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Blaise Pascal Was A French Mathematician And ... PRO
Contributed by Rodney Buchanan on May 15, 2005 (message contributor)
Blaise Pascal was a French mathematician and philosopher. In his writings, which were entitled Pensees, he traces the logical progression of his thought on many subjects. But something happened to Pascal which was beyond logic and rational thought. After his death, his servant found a piece of paper sewn into the lining of his coat. Here, in part, is what he wrote:
The year of grace 1654.
Monday, 23 November, . . .
From about half-past ten in the evening
until about half past midnight.
FIRE.
The God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob.
Not of the philosophers and intellectuals.
Certitude, certitude, feeling, joy, peace . . .
joy, joy, joy, tears of joy. . .
Renunciation, total and sweet.
Complete submission to Jesus Christ. . .
The God whom Pascal encountered was not the God of the theologians and scholars, he was the personal God of the Bible. Pascal did not gain a new theology, he gained a new experience. He gained confidence and joy. And when the true Pascal met the true God there was true surrender — sweet renunciation and complete submission — not as a slavish thing, but as one gives oneself to a lover. There was passion in Pascal’s experience that he described as “FIRE.” This is the fire of Pentecost....
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The Sign In The Window Read: "Boy Wanted". ...
Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Sep 30, 2004
The sign in the window read: "Boy Wanted". Young John Simmons, though he was lazy, saw his opportunity and applied. He was quickly hired by elderly Mr. Peters. The pace was leisurely so he enjoyed the job. Toward the middle of the afternoon however, he was sent up to the attic -- a dingy place ...read more
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So Run That Ye May Obtain The Prize" We Should ... PRO
Contributed by Charles R. Swindoll on Sep 30, 2004
"So run that ye may obtain the prize" We should run the Christian race with sobriety, for our eternal life is at stake. Let others pursue for enjoyment what they will, but in our race everything vital is at stake. The eternal consequences of losing should motivate us to a greater effort than that ...read more
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Before I Go On To The Third Way To Feed On The ...
Contributed by Brian La Croix on May 15, 2004
Before I go on to the third way to feed on the Word of God, let me just share with you the story of a young girl named Mary Jones, who in the late 1790's wanted more than anything to own a Bible. Unfortunately, they were not as available as they are today, and they were very expensive. So she ...read more
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