LITTLE ACORNS

There are three effects of nearness to Jesus

Humility, Happiness and Holiness.

C.H. Spurgeon

Simply put things that offend a Holy God offend His children.   Spiritual discernment a most essential gifting when observing humanity.

There's something reassuring about a writer who gets his message across without hyperbole or verbal gymnastics and inspires in the reader "Hallelujah" planting a colourful flower of encouragement against the dark stormy clouds of propaganda and media hype.

There's something to be dreaded in my over enthusiasm for a particular author or C.D. and the need to bless another christian with the experience.  Way down the line, too late, I realise something is missing from my bookshelf.   Unable to remember its recipient I decide, well bless whoever has it and perhaps I can get another copy from Amazon.

As fate would have it, it is usually out of print and rogue traders are in their with first edition or just merely a paper back at the staggering sums of £199 - and that is a lower figure.   Not quite sure what the christian author would think of this blatant exploitation considering the original book was around £8.99 and clearly within the reach of the masses.   But then when you really know Jesus its never about money.   Yes you need to cover printing costs and countless cups of coffee researching His Word but the challenge is to reach those in the wilderness.    In the case of this particular blogger speed is of the essence, time is short,  so it is offered to the Lord and anyone who stumbles across my blog site F.O.C.  to hopefully edify but failing that pollute their "trash box"

Perhaps that is why my hero is Adrian Plass.   His humanity and easy read style makes comfortable - or uncomfortable (depending which side you are on) reading for the simple sheep stumbling onwards towards the Knackers Yard and finally His En Gedi pasture and the Good Shepherd.

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Waterside

"Wow, am I exhausted" said the woman hiker to her flushed companion  "how many miles have we done?  I am surely out of condition but then it is Spring, by mid summer I will hopefully be in my stride."

"We've only just started" said her companion laughing "a couple of cakes and a tray of tea will put your sugar levels up.   Ordering from the man behind the counter they moved to a table near the window which overlooked the rambling moors.

"Weird about that field we passed wasn't it"  she commented "all those kids just sitting around a rather scruffy looking individual "quiet as I've ever seen them, I wonder if he could drop in on one of my classes" she suggested "even one session would be a blessing in disguise".

Isaiah 53 - 2 - 3

He has no form or comeliness;

And when we see Him,

There is no beauty that we should desire Him.

He is despised and rejected by men,

A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him.

He was despised and we did not esteem him.

A waitress approached the table with their order.   Overhearing their conversation she said "That was Dan you saw in the field.   He's regarded as suspicious by those in the luxury houses around here.   It's said he is homeless and sleeps rough but he is attracting quite a following of young people."

"Well" replied the man busily pouring the tea and moving the plates around "he must have something these kids need, we are both teachers and I for one am lucky if I can hold their attention for five minutes."

"My daughter is usually among the crowd" said the waitress "I worry about her because she tends to go "off-piste" every once in a while but then she's back at his feet accepting his correction and instruction to stay focused."

"Let's hope it contagious" said the man laughing "after all if you can find a field of followers without screaming, sex and drugs and loud music I can only say he must be exceptionally charismatic"

"Oh he is" said the waitress smiling at the couple as she walked through the kitchen door.

"Ready to tackle Skiddaw" enquired the man of his companion.

"Not today" replied the woman smiling "but I will go a little further and then call it a day."

The man headed toward the till to settle his bill. 

"There's a tip for the waitress" he said smiling at the stocky man behind the till.

"What waitress" said the man "it's self service here pal - don't forget to drop in next time you pass."

"Well that was rather peculiar" said the woman to her companion as they headed towards the next hill.  "What do you make of that?  We just ordered and sat down shouldn't we have been informed it was self service.?"

Later that evening they sat in their local pub recounting the experience with their friends.   

"Just get's you here doesn't it" said the woman hand on her heart  "the way the Education System is attempting to fill the kids with junk.  Permissiveness and every disgusting perversion and those kids were just sitting on the grass listening with obvious respect to a man whom society in general has labelled a tramp.   You know our children are the future of our country.   God help us all.

"It reminds me of the poem by David Everett - an American Poet (1769 - 1813) it was my Nan's favourite saying "tall oaks from little acorns grow"

The poem goes like this:

You'd scarce expect one of my age

To speak in public on the stage;

And if I chance to fall below,

Demosthenes or Cicero.

Don't view me with a critics eye,

But pass my imperfection by,

Large streams from little fountains flow,

Tall oaks trees from little acorns grow.

Can't remember it all but it continues

These thoughts inspire my youthful mind,
To be the greatest of mankind,
Great, not like Caesar, stained with blood,
But only great as I am good.

Written for a school Declamation.

"Perhaps we can creep to the end of the crowd next time and listen to what he is saying, whatever he has I could do with a bucket full to reach my unruly mob and that includes my own kids"

"Never mind" said her companion "half term at the end of next week - thank God.

He shall gather the lambs with His arm,

and carry them in His bosom.

Isaiah - 40 - 11