I remember reading James 1:2,3,4 –

“CONSIDER IT PURE JOY, MY BROTHERS, WHENEVER YOU FACE TRIALS OF MANY KINDS, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THAT THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH DEVELOPS PERSEVERANCE. PERSEVERANCE MUST FINISH ITS WORK SO THAT YOU MAY BE MATURE AND COMPLETE, NOT LACKING ANYTHING.”

– many years ago in Bangkok in the RONGREEM (Hotel) “EUROPE” in a paraphrased translation of the Bible. That was the first time when these verses became meaningful to me.

I was reminded of this incident in the capital of Thailand again, when I saw written on the back of a refrigerator, “THE ART OF LIVING LIES LESS IN ELIMINATING OUR TROUBLES THAN IN GROWING WITH THEM.”

According to he dictionary the words trial, trouble, grief have all the same meaning!

Sometimes I go even out of my way to have a look what is written on the blackboard here in Kaitaia. It is erected in front of TOPVETS LTD and the address is 17 North Road, Kaitaia.

My question is only, “Why don’t Churches make use of blackboards like that?” Verses from the BIBLE should be written on the blackboard. For example,”COME TO ME, ALL YOU WHO ARE WEARY AND BURDENED, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST.”

But it seems to be so difficult to motivate people.

Einen Vorsprung im Leben hat, wer da anpackt, wo die anderen erst einmal reden. –  John F. Kennedy

Psalm 32:1

BLESSED IS HE

– WHOSE TRANSGRESSIONS ARE FORGIVEN,

– WHOSE SINS ARE COVERED.

In German we have the saying, “Auch die Spoetter haben ihren Lohn.” The meaning in English is as follows, “Also the mockers will be rewarded in the end.”

I have been a born again believer now for more than fifty years and I love to read the Bible. I must have read Matthew 27:27-31 many many times. But sometimes we read things and don’t read them at all. What I mean is we don’t get the point. We don’t understand what we are reading. And then – all of a sudden it clicks! We are all with it and we get something out of it. The Holy Spirit is teaching us.

Matthew 27:27-31

They stripped him, they put a scarlet robe on him, they twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head, they put a staff in his right hand, they knelt in front of him, they mocked him, they said, “Hail, king of the jews!”, they spit on him, they took the staff and struck him on the head again and again, they took off the robe, they put his own clothes on him, they led him away to crucify him.

12 things they did, if I have counted correctly!

And now please compare this with Colossians 1:16

FOR BY HIM ALL THINGS WERE CREATED: THINGS IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH, VISIBLE AND INVISIBLE, WHETHER THRONES OR POWERS OR RULERS OR AUTHORITIES; ALL THINGS WERE CREATED BY HIM AND FOR HIM.

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“Every day you waste is one you can never make up.” – George Allen

Second Corinthians 6:2

Today I picked up a publication about GAMBLING at the Salvation Army. The publication says, “Gambling is plaguing our Communities, attacking our lives, infiltrating our society, destroying our families.”

An ad says, “If gambling is a problem we are here to help.”

“MY BOSS IS GIVING ME A HARD TIME. BUT I CAN’T FOCOS ON ANYTHING ELSE.”

If I understand the above correctly the person means focusing on gambling.

The Bible says, “LET US FIX OUR EYES ON JESUS,..” Hebrews 12:2

I TOOK THIS PICTURE TODAY-16. 09. 2008 (Tuesday)

The same ad said some time ago “16 weeks to Christmas.”

Am I ready for Christmas? Yes I am!

I am looking forward to the Christmas Season again, to celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ! Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called

WONDERFUL COUNSELOR,

MIGHTY GOD,

EVERLASTING FATHER,

PRINCE OF PEACE.”

Think about those NAMES and read also in the New Testament Luke 2:1-52