do the following accurately describe me?
1. if we have food and covering, with these we shall be content. I timothy 6.8
2. owe no man anything. romans 13.8
3. everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house upon the rock..and the rain descended and the floods came and the winds blew and burst against that house and yet it did not fall for it had been founded upon the rock. matthew 7.24-5 (oh Lord would You give me a new heart..put a new spirit within me..remove the heart of stone from my flesh..give me a heart of flesh..put Your Spirit within me..cause me to walk in Your statutes..and be careful to observe Your ordinances! right now i am so cast down in spirit..have so little faith..look at these words as lifeless things. oh breathe Your life into me Lord.)
Lord, You say that if i have food and covering that i should be content with that. You go on..'but those who WANT TO GET RICH (have more than what is absolutely necessary for life?) fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction' I timothy 6.9. that's where i am now Lord. oh Lord, i long to be free. would You create within a heart that simply trusts and obeys Your word?
but i don't want to be rich. i am rich and desperately want to stay that way. i don't want to be utterly dependent upon You. please change my heart and cause me to observe You ordinances to the rich..'instruct THOSE WHO ARE RICH in this present world:
1. NOT TO BE CONCEITED...a compound word - high + minded..superior to others. do i think of myself as better than others? i'm sure i'm saturated with such thot. help me, on my part, to 'be of the same mind toward one another, do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. (or in my case, with those who i view as thinking themselves better than me) do not be wise in your own estimation. romans 12.16
2. OR TO FIX THEIR HOPE ON THE UNCERTAINTY OF RICHES. oh Lord CHANGE my heart to not put any trust in $ or things that equal $ or on men who can give me $ or on my ability to get $.
3. BUT ON GOD oh Lord help me to entrust myself completely to Your provision!!!!!! help me look only to You WHO RICHLY SUPPLIES US WITH ALL THINGS TO ENJOY.
4. help me DO GOOD, to make myself useful (do You show me a need someone has? do i seek Your guidance as to how to meet that need?) to those i come in contact with..to seek to do what will truly help and benefit them in such a way that seeing my good works they may glorify You, my Father in heaven.
5. BE RICH IN GOOD WORKS reaping the benefit of what You have moved me to do for did You not say it is more blessed to give than to receive?
6. TO BE GENEROUS this is a neat word, three parts (when the vowel sound is long i will capitalize) transliterated U-meta-dotUs. U means good, well..meta is with and then comes the verb to give...so, literally goodwithgiving and has the idea in it of giving in such a way that i may be with those i am giving to and they may be with me. hospitality? fixing a broken door rather than sending a check? asking their help and then blessing them in some way that will meet their need that You have revealed?...i don't know...please teach me what You are getting at here.
7. AND READY TO SHARE..the common word for fellowship, koynOnia, one of the key things that should mark the relationship between people in the Church. here it seems to be used more generally. possibly You are saying that when i give it should not be in a detached way but in a very deep, 'attached' way..going rather than sending a check...i don't know Lord. i'm groping for Your heart. You didn't send some substitute miracle worker but came into a hostile world as a vulnerable one who could do no harm but only good. i remember Your focus is first on the Church..'while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men and especially to those who are of the household of the faith ' galatians 6.10
8. STORING UP FOR THEMSELVES THE TREASURE OF A GOOD FOUNDATION FOR THE FUTURE, SO THAT THEY MAY TAKE HOLD OF THAT WHICH IS LIFE INDEED. 'good foundation' has the idea of excellent stock for the time to come, a solid and stable possession, a capital sum invested and thus laid up for the future.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
6.28.09 MAY YOU LIVE FOREVER!
went to a church called something like keystone community fellowship down on stump rd. near rt. 309 below the mall in montgomeryville this am. had been praying about where i should go this week. then yesterday a brother named carlos, who i this past year met on a job site, called to see how dearborn went. he said he was going to be at church early to pray during the first service and then attend the second. i decided to go. we had a good time of prayer and then second service. this is a church with a real evangelistic vision and has grown tremendously in the last little bit. like the dove that noah sent out to see if there was a firm foundation i found no place for the sole of my spiritual foot to rest there...and so, upon leaving this am's meeting, hied back to my Refuge. i am asking God to make it very evident when and where i am to rest my soul with His gathered people. it is a hot, dry and thirsty land through which i travel. Lord help me! show me the way...
tuesday through friday i was able to work full days indoors...the first indoor job since january. thank You Lord for providing this work that cannot be put off or interrupted by rain. i now have crossed into the beginning of may as far as 20 hr per week average. thank You Lord for Your provision.
have stuggled a good bit this week with lechery and gluttony. Lord, send Your salvation to me. i am desperately sick and desperately tired of the spiritual aridity of my besetting sins. keep me back from presumptuous sin, let it not have dominion over me then shall i be upright and i shall be innocent from the great transgression. oh would You bend this crooked, bent-away-from-You soul so that You are finally ENOUGH and i am most highly pleased to please You.
thank You Lord for silas. thank You for the heart You are giving me for him. thank You for the healing You are effecting through him. thank You for being able to celebrate the year of life You have given him. Lord, please help this healing to extend to our children and to susan. i often puzzle about where exactly You would have my heart be toward them and can but seek to lean heavily on You to show me how they can each, best, experience Your love through me...i am needy and broken Lord. show me the way til i sense You have completely made me whole and i am enabled to love each one and relate to each one in a way that is pleasing in Your sight.
thank You for putting in the heart to strive after Your heart for me...to do the 7 daily duties You have given..to run 3 times a week...to intercede for the 13 men You have given (oh Lord help me to fight for my own heart...THAT IT WOULD BE TOTALLY YOURS AND AT YOUR DISPOSAL...then fight for my family, neighbors, Your church, fathers (oh Lord may every man around the world who fathers a child take full responsiblity for the child he has fathered and care for the woman who has borne their child. may You put it into the heart of all men to only consummate with the one woman You have for them to marry and then be faithful to that woman and to lead their homes and train up their children...may they be steadfast in this responsibility before You even if it all hits the fan..all blows up...all falls apart...my they remain, if necessary, all alone and yet steadfast to be and to teach what is right to their fractured family...to desplay You holiness and lovingkindness day by day), leaders of all areas including governmental leaders, then fight for these 13 men. oh God help me in the tremendous spiritually-oriented tidal pull that relentlessly seeks to erode these ESSENTIALS out of my life. may You make my spirit solid granite in the midst of all kinds of opposition to these ESSENTIALS. may this be where i live and die...in this unseen spiritual world...else i can do absolutely nothing in this world..in this life..of any value to You.
this week while painting i had a situation tangentially related to satan taking Jesus up to the pinnacle of the temple. i know that i have never, to date, received total healing from the concussion occurring in the bike accident for i always veer, against my will (!), in various situations. i have learned that this can occur and try to compensate for it but it will occasionally catch me unawares. so far i have had a couple of close calls but have not suffered any harm other than falls that brought no injury. as i balanced one morning on the top rung of the 7-8' inverted v-shaped gorilla ladder below me to paint across the apex crease of a vautled living room ceiling i suddenly realized that i was in great danger. i had done the first coat, carefully, the day before with no real trouble. i was aware of the concreted pad below which had been de-rugged but with some patience it was accomplished ok. but this time it was totally different. i first became aware of the fact that i was really struggling with balance due to the accident-created predilection to veer...in this case off the top of the ladder! for some reason it was quite heighted over the preceding day. that perception may have been due to a number of strong thots coming into my mind, with some variations, along the line of, 'they're going to find your body splattered all over the concrete floor long after your dead!". i would have mocked the thots but sensed a real and present danger of some sort, a palpable evil present. i began to call on the Lord repeatedly to help me, to enable me, to protect me. it was so strong that once on the top rung i had to keep my eyes focused steadfastly on a spot on the floor below, slowly raise the hand with the paint brush until i established contact with the ceiling, then, after establishing a sense of balance, slowly lower the hand, dip the brush in the paint (all without looking down) and raise the brush and paint. as you can imagine it was a slow process but as i kept crying out to the Lord the malevolent thots began to disperse and the sense of balance once again increased. a painted ceiling now shines the Lord's victory.
that was the most apparent of the number of spiritually related incidents this week many of which left me wasted and deflected...most likely dearborn backwash from the wicked spirit. may You do a mighty work..may You prepare many precious hearts to be made good soil and bear much good fruit for You. thank You for sending me this morning words about one who was wasted yet not deflected. make me to have this same grace Lord. he said to the elders at ephesus, 'ye know, from the first day that i came into asia, after what manner i have been withyou at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind and with many tears and temptations which befell me by the lying in wait of the jews and who i kep back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shown you and have taught you publicly and from house to house testifying..repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. and now, behold, i go bound in the spirit unto jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there..save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. but none of these things move me, neither count i my life dear unto myself, so that i might finish my course with joy..' Lord with my little troubles harden me to steel to be able to pass through whatever You may have for me. Lord, i desire that You make of me a man to stand in the gap and make up the hedge before You so that You will not destroy our land...You who called frightened, hiding gideon 'thou mighty man of valour' and opened the ass' mouth to warn the prophet take me and make of me someone who will accomplish feats that men may know that You alone are God over all the earth.
hope you guys have a good week. love, dad
tuesday through friday i was able to work full days indoors...the first indoor job since january. thank You Lord for providing this work that cannot be put off or interrupted by rain. i now have crossed into the beginning of may as far as 20 hr per week average. thank You Lord for Your provision.
have stuggled a good bit this week with lechery and gluttony. Lord, send Your salvation to me. i am desperately sick and desperately tired of the spiritual aridity of my besetting sins. keep me back from presumptuous sin, let it not have dominion over me then shall i be upright and i shall be innocent from the great transgression. oh would You bend this crooked, bent-away-from-You soul so that You are finally ENOUGH and i am most highly pleased to please You.
thank You Lord for silas. thank You for the heart You are giving me for him. thank You for the healing You are effecting through him. thank You for being able to celebrate the year of life You have given him. Lord, please help this healing to extend to our children and to susan. i often puzzle about where exactly You would have my heart be toward them and can but seek to lean heavily on You to show me how they can each, best, experience Your love through me...i am needy and broken Lord. show me the way til i sense You have completely made me whole and i am enabled to love each one and relate to each one in a way that is pleasing in Your sight.
thank You for putting in the heart to strive after Your heart for me...to do the 7 daily duties You have given..to run 3 times a week...to intercede for the 13 men You have given (oh Lord help me to fight for my own heart...THAT IT WOULD BE TOTALLY YOURS AND AT YOUR DISPOSAL...then fight for my family, neighbors, Your church, fathers (oh Lord may every man around the world who fathers a child take full responsiblity for the child he has fathered and care for the woman who has borne their child. may You put it into the heart of all men to only consummate with the one woman You have for them to marry and then be faithful to that woman and to lead their homes and train up their children...may they be steadfast in this responsibility before You even if it all hits the fan..all blows up...all falls apart...my they remain, if necessary, all alone and yet steadfast to be and to teach what is right to their fractured family...to desplay You holiness and lovingkindness day by day), leaders of all areas including governmental leaders, then fight for these 13 men. oh God help me in the tremendous spiritually-oriented tidal pull that relentlessly seeks to erode these ESSENTIALS out of my life. may You make my spirit solid granite in the midst of all kinds of opposition to these ESSENTIALS. may this be where i live and die...in this unseen spiritual world...else i can do absolutely nothing in this world..in this life..of any value to You.
this week while painting i had a situation tangentially related to satan taking Jesus up to the pinnacle of the temple. i know that i have never, to date, received total healing from the concussion occurring in the bike accident for i always veer, against my will (!), in various situations. i have learned that this can occur and try to compensate for it but it will occasionally catch me unawares. so far i have had a couple of close calls but have not suffered any harm other than falls that brought no injury. as i balanced one morning on the top rung of the 7-8' inverted v-shaped gorilla ladder below me to paint across the apex crease of a vautled living room ceiling i suddenly realized that i was in great danger. i had done the first coat, carefully, the day before with no real trouble. i was aware of the concreted pad below which had been de-rugged but with some patience it was accomplished ok. but this time it was totally different. i first became aware of the fact that i was really struggling with balance due to the accident-created predilection to veer...in this case off the top of the ladder! for some reason it was quite heighted over the preceding day. that perception may have been due to a number of strong thots coming into my mind, with some variations, along the line of, 'they're going to find your body splattered all over the concrete floor long after your dead!". i would have mocked the thots but sensed a real and present danger of some sort, a palpable evil present. i began to call on the Lord repeatedly to help me, to enable me, to protect me. it was so strong that once on the top rung i had to keep my eyes focused steadfastly on a spot on the floor below, slowly raise the hand with the paint brush until i established contact with the ceiling, then, after establishing a sense of balance, slowly lower the hand, dip the brush in the paint (all without looking down) and raise the brush and paint. as you can imagine it was a slow process but as i kept crying out to the Lord the malevolent thots began to disperse and the sense of balance once again increased. a painted ceiling now shines the Lord's victory.
that was the most apparent of the number of spiritually related incidents this week many of which left me wasted and deflected...most likely dearborn backwash from the wicked spirit. may You do a mighty work..may You prepare many precious hearts to be made good soil and bear much good fruit for You. thank You for sending me this morning words about one who was wasted yet not deflected. make me to have this same grace Lord. he said to the elders at ephesus, 'ye know, from the first day that i came into asia, after what manner i have been withyou at all seasons, serving the Lord with all humility of mind and with many tears and temptations which befell me by the lying in wait of the jews and who i kep back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shown you and have taught you publicly and from house to house testifying..repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. and now, behold, i go bound in the spirit unto jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there..save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. but none of these things move me, neither count i my life dear unto myself, so that i might finish my course with joy..' Lord with my little troubles harden me to steel to be able to pass through whatever You may have for me. Lord, i desire that You make of me a man to stand in the gap and make up the hedge before You so that You will not destroy our land...You who called frightened, hiding gideon 'thou mighty man of valour' and opened the ass' mouth to warn the prophet take me and make of me someone who will accomplish feats that men may know that You alone are God over all the earth.
hope you guys have a good week. love, dad
Friday, June 26, 2009
6.26.09 WHO TO MARRY?
i have Jesus, who is better to me than any other..but the following rambling, confused thots show that i am very human and that not all the pieces seem to fit between the spirit and the flesh. at this time it looks like, in this area, they will never fit. i spirit i rejoice to be made needy but in the flesh i rage.
it is now about 99 months past divorce.
though one of the most painful things in my life it has proved the most beneficial. i was dead spiritually for all practical purposes. i had a form of godliness but denied the power thereof. i was alone in the world but now i have a relationship with One who will never leave. the relationship only gets better with time. i was blind to Him and now begin to see Him dimly.
i still am sinful enough to once again put another human being before Him. i cannot yet tell Him i love Him. when i sing songs that express love to Him i do so consciously in prophetic (future) mode. several times within the last few months my heart of hearts welled up to Him and 'I LOVE YOU' spontaneously came to my spirit-tongue and i had to quickly stop it ...He says, 'if you love me keep My commandments' and i do not yet qualify to say 'i love You'.
recently, also, it has come to me that i am 'the beast' in the story below. women want to get married, they want security. many would willingly mount me on their wall, labling me 'security' and boy would they be wrong! there are those who have made such interest known. i cringe for them. all they see is an outer image. if they took the effort to know me they would know i am unsuitable to marry. if they really knew who i am, not one would want me. by this whole thing God has allowed me to experience the fantasy of women and the pain involved in being just an object of someone's fantasy rather than a real person they relate to and actually love. God has shown me how i myself have related to women through women who have related to 'me' rather than relating to me, for i have truly related to women who were attractive to me as objects of fantasy just as women have related to me as an object of fantasy. he who sows to the flesh will from the flesh reap corruption...and i have.
but i may have the kind, loving, beautiful heart invisible under the awful exterior of 'the beast' in the story below (actually i am a mirror image of this having, to some, a pleasing exterior which masks a very ugly interior) and simply need to be released by the love of a woman who knows who i really am and actually loves me as i really am. i would not believe a woman such as this exists or that, if she exists, she could actually find out who i am...but God, in eve, made a woman perfectly suited to adam and if He could do this then, could He not do so now for me? i doubt if i will ever find out. it seems You have marked me out for celebacy and i just can't quite hack that part.
anyway, recently i have begun to see myself as the beast and vainly wish for the woman who would love me, truly love me as i truly loved her. this peaked my interest to find the myth of the improbable love of a beast..a love that said 'i cannot live without you' to one so outwardly unlovely. i was given this story thru the efforts of a woman i'll call kindness. she has shown me many other kindnesses and, as a result, i have found that i have a growing attraction to her . she, i cannot marry for she does not share my love for You and she is committed to a woman friend. so i am the beast and she is the beauty yet it cannot be.
i thoroughly enjoy the story below and continue to believe that true love is possible but evidently not possible for me in the context of marriage.
Beauty and the Beast
Jeanne-Marie LePrince de Beaumont
There was once a very rich merchant, who had six children, three sons, and three daughters; being a man of sense, he spared no cost for their education, but gave them all kinds of masters. His daughters were extremely handsome, especially the youngest. When she was little everybody admired her, and called her "The little Beauty;" so that, as she grew up, she still went by the name of Beauty, which made her sisters very jealous.
The youngest, as she was handsomer, was also better than her sisters. The two eldest had a great deal of pride, because they were rich. They gave themselves ridiculous airs, and would not visit other merchants' daughters, nor keep company with any but persons of quality. They went out every day to parties of pleasure, balls, plays, concerts, and so forth, and they laughed at their youngest sister, because she spent the greatest part of her time in reading good books.
As it was known that they were great fortunes, several eminent merchants made their addresses to them; but the two eldest said, they would never marry, unless they could meet with a duke, or an earl at least. Beauty very civilly thanked them that courted her, and told them she was too young yet to marry, but chose to stay with her father a few years longer.
All at once the merchant lost his whole fortune, excepting a small country house at a great distance from town, and told his children with tears in his eyes, they must go there and work for their living. The two eldest answered, that they would not leave the town, for they had several lovers, who they were sure would be glad to have them, though they had no fortune; but the good ladies were mistaken, for their lovers slighted and forsook them in their poverty. As they were not beloved on account of their pride, everybody said; they do not deserve to be pitied, we are very glad to see their pride humbled, let them go and give themselves quality airs in milking the cows and minding their dairy. But, added they, we are extremely concerned for Beauty, she was such a charming, sweet-tempered creature, spoke so kindly to poor people, and was of such an affable, obliging behavior. Nay, several gentlemen would have married her, though they knew she had not a penny; but she told them she could not think of leaving her poor father in his misfortunes, but was determined to go along with him into the country to comfort and attend him. Poor Beauty at first was sadly grieved at the loss of her fortune; "but," said she to herself, "were I to cry ever so much, that would not make things better, I must try to make myself happy without a fortune."
When they came to their country house, the merchant and his three sons applied themselves to husbandry and tillage; and Beauty rose at four in the morning, and made haste to have the house clean, and dinner ready for the family. In the beginning she found it very difficult, for she had not been used to work as a servant, but in less than two months she grew stronger and healthier than ever. After she had done her work, she read, played on the harpsichord, or else sung whilst she spun.
On the contrary, her two sisters did not know how to spend their time; they got up at ten, and did nothing but saunter about the whole day, lamenting the loss of their fine clothes and acquaintance. "Do but see our youngest sister," said they, one to the other, "what a poor, stupid, mean-spirited creature she is, to be contented with such an unhappy dismal situation."
The good merchant was of quite a different opinion; he knew very well that Beauty outshone her sisters, in her person as well as her mind, and admired her humility and industry, but above all her humility and patience; for her sisters not only left her all the work of the house to do, but insulted her every moment.
The family had lived about a year in this retirement, when the merchant received a letter with an account that a vessel, on board of which he had effects, was safely arrived. This news had liked to have turned the heads of the two eldest daughters, who immediately flattered themselves with the hopes of returning to town, for they were quite weary of a country life; and when they saw their father ready to set out, they begged of him to buy them new gowns, headdresses, ribbons, and all manner of trifles; but Beauty asked for nothing for she thought to herself, that all the money her father was going to receive, would scarce be sufficient to purchase everything her sisters wanted.
"What will you have, Beauty?" said her father.
"Since you have the goodness to think of me," answered she, "be so kind to bring me a rose, for as none grows hereabouts, they are a kind of rarity." Not that Beauty cared for a rose, but she asked for something, lest she should seem by her example to condemn her sisters' conduct, who would have said she did it only to look particular.
The good man went on his journey, but when he came there, they went to law with him about the merchandise, and after a great deal of trouble and pains to no purpose, he came back as poor as before.
He was within thirty miles of his own house, thinking on the pleasure he should have in seeing his children again, when going through a large forest he lost himself. It rained and snowed terribly; besides, the wind was so high, that it threw him twice off his horse, and night coming on, he began to apprehend being either starved to death with cold and hunger, or else devoured by the wolves, whom he heard howling all round him, when, on a sudden, looking through a long walk of trees, he saw a light at some distance, and going on a little farther perceived it came from a place illuminated from top to bottom. The merchant returned God thanks for this happy discovery, and hastened to the place, but was greatly surprised at not meeting with any one in the outer courts. His horse followed him, and seeing a large stable open, went in, and finding both hay and oats, the poor beast, who was almost famished, fell to eating very heartily; the merchant tied him up to the manger, and walking towards the house, where he saw no one, but entering into a large hall, he found a good fire, and a table plentifully set out with but one cover laid. As he was wet quite through with the rain and snow, he drew near the fire to dry himself. "I hope," said he, "the master of the house, or his servants will excuse the liberty I take; I suppose it will not be long before some of them appear."
He waited a considerable time, until it struck eleven, and still nobody came. At last he was so hungry that he could stay no longer, but took a chicken, and ate it in two mouthfuls, trembling all the while. After this he drank a few glasses of wine, and growing more courageous he went out of the hall, and crossed through several grand apartments with magnificent furniture, until he came into a chamber, which had an exceeding good bed in it, and as he was very much fatigued, and it was past midnight, he concluded it was best to shut the door, and go to bed.
It was ten the next morning before the merchant waked, and as he was going to rise he was astonished to see a good suit of clothes in the room of his own, which were quite spoiled; certainly, said he, this palace belongs to some kind fairy, who has seen and pitied my distress. He looked through a window, but instead of snow saw the most delightful arbors, interwoven with the beautifullest flowers that were ever beheld. He then returned to the great hall, where he had supped the night before, and found some chocolate ready made on a little table. "Thank you, good Madam Fairy," said he aloud, "for being so careful, as to provide me a breakfast; I am extremely obliged to you for all your favors."
The good man drank his chocolate, and then went to look for his horse, but passing through an arbor of roses he remembered Beauty's request to him, and gathered a branch on which were several; immediately he heard a great noise, and saw such a frightful Beast coming towards him, that he was ready to faint away.
"You are very ungrateful," said the Beast to him, in a terrible voice; "I have saved your life by receiving you into my castle, and, in return, you steal my roses, which I value beyond any thing in the universe, but you shall die for it; I give you but a quarter of an hour to prepare yourself, and say your prayers."
The merchant fell on his knees, and lifted up both his hands, "My lord," said he, "I beseech you to forgive me, indeed I had no intention to offend in gathering a rose for one of my daughters, who desired me to bring her one."
"My name is not My Lord," replied the monster, "but Beast; I don't love compliments, not I. I like people to speak as they think; and so do not imagine, I am to be moved by any of your flattering speeches. But you say you have got daughters. I will forgive you, on condition that one of them come willingly, and suffer for you. Let me have no words, but go about your business, and swear that if your daughter refuse to die in your stead, you will return within three months."
The merchant had no mind to sacrifice his daughters to the ugly monster, but he thought, in obtaining this respite, he should have the satisfaction of seeing them once more, so he promised, upon oath, he would return, and the Beast told him he might set out when he pleased, "but," added he, "you shall not depart empty handed; go back to the room where you lay, and you will see a great empty chest; fill it with whatever you like best, and I will send it to your home," and at the same time Beast withdrew.
"Well," said the good man to himself, "if I must die, I shall have the comfort, at least, of leaving something to my poor children." He returned to the bedchamber, and finding a great quantity of broad pieces of gold, he filled the great chest the Beast had mentioned, locked it, and afterwards took his horse out of the stable, leaving the palace with as much grief as he had entered it with joy. The horse, of his own accord, took one of the roads of the forest, and in a few hours the good man was at home.
His children came round him, but instead of receiving their embraces with pleasure, he looked on them, and holding up the branch he had in his hands, he burst into tears. "Here, Beauty," said he, "take these roses, but little do you think how dear they are like to cost your unhappy father," and then related his fatal adventure. Immediately the two eldest set up lamentable outcries, and said all manner of ill-natured things to Beauty, who did not cry at all.
"Do but see the pride of that little wretch," said they; "she would not ask for fine clothes, as we did; but no truly, Miss wanted to distinguish herself, so now she will be the death of our poor father, and yet she does not so much as shed a tear."
"Why should I," answered Beauty, "it would be very needless, for my father shall not suffer upon my account, since the monster will accept of one of his daughters, I will deliver myself up to all his fury, and I am very happy in thinking that my death will save my father's life, and be a proof of my tender love for him."
"No, sister," said her three brothers, "that shall not be, we will go find the monster, and either kill him, or perish in the attempt."
"Do not imagine any such thing, my sons," said the merchant, "Beast's power is so great, that I have no hopes of your overcoming him. I am charmed with Beauty's kind and generous offer, but I cannot yield to it. I am old, and have not long to live, so can only loose a few years, which I regret for your sakes alone, my dear children."
"Indeed father," said Beauty, "you shall not go to the palace without me, you cannot hinder me from following you." It was to no purpose all they could say. Beauty still insisted on setting out for the fine palace, and her sisters were delighted at it, for her virtue and amiable qualities made them envious and jealous.
The merchant was so afflicted at the thoughts of losing his daughter, that he had quite forgot the chest full of gold, but at night when he retired to rest, no sooner had he shut his chamber door, than, to his great astonishment, he found it by his bedside; he was determined, however, not to tell his children, that he was grown rich, because they would have wanted to return to town, and he was resolved not to leave the country; but he trusted Beauty with the secret, who informed him, that two gentlemen came in his absence, and courted her sisters; she begged her father to consent to their marriage, and give them fortunes, for she was so good, that she loved them and forgave heartily all their ill usage. These wicked creatures rubbed their eyes with an onion to force some tears when they parted with their sister, but her brothers were really concerned. Beauty was the only one who did not shed tears at parting, because she would not increase their uneasiness.
The horse took the direct road to the palace, and towards evening they perceived it illuminated as at first. The horse went of himself into the stable, and the good man and his daughter came into the great hall, where they found a table splendidly served up, and two covers. The merchant had no heart to eat, but Beauty, endeavoring to appear cheerful, sat down to table, and helped him. "Afterwards," thought she to herself, "Beast surely has a mind to fatten me before he eats me, since he provides such plentiful entertainment." When they had supped they heard a great noise, and the merchant, all in tears, bid his poor child, farewell, for he thought Beast was coming. Beauty was sadly terrified at his horrid form, but she took courage as well as she could, and the monster having asked her if she came willingly; "ye -- e -- es," said she, trembling.
The beast responded, "You are very good, and I am greatly obliged to you; honest man, go your ways tomorrow morning, but never think of coming here again."
"Farewell Beauty, farewell Beast," answered he, and immediately the monster withdrew. "Oh, daughter," said the merchant, embracing Beauty, "I am almost frightened to death, believe me, you had better go back, and let me stay here."
"No, father," said Beauty, in a resolute tone, "you shall set out tomorrow morning, and leave me to the care and protection of providence." They went to bed, and thought they should not close their eyes all night; but scarce were they laid down, than they fell fast asleep, and Beauty dreamed, a fine lady came, and said to her, "I am content, Beauty, with your good will, this good action of yours in giving up your own life to save your father's shall not go unrewarded." Beauty waked, and told her father her dream, and though it helped to comfort him a little, yet he could not help crying bitterly, when he took leave of his dear child.
As soon as he was gone, Beauty sat down in the great hall, and fell a crying likewise; but as she was mistress of a great deal of resolution, she recommended herself to God, and resolved not to be uneasy the little time she had to live; for she firmly believed Beast would eat her up that night.
However, she thought she might as well walk about until then, and view this fine castle, which she could not help admiring; it was a delightful pleasant place, and she was extremely surprised at seeing a door, over which was written, "Beauty's Apartment." She opened it hastily, and was quite dazzled with the magnificence that reigned throughout; but what chiefly took up her attention, was a large library, a harpsichord, and several music books. "Well," said she to herself, "I see they will not let my time hang heavy upon my hands for want of amusement." Then she reflected, "Were I but to stay here a day, there would not have been all these preparations." This consideration inspired her with fresh courage; and opening the library she took a book, and read these words, in letters of gold:
Welcome Beauty, banish fear,You are queen and mistress here.Speak your wishes, speak your will,Swift obedience meets them still.
"Alas," said she, with a sigh, "there is nothing I desire so much as to see my poor father, and know what he is doing." She had no sooner said this, when casting her eyes on a great looking glass, to her great amazement, she saw her own home, where her father arrived with a very dejected countenance. Her sisters went to meet him, and notwithstanding their endeavors to appear sorrowful, their joy, felt for having got rid of their sister, was visible in every feature. A moment after, everything disappeared, and Beauty's apprehensions at this proof of Beast's complaisance.
At noon she found dinner ready, and while at table, was entertained with an excellent concert of music, though without seeing anybody. But at night, as she was going to sit down to supper, she heard the noise Beast made, and could not help being sadly terrified. "Beauty," said the monster, "will you give me leave to see you sup?"
"That is as you please," answered Beauty trembling.
"No," replied the Beast, "you alone are mistress here; you need only bid me gone, if my presence is troublesome, and I will immediately withdraw. But, tell me, do not you think me very ugly?"
"That is true," said Beauty, "for I cannot tell a lie, but I believe you are very good natured."
"So I am," said the monster, "but then, besides my ugliness, I have no sense; I know very well, that I am a poor, silly, stupid creature."
"'Tis no sign of folly to think so," replied Beauty, "for never did fool know this, or had so humble a conceit of his own understanding."
"Eat then, Beauty," said the monster, "and endeavor to amuse yourself in your palace, for everything here is yours, and I should be very uneasy, if you were not happy."
"You are very obliging," answered Beauty, "I own I am pleased with your kindness, and when I consider that, your deformity scarce appears."
"Yes, yes," said the Beast, "my heart is good, but still I am a monster."
"Among mankind," says Beauty, "there are many that deserve that name more than you, and I prefer you, just as you are, to those, who, under a human form, hide a treacherous, corrupt, and ungrateful heart."
"If I had sense enough," replied the Beast, "I would make a fine compliment to thank you, but I am so dull, that I can only say, I am greatly obliged to you."
Beauty ate a hearty supper, and had almost conquered her dread of the monster; but she had like to have fainted away, when he said to her, "Beauty, will you be my wife?"
She was some time before she dared answer, for she was afraid of making him angry, if she refused. At last, however, she said trembling, "no Beast." Immediately the poor monster went to sigh, and hissed so frightfully, that the whole palace echoed. But Beauty soon recovered her fright, for Beast having said, in a mournful voice, "then farewell, Beauty," left the room; and only turned back, now and then, to look at her as he went out.
When Beauty was alone, she felt a great deal of compassion for poor Beast. "Alas," said she, "'tis thousand pities, anything so good natured should be so ugly."
Beauty spent three months very contentedly in the palace. Every evening Beast paid her a visit, and talked to her, during supper, very rationally, with plain good common sense, but never with what the world calls wit; and Beauty daily discovered some valuable qualifications in the monster, and seeing him often had so accustomed her to his deformity, that, far from dreading the time of his visit, she would often look on her watch to see when it would be nine, for the Beast never missed coming at that hour. There was but one thing that gave Beauty any concern, which was, that every night, before she went to bed, the monster always asked her, if she would be his wife. One day she said to him, "Beast, you make me very uneasy, I wish I could consent to marry you, but I am too sincere to make you believe that will ever happen; I shall always esteem you as a friend, endeavor to be satisfied with this."
"I must," said the Beast, "for, alas! I know too well my own misfortune, but then I love you with the tenderest affection. However, I ought to think myself happy, that you will stay here; promise me never to leave me."
Beauty blushed at these words; she had seen in her glass, that her father had pined himself sick for the loss of her, and she longed to see him again. "I could," answered she, "indeed, promise never to leave you entirely, but I have so great a desire to see my father, that I shall fret to death, if you refuse me that satisfaction."
"I had rather die myself," said the monster, "than give you the least uneasiness. I will send you to your father, you shall remain with him, and poor Beast will die with grief."
"No," said Beauty, weeping, "I love you too well to be the cause of your death. I give you my promise to return in a week. You have shown me that my sisters are married, and my brothers gone to the army; only let me stay a week with my father, as he is alone."
"You shall be there tomorrow morning," said the Beast, "but remember your promise. You need only lay your ring on a table before you go to bed, when you have a mind to come back. Farewell Beauty." Beast sighed, as usual, bidding her good night, and Beauty went to bed very sad at seeing him so afflicted. When she waked the next morning, she found herself at her father's, and having rung a little bell, that was by her bedside, she saw the maid come, who, the moment she saw her, gave a loud shriek, at which the good man ran up stairs, and thought he should have died with joy to see his dear daughter again. He held her fast locked in his arms above a quarter of an hour. As soon as the first transports were over, Beauty began to think of rising, and was afraid she had no clothes to put on; but the maid told her, that she had just found, in the next room, a large trunk full of gowns, covered with gold and diamonds. Beauty thanked good Beast for his kind care, and taking one of the plainest of them, she intended to make a present of the others to her sisters. She scarce had said so when the trunk disappeared. Her father told her, that Beast insisted on her keeping them herself, and immediately both gowns and trunk came back again.
Beauty dressed herself, and in the meantime they sent to her sisters who hastened thither with their husbands. They were both of them very unhappy. The eldest had married a gentleman, extremely handsome indeed, but so fond of his own person, that he was full of nothing but his own dear self, and neglected his wife. The second had married a man of wit, but he only made use of it to plague and torment everybody, and his wife most of all. Beauty's sisters sickened with envy, when they saw her dressed like a princess, and more beautiful than ever, nor could all her obliging affectionate behavior stifle their jealousy, which was ready to burst when she told them how happy she was. They went down into the garden to vent it in tears; and said one to the other, in what way is this little creature better than us, that she should be so much happier? "Sister," said the oldest, "a thought just strikes my mind; let us endeavor to detain her above a week, and perhaps the silly monster will be so enraged at her for breaking her word, that he will devour her."
"Right, sister," answered the other, "therefore we must show her as much kindness as possible." After they had taken this resolution, they went up, and behaved so affectionately to their sister, that poor Beauty wept for joy. When the week was expired, they cried and tore their hair, and seemed so sorry to part with her, that she promised to stay a week longer.
In the meantime, Beauty could not help reflecting on herself, for the uneasiness she was likely to cause poor Beast, whom she sincerely loved, and really longed to see again. The tenth night she spent at her father's, she dreamed she was in the palace garden, and that she saw Beast extended on the grass plat, who seemed just expiring, and, in a dying voice, reproached her with her ingratitude. Beauty started out of her sleep, and bursting into tears. "Am I not very wicked," said she, "to act so unkindly to Beast, that has studied so much, to please me in everything? Is it his fault if he is so ugly, and has so little sense? He is kind and good, and that is sufficient. Why did I refuse to marry him? I should be happier with the monster than my sisters are with their husbands; it is neither wit, nor a fine person, in a husband, that makes a woman happy, but virtue, sweetness of temper, and complaisance, and Beast has all these valuable qualifications. It is true, I do not feel the tenderness of affection for him, but I find I have the highest gratitude, esteem, and friendship; I will not make him miserable, were I to be so ungrateful I should never forgive myself." Beauty having said this, rose, put her ring on the table, and then laid down again; scarce was she in bed before she fell asleep, and when she waked the next morning, she was overjoyed to find herself in the Beast's palace.
She put on one of her richest suits to please him, and waited for evening with the utmost impatience, at last the wished-for hour came, the clock struck nine, yet no Beast appeared. Beauty then feared she had been the cause of his death; she ran crying and wringing her hands all about the palace, like one in despair; after having sought for him everywhere, she recollected her dream, and flew to the canal in the garden, where she dreamed she saw him. There she found poor Beast stretched out, quite senseless, and, as she imagined, dead. She threw herself upon him without any dread, and finding his heart beat still, she fetched some water from the canal, and poured it on his head. Beast opened his eyes, and said to Beauty, "You forgot your promise, and I was so afflicted for having lost you, that I resolved to starve myself, but since I have the happiness of seeing you once more, I die satisfied."
"No, dear Beast," said Beauty, "you must not die. Live to be my husband; from this moment I give you my hand, and swear to be none but yours. Alas! I thought I had only a friendship for you, but the grief I now feel convinces me, that I cannot live without you." Beauty scarce had pronounced these words, when she saw the palace sparkle with light; and fireworks, instruments of music, everything seemed to give notice of some great event. But nothing could fix her attention; she turned to her dear Beast, for whom she trembled with fear; but how great was her surprise! Beast was disappeared, and she saw, at her feet, one of the loveliest princes that eye ever beheld; who returned her thanks for having put an end to the charm, under which he had so long resembled a Beast. Though this prince was worthy of all her attention, she could not forbear asking where Beast was.
"You see him at your feet, said the prince. A wicked fairy had condemned me to remain under that shape until a beautiful virgin should consent to marry me. The fairy likewise enjoined me to conceal my understanding. There was only you in the world generous enough to be won by the goodness of my temper, and in offering you my crown I can't discharge the obligations I have to you."
Beauty, agreeably surprised, gave the charming prince her hand to rise; they went together into the castle, and Beauty was overjoyed to find, in the great hall, her father and his whole family, whom the beautiful lady, that appeared to her in her dream, had conveyed thither.
"Beauty," said this lady, "come and receive the reward of your judicious choice; you have preferred virtue before either wit or beauty, and deserve to find a person in whom all these qualifications are united. You are going to be a great queen. I hope the throne will not lessen your virtue, or make you forget yourself. As to you, ladies," said the fairy to Beauty's two sisters, "I know your hearts, and all the malice they contain. Become two statues, but, under this transformation, still retain your reason. You shall stand before your sister's palace gate, and be it your punishment to behold her happiness; and it will not be in your power to return to your former state, until you own your faults, but I am very much afraid that you will always remain statues. Pride, anger, gluttony, and idleness are sometimes conquered, but the conversion of a malicious and envious mind is a kind of miracle."
Immediately the fairy gave a stroke with her wand, and in a moment all that were in the hall were transported into the prince's dominions. His subjects received him with joy. He married Beauty, and lived with her many years, and their happiness -- as it was founded on virtue -- was complete.
Source: The Young Misses Magazine, Containing Dialogues between a Governess and Several Young Ladies of Quality Her Scholars, by Madam Prince de Beaumont, 4th ed., v. 1 (London: C. Nourse, 1783), pp. 45-67. First published in 1756 in France under the title Magasin des enfans, ou dialogues entre une sage gouvernante et plusieure de ses élèves. The first English translation appeared in 1757.
Spelling and punctuation revised by D. L. Ashliman.
The French title of "Beauty and the Beast" is "La Belle et la Bête."
As suggested by the book's title, the tale "Beauty and the Beast" is a story incorporated into a didactic dialogue and told to several young ladies of quality (ages five through thirteen) by their governess, whose name is Mrs. Affable.
Jeanne-Marie LePrince de Beaumont (1711-1780) moved from her native France to England in about 1745 and from England to Switzerland in 1764. A prolific author of over 70 volumes, she was highly regarded in her day, but is now known only for her version of "Beauty and the Beast."
Although the basic plot of Beaumont's "Beauty and the Beast" comes from a very widespread folktale (Aarne-Thompson type 425C), the immediate source of her material was a collection of tales by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot, Dame de Villeneuve (1695-1755) entitled La Jeune Ameriquaine et les Contes Marins (1740). The title is also given as Contes Marin, ou la Jeune Américaine. The story (which in Villeneuve's version encompasses nearly 200 pages) purports to be a tale told to a young emigrant by her chambermaid aboard a ship to America.
Related links
La Belle et la Bête. The French-language text of Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont.
Le Prince de Beaumont: A French-language site dedicated to "Belle et la Bête et son auteur," including a reproduction of the original French test.
Beauty and the Beast, an article from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The Internet Movie Database listing for the film La Belle et la bête (1946), directed by Jean Cocteau.
The Internet Movie Database listing for Philip Glass's opera La Belle et la bête, synchronized to be sung as an alternate soundtrack to Jean Cocteau's film.
Beauty and the Beast, additional folktales of type 425C.
Cupid and Psyche, the classic tale of an abandoned wife's search for a lost and enchanted husband, by the Roman writer Lucius Apuleius (born about 124).
The Singing, Springing Lark, a version of "Beauty and the Beast" recorded by the Grimm brothers.
East of the Sun and West of the Moon, an animal bridegroom tale from Norway.
D. L. Ashliman's folktexts, a library of folktales, folklore, fairy tales, and mythology.
it is now about 99 months past divorce.
though one of the most painful things in my life it has proved the most beneficial. i was dead spiritually for all practical purposes. i had a form of godliness but denied the power thereof. i was alone in the world but now i have a relationship with One who will never leave. the relationship only gets better with time. i was blind to Him and now begin to see Him dimly.
i still am sinful enough to once again put another human being before Him. i cannot yet tell Him i love Him. when i sing songs that express love to Him i do so consciously in prophetic (future) mode. several times within the last few months my heart of hearts welled up to Him and 'I LOVE YOU' spontaneously came to my spirit-tongue and i had to quickly stop it ...He says, 'if you love me keep My commandments' and i do not yet qualify to say 'i love You'.
recently, also, it has come to me that i am 'the beast' in the story below. women want to get married, they want security. many would willingly mount me on their wall, labling me 'security' and boy would they be wrong! there are those who have made such interest known. i cringe for them. all they see is an outer image. if they took the effort to know me they would know i am unsuitable to marry. if they really knew who i am, not one would want me. by this whole thing God has allowed me to experience the fantasy of women and the pain involved in being just an object of someone's fantasy rather than a real person they relate to and actually love. God has shown me how i myself have related to women through women who have related to 'me' rather than relating to me, for i have truly related to women who were attractive to me as objects of fantasy just as women have related to me as an object of fantasy. he who sows to the flesh will from the flesh reap corruption...and i have.
but i may have the kind, loving, beautiful heart invisible under the awful exterior of 'the beast' in the story below (actually i am a mirror image of this having, to some, a pleasing exterior which masks a very ugly interior) and simply need to be released by the love of a woman who knows who i really am and actually loves me as i really am. i would not believe a woman such as this exists or that, if she exists, she could actually find out who i am...but God, in eve, made a woman perfectly suited to adam and if He could do this then, could He not do so now for me? i doubt if i will ever find out. it seems You have marked me out for celebacy and i just can't quite hack that part.
anyway, recently i have begun to see myself as the beast and vainly wish for the woman who would love me, truly love me as i truly loved her. this peaked my interest to find the myth of the improbable love of a beast..a love that said 'i cannot live without you' to one so outwardly unlovely. i was given this story thru the efforts of a woman i'll call kindness. she has shown me many other kindnesses and, as a result, i have found that i have a growing attraction to her . she, i cannot marry for she does not share my love for You and she is committed to a woman friend. so i am the beast and she is the beauty yet it cannot be.
i thoroughly enjoy the story below and continue to believe that true love is possible but evidently not possible for me in the context of marriage.
Beauty and the Beast
Jeanne-Marie LePrince de Beaumont
There was once a very rich merchant, who had six children, three sons, and three daughters; being a man of sense, he spared no cost for their education, but gave them all kinds of masters. His daughters were extremely handsome, especially the youngest. When she was little everybody admired her, and called her "The little Beauty;" so that, as she grew up, she still went by the name of Beauty, which made her sisters very jealous.
The youngest, as she was handsomer, was also better than her sisters. The two eldest had a great deal of pride, because they were rich. They gave themselves ridiculous airs, and would not visit other merchants' daughters, nor keep company with any but persons of quality. They went out every day to parties of pleasure, balls, plays, concerts, and so forth, and they laughed at their youngest sister, because she spent the greatest part of her time in reading good books.
As it was known that they were great fortunes, several eminent merchants made their addresses to them; but the two eldest said, they would never marry, unless they could meet with a duke, or an earl at least. Beauty very civilly thanked them that courted her, and told them she was too young yet to marry, but chose to stay with her father a few years longer.
All at once the merchant lost his whole fortune, excepting a small country house at a great distance from town, and told his children with tears in his eyes, they must go there and work for their living. The two eldest answered, that they would not leave the town, for they had several lovers, who they were sure would be glad to have them, though they had no fortune; but the good ladies were mistaken, for their lovers slighted and forsook them in their poverty. As they were not beloved on account of their pride, everybody said; they do not deserve to be pitied, we are very glad to see their pride humbled, let them go and give themselves quality airs in milking the cows and minding their dairy. But, added they, we are extremely concerned for Beauty, she was such a charming, sweet-tempered creature, spoke so kindly to poor people, and was of such an affable, obliging behavior. Nay, several gentlemen would have married her, though they knew she had not a penny; but she told them she could not think of leaving her poor father in his misfortunes, but was determined to go along with him into the country to comfort and attend him. Poor Beauty at first was sadly grieved at the loss of her fortune; "but," said she to herself, "were I to cry ever so much, that would not make things better, I must try to make myself happy without a fortune."
When they came to their country house, the merchant and his three sons applied themselves to husbandry and tillage; and Beauty rose at four in the morning, and made haste to have the house clean, and dinner ready for the family. In the beginning she found it very difficult, for she had not been used to work as a servant, but in less than two months she grew stronger and healthier than ever. After she had done her work, she read, played on the harpsichord, or else sung whilst she spun.
On the contrary, her two sisters did not know how to spend their time; they got up at ten, and did nothing but saunter about the whole day, lamenting the loss of their fine clothes and acquaintance. "Do but see our youngest sister," said they, one to the other, "what a poor, stupid, mean-spirited creature she is, to be contented with such an unhappy dismal situation."
The good merchant was of quite a different opinion; he knew very well that Beauty outshone her sisters, in her person as well as her mind, and admired her humility and industry, but above all her humility and patience; for her sisters not only left her all the work of the house to do, but insulted her every moment.
The family had lived about a year in this retirement, when the merchant received a letter with an account that a vessel, on board of which he had effects, was safely arrived. This news had liked to have turned the heads of the two eldest daughters, who immediately flattered themselves with the hopes of returning to town, for they were quite weary of a country life; and when they saw their father ready to set out, they begged of him to buy them new gowns, headdresses, ribbons, and all manner of trifles; but Beauty asked for nothing for she thought to herself, that all the money her father was going to receive, would scarce be sufficient to purchase everything her sisters wanted.
"What will you have, Beauty?" said her father.
"Since you have the goodness to think of me," answered she, "be so kind to bring me a rose, for as none grows hereabouts, they are a kind of rarity." Not that Beauty cared for a rose, but she asked for something, lest she should seem by her example to condemn her sisters' conduct, who would have said she did it only to look particular.
The good man went on his journey, but when he came there, they went to law with him about the merchandise, and after a great deal of trouble and pains to no purpose, he came back as poor as before.
He was within thirty miles of his own house, thinking on the pleasure he should have in seeing his children again, when going through a large forest he lost himself. It rained and snowed terribly; besides, the wind was so high, that it threw him twice off his horse, and night coming on, he began to apprehend being either starved to death with cold and hunger, or else devoured by the wolves, whom he heard howling all round him, when, on a sudden, looking through a long walk of trees, he saw a light at some distance, and going on a little farther perceived it came from a place illuminated from top to bottom. The merchant returned God thanks for this happy discovery, and hastened to the place, but was greatly surprised at not meeting with any one in the outer courts. His horse followed him, and seeing a large stable open, went in, and finding both hay and oats, the poor beast, who was almost famished, fell to eating very heartily; the merchant tied him up to the manger, and walking towards the house, where he saw no one, but entering into a large hall, he found a good fire, and a table plentifully set out with but one cover laid. As he was wet quite through with the rain and snow, he drew near the fire to dry himself. "I hope," said he, "the master of the house, or his servants will excuse the liberty I take; I suppose it will not be long before some of them appear."
He waited a considerable time, until it struck eleven, and still nobody came. At last he was so hungry that he could stay no longer, but took a chicken, and ate it in two mouthfuls, trembling all the while. After this he drank a few glasses of wine, and growing more courageous he went out of the hall, and crossed through several grand apartments with magnificent furniture, until he came into a chamber, which had an exceeding good bed in it, and as he was very much fatigued, and it was past midnight, he concluded it was best to shut the door, and go to bed.
It was ten the next morning before the merchant waked, and as he was going to rise he was astonished to see a good suit of clothes in the room of his own, which were quite spoiled; certainly, said he, this palace belongs to some kind fairy, who has seen and pitied my distress. He looked through a window, but instead of snow saw the most delightful arbors, interwoven with the beautifullest flowers that were ever beheld. He then returned to the great hall, where he had supped the night before, and found some chocolate ready made on a little table. "Thank you, good Madam Fairy," said he aloud, "for being so careful, as to provide me a breakfast; I am extremely obliged to you for all your favors."
The good man drank his chocolate, and then went to look for his horse, but passing through an arbor of roses he remembered Beauty's request to him, and gathered a branch on which were several; immediately he heard a great noise, and saw such a frightful Beast coming towards him, that he was ready to faint away.
"You are very ungrateful," said the Beast to him, in a terrible voice; "I have saved your life by receiving you into my castle, and, in return, you steal my roses, which I value beyond any thing in the universe, but you shall die for it; I give you but a quarter of an hour to prepare yourself, and say your prayers."
The merchant fell on his knees, and lifted up both his hands, "My lord," said he, "I beseech you to forgive me, indeed I had no intention to offend in gathering a rose for one of my daughters, who desired me to bring her one."
"My name is not My Lord," replied the monster, "but Beast; I don't love compliments, not I. I like people to speak as they think; and so do not imagine, I am to be moved by any of your flattering speeches. But you say you have got daughters. I will forgive you, on condition that one of them come willingly, and suffer for you. Let me have no words, but go about your business, and swear that if your daughter refuse to die in your stead, you will return within three months."
The merchant had no mind to sacrifice his daughters to the ugly monster, but he thought, in obtaining this respite, he should have the satisfaction of seeing them once more, so he promised, upon oath, he would return, and the Beast told him he might set out when he pleased, "but," added he, "you shall not depart empty handed; go back to the room where you lay, and you will see a great empty chest; fill it with whatever you like best, and I will send it to your home," and at the same time Beast withdrew.
"Well," said the good man to himself, "if I must die, I shall have the comfort, at least, of leaving something to my poor children." He returned to the bedchamber, and finding a great quantity of broad pieces of gold, he filled the great chest the Beast had mentioned, locked it, and afterwards took his horse out of the stable, leaving the palace with as much grief as he had entered it with joy. The horse, of his own accord, took one of the roads of the forest, and in a few hours the good man was at home.
His children came round him, but instead of receiving their embraces with pleasure, he looked on them, and holding up the branch he had in his hands, he burst into tears. "Here, Beauty," said he, "take these roses, but little do you think how dear they are like to cost your unhappy father," and then related his fatal adventure. Immediately the two eldest set up lamentable outcries, and said all manner of ill-natured things to Beauty, who did not cry at all.
"Do but see the pride of that little wretch," said they; "she would not ask for fine clothes, as we did; but no truly, Miss wanted to distinguish herself, so now she will be the death of our poor father, and yet she does not so much as shed a tear."
"Why should I," answered Beauty, "it would be very needless, for my father shall not suffer upon my account, since the monster will accept of one of his daughters, I will deliver myself up to all his fury, and I am very happy in thinking that my death will save my father's life, and be a proof of my tender love for him."
"No, sister," said her three brothers, "that shall not be, we will go find the monster, and either kill him, or perish in the attempt."
"Do not imagine any such thing, my sons," said the merchant, "Beast's power is so great, that I have no hopes of your overcoming him. I am charmed with Beauty's kind and generous offer, but I cannot yield to it. I am old, and have not long to live, so can only loose a few years, which I regret for your sakes alone, my dear children."
"Indeed father," said Beauty, "you shall not go to the palace without me, you cannot hinder me from following you." It was to no purpose all they could say. Beauty still insisted on setting out for the fine palace, and her sisters were delighted at it, for her virtue and amiable qualities made them envious and jealous.
The merchant was so afflicted at the thoughts of losing his daughter, that he had quite forgot the chest full of gold, but at night when he retired to rest, no sooner had he shut his chamber door, than, to his great astonishment, he found it by his bedside; he was determined, however, not to tell his children, that he was grown rich, because they would have wanted to return to town, and he was resolved not to leave the country; but he trusted Beauty with the secret, who informed him, that two gentlemen came in his absence, and courted her sisters; she begged her father to consent to their marriage, and give them fortunes, for she was so good, that she loved them and forgave heartily all their ill usage. These wicked creatures rubbed their eyes with an onion to force some tears when they parted with their sister, but her brothers were really concerned. Beauty was the only one who did not shed tears at parting, because she would not increase their uneasiness.
The horse took the direct road to the palace, and towards evening they perceived it illuminated as at first. The horse went of himself into the stable, and the good man and his daughter came into the great hall, where they found a table splendidly served up, and two covers. The merchant had no heart to eat, but Beauty, endeavoring to appear cheerful, sat down to table, and helped him. "Afterwards," thought she to herself, "Beast surely has a mind to fatten me before he eats me, since he provides such plentiful entertainment." When they had supped they heard a great noise, and the merchant, all in tears, bid his poor child, farewell, for he thought Beast was coming. Beauty was sadly terrified at his horrid form, but she took courage as well as she could, and the monster having asked her if she came willingly; "ye -- e -- es," said she, trembling.
The beast responded, "You are very good, and I am greatly obliged to you; honest man, go your ways tomorrow morning, but never think of coming here again."
"Farewell Beauty, farewell Beast," answered he, and immediately the monster withdrew. "Oh, daughter," said the merchant, embracing Beauty, "I am almost frightened to death, believe me, you had better go back, and let me stay here."
"No, father," said Beauty, in a resolute tone, "you shall set out tomorrow morning, and leave me to the care and protection of providence." They went to bed, and thought they should not close their eyes all night; but scarce were they laid down, than they fell fast asleep, and Beauty dreamed, a fine lady came, and said to her, "I am content, Beauty, with your good will, this good action of yours in giving up your own life to save your father's shall not go unrewarded." Beauty waked, and told her father her dream, and though it helped to comfort him a little, yet he could not help crying bitterly, when he took leave of his dear child.
As soon as he was gone, Beauty sat down in the great hall, and fell a crying likewise; but as she was mistress of a great deal of resolution, she recommended herself to God, and resolved not to be uneasy the little time she had to live; for she firmly believed Beast would eat her up that night.
However, she thought she might as well walk about until then, and view this fine castle, which she could not help admiring; it was a delightful pleasant place, and she was extremely surprised at seeing a door, over which was written, "Beauty's Apartment." She opened it hastily, and was quite dazzled with the magnificence that reigned throughout; but what chiefly took up her attention, was a large library, a harpsichord, and several music books. "Well," said she to herself, "I see they will not let my time hang heavy upon my hands for want of amusement." Then she reflected, "Were I but to stay here a day, there would not have been all these preparations." This consideration inspired her with fresh courage; and opening the library she took a book, and read these words, in letters of gold:
Welcome Beauty, banish fear,You are queen and mistress here.Speak your wishes, speak your will,Swift obedience meets them still.
"Alas," said she, with a sigh, "there is nothing I desire so much as to see my poor father, and know what he is doing." She had no sooner said this, when casting her eyes on a great looking glass, to her great amazement, she saw her own home, where her father arrived with a very dejected countenance. Her sisters went to meet him, and notwithstanding their endeavors to appear sorrowful, their joy, felt for having got rid of their sister, was visible in every feature. A moment after, everything disappeared, and Beauty's apprehensions at this proof of Beast's complaisance.
At noon she found dinner ready, and while at table, was entertained with an excellent concert of music, though without seeing anybody. But at night, as she was going to sit down to supper, she heard the noise Beast made, and could not help being sadly terrified. "Beauty," said the monster, "will you give me leave to see you sup?"
"That is as you please," answered Beauty trembling.
"No," replied the Beast, "you alone are mistress here; you need only bid me gone, if my presence is troublesome, and I will immediately withdraw. But, tell me, do not you think me very ugly?"
"That is true," said Beauty, "for I cannot tell a lie, but I believe you are very good natured."
"So I am," said the monster, "but then, besides my ugliness, I have no sense; I know very well, that I am a poor, silly, stupid creature."
"'Tis no sign of folly to think so," replied Beauty, "for never did fool know this, or had so humble a conceit of his own understanding."
"Eat then, Beauty," said the monster, "and endeavor to amuse yourself in your palace, for everything here is yours, and I should be very uneasy, if you were not happy."
"You are very obliging," answered Beauty, "I own I am pleased with your kindness, and when I consider that, your deformity scarce appears."
"Yes, yes," said the Beast, "my heart is good, but still I am a monster."
"Among mankind," says Beauty, "there are many that deserve that name more than you, and I prefer you, just as you are, to those, who, under a human form, hide a treacherous, corrupt, and ungrateful heart."
"If I had sense enough," replied the Beast, "I would make a fine compliment to thank you, but I am so dull, that I can only say, I am greatly obliged to you."
Beauty ate a hearty supper, and had almost conquered her dread of the monster; but she had like to have fainted away, when he said to her, "Beauty, will you be my wife?"
She was some time before she dared answer, for she was afraid of making him angry, if she refused. At last, however, she said trembling, "no Beast." Immediately the poor monster went to sigh, and hissed so frightfully, that the whole palace echoed. But Beauty soon recovered her fright, for Beast having said, in a mournful voice, "then farewell, Beauty," left the room; and only turned back, now and then, to look at her as he went out.
When Beauty was alone, she felt a great deal of compassion for poor Beast. "Alas," said she, "'tis thousand pities, anything so good natured should be so ugly."
Beauty spent three months very contentedly in the palace. Every evening Beast paid her a visit, and talked to her, during supper, very rationally, with plain good common sense, but never with what the world calls wit; and Beauty daily discovered some valuable qualifications in the monster, and seeing him often had so accustomed her to his deformity, that, far from dreading the time of his visit, she would often look on her watch to see when it would be nine, for the Beast never missed coming at that hour. There was but one thing that gave Beauty any concern, which was, that every night, before she went to bed, the monster always asked her, if she would be his wife. One day she said to him, "Beast, you make me very uneasy, I wish I could consent to marry you, but I am too sincere to make you believe that will ever happen; I shall always esteem you as a friend, endeavor to be satisfied with this."
"I must," said the Beast, "for, alas! I know too well my own misfortune, but then I love you with the tenderest affection. However, I ought to think myself happy, that you will stay here; promise me never to leave me."
Beauty blushed at these words; she had seen in her glass, that her father had pined himself sick for the loss of her, and she longed to see him again. "I could," answered she, "indeed, promise never to leave you entirely, but I have so great a desire to see my father, that I shall fret to death, if you refuse me that satisfaction."
"I had rather die myself," said the monster, "than give you the least uneasiness. I will send you to your father, you shall remain with him, and poor Beast will die with grief."
"No," said Beauty, weeping, "I love you too well to be the cause of your death. I give you my promise to return in a week. You have shown me that my sisters are married, and my brothers gone to the army; only let me stay a week with my father, as he is alone."
"You shall be there tomorrow morning," said the Beast, "but remember your promise. You need only lay your ring on a table before you go to bed, when you have a mind to come back. Farewell Beauty." Beast sighed, as usual, bidding her good night, and Beauty went to bed very sad at seeing him so afflicted. When she waked the next morning, she found herself at her father's, and having rung a little bell, that was by her bedside, she saw the maid come, who, the moment she saw her, gave a loud shriek, at which the good man ran up stairs, and thought he should have died with joy to see his dear daughter again. He held her fast locked in his arms above a quarter of an hour. As soon as the first transports were over, Beauty began to think of rising, and was afraid she had no clothes to put on; but the maid told her, that she had just found, in the next room, a large trunk full of gowns, covered with gold and diamonds. Beauty thanked good Beast for his kind care, and taking one of the plainest of them, she intended to make a present of the others to her sisters. She scarce had said so when the trunk disappeared. Her father told her, that Beast insisted on her keeping them herself, and immediately both gowns and trunk came back again.
Beauty dressed herself, and in the meantime they sent to her sisters who hastened thither with their husbands. They were both of them very unhappy. The eldest had married a gentleman, extremely handsome indeed, but so fond of his own person, that he was full of nothing but his own dear self, and neglected his wife. The second had married a man of wit, but he only made use of it to plague and torment everybody, and his wife most of all. Beauty's sisters sickened with envy, when they saw her dressed like a princess, and more beautiful than ever, nor could all her obliging affectionate behavior stifle their jealousy, which was ready to burst when she told them how happy she was. They went down into the garden to vent it in tears; and said one to the other, in what way is this little creature better than us, that she should be so much happier? "Sister," said the oldest, "a thought just strikes my mind; let us endeavor to detain her above a week, and perhaps the silly monster will be so enraged at her for breaking her word, that he will devour her."
"Right, sister," answered the other, "therefore we must show her as much kindness as possible." After they had taken this resolution, they went up, and behaved so affectionately to their sister, that poor Beauty wept for joy. When the week was expired, they cried and tore their hair, and seemed so sorry to part with her, that she promised to stay a week longer.
In the meantime, Beauty could not help reflecting on herself, for the uneasiness she was likely to cause poor Beast, whom she sincerely loved, and really longed to see again. The tenth night she spent at her father's, she dreamed she was in the palace garden, and that she saw Beast extended on the grass plat, who seemed just expiring, and, in a dying voice, reproached her with her ingratitude. Beauty started out of her sleep, and bursting into tears. "Am I not very wicked," said she, "to act so unkindly to Beast, that has studied so much, to please me in everything? Is it his fault if he is so ugly, and has so little sense? He is kind and good, and that is sufficient. Why did I refuse to marry him? I should be happier with the monster than my sisters are with their husbands; it is neither wit, nor a fine person, in a husband, that makes a woman happy, but virtue, sweetness of temper, and complaisance, and Beast has all these valuable qualifications. It is true, I do not feel the tenderness of affection for him, but I find I have the highest gratitude, esteem, and friendship; I will not make him miserable, were I to be so ungrateful I should never forgive myself." Beauty having said this, rose, put her ring on the table, and then laid down again; scarce was she in bed before she fell asleep, and when she waked the next morning, she was overjoyed to find herself in the Beast's palace.
She put on one of her richest suits to please him, and waited for evening with the utmost impatience, at last the wished-for hour came, the clock struck nine, yet no Beast appeared. Beauty then feared she had been the cause of his death; she ran crying and wringing her hands all about the palace, like one in despair; after having sought for him everywhere, she recollected her dream, and flew to the canal in the garden, where she dreamed she saw him. There she found poor Beast stretched out, quite senseless, and, as she imagined, dead. She threw herself upon him without any dread, and finding his heart beat still, she fetched some water from the canal, and poured it on his head. Beast opened his eyes, and said to Beauty, "You forgot your promise, and I was so afflicted for having lost you, that I resolved to starve myself, but since I have the happiness of seeing you once more, I die satisfied."
"No, dear Beast," said Beauty, "you must not die. Live to be my husband; from this moment I give you my hand, and swear to be none but yours. Alas! I thought I had only a friendship for you, but the grief I now feel convinces me, that I cannot live without you." Beauty scarce had pronounced these words, when she saw the palace sparkle with light; and fireworks, instruments of music, everything seemed to give notice of some great event. But nothing could fix her attention; she turned to her dear Beast, for whom she trembled with fear; but how great was her surprise! Beast was disappeared, and she saw, at her feet, one of the loveliest princes that eye ever beheld; who returned her thanks for having put an end to the charm, under which he had so long resembled a Beast. Though this prince was worthy of all her attention, she could not forbear asking where Beast was.
"You see him at your feet, said the prince. A wicked fairy had condemned me to remain under that shape until a beautiful virgin should consent to marry me. The fairy likewise enjoined me to conceal my understanding. There was only you in the world generous enough to be won by the goodness of my temper, and in offering you my crown I can't discharge the obligations I have to you."
Beauty, agreeably surprised, gave the charming prince her hand to rise; they went together into the castle, and Beauty was overjoyed to find, in the great hall, her father and his whole family, whom the beautiful lady, that appeared to her in her dream, had conveyed thither.
"Beauty," said this lady, "come and receive the reward of your judicious choice; you have preferred virtue before either wit or beauty, and deserve to find a person in whom all these qualifications are united. You are going to be a great queen. I hope the throne will not lessen your virtue, or make you forget yourself. As to you, ladies," said the fairy to Beauty's two sisters, "I know your hearts, and all the malice they contain. Become two statues, but, under this transformation, still retain your reason. You shall stand before your sister's palace gate, and be it your punishment to behold her happiness; and it will not be in your power to return to your former state, until you own your faults, but I am very much afraid that you will always remain statues. Pride, anger, gluttony, and idleness are sometimes conquered, but the conversion of a malicious and envious mind is a kind of miracle."
Immediately the fairy gave a stroke with her wand, and in a moment all that were in the hall were transported into the prince's dominions. His subjects received him with joy. He married Beauty, and lived with her many years, and their happiness -- as it was founded on virtue -- was complete.
Source: The Young Misses Magazine, Containing Dialogues between a Governess and Several Young Ladies of Quality Her Scholars, by Madam Prince de Beaumont, 4th ed., v. 1 (London: C. Nourse, 1783), pp. 45-67. First published in 1756 in France under the title Magasin des enfans, ou dialogues entre une sage gouvernante et plusieure de ses élèves. The first English translation appeared in 1757.
Spelling and punctuation revised by D. L. Ashliman.
The French title of "Beauty and the Beast" is "La Belle et la Bête."
As suggested by the book's title, the tale "Beauty and the Beast" is a story incorporated into a didactic dialogue and told to several young ladies of quality (ages five through thirteen) by their governess, whose name is Mrs. Affable.
Jeanne-Marie LePrince de Beaumont (1711-1780) moved from her native France to England in about 1745 and from England to Switzerland in 1764. A prolific author of over 70 volumes, she was highly regarded in her day, but is now known only for her version of "Beauty and the Beast."
Although the basic plot of Beaumont's "Beauty and the Beast" comes from a very widespread folktale (Aarne-Thompson type 425C), the immediate source of her material was a collection of tales by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot, Dame de Villeneuve (1695-1755) entitled La Jeune Ameriquaine et les Contes Marins (1740). The title is also given as Contes Marin, ou la Jeune Américaine. The story (which in Villeneuve's version encompasses nearly 200 pages) purports to be a tale told to a young emigrant by her chambermaid aboard a ship to America.
Related links
La Belle et la Bête. The French-language text of Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont.
Le Prince de Beaumont: A French-language site dedicated to "Belle et la Bête et son auteur," including a reproduction of the original French test.
Beauty and the Beast, an article from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
The Internet Movie Database listing for the film La Belle et la bête (1946), directed by Jean Cocteau.
The Internet Movie Database listing for Philip Glass's opera La Belle et la bête, synchronized to be sung as an alternate soundtrack to Jean Cocteau's film.
Beauty and the Beast, additional folktales of type 425C.
Cupid and Psyche, the classic tale of an abandoned wife's search for a lost and enchanted husband, by the Roman writer Lucius Apuleius (born about 124).
The Singing, Springing Lark, a version of "Beauty and the Beast" recorded by the Grimm brothers.
East of the Sun and West of the Moon, an animal bridegroom tale from Norway.
D. L. Ashliman's folktexts, a library of folktales, folklore, fairy tales, and mythology.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
6.23.09 MAY YOU LIVE FOREVER
THANKS SO MUCH FOR A GREAT FATHER'S DAY especially since i don't really deserve to be recognized as such...you are all very gracious kids..must get that from mom! nate, saw your h.f.d. card on my eating desk as i was running out to the library so thanks in advance of reading..well finally worked through email and details and got 8.5 hours in today on my first interior job since january. GOD IS GOOD! this is painting the interior of a house and then God has provided two more jobs that are waiting. GOD IS GOOD! God has showed me i am a wretch in need of Him and has revealed Himself to me as the One who saved me!!! GOD IS GOOOOD!!!
i am trying to get dearborn on 'paper' before it disappears from the mind..but writing you guys is first. i'm so filled up with God's goodness. i couldn't begin to describe what He and i have going on but i just hope i never wake up till its His eyes i'm looking into.
since reaching people with the gospel is currently on the brain would like to sharet the following which i got out of a small paper called 'glimpses of christian history'. ~'it was july 1706. the people of tranquebar, a small danish trading station on the coast of southeastern india, rejoiced to see the danish ship sophia anchoring in the deep waters. tamil boatmen rushed to offload the cargo. the captain who oversaw the transfer of goods became impatient and mercilessly whipped the boatmen. but one of the passengers, a 23 yr old german named bartholomaeus ziegenbalg (1683-1719), objected. "do not whip! they are people." to this the captain replied, "no, they are malabarians (ie. beasts)'. zeig had come for the express purpose of letting all people, high or low, know their privileges,rights and responsibilities before God. his deep respect for the tamil people, their culture and their traditions left an enduring impact on south india.. william carey, the celebrated english baptist missionary, is often called the 'father of the modern missionary movement, but he arrived in india in 1793. almost every method he later developed had already been tried by a pietist lutheran in tranquebar. pietism in germany was the fountainhead. in the late 1600's august hermann francke taught that evangelism and education went hand in hand. every person should be able to read the Bible in his language and learn some useful skill...by 1706 tranquebar (literally, village of dancing waves) was a mostly hindu population. zieg, trying to bridge the gap between europeans and indians learned to speak tamil, read tamil lit, carefully studied the ideas and practices of the people. in 1708 he confessed that his knowledge of the local culture had 'converted' him. he no longer viewed the tamil as uncivilized. he treated them as friends and earned their trust. he was committed to tamil christian converts practicing their faith within their own cultural setting. he was convinced that the gospel does not destroy culture, but transforms it from within. once a tamil medical doctor asked him, "should converted christians give up their culture and social status"? zeig replied, "no, converted tamils should not become europeans! conversion does not mean a change of outward appearance; rather it requires a change of mind and results in a transformed life". a prayer attributed to him is..'we must acknowledge that prayer was our all-important assistance to begin our high and weighty emplyment with courage, without fear of trouble and danger. for as we had no human being near us of whom we could ask advice as to how this or that should be begun, we went always to our dear Father in heaven and laid everything before Him in prayer and we were heard and supported by Him both in advice and in deed'.
this was one of the first things i read when arriving home from dearborn and made a deep impression. while out there immersed in contacts with many muslims originally from many middle east countries a certain warmth of a curious sort rose up in my heart toward them. it's not that i had what might be called 'good' experiences with them. i was clearly considered a stranger and an outsider...one of low standing in their eyes..as it appeared. nevertheless the warmth. i appreciate their passion and impulsiveness, their talkativeness, their openness to discuss and share their thoughts, their respect for others, their tender hearts sometimes showing through. if they converted it would be a tragedy if they were to become different than who God made them. i like them the way they are.
in the last while here i have written down so many things i want to share with you..much more than i am able. so i'll just share a few i jotted down while painting today. God has kept me from masturbating for a while. yesterday, upon arriving home there were the normal 'motions' of the evil spirit in my soul..things he usually does to 'soften me up' for the fall. i started to cry out to the Lord knowing that usually times of great positive things are followed by not so positive..the ups followed by the downs. and the thot came to mind about the great cloud of witness..the next thot was my mom and dad and i was encouraged to invite them into my bedroom with me when i got to the top of the stairs so they could watch me masturbate. i went in, laid down, went to sleep even though under heavy temptation for i had encountered a great host of externally (ravishingly!!!) beautiful women out in dearborn. (i would have never believed so many arab-type women were that externally beautiful). i think i'll try that the next time i have strong temptation. just looked up the verse here in the library...hebrews 12.1f 'wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses (all the people who are noted in chapter 11 for doing things 'by faith'), let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us...looking unto Jesus...' mommie come in and watch me. daddy come in too....
this came into my mind when i was painting the ceiling..when we, who call ourselves the church, refuse to confess our sins to one another and think of ourselves as 'good' (had a brother out in dearborn strongly react against my description of my inner (hidden) wretchedness which i find as very common in the church) and even go about condemning others for things we ourselves regularly do we reduce the church to a bunch of bland, insipid 'all-bran'-and-no-wheat flakes.
my Father is awesome in His love as seen in His discipline. last night got another emergency thing about what the central government is doing to our freedom to eat the food we want. when i tried to relay a call to action by PICFA against current legislation the computer immediately went kaflooe and bound me up so that i could not do anything and when i finally, in frustration, was able to actually log off..i couldn't get back on!! this has been happening more and more whenever i try to do anything political . its as if He is saying, steve, I told you I don't want you to be involved in that. so He loves me! He won't let me do what i want but spanks me. i must have been a half hour in conniptions.
i regularly do two things. first, i tend to bump my head. did that on the ceiling today. boy did that hurt because i usually bump it right on the little button on top the painter baseball cap. second, i tend to not think about what i am doing. this leads to bumping my head (cause, i guess, i'm thinking of something else instead of watching where i'm going), losing things, having to retrace my steps over and over again because i have to go back again and again for things i need. i've thot a bit about this and sense that these two things may be spiritual metaphors for 1) being headstrong and not moldable and yielded and sensitive to God's will 2) not being focused on what i am doing from a spiritual point of view. like approaching a situation thotfully before God rather than just diving into it with no thot. thinking about what i am saying..what impression am i giving..what impression am i giving by what i do (a brother out there is struggling with gluttony. i noticed it early on by some things he did when we were eating together. then we were in a restaurant where everyone got huge platters and he systematically cleaned up one after another...i started noticing that what he was doing was being silently watched by others. it was like watching a movie of myself at THE TABLE..unfortunately i didn't have enough of Jesus' love to talk with him about it). so everytime i forget something or do something mindlessly or bump my head i am being reminded by my Father to come to Him and seek His help to change. may He help me so to do.
gotta go. hope you have a good week. love, dad
i am trying to get dearborn on 'paper' before it disappears from the mind..but writing you guys is first. i'm so filled up with God's goodness. i couldn't begin to describe what He and i have going on but i just hope i never wake up till its His eyes i'm looking into.
since reaching people with the gospel is currently on the brain would like to sharet the following which i got out of a small paper called 'glimpses of christian history'. ~'it was july 1706. the people of tranquebar, a small danish trading station on the coast of southeastern india, rejoiced to see the danish ship sophia anchoring in the deep waters. tamil boatmen rushed to offload the cargo. the captain who oversaw the transfer of goods became impatient and mercilessly whipped the boatmen. but one of the passengers, a 23 yr old german named bartholomaeus ziegenbalg (1683-1719), objected. "do not whip! they are people." to this the captain replied, "no, they are malabarians (ie. beasts)'. zeig had come for the express purpose of letting all people, high or low, know their privileges,rights and responsibilities before God. his deep respect for the tamil people, their culture and their traditions left an enduring impact on south india.. william carey, the celebrated english baptist missionary, is often called the 'father of the modern missionary movement, but he arrived in india in 1793. almost every method he later developed had already been tried by a pietist lutheran in tranquebar. pietism in germany was the fountainhead. in the late 1600's august hermann francke taught that evangelism and education went hand in hand. every person should be able to read the Bible in his language and learn some useful skill...by 1706 tranquebar (literally, village of dancing waves) was a mostly hindu population. zieg, trying to bridge the gap between europeans and indians learned to speak tamil, read tamil lit, carefully studied the ideas and practices of the people. in 1708 he confessed that his knowledge of the local culture had 'converted' him. he no longer viewed the tamil as uncivilized. he treated them as friends and earned their trust. he was committed to tamil christian converts practicing their faith within their own cultural setting. he was convinced that the gospel does not destroy culture, but transforms it from within. once a tamil medical doctor asked him, "should converted christians give up their culture and social status"? zeig replied, "no, converted tamils should not become europeans! conversion does not mean a change of outward appearance; rather it requires a change of mind and results in a transformed life". a prayer attributed to him is..'we must acknowledge that prayer was our all-important assistance to begin our high and weighty emplyment with courage, without fear of trouble and danger. for as we had no human being near us of whom we could ask advice as to how this or that should be begun, we went always to our dear Father in heaven and laid everything before Him in prayer and we were heard and supported by Him both in advice and in deed'.
this was one of the first things i read when arriving home from dearborn and made a deep impression. while out there immersed in contacts with many muslims originally from many middle east countries a certain warmth of a curious sort rose up in my heart toward them. it's not that i had what might be called 'good' experiences with them. i was clearly considered a stranger and an outsider...one of low standing in their eyes..as it appeared. nevertheless the warmth. i appreciate their passion and impulsiveness, their talkativeness, their openness to discuss and share their thoughts, their respect for others, their tender hearts sometimes showing through. if they converted it would be a tragedy if they were to become different than who God made them. i like them the way they are.
in the last while here i have written down so many things i want to share with you..much more than i am able. so i'll just share a few i jotted down while painting today. God has kept me from masturbating for a while. yesterday, upon arriving home there were the normal 'motions' of the evil spirit in my soul..things he usually does to 'soften me up' for the fall. i started to cry out to the Lord knowing that usually times of great positive things are followed by not so positive..the ups followed by the downs. and the thot came to mind about the great cloud of witness..the next thot was my mom and dad and i was encouraged to invite them into my bedroom with me when i got to the top of the stairs so they could watch me masturbate. i went in, laid down, went to sleep even though under heavy temptation for i had encountered a great host of externally (ravishingly!!!) beautiful women out in dearborn. (i would have never believed so many arab-type women were that externally beautiful). i think i'll try that the next time i have strong temptation. just looked up the verse here in the library...hebrews 12.1f 'wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses (all the people who are noted in chapter 11 for doing things 'by faith'), let us lay aside every weight and the sin which doth so easily beset us...looking unto Jesus...' mommie come in and watch me. daddy come in too....
this came into my mind when i was painting the ceiling..when we, who call ourselves the church, refuse to confess our sins to one another and think of ourselves as 'good' (had a brother out in dearborn strongly react against my description of my inner (hidden) wretchedness which i find as very common in the church) and even go about condemning others for things we ourselves regularly do we reduce the church to a bunch of bland, insipid 'all-bran'-and-no-wheat flakes.
my Father is awesome in His love as seen in His discipline. last night got another emergency thing about what the central government is doing to our freedom to eat the food we want. when i tried to relay a call to action by PICFA against current legislation the computer immediately went kaflooe and bound me up so that i could not do anything and when i finally, in frustration, was able to actually log off..i couldn't get back on!! this has been happening more and more whenever i try to do anything political . its as if He is saying, steve, I told you I don't want you to be involved in that. so He loves me! He won't let me do what i want but spanks me. i must have been a half hour in conniptions.
i regularly do two things. first, i tend to bump my head. did that on the ceiling today. boy did that hurt because i usually bump it right on the little button on top the painter baseball cap. second, i tend to not think about what i am doing. this leads to bumping my head (cause, i guess, i'm thinking of something else instead of watching where i'm going), losing things, having to retrace my steps over and over again because i have to go back again and again for things i need. i've thot a bit about this and sense that these two things may be spiritual metaphors for 1) being headstrong and not moldable and yielded and sensitive to God's will 2) not being focused on what i am doing from a spiritual point of view. like approaching a situation thotfully before God rather than just diving into it with no thot. thinking about what i am saying..what impression am i giving..what impression am i giving by what i do (a brother out there is struggling with gluttony. i noticed it early on by some things he did when we were eating together. then we were in a restaurant where everyone got huge platters and he systematically cleaned up one after another...i started noticing that what he was doing was being silently watched by others. it was like watching a movie of myself at THE TABLE..unfortunately i didn't have enough of Jesus' love to talk with him about it). so everytime i forget something or do something mindlessly or bump my head i am being reminded by my Father to come to Him and seek His help to change. may He help me so to do.
gotta go. hope you have a good week. love, dad
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
6.10.09 PRAYER FOR ARAB FESTIVAL (DEARBORN, MICHIGAN) 6.16-22
6.13.09 p.m.-
update- just learned that there are now 6 instead of 8 going to dearborn. one man fell off a ladder and will be out of work a number of weeks, another was in a headon collision.
please pray -
-for at these two men as they recover that they will be filled with the joy of the Lord
-that God will put a prayer burden on us
-that we may be taught of the Lord as we go through training
-that the Holy Spirit would lead as to who we talk with and how we interact with each one
-Lord, draw to dearborn those You have prepared!!!
God bless you and thank you for your prayer.
george saieg, a converted muslim who is now a pastor in california has been given a vision to evangelize muslims. he and some others are coming to dearborn, michigan for the arab festival, a giant 3-day block party yet family-oriented (it's over father's day) type of thing that celebrates the muslim culture. it is said to attract over 300,000 muslims from the united states and canada for the largest yearly gathering of muslims in the united states at this time.
8 men (including joe domico, frederick gogel, matt mcclosky,charles neusch, jesse padua, stephen paine,and gustavo solis), headed up by denny barger, who has a ministry to arab christians called dreamsalive, will be going out to join pastor saieg and his group.
i understand that there is a witness for Christ there by some churches and organizations. our group, as i understand it, will not have a booth but will be out in the crowds evangelizing. again, as i understand it at this time, we will be sharing the gospel and handing out Jesus dvd's. EXCITING!
tomorrow, 6.12, we will be fasting in preparation. sunday night, 6.14, the 8 of us hope to meet at a church service in thorofare, new jersey. our flight is scheduled to leave philadelphia tuesday afternoon, 6.16. the first several days there will be training and prayer in preparation for the festival which takes place friday 6.19, i believe, from about 5 to 11 pm, then saturday and sunday from noon to 11 pm. we plan to fly back monday a.m. 6.22.09. our prayer is that as God may bring this to mind you would be led to pray with us for this mission.
PRAYER NEEDS:
1. give me/us Your VISION of the crying spiritual need , the tremendous spiritual opportunity surrounding me/us each moment of each day. joel 3.14 'multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision' john 4.35-8 'do you not say, 'there are yet four months and then comes the harvest'? behold, I say to you LIFT UP YOUR EYES AND LOOK on the fields, that they are white for harvest. already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. for in this case the saying is true, 'one sows and another reaps'. I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.'
2. help me/us constantly REST in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross for me/us. ephesians 2.4-6 'but God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, MADE us alive together with Christ..and RAISED us up with Him and SEATED us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus'.
3. fill my/our heart with the LOVE of Jesus! matthew 9.36 'seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and thrown down like sheep without a shepherd.
4. grant me/us an OPEN DOOR to share the love of Jesus! I corinthians 16.9 'for a wide door for effective service has opened to me and there are many adversaries'. colossians 4.2-3 'DEVOTE yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving, praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ..'
5. grant me/us BOLDNESS of speech ephesians 6.19 'and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel'
6. grant me/us CLARITY of understanding in proclaiming and defending the gospel colossians 4.4 '..that i may make it clear in the way i ought to speak.
7. enable me/us to STAND in the victory Christ has won II corinthians 2.14-16 'but thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. for we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. and who is adequate for these things?'
8. OPEN HEARTS to believe You, Lord! acts 16.14 'a woman named lydia..was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul'.
9. may each JESUS DVD i/we hand out be seen by and sown in many more hearts than just the one who receives it II thessalonians 3.1 ..pray for us that the word of the Lord will run and be glorified'.
10. may many HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS matthew 5.6 'blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be satified'.
11. give us TEAM UNITY psalm 133.1 'behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity'. philippians 1.27 'only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether i come and see you or remain absent, i may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel..'
12. guide our LOGISTICS and ORGANIZATION I corinthians 14.40 'but all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner'.
13. give me/us grace to have a GOOD AUDIENCE AT THE MOSQUE lk. 2.52 'and Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man'.
14. give me/us good relations with LAW ENFORCEMENT acts 19.36-7 '..you ought to keep calm and to do nothing rash. for you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess'.
15. grant me/us SAFETY psalm 91 'he that dwelleth in the secret place of the tabernacle of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. i will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in Him will i trust'. surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with His feathers and under His wings shalt thou trust. His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. thou shalt not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flieth by day, nor of the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor of the destruction that wasteth at noonday. a thousand shall fall at thy side and 10,000 at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee. only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. because thou hast made the Lord which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation there shall no evil befall thee. neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. for He shall give His angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways. they shall bear thee up in their hands lest thou strike thy foot against a stone. thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder. the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under foot. because he has set his love upon Me therefore will i deliver him. i will set him on high because he has known My name. he shall call upon Me and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him. with long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.'
16. grant Holy Spirit led, local ministry/individual FOLLOW UPS on each person whose heart You will be touching there and beyond matthew 28.19-20 'MAKE DISCIPLES..baptizing them..teaching them to observe all that I commanded you..'
17. give Your Church around the world over to Your command to GO OUT AND INVITE AND COMPEL , by the love of Christ and the proclamation of His gospel, muslims to come to Your feast matthew 22.8-9 ' then He said to his slaves, 'the wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. GO therefore to the main highways and as many as you find there, INVITE to the wedding feast'. luke 14.23 'and the master said to the slave, 'GO OUT into the highways and along the hedges and COMPEL them to come in, that my house may be filled'.
18. bring in ABUNDANT spiritual FRUIT through me/us to Your glory amos 9.13-4 'behold, days are coming, declares the Lord, when the plowman will overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; when the mountains will drip sweet wine and all the hills will be dissolved..I will restore the captivity of My people israel'. romans 2.28-9 'he is not a jew who is one outwardly..but he is a jew who is one inwardly..of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter..'
in anticipation of dearborn i have been meditating a bit on spiritual warfare, as shown in ephesians 6.10-20, over the last few weeks.
the key verses for me are 10,11. 10 says 'be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might'. unless i am constantly looking to and depending on the Lord i am going to get blindsided. i can do nothing apart from Him.
11,expanding on this idea, says 'put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil'. strong's concordance says that 'put on' literally means 'sink into'. that was a help to me because, while i could form a mental picture of a bunch of armor with different name tags on each piece, i could never make much sense of the whole picture from a spiritual point of view. what did it all really mean? but i can relate to 'sink into'. it speaks to me of support and rest and, in a different way, identification with -if you will - oneness with something.
what are the pieces of armor?
1. TRUTH or reality..Jesus is the truth
2.RIGHTEOUSNESS..some commentators say the perfect, unchanging righteousness of Christ, others seem to make somewhat a case in my mind for our own righteousness for how can our heart be protected from attack when we are living in known sin? i came down on weighing the former idea heavy but not totally discounting the latter idea of righteousness. we all know however that for anything good we do... ALL the credit ultimately belongs to the Lord.
3. THE GOSPEL..the good news that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead to confirm that He has the power to not only forgive our sins but give us the gift of eternal life.
4. FAITH or trust in Him.
5. SALVATION or His deliverance from sin and death.
6. WORD OF GOD there are two words for 'word'. one has to do with the ideas that words explain (logos) and the other (rama) has to do with the actual utterance of the words. here the second word for 'word' is used so it pictures us speaking or uttering what God has spoken in the Bible.
7. PRAYER is not pictured as a piece of armor, but appears to be inseparable from it.
so if that's true and if what i reported above about the word 'put on' is true then this seems to say that i am to rest in, draw support from or identify with TRUTH, RIGHTEOUSNESS, THE GOSPEL, FAITH, SALVATION, THE BIBLE, PRAYER. when i look at these 7 words they all speak to me of Christ. objectively He is truth, righteousness, the good news, salvation, the living word which the written word reveals. subjectively He is the only focus of my faith and prayer. i am to rest in what He accomplished on the cross for me, draw support from the multitude of His promises and unchanging nature, identify myself completely with His righteous cause...i am to 'sink into' Him and lose my life to gain His.
in plain english then i need to be in Christ, to know Him as my Lord and Savior and walk with Him and talk to Him through each day and be ready to see Him in heaven at a moment's notice...i need to be girded with His reality!
i need to constantly remember and never forget who i am apart from His work on the cross..unbelievably wicked and yet (!) see that He, unbelievably, has covered my many treacherous and wicked ways with His perfect righteousness so that God may account me righteous being wicked!!! my heart is protected by His righteousness. as i work out my salvation He draws me to imitate His righteousness.
wherever i am i need to continually proclaim the gospel that is working to reconcile wicked men to a holy God.
i need to completely give up trying to deliver myself and take care of myself and entrust all that to Him.
i need to be filled with and overflow with the utterance of God's word wherever i am.
i need to pray without ceasing knowing that without His help i am doomed to fail at every turn. may God lead us all to continually rest in His completed work, walk with Him in His righteousness and stand with Him in victory against all that opposes Him!
well thanks for listening to me blather for a few minutes here and thanks in advance for any prayer God inspires you to breathe for this mission. eternity will show all.
update- just learned that there are now 6 instead of 8 going to dearborn. one man fell off a ladder and will be out of work a number of weeks, another was in a headon collision.
please pray -
-for at these two men as they recover that they will be filled with the joy of the Lord
-that God will put a prayer burden on us
-that we may be taught of the Lord as we go through training
-that the Holy Spirit would lead as to who we talk with and how we interact with each one
-Lord, draw to dearborn those You have prepared!!!
God bless you and thank you for your prayer.
george saieg, a converted muslim who is now a pastor in california has been given a vision to evangelize muslims. he and some others are coming to dearborn, michigan for the arab festival, a giant 3-day block party yet family-oriented (it's over father's day) type of thing that celebrates the muslim culture. it is said to attract over 300,000 muslims from the united states and canada for the largest yearly gathering of muslims in the united states at this time.
8 men (including joe domico, frederick gogel, matt mcclosky,charles neusch, jesse padua, stephen paine,and gustavo solis), headed up by denny barger, who has a ministry to arab christians called dreamsalive, will be going out to join pastor saieg and his group.
i understand that there is a witness for Christ there by some churches and organizations. our group, as i understand it, will not have a booth but will be out in the crowds evangelizing. again, as i understand it at this time, we will be sharing the gospel and handing out Jesus dvd's. EXCITING!
tomorrow, 6.12, we will be fasting in preparation. sunday night, 6.14, the 8 of us hope to meet at a church service in thorofare, new jersey. our flight is scheduled to leave philadelphia tuesday afternoon, 6.16. the first several days there will be training and prayer in preparation for the festival which takes place friday 6.19, i believe, from about 5 to 11 pm, then saturday and sunday from noon to 11 pm. we plan to fly back monday a.m. 6.22.09. our prayer is that as God may bring this to mind you would be led to pray with us for this mission.
PRAYER NEEDS:
1. give me/us Your VISION of the crying spiritual need , the tremendous spiritual opportunity surrounding me/us each moment of each day. joel 3.14 'multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! for the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision' john 4.35-8 'do you not say, 'there are yet four months and then comes the harvest'? behold, I say to you LIFT UP YOUR EYES AND LOOK on the fields, that they are white for harvest. already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together. for in this case the saying is true, 'one sows and another reaps'. I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.'
2. help me/us constantly REST in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross for me/us. ephesians 2.4-6 'but God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, MADE us alive together with Christ..and RAISED us up with Him and SEATED us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus'.
3. fill my/our heart with the LOVE of Jesus! matthew 9.36 'seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and thrown down like sheep without a shepherd.
4. grant me/us an OPEN DOOR to share the love of Jesus! I corinthians 16.9 'for a wide door for effective service has opened to me and there are many adversaries'. colossians 4.2-3 'DEVOTE yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving, praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ..'
5. grant me/us BOLDNESS of speech ephesians 6.19 'and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel'
6. grant me/us CLARITY of understanding in proclaiming and defending the gospel colossians 4.4 '..that i may make it clear in the way i ought to speak.
7. enable me/us to STAND in the victory Christ has won II corinthians 2.14-16 'but thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. for we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. and who is adequate for these things?'
8. OPEN HEARTS to believe You, Lord! acts 16.14 'a woman named lydia..was listening and the Lord opened her heart to respond to the things spoken by Paul'.
9. may each JESUS DVD i/we hand out be seen by and sown in many more hearts than just the one who receives it II thessalonians 3.1 ..pray for us that the word of the Lord will run and be glorified'.
10. may many HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS matthew 5.6 'blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they shall be satified'.
11. give us TEAM UNITY psalm 133.1 'behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity'. philippians 1.27 'only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether i come and see you or remain absent, i may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel..'
12. guide our LOGISTICS and ORGANIZATION I corinthians 14.40 'but all things must be done properly and in an orderly manner'.
13. give me/us grace to have a GOOD AUDIENCE AT THE MOSQUE lk. 2.52 'and Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature and in favor with God and man'.
14. give me/us good relations with LAW ENFORCEMENT acts 19.36-7 '..you ought to keep calm and to do nothing rash. for you have brought these men here who are neither robbers of temples nor blasphemers of our goddess'.
15. grant me/us SAFETY psalm 91 'he that dwelleth in the secret place of the tabernacle of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. i will say of the Lord, 'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in Him will i trust'. surely He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler and from the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with His feathers and under His wings shalt thou trust. His truth shall be thy shield and buckler. thou shalt not be afraid of the terror by night, nor of the arrow that flieth by day, nor of the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor of the destruction that wasteth at noonday. a thousand shall fall at thy side and 10,000 at thy right hand, but it shall not come nigh thee. only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. because thou hast made the Lord which is my refuge, even the Most High, thy habitation there shall no evil befall thee. neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. for He shall give His angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways. they shall bear thee up in their hands lest thou strike thy foot against a stone. thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder. the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under foot. because he has set his love upon Me therefore will i deliver him. i will set him on high because he has known My name. he shall call upon Me and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him. with long life will I satisfy him and show him My salvation.'
16. grant Holy Spirit led, local ministry/individual FOLLOW UPS on each person whose heart You will be touching there and beyond matthew 28.19-20 'MAKE DISCIPLES..baptizing them..teaching them to observe all that I commanded you..'
17. give Your Church around the world over to Your command to GO OUT AND INVITE AND COMPEL , by the love of Christ and the proclamation of His gospel, muslims to come to Your feast matthew 22.8-9 ' then He said to his slaves, 'the wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. GO therefore to the main highways and as many as you find there, INVITE to the wedding feast'. luke 14.23 'and the master said to the slave, 'GO OUT into the highways and along the hedges and COMPEL them to come in, that my house may be filled'.
18. bring in ABUNDANT spiritual FRUIT through me/us to Your glory amos 9.13-4 'behold, days are coming, declares the Lord, when the plowman will overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows seed; when the mountains will drip sweet wine and all the hills will be dissolved..I will restore the captivity of My people israel'. romans 2.28-9 'he is not a jew who is one outwardly..but he is a jew who is one inwardly..of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter..'
in anticipation of dearborn i have been meditating a bit on spiritual warfare, as shown in ephesians 6.10-20, over the last few weeks.
the key verses for me are 10,11. 10 says 'be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might'. unless i am constantly looking to and depending on the Lord i am going to get blindsided. i can do nothing apart from Him.
11,expanding on this idea, says 'put on the full armor of God, that you may be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil'. strong's concordance says that 'put on' literally means 'sink into'. that was a help to me because, while i could form a mental picture of a bunch of armor with different name tags on each piece, i could never make much sense of the whole picture from a spiritual point of view. what did it all really mean? but i can relate to 'sink into'. it speaks to me of support and rest and, in a different way, identification with -if you will - oneness with something.
what are the pieces of armor?
1. TRUTH or reality..Jesus is the truth
2.RIGHTEOUSNESS..some commentators say the perfect, unchanging righteousness of Christ, others seem to make somewhat a case in my mind for our own righteousness for how can our heart be protected from attack when we are living in known sin? i came down on weighing the former idea heavy but not totally discounting the latter idea of righteousness. we all know however that for anything good we do... ALL the credit ultimately belongs to the Lord.
3. THE GOSPEL..the good news that Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead to confirm that He has the power to not only forgive our sins but give us the gift of eternal life.
4. FAITH or trust in Him.
5. SALVATION or His deliverance from sin and death.
6. WORD OF GOD there are two words for 'word'. one has to do with the ideas that words explain (logos) and the other (rama) has to do with the actual utterance of the words. here the second word for 'word' is used so it pictures us speaking or uttering what God has spoken in the Bible.
7. PRAYER is not pictured as a piece of armor, but appears to be inseparable from it.
so if that's true and if what i reported above about the word 'put on' is true then this seems to say that i am to rest in, draw support from or identify with TRUTH, RIGHTEOUSNESS, THE GOSPEL, FAITH, SALVATION, THE BIBLE, PRAYER. when i look at these 7 words they all speak to me of Christ. objectively He is truth, righteousness, the good news, salvation, the living word which the written word reveals. subjectively He is the only focus of my faith and prayer. i am to rest in what He accomplished on the cross for me, draw support from the multitude of His promises and unchanging nature, identify myself completely with His righteous cause...i am to 'sink into' Him and lose my life to gain His.
in plain english then i need to be in Christ, to know Him as my Lord and Savior and walk with Him and talk to Him through each day and be ready to see Him in heaven at a moment's notice...i need to be girded with His reality!
i need to constantly remember and never forget who i am apart from His work on the cross..unbelievably wicked and yet (!) see that He, unbelievably, has covered my many treacherous and wicked ways with His perfect righteousness so that God may account me righteous being wicked!!! my heart is protected by His righteousness. as i work out my salvation He draws me to imitate His righteousness.
wherever i am i need to continually proclaim the gospel that is working to reconcile wicked men to a holy God.
i need to completely give up trying to deliver myself and take care of myself and entrust all that to Him.
i need to be filled with and overflow with the utterance of God's word wherever i am.
i need to pray without ceasing knowing that without His help i am doomed to fail at every turn. may God lead us all to continually rest in His completed work, walk with Him in His righteousness and stand with Him in victory against all that opposes Him!
well thanks for listening to me blather for a few minutes here and thanks in advance for any prayer God inspires you to breathe for this mission. eternity will show all.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
6.14.09 MAY YOU LIVE FOREVER!
since i hope to be in new jersey on sunday i am hoping to contribute to and finish early my e to you. found an old keaggy cd at calvary church of souderton's media center last week. it has two cd one of which, love broke through, has one of my all time favorites. it is a song through which God seemed to definitely say, back in my wild stallion days of reigning as king over God and man, 'steve, this is what i'm going to do with you'. i wept again, as i have wept many times in the past, as i heard it ,unexpectedly, after popping the cd in. 'wild horse' goes,
in the distance ther stands a wild horse
proud and persistent to run his own course
entering through no other doors
but those he has made for himself
in his own eyes, he's a prince of all
clever and wise, he heeds to no call
ever denies that he could fall
dependent on nobody else
as time went on he came upon the thought that
he was lonely
he felt no fear, he cried a tear
he knew he was not the only
the Rider whose name is True begins to seek
and He opens His eyes to find, His stallion meek
then came that moment, with no one in sight
but a horse with no name and the Rider in white
filled with compassion for his plight
the stallion He claimed for His own
as time had past there came at last
the lifting of His burden
His strength renewed, with gratitude and joy
He became a servant
the Rider has come in view, His form unique
and He's chosen to ride upon His stallion meek.
i've thot of it from time to time, this prophetic word spoken over me, but at long last heard it once again. the one keaggy that probably tops it is 'what a day!'...i can't wait to see my Lord...
in the distance ther stands a wild horse
proud and persistent to run his own course
entering through no other doors
but those he has made for himself
in his own eyes, he's a prince of all
clever and wise, he heeds to no call
ever denies that he could fall
dependent on nobody else
as time went on he came upon the thought that
he was lonely
he felt no fear, he cried a tear
he knew he was not the only
the Rider whose name is True begins to seek
and He opens His eyes to find, His stallion meek
then came that moment, with no one in sight
but a horse with no name and the Rider in white
filled with compassion for his plight
the stallion He claimed for His own
as time had past there came at last
the lifting of His burden
His strength renewed, with gratitude and joy
He became a servant
the Rider has come in view, His form unique
and He's chosen to ride upon His stallion meek.
i've thot of it from time to time, this prophetic word spoken over me, but at long last heard it once again. the one keaggy that probably tops it is 'what a day!'...i can't wait to see my Lord...
6.9.09 RESPONSE TO ABORTIONISMURDER ARTICLE
(to editor, john dunkle) Also, I am enclosing a response to a comment made by Josh Ryan during his exchange with Neal Horsley. Sincerely, Robert Weiler Jr.
To Josh Ryan, You said, “Jesus went around speaking the truth, not insulting everyone.” Apparently you don’t read your Scriptures:
“Ye hypocrites...” Matt. 15:7
“The Pharisees were offended...” Matt. 15:12
“You hypocrites...” Mark 7:6
“O generation of vipers...” Matt. 3:7
“A wicked and adulterous generation...” Matt. 16:4
“Ye are of your father the devil...” John 8:44
“If I should say, I know Him not, I shall be a liar like unto you...” John 8:55
Jesus pulled no punches. Once, He even used physical force and (*GASP*) a weapon to expel those desecrating his Father’s house. How much more would he approve of force to defend innocent lives (other than his own, which was set apart for sacrifice).
“He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.” Luke 22:36
And this is what happens to people like Josh.
john,
i appreciated robert weiler's quotes of Jesus' words. He, and we, speak frankly and unapologetically of evil and pray to God for its end and oppose it, if we have the grace to lose our freedom and possessions, by nonviolent, non-cooperation with an governmental system complicit with evil in this regard. He had no possessions and He lost His life through non-violent non-cooperation with evil. we are free to follow His example in opposing abortion if we wish.
i, however, disagree with making Jesus' use of (non-deadly) force as an argument for the private use of deadly force against evil. on another occasion while passing through samaria His disciples wanted him to call down fire from heaven on a village that rejected them. He looked at them and said something to the effect, 'you don't know what spirit you are of. I did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them'.
the God of the Bible has clearly put the use of deadly force in the ending of a life only in the hands of governmental authority and not in anyone's hands who has a just cause that has not recieved justice.
our government is a mere reflection of us. we are a nation who has diefied ourselves (among the multitude of our various personal/national sins we are talking about our deification of WOMAN and HER RIGHT TO DO AS SHE PLEASES). we have found the enemy and it is us. history is replete with numerous examples of governments who are give to punish people who reject Him and His law or bless those who fear and obey Him. taking deadly force in our own hands is a mistake we will realize before His judgment seat. abortion will be answered for there too for He has not given us in His word the option to end it by force. stephen paine
note: abortion is murder is a newsletter primarily built around the 15, since george tiller's death soon to 16 people, in prison for the use of force as a weapon against abortion (to which it is sent). it takes the position that private deadly force is justified in the face of an atrocity like abortion.
To Josh Ryan, You said, “Jesus went around speaking the truth, not insulting everyone.” Apparently you don’t read your Scriptures:
“Ye hypocrites...” Matt. 15:7
“The Pharisees were offended...” Matt. 15:12
“You hypocrites...” Mark 7:6
“O generation of vipers...” Matt. 3:7
“A wicked and adulterous generation...” Matt. 16:4
“Ye are of your father the devil...” John 8:44
“If I should say, I know Him not, I shall be a liar like unto you...” John 8:55
Jesus pulled no punches. Once, He even used physical force and (*GASP*) a weapon to expel those desecrating his Father’s house. How much more would he approve of force to defend innocent lives (other than his own, which was set apart for sacrifice).
“He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.” Luke 22:36
And this is what happens to people like Josh.
john,
i appreciated robert weiler's quotes of Jesus' words. He, and we, speak frankly and unapologetically of evil and pray to God for its end and oppose it, if we have the grace to lose our freedom and possessions, by nonviolent, non-cooperation with an governmental system complicit with evil in this regard. He had no possessions and He lost His life through non-violent non-cooperation with evil. we are free to follow His example in opposing abortion if we wish.
i, however, disagree with making Jesus' use of (non-deadly) force as an argument for the private use of deadly force against evil. on another occasion while passing through samaria His disciples wanted him to call down fire from heaven on a village that rejected them. He looked at them and said something to the effect, 'you don't know what spirit you are of. I did not come to destroy men's lives but to save them'.
the God of the Bible has clearly put the use of deadly force in the ending of a life only in the hands of governmental authority and not in anyone's hands who has a just cause that has not recieved justice.
our government is a mere reflection of us. we are a nation who has diefied ourselves (among the multitude of our various personal/national sins we are talking about our deification of WOMAN and HER RIGHT TO DO AS SHE PLEASES). we have found the enemy and it is us. history is replete with numerous examples of governments who are give to punish people who reject Him and His law or bless those who fear and obey Him. taking deadly force in our own hands is a mistake we will realize before His judgment seat. abortion will be answered for there too for He has not given us in His word the option to end it by force. stephen paine
note: abortion is murder is a newsletter primarily built around the 15, since george tiller's death soon to 16 people, in prison for the use of force as a weapon against abortion (to which it is sent). it takes the position that private deadly force is justified in the face of an atrocity like abortion.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
6.6.09 GOVERNMENT ATTEMPT TO CONTROL PRIVATE COMMERCE
PICFA is a larger activist group (on the pennsylvania state level) which is associated with CARE, of which i am a member in order to buy grassfed dairy products from a farmer in lancaster county. NAIS, i believe stands for national-animal-identification-system, and, as i understand it has the goal of giving identification to every (salable?) animal in our country with many malevolent consequent controls in view.
June 3, 2009 Dear fellow lovers of Freedom and Liberty,
As you may know, the USDA held a “Listening Session” concerning NAIS on May 14, 2009 in Harrisburg at the Farm Center Complex. Five other similar “Sessions” were held in various locations during the remainder of May. Seven more “Listening Sessions” are scheduled during this month, the last one being in Jasper, Florida on June 27, 2009.
Daniel Shirk, Kathy Cook and William Taylor Reil, the current PICFA Board of Directors, attended the May 14th Harrisburg “Listening Session” along with approximately 175 other individuals. The first hour of the morning session was spent by three USDA employees making presentations to all those in attendance. The rest of the morning was consumed primarily by very interesting 3 minute, plus or minus, passionate speeches by concerned farmers, ranchers, consumers and others against NAIS. Only four of the 27 speakers, who were chosen by a ticket lottery, spoke in favor of this USDA program. Mr. Reil not only spoke about the unconstitutionality of NAIS and the fraud being committed by those in government, but also submitted one of the three written papers handed in that day. Tom Maurer, after affectively speaking against NAIS, also submitted written comments to the USDA. Individuals can still submit their written comments to USDA Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack.
Kathy Cook and Ruth Hockley took pictures and video recordings of many of the morning speeches. The speeches against NAIS received loud applause for such statements as: NAIS is unconstitutional and the government has no authority to do this; NAIS will destroy small farms and ranches; The term “Mandatory” scares the heck out of me; “What part of NO don’t you understand?”; and repeatedly – “We will not comply!” The three afternoon breakout sessions were meant to deal only with 7 questions posed by the USDA as to how to make the objections to NIAS go away and to come up with ways to sell the program or “make it a system that everyone can support.” Based on reports about all three afternoon sessions, the passionate objections to NAIS being implemented at all continued despite the obvious plants’ and UDSA employees’ consistent attempts to guide the discussions toward the desired government agenda.
As planned, following the May 14, 2009 “Listening Session”, the PICFA Board of Directors had our monthly meeting on May 20th , with all Board members and several other PICFA members attending, to plan what we will do next to help stop the implementation of NAIS and its attendant “Premise ID” requirement in Pennsylvania.
It was decided that PICFA would: 1) prepare and serve a letter on each State Senator and Representative at their Harrisburg office in the Main Capitol Complex on June 1, 2009; 2) send a copy of that letter to all of you; 3) compile, copy and distribute supporting information and law that prove the unconstitutionality and destructive affect of NAIS and Premise ID; 4) prepare proposed legislation that will prohibit Pennsylvania from participating in NAIS and Premise ID; 5) build support and involvement for our positions among our members and other groups; 6) meet with State Legislators and work with them and their staffs to understand, support and get the legislation that stops NAIS implementation in Pennsylvania introduced and passed into law as soon as possible.
The first phase of our plan has been accomplished. A personalized letter, addressed to each State Senator and Representative, was hand delivered to their office in Harrisburg. The attached “general” letter is a copy of the letter which was served at each Legislator’s office. While delivering the letter, we had an opportunity to briefly speak with the secretary or a staff member of almost all of the Legislators about the letter and to tell them that we will be back to help them more fully understand the problems with and the solution to this very serious problem for our small farmers in Pennsylvania. Generally, the reception to our comments was sincere concern and support.
Sending this letter, with its attachment, to you is the second phase.
Now comes the hard work. We all need to get involved in this important effort and stay involved for the long run. We need to network with others of like minds and concerns to make this, or any other, plan successful. Apposing NAIS has always been and remains a major part of PICFA’s Vision and Mission. Obviously, we are continuing to move forward with this, and other, important work to reclaim our freedoms and liberties.
We need involved individuals all across Pennsylvania to contact their State Senator and Representative on an on going basis. The corporate forces will surely be doing the same in support of NAIS. We must make our voices personally heard in person and through repeated, written personal letters from constitutes.
Obviously, cash, for such things as copying, envelopes and postage, is also necessary to complete this PICFA mission. Please also consider this type of support. It is extremely essential that we all get actively involved now and continue to provide our individual talents and time toward this end.
Please contact Kathy Cook, by email at: PICFA@verizon.net or by snail mail at: PICFA, c/o P.O. Box 15, Rossville, Pennsylvania, 17358, to confirm your support and to let us know what you can personally do to help with the Anti-NAIS plan.
Together, and with God’s blessings, we can and will succeed. We look forward to hearing from you very soon.
Sincerely your,
PICFA Board of Directors
Pennsylvania Independent Consumers and Farmers Association
c/o P.O. Box 15Rossville, Pennsylvania 17358
June 1, 2009
State Senator (Full Name) or (State Representative) (Full NameRoom (Number), (Building)Main Capitol Complex Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120
Dear Senator (Last Name), or Dear Representative (Last Name)
We are writing this letter to you to express our sincere and profound concerns about the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) and its attendant “Premise Identification” requirement; and to respectively request that you introduce and/or support legislation that shall explicitly prohibit Pennsylvania’s participation in both NAIS and Premise ID.
As you may know, the USDA sponsored a “listening session” at the Farm Center Complex in Harrisburg on May 14, 2009. According to USDA Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, the “listening sessions” are being conducted “in strategic locations across the country to ask stakeholders for their solutions to overcome existing and new obstacles to implementing NAIS”. In other words, this federal government program, which was started by those within USDA approximately five years ago, is in trouble and the USDA wants to develop a marketing plan to “develop a system that everyone can support.”, or a “NAIS that we can all live with”.
Like many other government programs, NAIS is being sold as the only way to protect “public health and safety”. However, the evidence proves that these proposed systems have little or nothing to do with “public health and safety” and everything to do with international commerce and trade. While international trade may be important to very large commercial/ corporate farms and ranches, and to some of those in government, the NAIS and Premise ID government programs are very destructive to family farms and ranches. In fact, it should be apparent that any attempt to apply NAIS and/or Premise ID to private individuals, private property, private business and/or private contracts violates both the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Constitution for the United States of America.
Over the coming weeks and months, we in PICFA shall be compiling, copying and distributing documents which shall assist in understanding the truth about NAIS and Premise ID and their serious adverse affects on private farms and ranches in Pennsylvania.
We look forward to working with you and your staff in the necessary efforts to prevent NAIS
and Premise ID programs from being implemented in pennsylvania
Sincerely yours,
one of the myriad of battles raging right now across america. Lord, give us each the ability to do exactly what You want us to do. we cannot do everything. show us what to do each day. we know our hope and salvation is in You. we know all these woes have come upon us because of our myriad daily sins against You. bring us to repentance, Lord.
June 3, 2009 Dear fellow lovers of Freedom and Liberty,
As you may know, the USDA held a “Listening Session” concerning NAIS on May 14, 2009 in Harrisburg at the Farm Center Complex. Five other similar “Sessions” were held in various locations during the remainder of May. Seven more “Listening Sessions” are scheduled during this month, the last one being in Jasper, Florida on June 27, 2009.
Daniel Shirk, Kathy Cook and William Taylor Reil, the current PICFA Board of Directors, attended the May 14th Harrisburg “Listening Session” along with approximately 175 other individuals. The first hour of the morning session was spent by three USDA employees making presentations to all those in attendance. The rest of the morning was consumed primarily by very interesting 3 minute, plus or minus, passionate speeches by concerned farmers, ranchers, consumers and others against NAIS. Only four of the 27 speakers, who were chosen by a ticket lottery, spoke in favor of this USDA program. Mr. Reil not only spoke about the unconstitutionality of NAIS and the fraud being committed by those in government, but also submitted one of the three written papers handed in that day. Tom Maurer, after affectively speaking against NAIS, also submitted written comments to the USDA. Individuals can still submit their written comments to USDA Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack.
Kathy Cook and Ruth Hockley took pictures and video recordings of many of the morning speeches. The speeches against NAIS received loud applause for such statements as: NAIS is unconstitutional and the government has no authority to do this; NAIS will destroy small farms and ranches; The term “Mandatory” scares the heck out of me; “What part of NO don’t you understand?”; and repeatedly – “We will not comply!” The three afternoon breakout sessions were meant to deal only with 7 questions posed by the USDA as to how to make the objections to NIAS go away and to come up with ways to sell the program or “make it a system that everyone can support.” Based on reports about all three afternoon sessions, the passionate objections to NAIS being implemented at all continued despite the obvious plants’ and UDSA employees’ consistent attempts to guide the discussions toward the desired government agenda.
As planned, following the May 14, 2009 “Listening Session”, the PICFA Board of Directors had our monthly meeting on May 20th , with all Board members and several other PICFA members attending, to plan what we will do next to help stop the implementation of NAIS and its attendant “Premise ID” requirement in Pennsylvania.
It was decided that PICFA would: 1) prepare and serve a letter on each State Senator and Representative at their Harrisburg office in the Main Capitol Complex on June 1, 2009; 2) send a copy of that letter to all of you; 3) compile, copy and distribute supporting information and law that prove the unconstitutionality and destructive affect of NAIS and Premise ID; 4) prepare proposed legislation that will prohibit Pennsylvania from participating in NAIS and Premise ID; 5) build support and involvement for our positions among our members and other groups; 6) meet with State Legislators and work with them and their staffs to understand, support and get the legislation that stops NAIS implementation in Pennsylvania introduced and passed into law as soon as possible.
The first phase of our plan has been accomplished. A personalized letter, addressed to each State Senator and Representative, was hand delivered to their office in Harrisburg. The attached “general” letter is a copy of the letter which was served at each Legislator’s office. While delivering the letter, we had an opportunity to briefly speak with the secretary or a staff member of almost all of the Legislators about the letter and to tell them that we will be back to help them more fully understand the problems with and the solution to this very serious problem for our small farmers in Pennsylvania. Generally, the reception to our comments was sincere concern and support.
Sending this letter, with its attachment, to you is the second phase.
Now comes the hard work. We all need to get involved in this important effort and stay involved for the long run. We need to network with others of like minds and concerns to make this, or any other, plan successful. Apposing NAIS has always been and remains a major part of PICFA’s Vision and Mission. Obviously, we are continuing to move forward with this, and other, important work to reclaim our freedoms and liberties.
We need involved individuals all across Pennsylvania to contact their State Senator and Representative on an on going basis. The corporate forces will surely be doing the same in support of NAIS. We must make our voices personally heard in person and through repeated, written personal letters from constitutes.
Obviously, cash, for such things as copying, envelopes and postage, is also necessary to complete this PICFA mission. Please also consider this type of support. It is extremely essential that we all get actively involved now and continue to provide our individual talents and time toward this end.
Please contact Kathy Cook, by email at: PICFA@verizon.net or by snail mail at: PICFA, c/o P.O. Box 15, Rossville, Pennsylvania, 17358, to confirm your support and to let us know what you can personally do to help with the Anti-NAIS plan.
Together, and with God’s blessings, we can and will succeed. We look forward to hearing from you very soon.
Sincerely your,
PICFA Board of Directors
Pennsylvania Independent Consumers and Farmers Association
c/o P.O. Box 15Rossville, Pennsylvania 17358
June 1, 2009
State Senator (Full Name) or (State Representative) (Full NameRoom (Number), (Building)Main Capitol Complex Harrisburg, Pennsylvania 17120
Dear Senator (Last Name), or Dear Representative (Last Name)
We are writing this letter to you to express our sincere and profound concerns about the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) and its attendant “Premise Identification” requirement; and to respectively request that you introduce and/or support legislation that shall explicitly prohibit Pennsylvania’s participation in both NAIS and Premise ID.
As you may know, the USDA sponsored a “listening session” at the Farm Center Complex in Harrisburg on May 14, 2009. According to USDA Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, the “listening sessions” are being conducted “in strategic locations across the country to ask stakeholders for their solutions to overcome existing and new obstacles to implementing NAIS”. In other words, this federal government program, which was started by those within USDA approximately five years ago, is in trouble and the USDA wants to develop a marketing plan to “develop a system that everyone can support.”, or a “NAIS that we can all live with”.
Like many other government programs, NAIS is being sold as the only way to protect “public health and safety”. However, the evidence proves that these proposed systems have little or nothing to do with “public health and safety” and everything to do with international commerce and trade. While international trade may be important to very large commercial/ corporate farms and ranches, and to some of those in government, the NAIS and Premise ID government programs are very destructive to family farms and ranches. In fact, it should be apparent that any attempt to apply NAIS and/or Premise ID to private individuals, private property, private business and/or private contracts violates both the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the Constitution for the United States of America.
Over the coming weeks and months, we in PICFA shall be compiling, copying and distributing documents which shall assist in understanding the truth about NAIS and Premise ID and their serious adverse affects on private farms and ranches in Pennsylvania.
We look forward to working with you and your staff in the necessary efforts to prevent NAIS
and Premise ID programs from being implemented in pennsylvania
Sincerely yours,
one of the myriad of battles raging right now across america. Lord, give us each the ability to do exactly what You want us to do. we cannot do everything. show us what to do each day. we know our hope and salvation is in You. we know all these woes have come upon us because of our myriad daily sins against You. bring us to repentance, Lord.
6.6.09 REACTION TO TILLER'S MURDER
WASHINGTON - The Justice department announced late Friday afternoon that it is launching an investigation to see who else may have been involved in the murder of abortionist George Tiller.
Tiller was gunned down at his church in Witchita Kansas last Sunday. Authorities quickly tracked down and arrested a man believed to be the shooter. 51-year old Scott Roeder of Merriam, Kansas is now facing a first degree murder charge.
Pro-life groups who have long protested the thousands of abortions that Tiller has performed over the years, including late term abortions, were quick to condemn the Tiller murder.
But in its press release on Friday, the Justice Department made it clear that it believes others may have been involved in Tiller's death.
Here is how the press release reads : "The Department of Justice will work tirelessly to determine the full involvement of any and all actors in this horrible crime, and to ensure that anyone who played a role in the offense is prosecuted to the full extent of federal law," said Loretta King, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "We will conduct a thorough investigation that will complement and build upon the fine work of the Sedgwick County District Attorney and other state and local law enforcement agencies."
The Justice department's announcement also states " The federal probe will consist of a thorough review of the evidence and an assessment of any potential violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act) or other federal statutes. The FACE Act was enacted by Congress in 1994 to establish federal criminal penalties and civil remedies for violent, obstructionist or damaging conduct affecting reproductive health care providers and recipients."
In the wake of the Tiller murder, the U.S. Attorney General, Eric Holder, ordered the U.S. Marshals Service to "offer protection to appropriate people and facilities around the country." The directive was given in the apparent belief that other violent incidents might take place.
Some conservatives have questioned the extent of the reaction to the Tiller killing by the Justice department. They have pointed to an incident in Little Rock, Arkansas, on Monday of this week when a Muslim convert opened fire at a military recruiting center, killing one young man and wounding another. The conservatives have noted that there was no indication from the Obama administration that it feared there might be similar incidents at other military recruiting facilities or any attempt to link the Muslim man's actions to a possible larger Muslim campaign against U.S. military personnel or facilities.
And while President Barack Obama issued a statement saying he was "shocked and outraged" by the Tiller murder, he has made no public statements about the death of the young recruit in Little Rock.
ONENEWSNOW
Tiller was gunned down at his church in Witchita Kansas last Sunday. Authorities quickly tracked down and arrested a man believed to be the shooter. 51-year old Scott Roeder of Merriam, Kansas is now facing a first degree murder charge.
Pro-life groups who have long protested the thousands of abortions that Tiller has performed over the years, including late term abortions, were quick to condemn the Tiller murder.
But in its press release on Friday, the Justice Department made it clear that it believes others may have been involved in Tiller's death.
Here is how the press release reads : "The Department of Justice will work tirelessly to determine the full involvement of any and all actors in this horrible crime, and to ensure that anyone who played a role in the offense is prosecuted to the full extent of federal law," said Loretta King, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "We will conduct a thorough investigation that will complement and build upon the fine work of the Sedgwick County District Attorney and other state and local law enforcement agencies."
The Justice department's announcement also states " The federal probe will consist of a thorough review of the evidence and an assessment of any potential violations of the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act (FACE Act) or other federal statutes. The FACE Act was enacted by Congress in 1994 to establish federal criminal penalties and civil remedies for violent, obstructionist or damaging conduct affecting reproductive health care providers and recipients."
In the wake of the Tiller murder, the U.S. Attorney General, Eric Holder, ordered the U.S. Marshals Service to "offer protection to appropriate people and facilities around the country." The directive was given in the apparent belief that other violent incidents might take place.
Some conservatives have questioned the extent of the reaction to the Tiller killing by the Justice department. They have pointed to an incident in Little Rock, Arkansas, on Monday of this week when a Muslim convert opened fire at a military recruiting center, killing one young man and wounding another. The conservatives have noted that there was no indication from the Obama administration that it feared there might be similar incidents at other military recruiting facilities or any attempt to link the Muslim man's actions to a possible larger Muslim campaign against U.S. military personnel or facilities.
And while President Barack Obama issued a statement saying he was "shocked and outraged" by the Tiller murder, he has made no public statements about the death of the young recruit in Little Rock.
ONENEWSNOW
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
6.7.09 MAY YOU LIVE FOREVER!
this probably sounds crazy but the more i meditate on the spiritual man by watchman nee the more i sense that a big part of spirituality is the denial of things that are totally innocuous in themselves. Jesus said that the one who find his life will lose it but the one who loses his life, the same will find it. the reason i bring this up is that i have found myself thinking about, anticipating..you might even say, savouring the first game of the nba finals that is to air two nights from now (i write this on 6.2) . it occurred to me that maybe it was a bit too important so as an act of self-renunciation i decided to see the Lord's mind on it by casting lot. the lot said no. i may end up cheating but am thinking that even if i have to get out of the house i will not be seeing that game. a maxim is forming along the lines: do what you don't want to do and do not do what you want to do. (you guys know i would have fit in well as a monk) the lot is helping me to explore this and hopefully move in this direction. when a thot about something 'for myself' is more intent than some other thing that is for God then that seems to be a warning that maybe it is taking too high a place in my affections.
the ongoing journey as far as eating is now beginning to venture into the area of refusing non-organic things offered to me no matter how much i may want them! leena lakjer offered me an unopened bag of ocean spray craisins yesterday. i bit my tongue of desire and asked if they were organic and explained that i'm trying to establish a no-cheating policy where i am not someone's guest. i always take such offers, which come quite frequently, as license to not only cheat but to gourge and gluttonize. may God help me to deny my sin.
the Lord is making me more aware of how i subtly turn away from those who are 'ugly' to me - those who don't treat me well, those who don't act in ways that i approve of, etc. i have thot that i have turned away from being a pharisee but i less convinced of this these days. i think i may still be a roaring pharisee in the unconscious realm..and God may bring it to full light, hopefully. it has come to me that 'it is when you are ugliest that you most need to be loved' and say to myself 'its when you most instinctively want to turn away from, avoid, not talk to let alone be conversant with someone..it is that person, that 'ugly' person in your sight that you need to go toward and relate to. it comes to me that that is exactly the way God relates to me and i'm so grateful.
when i think of the women who have shown an interest in me only mom did not make me feel like i was something to be conquered and mounted as a trophy. who knows, she may have felt that way (i have no idea) but she was the closest to a genuine friend i've known among 'interested women' in my life. lately, having encountered any number of such experiences it has come to me that, at the deepest level, i am the beast who has never met his beauty. do you recall in the story of 'beauty and the beast' how the beauty, at the crisis point, flings herself on the beast thinking him dead and then tells him, finding him unexpectedly still alive, that she had thot of him differently but in this crisis realized that she truly could not live without him...and looking once again at him found him transformed into a handsome prince. we all know down deep that we are UGLY and so no matter whether we meet someone who truly can't live without us (and whom we cannot live without), we still have the privilege, in Jesus, of showing His disinterested (it's not at all about what He gets that causes Him to do what He does) love to others of both genders. who knows. if i get good enough maybe i will be able to see God transform those who are beasts all around me into those who will radiate His beauty.
a matrix is something within which something else originates or develops. it comes from the latin word for womb. you are living in the world's matrix. it is conforming you, pressing you into its mold from the outside. if you have been born of God, you are being (with your cooperation maybe) transformed (greek word we get metamorphisis describing the process by which a butterfly comes from the larvae cocoon) from the inside out. (romans 12.2) which is winning?
a guy from leidy church put me onto something probably everyone else knows but me. his geo metro 5-speed gets 53 mph! (years 1989-1995 are best)
keep hearing about the smart grid on kyw of all places..oh and have seen on tv commercials. they must be getting us ready for utopia...utter bliss and SLAVERY.
its now thursday night and it has continued raining off and on all week. yesterday i was totally rained out and continued my sisyphusian task of cleaning and organizing the basement. (my biggest accomplishment was sanding and rusty metal priming your highchair's metal parts as they were starting to rust - this in preparation for silas sitting in it on saturday night at aunt eileen's - its got to last at least another 70 years or so to make 100!) these torturous hours (i wish 54 would just blow up someday when i'm out working and i would then be ushered joyously into a possession-free existence!!!! and sell the property for what i could get and live in an efficiency - me and my one set of clothes and some organic food. you may guess, properly, that i am not high on home maintenance and upkeep.) i beguiled by listening to 'waking the dead by john eldridge and part of another audiobook i will return unfinished. biggest practical hit on me was the absolute essentiality of small group fellowship which shares and responds to and prays for the issues that each person is dealing with. it's back to my old house church vision.. the early church continued steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine and FELLOWSHIP and in the breaking of bread and prayer. i have been praying about focusing my attention on say 12 men. eldridge strongly encouraged the formation of a 'band of brothers'. at this point i am trying to reach out to about six men each week.
freedom house publishes annual reports on the state of freedom around the world rating on a 1-7 scale with i being most free and divides this into political freedom (pf) and civil liberties (cl). israel is pf1/cl2. it's neighbors egypt pf6/cl5, jordan5/5, syria 7/6, lebanon 5/4. oil rich saudi arabia, to whose king president obama bowed deeply at the waist, ranks 7/6. on freedom of press freedom house repots that of 18 countries in the middle eastern/north african area only israel has a free press. 11 have no free press (ie. jordan, syria, saudi arabia). despite being the youngest country in the region, israel's per capita gross domestic product is five times higher than the average of all its neighbors. also, despite having no great endowment of natural resources (mark twain on an 1867 visit to israel said, 'palestine is desolate and unlovely'.) its GDP per capita, at $24,097, is higher than soudi arabia's, $22,296, which has, by far, the world's largest oil production and reserves. the historic special relationship between the us and israel is based on similar values and traditions that have produced freedom and prosperity from virtually nothing. we do not denigrate arabs and muslims, however it seems abandoning our historic values and those who share them would not be wise.
it is now sunday afternoon and i have so many things to say and 17 minutes left on the library computer. coming over here the thot came that EVERYTHING YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND MAY BE A LIE. one for instance is in the fluctuation in the last year i prices of gas at the pump. after conceding that the average person has no intelligent understanding of how the price of gas is actually arrived at, even if any of us knew the true mechanics (market, meaning supply and demand, or otherwise) that determine the price of oil (gas) at any given time, the question comes, 'can the pattern of gas-price fluctuation be understood or explained'? does supply and demand adequately explain what is happening? hope you have a good week. love, dad
the ongoing journey as far as eating is now beginning to venture into the area of refusing non-organic things offered to me no matter how much i may want them! leena lakjer offered me an unopened bag of ocean spray craisins yesterday. i bit my tongue of desire and asked if they were organic and explained that i'm trying to establish a no-cheating policy where i am not someone's guest. i always take such offers, which come quite frequently, as license to not only cheat but to gourge and gluttonize. may God help me to deny my sin.
the Lord is making me more aware of how i subtly turn away from those who are 'ugly' to me - those who don't treat me well, those who don't act in ways that i approve of, etc. i have thot that i have turned away from being a pharisee but i less convinced of this these days. i think i may still be a roaring pharisee in the unconscious realm..and God may bring it to full light, hopefully. it has come to me that 'it is when you are ugliest that you most need to be loved' and say to myself 'its when you most instinctively want to turn away from, avoid, not talk to let alone be conversant with someone..it is that person, that 'ugly' person in your sight that you need to go toward and relate to. it comes to me that that is exactly the way God relates to me and i'm so grateful.
when i think of the women who have shown an interest in me only mom did not make me feel like i was something to be conquered and mounted as a trophy. who knows, she may have felt that way (i have no idea) but she was the closest to a genuine friend i've known among 'interested women' in my life. lately, having encountered any number of such experiences it has come to me that, at the deepest level, i am the beast who has never met his beauty. do you recall in the story of 'beauty and the beast' how the beauty, at the crisis point, flings herself on the beast thinking him dead and then tells him, finding him unexpectedly still alive, that she had thot of him differently but in this crisis realized that she truly could not live without him...and looking once again at him found him transformed into a handsome prince. we all know down deep that we are UGLY and so no matter whether we meet someone who truly can't live without us (and whom we cannot live without), we still have the privilege, in Jesus, of showing His disinterested (it's not at all about what He gets that causes Him to do what He does) love to others of both genders. who knows. if i get good enough maybe i will be able to see God transform those who are beasts all around me into those who will radiate His beauty.
a matrix is something within which something else originates or develops. it comes from the latin word for womb. you are living in the world's matrix. it is conforming you, pressing you into its mold from the outside. if you have been born of God, you are being (with your cooperation maybe) transformed (greek word we get metamorphisis describing the process by which a butterfly comes from the larvae cocoon) from the inside out. (romans 12.2) which is winning?
a guy from leidy church put me onto something probably everyone else knows but me. his geo metro 5-speed gets 53 mph! (years 1989-1995 are best)
keep hearing about the smart grid on kyw of all places..oh and have seen on tv commercials. they must be getting us ready for utopia...utter bliss and SLAVERY.
its now thursday night and it has continued raining off and on all week. yesterday i was totally rained out and continued my sisyphusian task of cleaning and organizing the basement. (my biggest accomplishment was sanding and rusty metal priming your highchair's metal parts as they were starting to rust - this in preparation for silas sitting in it on saturday night at aunt eileen's - its got to last at least another 70 years or so to make 100!) these torturous hours (i wish 54 would just blow up someday when i'm out working and i would then be ushered joyously into a possession-free existence!!!! and sell the property for what i could get and live in an efficiency - me and my one set of clothes and some organic food. you may guess, properly, that i am not high on home maintenance and upkeep.) i beguiled by listening to 'waking the dead by john eldridge and part of another audiobook i will return unfinished. biggest practical hit on me was the absolute essentiality of small group fellowship which shares and responds to and prays for the issues that each person is dealing with. it's back to my old house church vision.. the early church continued steadfastly in the apostle's doctrine and FELLOWSHIP and in the breaking of bread and prayer. i have been praying about focusing my attention on say 12 men. eldridge strongly encouraged the formation of a 'band of brothers'. at this point i am trying to reach out to about six men each week.
freedom house publishes annual reports on the state of freedom around the world rating on a 1-7 scale with i being most free and divides this into political freedom (pf) and civil liberties (cl). israel is pf1/cl2. it's neighbors egypt pf6/cl5, jordan5/5, syria 7/6, lebanon 5/4. oil rich saudi arabia, to whose king president obama bowed deeply at the waist, ranks 7/6. on freedom of press freedom house repots that of 18 countries in the middle eastern/north african area only israel has a free press. 11 have no free press (ie. jordan, syria, saudi arabia). despite being the youngest country in the region, israel's per capita gross domestic product is five times higher than the average of all its neighbors. also, despite having no great endowment of natural resources (mark twain on an 1867 visit to israel said, 'palestine is desolate and unlovely'.) its GDP per capita, at $24,097, is higher than soudi arabia's, $22,296, which has, by far, the world's largest oil production and reserves. the historic special relationship between the us and israel is based on similar values and traditions that have produced freedom and prosperity from virtually nothing. we do not denigrate arabs and muslims, however it seems abandoning our historic values and those who share them would not be wise.
it is now sunday afternoon and i have so many things to say and 17 minutes left on the library computer. coming over here the thot came that EVERYTHING YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND MAY BE A LIE. one for instance is in the fluctuation in the last year i prices of gas at the pump. after conceding that the average person has no intelligent understanding of how the price of gas is actually arrived at, even if any of us knew the true mechanics (market, meaning supply and demand, or otherwise) that determine the price of oil (gas) at any given time, the question comes, 'can the pattern of gas-price fluctuation be understood or explained'? does supply and demand adequately explain what is happening? hope you have a good week. love, dad
6.2.09 SAMARITAN MINISTRIES PRO RATA FUND
to whom it may concern:
the new way of administering pro rata seems to an entangling thing with funds sent to the central office and administered from there. i don't remember seeing this brought up and discussed before being instituted, but, though more efficient when looked at from one angle, it seems like you are taking on the role of an insurance company and thereby provide a wedge to enter and destroy this ministry-cum-organization by those who do not want anyone to fall outside government regulated health insurance. personally, it takes away my motivation to help and i will not be doing so from now on in pro rata situations. i believe God can more than make up with His blessing for what is 'lost' through inefficiency by His working directly through individuals to be a blessing to other individuals - which is what i thought samaritan ministries was all about. sincerely, stephen paine
the new way of administering pro rata seems to an entangling thing with funds sent to the central office and administered from there. i don't remember seeing this brought up and discussed before being instituted, but, though more efficient when looked at from one angle, it seems like you are taking on the role of an insurance company and thereby provide a wedge to enter and destroy this ministry-cum-organization by those who do not want anyone to fall outside government regulated health insurance. personally, it takes away my motivation to help and i will not be doing so from now on in pro rata situations. i believe God can more than make up with His blessing for what is 'lost' through inefficiency by His working directly through individuals to be a blessing to other individuals - which is what i thought samaritan ministries was all about. sincerely, stephen paine
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