Pioneers

They speak for themselves. Naivete says: "All that men say is true, or at least most of what they say is true." "All their facial expressions tell their true feelings." "Most people in everyday common affairs have no reason to lie or to be deceitful." "People conduct themselves as normal beings always or almost always. One can usually take them at face value." Naivete has never met Discretion - never heard of her. But Naivete has a sister: Pride says: "The friendship of people towards me comes out of their admiration for me." (sometimes true) "People see something special in me even if they can't put a finger on it. If they don't, they ought to." "People respect me because I am something special." "All centers on me...all." "All things said and done toward me to my dislike are offensive, wrong and unjustified." "Don't rebuke me; don't rail on and on. It's only your ignorance and bad attitude. I don't want to hear it." "I have spoken. Let all men fall down and worship." "World, watch the grace, see the grace that issues from my precious lips." "I'm sure glad I'M right." Blindness is the brother of Naivete and Pride. Blindness says: "I see me; I see what I do; I see what I see and what I say; there is nothing else." "I don't see the circumstances, their elements, their noteworthiness. With the help of my sisters, I only believe the flatteries people speak to me, of me." Destruction, the child of Pride and Blindness (a marriage of incest) says:...

It is bad enough to watch a dog vomit though by vomiting it may well expel that which ails it. Then it is a pleasant experience to behold a healthy creature. But bad is bad when one witnesses the return of a dog to its vomit only to lick it up again. I do not know of many more disgusting spectacles to witness in all of existence.  Up from the pits of Hell Come the vilest of the vile; These are the has-beens of yester-year, Full of venom and guile. These have known the truth of God; They have known His love and power, His mercy to loveless men; His goodness has made them sour.   Why do angels fall? Why do just men call On gods who have nothing to give? Why do fools choose death In order that they may live?   Now here is a marvelous thing That would make any devil sing: It is easier to find The seeing man crying to be blind Than it is the blind to see.   Lethbridge, Alta., June 1985

The ways and thoughts of the spirit of the Lord are far higher than man is ever willing to acknowledge or can imagine.This work had the crucible of a man with above average intellect who was rather impressed with his powers as well as impressive. What a blessing it would be to see a man set aside his strengths both real and perceived and take on the "weakness" of Christ. I have yet to see a man of high intellect do so. But isn't it written that God chooses the foolish things to confound the wise?Men dwell on different planes. There are those who are subterranean,Less than animals;They will not use even their bodies as they ought.There are those who dwell on lower ground,Their bodies they use acceptably wellBut no more can they receive.Then there are those who have taken to the hills.They have sought the higher groundOf mind and intellectual things.And with the powers of mindBoth given and honed,They have awesome works achieved.Yet there is higher ground still.There are snow-capped peaks of the spiritWhere the air is cold and thin,Where the traveler is rare,Where few would care to come,Yet the vista is supreme.Satisfied with the planes below,Ignorant of the plane above,Each on his own level thinksThere is nothing better, nothing more.Come up higher, man.You've a long way you can go.But put aside the weights of assumptions,Vanities, arrogance.Put away pride and foolis...