Musings at Midnight

Armies are tools of violence;

They cause men to hate and fear.

The sage will not join them.

His purpose is creation;

Their purpose is destruction.

Weapons are tools of violence,

Not of the sage;

He uses them only when there is no choice,

And then calmly, and with tact,

For he finds no beauty in them.

Whoever finds beauty in weapons

Delights in the slaughter of men;

And who delights in slaughter

Cannot content himself with peace.

So slaughters must be mourned

And conquest celebrated with a funeral.

Lao Tze

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS PRESENT IN ALL THE WORLD

CALLING ALL PEOPLE TO CHRIST

BUT THE PEOPLE RESPOND

IF YOUR ACTIONS ARE LIKE YOUR GOD

WE FIND NOTHING TO LIKE

THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS ILLUMINED ALL OUR TEACHERS

SONS OF ABRAHAM

BUDDHA

THE GREEKS AND HINDUS

AND ALL HAVE PROCLAIMED THE GOLDEN RULE

I LIKE THINGS ORIENTAL

FOOD AND PHILOSOPHY

WAY OF PHRASING THOUGHTS

POETRY OF THE CHARACTERS

CASE IN POINT

THE PHRASE

THE END

IT IS FINISHED

USES THE CHARACTERS FOR WINTER AND THREAD

SO CHRIST MIGHT HAVE CALLED OUT

IT IS THE WINTER OF MY THREAD

MY LIFE HAS RUN OUT

IT WOULD BE NICE TO SAY THAT ALL THE PHILOSOPHIES OF THE WORLD

HAVE RESULTED IN PEACE

BUT IT ISN’T TRUE

BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT NEVER GIVES UP

AND IN CHINA’S DARKEST HOURS

THEIR INSPIRED TEACHERS HAVE SAID

A good ruler must possess a clear understanding of the law to be enforced. It should not be enforced just because the ruler has the authority to enforce the law. It must be done in a reasonable manner and with common sense. --Confucius

Let all peoples be happy, weak or strong, of high, middle, low estate, small or great, visible or invisible, near or far away, alive or still to be born. May they all be entirely happy. Let nobody lie to anybody or despise any single being anywhere. May no one wish harm to any single creature out of anger or hatred. Let us cherish all creatures as a mother her only child. May our loving thoughts fill the whole world above, below, across without limit of boundless goodwill toward the whole world, unrestricted, free of hatred and enmity. --Buddha

AND THE SONS OF ABRAHAM HAVE SAID

Rescue those who are unjustly sentenced to death; don't stand back and let them die. Don't try to avoid responsibility by saying you didn't know about it. For God knows all hearts, and he sees you. He keeps watch over your soul, and he knows you knew! And he will judge all people according to what they have done. --PROV12:11-12

DO WE NEED ANOTHER TEACHER

TO TELL ALL OF US

TO LIVE UP TO THE TEACHINGS

OF THEIR FAITH

I HOPE NOT

WE WOULD TREAT HIM SHABBILY

AS BEFORE

WE NEED TO PRACTICE WHAT WE PREACH

MORE RULES WON’T MAKE RIGHT

IT’S THE HEART THAT NEEDS CHANGING

SAD THOUGHTS AT MIDNIGHT

MY EYES ARE HEAVY

AND SO ARE MY THOUGHTS

BUT THE WORDS OF THE HYMN SOOTH ME

Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask Thee to stay

Close by me forever, and love me, I pray;

Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,

And fit us for Heaven to live with Thee there

BLESS ALL THE CHILDREN

NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE

OR RACE OR CREED

THEY ALL ARE YOUR CHILDREN

IN YOUR TENDER CARE

FRANK A VOLLMER.