Bible

Franklin, Benjamin, 1706–1790: “A Bible in every home is the principle support of virtue, morality, and civil liberty.”

Greeley, Horace, 1811–1872: “It is impossible to mentally or socially enslave a Bible-reading people.”

Henry, Patrick, 1736–1799: “There is a Book worth all other books which were ever printed.”

Lee, Robert E., 1807–1879: “The Bible is a book in comparison with which all others in my eyes are of minor importance, and which in all my perplexities and distresses has never failed to give me light and strength.”

Lincoln, Abraham, 1809–1865: “I am profitably engaged in reading the Bible. Take all of this book upon reason that you can and the balance by faith, and you will live and die a better man. I believe that the Bible is the best gift God has given to man. All the good from the Savior of the world is communicated to us through the Book."

Read the Bible completely like a love letter, Consult it constantly like a road map, Study it carefully like a lesson book, and Obey it conscientiously like an army order.

Books of the Old Testament—39 Books of the New Testament—27 Total number of books—66 Chapters in the Old Testament—929 Chapters in the New Testament—260 Total number of chapters—1,189 Verses in the Old Testament—33, 214 Verses in the New Testament—7,959 Total number of verses—41,173 Words in the Old Testament (kjv)—593,393 Words in the New Testament—181,253 Total number of words—774,646

England has two books, the Bible and Shakespeare. England made Shakespeare, but the Bible made England.  ~~ Victor Hugo

 As Sir Walter Scott lay dying, he said to his friend and biographer, John Gibson Lockhart, “Read from the Book.” “Which book?” asked Lockhart. Scott replied, “There is but one.”

Know it in your mind.
Stow it in your heart.
Show it in your life.
Sow it in the world.

When I spoke to eight hundred students in a state university, I was informed that the Bible should not be mentioned in the school. The same afternoon I was invited to talk to about eight hundred men in the state penitentiary, and the warden asked me to give them the Bible truth.  ~~  Albert E. Aldrich

A noted orator asked Charles Dickens for the most pathetic story in literature, and he said it was that of the Prodigal Son ([tip:Luke 15=11 And he said, A certain man had two sons: 12 And the younger of them said to his father, Father, give me the portion of goods that falleth to me. And he divided unto them his living. 13 And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living. 14 And when he had spent all, there arose a mighty famine in that land; and he began to be in want. 15 And he went and joined himself to a citizen of that country; and he sent him into his fields to feed swine. 16 And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him. 17 And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father’s have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! 18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, 19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants. 20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. 21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son. 22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: 23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry: 24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.]). Samuel Coleridge was asked for the richest passage in literature, and he said it was [tip:Matthew 5:1–16=5:1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: 2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3 Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.  9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.]. Another asked Daniel Webster for the greatest legal digest, and he replied that it was the Sermon on the Mount. No one has equaled Moses for law, David for poetry, Isaiah for vision, Jesus for Good News, Peter for holy zeal, Paul for logic, or John’s statements of divine love.

Are you a basket case ?

Are you a basket case ?
Are you in a state of complete helplessness ?
Has everything got to be just perfect around you or you aren't a happy camper ?
If everything isn't about you, does it make you have a bad day ?
Are you one that loves to sing the song by Toby Keith - I want to talk about me, me, me ?

 If this is your situation - God has got some answers for you that will seriously improve your life. We are becoming a nation of basket cases - everything has got to be "just so, so" for people nowadays or they just aren't happy. That is about the definition of a basket case the way we use it today. Originally the words basket case meant someone who lost their limbs in a war - but now it's used for folks; that everything has got to be "just so, so" for them to be happy and productive.

The Bible tells us about the Apostle Paul in [tip:Philippians 4:11-13= Php 4:11- Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  KJV], that he had learned how to be content in whatever state he was in at the time. He had learned how to abound and be content, as well as how to be abased and be content. The Apostle Paul found himself in a lot of bad situations in his life, shipwrecked, stoned, imprisoned and beaten - but he still was able to overcome it and keep his chin up. He knew that it all would work together and be beneficial to him in the end. He could accomplish all things through his Lord, Jesus Christ. He could be happy in all things, he could be content and satisfied with whatever would come, because he had Christ as his strength. It didn't have to be about him all the time, it was about his Lord. Paul definately was not a basket case !

Let's be honest with ourselves, when everything has to be just so, so - isn't that really a sign of selfishness, childishness and being self absorbed ? A basket case could be no more than a helpless, selfish, childish person; one which everything has to be about me, me, me. Learn to be content with whatever life sends you and you will learn to be strong.