11/16/2019
My thoughts…my thoughts are running back to when I believe I was trained to think. I have a considerable amount of respect for college course studies which lead students to the brink of critical thought. Although there are many professors who stop short in the art of a critical thought pathway in order to insert many thought forms of their own, such as church or political dogma. Herein lies the necessity for critical thinking to become compelled towards a standard for all clear thinking: absolute truth. And so, herein walks opinions as to where absolute truth can be found. The truth is not relative: it is absolute. (Try getting the intelligentsia to agree with that.)
The Lord Jesus Christ said, “..and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Immediately, the intelligentsia of His day which were there listening to Him began to argue with Him about the “free” part of His assertion instead of about the knowledge. Typical reply when there is an absolute stated: no answer. Most all versions of the bible change make to set as though they had improved the purpose. No, they devalued the statement badly. The truth Jesus shared with them could have made them free, but their choice about it tied them back to their own purpose instead; a purpose opposed to what He was willing to bring them.
However, to my first paragraph’s “thought,” I’d like to pay homage* the 4 teachers in my younger life whom I believe caused me to begin to think better: In the 7th and 8th grades I had Mr. Cecil Utterback. He was a very intelligent man who had only a “normal” college degree, now called an associate degree—2 yr. Mr. Utterback’s normal gave him the ability to gather truth as he found it and he was an exceptional distributor of the things he knew. I think of him often when I need to recall when I heard or learned something and he fits into my memory banks like a warm blanket. He used the term “original thought” once. I had not ever heard that before, I’m sure. The normal degree he held gave him that privilege. Not critical, but original thought, ’twas more normal.
Coming in second homage position was Mrs. Judd, a high school English teacher. Her advice was more along the lines of the value of grammar in my life. She didn’t make me a perfect student, but she certainly made me aware of loss when it was poorly executed, either orally or written. I’ve truly appreciated that for most of my adult life.
Thirdly, but on a par with number two, my homage also goes to Mrs. Williams, also a high school English teacher. Mrs. Williams showed me about myself in the role of needing to be grammatically correct and in my thinking: thorough recognition. Pretty sure I cannot recall her words perfectly, but it was along the lines of “when you can trust yourself that you can for yourself thoroughly recognize where you fit in and where you can remain comfortable, life is much easier.” (not intended to be an actual quote.) Thoroughly recognize. That’s what stuck. Oh, how often I’ve violated my own principle!!
When, at 31, I began to study the bible, I was forced to think back over several of these things which made out for “thoroughly recognizing” truth. And then, transferring that to thoroughly depending on it! Or, more simply put, believing the bible as it says it, where it says it, to whom it says it! in the words of my bible teacher, Bro. E.C. Moore who, though after the other 3, was the teacher who taught study of the TRUTH. The greatest need.
[*Homage: Respect and honor shown publicly.]
My hope for you, dear reader, is the same as my hope: “My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ name
On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand!” and yes, that is the SIMH this morning. This is a Lutheran hymn, written in 1834 by Edward Mote, composed by John Stainer. Beautiful song, destined to sustain for the duration all who will believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for their eternal life.
Thanks for reading, the Elder
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