Practically everyone has heard about some "civilization" that sacrificed children to their evil deity. The feeling of disgust it creates in us is nearly universal, and rightly so.
Thousands of years ago, the son of the greatest king ever, was destined to die a horrible death. The king's subjects had been told it was coming for quite some time, most of them discounted its importance.
Put this into the proper perspective... is there ANY WAY you'd agree to sacrifice YOUR child? I don't care what the benefit to ANYONE is! Under NO circumstances would I ever let any slimeball hurt my kid, nor any other child I care about, either! I'd proudly die to protect that child!
But, I'm talking here about Jesus, the Son of the living God.
The Father loved the Son much more than we are capable of loving... and yet, He loves each of us so much that he allowed the sacrifice of His Son to pay for all of our sins!
What does the Bible have to say?
"God is to us a God of deliverance. To Yahweh, the Lord, belongs escape from death." (Psalm 68:20) wev
"Death" here means eternal damnation.
"But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life." (Rom 5:8-10) kjv
We do not deserve salvation. Nothing we can do by ourselves will pay for the sin we have committed. Only the death of Jesus can suffice, His sacrifice paid the cost!
"Have no feeling of shame, then, for the witness of our Lord or for me, his prisoner: but undergo all things for the good news in the measure of the power of God; Who gave us salvation, marking us out for his purpose, not on account of our works, but in the measure of his purpose and his grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before times eternal, But has now been made clear by the revelation of our Saviour Christ Jesus, who put an end to death and made life unending come to light through the good news." (2Tim 1:8-10) bev
Eternal life - that is the incredible gift, available to us only because of Christ's sacrifice!
"For Jesus during his earthly life offered up prayers and entreaties, crying aloud and weeping as He pleaded with Him who was able to bring Him in safety out of death, and He was delivered from the terror from which He shrank. Although He was God's Son, yet He learned obedience from the sufferings which He endured; and so, having been made perfect, He became to all who obey Him the source and giver of eternal salvation." (Heb 5:7-9) wnt
Jesus prayed, wept and begged God for safety and deliverance. He knew the terrible fate of those who will not accept salvation. He is God's Son! Yet He accepted the awful death he knew was coming. His obedience to the Father made Him the reason we can look forward to eternal life.
He was Born to Die!
...for us!
...in our place!
If you've never done so before, pray earnestly and accept His sacrifice! "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord, shall be saved." (Rom 10:13) drv
See you soon, in Paradise!
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jesus. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Friday, October 21, 2011
Insights...
A good friend lent me her copy of Todd Burpo's book, "Heaven is for Real." I was initially very reluctant to read it. You see, I'd always thought I'd read in the Bible that there was no return to life for those who've died, except for God's direct intervention. Good examples of this are Mary and Martha's brother, Lazarus, and the restoration of the dead for the final judgment. Speaking of Lazarus, here is the scriptural excerpt I thought I remembered as refuting the return of those who'd passed on...
"And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and seeing Abraham far off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they who would pass from here to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from there. Then he said, I pray you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house: For I have five brothers; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham said unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." (Luke 16:22-31) kjv 2000
Note, please, that it actually only says there can be no travel between heaven and hell. It is interesting to see that this passage merely says that the living will not be persuaded by such a return, it does NOT say that such a return is impossible.
However, the Bible DOES say the following...
"It will happen afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; And your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions. And also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days, I will pour out my Spirit." (Joel 2:28-29) bev
I profoundly believe that the reference to "men" here means "humans," not males per se. Why do I feel this way? The original man (or human) was Adam. Remember that God said, "It is not good for man to be alone: let us make him a help like unto himself."
(Gen 2:18) drv
Next, we read, "And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."
(Gen 2:21-23) kjv
So you see, both Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, were both made from the very first human. It is, therefore, quite logical and entirely probable that God does mean "humans" every time the Bible says "men."
This would likely have no bearing whatsoever on my message, except that Todd Burpo's book mentions a young artist named "Akiane Kramarik." She suffered a near-death experience at a very early age, similar in some ways to Mr. Burpo's son, Colton. It caused her to become profoundly interested in art. Today, she is one of the most exceptional artists on the planet. Her work, entitled "Prince of Peace" represents Jesus, and was recognized by young Colton as looking like the Son of God that he (Colton) saw during his own brush with death.
I will not post an image of her work here, as I'm sure it is copyrighted. I do, however, recommend you look it up on your own. Akiane has published a remarkable book, entitled; "akiane her life, her art, her poetry." And, yes, the title is all lower case.
Both of these books are very moving. I feel they both represent young people with dreams and visions. I also feel that the time remaining prior to the Tribulation is very short, and these two books will help those who are undecided AND will strengthen the faith of those who believe. Please read them both, and use them to help you feel closer to Our Lord. But, whatever you do, do NOT allow the painting of Jesus become an object of your prayer. It is not to be a "graven image." Akiane has created an aid to help us feel closer to Our Lord, to feel we can identify with Him.
These young people have had some wonderful visions.
Thank Him who is responsible.
"And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; And in hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and seeing Abraham far off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. But Abraham said, Son, remember that you in your lifetime received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and you are tormented. And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they who would pass from here to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from there. Then he said, I pray you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house: For I have five brothers; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. Abraham said unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead." (Luke 16:22-31) kjv 2000
Note, please, that it actually only says there can be no travel between heaven and hell. It is interesting to see that this passage merely says that the living will not be persuaded by such a return, it does NOT say that such a return is impossible.
However, the Bible DOES say the following...
"It will happen afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; And your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions. And also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days, I will pour out my Spirit." (Joel 2:28-29) bev
I profoundly believe that the reference to "men" here means "humans," not males per se. Why do I feel this way? The original man (or human) was Adam. Remember that God said, "It is not good for man to be alone: let us make him a help like unto himself."
(Gen 2:18) drv
Next, we read, "And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof; And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man."
(Gen 2:21-23) kjv
So you see, both Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, were both made from the very first human. It is, therefore, quite logical and entirely probable that God does mean "humans" every time the Bible says "men."
This would likely have no bearing whatsoever on my message, except that Todd Burpo's book mentions a young artist named "Akiane Kramarik." She suffered a near-death experience at a very early age, similar in some ways to Mr. Burpo's son, Colton. It caused her to become profoundly interested in art. Today, she is one of the most exceptional artists on the planet. Her work, entitled "Prince of Peace" represents Jesus, and was recognized by young Colton as looking like the Son of God that he (Colton) saw during his own brush with death.
I will not post an image of her work here, as I'm sure it is copyrighted. I do, however, recommend you look it up on your own. Akiane has published a remarkable book, entitled; "akiane her life, her art, her poetry." And, yes, the title is all lower case.
Both of these books are very moving. I feel they both represent young people with dreams and visions. I also feel that the time remaining prior to the Tribulation is very short, and these two books will help those who are undecided AND will strengthen the faith of those who believe. Please read them both, and use them to help you feel closer to Our Lord. But, whatever you do, do NOT allow the painting of Jesus become an object of your prayer. It is not to be a "graven image." Akiane has created an aid to help us feel closer to Our Lord, to feel we can identify with Him.
These young people have had some wonderful visions.
Thank Him who is responsible.
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Our perspectives...
.
It happens all the time...
Your light has just changed to green when somebody going "the other way" runs the red, and narrowly misses turning your vehicle into an accordion...
What is your reaction?
On a busy street, in a school zone, you see an SUV swerving all over the place, and going at least 15mph over the posted speed limit. As it passes, you see the driver is busy texting...
"What a stupid idiot!" you think out loud.
A very young child is playing in a busy street, but, where are the parents?
You read in the paper that some nut set his clothes on fire, and burned his belly, while trying to get his barbecue pit started.
You're shopping at the local Stuff-Mart, and somebody has her purse stolen. As it turns out, she left it in the basket seat while she was trying on clothes...
Every day, we are amazed at the foolish things people regularly do without thinking of the consequences. Quite often, our response is, "What an idiot!"
Jesus did have something to say about our reactions, and it isn't what most people expect, either! "Ye have heard it said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Ra-ca, shall be in danger of the counsel: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother has ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come offer thy gift." (Mat 5:21-24)kjv
You see, the commandment says "Do not kill," but it means more than just that. We must also not belittle others, even in our own minds, by thinking them to be fools or idiots. If we find ourselves reacting in this manner, we are supposed to ask forgiveness of those about whom we find ourselves feeling superior! You should not even give your offering at church until you've made peace with these folks!
"But, why?" you ask. Actually, Jesus has explained this to us, as well...
"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye meet, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam that is in thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." (Mat 7:1-5)kjv
Jesus spelled it out for us. Not one of us is good enough to look with disdain on others! We all have our faults, but He died for each one of us, anyway!
You...
...me...
......everyone, even the worst mass-murderer in history!
So, who are we to judge?
It happens all the time...
Your light has just changed to green when somebody going "the other way" runs the red, and narrowly misses turning your vehicle into an accordion...
What is your reaction?
On a busy street, in a school zone, you see an SUV swerving all over the place, and going at least 15mph over the posted speed limit. As it passes, you see the driver is busy texting...
"What a stupid idiot!" you think out loud.
A very young child is playing in a busy street, but, where are the parents?
You read in the paper that some nut set his clothes on fire, and burned his belly, while trying to get his barbecue pit started.
You're shopping at the local Stuff-Mart, and somebody has her purse stolen. As it turns out, she left it in the basket seat while she was trying on clothes...
Every day, we are amazed at the foolish things people regularly do without thinking of the consequences. Quite often, our response is, "What an idiot!"
Jesus did have something to say about our reactions, and it isn't what most people expect, either! "Ye have heard it said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Ra-ca, shall be in danger of the counsel: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool shall be in danger of hell fire. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother has ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come offer thy gift." (Mat 5:21-24)kjv
You see, the commandment says "Do not kill," but it means more than just that. We must also not belittle others, even in our own minds, by thinking them to be fools or idiots. If we find ourselves reacting in this manner, we are supposed to ask forgiveness of those about whom we find ourselves feeling superior! You should not even give your offering at church until you've made peace with these folks!
"But, why?" you ask. Actually, Jesus has explained this to us, as well...
"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye meet, it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam that is in thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye." (Mat 7:1-5)kjv
Jesus spelled it out for us. Not one of us is good enough to look with disdain on others! We all have our faults, but He died for each one of us, anyway!
You...
...me...
......everyone, even the worst mass-murderer in history!
So, who are we to judge?
Saturday, July 9, 2011
I found this diary...
The other day, while I was walking to town to see what all the commotion was about last weekend, I found a diary beside the road. It doesn't say to whom it belongs, and a bunch of the pages are missing. This is all that's left...
-monday-
Now that my training is complete, I'm taking a few months off to tour the country. I am doing all I can to avoid the attention of the Roman soldiers, the tax collectors and various thieves who seem to have sprung up all over our nation.
Jeruba, my mom's sister, told me I should try to catch one of the lectures by this "Jesus" fellow. Everybody seems amazed at what he can do. They say he can read minds, tell the future and perform miracles! Personally, I think most people are easily fooled by these street magicians. Do you know, I've even heard he fed a huge crowd with just a basket of food he found some kid carrying? I think he must have had a secret stash someplace, just in case. You know what I mean?
-thursday-
I'm not making quite as much progress as I'd expected. Its almost time for the Passover feast. A local farmer has invited me to share his meager meal with his family. I readily agreed, as there is no way I could make it to the next town in time.
-friday-
Well, now it is tomorrow, already, so I'm on my way again. There is some excitement going on over in the next town, something about a criminal being brought to trial. I think I can just make it in time to see the execution, at least.
Whew! I am tired! I almost ran the entire last hour, trying to get here before the trial was over. What a shock! The "criminal" being tried is the same Jesus my aunt told me to find. They say he is impersonating God, and has declared himself the King, and outranks everyone in Rome, including Ceasar!
Well, they already beat him with their leaded whips. Blood is RUNNING down his back. They are saying he is about to be crucified with two other criminals. I am going to see if I can find a good place to watch.
Wow! They didn't just tie him to the cross-piece like they usually do. They NAILED him to it! I can't believe it. What do they think he's going to do, fly away?
You know, with all that blood running down from his wounds, he is not going to last long. Hey, he just spoke with one of the thieves who are crucified next to him. I sure wish I could hear what he said.
You are not going to believe this. He just said, in a VERY loud voice, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." I heard him as clear as a bell. Then the sky got dark, wind blew around madly, and lightning started flashing all over the place. I've never been so scared in all my life.
Near me was a centurian. You know those guys are as hard as nails, right? They are in charge of one hundred soldiers, and are as mean as they come. He started crying! Then I heard him say, "This was surely the Son of God!" I think maybe he was right! I'm getting out of here before God smashes this place to dust.
That's all there was. I don't know what to make of it. What do you think?
-monday-
Now that my training is complete, I'm taking a few months off to tour the country. I am doing all I can to avoid the attention of the Roman soldiers, the tax collectors and various thieves who seem to have sprung up all over our nation.
Jeruba, my mom's sister, told me I should try to catch one of the lectures by this "Jesus" fellow. Everybody seems amazed at what he can do. They say he can read minds, tell the future and perform miracles! Personally, I think most people are easily fooled by these street magicians. Do you know, I've even heard he fed a huge crowd with just a basket of food he found some kid carrying? I think he must have had a secret stash someplace, just in case. You know what I mean?
-thursday-
I'm not making quite as much progress as I'd expected. Its almost time for the Passover feast. A local farmer has invited me to share his meager meal with his family. I readily agreed, as there is no way I could make it to the next town in time.
-friday-
Well, now it is tomorrow, already, so I'm on my way again. There is some excitement going on over in the next town, something about a criminal being brought to trial. I think I can just make it in time to see the execution, at least.
Whew! I am tired! I almost ran the entire last hour, trying to get here before the trial was over. What a shock! The "criminal" being tried is the same Jesus my aunt told me to find. They say he is impersonating God, and has declared himself the King, and outranks everyone in Rome, including Ceasar!
Well, they already beat him with their leaded whips. Blood is RUNNING down his back. They are saying he is about to be crucified with two other criminals. I am going to see if I can find a good place to watch.
Wow! They didn't just tie him to the cross-piece like they usually do. They NAILED him to it! I can't believe it. What do they think he's going to do, fly away?
You know, with all that blood running down from his wounds, he is not going to last long. Hey, he just spoke with one of the thieves who are crucified next to him. I sure wish I could hear what he said.
You are not going to believe this. He just said, in a VERY loud voice, "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." I heard him as clear as a bell. Then the sky got dark, wind blew around madly, and lightning started flashing all over the place. I've never been so scared in all my life.
Near me was a centurian. You know those guys are as hard as nails, right? They are in charge of one hundred soldiers, and are as mean as they come. He started crying! Then I heard him say, "This was surely the Son of God!" I think maybe he was right! I'm getting out of here before God smashes this place to dust.
That's all there was. I don't know what to make of it. What do you think?
Friday, July 8, 2011
Betrayed by a friend...
I grew up in a primarily Hispanic town (San Antonio), so my tastes were greatly influenced by the local culture. A few years back, a young woman rose to great fame as an incredible crossover singer. Her name was Selena. To make a long, sad story short, she was shot and killed by a friend who was embezzling money from the singer and her fan club.
The outrage over the incident still burns strongly in many. Her fans, her friends, her family & neighbors will never forget her.
Note the similarity between this incident and the betrayal of Jesus Christ. He, too, was betrayed unto death by one who was supposedly His friend.
Now I am not trying to imply that there exists any connection between Selena's death, and that of Jesus, I just find it incredible that a friend was guilty in each. In both cases, it seems that the same trusted friend was also misappropriating funds.
Judas hung himself. Selena's killer is still in prison, if I understand correctly.
How many of us recognize that Jesus died for both killers? In fact, for all murderers and every other criminal. And for everyone, since we have all broken commandments.
All of us...
Be sure to thank Him for His sacrifice,
now, and when we meet Him in Paradise!
The outrage over the incident still burns strongly in many. Her fans, her friends, her family & neighbors will never forget her.
Note the similarity between this incident and the betrayal of Jesus Christ. He, too, was betrayed unto death by one who was supposedly His friend.
Now I am not trying to imply that there exists any connection between Selena's death, and that of Jesus, I just find it incredible that a friend was guilty in each. In both cases, it seems that the same trusted friend was also misappropriating funds.
Judas hung himself. Selena's killer is still in prison, if I understand correctly.
How many of us recognize that Jesus died for both killers? In fact, for all murderers and every other criminal. And for everyone, since we have all broken commandments.
All of us...
Be sure to thank Him for His sacrifice,
now, and when we meet Him in Paradise!
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
-an interview with a reporter-
(recording starts - sounds of chairs being pushed closer together)
OK, you're a reporter and you want me to talk with you about my nephew, Johnny? Is this off the record?
(the reporter's questions are much too faint to be heard clearly, and are represented here by the gaps between the responses)
Tell me, is he in trouble again?
Well, OK, I'll tell you about him, but you can't use our family name. We don't want to get arrested. You know those occupying jerks don't even let us complain. If they knew I'd spoken to you, I'd get tortured to death, and probably the whole family with me.
Right... you want to talk about Johnny... what do you want to know?
Well, he's my nephew, my wife's sister's son. He seemed liked a great kid, till he started running around with that group of peace-nicks. Those guys kept getting all the foreigners mad. We were afraid we'd all get killed!
You know, when he was little, he was really impressive. He even had this pet sheep named Dolly, or something like that. Some jerks from their army stole it, though, and roasted it one night. I bet that was when it all started. Some of his buddies and he got together trying to find some way of dealing with the injustice of it all. Maybe they lost valuable stuff to those foreign bullies, too.
Odd thing was we didn't think they were going to cause any real problems till that peculiar guy got to be Johnny's best friend, and then became leader of their club. He was eight or ten year older than Johnny, I think. Johnny really looked up to him, though, kind of like the older brother he never had.
To begin with, we all thought it was beneficial. Johnny needed a best friend. He'd never had one before. We kind of hoped he might pick up some woodworking skills from his buddy. You know, it sure seemed like they all got sort of flaky when even more guys started hanging around with them.
I've got to admit, he's been an adult for a some time, so even though I'll always think of him as a kid, I probably ought to refer to him as "John" instead of Johnny. Always did seem like the innocent one in the family, you know what I mean? But, whenever the subject of God came up, that whole group of his got kind of worked up, and went on and on about how folks should act towards each other, and interact with our Creator.
Right off they started roaming around the country, trying to get folks interested in their cause, doing odd tricks, and performing magic, or something. Everywhere they went, they'd get a crowd up and get them really agitated. Lots of the local church people started complaining to the government, and you know they'll raise our taxes (at least) if they get involved!
Those guys sure had some odd ideas pertaining to the value of people! Seems they felt kids were great to be around, instead of thinking of them as near-parasites like most of us do. They hung out with women with low morals, and even worse, those despicable tax collectors! Who can explain it?
But, I think things will probably start getting back to normal, now that the main instigator (John's buddy) was caught and put to death last Friday afternoon. Hopefully, people will start to realize that he was just another guy, not some sort of messiah, or something.
How did Johnny meet that guy? I think it was when we bought those two chairs from the local craftsman. Hey! Hang on a minute!
(sounds of furniture being moved about)
Yeah, I thought so... underneath this chair is the signature of "Yeheshua bar..." never mind. In your language it says the craftsman was Jesus, son of Joseph the carpenter. He sure did good work.
Yeah... I guess it'll always be Jesus and John... BFFs!
(recording ends)
OK, you're a reporter and you want me to talk with you about my nephew, Johnny? Is this off the record?
(the reporter's questions are much too faint to be heard clearly, and are represented here by the gaps between the responses)
Tell me, is he in trouble again?
Well, OK, I'll tell you about him, but you can't use our family name. We don't want to get arrested. You know those occupying jerks don't even let us complain. If they knew I'd spoken to you, I'd get tortured to death, and probably the whole family with me.
Right... you want to talk about Johnny... what do you want to know?
Well, he's my nephew, my wife's sister's son. He seemed liked a great kid, till he started running around with that group of peace-nicks. Those guys kept getting all the foreigners mad. We were afraid we'd all get killed!
You know, when he was little, he was really impressive. He even had this pet sheep named Dolly, or something like that. Some jerks from their army stole it, though, and roasted it one night. I bet that was when it all started. Some of his buddies and he got together trying to find some way of dealing with the injustice of it all. Maybe they lost valuable stuff to those foreign bullies, too.
Odd thing was we didn't think they were going to cause any real problems till that peculiar guy got to be Johnny's best friend, and then became leader of their club. He was eight or ten year older than Johnny, I think. Johnny really looked up to him, though, kind of like the older brother he never had.
To begin with, we all thought it was beneficial. Johnny needed a best friend. He'd never had one before. We kind of hoped he might pick up some woodworking skills from his buddy. You know, it sure seemed like they all got sort of flaky when even more guys started hanging around with them.
I've got to admit, he's been an adult for a some time, so even though I'll always think of him as a kid, I probably ought to refer to him as "John" instead of Johnny. Always did seem like the innocent one in the family, you know what I mean? But, whenever the subject of God came up, that whole group of his got kind of worked up, and went on and on about how folks should act towards each other, and interact with our Creator.
Right off they started roaming around the country, trying to get folks interested in their cause, doing odd tricks, and performing magic, or something. Everywhere they went, they'd get a crowd up and get them really agitated. Lots of the local church people started complaining to the government, and you know they'll raise our taxes (at least) if they get involved!
Those guys sure had some odd ideas pertaining to the value of people! Seems they felt kids were great to be around, instead of thinking of them as near-parasites like most of us do. They hung out with women with low morals, and even worse, those despicable tax collectors! Who can explain it?
But, I think things will probably start getting back to normal, now that the main instigator (John's buddy) was caught and put to death last Friday afternoon. Hopefully, people will start to realize that he was just another guy, not some sort of messiah, or something.
How did Johnny meet that guy? I think it was when we bought those two chairs from the local craftsman. Hey! Hang on a minute!
(sounds of furniture being moved about)
Yeah, I thought so... underneath this chair is the signature of "Yeheshua bar..." never mind. In your language it says the craftsman was Jesus, son of Joseph the carpenter. He sure did good work.
Yeah... I guess it'll always be Jesus and John... BFFs!
(recording ends)
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
We call her, Mary!
Jesus called her, mom.
Of all the women God could have chosen, why did He pick Mary, and not someone else? There were lineage requirements that the Bible mentions, and they had to be met, but still, God picked Mary.
"In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, 'Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!' But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.' " (Luke 1:26-31)rsv
"And Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I have no husband?' And the angel said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.' "
(Luke 1:34-35)rsv
She was the one with whom God found favor. He was pleased with her. Of all women, she was the only one He found acceptable.
Keep in mind that God gifted women with something fantastic! Inside them, He placed a small part of His creation. They have they ability to house new life, and bring it forth. No man can ever say he was so blessed. It cannot be. Only women can bear children. I'm sure that some would probably rather forego this "honor," but this precious gift only they will ever have.
I ask every woman to think of the incredible honor that Mary received. God's Son was her child! She was NOT a foster mom! He was her son, too!
And I ask every man who ever reads this to consider what God thinks of women... He made them the way they are on purpose. You are the warrior, SHE is the (possibly potential) mother of your kids! And one girl became His Son's mom. Incredible, isn't it!
Love them the way God does!
See you soon, in Paradise.
Of all the women God could have chosen, why did He pick Mary, and not someone else? There were lineage requirements that the Bible mentions, and they had to be met, but still, God picked Mary.
"In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary. And he came to her and said, 'Hail, O favored one, the Lord is with you!' But she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered in her mind what sort of greeting this might be. And the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus.' " (Luke 1:26-31)rsv
"And Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I have no husband?' And the angel said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God.' "
(Luke 1:34-35)rsv
She was the one with whom God found favor. He was pleased with her. Of all women, she was the only one He found acceptable.
Keep in mind that God gifted women with something fantastic! Inside them, He placed a small part of His creation. They have they ability to house new life, and bring it forth. No man can ever say he was so blessed. It cannot be. Only women can bear children. I'm sure that some would probably rather forego this "honor," but this precious gift only they will ever have.
I ask every woman to think of the incredible honor that Mary received. God's Son was her child! She was NOT a foster mom! He was her son, too!
And I ask every man who ever reads this to consider what God thinks of women... He made them the way they are on purpose. You are the warrior, SHE is the (possibly potential) mother of your kids! And one girl became His Son's mom. Incredible, isn't it!
Love them the way God does!
See you soon, in Paradise.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Where is the evidence of your Passover Lamb?
"Then Moses called for all the elders of Israel, and said unto them, 'Draw out and take you a lamb according to your families, and kill the passover. And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, and dip it in the blood that is in the basin, and strike the lintel and two side posts with the blood that is in the basin; and none of you shall go out of the door of his house until the morning. For the LORD will pass through to smite the Egyptians; and when He seeth the blood upon the lintel, and on the two side posts, the LORD will pass over the door and will not suffer the destroyer to come into your house to smite you. And ye shall observe this thing for an accordance to thee and to thy sons forever.' " (Ex 12:21-24)kjv
"Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the passover. And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people." (Luke 22:2)kjv
"Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed." (Luke 22:7)kjv
"Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bead of sincerity and truth." (1Cor 5:7-8)kjv
"Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them." (Heb 11:28)kjv
Christians have been adopted into (or grafted onto, if you prefer) the Jewish faith. We have inherited salvation, not because we deserve it, but because we have accepted Jesus' death for us, confessed our sinful nature, and proclaim our beliefs to others.
Jesus was, and is, our Passover Lamb for eternity! In no way have we ever done anything deserving of His sacrifice! Yet He freely offered Himself up for each of us!
Does the blood of our Passover Lamb show on your lintel and side posts? Do you proclaim Him as your Savior?
Or have you scrubbed all evidence off your doorway, so as not to be different from everyone else? To be "politically correct?" To not "offend?"
Jesus offered Himself up as our Passover Lamb! Wear His sacrifice with pride! He said you were worth it.
Prove Him right, and ask everyone to join us in Paradise!
"Now the feast of unleavened bread drew nigh, which is called the passover. And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people." (Luke 22:2)kjv
"Then came the day of unleavened bread, when the passover must be killed." (Luke 22:7)kjv
"Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us: Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bead of sincerity and truth." (1Cor 5:7-8)kjv
"Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them." (Heb 11:28)kjv
Christians have been adopted into (or grafted onto, if you prefer) the Jewish faith. We have inherited salvation, not because we deserve it, but because we have accepted Jesus' death for us, confessed our sinful nature, and proclaim our beliefs to others.
Jesus was, and is, our Passover Lamb for eternity! In no way have we ever done anything deserving of His sacrifice! Yet He freely offered Himself up for each of us!
Does the blood of our Passover Lamb show on your lintel and side posts? Do you proclaim Him as your Savior?
Or have you scrubbed all evidence off your doorway, so as not to be different from everyone else? To be "politically correct?" To not "offend?"
Jesus offered Himself up as our Passover Lamb! Wear His sacrifice with pride! He said you were worth it.
Prove Him right, and ask everyone to join us in Paradise!
Friday, July 1, 2011
The Commandments - part 3 - Jesus' explanation
"One of the teachers of religion who was standing there listening to the discussion realized that Jesus had answered well. So he asked, 'Of all the commandments, which is the most important?' Jesus replied, 'The one that says 'Hear O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only God. And you must love Him with all your heart and soul and mind and strength.' 'The second is, 'You must love others as much as yourself.' No other commandments are greater than these." (Mark 12:28-30)tlb
Jesus explanation was both profound and simple. If we love the Lord with all we have, and love others as much as we care for ourselves, we will obey the law and break none of His commandments.
"The teacher of religious law replied, 'Well said, teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying there is only one God and no other. And I know it is important to love Him with all my heart, and all my understanding, and all my strength, and to love my neighbors as myself. This is more important than to offer all the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.'
Realizing this man's understanding, Jesus said to him, 'You are not far from the kingdom of God.' " (Mark 12:32-34)nlt
How far are we from God's kingdom?
Jesus explanation was both profound and simple. If we love the Lord with all we have, and love others as much as we care for ourselves, we will obey the law and break none of His commandments.
"The teacher of religious law replied, 'Well said, teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying there is only one God and no other. And I know it is important to love Him with all my heart, and all my understanding, and all my strength, and to love my neighbors as myself. This is more important than to offer all the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law.'
Realizing this man's understanding, Jesus said to him, 'You are not far from the kingdom of God.' " (Mark 12:32-34)nlt
How far are we from God's kingdom?
Friday, July 17, 2009
"And He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s cast, and kneeled down, and prayed. Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done. And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him. And being in agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground." LUKE 22:41-44 kjv
I have been "adopted" by several children. In each case, the kid said something like, "I wish you’d been MY grandpa. Could you, would you, be my grandpa?"
The emotional overload is incredible! My eyes watered up. My heart pounded! A wave of nearly indescribable feeling washed over me! I could not have said "no" to any of them any more than I could have flapped my arms and flown to the moon!
(A by-product of this is that I now understand how important it is to a woman to have someone ask for her hand, in marriage.)
Each of these children occupies a permanent, special place in my heart. Each is the subject of a great deal of prayer-time. I love them all just as if they had actually been my kids or grandkids. In some ways, perhaps a bit more, just because they asked. Because they are neither relatives, nor dependants, I can do nothing for them from a legal standpoint, so I worry about them even more.
When problems arise in their lives, especially because there is absolutely nothing I can do about those problems, it feels as though a tremendous weight has been dropped heavily onto my neck and shoulders. I wish I could take on their burdens. I wish there were some magic button I could push to fix everything instantly, but, of course, there is not. (A good friend once told me that I have the worst case of "White Knight Syndrome" he’s ever seen.)
When all you can do in this world is to hurt for someone you care deeply about, prayer is the first and only answer. Most guys aren’t made this way. We want to grab the problem by the horns, do battle, and emerge victorious!
All of us who are Christians are "adoptees" of Christ. By virtue of our asking Him to be our Saviour, and accepting His sacrifice, we have become His. He loves each and every one of us far more than I ever could any of the children who’ve "adopted" me. I know of no limit as to what I would do to protect any of "my kids," but Jesus did so much more!
What a matchless example of love our God is! Kneeling, praying in the garden, Jesus knew the trouble we would get into. He knew that many would fail and never make it to heaven. He knew the endless pitfalls that Satan has laid out for us, and He knew we would fail Him repeatedly. He still paid the price.
Are we worth it? Any honest person would have to say that not one of us is. Yet, He still paid the price! He carried our load of guilt, took the blame for us, and died in our place!
All you have to do is accept this incredible sacrifice, knowing that sin has made each of us unworthy, but He did it anyway! Then, get out and tell everyone else. God wants us all to be "adopted."
See you soon, in Paradise!
I have been "adopted" by several children. In each case, the kid said something like, "I wish you’d been MY grandpa. Could you, would you, be my grandpa?"
The emotional overload is incredible! My eyes watered up. My heart pounded! A wave of nearly indescribable feeling washed over me! I could not have said "no" to any of them any more than I could have flapped my arms and flown to the moon!
(A by-product of this is that I now understand how important it is to a woman to have someone ask for her hand, in marriage.)
Each of these children occupies a permanent, special place in my heart. Each is the subject of a great deal of prayer-time. I love them all just as if they had actually been my kids or grandkids. In some ways, perhaps a bit more, just because they asked. Because they are neither relatives, nor dependants, I can do nothing for them from a legal standpoint, so I worry about them even more.
When problems arise in their lives, especially because there is absolutely nothing I can do about those problems, it feels as though a tremendous weight has been dropped heavily onto my neck and shoulders. I wish I could take on their burdens. I wish there were some magic button I could push to fix everything instantly, but, of course, there is not. (A good friend once told me that I have the worst case of "White Knight Syndrome" he’s ever seen.)
When all you can do in this world is to hurt for someone you care deeply about, prayer is the first and only answer. Most guys aren’t made this way. We want to grab the problem by the horns, do battle, and emerge victorious!
All of us who are Christians are "adoptees" of Christ. By virtue of our asking Him to be our Saviour, and accepting His sacrifice, we have become His. He loves each and every one of us far more than I ever could any of the children who’ve "adopted" me. I know of no limit as to what I would do to protect any of "my kids," but Jesus did so much more!
What a matchless example of love our God is! Kneeling, praying in the garden, Jesus knew the trouble we would get into. He knew that many would fail and never make it to heaven. He knew the endless pitfalls that Satan has laid out for us, and He knew we would fail Him repeatedly. He still paid the price.
Are we worth it? Any honest person would have to say that not one of us is. Yet, He still paid the price! He carried our load of guilt, took the blame for us, and died in our place!
All you have to do is accept this incredible sacrifice, knowing that sin has made each of us unworthy, but He did it anyway! Then, get out and tell everyone else. God wants us all to be "adopted."
See you soon, in Paradise!
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
All are our children - part 3
- others -
What others? Grandchildren, nieces, nephews, adoptees, foster children, neighbors, students and add-ons can depend upon us to fill in for biological parents. It can occasionally occur with kids we don't even know, for example, a lost child at the supermarket.
These children are usually not related to us, and with the exception of adoptees, any relationship we may have is temporary. A youngster may merely need someone to supply short-term emotional support. Regardless of the circumstances, if you become a kid's "hero," you MUST live up to the image! He (or she) must be more protected with you, than even would be the case with the natural parents. At the same time, you must be a padded cage, invisible to the child, that separates that child from you, as well as from any potential harmful elements. The kid's safety MUST be PARAMOUNT!
Our society does not make this easy. It seems that abusing children has become the accepted norm in this evil world. You cannot stop all of it, but you can help to insulate the ones in your care from such abuse. Keep being the hero! God is counting on you!
Jesus told us, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." (MAT 19:14) KJV
If we do not help protect all children from all harm, then we are no better than those who intend to do them harm!
Remember, they are all our children! Every last one belongs to, and is precious to, our Lord.
With your help, we'll get to see them all again, in Paradise!
Mr Mike
What others? Grandchildren, nieces, nephews, adoptees, foster children, neighbors, students and add-ons can depend upon us to fill in for biological parents. It can occasionally occur with kids we don't even know, for example, a lost child at the supermarket.
These children are usually not related to us, and with the exception of adoptees, any relationship we may have is temporary. A youngster may merely need someone to supply short-term emotional support. Regardless of the circumstances, if you become a kid's "hero," you MUST live up to the image! He (or she) must be more protected with you, than even would be the case with the natural parents. At the same time, you must be a padded cage, invisible to the child, that separates that child from you, as well as from any potential harmful elements. The kid's safety MUST be PARAMOUNT!
Our society does not make this easy. It seems that abusing children has become the accepted norm in this evil world. You cannot stop all of it, but you can help to insulate the ones in your care from such abuse. Keep being the hero! God is counting on you!
Jesus told us, "Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." (MAT 19:14) KJV
If we do not help protect all children from all harm, then we are no better than those who intend to do them harm!
Remember, they are all our children! Every last one belongs to, and is precious to, our Lord.
With your help, we'll get to see them all again, in Paradise!
Mr Mike
Friday, December 5, 2008
Is He only your "SPARE TIRE?"
Every day I see a lot of folks driving who have no concerns about everyone and everything else. They speed, refuse to use signals, tailgate and cut you off with reckless abandon. All too often they are driving an SUV or other large vehicle, so that in the event of an "accident," they will be safe, even if you aren't.
A lot of us treat God with similar contempt. We careen through life, often narrowly avoiding one spiritual disaster after another, confident that He will save us in the nick of time. After all, Jesus is our "spare tire," and we've got Him in the trunk! When the "blowout" occurs, we just pull over, and it is "Jesus to the rescue!"
Is this what God wants from us? We are told, "Cling tightly to your faith in Christ and always keep your conscience clear, doing what you know is right. For some people have disobeyed their consciences and have deliberately done what they knew was wrong. It isn't surprising that soon they lost their faith in Christ after defying God like that." 1TIM 1:19
...and, "You must love the Lord your God and obey every one of His commands. Listen! I am not talking now to your children who have never experienced the Lord's punishments or seen His greatness and His awesome power." DEUT 11:1-2
...also, "Must God tailor His justice to your demands? Must He change the order of the universe to suit your whims? The answer must be obvious even to you!" JOB 34:33
...finally, "For I have told you often before, and I say it again now with tears in my eyes, there are many who walk along the Christian road who are really enemies of the cross of Christ. Their future is eternal loss, for they are proud of what they should be ashamed of; and all they think about is this life here on earth." PHLP 3:18-19 (all quotes TLB)
Get Jesus out of your trunk! He is not the "band-aid" to fix our "ouchies," nor the "spare tire" to fix our "judgment errors!"
Put Him in charge of your life!
Until we meet again, in Paradise!
Mr Mike
A lot of us treat God with similar contempt. We careen through life, often narrowly avoiding one spiritual disaster after another, confident that He will save us in the nick of time. After all, Jesus is our "spare tire," and we've got Him in the trunk! When the "blowout" occurs, we just pull over, and it is "Jesus to the rescue!"
Is this what God wants from us? We are told, "Cling tightly to your faith in Christ and always keep your conscience clear, doing what you know is right. For some people have disobeyed their consciences and have deliberately done what they knew was wrong. It isn't surprising that soon they lost their faith in Christ after defying God like that." 1TIM 1:19
...and, "You must love the Lord your God and obey every one of His commands. Listen! I am not talking now to your children who have never experienced the Lord's punishments or seen His greatness and His awesome power." DEUT 11:1-2
...also, "Must God tailor His justice to your demands? Must He change the order of the universe to suit your whims? The answer must be obvious even to you!" JOB 34:33
...finally, "For I have told you often before, and I say it again now with tears in my eyes, there are many who walk along the Christian road who are really enemies of the cross of Christ. Their future is eternal loss, for they are proud of what they should be ashamed of; and all they think about is this life here on earth." PHLP 3:18-19 (all quotes TLB)
Get Jesus out of your trunk! He is not the "band-aid" to fix our "ouchies," nor the "spare tire" to fix our "judgment errors!"
Put Him in charge of your life!
Until we meet again, in Paradise!
Mr Mike
Friday, November 21, 2008
Turn on Your GPS!
We all know what a GPS is, that small electronic device that tells you exactly where you are and how to get where you want to go. With it, you can never get lost. Isn't technology wonderful?
Do you ever wish you had a GPS that could help you plan and direct your future? Something that could help you arrive at your ultimate destination, while avoiding the worst of today's spiritual pitfalls? Guess what? You do!
Jesus is our GPS!
By listening to, and following Him, we will arrive at His side in heaven, there to stay eternally. By ignoring Him or turning away from Him, we will arrive at some other destination (and there is, after all, only one other destination).
To use your GPS, you must;
1) turn it on
2) pay attention, &
3) follow its directions.
To get to heaven, you must;
1) recognize that you are a sinner, & will NEVER
.....get to heaven on your own (admit)
2) know that God paid this awesome price for
.....you. Incredible? yes! (believe)
3) tell others, they need to know it works, too!
.....(confess)
God wants us in heaven!
Jesus tells us how to get there!
Do you want to go to heaven?
Turn on your GPS!
See you all in Paradise!
Do you ever wish you had a GPS that could help you plan and direct your future? Something that could help you arrive at your ultimate destination, while avoiding the worst of today's spiritual pitfalls? Guess what? You do!
Jesus is our GPS!
By listening to, and following Him, we will arrive at His side in heaven, there to stay eternally. By ignoring Him or turning away from Him, we will arrive at some other destination (and there is, after all, only one other destination).
To use your GPS, you must;
1) turn it on
2) pay attention, &
3) follow its directions.
To get to heaven, you must;
1) recognize that you are a sinner, & will NEVER
.....get to heaven on your own (admit)
2) know that God paid this awesome price for
.....you. Incredible? yes! (believe)
3) tell others, they need to know it works, too!
.....(confess)
God wants us in heaven!
Jesus tells us how to get there!
Do you want to go to heaven?
Turn on your GPS!
See you all in Paradise!
Monday, November 17, 2008
Nobody
Young people today really have it tough. Morals, politics, public policies, family life and social values have all gone downhill drastically in the last hundred years. The prince of lies has had thousands of years to perfect his techniques, and it shows in every aspect of our daily lives.
Satan knows the future of Christ's church depends on our conveying God's message to, and through, our young people.
What does God's word say?
"...and who should be coming down the road but the Treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple, and was now returning in his chariot, reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah. The Holy Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and walk along beside the chariot." Philip ran over and heard what he was reading and asked, "Do you understand it?" "Of course not!" the man replied. "How can I when there is no one to instruct me?"" Acts 8:27-31 (TLB)
Without our aid, care, concern, love and instruction, young people today will hear only Satan's message, and never begin to understand God's.
Who is there to instruct them?
Nobody but us!
Mr Mike
Satan knows the future of Christ's church depends on our conveying God's message to, and through, our young people.
What does God's word say?
"...and who should be coming down the road but the Treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen. He had gone to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple, and was now returning in his chariot, reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah. The Holy Spirit said to Philip, "Go over and walk along beside the chariot." Philip ran over and heard what he was reading and asked, "Do you understand it?" "Of course not!" the man replied. "How can I when there is no one to instruct me?"" Acts 8:27-31 (TLB)
Without our aid, care, concern, love and instruction, young people today will hear only Satan's message, and never begin to understand God's.
Who is there to instruct them?
Nobody but us!
Mr Mike
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