Will Rogers on “Can Government Fix our Problems?”

Will RogersAs usual, Will nails it with a quote from 1933! It’s not just that people look to government, but government entitlement programs draw people in. The government creates dependents who don’t need to do much of anything but draw their government check each month.

It seems that the bigger government grows, the more people expect. Unfortunately, failed programs and broken lives litter the landscape. Perhaps smaller government and more independent people are the better way.

The picture is from the 1935 Will Rogers movie The County Chairman. Will plays Jim Hackler, a local party-boss in a Wyoming county, who has to decide to do what’s right and lose the election, or what’s wrong and win.

I hope you have enjoyed this quote from Will Rogers and the accompanying image taken from the Will Rogers iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that might enjoy a bit of wisdom from Will Rogers.

Will Rogers

Spurgeon on “Before the Stars Began to Shine” ~ 2 Minute Devotional

“Before the first of the stars began to shine!” We were on God’s mind in eternity past, when the covenant was formed, and Jesus expressed his love for each of us (his elect) as he became party to it. Can we even begin to comprehend ages so vast, or love so deep?

Words and images are simply inadequate in describing concepts such as everlasting and eternity. Spurgeon’s imagery, however is beautifully stated and wonderful to ponder. The background image is from a NASA photograph of deep space, to give further perspective to the long ages of eternity.

But how can I know if I am one of God’s elect? Because of God’s love for his people, he will surely communicate his love and salvation to us. There are several ways He communicates. God has provided his Word to us, the Bible, to communicate the gospel message to us personally. Pastors and christian friends share God’s word with us, and finally God’s Holy Spirit actively works in our lives. We are not alone!

If you are unsure of God’s grace and salvation in your life, pray for His help, and look for His answer. Complete assurance of salvation may not come all at once, but it will grow over time.

Dear Lord, Grant me a deeper understanding of your eternal love. Speak to me through your Word, christian friends and by your Holy Spirit, that I may know your salvation and be counted among your elect. Amen.

I hope you have been blessed by this quote and the accompanying image taken from the Spurgeon Daily Quotes iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.

God’s Choosing – Psalm 78 NIV 2 Minute Devotional

As I look back across my life, I am continually amazed to see God’s hand in events large and small. God called me out of a life of sin and self-destruction. He has guided my path step-by-step, through dark times and blessings.

In Psalm 78 we understand that God chose David. Had this not happened, David would likely have tended sheep for the rest of his life. There would have been no record of his life because there was nothing remarkable about him. Instead God lifts an unknown and unremarkable young man from obscurity to become one of the major figures in Scripture.

The story of David’s choosing can be found in I Sam 16.  From this passage, God makes it clear that the choice of David was His choice alone, and not a choice based on human reasoning, luck or chance. God chose David, David didn’t choose God.

I think the same is true of my life. God chose me, I didn’t choose God. In fact, Had it been up to me, I never would have chosen God. Furthermore, had I made all the choices in my life, it would have been a mess.

Ask God daily for his guidance. Look back and acknowledge God’s day-by-day work in your life. Thank God for the many blessings he has brought your way. It is a great comfort to know God chooses my path and directs my life. If I had to trust in my own choices, I would find no peace, and God would receive no glory.

Dear Lord, Help me to trust in your choosing. Let me earnestly seek your guidance each day, that you might be glorified. Amen.

I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 78 and the accompanying image taken from the Psalm Daily Quotes NIV iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or  Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.

Daily Psalm ASV iPhone App Upgrade is released

Apple just approved the Daily Psalm ASV (American Standard Version) upgrade.
iTunes store link
Product Page link

Navy Psalm 108:12 on “Help Against the Foe” ESV 2 Minute Devotional

Devotional

I had the honor of meeting a former Navy SEAL while waiting for a flight at DFW. He was 70 years old and looked every bit as fit as men half his age. Last year he was invited back to temporary active duty to assist training today’s Navy SEAL candidates, and compare it with his experience from years ago. The attrition rate for SEAL training has been and is still over 70% for First Phase training. It’s still the toughest military training in the world!

As we looked at pictures from the Navy Psalm Daily Quotes ESV iPhone app, such as the one in this blog post, he could tell me exactly what was going on when we came to pictures of SEAL training.

One thing Navy SEALs have to learn is teamwork. Nobody makes it through training by relying only on themselves. You are responsible for your teammates, and they are responsible for you. For SEALs, it can be a matter of life and death.

This thought brings us to Psalm 108:12. While our natural tendency is to do things on our own, we must understand that we cannot save ourselves. We have to trust God for salvation, and with God, “we shall do valiantly.”

Dear Lord, Help me to put my trust in you. I can do nothing without your help. Amen.

Entire Quote and Image Information

Psalm 108:12 Oh grant us help against the foe, for vain is the salvation of man! 13 With God we shall do valiantly; it is he who will tread down our foes.

Image info: SAN DIEGO (Feb. 25, 2010) First phase Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL students navigate small inflatable boats through the surf during a navigation training exercise. First phase is an eight-week course that trains, prepares and selects SEAL candidates based on physical conditioning; water competency; mental tenacity and teamwork. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Shauntae Hinkle-Lymas/Released)

I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 108:12 and the accompanying image taken from the Navy Psalm Daily Quotes ESV iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.

Lack No Good Thing – Psalm 34 ESV 2 Minute Devotional

What could a young lion possibly want. They’re at the top of the food chain! Perhaps it’s the never-ending cycle of want and hunger that the Psalmist mentions – never being satisfied.

I’m a tech guy – always wanting newer and faster computers and gadgets. Can the things of this life cause us to not fear or respect God as we should. They can and they do.

Dear Lord, help me to seek you more each day and to thank you for every good thing that comes from your hand.

I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 34 and the accompanying image taken from the Psalm Daily Quotes ESV iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.

Spurgeon on “The Delusion of Pride” ~ 2 Minute Devotional

There are so many things that cause us to be proud, even as Christians – possessions, accomplishments, position in the company, abilities, etc. This recession has been difficult for me. When I’m out of work and can’t find enough money to pay the bills, I get upset at God. I know I could make a good wage if only someone would hire me. In fact, I deserve to be hired!

On the other hand, when I’m doing well, my tendency is to think that it’s all because of my own efforts and abilities. In fact, I deserve to do even better!

Humility before God and man is the better way. If I can acknowledge that all that I have, and all that I am are gifts from God, it will be easier to trust Him for my needs. If I can humble myself and acknowledge that I need God to save me from my sins, He will hear me.

Recently I’ve been reading the first six chapters of the book of Daniel in the Bible. Read the chapters if you will, and consider the deep humility and faith of Daniel. God reveals the king’s dream to Daniel in chapter 2 and Daniel could have taken credit for it before the king, but instead he says “there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries.” As a result the king responds to the interpretation by praising God, saying: “Truly, your God is God of gods, and Lord of kings…”

On the other hand, in chapter 4, we find that the king is humiliated for seven years because he didn’t give credit to God. When the king’s mind was restored he lifted his eyes toward heaven and “blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever.”

Dear Lord, Help me to acknowledge my need for you in everything I do. I humbly ask you for salvation through Jesus Chirst, who humbled himself for me on the cross and died for my sins. Amen.

I hope you have been blessed by this quote and the accompanying image taken from the Spurgeon Daily Quotes iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.

The Sheep of his Pasture – Psalm 100 ESV 2 Minute Devotional

These little lambs in the picture are pretty cute! You can almost imagine them speaking and giving thanks and praise to God.

This image fits wonderfully with Psalm 100 – we are the sheep of his pasture. The imagery of the Psalms is amazing and wonderful. Through it, God expresses His love for us with many different word pictures. Because God is our creator, and he cares for our needs, we should give him our praise and thanksgiving, freely and with enthusiasm.

I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 100 and the accompanying image taken from the Psalm Daily Quotes ESV iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.

Will Rogers and “Raiders of the Lost TARP, the GE Story”

Will RogersWhere congressmen used to carry suitcases full of money away from Washington in the past, today it’s boxcars full of money! When “old man interest” starts gnawing away at us, the big boys roll the empty freight cars to the capital for help.

Requirements and intent of a Federal program such as TARP, don’t make much difference if you know your way around and through the bureaucracy. It also helps if you know how to schmooze the White House.

Put together a team of lawyers, and you can find loopholes big enough to drive a freight train through. Of course it takes a little cooperation from brilliant government economists and wise bureaucrats, who know what’s best for their party and country, in that order.

Let’s try to follow this. GE can qualify to participate in the banking bailout. It isn’t a banking company, however it does own two small banks in Utah, so it qualifies. Since it isn’t a bank, however, it isn’t subjected to the Fed’s stress test or rules for limiting risk. Also, they aren’t subject to restrictions such as limits on executive compensation.

I don’t think GE is necessarily an evil corporation. I think they are responding to a Federal Government that is threatening their business with overregulation by bureaucrats and partisan  administration officials that don’t have a clue how to manage an economy. GE may be too big to fail, but the current administration has failed in common sense and integrity.

You might be able to pack a couple of hundred grand into a large suitcase, but GE rolled out of the station with boxcars loaded with the lion’s share of the $340 billion program. Meanwhile, old man interest is still gnawing away.

Here’s the referene: General Electric Major Recipient Of TARP Loans

Image Information: This image is from a Will Rogers’ silent movie called An Unwilling Hero, released in 1921. Rogers plays Whistling Dick, a hobo who loves life and classical music. He loves just about everything except work.

The image was taken directly from movie stills at the Will Rogers Memorial Museum archive. I apologize for the quality of the image, but this is exactly what the 1920s photo looked like when I scanned it. In the hundreds of images contained in this iPhone application, I wanted to share as many different Will Rogers photos as possible from as wide a variety of times and situations – movies, cowboy, vaudeville, with famous people, and family scenes.

Will Rogers is a man worth remembering, and quoting. His wit, humor and insight into life will amaze and astonish you. His life will inspire you. Watch for new blog posts from my Will Rogers quotes collection.

I hope you have enjoyed this quote from Will Rogers and the accompanying image taken from the Will Rogers iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that might enjoy a bit of wisdom from Will Rogers.

Will Rogers

Will Rogers on “Can we solve our own problems?”

Rogers wrote this quote in 1933. Can you believe that the World Court debate still rages today? Some politicians and “legal scholars” believe that the U.S. should subject itself to external legal authorities.

We’re trying to solve problems overseas, and making quite a mess of it. We can barely handle our own problems. There is hope however – The UN just appointed a space ambassador to greet alien visitors.

The image of Rogers is from his 1921 silent film Guile of Women. Rogers plays a Swede named Yal who travels with a friend to America to seek his fortune. After misfortunes in love and business, his girlfriend finally arrives from Sweden.

I hope you have enjoyed this quote from Will Rogers and the accompanying image taken from the Will Rogers iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebookpage regularly and pass these posts on to friends that might enjoy a bit of wisdom from Will Rogers.

Praise the Lord! – Psalm 146 NASB 2 Minute Devotional

A lot of times, I don’t think to praise God because of the cares of this world – stress, strained relationships, financial difficulties, physical pain, weariness, etc.

Elsie, the cow in this picture doesn’t seem to have any cares. She has water, grass and hay; a large green pasture and lots of friends. Even in the winter, in difficult times as far as I can tell, Elsie the cow doesn’t seem to worry. Suppose all of my worries and burdens could be lifted. Then I could freely give praise to the Lord. Sounds like heaven to me.

In Psalm 146 the Psalmist gives exuberant praise to God right here on earth – “while I have my being.” Don’t worry about other things, but freely give praise to the Lord.

Dear Lord, help me to freely praise you, in all circumstances, at all times. Amen.

I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 146 and the accompanying image taken from the Psalm Daily Quotes NASB iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or  Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.

Navy Psalm 109:30 on “Give Thanks to the Lord” ESV 2 Minute Devotional

Wouldn’t it make you proud to see a procession of young men and women who are all dedicated to the service of their country.  Each uniform is perfectly pressed and worn with pride. Row upon row, they march in unison. Each step is directed by the leader’s commands. For love and defense of country, some may even be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice.

So marches the Church, down through the ages. Each Christian in the procession is clothed with the perfect robe of salvation, given by our Savior, Jesus. He has saved us from condemnation. He was at our right hand when we needed help. We can only praise and give thanks to the Lord in the midst of the great throng of believers.

Dear Lord, grant me your salvation, that I may praise you each day, even in the midst of the throng! Amen.

Psalm 109:30 With my mouth I will give great thanks to the LORD; I will praise him in the midst of the throng. 31 For he stands at the right hand of the needy one, to save him from those who condemn his soul to death.
Image info: PHILADELPHIA (Dec. 12, 2009) Midshipmen take the field during the march on at the 110th Army-Navy college football game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. (U.S. Navy photo by Damon J. Moritz/Released)

I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 109:30 and the accompanying image taken from the Navy Psalm Daily Quotes ESV iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.

When I am Afraid, I WIll Put My Trust in You – Psalm 56 ESV 2 Minute Devotional

I’ve been through some uneasy work situations where it seemed that people were against me and there was no recourse, no where to take my complaint. I felt alone, like the penguin in the picture.

My situation is pretty insignificant compared to Christian martyrs of the past, believers who suffered because of their faith in Christ. The New Testament, particularly the book of Acts gives several examples of persecution against Christians and how God gave them a fearlessness as they put their trust in Him.

The trial and crucifixion of Jesus is one of the most extreme examples of enemies proudly attacking a person because of their faith. On the cross, we see the most horrible picture of “what flesh can do” to a person. With complete trust in God and confidence in the Word, Jesus was not afraid, and because of that we have salvation through his sacrifice.

Dear Lord, Help me to not be afraid of circumstances, but to put my trust in you and your Word. Amen.

I hope you have been blessed by Psalm 56 and the accompanying image taken from the Psalm Daily Quotes ESV iPhone app. Please visit our blog, twitter, or Facebook page regularly and pass these posts on to friends that need an encouraging word.

iPhone App! Timeless Wisdom & Daily Inspiration from the Bible by Charles H. Spurgeon