Beech Tree News Network

It’s always good to start with Jesus first — one can’t go wrong that way.

Jesus gives us calm of the soul.  But first to experience this, we must empty our souls of self, (I, me, my). 

When the angel of the Lord helped Lot’s family escape the wicked cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, they were warned “not to look back” upon the wickedness of those cities.

Evidently Lot’s wife was not ready to empty her soul of her experiences when living in Sodom and Gomorrah.  She turned and looked back on the burning pyre.  The Bible says she was “turned to a pillar of salt.”  Perhaps she looked back longingly.  Who knows, but God?  

We get the word, “vicarious” from our English word, vacation...emptying ourselves of cares of the world brings calmness of the soul.

It is said that Jesus died a vicarious death.  He emptied himself for us.  He took our sins to the cross, giving us calm in our souls; we don’t have to fear death… “Oh death where is thy sting; oh grave where is thy victory?” (1 Cor. 3:55)  Jesus conquered death for us by His resurrection from the grave. 

Chum only weighed 18 pounds.  But he would fight a circle saw if need be.  

I’m told he was the first dog allowed to stay inside our house...where at night he always found a bunk at the foot of somebody’s bed, usually mine.   

Chum was a wire-haired fox terrier...smart as a whip.  He quickly picked-up on the fact that my mother was a light sleeper. 

If he needed to go out at night he would go to mother’s side of the bed and grunt for her to let him out.  She would stand by the door to let him back in after he’d finished his business.  

Chum never picked a fight with another dog.  Yet he never walked away if he was picked-on.  

Being the strangest-looking dog in our community, naturally some of the neighbor’s dogs figured they needed to try him on for size.

First, Gabe Vincent’s ole black cur dog, Bigun, came down with the idea he needed to whip Chum.  Chum changed his mind.  Bigun went back up the hill beeding and crying.  So did Shug Vick’s two coonhounds when they came down to show the new dog on the block he wasn’t welcome.  They also went home bleeding and squalling.  

Kindest regards…