What I am reading right now

[aliesh]

In the Bible I am reading my way through the book of Isaiah, and I am also reading Pilgrims Progress for the first time.  

[Lance]

Well done aliesh.
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool [Isa. 1:18].

God is saying to Judah, “Do not force Me to render sentence. Settle your case out of court.” In Matthew 5:25 the Lord Jesus said, “Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him …”—don’t wait until he takes you to court. God says that He has a secret formula, a divine alchemy, a potent prescription, a powerful potion, a heavenly elixir that will take out sin. It is not a secret formula like the newest bomb, but it is more potent. You will find it in Isaiah 53 as the One who was more marred, who suffered more, who died differently, who was wounded for our transgressions. Because He paid the penalty, the Judge is able now to extend mercy to us. The blood of Jesus Christ, God’s Son, keeps on cleansing from all sin.
McGee, J. Vernon, Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers) 2000, c1981.

"The Pilgrim's Progress" is recognised as being one of the finest literary examples after the Bible.  

"Now as Christian was walking solitarily by himself he espied one afar off come crossing over the field to meet him; and their hap was to meet just as they were crossing the way of each other. The gentleman's name that met him was Mr. Worldly-wiseman; he dwelt in the town of Carnal Policy, a very great town, and also hard by from whence Christian came. This man, then, meeting with Christian, and having some inkling of him, for Christian's setting forth from the City of Destruction was much noised abroad, not only in the town where he dwelt, but, also, it began to be the town-talk in some other places. Master Worldly- wiseman, therefore, having some guess of him, by beholding his laborious going, by observing his sighs and groans, and the like, began thus to enter into some talk with Christian.

WORLD. How now, good fellow, whither away after this burdened manner?

CHR. A burdened manner, indeed, as ever, I think, poor creature had! And whereas you ask me, Whither away? I tell you, Sir, I am going to yonder wicket-gate before me; for there, as I am informed, I shall be put into a way to be rid of my heavy burden.

WORLD. Hast thou a wife and children?

CHR. Yes; but I am so laden with this burden, that I cannot take that pleasure in them as formerly; methinks I am as if I had none (1 Cor. 7:29).

WORLD. Wilt thou hearken unto me if I give thee counsel?

CHR. If it be good, I will; for I stand in need of good counsel.

WORLD. I would advise thee, then, that thou with all speed get thyself rid of thy burden: for thou wilt never be settled in thy mind till then; nor canst thou enjoy the benefits of the blessing which God hath bestowed upon thee till then.

CHR. That is that which I seek for, even to be rid of this heavy burden; but get it off myself, I cannot; nor is there any man in our country that can take it off my shoulders; therefore am I going this way, as I told you, that I may be rid of my burden.

WORLD. Who bid you go this way to be rid of thy burden?

CHR. A man that appeared to me to be a very great and honourable person; his name, as I remember, is Evangelist.

WORLD. I beshrew him for his counsel! there is not a more dangerous and trouble some way in the world than is that unto which he hath directed thee; and that thou shalt find, if thou wilt be ruled by his counsel. Thou hast met with something, as I perceive already; for I see the dirt of the Slough of Despond is upon thee; but that slough is the beginning of the sorrows that do attend those that go on in that way. Hear me, I am older than thou; thou art like to meet with, on the way which thou goest, wearisomeness, painfulness, hunger, perils, nakedness, sword, lions, dragons, darkness, and, in a word, death, and what not! These things are certainly true, having been confirmed by many testimonies. And why should a man so carelessly cast away himself, by giving heed to a stranger?"

God bless.

[Tibby]

Pilgrims Progress, an excellent book. I wish more people would read it. It realy makes you think, if you allow it. Enjoy

[The Crusader]

Pilgrims Progress, an excellent book. I wish more people would read it. It realy makes you think, if you allow it. Enjoy

If true Tibby, you should read it a few more times.

The Crusader
<))><

[Tibby]

Pilgrims Progress, an excellent book. I wish more people would read it. It realy makes you think, if you allow it. Enjoy

If true Tibby, you should read it a few more times.

The Crusader
<))><

Are you saying you haven't read it!?!?!?!?

[nChrist]

Pilgrims Progress, an excellent book. I wish more people would read it. It realy makes you think, if you allow it. Enjoy

Oklahoma Howdy to Tibby,

I read it 40 years ago. Do you think I need to read it again? Let me see if memory serves me correctly. Is it written by John Bunyan?

If so, it is available an an E-Book, free of charge, in the Gutenberg Project. They have a large list of literary masterpieces and an excellent freeware E-Book Reader called Y-Book. If anyone is interested, I'll post the details.

Love In Christ,
Tom

[Lance]

Hi blackeyedpeas,
I dare say after 40 years your recollections of "The Pilgrim's Progress" have grown somewhat dim.  The entire works of John Bunyan [Geo Offer edition] can be downloaded free from : -
http://www.johnbunyan.org/  [at this very moment off line]
Those who just want individual books can download those too.  It is a wonderful repertoire ABSOLUTELY FREE.  The PDF versions are exact reproductions of the original volumes.  Some are available as HTML and some as plain text.  My wife bought me the original three volumes and they cost a fortune.

God bless

[Tibby]

Yes, read it again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yeah,  John Bunyan wrote Pilgrim's Progress. He also owned a pet ox I blue one, I recall

[Lance]

It looks like you are the "Mr. Worldly-wiseman" referred to above in my earlier post, Tibby.  You've got the wrong forum.  You need www.mindlikeasewer.com

[Tibby]

  What are you talking about?

[Gracey]

Paul Bunyan = Blue the Ox
not
John Bunyan

 

[Tibby]

Paul Bunyan = Blue the Ox
not
John Bunyan

 

It was a joke. Hints the and I put with it.

[Gracey]

 

I got the joke....guess I didn't use enough smilies, rofl!

Gracey

[nChrist]

Oklahoma Howdy to All,

I'm an old guy and was somewhat confused. Thanks for explaining. I'm trying to remember, was Paul Bunyon one of those old cartoons involving a giant man and a giant ox? If so, I didn't like it.    Foghorn Leghorn, Yosemity Sam, and Roadrunner were much better.

Lance, thanks for those links.

Love In Christ,
Tom

[Gracey]

When I was a kid Paul Bunyan was a storybook from the library, not a cartoon (maybe it became one, and that's too bad because they are never like the original books). The story of a giant lumberjack with a blue ox named babe.
-----------------------------------------
On another subject, this strikes me as interesting:

"If that a pearl may in a toad's head dwell,
And may be found too in an oyster-shell,
If things that promise nothing do contain
What better is than gold, who will disdain?"

The Pilgrim's Progress
John Bunyan

Gracey