Jeremiah 32

"I (Nebuchadnezzar) laid the foundation of the gates down to the ground water level and had them built out of pure blue stone. Upon the walls in the inner room of the gate are bulls and dragons and thus I magnificently adorned them with luxurious splendour for all mankind to behold in awe."

This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord in the tenth year of Zedekiah king of Judah, which was the eighteenth year of Nebuchadnezzar. 2 The army of the king of Babylon was then besieging Jerusalem, and Jeremiah the prophet was confined in the courtyard of the guard in the royal palace of Judah.

The Royal Palace is David's Palace

An update and overview of the significance of two clay sealings found in Jerusalem of Gedaliah son of Pashhur and Jehucal son of Shelemiah, ministers of King Zedekiah mentioned in Jeremiah 38:1.

Zedekiah was made king of Judah by Nebuchadnezzar II in 597 BC at twenty-one years old. The Babylonian chronicle states, "The seventh year: In the month Kislev the king of Akkad mustered his army and marched to Hattu. He encamped against the city of Judah and on the second day of the month Adar he captured the city (and) seized (its) king. A king of his own choice he appointed in the city (and) taking the vast tribute he brought it into Babylon. "

Jeconiah's uncle, Zedekiah, was appointed by Nebuchadnezzar to rule Judah. existence have been found in Iraq, such as the Jehoiachin's Rations Tablets. These tablets were Zediexcavated near the Ishtar Gate in Babylon and have been dated to c. 592 BCE. Written in cuneiform, they mention Jeconiah ("Ia-'-ú-kinu") and his five sons as recipients of food rations in Babylon.[2] Comparing Babylonian records with date references found in Hebrew biblical texts, the length of Jeconiah's captivity can accurately be determined. 

Just as Jeremiah was told by God, there are no ration tablets found for Zedekiah. Listening to God and His Prophets have health and long life benefits!!! Psalm 103.

3 Now Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him there, saying, “Why do you prophesy as you do? You say, ‘This is what the Lord says: I am about to give this city into the hands of the king of Babylon, and he will capture it. 4 Zedekiah king of Judah will not escape the Babylonians but will certainly be given into the hands of the king of Babylon, and will speak with him face to face and see him with his own eyes. 5 He will take Zedekiah to Babylon, where he will remain until I deal with him, declares the Lord. If you fight against the Babylonians, you will not succeed.’”

Jeremiah is promised rescue in the beginning. I'd bet the farm Jeremiah remained as a remnant.

Jeremiah 1:19

They will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord!

6 Jeremiah said, “The word of the Lord came to me: 7 Hanamel son of Shallum your uncle is going to come to you and say, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth, because as nearest relative it is your right and duty to buy it.’

8 “Then, just as the Lord had said, my cousin Hanamel came to me in the courtyard of the guard and said, ‘Buy my field at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. Since it is your right to redeem it and possess it, buy it for yourself.’

“I knew that this was the word of the Lord; 9 so I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel and weighed out for him seventeen shekels of silver. 10 I signed and sealed the deed, had it witnessed, and weighed out the silver on the scales. 11 I took the deed of purchase—the sealed copy containing the terms and conditions, as well as the unsealed copy— 12 and I gave this deed to Baruch son of Neriah, the son of Mahseiah, in the presence of my cousin Hanamel and of the witnesses who had signed the deed and of all the Jews sitting in the courtyard of the guard.

 Seal of Baruch found in the Royal Palace of David recently

13 “In their presence I gave Baruch these instructions: 14 ‘This is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Take these documents, both the sealed and unsealed copies of the deed of purchase, and put them in a clay jar so they will last a long time. 15 For this is what the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land.’

16 “After I had given the deed of purchase to Baruch son of Neriah, I prayed to the Lord:

17 “Ah, Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you. 18 You show love to thousands but bring the punishment for the parents’ sins into the laps of their children after them. Great and mighty God, whose name is the Lord Almighty, 19 great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to the ways of all mankind; you reward each person according to their conduct and as their deeds deserve. 20 You performed signs and wonders in Egypt and have continued them to this day, in Israel and among all mankind, and have gained the renown that is still yours. 21 You brought your people Israel out of Egypt with signs and wonders, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with great terror. 22 You gave them this land you had sworn to give their ancestors, a land flowing with milk and honey. 23 They came in and took possession of it, but they did not obey you or follow your law; they did not do what you commanded them to do. So you brought all this disaster on them.

24 “See how the siege ramps are built up to take the city. Because of the sword, famine and plague, the city will be given into the hands of the Babylonians who are attacking it. What you said has happened, as you now see. 25 And though the city will be given into the hands of the Babylonians, you, Sovereign Lord, say to me, ‘Buy the field with silver and have the transaction witnessed.’”

26 Then the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah: 27 “I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me? 28 Therefore this is what the Lord says: I am about to give this city into the hands of the Babylonians and to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, who will capture it. 29 The Babylonians who are attacking this city will come in and set it on fire; they will burn it down, along with the houses where the people aroused my anger by burning incense on the roofs to Baal and by pouring out drink offerings to other gods.

30 “The people of Israel and Judah have done nothing but evil in my sight from their youth; indeed, the people of Israel have done nothing but arouse my anger with what their hands have made, declares the Lord. 31 From the day it was built until now, this city has so aroused my anger and wrath that I must remove it from my sight. 32 The people of Israel and Judah have provoked me by all the evil they have done—they, their kings and officials, their priests and prophets, the people of Judah and those living in Jerusalem. 33 They turned their backs to me and not their faces; though I taught them again and again, they would not listen or respond to discipline. 34 They set up their vile images in the house that bears my Name and defiled it. 35 They built high places for Baal in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to sacrifice their sons and daughters to Molek, though I never commanded—nor did it enter my mind—that they should do such a detestable thing and so make Judah sin.

36 “You are saying about this city, ‘By the sword, famine and plague it will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon’; but this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 37 I will surely gather them from all the lands where I banish them in my furious anger and great wrath; I will bring them back to this place and let them live in safety. 38 They will be my people, and I will be their God. 39 I will give them singleness of heart and action, so that they will always fear me and that all will then go well for them and for their children after them. 40 I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. 41 I will rejoice in doing them good and will assuredly plant them in this land with all my heart and soul.

42 “This is what the Lord says: As I have brought all this great calamity on this people, so I will give them all the prosperity I have promised them. 43 Once more fields will be bought in this land of which you say, ‘It is a desolate waste, without people or animals, for it has been given into the hands of the Babylonians.’ 44 Fields will be bought for silver, and deeds will be signed, sealed and witnessed in the territory of Benjamin, in the villages around Jerusalem, in the towns of Judah and in the towns of the hill country, of the western foothills and of the Negev, because I will restore their fortunes, declares the Lord.”



The Incredible story given to us as God Himself unfolded the events to Jeremiah. Complete with Baruch's seal in the right place and found recently in the Royal Palace.

Israel falls and is destroyed and is reborn. His Story for Jesus as well.This is OUR STORY in JESUS CHRIST!!!

Nothing is impossible for God.

John 14
12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

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Luke 20:27-38 ~ those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead

Luke 20:27-38


There came to him some Sadducees, those who deny that there is a resurrection, 28 and they asked him a question, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies, having a wife but no children, the man must take the widow and raise up offspring for his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife, and died without children. 30 And the second 31 and the third took her, and likewise all seven left no children and died. 32 Afterward the woman also died. 33 In the resurrection, therefore, whose wife will the woman be? For the seven had her as wife.”

34 And Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, 35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. 37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. 38 Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for all live to him.”


When you ask the Millennials generation if they have Spiritual beliefs - you almost always hear an apologetic note to their voice if they say hurriedly, "Christian". If the young person responds 'No', and if asked, "Do you believe in God?" They emphatically say, usually, "Yes!"

How many  Millennials feel worthy? Or set a goal in their lives seeking Worthy? Most young people in the climate of America today to not feel the "Go West Young Man" Spirit. Most feel life will hand them circumstance and they will do what feels comfortable. With embarrassment, when called to account.


We serve a Living God. Being the only grandchild on both my mother's side and my father's side - I was made to feel as a child there is a higher path and this is the one I'd want to take. My life felt far more worthy than your typical Salmon up-stream swim. Their interest and deliberate conversation assured me this was intentional. This was far more than career and education planning.

God had a few things to say about Worthy and First and Second Rate.

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

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

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

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




God asks us to remember we are not angels. In verse 36.

Proverbs 27:23
Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds

Maybe we should not kid ourselves.





But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  ~ Romans 5:8

1 Corinthians 6:11
And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.




No one builds a life or a house with out a plan.

Proverbs 24:27
Prepare your work outside; get everything ready for yourself in the field, and after that build your house.




A plan requires faith. A mere Word from God.

Matthew 8:8
The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed."




Seek a blessing. Jacob wrestled God for blessings. Abraham spoke to God asking over and over again for blessings.

Psalm 67:1-2
1 May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face shine on us—
2 so that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.

And, with humor, so many people forget to ask Him for blessings - you already have a leg up.

Acts 3:7
And he took him by his right hand, lifting him up; and straight away his feet and the bones of his legs became strong.



Seek His Personality and Assurances

2 Timothy 1:7
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord

Luke 6:21b
We will laugh

Jesus did not fit the pattern of an expected holy man. Luke wrote, "By this time a lot of men and women of doubtful reputation were hanging around Jesus, listening intently." (Luke 15:1)

"Jesus was always had snappy oneliners ready for the occasion, such as, 'Let the dead bury their dead,' and 'The poor you always have with you.' It's how you tell them! Try these prefaced with a heavy shrug and 'Oy Vay'." [Adrian Williams]

"Jesus has a particular eye for the ironical and paradoxical. He gave His disciples nicknames: Peter the Rock who was big on words, but a coward when it mattered; James and John, hotheads, were 'Sons of Thunder'. He told stories about judges who gave justice only after being pestered repeatedly, businessmen who amassed riches only to die the next day, and about priests too precious to help a man who had been beaten up. He talked about people who gave stones in the place of bread, and saw the speck in the eye of another but ignored the log in their own eye. He talked about the blind leading the blind. He called the holy men of his day whitewashed walls." [Rev Peter Weatherby]

"Many of His comments would have had the audience laughing incontrollably, while at the same time making a deep point. The pictures of 'blind Pharisees straining at a gnat but swallowing a camel' (Matt 23:24) is hilarious. Similarly it is reckoned that shpherds were the butt of Galilean society's jokes, and so the one about the shepherd leaving the 99 to search for just one, would have also raised a laugh." [George Newton]

"How often there was a twinkle in the eye of Jesus! His humor shines through his words. For instance, Jesus once pictured the religious legalists of his day. He said they were like a man who polished the outside of his drinking cup, but forgot to clean the inside. "You are like a person," said Jesus, "who picks a fly out of his drink and then swallows a camel" (Matthew 23:24). Jesus made his point by a humorous exaggeration. He used the same kind of humor when he said, "It is much harder for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle" (Mark 10:25). There must have been a twinkle in his eye when he talked about the fault-finder: "Why do you notice the little piece of sawdust that is in your brother's eye, but you don't notice the big piece of wood that is in your own eye?" (Matthew 7:3)

The humor of Jesus show us the quickness of his mind and the playfulness of his outlook. Jesus made this point by an absurd picture: "Does anyone bring a lamp home and put it under a washtub or beneath the bed? Don't you put it up on a table or on the mantel?" (Mark 4:21).

The religion scholars were not pleased and growled, "He takes in sinners and eats meals with them, treating them like old friends" (Luke 15:2). Jesus' cousin, John, had followers who fasted all the time. Jesus and his followers had a reputation for eating and drinking. Again, Jesus reached for a humorous image to portray his contemporaries. He said about them: "They're like spoiled children complaining to their parents, 'We wanted to skip rope and you were always too tired; we wanted to talk but you were always too busy.' John the Baptist came fasting and you called him crazy. The Son of Man (Jesus' favorite term for himself) came feasting and you called him a lush" (Luke 7:31-34).

Jesus lets Levi throw him a huge banquet with all Levi’s tax-collector buddies invited (Lk 5 27-39). The happy party causes the Pharisees to criticize, posture and talk of fasting and prayer. Jesus responds with humor, sarcasm, a parable, and then a sigh that despite his presentation of truth they, like fools, will stick with their old ways.

Jesus’ humor could be sharp and earthy at times like when he said, and this is a Westby paraphrase, “the lawyers and Pharisees are full of...!” Check out the setting in Mark 7. Jesus is speaking openly of the fact of evacuation and that what come out of the body after eating is what is unclean. Unrepentant men are full of spiritually unclean stuff that comes out of them like bowel movements.



Serve Him with Mirth by Leslie B Flynn, 1960
A classic, now available as a free e-book

500 Clean Jokes and Humorous Stories: And How to Tell Them
R & L Wright, Barbour Publishers, Ohio

The Humor of Christ, by Elton Trueblood, 1964

The Humor of Jesus by Henri Cormier, 1977

The Humor of Jesus by Earl F Palmer, 2001

And God Created Laughter by Conrad Hyers, 1987


He is not God of the dead, but of the living


Romans 12:2
Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. 

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2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5 ~ eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.

3 Finally, brothers,^[sisters] pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, 2 and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.

This is exactly why I started reading the Bible, every day, at age sixteen. I was asked if God wrote you a letter and sent it to you every day, for your guidance, wouldn't you read it???

Well, maybe not. Yet what if you were told... Jesus Himself wants you to have love, comfort, good hope and forgiveness. Complete comfort for your heart while establishing your work and word while He is equipping you with the Gospel of Salvation which is the Shield of Faith.

Then you might say - what - where - that's amazing. And have wonder.

Let's discuss wonder. And use the word magic. Jesus, in the Holy Spirit, condemned sorcery. In the Book of Acts. Saul called upon the Witch of Endor to conjure up the at-rest soul of Saul. And the magician in Acts offered to buy, with money, the Gift of the Presence of the Holy Spirit.

The Bible speaks of Powers and Principalities around us. I go past assumption here, and say My Father in Heaven knows more than I do, and, in faith, say this is absolutely correct. Jesus was offered powers during His temptation. He turned back from that and said to God - be the Glory. This is someone the Holy Spirit will be with. When the heart offers itself to Jesus and says live, move and have your dwelling with me. When the Lord's Prayer is said in Faith, God will do HIS own good will.

Now back to Wonder. Jesus created wonder. All throughout the Scriptures. Mostly the reaction is ... fear.  Jesus then said after He fed the multitudes - they wanted entertainment, food and healing.

Our Savior tells us He wants us to be salt and light has a pretty interesting - ranging towards fun and sassy - commentary on the glom-glom of the consumer crowd.

John 6:15, 16-21
Perceiving then that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, Jesus withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

16 When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea, 17 got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them. 18 The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles,[b] they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.” 21 Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going.

Why would we assume that God who creates the Universe from His spoken Word follows the X-Men. Indeed not!!! God creates the Word of God and we become immune to the Wonder of God.

… Thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall save his people from their sins. Matthew 1: 21

…His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, The Might God,

…The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace Isaiah 9:6

… God hath made that same Jesus… both Lord & Christ Acts 2:36

…Behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world! John 1:29

…they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, the song of The Lamb Revelation 15:3

…Behold, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Revelation 5:5

..and the Bright & Morning Star Revelation 22:16

..and our hands have handled, of the Word of Life 1 John 1:1

…we have and advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ The Righteous 1 John 2:1

…whereby the Dayspring from on high hath visited us. Luke 1:78

…Before Abraham, I Am. John 8:58

…And I saw, and bare record that this is the Son of God. John 1: 34

…are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls. 1 Peter 2:25

…We have found the Messiah which, is being interpreted, the Christ. John 1:41

…I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

…through the knowledge of the Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. II Peter 2: 20

..a name written King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Revelation 19:16

…I am the Light of the World. John 8:12

…The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world… John 1:9

…I am Alpha & Omega the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come

The Almighty Revelation 1:8

Luke 2:10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

How do you really think Jesus, a man, threw the money-changers out of 36 acres of the Temple? He is the Son of God. And He was not saying,' Please, with Sugar on Top.'

Einstein had an idea. Einstein had a Theory of Relativity and the Space-time Continuum...why is it in Bible Studies we praise God for feeding the multitudes? And for walking on water?? (I think He was bummed out and was seeing the Disciples struggle in the weather as an analogy of the people  HE was trying to reach. This was troubling to Him, He, therefore, went for a stroll for His Glory).

Then they were glad to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going  - that is the Theory of Relativity. Now this routinely troubles people in Bible Studies. No one, until this century, pictured warp speed. C'mon. Let's Catch Up. 

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





Father God, You are not a Tame Lion. Let us Do and will the things that You, Heavenly Father would command us. Saying to You, "Your Will be done."

Only in Jesus can all things be possible. Father God, You promised us what we asked in Your Name, in Faith, this would be done to Glorify You. When life requires going alone, let us be have the bravery of John, the Beloved Disciple, to seek Jesus. Putting Him first.

May the Lord direct our hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. May the Word of the Lord speed ahead and be honored, as happened among us and among the people of faith through Your History. Amen.

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Galatians 5:16-25 ~ walk by the Spirit

Galatians 5:16-25

16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

Revelation 17:7-9, 14


When I saw her, I marveled greatly. 7 But the angel said to me, “Why do you marvel? I will tell you the mystery of the woman, and of the beast with seven heads and ten horns that carries her. 8 The beast that you saw was, and is not, and is about to rise from the bottomless pit and go to destruction. And the dwellers on earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the foundation of the world will marvel to see the beast, because it was and is not and is to come.

9 This calls for a mind with wisdom: the seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman is seated;

14 They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”


The Seven hills of Rome
The Seven hills of Istanbul
The Seven hills of Kiev, Ukraine
The Seven hills of Moscow
The Seven hills of San Francisco
The Seven hills of Seattle
The Seven hills of Iaşi
The seven hills of Mecca, Saudi-Arabia
The seven hills of Worcester, Massachusetts, United States
The seven hills of Tirumala - Tirupati, India
The seven hills of Western Sydney, Australia
The seven hills of Abergavenny, South Wales, United Kingdom
The seven hills of Ibadan, Nigeria
Theseven hills of Lisbon, Portugal
The seven hills of Providence, Rhode Island, United States
The seven hills of Sheffield, England
The seven hills of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
The seven hills of Amman, Jordan
The seven hills of Bergen, Norway
The Seven hills of Turku, Finland
The Seven hills of Jerusalem, counted at the time of Christ:
1 The northern summit (hill) is called Scopus [Hill One],
2 The middle summit (hill) was called Nob [Hill Two],
3 The highest point of Olivet itself, and the southern summit (hill) was called in the Holy Scriptures the "Mount of Corruption" or "Mount of Offence" [Hill Three] (II Kings 23:13).
4 On the middle ridge between the Kedron and the Tyropoeon Valleys there was (formerly) in the south "Mount Zion" [Hill Four] (the original "Mount Zion" and not the later southwest hill that was later called by that name),
5 The "Ophel Mount" [Hill Five],
6 To the north of that the "Rock" around which "Fort Antonia" was built [Hill Six],
7 And finally, there was the southwest hill itself [Hill Seven] that finally became known in the time of Simon the Hasmonean as the new "Mount Zion."

It's interesting to note Amman, Jordan was part of the Neo-Babylonian Empire and Revelation 17 verse 12 speaks of an hour of power referring perhaps to the practice of being able to 'marry' a prostitute for an hour.

This week we spoke at the Pregnancy Center were I volunteer.  On Salvation is accomplished.  We need to remember not to focus on the Do of works based salvation and always know the  Do ne portion of Jesus Christ - Done. Salvation is accomplished by the Lord for the faithful who call upon Him in belief. 

We had a new believer and she studied Galatians 5, and was wanting to ask me about hell. Jesus uses the word Gehenna 11 times to describe the opposite to life in the Kingdom of Heaven.

I frankly get uncomfortable with hell and Revelation. Revelation to us is like Isaiah to the people before Jesus chose to walk with us as Grace upon Grace and Truth. We won't entirely know. Scholars expected Jesus to arrive as King, not in a stable manger. But just as we see glimpses of Heaven, we see what Jesus referred to as hell.

Our new believer said, well, if the Fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, self-control - how can we say not all will inherit the kingdom of God.

So I gave her the true story of a friend who had her dad do what 60% of divorcing fathers do in divorce, according to the Dallas Morning News. They ditch their kids and a lot of them do not return. Our friend sat with her dying father, decades later, because Christian people forgive even the ditcher dad. She found to her relief and surprise, her dad had found the Lord. As she sat outside in the Hospice Hospital, she shared this with a Hospice nurse who said she'd been working Hospice for decades and certainly some deaths have pain, but typically there are two types of death - Heaven or hell. People screaming literally of fire and hell.

Not all people work towards love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Mostly people do. But there are those who do not. And those few don't know Jesus and their lives do not have this fruit.

One of the glimpses of hell is the boredom we use to create Trouble. And Selfish Interests. I find it disturbing we have not realized Video Games look and scream the way they do. What are we teaching our kids. I've never bought a video game, but I can tell you my kids certainly have. I wish to tell Father GOD -  I'm sorry I didn't parent that better. 

If you have the chance - seize - Give us the Day.

Remember to raise your children with accomplishments and not entertainment. A life of meaning and the fruit of patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control certainly would tell us to teach our children the enjoyable and fruitful ways caring for each other and having a home are FUN.

One of the aspects of the Gospel we are forgetting in this busy time - plan on teaching your children to do things they will do as adults. Cultivate the unique gifts they have. Foster a Spirit of Teaching.

Father God, in our lives, let us have more glimpses of Heaven than of hell. Help us to do Your Will and bring Heaven to Earth. In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen


For He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with Him are called and chosen and faithful.

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Ezra 1 ~ that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit

Cyrus the Great

Ezra 1

In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing:

2 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem. 4 And let each survivor, in whatever place he sojourns, be assisted by the men of his place with silver and gold, with goods and with beasts, besides freewill offerings for the house of God that is in Jerusalem.”

5 Then rose up the heads of the fathers' houses of Judah and Benjamin, and the priests and the Levites, everyone whose spirit God had stirred to go up to rebuild the house of the Lord that is in Jerusalem. 6 And all who were about them aided them with vessels of silver, with gold, with goods, with beasts, and with costly wares, besides all that was freely offered. 7 Cyrus the king also brought out the vessels of the house of the Lord that Nebuchadnezzar had carried away from Jerusalem and placed in the house of his gods. 8 Cyrus king of Persia brought these out in the charge of Mithredath the treasurer, who counted them out to Sheshbazzar the prince of Judah. 9 And this was the number of them: 30 basins of gold, 1,000 basins of silver, 29 censers, 10 30 bowls of gold, 410 bowls of silver, and 1,000 other vessels; 11 all the vessels of gold and of silver were 5,400. All these did Sheshbazzar bring up, when the exiles were brought up from Babylonia to Jerusalem.

Objects in mirror are closer than they appear
Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus (called Caracalla)

Several Kings had promised to free the slaves......

gap between object and reflection reveal the presence..

Which is rather a funny story in and of itself. Because Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes kings of Persia had promised FREEDOM.

The Exile, or Second Exodus began March 19 597 B.C.. And is fully recorded in Babylonian History

Which takes takes us out of dry, dusty history and places us fairly, and squarely back into the realms of faith!!!

Tablets even record rations. For King Jeconiah

All that delayed time. These people were hanging about in slavery. Poverty. What was the fuss of prophecy versus time delay? THIS NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE BIBLICALLY!!!

No, God does believe in HIS own timing. Abraham....... waited. And finally Abraham decided to ask God if he could adopt Lot, his nephew, as a son. Nope.

Sarah waited so long, she laughed when that started to roll about. And not Really a nice laugh at that.

And Isaiah waited.... seven hundred years.

And.... Many times God appears to say yes... and mankind waits and waits. And sometimes you even see Scripture seemingly saying there are several different aspects. In the middle of this Passage - God declares.....

Malachi 3

 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.[a] 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

5 “Then I will draw near to you for judgment. I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers, against the adulterers, against those who swear falsely, against those who oppress the hired worker in his wages, the widow and the fatherless, against those who thrust aside the sojourner, and do not fear me, says the Lord of hosts.

Robbing God

6 “For I the Lord do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed. 7 From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you, says the Lord of hosts. But you say, ‘How shall we return?’ 8 Will man rob God? Yet you are robbing me. But you say, ‘How have we robbed you?’ In your tithes and contributions. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you. 10 Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. 11 I will rebuke the devourer[b] for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of your soil, and your vine in the field shall not fail to bear, says the Lord of hosts. 12 Then all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a land of delight, says the Lord of hosts.

13 “Your words have been hard against me, says the Lord. But you say, ‘How have we spoken against you?’ 14 You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the Lord of hosts? 15 And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.’”

The Book of Remembrance

16 Then those who feared the Lord spoke with one another. The Lord paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the Lord and esteemed his name. 17 “They shall be mine, says the Lord of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him. 18 Then once more you shall see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between one who serves God and one who does not serve him.

How does God do that. Why do passages of the Word of God seem to poetically capitulate?

“For I the Lord do not change"

Well God, our Father, creator of all - uses all of willingly and unwillingly - to complete HIS Story. Ezra was a scribe. Before he led former slaves bravely through wilderness to a very destroyed and abandoned Jerusalem, he was only a scribe. A counter of religious law given a polite title of priest to an enslaved population. Between Nehemiah and Ezra, Ezra is remembered as rules, laws, rules, laws, rules, laws. Even a little constipated there. And unfortunately, threw out the Samaritans who later proved to be D.N.A. Children of Israel doing their level best to be remnants to the Temple of God. Sigh. We get a lot of things wrong.

How does God Capitulate? He is NOT. Does NOT. He gives consequences to disobedience. He explains the contrary nature of man. He looks for faith. Just like we look to our Parents for approval. Even adults do this. The exact nature of GOD was described in one word by a man who walked along side of Jesus in awe and wonder. LOVE.

Jesus understood the limited, selfish, and self-centered way we look upon HIM. Jesus saw the faith of the centurion just to a WORD of God and was completely pleased.

Jesus was probably rather saddened to say even a corrupt Judge is worn down by someone refusing to accept injustice.

How are we going to see God? As the prodigal Father running to us? God says the work He gives us is to believe in HIM. Surely He would rather have said. It is your priviledge to believe how deep, how wide, how high, is the Love I have for you.

This is Our Father. HE would save.... the world. 

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