<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><rss version="2.0"><channel><title>Maxioms.com</title><description>Quotes, Famous Quotes, Sayings, Proverbs, Maxims, Axioms, Maxioms</description><link>http://www.maxioms.com</link><language>en-us</language><copyright>Copyright 2026 Maxioms.com. All Rights Reserved.</copyright><item><title><![CDATA[By her who in this month is born, No gems save Garnets should be worn;  They will insure her ...]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/23248]]></link><description><![CDATA[By her who in this month is born, No gems save Garnets should be worn;  They will insure her constancy,   True friendship and fidelity.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/23248</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Life for me has been exactly what I thought it would be, a cake, which I have eaten and had ...]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/41503]]></link><description><![CDATA[Life for me has been exactly what I thought it would be, a cake, which I have eaten and had too]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/41503</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[What is conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried, against the new and untried ]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/9858]]></link><description><![CDATA[What is conservatism? Is it not adherence to the old and tried, against the new and untried]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/9858</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Two men please God--who serves Him with all his heart because he knows Him; who seeks Him with all his ...]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/17695]]></link><description><![CDATA[Two men please God--who serves Him with all his heart because he knows Him; who seeks Him with all his heart because he knows Him not.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/17695</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Service is no Inheritance. ]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/49739]]></link><description><![CDATA[Service is no Inheritance.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/49739</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Some of the trees were old and sick. They weren't made to resist winds like that. ]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/36625]]></link><description><![CDATA[Some of the trees were old and sick. They weren't made to resist winds like that.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/36625</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fly pride, says the peacock: mistress, that you know. ]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/46002]]></link><description><![CDATA[Fly pride, says the peacock: mistress, that you know.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/46002</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people ...]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/12794]]></link><description><![CDATA[The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, but wiser people s ofull of doubts.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/12794</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[There's no business like show business. ]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/5015]]></link><description><![CDATA[There's no business like show business.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/5015</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Don't fear change, embrace it. -Anthony J. D'Angelo. ]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/5561]]></link><description><![CDATA[Don't fear change, embrace it. -Anthony J. D'Angelo.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/5561</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Beneath The Surface . ]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/34211]]></link><description><![CDATA[Beneath The Surface .]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/34211</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[It's somehow symbolic of Hollywood that Tara was just a facade, with no rooms inside. ]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/19590]]></link><description><![CDATA[It's somehow symbolic of Hollywood that Tara was just a facade, with no rooms inside.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/19590</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[So we grew together, Like to a double cherry, seeming parted,  But yet an union in partition--   ...]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/60146]]></link><description><![CDATA[So we grew together, Like to a double cherry, seeming parted,  But yet an union in partition--   Two lovely berries moulded on one stem;    So, with two seeming bodies, but one heart;     Two of the first, like coats in heraldry,      Due but to one, and crowned with one crest.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/60146</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope. ]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/12363]]></link><description><![CDATA[We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/12363</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[A secret is like a dove: when it leaves my hand it takes wing. ]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/55013]]></link><description><![CDATA[A secret is like a dove: when it leaves my hand it takes wing.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/55013</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of ...]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/15243]]></link><description><![CDATA[This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us. -- Western Union internal memo, 1876.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/15243</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[We feel comfortable lining him up against anyone. ]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/34080]]></link><description><![CDATA[We feel comfortable lining him up against anyone.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/34080</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[I know that they are in heaven, ... and I know that that's why this movement is growing because we ...]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/23031]]></link><description><![CDATA[I know that they are in heaven, ... and I know that that's why this movement is growing because we have tens of thousands of angels behind us that are supporting us, that are saying, 'Well, you know we died and that was really crappy, but we hope that our deaths are going to make the world a better place,' and it's up to us to make sure that it does.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/23031</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Fishes live in the sea, as men do a-land; the great ones eat up the little ones. ]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/45272]]></link><description><![CDATA[Fishes live in the sea, as men do a-land; the great ones eat up the little ones.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/45272</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[They made us many promises, more than I can remember, but they kept only one; they promised to take our ...]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/43740]]></link><description><![CDATA[They made us many promises, more than I can remember, but they kept only one; they promised to take our land, and they did.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/43740</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, ...]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/25047]]></link><description><![CDATA[Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/25047</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The money-changers have fled from their high seats in the temple of our civilization. We may now restore that temple ...]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/15693]]></link><description><![CDATA[The money-changers have fled from their high seats in the temple of our civilization. We may now restore that temple to the ancient truths.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/15693</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Women like silent men. They think they're listening. ]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/27253]]></link><description><![CDATA[Women like silent men. They think they're listening.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/27253</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[It's real special to be a part of. He's a great coach and he deserves it. He pushes us and ...]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/34100]]></link><description><![CDATA[It's real special to be a part of. He's a great coach and he deserves it. He pushes us and expects a lot of us. We didn't know until the last field goal.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/34100</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[When written in Chinese, the word "crisis" is composed of two characters-one represents danger, and the other represents opportunity. ]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/45050]]></link><description><![CDATA[When written in Chinese, the word "crisis" is composed of two characters-one represents danger, and the other represents opportunity.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/45050</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[For a strolling damsel a doubtful reputation bears. [Ger., Denn ein wanderndes Madchen ist immer von schwankendem Rufe.] ]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/53881]]></link><description><![CDATA[For a strolling damsel a doubtful reputation bears. [Ger., Denn ein wanderndes Madchen ist immer von schwankendem Rufe.]]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/53881</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Man-like it is to fall into sin; fiendlike it is to dwell therein. ]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/56421]]></link><description><![CDATA[Man-like it is to fall into sin; fiendlike it is to dwell therein.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/56421</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[In a long journey straw waighs. ]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/49532]]></link><description><![CDATA[In a long journey straw waighs.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/49532</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Most bureaucracies take a while to get it together, and this is America -- we have so much and we ...]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/40839]]></link><description><![CDATA[Most bureaucracies take a while to get it together, and this is America -- we have so much and we can't get it together [in the face of Hurricane Katrina], ... So imagine a country that's very poor, with a clunky bureaucracy. The ability to coordinate and manage this sort of crisis, especially in a country with corruption, high levels of alcoholism and a top-heavy bureaucracy, is challenging.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/40839</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[(Gunn) is definitely one of the Bay Area's best. He does it all -- dribble, shoot and defend. He makes ...]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/35020]]></link><description><![CDATA[(Gunn) is definitely one of the Bay Area's best. He does it all -- dribble, shoot and defend. He makes shots when we need them most.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/35020</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Obviously the facts are never just coming at you but are incorporated by an imagination that is formed by your ...]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/14884]]></link><description><![CDATA[Obviously the facts are never just coming at you but are incorporated by an imagination that is formed by your previous experience. Memories of the past are not memories of facts but memories of your imaginings of the facts.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/14884</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[We must beware of trying to build a society in which nobody counts for anything except a politician or an ...]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/57001]]></link><description><![CDATA[We must beware of trying to build a society in which nobody counts for anything except a politician or an official, a society where enterprise gains no reward and thrift no privileges.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/57001</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[To teach is to learn twice. About all some parents accomplish in life is to send a child to Harvard. ...]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/13538]]></link><description><![CDATA[To teach is to learn twice. About all some parents accomplish in life is to send a child to Harvard. The purpose of a liberal education is to make one's mind a pleasant place to spend one's leisure. -Joseph Joubert.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/13538</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life Cuts off so many years of fearing death. ]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/58249]]></link><description><![CDATA[Why, he that cuts off twenty years of life Cuts off so many years of fearing death.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/58249</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[LightWinged Smoke Lightwinged Smoke, Icarian bird, Melting thy pinions in thy upward flight, Lark without song, and the messenger of ...]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/18104]]></link><description><![CDATA[LightWinged Smoke Lightwinged Smoke, Icarian bird, Melting thy pinions in thy upward flight, Lark without song, and the messenger of dawn, Circling above the hamlets as thy nest; Or else, departing dream, and shadowy form Of midnight vision, gathering up thy skirts; By night star-veiling, and by day Darkening the light and blotting out the sun; Go thou my incense upward from this hearth, And ask the gods to pardon this clear flame.-Henry David Thoreau-.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/18104</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving. ]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/17505]]></link><description><![CDATA[It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/17505</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The starting line of the New York City marathon is kind of a giant time bomb behind you about to ...]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/54577]]></link><description><![CDATA[The starting line of the New York City marathon is kind of a giant time bomb behind you about to go off. It is the most spectacular start in sport.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/54577</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[I grew up in dirt-poor hillbilly country. We lived this dry-below-the-waist kind of scene. If you were a sensual woman ...]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/28127]]></link><description><![CDATA[I grew up in dirt-poor hillbilly country. We lived this dry-below-the-waist kind of scene. If you were a sensual woman you were in league with that which is un-Christlike. Where I come from, a cockroach is a roach, and a cockerel is a rooster because they can't bring themselves to say cock.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/28127</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Lookit, I've done it their way this far and now it's my turn. I'm my own handler. Any questions? Ask ...]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/47081]]></link><description><![CDATA[Lookit, I've done it their way this far and now it's my turn. I'm my own handler. Any questions? Ask me... There's not going to be any more handler stories because I'm the handler... I'm Doctor Spin.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/47081</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into air. ]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/10302]]></link><description><![CDATA[Courage and perseverance have a magical talisman, before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish into air.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/10302</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[I didn't want that. I wanted a group of other veterans I could talk to or maybe a military doctor ...]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/32764]]></link><description><![CDATA[I didn't want that. I wanted a group of other veterans I could talk to or maybe a military doctor who was there (Iraq) who can help me out or something.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/32764</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Things that were hard to bear are sweet to remember ]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/684]]></link><description><![CDATA[Things that were hard to bear are sweet to remember]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/684</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[That thou mayest win to the sweetness of God's love, I set here three degrees of love, in the which ...]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/8050]]></link><description><![CDATA[That thou mayest win to the sweetness of God's love, I set here three degrees of love, in the which thou shouldst be aye waxing. The first is called insuperable, the second inseparable, the third singular. Thy love is insuperable when nothing may overcome it, that is, neither weal, nor woe, nor anguish, just of flesh nor the liking of this world... Thy love is inseparable when all thy thoughts and thy wills are gathered together and fastened wholly in Jesus Christ, so that thou mayest no time forget Him, but aye thou thinkest on Him... Thy love is singular when all thy delight is in Jesus Christ and in no other thing finds joy and comfort.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/8050</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Feast of the Naming & Circumcision of Jesus A LETTER FROM PAUL THE MISSIONARY TO THE SOCIETY OF CHRISTIANS IN ...]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/6936]]></link><description><![CDATA[Feast of the Naming & Circumcision of Jesus A LETTER FROM PAUL THE MISSIONARY TO THE SOCIETY OF CHRISTIANS IN ROME The following abridged paraphrase of the Epistle to the Romans aims at presenting in a plain way the continuous sequence of the argument, while suggesting the free epistolary form of the original: My DEAR FELLOW-CHRISTIANS OF ROME,  Wherever I go I hear of your faith, and I thank God for it. It is a part of my daily prayers that I may be permitted to visit you. I believe such a visit would do you good, and I am sure it would do me good. In fact, I have tried again and again to get to Rome, but hitherto something has always turned up to prevent me. I shall not feel that my work as missionary to the Gentiles is complete until I have preached in Rome. My mission is a universal one, knowing no bounds of race or culture--naturally, since my message is a universal one. It is a message of God's righteousness, revealed to men on a basis of faith. (Rom. 1:1-17)  Apart from this, there is nothing to be seen in the world of today but the Nemesis of sin. Take the pagan world: all men have a knowledge of God by natural religion; but the pagan world has deliberately turned its back upon this knowledge, and, for all its boasted philosophy, has degraded religion into idolatry. The natural consequence is a moral perversity horrible to contemplate. (Rom. 1:18-32)  But you, my Jewish friend, need not dwell with complacency upon the sins of the pagan world. You are guilty yourself. Do not mistake God's patience with His people for indulgence. His judgments are impartial. Knowledge or ignorance of the Law of Moses makes no difference here. The pagans have God's law written in their conscience. If they obey it, well; if not, they stand condemned. And as for you--you call yourself a Jew and pride yourself on the Law. But have you kept all its precepts? You are circumcised and so forth: that goes for nothing; God looks at the inner life of motive and affection. An honest pagan is better than a bad Jew in His sight. I do not mean to say there is no advantage in being a Jew: of this more presently ; but read your Bible and take to yourself the hard words of the prophets--spoken, remember, not to heathens, but to people who knew the Law, just as you do. No, Jew and pagan, we are in the same case. No one can stand right before God on the basis of what he has actually done. Law only serves to bring consciousness of guilt. (Rom. 2:1-3:20)  But now, Law apart, we have a revelation of God's righteousness, as I was saying (Rom. 1:17). It comes by faith, the faith of Jesus Christ; and it comes to every one, Jew or Gentile, who has faith. We have all sinned, and all of us can be made to stand right with God. That is a free gift to us, due to His graciousness. We are emancipated in Christ Jesus, who is God's appointed means of dealing with sin--a means operating by the devotion of His life, and by faith on our part. It is thus that God, having passed over sins committed in the old days when He held His hand, demonstrates His righteousness in the world of to-day; i.e., it is thus that He both shows Himself righteous, and makes those stand right before Him who have faith in Jesus Christ. No room for boasting here! No distinction of Jew and Gentile here! (Rom. 3:21-31)  But what about Abraham? you will say. Did not he win God's graciousness by what he did? Not at all. Read your Bible, and you will find that the promise was given to him before he was circumcised; and the Bible expressly says that "he had faith in God, and that counted for righteousness." The same principle applies to us all. (Rom. 4:1-25)  To return to the point, then, we stand right with God on the ground of faith, and we are at peace with Him, come what may. God's love floods our whole being--a love shown in the fact that Christ died for us, not because we were good people for whom anyone might die, but actually while we were sinners. He died, not for His friends, but for His enemies. Very well then, if while we were enemies Christ died for us, surely He will save us now that we are friends! If He reconciled us to God by dying for us, surely He will save us by living for us, and in us. There is something to boast about! (Rom. 5:1-11)  Christ died and lives for us all, I say. But, you ask, how can the life and death of one individual have consequences for so many? You believe that we all suffer for Adam's sin; and if so, why should we not all profit by Christ's righteousness? Of course there is really no comparison between the power of evil to propagate itself, and the power of good to win the victory, for that is a matter of God's graciousness. However, you see my point : one man sinned--a whole race suffers for it; one Man lived righteously--a whole race wins life by it. But what about Law? you say. Law only came in by the way, to intensify the consciousness of guilt. (Rom. 5:12-21) (Continued tomorrow)  ... paraphrased and abridged by C. Harold Dodd, from The Meaning of Paul for Today January 2, 2000 Feast of Basil the Great & Gregory Nazianzen, Bishops, Teachers, 379 & 389 Commemoration of Seraphim, Monk of Sarov, Mystic, Staretz, 1833 A LETTER FROM PAUL THE MISSIONARY TO THE SOCIETY OF CHRISTIANS IN ROME (This abridged paraphrase of the Epistle to the Romans is continued from yesterday)  Now I come to a difficulty. I have heard people say, "If human sin gives play to God's graciousness, let us go on sinning to give Him a better chance. Why not do evil that good may come?" (Rom. 3:8) What nonsense! To be saved through Christ is to be a dead man so far as sin is concerned. Think of the symbolism of Baptism. You go down into the water: that is like being buried with Christ. You come up out of the water: that is like rising with Christ from the tomb. It means, therefore, a new life, a life which comes by union with the living Christ. You will admit that, once a man is dead, there is no more claim against him for any wrong he may have committed. He is like a slave set free from all claims on the part of his late master. Think, then, of yourselves as dead. When you remember the death of Christ, think that you--i.e., your old bad selves--were crucified with Him. And when you remember His resurrection, think of yourselves as living with Him, a new life. And above all, bear in mind that Christ, once risen, does not die again: and so you, living the new life in Him, need not die again. I mean, the sin that once dominated you need not any longer control you; do not let it! You are freed slaves; do not sell yourselves into slavery again. Or, if you like to put it so, you are now slaves, not of Sin, but of Righteousness (a very crude way of putting it, but I want to help you out). Just as once you were the property of Sin, and all your faculties were instruments of wrong, so now you are the property of Righteousness, and every faculty you have must be an instrument of right. Freed from sin, you are slaves of God; that is what I mean. The wages your old master paid was death. Your new Master makes you a present of life. (Rom. 6:1-23)  Or take another illustration. You know that by law a woman is bound to her husband while he lives; when he is dead she is free; she can marry again if she likes and the law has no claim against her. So you may think of yourselves as having been married to Sin, or to Law. Death has now released you from that marriage bond, though here the illustration halts, for it is Christ's death that has freed you! Well, anyhow, you are free--free, shall I say, to marry Christ. You had a numerous progeny of evil deeds by your first marriage; you must now produce an offspring of good deeds to Christ. I mean, of course, you must serve God in Christ's spirit. (Rom. 7:1-6)  Now I admit that all this sounds as though I identified law with sin. That is not my meaning. But surely it is clear that the function of law is to bring consciousness of sin; e.g., I should never have known what covetousness was but that the law said, "Thou shalt not covet." Such is the perversity of human nature under the dominion of sin that the very prohibition provokes me to covet. There was a time when I knew nothing of Law, and lived my own life. Then Law came, sin awakened in me, and life became death for me. Of course, Law is good, but Sin took advantage of it, to my cost. I am only flesh and blood, and flesh and blood is prone to sin. I can see what is good, and desire it, but I cannot practice it; i.e., my reason recognizes the law, and yet I break it through moral perversity. If you like to put it so, there is one law for my reason, the Law of God, and another for my outward conduct, the law of sin and death. It is like a living man chained to a dead body. It is perfect misery. But, thank God, the chain is broken! The law of the Spirit of Life which is in Christ has set me free from the law of sin and death. Christ entered into this human nature of flesh and blood which is under the dominion of Sin. Sin put in its claim to be His master; but Christ won His case; Sin was non-suited, its claim disallowed, and human nature was free. The result is that all the Law stood for of righteousness, holiness, and goodness is fulfilled in those who live by Christ's Spirit. There are two possible forms of human life: there is the life of the lower nature of flesh and blood, of which I have spoken; and there is the life of the spirit. We have Christ's Spirit, and so we can live the life of the spirit. And in the end that Spirit will give new life to the whole human organism. (Rom. 7:7-8:11)  You see, then, that the flesh-and-blood nature has no claim upon us. We belong to the Spirit. Those who are actuated by that Spirit are sons of God. I used a while back the expression, "slaves of God "; but really we are not slaves but sons---sons and heirs of God, like Christ; and when we come into our inheritance, how glorious it will be! (Rom. 8:12-18)  This, however, is still in the future. At the present time the whole universe is in misery, and in its misery it waits for the revelation of God's sons. Now all existence seems futile in its transience; and even we still share creation's pangs. But we have hope; and the ground of that hope is the possession of God's Spirit--in a first installment only, but enough to reckon upon. The fact is that every prayer we utter--yes, even an inarticulate prayer--is the utterance of the Spirit within us. We know that all through God is working with us. His purpose is behind the whole process, and He is on our side. If He gave His Son, we can trust Him to give us everything else. He loves us, and nothing in the world or out of it can separate us from His love. (Rom. 8:18-39) (Continued tomorrow)  ... paraphrased and abridged by C. Harold Dodd, from The Meaning of Paul for Today January 3, 2000 Commemoration of Gladys Aylward, Missionary in China, 1970 A LETTER FROM PAUL THE MISSIONARY TO THE SOCIETY OF CHRISTIANS IN ROME (This abridged paraphrase of the Epistle to the Romans is continued from yesterday)  That concludes the present stage of my argument; but before I can proceed to final deductions, I must return to a difficulty already raised (Rom. 3:1-4). If there is no difference between Jew and Gentile, does all the great past of Israel go for nothing? Do all the promises of Scripture go for nothing? First, let me say how bitterly I regret the exclusion of the Jewish nation as a body from the new life. I would surrender all my Christian privileges if I could find a way to bring them in. But we must recognize facts; and the first fact is that the nation as a whole never was able to claim the promises; from the beginning, there was a process of selection. Of the sons of Abraham, Isaac alone was called; of the sons of Isaac, Jacob only. If we ask why, there is no answer save that God is bound by no natural or historical necessity, but intervenes according to His will. To question that will is as absurd as for the pot to arraign the potter. Then again, while some members of the Hebrew race have always fallen out, always God has declared His purpose ultimately to include others, not members of the Hebrew race--and that is just what is now happening. Now, as I said, I desire nothing more earnestly than that the whole nation should be saved. But the fact is that they have deliberately rejected the chance that was offered them. There is nothing remote or abstruse about the Christian message. It is a very simple thing: acknowledge Jesus as Lord, and believe that He is alive; that is all. And they cannot say that they have never heard the message, for Christ has His witnesses everywhere. It looks, then, as if God had rejected His people, as punishment for their obstinacy. I do not believe it. God's promises cannot go for nothing. In the first place, there has always been, and there still is, a faithful remnant of the Jewish people. And in the second place, as for the main body, their present rejection of the message is only a means in God's Providence for its extension to the Gentiles. The old olive-tree of Israel stands yet; many of its branches have been lopped off, and new branches of wild olive have been engrafted in their place. But God can engraft the lopped branches on again, if it be His will; and I believe it is His will, and that in the end the whole nation will return to Him and inherit the promises. And if the failure of Israel has meant such blessing to the world, how much greater blessing will its ultimate salvation bring! God's purpose, as I said at the beginning (Rom. 1:16), is universal: He has permitted the whole of humanity, Jew and Gentile alike, to fall under sin, only in order that He may finally have mercy on the whole of humanity, Jew and Gentile alike. How profound and unsearchable are His plans! (Rom. 9:1-11:36)  So now I can take up again my main argument. If this is the way of God's dealing with us, what ought to be our response? Can we do less than offer our entire selves to God as a sacrifice of thanksgiving? How will that work out? In a life lived as by members of one single body. Let each perform his part faithfully. Let love rule all your relations one to another, and to those outside, even to your enemies. Do not regard the Emperor as outside the scope of love, but obey his laws and pay his taxes. Yes, and pay all debts to every one. Love is, in fact, the one comprehensive debt of man to man. If you love your neighbour as yourself, you have fulfilled the whole moral law. But be in earnest about things, for the better day is already dawning. (Rom. 12:1-13:14)  I hear you have differences among yourselves about Sabbath-keeping and vegetarianism. Take this matter, then, as an example of what I mean by the application of brotherly love to all conduct. Remember that the Sabbatarian and the anti-Sabbatarian, the vegetarian and the meat-eater, are alike servants of one Master. Give each other credit for the best motives. Do not think of yourself alone; think of your Christian brother, and try to put yourself in his place. If he seems to you a weak-minded, over-scrupulous individual, remember that in any case he is your brother, and that Christ died for him as well as for you, and reverence his conscience. If through your example he should do an act which is harmless in you but sin to him, you have injured his conscience. Is it worth while so to imperil a soul for the sake of your liberty in such external matters? If the other man is weak-minded, and you strong-minded, all the more reason why you should help to bear his burden. Remember, Christ did not please Himself. In a word, Sabbatarian and anti-Sabbatarian, Jew and Gentile, treat one another as Christ has treated you, and God be with you. (Rom. 14:1-15:13)  Well, friends, I hardly think you needed this long exhortation from me. You are intelligent Christians, and well able to give one another good advice. Still, I thought I might venture to remind you of a few points ; for after all, I do feel a measure of responsibility for you, as missionary to the Gentiles. I have now accomplished my mission as far West as the Adriatic. Now I am going to Jerusalem to hand over the relief fund we have raised in Greece. After that I hope to start work in the West, and I propose to set out for Spain and take Rome on my way. Pray for me, that my errand to Jerusalem may be successful, so that I may be free to visit you. (Rom. 15:14-33)  I wish to introduce to you our friend Phoebe. She renders admirable service to our congregation at Cenchrea. Do all you can for her; she deserves it.  Kind regards to Priscilla and Aquila, Epaenetus, Mary, and all friends in Rome.   (P.S.--Beware of folk who make mischief. Be wise; be gentle; and all good be with you.)  Timothy, Lucius, Jason, Sosipater, and all friends at Corinth send kind regards. (So do I--Tertius, amanuensis!)  Glory be to God!  With all good wishes,  Your brother,  PAUL, Missionary of Jesus Christ.  ... paraphrased and abridged by C. Harold Dodd, from The Meaning of Paul for Today January 4, 2000  Nothing shall be lost that is done for God or in obedience to Him.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/6936</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do. ]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/10723]]></link><description><![CDATA[Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/10723</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Your son at five is your master, at ten your slave, at fifteen your double, and after that, your friend ...]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/57232]]></link><description><![CDATA[Your son at five is your master, at ten your slave, at fifteen your double, and after that, your friend or your foe, depending on his bringing up]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/57232</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[Garner came out not real strong. But he pitched well throughout. ]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/33634]]></link><description><![CDATA[Garner came out not real strong. But he pitched well throughout.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/33634</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[When we acknowledge that all of life is sacred and that each act is an act of choice and therefore ...]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/22515]]></link><description><![CDATA[When we acknowledge that all of life is sacred and that each act is an act of choice and therefore sacred, then life is a sacred dance lived consciously each moment. When we live at this level, we participate in the creation of a better world. [The Circle is Sacred].]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/22515</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[The first day I arrived, they told me to go home and get rid of that cold. ]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/39356]]></link><description><![CDATA[The first day I arrived, they told me to go home and get rid of that cold.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/39356</guid></item><item><title><![CDATA[It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels. ]]></title><link><![CDATA[http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/66558]]></link><description><![CDATA[It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels.]]></description><guid>http://www.maxioms.com/maxiom/66558</guid></item></channel></rss>