Friday, February 23, 2024

REMEMBERING A SAD DAY...

 This is a reprint of a blog entitled, TODAY IS A SAD DAY,  written a little over two years ago; however, in the heat of our political and social climate of today...I BELIEVE THAT IT BEARS REPEATING OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN UNITL IT SINKS INTO THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF ALL AMERICANS WHO LOVE THIS GREAT COUNTRY. TAKE YOUR STAND FOR RIGHTEOUS AND LAY DOWN THOSE STONE...the following will clarify, so read on!

Today is a very sad day for me and I believe, a sad day for America. I watched the mixed reaction and news coverage from the many so-called news outlets as they reported the death of a man that I believe was a true American icon....Rush Hudson Limbaugh.

Now, let me temper my remarks regarding my admiration for Mr. Limbaugh since I was never a diehard follower of his radio talk show. In fact, in his 30 plus years of voicing his opinion over our radio airways, I probably listened to his show less than 20 hours...TOTAL. But in listening to him, I was always overcome with admiration for his love for our country; his willingness to debate with his callers the pros and cons of both his and their opinions of the state of our country, our political leadership (and their flaws) and other timely topics that indeed made for good, if not great, talk radio. What bothered me last night was the way the left-leaning media bashed the man and his legacy and had the audacity to label him a malfeasant...all the while holding up to the "noble" life of the recently deceased porn purveyor, Larry Flynt; the publisher of Hustler magazine and his pornographic empire.

Now, I never agreed with Rush Limbaugh on everything, and sometimes, I agreed with him not at all; BUT I ALWAYS AGREED WITH HIS RIGHT TO SHARE HIS OPINION AND LET THOSE OF US ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE RADIO SPEAKER MAKE UP OUR MINDS AND FORM OUR OWN CONCLUSIONS...and for me that is enough of a reason to mourn his death.

I also believe that Rush Limbaugh had a GREAT BIG HEART and used that caring spirit to spread much joy and love to others as he shared his fortune with charities, endowments and other means of giving to those in need. I believe, as he did, that he had talent that was on loan from HIS CREATOR and that he always sought to find a way to share his talent, thoughts and time with others. I believe that he sought to use his platform, and his ever-growing audience, to instill in his listeners how we might come together in unity to redeem this great nation so that we might return to our roots of faith in our Creator...and in so doing, we might begin to live together in harmony as we continue our search for LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS...those inalienable rights guaranteed to us by the hands of our founding fathers in our Constitution.

Was Rush Limbaugh a perfect man? I think that answer would be an emphatic NO! But as Christ said to those men, standing around the harlot, with huge stones in their hands, “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first.” And again He stooped down and wrote on the ground. Then those who heard it, being convicted by their conscience, went out one by one, beginning with the oldest even to the last. And Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.”

And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” John 8:7b-11

I think that is the message behind this blog today...we can look at the life of Rush Limbaugh; pick up the big stones, ready to hurl them at this man with whom we may disagree... and possibly even have chosen to hate with a vitriol which seems to be more commonplace in our nation with the passing of each new day...or we can do as our Lord and Savior has commanded us to do; “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. 'But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,  that you may be sons of your Father in heaven;" Matthew 5:43-45a (bold, my emphasis)

So I say in closing, it does not matter if Rush Limbaugh was in your 'Living Life Large Hall of Fame' or in the 'Despicable Wing of Whackos'...he was a man, created by a loving, heavenly Father, who sought to use his talents to make a difference in this world...and whether you agree with him, his politics or anything else associated with him, let those who will miss him mourn in peace; pray for them in their sorrow and remember your day to depart this world could happen at any moment...So, act the way you want others to act when they hear that you are dead and gone...so that you may be counted as a son or daughter of your Father in heaven.

Laying down the stones....Walking away in Love,

WPQ

 

 A PILE OF ROCKS

There is coming a day,

When each of us will know...

That the angel of death has come

And 'tis time for us to go.

But what will be our departing cry

As we leave this mortal life?

Will we celebrate the good we've done

Or revel in the misery and strife?

And what about the ones we loved;

What will their praises be?

Will their eyes fill with many tears,

Expressing sorrow or frivolity?

So live each day as if it were the one

When God's trumpet calls for you...

You've spent your time loving others;

Doing what He'd have you do...

 So when the casket lid is closed;

Silence will be the deafening tone...

And a pile of rocks will be left behind

Because everyone dropped their stone!!!

 

W. Patrick Queen  ©  February 2021

Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Preparing for Easter...ASH WEDNESDAY

Tomorrow is the start of the season of Lent and many Christians around the world will wear ashes, in the form of a cross, on their forehead. This display on Ash Wednesday is important because it marks the start of the Lenten period leading up to Easter, the time when Christians celebrate the resurrected Jesus...the Son of God who gave his life to save all mankind from their sins. For those who have put their faith and trust in His redeeming act of selfless love, these ashes symbolize both death and repentance. During this period, Christians show repentance and mourning for their sins, because they believe Christ died for them.

It is during this season of Lent that we should all be reminded of the most quoted verse in the Bible, John 3:16, which reads, FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. It is not only the most quoted verse in the Bible, but I would surmise the one that is most memorized.

But do we really understand the truth of this wonderful, all-encompassing statement of God's LOVE...for our salvation is not based on our good works or something earned, but totally dependent on the grace of God in these four insightful truths. This verse reveals the gospel in four dynamic statements that are found in the four "c's"

SALVATION'S CAUSE...FOR GOD SO LOVE THE WORLD

SALVATION'S COST...THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON

SALAVATION'S CONDITION...THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM

SALVATIONS' CONSEQUENCE...SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING

LIFE

I have been studying a new devotional book entitled, THE JOSHUA CODE, by Dr. O.S. Hawkins and the above was presented in a way that I had never completely gleaned from this wonderful Scripture. I know, without a shadow of doubt, that God's ways are PERFECT and that His plan for mankind's salvation is foolproof....but many of the people I know and love do not share that point of view. Perhaps you have loved ones, friends and family members that are liken to this same mindset and are still trying to "workout" or "earn" their way into God's perfect Heaven. They just cannot believe that ALL the work has been done. They find it too hard to accept their sinful nature, ask for God's bountiful grace and accept the forgiveness that comes from believing that Jesus died to set them free from their sin.....and in so doing, they will one day live in eternity with GOD, the Father; JESUS, the SON and the HOLY SPIRIT that will dwell within them until they leave this world.

Dr. Hawkins shared this unknown, yet wise old sage's dramatic explanation of John 3:16...

FOR GOD...the greatest lover

SO LOVED....the greatest degree

THE WORLD....the greatest company

THAT HE GAVE...the greatest act

HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON...the greatest gift

THAT WHOEVER...the greatest opportunity

BELIEVES....the greatest simplicity

IN HIM...the greatest attraction

SHOULD NOT PERISH...the greatest promise

BUT...the greatest difference

HAVE...the greatest certainty

EVERLASTING LIFE....the greatest possession 

So, my friends, as we enter into this holy season of Lent; when we take into account our miserable state of affairs as sinners, hopelessly and forever separated from our Creator by our great chasm of sin...Let us look to our Heavenly Father and truly take to heart the love that God has written in His Book, the HOLY BIBLE. For in this short, but life-changing verse God tells us of HIS UNENDIING LOVE, HIS UNYIELDING PURSUIT AND HIS UNWAVERING PROMISE OF HOPE if we will do but one simple thing....REPENT, ACCEPT AND BELIEVE that He has done all that needs to be done....the GIFT is ours when we accept and OPEN our hearts to His forever love.

IT IS MY PRAYER THAT YOU WILL MEET AND COME TO KNOW YOUR CREATOR, LORD AND SAVIOR.... AND THE GREAT LOVE HE HAS FOR YOU THIS EASTER SEASON....Need help in making that connection, reach out to me at wpq815@gmail.com


PRAYING FOR A MIRACLE IN YOUR LIFE....HERE TO LEND A HAND,

WPQ