Think on These Things

It has been said that politicians would not have to mend their fences so often if they had not sat on them so much. A man who straddles the fence isn’t going very far in any direction. In fact, he will be hung up for the rest of his life. Progress and the onward march of Christian moral values demand inspired and highly motivated leaders. Leadership is no place for men and women who hesitate to take a stand on critical issues; who look to see who is smiling at them or who is frowning at them before they cast their vote. Someone once said that we have the best leadership that money can buy. There is more truth than humor in that statement. Our Nation is wallowing in moral slime worse than anything since Sodom and Gomorrah. And it’s not only because of our leaders, it also because too many people have forgotten to pray for our Nation. Too many people have neglected their responsibility at the polls. If they vote at all, they choose to ignore candidates whose moral values are above reproach. They vote for candidates who promise everything but who stand for nothing. We get the leaders we deserve! God wants us to have the best. And He’ll help us get it if we will call on Him. Paul Graham

What remains of the Coliseum at Rome stands as an indictment of a pagan civilization which fed itself on the blood of both man and beast. Thousands of men, women and children and wild beasts were slain to please the blood-thirsty throngs. To the Romans, human flesh was good for nothing but to make a Roman holiday. The great Coliseum is gone, and so are the cries of the wounded and dying lying on the bloody sands of the Coliseum floor. But human nature did not change with the passing of time. It remains as the source of indescribable evils, and no human being is safe in the presence of untamed human nature. Almost 120 years before the Coliseum was dedicated, God sent His only Begotten Son into this world to save man from his own evil nature. Christ was sent as the "Foundation Stone" upon which men and civilization could build the lives. The offer is still being made. "Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." "I am come that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly." Considering the direction in which Nations are going and the speed at which they are traveling, we will be back in the Coliseum soon. The murder of millions of unborn children is certainly a giant step in that direction. The future is no brighter than the light that we take with us. Christ is the light of the world Our choices are simple--CHRIST OR CHAOS! Paul Graham

"The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America " was signed on July 4th, 1776. On July 8th, at noontime, it was proclaimed in the State House Yard in Philadelphia, and on July nineteenth it was proclaimed in Boston from the State House Balcony. John Adams wrote, "I am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure it will cost us to maintain this declaration and support and defend these states...I can see that the end is worth all the means...with solemn acts of devotion to God we ought to commemorate it." After a long and bloody battle for independence, our forefathers wrote a constitution to govern their Nation, and aside from the Bible, nothing has so altered the course of human history. But let us not forget that the constitution is no better than the people who are governed by it. Without the support of the people, the Constitution is no better than the paper on which it is written. Laws are written on paper, but unless they become property of the heart there will be no respect for nor obedience to the principles and laws set forth in it. This is what the Psalmist was talking about when he wrote: "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain. (Psa. 127:1) It is impossible to reverence the Constitution without reverencing God. And it is impossible for the Constitution to protect us if we evict God from our Government and our lives. Paul Graham

I'm sitting at my computer, surrounded by state of the art electronic devices, listening to beautiful Christian music while I compose this article. I am connected to the world through the internet. I can transmit or receive messages around the world. I am glad that we have so many ways to say things, but I am sad that so little is being said that has any lasting value. My father didn't have these magnificent methods of communication, but he did have some very important things to say. His precious words are still with me, and I know they will outlast all the vulgar trash that floods our airwaves today. My father's advice was excellent, and it wasn't because he was a genius; it was because his wisdom came from the Bible. He stayed in contact with God. He raised his family with a fourth grade education, a radio, a telephone, a Bible and place to pray. With these tools he enriched his life, instructed his family and left us rich is spiritual values. I don't want to go back! I just want to bring some of those things into our modern world. I am convinced that our society would be much happier if we had less to live with and more to live for. We trust in gadgets rather than in God. We boast that we can see, but we are blind; we glory that we are a Nation of wealth, but we are poor and naked. God help us recover our senses and return to the God of our forefathers. Paul Graham

When something comes along to disappoint, to discourage, to challenge us, we often remark, “Well, there’s the rub.” As if to say that anything contrary to our goal is considered a “rub”, a thing to detour us or defeat us. No so! An unknown author, writing almost one hundred years ago, gave us something to think about. Rub a bow over the strings of a well tuned violin and it becomes a beautiful melody. Rub your hands together when they are cold and it will bring warmth. There are rubs that remove wrinkles, and rubs that take away pain. My mother rubbed the dirty clothes and made they white again. The next time you are inclined to say, “there’s the rub”, consider this: it might just be the hand of God trying to turn your sorrow into a song. It might be God rubbing you to take away pain. Or maybe He is trying cleanse you and make you white and bright again.. The rub makes one person bitter while it makes another person better. Let the “rub” do its thing. You can choose which it will be--Bitter or Better. Paul Graham

I heard about a doctor who said to his patient, “You’re in good hands. I’ve performed this operation over fifty times. In fact, if I continue to have such good success, I think I’ll apply for a license.” If aspiring politicians were required to apply for a license and past a stringent test before they could run for office, our Country might be in better shape. It will never happen, but if people where required to pass a course in such things as communication, book keeping, budgeting, shopping, forgiveness, temperance, love, gentleness---you get the idea?---marriages would last longer and homes would be a more stable place to raise children. God has the best idea. “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it Prov. 22:6.” In Eph. 6:4, the Apostle Paul said that families should make sure that the training of their children included giving attention to the Lord, Jesus Christ. We have no right to claim an interest in the future when we neglect to include in the training of our children the teachings of the Bible. Paul Graham

There is an ancient story of a man who in his dreams was haunted by a veiled figure who always took from him every good thing he desired. If he dreamed of gaining a fortune, the figure took it away. If he dreamed of peace and joy, the figure took it away. If He dreamed of fame, the veiled figure ruined his reputation. When he dreamed of his wedding day, the veiled figure appeared and shouted, "I forbid this marriage." Finally the haunted man grabbed the veil and ripped it from the face of his adversary. To his utter shock, the face he saw was his own! This legend sets forth the truth that man is his own enemy. Men make or mar their own future. See how Adam tried to hold Eve accountable, and Eve tried to hold the serpent accountable, but God held each one of them accountable. Pharaoh murdered the male children of the Hebrews, but in due time the angel of death stretched its wings and flew across Pharaoh's kingdom, bringing death to the first born of every Egyptian home. Pharaoh had no one to blame but himself. There is a law of retribution at work in the universe. It neither fears nor favors any Nation or individual. In due time it will collect from you what you owe. "Be not deceived, God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall be also reap." Pay day will come some day unless men repent and come to terms with God. "Today is the day of salvation." "Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." Paul Graham

“Persistency of purpose is the secret to success," but please remember that persistency of purpose involves setting the right priorities and sticking with them. Whatever is necessary in reaching one’s goals must become a part of the goal itself. There are lots of inconsistencies in our society. A couple gets married and the first thing they want is an apartment or a home. Then they buy a car so that won’t have to stay home anymore than necessary. How to lose weight and where to park our cars are big problems, but hardly anyone wants to leave their car at home and walk. There was a time when people wanted to be millionaires, now they just want to live like one. Jesus advised us that setting our priorities on the right thing would bring a better life (Matt. 6:33). Paul achieved an abundant life by keeping his priorities on track (Phil. 3:13-14). The secret is out! Set your priorities according to God’s word and you can have the “abundant life” through Christ. Paul Graham

When Louis Jacques Mande’ Daguerre invented the photographic process known as “daguerreotype”, a German publication reported that “the desire to capture evanescent reflections was not only impossible, it was blasphemy. God created man in His own image, and no man-made machine may fix the image of God.” Edwin Land, in 1947, announced his “picture-in-a-minute” camera, and immediately a major photographic equipment dealer called it a gimmick that would not last. The Polariod Corporation is now one of the world largest makers of photographic products. Which suggests two things: One) one man’s wisdom is another man’s foolishness, and two) the man who says it cannot be done should not interfere with the man doing it. Two thousand years ago, Jesus of Nazareth conducted a teaching ministry in the hills of Judea. He claimed to have been sent from God. He even claimed that His message would someday be preached in all the world and that millions would follow His teachings. His generation responded by putting Him to death on a cross. But in the last two thousand years His teachings have been at the leading edge of societal revolution. Just another testimony to man’s foolishness. Paul Graham

Money is not in short supply, is only seems to be so. The problem is that a dollar won’t go as far today as it used to. But then, men won’t go as far for a dollar today as they used to. A lot of little boys wanted to hurry and grow up so they could wear long pants. Now they get to wear their pants longer than they ever dreamed they would. If you purchase quality merchandise and take good care of it, you’ll be stretching your dollars, and that’s just as good as getting an increase in your income. Are there any bargains around today? Of course there are. I found the best bargain of my life many years ago, and I am so glad I found it early in life so I could enjoy it for a long time. Here’s the bargain I found: I accepted Christ as my Lord and Savior and committed my life to studying and following His commandments. It was such an easy thing to do, and it cost me nothing. It was a free gift from God. I have never regretted it. I have “joy unspeakable”, and a “peace that passes all understanding.” I am living the “abundant life.” I have gone through a lot of cars and clothes and other goods and services in the last fifty years or more since I accepted Christ, but I have never had to replace Him. Paul Graham

In the poem, "The Happiest Heart", by John Vance Cheney, you will find these lines: "The rust will find the sword of fame, The dust will hide the crown; Ay, none shall nail so high his name Time will not tear it down." The point is well taken as long as it is applied to mortal men. But it can never be said of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. The Apostle Paul, when writing about Jesus Christ, said: "Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father., Phil. 2:9-11" "Jesus Christ is the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, to Him be honour and glory for ever and ever, I Tim. 1:17." He is the one who said, "I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. Rev 1:18." "The rust will never dull His sword, and the dust will never dim His crown." And the good news is that He invites every man, woman and child to enter His Kingdom. It is an everlasting Kingdom and those who enter it receive everlasting life. He is your ticket to life and immortality. It's the best offer you will ever receive. Paul Graham

A man who mashed his thumb with a hammer said that it was a good thing since it taught him to appreciate his thumb more. He said, “By actual count the first day I found that there were 257 things I had been using my thumb for without giving it a thought.” Two African Princes visited England. When asked what they would like to take with them as a parting gift, they replied that they would like a cold water faucet and a hot water faucet. They thought the faucets were things of magic. They did not comprehend the system that was back of them. We have a lot to live with in our Country. But we seem to have forgotten that material prosperity is nothing without the Spiritual and moral persuasion to live in peace and harmony with both God and man. The best part of life is not “things.” The best part of life is to know God the Father and Christ the Savior. America must turn back to God! Unless we do, the last living American won’t need to turn off the faucets for there will be nothing in them except rust. Paul Graham

I learned a long time ago that you can’t believe everything you hear, because if you do you will eventually lose everything you have. You might wind up like the fellow who read his name in the obituary column and then went out and shot himself. It is important in life to know who you can trust. Sooner or later you have to trust someone, and it’s getting more and more difficult to find that person. I know a lot of people who are trustworthy. I enjoy their company. Which is what makes me enjoy fellowship with Christ so much. I have known Him the better part of my life, and in all of that time He has never once been dishonest with me. He told me that that I could have life more abundantly if I would follow Him. I took Him at His word and I have never been disappointed. I trusted Him. You, too, can trust Him. When we all get to heaven, I’ll tell you, “I told you so”, and you can tell me that I was right about Him. See you there! Paul Graham

I recall a few lines of a poem: “There is a time, I know not when; a place, I know not where. It seals the destiny of men for glory or despair. There is a line unseen by man, it crosses every path. It is the boundary line between God’s mercy and His wrath.” Once or twice in a lifetime, a person’s road may led to a dividing point. His or her whole future may depend on a single decision, one short step. It could be a decision that leads to despair, or it could be a step that leads to health and happiness. It may, at that moment, seem slight in significance, but in time the importance of that time and place will tower over everything in your life. So make every decision carefully; take each step cautiously. Don’t fear that it might be your last step. Just remember that it is the first step in the rest of your life and you want it to be a step in the right direction. Jesus said, “I am come that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly.” And again He said: “I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life John 8:12.” The message is clear. The Light Road is the Right road. Paul Graham

Men used to say, “A man is no better than his word.” And that’s the truth. Words are really nothing. It’s the power of the personality behind them. Keep that in mind as you ponder the babble that comes out of the mouths of politicians and special interest groups. A spokesperson for the tobacco industry once said, "there is absolutely no proof that tobacco is harmful". What could be more criminal than a statement like that? A man is only as good as his word. Keep that in mind as you read the words of Christ and as you review the recorded moments of His life. Jesus stands behind everything He says. He promised to raise Himself from the dead…and He did! He promised to come again to this earth as King of Kings and Lord of Lords…and He will! No word of Christ will be void of the power to perform it. Men lie. Christ is the truth! Men kill and steal and destroy. Christ gives abundant life! Men are thieves. By deceit or force or by some other means, they take the wealth of others as the robbers did to the traveler on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. Christ takes our burdens and our misery, and replaces them with strength, peace and joy. You’ll never get a better deal. He promised to give abundantly, above all that we could ask or think...and He does…and he will! It's in His word. And behind His word is the untarnished character of Almighty God. Paul Graham