I'd rather see a sermon than hear one any day.
I'd rather one would walk with me than merely show the way,
The eye is a better pupil and more willing than the ear.
Fine council is confusing but examples always clear.
The best of all the preachers are the ones who live their creeds.
For to see good put into action is what everyone needs.
I soon can learn to do it if you let me see it done.
I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.
The lectures you deliver may be very wise and true.
But I would rather get my lessons by observing what you do.
I may not understand the high advice that you may give.
But there is no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.

I believe I just stop there and the message would be complete, however my publisher asks for at least 500 words or more. I came across this actually as I was researching another quote, "the laborer is worth of their hire".

It was taped inside of my Dake's Bible. Even by the choice of my Bible one can tell I am a maverick for Reverend Dakes was a maverick charismatic minister from I think Georgia or Alabama in the mid 1800's. His bible is annotated with his thoughts and beliefs about almost every verse in the bible. It is literally his life's works and thoughts.

I enjoy it for it gives another's thoughts to compare with my own. He wasn't afraid to put them down on paper for the whole world to see. Upon his transition his family published it for the benefit of the whole world.

As most of you Know I am not a tradition type of minister. I do not hold with most religions. I believe as St. Paul that we should each seek our own salvation. However, unlike Paul who said to do it with fear and trembling, I believe it should be done with joy and happiness.

It thrills me to no end knowing that Spirit trusts me to find my own way that I am not a robot that is put here programmed and then expected to live by the rules of others. What I am expected to do is to figure it out for myself that all I am doing is remembering for I came to this dimension with full knowledge of my history, purpose and mission.

It was only after arriving that I was domesticated much like a dog and trained to believe what I was told and not to question.

As great as the scriptures are and they are great whether they be Christian, Muslim, or what ever they are full of wisdom. What we fail to recognize most of us is the reason they were produced in the first place. One reason and one reason only. They are here to calm and pacify a rising questioning population. Yes, this is the only reason they were placed here. To hide the mysteries in plain view and to give us a guide until we understood that we were to think for ourselves.

Spirit used the Authorities to put these out in such a way that they thought few if any would figure out the true truth buried deep within in them.

To any true student of Scripture they quickly figure out they are like a rose or an onion with many layers to each verse. With each reading we discover something new and exciting.

I believe in living a life with things taken from many different disciplines for none of them have the entire truth. It is only by searching though the haystacks of material that one finds the needles or nuggets of light.

Then as we begin the discover these we realize that somewhere deep within us these truths have lain hidden waiting for us to "remember" and discover them all anew on our trip back home to the top of the mountain.

Yes to have a living sermon preached to us from the lives of our teachers rather than the empty words they speak.

Any one can talk it but only special ones can walk it. Try as I do I fail daily to be the person I choose to be. However as the picture get clearer in my mind so does my walk.

It is amazing how Spirit guides us for my post to day was to be on the Laborer being worthy of their hire and then Spirit allows me to find this old article that I clipped out at least twenty years ago.

A shout out here to one of my teachers from that time twenty years ago. A man in non conventional profession as he is one of the top Texas Holdem players in the world. He won the world championship I believe in 1995 or 96. He taught me a lot about giving and receiving for the first time I met him he gave me a watch and a hundred dollar bill so to D. R. I thank you and
remember you with lots of love and affection.

Know that you made a huge impression on me and taught me that even a deck of cards carries the good new with in it.

For now let me say how much I really love, honor, respect and believe in each one of you.

Blessings,
Rev. W. Isaac Norris 3rd
wisaac3rd@aol.com
wisaac3rd.com
http://wisaac3rdsspirituallife.blogspot.com/