Philemon ~ The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit

This is Papyrus 87, a fragment of Philemon from the Second Century A.D. housed at the University of Cologne. However the index of Papyrus 46, perhaps 1st Century, lists Philemon - now missing - as part of Papyrus 46's collection. Seems that Philemon was widely read.

Philemon 1

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker— 2 also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier—and to the church that meets in your home:

3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. 6 I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.

8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10 that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus,[b] who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.

17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.

25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Dear Philemon,

This man was well known to Paul. Philemon, like Peter and Paul, is not like the followers of David. David attracted the rabble and the malcontents who very much wanted to overthrow King Saul. Even David's prized friend, Jonathon, stayed to die with his father, Saul. David was left with the men willing to live in ditches.

It's different with the followers of Jesus. They are all arriving from different perspectives - the Stewart's wife of Herod's Palace, the Temple lawyer - trained by Gamaliel. The Roman's prized tax collector. Simon - a zealot - intent on overthrow.

Philemon is the Bishop of Gaza, like Peter, he is a wealthy business man who has a house Church in a house large enough to hold a large number of people. Philemon is married to Apphia. Emperor Nero is going to get so freaked out by the name of Jesus, he kills Philemon and Apphia sometime in 50 A.D.

About twenty years after the death of an obscure man in a suburban province of Syria called Judea - a man the Jews call Son of God, Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth, the Christ. The Sadducean Council records are available and tell us the blind see, the deaf hear and the lame walk because of Jesus. Scary news indeed.

We find in the Menai records - Onesimus is with Philemon and Apphia  and dies with them. In the list of the Seventy Apostles, attributed to Dorotheus of Tyre - Philemon is one of the 70 disciples  Jesus sent forth and later as bishop of Gaza.

Dorotheus Bishop of Tyre 255–362 A.D. looks at records Bishop Papias of Hierapolis wrote and interviewed the Disciple John on Patmos as well as every presbyter he could find witnessing Jesus. And AD 110 to 140 - Polycarp, a disciple of the beloved disciple John on Patmos, also leaves Christian community records of conversations.  Bishop Dorotheus tells us Philemon was probably one of the 70 Disciples in the Menai records.

Dorotheus lives to be 107, very old, like the Disciple John.

Colossae in Greece was an ancient city of Phrygia, and near the great road from Ephesus to the Euphrates. It has never been excavated until 2013. (Wikipedia meet UK's Daily Mail star date 3 April 2013)

It's a strange place.

Recreation of the Hades Temple

It sounds like the plot for a new Indiana Jones film. Archaeologists say they have discovered the 'Gates of Hell', the mythical portal to the underworld in Greek and Roman legend.The site, in the ancient Phrygian city of Hierapolis, now Pamukkale in southwestern Turkey, is said to closely match historical descriptions of what was known as Ploutonion in Greek and Plutonium in Latin.

In its heyday, a small temple with traditional Greco-Roman pillars was said to have stood next to wall with steps leading down to a cave doorway filled with foul and noxious gasses. Describing the site, the Greek geographer Strabo (64/63 BC -- about 24 A.D.) said: 'This space is full of a vapor so misty and dense that one can scarcely see the ground. 'Any animal that passes inside meets instant death. I threw in sparrows and they immediately breathed their last and fell.'

We talk today about the world being a sad place. And we have opportunities for solutions.

However, few of our friends and acquaintances have so given up on the world they sacrifice animals to the god Hades. Seen in a local statue outside the Temple. Pretty ugly statue.

So we can be reasonably assured - this city lived in fear of crime. Of robbery. The city area records indicate fear of invasion, war and crime - famous for this trouble. You really don't want Onesimus, who has a name which means useful, running off to Paul.

And Onesimus, would want to point fingers and escape a bitter master - not dying with Philemon and Apphia. Instead they did.

Let the record clearly show:

Onesimus, Philemon and Apphia lived the church that met in their home.

Grace and peace came to dwell in a city sacrificing to a god of death.

Paul's prayers were remembered.

Love for all his holy people and their faith in the Lord Jesus had Victory.

Their partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening our understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Their love has given us great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.

The appeal on the basis of love was lived to the end.

Separated from them in death, as a dear brother. A partner to share their fate.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with our spirit to find this participation and encouragement in the Body of Christ.

Psalm 29:11
The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.

Psalm 34:14
Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.

Psalm 37:37
Consider the blameless, observe the upright; there is a future for the man of peace.

Psalm 85:8
I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints-- but let them not return to folly.


Father God let us remember You are the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. You love Your Creation and want to save the world. Relationships tangle, the people of God press on to Peace, Faith, Hope, Love and Jesus. Let us ask You for Your mercy, leadership, guidance and joy to be centered in You and Your Path. We have the highest privilege to ask in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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1 Corinthians 4:14-21 ~ That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.

Papyrus 46 First Letter to the Corinthians, a page of Papyrus 46

Greek text on Papyrus c.AD First or Second Century

1 Corinthians 4:14-21

14 I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children.

15 For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. 16 I urge you, then, be imitators of me. 17 That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church.

18 Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. 19 But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power.

20 For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.

21 What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?

Eternal. The Word of God and the Promises of God,

Shame is not of God. Repentance with forgiveness is of God.

Good parenting is Father God. The love found in a Beloved Parent. A glimpse of God Himself.

Good Christian friends - beloved and faithful in the Lord.

God sustains us when we encounter the arrogant involved in power.

The Kindness of God is powerful, not just talk. Know these Scriptures, know the power of God.


What do we expect from God? I expect good from God, love and gentleness.


Father God support us when we are weak and tired. Renew us in Jesus. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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1 Thessalonians 5 ~ He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

Papyrus 46 has only fragments of 1 Thessalonians 5. And the photos are not found this is 1 Thessalonians somewhere, but you get the general idea.(Biblical Scholars everywhere publish your Google photos even of fragments - thanks!)

1 Thessalonians 5

Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.

5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.

8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.


12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil.

23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us. 26 Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Lucius Junius Gallio Annaeanus or Gallio was a Roman senator and brother of famous writer Seneca. He is best known for impartial judging a case involving Apostle Paul in Corinth. Gallio, Proconsul of Achaia, was appointed and  records are found during the reign of Emperor Claudius in the June of 51 A.D to 52 A.D. We know Paul wrote Thessalonians 1 and 2 during this year. No guess work is needed.

Being the descendant of a Richardson, Louisiana dry goods merchant - where all 6 daughters and sons sewed Easter clothes and Christmas clothes as a family project (6 were Baptist, 6 were Christian - we leave Great Uncle Frank and Great Aunt Clarice to continue to fight this out in Heaven with wry looks) - we know clothing.

So - therefore - when Paul mentions the Armor of God - I'm going to notice - he has not prevaricated on the details.

Ephesians 6
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel



Isaiah 59:17
He put on righteousness as a breastplate, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and wrapped himself in zeal as a cloak.


And in Ephesians, Paul writes
Breastplate of Righteousness
Helmet of salvation


1 Thessalonians 5
Faith and Love as a breastplate
Hope of Salvation as a Helmet


Did Paul err and forget in the Holy Spirit's details? No. Abraham had the faith in His loving Father and that is credited to him as righteousness. The Holy Spirit has supported Scripture again. God's message is fully communicated.

We started off the study of Papyrus 46 with Philemon. Rejoice always - what does this mean? When given the choice to be hopeful and upbeat - strive in this direction. Jesus calls us to be Salt and Light. Jesus tailors Rejoice with an honest flavor, which we can appreciate.



1 Peter 1:25
But the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Armor tends to last centuries, if you see the museums this is so. And yet to place the armor of God on - is to have the protection of God forever.

Isaiah and Jesus finish the thought.


Isaiah 59
“And as for me, this is my covenant with them,” says the Lord: “My Spirit that is upon you, and my words that I have put in your mouth, shall not depart out of your mouth, or out of the mouth of your offspring, or out of the mouth of your children's offspring,” says the Lord, “from this time forth and forevermore.”

Psalm 92:4
For you make me glad by your deeds, LORD; I sing for joy at what your hands have done.


What are the Scriptures telling us of the Strength God gives us?

~ And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus

~ His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength

~Be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus

~Strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.

~Strong, and the Word of God lives in you

~Strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being

~Full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ

~ Riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

~ Redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace

The armor of God arrives complete. Filled with the Blessings of God.

Father God, We only look to You. You have clothed me and my loved ones with Your Armor. Thank You, Your Strength and Blessings Continue. In the Name of Jesus.

Your very Word has brought forth fruit on fragile Papyrus - how much more You will do with the soul and heart of Your Beloved Children. In You, we put our Hope.  Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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Acts 19:1-20 ~ the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified

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Acts 19:1-20 (New American Standard Version)

1 It happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the upper country and came to Ephesus, and found some disciples. 

2 He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” 

And they said to him, “No, we have not even heard whether there is a Holy Spirit.” 

3 And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” And they said, “Into John’s baptism.” 

4 Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” 

5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking with tongues and prophesying. 7 There were in all about twelve men.


8 And he entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. 9 But when some were becoming hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the people, he withdrew from them and took away the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. 10 This took place for two years, so that all who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

11 God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, 12 so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out.

13 But also some of the Jewish exorcists, who went from place to place, attempted to name over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “I adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.” 14 Seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said to them, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you?” 16 And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17 This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived in Ephesus; and fear fell upon them all and the name of the Lord Jesus was being magnified. 

18 Many also of those who had believed kept coming, confessing and disclosing their practices. 19 And many of those who practiced magic brought their books together and began burning them in the sight of everyone; and they counted up the price of them and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 

20 So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing.

I Know My Redeemer Lives, by Nicole Mullen

Paraphrasing Matthew Henry – Acts 19

19:1-7 “Paul found religious people, who believed Jesus as the Messiah. They had not been led to expect the miraculous powers of the Holy Ghost, nor were they informed that the gospel was especially the ministration of the Spirit. But they were ready to welcome to receive the Holy Spirit.

Paul said John never intended that those he baptized should rest permanently in the baptism - John offered through God – of repentance, but told them that they should believe in Jesus as Christ. To confess with their lips and believe in their heart that Jesus Christ’s sacrifice saved them.

They thankfully accepted the discovery, and were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. The Holy Ghost came upon them in a surprising, overpowering manner; they spoke with tongues, and prophesied, as the apostles and the first Gentile coverts did. All who profess to be disciples of Christ should welcome the seal of the Holy Ghost, the sanctifying influences, to the sincerity of their faith.”

God’s Holy Spirit is alive and well. A woman I work with saw the police investigate a travel fatality. Instead finding, she prayed and prayed with them and for them - and the woman who had been run over - survived and is off her walker. She is a valiant prayer warrior. The passenger in the car - turned out to be a former paramedic. He calmed the crowd down, just as an ambulance happened to drive past. The life flight was found pronto.

My cousin prayed for a miracle and one day the light shone through the window and healing was brought forth just for prayer to Jesus.

Recently a woman who has thyroid issues was suddenly, partially healed. In God's time.

A baby was prayed for and a phone call was made - The Arrow Project on Tomball's FM 2920 - they have christian fostering programs and adoptions for babies abandoned at birth for substance abuse. An adoption occurred.

Our pastor saw a 2 year old boy’s leg grow to become normal; the healing was with 200 people in a Catholic congregation as the boy was carried down the aisle and prayed for. Seeing the power of God, in this powerful prayer meeting, convinced our pastor of God's call to become an ordained minister.

We all know the Holy Spirit is alive and well when we are prompted in acts of unselfish kindness helping and praying for each other. We had been in Bourne, Texas for a marvelous wedding of a man who has civilly married his wife for the year the lived apart as he was in the Army and this weekend married again for his tour being over - in the Church.

Today my son Alexander and his girlfriend Ashley and I wanted breakfast in Waco. We headed to the Cafe Homestead. We really didn't know a thing about this Christian Community. We were going to be amazed and touched. The Heritage Traditional Crafts Village showcases a community of craftsmen who have returned, not to the past, but to the enduring values exemplified in handcraftsmanship. True craft requires more than skill: it expresses the craftsmen’s care and concern, their personal investment in everything they do. You can visit the shops of our crafts village, watch our craftsmen work, even attend classes to learn craft skills and, in all this, experience with our craftsmen the joy and fulfillment of returning to craft, the art of work.

 Unfortunately, Cafe Homestead and craft buildings are closed on Sunday. We were about to leave the driveway when the Christian Group about to volunteer for work for their Homestead Fair  asked us to share their breakfast. We carried it to eat on the beautiful porch to find the staff opening the closed restaurant for us to eat overlooking the garden. We were able to eat and have hot tea, amazing dessert and felt the love of the place coming from their Love for God blessing our day. It truly was a glimpse of the Open Gates of Heaven.  All good in our lives is a gift from God!!!

 Papyrus 46 - Hebrews 8 page

Hebrews 8
Now the main point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 and who serves in the sanctuary, the true tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by a mere human being.

3 Every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, and so it was necessary for this one also to have something to offer. 4 If he were on earth, he would not be a priest, for there are already priests who offer the gifts prescribed by the law. 5 They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” 

6 But in fact the ministry Jesus has received is as superior to theirs as the covenant of which he is mediator is superior to the old one, since the new covenant is established on better promises.

7 For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. 8 But God found fault with the people and said:

“The days are coming, declares the Lord,
when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
9 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they did not remain faithful to my covenant,
and I turned away from them,
declares the Lord.
10 This is the covenant I will establish with the people of Israel
after that time, declares the Lord.
I will put my laws in their minds
and write them on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
11 No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest.
12 For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.”

13 By calling this covenant “new,” he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and outdated will soon disappear.

What will we do as prayers are answer?

Father God, when Living Water is stirred, we will give Jesus our Thanks. We will say God Lives! He works, He Loves! And we look in expectation of all the Good You will continue to give. Blessed Jesus. Thank You. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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1 Thessalonians 2 ~ the Word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe

The Talmud explains the Word of God is Not punctuated. Men use paragraphs pauses and capitalization. The Word of God is the Holy Spirit breathing out truth and transcribed by men. One complete thought of God - the entire Scripture is One Thought of God.

Papyrus 46 does not have punctuation.
One of the debates in dating the 104 pages of this collection of Scripture is the debate over Nomina Sacra - special abbreviations which appear in New Testament texts. There is Nomina Sacra in these documents. And yet. Nomina Sacra occurs in the coveted 1st century papyrus. At the present time, most scholars think this is the second or third generation after Christ died and places these Scriptures in the second century. There is a debate, some of the scholars think this is first century. 

104 pages of early Scripture!!!

1 Thessalonians 2

You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. 2 We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.

3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. 7 Instead, we were like young children among you.

Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. 9 Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.

14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews 15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone 16 in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.

17 But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. 18 For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way.

19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes?

Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy.

All Hallows’ Eve is now Halloween and was an ancient Celtic festival of Samhain.  2,000 years ago in Ireland, UK and France- they celebrated New Year's on November 1. This day was the end of summer harvest and the beginning of winter, a time associated with death. Celts believed the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds living and dead became blurred. On October 31st, they believed the dead returned to earth causing trouble and damaging crops.

Personally, Halloween has never ever been my thing, not my forte. I was a thin child who didn't want candy - chocolate or the things I picked out - often just sat around. In Dallas, we usually had rain. I thought this was all a drippy mess. Who needs Halloween when Christmas was better?

I'm not fond of back door preaching - going through evil to present a Spiritual fact.
We can, of course, look to the manifestations of exorcisms and see the name of Jesus heals many things.  I've been writing this blog since 2007 and this is the second post on frightening things. 

Philemon says Rejoice, when we have strength in the Lord - this is our strong starting and ending point.

What's your most memorable frightening movie?

My father was a little concerned when I wept copiously over the 1975 "Stepford Wives" with Katherine Ross. Daddy sent my friend Janice in the next day to have me explain to her  - and then to him - why I had wept and wept and wept the day before over "Stepford Wives".

Is there a worse movie?

The movie starts out with happy VW bug noises and women who are bouncing and smiling.

Photography is a new passion as dinners get neglected and dust bunnies roll past.

The husbands pitch in and remark the women in Stepford loooooook gooooood. They are teased by their husbands the women in Stepford seem taller, cleaner, more pleasant, more put together, better cooks, larger breasted, more friendly, less complaining. They even have better hair. And Vavooom sooo beautiful.

Not to mention-  Stepford wives never chew their husbands out and generally can't wait to say enough about their husband as an icon of perfection.

  Did you hear she called her husband a greek god???

Soon the conversations seem to be vapid. The Stepford women only speak of pleasing their husband. All the former interests are gone. Who can get the best golf putter polish??? Where the husband's coveted Scotch can be found. Why Herman prefers his wife to where ruffled blouses, like his mom.

And the two friends at first giggle and realize that they seem to be the only ones who have INTERESTS.
Eventually the two friends feel afraid of the women and their blank looks.

One of the husbands of the interesting women remarks he'd actually bought the house in Stepford to improve his wife.  He says he expected their company would be educational. 

One husband down the street is heard sobbing to the next about the death of his wife.
 And the next day,
 the woman
is so composed.
So unruffled.
So blank.

No more art, no more color, just a grim black and white perfection. The comfort, the light, the help - is now - missing.

And we find out the woman is indeed dead and her arm is a computer arm.

But not to worry - the computer friend is going to kill Katherine and replace her with a not-aging, taller, bigger breasted, cleaner, sex oriented, cheerful, cleaning machine - a robot. One that will chant her husband is a greek god.

Doesn't that sound nice. A robot who just praises you and does the work. 

Would God want this ? Because we could all have been created as Sims.


One little similarity. We worry God wants this of us. In attitude, in worship, in modesty, in opinions, in gifts, in conversation.  Instead Jesus asked for ... salt and light.


We think God requires us to be so clean and so Unit A or Unit B -
that we are perfection - erasing our flaws.

Come back tomorrow. When you are holier. Instead, Jesus took flawed people and from time to time - the Gospels say "He healed them all."

God is going to listen when you are taller...thinner...more happy...with fewer doubts.  Except God is really interested in our soul and the love there.

We need to be imitators of goodness. Jesus said we should pluck off our eye or arm if it offends us. We look upon another with lust - then that's adultery. Why don't we see more one eyed people and one armed people? Jesus saves us.

Jesus told us - Only One is Good. God as the Father - deals with His own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. Paul writes - we cannot obtain His Glory. Only the gift - God took our sins from us. Erases our sin. Covers our sin with His righteousness. God is holy, righteous and blameless. True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.

With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from You.

God tests our hearts. Not looking for praise from mere people. Delighted to share the free gift of salvation, should we accept.

What does God see in people, the flawed people of Scripture - He sees hope, our joy, or the crown HE would give His beloved in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus. We are God's joy - He loves us.

Romans 8:31-39
And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

1 Timothy 1:5
The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.

Psalm 97:11
Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.

Hebrews 10:22
Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

1 Thessalonians 2:4
But just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.



Father God, we need no mask of righteousness before You. 

We come to You as we are. Unless we truly put ourselves before You as we are - sincerely - we create niches to fester in and these circles cause us to doubt the goodness You placed in us.  In Your Truth, Light creates a place of healing and good welfare.

Unless we know we are fully accepted by Your Love, we create rules to run to hide behind. Unless we have standards to achieve, we will sink to decay and only rot. Without a higher path, we achieve nothing and have nothing to defend or maintain - no need for blessings. 

When we are overburdened from conscious - You ease the burden and tell us You will carry us. 

You are a Father blessing us each day and we are cavalier about accepting this as our right of existence. And when we seek You as we are - truly - You reach to us in Love.

 I invite You again, Father God. Dwell within me and help my soul be a good place for You in Love, Joy, Optimism, Honesty, and Effort. 

Help me to be the extra Love life requires. Help me to be loving and aware of those you've given me.

Forgive me in Your vast mercies when I fail.

I ask Your blessings for me and my loved ones to do Your Good Will and to encourage others with the strength You've given me and the Hope. Privileged to ask in Hero Jesus' name. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †

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