This is Holy Week...The Week of Suffering...Gleanings from Hebrews 12;2

During Holy Week we begin to focus on Christ's final days on earth. We do our best at times to comprehend and perhaps "get a picture" in our minds of the meaning of it all...Palm Sunday...denial...trial...the brutal beating...the carrying of His own cross...the nails...the crucifixion...and finally, His very death.
 We know in a week we will be celebrating His Resurrection...but right now...the focal point is His suffering...the suffering He did for each one of us.

 It is agreed in various Biblical circles that suffering in itself is not virtuous. It has no place in reference to something we should seek...like patience, integrity, or honesty.
  Suffering does not have any real truth whether a person is holy. Suffering does not help anyone gain "points with God", in fact suffering by itself does not measure your relationship with the Lord.
 The truth is: suffering is to be avoided...Christ Jesus would avoid suffering unless it would involve an act of disobedience to the Father's Will.

 Yet, with all that, suffering is very real..to very many people, both in the world we live in as well as down through the ages of time. Suffering has come in a variety of ways: emotional suffering, physical suffering, mental suffering, suffering for what someone else had done, suffering because of a particular belief, or sometimes suffering because others get "a rush" being cruel to another.
 Regardless, suffering is a sick and horrible act that leaves nothing but pain and devastation in its path.

 And, usually this is the week we hear the question often asked, one of those "mysteries of the ages": Why does God make people suffer?
 The answers to that question are as numerous as those who have asked the question..and truthfully, haven't we all asked this very question at one time or another in our lives.

 All I do know in my experience in life, and what I have learned from others about life is this: nobody (in their right mind) goes looking for a way to suffer, although I have read and seen some that do seek suffering out because of their belief of a reward if they aggressively pursue a way to suffer. Yet, as a whole, suffering is not something to seek out or even look for. It will come to you. Sometimes suffering comes as a result of a mistake or series of mistakes that sets one up for something bad to happen, while others are of "childlike innocence" and are brutally accosted by this beast we call "Suffering".
 Then, not understanding why certain atrocities happen to people... we wonder why God would either do or even allow such a thing...some even take odds and "vow" never to believe in God or that there even is a God...ever again.
 From there I have heard people take up for God and try to defend Him, while others reach out and do their best to rationalize to everyone what part "suffering" has in all of humanity.

 Do I have an answer about suffering? Not altogether, I get as angry as anyone when I read of some little child being abused in a horrible manner, or an innocent victim who is shot and killed simply because they were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Right now, my very own Uncle who has always been kind to me...is suffering as he nears death.

 This one thing I do know: I refuse to blame God for these things. He is who He says He is: He is a God who loves us. I don't understand everything that happens in life, but I know evil in any form is not from Him.
 What can I do? Fight it...do my part to minimize it...and help where I can to prevent it from happening to someone else.

  Here in Hebrews 12:2...Jesus gave us a supreme example on how He looked at life while He lived among us...and I have made the decision to take this course...the answers concerning all things of life...are there...in Him...

                                                        Gleanings from Hebrews 12:2

 " Looking away from all that would distract us from Jesus, let us instead focus our eyes on Jesus, who is the core of our internal belief, the very center of our faith, and the very incentive that launches our life in Him.
 Along with that He is the completeness of our internal belief, the perfection of our faith in Him, the Life we have whole-heartedly embraced, and the finish of our own lives that have been dedicated to Him.
 For this is the very thing Christ Jesus did, the example He would have us to follow...for you see,  His joy was to see us together with Him, giving Him incentive and power to endure even a Roman cross, disregarding, ignoring, and even despising the shame that accompanies the humiliating death on a cross, which now has been exposed for the horrendous cruelty that it really was....for Christ Jesus now sits in His rightful place of honor...with the Father...and gives to us His power and His love to follow His path...with our joy being one with His...to be together with Him...and the Father."

Gleanings from the 23rd Psalm...

Best guess? This most famous Psalm was probably written somewhere in the latter part of David's life. The reason is: the choice of words he used to write this Psalm. The quality and depth of these words indicates someone who had experienced his share of everyday life. It is entirely possible David wrote this while fleeing from his son Absalom.

 The "Lord is My Shepherd" is a phrase that has been used by others on different occasions. It is normally used to describe a man's relationship to God.
 Jacob, for example, while blessing his sons and grandsons referred to God in this manner. In Genesis 48:15 it reads, "The God who has been My Shepherd". Moses spoke of God as a shepherd in Deuteronomy 32:6-12. Ezekiel, Isaiah, and Micah all looked to God at some point of their lives as a "Shepherd". In fact, other cultures and pagan religions of ancient times would refer to their chief gods as a shepherd. An example of this is with the sun-god Shamash, who was designated the "shepherd of the people of the world".

 Here in this Davidic Psalm, the Living God of Israel is painted in our minds as not only a shepherd in the early part of the chapter, but He is also pictured as our Guide, and further into the chapter a Wonderful Host.
 Some biblical scholars think it was written for Temple observances, particularly during the "Thanksgiving Offerings". One thing to remember is the Temple in Jerusalem had not yet been constructed...during the time of King David....

                                        Gleanings of the 23rd Chapter of Psalms

 "It is You, Lord. You are the Shepherd of my life. Knowing that, what need could I possibly have that You are not aware of?
 You guide me to lush meadows, where I can bed down and get some much needed rest. (Note: here it is not so much the quality of grass that a sheep would need to graze for example, as much as it was the need to find rest and comfort.)
 Even the streams nearby flow ever so gently, and I can drink in the quiet of my own thoughts...my thoughts about You. It is during this time of rest I can also find my strength restored, giving me the time needed to "catch my breath", and then when I have come to a more relaxed state of mind and heart, I can receive and understand the direction You have for me and which path I need to take next along my journey. I put all my trust in You because You are ever true to the words You give to me. (Note: rest is often required to one who is exhausted both mentally and physically).


 Even when I find myself in the darkest of places, valleys that are dark as death itself, I find myself able to not walk in fear...because You are right there too...along side of me. (Note: in Hebrew the "valley of the shadow of death" implies a total and complete darkness...those dark and bitter experiences we face at times in life).
 And even if I cannot see in the dark, You can! (Note: there are no calamities or bad experiences we face in life that leave us alone...for good...God will make Himself known...to us.)
 You take Your trusty shepherd's crook and touch me with it, keeping me from going too far to the left or too far to the right. In fact, just feeling the touch of your crook upon me gives me utmost confidence...and I feel so very safe.

 And, with my enemies around me, perhaps infiltrated in my very midst, You take the time for me to enjoy a home-cooked meal, with all the trimmings included! You allow to me to indulge and enjoy this meal, which was entirely made and provided for by You!
 Then, after the meal has ended, You honor me, anointing me with Your special oil...upon my very head, and my cup is still full, to overflowing, after the meal...overflowing with Your many blessings! ( Note: shepherds would carry oil to sooth the scratched heads of sheep who had got caught in brier bushes trying to reach food.)
 As I arise to continue on the path You have set for me, I look behind me and see that I am not alone. You have sent along 2 friends of Yours, that are committed to my very welfare: one who is named "Goodness", the other calls himself "Unfailing Love".
 With the luxury of having these 2 friends at my side, through the entirety of my journey, I keep in my own heart this promise from You....that I will make it home...Your home, and it is there my dwelling place will be forever...in the Light of Your very Presence! (Note: there was no temple yet built during the time of David. It is thought David was relaying to us all that God's very Presence is there in the midst of difficulties and problems we might face in life.)

"When Others Give You a Hard Time"...Gleanings from 1 John 3:1-3

When the Apostle John was writing this letter, there were some false things being said about Jesus and what it was meaning to even be a Christian.
 There had been teachings from within the Christian church itself that had gotten away from believing in Christ Jesus by faith and were now promoting a whole different way of being a Christian.
 Here were just a couple: 1) one idea was that Christ Jesus really had not been 100% man. Even though he appeared like a man, lived like a man, and even died like a man...He had His special powers that saw Him through all that...He could not have been entirely like us.
 2) Another false teaching was a matter of deduction. It was being taught: our spirit is good, and our body is bad. True Life comes from God through His Spirit into our spirit, our physical body and its desires are not affected by what is going on inside of us, within our very spirit. So, the results are: we can be spiritually close with Christ Jesus regardless of the passions or desires our physical bodies want to act out.

 John was an older man at the time this letter was written, which most likely was 50 to 60 years after the death of our Lord Jesus.
 John had some unique qualities of his own since being called to be a servant of Jesus Christ. First, he was one of the first to be called to discipleship by the Lord Jesus Himself. John was the youngest of all the original apostles (the 12), and he was the last of the original 12 to still be alive.
 John was often the one that shared the love God has for us...a central theme in all of His writings....Gleanings from 1 John 3:1-3

 "Think of being a Christian like this. First, accepting the fact the love our Heavenly Father has for each of us... and He reaches out to extend His very love to us...daily. I mean, think about this... He calls us His children...and why?...because that is what He says we are!
 Now, as far as those who do not refer to themselves as Christian, which is defined as a person who rejects the fact Christ Jesus went to the Cross voluntarily for each of us, because we as mankind had a bounty on us...and that bounty was death. Yet, by Christ going to the Cross, He paid in full the bounty...He paid for all the sin and wrong we had done to God and to others, and now we were made free to live a life created by Christ Jesus Himself.
 But those who reject this Work done by Christ Jesus, will have a hard time taking you seriously in your life as a Christian. In fact, not only will they not take you seriously, but they will have all these preconceived ideas of what they think a Christian ought to be, and when you "fail" one of their so-called "how a Christian should act" lists...they will then "throw it in your face" and point a finger at you labeling you a "failure". Why do they do that?..it's simple...because they do not know Him...in fact they do not have a clue who He really is! And because they have already made the decision that Christ and the work He did for each of us...wasn't what they thought God should have done...they really have no understanding of His Way of Life and the Lifestyle that is given to us through our Lord Jesus. But they will judge you...on their terms and conditions...that is just the way it is.

 But listen, don't let any of that stuff discourage you....for we are totally secure in whom we really are...children of our loving Father! We do recognize the One who has Risen and accept His Work at the Cross as the price He paid for our "Death Bounty"...and now we trust Him in our individual lives as our True Messiah!
 And guess what! This is just the start! We don't even know how great this thing is going to get!...because when we see Him...when He appears...and we see Him for who He truly is...no veil, no shield to protect us from His invincible Glory...we shall see Him as He is!...and we will be transformed...to be like Him!
 This is what we live for...this is what it is all about my friends...this is why we do adhere to the Scriptures...this why we do our best to keep ourselves pure...because He is Pure...and we now are made pure because of Christ's work at the Cross.

How Do You Pay God Back?! Gleanings from Nehemiah 8:10

I really think inside of every person is a desire to find happiness. C.S. Lewis once wrote: " It is a Christian duty for everyone to be happy as he can."
 King David exclaims in Psalm 34:8 " O taste and see (for yourselves) that the Lord is good!" Earlier in Psalm 37:4, David says to "Delight yourselves in the Lord!"
 Saint Paul declares in Philippians 4:4 " Rejoice in the Lord...and do this always...continually...and I will tell you again...establish your joy in this...knowing the Lord!"

 In Nehemiah chapter 8, the construction of the wall surrounding Jerusalem had just been completed, and Jewish exiles from Persia were now returning to their homeland.
 Ezra was requested to read the "Book of the Law of Moses." Ezra did read to the people, from early morning to mid-day. The key to this reading of the Law by Ezra was this: the people were listening!
 Actually, the way it was written from Nehemiah 8:3 " Ezra read from it before the square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning to mid-day, and all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law".
 What was so impressive to me was verse 5 of Nehemiah 8, "When Ezra opened the Book of the Law, all the people stood up."
 The Psalmist in chapter 119:97 writes: "O how I love Your Law! It is my meditation...all day long!"

 In Nehemiah 8:9, the people returning to the homeland had a strong reaction to the reading of the "Law of Moses. It reads " All the people were weeping when they heard the Words of the Law"...then Ezra encouraged them in this manner:"Do not mourn or weep...that is not the purpose of reading this to you this day."
 Instead, Ezra commands them in Nehemiah 8:10 " Go, eat the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to those who do not have fat or drink...because you are beginning to see when your hearts are given to Him...then the Joy of the Lord becomes your very strength!"

 Have you ever wondered: why does a local bar on a Saturday night able to draw more people than a church service on a Sunday morning?
 Often times I have heard friends say to me..."Let's go to " so and so" bar or dance place and "have a good time!"
 It is not too often I have heard "Let's go to church and" have a good time."

 I think part of the that outlook is this: we don't know how to celebrate who is the Giver of Life, and as a result we don't enjoy the gift(s) He may have for us.
 Sometimes I think our mentality is we need to payback the Giver...like being in debt...
God does not expect a payback from us...because we can never payback for the wrong things we have done.
 I think that is the heart of true Christianity...we can never pay God back. If we could in any way, then why did He die on a Cross for us?
 The only way I know to "payback" God is to accept the fact what Christ Jesus did for us at His work at the Cross...to simply acknowledge our need to repent and invite the work and love of Jesus into our very hearts and lives. Then, rejoicing in His Presence becomes a real possibility...and we find our true happiness...in Him!
 Then, we begin to change..and become more and more...like Him!"  

When times get tough...Gleanings from the Psalms

There seems to be those stages in life, sometimes unexpected, that put a burden on our very shoulders and seems it will overtake us..."all hope is gone" like mentality. It can come in a variety of ways: a broken relationship (that one is tough at times simply because you feel someone has just reached in and ripped your very heart out of your chest), finances ( I know money is not the source of happiness...but when you are facing a foreclosure, not enough to pay bills, or worse yet...your very own kids have needs you are not able to supply at the moment you feel like you would rather die), or perhaps the death of someone close to you ( I think what is hard about that, at least for me, is the reality they are just not there anymore...no voice..no comments..no reaction...to daily life. Its just one big void).

 Yet, in all this, the Psalms point to writers who faced similar calamities...and gave instructions on how they got through their difficulties and actually declared God's hand was there for them.
 In the examples I share in this post, it comes down to an attitude I must have, and a determination to trust Him to the point of thanking Him and honoring Him with a "Song of Praise"...that has to be a heartfelt song from within my battered life.
 Is it an easy road? I would have to answer it like this: "Not at first, it feels like all hell is laughing in your mind, and God?.. He is the farthest thing away...like He is visiting a faraway country I never even heard of."

 Yet, somewhere in the depth of the emptiness and bitter loneliness that is sometimes felt....a choice is made inside you.......

                                                   Gleanings from the Psalms

 Here in Psalm 118:24, the writer gives an exuberance over "this very day", perhaps a day he didn't see coming.
 The thing that strikes me about this verse...is the actual changing of events that was to occur in the life of the writer of this verse...had not happened yet. Later in verse 25 he indicates his "troubles in life" had not been resolved....yet!...but was totally convinced they were... through God and His unending Grace.
 In verse 22, the psalmist describe how the "stone that was rejected has now become the chief cornerstone", and from that built up his own faith that God was going to be faithful in his dire needs of the moment.
 Of course, Jesus is declared in the New Testament as the "Chief Cornerstone" of which we build our lives of trust and faith on. He is our Rock..and "we live and die" with Him. That is the way God has designed it...the very Rock of our Salvation:

Psalm 118:24  " The Lord has done it!...this very day...this is our day!...this is our time!...a time of celebration and to discover the gladness He has deposited in my own heart...the knowing from within that it is He...who has made this very day...for me!"

 In Psalm 31:7, further instructions are given us as to how we face very real adversities in our own individual lives: " I will be glad..this is my very choice! I will even celebrate and sing to You the "Songs of Praise"...simply because You are so kind...no matter what my eyes see, no matter what my emotions may be doing to overtake me.
 For You know and have seen my troubles...you have seen and understand my pain...and You have been so good as to disarm all the torment that surrounds me, and not leave me in the "Grips of Darkness".
 In fact, You have replaced all that...and given me some room to breathe...again! And You have whispered to me how much You care and love me!"

 Going back to Psalm 118 once more, verses 17-20 give some idea what faith is all about...because all these things this psalmist was writing about in these 3 verses...he was still waiting to actually happen...at the moment it appears he was settling the matter in his own heart and mind: " I did not die...I lived! I actually made it! I will live to tell what the Lord has done for me!
 I admit, this was tough, the test was hard. It may have even been the toughest thing I ever faced in life...but, I was not simply handed over to Death. In fact, I am happy to report Death was not able to get his hands on me.
 Instead, God opened the "Gates of Justice", and He allowed me to enter...to give me opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude. And that is when it really happened! My eyes...they caught the glimpse of the "Gates of His Very Temple"...this is the place where the "Victorious Ones" are lifting up the "Songs of Praise"...to the One who made my life even possible!"

 At the end of our lives here on earth, may our testimony be: "The Lord has been...so very good to me."

"Seek ye first..." Gleanings from Matthew 6:33

How many times do you hear that quoted in life...I know I have heard this text quoted "zillions" of times, usually just in part, including myself. It seems I can catch myself quoting a part of the a particular verse of the scripture...and not the entire verse itself. I guess that is human nature...hearing the part that sounds "cool"..and then kind of leaving off the rest.
 In Matthew, Jesus is coming to a conclusion on His teaching of the "Sermon on the Mount, and gives clear direction as to what we are to do with all that he has taught us.
 Just a few notes:
1) "Seek" is in the command form of grammar. It suggests the idea of one who needs to concentrate or focus on a particular subject. The word seek is also an ongoing tense, like, "make this kingdom to be the center of your very lives."
2) "First" is a word that indicates a priority. The seeking of His Kingdom has got to be "Priority One" in our lives. Even our own personal needs should not distract us from "Priority One", and that is establishing the His Kingdom in our daily life.
3) "All these thing will be added unto you" This is definitely a reference to our material needs...the things we need in everyday life to sustain us. In the Lord's Prayer, when Jesus was teaching His disciples how to pray, the part "Give us this day our daily bread" has often been interpreted a number of ways. I always liked how St. Augustine defined it: "If God is bringing His Kingdom into our very hearts and lives, don't you think He brought supplies to sustain and advance His Kingdom?" Something I try to keep in mind when trusting Him to take care of personal agenda in my own life.

                                      Gleaning of Matthew 6:33

 "More than anything else in our individual lives, seek out God's place...His Kingdom, and allow His entry and yield everything over to His control. His Kingdom is the right one for you, for His Way of Life...is your way of life as well.
 And when you are able to make this transition, giving up all you may have thought you owned, and surrendering it to the Kingdom of God, then all of your very dreams, your desires, and those heart-felt accomplishments will be made available to you...in fact, they are yours! The fulfillment and completion of these things will only encourage you to seek out His Kingdom...even more!"

 There are times in daily life stuff just seems to overwhelm us, and the "seeking of His Kingdom" seems more like I am in a dense fog, rather than seeing His Kingdom from the "crispness of a dawn", separating darkness from light.
  What I have learned to do is get the encouragement of others who are seeking out the same kingdom I am...here is an example, in poem form of a well-known poet:

                                    This Too Shall Pass

If I can endure for this minute
Whatever is happening to me,
No matter how heavy my heart is
Or how dark the moment may be.

If I can remain calm and quiet
With all the world crashing about me,
Secure in the knowledge God loves me
When everyone seems to doubt me.

If I can but keep on believing
What I know in my heart to be true,
That darkness will fade with morning
And that this will pass away too.

Then nothing in life can defeat me
For as long as this knowledge remains,
I can suffer whatever is happening
For I know God will break all the chains.

That are binding me tight in darkness
And trying to fill me with fear,
For there is no night without dawning
And I know my morning is near.

                                      Helen Steiner Rice {May 19th, 1900 - April 23rd, 1981}
An American writer of Christian and Inspirational poetry, gained national admiration through her writings: some of her admirers included Pope John Paul II and former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalyn. 

"A Song of Ascent"...Gleanings from Psalm 121

Psalm 120 through 134 are referred to as  " A Song of Ascent". As Jews would make their pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the yearly Passover, the Psalms written in this portion of Scripture were songs that were sung while on their travel to Jerusalem.
 This was a way to prepare the heart of a worshipper and have an attitude that reflects a humility and a gratefulness that comes from their very hearts, as they prepared  sacrifices to Him.
 Sometimes our lives are a series of what may seem like "delays"...that are actually designated by Him. These "delays" give us the time needed to bring our hearts, our minds, and our emotions into a kind of ritual cleansing...and offer up the true sacrifice...the Sacrifice of Praise...to Him.
 Psalm 121 is a chapter where words are use to create pictures in the minds of believers...the very reality of the Lord's Presence during this journey we call...life.

 The word "Look" is a keyword to this entire chapter. Corrie Ten Boom, a Christian who survived the holocaust of World War II, wrote:
                                            "Look around and be distressed,
                                              Look inside and be depressed,
                                              Look at Jesus...and be at rest!"

                         Gleanings from Psalm 121

 " I look to the hills! I will look to the hills and to the mountains...even the ones that surround our beloved Jerusalem. I see the sacred Mt. Zion, and the lovely Mt. Moriah, and I ask myself: "Does my strength come from these mountains?"

 My answer...No! That is not the source of my strength. My strength comes from the Lord...for it is He who made the heavens, the earth,...and these very mountains!
 He will not allow your foot to slip...He will not allow your foot to be moved! Why? Because He is your Guardian...and He guards us day and night...He never sleeps...He doesn't even doze off!
Instead, He watches us ever so carefully...He watches each one of us...just as He watches over Israel!
 Make this known...to your own heart and mind: The Lord is your Keeper...He is your Protector, He watches everything concerning you. For the Lord is right at your side, and He is totally committed to protecting you...especially when trouble surrounds you.
 He shields you...He is the shield on your right hand (the side that doesn't carry a shield). Trust Him, for the sun cannot harm you by day, nor the moon and all its night life harm you in the darkness.
 The Lord will keep and protect you from all harm...because He is the One who is watching over your life...carefully!
 And He not only watches you but guards you as well. He guards you when you leave...and He guards you as you return. It is He who guards you...right now!...and He will guard you forever!"

   
                                   ..."Twas Grace that brought us safe thus far
                                                                         And Grace will lead us home."
                                                                                                      His Amazing Grace    

Palm Sunday is Approaching...Jesus had a busy week!...Gleanings from Mark 11:18-33

Jesus 3 1/2 years of public ministry was an extremely busy time. I have had this "picture in my mind" of Christ always seeking to get by Himself to pray, and then coming into daily situations that He simply responded to...people getting healed, questions about Eternal Life, and the challenges of the Jewish religious hierarchy.
 Yet, as I read and study more on Christ Jesus...I think He was much more aggressive in the daily affairs He addressed in His life on earth...like He almost "looked for trouble", or at the least never shied away from it. Evil had its "hands full" everyday Jesus lived His life here...and it must have been "one wild ride" to have been called by Christ Jesus Himself to be a disciple.
 I can only imagine waking up each morning being a disciple with Jesus. The first thing the disciples probably did was to see if He was there with Him...I could just hear them "Ok..where is He at now?"or..."O man, what is He up to today?"
 It had to be one day after another of unexpected surprises! I was just pondering  the other day about the Sermon on the Mount,  when Jesus and the disciples fed the 5000. The disciples had run up to Jesus and said, "Jesus, all we have are a few fish(sardines) and a little bread that some kid has brought...and there are 5000 people here.. and they are all hungry." In fact, in John 6 Jesus asks Phillip; "Where are we going to get enough bread to feed all these people?" Now I know Jesus knew exactly what to do, He was just seeing how the disciples would react to His question. Now I am thinking the disciples have the thought in the "back of their minds" of what He had done at Cana...turning the water into wine. Maybe He would do a similar act here with the 5000.
 Then, only a few months later..."deja vu."It happened again. This time it was 4000 people. And what did Jesus say to the disciples?...."You feed them."
 My first response if I had been one of the disciples?..."Great...just great (sarcastically), not again...and how in the world are we to do that?"

Yea...following Jesus...not exactly a life where everyone sits cross-legged and chant "words of wisdom." In fact, any dictionary found in heaven probably does not even have the word "boring"...I am convinced of one thing..Jesus was full of surprises...daily!


                                           Gleanings from Mark 11:18-33

 " In the meantime, the scribes, teachers of the Jewish Law, and the high priests themselves were getting "wind" on all the things Christ had been doing in the last couple of days. Christ had drawn attention with His entry into Jerusalem, the spreading of palm leaves by the crowds in respect and honor to who they believed He was....the new King of Israel. Along with that, the fig tree was "incoming news", and of course the disruption in the Temple.
 So, a decision was made. They had to find a way to get rid of Him. These leaders of the Jewish Law made plans and actually design a plot to destroy Him...for good.

 Here was the problem in all this: the people of Israel. The Leaders of the Jewish sect were afraid of Christ and particularly His influence on the people...especially if they found out they had designed a plot to get rid of Him. The people of Israel had fallen in love with Jesus and were amazed at all He had done, and were drawn to His way of teaching...defining the true meaning of living out their lives by having faith in the Lord God.
 So, once again, when the evening had come, Jesus and His disciples went out of the city of Jerusalem, to get away from the crowds that had come for the yearly Passover.

 The next morning as they were returning to Jerusalem, the disciples and Jesus passed by the fig tree that Christ had addressed the day before and had said: "Because this tree has no fruit, it will never bear fruit again." The disciples now noticed this very fig tree had withered...and it had withered from its very roots.
 Peter remembered what Christ had spoke and said aloud;" Look Master, the fig tree...it is totally withered...it has shriveled from the roots up and is dead!"
 Jesus replied to Peter's comment, addressing all the disciples and said:" Learn to put your faith and trust in the Lord God, and His Way of Life...the True Life He has for each one of you. When you see daily practices that do not honor God, when you see the poor being taken advantage of, and when you see leaders that have no concern for their people...don't think for even a moment these things will hinder the Way of True Life God has for His people.
 Even when it appears these wrongful ways of life are hurting others...and it would seem it is just too much to come against...looking like a large mountain to your very eyes...put your trust in God. Trust Him, for I tell you right now you can speak to this "large" mountain, these selfish abusive ways of life that is against the God-embraced Life and say: " You mountain that comes against the Lord God and His Ways....be pulled out...from the very roots of your foundation...and find your new home...in the depths of the Sea! Your evil control of God's people has been exposed...and now you will find your perverse ways...gone!....into the depths of the Abyss."

 When you stand firm and believe this is entirely possible, then you will see things happen....captives set free and they will see clearly for themselves..the True Way of Life God has for them. Trust Me, God will stop at nothing...to free His people!

 That is really what prayer is all about...when you have others as your primary concern...for it is in that frame of mind you are able to pray about anything...believe what you ask for...and it will really happen!
 Just remember, when you are praying, and your focus is on others, do not hold grudges against anyone...failing to forgive one another.
 If you find yourself in that state, here is the first thing you must do: forgive others, and let go of any grudges you hold against others...instead giving all this to God. That way, God, who is now your very Father in heaven, can forgive you.
 If your decision is not to forgive what others might have done to you...then how can you ask the Father to forgive you?...for He is quite aware of the things you have done to offend Him.

 Now Jesus was in Jerusalem, and He had entered the Temple, and was walking through the Temple. It was there the High Priests, the religious scholars, and leaders of the Jewish law confronted Him. They walked up to Jesus and demanded: "By whose authority are You doing all these things? What credentials do You have that gives You the right to exercise these things like turning over the money changers tables...right here...in front of everyone...during the Passover?!"
 Jesus, upon hearing the questions they had addressed Him, responded in this manner: " I'll tell you what, I will answer your questions you have about Me...if you will simply answer one question I have of you?"
 So, these Jewish leaders agreed and Jesus asks them this question: " In regards to John the Baptist..and his credentials: Was John authorized to baptize from Heaven's Command, or did he seek you "guys" out to get permission to baptize people?"

 Then, the leaders of the Jewish Law, including the High Priests, backed off from Jesus for a moment, and spoke among themselves...quietly...they did not want anyone to hear their discussion. They whispered: " If we answer John's authority came from Heaven itself...He will "nail us" with this comeback answer "Why do we not believe then what John had preached to everyone? And, if we say John's preaching had been approved by us...then all these people gathered here for Passover will get upset because they all believe John was a prophet..sent straight from God Himself, not needing any approval from us or anyone."
 So, the leaders thought and finally agreed, the best answer to give Jesus was: "We really don't know...we don't have an answer for You."
 Jesus, then replied to them: "Then, if you don't know the answer to my question...how could you even begin to understand My answer to your questions...so, I will not reveal to You the Authority that has been given Me."












                                       

On Behalf of Others...Gleanings from 1 Corinthians 12: 4-11

 The needs of the many are seemingly more and more apparent each day. Many are hurting, sick, depressed, and injured (whether physically or emotionally).
 The Holy Spirit provides us as believers in Him ways to help assist those that have real needs...each one of us bearing gifts within that reach out to others.....
                                  Gleanings from 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

 "There are various and creative gifts that are distributed to all believers. These gifts are quite capable of extraordinary powers and distinguish the very fact the Holy Spirit is alive and working within the hearts of every believer... to  those who bear the name: Christian.
 This power within a believer in Christ Jesus is due to the Grace that operates within their very souls, that is, in the hearts, the minds, and the wills of those who have given themselves to the One who bore all our sins...by the Way of the Cross.
 Along with this, there are also distinctive varieties of service and ministries within the church (the body of believers) that are of help and strength to anyone in need of God's power and touch in their lives. Yet, with all the various gifts and operations of the general church ministry, the source originates from only One...the Gracious and yet Powerful Holy Spirit!

 The reason these spiritual gifts are given to us by the Holy Spirit is simple enough...for the need and benefit of others. Gifts we receive enable us to serve one another in many unique ways, and the accomplishments provided through the distribution of these gifts not only sustains lives  around us,
but it can inspire and energize lives as well.
 Every believer is given a gift(s) and with the use of the gift bestowed, produces a living evidence the Holy Spirit is at work within each individual heart.
 Examples of the gifts coming from the Holy Spirit into our very lives include: the ability to give wise advice to others (the gift of Wisdom), while another may have received the gift of knowledge...a special knowledge that gives keen insight and specific direction on a given situation.
 Another believer may be given a special gift of faith, the kind of faith that overcomes adversities and demonstrates a wonder-working type of power. And yet others may have a gift that offers healing...to the sick, perhaps performing miracles that reach beyond our own normal human limitations.
 There are other gifts of the Holy Spirit that is endowed upon a believer that has prophetic insight, that is to interpret the Divine Will and purpose of God...in the lives of others. And the gifts don't stop there...there are more...like the gift to discern between what the Holy Spirit may be instructing one to do or if it is false leadings...originating from the Works of Darkness.
 There simply are many gifts the Holy Spirit has for each one of us, including speaking in tongues. Speaking in an unknown language usually falls into 2 categories: 1) a prayer language that gives a believer the ability to "pray through" a particular situation for an individual(s) that come from deep within with words that our native language is not adequate enough to express, and 2) a public speaking of an unknown tongue or language that is followed by the interpretation of what was said into the known tongue, the vernacular...bringing vital strength into the lives of believers (the church).

 Regardless of which gifts are exercised and used, the origin of all these gifts is from only one source...the Precious Holy Spirit!
 And it is this Spirit who decides which gift a believer receives, what purpose these gifts might be, and the timing as to when these marvelous gifts are to be utilized.
 These are all made available to us...because of....Him!

Jesus enters Jerusalem...Gleanings rom Mark 11:1-17

I amaze myself how ignorant I can be in relation to the Scriptures at times. I do not say this because I am trying to "put myself down", rather it is because of my preconceived ideas I have on certain things in reference to the Scripture.
 Here is a perfect example in Mark 11. I have always had this "picture" in my mind Jesus comes into Jerusalem riding a colt (donkey), is swarmed by the crowds, carried off by the sheer numbers surrounding Him, and taken for questioning followed by the beginning of His " so-called trial". I thought Gethsemane had already taken place and the final phase was about to begin.
 Well, that is not what happened...I wasn't even close. Thank God the Scriptures are readily available and keeps people like myself from getting the whole story all messed up. Here are my Gleanings from Mark 11:1-17...

 " As they neared Jerusalem, Jesus and the disciples were at Bethpage and Bethany, on the Mount of Olives. (Note: numerous biblical scholars indicate the place Jesus and the disciples were at has symbolic meaning: 1) Zechariah 14:4 "He will make His stand on Mt. Olives, and this mountain will split in half, forming a wide valley that runs from east to west" and 2) Isaiah 64:1-2 "Rip the heavens open, the Lord is coming down, making even the mountains to tremble. The spark has been struck...the fire has started! It will cause the water to boil...and Your enemies will be shocked...and forced to face you. These enemies will tremble...because You are nearby...and they sense Your Presence.")
 When they were getting close to Jerusalem, Jesus sent two of the disciples on ahead. He tells them: "Go into the next village, and as you arrive there, you will find a colt tied that has never been ridden by anyone. Untie it, and bring the colt along with you. If anyone asks, "What are you doing untieing the colt?", tell them "the Master needs him, and it will be returned right away."
 So, the two went ahead and found the colt just as Jesus has said. Some folks standing nearby did inquire, "What are you doing untieing that colt?" The 2 disciples replied exactly as Jesus had instructed, and they were permitted to go...no one questioned them.
 Then they brought the colt to Jesus, spread some of their own garments on the colt, and Jesus then mounted him.
  There was a crowd already gathered around Jesus and the disciples, and they began to spread cloths on the road, while others cut branches from a field and laid them on the road as Jesus rode into Jerusalem. This was a customary way to honor well-known people as they came into the city of Jerusalem.
 The crowd was in front of Jesus and behind Jesus, running up and down the road to Jerusalem, while others were following Jesus as He rode the colt. They were calling out in a joyous manner, shouting: "Hosanna (Save us...now!)! Blessed is He who comes to us in the Name of the Lord!"
 Jesus entered Jerusalem, then He entered the Temple, carefully looking it all around, taking it all in. (There is no mention of the crowd at this point). Then, He left because it was late in the afternoon, and returned to Bethany that evening with the 12 disciples.

 The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. He happen to notice a fig tree in full leaf off in the distance, and when He arrived at the tree, He saw there were only leaves on the tree and no fruit, mainly because it was too early in the season to have fruit.
 Jesus then spoke to the tree:" May no one ever eat fruit from this tree again...ever!"... and His disciples heard what He had said.
 (Note: Ok, much has been written on the story of the fig tree. Most scholars agree this was a symbolic gesture Jesus was doing...He really wasn't upset with the fig tree. In fact, it is apparent He would have known there would be no fruit on the tree at that time of year. Instead, the Fig Tree was in reference to Israel and the fact there was no fruit coming out of Israel. Israel was in poor condition regarding their relationship with the Lord, and Christ was pointing this out to the disciples when it was written earlier "the disciples heard what He had said." Also noteworthy is Jesus was pointing to the fruit of Israel and not necessarily its works. Fruit is written about in Galatians 5:22-23, and this is probably what Jesus was referring to in reference to the fig tree bearing no fruit, particularly having no compassion for the poor. One other thought is the fig tree was a possible sign of Jerusalem's destruction that was to come in 70 A.D. through  Roman conquest.
 One more thing: In the Greco-Roman culture of the period, they had many gods that related to nature, particularly Dionysus, the tree god. Anytime a tree would die suddenly, it was taken as a sign that destruction was eminent. By cursing the fig tree, Christ Jesus was also showing He was the True Authority...over everything...including any other gods, as well as a warning of what was to come.)

 When the disciples and Jesus came into Jerusalem, Jesus went to the Temple. He went directly to the courts within and began to drive out those who were merchants selling in the Temple. He overturned the 4 foot tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. Jesus would not let people carry their things through the Temple (like a shortcut to where they might be going), making them go outside instead.
 Then, He taught them. He said to them:" Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer...to all the nations? But in here, you have made it a safe haven for robbers to operate and hide."
(Note: Here is another episode in the life of Jesus that has been discussed by many. First, I don't think Jesus was upset with the selling of the animals for sacrifice, rather, He was upset they had moved the "whole operation" inside...in the Temple! In fact, this was the area the Gentiles who gave their respect to God were suppose to be at...thus "My House of Prayer...to ALL nations!"
It is also interesting that after He had driven the merchants out etc., He then "taught them"...in other words, He was very much in control of what He was doing.
 Of course, the Scriptures indicated they sold the animals for sacrifice at ridiculously high prices...which basically means they were ripping people off...especially those who were poor.)
 (One other thought: Israel had been referred to as figs before...in Jeremiah 24; the good figs and the bad figs...and the bad figs had a similar future to that of the fig tree Jesus had declared no one will eat from that tree again..ever!)

 So, Jesus was pretty busy up to the time He would face His ultimate conflict...the Cross! As one writer put it; "With all this going on in the final week of His Life here in earth...He had each one of us...on His heart and mind."
 I have so much to learn...

Paul addresses about Angels...Gleanings from Hebrews 1: 1-9

 The first century Jewish community was fascinated by...angels. They even had ranks and status for selected ones, their "personal favorite" angels.
 Actually, Jewish books had been writing about angels for quite some time. There was a "Book of Tobit" that identified Raphael as a major angel who assisted in healings. "1 and 2nd Enoch" was another book (scrolls) that were widely read and in these books angels had ranks and an order of hierarchy.
 Actually, recorded history shows that in the 2nd century A.D., Jewish people began the "worship of angels", recorded in a rabbinical commentary called "The Talmud."
 Here, in Paul's writings to the Hebrews in the 1st century A.D. most Jewish people of the time believed each person had their own guardian angel that would protect them if called upon...well, everyone but the Saducees. This prominent group did not believe anything existed after our lives lived here on earth were completed...no angels...no resurrection...no ghosts...there is absolutely nothing. As many have commented, that is why they were called: "Sad-you-see".
 In Hebrews, Paul opens with "both guns blarin'"...he wants it to be clearly understood...we are to worship...to call upon...to look to at all times....Jesus, the Name above every Name....

                                       Gleanings from Hebrews 1:1-9

 " In times past there is one truth that has passed through the oracles of time and remains with us today: God really has spoken...through His prophets...many times...in various ways.
 And now, God speaks to each one of us who are alive today. This time He has chosen to speak to us directly, to each of our individual hearts, and that being made possible through the power and the love of His Dear Son, Jesus, our Messiah!
 In fact, through His Only Son, whom God has appointed as the Only rightful and true Heir, that is to say the lawful owner of all things, and through God the Father has been given...everything, we now have direct contact with God Himself. In fact, all of creation is subjected to this reality: Everything comes by way of God's Only Son...Jesus, our Messiah!

 Christ Jesus Himself radiates...He alone is the sole expression of God's Glory! Jesus is the perfect imprint, the very image of God's nature, and He upholds, maintains, and guides...in fact He propels the universe...that is to say everything that has ever been created is held together...to this very day..by His Eternal Power!

 When Christ Jesus offered Himself...and accomplished EVERYTHING He had set out to do...and that is cleansing each one of us of ALL sin and erasing the guilt that had burdened us so long through the ages, He...that is Christ Jesus now has been given the "Seat of Honor", and this place of honor is far greater than any angel could even dare imagine!....just as His Name is far greater than any one of us could ever dare imagine!
 Think about this for a moment: "Has God ever said to any angel..anywhere...anytime..." You are My Son, and Today I AM revealing to all...I AM your Father!"
 Or, have you ever heard or read anywhere...anytime...God saying this to any angel: " I will be His Father, and all creation will know...He...is My Son!"
 And, as God the Father formally presents His Son to all...including us living today, He announces: "Let all angels of God bow down and worship Him!"

 So, what does God say about angels then? He says this" "He sends His angels...like the wind, His ministering servants are like...flames of fire"...but to His Only Son, God the Father addresses Christ Jesus in a whole different manner, saying these words: "Your throne O God, is forever!...from the ages past...to this present age...to the future age...Your throne is established...forever! Your rule over all makes everything right...and complete! You delight in true justice...that is showing to everyone Your true integrity, Your virtues, Your thoughts and purposes that come from Your pure heart, and You abhor anyone or anything that chooses to side with the ways of evil. And because of this total purity that the Father and the Son have...as One, I pour upon Him the "Oil of My Joy"...an oil prepared for Him...my beloved Son!"


  Note: The word "angel" in Greek means messenger; in Hebrew it is the word "malak" which means the "shadow side of God"; in Persian the word angel is "angaros" which means courier; and in the ancient Sunskrit, angel is defined as "divine spirit".

Hebrews...a tough time to be a Christian...

 Hebrews was most likely written in an era of much mayhem in regards to the general concept of Christianity.
 The letter to the Christian believers in Rome, which most likely were of Jewish origin, was written to reinforce and restore others in their commitment to Christ Jesus.
 In fact, history reveals it was a time in Rome where a number of Jewish believers in Christ were considering returning to their former faith of Judaism, because of the "cost" it involved to give your life to Jesus Christ.
 Many residents living in Rome followed after Roman and/or the Greek mythological gods, and Christians were looked upon more like atheists, because of their refusal to recognize any other god but God the Father and Lord Jesus Christ.

 The price for making a decision to give your life to Jesus Christ during this era in the city of Rome could be quite high. A person was put at risk of having job loss, daily friendships come to an end, their general social status and associations deeply affected, and even their own family relations could have been in dire jeopardy. Physical persecution was not out of the realm of a real possibility as well.
 The Christian church in Rome was most likely a group of "house churches"(early 60's A.D.). The church is thought to have its origin in the 30's A.D., from new believers in Christ Jesus returning home after witnessing for themselves and participating in the Day of Pentecost.
 The city of Rome had over 1 million inhabitants with a fairly large Jewish population estimated between 40 to 60 thousand Jews...or Hebrews as they were identified in Roman culture.

 (a portrayal of Paul)

 Initially, the Christian believers in Rome demonstrated tremendous courage and endurance in following after Christ Jesus, but now at the time of Paul's writing to the Hebrews, the "honeymoon was over" sort of speak, and the general adherence to Christ Jesus had weakened, perhaps even become quite "cold".

 Numerous biblical scholars think the letter to the church in Rome was actually a sermon of Paul's, simply because he does not do his normal identifying of himself or to whom the letter is intended for at the beginning of the letter, as was his custom in all the other letters to Christian churches written by Paul.
 Whether it be a letter or sermon, the contents of the letter are a "masterpiece of literary writing" as some have called. Here Paul writes with a depth of heart concerning what all the believers in Rome were facing: tragedies, losses, and general pains inflicted upon them because of their personal belief on Christ Jesus.
 There is a strong consensus among biblical scholars that along with the letter to the Romans in the New Testament, the letter to the Hebrews were perhaps the 2 greatest writings of Paul the Apostle and to the spreading of the Christian message.
 Paul writes to Rome with deep conviction, establishing deep roots and solid guidance on following after Christ.
 The book of Hebrews is a thought-provoking letter that demands a reader's attention coupled with contemplation, a "pondering" if you will, digesting the words Paul was conveying during this time frame.
 As William L. Lane once wrote: " Hebrews is a delight...for the person who enjoys puzzles."

 The final main section in Hebrews, starting in chapter 10:19, and to the very conclusion of the letter itself, offers this challenge, this allegiance we must always embrace..through all the eras and ages of time...to remain faithful!

 " Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming allegiance to His very Name. And don't forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are truly the sacrifices that please our God."
                                               Hebrews 13:15 (Living Translation)

The Hatfield-McCoy Feud...

I wish this was only a fairy tale, a novel, or a fictional story that teaches good morals...but unfortunately, this is real history, and where grudges, hatred, and bitterness toward others can bring out the "dark-side" of human nature....yet, it also tells of the love of Christ and how He can forgive us and turn a situation around....

 There were two families in the late 1800's: the Hatfield's of West Virginia and the McCoy's of Kentucky. These families lived in the "back country" of the region and this is what happened.
 In 1865, on January 7th, an Asa Harmon McCoy was a Union soldier returning home from the Civil War. He had been dismissed from the army because of a broken leg.
 Harmon McCoy had been warned by a Jim Vance, who was a member of the Hatfield family that he would meet strong resistance on his return home because of his participation in the Civil War and joining the ranks of the Union army. The Hatfields had supported the Confederacy, and so the division between the 2 families had begun. Harmon McCoy had been told by Vance that he would be "visited" by "Devil Anse's Wildcats", a gang from the Hatfield family that despised those who fought for the Union.
 After Harmon McCoy had gotten home and was drawing water from his well, he heard some gunshots. Remembering the warning he had been given, he decided to hide in a cave...perhaps until this thing cooled down a bit. Harmon had a slave himself, named Pete, and Pete brought daily supplies to Harmon while he hid out in this cave.
 One day the "Wildcats" of the Hatfield family followed Pete's footsteps to the cave Harmon McCoy was hiding because the snow had made Pete's footsteps visible. There the "Wildcats" discovered Harmon McCoy and shot him..fatally. Jim Vance of the Hatfield family of West Virginia was believed to have commit the murder...but no real proof ever surfaced.
   So began the Hatfield-McCoy feud.

 The 2nd confrontation came in 1878, and it was over the ownership of a hog. Floyd Hatfield had the hog while a Randolph McCoy argued this hog was his.
 The story goes that this hog had been raised by Randolph McCoy, but one day had wandered its way over to Hatfield land. The Hatfield thought was since the hog was on their land...it was their hog.
 Much argument developed over this hog, and finally the case was taken to the Justice of the Peace. In a rather surprising result, the McCoys lost the case mainly because of the testimony of a Bill Stanton, who happened to be a relative to both sides of the families. Presiding over the case was an Anderson "Preacher Anse" Hatfield, and in June of 1880, Bill Stanton who had given testimony during the "hog case", was killed by 2 McCoy brothers, Sam and Paris. Both were later acquitted.

 The feud continued to escalate when a Roseanna McCoy began a "courtship" with a Johnson "Johnse" Hatfield, the son of the locally famous leader of the Hatfield family, "Devil Anse" Hatfield.
 In fact, Roseanna left her own family, the McCoys, and went and lived with the Hatfields. The fathers of both sides of the family refused for any marriage to take place, so Roseanna eventually moved back to her own family(the McCoys).
 When Roseanna and "Johnse" tried to renew their relationship, Johnse Hatfield was arrested by the McCoys for outstanding Kentucky bootlegging warrants.
 Johnse Hatfield was freed from the McCoys when Roseanna McCoy made a desperate midnight ride to Devil Anse Hatfield and told him what had happened. Devil Anse Hatfield formed a rescue party and caught up with the McCoys by surrounding them and they gave up Johnse Hatfield. Then, the Hatfields returned to West Virginia before he was to go to court in Pikeville, Kentucky, which had been scheduled the following day.
 Even though Roseanna McCoy had taken the chance to rescue her lover, Johnse Hatfield, he broke up with her and abandoned her...for she was with child from Johnse Hatfield. She ended up staying at her Aunt's home and had a baby girl...who died of measles shortly after birth. Roseanne McCoy passed away herself while still in her 20's...the story being she died of a broken heart. What had made matters worse, Johnse Hatfield had went ahead and gotten married...to a Nancy McCoy, who was the cousin of Roseanna in 1881.

 Then, in 1882 Ellison Hatfield, the brother of Devil Anse, was killed by 3 younger brothers of Roseanna McCoy. It was reported Ellison was stabbed 26 times and then shot.
 The 3 younger brothers were arrested by Hatfield constables, but were to be taken to Pikeville, Kentucky for trial instead of a trial in West Virginia. Devil Anse Hatfield did not like the whole idea so he put a group together and stopped the constables before they got the 3 brothers to Pikeville.
 Devil Anse and his group then took the 3 younger brothers of Roseanna McCoy back to West Virginia where they were tied to paw paw bushes and shot...repeatedly and were killed.

 In 1888, there was the infamous New Year's massacre. What happened here was a gang of Hatfields surrounded a McCoy cabin and opened fire into the home of the sleeping family. The cabin itself was set on fire so a Randolph McCoy would come out in the open. Randolph was able to escape but 2 of his children were murdered and his wife was beaten and left for dead.
 Randolph McCoy's family then moved to Pikeville to escape the Hatfield raid parties.

  Then, later in the year of 1888, a Wall Hatfield along with 8 others were arrested and brought to trial in Kentucky for the murder of Alifair McCoy, who had been killed during the New Year's massacre. She had been shot while running out of the burning house.
 All the men were found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment, except for Ellison "Cottontop" Mounts, who was hanged. Thousands attended the hanging in Pikeville.

 Between 1880 and 1891 over a dozen members between the 2 families had been killed, and 10 other members had been wounded. The feud between the 2 families had become national news, with both the governor of West Virginia and the governor of Kentucky were involved with putting an end to this feud.

At the age of 72, Devil Anse Hatfield had been invited to a revival meeting, and went forward and received Jesus Christ as his Savior. He was baptized in Island Creek, and was a major contributor to ending this horrible feud. His conversion to Christ now only had an immediate impact on both families, but has continued to have ramifications to the future generations of the Hatfields and the McCoys as well as other families within the region. Some say the message of forgiveness and reconciliation is still going on today.
  Many Hatfields committed their lives to Christ Jesus, including numerous conversions between 1910-11.
 Devil Anse Hatfield passed away at the age of 81, and at that time it was the largest funeral ever in Logan County...with thousands of mourners...including some bearing the name...McCoy.

James 5:16: " When you sin, tell what you have done, then pray for one another and you will find healing. The prayer of an innocent man is powerful...and will produce wonderful and effective results."

Gleanings from Galatians 5:22-24...

"Crucify the flesh"....I know..."been there-done that."   Yea, Ok, whatever.

I think what really gets me about this phrase in the Holy Scriptures, is I hear people often saying things like: "Well, Frank isn't goin' to the bar like he used to", or "Jimmy gave up smokin' (what was he smoking?...I will leave that up to your own imagination), and other things that relate to "stuff we do on the outside that we think are displeasing to God".
 Now, I do say I totally respect that and am Ok with that....but here is what I have noticed since becoming a Christian. I think the one of our strengths as a Christian is our attitude when "the heat is on". In other words, when I see another Christian brother or sister (I still think that is a little "corny" to refer to others in that way), demonstrate Christ-like qualities in momentary "flare-ups" in everyday life, it speaks "volumes" to my own heart and gives me encouragement to do the right things daily, including those "outside sins" that everyone seems to see.
 Years ago I was into weight-lifting, amateur competitions with "squat-thrusts", and for a while I confess I had this "Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown" attitude. Anyway, a buddy of mine were going to the mall to GNC, because at that time they had this product called: "Ripped Fuel" that had some "good stuff" in it, and made us feel more "macho" and all that.
 Well, there were these extremely nice ladies who had tables at the mall passing out pamphlets etc. on "Do you know Jesus" and things related to that. Now, what was very attractive to the whole situation was they were offering free brownies if you stopped by, receive a pamphlet, and listen to a 2 minute "sermonette" on how to know Jesus. My buddy and I were hungry...well, we had the "sweet tooth" thing going on, so we stopped.
 As we began to listen to what they wanted to share with us, there were basically 3 things that came up in the conversation. The first was; Do you smoke?, the second;Do you drink?, and the third;Do you engage in immorality? Kind of like the adage, "I smoke, drink, and chew, and go with girls that do" philosophy.
 So, we "confessed " to all 3 questions, and they proceeded to tell us how Jesus can change our lives for the better if we turn to Him and let Him show us a different way of life.
 My buddy and I were cool with all that, these ladies were really nice, and told them we would give it some thought (I think we were doing one of those 'white lie' things)....and then we got our brownies!
 As we were leaving to go to GNC, my buddy made an interesting observation. He said; "Why is it when it comes to the "Do you know Jesus" thing, they always point to alcohol, ciggs, and girls. I mean, I understand some of that, but did you see those nice ladies? I don't think any of them weighed less than 400 lbs, and man they were scarfin' down those brownies. I wonder, what would it be like if they substituted the question when a person arrives at their table: " Are you addicted to sugar?, Have you abused your body with a lot of extra weight?, Are you feelin' high one minute...and low a little later?"

 I guess it is all on our perception...anyway, here is a Gleaning from Galatians 5:22-24, and what I have learned is this: when I practice the Fruit of the Spirit, "the crucifying of the flesh" can be accomplished...in whatever way we perceive it:

" But the fruit of the Holy Spirit, in other words, the work of His Presence beginning to surface in our daily lives, will produce "flavors" that are vital to others as well as to yourself. First, there is 1)Love; both for God Himself and a deep affection for others,then 2) Joy; a gladness inside of you that is not dependent on any circumstances...good or bad!, 3) Peace; a serenity within yourself that is not wavered by the daily affairs of life, 4) Patience; a willingness to "stick it out" both with yourself and with others, having a compassion to see things through, 5) Kindness; showing others how Christ Jesus treats you, 6) Good(ness); doing things that help and benefit others, supporting others in daily situations they might be facing, 7) Faithfulness; being loyal to others...and to yourself. Directing your energies from within that are real, like a knowing "you are there for them"...without necessarily having to say it, 8) Gentleness; having a humility and a meekness about you that is not threatening to others, rather, causing others to be aware you are no different than they are, and being a source of encouragement to make choices in daily life that will help...and not hurt them, 9) Self-Control; being strong enough to say in the midst of Darkness; "I'm not going that way...I trust the Holy Spirit to show me a way outta' here!"

 When these qualities are exercised, and that being made available to us through the magnificent power of the Holy Spirit, then there is no Law that can even begin to compete in such an undertaking...of our lives being changed...to glorify Him!
 And here is the main ingredient: because we belong to Christ Jesus, and He has already provided for us a type of lifestyle that has been described in the previous verses, we are now able to overtake and rule our lives both in thought and action...by and through the power of the Holy Spirit. Crucifying our "flesh", that is to say all our appetites, our desires, and human nature itself, can be put to death and we can begin to live a life totally created by Christ Jesus Himself, and fueled by the power of His Holy Spirit!"


 There is an adage, and I am not sure of its origin, but it reminds me of the work Christ Jesus had done in my life: "Dance like no one is watching, love life like you have not been hurt, sing like no one is listening, and live...like it is heaven on earth!"

Is it Later than We Think?.......

Kind of a hot topic!...at least around "my neck of the woods"! I think in the last week alone I have heard this topic brought up in daily conversation 3 or 4 times.
 The thing is, I do not initiate it...in fact, I have chose to kind of avoid it. The reason why I do is not because of any embarrassment of Christ Jesus being brought up in a conversation, rather I just have not wanted to be on the "bandwagon" of all the talk of the end of the world.
 Yet, this past week I have taken notice of something...people I know, like my co-workers, some of my friends, and even at church...they seem to have developed a concern about this.
 My attitude has been that as long as I know my heart is right through Christ Jesus, then the future is going to "take care of itself".

 Ok, I am going to "check this out", and maybe reevaluate my position:

 There seems to numerous religions and beliefs that have become popular on the subject of; "the end of the world as we know it" indicating it is perhaps very close. 2012 is a notable year in regards to "The End", and here is what I have found.

First, "The Mayan Calendar": well-known and currently popular, is announcing the end in the winter solstice of 2012. Here is how it goes( basic format):
 1 month=20 days, 1 year=360 days, K'atun=7200 days(20 years),B'ak'tun=144,000 days (400 years).
 The Mayan Calendar states the world itself is to last 13 B'ak'tun cycles, or 5200 years (1,872,000 days). The Mayan Calendar was suppose to have its origin on August 13th, 3114 B.C. with the birth of Venus.
 So, through these given numbers,....this is the year, some even stating December 21st the very day the world will end.

Second, "Nostradamus"...Honestly, if I turned on my TV remote right now, I could easily find at least one channel (usually 3 or 4), that would have a segment on..."the Predictions of Nostradamus". His prophecies seem to be everywhere.
 What I have read and understand is there was one prophecy that said World War III was to have taken place in 1998, but because of "intense prayer", WWIII has been delayed, and will now possibly occur in...you guessed it, 2012.

Another, "The Sibylline Prophecies" This is an oracle that has been around quite sometime. Sybil wrote that the god Apollo had entered her body and she fell into a trance, and saw many things to happen in the future. She is credited with the prediction of the birth of Christ Jesus, saying "a Man who would bring peace", even predicting His Name as well. She wrote of earthquakes, Tsunamis (including the 2004 one), and havoc weather patterns. End of the world?...yep...2012.

 There are numerous other predictions including a Pope's Declaration, the followers of "666", the Quran, and Science itself.

 For me... My faith and belief is in Jesus Christ, so my reliance on a topic like this comes from one primary source...the Sacred Scriptures.

  Matthew 24 is a well known chapter on the subject of "the end times", Christians often referring to these times as "the last days". In verse 36, Jesus states: "However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven...or the Son Himself, only the Father knows." (Living Translation)
 Earlier in the same chapter, verses 6-7 reads: "When reports come in of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don't panic. This is routine history: this is no sign of the end. Nation will fight nation and ruler will fight ruler, and this will happen over and over. Famines and earthquakes will occur in various places. This is nothing...compared to what is coming." (The Message)
 In Matthew 24:8 it reads: "But all this is only the first of birth pains...with more to come!" (Living Translation).

 In 2 Peter 3: 3-4, Peter writes: " But first you must realize that in the last days some people won't think about anything except their own selfish desires. They will make fun of you and say, "Didn't your Lord promise to come back? Yet, the first leaders have already died, and the world?...it hasn't changed a bit." (Contemporary English)

 Now, going back to Matthew 24 a minute, it then reads in verse 9: "You will be arrested, punished, and even killed. Because of Me, you will be hated of all nations." (Contemporary English)
 For myself, this is a clear sign of "the end". I don't see it so much in earthquakes, bombs, or  natural calamities...I think it will be all about attitudes...verse 8 of Matthew 24 says we will be hated by "all nations".

Matthew 24:10-14 reads: "Many will give up on Me, in fact they will be offended and repulsed at the very mention of My Name, and because of this they will begin to distrust and desert Me, instead of trusting Me and doing what I have said they need to do. They will fall away from Me...and go after you!...they will betray and hate you!
 In the confusion, preachers will speak lies about Me, and will want the "limelight" and deceive many. This will only add to the evil starting to build, and sin will be rampant.
 People will become numb to all the perverse things around them, and their love for one another will grow stone cold.
 Yet, stick with Me...you won't be sorry...and the Life I give you will be safe and secure. During this time the Message of My kingdom will be delivered all over the world...it will serve as a sign...like a stake that has been flagged...in every country!
                 And then, the end will come!" (Numerous Translations)

In Revelation 22:7, it reads: "And behold, I am coming speedily. Happy and to be envied is he who observes and lays it to his heart, and keeps the truths...of the prophecies, the predictions, the consolations, and the warnings that are contained in this little book." (Amplified Version)

 Finally, in 2 Timothy 3:14-17 it reads: " But don't let any of this faze you. Stick with what you have learned and believed, you have gained a good knowledge and have come to know Me through the Sacred Writings.
 There is nothing better for you right now then to stay focused on the Sacred Scriptures...it will show you the way through all this and confirms your salvation through the Lord Jesus!
 Remember, everything in the Scripture is...God-breathed, and it will never do you wrong...being useful in any situation in life. It will keep you on the Path of Truth, and will expose anyone who speaks rebellious lies, and it correct you when you get off the Path of Truth, and is your training guide to living in Me. For you see, through the Sacred Scriptures, we come together...a solid relationship...that shapes us for the tasks ahead."

 Besides, we will all pass away...and when that happens
                                                         that is the end for us
                                                               and a "New Beginning".

A Wee-Bit More on Irish Wit...

An Irish Wedding Bell


 Irish poetry, stories, and general sayings on life are as rich as any that have been written. Often times the focus of these different writings are on blessings...although getting an Irish person upset can bring other forms of communication...with a curse(s) having a special focus!
 The unique style of written communication of the Irish have oftened conveyed words of comfort and encouragement as well. Although the Irish have a "feisty" mannerism that has been known through the ages, within the framework of their writings you also discover a gentle side to the Irish, with extraordinary tenderness and a heart of generosity.

 Some of the "Gaelic one-liners" have challenged thought and given us a unique amazement on the experiences we all face in everyday life. Here, are but a few:

"May you escape the gallows, avoid distress, and be as healthy as a trout!"
"Peace on your hand...and to all who shake it!"
" May God stand between us...and all harm."
" May you live as long as you want, and never want as long as you live."
" May the Lord keep you in His hand, but never close His fist tight on you."
"To the doctor may you never hand any money, and sweet be your hand in a pot full of honey."
"May you never bear the heavy load...of an empty stomach."

 And here are some more:

"He who lies with dogs, gets up with fleas." (Choose your friends carefully)
"No matter how long the day, the evening comes." (No matter how bad things may be, it will end).

"A good start...is half the work."
"There is no prosperity if there be no discipline or self-control."

"Many a time a man's mouth broke his nose." (Your mouth can get you in trouble.)
"It is often a person's tongue...that cuts his own throat." (Be wise when you speak.)
"Talk doesn't wear clothes." (Talk doesn't get the work done.)

"It's no longer a secret if 3 people know it."
"Everybody is good-natured...until the cow is found in his own garden."
"Don't keep your tongue under your belt." (Say what you feel.)

"There are 4 things considered useless: a headache, a bitter mouth, a worried mind, and an empty pocket."
"The Irish are fair to all!...they have never spoke well of each other!"
"Only Irish coffee provides all main essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and fat."

"There are 3 things hard to understand: the work of the bees, the coming and going of the tides, and the intellect of a woman."

And finally..a few toasts....

When you want to encourage another to have a 2nd drink, you simply say: "A bird never flew on one wing!"
"May all your ups and downs in life...be under the sheets!"
"Love is blind...but marriage can restore eyesight."
"Here is to our wives and girlfriends...may they never meet!"

                   May God Bless...the Irish!

A St. Patrick's Day Tribute....

"May your blessings outnumber
  The Shamrocks that grow,
                  And may trouble avoid you,
                                        Wherever you go......"

Happy St. Patty's Day!



"Slainte!" (SLAN-cha) meaning "health" in Irish.

St. Patrick...born Maewyn Succat to the Roman citizens of Calpurius and Conchessa, living at the time of what was most likely Scotland (possibly Wales or England...not Ireland).
 His birth was probably around 385 A.D. and he passed on March 17th, 464 A.D. at the age of 79.
 Around the age of 16 "St. Patrick" was enslaved by Irish raiders, where he was taken to Ireland and lived in captivity for 6 years. He then escaped, made his way to Gaul (France), and eventually to England.
 St Patrick received missionary training for about 14 years, having said to receive a vision to return to Ireland as a missionary of the Christian Gospel.
 It wasn't an easy missionary work for St Patrick, in fact, he was beaten by thugs, harassed by the Irish Royalty, and criticized by  British supervision. After his death in 464 A.D., he was pretty much largely forgotten....but....His Legend grew...and now lives in the hearts of those that celebrate "this fine day!"

The Roman Catholic church, along with the Anglican Church and the Lutheran church all recognize St. Patrick's Day as an official saint of the Christian church. It is the most widely celebrated day of all the "saint days" in modern times.

 Guinness Irish beer is the traditional drink of this day, with over 5.5 million pints being consumed around the world...in honor of St. Patrick...a request he had made before his death..."to remember him by a toast".
 36 million U.S. residents claim Irish descent, which is 9 times greater than the entire population of Ireland now ( a "wee-bit" over 4 million). 9 people who signed the U.S. Declaration of Independence were Irish, and 19 U.S. Presidents claim Irish heritage(including George Washington).
 Actually, getting back to Guinness beer for a moment, there is some medical data that claims Guinness beer is an aid to reducing the chances of blood clots and heart attacks as well...if drank in moderation of course!

 The traditional green color of St Patrick's Day has been through a "change of colors" you might say. The knights of the Order of St. Patrick actually wore what was called the "St. Patrick's Blue" on this day.
 Most likely the color was changed to green in the 18th century by the supporters of Irish Independence...because green was their official color of identity. The green color is also said to be used to usher in the "Sign of Spring".

 The Shamrock, the 3 leaved variety was said to be used by St. Patrick to explain the meaning of the Trinity: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost to Irish of more pagan origin dating back to the Druids.
 The chances of finding a 4 leaf clover: about 1 in 10,000.
According to the Guinness book of records for the most numbered shamrock leaves ever discovered... had 14 leaves!
 The shamrock is the national flower of Ireland.
One more thing about the color of green. It has long been considered an unlucky color in Ireland. It is said this happens to be the favorite color of the fairies and they have been known to steal people...particularly children who adorn themselves in too much green.

 Although St. Patrick is given credit to banishing the snakes out of Ireland, Ireland really didn't have too much of a snake problem...simply because of their geographical setting.
  Most likely the "Banishment of Snakes" was a metaphor to the pagan religions that "infested" Ireland.

 St. Patrick's Day in Ireland customary meal is a type of bacon(kind of like a ham) and not necessarily corned beef, although corned beef is a traditional Irish dish.
 It is recorded Irish immigrants on New York city's lower east side substituted the "ham type dish" with corned beef, a cost saver which they purchased from their Jewish neighbors.

A couple other notes: the first parade for St. Patrick's Day is recorded on March 17th, 1762 with soldiers who fought for England walking in the parade. Boston is said to begin a St. Patrick's Day parade even earlier dating back to 1737.
 The first parade in Ireland is written to have been in Dublin in 1931.

24% of the residents of the state of Massachusetts claim Irish ancestry, and 12% of the United States claim they have Irish origins.
"Lucky charms", the famous cereal we now all eat was dedicated to the Irish populous in 1963, with "Lucky the Leprechaun" as the mascot.
 The Chicago River in.....yes Chicago, runs green on March 17th each year.This started in 1962 when the Pipe fitters Union poured 100# of vegetable dye to cause the river to turn green. Today, 40# is dumped in and allows the river to be a green color for several hours.

 And, last but not least, an Irish joke to hopefully "brighten" your day:

"Mary Clancy goes up to Father O'Grady, after the Sunday morning service...and she was in "dire tears", and Father O'Grady says: " So, tell me what is bothering you, Mary my dear?"
Mary responds: " Oh Father, it is terrible news I have today....for me husband passed away last evening."
 Father O'Grady replies:" Oh, Mary, it tis a terrible thing it is, now tell me, was there any last requests he might have had on his last breath before he passed?"
 Mary then replies: "Ah, that he did Father."
 Father O'Grady: "And what was it my dear child?"
 Mary:"He says to me, "Mary, put down the damn gun!"

  Happy Saint Patrick's Day!