March 8, 2014

Slice of Life | Day 8


The summer before grade 9, my dad was the song evangelist at the Riverside Wesleyan Family Camp in Maine. They ran a youth camp at the same time and I have precious memories of that week. I can still see the rustic dorm rooms and remember all the places the old school bus took us. The counselors from Bethany Bible College were wonderful and God gave me some very special friends that I kept in touch with for years. I even returned to Presque Isle, Maine to be a bridesmaid.

Today I am writing about a line I heard when I was at Riverside Camp. It was spoken in a sermon by the evangelist, Rev. John Gray. I can't remember the Scripture, but I remember writing this line in the margin of my Bible. 

After the "but" comes the truth.

It has stuck with me all these years.

What we really think often comes after the "but".

Think about it when you use the word "but" or hear it used.

It will work, but...

          I like it, but...

Would it be different if it had been said this way?

                    ..., but it will work!

                              ..., but I like it!

After the "but" comes the truth.

This message still makes me think about what I say or write after the "but".




16 comments:

  1. I don't think that I will ever use the word but without thinking of this again. What an important, important, IMPORTANT line. Thank you so much. "After the but comes the truth." I'm going to remember this!!!

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    1. It really makes us think, doesn't it? It's a line that sticks.

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  2. I am thankful you shared this thought provoking truth. It will stay with and influence me.

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  3. Wow! This is powerful. It puts a new perspective on the line "here comes the but." I guess it really means, here comes the truth!

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  4. I use 'but' a lot. Thanks for sharing this memory and the take-away. It's definitely something to think about as I try to improve my writing.

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  5. A great truth to remember. Glad you shared it. I like how you included the other things you remember from that week, too...like which Bible you were reading. Looking at the Bibles I have brings back memories of different times in my life, too.

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    1. Thank you!
      At 14, I had the Living Bible..The Way was the cover!
      Just had a flashback! At camp, friends would sign each other's Bibles!

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  6. This a great way to shift thinking from the deficit to the positive. Isn't it funny how you can't remember anything, yet certain events and experiences just stay with you. Lovely post.

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    1. Thanks, Vanessa!
      I know! It's funny how some things stick and some things don't!

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  7. Love how you shared this memory and important lesson learned. My pastor always points out the 'but' when we are reading the Bible -- as in here it comes, be ready. But ... now I need to think about it in my words!

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    1. Thanks, Michelle!
      I like how your pastor does that!

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  8. Loralee,
    I hadn't thought about this before, but you are right. (I think I put that one it the right place. ha ha) I'm going to remind myself of this the next I get ready to use it, "I understand what you're saying, but…" Yep. Need to work on that.

    Cathy

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    1. I laughed with you! ;0)
      Me too! Something I still work on!

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