"I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord"

I love Thy kingdom, Lord,
The house of thine abode;
The church our blest Redeemer saved
With His own precious blood,
I love thy church, O God!
Her walls before Thee stand,
Dear as the apple of Thine eye,
And graven on Thy hand.

For her my tears shall fall,
For her my prayers ascend;
To her my cares and toils be giv'n,
Till toils and cares shall end;
Beyond Thy highest joy
I prize her heav'nly ways,
Her sweet communion, solemn vows,
Her hymns of love and praise.

Jesus, thou Friend divine,
Our Savior and our King!
Thy hand from ev'ry snare and foe
Shall great deliv'rance bring;
Sure as Thy truth shall last,
To Zion shall be giv'n
The brightest glories earth can yield,
And brighter bliss of heav'n.

--by Timothy Dwight and A.D. Everett

Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. Acts 20:28

23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Ephesians 5:23-27.

Sunset on the Java Sea

Numerous times I have travelled from Jakarta to Makassar (Ujung Pandang), the capital of South Sulawesi (formerly known in history and geography as Celebes). The flight across the Java Sea ("Laut Jawa" in Bahasa Indonesia) travelling from Jakarta east to Makassar takes about two hours. As one looks down upon the Java Sea on a clear day he may see the beautiful variation of colors below--emerald, turquoise, blue, and all shades in-between. The Java Sea is usually very calm. From time-to-time as one looks down upon it from the air, one will see coral reefs in all shapes and sizes. Many people travel to Indonesia for the purpose of diving and exploring many of the reefs and atolls. The seas of Indonesia are filled with all forms of life.

In Makassar, which is known for the production of gold, one may stay in a hotel across the street from the shore of the Java Sea. In the evening, one may sit in his hotel room and look west out the hotel window at the sea as the sun begins to set. As the sun drops lower and lower in the sky each moment changes the complexion of the sea and the land. As the night begins to darken in the east behind you, the sun appears to drop lower in the west, and the Java Sea seems to swallow the slowly sinking sun. As the sun begins to sink below the horizon it seems to grow much larger and turns a deep fiery orange color. Huge brilliant sunrays shine high in the sky from below the horizon. What an astounding view! Then, everything becomes dark, and one begins to pick out the lights of small houses on nearby islands and ships on the sea as they seek the harbor and safe haven. One may begin to see the small lanterns of little fishing boats as the night fishermen throw out their nets. They may stay out all night fishing for their living. Such is life on the Java Sea near South Sulawesi.

Ps 92:4 For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands.
Ps 102:25 Of old hast thou laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of thy hands.

'Brokeback Mountain': Rape of the Marlboro Man

David Kupelian, editor of WorldNetDaily, in an exclusive commentary sets forth a critical review of the movie "Brokeback Mountain." This critical review is worthy of reading.

[read the full article]

Fossil Hat

From "The Christian Courier," edited by Wayne Jackson, one may read an introduction to a very interesting article titled, "Fossil Hat." It is about a 50-year-old miner's hat that was found fossilized. It is another evidence that supports the possibility of a young earth, due to the fact of the relatively short time it takes for something to become fossilized. "Billions and billions" of years are not needed for fossilization as some claim; the fossilizing process may indeed be relatively short! You may click the link to read the full story on the website, "Answers In Genesis."
[read the full article]

You are invited...

God purposed it -- Ephesians 3:11

Christ died for it -- Ephesians 5:25

His blood purchased it -- Acts 20:28

The saved are added to it -- Acts 2:47

Surely YOU Should Investigate It!

We Invite You To Worship With

THE CHURCH OF CHRIST

Freedom

"Freedom is not a gift conferred upon a grateful people by a wise paternal government.
On the contrary, it is a value each individual must nourish in his everyday life and compel his government to safeguard."


"The driver is safer when the roads are dry;
the roads are safer when the driver is dry."

-authors unknown

Papua's "lost world" of wildlife

How wonderfully amazing it was to hear and read about the "lost world" of wildlife on the island of Papua. Papua is the western side of an island in far eastern Indonesia. The eastern half of the island is known as New Guinea. Reuters News Service reports that the highest summit of the Foja Mountains is 2,200 meters high. In the area under discussion the interior is 3,000 square kilometers of entirely untouched old growth tropical forest, supposedly never visited by humans! The exterior area of 7,500 sq.km. has been lightly visited but remains under original old growth forest cover.

This area is approximately the size of Luxembourg or the state of Rhode Island. The indigenous people do not enter the pristine interior. So much is yet unknown about this area, but so much is starting to come to light. Scientists and researchers are saying that they have just scratched the surface of what this area of the world holds. Some are saying it is, to them, like the Garden of Eden.

Just what has been discovered thus far? Forty (40) or more species of mammals have been discovered, including 6 types of kangaroos. Two-hundred-twenty-five (225) or more species of birds have been discovered, including 13 species of birds of paradise! Sixty (60) or more species of frogs have been discovered, including 20 species new to science. Five-hundred-fifty (550) or more species of plants have been discovered, 20 species of which are new to science. One-hundred-fifty (150) or more species of butterflies have been discovered, including 4 new species and several subspecies.

Additionally, a "six-wired bird of paradise" which appeared in the 19th century was found, but its' home had been previously unknown. A "Great White" Rhododendron, a species yet to be described, possibly the largest of any rhododendron species, was found. The "long-beaked echidna" a very rare and primitive egg-laying mammal that is little-known, was found. A "new frog" species was found. It is as yet undescribed.

It was reported that large mammals that have been hunted to near extinction elsewhere were in this area in abundance! (All of this from The Jakarta Post, p.1, 08 Feb. 2006).

When God finished His work of creation, the Bible says, "Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day" (Genesis 1:31). Everything was "good." The earth does not exist so that man may worship it. The earth is not to be man's object of worship. It is part of the creation, not the Creator. The One whom we are to worship is the Creator (God). And, we are taught to worship Him "in spirit and truth" (John 4:23-24; Exodus 20:3-6). God made the earth for man to use, to plow, to cultivate; and rivers, lakes, and seas from which to find his food for physical sustenance. As good stewards of what God has given for man to use, man should use with wisdom and care.

The earth has many wonders of nature that man may enjoy and properly use. Reports of new findings are truly exciting! "Indeed heaven and the highest heavens belong to the LORD your God, also the earth with all that is in it" (Deuteronomy 10:14). "The earth is the LORD'S, and all its fullness, The world and those who dwell therein" (Psalm 24:1; 1 Corinthians 10:26, 28).

Have a great day! spw

Customizing a blog site

There are numerous color themes and backgrounds from which to choose when customizing one's blog pages. Many themes are very interesting and attractive. I have tested a number of colors and I like several of them. If you return to this blog from time to time you may find that I am testing a different background. For the time being, I think I will stay with the current background.

You will notice if you look through the information I have provided on this blog site concerning my "Lists" or interests, that I have given somewhat generic information rather than specific book titles, song titles, movie titles, etc. It really does not matter exactly what specific books, songs, or movies I like. But, by mentioning the types or genre of books, music, and favorite actors, you may be able to have some insight into my interests, which are quite varied. You should know that the "lists" of information that I have provided are not necessarily given in the order or priorty in which I value them.

You may notice that I did not mention any interest in golf. Golf is very popular with many people--and that's fine. I am not against golf, I just have never had a burning desire to learn to play golf. In fact, I rarely watch it on television. The only kind of golf in which I have ever had an interest is miniature golf--something that most regular golfers seem to disdain. A few years ago, an acquaintance asked me to play golf with him. Knowing him as I did, I knew he would be on the golf course all day (maybe 8 hours or longer) and he would expect me to stand out in the hot boiling sun with him the whole time. He would want me to follow him to each hole, and I knew he would not be happy if I wimped out and went back to the clubhouse to sit in a relaxed atmosphere to drink a cold Coke while he continued to play. So, I declined, making it clear that I had no interest in golf, and had no desire to waste my time doing something which I have absolutely no desire to learn. Additionally, I have been under doctor's orders for many years to stay out of the sun as much as possible for health reasons. I explained all of that to the acquaintance. At the end of that day he was worn out from his golf game, and he was sunburned, and still upset with me because I did not go to the country club with him. His opinion was that one should have the same, or similar, interests in recreation and hobbies that he had. I disagree with that idea. One person should not become the clone of another. He once asked me, "Don't you have any hobbies?" Of course, I do. Just because one person likes something does not mean that everyone he knows must have the same interests. I did not become upset with my acquaintance because he did not have the same hobbies and interests as I (such as reading novels or learning HTML--website building, or maps, or whatever). Lest one might think that I have no interest in sports, I will say that I enjoy a brisk walk. I used to enjoy spelunking (cave exploration) -- a rather rigorous and dangerous sport or hobby (but compatible with having to avoid too much sun!). And, I enjoy Major League Baseball and basketball--not playing, but watching. To me, a sport or hobby should be enjoyable and uplifting, not something to be dreaded.

The world is an interesting place because every person is different from every other person in so many ways. I'm glad it is that way.

Have a good day!
spw

Introductory blog

Hi,

I am new to blogging. All of my thoughts and feelings, of course, will not be published on a blog. Some thoughts are private, thus, no one else's business. The Lord knows all of them, just as He knows the hearts and minds of all human beings. I do hope, however, to say something that will be helpful or enlightening in some way to those who wish to view and read this blog from time to time.

I have read some blogs where folks "spill their guts," so to speak. This is not that kind of blog. I will not use vulgar or profane language. The language of my blogs will be no worse or more coarse than the expression in the first sentence of this paragraph. But, I will speak from the heart. I will be happy to hear from you if you find anything here interesting, enlightening, or helpful to you. I do not think I have all the answers. I do, however, have "some" answers. I believe that God's word, the Bible, has the final answer to all religious questions that pertain to life and godliness, and the salvation of one's soul from sin, and salvation eternally in heaven, 2 Tim. 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:3-4.

A good and useful expression I heard many years ago is one that I have found beneficial over the years of my experience as a preacher of the gospel of Christ--"Keep your Bibles open and your hearts receptive to the truth." I suggest that is a good motto for this blog.

I will usually sign off with my moniker...spw

spw