Thursday, March 8, 2012

compos mentis; compos corpore.






The subject yesterday was that of sound health; bodily health that is.
Yet, as we know from time immemorial, health of body is only part of the equation.
There is also health of mind. The Romans summarised it neatly in the phrase "Compos mentis;compos corpore" (sound of mind and sound of body)

On my header I have included the inscription "Out with the new and in with the old" for a reason.

As part of the 'new' way of thinking we have bracketed high I.Q.
with Compos Mentis. This couldn't be further from the truth.

It is incredible the number of highly intelligent people I meet who can't think straight and a few that I have met who are behind bars!

The "old" way of understanding the working of the mind was given to us by Jesus who said that the mind cannot function independently from the heart.
In other words, sane thinking does not come from the operation of the brain only but from a pure heart upon which the conscious mind rests.

In so far as this is true I recommend Jesus Christ to you, not only as the Great Physician but also as the Great Psychiatrist

You can go to His consulting room any time and His services are free.

Jubilate.

Ian

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

The secrets of good health.



Parkinson's not having the last word leads naturally to some other thoughts on health.

Many years ago my friend, Max Carter from England, summed up the secret of sound health as follows " Right diet, regular exercise and clean drainage."

It's likely that the first two components of the formula contribute to the third, but as it stands I have found that this simple secret cannot be improved upon.

It can however be added to.

I recall the advice of a spry old gentleman who preached the gospel into his nineties. He said:

 "When I get into the shower and soap down I mention each part of my body and thank the Lord that it is in healthy working order. In that way I believe that God has kept me in good shape over the last fifty years."

So there you have it folks, written on the other side of the apple:

Thanksgiving, right diet, regular exercise and, lest you forget, clean drainage.

Jubilate.

Ian.

P.S. Enjoy your bath room reading and quit smoking!

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Parkinsons. It is not the last word.



Friendship is a beautiful gift from God and there are no friends like old friends.

This morning I sat with a couple of guys who have been around my life since I came to Canada.

We met in the magnificent log home of Ron who, thirty years before, had been helped by Tom to complete his project. Tom is a builder who no longer sallies forth each day to do construction. Tom has Parkinson's disease.

That didn't stop the three of us enjoying a rewarding hour together, a time made all the richer because of the Presence of another mutual friend, Jesus.

After digressing upon our common Scottish heritage we came to the real source of our unity: the common-wealth of our faith in Christ.

What a source of joy, strength and comfort that is.

It allowed us to share Tom's trial, pray with him and believe that God, in Tom's 65 th year, still has an on-going purpose for his life.

God will have the last word, not Parkinson.

We'll meet again next month and it will be exciting to see what God has in store for us.

That's my breakfast thought for today.

Jubilate.

Ian.

Monday, March 5, 2012

The death of a saint.


One of the most comforting verses that I can share with you is from Psalm  116:15 

"The death of God's saints is precious in His sight"

Last week one of our dear friends in Australia passed away.

Her name was Sharon Mastin and she came fom Perth. Her husband, Mike, founded and pastored a large church in Beechboro and Sharon labored unceasingly for many years alongside him.

I had the pleasure of preaching many times to their congregation where I came to know and deeply appreciate the Mastins.

Three years ago Sharon was diagnosed with cancer. Since then it has been a long and valiant struggle which culminated in her home-call last week.

I say 'home-call' because Sharon has gone to a place prepared for her in Heaven, the final abode of all God's saints.

To be a saint, you don't have to be embalmed, enshrouded or engraved on a stain-glass window. None of those things happened to Sharon. But she did love the Lord Jesus with all of her heart and served His people to her last breath. Nobody can do more than that.

Well done, Sharon. We'll see you in the morning!

Ian

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Tornado Alley.






Leaving a trail of destruction over 600 miles, last week's tornadoes in the United States have the relatives of at least forty victims asking
"Where was God in all of this?"

Ten times as many survivors, with tales of miraculous escapes from exploding buildings, are saying:

 "Thank God for a divine deliverance!"

The insurance companies investigating claims in the aftermath are saying "ACT OF GOD" and refusing to indemnify those who didn't have that clause in their policy.

Faced with not only a tornado but also an earthquake in the Old Testament, Elijah found God in neither. Instead, in the calm after the storm, God came to the prophet in a 'still small voice'.

Walt Whitman, the hymn writer penned these lines:

"Speak through the earthquake, wind and fire O still small voice of calm."

Whatever storm of circumstance you may be in that is my prayer for all my friends and readers this morning.

Jubilate .

Ian