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(Posted: 08/18/08 9:42am)This is one of the proofs that God can talk to us like bestfriends, face to face. He longs to have that relationship with us. Here is one of our conversations one night: K: Goodnight Dad G: Hello My dear seeker and servant. How are you doing? K: I'm a little ok. But David (not his real name) isn't. (sigh) It seems like the enemy has a tight hold on him. G: Yes, pretty strong. But not strongth enough for Me. PRAYER-it breaks the bonds. K: Dad, I was wondering....since You're God, why can't You just come and save him? G: Good question. Let's look at the Scriptures: In Second Corinthians, it speaks of the Israelites being covered with a veil, unable to truly see and grasp and understand. ''Only faith in Christ can take it away.'' (2 Cor. 3:14) ''Now the Lord is the Holy Spirit. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, freedom is there also. Our faces are not covered with a veil. We all display the Lord's glory. We are being changed to become more like him so that we have more and more glory. And the glory comes from the Lord, who is the...
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Posted by: newsong (Posted: 07/07/08 10:48pm)As I was reading my newly borrowed mini-book written by one of my fave christian authors;John C. Maxwell , America's top leadership expert, a quote from P.T. Frosyth has retained in my memory. According to him, "You must live with people to know their problems, and live with God in order to solve them". It has made me realized my reason for living. I wasn't born to pleased men, to compete with my colleagues, to build deep and lasting relationships. God has placed me on this earth to be an instrument of peace, a vessel of solution and a reflection of a victor! I'm so thankful and grateful to God for giving me a chance to read the book and identify the very authentic purpose of my being. I do pray now that God will use me mightily in helping those who are confused, sad and troubled and allow them to see light, feel at peace, taste God's goodness and hear joyful sounds....
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(Posted: 05/12/08 11:17pm)People who want to sell you things Last week in our women's bible study the subject of people who want to sell you things came up. In France, where I live, you have to put up with your phone ringing around dinner time (unless you put your number on a restricted list or flat out un-list it) and believe me, they do not take a simple "no" for an answer. Before I did go ahead and put my number on the list, this was a constant source of frustration to me. I would start out friendly and polite but my mood - and my politeness would quickly evaporate after I had said "no thank you I am not interested" for the third time. Patience is one of the fruits of the sprit I am still struggling with - a lot! Anyway - I no longer have to deal with the phone calls, but unfortunately they also come by and ring on your door. This has happened not only as I am in the middle of dinner - but I remember one time very clearly when I had just taken my contact out of my eye and the door bell rang......
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(Posted: 04/25/08 12:20pm)Recovery-Step 13 . . . Final Step or Eventual Death? It is becoming now more clear the there is a correlation between those who become involved the "new age" doctrine of the day are commonly active in some form or format of self-help groups or programs. They are looking to bridge over gaps they are experiencing and some how make links in their lives and discover who they "really' are. They become out of ignorance of what they are following, willing participants in this transformation. Some are simply desiring some form of "spirituality" or "awakening" and for those who see the Bible as being too harsh, "new age" doctrines, false doctrines, offer what they believe to be God's correction of our misunderstanding of the original message of Jesus. The are latching onto the "newly revised" message that is easier to digest. This "new message" becomes the "13 step" in an increasing number of recovery programs for those who are attempting to escape the rigid "rules of traditional Christianity" that has smothered them in the past. For them, the recovery process becomes a spiritual transformation in a format they can readily accept as their "new spiritual truths". The weaving of psychology...
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Posted by: greybear (Posted: 04/18/08 11:01am)No Problem with Guilt and Sin . . . They Don't Exist....Or Do They? A publication by the Foundation For Inner Peace has declared, "Sin is defined as only a 'lack of love.' Because love is, in reality, all there actually is, sin in the sight of the Holy Spirit is a just a simple mistake which only needs to be corrected, and should not ever be seen as an evil action or thought to be punished." The philosophy of the publication, a pamphlet, goes on to teach that there is absolutely no need to feel guilt because there is actually no sin, just a mistake. Sin does not and has not existed. The issues or struggles that men and women face are mere results of separation from love. This separation is only an illusion because the struggle likewise does not exist. It is only a reality when the individual gives life to the idea that they are not part of the divine, of God. The writing, The Text makes this point completely clear where it declares that "no one is punished for sins, and the Sons of God are not sinners." If this is the case, that there is...
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Posted by: bmrustia (Posted: 04/15/08 8:03pm)Does Your Preacher Make Sense? Benjie M. Rustia He who no longer reads should get out of the ministry -John Wesley Why is it that sometimes settling down with a good Christian book is better than sitting down on the pews of your church and found yourselves bored to empty words of a preacher behind the pulpit? It's just that when you do read you discover that reading life deepening books develop our spirituality more rapidly than mere listening to preachers who condemned themselves to obsolescence. (Don't be fraud about this, this a reality) We preferred to read because it is something that passes the time serenely and it alleviates ignorance, rather than endure listening to unfounded messages of our ill-equipped preachers. We should listen only to preacher who has oil on their forehead (Anointed) and has a library. I would suggest that let's not squander our time to the baloney preachers. This is a wakeup call for preachers to initiate and encourage good reading habits among their members in the church. Reading should not be estranged in the preacher because the most pitied preacher is the one who does not know how to read and pray before and after...
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Posted by: greybear (Posted: 04/15/08 12:01pm)It's All Love or It's Illusion . . . Or is it? Marianne Williamson, the author of the book "A Return To Love", publishes a book of just such a belief. Her focus surrounds the idea that we have "a natural way of focusing in on Love." Her premise in her text is that only love is real. Anything outside the realm of love is negative and therefore is only illusion. Anything outside the realm of Love simply does not exist in reality. Her readers are told that if anything negative is in your mind, it is only real because your thoughts of it give it reality in that you are holding it in your mind. According to the author, subjects like sickness, hate, pain, fear, guilt, and sin are all illusions held only in the mind. It goes on to note that "illusions are investments". Each subject existing outside of Love only lasts as long as you "hold it in your own reality". Each non-Love item will last only as long as a person values them. But if you want the non-Love subject to go-away, they can all be dispensed, as they are all illusions, when one simply withdraws...
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Posted by: bmrustia (Posted: 04/09/08 7:29pm)The Pursuit of Readers By: Benjie Rustia There are lots of reasons why we read. Some read just to fill their heads with knowledge so that they may feel superior or appear educated. Some read just to be informed or to acquire new ideas. Reading as such is useless and vain. Readers like these are to be pitied. Good readers read to grow and to transform. Readers should read to grow deeper and that is the reality of reading: the deeper you go the deeper the reward. Yes, reading as a pursuit in itself may satisfy at the surface level. But why stay there when we can dig deeper and find ever greater treasure? Books are necessary tools for digging deeper for knowledge where the ultimate goal is finding the treasure of truth. The primary requirement is for the reader to have a longing or a craving to reach truth and drive the shallowness away. Inwardly we should all long to get underway into the deep. We should become weary of shallow teaching and wary of idiotic writings that give us nothing but petty ideas and watered-down messages of seeming truth. Materials like these merely destroy our imagination and halt...
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Posted by: blessings2you (Posted: 03/30/08 9:51am)As an example of what happens when people "touch up" writing attempting to either make it better or more understandable; I present to you the original version of a very well known piece of writing called: "One Solitary Life". Here is the original as presented in a sermon in 1926 by Dr. James Allan Francis: "Let us turn now to the story. A child is born in an obscure village. He is brought up in another obscure village. He works in a carpenter shop until he is thirty, and then for three brief years is an itinerant preacher, proclaiming a message and living a life. He never writes a book. He never holds an office. He never raises an army. He never has a family of his own. He never owns a home. He never goes to college. He never travels two hundred miles from the place where he was born. He gathers a little group of friends about him and teaches them his way of life. While still a young man, the tide of popular feeling turns against him. One denies him; another betrays him. He is turned over to his enemies. He goes through the mockery of a...
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Posted by: sthammer (Posted: 03/04/08 4:04pm)And Elijah came to all the people, and said, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him." But the people answered him not a word. Then Elijah said to the people, "I alone am left a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. Therefore let them give us two bulls; and let them choose one bull for themselves, cut it in pieces, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it; and I will prepare the other bull, and lay it on the wood, but put no fire under it. Then you call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD; and the God who answers by fire, He is God." So all the people answered and said, "It is well spoken."Now Elijah said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one bull for yourselves and prepare it first, for you are many; and call on the name of your god, but put no fire under it." So they took the bull which was given them, and they prepared it, and called...
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Posted by: anointedzai902 (Posted: 01/03/08 5:43pm)OK i just wanted to share that a book call starving Jesus change my life and my walk with Christ . if you think u might want to read it , you can Google the book where you will find info on the book. its a convo between 2 ex pastor there view on what we as christian do and don't do . what wrong with our church's 2day and what we need 2 do 2 change it...i know it sound bad at first but you have 2 read it 2 understand. after they going to ow the came about all this and what god said to them how god can open our eyes 2 our sins it helps you 2 really want to do what we r suppose 2 on god green earth . .... not 2 tell you the whole book but yeah i hope and pray everyone reads it or at least looks into it . if u read it i would like 2 know what you thought god bless...
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Posted by: leemartone (Posted: 12/26/07 9:05pm)THE LOVE OF GOD For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God, did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but that the world through Him might be saved. {John 3:16-17 } The love of God is not the way you and me love. His love is far beyond our realm, we just cannot grasp all of it, but only what he gave us in His Word. Yahweh stepped down from heaven, not only to die for us; but also, so that we cannot say to him! God is up there, and we are down here, so how would He know how we human beings feel. We suffer sickness, disappointments, we go hungry, thirsty, our love ones die, and we suffer the loss. We feel deeply lonely, at one time or the other. We hurt when someone we love betrays us. We suffer shame at times. We also get tire, worry and cry. Well guess what! (Jesus Yeshua) has gone through all this and more. This is what the Bible has to say about Him. Isaiah 3:3-5...
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Posted by: snowflower (Posted: 11/11/07 9:22am)THE CHOICE He placed one scoop of clay upon another until a form lay lifeless on the ground. All of the Garden's inhabitants paused to witness the event. Hawks hovered. Giraffes stretched. Trees bowed. Butterflies paused on petals and watched. "You will love me, nature," God said. "I made you that way. You will obey me, universe. For you were designed to do so. You will reflect my glory, skies, for that is how you were created. But this one will be like me. This one will be able to choose." All were silent as the Creator reached into himself and removed something yet unseen. A seed. "It's called 'choice.' The seed of choice." Creation stood in silence and gazed upon the lifeless form. An angel spoke, "But what if he..." "What if he chooses not to love?" the Creator finished. "Come, I will show you." Unbound by today, God and the angel walked into the realm of tomorrow. "There, see the fruit of the seed of choice, both the sweet and the bitter." The angel gasped at what he saw. Spontaneous love. Voluntary devotion. Chosen tenderness. Never had he seen anything like these. He felt the love of the...
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Posted by: desertweave (Posted: 11/01/07 3:19pm)Hi everyone! This is my first blog here. I've been thinking about asking folks what books have impacted their christian lives the most, besides of course the bible. For me I would definitely have to say Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan. I see that it has been previously described by someone else here. But it really is an awesome allegory about our christian walk. The characters in the story have names that personify their characteristics. Names such as "Slovenly", "Prideful" or "Hope. It is a wonderful, graphic way of showing some of the choices that we make in our Christian walk. I read "Pilgrim's Progress" as a young christian and it was a wonderful read. Really made me think. There are versions out today that are for children, with wonderful illustrations, and I think, versions that update the language to be easier to understand today. It is a christian classic worth checking out!!...
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Posted by: slooper (Posted: 08/23/07 3:18pm)Here is a list of some of the books I have read over the years that have had a notable impact on my life as a Christian. They all provide some meaty content to ponder. "The Pilgrim's Progress" by Jon Bunyan - This timeless classic allegorizes the path of the Christian life and the challenges we face, from the City of Destruction (where we start, in a lost sense) to the Celestial City (Heaven.) In my opinion, this is perhaps the greatest literary work outside the Bible written in the English language, albeit Old English. John Bunyan really "got it" when it comes to understanding the Christian walk. "Shantung Compound" by Langdon Gilkey - A professor's story of being rounded up into a Japanese internment camp in China during World War II. The camp was composed of foreigners (non-Chinese) and included a potpourri of Christians; priests, nuns, pastors and missionaries, including Erik Liddell, Olympic Gold Medalist and the main character of "Chariots of Fire." These people were basically forced to organize a functioning community within the camp walls, with limited provisions provided by the Japanese, in order to survive. Prof. Gilkey alternates between telling of his experiences there and his...
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Posted by: cjhutchi (Posted: 07/20/07 5:20pm)So I've started reading this book The Journey of Desire (searching for the life we've only dreamed of) by John Eldredge, and man it has really got me thinking! I haven't read a book a book in a long time that I haven't been able to put down. He talks about the desires that humans have and for so long we are taught to suppress some of those desires and that in turn sanctifies us as Christians. (some desires need to be put away such as those that lead to sin, I understand that) But what I am wondering is what do I desire? I mean deep down? I really want to know because that is what God is here to do for us. When it says, I will give you the desires of your heart, I don't believe that is just what you are wanting or needing at that moment. He wants to give you that deep down desire that you have pushed away because you have thought it to be unreachable or unachievable. Jesus came to give us life and and life to the fullest and doesn't that mean giving us those desires. As I go further into...
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Posted by: beautifullife555 (Posted: 07/19/07 11:44am)Funny. I was ready to write about one thing when something else came to mind. I was looking at the word Pretend. I thought how interesting it is that the there is "pre" before "tend". Then I thought about how many times I feel that I have to "pre" tend something before I give it to the Lord. Before I come to Him with an attitude of just letting it all go. I try to pre-tend it. To make it better, to pretty it up a bit, as if He needed my help. Ahhhh that's making me laugh. He's so big, and I'm so in need of His amazing bigness. Smile. So the pretending thing hit me when I re-read my bio. It's the real deal. Where I am at this time in my life. No pre-tending just the real messy and good stuff of life. I was feeling a little exposed, asking myself why would I write that stuff for all to see. Then there was this answer inside of me...because I'm tired. I'm tired of pre-tending, I'm tired of trying to make it all better for myself and others. I don't want to hide from you, I want...
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Posted by: katejohnson77 (Posted: 05/14/07 4:39pm)Can there be any wonder in the following statment of Jesus? "He who loses his life, the same shall find it." However, I am interested in glory: my own glory, that is. I am interested in my own honor. I want the glory. I want the honor. I want the victory. These are my secret truths. How embarrassing to have you see me this way. C.S. Lewis taught me that my glory is none of my business; he taught me that my joy is none of my business. But your glory and your joy are every bit of my business. I must turn my back on my self-interested pursuits and turn toward my Maker and my fellow man and their interests, instead. Then, I shall come to life. To "lay down my life for another" is quite an adventure, if I do mention. To "lay down my own way of doing things for another's way of doing things" is a constant barrage of adventure. This is a sort of continous death. I wonder do I have the courage to die a little every day...every moment? G.K. Chesteton defined courage as a strong desire to live taking the form of a...
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Posted by: katejohnson77 (Posted: 04/07/07 8:15am)Here is a theory I entertain on rainy days. The current evidence this life provides me with suggests to me a state of war in this universe. And that this earth has the seeming symptoms of being a war ravaged country. The pain in this life is excessive, as in time of war. Even if, in your quarters, you are enjoying a moment's respite from the poverty, sickness, and death: not so with thy neighbor. And if we who are enjoying one of our momentary debriefings were to walk for a moment in the shoes of that neighbor we would see just what I mean when I say, "This means war!" We each gain a small sliver of the whole of reality which is life. This life is apparently much bigger than myself. Yet, I speculate that our God is a God of keepsakes. I speculate that He has something of a living motion picture camera, of the very ancient sort [of course]. I see God recalling his memory as He saw fit to edit it. I see the Bema Seat and think of God recalling His memory for all to see. But I think of this in terms of...
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Posted by: katejohnson77 (Posted: 04/06/07 7:47pm)Oh, False Knight I stand at the edge of a great forest. I begin to imagine far more than I see or hear. I look back at the beckoning fields and gentle, longing hills. I stare, pining. "Will you go with?" I think, knowing they surely hear. I slowly turn my head toward my fear. I feel the awe gathering round me as velvet blackness engulfing a place of fast fleeing light. I muse and I wonder until my sanity at last disappears over the horizon. I step from friendly meadow into perilous wood, reluctantly. The ordinary chatter of bird and brook is suddenly damped by the haunt of an unknown wood. Numinous silence comes absolutely and immediately. But with my step my sanity forgives me and returns. I draw a heavy breath to break the silence. There is a terrible and tumultuous sound coming from the west. "Make yourself known!" I bark. I brace myself to do battle with...it. "Sir Dread is my name." I imagine. I cannot not see the figure but I only hear a voice. The twilight ends and all light slips away. In the dark I am frozen. My imagination begins to have ado with...
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Posted by: godsharleyangel (Posted: 01/31/07 6:09pm)Hey there everyone. Hope you all are doing well tonight. Thought I would come in here tonight and ask a few questions. These are things that my Wednesday night church group are studying about right now. We just started a session on A book titled If You Want to Walk on Water, You Got to Climb Out of The Boat. By John Ortberg. Some of tonights questions were.... 1.) What kinds of things do you trust in, especially when life gets stormy, that help you feel comfortable and secure rather than fearful? Be Honest! 2.) Explain why you do or do not believe that God calls everyone who follows him to step out in faith and do something extraodinary. What does "stepping out in faith" look like? 3.) How would you define failure? 4.) Thus far in life, what has been your experience with failure? What has failure kept you from doing? What has failure done for you? So, what do you think of these questions? Do you have any answers for me? I can't wait to see if anyone out there has any opinions....
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Posted by: ertjiefish (Posted: 11/20/06 9:59am)Me again, wanted to share some more stuff that I wrote. A good friend of mine passed away recently and I wrote this with him in my mind. Hope you enjoy it. regards, EW Dear child: I brought you in to this world with deepest love. I helped you grow from tiny baby to a beautiful adult. You were one of the lucky ones, born with a gift to influence people when you meet them. I watched you every day, and walked beside you when you thought you were alone. Those around you felt your presence without you saying a word. I gave you many gifts to use as you thought would be most honorable to My name. Every night when you prayed, I sat next to you on the bed and listened to your words. Every time you sought guidance, I answered you in a way that I thought only you would understand. You have become an angel, My child. You are now a protector and a constant in the realm of heaven. Extraordinary people live past their own lifetime. They look at us from above and watch as we live our lives until we join them in the...
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Posted by: ertjiefish (Posted: 11/20/06 9:37am)Hi there. I was wandering around on the net and came across this site. (well actually i googled it) I wanted to share some of my writing with the people out there who are passionate about God... I am a strong-faithed follower. I do trail off on occasion, but seem to find my way back to God with help of others. Please enjoy the piece and any and all comments are welcome. regards, EW Early in the summer morn, I feel a presence to adorn. He walks beside me and holds me close. I feel a passion, it's me He chose. The Lord my God has taken me in, He has made me, His next of kin. My body aches and my knees are weak, He has rescued me from the meek. My hunger is still and my mind is clear, I have no pain, I have no fear. What a wonder, God lives in me. He made me wake up, He made me see. The miracle that is life makes sense again. He made all women, He made all men. I do not suffer, I do not need. With Him I am perfect to plant His seed. For now...
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Posted by: imitationofchrist (Posted: 10/05/06 4:46am)THE IMITATION OF CHRIST, by Thomas A. Kempis Book 1: Thoughts Helpful in the Life of the Soul The Sixth Chapter: Unbridled Affections WHEN a man desires a thing too much, he at once becomes ill at ease. A proud and avaricious man never rests, whereas he who is poor and humble of heart lives in a world of peace. An unmortified man is quickly tempted and overcome in small, trifling evils; his spirit is weak, in a measure carnal and inclined to sensual things; he can hardly abstain from earthly desires. Hence it makes him sad to forego them; he is quick to anger if reproved. Yet if he satisfies his desires, remorse of conscience overwhelms him because he followed his passions and they did not lead to the peace he sought. True peace of heart, then, is found in resisting passions, not in satisfying them. There is no peace in the carnal man, in the man given to vain attractions, but there is peace in the fervent and spiritual man....
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Posted by: imitationofchrist (Posted: 10/04/06 3:32am)THE IMITATION OF CHRIST, by Thomas A. Kempis Book 1: Thoughts Helpful in the Life of the Soul The Fifth Chapter: Reading the Holy Scripture TRUTH, not eloquence, is to be sought in reading the Holy Scriptures; and every part must be read in the spirit in which it was written. For in the Scriptures we ought to seek profit rather than polished diction. Likewise we ought to read simple and devout books as willingly as learned and profound ones. We ought not to be swayed by the authority of the writer, whether he be a great literary light or an insignificant person, but by the love of simple truth. We ought not to ask who is speaking, but mark what is said. Men pass away, but the truth of the Lord remains forever. God speaks to us in many ways without regard for persons. Our curiosity often impedes our reading of the Scriptures, when we wish to understand and mull over what we ought simply to read and pass by. If you would profit from it, therefore, read with humility, simplicity, and faith, and never seek a reputation for being learned. Seek willingly and listen attentively to the words...
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Posted by: imitationofchrist (Posted: 10/03/06 3:57am)THE IMITATION OF CHRIST, by Thomas A. Kempis Book 1: Thoughts Helpful in the Life of the Soul The Fourth Chapter: Prudence in Action DO NOT yield to every impulse and suggestion but consider things carefully and patiently in the light of God's will. For very often, sad to say, we are so weak that we believe and speak evil of others rather than good. Perfect men, however, do not readily believe every talebearer, because they know that human frailty is prone to evil and is likely to appear in speech. Not to act rashly or to cling obstinately to one's opinion, not to believe everything people say or to spread abroad the gossip one has heard, is great wisdom. Take counsel with a wise and conscientious man. Seek the advice of your betters in preference to following your own inclinations. A good life makes a man wise according to God and gives him experience in many things, for the more humble he is and the more subject to God, the wiser and the more at peace he will be in all things....
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Posted by: imitationofchrist (Posted: 09/25/06 4:42pm)THE IMITATION OF CHRIST, by Thomas A. Kempis Book 1: Thoughts Helpful in the Life of the Soul The Second Chapter: The Doctrine of Truth HAPPY is he to whom truth manifests itself, not in signs and words that fade, but as it actually is. Our opinions, our senses often deceive us and we discern very little. What good is much discussion of involved and obscure matters when our ignorance of them will not be held against us on Judgment Day? Neglect of things which are profitable and necessary and undue concern with those which are irrelevant and harmful, are great folly. We have eyes and do not see. What, therefore, have we to do with questions of philosophy? He to whom the Eternal Word speaks is free from theorizing. For from this Word are all things and of Him all things speak-the Beginning Who also speaks to us. Without this Word no man understands or judges aright. He to whom it becomes everything, who traces all things to it and who sees all things in it, may ease his heart and remain at peace with God. O God, You Who are the truth, make me one with You in...
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Posted by: imitationofchrist (Posted: 09/18/06 12:04pm)THE IMITATION OF CHRIST, by Thomas A. Kempis Book 1: Thoughts Helpful in the Life of the Soul The Second Chapter: Having a Humble Opinion of Self EVERY man naturally desires knowledge but what good is knowledge without fear of God? Indeed a humble rustic who serves God is better than a proud intellectual who neglects his soul to study the course of the stars. He who knows himself well becomes mean in his own eyes and is not happy when praised by men. If I knew all things in the world and had not charity, what would it profit me before God Who will judge me by my deeds? Shun too great a desire for knowledge, for in it there is much fretting and delusion. Intellectuals like to appear learned and to be called wise. Yet there are many things the knowledge of which does little or no good to the soul, and he who concerns himself about other things than those which lead to salvation is very unwise. Many words do not satisfy the soul; but a good life eases the mind and a clean conscience inspires great trust in God. The more you know and the better...
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Posted by: imitationofchrist (Posted: 09/14/06 5:27pm)THE IMITATION OF CHRIST, by Thomas A. Kempis Book 1: Thoughts Helpful in the Life of the Soul The First Chapter: Imitating Christ and Despising All Vanities on Earth HE WHO follows Me, walks not in darkness," says the Lord. John 8:12. By these words of Christ we are advised to imitate His life and habits, if we wish to be truly enlightened and free from all blindness of heart. Let our chief effort, therefore, be to study the life of Jesus Christ. The teaching of Christ is more excellent than all the advice of the saints, and he who has His spirit will find in it a hidden manna. Now, there are many who hear the Gospel often but care little for it because they have not the spirit of Christ. Yet whoever wishes to understand fully the words of Christ must try to pattern his whole life on that of Christ. What good does it do to speak learnedly about 2 the Trinity if, lacking humility, you displease the Trinity? Indeed it is not learning that makes a man holy and just, but a virtuous life makes him pleasing to God. I would rather feel contrition than know...
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