032425 From the Banks of Burcham Creek...

These are from the archives
For March 24th
Enjoy!

- Hayden Childs


“A glad heart makes a happy face,
But when the heart is sad,
The spirit is broken.”
Proverbs 15:13 NLV

Every great player has learned
Two C’s…
how to concentrate and
How to maintain composure.
- Byron Nelson

One's philosophy is not best
Expressed in words;
It is expressed in the choices
One makes.
In the long run, we shape our
Lives and we shape ourselves.
The process never ends until we die.
And, the choices we make are
Ultimately our own responsibility.
- Eleanor Roosevelt

Regardless of whom you are
Or what you have been,
You can be what you
Want to be.
- W. Clement Stone

You are never too old to set
another goal or to dream
a new dream.
- Clive Staples Lewis

What a man is contributes much more
to his happiness than what he has,
or how he is regarded by others.
- Arthur Schopenhauer

What is the difference between
an obstacle and an opportunity?
Our attitude toward it.  
Every opportunity has a difficulty,
and every difficulty has an opportunity.
- J. Sidlow Baxter

Yesterday is dead,
tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet.
I have just one day,
Today,
and I’m going to be
Happy in it.
- Cecilia Meis

Plenty of people miss
their share of happiness,
Not because they never found it,
but because they
Didn’t stop to enjoy it.
- William Feather

Only those who have learned
the power of sincere
And selfless contribution
experience life’s deepest
Joy … true fulfillment.
- Tony Robbins

Life is a sum of all your choices.
Albert Camus

Being a winner is never an accident;
Winning comes about by design,
Determination and positive action.
- Bob Proctor

Luck affects everything;
Let your hook always be cast.
In the stream where
Uou least expect it,
There will be fish.
- Ovid

Successful people are simply
Those with successful habits.
- Brian Tracy

The key to success is to focus
Our conscious mind on things
We desire not things we fear.
- Brian Tracy

Move out of your comfort zone.
You can only grow if you are
Willing to feel awkward and
Uncomfortable when you try
Something new.
- Brian Tracy

We cannot become what
We need by remaining
What we are.
- John Maxwell

Concentration and mental
Toughness is the margins
Of victory.
- Bill Russell

Yours is not the less
Noble because no drum
Beats before you when
You go out into your
Daily battlefields,
And no crowds shout
About your coming when
You return from your
Daily victory or defeat.
- Robert Louis Stevenson 

031725 From the banks of Burcham Creek...

From the banks of Burcham Creek…
March 17th quotes archive

Enjoy!

Hayden Childs

***

“Again I saw under the sun
that the race is not to the fast
and the battle to the men of war.
Bread is not to the wise and riches
are not to the men of understanding.
Favor is not to able workers.
Time comes and goes and things
happen for no reason to them all.
Ecclesiastes 9:11 NLV

The race is not
Always to the swift,
But to those who
Keep on running.  
- Hugh E. Keough

May God grant you always...
A sunbeam to warm you,
a moonbeam to charm you,
a sheltering Angel so
nothing can harm you.
Laughter to you.
Faithful friends near you.
And whenever you pray,
Heaven to hear you.
- Irish Blessing

May flowers always line your path
and sunshine light your day.
May songbirds serenade you
every step along the way.
May a rainbow run beside you
in a sky that's always blue.
And may happiness fill your heart
each day your whole life through.
- Traditional Irish Blessing =

May the road rise up to meet you,
may the wind be ever at your back.
May the sunshine warm upon your face
and the rain fall softly on your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the hollow of his hand.
- Irish Blessing

May love and laughter light your days,
and warm your heart and home.
May good and faithful friends be yours,
wherever you may roam.
May peace and plenty bless your world
with joy that long endures.
May all life's passing seasons bring
the best to you and yours.
- Irish Blessing

This is the way of peace…
Overcome evil with good,
falsehood with truth,
And hatred with love.
- Peace Pilgrim

Coming together is a beginning;
keeping together is progress;
working together is success.
- Henry Ford

In every person who comes near
you look for what is good and strong;
honor that; try to imitate it,
And your faults will drop off
like dead leaves when their time comes.
- John Ruskin

Any business whose management
Has the foresight to adopt a policy
Which consolidates management,
Employees and the public it serves
In a spirit of teamwork, provides itself
With an insurance policy against failure.
- Napoleon Hill Foundation

Many can argue that reality
is as it is, but my experience
is that the opposite is exactly true.
Reality is ours for the making.  
- Asara Lovejoy

Don’t wait for extraordinary
opportunities.
Seize common occasions and
make them great.
- Orison Swett Marden

There is always a shortage
of people who get the job done
on time without excuses or grumbling.
- Napoleon Hill Foundation

Go confidently in the direction
of your dreams.
Live the life you have imagined.
- Henry David Thoreau

The greatest oak was once
a little nut,
Who held its ground.
- Anonymous

The first step toward
change is awareness.
The second step is acceptance.
- Nathaniel Branden

You are what you repeatedly do.
Excellence is not an event…
It is a habit.
- Aristotle

The world cares very little
About what a man or woman
Knows;
It is what the man or woman
Is able to do that counts.
- Booker T. Washington

The only opinion about your
Dream that really counts is
Yours.
The negative comments of
Others merely reflect their
Limitations… not yours.
- Cynthia Kersey

The only difference between
A good shot and a bad shot
Is if it goes in or not.
- Charles Barkley

The secret is to have
Eight great players and
Four others who will
Cheer like crazy.  
- Coach Jerry Tarkanian

I don’t count my sit-ups.
I only start counting when
it starts hurting.
That is when I start counting,
Because then it really counts.
That’s what makes you a champion.
- Muhammad Ali

Excellence is not a singular act,
But a habit.
You are what you repeatedly do.
- Shaquille O'Neal

If you say “can’t”
you’re restricting what you
Can do or ever will do.
- Michael Phelps

Everyone wants to leave a legacy,
But it’s not about having a
Building named after you,
Or having a statue.
Your legacy lays in the people you
Have impacted,
And the people you leave behind.
- Tim Tebow

Some people focus on what
They’re going through;
Champions focus on what
They are going to.
- Grant M. Bright

Champions in any field of endeavor
Always rise to the occasion.
Champions see what they can become
Rather than live in the past.
Champions view life as a
self-fulfilling prophecy.
- Reed Markham

True champions are made
When no one is looking.
- Sign hanging in the
Cincinnati Reds
Spring training clubhouse
Sarasota, Florida

A man can be as great as he
wants to be.
If you believe in yourself
and have the courage,
The determination, the dedication,
the competitive drive and if you
are willing to sacrifice the little
things in life and pay the price
for the things that are worthwhile,
It can be done.
- Coach Vince Lombardi

031325 From the banks of Burcham Creek...

How do you become better?
There is only one way…
The way of discipline.
- Jocko Willink

The only person you can control is you.
So, focus on making yourself who you
want to be…
Faster. Smarter. Stronger.
Humbler.
Less ego.
- Jocko Willink

There can be no leadership
when there is no team.
- Jocko Willink

People who are successful
decide they are going to be successful.
They make that choice.
They decide to study hard.
They decide to work hard.
They decide to be the first person
to get to work and the last to go home.
- Jocko Willink

When your feelings are screaming
that you have had enough
when you think you are going to
break emotionally,
override that emotion with
concrete logic and willpower that
says one thing…
I don’t stop.
- Jocko Willink

Extreme Ownership is a mindset,
an attitude.
- Jocko Willink

Leadership requires belief
in the mission and unyielding
perseverance to achieve victory.
- Jocko Willink

Edited by H.C.

Jocko Willink is a former US Navy SEAL,
who received the Silver Star and Bronze Star
for his actions in the Iraq War.
He’s now known for his best-selling books and podcast.

***

The Ballad of the Illinois Opry – REO Speedwagon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SxUfmrWUKI

 

 

031225 From the banks of Burcham Creek...

From the banks of Burcham Creek…

With the Annual College basketball
Conference tournaments and the
NCAA Tournament upon us I thought
I’d dust off an old article from the archives.

- Hayden Childs

***

JESUS IS LIFE

"In Him was life, and the life was the light of men."
(John 1:4)

Rolf Zettersten wrote an article for Focus on
The Family Magazine, June 1993.
He had attended the NCAA Final Four in March
of 1993 at the Superdome in New Orleans, LA.

80,000 excited fans jammed the Superdome to
watch the semi-finals on Saturday night.
Rolf was seated in front of a large section of
Michigan alumni. 

Every time the Wolverines scored,
they applauded, hooted and screamed like their
lives depended on it.

Many of the fans brought with them signs that
conveyed the cleverest slogans they could invent.

After the Michigan team made a comeback,
one man got up from his seat and began parading
up and down the aisles.

He was holding a large cardboard sign above his
head that read:

"THIS IS WHAT WE LIVE FOR"

While sitting amid this incredible sporting event,
Rolf suddenly had a healthy dose of proper perspective.
He turned to his friend and said,
"Man, I'm sure glad this isn't what I live for."

Friend, what are you living for?

Several years ago, a t-shirt came out in sporting goods
stores that read:

"Basketball is life ... The rest is just details"

I never purchased that shirt.
There is more to life than sports!

Friend, JESUS IS LIFE!

CHRIST'S DEATH IS THE BELIEVER'S LIFE.

"For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(Romans 6:23)

Because sin brings spiritual death and separates
us from the life with God,
the removal of sin restores life with God.

"If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
old things have passed away;
behold, all things have become new."
 (2 Corinthians 5:17)

God created us for companionship with Himself.

"As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God for the living God.
When shall I come and appear before God?"
(Psalm 42:1,2)

He gave His Son to pay the penalty for our sin.

"For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us,
that we might become the righteousness of God in Him."
(2 Corinthians 5:21)

Jesus died painfully and shamefully on the cross
and was even separated from God because
He was bearing the sins of the world.

"And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice,
saying, "Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?"
that is "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
(Matthew 27:46)


His death is the believer's life.


MAN SHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE.

Our greatest obstacle to genuine life is
preoccupation with material life.

Jesus asked, "Is not life more than food and the
body more than clothing?
(Matthew 6:25)
He said, "Man shall not live by bread alone,
but by every word that proceeds from the mouth
of God."
(Matthew 4:4)

Friend, life is more than food and clothes!

"Take heed and beware of covetousness,
(an insatiable desire for worldly gain)
for one's life does not consist in the abundance of the
things he possesses."

(Luke 12:15)

Without Jesus, who is the bread of life
(John 6:35), worldly living is shallow,
bleak, and hopeless.

Christians consider Christ as our life.

"For you died and your life hidden with Christ in God."
(Colossians 3:4)

The life we live in Christ living in us.

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live,
but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the
flesh I life by faith in the Son of God who loved me and
gave Himself for me."

 (Galatians 2:20)

HAPPINESS HERE AND HEREAFTER.


The Christian life is the happiest life both now
and forever.

Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life,
and that they may have it more abundantly."
(John 10:10)
"For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is
profitable for all things, having promise of the life that
now is and of that which is to come."
 (1 Timothy 4:8)

Christians receive a hundredfold now in this time ...
and in the age to come, eternal life.
(Mark 10:30)

It is a tragic mistake to think you must give up
real pleasures in the present life to
receive the life to come.

Consider Moses - (Hebrews 11:24-27).

The faithful Christian receives fullness of
fellowship with God both here and hereafter.

Friend, can you say with the apostle Paul,

"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain?"
(Philippians 1:21)

Jesus, Oh, Jesus, Do you know Him today?
You can't turn Him away,
Oh, Jesus! Oh, Jesus!
Without Him, how lost I would be!
 
- Hayden Childs

 

030625 From the banks of Burcham Creek...

From the banks of Burcham Creek…

Today’s post is in honor of
My better-Half’s Birthday.

Happy Birthday…
Lisa

I hope it is as special
As you are.

I am so blessed to
Do life with YOU!

These quotes are from
The March 6th archives.
Enjoy!

- Hayden Childs

***

Love is smiling on
the inside and out.
- Jennifer Williams

Love that is true
never grows old.
- Elben Bano

Love is more than
A feeling;
it's a state of mind.
- Lisa Grude


The Magic of Love…

Love is like magic
and it always will be.
For love still remains
Life's sweet mystery!!
Love works in ways
that are wondrous and strange
and there's nothing in life
that love cannot change!!
Love can transform
the most commonplace
into beauty and splendor
and sweetness and grace.
Love is unselfish,
Understanding and kind,
for it sees with its heart
and not with its mind!!
Love is the answer
that everyone seeks...
Love is the language,
that every heart speaks.
Love can't be bought,
it is priceless and free,
Love, like pure magic,
is life's sweet mystery!!

- Helen Steiner Rice

It's the little things
You do that can make
A big difference.
- Bob Proctor

Nobody made a greater
mistake than he who
did nothing because
he could do only
a little.
- Edmund Burke

Successful people are
Simply those with
Successful habits.
- Brian Tracy

The quality and quantity
Of the service you render,
Plus, the attitude with
Which you render it,
Determine the amount of
Pay you get and the sort
Of job you hold.
- Napoleon Hill Foundation

Don’t get down on yourself.
Don’t beat yourself up.
It’s the next opportunity
that matters,
Not the previous one.
The previous one matters
Only in that you must
Learn from your mistakes.
But the next one gives
You the opportunity to
Show that you have learned
From your mistakes.
Keep trying until.
- Jim Rohn

Clutter isn't just the
Stuff in your closet.
It's anything that gets
Between you and the life
That you want to be living.
- Peter Walsh

Edited by H.C.

030525 From the banks of Burcham Creek...

A "reel" fisherman can tell you
about his first catch!
- Anonymous

A "reel" fisherman has
at least one lure that never
Caught a fish!
- Anonymous

A "reel" fisherman has
more than two rods with
Different reels on each.
- Anonymous

I love any discourse of rivers,
and fish and fishing.
- Izaak Walton

I’m just a simple guy.
I love being at my house with my family.
I love playing dominos and card games
and hunting and fishing.
That’s just what I like to do.
- Jase Robertson, Duck Dynasty

030425 From the banks of Burcham Creek...

If you are thankful,
What do you do?
You share.
- W. Clement Stone

The way to develop the best
that is in a person is by
appreciation and encouragement.
- Charles Schwab

When we focus on our gratitude,
the tide of disappointment goes out
and the tide of love rushes in.
- Kristin Armstrong

The chief idea of my life
is the idea of taking things
With gratitude,
and not taking things for granted.
- Gilbert K. Chesterton

No one who achieves success
does so without the help of others.
The wise and confident acknowledge
This helps with gratitude.
- Alfred North Whitehead

Edited by H.C.

Chip speaks to Bobby Cox

Longtime Manager of the Atlanta Braves

 

030325 From the banks of Burcham Creek...

From the banks of Burcham Creek…

A man must be big enough
to admit his mistakes,
smart enough to profit from them,
and strong enough to correct them.
- John C Maxwell

A great leader’s courage
to fulfill his vision
comes from passion,
not position.
- John C Maxwell

A successful person finds
the right place for himself.
But a successful leader
finds the right place for others.
- John C Maxwell

Teamwork makes the dream work,
but a vision becomes a nightmare
when the leader has a big dream
and a bad team.
- John C Maxwell

When the leader lacks confidence,
the followers lack commitment.
- John C Maxwell

Here's Your World Champions

The Atlanta Braves...

Go Braves!

022725 From the banks of Burcham Creek...

From the banks of Burcham Creek…

The quote archives for Feb. 27th

Enjoy!

- Hayden Childs

***

The most splendid achievement of
All is the constant striving to
Surpass yourself and to be worthy
Of your own approval.
- Denis Waitley

Take time to live,
It is the secret of success.
Take time to think,
It is the source of power.
Take time to play,
It is the secret of youth.
Take time to read,
It is the foundation of knowledge.
Take time for friendship,
It is the source of happiness.
Take time to laugh,
It helps lift life’s load.
Take time to dream,
It hitches the soul to the stars.
Take time for God,
It is life’s only lasting investment.  
- Joshua Wooden

(Note: Joshua was the father
Of famed U.C.L.A. Basketball coach
John Wooden)

The Extra Mile Formula
Q1 + Q2 + MA = C
Q1 = quality of service;
Q2 = quantity of service;
MA = mental attitude;
C = compensation
- Napoleon Hill

Research has shown that
The best way to be happy
Is to make each day happy.
- Deepak Chopra

To experience peace does not mean
That your life is always blissful.
It means that you are capable of
Tapping into a blissful state of
Mind amidst the normal chaos of
A hectic life.
- Jill Bolte Taylor

We herd sheep.
We drive cattle;
We lead men.
- Anonymous 

A leader has two important
Characteristics…
First, he knows where he is going.
Second, he can persuade
Other people go with him.
- Anonymous

A Friend is one who believes
In you when you have ceased
To believe in yourself.
- Anonymous

Goals…
Write them down;
Hang them up;
And with God’s help,
Watch them happen!
- Anonymous

God’s way isn’t always popular,
But it is always best.
- Michael Lukaszewski

I hope you do great things that matter.
But even if people forget your
Accomplishments,
They won’t forget you took the time to
be a friend when it matters most.
- Michael Lukaszewski

I’d rather you spend your time and energy
Trying to be like the real heroes all
Around us.
Hollywood doesn’t tell their stories in
Blockbuster movies and the news don’t
Report on their actions.
But every day Civil Servants, Doctors,
Nurses, Teachers, Preachers and people
From all walks of life perform unreported
Heroic acts.
- Michael Lukaszewski

Edited by H.C.

Coach Mark Pope

Go Cats...

020825 From The Banks of Burcham Creek...

 From the banks of Burcham Creek…
Superbowl LIX Edition
Eagles’ vs Chiefs

I am pulling for Jalen Hurts and
The Philadelphia Eagles…

Jalen played for The University of
Alabama for Coach Saban.

Many doubted if he could make it in
The NFL and now he is playing in his
2nd Super Bowl!

Go Eagles!

- Hayden Childs

***

If you’re not in the parade,
you watch the parade.
That’s life.
- Coach Mike Ditka


The ones who want to achieve
and win championships motivate
themselves.
- Coach Mike Ditka

Losers quit when they’re tired.
Winners quit when they’ve won.
- Coach Mike Ditka

Here’s what I tell anybody and
this is what I believe.
The greatest gift we have is the
gift of life. We understand that.
That comes from our Creator.
We’re given a body.
Now you may not like it,
but you can maximize that body
the best it can be maximized.
- Coach Mike Ditka


What you feel spiritually.
I think a lot of that has to do
with it.
If you have no spiritual life,
chances are everything is going
to aggravate you,
you’re going to fly off the handle
at everything and that’s what
I did in the past.
I’ve kind of got that under
control now.
- Coach Mike Ditka

***

Superbowl 2025 Eagles vs Chiefs

Hayden’s Favorites…

Go Eagles!

***

Unbelievable Baked Buffalo Wings

•    Ingredients…
1 lb. chicken wings
¼ crushed red pepper flakes
¼ cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon salt
1 bottle Your Favorite Wing Sauce

•    Directions…
Fill a large pot halfway with water
Add the first four ingredients
Bring water mixture to a boil then boil for 15 min.
Transfer wings to an oven safe container with
Aluminum foil coated with cooking spray.
Bake wings on “Broil” for 7 minutes on each side
Transfer wings to a crock pot then cover
Wings with your favorite wing sauce on low
Heat to keep the wings warm.

***

Slow Cooker Mexican Seven Layer Dip

•    Ingredients…
1 (15-ounce) can fat-free refried beans
1 (15-ounce) can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 large white or yellow onion, finely diced
1 green bell pepper, finely diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeno, minced (optional)
1 Tablespoon cumin, divided
1 Teaspoon chili powder, divided
1 Teaspoon paprika, divided
1 (8-ounce) package reduced-fat (Neufchatel) cream cheese
1 (8-ounce) tub reduced-fat sour cream
2 Cups salsa, any variety
1 Cup shredded reduced-fat Cheddar or pepper Jack cheese

•    Directions…
Coat the liner of a slow cooker with nonstick spray.
Mix the refried beans with 1/2 cup water,
then spread into the bottom of the slow cooker.
Top with the beans, vegetables, garlic and half the spices.
In a medium bowl, mix the cream cheese,
sour cream and remaining spices. Spread over the vegetables.
Top with the salsa and sprinkle on the cheese.
Cook on low for up to four hours,
until the cheese is melted, and the beans are warm.

***

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/43678611/can-philadelphia-eagles-qb-jalen-hurts-provide-super-bowl-lix-win-quiet-doubters

Keep Pushin – REO Speedwagon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBxSQXbj6Go

012925 From the banks of Burcham Creek...

From the banks of Burcham Creek…

From the January 29th Archives…

"Continue to ask, and God will give to you.
Continue to search, and you will find.
Continue to knock, and the door will open
for you.
Yes, whoever continues to ask will receive.
Whoever continues to look will find.
And whoever continues to knock will have
The door opened for them."
- Matthew 7:7-8

To accomplish great things,
we must not only act,
But also dream;
not only plan, but also believe.
- Anatole France

Life doesn’t run away from nobody.
Life runs at people.
- Joe Frazier

I am not a product of my circumstances.
I am a product to my decisions.
- Stephen Covey

A dream doesn’t become reality through magic;
It takes sweat, determination and hard work.
- Colin Powell

When you live for a strong purpose,
Then hard work isn’t an option.
It’s a necessity.
- Steve Pavlina

Every man and woman are born into the world
to do something unique and something distinctive;
and if he or she does not do it, it will never be done.
- Benjamin E. Mays

“He (Coach Calipari) just said, good win.
He introduced us to his high school coach,
His college coach.
Like he said, it was a great win for us.
A lot of people had us losing this game
So we prepared. One thing he said is we
Prepared really well for this game.
Our shoot around was good,
The two practices before this game were
Really good. Our practices and the way we
Prepared were a really big factor in why
We won this (West Virginia) game.”
- Kevin Knox

Develop an attitude of gratitude.
Say thank you to everyone you meet
For everything they do for you.
- Brian Tracy

Every great dream begins with a dreamer.
Always remember, you have within you
The strength, the patience, and the passion
To reach for the stars to change the world.
- Harriet Tubman

If there's one thing that will stop people
From achieving their goals, it's a wall.
However, as I see it, without a wall there's
No place to build a door.
- Craig D. Lounsbrough

Your life is your message to the world.
Make sure it’s inspiring
- Anonymous

When you believe in what you’re
Doing and use your imagination
And initiative,
You can make a difference
- Samuel Dash

You’ve got to know what your magic is.
How else will you fully share your gifts
With others and enrich the world for
These precious years that you live?
- Rasheed Ogunlaru

“Winning isn’t everything,
But it sure beats anything
That comes in second.”
- Coach Paul Bryant

“I don’t know what class is,
But I can tell when one has it,
You can tell it from a mile away.”
- Coach Paul Bryant

"If you believe in yourself,
Have dedication and pride,
And never quit,
You’ll be a winner.
The price of victory is high
But so are the rewards."
- Coach Paul Bryant

***

I Believe – Phil Wickham

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oOx_gUY4bQY

012525 From The Banks of Burcham Creek...

 From The Banks of Burcham Creek…

I am back posting after a week of being
Down with the Flu. Missed a couple of
Days of work at NAL. Thankfully I am
Back in the saddle again.
Have a great day and Go Cats!
Lisa and I attended the UK – Vandy
Game on 01/13/2018 in Music City.
As a member of B.B.N. I bleed blue.
Win or lose… It’s a Kentucky Thing…
- Hayden Childs

***

“ by saving us from the punishment of sin.
It was not because we worked to be right with God.
It was because of His loving-kindness that He washed
our sins away.
At the same time He gave us new life when the
Holy Spirit came into our lives.

God gave the Holy Spirit to fill our lives through
Jesus Christ, the One Who saves.

Titus 3:5-6

***

When I Have Time…

Poet: Miriam Brown

When I have time so many things I'll do
To make life happier and more fair
For those whose lives are crowded now with care;
I'll help to lift them from their low despair,
When I have time.

When I have the time the friend I love so well
Shall know no more these weary toiling days;
I'll lead her feet in pleasant paths always,
And cheer her heart with words of sweetest praise,
When I have time.

When you have time! The friend you hold so dear
May be beyond the reach of all your sweet intent;
May never know that you so kindly meant
To fill her life with sweet content,
When you had time.

Now is the time! Ah, friend, no longer wait
To scatter loving smiles and words of cheer
To those around whose lives are now so dear;
They may not need you in the coming year
Now is the time.

***

From the January 25 Archives…

Happiness in the present is only shattered
By comparison with the past.
- Douglas Horton

If a man does not know what port, he is
Steering for, no wind is favorable to him.
- Seneca

No pessimist ever discovered the secret
of the stars, or sailed to an uncharted land,
or opened a new doorway for the human spirit.
- Helen Keller

A sense of humor... is needed armor.
Joy in one's heart and some laughter on
One’s lips is a sign that the person down
Deep has a pretty good grasp of life.
- Hugh Sidey

When you reach an obstacle,
turn it into an opportunity.
You have the choice.
You can overcome and be a winner,
Or you can allow it to overcome you
and be a loser.
The choice is yours and yours alone.
Refuse to throw in the towel.
Go that extra mile that failures
refuse to travel.
It is far better to be exhausted
from success than
To be rested from failure.
- Mary Kay Ash

Shouda, coulda, and woulda
won’t get it done.
- Coach Pat Riley

(Kentucky basketball stand-out, a member
Of the 1966 NCAA tourney Runner-up team,
N.B.A. Coach with Lakers, Knicks and Heat)

We look ahead and not back in the
rearview mirror.
- Larry "Chipper" Jones

Why not chase what some see as impossible?
Why not believe in yourself?
Why not dare to be great...
Even if it means being different?"
- John Smoltz

You play the game to win the World Series.
Cy Young's are nice, they really are.
They're great and I'm proud of them...
But easily the biggest thing I've
Accomplished Is getting that World Series
Ring.
- Greg Maddux

The way a team plays as a whole
Determines its success.
You may have the greatest bunch
Of individual stars in the world,
But if they don't play together,
The club won't be worth a dime.
- George Herman "Babe" Ruth

It took me seventeen years to
Get 3,000 hits in baseball.
I did it in one afternoon on
The golf course.
- Henry "Hank" Aaron


... Even after you've just
Won the Super Bowl…
Especially after you've
Just won the Super Bowl…
There’s always next year.
If "Winning isn't everything;
It’s the only thing,"
Then "the only thing" is nothing…
Emptiness, the nightmare of life
Without ultimate meaning.
- Coach Tom Landry


***

My Old Kentucky Home…

The sun shines bright in the old Kentucky home,
‘Tis summer, the darkies are gay;
The corn-top’s ripe and the meadow’s in the bloom,
While the birds make music all the day.
The young folks roll on the little cabin floor,
All merry, all happy and bright;
By ‘n’ by Hard Times comes a-knocking at the door,
Then my old Kentucky home, goodnight.
They hunt no more for the possum and the coon,
On meadow, the hill and the shore,
They sing no more by the glimmer of the moon,
On the bench by the old cabin door.
The day goes by like a shadow o’er the heart,
With sorrow, where all was delight,
The time has come when the darkies have to part,
Then my old Kentucky home, goodnight.
The head must bow and the back will have to bend,
Wherever the darky may go;
A few more days, and the trouble all will end,
In the field where the sugar-canes grow;
A few more days for to tote the weary load,
No matter, ’twill never be light;
A few more days till we totter on the road,
Then my old Kentucky home, goodnight.
Chorus:
Weep no more my lady
Oh! weep no more today!
We will sing one song for the old Kentucky home,
For the Old Kentucky Home far away.
- Stephen Foster

***

Blue Moon of Kentucky – Elvis Presley 1954

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJq3AZ4uXqE

011325 From the Banks of Burcham Creek...

 A Time for Everything…

“There is a special time for everything.
There is a time for everything
that happens under heaven.

There is a time to be born,
and a time to die;
a time to plant,
and a time to pick what is planted.

There is a time to kill,
and a time to heal;
a time to break down,
and a time to build up.

There is a time to cry,
and a time to laugh;
a time to have sorrow,
and a time to dance.

There is a time to throw stones,
and a time to gather stones;
a time to kiss,
and a time to turn from kissing.

There is a time to try to find,
and a time to lose;
a time to keep,
and a time to throw away.

There is a time to tear apart,
and a time to sew together;
a time to be quiet,
and a time to speak.

There is a time to love,
and a time to hate;
a time for war,
and a time for peace.”

- Solomon
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 TLV

***

Time Is…

Time is
Too slow for those who wait,
Too swift for those who fear,
Too long for those who grieve,
Too short for those who rejoice,
But for those who love,
Time is Eternity.

- Henry VanDyke

***

There Is A Time…

There is a time to work and play,
A time to eat and sleep;
A time to study and to pray,
A time to laugh and weep;
A time for fellowship that's sweet,
A time for sacred song;
But never is there time to treat
A human being wrong.

There is a time to lift men up
And help them on life's road;
A time to drain their bitter cup
And share their heavy load;
A time to bless them with our grace
And boost them all along;
But never is there time and place
To treat our fellows wrong.

There is a time to help men seek
Our God who saves the soul;
A time to show them that the meek
Shall reach life's highest goal;
A time to help them turn aside
And leave the wicked throng;
But never did our God provide
A time to treat men wrong.

- Walter E. Isenhour

***

No Time For God...

No time for God.

what fools we are to clutter up
our lives with common things,

And leave without heart’s gate
the Lord of life and life itself.

No time for God is soon to say
no time to eat or sleep,
or love or die.

Take time for God,
or you shall dwarf your soul.

And when the death angel comes
knocking at your door,

A poor,
misshaped thing you’ll be to step
into eternity.

No time for God?

That day when sickness comes
or trouble finds you out,

And you cry out to God,
will He have time for you?

No time for God?

Someday you’ll lay aside this mortal self
And make your way to worlds unknown.

And when you meet Him face to face,

Will He…
should He…
Have time for you?

- Norman L. Trott


***


Humanity has one really
effective weapon,
And that is laughter.
- Mark Twain

So let us go forward quietly,
each on his own path,
Forever making for the light.
- Vincent Van Gogh

The wise man does not lay up
his own treasures.
The more he gives to others,
the more he has for his own.
- Lao Tzu

Building a better you
Is the first step to building
A better America.
- Zig Ziglar

It's not what you've got,
It’s what you use that
Makes a difference.
- Zig Ziglar
 
Famous archer, Howard Hill
Won all the 267 archeries
Contests he entered.
He could hit a bull’s eye
At 50 feet, then split first
Arrow with the second.
Would it be possible for you
To shoot better than him?
YES, if he were blindfolded!
- Zig Ziglar

Many marriages would be better
If the husband and the wife
Clearly understood that they
are on the same side.
- Zig Ziglar

Any man can help create a child
But it takes a real man to love,
Cherish and raise that child
- Nishan Panwar

My father used to play with my
Brother and me in the yard.
Mother would come out and say,
"You're tearing up the grass."
"We're not raising grass,"
Dad would reply.  
We're raising boys."
- Harmon Killebrew

My father always told me,
Find a job you love and
You’ll never have to work
A day in your life.
- Jim Fox

Success usually comes
To those who are too busy
To be looking for it.
- Henry David Thoreau

Alone we can do so little;
together we can do so
Much.
- Helen Keller

The key to happiness
Is having dreams;
The key to success
Is making them come
True.
- James Allen

Individually we are
One drop,
Together we are
An ocean.
- Ryunosuke Satoro

Edited by H.C.

***

Sunset Listen Through - Hymn of Heaven
(Acoustic Sessions) – Phil Wickham


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frOIAn43v4o

011125 From the Banks of Burcham Creek...

From the Banks of Burcham Creek…

Lisa and I like most of you enjoyed the snow day
Off from work yesterday, we sat by the fire pit a bit
And walked around our place on Burcham Creek.
Our dog Bella enjoyed the day too…

Yesterday was also my Dad’s Birthday I spoke
To him via telephone we had a nice visit this
Past Sunday with him and Doris my stepmother
In Corinth, MS.

Thankful to our God that he is still with us.

The late Toby Keith was inspired to write a song
When he asked actor Clint Eastwood what kept
Him active and going strong.

Eastwood replied,
“I don’t let the old man in”.

Keith would write the song and it
was also used In Eastwood’s movie “The Mule”.

I am attaching the song as well as this post
In honor of my dad, Rex H. Childs, Sr.

- Hayden Childs

***

Charles Spurgeon's Daily Devotions

The Eleventh of January

From Spurgeon's "Faith's Check Book"

Faith Sets the Bow


“It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth,
 that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud;”

 Genesis 9:14

Just now clouds are plentiful enough, but we are not afraid
that the world will be destroyed by a deluge.

We see the rainbow often enough to prevent our having any
such fears.

The covenant which the Lord made with Noah stands fast,
and we have no doubts about it.

Why, then, should we think that the clouds of trouble,
which now darken our sky, will end in our destruction?

Let us dismiss such groundless and dishonoring fears.

Faith always sees the bow of covenant promise whenever
sense sees the cloud of affliction.

God has a bow with which He might shoot out His arrows
of destruction.

But see, it is turned upward!

It is a bow without an arrow or a string.
It is a bow hung out for show, no longer used for war.

It is a bow of many colors, expressing joy and delight,
and not a bow blood-red with slaughter or black with anger.
Let us be of good courage.

Never does God so darken our sky as to leave His covenant
without a witness, and even if He did,

we would trust Him since He cannot change or lie or in any
other way fails to keep His covenant of peace.

Until the waters go over the earth again,
we shall have no reason for doubting our God.


***

“To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake
it is necessary to stand out in the cold.”

Aristotle,
Ancient Greek philosopher and polymath

Aristotle’s philosophy encourages stepping
outside one’s comfort zone as part of pursuing
eudaemonia — human flourishing.

He emphasizes that achieving excellence and
virtue often require effort, discomfort,
and rational action beyond habitual or
pleasurable routines.

EXERCISE…

How has taking on life’s challenges and stepping
outside your habitual and pleasurable pursuits
provided you some of the more beautiful aspects
of living?

Where and when can you continue to step out into
some of the chillier aspects of life to discover
other kinds of beauty awaiting you?

- Barry Demp


***

“Generosity is not a loan to repay or a
debt to settle. It’s a gift to appreciate.”

Adam Grant,
American organizational psychologist and bestselling author

Adam Grant’s book, Give and Take, is one of my favorites.
If you have yet to read it, today’s quote could be one of
the top nuggets to summarize its wisdom.

Through his extensive research of givers, takers,
and matchers, it’s the givers of the world who seem to
lead the most richly rewarding lives.

Perhaps the best way to show our appreciation of the
generosity of others is simply to acknowledge it.

EXERCISE…

I hope you will take Adam’s advice and give the
generous people in your life your sincere appreciation
for their many gifts.

- Barry Demp



***


Don’t Let the Old Man In – Toby Keith
2023 People’s Choice Awards

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFfQDqY6mC4

010825 From the Banks of Burcham Creek...

From the Banks of Burcham Creek…

Abraham Lincoln's
Favorite Devotionals
January 8

Complete in Christ

"For in Him dwells all the fullness
of the Godhead [a] bodily;

[a] in bodily form

and you are complete in Him,
who is the head of all
[a] principality and power."

[a] rule and authority

- Colossians 2:9, 10 NKJV


Thy saints on earth,
and those above,
Here join in sweet accord:
One body all in mutual love,
And thou their common Lord.
Yes, thou that body wilt present
Before thy Father's face,
Nor shall a wrinkle or a spot
Its beauteous form disgrace.

- The Believer's Daily Treasure

***

From the January 8th quotes
Archives…

You will never be greater
than the thoughts
That dominate your mind.
- Napoleon Hill Foundation

Those who are lifting the
world upward and onward
are those who encourage
more than criticize.
- Elizabeth Harrison

Don't say you don't have
enough time.
You have exactly the same
number of hours per day
that were given to Helen Keller,
Louis Pasteur, Michelangelo,
Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci,
Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.
- H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Dreams come a size too big
So that we can grow into them.
- Josie Bisset

The one who tries to get something
For nothing generally winds up
Getting nothing for something.
Napoleon Hill Foundation

However difficult life may seem,
There is always something you
Can do and succeed at.
- Stephen Hawking

If you go to work on your goals,
Your goals will go to work on you.
If you go to work on your plan,
Your plan will go to work on you.
Whatever good things we build
End up building us.
- Jim Rohn

Circumstance does not make the
man;
It reveals him to himself.
- James Allen

A little more persistence,
A little more effort, and
what seemed hopeless failure
may turn to glorious success.
- Elbert Hubbard

Eventually we all have to accept
Full and total responsibility for
our actions,
Everything we have done,
and have not done.
- Hubert Selby Jr.

Don’t look back;  
You’re not going
That way.
- Mary Engelbreit

See the light in others and
Treat them as if that is all
You see.
- Wayne Dyer

There's a reason I swam five straight
Years and didn't take a single day off.
There are reasons why I swam every
Holiday, every Christmas, every birthday.
I was trying to be as prepared as I could,
And I tried to see what I could really do
And what my potential was.
I just really did kind of whatever it took.
- Michael Phelps 

(Most decorated Olympic Swimmer

of all time)

If you want to live a happy life,
Tie it to a goal, not to people or
Things.
- Albert Einstein

Where justice is denied,
Where poverty is enforced,
Where ignorance prevails,
And where any one class
Is made to feel that society
Is in an organized conspiracy
To oppress, rob, and degrade them,
Neither persons nor property will
Be safe.
- Frederick Douglass

I never doubted not only that
I would get out, but also that
I would prevail in the end and
Turn the experience into the
Defining event of my life,
Which, in retrospect,
I would not trade…
- James Stockdale

Commenting on his 8 years
As a prisoner of war in Vietnam,
During which he was tortured
Over 20 times.

It doesn’t matter what
You are ranked until
The end.
- Coach Nick Saban

I don't think it's about
Who you play,
I think it's about who
You are.
- Coach Nick Saban

The formula for success is
Every guy can make a difference
For the entire team in whatever
His role is.
And to do it right,
To get it right,
Is a critical factor in being
Successful.
- Coach Nick Saban

***

www.Daisys-Place.org

***

Scarecrow – John Mellencamp

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYFquMneMe8&list=PLDNtAuXIhbEP9BXw5UGdsZTBLFZV_oPoD

010525 From the Banks of Burcham Creek Sunday Edition...

 A New You

How would you like a brand new you in this
New Year of 2025?

Such is not an unreasonable desire or possibility.

In fact, it is God’s intent to eventually
“Make all things new” in the “new heavens and new
earth” (Rev. 21:5, 1).

Until that time, the Lord is preparing a people
who are said to be “born again … of water and the
Spirit” (John 3:3, 5).
    
In the process of the new birth, we become
children of God and receive the Spirit of Christ,
entitling us to address God as our Father (Gal. 4:6).

A truly new you are not through New Years resolutions,
but only in Christ:

“If any man be in Christ,
he is a new creature; old things are passed away…
all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17).

Newness of life is not found in just being a good
neighbor, a good husband or wife, or respectable
person, or even in just being religious.

Jesus expressed His purpose in coming into this world
when He told His disciples, “I am come that they might
have life, and that they might have it more abundantly”

(John 10:10).

The gospel (good news) by which we receive this life centers upon

Jesus’ dying upon the cross for our sins, being buried, 

and raised to life, as witnessed to us through His apostles

(1 Corinthians 15:1-4).

The apostle Paul also made it plain that this
justification is available to us through faith in Christ, saying,

“Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through the

Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).


Justification by faith involves repentance and baptism, 

coming forth from the watery grave of baptism into
“Newness of life” (Rom. 6:1-6).


Mere New Year’s resolutions will not accomplish this,
but a personal commitment to Jesus Christ,
the Son of God in faith and obedience to His word,
as Peter explained it:

“Ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth
through the Spirit… being born again…

by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.”

(1 Pet. 1:22-23).

Have you yet received this new life?

- Ron Bartanen

Edited by H.C.

***
 

I just love Phil Wickham’s song…
The Jesus Way…

A Beautiful song with
a powerful message!


Friend,
Will You Choose
The Jesus Way?

“And when I am lifted up from the earth,
I will attract all people toward Me.”

John 12:32


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Fhv4arL3yk

010325 From the Banks of Burcham Creek...

From the Banks of Burcham Creek…
 

Tim McGraw’s Drugs or Jesus
Has a powerful message.

“Everybody just wants to get high
Sit and watch a perfect world go by
We are all looking for love and
Meaning in our lives
We follow the roads that led us
To drugs or Jesus…”

So thankful for a great Christian
Heritage that led me to Jesus
And not to drugs and the hopelessness
Of that lifestyle.
I get High on life not drugs…

- Hayden Childs

****

The Greatest Man on Earth

He didn't own a mansion on a hill
He didn't drive a fancy automobile
He didn't travel with the "In" crowd
He didn't act as if he were too proud

He wasn't the subject of tabloids pens
He never gossiped about his friends
He didn't wear designer clothes of hue
He wore barefoot sandals instead of shoes

He had no earthly riches; not one red cent
He gave what he had and on others he spent
He accumulated no earthly treasures
He wasn't interested in worldly pleasures

He heard the peoples' cries and their laments
He gave them is blessings wherever he went
He healed their sicknesses and saved their souls
He gave them something far greater than gold

He was a virtuous man completely without vice
He gave His all and paid a heavy price
His gifts to man were more than money was worth
Jesus Christ was the greatest man on earth

- Ellen Bailey

***

HE IS!
In Genesis, He’s the Breath of life
In Exodus, the Passover Lamb
In Leviticus, He’s our High Priest
Numbers, The Fire by night
Deuteronomy, He’s Moses’ voice
In Joshua, He is Salvation’s Choice
Judges, Law Giver
In Ruth, the Kinsmen-Redeemer
First and Second Samuel, our Trusted Prophet
In Kings and Chronicles, He’s Sovereign
Ezra, True and Faithful Scribe
Nehemiah, He’s the Rebuilder of broken walls and lives
In Esther, He’s Mordecai’s Courage
In Job, the timeless Redeemer
In Psalms, He is our Morning Song
In Proverbs, Wisdom’s Cry
Ecclesiastes, the Time and Season
In the Song of Solomon, He is the Lover’s Dream
He is, He is, HE IS!
In Isaiah, He’s Prince of Peace
Jeremiah, the Weeping Prophet
In Lamentations, the Cry for Israel
Ezekiel, He’s the call from sin
In Daniel, the Stranger in the fire
In Hosea, He is Forever Faithful
In Joel, He’s the Spirits power
In Amos, the Arms that carry us
In Obadiah, He’s the Lord our Savior
In Jonah, He’s the Great Missionary
In Micah, the Promise of Peace
In Nahum, He is our Strength and our Shield
In Habakkuk and Zephaniah, He’s pleading for revival
In Haggai, He Restores a lost heritage
In Zechariah, our Fountain

In Malachi, He is the Sun of righteousness rising with healing in His wings
He is, He is, HE IS!
In Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, He is God, Man, Messiah
In the book of Acts, He is Fire from heaven
In Romans, He’s the Grace of God
In Corinthians, the Power of love
In Galatians, He is Freedom from the curse of sin
Ephesians, our Glorious Treasure
Philippians, the Servants heart
In Colossians, He’s the Godhead Trinity
Thessalonians, our Coming King
In Timothy, Titus, Philemon He’s our Mediator and our Faithful Shepherd
In Hebrews, the Everlasting Covenant
In James, the One Who heals the sick.
In First and Second Peter, He is our Shepherd
In John and in Jude, He is the Lover coming for His bride
In the Revelation, He is King of Kings and Lord of Lords
He is, He is, HE IS!
The Prince of Peace
The Son of Man
The Lamb of God
The Great I AM
He’s the Alpha and Omega
Our God and our Savior
He is Jesus Christ the Lord
and when time is no more
He is, HE IS!
AMEN AND AMEN!
 

- Aaron Jeoffrey



Give Me Jesus

In the morning when rise
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
And when I am alone
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
And when I come to die
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
Give me Jesus
You can have all this world
 

- Fernando Ortega


***

Drugs or Jesus – Tim McGraw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNoEDGBaHSs

 

010225 From the banks of Burcham Creek...

 From The Banks of Burcham Creek…

On the 31st I went to Lauderdale
County Courthouse to take care
of some personal business and while
In line I noticed a lady with a
tee shirt That had the following
words…

“Good Moms Say Bad Words”
maybe you have Seen it too.

I thought to myself how sad.

As a Christian I must disagree with
That sentiment.

Good Moms and Dads Say GOOD words
not bad.

I believe God’s Holy Word will back
Me Up on that.

As many of you know I took a job at
An Automotive plant last July.

Daily I am bombarded with “bad words”
the people I work with some of them
use God’s name in vain.

Many curse-like sailors, sadly these bad
Words have become a habit in their daily
Speech and apparently, they think nothing
Of using these “bad words.”

I want to share some scriptures
From a message I presented to the
Barn Creek Church 11/13/24.

Seeds of the Mouth

Proverbs 18:20-21

20 A man’s stomach shall be satisfied from the
fruit of his mouth;
From the produce of his lips he shall be filled

21 "Death and life are in the power of the tongue;
And they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."

This picture in Proverbs 18:20-21 of planting seeds
in our lives from our mouths.

We are given the choice of either planting
bad seeds which produce poisonous fruit
or good seeds which produce good fruit.

Proverbs 4:24
24 Put away from you crooked speech,
    and put devious talk far from you.

Proverbs 8:7-8
7 for my mouth will utter truth;
    wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

8 All the words of my mouth are righteous;
    there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.

Proverbs 20:20
20 Whoever curses his father or his mother,
His lamp will be put out in deep darkness.

Proverbs 10:21
21 The lips of the righteous feed many,
But fools die for lack of wisdom.

Proverbs 22:17-18
17 Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise,
And apply your heart to my knowledge;

18 For it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within
you;
Let them all be fixed upon your lips,

Proverbs 16:23
23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth,
And adds learning to his lips.

Proverbs 8:7
7 For my mouth will speak truth;
Wickedness is an abomination to my lips.

Proverbs 12:22
22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD,
But those who deal truthfully are His delight.

Proverbs 24:26
26 He who gives a right answer kisses the lips.

Jesus Christ tells us in Matthew 12:34-35,
34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil,
speak good things?
For out of the abundance of the heart the
mouth speaks.

35 A good man out of the good treasure of his
heart brings forth good things,
and an evil man out of the evil treasure
brings forth evil things.

Our words reveal what is in our heart.

If we use “bad” words our heart is “bad”.
Jesus says they are evil!

Only Jesus can change a heart from
Bad to good.

The people we work with,
go to school with,
play ball with etc.…

Need Jesus…

He is the answer
To the “bad” words problem
In our world today.

- Hayden Childs

#giver


POWER OF WORDS
A careless word may kindle strife,
A cruel word may wreck a life,
A bitter word may hate instill,
A brutal word may smite and kill,
A gracious word may smooth the way,
A joyous word may light the day;
A timeless word may lessen stress,
A loving word may heal and bless.
- Anonymous

Via Bulletin Gold

***

From the 01/02 Quote Archives…

Don’t watch the clock;
Do what it does.
Keep going.
- Sam Levenson

We relish news of our
heroes,
Forgetting that we are
Extraordinary to somebody
too.
- Helen Hayes

Every human has four endowments …
Self-awareness,
conscience,
independent will
And creative imagination.
These give us the
Ultimate human freedom...
The power to choose,
To respond,
to change.
- Stephen Covey

Change is difficult but often
Essential to survival.
- Les Brown

The measure of your life
Will not be in what you
Accumulate but in what
You give away.
- Wayne Dyer

See God in every person,
Place, and thing and all
Will be well in your world.
- Louise Hay

I think everybody should
Take the attitude that we’re
Working to be a champion,
That we want to be a champion
In everything that we do.
Every choice, every decision,
Everything that we do, we’re
Working to be a champion.
- Coach Nick Saban

There is no failure except
In no longer trying.
- Elbert Hubbard

Do you know the difference
Between Education and experience?
Education is when you read the
fine print;
Experience is what you get when
you don't.
- Pete Seeger

The con man works harder and
pays more
For what he gets out of life
than any other person,
But he kids himself into
believing he is getting
Something for nothing.
- Napoleon Hill Foundation


***

Three Resolutions...

- R. A. (Bob) West

Happy New Year!

Yes, it's that time of year again.

But before we get all wrapped up with 2025,
let's take a quick glance in 2024.

In your case, how was it?
What kind of life did you live?
Do you think God was pleased?

Of course, we can't live that part over,
but we can profit thereby.

We now have a completely New Year ahead of us.
What will we do with it?
Whom will we serve in 2025?
God or Satan?
There is no middle ground.

As we reflect upon the rewards inherent in service to the one
and the consequences of the other, our decisions are made easy.

My decision has prompted three resolutions.

I herewith share them to encourage you to adopt them as your own.

1. Resolved…

To come to a more complete knowledge of God's will.
Naturally, I cannot hope for an eternal home with God if I am not
pleasing to Him; I cannot be pleasing to Him if I do not do His will.
I cannot do His will if I do not know what it is.

Therefore, I will faithfully attend all Bible classes and fervently study
the Scriptures daily to learn His desires.

I will approach the Bible with an open and honest mind and let it
speak fully and freely on every subject.
I will endeavor to study each passage in its proper setting,
not willing to wrest the Scriptures lest I do so to my own destruction.

2. Resolved…

To live in harmony with the will of God.
I will be active in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
(Of course, before one can be active and fruitful,
 he must enter the Lord's vineyard, the church,
 by obedience to the gospel plan of salvation.)

I will be more prayerful.
I will attend all the assemblies (worship and Bible study)
and give as I have been prospered.

I will forsake all, even denying myself, to follow Jesus.
And though I know that all who live godly in Christ Jesus shall
suffer persecution,

I am resolved to not be ashamed,
but to present my body a living sacrifice,
holy, acceptable unto God.

I will work out my salvation with fear and trembling,
being not conformed to this world,
but transformed by the renewing of my mind by the
good and perfect will of God (Phil. 2:12; Romans 12:1,2).

3. Resolved…

To teach and persuade others to obey God's will.
As I obtain knowledge of God's word I will teach others also.
I am resolved to teach them in word and deed.
With the sword of the Spirit as my weapon with the militance of
Jesus I will lovingly expose religious error and moral wickedness.

And yet I will seek to possess Christ's other qualities
(e.g. love, joy, peace, faithfulness, meekness and self-control)
to such a degree that I might lead those involved in sin and iniquity
to repentance.

These three resolutions, if kept,
will keep us busy serving and pleasing God.
We will have no time for the devil.
Let's determine now to keep all three in 2025 (and forever after).

The Gospel Guardian
VOLUME 18, January 6, 1967, NUMBER 34, PAGE 8b
Edited by H.C.

For More Information…

https://www.wordsfitlyspoken.insearchoftruth.org/gospel_guardian/index.html




***


Bless The Lord O My Soul – Matt Redman

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtwIT8JjddM