If I Told You My Story – If I Should Speak

Greetings Dear Reader,

I am a storyteller by nature, heart, and passion.  I love to tell stories.  I find great joy in bringing a listener to the moment of humor, tragedy, or joy in a a story.  I love watching a face discover where I am heading. 

If I told you my story there are many such moments.   Sheetrock on the Road has some of them for you.  If, however, you want to know what I really speak of it this.  Jesus is real and he loves us.  You will find no hatred in my writing.  I do not hat anyone.  I try to love everyone.  If I should speak it should be loving and kind.

Even as I sit here forming these words, my pipe stump clenched firmly but gently in my teeth, the names of those who need to be loved more clearly pop into my mind.   I think of a coworker who angry and hurting in a way that makes him more prickly pear than person.  He is still a person.  If I should speak to him it needs to be kind and gentle.  It needs to be strong and firm to wade through his wall of reticence.

If I should speak it must be with love in my heart for anyone to whom I speak.  My story continues because a man named Ray did that for me.  It does not matter how witty my words are or how well I craft a clever line.  It is worthless blather if I do not love those to whom speak.  My words must be encouraging and kind.  My stories must all be love stories in some way. 

If I should speak Dear Reader, it must be of all the things that lead back to the love of Christ. It must be of love that is in my heart for you.  It is the greatest thing that last.

One Thing Remains – Jesus Culture

Higher than the mountains that I face

Stronger than the power of the grave

Constant through the trial and the change

One thing remains

One thing remains

Your love never fails it never gives up it never runs out on me

Your love never fails it never gives up it never runs out on me

Your love never fails it never gives up it never runs out on me

On and on and on and on it goes

It overwhelms and satisfies my soul

And I never ever have to be afraid

One thing remains

In death and in life I'm confident and covered by the power of your great love

My debt is paid there's nothing that can separate my heart from your great love

Your love never fails it never gives up it never runs out on me

Your love never fails it never gives up it never runs out on me

Your love never fails it never gives up it never runs out on me

Feel free to hold every Christ follower to this standard Dear Reader…

First Corinthians 13:1-13   

I may speak in the languages of humans and of angels. But if I don't have love, I am a loud gong or a clashing cymbal. I may have the gift to speak what God has revealed, and I may understand all mysteries and have all knowledge. I may even have enough faith to move mountains. But if I don't have love, I am nothing.  I may even give away all that I have and give up my body to be burned. But if I don't have love, none of these things will help me.   Love is patient. Love is kind. Love isn't jealous. It doesn't sing its own praises. It isn't arrogant.  It isn't rude. It doesn't think about itself. It isn't irritable. It doesn't keep track of wrongs.  It isn't happy when injustice is done, but it is happy with the truth.  Love never stops being patient, never stops believing, never stops hoping, never gives up.   Love never comes to an end. There is the gift of speaking what God has revealed, but it will no longer be used. There is the gift of speaking in other languages, but it will stop by itself. There is the gift of knowledge, but it will no longer be used. Our knowledge is incomplete and our ability to speak what God has revealed is incomplete But when what is complete comes, then what is incomplete will no longer be used.  When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, and reasoned like a child. When I became an adult, I no longer used childish ways.  Now we see a blurred image in a mirror. Then we will see very clearly. Now my knowledge is incomplete. Then I will have complete knowledge as God has complete knowledge of me.  So these three things remain: faith, hope, and love. But the best one of these is love.

Wishing you joy in the journey,

Aramis Thorn

Mat 13:52 So Jesus said to them, "That is why every writer who has become a disciple of Christ’s rule of the universe is like a home owner. He liberally hands out new and old things from his great treasure store.”

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