1 Chronicles 4 ~ The sons of Judah

1 Chronicles 4

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio


1 The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal.


2 Reaiah the son of Shobal fathered Jahath, and Jahath fathered Ahumai and Lahad. These were the clans of the Zorathites.

3 These were the sons of Etam: Jezreel, Ishma, and Idbash; and the name of their sister was Hazzelelponi, 4 and Penuel fathered Gedor, and Ezer fathered Hushah. These were the sons of Hur, the firstborn of Ephrathah, the father of Bethlehem.

5 Ashhur, the father of Tekoa, had two wives, Helah and Naarah;

6 Naarah bore him Ahuzzam, Hepher, Temeni, and Haahashtari. These were the sons of Naarah.

7 The sons of Helah: Zereth, Izhar, and Ethnan. 8 Koz fathered Anub, Zobebah, and the clans of Aharhel, the son of Harum.

9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain [Jabez sounds like the Hebrew for pain].” 10 Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm [evil] so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.

11 Chelub, the brother of Shuhah, fathered Mehir, who fathered Eshton. 12 Eshton fathered Beth-rapha, Paseah, and Tehinnah, the father of Ir-nahash. These are the men of Recah.

13 The sons of Kenaz: Othniel and Seraiah; and the sons of Othniel: Hathath and Meonothai. 14 Meonothai fathered Ophrah; and Seraiah fathered Joab, the father of Ge-harashim, so-called because they were craftsmen.

15 The sons of Caleb the son of Jephunneh: Iru, Elah, and Naam; and the son of Elah: Kenaz.

16 The sons of Jehallelel: Ziph, Ziphah, Tiria, and Asarel.

17 The sons of Ezrah: Jether, Mered, Epher, and Jalon. These are the sons of Bithiah, the daughter of Pharaoh, whom Mered married; and she conceived and bore Miriam, Shammai, and Ishbah, the father of Eshtemoa. 18 And his Judahite wife bore Jered the father of Gedor, Heber the father of Soco, and Jekuthiel the father of Zanoah.

19 The sons of the wife of Hodiah, the sister of Naham, were the fathers of Keilah the Garmite and Eshtemoa the Maacathite.

20 The sons of Shimon: Amnon, Rinnah, Ben-hanan, and Tilon. The sons of Ishi: Zoheth and Ben-zoheth.

21 The sons of Shelah the son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the clans of the house of linen workers at Beth-ashbea; 22 and Jokim, and the men of Cozeba, and Joash, and Saraph, who ruled in Moab and returned to Lehem (now the records are ancient). 23 These were the potters who were inhabitants of Netaim and Gederah. They lived there in the king's service.

24 The sons of Simeon: Nemuel, Jamin, Jarib, Zerah, Shaul;

25 Shallum was his son, Mibsam his son, Mishma his son.

26 The sons of Mishma: Hammuel his son, Zaccur his son, Shimei his son.

27 Shimei had sixteen sons and six daughters; but his brothers did not have many children, nor did all their clan multiply like the men of Judah. 28 They lived in Beersheba, Moladah, Hazar-shual, 29 Bilhah, Ezem, Tolad, 30 Bethuel, Hormah, Ziklag, 31 Beth-marcaboth, Hazar-susim, Beth-biri, and Shaaraim. These were their cities until David reigned. 32 And their villages were Etam, Ain, Rimmon, Tochen, and Ashan, five cities, 33 along with all their villages that were around these cities as far as Baal. These were their settlements, and they kept a genealogical record.

34 Meshobab, Jamlech, Joshah the son of Amaziah, 35 Joel, Jehu the son of Joshibiah, son of Seraiah, son of Asiel, 36 Elioenai, Jaakobah, Jeshohaiah, Asaiah, Adiel, Jesimiel, Benaiah, 37 Ziza the son of Shiphi, son of Allon, son of Jedaiah, son of Shimri, son of Shemaiah—

38 these mentioned by name were princes in their clans, and their fathers' houses increased greatly. 39 They journeyed to the entrance of Gedor, to the east side of the valley, to seek pasture for their flocks, 40 where they found rich, good pasture, and the land was very broad, quiet, and peaceful, for the former inhabitants there belonged to Ham.

41 These, registered by name, came in the days of Hezekiah, king of Judah, and destroyed their tents and the Meunites who were found there, and marked them for destruction to this day, and settled in their place, because there was pasture there for their flocks. 42 And some of them, five hundred men of the Simeonites, went to Mount Seir, having as their leaders Pelatiah, Neariah, Rephaiah, and Uzziel, the sons of Ishi. 43 And they defeated the remnant of the Amalekites who had escaped, and they have lived there to this day.

So many people live in the world and have lived. Impossible to know all of the life stories. Yet not for the Creator of the Universe. The LORD, God Almighty.

Psalm 147

1 Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.
2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars;
he gives to all of them their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
his understanding is beyond measure.
6 The Lord lifts up the humble;
he casts the wicked to the ground.

7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
make melody to our God on the lyre!
8 He covers the heavens with clouds;
he prepares rain for the earth;
he makes grass grow on the hills.
9 He gives to the beasts their food,
and to the young ravens that cry.
10 His delight is not in the strength of the horse,
nor his pleasure in the legs of a man,
11 but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him,
in those who hope in his steadfast love.

12 Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem!
Praise your God, O Zion!
13 For he strengthens the bars of your gates;
he blesses your children within you.
14 He makes peace in your borders;
he fills you with the finest of the wheat.
15 He sends out his command to the earth;
his word runs swiftly.
16 He gives snow like wool;
he scatters hoarfrost like ashes.
17 He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs;
who can stand before his cold?
18 He sends out his word, and melts them;
he makes his wind blow and the waters flow.
19 He declares his word to Jacob,
his statutes and rules to Israel.
20 He has not dealt thus with any other nation;
they do not know his rules.
Praise the Lord!

In the middle of the dusty genealogy - we must realize this isn't dusty genealogy to God. A thousand years in the sight of man is equal to one day of the LORD. These men are fully known as warm souls to a living God.

In the middle of this list - that is more or less incomprehensible to us - we see a name we recognize - a life story we want to examine. We experience a very small, infinitesimal spark of God's wide, unfathomable interest He has in each of us. Who? Jabez.

It's amazing - after all the interest in the "PRAYER OF JABEZ" we find it buried in Our dusty tomes of 1 Chronicles 4. No other mention of "JABEZ" is given. Chosen, precious, special Jabez.

Jabez was more honorable than his brothers; and his mother called his name Jabez, saying, “Because I bore him in pain [Jabez sounds like the Hebrew for pain].” 10 Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh that you would bless me and enlarge my border, and that your hand might be with me, and that you would keep me from harm [evil] so that it might not bring me pain!” And God granted what he asked.

What do these few sentences convey to us capturing our breath-taking interest? Of course, the easy answer is prosperity. No. This prayer is similar to Solomon's prayer for wisdom. Jabez. Did. Not. Ask. For. All. The. Treasure. Belonging. To. The. Lord. Jabez asked for something in the quietness of his heart. After a lot of introspective prayer, Jabez realized life offers pain. God saw his introspection.

Jabez, in the midst of a polytheistic world, (not unsimilar to our brash, striving, media driven world) has quieted his heart and he speaks to the LORD. Jabez knows his prayer has the attention of the Lord Most High. Jabez speaks earnestly to the Lord. Jabez asks for God to be with him, to provide for him with a supposition - Jabez does not mean to horde, but guide men as Abraham did. Not for glory, but for edification of God. For a simple reason. Jabez has experienced pain. And he wishes for it to cease.

And God granted what he asked.





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1 Chronicles 2 ~ Jesse was the father of

Matthew 13:31-32
He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”




1 Chronicles 2 ~ (New International Version)


1 These were the sons of Israel:

Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, 2 Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

3 The sons of Judah:
Er, Onan and Shelah. These three were born to him by a Canaanite woman, the daughter of Shua. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the LORD’s sight; so the LORD put him to death. 4 Judah’s daughter-in-law Tamar bore Perez and Zerah to Judah. He had five sons in all.

5 The sons of Perez:
Hezron and Hamul.

6 The sons of Zerah:
Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Kalkol and Darda - five in all.

7 The son of Karmi:
Achar, who brought trouble on Israel by violating the ban on taking devoted things.

8 The son of Ethan:
Azariah.

9 The sons born to Hezron were:
Jerahmeel, Ram and Caleb.


10 Ram was the father of
Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, the leader of the people of Judah. 11 Nahshon was the father of Salmon, Salmon the father of Boaz, 12 Boaz the father of Obed and Obed the father of Jesse.

13 Jesse was the father of
Eliab his firstborn; the second son was Abinadab, the third Shimea, 14 the fourth Nethanel, the fifth Raddai, 15 the sixth Ozem and the seventh David. 16 Their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. Zeruiah’s three sons were Abishai, Joab and Asahel. 17 Abigail was the mother of Amasa, whose father was Jether the Ishmaelite.


18 Caleb son of Hezron had children by his wife Azubah (and by Jerioth). These were her sons: Jesher, Shobab and Ardon. 19 When Azubah died, Caleb married Ephrath, who bore him Hur. 20 Hur was the father of Uri, and Uri the father of Bezalel.

21 Later, Hezron, when he was sixty years old, married the daughter of Makir the father of Gilead. He made love to her, and she bore him Segub. 22 Segub was the father of Jair, who controlled twenty-three towns in Gilead. 23 (But Geshur and Aram captured Havvoth Jair,[w] as well as Kenath with its surrounding settlements—sixty towns.) All these were descendants of Makir the father of Gilead.

24 After Hezron died in Caleb Ephrathah, Abijah the wife of Hezron bore him Ashhur the father of Tekoa.


25 The sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron:
Ram his firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem and Ahijah. 26 Jerahmeel had another wife, whose name was Atarah; she was the mother of Onam.

27 The sons of Ram the firstborn of Jerahmeel:
Maaz, Jamin and Eker.

28 The sons of Onam:
Shammai and Jada.

The sons of Shammai:
Nadab and Abishur.

29 Abishur’s wife was named Abihail, who bore him Ahban and Molid.

30 The sons of Nadab:
Seled and Appaim. Seled died without children.

31 The son of Appaim:
Ishi, who was the father of Sheshan.
Sheshan was the father of Ahlai.

32 The sons of Jada, Shammai’s brother:
Jether and Jonathan. Jether died without children.

33 The sons of Jonathan:
Peleth and Zaza.

These were the descendants of Jerahmeel.

34 Sheshan had no sons—only daughters.
He had an Egyptian servant named Jarha. 35 Sheshan gave his daughter in marriage to his servant Jarha, and she bore him Attai.

36 Attai was the father of Nathan,
Nathan the father of Zabad,
37 Zabad the father of Ephlal,
Ephlal the father of Obed,
38 Obed the father of Jehu,
Jehu the father of Azariah,
39 Azariah the father of Helez,
Helez the father of Eleasah,
40 Eleasah the father of Sismai,
Sismai the father of Shallum,
41 Shallum the father of Jekamiah,
and Jekamiah the father of Elishama.

42 The sons of Caleb the brother of Jerahmeel:
Mesha his firstborn, who was the father of Ziph, and his son Mareshah,[z] who was the father of Hebron.

43 The sons of Hebron:
Korah, Tappuah, Rekem and Shema. 44 Shema was the father of Raham, and Raham the father of Jorkeam. Rekem was the father of Shammai. 45 The son of Shammai was Maon, and Maon was the father of Beth Zur.

46 Caleb’s concubine Ephah was the mother of Haran, Moza and Gazez. Haran was the father of Gazez.

47 The sons of Jahdai:
Regem, Jotham, Geshan, Pelet, Ephah and Shaaph.

48 Caleb’s concubine Maakah was the mother of Sheber and Tirhanah. 49 She also gave birth to Shaaph the father of Madmannah and to Sheva the father of Makbenah and Gibea. Caleb’s daughter was Aksah. 50 These were the descendants of Caleb.

The sons of Hur the firstborn of Ephrathah:
Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim, 51 Salma the father of Bethlehem, and Hareph the father of Beth Gader.

52 The descendants of Shobal the father of Kiriath Jearim were:
Haroeh, half the Manahathites, 53 and the clans of Kiriath Jearim: the Ithrites, Puthites, Shumathites and Mishraites. From these descended the Zorathites and Eshtaolites.

54 The descendants of Salma:
Bethlehem, the Netophathites, Atroth Beth Joab, half the Manahathites, the Zorites, 55 and the clans of scribes[aa] who lived at Jabez: the Tirathites, Shimeathites and Sucathites. These are the Kenites who came from Hammath, the father of the Rekabites

How can we turn dusty genealogy into something we don't think of every day? How to connect the dots from 300 B.C. to 2011 A.D......

Well, it is the genealogy of the Son of God. So, Bonus. We are adopted into the family. Big Bonus, this is our family.

So how long did people dwell on these dusty tomes? Today. Even in this generation, the Family of David still gathers and has family reunions of the descendants of King David. Me? I'd love to get in on this.

What about the family of Mary? Luke tells us she is related to her cousin Elizabeth - a daughter of Aaron. The Sanhedrin portion of the Talmud was interested in Mary's family. Very interested. While Jesus is also called Naggar bar naggar - "the carpenter son of a carpenter", also Ben charsch etaim - "the son of a wood worker"; Mary is identified as being the daughter of Heli.

And who records Jesus' genealogy right away? Matthew. All of the Gospels are identified by author personality and its characteristic - let's think about Matthew and why he started out telling us about Jesus' family.

A.J. Saldarini summarizes Matthew as : "The Gospel of Matthew addresses a deviant group within the Jewish community, a reformist Jewish sect seeking influence and power (relatively unsuccessfully) within the Jewish community as a whole."

So... Levi was bad to the bone. (Levi's part of the tax collector group looking too loyal to Rome for Jewish standards, even though the Temple Priest choices were made by Herod/Roman Puppet King. Levi, now called Matthew, was trying something new. But still part of the opposite end sect making the Temple unhappy.) Why would this tax collector, Roman Emperor employee/thug, named Levi who, in redemption, became our sainted Matthew start telling us about a list of the establishment?

Dang it. Again. Those pesky, exclusive Christians at it again. Offering to include everyone. What?

Matthew 9:10
While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples.

While Matthew may have felt more comfortable with the racketeers & invited the upwardly mobile thugs to his party, he invites the establishment into his Gospel in the first chapter. He throws the door open to them. Why? Matthew believes Jesus includes all people. And Matthew remembers Jesus began His ministry to the Children of Israel. The earliest dated fragment of the Gospel of Matthew is 26 A.D to 70 A.D. By then, Matthew knew Christianity was moving out of Israel into Asia, Rome and Europe. Matthew begins like Jesus, he invites all and he starts with the Children of Israel.


Matthew 19:23
Then Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."


Matthew 5:15-17
Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.17 Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.


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2 Timothy 3:10-17 ~ all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness

2 Timothy 3:10-17

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio


10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God [a messenger of God] may be competent, equipped for every good work.

20 -30 years ago, Christianity was divisive by denomination. Christians would gather and wonder about Jesus and the Heavenly Kingdom being burdened by the gap in the body of Christ. Would God be saddened? Today, we've seen news reports of the high rate of change - people changing denominations. Then considerable attrition in the major denominations.

We are at the 500 year mark in Christianity and live in interesting times. The denominations that carried the founders of the United States across oceans - the ones we recognize as belonging to our families, our grandparents, parents and our generation are falling into decline. People are just not divided by denomination any more.

What is new? People are divided by - - - What are the Scriptures?

The Churches believing the Scriptures are the Word of God are growing. The faithful want their faith in hope and love.

Jesus said, in Luke 6:44: For each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thorn bushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.

Paul wrote the same to Timothy in this letter the same thing.

You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me.

Our pastor, Clark Lowenfield, said in Sunday's sermon, "Jesus is fully divine and fully human. The Bible is also fully human and fully divine."

2 Thessalonians 3:17
I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. This is the sign of genuineness in every letter of mine; it is the way I write.

1 Corinthians 16:21
I, Paul, write this greeting in my own hand.

Galatians 6:11
See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!


and

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness

Romans 15:4
For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

2 Peter 1:19-21
And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Peter agrees with Paul in Scriptures, as does John. These men who knew Jesus, clearly knew if Jesus said He was the Son of God and was killed for it. They would be killed for claiming to write Scripture for God. They believed what they had witnessed was greater than their lives.

2 Peter 1:16
For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

John says in his 21st, last, chapter:
24 This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true.

and John's 1st chapter he says:
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

2 Samuel 23:2
"The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; his word was on my tongue.

Ezekiel 1:3
The word of the LORD came to Ezekiel the priest, the son of Buzi, by the Kebar River in the land of the Babylonians. There the hand of the LORD was upon him.

Acts 1:16
and said, "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus--

2 Peter 1:18-19
We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have something more sure, the prophetic word, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts

2 Corinthians 4:6
For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.


Why doesn't archeological fragments back up the early writings of the Bible? It does! It does! Tender papyrus is found! Preserved from 30 and 70 A.D., The Magdalen Papyrus



Qumran Cave 7, portions of Scripture from Timothy, James, Mark and Acts - 70 AD - latest date.


Rylands Papyrus recently re-dated to 90 AD




Bodmer Papyrus - 50 collected works of Scripture dated to 200 A.D.

Does history record this time. Again and again and again. The Sanhedrin Court documents of Israel - encountering the miracles of Jesus, who His mother is, who His father and grandfather are, how they despised Him "for sorcery." The writing of Josephus - from Israel, recording undisputed history for 3 emperors. Writing of Jesus as the Christ, amazed His disciples did not desert Him after death and was the first time the word Christians were used. Writing of Jesus' brother - James.

Julius Africanus, an early church father, writing in the year 221 C.E. wrote about the writings of Thallus - quoting from the now destroyed works of the famous first century historian about Jesus. Cornelius Tacitus, born circa early 50 A.D., became a senator, wrote of the Christians at the time of Nero and their belief in Jesus. The early first century letters of Rabbi Lycanthra of Lystra, Israel - worried, saying how will the true faith of Judaism continue when so many miracles keep occurring in the name of Jesus Christ.

The 262 years of martyrdom - people willing to proclaim Jesus Christ with their lives. 16 years after the death of Jesus, the Emperors of Rome knew the name of Jesus and feared His power. The first distinct Roman persecution of Christians in 64 A.D., by the emperor Nero, and closes with the implementation of the 'Edict of Milan' in 313 CE., signed by Constantine and Licinius.

Sometime in the 3rd century A.D., Sextus Julius Africanus, also cited by Eusebius of Caesarea, Bishop of Caesarea, records the Emperor Diocletian sent a troop from Rome specifically to discredit the relatives - nephews - of Jesus who had kept the records of their ancestry with great care. Emperor Diocletian wanted the family to recant their claim that Jesus was the Son of God. Instead they were killed. Diocletian considered this to be his most important stand against Jesus in an ever failing battle to do away with Christianity. (Church History 1.7.14)

Further reading can be found - http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08375a.htm
http://www.biblebelievers.org.au/talmud1.htm

1 Thessalonians 2:9-10 (New International Version)

⁹ Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. ¹⁰ You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.

Hebrews 12:1-3

¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

How have you received the Good News ..... 2,000 years after Jesus Christ rose from the dead?

Acts 10:40-42

⁴⁰ but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. ⁴¹ He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen—by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead.

2,000 years later - we still honor Him as the Son of God. Our Redeemer. Believing in Him, there will be a day - when all tears will be wiped away - we will know Him fully as He has known us.

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Acts 16:1-21 ~ the believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of Timothy

Acts 16:1-21 (Today's New International Version)

1 Paul came to Derbe and then to Lystra, where a disciple named Timothy lived, whose mother was Jewish and a believer but whose father was a Greek. 2 The believers at Lystra and Iconium spoke well of him. 3 Paul wanted to take him along on the journey, so he circumcised him because of the Jews who lived in that area, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. 4 As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.

6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

11 From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis. 12 From there we traveled to Philippi, a Roman colony and the leading city of that district of Macedonia. And we stayed there several days.

13 On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there. 14 One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message. 15 When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. "If you consider me a believer in the Lord," she said, "come and stay at my house." And she persuaded us.

16 Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. 17 She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved." 18 She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, "In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!" At that moment the spirit left her.

19 When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities. 20 They brought them before the magistrates and said, "These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar 21 by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice."

Two separate spirits are spoken of in Acts 16. The Holy Spirit of Jesus didn't let Paul and his companions enter Bythnia, where they were headed, where they were trying to go with the best intentions. The Holy Spirit didn't let them go forward to preach the Good News.

Then Paul stopped another spirit proclaiming Paul and the others as bringing the way to salvation from the Most High God. It seems to contradict, doesn't it? The Holy Spirit stopped them from spreading the Good News in Bythnia and then they stopped a spirit proclaiming in Macedonia.

Father God's wisdom is greater than our own. Jesus knew they were needed in Macedonia and He redirected them. Paul became annoyed by the constant shouting, the repeating banter of the spirit. It wasn't helpful, just causing chaos instead of order.

That's opposite what Paul learned about Timothy from the believers, Paul didn't hear proclamation's repeated over and over, he learned more about Timothy.

Galatians 5:19-25

19 The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

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Mark 6:14-29 ~ Ask me

Herod Antipas was known as a builder. Tiberus, the city was built to let Caesar know - Herod was his man. Herod Antipas lived on a stage, where he liked to create images; fittingly this ruin survives the best of all he built.

This coin of Herod Antipas was carefully created without images to please his
Jewish Kingdom, who, biblically, did not like images.

Mark 6:14-29 (English Standard Version)

14 King Herod heard of it, for Jesus' name had become known. Some said, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead. That is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “He is Elijah.” And others said, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16 But when Herod heard of it, he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” 17 For it was Herod who had sent and seized John and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip's wife, because he had married her. 18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.” 19 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and he kept him safe. When he heard him, he was greatly perplexed, and yet he heard him gladly.

21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his nobles and military commanders and the leading men of Galilee. 22 For when Herodias's daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests. And the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.” 23 And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 24 And she went out and said to her mother, “For what should I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” 25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27 And immediately the king sent an executioner with orders to bring John's head. He went and beheaded him in the prison 28 and brought his head on a platter and gave it to the girl, and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.

~ And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom."

Herod was unwise. He had divorced his wife and married his brother's wife. He was worried Jesus was John's reincarnation and he hoped Jesus would perform for him - a miracle. Herod Antipas, was what is known as a "poser". A Jewish King, leading God's chosen people, while twisting or ignoring the rules to suit himself or Caesar.

Jesus called Herod a fox. Unlike "poser", Jesus meant fox as in the traditional cunning animal. A fox - typically live in small family groups, opportunistic feeders that hunt live prey. Jesus loved and forgave all of us. Jesus could see into our hearts and Jesus sees straight into Herod. Unless a fox is killing your livestock, it's a great pleasure to see a fox. Splendid apparel with a shrewd face. Jesus loved Herod and could appreciate him, even for his flaws.

Herod is offering half his kingdom in exchange for the life of a man of God. He has posed so long as so many different roles - even to himself - he has forgotten...

Isaiah 7:9
If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.

Herod Antipas did forfeit ....his whole kingdom; his small family group included Herodias' brother. Herodias' brother convinced Caesar, after 42 years, Herod Antipas was a failure. Herod Antipas and Herodias were cut off and exiled from Israel.

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Acts 9:1-20 ~ he rose and was baptized

Acts 9:1-20

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio


1 But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. 3 Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.


4 And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” 5 And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. 6 But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” 7 The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. 8 Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And for three days he was without sight, and neither ate nor drank.


10 Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, 12 and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” 13 But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. 16 For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”


17 So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; 19 and taking food, he was strengthened.


For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. 20 And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.”

Recently, we looked at John the Baptist – in the 3rd and first chapters of John’s Gospel – it reveals John the Baptist did not know Jesus as Lord for years, John the Baptist spent considerable time looking and observing the workings of God and the lack of response from man.

Yet the Spirit of God, breathing out truth, has the same salvation, miracle of God component:

John 3:34-35
34 For he whom God has sent utters the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure. 35 The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.

Once God has transformed their souls for God, their lives were transformed. The disciples were amazed, astonished, afraid, watchful, bickering over their places, but still able to run away and hide. After Thomas had declared he would go with Jesus to see what He would do for Lazarus, Thomas said he would die with Jesus, but push comes to shove and fear did reign.

Did Jesus condemn the disciples. No. Jesus gave them more of what they needed for Salvation. The gift of the Holy Spirit. After Jesus was gone, they were marched through the Temple, right up to the people who they had been raised to respect as the God authority on earth, the people who had condemned Jesus and still preach and praise for Jesus.

Salvation comes at all different times for people. Salvation is a gift of God and occurs in God’s time. Consider the 10 lepers Jesus healed. Only one returned to give thanks and praise.


Father God, when You healed, You told mankind to get up and get going. Help the people who are already called as Children of God to be empowered to be Your Light, each day. Help the people like Peter, who are falling down and feeling fearful, to remember You lifted Peter and did not let Peter go. When we feel uncertain or afraid, help us to remember You are the Son of God. And we will cast our cares, upon You. You Love us. In Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.


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Acts 14: 8-20 ~ won the crowd over

Acts 14:8-20

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

8 Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. 9 He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, 10 said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking. 11 And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, “The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!” 12 Barnabas they called Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker. 13 And the priest of Zeus, whose temple was at the entrance to the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their garments and rushed out into the crowd, crying out, 15 “Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them. 16 In past generations he allowed all the nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.” 18 Even with these words they scarcely restrained the people from offering sacrifice to them.

19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead. 20 But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.

A hard day of work for the disciples. Out of the frying pan and into the fire. Fortunately for the disciples, the power of life and death is out of the crowd's control.


Psalm 127:1-3
Unless the Lord builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
2 It is in vain that you rise up early
and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for he gives to his beloved sleep.




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Psalm 99 ~ The King in His might loves justice. You have established equity; You have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob.

Jacob sees Esau Coming to Meet Him, painted by James Tissot (Genesis 33)


Psalm 99

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

The Lord reigns; let the peoples tremble!
He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake!
2 The Lord is great in Zion;
he is exalted over all the peoples.
3 Let them praise your great and awesome name!
Holy is he!
4 The King in his might loves justice.
You have established equity;
you have executed justice
and righteousness in Jacob.
5 Exalt the Lord our God;
worship at his footstool!
Holy is he!

6 Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
Samuel also was among those who called upon his name.
They called to the Lord, and he answered them.
7 In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them;
they kept his testimonies
and the statute that he gave them.

8 O Lord our God, you answered them;
you were a forgiving God to them,
but an avenger of their wrongdoings.
9 Exalt the Lord our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for the Lord our God is holy!




Isaiah 6:5
And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!”

Not everyone who stays away from Church is unbelieving. Some people stay away because they realize they shouldn't stand too close to the Holy mountain of God Almighty. Going to Church makes them feel second rate and guilty.

The disciples were frankly terrified during the Transfiguration. The Glory of God was overwhelming to them. Moses and Elijah - to stand in their midst made them utter weak comments that they must have cringed over later.

Much easier to stay on the most traveled, well worn paths of the work a day world. A resume comes to you, someone knows someone and they are looking for work. A personal email/letter to you is accompanying the resume. Yes, the applicant has had a rough path. He has cheated his dying father. But he was young & his mother helped him. Sure, he was a run away during his father's dying, but he went to work for a relative for years. Years. And he did great work. The relative/boss cheated him. Then he stayed with the cheating employer for years. Sure, he has his way with women and ... women servants. And yes, he did put the women servants in harm's way when his dangerous brother came to call. Oh, yeah. He does have an angry, violent brother who terrifies him.

This man needs work. He has 12 sons and a daughter. He's a great father. Except he favors two of the children. One son, slightly more than the second. The kids are angry, but come on - the man needs work. One of his sons was killed in a wilderness trip. He is willing to leave his beloved promised land and relocate. He is the kind of man to wrestle with great difficulties. Look at the years of work record - this man is even willing to change his name if you promise him eternal loyalty and steadfast love.

So please, make Jacob your banner. He will make a great CEO.

Our God is might to save. And forgiving, seeing the intentions of the heart in difficult situations, forgiving the intentions of the heart in difficult matters.

If God had a name what would it be? I AM, ABBA, FATHER, DADDY
And would you call it to his face? Jacob was known to wrestle God
If you were faced with him in all his glory - Like Jacob
what would you ask if you had just one question? Bless me?!

Yeah, Yeah, God is great
Yeah, Yeah, God is good
Yeah Yeah yeah yeah yeah

What if God was one of us? This has been known to happen. With angels, star and shepherds
Just a slob like one of us - Like Jacob
Just a stranger on the bus - "I am a stranger, in a strange land"
Trying to make his way home - Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
for you are with me

If God had a face
What would it look like? Early Christian art of Jesus, before the 5th century, looks like the Shroud of Turin - Jesus' face
And would you want to see it - Usually there is a crowd at the Shroud
If seeing meant that you would have to believe
In things like heaven and Jesus and the saints
and all the Prophets - So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Yeah Yeah God is great
Yeah Yeah God is good
Yeah Yeah yeah yeah yeah Yeah!

What if God was one of us? Jesus of Nazareth sending His Holy Spirit to dwell in who All who believe

Just a slob like one of us- He turns a desert into pools of water,
a parched land into springs of water.
And there he lets the hungry dwell

Just a stranger on the bus
Trying to make his way home
Just trying to make his way home
Back up to Heaven all alone - Nations shall dwell with Him!
Nobody callin' on the phone - As long as there are tests there will be prayer in school!

cept for the Pope maybe in Rome - Whenever 2 or more gather in His name....

Yeah Yeah God is great
Yeah Yeah God is good
Yeah Yeah yeah yeah


Exodus 34:7
maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”

Numbers 14:18
‘The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’


Nehemiah 9:17
They refused to listen and failed to remember the miracles you performed among them. They became stiff-necked and in their rebellion appointed a leader in order to return to their slavery. But you are a forgiving God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. Therefore you did not desert them

Psalm 86:5
You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.

Psalm 99:8
LORD our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds.

Daniel 9:9
The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him

Ephesians 4:32
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.


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Christianity, Bible, Scripture, Jesus is Lord, Messiah, Anglican, Prayer, Faith, Hope, Love, Miracles, God sees more than others, God sees you. Forgiveness, encouragement. Holiness.

1 John 4:7-21 ~ this commandment we have from Him: whoever loves God must also love his brother

1 John 4:7-21

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio


Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.

13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.

17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. 19 We love because he first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.

Love is an subject interesting everyone. Some people might pretend to be more interested in the ice tea, or the ice cubes swirling in their glass, than appear to be interested in love. Yet love captivates.

Lately Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged was made outside of Hollywood because it is too interested in laissez faire for the left agenda of Hollywood. The party on the left has become the party on the right. I was a business major at Texas A&M and read several of Ayn Rand's books as required reading, at least twice in separate classes. I always was reminded of Taylor Caldwell's Captains and Kings and Testimony of Two Men. Ayn Rand's heroes are schemed against by angry, jealous, powerful people in tortuous, inescapable plots and it is the same for Taylor Caldwell's characters.

Ayn Rand successfully captured the attention of readers, gaining in popularity for 20 years and having a second resurgence, lately. Taylor Caldwell has great little vignettes where the Senator doesn't merely do dastardly deeds and is generally condemned by Ayn Rand's characters for being "a miserable child." Taylor Calwell's Senator will be explained to be generally loved by all, a hero to his constituents; who secretly nagged, bullied and verbally abused his family into 'decline', suicide, alcoholism and destruction while riding a wave of public sympathy for having 'every man' type troubles.

I went to see the beautifully done movie, I finally get to say, 25 years later, - okay Ayn Rand is interesting, but no - she is not an incentive for me to jump on the band wagon of "greed is good." Her characters are dynamic, bold, glamorous, inventive and privileged, self-centered and shallow.

Why has Any Rand hung on while Taylor Caldwell has waned? Taylor Calwell's stories capture much more interesting detail, but Taylor Caldwell philosophy says man's nature does not change.

"There can be help. There's always God," said Amy. "I'm ashamed. I'd forgotten about Him.” She was quiet for a time. When she lifted her head she looked older and resolute. “Don’t blame yourself too much, Cousin Caroline,” she said. “That’s as bad as taking no blame at all. I’m not going to blame everything on Ames; I was a little fool myself. I was old enough to know that things aren’t simple.” - A Prologue to Love

Ayn Rand explains her philosophy:

"You have heard no concepts of morality but the mystical or the social. ... For centuries, the battle of morality was fought between those who claimed that your life belongs to God and those who claimed that it belongs to your neighbors–between those who preached that the good is self-sacrifice for the sake of ghosts in heaven and those who preached that the good is self-sacrifice for the sake of incompetents on earth. And no one came to say that your life belongs to you and that the good is to live it. John Galt - Atlas Shrugged

Well.... so Ayn Rand's protagonist is to claim this life is mine and I will live it for myself - isn't that what her villains are already doing? And doing it to the hero. Novels are just philosophy written to be interesting. People are so willing to listen. Did they listen to the end of Niccolo Machiavelli and Friedrich Nietzsche - where their ideas led them?

So what does Jesus' beloved disciple, Ayn Rand and Taylor Caldwell have to do with the reading?
Life is about who you love.


With all these ideas on really how to have a good life - How will we reach a higher level of contentment in this earthly life? I have a good example for you.

My grandmother's next door neighbor had a good married life. Virgina was married to the Ole Miss Football Coach for many years. One day, fairly young, her husband died of a heart attack. She wasn't left with a great deal of money. She'd raised her children and they'd moved away to get good jobs.

Virginia looked every day for a way to help people. When we visited my grandmother, she'd bring us homemade fudge, we'd sit, visit and eat her homemade treat. My grandmother had a headache and Virginia took us to see the fireworks. Virginia - when she was 70 - spent a lot of time driving people from her Church, "the elderly" to Church or to the doctor. She played the piano for 30 years at her Presbyterian Church. She volunteered for Meals on Wheels. I wrote to Virginia after my grandmother had passed on, for about a decade, and told her she always made our visits more fun. Virginia wrote me back and sent newspaper clippings of a parade in Oxford, Mississippi. They had a parade, made Virginia the MC and dedicated the parade to her. Why? She had worked for so many decades, just being helpful to people. Virginia said she'd been tickled to ride on the float in her honor, but really she'd had a good life and a good life was it's own reward.

whoever loves God must also love his brother

The Scriptures don't promise a good life from loving our brother. Virginia found it to be so. I know Virgina faced loneliness when she was a widow. She felt abandoned at times. She wasn't part of the affluent society who loved them when she was part of a football loving community. She didn't have a fancy car. To be frank, all her enthusiasm intimidated my grandmother and as next door neighbors for 40 years, sometimes they gently sniped at each other. Once we were discussing my grandmother's total bereavement after her second husband had passed on and Virginia made such an interesting comment. She said my grandmother's affluent childhood had been so idyllic, it had spoiled the bumps and bruises of adult life for her. Interesting that affluence and ease doesn't necessarily equate to pervasive happiness. Virginia was persistently good to my grandmother; she just never got over loving other people.

Psalm 34:19
A righteous man may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all

Micah 7:8
Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.

2 Corinthians 4:9
persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.


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Witness to Jesus Christ in each part of Scripture

My friend, SueJen, who is Buddhist, is currently visiting her family in Taiwan. She emailed this to me saying this it is shocking to her, but so touching. Enjoy!

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Acts 1:6-8 ~ you will be My witnesses

Salvation offered to us in Jesus Christ. The cross is a representation of mankind intersecting God's salvation in the holiness of God; transforming lives in faith, hope and love

Acts 1:6-8


English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

6 So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”


Matthew 28:16-20
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”


Mark 16:14-16
14 Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. 15 And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation. 16 Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

The Good News does not always reach the headlines. You might remember April 2009 (Easter) Newsweek Headlines': "The End of Christian America". The quote in the magazine was, "There it was, an old term with new urgency: post-Christian. This is not to say that the Christian God is dead, but that He is less of a force in American politics and culture than at any other time in recent memory." Some of the data was skewed. And the fall in numbers was attributed, although not announced in the article, to the decline of Catholicism in the North East USA. It never was reported the people who fell away from Catholicism over priest sexual abuses, returned and forgave the Church. Pope Benedict comforted the victims by saying it was as painful as Jesus Christ dying, wrongly labeled a sinner, on the cross. The people of Jesus Christ know about forgiveness.

The larger error is believing the Christian Church is struck down by numbers. The Light of Jesus Christ continues to shine.

We live in interesting times. The faithful believe more strongly. The unbelieving are more vocal and upset with topics like the exclusivity of Christian religion being the Only way into the Kingdom of Heaven. Religion is not ever the way into God's Salvation. It is Jesus Christ opening His arms willingly on the cross for all of mankind. Everyone. Jesus is the door, the gate, the way, the truth, the life to eternal salvation. Jesus Christ, as the Son of God, isn't religion, He is relationship.

People love to debate and get angry over Salvation. It is God's work. Salvation is a gift of God. Man can discuss it; God's salvation won't change.

Every 500 years there is a real shift in Christianity. 500 A.D. - 100 years after the 400 year persecution of Christians - Jesus Christ was readily accepted, loved in Europe. Mankind found new grace to allow room for slaves, women and all of mankind at the Communion Table. The Gospel's love and up-building was pouring into Africa. New Empires grew and spread the Gospel into Syria, Russia, and Scandinavia.

1000 A.D - the last holdouts for Hellenic Christianity disappeared. England becomes united under Christianity. Ireland establishes the Church and monasteries as the Emperor of Ireland is established. Russia, Vladimir the Great converts and the Russian Orthodox Church is founded. At the same time, the Latin speaking world was electrified with a renewed interest - studying the scriptures in their Greek version. Paving the way for 1500 A.D - mankind pursued the printing of the Bible and Martin Luther opened the path of Jesus Christ to breakaway from man's abuses of Jesus' Church.

We live in interesting times. For 2,000 years the Light of Christ has shone from His Church - and the gates of hell have not prevailed against it.

In our country, we see growth in Churches believing in Jesus Christ and proclaiming the Scriptures as God's Word. In Europe, countries that have seen Church attendance fall are seeing an up-building of 3% in just a few years. No one saw the European Churches coming back. Except the Lord.

The Pew Forum found:
By 2050, Christian Africans will grow another 25%. African Christians believe tremendously in the works of Jesus Christ for today. They believe in Jesus and witness life transforming miracles.

In the 1960's, the Christian Korean Church saw the Holy Spirit awaken the Korean people. Today the Christians in Korea are about 45% of the total population. Once again we see up-building of the Christian soul leads to optimism in the culture. Tremendous growth.

Fox News reports according to China Aid, a Texas-based human rights group, the number of Christians in China has increased 100-fold since 1949. Current estimates range from 80 million to 130 million active members. And one startling estimate from a Chinese Christian businessman has that number doubling or even tripling in the next generation. Christianity could become one of the macro forces shaping Chinese culture, say experts like Dr. David Aikman, author of "Jesus in Beijing."‬‪

The Good News does not always reach the headlines.

John 5:17
Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

Who is called to witness to Jesus Christ. As salt. As flavoring, using the opportunities God gives us. We are called. Live your faith.

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Psalm 59 ~ for You, O God, are my fortress

Psalm 59

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

Deliver me from my enemies, O my God;
protect me from those who rise up against me;
2 deliver me from those who work evil,
and save me from bloodthirsty men.

3 For behold, they lie in wait for my life;
fierce men stir up strife against me.
For no transgression or sin of mine, O Lord,
4 for no fault of mine, they run and make ready.
Awake, come to meet me, and see!
5 You, Lord God of hosts, are God of Israel.
Rouse yourself to punish all the nations;
spare none of those who treacherously plot evil. Selah

6 Each evening they come back,
howling like dogs
and prowling about the city.
7 There they are, bellowing with their mouths
with swords in their lips—
for “Who,” they think, “will hear us?”

8 But you, O Lord, laugh at them;
you hold all the nations in derision.
9 O my Strength, I will watch for you,
for you, O God, are my fortress.
10 My God in his steadfast love
[The God who shows me steadfast love]
will meet me;
God will let me look in triumph on my enemies.

11 Kill them not, lest my people forget;
make them totter [wander] by your power and bring them down,
O Lord, our shield!
12 For the sin of their mouths, the words of their lips,
let them be trapped in their pride.
For the cursing and lies that they utter,
13 consume them in wrath;
consume them till they are no more,
that they may know that God rules over Jacob
to the ends of the earth. Selah

14 Each evening they come back,
howling like dogs
and prowling about the city.
15 They wander about for food
and growl if they do not get their fill.

16 But I will sing of your strength;
I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning.
For you have been to me a fortress
and a refuge in the day of my distress.
17 O my Strength, I will sing praises to you,
for you, O God, are my fortress,
the God who shows me steadfast love.

I love the idea of God as our refuge, and thought of a beautiful fortress. This fortress was founded in the early days of the Christians still loving the Lord even when their lives were in danger. Not all the Christians stayed to become burning lights for the night games at the coliseum. Some carried their love of the Lord to new territories. This refuge exists 1700 years later.

Guaita fortress San Marino Italy, Most Serene Republic of San Marino - is a country in the Apennine Mountains. It is a landlocked enclave, completely surrounded by Italy. One of the European microstates, San Marino has the smallest population of all the members of the Council of Europe.

According to tradition, San Marino is the oldest constitutional republic in the world still existing: it was founded on September 3 in the year 301 by Marinus of Rab, a Christian stonemason fleeing the religious persecution of Roman Emperor Diocletian. San Marino has the oldest written constitution still in effect dating back to 1600.


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