“Daddies don’t just love their children every now and then, it's a love without end, Amen.” George Strait

Yesterday I asked my wife to tell me something that she was absolutely sure about. Without hesitation, she replied, “I know you love me.” I have often consoled myself that if my wife, knowing all my faults and shortcomings loves me, then surely God loves me despite them as well. I am sure of it, not because I am worthy of His love but because He adopted me into His family knowing me better than anyone has or ever will.. He is the very definition of unconditional love. 

 "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1Jo.3.1 Conversations Within” ts 8/5/2020

“I resolve to speak ill of no man whatever, not even in a matter of truth...

and upon proper occasions speak all the good I know of everybody.” Benjamin Franklin

“...speak evil of no man .” Titus 3

If there is ever a time to hold our tongue it is when we are tempted to say something bad about someone. And, since the Christ life is not only mercy but grace, let me also speak what is good about people and especially tell it to them. Just as plants grow in the direction of the light, people grow in the direction of praise. When we express appreciation for some virtue we see in a friend, we are encouraging them to grow in that direction and hopefully away from the non-virtues they possess. This kind of thing will probably work for us as well. When we speak good to our own heart we will see grace reflected back in our actions. 6/21/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunter Hill, AL)

“I resolve to speak ill of no man whatever, not even in a matter of truth...

and upon proper occasions speak all the good I know of everybody.” Benjamin Franklin

“...speak evil of no man .” Titus 3

If there is ever a time to hold our tongue it is when we are tempted to say something bad about someone. And, since the Christ life is not only mercy but grace, let me also speak what is good about people and especially tell it to them. Just as plants grow in the direction of the light, people grow in the direction of praise. When we express appreciation for some virtue we see in a friend, we are encouraging them to grow in that direction and hopefully away from the non-virtues they possess. This kind of thing will probably work for us as well. When we speak good to our own heart we will see grace reflected back in our actions. 6/21/2011 Conversations Within ts (Gunter Hill, AL)

“The greatest enemy of any one of our truths may be the rest of our truths.” ~William James

“Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4

Some truths are more important than others. I mean it really doesn't matter much if my understanding of the mating habits of lizards is a tad off the mark. But to miscalculate the amount of air I have left in my scuba tank, even a bit, could have disastrous results. Christ's claim to be the way, the truth and the life is either of no consequence or the single most important truth there is. To dismiss such a claim will mean nothing or everything. Of course to say that you believe that He is the truth and then live in such a manner that ignores it, isn't much better than to disbelieve it all together. What good is knowing the value of air but diving in the depths without it. 5/6/2011 Conversations Within ts (Windsor Rock, AL)

“The greatest enemy of any one of our truths may be the rest of our truths.” ~William James

“Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” James 4

Some truths are more important than others. I mean it really doesn't matter much if my understanding of the mating habits of lizards is a tad off the mark. But to miscalculate the amount of air I have left in my scuba tank, even a bit, could have disastrous results. Christ's claim to be the way, the truth and the life is either of no consequence or the single most important truth there is. To dismiss such a claim will mean nothing or everything. Of course to say that you believe that He is the truth and then live in such a manner that ignores it, isn't much better than to disbelieve it all together. What good is knowing the value of air but diving in the depths without it. 5/6/2011 Conversations Within ts (Windsor Rock, AL)

“We hold these truths to be self-evident...” Declaration of Independence

“We hold these truths to be self-evident...” Declaration of Independence

“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.” Rom.1

Truths that I regard as self-evident may not be so to my neighbor. I believe there are truths that are absolute, always true and true whether I believe them or not. But not everybody believes this. The Bible teaches that God has put at least the seeds of His existence in every man even those who eventually grow to disbelieve in Him. The Scripture also affirm that there is enough evidence in nature not only to reveal God's existence but enough to leave men without an excuse when they are judged by Him for denying it. I doubt that men so judged will agree with their guilt. They do not do so now and it is not left to any believing person to condemn them for it. Jesus rebuked His disciples for such a condemning attitude. Rather than stand in judgment over men He told us instead to gently serve as further evidence of the value of trusting in God. 5/4/2011 Conversations Within ts (Windsor Rock, AL)

“We hold these truths to be self-evident...” Declaration of Independence

“We hold these truths to be self-evident...” Declaration of Independence

“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.” Rom.1

Truths that I regard as self-evident may not be so to my neighbor. I believe there are truths that are absolute, always true and true whether I believe them or not. But not everybody believes this. The Bible teaches that God has put at least the seeds of His existence in every man even those who eventually grow to disbelieve in Him. The Scripture also affirm that there is enough evidence in nature not only to reveal God's existence but enough to leave men without an excuse when they are judged by Him for denying it. I doubt that men so judged will agree with their guilt. They do not do so now and it is not left to any believing person to condemn them for it. Jesus rebuked His disciples for such a condemning attitude. Rather than stand in judgment over men He told us instead to gently serve as further evidence of the value of trusting in God. 5/4/2011 Conversations Within ts (Windsor Rock, AL)

“There are truths on this side of the Pyranees, which are falsehoods on the other.” Blaise Pascal

“We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” John

I suppose, in view of all the other religions of the world, one reason I am a Christian is because I don't know any other response to give to these words of John except to believe them. What sets the original disciples of Jesus apart from every other teacher of every other religion is their resounding claim to have witnessed a man three days dead, re-appear in the flesh not resuscitated but resurrected. They also humbly dedicated themselves to live by His teachings, one of which was the importance of truth and truthfulness. I can't believe, in light of their life testimony, that John or the other eye witnesses were liars and being an eye witness in my mind rules out any kind of blind religious fanaticism. Yet, to say such things, if they are not true, would make John and all the other apostles the biggest liars in history. For me to believe that would be like questioning the integrity of every person I know to be honest and truthful. The moral fabric of not only every honest person I know but the entire Western world stems from the teachings of these men. If people have the reputation of being good and decent folk and you know them to be of a sane mind why would you not believe them? 5/3/2011 Conversations Within ts (Windsor Rock, AL)

“There are truths on this side of the Pyranees, which are falsehoods on the other.” Blaise Pascal

“We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” John

I suppose, in view of all the other religions of the world, one reason I am a Christian is because I don't know any other response to give to these words of John except to believe them. What sets the original disciples of Jesus apart from every other teacher of every other religion is their resounding claim to have witnessed a man three days dead, re-appear in the flesh not resuscitated but resurrected. They also humbly dedicated themselves to live by His teachings, one of which was the importance of truth and truthfulness. I can't believe, in light of their life testimony, that John or the other eye witnesses were liars and being an eye witness in my mind rules out any kind of blind religious fanaticism. Yet, to say such things, if they are not true, would make John and all the other apostles the biggest liars in history. For me to believe that would be like questioning the integrity of every person I know to be honest and truthful. The moral fabric of not only every honest person I know but the entire Western world stems from the teachings of these men. If people have the reputation of being good and decent folk and you know them to be of a sane mind why would you not believe them? 5/3/2011 Conversations Within ts (Windsor Rock, AL)

“People who look through keyholes are apt to get the idea that most things are keyhole shaped.” Author Unknown

“Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth.” Eph.6 ESV

An evolutionist sees the world one way the creationist another; both are predisposed to understand every other thing in life by the belief they have about the origin of life. One looks at a tree and see as the product of natural selection the other sees the same tree as the expression of an Artist. One marvels at the result of mere time plus chance, the other has deep admiration for the intricate designs of a personal Engineer. Some people give thought to their presuppositions. Others take for granted the beliefs they take for granted. Why I believe what I believe seems an important question especially if I want a truthful view of reality. I don't mean a sincere view of reality; many a sincere folk have been wrong. I want to see reality as it really is, not just as I perceive it. If I don't wear the belt of truth around all my other beliefs, my pants might fall down in the heat of battle. What battle? The one that decides if there is any meaning to life. 5/2/2011 Conversations Within ts (Pisgah National Forest, NC)

“People who look through keyholes are apt to get the idea that most things are keyhole shaped.” Author Unknown

“Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth.” Eph.6 ESV

An evolutionist sees the world one way the creationist another; both are predisposed to understand every other thing in life by the belief they have about the origin of life. One looks at a tree and see as the product of natural selection the other sees the same tree as the expression of an Artist. One marvels at the result of mere time plus chance, the other has deep admiration for the intricate designs of a personal Engineer. Some people give thought to their presuppositions. Others take for granted the beliefs they take for granted. Why I believe what I believe seems an important question especially if I want a truthful view of reality. I don't mean a sincere view of reality; many a sincere folk have been wrong. I want to see reality as it really is, not just as I perceive it. If I don't wear the belt of truth around all my other beliefs, my pants might fall down in the heat of battle. What battle? The one that decides if there is any meaning to life. 5/2/2011 Conversations Within ts (Pisgah National Forest, NC)