“There’s a Mr. Hyde for every happy Jekyll face, a dark face on the other side of the mirror.” Stephen King

 I know too well the inner conflict of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I used to wonder if others have the same struggle. I am now confident that this malady is common to the human condition. I know it will not change so long as I remain in this body. Thank God, I am promised that the story will not end this way.

"What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Rom.7 Conversations Within” ts 10/9/2024

“Skepticism is slow suicide.” Emerson

It is a sad thing to watch the death of faith in someone. It sometimes happens when God does not answer a prayer the way they think He should. Acceptance of God’s answer is a part of a healthy faith, not that He will give us what we want, but in the character of God’s goodness when He says, “No”, or “wait”, or “I have something better in mind.”

“Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? Ps.78.19 Conversations Within” ts 10/8/2024

“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