Integrity Without Knowledge

"Integrity without knowledge is weak and useless, and knowledge without integrity is dangerous and dreadful."

Dr. Samuel Johnson

March Marches On. Priorities, Priorities

I do not know why, but March of  2018 has been especially busy.  I guess I don't mind.  I like being busy.  However, I do not like to over plan,  and then not attend to those things I had planned to do.  This is especially important when considering that other people are depending on me to get things done.  I refuse to be a flake.  I refuse to "flake out" on my responsibilities.  I am no longer a young man, but I will not use use that as an excuse.  I will do those things that are expected of me.  I will not be distracted.  I have learned the hard way that there seems to be a force out there that tries to keep me from doing the things that I must do.  First things first, and last things last.  Priorities, priorities, priorities.  Yes, sometimes it hurts.  But that is the way it is.  That is the way it will be.  Emergencies?  That depends on who is calling it an emergency.

Don't Chase Glory, Let It Chase You

Don’t chase glory. Chase excellence. Chase accomplishment. Chase first place. But never, ever, ever forget to practice humility. I know it is a challenge. Especially when you have achieved greatness. Don’t chase glory. Glory is a result of an outstanding achievement. Achieve, excel, surpass, but don’t chase glory. Do great things. Do them better than anyone else. However……don’t chase glory. Let glory come to you. Enjoy it. Bask in it.

Glory is like the most beautiful, powerful animal that has come to praise you. Let it come to you. When you chase glory, the beautiful animal becomes a slow-paced skunk that you chase but cannot catch, while he is spraying you all the way. Don’t chase glory. Let it chase you. One last thing. Please do not misunderstand me. Of course glory is desirable. Gold is the glory. But first place had to come first.

Some Thoughts About Money

I never thought I would actually meet someone in person who considered money to be his God.  I think I have actually met him.  He may not think so.  He may not even realize it.  However, his actions have led me to believe that he worships money.  I think that is the crux of the matter.  Money is not really his God.  He just acts like it is. I also want to make something very clear.  I have heard "money is the root of all evil."  That is absolutely a misquote.  What the Word of God actually says about that is:  "For the love of money is the root of all evil."
(I Tim. 6:10)  I say, have a degree of respect for money.  Be grateful for it.  But "love" it?  Absolutely not.  The following are two quotes that tend to confirm my point of view.  RD

"Money, it has been said, is the cause of good things to a good man, of evil things to a bad man."

Philo of Alexandria  (250 BC - 50 AD)


"If money be not thy servant, it will be thy master.  The covetous man cannot so properly be said to possess wealth, as that may be said to possess him."

Sir Francis Bacon   (1561 - 1626)

He Was Deported 44 Times

Of course he was deported 44 times.  He came to a blessed nation.  He came to a nation that practices freedom.  He arrived in a nation that declares "One nation under God, with liberty and justice for all."  He arrived in a nation that allows the preaching of the Word of God.  He may or may not be interested in the Word of God.  He was interested in opportunity, justice, freedom and blessings. The aforementioned are the consequences that  Bible-believing people have created.  None of them were, are, or will be righteous here.  But the Word of God is righteous.  It is righteous forever.  It has influenced this great nation in a mighty way.  "America is great because America is good.  When America stops being good, then it will stop being great."  (Alexis De Tocqueville)  America will continue to be great as long as the Word of God is allowed to be preached here.  If it is disallowed, then it will no longer be "one nation under God."  It will then go from that to "one nation under personal opinion," to "one nation under tyranny."  If it came to that, immigration (legal or illegal) would probably neither be a problem or an issue.  Emigration would then become the problem.  A wall would then need to be built to keep people in.

Sorry, Buddha, I Don't Agree

"The whole secret of existence is to have no fear.Never fear what will become of you, depend on no one.Only the moment you reject all help are you freed." Buddha




Sorry, Buddha.  But I just don't agree.

The whole secret of existence is to have fear.  The fear of the Lord, that is.  "Only the moment you reject all help are you freed."  No way. "My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth."  (Psalm 121:2)
Had Buddha not said "all help," and possibly replaced it with something else, I might agree.  In my view, when one speaks of freedom, that person is dealing with a "hot potato."  RD

When Truth Is Rejected

Any nation where the Word of God is allowed to be preached will be successful and desirable to inhabit. There are no perfect countries. And there won't be. There are no righteous or perfect people. The Word of God is righteous. It has influenced America. America is not righteous. IT HAS BEEN INFLUENCED BY RIGHTEOUSNESS. Great countries like the USA do not happen by accident. Yes, freedom is an ideal. The United States is still "experimenting" with it. Danger awaits when truth is rejected. When truth is rejected: freedom ends. Why? Because "The truth shall MAKE you free." (make you free, NOT "set" you free, yes there is a difference) Freedom and licentiousness. There is a big difference between the two terms. Our lawmakers need to be cognizant of the difference. RD

"It is impossible to govern a nation without the Bible." (George Washington)

"It is impossible to mentally or socially enslave a Bible-reading people. The principles of the Bible are the groundwork of human freedom." (Horace Greeley)