The Beginning and the End

Writing articles and historical books (probably other writing as well) requires beginning and ending a story where there is no beginning and no end. The very beginning of every story based on earth is at creation, and we are waiting to see the very end of everything on earth; nevertheless, God sets the standard.

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." ~ Revelation 22:13

Therefore, the writer has the work and privilege of determining where to begin a story, not too far from the climax and not too close to it either, and where to end a story, not too soon with questions still unanswered and not too far with the story dragging on and on.

Where to begin and end names only one of many aspects which contribute to a good article, book, and other writing.

Why has the U.S. Constitution been so successful?

A significant reason for the success of the U.S. Constitution comes from its inclusion of biblical principles, either intentional or unintentional. Whether James Madison included the three branches of government because of Isaiah 33:22 or not, the biblical principles found in that verse are evident in the Constitution (http://www.davidbarton.org/2010/04/30/americas-godly-heritage-by-david-barton-7/).
"For the Lord is our judge,
the Lord is our lawgiver,
the Lord is our king;
it is he who will save us."
~ Isaiah 33:22

What is the meaning of life?

Happiness?

"I denied myself nothing my eyes desired; I refused my heart no pleasure. My heart took delight in all my work, and this was the reward for all my labor. Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun."
~ Ecc. 2:10-11

Success?

"For a man may do his work with wisdom, knowledge and skill, and then he must leave all he owns to someone who has not worked for it. This too is meaningless and a great misfortune."
~ Ecc. 2:21

Wealth?

"Whoever loves money never has money enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless."
~ Ecc. 5:10

If all this is meaningless, what is the meaning of life?

Solomon concludes in Ecc. 12:13 -
"Now all has been heard;
     here is the conclusion of the
            matter:

 Fear God and keep his

            commandments,
     for this is the whole duty of
             man."

First, we must fear God, not other people, the future, disappointment, hurt, failures (past, present, or future), or anything else.

Second, we must obey his commands to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

The meaning of life lies within an intimate relationship with the Maker of heaven and earth.

What is Truth?

Pilot asked that question of Jesus before the crucifixion of Jesus in John 18:38; however, he did not wait for the answer. If you are asking the same question, I would encourage you to check out the Truth Project at http://www.thetruthproject.org/.

Where did we come from?

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth....So God created man in his own image, in the image  of God he created him; male and female he created them." ~ Genesis 1:1, 27

Published!

Devokids.com recently published my devotional at http://www.devokids.com/devotions.html! :)

Better is One Day in His courts than a thousand elsewhere! :D

Psalm 84

How lovely is your dwelling place,

O LORD Almighty!

My soul yearns, even faints,

for the courts of the LORD;

my heart and my flesh cry out

for the living God.

Even the sparrow has found a home,

and the swallow a nest for herself,

where she may have her young—

a place near your altar,

O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.

Blessed are those who dwell in your house;

they are ever praising you.

Selah

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,

who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.

As they pass through the Valley of Baca,

they make it a place of springs;

the autumn rains also cover it with pools.

They go from strength to strength,

till each appears before God in Zion.

Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty;

listen to me, O God of Jacob.

Selah

Look upon our shield, O God;

look with favor on your anointed one.

Better is one day in your courts

than a thousand elsewhere;

I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God

than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

For the LORD God is a sun and shield;

the LORD bestows favor and honor;

no good thing does he withhold

from those whose walk is blameless.

O LORD Almighty,

blessed is the man who trusts in you.