Mark 1: 35-37 ~ “Everyone is looking for You!”

Suppose you had rather a difficult career. And you liked time to be in solitude and be with God and nature. This is a good place to begin.

Mark 1
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”

A man, full of grace and truth, who the Scriptures record to be part of the dawn of creation. Separating land from sea.

Mark 1:16
Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.”

Matthew 4

18 While walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (who is called Peter) and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 19 And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 

20 Immediately they left their nets and followed him. 

21 And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets, and he called them.

22 Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Matthew 8

1When he came down from the mountain, great crowds followed him.

5 When he had entered Capernaum, a centurion came forward to him, appealing to him

Jesus began to visit so much, he even liked the mother-in-law!

Matthew 8

 ⁴ And when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother-in-law lying sick with a fever. ¹⁵ He touched her hand, and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him.

Matthew 4
13 And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali

Peter, the most prosperous fishing family in Capernaum, had a next door view of the Synagogue.

Mark 1:20-22
Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.

21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.

Matter of fact, the synagogue has a column that Zebedee donated and named for to his sons, John and John. Zebedee had a large voice, perfect for yelling from one boat to another and he was called Thunder.

Sadly, today, Peter's house has a Church resembling a spaceship over it (it would make a nice MIB movie). However, the setting of Peter's house is beautiful. See the photos from the 1960s.

These men had many times together of joy, visiting Mary at a wedding in Cana.

Trips on the boat.

Rembrandt Storm at Sea

Picnics

 

Political Discussions which would eventually call for loyalty or division.

Long Talks

Long walks Mark told us about.

Mark 10:32
They were now on the way up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking ahead of them. The disciples were filled with awe

Other more memorable walks.

Disciples sometimes argued. Jesus was called upon to settle things.

Opportunities for Forgiveness.

And Loyalty

Lord, you have the Words of Life!










We would hope there would be remains today, telling us of this remarkable friendship. God's Son -

And there is. Tomorrow we will tell of the other House of Peter's. Because there is a vast archaeological similarity.

We loved the Musical "Godspell." It's actually a Biblical Repeat. Jesus wasn't born in the Palace where the Magi knocked. He chose instead what was meaningful. Love spoke to the many pilgrims who turned Peter's house into what we see in the House Churches of Acts. At one point, archaeology records Peter's house was one of the few in Capernaum with plaster walls. And during the time of Church Historians Bishop Papias of Hierapolis and Eusebius, the Bishop of Caesarea, we see no time lapse for Peter's house becoming a House Church, "domus-ecclesia", where pilgrims wrote Graffiti on the walls. The plastered walls came in handy.

Alpha and omega combinations were present, as references to Jesus Christ, but they were also found in reverse order, signifying Christ's role as the gateway to eternal life. Alpha and omega might also be separated from each other and connected by a thin line. Other letters signified other mysteries: tau indicated the cross, epsilon stood for Eden and nu for "nika", victory. But most important of all, curious combinations of rho and pi were references to the apostle Peter.There is a spiritual richness and hunger to those who visit Peter's House, leaving praise for the Lord on the Graffiti Walls.

Peter's wife and mother must have loved colored plater because red, pink, brick-red, yellow, dark brown, green, blue and white. The geometric decoration is made up of rectangular panels, lozenges, circles, floral crosses etc. Floral motifs are also recognisable, such as branches, small trees, flowers, figs and pomegranates. Apparently human or animal representations were not allowed.

Graffiti, monograms and symbols were found. The languages used in the graffiti are Greek (151 samples), Paleo-Estrangelo (13), Aramaic (9) and Latin (2).

Abba,

You renew our Mercies You load us with daily. It's so very pleasant to see Your Life You have called Joy.

When You created this earth, so many times You said, "It is good." Yesterday, today and tomorrow. It's sometimes easy to find what Joe Walsh calls, "A Flock of Wah Wah's!"

With the Help of the Holy Spirit take Hold of what God has given us. Today.

When we know Seasons change, be blessed with Today.

The seasons change and we will recall this season of summer with gratitude. We have seen family, repaired our roof at just the right time. And, we will say this again, see our family. Blessed and Blessed to be given people to Love.

Each day it's pleasant and good to remember You have delighted in mankind. You have delighted in Your Good Creation. You have delighted to give us Jesus. We will think on Your Promises and focus on what You Give. To be grateful.

We will stand firm in our faith in Jesus Christ. We will rejoice in precious times and look to the future for Your provision.

The seasons change, You do not, Father God.

You have loaded us with the benefits to pray for "Your will be done for More Heaven on earth as it is in Heaven." You have told us Heaven is a Restful Sabbath. You have told us when Nations in Heaven disagree, You provide Peace. You have told us we will need to Stand Firm in our Faith in Heaven. We want to do this with Joy on Your good creation earth. Thank You, Father.

Lifting our cares to Your capable hands. Lifting Elliott to healing from cancer, that he will play and know and rejoice with Harby in their grandchildren. For Dee and her back to be well. For the brave men and women who work to bring National Service to the people. We praise them and pray for their joy in life and safety.

Thank you, Jesus. Thank You, Father. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

Hebrews 4 ~ we have a Great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God

Hebrews  Chapter 4, part of ⁴⁶  Papyrus 46. Exactly as shown.
Absolutely a Wonder of God.

"Hebrews 1.7–2.3
Owned by University of Michigan, Library at Ann Arbor
Size 15 x 22.9 cm
Palaeographic Description
The ink is dark brown and has faded little. There has been little rubbing of the surface, so that almost every letter is still legible. The writing is of the book hand and the letters are carefully formed and well spaced. There are many slight spaces left in the text, often where they serve admirably for punctuation.

Acquisition purchased in 1930/1931
Language Greek
Genre literary
Author St. Paul
Type of Text/Title of Work Epistles of Paul"  - As stated in the Library of the University of Michigan.

⁴⁶ Papyrus 46 is 300 Chapters of the New Testament - Found Intact and exactly as shown. 


Hebrews - The Fourth Chapter. Papyrus 46 is 300 Chapters of the New Testament - Found Intact and exactly as shown. The dating debate is between the first Century and 175 A.D. One source of debate is ⁴⁶ uses an extensive and well-developed system of nomina sacra (saying this is 2nd century) however since the exact provenance of the nomina sacra system itself is not well-established. Therefore we can safely say, the 300 intact chapters date between the first and the second century A.D.

This would be during the life span of the Disciple John, this copy existed.

Hebrews 4

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it. 2 For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said,

“As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest,’”

although his works were finished from the foundation of the world. 4 For he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day in this way: “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.” 

5 And again in this passage he said,
“They shall not enter my rest.”

6 Since therefore it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 again he appoints a certain day, “Today,” saying through David so long afterward, in the words already quoted,

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts.”

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, 
God would not have spoken of another day later on. 9 So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, 10 for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his.

11 Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. 

12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 

13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 

15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Jesus as God - fills the Heavens!!!  He has seen all of His Vast Creation.
To be kind hearted. 
To Rest in Jesus.

Believe in your Salvation in Jesus.
For we who have believed enter His rest, as He has said. 
Eternity has begun for us adopted by the Grace of Jesus.

Obedient to the Word of God, living and active.
God fully knows and understands our thoughts.
Expect Grace from Jesus at our weaknesses, as sympathy. This would be why Father God ran to His Child as we could not aspire to be God.

God told us He is available at midnight, when others are asleep in their beds. He comes to us when we are seeking Him earnestly.

And because of this transparency and relationship - we know only Jesus is without sin.

Let us, with confidence, draw near to the Throne of Grace, where our Father sits.

1 Timothy 3:16
Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:
He was manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels, proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.

Consider how we pray. Do we pray to up there far away? Do we pray to Jesus sitting next to us?

When we think of David and Solomon planning His Temple for many years does it seem very remote?

The Pillars of the Temple built by Solomon and the pieces collected for years and years by David and Solomon.

Matthew 1:5
Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab
Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth,
Obed the father of Jesse

The faith of Boaz to accept a widow, a foreigner. A farm worker. A family in need. Foreigners are not so accepted in Israel. Boaz makes sure his family, Naomi, is welcome as the  grandmother of their child. Israel did not accept foreigners easily, but would find a way for the widows to be provided for.

Boaz is someone Jesse, David's father, probably knew. David is welcoming his family to worship. The Temple is to provide what we see in Lazarus and the rich man, generation are found in Heaven.

Today,
I saw my father's mother's house is for sale. Her house is about a block through the woods of Rowan Oaks to William Faulkner's house where he lived at his wife's family house. Grandmother's house was actually a small, small boarding school during the Civil War. Called The Keys at the time. And to see her house - where the wooden planks are wide upstairs due to the extreme age of the house and narrow planks downstairs due to the use as a Civil War barn for Sherman's horses. To see her Newel Posts. To see the front door with the unexplained bronze knob on the inside of the door. The lack of the old chimney's original pieces. To find the walls don't match up as they used to.

To see all the familiar landmarks, is to long to see her. To hear her voice. To listen to her words.

This is to relive "Peggy Sue Got Married." The movie is set from Peggy Sue's hospital bed. And she is allowed to go back to visit her Grandparents, who had moved on to Heaven for 2 decades. The point of Lazarus and the rich man is to understand - the dead are not dead. Alive in Jesus Christ. 


Our hearts become life this day and we sometimes forget the Magnificence of God Himself. We read our Bibles where the Verses and Words are jammed up tight.  The Papyrus gives space. Alive in Jesus Christ. Alive! Old Papyrus, new Bible, God's Living Word.

One great day, One Great Day, we will walk and talk and live and feast and rejoice to be with the People we Love. They are Alive in Jesus Christ. Today.

I wouldn't doubt David with all his Passion for God, to Please God, to weep at injustice, to dream of the fulfillment of God's  Plans, to remember God's Victories, to relive His Help. To need His Help Again. I wouldn't doubt David passionately put Boaz's Pillar to welcome the Family of God.



When we pray, we are close to Father God. We bring Him tenderly close.


We can with expectation of Jesus' Promises, receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.


Father God,
We Believe in the Lord Jesus, and we know we are saved-- Continue Your Mercy to our household and our loved ones.

We believe fully, Jesus is Lord. We believe in our hearts that You, Father God, raised up Your Son Jesus from the dead. We believe Your Promise of Salvation has arrived.

As we believe, so this will be done for us, according to Your Word. Yes Lord, we believe You are able.

We fully want Your Plan and Path, forgive us when we stray, please in the Name of Jesus. We will not fear, only believe. All things are possible in Jesus.


In the Name of Jesus the Lord, blessed are we who believe there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken from the Lord. We, in knowing Jesus, ask the blessings for our Loved Ones, our neighbors, coworkers, Church Family and our Nation. 

Father God, bless and protect our friend Matt starting his new job in Florida. For his continued blessing in You.

In Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

Psalm 40:5-17 ~ Be pleased, O Lord

Psalm 40:5-17

5 You have multiplied, O Lord my God,

your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;

none can compare with you!

I will proclaim and tell of them,

yet they are more than can be told.

6 In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,

but you have given me an open ear.

Burnt offering and sin offering

you have not required.

7 Then I said, “Behold, I have come;

in the scroll of the book it is written of me:

8 I delight to do your will, O my God;

your law is within my heart.”

9 I have told the glad news of deliverance

in the great congregation;

behold, I have not restrained my lips,

as you know, O Lord.

10 I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;

I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;

I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness

from the great congregation.

11 As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain

your mercy from me;

your steadfast love and your faithfulness will

ever preserve me!

12 For evils have encompassed me

beyond number;

my iniquities have overtaken me,

and I cannot see;

they are more than the hairs of my head;

my heart fails me.

13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me!

O Lord, make haste to help me!

14 Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether

who seek to snatch away my life;

let those be turned back and brought to dishonor

who delight in my hurt!

15 Let those be appalled because of their shame

who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”

16 But may all who seek you

rejoice and be glad in you;

may those who love your salvation

Say continually, 
“Great is the Lord!”

17 As for me, I am poor and needy,

but the Lord takes thought for me.

You are my help and my deliverer;

do not delay, O my God!

A Psalm of David, we can tell - of course.

If we had to attach a motto to David, something new, we'd might say, "Be Pleased, O Lord!!!"

We know, of course, God is pleased when we Believe Father God and Trust Him.

God tells us every day He renews His mercies to us.
When we Believe God telling us this, why not be privileged to count our blessings. To be pleased with the people and places and activities we do and are given by Father God every day. Why not even ask God to take His mercies, to acknowledge our Blessings, and ask Father God to build our Blessings as Living parts to the Temple God has told us to regard our bodies as His Dwelling.

Why not ask God we could be Blessings to the people God has given us. Encourage Father God to know we appreciate what He has done for us.




Part of the age gap we find among people is - experience. The direction of the ebb and flow of life. The age gap of seeing what is older and fearful. I once received a phone call telling me in the middle of Youth Groups and Bible Studies and Youth Activities and Baseball - to be grateful for having my children at home - it would be the best part of life.

There is nothing like considering losing a Blessing to remind us of the Joy of having His Blessing.

And I began to study the older generations.

Blessings and Sheep.
God tells us He blesses us daily. Jesus tells us He can tell we need Him to be our Shepherd. We do. We would all like to incredibly bless our Children and Families. And today, with housing costs, jobs that create far away, medical insurance costs, education costs - we acknowledge blessing our children is more difficult. We are the Sheep of God's Pasture. We are not forlorn. We have the opportunity to bring our hopes, cares and dreams to Father God for His Plan.

And in acknowledging our blessings - we are more likely to share and be inventive.

I'm going to tell you a story of a friend of mine - who, like me, lost a baby right away. We recover from losses. The Kennedys and the Bushs, on the right and left sides of the aisle, lost a baby and made sure their child went to be buried with them. My friend was telling me of her loss after we had known each other 8 years. We move on from these events and it becomes part of His Plan. We were discussing her son and I said, remind me again of your young son's name. She told me his name. My mouth fell open. Her son-in-law of 20 years had the same name. The same name. David - like the Psalm.

My friend has faced struggles with her mother with a 'I'm Near Thee Perfection, what are thouest, tell me quick' attitude. And this made a rocky early life. And as a result, children are a JOY. She has been blessed, blessed, blessed going forward. Her Children Rise up and Call her Blessed. Ok really? Well... yes. If they have a roof problem, "David" comes over and gets on the roof and has a talk with her husband and they decide what to do next.

We bless each other with what we have. It's inventive.

For Thanksgiving one year, her youngest daughter said, "It's time!!!" My friend and her husband said, "What?" Out came a beroge of coffee mugs. What a coffee treat? Next - all over the house, rocking chairs appeared. The all local family and all the host of grandchildren were mystified. My friend and her husband had to laugh and laugh to see the looks of utter bewilderment on the younger generation.

"It's Time!" My friend and her husband, the two daughters and the two sons in law all sat in the rocking chairs in a circle. "It's Time for 'Mug of Pudding'!!!"

This was a celebration of the whole family living together as Master's Degrees were obtained by four of them. "Mug of Pudding" was a daily part of their family living together with a family of 4 becomes a family of 6. After their daughters married. Thanksgiving became a celebration of the Joy of Family and Blessing Seekers, Blessing Providers and Blessing Remembering. Six Grandchildren, 4 parents and two grandparents remembered, taught and celebrated Blessings.

It turns out, you can make pudding for one or six in coffee mugs in the microwave. And the day is discussed for memories made for future generations.

Water seeps, nourishes, takes hold where God would want the Living Water to flow. This family works sprinkler repairs together. Tomorrow - more glue will be applied. My friend is going to have a her small back fractures put together with concrete. We are praying for a total healing.

Abba, Father God,

We Give You Thanks for Your Willing Blessings Daily.

The One You Love is going in for surgery tomorrow. We pray for all nurses and doctors hands to have their gifts and talents blessing Your lovely, Dee. We ask in the Name of Jesus for Dee to have complete healing with the concrete for her back fractures. Instant and lasting healing relief.

Thank You so much this has been a blessing for Elliott, concrete glue, giving Elliott immediate relief from back fractures. We pray all healing upon Elliott and peace and joy continuing for Elliott and Harby.

We remember with Great Joy the Blessings You've Willingly Provided. And give You Thanks for the many Years and Eternity where You will Continually Bless us.

Thank You, Father God for the amazing ways we have all witnessed Healing. Your Word upholds the Universe. Thank You.

We give You thanks for Your Word telling us You Delight to bring Your Good Will and more of Heaven upon earth.

Amen in Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

Psalm 84 ~ our shield, O God

Psalm 84

How lovely is your dwelling place,
O Lord of hosts!
2 My soul longs, yes, faints
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and flesh sing for joy
to the living God.

3 Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
my King and my God.

4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house,
ever singing your praise! Selah

5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

6 As they go through the Valley of Baca
they make it a place of springs;
the early rain also covers it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength;
each one appears before God in Zion.

8 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob! Selah

9 Behold our shield, O God;
look on the face of your anointed!

10 For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

11 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold
from those who walk uprightly.

12 O Lord of hosts,
blessed is the one who trusts in you!

Where is our Shield Located?
 Our Shield is located where we put our Heart.

We live in the Subtropics of the Houston area. And even in May, people were recovering from a pretty fierce flood. And again last week we had a Tropical Storm closing Montgomery County from Houston's Harris County. The highways and interstates close due to high water and the inability to travel. Signs are not put up. We had a dear family friend find about flooding in the May floods. She followed a car like a Jeep in a foot of water and found water found her tailpipe and her car was totaled. We learned flooding was expected and signs are not posted. Just expect to be very cautious everywhere.


Where is the Shield?
Continuance demonstrates the shield exists. Why does the city continue? To provide for families. To provide a place for love to exist.


We put our Shield where our heart is located. When we put our Trust in God, we find we are sustained, enduring, hopeful, resilient. Because our heart is with Jesus Christ.

When we pray the Lord's Prayer we identify Father God as our Heavenly Father. Why? We are being shown God loves us so dearly we will have to identify God apart from our earthly Dad. And unlike our earthly Dad, God lives in our heart and soul. We invite Father  God to know all of us and live and move and have His Being in us.

The 84th Psalm tells us about God's Love for me and for you.

God dwells in you and in me  as we say Jesus is Lord. And we are His chosen dwelling place as the Holy Spirit lives in me and in you.

Abba, Father God says:
Our dwelling place welcoming Jesus Christ, God with us is - Lovely.

We Long for God.
And will sing for Joy in this Love and longing.

Even the least of us - sparrows - will understand the Tenderness of God.
Father God would hold our soul as a nest for the heart to be held in this tenderness.

Blessed
Father God is so gentle, the little tiny - without feathers and ability to cope - children - are held in this tenderness to hold forth hope and trust.

God reminds us He is God the Almighty. He is not a waiter or merely exists to be a  nest holder. God is a Father with an Altar. King and God from Alpha to Omega.

Blessed are all who find this wholeness of Holiness is where we place our Heart in God's Good Will.

Blessed
With Strength to want His High Way
Hardships become places to find His Blessings, just like these floods in Coastal Texas. Springs, Pools, Living Water, Strength to Strength.

Blessed
To have our prayers heard. Blessed God listens to us.

Blessed
To have a shield and to plan ,with hope, a future in God. To hope God's Heart will keep us in His High Way.

Blessed
To want to be in the Number when the Saints go Marching In.

Blessed 
To say Let the Plans of Jesus be established because our Home is in Jesus forever.

 For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold
from those who walk uprightly.

O Lord of hosts,
blessed is the one who trusts in you!

Abba, Father God,

Your willing Blessing renews each day.

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

For it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord his God,

In the Name of Jesus we pray our Father God's Willing Blessings and His  Peace upon us, covering us, flowing from us having His Love indwelling 

Our Amen is in Jesus Christ.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †  

Acts 17:1-15 ~ as soon as possible, they departed

Acts 17:1-15

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. 

5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 

6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” 8 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. 9 And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.


10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. 

11 Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. 12 Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. 13 But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds. 14 Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. 

15 Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.



I was at a party and a young person I've known for two decades greeted me with this question: "Why would anyone want to be a Christian? The twelve disciples all died young. People got killed for a long time and it sounds like the opposite of goodness."

"And what was God thinking? It's not very appealing?"


Apart from Ahhhh Antioch, what would be appealing? Only Jesus Christ!



Another question people routinely have is this:

"How did we ever get the Catholic Church since only about 12 people attended His crucifixion?"

"Why didn't God take better care of the Disciples?"


Well it's this - God is God of Love. God of Encouragement.

"Yes, I feel God would be God of Love and Encouragement, but how can you read all this and find that? It seems a bummer sort of story?"

Well it's a little like the movie, The Green Mile. When God caused unusual things to happen, people felt uncomfortable.

Right, they killed John Coffey for making people well and doing the impossible.

That's right, and in the movie John was just dead. But in Rome in the 16 years after Jesus died incredible things kept happening in the Name of Jesus.

Well they can't prove all that.

Well, the Scriptures say the world turned upside down and people traveled to hear Jesus and John the Baptist way off in the wilderness. People traveled 3 days into the wilderness and were so pleased to hear and see what they saw, they forgot to pack food.

Oh, right Jesus fed the multitudes. Wasn't that a boy and they all had food in their pockets?

That's a question people have been asking for 2,000 years, yet we are still saying the people went to Jesus in the thousands to find out and kept coming back, and couldn't wait to hear Him even in the Temple itself. So we have to assume something very important was continuing to happen.

You are saying Jesus taught from the Temple?

Yes all the time. Even after the guard was sent to get Him one time.

Why?

The People knew Jesus was doing something they had waited to see for 2,000 years in the Messiah.

What makes you say that Rome started carrying on about Jesus in 16 years?

Nero blamed Christians for Rome.

That was 16 years?

Yes and we can find records of the on and off persecution for 300 years.

Oh right, but no one thought that Constantine really committed to Jesus!

Well, there was a miracle Constantine used in the sky like Hezekiah and it turned the Battle after his prayer. He did the uncomfortable thing to get the Roman gods knocked over and the Temples pushed far back. Constantine called for Christine support on his death bed and sent his favorite person, his mother, far away to broaden the faith. Can we judge Constantine seriously after all this time?

Oh, that Hezekiah and the time dial thing is so bogus!

Hezekiah was the most prosperous king other than David and Solomon. His reign is easily found in Archaeology. He was not a puppet state for Assyria and that is as big a miracle as Hezekiah and the sun dial.

Maybe that Sun dial story was an analogy for not being a puppet king?

We take in on faith these things did inexplicably happen.

It's interesting to me that Jesus chose to stay out of the Temple so much, when we have the Crusades and things like that from organized Religion.

Jesus did that surely, but He planned His Church. We find the Miracles of Jesus created the difficulties.

Have you seen miracles?


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I suppose, one of the most interesting things to me in discussing Scripture, people are so willing to want to find out the Bible is "Real". And when you discuss a miracle, it can cause 'total bolt.'

We had a very charming, loving, adorable, really just a "Shining" Soul young boy in Youth Group. Part of our lives for many years. His parents actually attended an Atheist Church. It was all ok to learn about the Bible. They rolled with what was brought their way. One day we were discussing the 60 year study on the bones of St. Peter 80 feet under the Vatican alter. He was totally astonished and asked probably twenty minutes of questions. At the end of it, he opted out of Bible Study for the rest of his young years because that pointed at the 'oral histories of cultural times' as being - - - real.

(I have a feeling if we all pray about this together and take a second, this warm and caring, beautiful young man will come back to our Cultural History this is Jesus Christ, Son of God, God of Love and return permanently - as in forever.) (Father God, thank You for this dear soul. What a young man, You have blessed in so many wonderful ways. How wonderful to see him when we see each other.
You are God of Love. All things belong to You. Favor this friend with Your Grace and Love always. Amen._


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Discussing Scripture is good. It's wonderful. We love to think of God as flowing water pouring where life and people need Him. Creating Nourishment. But we have hearts and hands and prayer we can move in His direction. Our heart should lead our mouths to say, "I'm so sorry. I will pray for you." And people will sometimes surprise you by asking for prayer right then and there.

I think for most of us to be asked to pray is fairly shocking. But just like the question and answer section at the party, we do best to keep the conversation - prayer - pretty basic.

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Being a Christian is good. Most of the USA is Christian. We never hammer our opinions on people. People will come to you and ask at the most unusual times. Like standing in line. And memories are made forever. Someone I really admire had to go to the restroom at a Pharmacy. She said she never did that. Ever. And a young woman was sobbing in the restroom. Abraham met angels. Angels are messengers of God. This young woman wanted to talk to someone her mother's age. She opened right up and said she had told no one. But here were the job problems, the money problems, the aging parent problems, the divorce problem, the child problem, the dating problem and her dad was dying. These two women had a fifteen or twenty minute talk and at the end, my friend asked her to pray for her. They prayed together and the young woman said she was a Christian, and being prayed for was the best thing happening to her for months. When she finished, she said she had felt life would never have Joy again and after all that - she felt Life would Bloom Again. The Power of Prayer. Jesus Christ is God of Love, God of encouragement.


The Encouragement we receive when we hear about The Body of Christ putting one foot in front of the other in every day life.



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A few years ago, a doctor was telling me in her faith walk, what disappointed her the most was the failure of her minister and the support of the Church. We are all going to hear about the disagreements so readily available in the Old Testament and in the New Testament.

Usually this disappointment flows out like a flood. This particular story was a saved marriage by the intervention of the Pastor and then when finances died and sin and crime came in - the Minister didn't make sure the gates of Hell didn't rattle. Why didn't he - why didn't the Pastor save them? This Church is part of the extended places my husband travels even today and we know some of the staff at this Church about 35 minutes from where we go to Church. This is a Good Church.

She was good and angry at 'their failure'. I suggested since this was a personal relationship, when the anger could calm down, she write a very respectful letter to him to ask him about his opinions since this is a fairly big and very active Church with many, many things to do and people to nurture.

This is exactly why Jesus was found in the Wilderness. We have all known people who entirely gave up their faith to see, like Ghandi, "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

1 Corinthians 3:6

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth.

The Point of our faith is not a Pastor. Mankind doesn't save us. The point of Community is not ever going to be perfect. We do not worship a Building, a Church, an altar, a Pastor, a Liturgy, the way the music has to sound.

We are seeking Nourishment of Jesus Christ.

In cancer or illness, the whole world couldn't make it all better. We seek Jesus to walk with us in all times.

In divorce, the friends change, the house and the people change. Life changes. Bitterness fall away, Jesus will be there. Just like His Mother - we are never left or forsaken.

In job loss, no one can carry the worry. Only Jesus. We are nurtured in Jesus Christ to find the Fruit of the Spirit to stay Nurtured.

Life, even in the best of times, is like the Stock Market. The phone rings and we are offered a new criticism - cut to the core. We are celebrated with friends and Life is rosy and warm. And we forgot to follow up on something and someone is so angry. Someone took offense at something and it's all out of proportion. Life is a series of changes. We adapt as life changes. We rejoice in our own good fortune and someone else felt upset. Life is about being Centered on Jesus to not be washed with the tide up and down.



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Miracle in our Days.
We can find something Great in all circumstances if we look. People change Churches all the time according to the Pew Report. This is the up-building of the Faith in Jesus we see strengthened. The Churches reading the Bible and giving us all The Good News, not just the politically and culturally correct - truly Nurture us. We leave our Sermons and worship knowing God has touched us where we will live forever - in our soul. The Nourishment is going to go down deep into our soul and we are going to live and move and dwell with God. Jesus walking with us.



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The Churches of Jesus providing God's Greatness are Rising Like Peter from the Water. A wonderful Miracle in our Day. I love to hear our Sermons. I have been Fed. I know Jesus again. Our Nation is building the Churches telling us all of the Bible. All of His Word. We Live On Every Word of God.



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Salvation is a Gift of God.

My Grandmother Anita taught for Bible Study for 40 years. She prayed for the son the Sheriff brought to her door one day. Her son's first adoption ended up in beatings and burns. My Grandmother was Jimmy's Second Adoption brought on by the Sheriff  bringing her a 3 year old badly beaten toddler. And Jimmy hated, hated, hated Christians and especially "women Christians." Jimmy could clear a room mimicking the Church of my Grandmother, Great Aunt and First Cousin. For 50 years. Jimmy looked like Gollum, of the Hobbit, when he went into this spasm. Grandmother had fed people during the Great Depression. Grandmother Anita was quite wonderful. Jimmy's opinions were on Jimmy. Not something people voluntarily sat in the room to listen to. And one day, at the end of his 70's Jimmy listened to Christian TV. He listened to Joel Olsteen and read Rick Warren. Jimmy completely changed. He quit rattling about Christians. He was not perfect. But he quit hating "women Christians." Jimmy read the Bible with an 80 IQ and he understood the Bible. Jimmy began to tell people he had never had peace, but Jesus brought him peace.

Salvation is a Gift of God.

A Canadian Nurse had always hated Bible Thumpers and the uppity downlookers called Christians. She would sometimes listen to Christian Radio to mock it. Especially pleased to find United States Southern Accents. In her mid 60s, she traveled in rural snowing, isolated country roads to get to work. One night, she knew her old car was going to fail and she understood she might freeze to death before anyone drove by the next day. She'd had recent work done on her car and she knew the new part was failing, the car was displaying the old patterns.

Suddenly she felt as if Light was in the car. She 'understood' at the next closed little convenience store, a young man would be loitering. With the car part she needed. She knew she would be able to see this young man in one of the few street lamps she would see on the entire rural road.

And this happened. The young man was smoking a cigarette. She explained what car part was needed. Funny, the young man had bought the wrong car part last week and had one of those. He put the car part on in a few minutes. She offered to pay him, but he said the coincidence was too great to accept the money. Finally, she asked him if he was an angel. He laughed and pulled out his driver's license. No angel, just bona fide regular human being. He hadn't been to Church lately. But he believed that since her faith in Jesus was new that evening, he would return to Church.

The Christian Radio used to be mocked by her, and now is part of her life continually. Constantly in the Word of God. And asking to work in a Lodge for tourists where a nurse finds out about their Faith in Jesus God the Lord.

Salvation is a Gift of God.

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The Bible is Joy.

Abba, Father God,

I thank You for the comfort Edward has provided. I have had Tinnitus and pray that ceases, heals in Jesus, and stops and makes lovely silence. I thank You for prayers from the saints.

My oldest son has Graduate School opportunity and I am praying for the Lord Jesus to make the most of this. Thank You for what he has experienced for going on 3 years.

We pray for the opportunity to treat others as we wish to be treated, especially discussing faith. To give goodness, believing what does the Lord require of us but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? We hope to define ourselves by treating the least of us as we would treat Jesus.

Bless this Nation. Help us to see life with more humor. And call us all to work together in Jesus Christ to provide a place where the goodness of God has room to improve lives and warm hearts to make life meaningful.

I lift up the prayers for the people I love. For the people You have given me and their concerns they have shared. Thank You we have the Power to approach You in Jesus and see what You will bring. Thank God for the Strength You Provide where we are just people. And honored by Your Love and Your interest and Care.

Thank You this season I'm more able to see and appreciate Blessings. Forgive me when I have not.

Help us all to be able to be Blessings to those especially who have blessed us.

In Jesus the Lord. We pray Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †