A ROCKY FOUNDATION

                                     Many years ago, a promising Greek artist named Timanthes was under the instruction of a well-known tutor. After several years, the young painter created a wonderful portrait. He was so thrilled with what he had painted that he sat day after day gazing at his work. One morning, however, he was horrified to discover that his teacher had deliberately ruined his painting. Angry and in tears, Timanthes ran to him and asked why he had destroyed his cherished possession. The wise man replied, "I did it for your own good. That painting was retarding your progress. It was an excellent piece of art, but it was not perfect. Start again and see if you can do even better." The student took his advice and produced a masterpiece called "Sacrifice of Iphigenia," regarded by some as one of the finest paintings of antiquity. In his letter to the Philippians Paul wrote ...

                                                                               Alexander the Great is one of the greatest men in history. He led one of the largest and most powerful armies in the world. He ascended to the throne at the age of 20. By the time he was 30, Alexander had created one of the largest empires in history. He is known today as one of the greatest military minds ever and is considered to be one of the greatest rulers in all of ancient history. He was never defeated in battle.   Alexander named over 70 cities after himself and one after his horse. Alexander the Great died in the palace of Nebuchadnezzar II in Babylon, the city that he intended to establish as his capital. He was 32 when he died and the cause of his death is still not certain.   After dea...

                             Winston Churchill, the prime minister of United Kingdom, planned his funeral before he died. His wishes called for a bugler, positioned high in the dome of Saint Paul’s to play the taps after the benediction. The taps were meant to represent that his physical life was over. But then came the most dramatic turn: as soon as the taps was finished, another bugler, placed on the other side of the great dome, played the notes of reveille “It’s time to get up! It’s time to get up in the morning”. At the end of history, the last note will not be taps; it will be reveille. In Philippians 3:10-11 Paul wrote “   I want to know Christ, yes, to know the power of his resurrection and   the fellowship of his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,   and so, somehow, I may attain the resurrection from the dead”. Paul had suffered loss; he had experienced bodily harm and death...