“It is the stealing of the apple that is bad, not the sweetness. The sweetness is still a beam from the glory. That does not palliate the stealing. It makes it worse.” C.S. Lewis

 There is, of course, nothing wrong with enjoying the sweetness of an apple, but if it is made sweeter by stealing it, that is a terrible corruption. Lust only knows temporal pleasure at best, and its bitter consequences. Love embraces every pleasure in faith, and transforms it into an ever increasing and lasting joy.

“Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious! But they do not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of Hell.” Conversations Within” ts 10/8/2024

“A hypocrite is one who carries the name of Jesus Christ but not the nature of Jesus Christ.” Craig Owens

 Lord forgive, and deliver me from my own hypocrisy. I show such supreme arrogance when I judge another, before I judge myself. Your gentle and humble heart quietly beckons every day. Work this precious grace in me to adopt it.

“You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.” Jesus Conversations Within” ts 10/5/2024

Compassion spreads warmth in a cold, cold world

I watched someone stopping long enough to carry on a conversation with an old man in a Wal-mart; someone they didn't even know, but who was just looking for someone to talk with. I know someone who brought food and water to an dog left over a long weekend at an animal shelter drop off. He knew that no one would find it before they opened on Monday. Warms my heart.

“Be kind and compassionate…” The Good Book Conversations Within” ts 10/4/2024

I long for a different genre of consistency. I would be consistently agreeable to what I know is good, rather than consistently inconsistent to it.

 I prefer the fruit of living by what I know is good, rather than just following my feelings or desires. But, is this not a desire? It seems that in the end we always follow our strongest desire. It seems then that the key is to keep at the forefront those desires that are authentically good.

“I discipline my body and make it my slave...” 1Cor.9 Conversations Within” ts 10/3/2024

Never worry about what may or may never happen.

A wise approach to life is to just deal with what comes your way. It never helps to fret over it, or complain about it. Smile, then do what needs to be done. Don’t forget the smile, it really does help.

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Jesus Conversations Within” ts 10/2/2024