Matthew 17:1-8 ~ transfigured

Matthew 17:1-8

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

¹ And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. ²And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light. ³ And behold, there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him.

⁴ And Peter said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you and one for Moses and one for Elijah." ⁵ He was still speaking when, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him."

⁶ When the disciples heard this, they fell on their faces and were terrified. ⁷ But Jesus came and touched them, saying, "Rise, and have no fear." ⁸ And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only. ⁹ And as they were coming down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, "Tell no one the vision, until the Son of Man is raised from the dead."


One of my best things is conversation. Which means ~ I am a talker. And I can Really appreciate Peter being faced with God's Glory and .... talking. And I have to say, this is one of the reasons I adore the Lord.....

It will be very interesting to know what God will say to me when I get to Heaven. Like the movies.... all that dialog and what did the LORD get out of it. Of one thing I am sure. My next reply to Him after He tells me is... not going to be - "For Sure. "

So.... faced with the supreme majesty and overwhelming Glory of God Almighty, Maker of the Heavens and the Universe - how did the disciples do?

Well, let's face it - what Peter said was a bit humorous. If I were God, I think I would have had a hard time not smothering a laugh.

What might have God have thought, in His God VOICE -

Acts 7:48
Yet the Most High does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says, “‘Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Did not my hand make all these things?’

Remember, God is a Father to all of us. He has to get a kick out of all of these out-takes. It's a family reunion and there are the funny moments.

And John - how did John do with the Supreme Glory of God.... Picture John not saying a word and as they go down the mountain - Jesus tells John not to say anything about it (v. 9). At that point, John must have just nodded with that glazed Deer in the headlights look - because - John took Jesus quit literally and all of the Gospel of John, John 1,2,3 and Revelation ..... John is not Telling. But John doesn't stop thinking about it and 18 Times Referring to God's Overwhelming Glory in his Gospel alone. John 1 is my favorite passage in the Bible and it goes a little like this:

John One - Notice, here, this is how John ... Begins
¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵ The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. ⁸ He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

⁹ The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. ¹¹He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. ¹²But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, ¹³who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

¹⁴And 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. ¹⁵( John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'") ¹⁶And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. ¹⁷For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. ¹⁸ No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side he has made him known.

Wow. Wow. And more wow.

And how did James do with the overwhelming vision of God's glory? James did like the Magi and brought Jesus a valuable gift - James thought so much of what he saw - he gave his life to God when cruel men asked him to recant his faith.

And how did Peter, the talker, do with the overwhelming vision of God's glory?

Peter later wrote of it:

2 Peter 1:16-21
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. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, [Or my Son, my Beloved] with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 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, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 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.


I feel blessed to read Peter go on to describe the vision as a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.

You know that you know. In your heart. It is difficult to put the assurance into words, but I remember the first hour I believed and it was exactly a light shining from within in my soul.


1 John 4:16
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.



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1 Peter 5:1-3 ~ willingly

1 Peter 5:1-3
1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: 2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; 3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.

We all want our Christmas gifts to be willingly given. Not given from fear or obligation.

How does the Lord do in willingly giving?

Matthew 14:28-29
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

.....It was Jesus' great opportunity, you know.... Jesus could have smiled and waived, laughed with the others, as Peter sank. "Bye Peter!" What a laugh, impossible to resist. Many people turn their backs on others when it is inconvenient to know them.

Jesus could have thundered, "Sinner. You are a stiff-necked, faithless man, convinced of your own goodness, eager for your own safety and glory!" And pointed at Peter until the water removed him from sight.

Not our Jesus. Our Jesus is our mediator, our advocate. Our Jesus saves. Our Jesus does not break a bruised reed, nor put out a faintly burning wick. How long did Jesus wait....

³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” ³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.

Peter was discovering he was not so righteous in faith as he hoped. Yet Peter jumped into the water, he was done trusting in his own righteousness, and swam to see Jesus to seek forgiveness.

Jesus was still willing to trust Peter again.

John 21:15-19
When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love (Greek word - agape - complete love) me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love (philo -brothery love) you.”

He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16 He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love (agape) me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love (philo) you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love (agape) me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love (agape) you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

Father God, in You real forgiveness exists. Thank You for all of the many times Your forgiveness is given so willingly. In Your Son, Jesus, life is abundant.


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


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Psalm 130 ~ my soul waits

World-Class Christmas Lights in Medellin, Colombia

Psalm 130

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

A Song of Ascents. Physically people moved up and down the Temple steps to sing this Psalm. It represents God the Almighty moving us from place to place in physicality, spiritually, mentally and all aspects of our lives.

¹ Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD!
²O Lord, hear my voice!
Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy!

³ If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
⁴ But with you there is forgiveness,
that you may be feared.

⁵ I wait for the LORD, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
⁶ my soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen for the morning,
more than watchmen for the morning.

⁷ O Israel, hope in the LORD!
For with the LORD there is steadfast love,
and with him is plentiful redemption.
⁸ And he will redeem Israel
from all his iniquities.

Christmas is a time of waiting. Advent is preparation for a baby who would be King Forever.

We become so used to our lives. And we forget to Look Up. What God plans for our lives... the places we haven't been, the people we have not met. The weddings yet to happen. The family yet to be born. Opportunities to come. Blessings. Not because we are so deserving; God in His willingness to bless.

The Scriptures record people to be self-centered. We believe we can corner life, put it within our boundaries. Manage everything. Easier to take the Mississippi River and believe man is in charge. Far better to be like Isaiah who cried out -

Isaiah 6:8
Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

I read one of the most popular and thought about verses in the Bible is:

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

How many of us believe it? Best to wait upon the LORD.

Luke 13:19
It is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his garden, and it grew and became a tree, and the birds of the air made nests in its branches.

Hebrews 12:12
Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed. Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.

Matthew 6:27
Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

Luke 2:13-14
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”


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John 1:22-41 ~ Who are you?

John 1:22-41

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

²² So they said to him, "Who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" ²³ He said, "I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said."

²⁴ (Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.) ²⁵ They asked him, "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" ²⁶ John answered them, "I baptize with water, but among you stands one you do not know, ²⁷ even he who comes after me, the strap of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie." ²⁸ These things took place in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

²⁹ The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰ This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks before me, because he was before me.' ³¹ I myself did not know him, but for this purpose I came baptizing with water, that he might be revealed to Israel." ³² And John bore witness: "I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. ³³ I myself did not know him, but he who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, this is he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' ³⁴ And I have seen and have borne witness that this is the Son of God."

³⁵ The next day again John was standing with two of his disciples, ³⁶ and he looked at Jesus as he walked by and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!" ³⁷ The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. ³⁸ Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, "What are you seeking?" And they said to him, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?" ³⁹ He said to them, "Come and you will see." So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour. ⁴⁰ One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. ⁴¹ He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which means Christ).


Preparation for Christmas involves mystery. When we are very young, the mystery is What Are You Going to Receive. And as we get a bit older... the mystery is .... find where it is hidden. Major Santa tip - avoid closets, attics and anywhere in your house. Go for the car trunk of the spouse who does the least amount of grocery store shopping in front of the kids. Lock + key = trunk. That way your 7 year old doesn't see the boxes in the attic and you don't have to drive around with your child endlessly, endlessly, endlessly asking if Santa is real. Even the 5 year old is bored. (I must have been brain damaged to hide it in the attic, I should have remembered at his age I was seek until It is found.)

(Yes. No, he isn't I saw the boxes. Yes. No, he isn't I saw the boxes. Santa doesn't need boxes. He isn't real is he? Yes. No. I saw the boxes. Yes. Santa is the Spirit of Giving. He is alive. What? What does that mean. Just repeat cycle in monotonous voice. In just a few weeks, Will they give up? As needed - for variety - for growth - begin explaining St. Nicholas. When more details are pressed, Repeat Cycle! It's good to look glazed and uninterested until the meaning is deeper because this is going to continue.) (Santa gifts at our house were the cheaper one - after all why should Santa have all the gift giving glam.)

At 7 years or older, the TV version of Santa sounds too fruit-loops to be true. And this isn't bad, it leads to discussions of giving. Deeper meaning of Christmas.

The deeper mystery of Christmas is who Jesus is. The Gospels agree that men - grown men - with families and jobs suddenly decided to go and walk, learn from Jesus. From the 1st Chapter, men meeting Jesus realize this man, this human man, is something extraordinary. And they were willing to give Jesus something - like the Magi did - something of extraordinary value. They were willing to give Him.... their lives. So much so, these men who walked with Jesus and hid after His death were willing to give up not just their way of lives but go to other unknown adventures and risk their hail and hearty lives for HIM.

Peter, archaeology tells us, had a magnificent home in Capernaum overlooking the Sea of Galilee. The reason Jesus told Peter several times where to cast the nets, was because Peter was the owner of a fleet of fishing vessels. (Gives some food for thought when next you hear that the disciples where ignorant men, huh? And the illiterate label - an Aramaic inscription on one of the broken Syagogue columns records the name of the donor, "Halfu, son of Zebida". These names in the Greek form (Alphaeus and Zebedee) are mentioned in the New Testament. Jesus Christ's Disciples, James and John, were sons of Zebedee. The New Testament calls them "sons of Thunder".)

Circa 1960 photo of Peter's house in Capernaum before the now existing Church was built to protect it. Synagogue in the Background
I think of St Nicholas giving gifts and we give gifts. In reality, Jesus gave us life. Men were willing to give Him their lives as well, just upon meeting Jesus. Christmas isn't a season. Christmas is having Christ live within us.

The answer to the question, "Who are you" is - I am a Child of God. Not worthy to tie the strap of His sandal. But I have found the Messiah.

Glory to You, Oh God.

1 John 4:19
We love because he first loved us.



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Matthew 21:14-17, 21, 22 ~ have faith

Extraordinarily Beautiful - Silent Night (Stille Nacht) Sung by The Vienna Boys Choir

Matthew 21:14-17, 21, 22

The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. ¹⁵ But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.

¹⁶ “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.

“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,

“‘From the lips of children and infants
you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”

¹⁷ And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

²¹ Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. ²² If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

There are hundreds and hundreds of prophesies fulfilled in Jesus Christ. One of them is
Psalm 8.


¹O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
² Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.

³When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
⁴ what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?

⁵Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
⁶You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
you have put all things under his feet,
⁷all sheep and oxen,
and also the beasts of the field,
⁸the birds of the heavens, and the fish of the sea,
whatever passes along the paths of the seas.

⁹O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

This praise bursting forth from the children, babes and infants really follows along with what Jesus said about His praise will be sung out.

Luke 19:36-40
And as he rode along, they spread their cloaks on the road. 37 As he was drawing near—already on the way down the Mount of Olives—the whole multitude of his disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen,

38 saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

39 And some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out.”

Makes all those Christmas Carols on the radio seem a bit warmer. Doesn't it? I have to admit, I like the old Christmas Carols better than the newer ones. Just a fuddy duddy that way.


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Psalm 1 ~ like a tree

Psalm 1

<sup>English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


1</sup> Blessed is the man^[a]
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
² but his delight is in the law^[b] of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

³ He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

⁵ Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
⁶ for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

Footnotes:
a. Psalm 1:1 The singular Hebrew word for man (ish) is used here to portray a representative example of a godly person;
b. Psalm 1:2 Or instruction

We have had an incredible year for the trees here in the Houston area. Record drought. A stunning number of trees are still standing and dead as a doorbell. Being a gardener, a friend called me to show me her incredible composting skill. That couple can really make dirt. Anyway, they called me to show me their patio tree, one of 3, shading their patio, died in the middle of the drought. It had been fertilized, watered and it just keeled over. It was the 'one' they relied upon for shade. "Why?" They asked. I said my cousin worked for the Louisiana State Forestry Commission and when he visited he said record drought is not record drought. It is just an event that has occurred again and again over the millenniums we have no record of. It is nature's way of making the forest stronger.

But they said, "The tree had all the necessary things for life." I said," It's still the stress of the event of constant wind, constant heat and it got to the tree. "

And I have to add here, we lost a 120 year old Oak that I was passionately in love with during Hurricane Ike, 2008. That grand old lady had a tornado hit her and she politely leaned over and slowly did a whole lot of damage to the next door neighbor's home. An 18 wheeler crane had to come, from Colorado, to remove that beautiful, still green tree covered in acorns. Our area township building authority saw the 3 story crane appear and drove over to see what the crane, he could see over the housetops, was doing. We had just learned our daughter, at 33 weeks gestation, was not going to live.

And wouldn't you know, Psalm 1 was my reading that tornado/hurricane evening. I felt worse than worse. It set me on a journey. What did the book of Job mean and how did it relate to me...

Psalm 1 is about hope and believing we can trust God. The acorns left by the 120 year old Oak left a tree. We are the tree that survived this year's drought. Some day, we will be the real Christmas tree that will just be glorious for this particular season. But in God's promises - all those lights of Christmas - Jesus the Light - continue to shine.

John 1:

5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

9 The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. ¹⁰ He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. ¹¹ He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. ¹² But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, ¹³ who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.




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2 Chronicles 33:10-20 ~ God was moved

2 Chronicles 33:10-20

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

¹⁰ The LORD spoke to Manasseh and to his people, but they paid no attention. ¹¹ Therefore the LORD brought upon them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria, who captured Manasseh with hooks and bound him with chains of bronze and brought him to Babylon. ¹² And when he was in distress, he entreated the favor of the LORD his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers. ¹³ He prayed to him, and God was moved by his entreaty and heard his plea and brought him again to Jerusalem into his kingdom. Then Manasseh knew that the LORD was God.

¹⁴ Afterward he built an outer wall for the city of David west of Gihon, in the valley, and for the entrance into the Fish Gate, and carried it around Ophel, and raised it to a very great height. He also put commanders of the army in all the fortified cities in Judah. ¹⁵ And he took away the foreign gods and the idol from the house of the LORD, and all the altars that he had built on the mountain of the house of the LORD and in Jerusalem, and he threw them outside of the city. ¹⁶ He also restored the altar of the LORD and offered on it sacrifices of peace offerings and of thanksgiving, and he commanded Judah to serve the LORD, the God of Israel. ¹⁷ Nevertheless, the people still sacrificed at the high places, but only to the LORD their God.

¹⁸ Now the rest of the acts of Manasseh, and his prayer to his God, and the words of the seers who spoke to him in the name of the LORD, the God of Israel, behold, they are in the Chronicles of the Kings of Israel. ¹⁹ And his prayer, and how God was moved by his entreaty, and all his sin and his faithlessness, and the sites on which he built high places and set up the Asherim and the images, before he humbled himself, behold, they are written in the Chronicles of the Seers. ²⁰ So Manasseh slept with his fathers, and they buried him in his house, and Amon his son reigned in his place.

Advent Conspiracy - Enter the Story

Manasseh, son of Hezekiah, moved God - just from a prayer offered in desperation.

What we are really all looking for in Christmas is to give something meaningful. To move the ones we love. The Advent Conspiracy is for the Biblical Churches who do not have Advent. And what they've done with it - is amazing.

About 12 years ago, we were moving into our second home and we threw out three 40 gallon trash bags from the boys' rooms with just bits of junk in them. It took about 2 days to sort out the junk from the still intact, working toys and as we carried it to the trash, my husband remarked "There goes about 2 Christmases." He was right. (Of course this is part of life! But we've worked hard to put one lasting gift into each Christmas.)

A meaningful gift - it prompts us - what 3 people do you know that you could do an act of kindness for and it would be meaningful. This is what our pastor, Clark Lowenfield asked us this Sunday - and it already starts to put new ideas in motion. Last year Clark challenged us to write a letter - to tell the ones you love - what you've shared with them. Why they are important to you. It's so much better than a warm sweater.

Christmas memories are made from more than a trip to the store. I think my college age sons Are going to enjoy the marshmallow air-rocket guns. I will too if they keep them outside... I'm still thinking on the memorable gift for the family. I do have an idea for a neighbor as one of the 3 people who need something.

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Mark 13:24-27 ~ send out the angels

Mark 13:24-27

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

²⁴ "But in those days, after that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light, ²⁵ and the stars will be falling from heaven, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. ²⁶And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. ²⁷ And then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the ends of the earth to the ends of heaven.

Angels - with the return of '80's nostalgia, maybe you remember the Christmas Angel craze of the 80's. I have participated in it in a big way and continue today. I saw photos of the New York Met tree in the 80's and have endeavored to do my best with our Christmas tree.


Met tree photos....

And I've had help with my angel tree project from family, my mom (of course) and friends. Even Church parties where the ornament is wrapped and distributed without anyone knowing what the ornament was - mine turns out to be an angel. My great-aunt Eloise had beautiful lace she collected for decades and my cousin Maxine gave it to my mom and to me. So our store bought angels have additions of beautiful lace and gold trim and acrylic paint applied to their clothes.

Not to mention the baseball angel, the football angel, the '99 Spencer doggy went to heaven photo in angel frame, the paper dinner plate angel, the valentine doily angel, the mother's day out angel, musical and medieval mosaic angels, red and white checked art deco angel, renaissance metal angel, pastel- paper- mache WWII plump Shirley Temple musical angels found in the attic of our second home, and - you get the idea. My sons even to this day look for the two angels repainted to look like them at age 5. They enjoyed placing their angel higher than the sibling's and sometimes the tree began to sway as that angel climbed heaven wards to 'higher' glory.

But in the middle of beautiful art - there is one thing I really long to see - an angel on the tree not looking like she is dressed to have High Tea with Queen Victoria. What about the real angels that the heart- stopping reaction is - O.M.G.


Luke 2:8-14

And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹ And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. ¹⁰ And the angel said to them, "Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger." ¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

¹⁴ "Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!"


Christmas is not just a reminder of God choosing to become part of our lives, but Christmas is the joyous reminder - we are going Home. All of the Christmas joy and Christmas hassle - our Alpha and Omega are in Jesus Christ. This life is just part of the plan for eternity - beginning today.


2 Peter 1:17
For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

2 Corinthians 3:10
For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory.

2 Corinthians 1:22
and He has also set His seal upon us, and has put His Spirit into our hearts as a pledge and foretaste of future blessing.




Handel Messiah Hallelujah 1000 Choir Chorus
70th BPMC of Anniversary 7th Church Choir Festival.
John Hong, Organist (Hyun Il Hong : 홍현일)
Graduate Juilliard



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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.

May 11, 2011

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.

Nehemiah 8:9-18 ~ a terrific day

Nehemiah 8:9-18 ~ The Message

⁹ Nehemiah the governor, along with Ezra the priest and scholar and the Levites who were teaching the people, said to all the people, "This day is holy to God, your God. Don't weep and carry on." They said this because all the people were weeping as they heard the words of The Revelation. 

¹⁰ He continued, "Go home and prepare a feast, holiday food and drink; and share it with those who don't have anything: This day is holy to God. Don't feel bad. The joy of God is your strength!" 

¹¹ The Levites calmed the people, "Quiet now. This is a holy day. Don't be upset."

¹² So the people went off to feast, eating and drinking and including the poor in a great celebration. Now they got it; they understood the reading that had been given to them.

^13-15 On the second day of the month the family heads of all the people, the priests, and the Levites gathered around Ezra the scholar to get a deeper understanding of the words of The Revelation. They found written in The Revelation that God commanded through Moses that the People of Israel are to live in booths during the festival of the seventh month. So they published this decree and had it posted in all their cities and in Jerusalem: "Go into the hills and collect olive branches, pine branches, myrtle branches, palm branches, and any other leafy branches to make booths, as it is written."

^16-17 So the people went out, brought in branches, and made themselves booths on their roofs, courtyards, the courtyards of The Temple of God, the Water Gate plaza, and the Ephraim Gate plaza. The entire congregation that had come back from exile made booths and lived in them. The People of Israel hadn't done this from the time of Joshua son of Nun until that very day—a terrific day! Great joy!

¹⁸ Ezra read from the Book of The Revelation of God each day, from the first to the last day—they celebrated the feast for seven days. On the eighth day they held a solemn assembly in accordance with the decree.

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Acts 4:1-22 ~ This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone

Acts 4:1-22

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio. For more Acts 4

1 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, 2 greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. 4 But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

5 On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, 6 with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, 9 if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, 10 let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. 11 This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone. 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.”

13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. 14 But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. 15 But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, 16 saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. 17 But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name.” 18 So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19 But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, 20 for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.” 21 And when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way to punish them, because of the people, for all were praising God for what had happened. 22 For the man on whom this sign of healing was performed was more than forty years old.

Hugely annoyed, pressed by public opinion, questioning or bullying became astonishment. That is some Very effective witnessing. We read this passage and we say to ourselves, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees were impressed these common men became bold. And yes, these men, arrested, and set in the pinnacle of 'Godly' establishment had cheek. In the odds they could be killed, just like Jesus.

At the time of the 2nd Temple, the Dome of the Rock, the highest peak of the City of David, had been reshaped by Herod - to the shape it is today, because Herod built upon it. It is believed the Holy of Holies was on or near the the huge rock. Some descriptions believe the Holy of Holies was under the Pierced Rock. But many descriptions and the Talmud all disagree.

Which only increased one of the reasons the Religious leaders were impressed.

These men should have looked smelly from being imprisoned, unclean in front of the elite, clean keepers of the Law. Meager in front of the powerful. Unwise in front of the wise. Instead they said Jesus is now the cornerstone. Why is this important - in a day there are many historical documents still in existence for reference - we still aren't sure what was the physical foundation of the Temple.

The cornerstone (or foundation stone) concept is the first stone. The blueprint. The core. Placed to let the builders know all of their effort and will is set in the construction position of the entire structure. Not everyone was literate, but this sign was easily understood. A sure sign to the passerbys, the workers, the leaders - this is how the structure will stand. Irreversible. Sure. A sign for all time.

The Religious Elite are being told the Structure - Jesus Christ - will be so clear, everyone will understand who the first stone is. Not the building, not the Temple. It was completely astonishing to them.

No need for a religious lawyers. No need for Priests to interpret. No set of rules about hand washing or purity. A beacon set. One sure sign. A relationship instead of religion.

Jesus is the Christ. Our cornerstone.

1 Corinthians 3:9-17
9 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building.

10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— 13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.

16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him.

For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.

Father God, the day the disciples of Jesus stood in front of the people, the priests and the Captain of the Temple and the Sadducees - they appeared to be wrong. As foolish as publicly running up and kicking the Temple. Yet Father God, what You told them came to be pass. Jesus the Cornerstone, still being the Rock on which we can stand. That day the Holy of Holies was empty, You never returned the Ark of the Covenant to the Second Temple. Instead You gave Your Holy Spirit to us when we ask You to move, live and have Your dwelling in us. Dwell in us richly, that we might be, each day, living to Your pleasure, Your love, Your joy. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.



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Psalm 106 ~ relented

Psalm 106

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

¹ Praise the LORD! Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!
² Who can utter the mighty deeds of the LORD, or declare all his praise?
³ Blessed are they who observe justice, who do righteousness at all times!

⁴ Remember me, O LORD, when you show favor to your people;
help me when you save them,
⁵ that I may look upon the prosperity of your chosen ones,
that I may rejoice in the gladness of your nation,
that I may glory with your inheritance.

⁶ Both we and our fathers have sinned;
we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness.
⁷ Our fathers, when they were in Egypt,
did not consider your wondrous works;
they did not remember the abundance of your steadfast love,
but rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.
⁸ Yet he saved them for his name’s sake,
that he might make known his mighty power.
⁹ He rebuked the Red Sea, and it became dry,
and he led them through the deep as through a desert.
¹⁰ So he saved them from the hand of the foe
and redeemed them from the power of the enemy.
¹¹ And the waters covered their adversaries;
not one of them was left.
¹² Then they believed his words;
they sang his praise.

¹³ But they soon forgot his works;
they did not wait for his counsel.
¹⁴ But they had a wanton craving in the wilderness,
and put God to the test in the desert;
¹⁵ he gave them what they asked,
but sent a wasting disease among them.

¹⁶ When men in the camp were jealous of Moses
and Aaron, the holy one of the LORD,
¹⁷ the earth opened and swallowed up Dathan,
and covered the company of Abiram.
¹⁸ Fire also broke out in their company;
the flame burned up the wicked.

¹⁹ They made a calf in Horeb
and worshiped a metal image.
²⁰ They exchanged the glory of God
for the image of an ox that eats grass.
²¹ They forgot God, their Savior,
who had done great things in Egypt,
²² wondrous works in the land of Ham,
and awesome deeds by the Red Sea.
²³ Therefore he said he would destroy them—
had not Moses, his chosen one,
stood in the breach before him,
to turn away his wrath from destroying them.

²⁴ Then they despised the pleasant land,
having no faith in his promise.
²⁵ They murmured in their tents,
and did not obey the voice of the LORD.
²⁶ Therefore he raised his hand and swore to them
that he would make them fall in the wilderness,
²⁷ and would make their offspring fall among the nations,
scattering them among the lands.

²⁸ Then they yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor,
and ate sacrifices offered to the dead;
²⁹ they provoked the LORD to anger with their deeds,
and a plague broke out among them.
³⁰ Then Phinehas stood up and intervened,
and the plague was stayed.
³¹ And that was counted to him as righteousness
from generation to generation forever.

³² They angered him at the waters of Meribah,
and it went ill with Moses on their account,
³³ for they made his spirit bitter,
and he spoke rashly with his lips.

³⁴ They did not destroy the peoples,
as the LORD commanded them,
³⁵ but they mixed with the nations
and learned to do as they did.
³⁶ They served their idols,
which became a snare to them.
³⁷ They sacrificed their sons
and their daughters to the demons;
³⁸t hey poured out innocent blood,
the blood of their sons and daughters,
whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan,
and the land was polluted with blood.
³⁹ Thus they became unclean by their acts,
and played the whore in their deeds.

⁴⁰ Then the anger of the LORD was kindled against his people,
and he abhorred his heritage;
⁴¹ he gave them into the hand of the nations,
so that those who hated them ruled over them.
⁴² Their enemies oppressed them,
and they were brought into subjection under their power.
⁴³ Many times he delivered them,
but they were rebellious in their purposes
and were brought low through their iniquity.

⁴⁴ Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress,
when he heard their cry.
⁴⁵ For their sake he remembered his covenant,
and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love.
⁴⁶ He caused them to be pitied
by all those who held them captive.

⁴⁷ Save us, O LORD our God,
and gather us from among the nations,
that we may give thanks to your holy name
and glory in your praise.

⁴⁸ Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting!
And let all the people say, "Amen!"
Praise the LORD!

I had a great weekend with plenty of great things to do! Fun and pleasing people to be with. And then when you gather with people you know very well, not only are you having a good time, but people verbally rub up against one another and verbally step on each others toes. In conversations, people who know each other well are like bumper cars. Really it's more like spaghetti. Laugh about something and someone is going to have a different opinion. Then someone has to 'splain something about why it Was funny and the conversation runs off in another direction like carts going down an old mine train track. What causes the ride to be fun instead of tedious is generosity of Spirit and compassion.

This is Psalm 106. Pursuing in America what is called the American Dream, or in all parts of the world we recognize the 'good life'. La Dolche Vita or La Bella Vita.

Prosperity makes us generous. And buoyant. Hard work calls for justice.

Prosperity leads to envy. And thoughts of others' blessings. Our own prosperity and blessings don't seem to shine very brightly. Sometimes this leads to prayers to be blessed, but without gratitude - how can this take root?

Lack of gratitude in need or abundance and the well of compassion ... Compassion - what it really takes to get along - runs very bone deep dry. Jealousy and materialism. I once had a good friend from college tell me as we started out along the roads of working, marriage and motherhood that she dreamed at night that she had a shopping cart and couldn't fill it fast enough. She said in the mornings she was tired. She changed from one of the most fun people into the mom fitting into a successful suburb and crabby and perfect. But she did have great cars, perfect clothes, perfect children's toys and a beautiful home. It was a friendship that failed. Lack of compassion. Desert.

The world is not as much fun as it was in my childhood. Too many people not doing like my great-grandmother said. Her favorite saying was don't have an enemy - have a dinner guest. In today's world further explanation is needed. She didn't mean fry, saute or boil the enemy :) , she meant try to forgive, build, repair and go forward. Forgiveness expands our worlds.

⁴³ Many times he delivered them,
but they were rebellious in their purposes
and were brought low through their iniquity.

⁴⁴ Nevertheless, he looked upon their distress,
when he heard their cry.
⁴⁵ For their sake he remembered his covenant,
and relented according to the abundance of his steadfast love.

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