MY ANCHOR HOLDS

Al Maxey’s latest reflection is “The Unshaken Kingdom.” It is a study of Hebrews
12;27-28.  Permit me to add verses 25 and 26.
“See to it that you do not refuse Him who speaks.  If they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, how much less will we if we turn away from Him who warns us from heaven? At that time His voice shook the earth, but now He has promised, “Once more I will shake not the earth but also the heavens.”  The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken, that is created things, so that what cannot be shaken may remain.  Therefore, since we are receiving a Kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”

The gospel, which is the message of the grace of God, is eternal.  Everything about us and the things of this world are temporary. Our soul, saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus as Christ, (Messiah-God sent) is eternal.
The message we need is found in the hymn “My Anchor Holds.”

We Have an Anchor
“Will your anchor hold in the storms of life,
when the clouds unfold their wings of strife?
When the strong tides lift, and the cables strain,
will your anchor drift, or firm remain?

We have an anchor that keeps the soul
steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love!

Will your anchor hold in the straits of fear,
when the breakers roar and the reef is near?
While the surges rage, and the wild winds blow,
shall the angry waves then your bark o’erflow?

Will your anchor hold in the floods of death,
when the waters cold chill your latest breath?
On the rising tide you can never fail,
while your anchor holds within the veil.

Will your eyes behold through the morning light
the city of gold and the harbor bright?
Will you anchor safe by the heavenly shore,
when life’s storms are past for evermore?

We have an anchor that keeps the soul
steadfast and sure while the billows roll;
fastened to the Rock which cannot move,
grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love!”

Don’t get hung up on the things that will be shaken.  Faith in Jesus will enable you to weather the storms of this life.  “There is still a firm foundation upon which we can stand and survive.  That sure and solid rock that is unmovable and unshakable is our Lord and His eternal Kingdom.” Al Maxey
Romans 5:1 “Therefore since we have been  justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.”

GOD’S COFFEE

A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. Conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life.
Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups: porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite, telling them to help themselves to the coffee.

When all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said, “If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones.  While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress.

Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink.
What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups.  And then you began eyeing each other’s cup.

Now consider this: Life is the coffee; the jobs, money and position in society are the cups.  They are just tools to hold and contain Life, and the type of cup we have does
not define, nor change the quality of Life we live.

Sometimes by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us.

God brews the coffee, not the cups.   Enjoy your coffee.

Selected from my file.  I received it from Jim Douglas January 2, 2007.
Jim died some years ago but he did enjoy his coffee.

DESPITE RISK, LINCOLN URGED ELECTION

i am a Lincoln buff.   Robert Shannon sent me an article from the Atlanta Journal Constitution dated August 9th.  The article was written by Calvin Schermerhorn, Professor of history at Arizona State University. This is interesting history and may speak to our time.

Abraham Lincoln 1864 was up for reelection. No president had won a second term for 32 years. Most importantly, no country had held an election in the midst of Civil War..
Thousand of Americans had been killed or wounded during this terrible Civil War and there was no end in sight.  There were those who urged Lincoln to resigned but he refused. Others, tried to get the  upcoming convention postponed. Our country was in a terrible upheaval.

Without scientific polling, Lincoln and his advisers predicted defeat. That did not matter to Lincoln.  His concern was for the union of the States.  The real issue for Lincoln, “the new birth of freedom,”.was most important.  His victory in the election, to him, was of less importance.. He even asked Fredrick Douglas, in case he lost the election, to help free enslaved people in rebel held areas.

The campaign was bitter. In spite of the hard times, Lincoln urged that the election be held. .Voting was urged.  General Grant made sure that soldiers voted by absentee ballot.  The mail-in ballots were sent. He even furloughed others to go home to vote in person.

Lincoln, who would go on to win the election assured the critics, “We cannot have free government without election.  We must not forgo, or postpone a national election.”

My thoughts: How much all of this sounds like our day. Our national election is caught in the middle of My ta WAR against a terrible disease.  We must not allow it to defeat us at the polls.  We must put our country FIRST AND VOTE.   Vote for the betterment of our USA. Vote in person or by mail, whatever is most convenient for you.

It is not a matter of asking God to bless America, rather pray for us to be a blessing to Him so He can bless us.  God can bless America as Americans seek to do His Will.

His will is freedom.  God has set us free through His Son, Jesus.
“You my brothers, were called to be free.   But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature, rather serve one another in love.”   Galatians 5:13..      .    .

SAYINGS

SAYINGS—Where did they come from? Bobby Autry got these from his brother.

BUYING THE FARM – This is synonymous with dying. During WW1 soldiers were given life insurance policies worth $5,000. This was about the price of an average farm so if you died you “bought the farm” for your survivors.
IRON CLAD CONTRACT – This came about from the ironclad ships of the Civil War. It meant something so strong it could not be broken.
RIFF RAFF – The Mississippi River was the main way of travelling from north to south. Riverboats carried passengers and freight, but they were expensive, so most people used rafts. Everything had the right of way over rafts which were considered cheap. The steering oar on the rafts was called a “riff” and this transposed into riff-raff, meaning low class.
SHIP STATE ROOMS – Travelling by steamboat was considered the height of comfort. Passenger cabins on the boats were not numbered. Instead they were named after states. To this day cabins on ships are called staterooms.
SLEEP TIGHT- Early beds were made with a wooden frame. Ropes were tied across the frame in a crisscross pattern. A straw mattress was then put on top of the ropes. Over time the ropes stretched, causing the bed to sag. The owner would then tighten the ropes to get a better night’s sleep.
SHOWBOAT – These were floating theatres built on a barge that was pushed by a steamboat. These played small towns along the Mississippi River. Unlike the boat shown in the movie “Showboat”, these did not have an engine. They were gaudy and attention grabbing which is why we say someone who is being the life of the party is “showboating”.
OVER A BARREL – In the days before CPR, a drowning victim would be placed face down over a barrel and the barrel would be rolled back and forth in an effort to empty the lungs of water. It was rarely effective. If you are over a barrel, you are in deep trouble.
BARGE IN – Heavy freight was moved along the Mississippi in large barges pushed by steamboats. These were hard to control and would sometimes swing into piers or other boats. People would say they “barged in”.
‘A SHOT OF WHISKEY’ – In the old west a .45 cartridge for a six-gun cost 12 cents, so did a glass of whiskey. If a cowhand was low on cash, he would often give the bartender a cartridge in exchange for a drink. This became known as a “shot” of whiskey.
HOGWASH – Steamboats carried both people and animals. Since pigs smelled so bad, they would be washed before being put on board. The mud and other filth that was washed off were considered useless “hog wash”.
HOT OFF THE PRESS – As the paper goes through the rotary printing press friction causes it to heat up. Therefore, if you grab the paper right off the press, it’s hot. The expression means to get immediate attention.

Now you know.  At least you have a better understanding of where some of our sayings come.

THREE CRUCIAL QUESTIONS

There are many questions which all of us face in this life.  Some do not matter, they are not that important.. .However, there are questions which must be faced and answered.

First, the question that everyone will answer either here or in the hereafter has to do with Jesus:  “WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?”.
This is the question which Jesus asked His disciples.  They first gave Him the speculations of the day as to what people thought.  But, He asked them for their answer.  The answer is heaven sent through Peter, “YOU ARE THE CHRIST (MESSIAH) THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD.”  Matthew 16:15-16
Everyone is confronted with this question, who is Jesus?  “THAT AT THE NAME OF JESUS EVERY KNEE SHOULD BOW, IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH AND UNDER THE EARTH, AND EVERY TONGUE CONFESS THAT JEUS CHRIST IS LORD TO THE GLORY OF THE FATHER.” . Philippians 2:10-11
You, everyone, will answer this question either willingly, lovingly or you will be forced to answer it in the judgment.

The second question is one that has never been answered.  “WHY? WHAT CRIME HAS HE COMMITTED?” asked Pilate of the crowd at Jesus’ crucifixion.
The crowd then, and all of us now, cannot answer this question because Jesus had committed no crime. No charge of evil can be laid against Jesus.  He was perfect.  He was and is the Son of God.  This is why He is our perfect example and our sacrifice..  “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from what He suffered and once made perfect, He became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey Him.”  Hebrews 5:9

The third question is one that no one has the answer.  WHEN WILL JESUS RETURN?
After Jesus resurrection from the dead, He ascended back to heaven. The disciples of Jesus were told at that time, “THIS SAME JESUS WHO HAS BEEN TAKEN FROM YOU INTO HEAVEN, WILL COME BACK IN THE SAME WAY YOU HAVE SEEN HIM GO INTO HEAVEN.”  Acts 1:11
When will Jesus return?  “NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT THE DAY OR HOUR, NOT EVEN THE ANGELS IN HEAVEN, NOR THE SON, BUT ONLY THE FATHER.”            Matthew 24:36:
We need the Scout’s motto, “Be Prepared.”  We must be ready any time and all the time.

The Christian, through the Bible, has the right answer to every one of these crucial questions.