“MEN RETURN AGAIN AND AGAIN TO THE FEW WHO HAVE MASTERED THE SPIRITUAL SECRET, WHOSE LIFE HAS BEEN HID WITH CHRIST IN GOD. THESE ARE OF THE OLD TIME RELIGION, HUNG TO THE NAILS OF THE CROSS.” – Robert Murray McCheyne

“THE PALEST INK IS STRONGER THAN THE CLEAREST MEMORY.” – Chinese proverb

“FAITH EXPECTS FROM GOD WHAT IS BEYOND ALL EXPECTATION.” – Andrew Murray

Coffee

If you ever come to MANGONUI in the Far North of New Zealand and you want a really good cup of coffee, go to the WATERFRONT MOTEl. I was there yesterday.

BOOKS

“Why write a book?” it says on the bookmarker.

Seven reasons to write a book are given:

To share my PASSION, to spread my KNOWLEDGE, to share my EXPERIENCE, to celebrate my HERITAGE, to advance my CAREER, to promote my BUSINESS and to enjoy the CHALLENGE.

“Why write a book?” The answer is also given at the end: “Because you can.” What an encouragement!

I live in the Far North of New Zealand.

I live in the FAR NORTH

At the beach

“No matter how advanced its progress, any generation that neglects its spiritual and moral  life is going to disintegrate,” says Billy Graham.

We are certainly not neglecting the education of the mind in our generation. We are making progress all the time. Are there already babies who can work iPhones?

But we are neglecting the moral and spiritual education for sure.

MORAL EDUCATION:

Here we are talking about our behaviour. What is good behaviour? What is bad behaviour? What is right behaviour? What is wrong behaviour? I remember what was written on my school reports: “Behaviour: very good.”  Moral education is relating to the distinction.

SPIRITUAL EDUCATION:

We have physical, material needs. But we have also spiritual needs. Spiritual education relates to our belief. The Lord Jesus Christ says that we do not live on bread alone. He says also that we live on the Bible. The Lord says also: “‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'” (John 14:6)

President Theodore Roosevelt said:

“WHEN YOU EDUCATE A MAN IN MIND AND NOT ON MORALS, YOU EDUCATE A MENACE TO SOCIETY.”

Are we disintegrating?

“Create a hideaway you’ll never want to leave …”

I am reading that on the front cover page of a  flooring catalogue. It is all about “Winter Living.” For those who don’t know, JUNE – AUGUST is winter here in New Zealand. (But I live in Kaitaia, the “Winterless North.”)

KAITAIA, THE “WINTERLESS NORTH”

Reading that reminds me of the hiding place David talks about in the Bible.

In Psalm 32:7 he calls the LORD his hiding place. He says that the LORD will protect him from trouble. He says also that the LORD will surround him with songs of deliverance.

In the verses before he admonishes the godly to pray to the LORD while he may be found. There we read also about the promise that the mighty waters will not reach the godly.

The hiding place of David is also my hiding place. I do not need to create a hideaway, my hiding place existed before I was ever created, but my hiding place is a hideaway I will never want to leave.