I confess, there are two THINGS that I really love; fancy pens and pocket watches. Finances allow for my possession of only a few of these and so I must choose wisely and extremely carefully. So, today, when I looked at these complex, ornate and exquisite metal pens, I thought of a good friend of mine, BRUCE ARNOLD. We share common interests; that of computers and pens. However, we are not in the same league for either topic, as he is so far above me on both subjects that quite often I feel like the student David Caradine called "grasshopper" in the 1970's TV series "Kung Fu". If Bruce is reading this, I hope his recent wood-turning project wins in the contest, because it, like the wood turned pens he makes are simply beautiful. However beautiful they are though, they are nothing in comparison to the friendship and encouragement he has given over the years; and I just want to say "THANK YOU"!!!! There is a parallel here: wonderful works to that of friendship. Also, a second comparison, that of the works of the Law to that of the GRACE found in the New Covenant of Christ....
2 Corinthians, Chapter 3
1 Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you? 2 You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, served by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh. 4 Such confidence we have through Christ toward God; 5 not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God; 6 who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which was passing away: 8 won’t service of the Spirit be with much more glory? 9 For if the service of condemnation has glory, the service of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For most certainly that which has been made glorious has not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasses. 11 For if that which passes away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.
1 Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you? 2 You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3 being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, served by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh. 4 Such confidence we have through Christ toward God; 5 not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God; 6 who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 7 But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which was passing away: 8 won’t service of the Spirit be with much more glory? 9 For if the service of condemnation has glory, the service of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. 10 For most certainly that which has been made glorious has not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasses. 11 For if that which passes away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.
Take a second look at the picture above; aren't they something!!! It took real creativity to produce such items and probably a great deal of heartfelt concern as well!!! For Christians, the work we do is an outcropping of the state of our hearts. No written in stone LAWS can compare to that of the love of God inscribed on the human heart. Think about that the next time you pick up your favorite pen!!!
ps Sometime take a look at the website he made for me (compositebible.com)!!