1 Thessalonians 2 ~ Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ

Proverbs 20:24
A man's steps are from the Lord;
how then can man understand his way?

Benedict is much maligned, as more formal and austere than John Paul II; Benedict should have some more appreciation.

Isaiah 55:8
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD

John 3:8
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”

Ephesians 4:14
Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming.


Pope Benedict XVI has resigned yesterday, the first Pope to resign since Pope Gregory XII, in 1415. He stood down to end "The Western Schism", which threatened Roman Catholicism as two rivals declared themselves pope. The current Pope's namesake Benedict IX resigned in 1045. Only five Popes have resigned.

This Pope brought a mission to the Catholic Church. And he leaves because he believes the job requires someone younger and fully mobile. I cannot find the quote that caught my heart from Pope Benedict but I can paraphrase. Pope Benedict met with survivors of sexual abuse, at the hands of clergy, and he said something like this: "Jesus Christ Himself knew something of your suffering upon His Cross. He died for you. And He knows your pain."

According to John L. Allen, Jr., Pope Benedict "acquired a familiarity with the contours of the abuse problem virtually no other figure in the Catholic Church can claim" and "driven by that encounter with what he would later refer to as 'filth' in the Church, the Pope prior to being Pope seems to have undergone something of a 'conversion experience' throughout 2003–04. From that point forward, he and his staff seemed driven by a convert's zeal to clean up the mess". In his role as Head of the CFD, he "led important changes made in Church law: the inclusion in canon law of internet offenses against children, the extension of child abuse offenses to include the sexual abuse of all under 18, the case by case waiving of the statute of limitation and the establishment of a fast-track dismissal from the clerical state for offenders." As the Head of the CDF, Ratzinger - Pope Benedict developed a reputation for handling these cases. According to Charles J. Scicluna, a former prosecutor handling sexual abuse cases, "Cardinal Ratzinger displayed great wisdom and firmness in handling those cases, also demonstrating great courage in facing some of the most difficult and thorny cases."


Placing Jesus in the proper perspective, Pope Benedict shared this:
"The evangelization of the person and of human communities depends totally on this encounter with Jesus Christ."
- Pope Benedict XVI, Vatican City, November 13, 2007


Many people are encouraged with Pope Benedict's philosophy on the Joy of the Lord as our Strength:
"If Jesus has become your hope, communicate this to others with your joy and your spiritual, apostolic and social engagement. Let Christ dwell within you, and having placed all your faith and trust in Him, spread this hope around you. Make choices that demonstrate your faith."
- Pope Benedict XVI, Message for World Youth Day, February 22, 2009

“Are we not perhaps all afraid in some way? If we let Christ enter fully into our lives, if we open ourselves totally to him, are we not afraid that He might take something away from us? Are we not perhaps afraid to give up something significant, something unique, something that makes life so beautiful? Do we not then risk ending up diminished and deprived of our freedom? . . . No! If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great. No! Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide. Only in this friendship is the great potential of human existence truly revealed. Only in this friendship do we experience beauty and liberation. And so, today, with great strength and great conviction, on the basis of long personal experience of life, I say to you, dear young people: Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything. When we give ourselves to him, we receive a hundredfold in return. Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ – and you will find true life. Amen.”
― Pope Benedict XVI



Not shaken by waves of life. Let 1 Thessolonians 2 stand for Pope Benedict's detractors saying he did not do enough for the media images of important Christian matters.


1 Thessalonians 2

For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. 3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. 11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. 14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,[f] 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind 16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!

17 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 18 because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy.

Pope Benedict will retire to a cloistered monastery to have a life of prayer. Surely this is the Lord sending forth saying the Pope is a priest forever.

Psalm 110
The Lord says to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”

2 The Lord sends forth from Zion
your mighty scepter.
Rule in the midst of your enemies!
3 Your people will offer themselves freely
on the day of your power,
in holy garments;
from the womb of the morning,
the dew of your youth will be yours.
4 The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest forever
after the order of Melchizedek.”

5 The Lord is at your right hand;
he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.
6 He will execute judgment among the nations,
filling them with corpses;
he will shatter chiefs
over the wide earth.
7 He will drink from the brook by the way;
therefore he will lift up his head.

What is Lightning to the Lord our God?

Job 36:32
He covers his hands with the lightning and commands it to strike the mark.


St. Peter's Dome was struck by Lightning.

Job 37:4
After it his voice roars; he thunders with his majestic voice, and he does not restrain the lightnings when his voice is heard.

Daniel 10:6
His body was like beryl, his face like the appearance of lightning, his eyes like flaming torches, his arms and legs like the gleam of burnished bronze, and the sound of his words like the sound of a multitude.

Pope Benedict has followed in the words of Simon Peter, a fisher of men.

John 6:68
Simon Peter answered him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

Benedict has resigned, sighting the good of the Christian Kingdom.

1 Peter 2:17
Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.




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Deuteronomy 6:16-25 ~ He brought us out from there, that He might bring us in

"The Ten Commandments" Movie is well worth the time. Cecil B. Demille cast Charlton Heston for his Amazingly, remarkable visage comparison to Michelangelo's Moses.

Deuteronomy 6:16-25

“You shall not put the Lord your God to the test, as you tested him at Massah. 17 You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and his testimonies and his statutes, which he has commanded you. 18 And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take possession of the good land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers 19 by thrusting out all your enemies from before you, as the Lord has promised.

20 “When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the Lord our God has commanded you?’ 21 then you shall say to your son, ‘We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt. And the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 And the Lord showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household, before our eyes. 23 And he brought us out from there, that he might bring us in and give us the land that he swore to give to our fathers. 24 And the Lord commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day. 25 And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us.’



"Why is this night different from all others?" Has been asked for millenniums.

Why would the Lord God Almighty go to all this trouble? To be in relationship. To fellowship with us.

How can we be sure? The Creator of the Universe would again bring the Children of Israel back to their homeland from the second exodus occurring March 16, 597 B.C. How would we know the exact date of the second exodus? In London’s British Museum, there is a baked clay tablet (just under 3¼ inches) with cuneiform writing (wedge-shaped characters) recording important activities of King Nebuchadnezzar between the years 605-594 B.C.   91 times Nebuchadnezzar is mentioned in the Scriptures. King Nebuchadnezzar marched his army the capital city of Judah. On the second day of the month Addaru, [the capture of Jerusalem, dated precisely to March 16, 597 BC.] he captured Jerusalem and its king. He appointed a new ruler [Zedekiah— 2 Kings 24:17] and took heavy tribute and sent it to Babylon [2 Kings 24:13]. Another remarkable archaeological confirmation of biblical record in the last 60 years.

We live in a unique time in His story. Israel exists after 2,000 years. God, has again, brought Israel back from the dead.

His Story points, always, to Jesus Christ the Lord triumphant over death.

As many times as we have been saved by Him, we tend to act like the Children of Israel in the desert. One sign was not enough. Please keep telling us. And He does. Finally, after years of small innocent animals killed to show us the seriousness of sin, the sacrifice no one was pleased to have, was ceased. When did the sacrifice stop? Another amazing coincidence, 70 A.D., the lifespan of Jesus Christ living to his natural old age. Millenniums of sacrifice just ceased.

Jesus, as God, sought us and conquered death. Giving us the promise of relationship over perfection. The law points out we can never be as Holy as He would have us be. Jesus gives us brotherhood and adoption, saying My Father and yours.


What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the Lord our God has commanded?

Zechariah 1:3
Therefore tell the people: This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Return to me,' declares the LORD Almighty, 'and I will return to you,' says the LORD Almighty.

He brought us out from there, that He might bring us in. We are redeemed from the desert. When we earnestly and sincerely say - My Father, I've been wrong. 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.'

1 Timothy 2:8
I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing.

When John opens His Gospel - we have seen His Glory!
He is telling us the overwhelming nature of Jesus!
Full of grace and truth.
For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace!

John sums up God our Father, Jesus gave us His Father and John called Him - LOVE.

Luke 15:20
“And rising, he came to his father, and while he was still distant, his father saw him and he was moved with compassion for him and he ran and fell on his neck and he kissed him.”

What is the work of Jesus Christ our Savior today?
Preaching good news to the poor, binding up the brokenhearted,proclaiming freedom for the captives, release from darkness, the blind receive sight, lame - walk, lepers - cured, deaf- hear, dead - raised. Jesus gives us life abundant. Always return to Him.






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Psalm 99 ~ The King in His might loves justice. You have established equity

Psalm 99

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!


How about that - in the Spirit of Love? Love justice, establish equity, execute justice and righteousness. Call upon His name - taste and see, if we ask for these virtues - His answers. Forgiveness in those who seek His peace and mercy. He loves to give mercy with kindness.

There is a difference - the Good Ship Lollipop - vs . the Fellowship of Being Toward the Goal - to win the prize for which God has called me. We are called by the Vine to be part of His Vineyard.

Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?

The Psalms are considered a warm place; not only do we hear actual history, we are given the emotional attributes of our Father God. ....... God is great and awesome.

The Lord heard the grumbling of the people - they were hungry, how did He reply?

Exodus 16:10-12
10 And as soon as Aaron spoke to the whole congregation of the people of Israel, they looked toward the wilderness, and behold, the glory of the Lord appeared in the cloud. 11 And the Lord said to Moses, 12 “I have heard the grumbling of the people of Israel. Say to them, ‘At twilight you shall eat meat, and in the morning you shall be filled with bread. Then you shall know that I am the Lord your God.’”

Amen. The Word of the Lord came to be so. Let it be so, we say, when we say - Amen.

Joshua kept His testimonies and the statute that He gave them.

Joshua 23:6
Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left.

And who else set their path, their journey on straight ahead? Isaiah and John. This is a characteristic of the Work of the Lord.

John 1:23
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.”

Many times in life, we come to a crossroad. Do we turn the other cheek, even if we walk away. Or do we resist the devil and the evil one will flee from us. Or speak the truth in love. And then we consider Jesus said:

Matthew 18:22
Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven."

490 times. However, if you know someone long enough, probably the non-verbal of communication comes into play. Jesus said in 1 Corinthians 7:15 ,we are called to live in peace. God does not want us to love others and suffer as one who does not love themselves. Hair shirts are not of Him.

The last few weeks have seen their own fair share of "let the days problem's take care of themselves". We do not have to bash people over the head to make a point. Jesus said we are fishers of mankind. Sometimes a bit of patience, some time, a long string and the right message will cause a heart ripe with reason, love and charity to cause bridges to be built. This was a week an old friend came to ring the door to say "I'm sorry!" Another friend to ponder the golden rule.  Another the 490 forgiveness rule to be water under the bridge as life places us in different directions - with a gentle sigh of fair thee well  - in the Lord's hands. Jesus said He is God.

There is a factor in seeking Justice - over zealous belief Justice is the goal. Balance is really the key. Seeking Justice should be done with a willingness to be reasonable, achieving a place of balance in righteousness and fairness. The communication should lead to an amicable resolution.

Then again, in Rick Warren and his brother in law Tom Holladay's, "40 Days of Love" there is very good look at what practical forgiveness looks like in justice seeking. Jesus did not say don't seek Justice, He said be willing to settle before you reach the Judge. And in the American Judicial systems, one would tend to agree. A jury trial is a flip of a coin for a verdict. Go with give and take. Take it from one who has hired a few attorneys for Estates, justice and Guardianships.


Philippians 3:13-14
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.




 
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Psalm 125 ~ Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

Psalm 125

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,
which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

2 As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
so the Lord surrounds his people,
from this time forth and forevermore.

3 For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest
on the land allotted to the righteous,
lest the righteous stretch out
their hands to do wrong.

4 Do good, O Lord, to those who are good,
and to those who are upright in their hearts!
5 But those who turn aside to their crooked ways
the Lord will lead away with evildoers!

Peace be upon Israel!

Cal, our oldest son, has provided us with - a Grand Dog - Jackson, the Husky

Xander, our younger son, has not provided us with a Grand Dog. This is merely honorable mention.

George Carlin, not my favorite comedian, once said to have a pet is to invite disaster upon you. Merely a pet suicide ready to happen, years away.

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever.

And the Sims let you know, if you speak of your pet, you loose social bonus points. Meh. If you noticed February 3rd, we did not have a post. Edward and I were traveling to Kansas to Winterwood Springers to retrieve the newest member of our family. Our third Springer dog. And today as Matt Maher's - "Hold Us Together" played on the radio, I watched Jackson dash up and down the stairs to teach the new dog about stairs. It was the scene were Jackson, the rescue dog, learned about stairs from being tethered outside, with the previous people, all of his life. Merit, our late Springer, was delirious to teach Jackson about stairs. Jackson, age 2, was less than enthusiastic. It was one of those moments you know the dog remembered and was passing on to the new kid on the block.


Do good, O Lord, to those who are good,
and to those who are upright in their hearts!


Psalm 19:1-3 American King James Version
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows his handiwork.
2 Day to day utters speech, and night to night shows knowledge.
3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

Each day in our lives we are building something. Even when the detail is simply our household pets. The continuity of kindness reflected in the older dog to the younger dog made me appreciate the days we spend bringing acts of gentleness to His creation. Merit, our loved Springer for 14 years and 2 months bringing knowledge to a scared, shaky rescue dog.

We can spend our lives saying empty nester. Or we can say we have love to share. It is a fine thing to say I have enough in my life to give even to little parts of creation. Prayers are appreciated for house training, crate training and for our family. Thanks for being part of the blog today. God bless you this day.




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John 16:16-33 ~ In that day you will ask nothing of me.

Luke 8:25
"Where is your faith?" he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him."



John 16:16-33

A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.” 17 So some of his disciples said to one another, “What is this that he says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and, ‘because I am going to the Father’?” 18 So they were saying, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 

22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

25 “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

29 His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

What would it look like to overcome the world? It's easier to see what Jesus had to overcome in life. During Jesus' ministry, He is recorded once as crossing the Sea of Galilee three times, that is 13 miles, 3 times. To see various people. Jesus did not sail or row around aimlessly.

One day Jesus had the crowning experience - going to mountain top to be greeted by Moses, Elijah and His Father; His reward coming down from the mountain- from this amazing experience - hearing His disciples could not, were unable, to overcome a boy's spiritual and physical battle. The crowd was again pressing in on Him.

At one point, the Herodian Temple sent Temple guards to arrest Jesus. They could not. Jesus was being completely Himself and the guards were amazed by Him. The Temple power knobs then declared they couldn't take Him down, the crowds followed Him with too much awe. How did Jesus take all this popularity in the numbers - His public opinion polls were astronomical. Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee saying they only want what they want.

Jesus knew coming down from the Transfiguration - the path He was on, all too clearly. And what did He look forward to?

Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Jesus has been asked as one from God. Continually. They pressed in on Him. A miracle worker. Only the disciples were openly saying the Messiah. The Scriptures quote no one was openly declaring Jesus as Messiah. The Highest Name being Jesus. The people wanted miracles and food and entertainment with a new teaching. Now Jesus says He looks forward to - this - upon His Resurrection - In that day you will ask nothing of me.



John 20:11-18
But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. 12 And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” 14 Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”

Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” 

16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” 

18 Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”—and that he had said these things to her.

I once, decades ago, was challenged by a religious leader who did not really believe Heaven exists in the Biblical proportions of Heaven, and she said we only believe the Lord for His reward. That is not true. We love the Lord, honor Him because He first Loved us.  Pray unceasingly; and say with gratitude - Thank You for Your Promises to me. This trust is what God called - righteousness in Abraham.

Mary's love and trust lead her into relationship with Jesus Christ the Lord. And He is blessed by her. Blessing, in turn, Mary receives more than any of us could ever deserve.


Genesis 15:1
After this, the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision: "Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward."

Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.




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Mark 8:11-26 ~ The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him.

Mark 8:11-26

The Pharisees came and began to argue with him, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. 12 And he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Truly, I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.” 13 And he left them, got into the boat again, and went to the other side.

14 Now they had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. 15 And he cautioned them, saying, “Watch out; beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod^[Herodians].” 16 And they began discussing with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why are you discussing the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet perceive or understand? Are your hearts hardened? 18 Having eyes do you not see, and having ears do you not hear? And do you not remember? 19 When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” They said to him, “Twelve.” 20 “And the seven for the four thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up?” And they said to him, “Seven.” 21 And he said to them, “Do you not yet understand?”

22 And they came to Bethsaida. And some people brought to him a blind man and begged him to touch him. 23 And he took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village, and when he had spit on his eyes and laid his hands on him, he asked him, “Do you see anything?” 24 And he looked up and said, “I see people, but they look like trees, walking.” 25 Then Jesus laid his hands on his eyes again; and he opened his eyes, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 And he sent him to his home, saying, “Do not even enter the village.”


Power came to call on Jesus. He sighed. We all sigh from time to time.

Romans 8:26
Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

It seems superfluous to add, yet where Jesus did dwell in understanding is in this beautiful passage:


1 Peter 3:4
Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.

Luke 2:52
And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Jesus progressed, as His Son, in Grace.

Romans 5:5
And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.


You have to love the confusion of the disciples, Jesus was doing things so quickly, with so much impossibility, they were having to confer among themselves to understand the many miracles Jesus was continually doing. Jesus trusted the disciples to come to the same page after saying, "Really?"

Jesus continues the lesson, the patient repetition with His work. The blind individual is healed in a way understandable to that unique - to God - person. This is one of my favorite healings of Jesus, my brother was so excited to read about the blind man who required further brain adjustment in the healing. He said there is no way 2,000 years ago it would be known this would require two healings. Making this passage alive and vibrant to him. Me? I think Jesus could have done fine with one healing, HE left us to discover this healing with wonder. And awe.

This is so like Jesus. Letting us discover something fresh in this miracle.

Jeremiah 23:29
"Is not my word like fire," declares the LORD, "and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?

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Psalm 58 ~ The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance; He will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked.

Psalm 58
Miktam of David.

Do you indeed decree what is right, you gods?
Do you judge the children of man uprightly?
2 No, in your hearts you devise wrongs;
your hands deal out violence on earth.

3 The wicked are estranged from the womb;
they go astray from birth, speaking lies.
4 They have venom like the venom of a serpent,
like the deaf adder that stops its ear,
5 so that it does not hear the voice of charmers
or of the cunning enchanter.

6 O God, break the teeth in their mouths;
tear out the fangs of the young lions, O Lord!
7 Let them vanish like water that runs away;
when he aims his arrows, let them be blunted.
8 Let them be like the snail that dissolves into slime,
like the stillborn child who never sees the sun.
9 Sooner than your pots can feel the heat of thorns,
whether green or ablaze, may he sweep them away!

10 The righteous will rejoice when he sees the vengeance;
he will bathe his feet in the blood of the wicked.
11 Mankind will say, “Surely there is a reward for the righteous;
surely there is a God who judges on earth.”

My first thought at looking at this is the various ways lions are used in Scripture.

However, more importantly we should compare and contrast Jesus washing the feet of the disciples. I don't know about you, but foot washing is not my favorite thing. Much less feet of sandal wearing men walking through the city where sanitation is iffy.

You can fully understand Peter saying during supper, "Um Lord, you don't want to wash my feet." Jews following kosher rules lived well into their fifties, even in the time of David, when un-kosher countries in the iron age where dying in their 20s, if they were lucky.

Jesus is really entering the fray to un-kosher wash their feet during the meal. And you have to hand it to Peter, he knew meeting Jesus when he said - paraphrased "Oh my God! Get away from me. Not only are you scary, I'm not that good a man." Now, Peter's house in Capernaum tells us Peter was next door, front and center, good real estate, next to the Synagogue. Peter owned a fleet supporting the house  - with the grand view of the Sea of Galilee. Peter, not only was astute, he was literate, and he knew what God and the Ark of the Covenant did to sinners. You have to smile at the idea of being in a boat with Jesus Christ HIMSELF and seeing other boats begin to sink. And he says "Oh my G o d, get away from me, I'm not that great. Bye." Of course, Peter seeing the boats sinking says this with a mind to make this GOD happy:

Luke 5:10
But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

When you think of prosperous Peter sitting in the middle of his fleet and business is so good the ships start to sink. You realize you've just witnessed an X-Men Movie type of really fine analogy to God's Church. And Peter is astounded. How can you help but smile. Me, if I'd been sitting there I would have been open mouthed and said, "Cool! Jesus, I'm in." And had the smarts not to hold on to the new Ark of the Covenant. I might have been worried that if He looked too hard, I was sunk.

So Peter is repeating this astuteness, saying - don't wash my feet. Jesus is saying He is willing to wash our feet. And wash the pollution we wade in from our lives. He is going to serve us - to sever the muck from us. This is more important than Jesus walking on the water. This is far more costly to

 Jesus Christ, the Messiah, The Son of the Most High GOD.


We take our pollution and we see David, who understood this portion of life so well. And we think about how God is willing to answer our prayers. And the criticism of God being judgmental. How many of us are willing to get on a cross and die for humanity. We are a lot like lions. We take care of our young and provide for them. And on any given Sunday, we look pretty cute doing that. Then we rush off to little league and act like the lion willing to eat the other lion's son for getting in the way of ours. David knew both what it was to have our prayers answered like Psalm 8 saying we are lower than gods. What is man that Thou art mindful of him. And we act like lions.

1 Samuel 17:36
"Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.”

Solomon used lions on his throne.

1 Kings 10:18
Then the king made a great throne inlaid with ivory and overlaid with fine gold. The throne had six steps, and its back had a rounded top. On both sides of the seat were armrests, with a lion standing beside each of them.

Life is like a lion roller-coaster. How unworthy we are to judge HIM for judging us.

Only in Jesus Christ the LORD, do we find utter goodness. We forget there was time when some of 72 disciples walked away. It was too difficult. Peter was more honest.

John 6:68
Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life."

Revelation 5:5
And one of the elders said to me, “Weep no more; behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has conquered, so that he can open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Like South Africa, and others Rwanda, peace is found in the forgiveness. Only available in HIM.

Isaiah 11:6
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them.

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<>< The Words of Life !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Psalm 62 ~ They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. Selah

Psalm 62

For God alone my soul waits in silence;
from him comes my salvation.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken.

3 How long will all of you attack a man
to batter him,
like a leaning wall, a tottering fence?
4 They only plan to thrust him down from his high position.
They take pleasure in falsehood.
They bless with their mouths,
but inwardly they curse. Selah

5 For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence,
for my hope is from him.
6 He only is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress; I shall not be shaken.
7 On God rests my salvation and my glory;
my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before him;
God is a refuge for us. Selah

9 Those of low estate are but a breath;
those of high estate are a delusion;
in the balances they go up;
they are together lighter than a breath.
10 Put no trust in extortion;
set no vain hopes on robbery;
if riches increase, set not your heart on them.

11 Once God has spoken;
twice have I heard this:
that power belongs to God,
12 and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.
For you will render to a man
according to his work.


Actually this morning this was said to me. Bless with their mouths and curse you behind your back.

I was speaking to a friend at a birthday party and we were discussing the Kennedy family. She knew one branch of the family in a small way. She had seen the Jackie Kennedy documentary films done within six months of President Kennedy's assassination. Jackie had not cared much for Rose.

Laurence Leamer wrote a book called "The Kennedy Men." He adored Rose Kennedy, daughter of the Massachusetts Governor, and wrote of example after example of Joe Kennedy's brutal ideas of success. Beginning with his mother's rise from domestic daily employee to liquor store owner in the poor and harsh part of town. As a banker, Joe used bank information to send men from said that area to beat up business men, gaining their business. Rising to owning the defunct (depression era) large American distilleries and playing the ivy league education connections rising, becoming the American Ambassador to the U.K. Rose was a shuffled, with her 8 children, to a rural NY area without a real place in the small town for her. She was isolated with the children - for the children to be her only objective. Joe Kennedy was busy building the Empire and having an affair with actress Gloria Swanson. Joe was diligent to check with Rose on the children's grades, tutors, discipline and weight. Rose was carefully writing down all the children's details to give to Joe and attending Church each day.

Diligent. Capricious. Devout. Plotting. Lecherous. Determined. Philanthropic. Justice. Equality. Relief. Self-centered. Loving. Devious.

Moving ahead 80 years. If you seated all of these people, we have heard of all of these years, at the dinner table - you end up with the Documentary Rory Kennedy did of her father, Robert Kennedy  (who died before she was born). All these faces talking about Daddy. Ethel rose quickly past her husband's death. She had so many children to raise, causes to attend to. And, I'm sure, hurt over her husband's noted infidelities. Yet you come back to the point made at the end of the documentary, Rose worked hard on with Rory. "Sure, we know all about Daddy, he raised us. We are not unfamiliar with his flaws. We choose to remember Daddy in the ways he taught us about his aspirations, his ideals, his strong beliefs, the character he was coming to the dinner table every evening, telling us about what he hoped for his children, this nation. We choose to remember the best parts of Daddy."

So, if you did seat these people all at God's table, you would see the view changes from every seat. And a man at Church, Paul, says that you need to be kind to people. It might just be the only word of kindness they receive that day.

Diligent - Joe Kennedy was a victim paralyzed by stroke for many years. Capricious - Jackie Kennedy was a stunned, hurting widow when her realizations/documentary came to light after her death. Devout - Rose Kennedy sent away Joe' nurses and left him to the people she chose, as she began to go out at night with Joe's friends before his frozen years. Her fate was similar to Joe's, living to be 103. You have to hurt for the hurting woman. She really did not understand the character of the man she married, nor forgave easily.

Plotting - would be Joe who taught his children to forgo their inclination for private lives giving to the United States an example of philanthropy not matched in any other family in the United States. We have Special Olympics because Rosemary Kennedy was lobotomized by her adulterous father instead of cared for, over Rosemary's adolescent interest in the opposite sex in her debilitated IQ state ( probably cause by oxygen deficiency during her birth). Eunice Kennedy Shriver and Sargent Shriver started the Special Olympics purely for the need to overcome Rosemary's hidden condition and the nations' attitudes for special needs.

Lecherous. We tend to talk about this more than the many achievements, including a family willing to gather through all the terrible events befalling this family. Determined. To overcome.

Justice. Equality. Relief. Does the dinner table of any other family strive further? Self-centered. Loving. Devious. Aren't we all.

Liberal. Conservative.

Power belongs to God,
and that to you, O Lord, belongs steadfast love.
For you will render to a man
according to his work.

Father God, give us this day. Each day you give us, we build something. Help us each day to put out our hands, using the drive to live You have given us. Use our desire to be blessed as a blessing to YOU. In seeking You first, in righteousness, all these things are added to us to Your glory. In the name of Jesus Christ.

Lord Jesus. All things work together for good for those who love you and work according to Your purpose. You called us into fellowship with You, through Son Jesus Christ our Lord. And You, oh Lord, are faithful. Jesus, be our Christ, the power of God and our wisdom of God. You bless the eyes, Lord ,that did not see You, but yet believe. Increase our faith. We walk by faith, relying upon You. In Your Name. Amen.


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Matthew 21:23-46 ~ the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous in our eyes

^{Jesus discourses with the Pharisees, painted by James Tissot}


Matthew 21:28-32, 42-44


28 “What do you think? A man had two sons. And he went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work in the vineyard today.’ 29 And he answered, ‘I will not,’ but afterward he changed his mind and went. 30 And he went to the other son and said the same. And he answered, ‘I go, sir,’ but did not go. 31 Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you. 32 For John came to you in the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes believed him. And even when you saw it, you did not afterward change your minds and believe him.



42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:

“‘The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord's doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes’?

43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits. 44 And the one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and when it falls on anyone, it will crush him.”




Compared to  

John 7
After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. 2 Now the Jews' Feast of Booths was at hand. 3 So his brothers ^{[brothers and sisters]} said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. 4 For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For not even his brothers believed in him. 6 Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to the feast. I am not[c] going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After saying this, he remained in Galilee.

10 But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private.


With what authority did Jesus pursue peace?


Matthew 21
 ²⁴ Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. ²⁵ The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ ²⁶ But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” ²⁷ So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.


Matthew 5:9
“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."

Without Jesus to willing open His arms on the cross, we would not be worthy to be called to God in His Holy of Holies.

John 3:17
For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.






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