“LOVE IS A FIRE. BUT WHETHER IT IS GOING TO WARM YOUR HEART OR BURN DOWN YOUR HOUSE, YOU CAN NEVER TELL.” – Joan Crawford

This is what the Bible says about LOVE:

“….; for love is as strong as death,

its jealousy unyielding as the grave.

It burns like blazing fire,

like a mighty flame.

Many waters cannot quench love;

rivers cannot wash it away.

If one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned.”

“THE ENTIRE WORLD’S A STAGE AND MOST OF US ARE DESPERATELY UNREHEARSED.”

I am reading that in the COFFEE NEWS on page two under the heading ON THE LIGHTER SIDE. (Vol 127:1) I am always looking forward to receive the COFFEE NEWS.  The  publication arrives usually every Tuesday here in Kaitaia, the Far North of New Zealand.

Most of us surely are unpractised in preparation for life.

Mosts of us are lacking training: guidance and teaching.

Most of us are lacking drilling.

Most of us are lacking a relationship with the  LIVING GOD!

ESSENTIALS

In a recent Paperplus flyer I am reading on one page about “My stationary essentials”.

In a travel magazine I picked up not long ago I am told about the “TRAVEL ESSENTIALS FOR NEW ZEALAND”.

In a publication for missionaries I am reading about the minimal essentials  involved in church planting  in a crosscultural context.

At the moment I am not so much interested in stationary essentials and travel essentials, but I am always interested in the essentials involved in planting a church, no matter where it is. Why? Because I have been myself  involved in church planting in Thailand for thirteen years.

What are the essentials involved in church planting?

There are four minimal essentials:

First of all I had to learn the thai language.

Secondly I had to learn the thai culture.

Thirdly I had to build relationships.

And lastly I shared about the Lord Jesus Christ.

“SECURE YOUR FUTURE”

“SECURE YOUR FUTURE”, I am reading in the FRANCHISE  New Zealand

The buy your own business magazine,

Volume 20 Issue 3 Spring 2011, on page 64.

I like that! “Secure your FUTURE.”

But there is more about the FUTURE in the same magazine. On one page I am asked, “FRANCHISING FOR YOUR FUTURE?”  “Are you thinking of setting up or buying a franchise?” On another page it says “building a secure future.” “If you’re interested in creating a business in the building industry, talk to Refresh Renovations.”

“SECURE YOUR FUTURE.” Is that admonition for you?

My future is secured.

My future has in fact two parts,  CHAPTER ONE  and  CHAPTER TWO. CHAPTER ONE  is temporary and CHAPTER TWO is eternal!

From the time I accepted the Lord Jesus Christ both parts of my FUTURE were secured!

CHAPTER ONE  of my secured FUTURE started in September 1958 and from that time the Lord Jesus Christ led me all the way from Germany to New Zealand. I worked as a missionary in Thailand  and in Kaikohe / New Zealand.

I don’t know when CHAPTER ONE of my secured temporary FUTURE comes to an end, but I am looking forward to CHAPTER TWO of my secured eternal FUTURE in HEAVEN!

“For want of a nail, the shoe was lost;

For want of a shoe, the horse was lost;

For want of a horse, the rider was lost;

For want of a rider, the battle was lost;

For want of a battle, the kingdom was lost;

And all for the want of a horseshoe nail.”