ages, commonplace.
--Grace Noll Crowell
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Added Grace for Difficult Times
"But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will
lift you up."
--James 4:6,10
He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father's full giving is only begun.
His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,
His power has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth and giveth and giveth again.
--Annie Johnson Flint
'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will
lift you up."
--James 4:6,10
He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,
He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;
To added affliction He addeth His mercy,
To multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.
When we have exhausted our store of endurance,
When our strength has failed ere the day is half done,
When we reach the end of our hoarded resources,
Our Father's full giving is only begun.
His love has no limit, His grace has no measure,
His power has no boundary known unto men;
For out of His infinite riches in Jesus
He giveth and giveth and giveth again.
--Annie Johnson Flint
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Exceeding Great and Precious Promises
"Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." --2 Peter 1:2-4
God hath not promised skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through,
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
God hath not promised we shall not know,
Toil and temptation, trouble and woe.
He hath not told us we shall not bear
Many a burden, many a care.
But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the laborer, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love!
--Annie Johnson Flint
God hath not promised skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through,
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
God hath not promised we shall not know,
Toil and temptation, trouble and woe.
He hath not told us we shall not bear
Many a burden, many a care.
But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the laborer, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love!
--Annie Johnson Flint
Friday, November 20, 2009
The Sin of Omission
"Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin."
--James 4:17
It isn't the thing you do;
It's the thing you leave undone,
Which gives you a bit of heartache
At the setting of the sun.
The tender word forgotten,
The letter you did not write,
The flower you might have sent,
Are your haunting ghosts at night.
The stone you might have lifted
Out of a brother's way,
The bit of heartsome counsel
You were hurried too much to say;
The loving touch of the hand,
the gentle and winsome tone,
that you had no time or thought for
With troubles enough of your own.
The little acts of kindness,
So easily out of mind;
Those chances to be helpful
Which everyone may find--
No, it's not the thing you do,
It's the thing you leave undone,
Which gives you the bit of heartache
At the setting of the sun.
--Margaret E. Sangster
--James 4:17
It isn't the thing you do;
It's the thing you leave undone,
Which gives you a bit of heartache
At the setting of the sun.
The tender word forgotten,
The letter you did not write,
The flower you might have sent,
Are your haunting ghosts at night.
The stone you might have lifted
Out of a brother's way,
The bit of heartsome counsel
You were hurried too much to say;
The loving touch of the hand,
the gentle and winsome tone,
that you had no time or thought for
With troubles enough of your own.
The little acts of kindness,
So easily out of mind;
Those chances to be helpful
Which everyone may find--
No, it's not the thing you do,
It's the thing you leave undone,
Which gives you the bit of heartache
At the setting of the sun.
--Margaret E. Sangster
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Hymn of the Week
"For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it." --Exodus 20:11
I Sing the Mighty Power of God
I sing the mighty power of God,
That made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad,
And built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained
The sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at His command,
And all the stars obey.
I sing the goodness of the LORD,
That filled the earth with food;
He formed the creatures with His word,
And then pronounced them good.
LORD, how Thy wonders are displayed,
Where'er I turn my eye:
If I survey the ground I tread,
Or gaze upon the sky!
There's not a plant or flower below,
But makes Thy glories known;
And clouds arise, and tempests blow,
By order from Thy throne,
While all that borrows life from Thee
Is ever in Thy care,
And everywhere that man can be,
Thou, God, art present there.
--Isaac Watts (1784)
I Sing the Mighty Power of God
I sing the mighty power of God,
That made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad,
And built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained
The sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at His command,
And all the stars obey.
I sing the goodness of the LORD,
That filled the earth with food;
He formed the creatures with His word,
And then pronounced them good.
LORD, how Thy wonders are displayed,
Where'er I turn my eye:
If I survey the ground I tread,
Or gaze upon the sky!
There's not a plant or flower below,
But makes Thy glories known;
And clouds arise, and tempests blow,
By order from Thy throne,
While all that borrows life from Thee
Is ever in Thy care,
And everywhere that man can be,
Thou, God, art present there.
--Isaac Watts (1784)
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
In Flanders Fields
Today is Veteran's Day. May each of us pause to offer a prayer of thanks--to God, for the freedoms we enjoy, and to the brave men and women who gave their lives defending these freedoms, and to those in our military who are risking their lives today for this great nation.
In honor of our veterans, I would like to dedicate this poem to them:
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
--John McCrae
In honor of our veterans, I would like to dedicate this poem to them:
In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
--John McCrae
Thursday, November 5, 2009
...In Times Like These
These are desperate times in which we live. Millions of people are without God and without hope in this world. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims and families impacted by the terrible shootings at Ft. Hood, TX, today.
The terrible events such as this one in Ft. Hood today are obvious signs that we are living in the end times. The Bible warns that in the last days perilous times will come. "For men shall be lovers of their own selves...despisers of those that are good, traitors...lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God...ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." II Tim. 3:2-7
The only solution to the terrible problems we are facing today is found in the Person of Jesus Christ..."which is our hope." 1 Tim.1:1 "Christ in you, the hope of glory." Col. 1:27
The words of the old hymn, "In Times Like These", say it best:
In times like these you need a Savior,
In times like these you need an anchor;
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He's the One!
This Rock is Jesus, the only One!
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
If you have not yet done so, won't you put your faith and trust in the Solid Rock, Jesus Christ?
The terrible events such as this one in Ft. Hood today are obvious signs that we are living in the end times. The Bible warns that in the last days perilous times will come. "For men shall be lovers of their own selves...despisers of those that are good, traitors...lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God...ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth." II Tim. 3:2-7
The only solution to the terrible problems we are facing today is found in the Person of Jesus Christ..."which is our hope." 1 Tim.1:1 "Christ in you, the hope of glory." Col. 1:27
The words of the old hymn, "In Times Like These", say it best:
In times like these you need a Savior,
In times like these you need an anchor;
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
This Rock is Jesus, Yes, He's the One!
This Rock is Jesus, the only One!
Be very sure, be very sure
Your anchor holds and grips the Solid Rock!
If you have not yet done so, won't you put your faith and trust in the Solid Rock, Jesus Christ?
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Need An Anchor?
Life is full of distractions, as I'm sure you're well aware! It seems like every moment of the day a myriad of things are competing for our attention. This makes us extremely vulnerable to becoming adrift on life's sea.
In times such as these we need an anchor that will hold, and keep us from drifting aimlessly through life--utterly frustrated and defeated.
God's word speaks to this in Hebrews 6:18,19 where we read: "...we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast..."
Hope in God is our anchor in the storms of life. This Greek word 'hope' (elpis), does not mean empty, wisfhul thinking, but rather a confident expectation of an unseen reality.
I would like to share the words of an old song which drive this point home:
Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Stedfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior's love.
When our eyes behold through the gathering night,
The city of gold, our harbor bright,
We shall anchor fast by the heavenly shore,
With the storms all past forevermore.
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Stedfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior's love.
We Have An Anchor, by Priscilla J. Owens
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again
to a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled
and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who
are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready
to be revealed in the last time." 1 Peter 1:3-5
Trust in God as the Anchor for your soul!
Blessings
In times such as these we need an anchor that will hold, and keep us from drifting aimlessly through life--utterly frustrated and defeated.
God's word speaks to this in Hebrews 6:18,19 where we read: "...we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast..."
Hope in God is our anchor in the storms of life. This Greek word 'hope' (elpis), does not mean empty, wisfhul thinking, but rather a confident expectation of an unseen reality.
I would like to share the words of an old song which drive this point home:
Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
When the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,
Will your anchor drift, or firm remain?
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Stedfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior's love.
When our eyes behold through the gathering night,
The city of gold, our harbor bright,
We shall anchor fast by the heavenly shore,
With the storms all past forevermore.
We have an anchor that keeps the soul
Stedfast and sure while the billows roll,
Fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
Grounded firm and deep in the Savior's love.
We Have An Anchor, by Priscilla J. Owens
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again
to a living hope, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ
from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled
and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who
are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready
to be revealed in the last time." 1 Peter 1:3-5
Trust in God as the Anchor for your soul!
Blessings
Monday, November 2, 2009
What Time Is It?
We are reminded in the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes (which was written by the wisest man who ever lived--King Solomon), that "There's an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:"--The Message
It's probably been a while since many of us have read from the passage in the third Chapter of the Book of Ecclesiastes, so I would like to share part of that passage with you here:
"There is a time for everything, and a reason for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace." Eccl. 3:1-8 (NIV)
To answer our question "What time is it?", I would like to look at the part of the passage which tells us there is a time to speak.
There is a well-known quote of Edmund Burke which states,"All that is necessary for evil to triumph, is for good men to do (say) nothing." America is often called 'the land of the free', but our freedoms are in danger of being lost if we do not speak up in their defense. The very foundations of our freedoms are in danger of being crumbled by skepticism, secular humanism and post-modernism.
We are admonished by the Psalmist in Ps. 11:1, "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" I believe this is a time to speak up in defense of the Judeo-Christian principles upon which this nation was founded. It is my desire that this blog be a voice for the truth, that truth which is rooted and grounded in the Word of God. Of course, I welcome opposing views, because--after all, this is supposed to be a dialogue.
So, what time is it? It's time to speak up for what we hold sacred--our faith and our freedom! Hope to hear from you soon.
It's probably been a while since many of us have read from the passage in the third Chapter of the Book of Ecclesiastes, so I would like to share part of that passage with you here:
"There is a time for everything, and a reason for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace." Eccl. 3:1-8 (NIV)
To answer our question "What time is it?", I would like to look at the part of the passage which tells us there is a time to speak.
There is a well-known quote of Edmund Burke which states,"All that is necessary for evil to triumph, is for good men to do (say) nothing." America is often called 'the land of the free', but our freedoms are in danger of being lost if we do not speak up in their defense. The very foundations of our freedoms are in danger of being crumbled by skepticism, secular humanism and post-modernism.
We are admonished by the Psalmist in Ps. 11:1, "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" I believe this is a time to speak up in defense of the Judeo-Christian principles upon which this nation was founded. It is my desire that this blog be a voice for the truth, that truth which is rooted and grounded in the Word of God. Of course, I welcome opposing views, because--after all, this is supposed to be a dialogue.
So, what time is it? It's time to speak up for what we hold sacred--our faith and our freedom! Hope to hear from you soon.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Demographics
Hello, folks. This is my second post as a newbie blogger, so let's start with a little background. Let me tell you a little about the place where this blog is originating from.
Sterling, KS, USA, is a rural community about 55 miles NW of Wichita, KS, with a population of approximately 2,400. For such a small town, Sterling has a lot to offer!
It is the home of Sterling College, a United Presbyterian liberal arts college founded in 1887. The college's enrollment is over 700 this year, the highest in the schools history, with students coming from 38 states and 7 foreign countries.
Their are several industries in Sterling with national and international recognition:
JACAM Chemicals manufactures chemicals for oilfield treatments, water treatments, carwash products, and also provides lab services.
United Industries manufactures products and equipment for commercial/municipal aquatic facilities and waterparks. They recently manufactured a number of water filtration tanks which will be used in the Freedom Tower in New York City.
KMW designs and manufactures front-end loaders. Main-Street Sterling has been awarded several federal grants for community enhancements and beautification, among which is the renovation of a Main Street building, transforming it into Studio 96, which will be a venue for the Fine Arts and community gatherings.
And of course, Sterling is the home of Brown's Books, Established 2/18/06. This is my online eBay bookstore, so if you're needing a good book, come check out my selection of approximately 480 listings.
So, why TheFairHavens in the middle of wheat country? Well, a haven, by defenition, is any place of shelter and safety; refuge; asylum. It is my hope that this blog will be a place where we can come to share ideas, hopes, struggles, joys in a safe, non-judgmental atmosphere.
And so, may we begin; to chart our course as we navigate the tempestuous waters of these tumultuous, although exciting times. See you soon!
Sterling, KS, USA, is a rural community about 55 miles NW of Wichita, KS, with a population of approximately 2,400. For such a small town, Sterling has a lot to offer!
It is the home of Sterling College, a United Presbyterian liberal arts college founded in 1887. The college's enrollment is over 700 this year, the highest in the schools history, with students coming from 38 states and 7 foreign countries.
Their are several industries in Sterling with national and international recognition:
JACAM Chemicals manufactures chemicals for oilfield treatments, water treatments, carwash products, and also provides lab services.
United Industries manufactures products and equipment for commercial/municipal aquatic facilities and waterparks. They recently manufactured a number of water filtration tanks which will be used in the Freedom Tower in New York City.
KMW designs and manufactures front-end loaders. Main-Street Sterling has been awarded several federal grants for community enhancements and beautification, among which is the renovation of a Main Street building, transforming it into Studio 96, which will be a venue for the Fine Arts and community gatherings.
And of course, Sterling is the home of Brown's Books, Established 2/18/06. This is my online eBay bookstore, so if you're needing a good book, come check out my selection of approximately 480 listings.
So, why TheFairHavens in the middle of wheat country? Well, a haven, by defenition, is any place of shelter and safety; refuge; asylum. It is my hope that this blog will be a place where we can come to share ideas, hopes, struggles, joys in a safe, non-judgmental atmosphere.
And so, may we begin; to chart our course as we navigate the tempestuous waters of these tumultuous, although exciting times. See you soon!
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