Posted on 11/28/2004 4:39:44 AM PST by Liz
Here is a man who was born in an obscure village, the child of a peasant woman. He grew up in another village. He worked in a carpenter shop until He was thirty. Then for three years He was an itinerant preacher.
He never owned a home. He never wrote a book. He never held an office. He never had a family. He never went to college. He never put His foot inside a big city. He never traveled two hundred miles from the place He was born. He never did one of the things that usually accompany greatness. He had no credentials but Himself...
While still a young man, the tide of popular opinion turned against him. His friends ran away. One of them denied Him. He was turned over to His enemies. He went through the mockery of a trial. He was nailed upon a cross between two thieves. While He was dying His executioners gambled for the only piece of property He had on earth – His coat. When He was dead, He was laid in a borrowed grave through the pity of a friend.
Nineteen long centuries have come and gone, and today He is a centerpiece of the human race and leader of the column of progress.
I am far within the mark when I say that all the armies that ever marched, all the navies that were ever built; all the parliaments that ever sat and all the kings that ever reigned, put together, have not affected the life of man upon this earth as powerfully as has that one solitary life.
This essay was adapted from a sermon by Dr James Allan Francis in “The Real Jesus and Other Sermons” © 1926 by the Judson Press of Philadelphia (pp 123-124 titled “Arise Sir Knight!”). If you are interested, you can read the original version (link on site). Graham Pockett
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone around about them; and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, "Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.
Amen.
She taught me that all the doctrinal preaching and prosylitizing in the world were worthless, compared to simply following the teachings of the Master!
That living an examplary life would attract more, and convert more to Christianity than anything else one could do. And that it would make me much happier and less persecuted as a Christian in the process!!!
I see Dubya doin exactly that and that's good for America and most of all WHY he got re-elected!!!
There! How's that for someone who's stayed away from the clerics and their organizations and their hipocrisy for over 42 years?
If it works for some people, I have no quarrel with that. Do what works for you. God will judge you, not by how well or how often you sang from the church hymnal, but by how well you lived your life in accordance with his principles.
At least, that's how I see it.
And you'd be right, as I see it!
There, you nailed it, too!!!
Now we both better "go and sin no more!" Right? (grin)
Christmas thread.
FReegards...MUD
Beautiful performed in Cash's basso profoundo voice.
Yep, I've got it on my favorite Christmas CD, with the background music of "Joy to the World"...MUD
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
