I met a most unusual gentleman tonight. He shared his name as Bro Ted
Eugene Taylor. He is 49 years old. He has been clean for a few
months. Prior to his sobriety, he smoked crack cocaine for 12 years.
If you have limited exposure to crack, it is the most addictive drug
ever invented by mankind. One hit and you will always be addicted.
Over time as you smoke it, it will cripple you and eventually kill
you. It is that bad! But that is not what fascinated me about Bro. Ted. What amazed me is
Ted has a photographic memory. He told me he had written God's Word
on his heart. I asked if he would share it with me. He said sure.
Here is Ps.51, 82,100, 23, 91, Matt. 5, 27, 19 and John 1 - 3. To get
an idea of how much scripture that is, I have posted it at the bottom
of this blog. He recited it non-stop for me, with the exception of a
statement spoken directly to me and pulled out of thin air. Bro. Ted said, "You might be suffering for what you did right, not
what you did wrong." I like to think God spoke through Bro. Ted and
into my life. The experience I had with Bro. Ted makes me wonder, what did God have
in mind for Bro. Ted before he hurt himself with crack? I mean to
say, think of the incredible potential God had placed in this man in
the form of a photographic mind. It is impossible to know what could
have been... Isn't that true for all of us? I wonder if decisions I have made, have impacted God's plan and
purpose for my life. Likely so. The best I can do is ask
forgiveness and be as obedient as I know how, with the time I have
left. How about you? Psalm 51 1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness:
according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my
transgressions. 2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy
sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be
clear when thou judgest. 5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden
part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be
whiter than snow. 8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast
broken may rejoice. 9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be
converted unto thee. 14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation:
and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. 15O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. 16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou
delightest not in burnt offering. 17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite
heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 18Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. 19Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness,
with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer
bullocks upon thine altar. Psalm 82 1God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. 2How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. 3Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. 4Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. 5They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in
darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. 6I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. 7But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. 8Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations. Psalm 100 1Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not
we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with
praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth
endureth to all generations. Psalm 23 1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the
still waters. 3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
for his name's sake. 4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will
fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort
me. 5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Psalm 91 1He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide
under the shadow of the Almighty. 2I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in
him will I trust. 3Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from
the noisome pestilence. 4He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt
thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow
that flieth by day; 6Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the
destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right
hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 9Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most
High, thy habitation; 10There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh
thy dwelling. 11For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot
against a stone. 13Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the
dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 14Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him:
I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in
trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
Matthew 5 1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he
was set, his disciples came unto him: 2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for
they shall be filled. 7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and
shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven:
for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 13Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour,
wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but
to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a
candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am
not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or
one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments,
and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of
heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be
called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter
into the kingdom of heaven. 21Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not
kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother
without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever
shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but
whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there
rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be
reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with
him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the
judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence,
till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. 27Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not
commit adultery: 28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after
her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from
thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should
perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from
thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should
perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 31It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give
her a writing of divorcement: 32But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving
for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and
whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. 33Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time,
Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine
oaths: 34But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is
God's throne: 35Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem;
for it is the city of the great King. 36Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make
one hair white or black. 37But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever
is more than these cometh of evil. 38Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a
tooth for a tooth: 39But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall
smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat,
let him have thy cloak also. 41And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of
thee turn not thou away. 43Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you,
do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully
use you, and persecute you; 45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for
he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth
rain on the just and on the unjust. 46For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not
even the publicans the same? 47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others?
do not even the publicans so? 48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Eugene Taylor. He is 49 years old. He has been clean for a few
months. Prior to his sobriety, he smoked crack cocaine for 12 years.
If you have limited exposure to crack, it is the most addictive drug
ever invented by mankind. One hit and you will always be addicted.
Over time as you smoke it, it will cripple you and eventually kill
you. It is that bad! But that is not what fascinated me about Bro. Ted. What amazed me is
Ted has a photographic memory. He told me he had written God's Word
on his heart. I asked if he would share it with me. He said sure.
Here is Ps.51, 82,100, 23, 91, Matt. 5, 27, 19 and John 1 - 3. To get
an idea of how much scripture that is, I have posted it at the bottom
of this blog. He recited it non-stop for me, with the exception of a
statement spoken directly to me and pulled out of thin air. Bro. Ted said, "You might be suffering for what you did right, not
what you did wrong." I like to think God spoke through Bro. Ted and
into my life. The experience I had with Bro. Ted makes me wonder, what did God have
in mind for Bro. Ted before he hurt himself with crack? I mean to
say, think of the incredible potential God had placed in this man in
the form of a photographic mind. It is impossible to know what could
have been... Isn't that true for all of us? I wonder if decisions I have made, have impacted God's plan and
purpose for my life. Likely so. The best I can do is ask
forgiveness and be as obedient as I know how, with the time I have
left. How about you? Psalm 51 1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness:
according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my
transgressions. 2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. 3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. 4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy
sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be
clear when thou judgest. 5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. 6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden
part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. 7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be
whiter than snow. 8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast
broken may rejoice. 9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. 10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. 11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. 12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. 13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be
converted unto thee. 14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation:
and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness. 15O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. 16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou
delightest not in burnt offering. 17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite
heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. 18Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. 19Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness,
with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer
bullocks upon thine altar. Psalm 82 1God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods. 2How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. 3Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. 4Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. 5They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in
darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course. 6I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High. 7But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes. 8Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations. Psalm 100 1Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. 2Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. 3Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not
we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. 4Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with
praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. 5For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth
endureth to all generations. Psalm 23 1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the
still waters. 3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
for his name's sake. 4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will
fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort
me. 5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
Psalm 91 1He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide
under the shadow of the Almighty. 2I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in
him will I trust. 3Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from
the noisome pestilence. 4He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt
thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow
that flieth by day; 6Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the
destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right
hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 9Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most
High, thy habitation; 10There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh
thy dwelling. 11For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot
against a stone. 13Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the
dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 14Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him:
I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in
trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.
Matthew 5 1And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he
was set, his disciples came unto him: 2And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, 3Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. 5Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. 6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for
they shall be filled. 7Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. 8Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. 9Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. 10Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for
theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and
shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 12Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven:
for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. 13Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour,
wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but
to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. 14Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a
candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good
works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. 17Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am
not come to destroy, but to fulfil. 18For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or
one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. 19Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments,
and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of
heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be
called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the
righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter
into the kingdom of heaven. 21Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not
kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother
without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever
shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but
whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 23Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there
rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be
reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with
him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the
judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence,
till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. 27Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not
commit adultery: 28But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after
her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. 29And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from
thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should
perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 30And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from
thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should
perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. 31It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give
her a writing of divorcement: 32But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving
for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and
whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. 33Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time,
Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine
oaths: 34But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is
God's throne: 35Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem;
for it is the city of the great King. 36Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make
one hair white or black. 37But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever
is more than these cometh of evil. 38Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a
tooth for a tooth: 39But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall
smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat,
let him have thy cloak also. 41And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of
thee turn not thou away. 43Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy
neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you,
do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully
use you, and persecute you; 45That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for
he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth
rain on the just and on the unjust. 46For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not
even the publicans the same? 47And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others?
do not even the publicans so? 48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
No comments:
Post a Comment