Blog Started from a Bible Study

Edward & I have been part of a Couples Group at our Church for the last 11 years. A few years ago, our Pastor asked the group leaders to take a book called "100 Most Important Stories/Chapters from the Bible" and to create Bible Studies from the Chapters. One of the draws was because we all do Bible Studies and it was interesting to see how people create different Bible Studies from the Chapter.

I found out I loved creating the Bible Studies - so we have, 5 years later, Scripture for Today Blogspot. Each day, sitting down to write the blog, is an "I get to do this..." moment!

Here is one of the Bible Studies I wrote. The answers are not provided, it is meant to think and discuss your way through it. I re-did this Bible Study tonight with my Daughters service group and it really goes better as a discussion, so I'll do the study backwards providing the questions up front, for this blog, for you to think of the questions as you read the passage. Here we go:



Questions - this is not the Samson of kiddie Sunday School but so much more and so much less....

1. How many centuries before the birth of Christ?
2. What are Samson’s 3 fatal flaws? Why would Samson have been included in the Bible?
3. How many births in the bible fit into the fantastic category of being foretold by a messenger of God?
3.5 Samson is the bad mirror twin of King David - how? How does Samson compare to Solomon?

4. How does Samson fit into the Biblical theme of Israel's Judges time period where everyone self-governed and it was sort of like today's decisions of right and wrong for our own lives. Samson is very much like the war we are experiencing in the Middle East today. How is Samson a hero and why does God pick him to be a 'hero'?


5. Bible studies on Samson fit him into: 1 the category of flawed leader,2 God using the weakest side of a strong man, 3 Someone who turned to God in His weakest moments and found strength, 4 Poor parenting example of Samson's parents 5. Example of intermarriage 6. Relationship anti-paragon 7. Pornography example 8. Co-habitation example BUT given this verse:

• The people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. (Daniel 11:32 NKJV)

• Who and what would you say Samson is?



The Bible tells an episode about Ashkelon in the story about the hero Samson (Judges 13-16). Ashkelon is mentioned in Judges 14, where Samson kills 30 men in revenge for the Philistines having given his (Philistine) wife to another man. Samson himself came from Timna, an Israelite town. After the 13^th Century, Ashkelon disappeared from the map, until this century when it became again a sizeable city, which lies outside of the excavations.

Judges 13-16

The Birth of Samson

13:1 And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord gave them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.

2 There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children. 3 And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. 4 Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, 5 for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.” 6 Then the woman came and told her husband, “A man of God came to me, and his appearance was like the appearance of the angel of God, very awesome. I did not ask him where he was from, and he did not tell me his name, 7 but he said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. So then drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’”

8 Then Manoah prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, please let the man of God whom you sent come again to us and teach us what we are to do with the child who will be born.” 9 And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman as she sat in the field. But Manoah her husband was not with her. 10 So the woman ran quickly and told her husband, “Behold, the man who came to me the other day has appeared to me.” 11 And Manoah arose and went after his wife and came to the man and said to him, “Are you the man who spoke to this woman?” And he said, “I am.” 12 And Manoah said, “Now when your words come true, what is to be the child's manner of life, and what is his mission?” 13 And the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful. 14 She may not eat of anything that comes from the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, or eat any unclean thing. All that I commanded her let her observe.”

15 Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “Please let us detain you and prepare a young goat for you.” 16 And the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “If you detain me, I will not eat of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, then offer it to the Lord.” (For Manoah did not know that he was the angel of the Lord.) 17 And Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “What is your name, so that, when your words come true, we may honor you?” 18 And the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?” 19 So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering, and offered it on the rock to the Lord, to the one who works [1] wonders, and Manoah and his wife were watching. 20 And when the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, the angel of the Lord went up in the flame of the altar. Now Manoah and his wife were watching, and they fell on their faces to the ground.

21 The angel of the Lord appeared no more to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the Lord. 22 And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, for we have seen God.” 23 But his wife said to him, “If the Lord had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering at our hands, or shown us all these things, or now announced to us such things as these.” 24 And the woman bore a son and called his name Samson. And the young man grew, and the Lord blessed him. 25 And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

Samson's Marriage

14:1 Samson went down to Timnah, and at Timnah he saw one of the daughters of the Philistines. 2 Then he came up and told his father and mother, “I saw one of the daughters of the Philistines at Timnah. Now get her for me as my wife.” 3 But his father and mother said to him, “Is there not a woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you must go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes.”

4 His father and mother did not know that it was from the Lord, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines ruled over Israel.

5 Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion came toward him roaring. 6 Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done. 7 Then he went down and talked with the woman, and she was right in Samson's eyes.

8 After some days he returned to take her. And he turned aside to see the carcass of the lion, and behold, there was a swarm of bees in the body of the lion, and honey. 9 He scraped it out into his hands and went on, eating as he went. And he came to his father and mother and gave some to them, and they ate. But he did not tell them that he had scraped the honey from the carcass of the lion.

10 His father went down to the woman, and Samson prepared a feast there, for so the young men used to do. 11 As soon as the people saw him, they brought thirty companions to be with him. 12 And Samson said to them, “Let me now put a riddle to you. If you can tell me what it is, within the seven days of the feast, and find it out, then I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes, 13 but if you cannot tell me what it is, then you shall give me thirty linen garments and thirty changes of clothes.” And they said to him, “Put your riddle, that we may hear it.” 14 And he said to them,

“Out of the eater came something to eat.

Out of the strong came something sweet.”

And in three days they could not solve the riddle.

15 On the fourth [2] day they said to Samson's wife, “Entice your husband to tell us what the riddle is, lest we burn you and your father's house with fire. Have you invited us here to impoverish us?” 16 And Samson's wife wept over him and said, “You only hate me; you do not love me. You have put a riddle to my people, and you have not told me what it is.” And he said to her, “Behold, I have not told my father nor my mother, and shall I tell you?” 17 She wept before him the seven days that their feast lasted, and on the seventh day he told her, because she pressed him hard. Then she told the riddle to her people. 18 And the men of the city said to him on the seventh day before the sun went down,

“What is sweeter than honey?

What is stronger than a lion?”

And he said to them,

“If you had not plowed with my heifer,

you would not have found out my riddle.”

19 And the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and he went down to Ashkelon and struck down thirty men of the town and took their spoil and gave the garments to those who had told the riddle. In hot anger he went back to his father's house. 20 And Samson's wife was given to his companion, who had been his best man.

Samson Defeats the Philistines

15:1 After some days, at the time of wheat harvest, Samson went to visit his wife with a young goat. And he said, “I will go in to my wife in the chamber.” But her father would not allow him to go in. 2 And her father said, “I really thought that you utterly hated her, so I gave her to your companion. Is not her younger sister more beautiful than she? Please take her instead.” 3 And Samson said to them, “This time I shall be innocent in regard to the Philistines, when I do them harm.” 4 So Samson went and caught 300 foxes and took torches. And he turned them tail to tail and put a torch between each pair of tails. 5 And when he had set fire to the torches, he let the foxes go into the standing grain of the Philistines and set fire to the stacked grain and the standing grain, as well as the olive orchards. 6 Then the Philistines said, “Who has done this?” And they said, “Samson, the son-in-law of the Timnite, because he has taken his wife and given her to his companion.” And the Philistines came up and burned her and her father with fire. 7 And Samson said to them, “If this is what you do, I swear I will be avenged on you, and after that I will quit.” 8 And he struck them hip and thigh with a great blow, and he went down and stayed in the cleft of the rock of Etam.

9 Then the Philistines came up and encamped in Judah and made a raid on Lehi. 10 And the men of Judah said, “Why have you come up against us?” They said, “We have come up to bind Samson, to do to him as he did to us.” 11 Then 3,000 men of Judah went down to the cleft of the rock of Etam, and said to Samson, “Do you not know that the Philistines are rulers over us? What then is this that you have done to us?” And he said to them, “As they did to me, so have I done to them.” 12 And they said to him, “We have come down to bind you, that we may give you into the hands of the Philistines.” And Samson said to them, “Swear to me that you will not attack me yourselves.” 13 They said to him, “No; we will only bind you and give you into their hands. We will surely not kill you.” So they bound him with two new ropes and brought him up from the rock.

14 When he came to Lehi, the Philistines came shouting to meet him. Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon him, and the ropes that were on his arms became as flax that has caught fire, and his bonds melted off his hands. 15 And he found a fresh jawbone of a donkey, and put out his hand and took it, and with it he struck 1,000 men. 16 And Samson said,

“With the jawbone of a donkey,

heaps upon heaps,

with the jawbone of a donkey

have I struck down a thousand men.”

17 As soon as he had finished speaking, he threw away the jawbone out of his hand. And that place was called Ramath-lehi. [3]

18 And he was very thirsty, and he called upon the Lord and said, “You have granted this great salvation by the hand of your servant, and shall I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?” 19 And God split open the hollow place that is at Lehi, and water came out from it. And when he drank, his spirit returned, and he revived. Therefore the name of it was called En-hakkore; [4] it is at Lehi to this day. 20 And he judged Israel in the days of the Philistines twenty years.

Samson and Delilah

16:1 Samson went to Gaza, and there he saw a prostitute, and he went in to her. 2 The Gazites were told, “Samson has come here.” And they surrounded the place and set an ambush for him all night at the gate of the city. They kept quiet all night, saying, “Let us wait till the light of the morning; then we will kill him.” 3 But Samson lay till midnight, and at midnight he arose and took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two posts, and pulled them up, bar and all, and put them on his shoulders and carried them to the top of the hill that is in front of Hebron.

4 After this he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. 5 And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, “Seduce him, and see where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to humble him. And we will each give you 1,100 pieces of silver.” 6 So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and how you might be bound, that one could subdue you.”

7 Samson said to her, “If they bind me with seven fresh bowstrings that have not been dried, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.” 8 Then the lords of the Philistines brought up to her seven fresh bowstrings that had not been dried, and she bound him with them. 9 Now she had men lying in ambush in an inner chamber. And she said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But he snapped the bowstrings, as a thread of flax snaps when it touches the fire. So the secret of his strength was not known.

10 Then Delilah said to Samson, “Behold, you have mocked me and told me lies. Please tell me how you might be bound.” 11 And he said to her, “If they bind me with new ropes that have not been used, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.” 12 So Delilah took new ropes and bound him with them and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And the men lying in ambush were in an inner chamber. But he snapped the ropes off his arms like a thread.

13 Then Delilah said to Samson, “Until now you have mocked me and told me lies. Tell me how you might be bound.” And he said to her, “If you weave the seven locks of my head with the web and fasten it tight with the pin, then I shall become weak and be like any other man.” 14 So while he slept, Delilah took the seven locks of his head and wove them into the web. [5] And she made them tight with the pin and said to him, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” But he awoke from his sleep and pulled away the pin, the loom, and the web.

15 And she said to him, “How can you say, ‘I love you,’ when your heart is not with me? You have mocked me these three times, and you have not told me where your great strength lies.” 16 And when she pressed him hard with her words day after day, and urged him, his soul was vexed to death. 17 And he told her all his heart, and said to her, “A razor has never come upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother's womb. If my head is shaved, then my strength will leave me, and I shall become weak and be like any other man.”

18 When Delilah saw that he had told her all his heart, she sent and called the lords of the Philistines, saying, “Come up again, for he has told me all his heart.” Then the lords of the Philistines came up to her and brought the money in their hands. 19 She made him sleep on her knees. And she called a man and had him shave off the seven locks of his head. Then she began to torment him, and his strength left him. 20 And she said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” And he awoke from his sleep and said, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him. 21 And the Philistines seized him and gouged out his eyes and brought him down to Gaza and bound him with bronze shackles. And he ground at the mill in the prison. 22 But the hair of his head began to grow again after it had been shaved.

The Death of Samson

23 Now the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to rejoice, and they said, “Our god has given Samson our enemy into our hand.” 24 And when the people saw him, they praised their god. For they said, “Our god has given our enemy into our hand, the ravager of our country, who has killed many of us.” [6] 25 And when their hearts were merry, they said, “Call Samson, that he may entertain us.” So they called Samson out of the prison, and he entertained them. They made him stand between the pillars. 26 And Samson said to the young man who held him by the hand, “Let me feel the pillars on which the house rests, that I may lean against them.” 27 Now the house was full of men and women. All the lords of the Philistines were there, and on the roof there were about 3,000 men and women, who looked on while Samson entertained.

28 Then Samson called to the Lord and said, “O Lord God, please remember me and please strengthen me only this once, O God, that I may be avenged on the Philistines for my two eyes.” 29 And Samson grasped the two middle pillars on which the house rested, and he leaned his weight against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other. 30 And Samson said, “Let me die with the Philistines.” Then he bowed with all his strength, and the house fell upon the lords and upon all the people who were in it. So the dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life. 31 Then his brothers and all his family came down and took him and brought him up and buried him between Zorah and Eshtaol in the tomb of Manoah his father. He had judged Israel twenty years.

Footnotes

[1] 13:19 Septuagint, Vulgate; Hebrew Lord, and working

[2] 14:15 Septuagint, Syriac; Hebrew seventh

[3] 15:17 Ramath-lehi means the hill of the jawbone

[4] 15:19 En-hakkore means the spring of him who called

[5] 16:14 Compare Septuagint; Hebrew lacks and fasten it tight . . . into the web

[6] 16:24 Or who has multiplied our slain

Straining all his nerves, he bowed:
As with the force of winds and waters pent,
When mountains tremble, those two massy pillars
With horrible convulsion to and fro
He tugged, he shook, till down they came, and drew
The whole roof after them, with burst of thunder
Upon the heads of all who sat beneath,
Lords, ladies, captains, counsellors, or priests,
Their choice nobility and flower.” ~
Written by Milton, Samson Agonistes


A major turning point in Israel's war against the Philistines was Samson's death. Two Philistine temples have been uncovered by archaeologists. One at Tel Qasile, in northern Tel Aviv, and one in Tel Miqne, ancient Ekron, 21 miles south of Tel Aviv. Both temples share a unique design -- the roof was supported by two central pillars! The pillars were made of wood and rested on stone support bases. With the pillars being about six feet apart, a strong man could dislodge them from their stone bases and bring the entire roof crashing down. The archaeological findings match the Biblical story perfectly and attest to the plausibility of the account.

Questions - this is not the Samson of kiddie Sunday School but so much more and so much less....

1. How many centuries before the birth of Christ? The answer is 14 generations
2. What are Samson’s 3 fatal flaws? Arrogance, Self-centeredness even foreshadowing the Temple Pharisees of entitlement. Sexually mis-centered conduct.

Why would Samson have been included in the Bible? Proving no one in the Scriptures is perfect and can accomplish godly living without Christian community and accountability, godly leadership. Plus Bible Study discussion always has a good laugh or too. And someone always has a good and un-thought of point to make.

3. How many births in the bible fit into the fantastic category of being foretold by a messenger of God? I thought it was four, but I was incorrect and you'll have to figure it out yourself. There are more.

3.5 Samson is the bad mirror twin of King David - how? How does Samson compare to Solomon? How does he compare to your life & does that make you feel a bit smug? Aren't comparisons grand, but think of the comparisons - it is a great learning tool.

4. How does Samson fit into the Biblical theme of Israel's Judges time period where everyone self-governed and it was sort of like today's decisions of right and wrong for our own lives. Samson is very much like the war we are experiencing in the Middle East today. How is Samson a hero and why does God pick him to be a 'hero'?

Here is a plug to join a Bible Study - it is good for what ails you and iron sharpens iron in human relationship.

5. Bible studies on Samson fit him into: 1 the category of flawed leader,2 God using the weakest side of a strong man, 3 Someone who turned to God in His weakest moments and found strength, 4 Poor parenting example of Samson's parents 5. Example of intermarriage 6. Relationship anti-paragon 7. Pornography example 8. Co-habitation example BUT given this verse:

• The people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits. (Daniel 11:32 NKJV)

• Who and what would you say Samson is? Would you have included him in the Bible - why and why not?






Some Historical facts going along with the Bible Narrative:

Gaza
called also Azzah, which is its Hebrew name (Deut. 2:23; 1 Kings 4:24; Jer. 25:20), meaning: strong

a city on the Mediterranean shore, remarkable for its early importance as the chief center of a great commercial traffic with Egypt

It is one of the oldest cities of the world (Gen. 10:19; Josh. 15:47). Its earliest inhabitants were the Avims, who were conquered and displaced by the Caphtorims (Deut. 2:23; Josh. 13:2, 3), a Philistine tribe. In the division of the land it fell to the lot of Judah (Josh. 15:47; Judg. 1:18). It was the southernmost of the five great Philistine cities which gave each a golden emerod as a trespass-offering unto the Lord (1 Sam. 6:17). Its gates were carried away by Samson (Judg. 16:1-3). Here he was afterwards a prisoner, and "did grind in the prison house." Here he also pulled down the temple of Dagon, and slew "all the lords of the Philistines," himself also perishing in the ruin (Judg. 16:21-30). The prophets denounce the judgments of God against it (Jer. 25:20; 47:5; Amos 1:6, 7; Zeph. 2:4). It is referred to in Acts 8:26. Philip is here told to take the road from Jerusalem to Gaza (about 6 miles southwest of Jerusalem), "which is desert", i.e., the "desert road," probably by Hebron, through the desert hills of Southern Judea.



Philistines
(Gen. 10:14, Revised Version; but in the King James Version: "Philistim")

Philistinism is a derogatory term used to describe a particular attitude or set of values. A person called a Philistine (in the relevant sense), is said to despise or undervalue art, beauty, intellectual content, and/or spiritual values. Philistines are also said to be materialistic, to favor conventional social values unthinkingly, and to favor forms of art that have a cheap and easy appeal (e.g. kitsch).

A tribe allied to the Phoenicians. They were a branch of the primitive race which spread over the whole district of the Lebanon and the valley of the Jordan, and Crete and other Mediterranean islands

Some suppose them to have been a branch of the Rephaim (2 Sam. 21:16-22). In the time of Abraham they inhabited the southwest of Judea, Abimelech of Gerar being their king (Gen. 21:32, 34; 26:1). They are, however, not noticed among the Canaanitish tribes mentioned in the Pentateuch. They are spoken of by Amos (9:7) and Jeremiah (47:4) as from Caphtor, i.e., probably Crete, or, as some think, the Delta of Egypt. In the whole record from Exodus to Samuel they are represented as inhabiting the tract of country which lay between Judea and Egypt (Ex. 13:17; 15:14, 15; Josh. 13:3; 1 Sam. 4).

This powerful tribe made frequent incursions against the Hebrews. There was almost perpetual war between them. They sometimes held the tribes, especially the southern tribes, in degrading servitude (Judg. 15:11; 1 Sam. 13:19-22); at other times they were defeated with great slaughter (1 Sam. 14:1-47; 17). These hostilities did not cease till the time of Hezekiah (2 Kings 18:8), when they were entirely subdued. They still, however, occupied their territory, and always showed their old hatred to Israel (Ezek. 25:15-17). They were finally conquered by the Romans.

The Philistines are called Pulsata or Pulista on the Egyptian monuments; the land of the Philistines (Philistia) being termed Palastu and Pilista in the Assyrian inscriptions. They occupied the five cities of Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gath, in the southwestern corner of Canaan, which belonged to Egypt up to the closing days of the Nineteenth Dynasty. The occupation took place during the reign of Rameses III. of the Twentieth Dynasty. The Philistines had formed part of the great naval confederacy which attacked Egypt, but were eventually repulsed by that Pharaoh, who, however, could not dislodge them from their settlements in Palestine. As they did not enter Palestine till the time of the Exodus, the use of the name Philistines in Gen. 26:1 must be proleptic. Indeed the country was properly Gerar, as in ch. 20.

They are called Allophyli, "foreigners," in the Septuagint, and in the Books of Samuel they are spoken of as uncircumcised. It would therefore appear that they were not of the Semitic race, though after their establishment in Canaan they adopted the Semitic language of the country. We learn from the Old Testament that they came from Caphtor, usually supposed to be Crete. From Philistia the name of the land of the Philistines came to be extended to the whole of "Palestine." Many scholars identify the Philistines with the Pelethites of 2 Sam. 8:18.

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Psalm 57 ~ Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!

Psalm 57

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,
for in you my soul takes refuge;
in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,
till the storms of destruction pass by.
2 I cry out to God Most High,
to God who fulfills his purpose for me.
3 He will send from heaven and save me;
he will put to shame him who tramples on me. Selah
God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!

4 My soul is in the midst of lions;
I lie down amid fiery beasts—
the children of man, whose teeth are spears and arrows,
whose tongues are sharp swords.

5 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!

6 They set a net for my steps;
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my way,
but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah
7 My heart is steadfast, O God,
my heart is steadfast!
I will sing and make melody!
8 Awake, my glory!^{[my whole being!]} 
Awake, O harp and lyre!
I will awake the dawn!
9 I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;
I will sing praises to you among the nations.
10 For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,
your faithfulness to the clouds.

11 Be exalted, O God, above the heavens!
Let your glory be over all the earth!


Do you just ever get overwhelmed. I do.

[Pity Party - all are welcome ~
Several trips to the doctor, unusual for us. For both my husband and me. Inflamed lymph node for me, antibiotics zapped it. Worrying about Edward. More worrying about Edward. Even his eye vessels broke over the proposed trip to the surgeon. Some dizziness for me - too much sitting and fretting. An inflamed tooth next. An angry neighbor, who frankly is a returning pain. His hurt feelings and missing insurance deductible over an act of HIM. (Thank HIM for having a calm, witty, assured lawyer for a brother and calm insurance company.) An arborist who talks for an hour and half, saying little really with an exorbitant bill. Does the younger generation think fifty means senility? It rarely does.

More and different yard issues. A yard man who is going to get fired for his surly attitude and poor work. I tried there. Interviewing multiple gardeners and tree people.

Wondering about getting prayers for Edward. Getting his disc golf buddies to nag him. Getting his mom and his brother and my kids to nag Edward.

A trip to the local authorities for a local issue, with their sympathy. A trip to Dallas over an Estate and Guardian issue - with more court sympathy. Fretting over Estate work. Dealing with grumpy. Having your eighty year old mom call and talk about sex.

Missing two days of volunteering to deal with surprise issues - like the trip to the dentist for the gum becoming nuclear. Hearing about a rape and attempted murder. Trying to get the victim to go to the authorities. Hearing sad news. Knowing the media doesn't print how many people collect std's from a trusting, casual encounter. Hearing about a young mother crying because Chlamydia killed an eight week, in utero, loved baby. Seeing a rare sexual parasite show up as positive for two clients. Hearing a client cry because her ex-boyfriend has infected two people in a month with herpes with silence.

Listening to a mom tell about expecting her grandchild. That daughter weighed one pound at birth, years ago. And as a one pound human being, pulled out her own respirator to live. To announce - no oxygen for me. The doctors told my friend, she seems determined, lets see if what she can do - that infant one pound girl was right - she didn't need that oxygen.

Trying to collect tax information and non-returned calls.

Meeting new people with joy. Having your feelings stepped on, hard. Having our younger son go off to Germany for work and not hearing a word for eight days. Seeing the Facebook Message where your husband fears you son was "Taken". Having your older son talk to you four times in two days over this, with patience.

Going out in the sunshine and seeing Edward win a Disc Golf tournament by placing in the money. With our friend who frequently runs over to help us fix something. That was quite a tournament, put on with loving people at their own spread, feeding seventy people. Did I say home-made desserts and a beautiful garden? It's like our friend said, the disc golf community spreads every where and the people are so nice. Edward's surgeon knew two doctors and two other people who play.

Getting a flat tire on the way to be the Cupbearer at Church.  Having someone loan you their tire pump! Having someone else from Church, Family of God, help you for twenty minutes get their can of Fix a Flat to work in the Church Parking Lot. Thank God.

 The Lights are On, everyone relax  Thus Endeth the Pity Party.] 

Then.

They set a net for my steps;
my soul was bowed down.
They dug a pit in my way,
but they have fallen into it themselves. Selah

Don't we do this ourselves? Selah. Rock. Pause. Consider.

We get a choice. You can put your worries into the hands of the One who cares for you. And you can continue to fret. Endlessly. And suffer. My Grandmother Anita, that fierce prayer warrior did.

Or you can decide to do this:

Psalm 37:5
Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this

Matthew 6
25 “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? 28 And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, 29 yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 30 But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. 33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Anxiety? Prayer. Look at the birds. They get outside and they work at exercise. Consider the lilies of the field, enjoy seeing nature. Go look for that gift of the skies, announcing His glory. God has not brought us this far to drop us on our heads. Prayer as a last resort? That's a joke. We are talking to our Eternal Father in conversation - that is a joy. This, of course, is our first step.

We can aggravate ourselves ~over when to turn the other cheek, when to judge someone else, when to speak up, when to remain quiet. When to go for glory, when to want a quiet life. Adding more trouble to life.

Simplify. Mercy over sacrifice. Justice with Mercy. Walk humbly with the Lord. Strive for justice. Love the LORD, honor Him with your decisions.

And you have to get to the point, where its too big for you to decide. Even the disciples worried. You get bored with your own worries. And you have to remember Robin Williams, "Swing at the Good Pitches!"

All these things can be reduced to this. When we pray, this is going to occur ~

Luke 6
21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.

“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh."


Blessed Lord Jesus, Thank You for Your words on laughter. Amen.

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John 3:16 ~ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.'

We wonder if life is a test. We buy into our own permanence every day. I do believe Jesus is showing us the Father in the prodigal son. He sent His son, not Jesus, us, out to live in this world and run to us, if we show remorse and desire to see Him.

Jeremiah 29:13
You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.


There is a story of a man employed as Railroad Track Safety Personnel with his beloved only son. They had to fix a turn plate under the tracks, easy enough. Unfortunately, the train light indicating an on-coming, a full passenger train was broken. The Track Safety man let his son die as the train, filled with people unaware of the sacrifice, continued safely on their way. He knew his son, knew of the bereavement his son would never overcoming knowing the loss of so many people against his own son's life. His heart was broken. The train rushed by filled with people, busy with their lives.

The Train Safety man is only an analogy but this next event did happen:

A Youth Minister told me that today's Youth Minister will eventually encounter a family who disowns their own child. And you will need/want to help place that child. He did take in that sixteen-year-old, who took his week-old truck, wrecked it and was very sorry. And the pattern continued. Until eventually, the youth and the Youth Minister are only too glad to part ways.

When you plan your universe, do you hope for the people with gratitude and desire to love are part of your world? I think that is a given. Or is God an imp, a cupid with a huge heart? Our waiter, just hovering to answer our prayer requests?

I've had several very real dreams of Heaven, and I would say, I entirely believe the Word of God to be true and accurate.

2 Corinthians 12:2
I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows.

Of the half dozen or dozen dreams of Heaven - some are decades old and I can recall so clearly, these have shaped my life. A level of Heaven, so High the Vatican is only a shadow. Where people have basic necessities rivaling things we've seen only in museums - a newcomer, me, is so astonished to find such craftsmanship to be told these things are ours for eternity. And Beauty pleases the Father. Father worship is first, this is just the day to day living set up. In My Father's House, there are many mansions. I have to say, I think the Bigs live here. And I'm not sure I will do anything at this level, but visit the peaceful, serenity of what is called Favor and Grace living on this planet.

I've dreamed - a new earth drawing from the best our world offers, with the joy of being with family and seeing a world made new. Redeemed like Easter Island-  becoming paradise -Jesus spoke of. That dream had me telling all the people I encountered of redemption and renewal.

I wanted so very badly to speak with my father, forgiven and drawn Home only in his final moments on earth. To see a desert with harsh light and a dark house thoroughly enjoyed and visited by family. I was unwilling to tell my daddy that this was not the area I'd want to live in, but he was happy and gleaming to be so comfortable.

Not everyone believes in levels of Heaven, but maybe we could meet in the middle and say Nations of Heaven, so freely discussed in the Book of Revelations.

My aunt Clarice was dying and semi-comatose for months, in Louisiana, miles from our home stuffed with two active little boys. There was no reason to believe I'd know when she was to depart. I wrote her a thank you for the many things she did for my family and asked her sisters to read that thank you to her. About three weeks later, I woke in the middle of the night, knowing Clarice had given me her a taste of the indescribable vision. We really should call  this- passing on. Or going Home. She had been abundantly, over the top, and she said, 'ALL HIS PROMISES ARE TRUE!!!! THERE IS NOTHING TO COMPARE TO THIS, BUT IF I HAVE TO, I'D SAY ITS THE LOTTERY OF ALL TIME!!!" And again she said, "ALL HIS PROMISES ARE TRUE!!!" Clarice has passed on, gone HOME, that night.

Is God an imp? Not on your life. If God can part the Red Sea with Moses' hand and wind, He could turn any force of nature today, merely, with His Word.

Jesus tells us He is still at work and His Father works as well. Today. God's Work is Salvation for the World.

Romans 10:13
For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

That's a lot of people.

Joel 3:14
Multitudes, multitudes, in the valley of decision! For the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision.

(Revelations 7
4 And I heard the number of the sealed, 144,000, sealed from every tribe of the sons of Israel:

5 12,000 from the tribe of Judah were sealed,
12,000 from the tribe of Reuben,
12,000 from the tribe of Gad,
6 12,000 from the tribe of Asher,
12,000 from the tribe of Naphtali,
12,000 from the tribe of Manasseh,
7 12,000 from the tribe of Simeon,
12,000 from the tribe of Levi,
12,000 from the tribe of Issachar,
8 12,000 from the tribe of Zebulun,
12,000 from the tribe of Joseph,
12,000 from the tribe of Benjamin were sealed.

9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” )

How do we fit all the people who call on the name of the Lord are saved? Or better yet!

Romans 10:9
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Luke 13:24
"Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able."

Matthew 13:12
For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.

Jesus Christ the LORD was known to travel across the thirteen miles of the Sea of Galilee, even three times a day to see someone He wanted to be there for. The Centurion impressed HIM more than the Children of Israel. The Centurion believed His Word. And trusted Him. Expecting Good. Acting in Faith. Declaring Jesus was Authority to be reckoned with. Just as the woman from Syria told HIM she would take the scraps from His table. These people of faith did not expect HIM to be there to pick up after them. They set HIM first in their prayers, in their actions, in their lives.


Matthew 6:33

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.


Luke 12:29-32
O you of little faith? 29And seek not you what you shall eat, or what you shall drink, neither be you of doubtful mind. 30For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knows that you have need of these things. 31 But rather seek you the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added to you. 32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Jesus told the disciples to proclaim this doing His work~

Matthew 10:5-15
5 These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, “Go nowhere among the Gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, 6 but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 7 And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 9 Acquire no gold or silver or copper for your belts, 10 no bag for your journey, or two tunics or sandals or a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. 11 And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12 As you enter the house, greet it. 13 And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14 And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town. 15 Truly, I say to you, it will be more bearable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah than for that town.

Lord Help us live Your inevitable plan, for good. In the changes in life, be with us. We always need You and your grace, mercy and love for ourselves and the ones we love. In the name of Jesus Christ who was from Nazareth and made the world His own. In Love. Amen

Believing the Kingdom of Heaven was at hand! The disciples set forth. We know Scripture is living and active - we should do no less - for no greater reason.

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2 Samuel 1:1-16 ~ And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’"

David's Followers Including the Women, Ziklag, painted by James Tissot

2 Samuel 1:24,25
24 “You daughters of Israel, weep over Saul,
who clothed you luxuriously in scarlet,
who put ornaments of gold on your apparel.

25 “How the mighty have fallen
in the midst of the battle!

2 Samuel 1:1-16

1 After the death of Saul, when David had returned from striking down the Amalekites, David remained two days in Ziklag. 2 And on the third day, behold, a man came from Saul's camp, with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. And when he came to David, he fell to the ground and paid homage. 3 David said to him, “Where do you come from?” And he said to him, “I have escaped from the camp of Israel.” 4 And David said to him, “How did it go? Tell me.” And he answered, “The people fled from the battle, and also many of the people have fallen and are dead, and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.” 5 Then David said to the young man who told him, “How do you know that Saul and his son Jonathan are dead?” 6 And the young man who told him said, “By chance I happened to be on Mount Gilboa, and there was Saul leaning on his spear, and behold, the chariots and the horsemen were close upon him. 7 And when he looked behind him, he saw me, and called to me. And I answered, ‘Here I am.’ 8 And he said to me, ‘Who are you?’ I answered him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ 9 And he said to me, ‘Stand beside me and kill me, for anguish has seized me, and yet my life still lingers.’ 10 So I stood beside him and killed him, because I was sure that he could not live after he had fallen. And I took the crown that was on his head and the armlet that was on his arm, and I have brought them here to my lord.”

11 Then David took hold of his clothes and tore them, and so did all the men who were with him. 12 And they mourned and wept and fasted until evening for Saul and for Jonathan his son and for the people of the Lord and for the house of Israel, because they had fallen by the sword. 13 And David said to the young man who told him, “Where do you come from?” And he answered, “I am the son of a sojourner, an Amalekite.” 14 David said to him, “How is it you were not afraid to put out your hand to destroy the Lord's anointed?” 15 Then David called one of the young men and said, “Go, execute him.” And he struck him down so that he died. 16 And David said to him, “Your blood be on your head, for your own mouth has testified against you, saying, ‘I have killed the Lord's anointed.’”

Amalekite -
A member of an ancient nomadic people of Canaan; said in the Bible to be descendants of Esau's grandson Amalek. God defeated seven tribes of Canaan to give the Children of Israel the promised land after the Exodus.

In Ziklag, which looks about the way it sounds, something of a ditch, where David did dwell. David had to ask news of a Canaanite about King Saul. The Lord had removed David far from Saul, fighting a different battle all together.

You would think David would have arranged constant news of Saul, instead David hears from Saul's enemy, of Saul's, and Jonathan's, upcoming battle with the Philistines.

You have to love the sweeping victories of the Bible, like the Technicolor endings of the Exodus provided by Cecil B. DeMill. This is like the Exodus, there is no clear win when the win is expected. David is now in possession of Saul's crown and armlet, but the next step of this battle is:

2 Samuel 2
4 And the men of Judah came, and there they anointed David king over the house of Judah.

8 But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul's army, took Ish-bosheth the son of Saul and brought him over to Mahanaim, 9 and he made him king over Gilead and the Ashurites and Jezreel and Ephraim and Benjamin and all Israel. 10 Ish-bosheth, Saul's son, was forty years old when he began to reign over Israel, and he reigned two years. But the house of Judah followed David. 11 And the time that David was king in Hebron over the house of Judah was seven years and six months.


2 Samuel 3
There was a long war between the house of Saul and the house of David. And David grew stronger and stronger, while the house of Saul became weaker and weaker.


2 Samuel 5
Then all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and said, “Behold, we are your bone and flesh. 2 In times past, when Saul was king over us, it was you who led out and brought in Israel. And the Lord said to you, ‘You shall be shepherd of my people Israel, and you shall be prince over Israel.’” 3 So all the elders of Israel came to the king at Hebron, and King David made a covenant with them at Hebron before the Lord, and they anointed David king over Israel. 4 David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years. 5 At Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months, and at Jerusalem he reigned over all Israel and Judah thirty-three years.

This isn't a made for Hollywood ending, and the battle of the politicians and army leaders sounded more like mafia than Scripture, but the good thing about Scripture - this is a study of life - the way life unfolds.


Matthew 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

Let's put out our hands each day to Jesus Christ the Lord and become the anointed of the Lord.

Isaiah 1:17
learn to do good;
seek justice,
correct oppression;
bring justice to the fatherless,
plead the widow's cause.

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Matthew 20:20-28 ~ the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve

Jeremy Camp - Shine - Lyrics - Reckless Album 2013

Matthew 20:20-28

Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to him with her sons, and kneeling before him she asked him for something.

21 And he said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Say that these two sons of mine are to sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” 22 Jesus answered, “You do not know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am to drink?” They said to him, “We are able.” 23 He said to them, “You will drink my cup, but to sit at my right hand and at my left is not mine to grant, but it is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father.” 24 And when the ten heard it, they were indignant at the two brothers. 25 But Jesus called them to him and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. 26 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

The Subtitles call this: A Mother's Request

This would be what Pastor's call - a day of challenge. Even Texas High School Football Coaches hate when moms do this. Texas High School Principals call meetings about this, before school starts. That's a joke son, a joke.

Who else had days like this? Jesus. His mom called Him home early when He was twelve. His mom called Him home, when He was controversial. Jesus, being God, had to put Himself in the center - when His own mom was blessed. Telling us today, Jesus is the center. Focus on HIM.

Luke 11:27-30
As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

Jesus is the Word of God.

Controversy. Jesus was in the center of controversy in His Life. And invoke His name in unexpected places today, you get controversy. God is not in favor of controversy. He is a God of order.

1 Corinthians 14:33
For God is not a God of confusion but of peace.

Let us stir one another up to good works.

When we tell a controversial story, we hope a seed is planted. Raising us up to do His work. This is a true story. One I have known for decades. Explaining why we see denominational flight.

A small boy was being raised by good people. One day the four year old boy saw people attending Church, he asked him mom to take him, she explained they went on major holidays, but they'd get around to going - God is what they worshiped and Jesus, His Son. The boy asked why they didn't go all the time. The boy's mother said well, they just didn't. All the time. His father came home and the boy asked again, the father's reply was much the same. The boy wept at the dinner table. His parents took him that Sunday and he pulled them to the front pew. He was fully engaged and quite thrilled. His parents were rather stunned. And Sundays became a Day of Worship for the entire family, for the rest of their lives. And they sat on the front pew. The minister was pleased and from time to time referred to the family.

The boy played football and went on to college. He graduated and was really enraged to find he could be drafted into the Vietnam War. He was prime to go. And he had never been more angry in his life, the American Way could be the death of him. He suddenly understood the Civil Rights Movement. And saw what the Church needed to do. He enrolled quickly, with like minded men, into seminary. The place ministers refer to as cemetery.

Just as Jesus combined service to power and complications of this nature - Jesus tells us about faith and works.

James 2
My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory

14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? 17 So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

These men were going to help the country because the country would not help itself. Works was the cry. Faith was not required, it was damaging the 'Movement.' Ease your way into faith.

No one was going to believe a Virgin could conceive a child. Obviously, if you read the Greek, the Aramaic, the Hebrew, the KJV  - God did not intend us to believe a fairy tale. This was about works creating a path Jesus meant to plow. Don't look back, don't take your hand from the plow, open your mind to the new and groovy ways to connect to the ONE. Jesus didn't feed the 5,000, HE encouraged them to put their pocket food into baskets. Never mind it was only loaves and fish, not figs, nuts, grapes, melons, tomatoes, lamb, chicken, or lentils. God didn't part the Red Sea, HE made a drought. And Pharaoh and the chariots arrived in the rainy season. And as we went further down this path, open your mind - om - om - om. Jesus as God's Son was never required to Die. No one requires their Son to die. And besides that this is the HOLY GHOST - no permanent solid body saying He lives and we have new bodies joining HIM in a new Heaven and new Earth. Jesus never said HE was the way, the only way to the Father.

This is a dangerous path.
People leave. And slowly people leading the Church learn, God's Words create a burning in the heart - the disciples felt as they recognized HIM.

Yes, this is a controversial story. The point being, we serve to glorify HIM. And test our own soul, to know if we are putting HIM in the center.

Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer. 

Why are the denominational changes occurring?

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

Hebrews 1:11
They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment.

John 20:29
Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

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