Revival

The Bible Is Not Meant To Simply Be The Articulate Utterance Of Humans But The Means By Which One Can Come To Know The Divine Life.

The the word of God spread, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests were obedient to the faith. ( Acts 6:7 NKJV ) In our opening verse the word here for ” word ” is ” logos ” which denotes, ” to speak, intelligence”, and or ” a word as the expression of that intelligence “. The bible of course is not meant to simply be the articulate utterance of humans, but precisely understood and thus practically applied it should be the means by which one can come to know the divine life.
In Jeremiah 2:21 the word of God says, ” Yet I had planted you a noble vine, wholly a right seed; how then have you turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me ? Having been called in chapter 1 to speak forth Gods word and in the process address the peoples spiritual struggles the prophet reminds the nation that they were ultimately established not by the hands of fallen men, but the sure stable hands of God. Verse 13 in this same chapter says that not only had the people forsaken the Lord as their spiritual source of living water but they attempted to by definition ” hew ” out by forcefull means their own interpretation of Gods eternal sustenance. The reference out of this verse is ” cisterns ” which is what water was stored in which also took great human effort to cut and shape; and which in this case were also broken and therefore could not hold water. As humans our own efforts to shape, achieve, and maintain our own righteousness are futile not unlike a leaky cistern. In fact as believers we are influenced and often vulnerable to the scriptural frame of reference of those we are allowing to teach us which ultimately effects our spiritual health. In Galatians 4:19, concerned regarding the Galatians inability to distinguish between lawful interpretation of Gods word and grace through faith interpretations the apostle said, My little children, for whom I labor in birth again until Christ is formed in you”. In the greek the word for ” form ” is ” morphoo ” which is similar to the english word ” morph ” which is to change the form or character of something and or transform it. Hearkening back to Jeremiah 2:21 the ” right seed ” as referred to in this verse is ” emeth ” in the greek which is less about vague religious morality and more about the sureness and stability that comes from being taught by grace through faith to precisely and practically internalize Christs victory at Calvary. For a scriptural diet of such blood bought positional truth is ultimately the best recipe for the transformation process to take place in the soul of a believer and thus have Christ formed in them.
In Matthew 11:29-30 Jesus Himself said that we should ” Take His yoke upon us, and to learn from Him, that He was gentle and lowly in heart, and that we would find rest for our souls. He also told us that His yoke was easy and His burden light”. A yoke was a wooden bar or frame that kept an animal or person securely bound in position for laborous purposes. Christ nevertheless instructs us to take His precise yoke upon us and that we would find it easy. Surely for us to willingly subject ourself to such a form of restrictive servitude there must be some way to understand and experience the rest as referred to by the Lord. And that rest begins with the Holy Spirit in a believer and that believer interpreting and internalizing the bible less from the perspective of works and law and more from the eternal position of grace and victory.
As our Old Testament study proceeds forward King Hezekiah has past away and his son goes on to reign in his stead for 55 years though he reverses the direction of his fathers godly reforms as II Kings 21:2 confirms to us ” he did evil in the sight of God “. Amazingly his son Josiah replaces him and in II Kings 22:3 amidst a temple renovation project a ” copy of the Book of the Law” is discovered and a word of God revival ensues as the people come to know the rightful ways of the Lord !

O.N.RIDER is seminary educated and living in Baltimore MD

The Dispensation of Grace

The Degree To Which One Understands The Mystery Of Grace Is Very Much Related To How Much One Understands The Value Of A Personal Cross

If indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you. ( Ephesians 3:2 NKJV ) One way to understand the word ” dispensation ” is through its greek translation ” oikonomia ” which is incidentally similar to the english word ” economy “. In the greek dispensation is thus defined as , “the administration of a household or household affairs “. Keep in mind that a dispensation is ultimately the means and result of a policy or belief system set forth by ones in the position to do so. The word oikonomia is actually from two words, specifically,, ” oikos ” – ” house” and ” nomos ” – ” law “. Consequently, while a dispensation is indeed a stewardship over a house, so to speak , the law or rules of that dispensation are ultimately influenced by the spiritual frame of reference of the ones doing the implementing. This is why on one hand there can be a Dispensation of the Law which highlights legalism; while on the other hand we can have a Dispensation of Grace which emphasizes favor, specifically, Gods favor towards those who are in Christ Jesus.
In verse 4 of this same chapter of Ephesians the word of God says, ” by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ”. The greek word here for. ” understand ” is ” noeo ” which is from the greek word ” nous ” , and or ” the mind “. Noeo denotes “the independent action of the mind or heart to understand, apprehend, discern, and even mark”. ( Zodihates ). Take note based on the greek being used by the apostle here there is a need to mindfully comprehend and embrace grace as not only a way of thinking but a way of life as well. In I Corinthians 9:19 Paul writes, ” For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more “. Such thinking is a result of an individual personalizing and internalizing the unchanging and liberating grace of God that one could both manifest the life of a servant yet not be a slave to anyone. To the unsaved, as well as unfortunately to many christians, this is a mystery. Nevertheless, this is simply the result of a soul positionally embracing by faith the message of grace both eternally as well as practically. Earlier on in this same chapter in I Corinthians verse 18 says, ” What is my reward then ? That when I preach the gospel, I may present the gospel of Christ without charge, that I may not abuse my authority in the gospel”. As representatives of Gods grace through Christ it is important that we be those in whom no guile or ill will is found.; for there is no reason for us to be deceitful because this favor that we are recipients of transcends our world as well as quite possibly those in it. Romans 8:28 says, ” And we know all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose”. Herein lays the mystery of this dispensation of grace in that things will work out for us and thus for good when we understand and accept the doctrinal fact that we are called and of use to Christ according to Gods good pleasure rather than what we think we’ve done or may yet do.
While resuming our journey through the Old Testament we remain in the company of King Hezekiah who the Lord graciously heals from sickness all the while extending his life another fifteen years (II Kings 20). Unfortunately, it is during this period that Hezekiah shows his nations treasure and armory to of all people the visiting king of Babylon. Once hearing of this Isaiah prohecies of the day when Baylon will return to forcefully take it all away. Matthew 7:6 says, ” Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces”. If a christian uses grace as a license to sin that only proves that they don’t understand grace as the gift that it is. As believers in Christ we must humbly discern through the Holy Spirit and the word of God not only our own understanding of such things as have been shared in this devotional, but others understanding as well. This that we would be good stewards; especially over those with little understanding or inclination towards such things !

O.N.RIDER is seminary educated and living in Baltimore MD

The Character of God

Our Mindful Embrace Of Christs Eternal Victory At Calvary Is The Quickening Spiritual Power Of Our Own Daily Cross

Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him ( Job 13:15 NKJV ) As I’m sure I have previously mentioned compared to what many people have gone through in this life including other christians I have been fortunate and blessed to have lived a relatively charmed existence. And though I would not consider myself rich according to this worlds standards I have great wealth with regards to Christ and the spiritual fulness that comes with who He is and what He has done eternally on my behalf as a sinner saved by grace. Nevertheless, life seems ever more the struggle these days not only for what it often demands of us, but mindfully and emotionally how we must cope concerning our human relationships; whether that includes people not neccessarily close to us or those who are. And though I don’t want to come across as one who has mastered this life I will say because of the Holy Spirit, the Word of God, and the Body of Christ my capacity to cope is probably better than average. And at the heart of it all is not only what I consider the proper interpretation and thus perspective of what Gods word is saying to us, but the ever important cross as well which is an essential means by which the power therein can be experienced and thus released.
As has been one of my habits throughout these many devotionals I am focusing on our Old Testament journey as the primary teaching; in this case King Hezekiah of Judah where II Kings 18:5 tells us that he ” trusted in the Lord ” and he was ” unlike any King before or after. Him “. Verse 4 tells us that he successfully removed the high places of idol worship even going as far as breaking into pieces the ” brazen serpent ” from Moses time which the people had come to superstitiously worship. Verse 7 tells us that Hezekiah prospered in whatsoever he did and even refused to serve the powerful and ruthless Assyrians. In fact it was during the fourth year of Hezekiahs reign when the Assyrians conquered Israel ( the Northern Kingdom ). Ten years later Assyria would conquer the fenced cities of Judah ( the Southern Kingdom ) and were now poised to take Jerusalem where Hezekiah himself lived.
I think it safe to say any leader that does not in some way agonize over having to place the people they lead in harms way may be lacking something in their soul that indeed is what makes us all the weak vessels that we truly are. All things considered King Hezekiah was doing pretty well up to that point when he was informed that the most powerful and ruthless army on the face of the earth; which had taken captive not only his brethren from the north years previously, but now his own kingdoms fenced cities, was now on his doorstep. And interestingly his first response was to bribe these real life bullies and hope all would go away, but he would soon find out that not only did the Assyrians want Judahs land and treasure for themselves they also wanted the peoples hearts and minds. For the high officials that the king of Assyria sent to Jerusalem made a point to address the people directly rather than the king; and with the might of the Assyrian army behind them they sought to undermine not only the peoples confidence in the king, but their faith in the Lord as well. Realizing the crisis he was facing Hezekiah then sought out a man of God, specifically, Isaiah the prophet and in II Kings 19:6 the prophet said to ” not be afraid of the words being spoken by the Assyrian officials “. He goes on to say that the Lord will defeat the Assyrians and that they were mere pawns used in hope that the people would repent and be revived in their hearts to once again lean and depend on the Lord rather than the things of this world.
In Luke 12:34 the word of God says ” For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also”. In the greek the word for treasure is ” thesarus ” which means ” a place of safe keeping “, and or a safe ” deposit ” such as the eternal truth found within an individual who believes by grace through faith in the Lord for their personal redemption. Redemption not only from the ever important eternal perspective, but from a practical one as well. For it is in our daily lives that we can be faced with circumstances that will test our faith in the Lord and like the Jews of the Southern Kingdom such circumstances are there not only that we would experience the death of the cross but the victorious quickening power of eternal life as well !

O.N.RIDER is seminary educated and living in Baltimore MD

A Lawful Christ ?

Be Wary Of Any Religious Message Where Mans Intolerance And Depravity Seeks To Hide From Us Gods Grace And Mercy.

Tell me, you who desire to be under law, do you not hear the law ? ( Galatians 4:21 NKJV ) I recall a few years ago coming across a Gospel track that to my shock and dismay displayed a picture of a man seemingly in the likeness of Jesus with an angry look on his face while the track read ” Jesus is coming and boy is he pissed “. Now despite being quite familiar with the tools of ministry outreach this was unlike anything I had ever encountered and the fact that someone had gone to lengths to print such a thing had ultimately become one more reason that I consistently teach from the positionally victorious doctrinal vein that I do.
In Revelation 12:10-11a the word of God says ” Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now salvation, and strength, and the Kingdom of God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, have been cast down. And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb”. One cannot underestimate not only the significance our minds play in our christian walk, but what it is we allow into our minds especially our understanding and emphasis of doctrinal truth. For if as a believer I am drawn into truth that though it is scriptural and it is relevent draws to much of my focus away from the Lord and the victory He has allowed me to spiritually be a part of then that is potentially a road that will limit the overcoming power and scope of a life lived in Christ. As a believer still in this fallen world it is thus wise for me to willfully subject myself to the full counsel of Gods word, though logically more so unto those portions that affirm and strengthen my much needed faith. Prior to Christ coming Gods people lived within the holy yet unfulfillable age that was ” The Dispensation of The Law “. Upon Christs victory at the cross Gods people entered and presently remain in ” The Dispensation of Grace “. Hearkening back to the so-called gospel track previously mentioned one can hardly consider the message conveyed as one attempting to welcome sinners into the saviors loving arms. In other words is that by grace through faith the best one can do when they have the Holy Spirit living in them ; when they have the entire bible as a resource. In fairness I think it safe to say that such a track is an extreme example of well intentions gone awry. As preachers and teachers of Gods word I am inclined to believe while still in this dispensation of grace we are not called to be Gods hammer. Nor should we set our sinfull selves up as a ” fixxer ” of Gods people, rather a spiritual agent if you will by which believers who are accused by Satan, often times legitamately so, find direction and rest not from good behavior and or works, but through a mind spiritually exercised toward ” Not I, but Christ “. ( Gal 2:21 ) Please understand me when I say that the seriousness of sin for nonbelievers as well as believers should obviously not go unheeded from the pulpit. Nevertheless, if I, as Christ did, according to the capacity given to me ,bear the cross tailored specifically for me then as a habit I will minister grace filled life to people as opposed to lawfilled death.
Continuing on in our Old Testament studies we find ourselves in the 17th chapter of II Kings where the Northern Kingdom has reached a tipping point with the Lord as Assyria beseiges Israel for 3 years and once having taken its capital ( Samaria ) the rest of the nation follows. For despite the Lord speaking His word through the prophets the people only hardened their hearts. Interestingly, that same God of ancient times is doing much the same thing today for in the midst of own modern difficulties we to are being given a choice to either partake of the spiritual curse of this fallen world, or by the power of Christs overcoming blood walk by faith in the victorious words of His loving grace.

O.N.RIDER is seminary educated and living in Baltimore MD

Victory without Compromise

Even As Christians Our Tendency Is To Sell Our Self Short With Regard To What Christ Has Done For Us And In Turn What We By Grace Through Faith Can Do For Him

And he said, ” Open the east window” ; and he opened it. Then Elisha said, ” Shoot ” ; and he shot. And he said, ” The arrow of the Lords deliverance and the arrow of deliverance from Syria ; for you must strike the Syrians at Aphek till you have destroyed them.” ( II Kings 13:17 NKJV ) Upon hearing that Elisha had been stricken with a sickness that would ultimately take his life the king of Israel visits with him and is saddened over the prophets condition. And while more occupied with his concern for Israel Elisha not only has the king shoot the arrow, but tells him to take one of the arrows and strike it on the ground. To the displeasure of the ailing prophet the king only strikes it three times which Elisha associates with how much effort he will put forth into achieving complete victory over the Syrians ; for according to verse 19 the prophet believed it would take five or six times in order to finally subdue Israels enemy. And indeed while verse 25 tells us that the king of Israel beat Syria three times the Syrians still managed to oppress the Northern Kingdom all the days of this king of Israels reign. ( vs. 22 )
As can often be the case an Old Testament event can become applicable as a New Testament principle. In this case the prophets unflinching conviction that the Northern Kingdom of Israel do what it takes to dispose of their enemy ( and thus enemy of God ) is related to the man of Gods abiding faith in the favor the Lord has toward His people. Verse 23 in II kings 13a says that, ” And the Lord was gracious unto them ( Israel ), and had compassionn on them, because of His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob”. Colossians 1:21 says, ” And you who were once alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled”. In the greek the word here translated as ” alienated ” is ” apallatrioo ” the root of which comes from the greek word ” allotrios ” which can be translated as ” strange ” , and or ” to belong to another “. As is always the case till we receive our glorified bodies in heaven our minds on earth will be the choice battlefield for Satan and his hosts. For even as a dying prophet Elisha sought to teach and inspire Israels leader despite the soul of the nation having already been spiritually fractured by their strong inclinations to the idolatrous worship of high places. Today we to can give our minds and emotions over to things that can undermine our faith in Christs complete eternal victory. For even from the pulpit we can be subject to legitimate words of scripture though not neccessarily inspired from the victorious mind of Christ. That is, as genuine blood bought believers it is imperitive ( lest we become dormant in our faith ) like a drum beat we are reminded who we belong to that we would not slip into even the most subtle works oriented religious mindset. Creative, word of God based, Spirit led repetition is the key here for our minds still suffer from a high percentage of depravity and therefore need such spiritual exercise if you will. Ephesians 5: 14 – 17 says in the NKJV translation, ” Wherefore He says, Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light”. See then that you walk circumspectly ( carefully, accurately ) not as fool but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is “. Whether we are talking about the literal arrow that Elisha sought for his countrymen to aim at their enemy or the preciseness of the Holy Spirit as it targets our depraved or even religious ways the Lord not only seeks for those who have yet to be saved to be awakened to their dangerous eternal circumstances, but for belivers in the Lord as well to shake off the dust and walk mindfully and confidently in the victory that we have been positionally given in Christ Jesus. A position whereas we do not remain sitting idly by while Satan controls the spiritual air waves but we victoriously rise up making such eternal truth understandable and therefore practical !

O.N.RIDER is seminary educated and living in Baltimore MD

Thinking with God

Our Challenge As Chrisitians Is Through The Holy Spirit Internalize The Grace Filled Love Christ Has Towards Us And Then Mindfully And Consistently Convince Others Of The Same

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope ( Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV ) With our focus being a verse from the Book of Jeremiah we have for the moment fastforwarded to the beginning of the Southern Kingdoms captivity to the Babylonians. And though he is one of those yet to be taken prisoner Jeremiah realizes that as a result of having turned their back on the Lord the Jews of the Southern Kingdom are begining to see the results of their misguided thinking as the best and the brightest are taken away and begin what will be for the Jewish nation a 70 year stay. And while still in Jerusalem for the moment Jeremiah writes to those forced into submission telling them to try to make the best of the situation which for many is a hard word to receive.
In Hebrews 11:1 the word of God says, ” Now faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen”. As teachers of Gods word it is imperitive that we understand the Lords heart toward not only blood bought believers like ourself, but to the lost as well. Our challenge thus is through the Holy Spirit to first and foremost internalize the grace filled love Christ has towards us and then mindfully and consistently convey such a message that convinces others of the same. That does not exempt at times the need to speak on the harder issues of the faith such as sin, hell, and the cross but to primarily build upon the foundation of hope the Lord gives us through the eternal redemption He has made available. Regarding this verse in Hebrews 11:1 we gleen from it the greek word for ” substance ” which is ” hypostasis ” and or ” something used for a basis or foundation which is applied to the mind and comes in the form of a firmness, a confidence, a constancy “. ( Zodhiates ) One way to understand such a potential thought process is in comparing the teaching of a lawfully works oriented biblical message to that of a grace through faith message. For if as a habit I am a lawful teacher of Gods word then my inability to fulfill the Law or somehow find rest in my good works will ultimately leave me without a true practical functioning hope for the simple reason that I am to a great extent attempting to establish my own righteousness. On the other hand if I am mindfully clear as to the source and means of a truly victorious christian life then that is the faith and eternal hope the Holy Spirit seeks for me to experience.
In I Corinthians 1:18 the Word of God says,” For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are saved it is the power of God”. Finding himself in the role of pastor and teacher Jeremiah the prophet saw that the only hope for a people destined for a period of captivity was to with Gods love and favor in mind gracefully adjust to such difficulties. And though that obviously took an outward adjustment on the peoples part any real and lasting adjustment must ultimately come from within and or the mind of their soul. Hence, our opening verse was spoken to hopefully encourage a people who could have easily thought that God had abandoned them when in fact they were still in a place where the Lord could be found. Consequently, as important as the cross is to us it is merely death if the quickening power of resurrection life does not follow. The same goes for our preaching and teaching for if I recognize the importance of preaching the cross without an even more important spiritual understanding of how the Holy Spirit can quicken a soul through the cross then I leave out that which can most inspire and motivate a believer.
As has been a constant throughout these many devotionals we continue our Old Testament study this time setting camp in II Kings 2:11. Here we are told that Elijah has been taken up to heaven right in front of his heir apparent Elisha. Shaken by the loss of his spiritual father Elisha soon attempts to discourage others from searching for Elijah knowing full well such a search would be futile.Nevertheless, fifty strong men search for the prophet for three days and of course fail to find him. Such thinking is not unlike how we even as christians often cling to those things that we are of course used to and most comfortable with. And as we all know life very easily brings upon us changes. Yet through it all that which is most important to remember is that God in Christs unconditional love for us changes not !

O.N.RIDER is seminary educated and living in Baltimore MD

The Narrow Way

Through Faith In Christ It Is Understandable How The Holy Spirit Helps An Individual Eternally Nevertheless It Can Experience Enmity In The Present Because Of The Fallen Human Condition !

There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. ( Proverbs 14:12 NKJV ) With regard to salvation the seriousness that our opening verse eternally denotes towards nonbelievers is almost an unimaginable reality ; yet this same verse can also be applied to believers albeit in a different yet applicable kind of way. For when it comes to a christian the Holy Spirit has succeeded in persuading them of the eternal aspects of believing in Christ yet may not neccessarily be successful when it comes to a practical understanding. For works oriented religion often holds sway over too many christians concepts thus believers in Christ are often not so easily convinced to walk day by day and think moment by moment by grace through faith in the living God.
In Acts 10 we find the apostle Peter in Joppa where the Holy Spirit is challenging him in ways that he is initially reluctant to embrace. Beggining in verse 12 he has a vision of the Lord encouraging him to eat things that he had previously considered unclean. Further on in the same chapter the Holy Spirit has arranged a meeting between Peter and a Roman centurion named Cornelius who becomes the first non-jew convert to Christ. Keep in mind that up to this point the apostle had begun to establish quite a spiritual resume whether we are talking about his sermon on the Day of Pentecost where 3000 souls were saved, or the bringing of a woman back to life in Acts 9 the apostle was hardly the novice he was in the gospels. Nevertheless, the Lord had more people He wanted to reach and provided the Holy Spirit was doing the leading the work the apostles were being asked to do undoubtedly uprooted more than a few concepts.
The word of God says in Isaiah 55:8-9, ” For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways, my ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth. So are my ways higher than your ways.And my thoughts than your thoughts”. With regard to the title of this devotional the word ” narrow ” descriptivally speaking in Greek is ” stenos ” or, to groan. Groaning as it applies here is less the experience of a crucified life and more the mind of the flesh struggling to by faith doctrinally understand the resurrection life that one can practically experience after one personally applies the cross in their life. Hence there is a need to hear, internalize, and grow in the victorious capacity that the quickening power the resurrection life can give us that we would be persuaded of Gods love for us and thus grow in faithfilled capacity to rest and function in such spiritual reality. For me as always it has much to do with the primary focus of teaching we allow into our soul. The narrowness of the way as I intend it to mean in this devotional has less to do with the depth of our natural soul and its ability to accept a consistent personal cross as much as the enlarging of our divine understanding to believe and accept the victorious reality that as a result of the blood Christ shed I have been freely given a heavenly position that cannot be taken from me. Unfortunately as I hinted of earlier our minds are often clouded by works oriented religious hesitancy based on a natural innate sense that we still need to do more for God in order to truly earn His favor. Mind you there is a need for preachers to teach the full counsel of Gods word but there is a greater need to teach victorious doctrinal absolutes that we would be spiritually strengthened in our inner man as opposed to merely behaviorally improving our outter one.
Furthering our Old Testament studies we are focusing on the end of the prophet Elijahs ministry and the introduction to us of his heir apparent Elisha. Firstoff I would like to hearken back to I Kings 19:11-12 when the Lord tells the prophet Elijah to go and stand upon the mount while the Lord passes by. What follows is a great wind which breaks into pieces a portion of the mountain . Then the word of God says ” But the Lord was not in the wind”. Then there was an earthquake. And the word of God says, ” But the Lord was not in the earthquake”. Verse 12 then says, ” And after the earthquake a fire: and after the fire a still small voice”. There is an interesting contrast between Elijah and Elisha though both were prophets of the Northern Kingdom. Elijah was like a tempest, an earthquake; Elisha like the still small voice. Elijah was flintlike; Elisha, gentle, gracious, diplomatc. Elijah was a man of the wilderness, with a cloak of camel hair; Elisha lived in cities, dressed like other people. Nevertheless, Elijahs prophetic mantle fell on Elisha. ( Halleys Bible Handbook) Consequently, the distinction hopefully being brought to light here is less about the men and more about how they thought. For whereas Elijah clearly ” stood out ” Elisha was simply ” outstanding “. Not because he was any better than the man who was his teacher but because above all it is that still small voice that is more easily associated with him. A voice which is capable of calming the tempest in us all and thus give us the capacity to think and walk in the narrow way !

O.N.RIDER is seminary educated and living in Baltimore MD