A S P E C T S - a monthly devotional journal For subscription information on receiving Aspects every month via e-mail, or the laser-printed edition by mail, see NOTES, COPYRIGHT & SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION near the end of this file. Aspects is written by David S. Lampel. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Issue #44, July 1994 (Internet Edition) F E E T O F C L A Y ----------------------------------------------------------------- In this issue: Perspective 1 - Authenticity: The True Shepherd Perspective 2 - Identity: The Personal Shepherd Perspective 3 - Intimacy: The Caring Shepherd ----------------------------------------------------------------- In the earthquakes and fires of California and in the floods of the Midwest we've observed people who have been deeply--possibly permanently--devastated because they lost all or most of their earthly possessions.(1) We have seen people throw up their hands and wail and moan because everything they valued had been lost. These are people who, apparently, had placed their faith in the things of this impermanent world. And now we have observed an even more insidious faith played out before our eyes. Now, instead of the crumbling of buildings and highways, it is the crumbling of a reputation; instead of the inundation of homes and businesses, it is the inundation of a hero's life. We have seen tragedy--not just the tragedy of a ruined life, but the tragedy of faith and dependency in an earthenware god. _________________________ O.J. Simpson could do no wrong. And even when he did wrong, his wrong was overlooked. He was the golden boy, a modern Horatio Alger story: through sheer determination he rose out of the poverty of the projects into a public life of accomplishment, fame and stardom. Say "O.J." or "Juice" and everyone would know to whom you refer. Mention, even, "32" and many would recognize the number of his jersey. Gridiron hero, sports commentator, celebrity spokesperson and movie actor--he made quite a name for himself. More than just well known, O.J. Simpson was popular. He had a reputation for being a nice guy, humble and thoughtful of others. But some didn't know that the "nice guy" could also have an explosive temper. Some didn't know that he repeatedly beat his wife. Some could never imagine that there would come a day when their hero would be arrested as the sole suspect in the brutal murder of his wife and her friend. For our purpose here, the outcome of any subsequent trial is beside the point. Whether he is found guilty or innocent of this horrible crime, O.J. Simpson has already been found guilty of being something other than what people believed. And therein lies the tragedy, and the source of personal devastation for so many of his loyal fans and worshipers. _________________________ All men and women will eventually disappoint. All will eventually do something that, at least, shatters their facade, but does no personal harm to those who have placed their faith in them: Jimmy Swaggart, Jim and Tammy Bakker, O.J. Simpson. But a few will carry their hypocrisy to tragic lengths: Jim Jones in Guyana, Adolf Hitler in Nazi Germany, David Koresh in Waco, Texas. But there is one--and only one--in whom we can dependably place our trust and faith. He is the one called Jesus Christ. Jesus will not disappoint, He will not lie, He will not do anything that is against the better interests of His followers. Put plainly, Jesus is who He says He is. Jesus the man is also the Son of God--and as such, the only Savior; He has a personal, compassionate relationship with everyone--by name--who has placed their faith in Him; and He consistently wants only what is best for those who follow Him. "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep." -John 10:11 NASB ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective 1: A U T H E N T I C I T Y ------------- "No one, recognized, religious leader, not Moses, Paul, Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius, etc., has ever claimed to be God; that is, with the exception of Jesus Christ. Christ is the only religious leader who has ever claimed to be deity and the only individual ever who has convinced a great portion of the world that He is God."(2) We live at a time when no one is what they seem. Political figures tickle the ears of the public they have sworn to serve with platitudes and cliches--all the while hiding their true motives and actions. Celebrities live their lives out of two closets: one for public consumption, one for private. And everyday men and women clothe themselves in deception when they step from their front porch. Even good Christian men and women keep shadowy parts of their lives hidden from each other. We drape our prayers in piety and our conversations in gossamer righteousness, while darkness occupies many parts of our lives. Not all privacy is deceit. There is no law that dictates we share every intimacy and failing in our lives with others. But it's easy to expand privacy into misrepresentation, confidence into lies. It's easy to express ourselves as something in public that we are never in private. It is, likewise, easy to follow those who practice such deception. If everything we see is smiling and fresh-scrubbed, it's easy to believe there is no dirt under the fingernails. If all we see are the new clothes, it's easy to miss the rags hanging in the shuttered closet. _________________________ Jesus is not a liar. Jesus clearly stated who He was and from where He came: "Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?" [54] Jesus replied, "If I glorify myself, my glory means nothing. My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. [55] Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and keep his word. [56] Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad." [57] "You are not yet fifty years old," the Jews said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!" [58] "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!"(3) He not only associated Himself with God, He said He was God: "I and the Father are one."(4) Jesus never misrepresented Himself. Every action, every behavior, was faithful to His stated character--twelve men who lived with Him for over three years testified to it. Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. [31] But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.(5) _________________________ There is only one person who has breathed the air of the earth that can be the object of our adoration and worship. There is only one person who can be looked up to as a hero, with absolute dependability and trust. There is only one person who has soiled his feet with the dust of this earth that will never disappoint, who will never lie. It is the person--the God/Man--Jesus Christ. "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last, and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive for evermore . . ." (6) Into the Word ------------- "I tell you the truth, the man who does not enter the sheep pen by the gate, but climbs in by some other way, is a thief and a robber. [2] The man who enters by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. [3] The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out." [7] Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. [8] All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. [9] I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture." -John 10:1-3,7-9. ----------------------------------------------------------------- Digging Deeper--Moving Higher ----------------------------- The Solid Rock My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness; I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus' name. On Christ, the solid Rock I stand: All other ground is sinking sand. When darkness veils His lovely face, I rest on His unchanging grace; In every high and stormy gale, my anchor holds with the veil. On Christ, the solid Rock I stand: All other ground is sinking sand. His oath, His covenant, His blood, support me in the whelming flood; When all around my soul gives way, He then is all my hope and stay. On Christ, the solid Rock I stand: All other ground is sinking sand. When He shall come with trumpet sound, O may I then in Him be found: Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne. On Christ, the solid Rock I stand: All other ground is sinking sand.(7) Making it Personal ------------------ Have you ever looked up to someone as an example to follow, and then had that person somehow let you down? What did the person do, and what happened to your trust in them? What did you learn from the experience? Having leaders, teachers and mentors can be a good thing; we can learn a lot from people who have already learned some of the lessons of life. What is the difference between a healthy mentor/disciple relationship and "hero worship"? How can you guard against "hero worship"? Into the Word ------------- Matthew 23 contains Jesus' teaching against hypocrisy--expressed in colorful, no-holds-barred language. Jesus reserved His fiercest anger for those who claimed to be religious, yet had dark, self-serving hearts. Study this passage (the text is printed in footnote #8) and draw contemporary--and personal--application from Christ's pointed condemnation of the scribes and Pharisees. v13 v15 v16-22 v23-24 v25-26 v27-28 v29-32 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective 2: I D E N T I T Y ------------- "I am the good shepherd; and I know my own, and My own know Me."(9) "'I know my sheep.' That is a knowledge like the knowledge of the shepherd, a bond of close intimacy. But He does not know them by reason of looking at them and thinking about them. It is something far more blessed than that. He knows me because He loves me; He knows me because He has sympathy with me, and I know Him, if I know Him at all, by my love, and I know Him by my sympathy, and I know Him by my communion. A loveless heart does not know the Shepherd, and unless the Shepherd's heart was all love He would not know His sheep. The Shepherd's love is an individualized love. He knows His flock as a flock because He knows the units of it, and we can rest ourselves upon the personal knowledge, which is personal love and sympathy, of Jesus Christ.'And My sheep know Me'--not by force of intellect, not by understanding certain truths, all-important as that may be, but by having our hearts harmonized in Him, and our spirits put into sympathy and communion with Him."(10) _________________________ The ancient shepherd had a singular relationship with his charges. The shepherd would lead his flock, not drive them from behind. He usually named his sheep, and they would respond to the shepherd calling their name. The fold in which the sheep were housed for the night normally held more than one flock, so it was important that each member of the flock recognize the sound of its shepherd's voice, so it could be removed in turn, and the flocks not be mixed. If a stranger would try to coax out the sheep by imitating the real shepherd's tone and call, the sheep would immediately recognize the stranger as an imposter, and scatter.(11) _________________________ We live with four cats. Mamma(12) is our outdoor cat, our mighty hunter, eater of mice and rabbits and birds. Every evening we call for her, to give her the opportunity to sleep in the garage. Generally in the summer months, however, she chooses to remain outside where the air is fresh--and the game plentiful. But sometimes her hunting sprees come up empty, and instead of her throat, it is her stomach that growls around two or three in the morning. Or sometimes it begins to rain, or the temperature drops, and she decides the garage will do nicely, thank you. On these occasions, she will stand outside our second-floor bedroom window and request admittance. Now understand that we are surrounded by beasts of all stripe and configuration--including, but not limited to, the odd procession of male felines paying their respects to our females. These gentlemen callers all have their mews and meows and caterwauls, which we have come to ignore. Indeed, their calls may not even wake us from our slumber. Yet as soon as Mamma makes her request, we are awake and understanding perfectly her petition. Likewise, we are able to identify, by sound, the three individual voices of our indoor family, and understand what it is they are saying. Why? How can we understand these odd sounds and assign them to the appropriate cat, when the ability to do so would not be found in someone else? Because we know them. They belong to us, and we care for them, intimately. We know their moods, their likes and dislikes, the look in their eyes, and the sounds with which they communicate. We understand them and love them. We know them by name; we know their voices, and they know ours. How much more, then, does Jesus, the Good Shepherd, know and care for us. Into the Word ------------- "The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. [4] When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. [5] But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger's voice." -John 10:3-5 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Digging Deeper--Moving Higher ----------------------------- Who Is He in Yonder Stall? Who is He in yonder stall, at whose feet the shepherds fall? Who is He in deep distress, fasting in the wilderness? Who is He the people bless for His words of gentleness? Who is He to whom they bring, all the sick and sorrowing? Who is He that stands and weeps at the grave where Lazarus sleeps? Who is He the gathering throng greet with loud triumphant song? Lo! at midnight, who is He prays in dark Gethsemane? Who is He on yonder tree dies in grief and agony? Who is He who from the grave comes to succour, help, and save? Who is He who from His throne rules through all the worlds alone? Refrain 'Tis the Lord! oh wondrous story! `Tis the Lord! the King of glory! At His feet we humbly fall, crown Him! Crown Him, Lord of all! (13) Making it Personal ------------------ We are all surrounded by many voices. The clamor beats at our ears day and night. Everyone wants our attention, from the radio and TV announcers to magazines, newspapers and the next-door neighbor--not to mention the quiet whisper, the coaxing, for our minds and our souls. Out of all this, are you able to pick out the voice of the Savior? To whom do you listen, and how often? Do you know the sound of His voice? Is it possible for Jesus to forget your name? (Answer from Scripture) Is it possible for you to forget the sound of His voice? _________________________ "We should never think of God as being spatially near or remote, for He is not here or there but carries here and there in His heart. Space is not infinite; only God is infinite and in His infinitude He swallows up all space. Yet when we speak of men being "far" from God we speak truly. The Lord said of Israel, "Their heart is far from me," and there we have the definition of far and near in our relation to God. The words refer not to physical distance, but to likeness. That God is equally near to all parts of His universe is plainly taught in the Scriptures, yet some beings experience His nearness and others do not, depending upon their moral likeness to Him."(14) Into the Word ------------- But Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb [12] and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. [13] They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" "They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." [14] At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. [15] "Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him." [16] Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). -John 20:11-16 How does this scene between Mary Magdalene and the risen Christ compare to the relationship between shepherd and sheep, who recognize each others' voice? ----------------------------------------------------------------- Perspective 3: I N T I M A C Y ------------- It sounds odd, at first, for Jesus to refer to Himself as a "gate." But not really. When evening would approach, the shepherd would lead his sheep back to the fold, where he would stand at the entrance and inspect each sheep as it entered. If any of the sheep had been scratched by thorns or otherwise wounded during the day, the shepherd would anoint the wound with oil for healing; if any of the sheep were thirsty, they would be given water. After all the sheep were tended and safely inside, the shepherd would curl up for the night in the opening of the fold, becoming, as it were, the gate. With the shepherd reclined there, no wolf--whether man or beast--could enter and attack the sheep. Here the shepherd would place his life between his sheep and harm.(15) _________________________ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. [2] He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, [3] he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. [4] Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. [5] You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. [6] Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.(16) To the one who does not accept Jesus as Lord, suggest that he is a sheep and you will be met with ridicule and scorn. "Me, a sheep? I have more dignity than that. I have more self-respect than to consider myself a stupid sheep." But do we not see the personality and behavior of sheep in those who follow after their earthly gods? Observe the pandemonium on the night of the Oscars, the "dignified" struggle for just a glimpse of a star; observe the bedlam of loyalties--often resulting in injuries and death--at a European soccer match, or the outrageous, destructive celebrations following a World Series or Super Bowl; observe the ridiculous lengths to which some will go to catch a glimpse no bigger than a flyspeck, on a distant stage, of their adored music idol. And observe the utter devastation to those who followed too closely behind, and placed too much faith in, O.J. Simpson. Frankly, the stupid sheep comes off looking pretty good in comparison. Lest we stray too far from home, however, do we not see this behavior in those following too closely after a pastor or teacher in the church? Do we not see those who come bleating and traipsing after a man, taking his every word as truth, believing without question every thought and opinion that falls from his lips--only to be left devastated when that man inevitably falls. _________________________ How sublime, in comparison, the picture of the good Shepherd tending His sheep, patiently healing their wounds and nursing us back to health. How comforting to feel His hand upon our head, loving us, and accepting our adoring love for Him. How sweet the communion with our Savior and protector--and how reassuring to know that He remains the gate of our fold. All other objects of our devotion will fall away; every idol will be shattered, every star will fade and be extinguished, every hero will tarnish and be forgotten. Every earthly shepherd that leads us in one direction or another will inevitably let us down because, after all, they are only such as us: flesh and bone, imperfect human beings. There is only one hero that will remain; there is only one star that will never dim; there is only one Shepherd who can be trusted to lead us in only the right direction: Jesus, the Christ. Into the Word ------------- Therefore Jesus said again, "I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. [10] The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. [11] I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." -John 10:7,10-11 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Digging Deeper--Moving Higher ----------------------------- Saviour, Like a Shepherd Lead Us Saviour, like a shepherd lead us, much we need Thy tender care; In Thy pleasant pastures feed us, for our use Thy folds prepare: Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Thou hast bought us, Thine we are; Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Thou hast bought us, Thine we are. We are Thine; do Thou befriend us, be the Guardian of our way; Keep Thy flock, from sin defend us, seek us when we go astray: Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, hear O hear us when we pray; Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, hear O hear us when we pray. Thou hast promised to receive us, poor and sinful though we be; Thou hast mercy to relieve us, grace to cleanse and power to free: Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, early let us turn to Thee; Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, early let us turn to Thee. Early let us seek Thy favor; early let us do Thy will; Blessed Lord and only Saviour, with Thy love our bosoms fill: Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Thou hast loved us, love us still; Blessed Jesus, Blessed Jesus, Thou hast loved us, love us still.(17) Making it Personal ------------------ A truly good shepherd gives--he does not take. He is not only dependable, he is sacrificial--prepared to give his life for his sheep. We can see this character played out in the life and ministry of Jesus, but how does it apply to us? If there are people who look up to you, who consider you a leader or shepherd, what does the example of Jesus--the good Shepherd--say to you? Into the Word ------------- If you are one who leads others--in whatever capacity, in small ways and dramatic--you can gain wisdom for that leadership from the example of Jesus. Using primarily the Gospels, conduct a study of the methods and manners Jesus employed in being a good leader and Shepherd. A Final Thought --------------- "Come down to the river; there is something going forward worth seeing. Yon shepherd is about to lead his flock across; and as our Lord says of the good shepherd--you observe that he goes before, and the sheep follow. Not all in the same manner, however. Some enter boldly, and come straight across. These are the loved ones of the flock, who keep hard by the footsteps of the shepherd, whether sauntering through green meadows by the still waters, feeding upon the mountains, or resting at noon beneath the shadow of great rocks. And now others enter, but in doubt and alarm. Far from their guide, they miss the ford, and are carried down the river, some more, some less; and yet, one by one, they all struggle over and make good their landing. Notice those little lambs. They refuse to enter, and must be driven into the stream by the shepherd's dog. Poor things! how they leap, and plunge, and bleat in terror! That weak one yonder will be swept quite away, and perish in the sea. But no; the shepherd himself leaps into the stream, lifts it into his bosom, and bears it trembling to the shore."(18) ======================================================================== NOTES, COPYRIGHT & SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION Notes ----- 1 See August 1993 Aspects: "Shall We Gather at the River?" and February 1994 Aspects: "Who's in Charge Here?" 2 Thomas Schultz, The Doctrine of the Person of Christ With an Emphasis Upon the Hypostatic Union, p209, as cited in Evidence That Demands a Verdict, by Josh McDowell. 3 John 8:53-58. 4 John 10:30. 5 John 20:30-31. 6 Revelation 1:17b-18a NASB. 7 Edward Mote (1797-1874). 8 Scripture text for Into The Word; from Matthew 23: [13] "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to. [15] "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. [16] "Woe to you, blind guides! You say, `If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by th e gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' [17] You blind fools! Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? [18] You also say, `If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.' [19] You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? [20] Therefore, he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. [21] And he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one wh o dwells in it. [22] And he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on it. [23] "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices_mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law_justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. [24] You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. [25] "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. [26] Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean. [27] "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything unclean. [28] In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness. [29] "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the graves of the righteous. [30] And you say, `If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the blood of the prophets.' [31] So you testify against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. [32] Fill up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers!" 9 John 10:14 NASB. 10 Alexander Maclaren, in his Expositions of Holy Scripture (Baker, 1984), Vol 10. 11 Merrill C. Tenney, The Expositor's Bible Commentary (Zondervan, 1984), Frank E. Gbelein, General Editor, p.107f. 12 For the story on Mamma's adoption of us upon the occasion of the purchase of our home, see the October 1991 Aspects, "Solid Food." 13 Benjamin R. Hanby (1833-1867). 14 A.W. Tozer, Born After Midnight (Christian Publications, 1959), p119f. 15 Tenney, p.108. 16 Psalm 23:1-6. 17 Dorothy A. Thrupp (1779-1847). 18 W.M. Thomson in The Treasury of David. Copyright Information --------------------- All original material in Aspects is Copyright (C) 1995 David S. Lampel. This data file is the sole property of David S. Lampel. It may not be altered or edited in any way. It may be reproduced only in its entirety for circulation as "freeware," without charge. All reproductions of this data file must contain the copyright notice (i.e., "Copyright (C) 1995 David S. Lampel."). This data file may not be used without the permission of David S. Lampel for resale or the enhancement of any other product sold. This includes all of its content. Brief quotations not to exceed more than 500 words may be used, with the appropriate copyright notice, to enhance or supplement personal or church devotions, newsletters, journals, or spoken messages. Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture is from the New International Version. NIV quotations are from the Holy Bible: New International Version, Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society. Used by permission. NASB quotations are from the New American Standard Bible (C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977 by The Lockman Foundation. Subscription Information ------------------------ Aspects is published monthly. There are two preferred methods of receiving it on a regular basis: 1) You may subscribe to the laser-printed (hard copy) edition, which is sent out via regular mail. This edition is different from this file you are reading in the following ways: - a "typeset" look, with italics, larger titles and headings, etc. - Scripture text and quotations are more obviously set apart - lines printed for your notes after each question - arrives pre-punched for a 3-ring binder - generally looks better 2) You may subscribe to the e-mail edition, which will be "mailed" to you directly each month. This edition will be formatted just like this file you are now reading--which still contains all the text of the printed edition. There is no charge for either option. For a free subscription to Aspects, send a note to "dlampel@dlampel.com" Please specify the method by which you wish to receive Aspects. Be sure to include your postal mailing address if you choose the printed edition. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Aspects is distributed free-of-charge, without obligation, in service to our Lord and to His glory. Reader opinions are always welcome, as are insights into the published material. Send all comments to the above address. We always appreciate hearing when someone has been edified by this work. -------------------------------------------------------------------- Notes on the "online" Format ---------------------------- Certain adaptations to the text are necessary for distribution of this ASCII edition of Aspects. Endnote reference numbers are enclosed in parentheses (); quotations are enclosed by quotation marks " ", and are further set apart from original text by indentation and the presence of a following endnote reference; Scripture references are indented and cite the reference in the first line. If you would prefer reading Aspects in its more native, printed form, we would encourage you to subscribe to the edition that is mailed out every month. ---------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/aspects: asp-044.txt