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.

The ever fleeting state of being

The ever fleeting state of being - contentment and fulfillment. These two things can make life so pleasant if one has them, but without them - life seems hollow, pointless and meaningless. Most people spend their entire lives searching for this ever fleeting feeling; if you could call it a feeling... and many times only to find it, then lose it again. This is part of this human condition we're trapped in here in this world.
A woman could be the most beautiful woman in the world, but she could find something about herself she didn't think looked good, and focus on it, and never be content. A man could own 10,000 acres of land, but not find contentment in that because he wanted that one more acre; and so on and so on. We could have $100 in the bank and want a $1000, or $10,000, but not be happy until we have $100,000. It is in our nature, to not be happy and content with what we have - always wanting more - that very way about us is what makes contentment such a fleeting feeling.

God knows our ways, he is the one who created us, so therefore he is the one who knows the best for us. He gives some good sound wisdom about contentment in [tip:1 Timothy 6:6-8=1Tim 6:6 - 1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.  KJV]. The Bible says here of contentment, that coupled with a Godly character - we will gain much that will make our life better, and that gain is that we will truly be happy and fulfilled with such as we are, and such as we have. The person who has this type attitude is truly the happiest and richest person on the face of the earth. You could have very little of what this world has to offer, but have contentment and you would be richer than most of the richest people in this world. God is never wrong in what he tells us in his Word, you can have the most sought after things in this world, and guess what; it's free and it will endure the test of time.