My Answer to 'wildweasel':
"You realize that Muslim countries imprison and kill Christians - or any other non muslims - for preaching and practicing other religions in their lands?..."
Maybe I am thinking about a different letter (senior moment)...but I thought we were talking about the torturing, or not torturing, of terrorist prisoners. But, it doesn't matter:
The scenario is that If we already have them in our clutches, thinking whether we could save lives by torturing them or not. I say it would be more effective, ...more importantly, being right with God, a show of American principles, and an example to the entire world of who the real one true God is, and in obedience to the Christian commission, --that is; to teach those terrorists the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (See the last chapter of the Bible's book of Matthew.)
Hearing the words of Jesus Christ, such as the Bible's New Testament Sermon on the Mt., ought to melt any terrorist's heart.
Who can be against what Christ taught, for the love of God for all of mankind?
God loves us all, --even our enemies, and we are commanded by Jesus Christ, son of God, son of man, to do likewise.
Don Cole
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
What is it Like in Heaven?
To the Preacher,
I want to send my morning thoughts, before I ‘get-up’ and maybe lose them.
This is about our Wed. Night topic, about what it will be like in Heaven. It is hard to describe these things, by waving my hand in class, in our study. So, here it is here, now while fresh in my head.
This includes also in having to do with what is probably one of the hardest subjects to preach about, to the congregation, for a preacher to deliver. That is, the sermon about ‘Giving.’
We all know the feeling we get, when we are able to love, to give to someone or entity in need. Thank God that we do not stand alone. How lonely that would be. None to care for, none to love. In a nutshell, ( I am the nut) you could say that this is about the Joy of Giving!
A comedian, or cartoonist, or writer, or musician, or whatever, experiences the ecstasy of being able to make someone else, or others laugh, to be entertained, to be helped, or provided for, to feel loved, to be happy, whatever. An evangelist experiences the thrill of having led a soul to baptism, to Jesus Christ. To be able to have a good and eternal effect on others. To be influential in saving another person’s life! Therein is heavenly joy. Now, you get the idea…
Yes. We will be doing things in Heaven, but I don’t think that it will be work. It will be doing what gives us this same kind of joy and pleasure, and that is being one in the Lord. The things we love to do, if we didn’t have to worry about making a living, saving or maintaining the flesh, etc. To be free of all that, not only of sin, but also of things like time and gravity. To be forever and personally, without effort or resistance, any more testing , --but then to be further along, to the mysteries abound. The thrill of graduation! The race is won! What joy can top that? Where will God take us ? The things he has in store! The treasures that we have stored up in Heaven! How much more and greater things will we be able to do? (Remember, that we are told that there is much more out there, but this is as much as we can handle for now; although at this time He has given us everything that we need to know for life and godliness.) And time and providence will never run out of God’s goodness and love.
The joy comes not inside the sacrifice itself, but in the love act of the giver, out of our blessings in God. The joy to Jesus was not in His having to take the cup, (he prayed that it might be taken from him,) but the joy through his ultimate expression of His love for us from His giving, and obeying the Father, in our behalf. He did freely drink. He gave. He gave up his entire body. He taught us. He suffered for us. He led the way, and sealed us for eternity in His love., in the New Testament, given to us. He sent, delivered, gave us his Spirit. That was/is God’s pleasure and joy. God’s promises, between He and man. Think of the joy of being able to save someone’s life, to share eternal good and happiness, everlasting, to be a vital and unique part of God himself, the source of love and everything good. In the body; the bride of Christ. Two become one = three. Completeness. It is done. It was/is sealed at the cross.
There is a time, at night, when it is comfortable to rest and to sleep. Then our bodies wake up to a new morning, and it is no longer comfortable to just lie there in bed. Now it is more comfortable to rise and move about doing the things we need to do to sustain our lives. To those who are in the Lord, no matter what our circumstances are in this life; it is exciting to see what this new day has in store. What new things will we contend with, and what will we learn new from this day? He is molding us and using us, and counting on us for things we are aware, and also for things farther along we know not yet. Where will the Lord lead us today? Or tomorrow? He takes our hand. He enlarges our territory. He protects us from harm and pain. It is an exciting journey. A great adventure! Better than the best of movies, video games, I-pods, and HD TV.
Love is what survives in Heaven. Jesus said, to store our treasures there.
Don Cole
I want to send my morning thoughts, before I ‘get-up’ and maybe lose them.
This is about our Wed. Night topic, about what it will be like in Heaven. It is hard to describe these things, by waving my hand in class, in our study. So, here it is here, now while fresh in my head.
This includes also in having to do with what is probably one of the hardest subjects to preach about, to the congregation, for a preacher to deliver. That is, the sermon about ‘Giving.’
We all know the feeling we get, when we are able to love, to give to someone or entity in need. Thank God that we do not stand alone. How lonely that would be. None to care for, none to love. In a nutshell, ( I am the nut) you could say that this is about the Joy of Giving!
A comedian, or cartoonist, or writer, or musician, or whatever, experiences the ecstasy of being able to make someone else, or others laugh, to be entertained, to be helped, or provided for, to feel loved, to be happy, whatever. An evangelist experiences the thrill of having led a soul to baptism, to Jesus Christ. To be able to have a good and eternal effect on others. To be influential in saving another person’s life! Therein is heavenly joy. Now, you get the idea…
Yes. We will be doing things in Heaven, but I don’t think that it will be work. It will be doing what gives us this same kind of joy and pleasure, and that is being one in the Lord. The things we love to do, if we didn’t have to worry about making a living, saving or maintaining the flesh, etc. To be free of all that, not only of sin, but also of things like time and gravity. To be forever and personally, without effort or resistance, any more testing , --but then to be further along, to the mysteries abound. The thrill of graduation! The race is won! What joy can top that? Where will God take us ? The things he has in store! The treasures that we have stored up in Heaven! How much more and greater things will we be able to do? (Remember, that we are told that there is much more out there, but this is as much as we can handle for now; although at this time He has given us everything that we need to know for life and godliness.) And time and providence will never run out of God’s goodness and love.
The joy comes not inside the sacrifice itself, but in the love act of the giver, out of our blessings in God. The joy to Jesus was not in His having to take the cup, (he prayed that it might be taken from him,) but the joy through his ultimate expression of His love for us from His giving, and obeying the Father, in our behalf. He did freely drink. He gave. He gave up his entire body. He taught us. He suffered for us. He led the way, and sealed us for eternity in His love., in the New Testament, given to us. He sent, delivered, gave us his Spirit. That was/is God’s pleasure and joy. God’s promises, between He and man. Think of the joy of being able to save someone’s life, to share eternal good and happiness, everlasting, to be a vital and unique part of God himself, the source of love and everything good. In the body; the bride of Christ. Two become one = three. Completeness. It is done. It was/is sealed at the cross.
There is a time, at night, when it is comfortable to rest and to sleep. Then our bodies wake up to a new morning, and it is no longer comfortable to just lie there in bed. Now it is more comfortable to rise and move about doing the things we need to do to sustain our lives. To those who are in the Lord, no matter what our circumstances are in this life; it is exciting to see what this new day has in store. What new things will we contend with, and what will we learn new from this day? He is molding us and using us, and counting on us for things we are aware, and also for things farther along we know not yet. Where will the Lord lead us today? Or tomorrow? He takes our hand. He enlarges our territory. He protects us from harm and pain. It is an exciting journey. A great adventure! Better than the best of movies, video games, I-pods, and HD TV.
Love is what survives in Heaven. Jesus said, to store our treasures there.
Don Cole
Torturing Terrorist Prisoners
Instead of thinking about how to, or how not to, torture terrorist prisoners in order to get them to talk, --we should try teaching them the Gospel instead! Christian soldiers suited up with the Armour of God, -- Arise! Go and make disciples of all nations...! That is the Mission!
Don Cole :shock:
Don Cole :shock:
Monday, July 23, 2007
Letter: "Do not print lies from readers."
Letter: Ref: 7-23-07 Daily Record, “Do not print lies from readers.”
Has the letter writer ever been wrong about anything? If so; under his own standards, doesn’t that make him a liar too?
The many anti-Christian statements quoted to be from our Founding Fathers, are all news to me! Ben Franklin, James Madison, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington were all against Christianity? Again; that is all news to me!
I, along with a lot of others, are very interested in the truth; but with no more to go on than those few quotes from who knows where, we can only assume that they were extracted, and being used, out of context. I would be interested to know where those statements quoted were found, and how we can fit them in with all of the other things that we know that our Founding Fathers said and did. And for which they stood, because those statements appear contradictive to our very history.
We all need to share our experiences and knowledge; that we may live and grow in truth. None of us can stand alone, not even the strongest nation. Truth and love for one another in this world is mankind's only hope and salvation. Those who seek truth will find it.
(Sadly; other hearts are hardened. To them all is foolishness. They have neither eyes to see, nor ears to hear.)
Donald Cole
Dover
Has the letter writer ever been wrong about anything? If so; under his own standards, doesn’t that make him a liar too?
The many anti-Christian statements quoted to be from our Founding Fathers, are all news to me! Ben Franklin, James Madison, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and George Washington were all against Christianity? Again; that is all news to me!
I, along with a lot of others, are very interested in the truth; but with no more to go on than those few quotes from who knows where, we can only assume that they were extracted, and being used, out of context. I would be interested to know where those statements quoted were found, and how we can fit them in with all of the other things that we know that our Founding Fathers said and did. And for which they stood, because those statements appear contradictive to our very history.
We all need to share our experiences and knowledge; that we may live and grow in truth. None of us can stand alone, not even the strongest nation. Truth and love for one another in this world is mankind's only hope and salvation. Those who seek truth will find it.
(Sadly; other hearts are hardened. To them all is foolishness. They have neither eyes to see, nor ears to hear.)
Donald Cole
Dover
Letter: "They must be totally eradicated."
Instead of saying that terrorists "must be totally eradicated." I say that they should be totally educated.
Reading the words of Jesus Christ, shown in red letter editions of the Bible, such as on the Sermon on the Mt., would be a great place to start! Who could be against such things that are expressed here, for the love of all mankind. The power of the words shown there are the only thing that could ever lead to world peace, and any hope for the human race.
Donald Cole
Dover
(p.s. Yes. It is difficult to "turn the other cheek," while your head is being blown off. That is why we need to take the offensive position, and get there first.)
Reading the words of Jesus Christ, shown in red letter editions of the Bible, such as on the Sermon on the Mt., would be a great place to start! Who could be against such things that are expressed here, for the love of all mankind. The power of the words shown there are the only thing that could ever lead to world peace, and any hope for the human race.
Donald Cole
Dover
(p.s. Yes. It is difficult to "turn the other cheek," while your head is being blown off. That is why we need to take the offensive position, and get there first.)
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Car Crash Scenario
Letter To the Editor:
Ref: 7/17 Front page news article, “Morristown man dies in SUV crash,”
relating the unsolved mystery of why did the SUV driver drive off the road at 6:39 am
and crash into the backend of a parked tractor-trailer. The state police Fatal Accident Unit, the state police Crime Scene Investigation Unit and the state police Incident Command Unit were all called in.
I wasn’t there, and I am not psychic, but I know how it happened! This isn’t the first time that the Daily record has published such a scenario, and I am surprised that those professional units don’t seem to be aware of the hazard, because it is not an uncommon occurrence on our roadways.
The SUV driver is a little tired, but he figures he can make it home ok, late at night or early morning, hardly any traffic, lots of roadway, lots of lanes. He is driving the speed
limit, staying in the right lane, obeying all the laws, driving safely. Then here comes the tractor-trailer, roaring up just inches behind him and then passing. Then up ahead, the tractor-trailer is slowing down, for whatever reason. Maybe it is going up a hill. So, the SUV overtakes and passes the tractor-trailer. This scenario repeats itself, over and over again. So, now the SUV gets ’smart’ and decides to just follow a ways behind the tractor-trailer, following his tail lights. The tractor-trailer goes around a curve, goes off on the side of the road and stops, with all of his running lights still on. Now here comes the SUV around the curve, still following the tail lights of the tractor-trailer. He thinks that the tractor-trailer is on a new right lane, and he just wants to follow the tractor-trailer, not pass it. So, even though his lane is totally clear, and there are no other cars on the road, --he pulls right in behind the (parked) tractor-trailer, and crashes into it.
That is how it happened. It took me 331 words, instead of the maximum 250 allowed, but maybe the Daily Record will make an exception in this case.
DONALD COLE
Dover
Ref: 7/17 Front page news article, “Morristown man dies in SUV crash,”
relating the unsolved mystery of why did the SUV driver drive off the road at 6:39 am
and crash into the backend of a parked tractor-trailer. The state police Fatal Accident Unit, the state police Crime Scene Investigation Unit and the state police Incident Command Unit were all called in.
I wasn’t there, and I am not psychic, but I know how it happened! This isn’t the first time that the Daily record has published such a scenario, and I am surprised that those professional units don’t seem to be aware of the hazard, because it is not an uncommon occurrence on our roadways.
The SUV driver is a little tired, but he figures he can make it home ok, late at night or early morning, hardly any traffic, lots of roadway, lots of lanes. He is driving the speed
limit, staying in the right lane, obeying all the laws, driving safely. Then here comes the tractor-trailer, roaring up just inches behind him and then passing. Then up ahead, the tractor-trailer is slowing down, for whatever reason. Maybe it is going up a hill. So, the SUV overtakes and passes the tractor-trailer. This scenario repeats itself, over and over again. So, now the SUV gets ’smart’ and decides to just follow a ways behind the tractor-trailer, following his tail lights. The tractor-trailer goes around a curve, goes off on the side of the road and stops, with all of his running lights still on. Now here comes the SUV around the curve, still following the tail lights of the tractor-trailer. He thinks that the tractor-trailer is on a new right lane, and he just wants to follow the tractor-trailer, not pass it. So, even though his lane is totally clear, and there are no other cars on the road, --he pulls right in behind the (parked) tractor-trailer, and crashes into it.
That is how it happened. It took me 331 words, instead of the maximum 250 allowed, but maybe the Daily Record will make an exception in this case.
DONALD COLE
Dover
Friday, July 13, 2007
American Muslims?
To the Editor:
Ref: Editorial Article, 7/13/07 “Anti-U.S. label is unfair to Muslims,“ by Aref Assaf, president of the American-Arab forum.
“Whether many hate mongers like it or not, Muslims are here, and they are praying and congregating. They are also your friends, teachers, hospital doctors, and quite possibly, your neighbors…”
Yes. This is a very scary situation. Just look at what is happening today in Europe.
Will you please tell us what the Muslims in this free country of ours are congregating about, who are they praying to, and what do they believe in, and what is their goal?
What is it that makes a good Muslim? If they are not wolves in sheep’s clothing, than what are they?
How more foolish can people get, than to look to the anti-Christ for the blessings of God.
We are not talking about any kind of racial or cultural discrimination here; we are talking about two belief systems that contradict one another. One is love, and the other is hate, and it is not the American belief system that hates the blessings and freedoms we share.
How can there be any such thing as an “American Muslim”? --unless you mean Muslims living in America, pretending to be Americans. And what is that all about anyway?
Tell us, Mr.Assaf --just what do Muslims believe? Is it possible to be an American and a Muslim too? Maybe you will write a new article and touch on these things. We are listening. God bless!
DONALD COLE
Dover
Ref: Editorial Article, 7/13/07 “Anti-U.S. label is unfair to Muslims,“ by Aref Assaf, president of the American-Arab forum.
“Whether many hate mongers like it or not, Muslims are here, and they are praying and congregating. They are also your friends, teachers, hospital doctors, and quite possibly, your neighbors…”
Yes. This is a very scary situation. Just look at what is happening today in Europe.
Will you please tell us what the Muslims in this free country of ours are congregating about, who are they praying to, and what do they believe in, and what is their goal?
What is it that makes a good Muslim? If they are not wolves in sheep’s clothing, than what are they?
How more foolish can people get, than to look to the anti-Christ for the blessings of God.
We are not talking about any kind of racial or cultural discrimination here; we are talking about two belief systems that contradict one another. One is love, and the other is hate, and it is not the American belief system that hates the blessings and freedoms we share.
How can there be any such thing as an “American Muslim”? --unless you mean Muslims living in America, pretending to be Americans. And what is that all about anyway?
Tell us, Mr.Assaf --just what do Muslims believe? Is it possible to be an American and a Muslim too? Maybe you will write a new article and touch on these things. We are listening. God bless!
DONALD COLE
Dover
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