| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Little Britain by Washington Irving: neighborhood declared they would have nothing more to say to
the Lambs. It is true that Mrs. Lamb, when she had no
engagements with her quality acquaintance, would give little
humdrum tea-junketings to some of her old cronies, "quite," as
she would say, "in a friendly way;" and it is equally true that
her invitations were always accepted, in spite of all previous
vows to the contrary. Nay, the good ladies would sit and be
delighted with the music of the Miss Lambs, who would
condescend to strum an Irish melody for them on the piano;
and they would listen with wonderful interest to Mrs. Lamb's
anecdotes of Alderman Plunket's family, of Portsokenward,
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The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians by Martin Luther: the other hand, teaches, "We cannot live unto God unless we are dead
unto the Law." If we are dead unto the Law, the Law can have no power
over us.
Paul does not only refer to the Ceremonial Law, but to the whole Law. We
are not to think that the Law is wiped out. It stays. It continues to operate
in the wicked. But a Christian is dead to the Law. For example, Christ by
His resurrection became free from the grave, and yet the grave remains.
Peter was delivered from prison, yet the prison remains. The Law is
abolished as far as I am concerned, when it has driven me into the arms of
Christ. Yet the Law continues to exist and to function. But it no longer
exists for me.
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from Moon-Face and Other Stories by Jack London: say 'Come.' I dare not. I'll show you. I'll tell you."
He sat up beside her, the action stamped with resolve. He took her hand in his
and held it closely. His lips moved to the verge of speech. The mystery
trembled for utterance. The air was palpitant with its presence. As if it were
an irrevocable decree, the girl steeled herself to hear. But the man paused,
gazing straight out before him. She felt his hand relax in hers, and she
pressed it sympathetically, encouragingly. But she felt the rigidity going out
of his tensed body, and she knew that spirit and flesh were relaxing together.
His resolution was ebbing. He would not speak--she knew it; and she knew,
likewise, with the sureness of faith, that it was because he could not.
She gazed despairingly before her, a numb feeling at her heart, as though hope
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