Timeless Truths (part 7) - Fighting for that Inch

NFL gameball/wikipedia.com

I have a confession....

I'm not a sports fan. Especially of football.

In high school, yes. I played in pep band. Attended most of the games. Rooted for the home team. I knew all the players, the cheerleaders, the mascot, the pep club, and my fellow pep band members.

After high school, life got in the way. And I didn't pay much attention to sports.

But while on vacation, going south to the warmer climes, we rendezvoused with friend, who was a sports fan.  In the lounge of the motel room we hunkered down to watch the game:

Super Bowl LI

Patriots vs. Falcons

I enjoy the Super Bowl ads. Usually watch them over and over again on YouTube.  I wondered what Lady Gaga would do for half-time. And she did not disappoint her audience.

First half of the game, the Patriots were getting slaughtered. It looked like it was over.

During half-time, I wondered what was being said the locker room.  All the Falcons had to do was to run out the clock.The Patriots? I thought of Al Pacino's inspirational speech in  Any Given Sunday (1999).

Fighting for that inch.

(caution: language)

( reference: https://youtu.be/WO4tIrjBDkk )

Maybe the Patriots heard a speech like that. 

In the last half of game, a miracle happened. The biggest comeback in Super Bowl history. The game went into over-time. Never happened before.
 
The instant playbacks showed the players catching the ball within a inch of the ground, staying in-bounds by that inch, making the goal by an inch.
  
It was the inches that won the game. A real-time drama that was stranger than fiction. 

Other words....

  
The Best Game Ever!
  
 An inspiration to never give up. And fight for those inches. Even if it's never been done before.

That game was a great life lesson. Even made a football fan out of me. And that was a miracle.

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Previous posts in series:

Timeless Truths (Part 1) - A Cup of Cold Water (2013)

Timeless Truths (part 2) - Love (2013)

Timeless Truths (part 3) - Hakuna Matata - No Worries? (2013)

Timeless Truths (part 4) - A Mother's Advice  (2013)

Timeless Truths (part 5): Always Assume Positive Intent (2014)

Timeless Truths (part 6) - Magna Carta - 800 years and still going strong (2015)


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photo: NFL gameball/wikipedia.com

Timeless Truths (part 6) - Magna Carta - 800 years and still going strong

Magna Carta/wikipedia.com

Timeless Truths explores, June 15, 1215 AD - a watershed year. And we still feel it effects in 2015. What happened 800 years ago?

In 1215, failed foreign policies and heavy taxation spurred an uprising of powerful English barons against King John. Under duress, this successor to his brother Richard I, the Lion Heart signed a document which put all future monarchs under the rule of law.

It was called the Great Charter. Perhaps it's better known for its Latin name, the Magna Carta. [reference:  Magna Carta - British History - HISTORY.com ]

And here's how it happened:

(reference: https://youtu.be/7xo4tUMdAMw )

The signing of the Magna Carta rippled throughout history, setting the basis for English Common Law, and inspiring the American Revolution as well as the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

The principles placed limits on what our government can do. Thus governments were to be in chains of their Constitution, not the people in chains to their government.  Politics shifted from a government of men to a government of laws.

And below is a lesson as to how the Magna Carta influenced the American government:

(reference:  https://youtu.be/Ca_kI948JUA )

As US President Abraham Lincoln echoed the Declaration of Independence, which was echoed by John Locke, which echoed the Magna Carta:

Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. 

....

that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

[reference: The Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln ]

It's no wonder the Magna Carta is considered one of the Five Documents that Changed the World.

Indeed, the pen is mightier than the sword.

Happy 800 years!

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Previous posts in series:

Timeless Truths (Part 1) - A Cup of Cold Water (2013)

Timeless Truths (part 2) - Love (2013)

Timeless Truths (part 3) - Hakuna Matata - No Worries? (2013)

Timeless Truths (part 4) - A Mother's Advice  (2013)

Timeless Truths (part 5): Always Assume Positive Intent (2014)

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Magna Carta/wikipedia.com

Timeless Truths (part 5): Always Assume Positive Intent

Everystockphoto.com/Active Listening

Always assume positive intent.

One of my friends works at Starbucks.  She told me always assuming positive intent was their company's philosophy when servicing customers.  And it's a good one.  This attitude can serve us well when interacting with all kind of  people we come across in life.
[reference: Accentuate the Positive | Miss Woodhouse's Musings] 

At times, quick judgments must be made.  At first, they may service us well as a filter - to see trouble coming and avoid it.  But left unchecked, quick judgments with limited information can morph into prejudice.  We don't know the whole story.  And sometimes our judgments on someone else are a reflection on ourselves, as noted here -

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
Romans 2:1 (NIV)

Ouch!

This clips makes a good point - Seeing the Good in Others: 

(reference:  http://youtu.be/GnoQSeMt2H0  )

Likewise, love sums it up:

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
1 Corinthians 13 (NIV)

And Love demonstrated as always assuming positive intent is a Timeless Truth.

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Previous posts in series:

Timeless Truths (Part 1) - A Cup of Cold Water (2013)

Timeless Truths (part 2) - Love (2013)

Timeless Truths (part 3) - Hakuna Matata - No Worries? (2013)

Timeless Truths (part 4) - A Mother's Advice  (2013)

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Photo from:  Everystockphoto.com/Active Listening

Timeless Truths (part 4) - A Mother's Advice

The Virgin Mary is one of the most famous and revered mothers in Christendom.

And as Mother's Day has been set aside to recognize mothers - without mothers none of us would be here - it seems fitting to offer tribute to this most famous of mothers, who to this day has given us the most excellent advice.

Mary was blessed among women in many ways (reference:  Luke 1:42):

1.  God chose this maid of humble birth as the vessel to bring the Son of God into the world.  (reference:  Luke 1:26-38 )

2.  She was the only person on record to have witnessed both the birth of Jesus and His death.  (reference:  Luke 2:1-20 and  John 19:25-27)

3.  After the resurrection of Jesus, she was numbered among the faithful, praying in Jerusalem, waiting till Pentecost to witness the birth of the Church.  (reference:  Acts 1:14)

4.  And Jesus' first miracle, turning water into wine, was done at her request at a wedding in Cana, which started his public ministry on earth.  (reference: John 2:1-11)

And Johnny Cash sings about this miracle - as well as more miracles - in this clip below:



Mother Mary's advice?

At this wedding, the host had run out of wine.  Mary brought the problem to Jesus for she knew He would do something about it.

And Mary's last recorded words in the New Testament offer most excellent advice, as she instructed the servants:

“Do whatever He tells you.”
John 2:5 (NIV)

And what does Jesus tell us to do?

Johnny Cash sings another song just on that - with the help of Billy Graham's preaching - addressing some of these things He tells us to do.



This Mother's Day,
though the tradition is to give gifts to our moms,
the Mother of Jesus gives us the gift
in the Timeless Truth of her excellent advice -
do what her Son says.

And Jesus said -
"If you love me, keep my commands."
John 14:15 (NIV)

That pretty much sums it up.

God bless all you mothers.  
You keep the human race and civilization alive.

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Previous posts in series:

Timeless Truths (Part 1) - A Cup of Cold Water (2013)

Timeless Truths (part 2) - Love (2013)

Timeless Truths (part 3) - Hakuna Matata - No Worries? (2013)

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Photo from:  wikipedia - The Madonna in Sorrow

Timeless Truths (part 2) - Love

Heart of the Milky Way - Valentine's Day

The greatest force in the Universe ....

Yes ... I admit it.  I have been known to watch cartoons.  But what does this have to do with Valentine's Day ... or love?  Let me tell you.

In my younger years, I had the television tuned to a cartoon channel as I was going about my business.

The format for this particular set of shows, featuring superheroes, had a goofy looking animated host.

As MC, this toon plugged upcoming shows and made comments during the breaks.

Nothing unusual or memorable about that.

But one afternoon was different.

While promoting the upcoming show, the voice - on script - plugged the featured superhero with superpowers as

"the most powerful force in the universe."

Then  - for a second - the MC went off script and added - 

"that is, except for love."

Bravo!

Though I remember little details about the shows, these words of this wise cartoon host stayed with me.

As shown by the heart circling the Milky Way in the night sky, February is the month of St. Valentine's Day.  It is a holiday in which we celebrate love.  The cards and gifts exchanged usually are on the theme of romantic love.  But love does more than make the world go around.  (Love Makes the World Go Around)

Indeed as the wise little toon said, love is the most powerful force in the universe ... 

and, I may add, beyond.

Consider the words of Jesus when asked -

 ³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”
 ³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22
(NIV)

Jesus not only stated the greatest commandment was love, but quoted these commandments about  love from the Old Testament - Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18  

And, likewise, a great picture of love is found - of all places - in the Old Testament.  It is the story of the prophet, Hosea.

God spoke to Hosea and told him to marry a prostitute named Gomer.  Gomer was unfaithful and left Hosea to pursue other lovers.  Eventually, Gomer's lovers grew tired of her and dumped her.  She sunk so low that she fell into the bondage of slavery. Yet, Hosea sought out Gomer, bought her out of the slave market, and restored her as a free woman and as his wife.

From this experience, Hosea knew how deeply God hurt when His people were unfaithful to Him, pursuing other gods.  From the depths of his heart, Hosea proclaimed to the nation about God's amazing, tender, pursuing love.

Below is a clip of the story of Hosea set in modern times.

(reference:  http://youtu.be/2xAiLH-LDP0)

Indeed, God loves us, as He has said  ...

I have loved you with an everlasting love;

I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.
 Jeremiah 31:3

(NIV)

So let us ...

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;

his love endures forever.

Psalm 118:1
(NIV)

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*  Have a Blessed Valentine's Day *

  Please click on link  for a special eCard:  This is how we know what love is

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Timeless Truths will continue ...

- where the ancient proverbs and wisdom will be shown how they still apply throughout the ages.

As always, this timeless truth stands  ...

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:

but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Isaiah 40:8
(KJV)

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Previous post in series:

Timeless Truths (Part 1) - A Cup of Cold Water (2013)

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Photos from:
wikimedia - Heart of the Milky Way - Valentine's Day
everystockphoto.com - superhero stamps

Timeless Truths (Part 1) - A Cup of Cold Water

A Drink of Water

And whosoever shall give to drink
 unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water
only in the name of a disciple,
verily I say unto you,
he shall in no wise lose his reward.
Matthew 10:42
(KJV)

What a vivid image illustrating the words of Jesus, spoken nearly 2000 years ago.

The picture above was the Wikimedia picture of the day for May 9, 2007.   It was a candidate for the "Picture of the year 2007" and is considered on the finest images in Wikimedia Commons.  The description:

" U.S. Army Sergeant Kornelia Rachwal gives a young Pakistani girl a drink of water as they are airlifted from Muzaffarabad to Islamabad, Pakistan, aboard a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter on the 19 October 2005."  (reference:  Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

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Giving a cup of cold water seems like a small thing, an insignificant act.  Yet, small acts of kindness speak volumes and can pay eternal dividends, especially during dark days.

From the countless acts of kindness, such as giving a cold cup of water, here are two examples from real life and fiction that stand out.

1. Schindler's List

World War Two was a dark time, and, during the Holocaust, offering a cup of cold water to the Jews or other outcasts was done at great peril.  In the movie, Schindler's List, Oskar Schindler did just this, right under the noses of the Nazis.

Throughout the book and the movie, in order to do business Oskar Schindler is continually bribing SS Officer Amon Goeth.  On one such occasion during a blistering summer day, a train of prisoners heading for the concentration camps rolls by them.  These kinds of people are seen by their oppressors as less than human and treated worse than animals - without food, water, and other necessities.

Yet, using his wits, Oskar maneuvers to have the hot cars hosed down and cooled while the prisoners are given water to drink.  Amon laughs at this act as a cruel joke, giving the condemned hope as everyone knows most - if any at all - would not survive long.  Yet, Oskar persists and bribes the NCO escort on the train to open the doors and give them drink when they stop along the way.

The first part of the clip below shows some of this scene.



The book, from which the movie was based, follows up on this scene with more detail.  Two of the prisoners on this transport, who survived the war, let Oskar know that the NCO did frequently order the doors open and had their water buckets filled.  Though most had perished, the water was a small comfort.  (reference:  Schindler's List, by Thomas Keneally, Chapter 29) 

What makes this story so remarkable is that it really happened, and this small act of kindness was done at great risk.  Though Oskar Schindler would be considered a backslidden Catholic - he was a womanizer, war profiteer, open fraternizer with the Nazis, he acted on the words of Jesus whereas more virtuous men lacked the courage to do so.

2.  The Hunchback of Notre Dame

This theme of small acts of kindness in dark times runs throughout the works of  Victor Hugo.  His novels  interweave godly acts of light on the dark background of a mad world.

In The Hunchback of Notre Dame,  the denizens gawk at a deformed man, considered less than human, who was flogged and tortured to satisfy a perverted sense of justice in 15th century France.  But the gypsy girl Esmeralda gives Quasimodo a drink of water while better men do nothing.

Esmeralda.  Quasimodo.  Both are outcasts. Again, this small kindness of one outcast to another speaks volumes.

A clip of the scene below is from the silent film version of the movie - The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1923) .



Today, another of Victor Hugo's novels, Les Miserables (2012), is on the big screen as a musical.  And a turning point is an act of kindness by the bishop of Digne, which forever changes Jean Valjean.

Big doors swing on little hinges.
- W. Clement Stone (1902 - 2002)

So the course of  history or the saving of a life can be changed by a small act of kindness.

This leads to a new thread -

Timeless Truths

- where the ancient proverbs and wisdom will be shown how they still apply throughout the ages.

And what better way to end the first part of this new thread with these timeless words:

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth:

but the word of our God shall stand for ever.

Isaiah 40:8

(KJV)

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Previous posts on similar topics:

ZAMM (part 6) - Sloth, or just not caring ...  (2012)

Anastasis (part 5) - Bible in the Oxyrhynchus garbage dump  (2012)

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Photo from:  Wikipedia - Humanitarian Aid