Be The Reason… - Someone Has Hope

Greetings Dear Reader,

One of the byproducts of too little good is too little hope.  So often the world seems weary and worn to me.  It seems old, tired, and dusty.  It feels “thin, sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread.”

The world needs hope.  When we live out the love and compassion of the Gospel can build hope.  When we deal in grace and kindness we can provide hope.  When we care for the social needs of others in practical ways we can give hope. 

Hope is the fuel that gets us to good, better, and best.  Hope is the engine that can drive us down the path when it seems we cannot go on any further.   Hope is what can push us past pain and suffering.  Hope is what keeps sorrow and loss from consuming us.

I must give others reason to hope.  I must set an example.  I must show love and kindness.  I must be patient and humble.  I must follow Christ as closely as possible so that I maintain my own hope. 

What I most need to remember is that in Christ alone is hope that endures.  In Christ alone is hope found.

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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Be The Reason… - Someone Believes There is Good

Greetings Dear Reader,

We need to keep in mind that in the beginning all things were good.   We messed it up.  We created the things that are not good.  We are the reason that good is sparser than it should be.

The difficulty is that it is that the bad in the world wears away at us.  It drags us down.  It dogs our spirit.  It haunts our attempts to do good.  It steals us of belief that there is good.

Whether it is in small things or great we can do good.  Sacrificing something for the benefit of others can be great good.  The cumulative acts of daily being good to others can be just as powerful.  The truth is we may never know the impact.  It is in the doing of the good that we create belief that there is good; even if it is only within ourselves.

I must be good to others.  I must be good to the gas attendant no matter how surly he is.  I must be good to my coworkers.  I must be good to strangers.  I must show that there is good by being good to others.

I might be the only good someone sees in a day.  This is not a point of pride.  It is a point of opportunity.  It is a chance to be the bright spot.  It is my privilege to do any good.  It is my chance to make a small difference that might grow into something great.  Whatever I do I must do good.

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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Be The Reason … - Opening Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

If you read this regularly you know that I am constantly searching for ways to express how Christ followers are supposed to show love to others.  My friend Elisabeth posted a meme recently that triggered a thought on how we should view our responsibility to others.

I need to be the reason that others see the potential for good.  I need to be the reason that others have an example of hope and love.  I must focus on how to be the reason that Christ obtains the opportunity to se be seen for who he really is.  I must tear down the false constructs that blur that image.

As I walk through this thinking Dear Reader please remember that I do it to create in my heart a better follower.  My desire is never to judge or condemn others.  My heart is to follow Christ so closely that I disappear and all you see is him.

Walk with me if you will.  I enjoy your company.

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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A Little Shameless Advertising if you Please

Greetings Dear Reader,

I have promised my publisher and my publicist that I would regularly ask for my readers to support my work.  This is not a plea for donations nor is it an act of ingratitude.   My thinking is that you may not know the best ways to support my writing.  I am going to offer three suggestions and only one of them costs money.

As most of you know I write books.  You can find my Amazon Author’s Page HERE.   If you read my BLOG and enjoy it I would ask you to consider purchasing my books.  They make great gifts and if you wish we can arrange to have them signed.  There may be some gift giving you need to do in the not too distant future. 

Another way you can help Dear Reader is to share my BLOG posts on your page.  If you like something you read feel free to post is from my BLOG aramisthorn.blogspot.com.   You can also follow me on this page and you will get notification of my posts.   If you do follow and have your own writing, I will follow back so that you get some reciprocal publicity.   

A third way you can help is to write book reviews on my books if you have read them.  You can do this on Amazon or any place you find my books for sale.  If I can get to fifty reviews on any one title that title rises in the search pool for Amazon. 

Thank you for taking the time to ponder helping me Dear Reader.  I will keep writing no matter what.  I would, however, like to get to the place where that is all I do for a living.  In my next promotional BLOG I will be announcing a contest.  Look out for it in early December. 

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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Broken Roads – Closing Thoughts

Greetings Dear Reader,

The road is a metaphor in so many ways.  It has so many things to teach us.  We do not always get to choose our destination. We do, however, always choose the road we travel to get there.

It is our obligation to choose the narrow road.  The easy common road is a broken one.  We have a map and a guide.  We have a way to go but we choose broken roads that leave us with pain and damage.

We try to justify our broken road as one that we were forced to use.  We try to justify the new one we are choosing saying that the road will not be broken for us like it is for others.  Somehow we will avoid the dangers and damage.  Even that lie is a broken merge lane to our broken roads.

In following Christ, we find that the road is narrow.  We are not promised that it will be easy but it is whole and unbroken.  The brokenness we see is the result of those who put up bad signage or poor directions. 

I must seek the truth and follow in faith.  I must avoid all the things that lead to broken roads.  I must travel with all my heart the road home.

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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Broken Roads – Rough Terrain

Greetings Dear Reader,

Even when following with all your heart the road will have rough terrain.  There will be times when the journey is hard.  Rough terrain is not the same thing as a broken road. 

Rough terrain teaches us if we let it.  It teaches us to trust as we follow.  It instructs us in wisdom and endurance.  Sometimes the rough terrain requires that we move more slowly and be more observant of our footing. 

We must travel the rough terrain without turning it into a broken road.  We must understand and live the difference.  It is in this that we show wisdom.  It is in this that we find the necessity of faith.

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.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Broken Roads - Beliefs

Greetings Dear Reader,

Everyone believes in something.  Even not believing in God is believing that there is no God.  Whether we like it or not we live by faith.  My thought here is not to tell anyone what to believe but to see what beliefs lead down a broken road.

The first thought I have on this is that any belief that teaches us to hate is a broken road.  It really is indefensible to hate.  It is also not true that disagreement is hatred.  One can believe that something or someone is wrong and not hate the person who believes differently.

Unbelief is never a reason to reject anyone.  Any belief that teaches us not to love those with whom we disagree is also a broken road.  When we do not love even those who hate us we walk a broken road.  Any belief that leads to hatred is broken.

As a Christ follower I am forbidden to use my beliefs for hatred of any kind.  I am forbidden to dismiss others because of their beliefs.  I am to see their need and love them.  I am to have compassion for the sake of love not to change their beliefs.  Any belief that sets me above anyone else is part of the broken road.

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.”

(͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

Broken Roads – Possessions

Greetings Dear Reader,

We pursue things with such fervor.  We grasp and hold and hoard.  We sacrifice things that matter for things that are temporary.  We trade life for stuff that does not satisfy.

Seeking possessions becomes a broken road so very quickly.  During the end of the last century people idolized things with phrases like “He who dies with the most toys wins.”  When we worship things the road beneath us crumbles quickly.

A year ago I cut what I own by over half.  I still have more to leave behind.  I have things I treasure but am working to not obsess over things.  My Son made the observation to my Grandsons, “Grandpa likes to collect things.”  It was more eye opening than he realized.

Nothing material will follow me to the end of the trail.  Shed of all the things that do not matter I will enter the clearing having traveled either lightly or burdened.  The broken road of possessions also weighs down the traveler. 

The Things We Leave Behind – Michael Card

There sits Simon, so foolishly wise

Proudly he's tending his nets

Then Jesus calls and the boats drift away

And all that he owns he forgets

But more than the nets, he abandoned that day

He found that his pride was soon drifting away

And it's hard to imagine the freedom we find

From the things we leave behind

Matthew was mindful of taking the tax

And pressing the people to pay

Hearing the call, he responded in faith

And followed the light and the way

And leaving the people so puzzled he found

The greed in his heart was no longer around and

And it's hard to imagine the freedom we find

From the things we leave behind

Every heart needs to be set free

From possessions that hold it so tight

'Cause freedom's not found in the things that we own

It's the power to do what is right

With Jesus, our only possession

And giving becomes our delight

And we can't imagine the freedom we find

From the things we leave behind

We show a love for the world in our lives

By worshiping goods we possess

Jesus has laid all our treasures aside

And love God above all the rest

'Cause when we say no, to the things of the world

We open our hearts to the love of the Lord and

It's hard to imagine the freedom we find

From the things we leave behind

And when we say no, to the things of the world

We open our hearts to the love of the Lord and

It's hard to imagine the freedom we find

From the things we leave behind

Oh, and it's hard to imagine the freedom we find

From the things we leave behind

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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Broken Roads – Bleeding Feet

Greetings Dear Reader,

Recently I spent a number of days walking all day.  On the second to last day my feet got wet due to a short rainstorm.  By the end of the day I had a very large blister on one foot and a blood blister on the other.  I also had another day of walking to do.   

By the end of that day’s walking the large blister had burst and the blood blister had swollen.  Walking was difficult.  The socks I had on needed to be discarded.  Thanks to my Daughter, my Brother, and my Sister-In-Law I got the care I needed for them to heal.

It reminded me of a time when I had another injury and the response from those who were supposed to care for me was to chide me for getting hurt.  It became about the delay I was causing and the cost of my care instead of my broken bones. 

One of the dangers of broken roads is that we take damage as we travel.  It is the responsibility of fellow travelers to care for each other.  It is my obligation not to shoot the wounded.  It is my duty to help them up, walk with them, and help tend to their hurts where I can.

The damage others take is the opportunity to show love and compassion.   Instead too many of those who claim to follow see the damage in others as the opportunity to judge and condemn.   Condemnation of others is such a broken road.  It is marked with injury and harm.  It is in the pain that we can see the we are all on the same journey.  If we go down the broken road of judgment, then we do more damage to ourselves and others.

When others suffer it is my place to avoid the broken road and take the narrow one.  I must take the narrow road of love and kindness.  When we care for each other the travel is so much easier.  The road is so much smoother. We can avoid the broken road of judgment and tend to the bleeding feet of the weary.  It will provide great joy in this journey.

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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Broken Roads – Substantial Abuse

Greetings Dear Reader,

First let me be clear that I do not believe that alcohol is wrong.  I realize that since Jesus turned water into wine some of his followers have been trying to turn it back to water.  There is even a provision in the Law of Moses for using God’s funds to buy wine or strong drink.

That said, it is the abuse of alcohol and others substances that is a very broken road.  I come from a history of alcohol abuse.  In times of great pain and sorrow there is a siren call to dive into a bottle and numb the world. 

I have seen how much it can destroy people.  The road that seems so smooth at first becomes filled with disaster.  The brain becomes dependent.  There are so few off ramps on this constantly crumbling highway.   There is help but it cannot be forced or coerced. 

I fight the call by being rigid about my consumption.  I do not allow this to be my courage or refuge.  That is really where the road breaks.  The false courage or unsafe refuge lies and makes us think we can handle it.  Instead it winds its way into us until it owns us.

The only place I should find my refuge is in Christ.  In following him, even if one is already on this road, a better road can be found.  There is truth in wine but there are also lies. 

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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