Stuff

    In the fifth century a man named Arsenius determined to live a holy life, so he abandoned the comforts of Egyptian society to follow a simple lifestyle in the desert. However whenever he visited the great city of Alexandria he spent time wandering through its market places When he was asked why he did so, he explained that "his heart rejoiced at the sight of all the things he didn't need.-

    Those of us who live in a world filled with all sorts of gadgets and gimmicks would do w ell to ponder the attitude of the desert dweller. I read recently that in l 916, a typical supermarket in the United States stocked about 9,000 items. Today it carries over 30,000 How many of those items are necessary and how many are superfluous?

    Go to any garage sale and see all of the -'things'- that are laid out for someone to take home to make them a part of their collection of ''stuff." America is deep in debt, not because of their needs. but because of their wants. Some are so addicted to buying that they cannot wait until the weekend arrives. so they can jump into their car with check book in hand to head off tO the first garage sale, or mall

    Sound Like you? Want to be free? Jesus said, "If the Son shall make you free you shall be free indeed "

Norman Russell