2007 picture of Ray Sparre

Insightful Musings on the Scriptures

by

Raymond P. Sparre
Northwest University class of '67


August 15, 2012

Hey there, dear people.

Overcast is the outlook from this window. Lots to squeeze into this day. Everything from Dr. Dale attempting to hammer my back back in shape (How often can you use double “back” in a sentence?), to checking out a big tree job in Lake Oswego, to hauling a bunch of firewood logs. A reasonably sound back is pretty critical for the lifestyle I’ve chosen. I hope I can cross off a few more entries on my big list before I hit the bed again.

We had a good time yesterday morning at the fair. The little boys did well. In my judgment, probably one of the biggest benefits of such an event is to expose these little guys to the broad spectrum of farm animals on display by the FFA participants. In my biased opinion, it’s a GOD THING at it’s core. Such extravagant variety sure didn’t happen by itself! Amen?

On with the day. Blessings on yours.

Love, Dad/Ray.

15 August
Romans 6:15-7:6
“But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.” Romans 6:22.

We’ll be short and sweet for those who embrace this Gospel ideology that the Apostle Paul is passionately presenting. But the same presentation plays out to be short and bitter for those who reject.

YOU are a slave. You ARE a slave. You are a SLAVE. Do you get the point? This is not just my opinion speaking. If the Bible is TRUE, this is Biblical TRUTH. And the critical determination for all of us to make is this: WHO’S SLAVE DO I CHOOSE TO BE? It appears that there is no lasting neutral zone.

Here is the hallmark of Biblical revelation as it presents the great options before us. Let’s hone in on the last verse of chapter 6—a well-known scripture—and well-known for very good reason. I would recommend that you memorize it and reflect on it often—like ALL THE TIME! Let’s quote it here. I’ll take the liberty to insert some parenthetical comments.

“For the wages of sin (the final outcome of slavery to sin) is death (spiritual, eternal, conscious death), but the gift of God (the final outcome of His Amazing Grace) is eternal life in (through, by means of) Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).


“God has promised forgiveness for your repentance, but he has not promised tomorrow for your procrastination.”