Hello There,

The hymn for today was written by a pastor in the Church of Scotland on June 
6, 1882. George Matheson was nearly blind. His faculties of memory and 
learning were so acute that he achieved in education and ability to the point 
that many of his hearers were not aware of his handicap.

"O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go", was a product of a deep spiritual 
experience that he describes as a "day-spring from on high". The entire text 
seemed to flow in a space of about five minutes; and never demanded 
correction or addition.

O LOVE THAT WILT NOT LET ME GO

O LOVE THAT WILT NOT LET ME GO,
I REST MY WEARY SOUL IN THEE;
I GIVE THEE BACK THE LIFE I OWE,
THAT IN THINE OCEAN DEPTHS ITS FLOW
MAY RICHER, FULLER BE.

O LIGHT THAT FOLLOWEST ALL MY WAY,
I YIELD MY FLICKERING TORCH TO THEE;
MY HEART RESTORES ITS BORROWED RAY
THAT IN THY SUNSHINE'S BLAZE ITS DAY
MAY BRIGHTER, FAIRER BE.

O JOY THAT SEEKEST ME THROUGH PAIN,
I CANNOT CLOSE MY HEART TO THEE;
I TRACE THE RAINBOW THROUGH THE RAIN,
AND FEEL THE PROMISE IS NOT VAIN,
THAT MORN SHALL TEARLESS BE.

O CROSS THAT LIFTEST UP MY HEAD,
I DARE NOT ASK TO FLY FROM THEE;
I LAY IN DUST LIFE'S GLORY DEAD,
AND FROM THE GROUND THERE BLOSSOMS RED
LIFE THAT SHALL ENDLESS BE.

The reader who drew my attention to this song, remarked of the beauty of the 
lyrics. A reader from across the country who is deeply involved in religious 
media remarked this quote to me in a personal note, "Some of the old songs of 
Zion are lost to our kids and grand kids. The secular world had no problem 
going back to the "Golden Oldies", but the Christian Crowd scorns the old 
treasures." 

I realize that I have added fuel to a conflagration. You have to love me. 
It's a rule.

EVEN MORE CONSERVATIVE "STUFF"- My comments about loss of holidays answered 
my question, "Is anybody reading?". The e-mail response is voluminous. 
Those of you who work in factories etc. are the real authorities here. You 
know what the "man on the street" thinks. Extra days off work, bonuses, 
gifts, new clothes and eat and drink too much are the responses to the 
meaning of some "holy" holidays.

TOO SOFT AND TOO SHORT-One of many sobriquets attached to me in childhood was 
"Rowdy". I earned it and have the scars to show. At eighteen months of age, 
I was standing atop the dining room buffet giving a concert on my toy 
accordion. I fell and split my forehead. I see that mark each morning while 
shaving. 

My Grandma Eaves would watch us for a few hours when she came to visit. At 
age five, she told me to quit ramming around before I broke my epazootix. 
Sure, that's how it's spelled--look it up. Oh! You don't have a Dr. Seuss 
dictionary? Sorry about that.

Several months passed with a real improvement in my conduct. You see--I 
begged her until I extracted the truth--"It is a piece inside you that is too 
soft to glue and too short to tie".---Remember, you heard it here first.

WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT-I received a brief update from Blaine Bowman this week. 
Them Bowmans have had 26 persons answer the invitation to salvation during 
the latest three weeks. Five individual seekers have laid claim to 
Pentecostal blessing. When Jeanene read the e-mail, she said, "That's what 
it's all about". Amen!

WORDS FROM ROMANIA-In English. Tammy Swailes (INSTE) asks an interest in 
your prayers for car trouble. Opel electrical problems are acute in all 
nations. !!!!!Got a follow-up praise in time to include today. Car is 
fixed. $15 cost-one bid was $700. Glory!!!!

More Praises-The work on translation is ahead of schedule. God spoke to an 
obedient giver. The trial of car problems led her to a person who helped her 
with a place to stay and gave her a real opportunity in witness.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!-I am a week late to wish our Sassy dog a happy 15th birthday. 
If you have ever been owned by a four pound poodle, you understand. She is 
very much in charge here. Our Keeshond is ten times larger than she, but is 
no match in pure pluck.

HEAVEN A BETTER PLACE?-When I make that statement, it is with the knowledge 
that no earthly embellishment of mankind's most idyllic design could make 
improvement. I mean that it is made more precious by those who go there by 
dying. Lorene Smith made heaven better for me this week. After a long and 
valiant battle with cancer, she rests from all pain. Our sympathies to the 
family as they move ahead. 

SO THOUGHTFUL-Of you to inquire as to my reference to Jeanene doing hospital 
time. 

Townie is doing well. A long time believer at eighty-five. A complete hip 
replacement was needed. The doctors feel that she can return home tomorrow, 
or later in the week.

ISRAEL TODAY-Today is a special day of prayer for Israel. Visit WWW.STAND 
FOR ISRAEL.org for more information, if interested.

YOU ARE JOINED-On the journey today by Pastors Mike and Nancy Juntunen of 
Austin, Minnesota. Mike and Nancy were part of a pastorate several years ago.

During college years, they sacrificIally rescued each other from the perils 
of single life.

Those boys (3, I think) must be in late teens and early twenties. How time 
flieth!

GETTING TO KNOW YOU-We are typical dwellers. Go in the house and shut the 
door and lock tight. A few weeks ago, two neighbors took the lead on the 
national night out. A follow-up pot luck is at 5:30 this evening. All plans 
are being made by e-mail. That rather speaks to the problem. 

KEEPING FOCUS-In a spinning world. Let me share things that have helped me 
this week. 
1. Afghanistan remains the number one grower of poppies for opium on the 
world market. The US has offered $500 per acre removed from production. 
Illegal trade yields $6,000 per acre per year. Guess why they remain number 
one. 2. It comes as no surprise that North Korea is recognized as a 
threat-even nuclear. Revelation 16:12 lists divine provision for armies from 
the Far East. I have notes from as far back as 1957 to remind me of the 
threat.

His,
Ron Krantz