The Giftie gi'e us

"O wad some power the Giftie gi'e us
To see oorsel's as ithers see us."

The Scottish poet - Robert Burns

Give me the Love .......

"Give me the Love that leads the way
The Faith that nothing can dismay
The Hope no disappointments tire
The Passion that'll burn like fire
Let me not sink to be a clod
Make me Thy fuel, Flame of God."


"We profess to be strangers and pilgrims, seeking after a country of our own, yet we settle down in the most un-stranger-like fashion, exactly as if we were quite at home and meant to stay as long as we could. I don't wonder apostolic miracles have died. Apostolic living certainly has."

Amy Carmichael

Have you ever read a martyr's trial?

Articles or Charges against Michael Sattler (1527)

First, that he and his adherents have acted contrary to the mandate of the Emperor.

Secondly, he has taught, held and believed that the body and blood of Christ are not present in the sacrament.

Thirdly, he has taught and believed that infant baptism does not conduce to salvation.

Fourthly, they have rejected the sacrament of extreme unction.

Fifthly, they have despised and condemned the mother of God and the saints.

Sixthly, he has declared that men are not to swear before the authorities.

Seventhly, he has commenced a new and unheard of custom in regard to the Lord's supper, placing the bread and wine on a plate, and eating and drinking the same.

Eightly, he has left the order, and married a wife.

Ninethly, he has said that if the Turks should invade the country, no resistance ought to be offered them; and if it were right to wage war, he would rather take the field against the Christians than against the Turks; and it is certainly a great matter, to set the greatest enemies of our holy faith against us.

After his short defence which quoted Bible verses it is recorded "the judges laughed and put their heads together, and the town clerk of Ensisheim said, 'O you infamous, desperate villain and monk, shall we dispute with you? The hangman shall dispute with you, I assure you."

Michael said, "God's will be done."

The town clerk said, "It were well if you had never been born."

Michael replied, God knows what is good."

Town Clerk, "You arch-heretic, you have seduced the pious; if they would only now forsake their error, and accept grace."

Michael: "Grace is with God alone."
One of the prisoners also said, "We must not depart from the truth."

Town Clerk: "You desperate villain and archheretic, I tell you if there were no hangman here, I would hang you myself, and think that I had done God service."

Michael: "God will judge aright."
Thereupon the town clerk said a few words to him in Latin, what we do not know.

Michael Sattler answered him Judica.

The town clerk said, "The hangman shall convince you; he shall dispute with you, arch-heretic."

Michael: "I appeal to the Scriptures."

The judges arose, and went into another room, where they remained for an hour and a half, and determined on the sentence.

The judges having returned to the room, the sentence was read. It was as follows, "In the case of the Governor of his Imperial Majesty versus Michael Sattler, judgement is passed, that Michael Sattler shall be delivered to the executioner, who shall lead him to the place of execution, and cut out his tongue; then throw him upon a wagon, and there tear his body twice with red hot tongs; and after he has been brought without the gate, he shall be pinched five times in the same manner."

After this had been done in the manner prescribed, he was burned to ashes as a heretic. His fellow brethren were executed with the sword, and the sisters drowned. His wife, also, after being subjected to many entreaties, admonitions and threats, under which she remained very steadfast, was drowned a few days afterwards. Done the 21st day of May, A.D. 1527

from "The Martyrs Mirror"

Are we so weak that we won't even dispute the very things for which our spiritual forefathers were tortured and died at the hands of the Papists and Reformers? God have mercy upon our pitiful souls.

Dogs are human, too. Funny

From the Journal of Canine Psychology

Post Training Stress Syndrome - PTSS

Unrealistic expectations from high strung breeds can result in PTSS. Fortunately, PTSS is not a permanent canine psychotic condition. The most common symtoms are aggressive behaviors (excessive barking, growling, snapping and biting) and destructive behaviors (chewing furniture, clawing walls and tearing up lawns and flower beds). Symtoms usually appear immediately after training sessions and disappear after a few hours only to reappear with the next session.

Case Study

Ms. Mallon came to the clinic with her 2 year old wire haired fox terrior - a very active, yet friendly spayed female. It had been house trained as a puppy. Ms. Mallon was distraught because her pet, unlike her neighbor's poodle, could not "do tricks". "All I wanted to do", she explained, "was to teach her not to bark so much, to sit, to roll over, and to play dead with it's paws in the air. I just can't teach her to do anything no matter how hard I work at it. And every time I try she poops under my kitchen table. What can I do?"

I explained to her that some breeds are easily trained, like her neighbor's poodle. Others, especially terrier breeds, seem to have a mind of their own and will probably never "do tricks". Defecating under the table is simply her way of saying no, I don't like this. "She'll be just like she was before when you stop the training. Nothing is wrong with your dog, Ms. Mallon, it just doesn't want to sit down, shut up, roll over and play dead. Dogs are a lot like people."

The Souls of the Martyrs Cry Out

"I saw-----the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained. They called out in a loud voice, 'How long, Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until you--------avenge our blood?'"

"Vengence is mine, saith the Lord, I will repay." Rev. 6:9-10; Rom. 12:19

When I think about the multitudes of believers, my brothers and sisters, who have died for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ I am both humbled and strengthened.

I am humbled because they endured ridicule, persecution, poverty, imprisonment, torture and death for what they believed. And I have it so very easy and live in the lap of luxury.

I am strengthened in my innermost being by their heroic example of faithfulness and the strength of character they displayed.

In my spirit I hear them crying out to me, not for vengence - that belongs to God, but for steadfastness, for faithfullness, for convictions that will not waiver and for a faith that is worth more than life itself.

I hear the martyrs asking;
" Did we give our lives in vain?
Will you so easily lay aside
the very things for which we died?
Will you follow in our train?"

Yes, I will follow in their train.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every thing that hinders, and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus---"
Heb. 12:1

Friend or Foe?

Sometimes the person we think of as a friend could in reality be our worst enemy; likewise, the person we think of as an enemy could actually be the best friend we ever had.

For instance; The "friend" who supplies you with drugs or assists in other destructive behaviors is not a friend at all. A true friend would never hurt you or help you hurt yourself.

You may consider the cop who gave you a DUI an enemy, when he may haved saved you from permanent brain injury or many years in prison for killing someone in your drunken state. If he indeed saved you from something like that, and there is no way to know, you should look at him as one of the best friends you have ever had.

One of the cruelest things you can do is to tell a "friend" that everything is ok and that they will be all right because you don't want to hurt their feelings or injure your relationship. You may in reality be their worst enemy by withholding information they really need to know.

The Old Testament prophets were killed by those they were trying to help - because the people didn't like the message being delivered. Their friend was considered an enemy. The false prophet told them what they wanted to hear and aided in their destruction. Was he their friend? No, their worst enemy.

Jesus was accused of being demon possessed and doing miracles by the power of Satan because the "religious" people could not handle what He had to say. He was acting as a true friend but was considered an enemy. Actually He is the best Friend anyone could ever have.

Friend or Foe? Take another look from a different perspective. You might want to change your mind about who is friend and who is foe.

The Deepest Theological Truth

A famous and learned theologian was once asked, "What is the deepest theological truth."

His answer: Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.



The love of God is greater far than toungue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled, and pardoned from his sin.

When hoary time shall pass away, and earthly thrones and kingdoms fall;
When men who here refuse to pray, on rocks and hills and mountains call;
God's love, so sure, shall still endure, all measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam's race - The saints' and angels' song.

Could we with ink the oceans fill, and were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill, and every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above would drain the oceans dry;
Nor could the scroll contain the whole, tho' stretched from sky to sky.

Frederick M. Lehman