Abilene Mast > Recent Status Updates

“Remember always, that He really likes the little vermin, and sets an absurd value on the distinctness of every one of them. When He talks of their losing their selves, He only means abandoning the clamour of self-will; once they have done that, He really gives them back all their personality, and boasts (I am afraid, sincerely) that when they are wholly His they will be more themselves than ever.”

As Ben-Hur surveyed the slender figure, and holy beautiful countenance compassionate to sadness, a new idea broke upon him.
“Balthasar is right—so is Simonides. May not the Redeemer be a king also?” And he asked one at his side, “Who is the man walking yonder?”
The other laughed mockingly, and replied, “He is the son of a carpenter over in Nazareth.”

“To the purely Christian nature the presentation would have brought the weakness of remorse. Not so with Ben-Hur; his spirit had its emotions from the teachings of the first lawgiver, not the last and greatest one.”

“Studying the situation after two thousand years, we can see and say that religiously there was no relief from the universal confusion except some God could prove himself a true God, and a masterful one, and come to the rescue”

“It sometimes helps to remember that pruning isn’t always necessary because of death and disease. Sometimes healthy parts have to get pruned so something bigger and better can have a chance to grow.”