From: richarra@gmail.com   
      
   Folly   
      
   What folly it would be for travellers to think only of acquiring   
   dignities and possessions in the countries through which they had to   
   pass, and then to reduce themselves to the necessity of living   
   miserably in their native lands, where they must remain during their   
   whole lives! And are not they fools who seek after happiness in this   
   world, where they will remain only a few days, and expose themselves   
   to the risk of being unhappy in the next, where they must live for   
   eternity?   
   We do not fix our affections on borrowed goods, because we know that   
   they must soon be returned to the owner. All earthly goods are lent to   
   us: it is folly to set our heart on what we must soon quit. Death   
   shall strip us of all. The acquisitions and fortunes of this world all   
   terminate in a dying grasp, in a funeral, in a descent into the grave.   
   The house which you have built for yourself you must soon give up to   
   others.   
   --from a sermon by Saint Alphonsus Liguori   
      
   <<>><<>><<>>   
   July 26th - St. Erastus of Corinth, Martyr   
      
   Erastus is a little known character within the story of Paul's journeys.   
      
   However, without Erastus, Paul's ministries might not of taken place.   
   What if Paul's missionary journey would not of taken place? That is   
   exactly right, the spread of Christianity would not of been possible.   
   Even though the Bible does not talk extensively on Erastus, his   
   contributions to the spread of Christianity are second to none.   
      
   Erastus in Latin means, "be loved". Properly named, Erastus was loved   
   by the people in Corinth. In Corinth, Erastus served as the director   
   of public works (Romans 16:23). In those days the director of public   
   works was the treasurer of the city. He was in charge of the tax money   
   that was taken in by the city. We know that he had something to do   
   with the money of the city because archeologists have found a brick   
   with the inscription " Erastus commissioner of public works bore the   
   expense of this pavement" (NIV BIBLE). The city of Corinth must have   
   been able to trust him with the money and the power to spend that   
   money on the well-being of the town.   
      
   Erastus was also a faithful believer in the word of God. He was   
   fascinated by what Paul was doing and was interested in spreading the   
   word himself. In Acts 19:22, Paul decides to go back to Jerusalem. It   
   is said that he sent his two helpers, Timothy and Erastus, to   
   Macedonia. Erastus was sent ahead of Paul to minister the word. Paul   
   refers to Erastus as a brother (1Co 16:11).   
      
   Erastus was a minor character in the story of the missionary journeys   
   of Paul. He was responsible for going ahead of Paul and preaches the   
   word of the Lord. He was a brother to Paul, believing and remaining   
   faithful to Paul. He was also the director of public works in the city   
   of Corinth.   
      
   Without the work of Erastus the spread of Christianity might have been   
   greatly slowed.   
      
   More information   
      
   The apostle Paul is known to most Christians for being the man who   
   first brought the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ to the Gentile   
   nations. But Paul also had some help from other lesser known men who   
   traveled alongside himself in spreading the Gospel.   
      
   One such man was Erastus, an early disciple of Jesus Christ.  He is   
   mentioned briefly in THE BIBLE in Romans 16:23 which says:   
      
   "Gaius, my host and the host of the whole church, greets you. Erastus,   
   who is the city's director of public works, and our brother Quartus   
   send you their greetings."   
      
   And again in 2 Timothy 4:20:  "Erastus stayed in Corinth, but   
   Trophimus I have left in Miletus sick."   
      
   Confirmation of his existence and his title was found in the city of   
   Corinth. Archaeologists working on an excavation of a first century   
   road uncovered a stone with the inscription:   
      
   "Erastus, Commissioner of Public Works"   
      
   According to THE BIBLE, Erastus was also one of the earliest   
   Evangelists who spread the gospel to the Gentiles.   
   Acts 19:22 records:  "So he (Paul) sent into Macedonia two of those   
   who ministered to him, Timothy and Erastus...."   
      
   THE GREATEST LESSON TO BE LEARNED FROM ERASTUS WAS THAT HE OBEYED THE   
   FOLLOWING COMMAND SPOKEN BY JESUS CHRIST:   
      
   "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. "He   
   who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not   
   believe will be condemned."   
   Mark 16:15-16   
      
   Saint Quote:   
   When you encounter difficulties and contradictions, do not try to   
   break them, but bend them with gentleness and time.   
   --St Francis de Sales   
      
      
   <><><><>   
   QUESTIONING HEART   
      
   Mary is crying!   
   I care...do you?   
   Jesus is bleeding anew,   
   And I care...do you?   
   Do you ever say "I love You?"   
   He cares for you--   
   Will you love Him till the end time?   
   There's Heaven then for you!   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)