Abraham Lincoln

He is one of the greatest (if not the greatest) Presidents the United States has ever had. I had written down a few quotes from him and was looking at them again and just reminded of what a man he must have been....and how hard the Civil War must have been on him.

“The will of God prevails. In great contests each party claims to act in accordance with the will of God. Both may be, and one must be, wrong. God cannot be for and against the same thing at the same time. In the present civil war it is quite possible that God's purpose is something different from the purpose of either party - and yet the human instrumentalities, working just as they do, are of the best adaptation to effect His purpose.”

“I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction that I had nowhere else to go. My own wisdom and that of all about me seemed insufficient for that day.”

“Common looking people are the best in the world: that is the reason the Lord makes so many of them.”

How often am I driven to my knees because I had nowhere else to go? I should be there often, but I like to think that I can figure everything out on my own...how stupid and prideful of me! Abraham Lincoln was one of the greatest men to have ever lived...how can I think that I can make it on my own when Lincoln refused to think that? May I live my life with constant meditation on the fact that I need to be desperate before God at all times!

Veterans....we should respect them!

So I came across this story and video and didn't want to wait until Nov. 11 to share it because why can't we be grateful for our veterans (and even current military) all the time???? This goes not just for American soldiers, but for all of them! Don't be afraid to say "thank you for serving" when you see a soldier in the store or anywhere else!

On November 11, 1999, Terry Kelly was in a Shoppers Drug Mart store, in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. At 10:55 AM an announcement came over the store's PA asking customers who would still be of the premises at 11:00 am to give two minutes of silence in respect to the veterans who have sacrificed so much for us. Terry was impressed with the store's leadership role in adopting the Legion's "two minutes of silence" initiative. He felt that the store's contribution of educating the public to the importance of remembering was commendable. When eleven o'clock arrived on that day, an announcement was again made asking for the "two minutes of silence" to commence. All customers, with the exception of a man who was accompanied by his young child, showed their respect. Terry's anger towards the father for trying to engage the store's clerk in conversation and for setting a bad example for his child was later channeled into a beautiful piece of work called, "A Pittance of Time".

A clear conscience is a wonderful thing! :)

So I came across a quote that was (in my opinion) mostly true.....I agree with the first part....not sure and never will be (Lord willing) the second.

"There is only one way to achieve happiness on this terrestrial ball, and that is to have either a clear conscience or none at all."

- Ogden Nash

When compared with scripture I know that the only way to have a clear conscience is to be in a relationship with the Father. He has made us free from sin and the guilt that follows sin, but in order to maintain that "clean" state of being is to continue to obey what God commands (John 14:15) confess when we mess up (1 John 1:9) and to be grateful for the fact that God is gracious (Psalm 103:8). Praise Him for who He is and for who He allows us to be...1 Peter 2:9! :)

An interesting article on the Israeli/Palestinian dispute

I thought this was a very good article...most of the really good info is located a few paragraphs into the article. It was definitely worth reading and being aware of! You can read the article here. Here are a few quotes...to wet your appetite...

Two weeks ago the editor of the largest newspaper in South Africa, The Sunday Times, wrote an article saying that Israel applies apartheid to Palestinian Arabs. In this scandalous accusation, he joins Jimmy Carter and others who have defamed the Jewish state. The apartheid label is very dangerous. If it sticks, Israel's ability to defend itself diplomatically and militarily will be severely weakened. International pressure on South Africa's apartheid government eventually played a major role in ending its power. The apartheid label is calculated to break the resolve of the Israeli people, who are called upon to make terrible sacrifices for our Jewish state. Who wants to die for apartheid? In the State of Israel all citizens - Jew and Arab alike - are equal before the law. On the contrary: Israel is a vibrant liberal democracy which accords full political, civil and other human rights to all its people, including its one million-plus Arab citizens, many of whom hold positions of authority throughout the Jewish state - including that of cabinet minister, Knesset member and judge at every level of the judiciary, the Supreme Court included.

Enjoy the article...it only takes 5-10 minutes to read. :)