Words of Wisdom

[jmwhalen]

I have attempted to always use "the scripture of truth"(Daniel 10:21) when witnessing, and resisted using "catchy phrases/slogans". After all, why use my words, or other's, when I have God's word, which is a "hammer", to communicate, since it will "do the job"(Isaiah 55:11). However, I have often found that many "old sayings" seem to be quite "insightful", and perhaps effective, in communicating spiritual truths.

I thought it may be interesting, and edifying, to solicit some opinions regarding this, and hear from board members some sayings you have found to be particularly truthful and effective in communicating.

For example:

"Religion is man substituting himself for God. Christianity is God substituting Himself for man."

"A light is best seen in the darkness."

"New, by defintion, is something that has already happened."

"To those who say 'Mind your own business', I say: 'If you had read what I had read in the Holy Bible, you would know that you are God's business!'"

In Christ,

John Whalen

P.S. No sayings from Barney Fife("Barneyism's")

[Botz]

I think the one that has most stuck with me and been a strong encouragement to me was from a sermon of Dan del Vecchio.

"Don't disbelieve in the darkness what you knew to be true in the light"

[truseek]

Some of my favs (sorry if its long):

The days are coming, when conquerors will no longer be spoken of with praise, as in man's partial histories, but be branded with infamy, as in the impartial records of the Bible.

- Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

"If they can get you to ask the wrong questions, they don't have to

worry about the answers."

- Thomas Pynchon

"Falsehoods not only disagree with truths, but usually quarrel among

themselves."

- Daniel Webster (1782-1852)

"...there is no poison on earth more potent, nor half so deadly, as a

partial truth mixed with passion."

- Michael Jay Tucker

"We can be knowledgable with other men's knowledge but we cannot be

wise with other men's wisdom."

- Montaigne

"The state is made for man, not man for the state.... That is to say,

the state should be our servant and not we its slaves."

- Albert Einstein

"Education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army."

- Edward Everett

"When censorship really works, you'll never notice."

- anonymous Internet/Usenet wisdom

"You know your country is dying when you have to make a distinction between

what is moral and ethical, and what is legal."

- John De Armond <jgd@dixie.com>, _Performance_Engineering_Magazine_, 1994

"A government that is big enough to give you all you want is big enough

to take it all away."

- Barry Goldwater

"When cryptography is outlawed, bayl bhgynjf jvyy unir cevinpl!"

[When cryptography is outlawed, only outlaws will have privacy!", ROT-13

encrypted]

- Brad Templeton of ClariNet

"Cryptography is an enormously powerful tool that needs to be controlled,

just as we control bombs and rockets."

- David A. Lytel, President's Office of Science and Technology Policy

"I have gathered a posie of other men's flowers, and nothing but the thread

that binds them is my own."

- Montaigne

"The ability to quote is a serviceable substitute for wit."

- W. Somerset Maugham

and finally:

"A witty saying proves nothing."

- Voltaire

In Christ

Truseek

Edited July 18, 2004 by truseek

[whatsitmean]

I may not look like much when I get there, but by God's help, I'm going to make it.

If your problems are bigger than your God, then your God is too small.

[stevehut]

OK, maybe I'm not quite as creative as some in here...

My approach is simple. If I think a person might be open, I invite them to visit my church. Failing that, I will invite them to a Bible study in my home. Or a social activity, so that we can establish a rapport.

Meet every person where they're at. Meet their specific needs. If the person is older (or younger) than me, I will bring in an older (or younger) friend to help. If it's a woman, I will hook her up with my wife. Every person's different.

[jamie]

- THE SIN OF PRESUMPTION OFTEN HIDES ITSELF IN NOBLE PURPOSES

SELDOM DO OUR CIRCUMSTANCES CHANGE WITHOUT SOMETHING IN US CHANGING FIRST

CIRCUMSTANCES DO NOT MAKE THE MAN, THEY REVEAL HIM TO HIMSELF

IGNORANCE OFTEN COMES DISGUISED AS TRADITION -

GOD BLESSES OUR OBEDIENCE, NOT OUR ACTIVITY

WHEN MAN'S GOODNESS IS OFFERED AS RIGHTEOUSNESS, IT BECOMES AN AFFRONT. AND AN ENEMY TO THE CROSS -

RULES WITHOUT RELATIONSHIP ALWAYS LEAD TO REBELLION -

WHAT YOU DO NOT DEAL WITH WILL COME AND DEAL WITH YOU -

ANY TRUTH THAT GOES AGAINST COMMON BELIEF IS NEVER ACCEPTED EASILY -

OUR LEADERSHIP STOPS AT THE POINT THAT WE CAN NO LONGER SOLVE THE PROBLEMS -

MONEY PROBLEMS ARE NOT, IN FACT, MONEY PROBLEMS, BUT RATHER THE SYMPTOM OF OTHER PROBLEMS...DEBT IS A FORM OF PRESUMPTION, AND PRESUMPTION IS THE LOWEST FORM OF HUMAN KNOWLEDGE -

WHEN ADVERSITY COMES, THE SINS OF YOUR PAST WILL RISE UP TO COMFORT YOU -

THOSE WHO SHIELD US FROM FAILURE, ULTIMATELY PRODUCE OUR DEPENDENCE UPON THEM RATHER THAN GOD -

[Botz]

Really good Jamie...I will copy some of these into my notes. Thanks.

[jamie]

Heres more....

"God will allow in His wisdom what He could have prevented in His power."

"The bible is like a lion it doesn't need to be defended, just let it loose and it will defend itself."

"Convince a man against his will and he is of the same opinion still."

"Painting the pump won't purify the water."

"If you never run into the devil, you could be going in the same direction."

[whatsitmean]

Those are good jamie. Most of them I never heard. Thanks.

I'm not sure what this one means though:

WHEN ADVERSITY COMES, THE SINS OF YOUR PAST WILL RISE UP TO COMFORT YOU -

[jmwhalen]

Thank you all-"...Thou hast well said...."(John 4:17).

Consider:

-A saved businessman once said: "My spirit is under new management!"

-"Do you love the house of the LORD, or the LORD of the house?"

-The LORD wants our availability, not our ability.

-Put your plans down on paper. But write it in pencil, and understand that the LORD God has the eraser.

-We are not loved by God because we are special-we are special because we are loved by God.

-The Holy Bible is the mind of God in written form.

-Philosophers are people who seek answers to questions that are never asked.

In Christ,

John Whalen