Matthew 19:24-26 ~ with God all things are possible

The Lord saw fit to provide us with lightning during the day for July 4th!

Matthew 19:24-26

"Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." 23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 

25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”





Empires.  Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.

Constantine. You hear the same pop culture inform you of Constantine’s jaded use of Christianity.

Today we are going to follow this Incredible Change of the Roman Empire with some pop culture.

"MIB" K said, "A person is smart. People are dumb, panicky, dangerous animals, and you know it! 1,500 years ago, everybody knew that the Earth was the center of the universe. 500 years ago, everybody knew that the Earth was flat. And 15 minutes ago, you knew that humans were alone on this planet. Imagine what you'll know tomorrow."

We aren't salmon, we are meant to be unique with unique opinions. There is more to Constantine than "Constantine used Christianity to promote his promotion to Emperor."

The History of our United States Congress was being used as a Presbyterian Church on Sunday for most of its years. Only stopping in the 1950s.

So compare the Congress and Constantine. Constantine has something Pop Culture wisdom – SEVERELY OVERLOOKS.

Constantine, Alexander the Great and Nebuchadnezzar of the Babylonian Empire had something in common...When the events surround a man are beyond his imagination, he looks to see what force is behind him greater than himself.

This is called “Discerning and Wisdom."

What is behind us? What is in front of us? What force is greater than ourselves? People said Truman was the last surprise President. Constantine knew he wanted out of war. Smart man.


Constantine was a potential emperor in the future prisoner of Diocletian to prevent political uprising, Emperors did that with competition. Nonetheless Constantine was a prominent member of the court: Bishop Eusebius was eye witness of Constantine's journey to torture  Jesus Christ’s nephew descendants to repent of Jesus. They all refused and upon torture and promises, died for Him. Constantine was a tolerant and politically skilled man who had mixed with pagans and Christians in the reign prior to Diocletian. Events there in Nazareth changed him.

Constant power struggles suppressed Constantine from coming into his position as his father's son. Constantine began to look to soothsayers recommendations,for favorable omens. Constantine, was with a spirit that left a deep impression on his followers, inspiring some to believe that he had some form of supernatural guidance. Constantine's army arrived at the battle the seers of Rome declared to be a final battle. His soldier's shields were bearing an unfamiliar symbols. According to Lactantius, Constantine was visited by a dream the night before the battle, wherein he was advised "to mark the heavenly sign of God on the shields of his soldiers ... by means of a slanted letter X with the top of its head bent round, he marked Christ on their shields." Eusebius describes another version, where, while marching at midday, "he saw with his own eyes in the heavens a trophy of the cross arising from the light of the sun, carrying the message, In Hoc Signo Vinces or "with this sign, you will conquer", Constantine had a dream the following night, in which Christ appeared with the same heavenly sign, and told him to make a standard, the labarum, for his army in that form.

Constantine was to look to another Bishop Eusebius of Nicomedia to be his baptizer as he was about to die. He had hoped to be baptized in the River Jordan. This was not to be. But Constantine had changed the Empire and called the Council of Nicaea - to resolve with the Bishops, who would dare to travel, what the Holy Spirit would call as His Word.










Alexander the Great did something similar Josephus said in his History: Alexander had visited Jerusalem after his conquest of Egypt and that the High Priest in all his splendor had come out to receive him. When Alexander bowed down before the High Priest, he was asked why he did so. He said in reply that he was actually bowing to God, of whom the High Priest was the representative, and that while still in Macedonia he had had a dream of this meeting. Then the King "was shown from the book of Daniel the passage where it says that a certain Greek will come to destroy the whole Persian empire", and Alexander is said to have guessed that it referred to him.

The Talmud relates that when Alexander the Great and his conquering legions advanced upon Jerusalem, they were met by a delegation of elders, led by the High Priest Shimon Ha Tzaddik (Simon the Righteous). When Alexander saw Shimon approaching, he dismounted and prostrated himself before the Jewish Sage.

To his astonished men, Alexander explained that each time he went into battle, he would see a vision in the likeness of this High Priest leading the Greek troops to victory. In gratitude, and out of profound respect for the spiritual power of the Jews, Alexander was a kind and generous ruler. He canceled the Jewish taxes during Sabbatical years, and even offered animals to be sacrificed on his behalf in the Temple.

Two different historical accounts tell us Alexander believed God was part of his life.

Why would God include Alexander an Ivan the Terrible of me me me conquest?  God created this world to deal with only one type of human being. 

1 Kings 8:46
They sin against You (for there is no man who does not sin)

Jesus is said to have delighted in mankind during Creation and that includes the parts of Genesis where He had to realize we have flaws. Jesus decided to wade into life bigger than Constantine, Alexander and Nebuchadnezzar.


God reached out to that Alexander the Great.


Romans 8

1 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set youa free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh,  God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering.  And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.





And so did Nebuchadnezzar believe radically in God. Nebuchadnezzar believed Isaiah's 14th Chapter was written about him. Nebuchadnezzar gave Ezekiel, now a slave, a house. Nebuchadnezzar had attempted to work with Judea and the Temple of God.  He continued to allow the Jews freedom to gather and worship. This is why the exiles were promised a return from Babylon. 

Problems? At least we are not howling. Nebuchadnezzar did some of this. Nebuchadnezzar gave us an example God taught us.


James 1:6
But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

The work of Salvation is God's. When mankind become entangled with God, they begin to look to Him. The choices of men. It's always our choice how we want our stories to continue with Him. Jesus forgave Pilate. Pilate, according to known history, chose a more desperate path, as did Herod, in the convenience of life. Constantine chose to embrace the Lord even if it was not until his death that he was baptized. I'd far prefer to be Constantine in History than Herod or Pilate.

We should always consider the Word of God to be powerful enough to allow Him to be Supreme in our lives and giving Him the path forward. God is Sovereign. He tells us so.





 


Every 500 years there is something amazing and we live in amazing times. God tells us it's not the Words of belief, it is the obedience to His commands. Jesus added the Eleventh Commandment.

John 13:34
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another."

So we wandered all over.
Diocletian, Constantine, Creation, Jesus' great great nephews. Nebuchadnezzar - proud hero, inconsistent protector. Alexander the Great going to God to bow down. Congress. Presbyterian Church 1793-1950 housed in Congress.The Eleventh Commandment. And we even will include Micah's 6th Chapter. And, of course, July 4th. All want the blessings of God and are interested in His continued favor. Which, of course, we want for our Nation.

This one aspect of God wraps all the obedience, mercy, holiness, faith, forgiveness, determination of His will and the goodness of His plan.

 

This is obedience to God. Living in ways to please God. Going firmly in the direction of goodness. Dwelling there. Being unique in doing what God would care about. Giving Justice with Mercy. Being humble to allow God as God. Paul wrote he knew he always was a sinner, he just wasn't sure in which aspect just then. Paul just believed God is God.

John 4:24
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.

Colossians 1:16
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

Romans 14:17
For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking (rules and logistics) but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.




Father God, 

We pray this July 4th for an increase in the Holy Spirit. A rising up of God's Love.  We love this Nation and ask for God to bless us, please.

The ability to put anger down. To let compassion exist without need for gain or immediate gratification. An idea God does prevail.

Our Daily prayers, being alive with curiosity to find what God is doing with Prayer.

In Jesus Christ, we make our request. Amen in Jesus. And in Jesus we are covered!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

John 14 ~ Rise, let us go from here

John 14

14 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 

2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 

5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 

6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

8 Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 

9 Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11 Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. 

13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 

20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” 

22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 

23 Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.

25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 

27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 

29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me,

31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. 

Rise, let us go from here.







Reading the news is depressing. What is the condition of the world - Really?


The top countries people are leaving right now – moving out of and moving towards
Business Tech
By Staff Writer July 3, 2017

Top 30 popular destination countries -

Top 30 countries people are leaving

When it comes to the motivations behind moving, more than half of respondents said they had done so for better jobs prospects, while a third relocate in pursuit of a new challenge or adventure.

And what is the condition of the world today? No one can very rightly judge this. As you travel only the USA you find vast differences between states. Be that Middle America, Southern America, East Coast, West Coast.

Perhaps what we really need to recall is Jesus telling us in John 14, Jesus tells us the truth.

No one can Judge.

86% of the United States of America says they pray and truly expect God to hear them.

My opinion, the Truth is you are far more likely to find the fulfillment of The Book of Revelation as a personal end of life. And in the call to live and die - order our lives for presenting your eternal component, soul to Father God.

The USA has had a history of Truth understanding. The World's Oil Shortage of 1970 was declared to be the end of oil. We stayed in lines for hours to pay increasing costs. Bogus. Yes, yes this was very Bogus.

College increasing costs are - Bogus. And why? It used to be the Federal Government put Grants and perpetual gifts to make college feel they had enough income to have low costs. Like Canada does today. We can't seem to stay out of wars far, far, far away and more people are turning to the Military to get the GI Bill. Now Israel announces people will do a mandatory two year stint in the Armed Forces. So every one is military and there are no wars created.

What is good about less 4 year college programs and that debt? It seems, according to the Associated Press, that colleges have gone very odd. And so they are far too expensive to stay there long. More and more Junior Colleges are being used and the Student Body is a motivated and learning crowd. A lot of Junior College Students have jobs and understand the realities of economics. God sweeps in to make difficulty a new beginning.

 A re-birth on a nation unwilling to forgo learning. This is a Nation that prays.

We read the news and we are - complainers.

That is the truth. Armchair justice.

What is the result?

We are diligent about the shape of the world. We are like the words of the Movie "Gladiator - 'We are Entertained!'"

And in becoming complainers - we become more timid. More willing to settle and say, "Thank God, that's not me."  Billy Graham was part of a rebirth of faith in our nation. Do not pooh - pooh the faith of the Nation. People who fall down - pray. People who fall down 7 times and get back up the 8th time - pray. The news would like to record things that are bizarre as being the new 'compassion', the new norm. This same Media records 86% of the Nation believes God will hear them when the Pray. Do not forget this. We have a great fact, something very good to know, about faith.

The History of the World in the woolly first century had a world expanding in directions - unheard of. Roads, highways, water, law, diligent enforcement. Reliable ships to travel with schedules. Taxes. Goods and luxuries imported from far, far away. New moralities. New information. New religions. New religious thought. Enforced opinion. Weird, weird weather. New types of laws. More military.
New ways law was enforced and regulated.

What is the condition of the world? What is your attitude? Don't you count? Billy Graham held a candle up in Football Stadiums and he said, "All of the lights are out in front of 250,000 people can you see this candle? Can you see this Candle? This is the Light of Jesus Christ from 2,000 years ago and we see His Light." A Nation believed again. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit moving us along. God of Encouragement.


The condition of the world is ... your life. What you will give to the people you do brief business with. The people you live near in your neighborhood were the lawns are perfect and people live inside. The condition of the world is your welcome to them. The condition of your life is your ATTITUDE. Most people change jobs, but even the people who stay 30 years take away about one person they will continue with all their lives. Find that person.


This week an interesting conversation with someone I've known for 16 years. A state of the world question. A wonderful person I know through the vital Church. Coming from an imperfect background. Starting out. Asking questions. Asking me - who writes a blog about Jesus Christ - why is marriage important today. I'm imperfect. So I was asked to sort out - outside of 'Religion and God and all that' - why is marriage important. Why isn't moving in together and staying there 'all that'. I'm imperfect enough people have honest conversations. Imperfect people discussing the meaning of culture and marriage. St. Francis said, "“It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.” And even if we are asked to remove Jesus from the 'logic' - Jesus is the logic and in kindness, in truth, in mercy - then Jesus is part of the conversation.

Marriage is a plan of God's. John 14 tells us Marriage is a vow. A truth. We work there to be pleasing to God.

Marriage believes the other person is committed. Thick and thin. And we can put aside our natural selfish tendencies and rise up to being giving. We round out our aggressive nature to become more confident, to become more able to go more places with the idea we are supported. In short, we are 'Loved'.

Working at the Crisis Pregnancy Center, you see people looking for help. The High School Sweethearts who lived together in college - got a college degree - became engaged - lived in a neighborhood of predominately married people and in middle age - spread out, wrinkled down, got whiny kids, got more things, got more bills and want OUT. When it was uncomfortable to admit being unmarried simply said Common Law "Married". And in the bump in the road, the kindly sister-in-law says she never liked the un-wife get a new woman start over. And within two weeks the new situation was moonlight, romance and new possibilities - to return to the same situation. Thanks sister-in-law for supporting true marriage by allowing the escaping father of 3 to live with you to find real marriage.

Over and over again we find a woman has the kids, the man is free to roam. And no college costs are a legal obligation. Poverty has arrived. Or the woman is free to roam and the kids can find somewhere to land. Rare is the man with the kids.

What I like about this culture during my parent's divorce is true today. But this is a swinging gate and will hit you in the chin or the rear. My father ran off and his 30 year friends said never mind, we are busy. Unfortunately, we lost the family house, and were scraping by and most friends said never mind we are busy. America truly does not like Divorce. Jobs are kept at first for the man divorcing, but pretty soon promotions go to others. See the reality.

Marriage says I am able to overcome being just an aggressive animal who walks upright. Staying with a positive attitude that God is going to help me with real belief - makes a happy heart and a happy heart is able to see and feel and reason and know and believe and return good - because God is helping. And the circle goes around. Love.

How to stay when all is rotten. Communication. Being honest. Holding in the blurt reactions. Finding out how to communicate. Truth is where we can stay. Mercy. Knowing we are called by God to do His Plan. Then the idea we have pleased God and God is Pleased. Then all seems more right with the world.

The Pew Report. Truth. The Pew Report says marriages hold together with a college degree 2 out of 3 times. And we are facing a nation trying, trying, trying to have a college degree.  Can Do. Can Do. Can Do. With God.

Housing. When you talk with up and coming millennials - they are tremendously concerned about being able to ever own an house. Why? To have a framework where Love, Trust, Hope, Joy, and the Future can be enjoyable. And once again we face something new to us and not new to a culture of war. The birth rate is about half of what is should be to maintain the population. There is going to be housing available for future generations. A re-birth of a nation.



Is God interested in housing? If we believe we are interested in housing for these reasons - you betcha - God is interested in housing. The Exodus proves God is very interested in the welfare of Life. We all intrinsically know this. We need innovation of transportation and housing reliably priced for the welfare of the Nation. Not 60 year mortgages sweeping the land. We have seen the downfall of the British Empire over 90 year land leases.

The People God has given you. Your family. Their needs. The people who love you. Peter saw God walk upon the water. Why? Probably because John the Baptist had just died. God had fed the people - thousands of them - with His Word alone. Jesus was still nourishing people even in a difficult day. So Jesus God and fully man was walking upon the water. He might have been remembering in the middle of Herod killing John the Baptist and feeding the multitude - the days of creation - the joy in new beginning. And Peter says I want to travel with You, say the Word. This makes sense entirely if we are going to travel with God who says He IS the Light of the World, we are going to need His Help. The Word makes sense. Jesus reached out immediately to help His Child wanting to Travel with Him.


How do people travel together? Even the cohesion of Jesus and His Disciples is fraught. We get along doing the most important work in life to eternity. We pray. We have conversations with God. We act sincerely. Staying in the Truth is having ability. And we know how much Larger God is. Our Father and our Jesus bending down to "“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me." Breathing the Holy Spirit indwelling where we believe and in the last part of John's Gospel 14th Chapter ... we do this "Rise, let us go from here."


Our lives are filling in from "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me" to "Rise, let us go from here."

The condition of the world is in God's Hands. The condition of your life is something you and God can do. Pray. Believe. Act with faith.

Father God!!!

John 14:13-14
Whatever you ask in Jesus' name, this You will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Abba anything in Jesus' name, Abba, Jesus and the Holy Spirit will do it

We ask for More of Your Holy Spirit. In our Families, in the people You have Given us. For the up building of Love and Glory for Your Name. We ask expectantly giving You thanks for Your works and wonders today. We give You thanks as evil is defeated.

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!
Psalm 33:12

Bless us this 4th of July for the United States of America!!!

Blessing of Jesus Christ is ours. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

b

Psalm 110 ~ The Lord has sworn

Psalm 110

A Psalm of David.

110 The Lord says to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”
2 The Lord sends forth from Zion
your mighty scepter.
Rule in the midst of your enemies!

3 Your people will offer themselves freely
on the day of your power,
in holy garments;
from the womb of the morning,
the dew of your youth will be yours.

4 The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest forever
after the order of Melchizedek.”

5 The Lord is at your right hand;
he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.
6 He will execute judgment among the nations,
filling them with corpses;
he will shatter chiefs
over the wide earth.

7 He will drink from the brook by the way;
therefore he will lift up his head.

Fashions come and go. When I was a child Reverend "W. A." Criswell's Oratory Style covered the Radio Christian Broadcasts. "Aaaaand AYE say To Youuuu." Criswell actually spoke this way as a Southerner and a two-term elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Supporters have described Criswell as one of the 20th century's greatest expository preachers. So everyyyyyyone addapppted his speaCH inFLECTIONS.



And styles, in many things, come and go. The top eyeglasses were worn by my step-grandfather Reverend William Tate Young, Graduate twice of University of the South. Tate was a John Wayne, or Marlboro man, type figure at 6'2" with broad, broad shoulders and a good set of very, very white hair and these glasses. He never ever employed the Criswell speak. Instead his style was conversational always, standing up straight to get attention and expecting the very, very, very best of every living Soul.

My Grandmother was the most delightful, sweet, loving, educated... Loving, Alcoholic you'd every enjoy conversing with. Three of her 4 great grandchildren are named for this slice of Heaven Grandmother Bit is and was. Named "Bit" as a nickname by her father because she was such a Bit of Love. My Nativity Angel was declared to look like Grandmother. And I've had the privilege of dreaming and seeing Grandmother Bit in Heaven showing me what filled in the Lord actually looks like. And made me realize her life was a struggle for her here. Losing her loved father and two husbands with only one alcoholic child. Mammas don't let your babies grow up and marry their first husband as an alcoholic.

My Great-Grandfather was the most landed man in Mississippi  (the one who named Bit as Bit) and he told Tate in 1917 he despised clerics as The Laziest Human Beings on the Planet. Being social butterflies who craved feting, gave judgment and did absolutely Nothing. I think maybe Pop had seen "Gran Torino"  the film directed by Clint Eastwood. "Walt said I knew nothing about life or death, because I was an over-educated, 27-year-old virgin who held the hand of superstitious old women and promised them eternity. "

Tate defied what Pop said. He was an Episcopal Priest for over 50 years and was in the Sherman, Texas and Dennison Church for well over 35 years. And he did this right.



Tate had suffered from his congregation. Perhaps the most shocking thing that happened, when he moved, the long time congregation 'lifted" "boosted" a few of his quite gorgeous items. Tate probably did not care too very much, he mildly commented he knew who had what. And Tate was very, very popular and beloved by his two Churches he worked for. It was a solid set of congregations.


What were some of Tate's successes? He was very integrated with the laity. He did not consider himself above them. He was literally a foot taller than most people. And probably 40 I Q points higher. And Tate accepted this without much comment. To him this was God's way of making a Priest. Tate was not interested in sin much. He stated what pleased God and found the Joy of God to be the direction we should seek God. He was spitting damn angry with the 1970s Church for all the 'modern' improvements about divorce. Tate said this would ruin the Church by the 1990s. Tate said the marriage of a man and a woman is a vow and to undo this would cause rifts in the mystery of God and His Church.


Tate was infuriated, having a magnificent temper - he did not hush about easy divorce.


Tate married 3 times due to spousal death and after 20 years of widowhood married for the second time to a Mayonnaise Heiress. She had pursuited Tate, to Tate's surprise for 10 years. Hearing his now 2nd wife's admonition, caught our attention. I guess Tate caught on when she gave him her guest house next door. Tate was not pleased to find out she had left him her entire Estate when she suddenly died of terrible Pneumonia. But Tate kept on going with the laity to sail, build handguns, target shoots, dinners, meetings, and lots and lots and lots of hospital trips for the elderly congregation. Rich or making ends meet, Tate drove a VW Squareback. A car that was white, lasted decades and looked like a Porsche SUV.




I sat with decades of Tate pounding the Dining Room table about this and that. Sundays rare roast beef. And let me tell you what I learned from Tate. Abraham was a wise man. Very wise. Father of the Nations. Speaking personally to God, Abraham never became a... PRIEST. But you look for a good one and you nourish your people for decades and decades knowing the details, foibles, aspirations, hopes and realities of your flock.


Tate would discuss the sermons around the area. Tate knew local government and what was going on in the schools. He knew the veterinarians.



What type of person becomes a Minister. Ministers, doctors and psychologists run in the same directions.

If someone needs a podium, to become important, or to render judgment. This ain't necessarily Jesus. Some very chilly people become psychologists for the sheer joy to look like this:

If you can't smile and laugh with the truth - you aren't living the Joy of the Lord!!! C'mon.





And then you have the Tender Hearts.

The people who can't get enough to their people. They'd never dream of saying, "These people just take and take and just suck the life out of you."

This is someone who believes God really and truly wants to save the world. His Grace is wide. They believe their job is to cater to the laity. Not their image. They see their job as builders of community. And want this employment full time. Realistically understanding the population of the church is 60s and up. Realistically knowing this is going to involve loving the poor as well as the rich. Understanding God reacts whether HE feels the emotion or not. Being an open door to all. Understanding the days of picking and choosing the 'right' people to advance a career is over.

The drawback to being this person is to be overwhelmed.
This is a Faith Based Ministry and this person will need to remember God has a Plan for all of us. Prayer is the major occupation and involves an ongoing conversation with God. And in the Strength of Prayer, knowing God provides for His People. People have the strength to do their lives when they believe God is going to Be There With Them.

This is an Adventure. See the Mercies of the Lord renew each day. As an active search for a real promise. A white water knuckle search some days. And a breeze in the spring of God's Garden other days.

This is Faith. To be told the secrets of the police officer who is trained to go into a dark house where the husband is stoned or loaded with alcohol and gun. To hear what is hard to hear. And leave the person, actually, equipped and empowered by the Word of God to stand and be able. To love back to standing. To believe standing will happen. And, importantly, hand prayer concerns over to God believing we will see coping, tolerating, growth, achievement, and Miracles. No human being is God, we just talk to Him - for real.

Jesus walked. He loved ... Vineyards. Jesus was said to be a glutton and a drinker. Jesus went to the less 'righteous' parties. Jesus is easily obtainable. Jesus tells where he is so that he could be found. Even during the Ascension, baby. Jesus kept employing people to do God's Work. Jesus sent people with good deeds. God knew during Genesis 11 Good things about Creation. He could have named quite a few that handing over to people would have "an opportunity for a solution". Jesus saw the Good. Sees the Good. Says the Good.



This Job has discernment. It does not hold out Judgement. If Judgement is to be rendered - this is done face to face and not crowd to crowd. This is called Wisdom. And fully employs the remembrance Jesus challenged Nicodemus to remember a Teacher of Israel will fall into Greater Judgment. To Whom? To God Himself. This could be exactly why Abraham decided to be a rancher!!!








And to put the whipped cream to the sprinkles...

The A to B of Sermons. Once you write the Sermon you had fun working on all week, then you get to go back and ask why is this 'New.'

How has the Sermon avoided being routine. What tools are available to me? Songs. Art. Pop Culture. Archaeology.Hand outs of art and bumper stickers? Can the Sermon be done by Subtitles easily followed? Is part of the Sermon just noise? A is excellent, but get to dragging B and you are bbbbbbbbboring. If the congregation is 60 years old, what do they probably know that was just hammered at them?

What do the Popular Christian Books suggest is the question on the believing soul's mind? What inspired you in the topic. What brings you closer to God "Our" Father?

How did you do? Did you honk your own horn? Did you shine? Did you really get that job done mightier than the speeding bullet. Then, Bubba, you did that WRONG. Because the reason for the entire Season is JESUS.

What did you convey about why YOU LOVE JESUS. Do the people look like they are considering that they arrived 'soul-ly' to Love Jesus and now see again something about Jesus reflecting the nature of God Himself?


God tells us He is the God of Love.

He is the God of Encouragement.

Did you?



Perhaps Peter, himself, dealt with very honest, thinking, mature, good people as he told them the Good News of Jesus Christ. Let's listen to Peter's advice on being Christ's representative to the average person. Look at the first verse and then the rest in that Light of Christ Jesus:

2 Peter 1

1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:

2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. 5 For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, 6 and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, 7 and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. 8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. 10 Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. 11 For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

12 Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. 13 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, 14 since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. 15 And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased,” 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. 19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.





Abba, 

Help us all to do this. Daily. The excellent adventure of Loving Jesus. Knowing Jonah ran. Jeremiah said I'm too young. Peter said not me, oh please Lord. And Jesus Shines on helping, loving, encouraging, strengthening us all to do more of what Jesus says is, "I say to you, arise.”

And the laity, given the Holy Spirit, will. We will with God's Help. Arise and be the Body of Christ Jesus. The people of the Bible do not have a college degree to call themselves ministry to be the Body of Christ.

In Jesus we have our Allllleluia and will Rise up. Amen Amen Amen Jesus.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Psalm 107 ~ Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!!!

Psalm 107

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so,
whom he has redeemed from trouble
3 and gathered in from the lands,
from the east and from the west,
from the north and from the south.

4 Some wandered in desert wastes,
finding no way to a city to dwell in;
5 hungry and thirsty,
their soul fainted within them.
6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
7 He led them by a straight way
till they reached a city to dwell in.
8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
9 For he satisfies the longing soul,
and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

10 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death,
prisoners in affliction and in irons,
11 for they had rebelled against the words of God,
and spurned the counsel of the Most High.
12 So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor;
they fell down, with none to help.
13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
and burst their bonds apart.
15 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
16 For he shatters the doors of bronze
and cuts in two the bars of iron.

17 Some were fools through their sinful ways,
and because of their iniquities suffered affliction;
18 they loathed any kind of food,
and they drew near to the gates of death.
19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
20 He sent out his word and healed them,
and delivered them from their destruction.
21 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
22 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,
and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!

23 Some went down to the sea in ships,
doing business on the great waters;
24 they saw the deeds of the Lord,
his wondrous works in the deep.
25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind,
which lifted up the waves of the sea.
26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths;
their courage melted away in their evil plight;
27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men
and were at their wits' end.[all their wisdom was dried up]
28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
29 He made the storm be still,
and the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet,
and he brought them to their desired haven.
31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love,
for his wondrous works to the children of man!
32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people,
and praise him in the assembly of the elders.

33 He turns rivers into a desert,
springs of water into thirsty ground,
34 a fruitful land into a salty waste,
because of the evil of its inhabitants.
35 He turns a desert into pools of water,
a parched land into springs of water.
36 And there he lets the hungry dwell,
and they establish a city to live in;
37 they sow fields and plant vineyards
and get a fruitful yield.
38 By his blessing they multiply greatly,
and he does not let their livestock diminish.

39 When they are diminished and brought low
through oppression, evil, and sorrow,
40 he pours contempt on princes
and makes them wander in trackless wastes;
41 but he raises up the needy out of affliction
and makes their families like flocks.
42 The upright see it and are glad,
and all wickedness shuts its mouth.

43 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things;
let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.



Life can be crunchy.

Very oddly crunchy.

When you get to almost middle age, Life. Can. Hand. You. Crunchy Circumstance to be defeated or mull endlessly.

Jesus on the waters. This is exactly as I see Jesus greeting me as the promises of God are fulfilled. Jesus will be merciful to me, I just know in my knower.

And that's far from just polite. It's an odd thing what two millenniums can do to polite. Winston Churchill knew something of right and wrong.

I like a man who grins when he fights.


I am certainly not one of those who need to be prodded. In fact, if anything, I am the prod.

Winston Churchill

And as I am in recovery for crunchy - I'd have to say I have lived down some disapproval for loving Jesus. And for not being perfect.

Jesus was always for our freedoms to do what He loves and rejoices in. The Goodness of God that draws us to Him.

Freedom of Information. "A Family Thing"
Aunt T.: If he looks white it's 'cause his daddy's white. I don't know how he look, I can't see him like you can, and don't need to. I don't have the blessing of being able to separate people by lookin' at 'em any more.

Living life abundantly is being open minded. Have you experienced child death? I have, let's talk.

Do you still feel that you are open enough? Gandhi said he found reason to love Jesus, just not the Christians.

Gandhi is regarded as peaceful. So...
let's see why Gandhi might find a way for this to be reasoned out.

Luke 9:50
Jesus said to him, “Do not stop him, for the one who is not against you is for you.”

Proverbs 4:27
Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.

Being centered on Jesus and not emotion, approval, and over thinking. The concept of dwelling on what Jesus wants from us. Be. Be in Jesus.


Isaiah 42:3
A bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.

Isaiah 35:3,4
Strengthen you the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees.

Psalm 34:18
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Perhaps you have both experienced this trauma but at opposite ends of the same spectrum. The spectrum ends up in the Lord's hands, eventually.


Who is Jesus?
God is a Mom.
Genesis records Adam was both male and female. God is open minded to open hands and hearts. Jesus only lived to be 33 years old, having walked our lives with vim and vigor. Proclaiming mercy over sacrifice. Daily.

Matthew 23:37 -
How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings

Matthew 9:36 -
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion for them, because they were distressed and scattered, as sheep not having a shepherd.


Isaiah 40

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
and cry to her
that her warfare is ended,
that her iniquity is pardoned,
that she has received from the Lord's hand
double for all her sins.

3 A voice cries:
“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4 Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

6 A voice says, “Cry!”
And I said, “What shall I cry?”
All flesh is grass,
and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.
7 The grass withers, the flower fades
when the breath of the Lord blows on it;
surely the people are grass.
8 The grass withers, the flower fades,
but the word of our God will stand forever.



Isaiah 40 is about your comment that life is not crunchy but sometimes exceedingly fragile. God assures us in this passage about recovery, healing, passing,

The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint,
and to him who has no might he increases strength.
30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,
and young men shall fall exhausted;
31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.


Because:

26 Lift up your eyes on high and see:
who created these?
He who brings out their host by number,
calling them all by name,
by the greatness of his might,
and because he is strong in power
...not one is missing.

Abba, 

For those in  pain, we grieve with you. For intolerance we cry - open your hands and your ears. For your judgment - we ask peace. The blessing of God is waiting upon God to do a lot of what is outside our hands - And that is Good News.

For your life experience, open your sails.

For greater peace, open your heart. God is not against you. God is For You. God is Love.

Loves has been born of God and knows God.

Judge not, that you be not judged.

Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.

”It takes a great deal of courage to stand up to your enemies, but even more to stand up to your friends.” -Albus Dumbledore, Philosopher’s Stone.


Proclaim Jesus Christ -
was born -
for all the world. Jesus our Merciful Savior showing us our Father.

Amen in Jesus.


1 Timothy 3

I hope to come to you soon, but I am writing these things to you so that, 15 if I delay, you may know how one ought to behave in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, a pillar and buttress of the truth. 16 Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness:

He was manifested in the flesh,
vindicated by the Spirit,
seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations,
believed on in the world,
taken up in glory.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †

Luke 5:5 ~ The Word of God

Luke 5

5 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on Him - to hear the Word of God,


John 1
To all who did receive Him, who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become Children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, 
but of God.

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His Glory, Glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 

16 For from His fullness we have all received, Grace upon Grace. 
17 For the law was given through Moses;
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 
18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, 
He has made Him known.




Luke 5
He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon's, he asked him to put out a little from the land.

And Jesus sat down and taught the people from the boat.

4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” 6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink.

8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. 

And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him.

So this morning, we were supposed to leave Teton Village very, very early. Our second visit in 17 years. And as the alarm went off, I thought what is that terrible, terrible noise. And we couldn't leave!!! God is Good and we had such fog the parking lot was gone and the Teton Mountains.


Aren't we all fickle people. Flawed. Sinners. All of us. God tells us 11 times in the Creation Events of Genesis the world is "Good." Now, that is a lot of God repetition. And God, even though He is our Father, that is a lot of repetition. Which we all can agree, would be God saying - like the wonderful God Billboards - "That part about Life being 'Good' - I meant that - God"

And so God needs a human being to start the Christian Church of Jesus Christ - God's Only Son - and we find out - the job description is daunting and Simon Peter says he doesn't want the Job. Wow. Wow.

We are fickle, fickle, fickle people. We want 'OUR MIRACLE". But if God is going to do that Loudly. Nevah Mind. Or if God wants us to change something. Nevah mind. Or if that's uncomfortable. Nevah mind.

And how does Our Father handle the human inconsistencies? Like the time Jesus healed the man who had asked for healing for "Thirty - Eight... Years" at the Pool of Bethesda. The man decided, maybe, he liked sitting at the Pool without many requirements. So the man decided to run to the Top of the Temple and Complaint with them about Wretched son of Joseph. Jesus continued to the Town of Bethesda, hometown of Peter and Andrew, and healed a man who was blind by putting mud and living water on his eyes and sending Him to the Pool of Siloam. Sent. Where Jesus sends me, I'm raising my hand to go there.


So - we couldn't leave the hotel this morning. And we 'had' to sit and have breakfast. And fresh fruit. And we had to have cups of coffee. And leave sleeping two hours more and feeling refreshed and amazed at the receding fog. And with the delay, we got to Rocky Mountain National Park at dusk. Awww. We had to see the massive, amazing herds of Elk and Moose gathering to water. We had to see 3 deer almost on our bumper (Thank GOD ). We had to be right up there with 2 Enormous Elk. We got to eat dinner at our favorite Breakfast Place in Denver. And got to our hotel just as the sun sank. Perfect timing. Thank You, FATHER GOD!!!






The Plans of God are well made. We all just tend to doubt and fuss and kick up conflict. And believe as dust in the wind - we got it all.


Abba,

You are our destination. You are our source. You are the Green Light of 'Let there be Light.' Your Throne is in Emerald Green Revelation tells us is Your Favorite Color. Your Plans are LIFE. You are THE Hope and the Future. All over the creation You have said 'yesterday, today and tomorrow' are Good.

You are the Good News. You are the God of Encouragement. The God of Love. And you bring us forth, raise us up. Even guys named Peter do "ok" Listening to our Father.

Amen Amen Amen and Handel's Alllllellluuuuuuia. Jesus God!!!

♔ Lord Jesus Saves!  †