Luke 6:29 ~ on the cheek

1 Corinthians 2
Jesus appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then Jesus appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time (most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep). 7 Then Jesus appeared to James, then to all the apostles.


Luke 6:29
To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either.


This is, of course, Easter week. And God sees God days of thousands of years. So in Father God's time this morning Jesus offered up His own Life and  His Seamless Chiton Holy Robe. Tradition says it would look like this:

There is a marvelous, fictitious movie regarding early Church thoughts on Jesus' Holy Seamless Chiton, with Richard Burton as a Roman soldier, called "The Robe." The last study done on the Shroud of Turin shows the center dates back to the time of Jesus Christ with unexplained radiation. There is also a face grave cloth in Spain of the same material. The edges of the Shroud of Turin are Renaissance repairs. The most interesting portion to me is the unexplained Radiation.




The Week of Easter provides a lifelong thought process and journey about Forgiveness.

Luke 23:34
And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

And they cast lots to divide his garments.



Tom Halladay and Rick Warren did a combination Bible Study and Book "The Relationship Principles of Jesus" and the Study called "40 Days of Love." This study considered all the aspects biblically of the Forgiveness of Jesus Christ.

Let's look at the list of the Bible.

Jesus had a long, incredible list to forgive.

~ His mother and brothers for trying to stop His Ministry and knowing of The Annunciation.

~ Peter and Thomas swore they'd never desert Jesus.

~ Eleven of 12 Disciples.

~ Some of the 72 Disciples upon hearing Communion would be eating the body and blood of Jesus, they never walked with Jesus again.

~ And astonishingly the list continues to the deaf heard, the blind saw, the lame walked, the lepers (9 of the 10) cleansed.

~ The list of those who knew immediately this was the Messiah: John the Baptist (doubted in prison at death's door), Andrew and Phillip had eye-witness testimony from John the Baptist, Peter and Nathaniel. With no clear word of the Samaritan woman from the well.

~ All  2 - 3 thousand people of Capernaum knew the first week of Jesus' ministry - all were being healed, all the town turned out for Jesus' first Sermon.

~ The Great Crowd following Jesus through the wilderness the day the Widow of Nain's son had his funeral bier merely touched by the Son of God - left his own funeral alive again.

~ Jairus is not mentioned again after his daughter had risen from the dead.

~ Being flogged to death, beaten to small beaten pieces by Pontius Pilate after being declared 'innocent' and with a message of innocence from Pontius Pilate's wife.

~ A week after Palm Sunday hopes Jesus to become King of Israel.

~ Let's not forget - you. Jesus died for your sins. And mine.

~ The sin of the world God wants to ... save. Jesus has carried, covered the sins of the world.



When you stop to think about Jesus having to facing hate after His Ministry.
Dying of a broken heart according to an Autopsy Study done by Mayo Clinic Doctors. You can well wonder what forgiveness is.

We know Jesus, His Father and the Holy Spirit work in such tandem, we know Father God knows in nano-second-by-second-detail each detail as Jesus felt in every cell and thought in His Body.
Hear O Israel, the Lord God is One.

And so we face Judgement from God Crucified. And Risen.

What do we see in this Incredible Heart Breaking Forgiveness?

Jesus and Father God did not have the Temple fall during the natural life time of Jesus. Those who had seen the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus healed them all. Displaying His Father's Abundance. Rome did not destroy the Temple and Judah until 70 A.D. The Willing Love God gives. God was taking charge, establishing the firmness of His forgiveness. Giving an eternal example.

John rightly said in John 21 we cannot know and list all Jesus said and did. We need the other Gospels to see more of just a glimpse. God Plan was the solid foundation of miracles standing firm. The deaf heard, the blind saw, the lame walked, the lepers cleansed. The Solid Promise of God healed them all.







John recorded by gentile Roman History was boiled in oil and made a horror for Emperor Domitian. Even the Emperor is unable to kill John and the incredible amazement of the entire Coliseum. ------- John survived unharmed. Emperor Domitian literally throwing John into a boiling cauldron of oil in front of a large, large Population of Rome. Faith was found for Jesus.. Domitian had no other way to put John away, other than exile on Patmos. Not surprisingly, Father God Planned John's long life and they wrote one of the most memorable books of the Bible, with the most glimpses of Heaven. Heaven beyond description with such splendor.


Mary Magdalene adopted eternally for her diligent search for Jesus. Seek and find - Jesus Promises us as well.

1 Corinthians 2
Jesus appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then Jesus appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time (most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep). 7 Then Jesus appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

And Jesus appears to Paul.

In fact, many people I know have had Jesus Love and appreciate them in their dreams. And warming hearts and changing lives proving Jesus is Love Magnificent.






Now we reach Forgiveness.

Ephesians 2 tells us God sees each of us and names us. Amazing when you consider the Millions of people seen in ancient of days and now. Crowds of people known to the God of All. Our Father. Many days have passed from those traveling the footpaths of rural Judah.

Crowds and Crowds of people known to God. The hairs on their head numbered. Father God would save all. And knows their stories of joy and struggle as well as the sparrows.

God one time sponsored a traffic jam and called it Exodus.

Eternity is without the cage of time. God invents time in this part of life. We don't see how we connect with dusty roads and men in dust robes.

We can say this age has divorce and disposable families. We move just as mankind moved all over the world in mummies found in China in 3,000 B.C. Horses from Europe. People from India and the U.K. and Denmark. Found in China mummified. Life and mankind are similar. Even if now we orbit the earth in rockets. 1500 A.D. had just as much divorce. As the USA was turning territories into states, we had a lot of divorce. It was called move to another state or territory suddenly and don't tell or leave a forwarding address. Divorce was called abandonment.



Now - Let us connect the ages through the Ancient of Days - Father God. Hear Oh Israel, God is One.

Forgiveness.
Bullying. Stalking. War. Robbery. Divorce. Theft. Familial death. Loss. Trauma. Accident. Illness. Child death. Illness. Pain. Loss of home. Old age when all that is familiar departs. Severe disappointment.

How do we relate the events of Easter to life today?

Jesus told several stories in the Bible to let us know His Burden is Light. He gives rest to the weary. His Love is the freedom of the Law. His Love is Liberty to the captive.

The Amazing Glory of God is His Mercy. Above sacrifice is God's Love and Mercy. When we are pressed and do not please our earthly father or our Heavenly Father. When we are the victim and become so angry to take this upon us to act in anger.

In our lives, we will have a Caiaphas. Ananias. We will weep to have a stranger help us like Simon of Cyrene. And have some pain in the comfort and perhaps anger.

We will see those we helped desert us like the nine lepers and only one leper gave thanks. Jesus healed and healed and healed - we know the name of few. Remember the blind, disobedient, beggar named Bartimaeus. Bartimaeus is healed and told to go his way at the end of the 10th Chapter of Mark. Instead of his own way, Bartimaeus chooses the Way of Jesus and follows Jesus.

We will see friends leave like Jesus saw the 72 disciples depart in horror of eating the Body and Blood of Christ.

We will have our family depart from public discussions and told the Family of God does His Will. If you are in a season of glum life, very glum, you can see Mark 24 is a personal roadmap of the sadness of Ecclesiastes House. Ecclesiastes House is despair in old age semi-living in doubt and fear. Sad news, realities of temporary life on this earth. Hard to extremely difficult to have a cross to bear.




Jesus our God. God of Love. God of Encouragement. God of Hope.

Jesus tells us what to do when we have a Cross to bear. God has Given Us His Word. Behold.


Luke 1

Go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
to give his people the knowledge of salvation
through the forgiveness of their sins

Because of the tender mercy of our God,
by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
to shine on those living in darkness
and in the shadow of death,
to guide our feet
into the path
of peace

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem! “May they be secure who love you!"

Jerusalem - "The Lord sees", "Oasis of Justice", "City of Peace", "City of Holiness" in the "City of Peace."

What did Jerusalem Witness of the Risen, Eternal Life-Giving Jesus?


Jesus told us to turn the other cheek.

Jesus told us there are sheep and there are goats.

Jesus told us there is wheat and there is chaff.

Jesus displays forgiveness. All will Live. Jesus is not going to cull His People. Our God has a rich, rich heritage going back to the first days of Genesis saying God requires no human to die to please God. God has taken care of His Righteous and Well Earned Wrath. God has Given Himself.

Our God forgave in His Mercy - All.

And Jesus did not run to where He was going to find chaff - blowing bits of nothing for His Risen Victory. Jesus turned His face to be with those who had hearts for Jesus. 500 and 12 and Paul.

The Light of Mankind would draw multitudes - so fed by the Risen Christ appearing to the 500 and 12 and Paul - Multitudes would change the world - all nations would see the Life and Light of Jesus Christ, Messiah, Son of God. The Beloved of God are welcome in Jesus.

Jesus did not require God to stand Him in the Temple and see applause of the multitudes. Jesus did not require Caiaphas, Ananias and the Sadducean Council to tell Jesus it was a mistake. Jesus was busy forgiving instead.

Jesus was Living Alive and Active in Doing the Will of God. Jesus was finding Joy in His obedience and in His Humility finding the Victory.

The Path of God is established in forgiveness. Jesus was seeing the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

FINALLY, Finally, brothers of God's Family Doing His Will,

Aren't we curious who the 500 were?

Finding these gathered in Jesus - His Beloved. We know the 500 of God - Philippians 4

Finally, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think on these things.

Whatever you have learned and received and heard from me, and seen in me, put these things into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Abba our Father,

We give Thanks for Your Blessings given Willingly. We give thanks for the Joy Jesus has in His Victory and His Beloved in the multitudes and 512.

the Lord of peace, our Abba, gives the 512 peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with us all.

Knowing the example of Jesus - this day and always - we will have peace. In the world, we will have tribulation. But take heart; Jesus overcomes the world.”

God our Abundance Always and Always and Always!
Just as Jesus has fed the thousands and we are the millions and the millenniums fed by our Living Jesus. Personally. We, the Children of our Father, are so very glad to be part of the 12 and the 500.

We pray perfect peace and our mind staying on Jesus. We can do all things through Christ Jesus our Lord. We want our Father always to trust in us.


May our Father God giving endurance and encouragement give us the same attitude of mind toward each other our Christ Jesus has.

May our God of hope fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in our Jesus, we may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Filling us, the ones we love, the nations Trusting in God and those believing in Jesus the ability to go marching in with the Saints of God. 'Oh win, oh win, oh win' the Saints of God go marching in. We want us all to be in that number marching in with the Saints of God.

Alleluia in the Highest Name of Jesus. Amen.

Acts 1 ~ Alive to them

Acts 1

1 In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with:

All that Jesus began to do and teach, 2 until the day when he was taken up, after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen.

3 He presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs,
appearing to them during forty days and speaking about the kingdom of God. 4 And while staying with them he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which, he said, "you heard from me; 5 for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now."



6 So when they had come together, they asked him, "Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?"

7 He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."

9 And when he had said these things, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight.

10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."


12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. 

15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 

16 "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry." 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 "For it is written in the Book of Psalms, "'May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it';and "'Let another take his office.' 

21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us--one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection." 

23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said,

 "You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place." 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.






The well-known horrible God of the Old Testament. Is the exact same Father God of the New Testament.

Once again we see God rising up and leaving poor humanity... after dying to save us. Dying in a way no one would ask to die.




There are dark days and we have left Holy Week, Good Friday and found Easter. If you ever have dark days of wondering if God is that god our God avoids for dire sacrifice of blood and unrelenting wrath - Read John 21 and Acts 1.

Jesus has said several times, "Rise up." "Let us Rise from here."

Jesus graciously lets us know He is found in Heaven with His Father. He has not left to be with the Greek Dispersion. He is alive and doing His Father's Work.

Father God graciously explains the Disciples are left from the years with Jesus as bold, resolute, compassionate, wiser, enabled, eager to have and do the Great Works of God. Father God has left them better than they ever were. We speak easily and routinely about the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the Poor have Good News preached to them.


We are sometimes the Poor in Spirit, we have times just like the New Testament where we are down as David in Psalms. Jesus with absolute confidence told us we will have suffering and doubts. People looked at the Son of God, in His eyes, after all of His Miracles, and were honest to say they doubted. And in being comfortable to be themselves, Jesus strengthened them. In Acts 1, the disciples tell us about ourselves today. Jesus strengthened them. The People of Jesus stand on their feet and get the job done. Whatever work God has put to our task. God gives us the ability to rest, to think, to worry, to overcome and to do the work and will of God Himself.

When Jesus traveled to Bethsaida, He was able to call this the hometown of "Peter, Andrew and Phillip" because Jesus is so very quick to love and include others. And when a disciple needs a replacement, the Disciples are not able to snap their fingers and point at the next favorite. All of the 72 Disciple extras and the 500 in the company of the Victorious Jesus have been Loved. Almost all organizations could call up the next batch with little effort. Not the men of Jesus, they were LOVED. Included even if not a Disciple and going to Bethsaida.

This is a God we could Love for being so very Loving.

How would they pick the next Disciple? They would go back to David finding the outstanding Mercy of God Himself. The Disciples would trust the Word of God would send and establish His Word and Work. The answers are in God's Living Word.

Abba, Father God,

You speak of what shall be. And as You told us of the Holy Spirit we could see Your Beloved are prepared for Your Holy Spirit.

You did never leave us as orphans, You came to us to bring us

Proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance. Words given in opening mouths boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel. brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.

You Living Word is alive giving us all a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

the Lord said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’; for to all to whom I send you, you shall go, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.” The righteous are bold as a lion.


Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. And Let me speak the Life the Spirit gives. Let Your Crown of Love and Encouragement be the Light of God.

Warm the hearts of my loved ones. The people You have given me. Let us sing together what God has given us. What Wonderful Jesus has fed from His days among us as Grace upon Grace and the Love flows for Millenniums.

Our Hearts warm and love and receive Jesus. Amen to being Easter People. Amen.

Psalm 100 ~ Make a Joyful Noise

Psalm 100

Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness!
Come into his presence with singing!

3 Know that the Lord, he is God!
It is he who made us, and we are his;[and not we ourselves]
we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving,
and his courts with praise!
Give thanks to him; bless his name!

5 For the Lord is good;
his steadfast love endures forever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.

Matthew 5:45

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh. his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.


John wrote in John 21 "All the Books of all the world cannot contain all Jesus has done." Jesus has lived, witnessed rain and sunshine in His own Life of Joy. We find not in His Life not just to attain Heaven, but to Live and Abide in God's warm Blessings and Promises.

Matthew Henry Commentary

Psalm 100

An exhortation to praise God, and rejoice in him. - This song of praise should be considered as a prophecy, and even used as a prayer,  for the coming of that time when all people shall know that the Lord he is God and shall become his worshipers, and the sheep of his pasture.

Great encouragement is given us, in worshiping God, to do it cheerfully. If, when we strayed like wandering sheep, he has brought us again to his fold, we have indeed abundant cause to bless his name.

The covenant of grace set down in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament, with so many rich promises, to strengthen the faith of every weak believer, makes the matter of God's praise and of his people's joys so sure, that how sad soever our spirits may be when we look to ourselves, yet we shall have reason to praise the Lord when we look to his goodness and mercy, and to what he has said in his word for our comfort.








In 1995 Elizabeth Bennett rode again in "Cold Comfort Farm" and this indeed, indeed, indeed made a great movie, the long version of the book is very good.


Flora,  unwitting heroine, who is an aspiring writer, decides her way forward is to live, while writing, with relatives. Her city-based relatives show no interest, so she sends letters to her country, country very country relatives.

Seed parables of rural life; the family includes, among others: an insane matriarch locked in her room, a love-mad and graceless granddaughter, a grandson who plays rather quite a lot, an antique manservant who fails to notice when a cow's leg falls off. And a suitor Fiora is having to fob off as she weaves life.

Flora soon realizes she can resolve the situations once she has assessed and solved each person's problems. In the process of her endeavors, the multitude and complexities of the farm expose the family and Flora.

Highly-educated Flora Poste, intelligent, wittish, fashion-addled, aimless, and seemingly shallow ascends upon her rural family. As life progresses, more of the family sees Fiora has a nack. Flora contrives to marry off the granddaughter to a local grandee, seals the deal for the grandson to go off to Hollywood, and generally manages life with precision and great cheer. Not only lives with Happily Ever After, also improved Good Manners and better haircuts.

All seem faintly ridiculous, as time progresses affections for ALL these characters grow. By the end, we are actually happy to see all happily settled. And... Flora no longer seems like a conniver but a clever and sympathetic heroine-more Elizabeth Bennett.

All the while. unlikely becomes the impossible, then all things are fairly possible, but with a growing Love, they are resolved in the end.


 So really, the story is not about Fiora. In fact, Fiora just might be the path, the rocky places, the sun and the root,  thorns and good soil.  This is a tale of Jesus and His beloved children.





Abba Heavenly Father,

The Blessing of encouragement in Christ, comfort from love, participation in the Spirit, affection and sympathy, joy by being of the same Spirit as Jesus Christ, the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

The interest and humility others as significant. Looking, seeing interests in others.

We thank You, Jesus, Your Only Son, Messiah, being born in the likeness of men.Obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

We Thank You, Father God, You have highly exalted Jesus and bestowed on Jesus the name that is above every name, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord> Displaying the Love, astounding mercy, amazing Love the Glory of God, Who is our Father.


Your will and to work is for Our Father God's good pleasure. 1

Help us not to take time grumbling or questioning. Looking to what is good and finding what is blameless and innocent. Finding refuge in the children of God without blemish in the midst of crooked and twisted.

With Your Wisdom to find Your Beloved ones to shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the Word of life. Pleasing Christ. Seeing our Good Father God, seeing You glad and rejoice with us. Father God loves to be for us. Saving the world.

In Jesus to be like Paul's co-minister Timothy, cheered by news of others. Genuinely concerned for our welfare. Prayerful. Finding Your mercy. Finding Your peace.

We pray this for ourselves, the ones we Love, the people God has given us. We pray God's Holy Spirit bringing more Heaven to earth. For our Churches, schools, employment, His Plan, His People and the Nations Trusting in Jesus Christ.

Amen in Jesus. Amen.

Titus 1:1-4 ~ for the sake of the faith of God's elect

Titus 1:1-4

1 Paul,
servanta of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ,
for the sake of the faith of God’s elect
and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness,

2 in hope of eternal life,
which God, who never lies,
promised before the ages began

3 and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;

4 To Titus, my true child in a common faith:

Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Watching the Bible to learn, having our hearts see what is the beginning of Faith.

Imagining being with the Roman Guard and knowing this Man, Jesus, is Something to God is easy to imagine. The Guard came to know, fully, this is the Son of God by walking with Jesus.

This Crucifixion was not meant to be a gentile awakening. The Roman instructed King Herod chose the High Priest and the Sadducean Council. When they conspired to put Jesus to death, the soldiers and Pilate's Letter to Tiberius Claudius Nero was not what they had planned or hoped for.

No one could have guessed or imagined Good Friday and the Via Dolorosa would know the love Jesus held surpasses knowledge, filled the unplanned with all the fullness of God. Allowing Father God, who is able to do infinitely more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power at work in the Holy Spirit. Via Dolorosa records only the unintended found the Messiah on Good Friday.

Simon of Cyrene did not plan to help Jesus the day he did. He is listed in Mark 15:21 Simon as "the father of Alexander and Rufus". It's also sincerely hoped Rufus (in Greek: Ῥοῦφον or Rhouphon) mentioned by Paul in Romans 16:13 is the son of Simon of Cyrene. Some think Simon himself with the "men of Cyrene" who preached the Gospel to the Greeks in Acts 11:20.

St. Augustine's Mother didn't give up on St. Augustine when his father kept pushing St. Augustine away from the faith of Jesus. Even canceling his Baptism. St. Augustine's mother relied on faith she had from God St. Augustine would be saved. One man of God told his mother, "the child of those tears shall never perish."

Showing us again - the Living Water of God explains the Holy Spirit amazingly well. Water goes exactly where water wants to go. Water changes direction, changes the landscape, and seeps down deep. Filling crevices renewing the soul. Nourishing.






Mark 13:31
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away.


Abba, our Father,

Your Word sustains Life. We would ask Your Blessing upon us and those we love.

We will lift up our eyes to the sky,
We will then look to the earth beneath,

For the sky will vanish like smoke,
And the earth will wear out like a garment
And its inhabitants will die in like manner

Our Father God's own life giving salvation will be forever,

The Righteousness of our God will not wane.

You breathed Your life in me
You have been so, so kind to me

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine

I couldn't earn it, and I don't deserve it, still,
You give Yourself away

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God

When I was Your foe, still Your love fought for me
You have been so, so good to me

When I felt no worth, You paid it all for me
You have been so, so kind to me

The overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
where we will place Living Waters flowing forever in the Name of Jesus.
Filling all the places and souls our Father would fill.

We give our Loved Ones,
our health and doctor visit for Edward
Allergy sufferers
The Prayer Requests we are given.
The People You have given us - to Your Loving and unimaginably Loving Care.

And Rest with sound peace
In the Will, Works, Ways and Love of Jesus.

Amen.

2 John ~ walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father

As we all look Today - Easter, we will examine the Gospels and think of the photos and wonder about what we picture and our emotions as being part of Jesus Rises. Jesus is Alive!!!

We will wonder about the folded clothes in the tombs causing the Disciples to agree He is Risen. What does this mean? Is it the cloth folded the same way Jesus washed the feet of Peter? Does it show how carefully a Carpenter takes care of tools. And eventually we sort through the amazing and wondrous true events of Jesus taken from so many directions and we will take this Victory of God in Jesus Christ and form the details making this alive to us.

2 John

1 The elder to the elect lady and her children, whom I love in truth, and not only I, but also all who know the truth,
2 because of the truth that abides in us and will be with us forever:

3 Grace, mercy, and peace will be with us, from God the Father and from Jesus Christ the Father's Son, in truth and love.

4 I rejoiced greatly to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as we were commanded by the Father.

5 And now I ask you, dear lady—not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but the one we have had from the beginning—that we love one another.

6 And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, so that you should walk in it. 7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.

8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. 9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.

12 Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

13 The children of your elect sister greet you.



I've done so many Bible Studies since I was 16 years old. And I have seen seriously angry people in youth group being forced by their parents to participate - they can be very disruptive. I remember one really angry teen boy from years and years ago demanding to know why we study this fable of Jesus from the dead? We were doing a Bible Study solely on the Resurrection.

By this time it was the second week of enduring his almost yelling. We had a really good priest. Father Clarkson. He said it's not a fable. And the teen boy was almost purple in the face. Father Clarkson asked, gently, why do you think this a fable. And the boy said it's only deluded Christians who think so. And the angry teen yelled his parents made him come.

Father Clarkson asked, "Are your parents usually delusional?"
"No,"
"Are the people here?"
"Maybe."

Father Clarkson asked, "So, you think Jesus is like the Easter Bunny?"

 "More or less." Was the reply.

"No, the Roman world changed in about 16 years and until the First Council of Nicaea from Thursday, 20 May to Saturday, 19 June AD 325 the Roman Emperors wanted all who said they were Christian to die. People put their lives on the line to believe."

But the boy said, "They all got killed no one lived. It's a fable. The disciples died."

And Father Clarkson said, "And initially they hid. Then 500 people saw Jesus and the disciples left hiding to become bold. The world changed. Millions came to see the Disciples and the 500. The Roman Empire changed. Marriage changed. Trade changed. Families changed. Women in history changed. You can point to the History and see the belief changed the world. The Light of Christ caused changes in Hospitals to be created. Changes in starving people fed. People died and miracles changed lives. John the Disciple Lived."

Do you know because Father Clarkson spoke to that young man with his real questions - the young man accepted Jesus Christ the next week. Being real and real about our faith is helpful.

Luke 24:13-35 Road to Emmaus

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles[a] from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.

17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”

They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

19 “What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 

32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

The Good News of Jesus Christ.

It's the News of the Resurrection. Compelling? The Way, Truth and Life - amazing how far Jesus would go. For you.

Good News. In this dire set of circumstances - people believed and went with Jesus. The wanted to walk with Jesus. Every day all their lives. Hearts changed. Lives were seen to change. People saw in others - they walked with Jesus. Abiding in Jesus.

Maybe the boy teenager had never had someone listen when he was yelling. Maybe it was because no one yelled at him to shut up. Maybe it was because so many were willing to pay the cost to tell of Jesus. Maybe because people Lived. Maybe it was the sheer numbers of people who couldn't be wrong.

I think it was the Prodigal Son.
There are so many mistakes spoken of in people in the Bible. The Prodigal Son is not the story of instantaneous forgiveness. The Parable is really the sadness of the dissolution of a family. Sold up, moved on, lost forever. Father lets son go. Son has to flounder a good amount of time. Forgiveness of days spent not knowing dead or alive. Forgiveness is a process.

I think the teen boy believed because no one jumped down his throat to believe. No one dictated to him to believe. He had time to process.

The Gospel of Mark did not always have the paragraph about the Risen Jesus. It's not that Mark was then written out of being part of the Gospels. There wasn't a Gospel writers meeting and Mark was drummed out. The Bible has different perspectives and Mark wrote what Peter was asked about the most. Did he write of the Resurrection - yes - but people carried - walked - ran - survived with fragments of Papyrus. Mark is placed together in its entirety like the Prodigal Son over time.

The Disciple John the Beloved was asked what he thought of the other 3 gospels. Polycarp asked John and he said the other Gospels were perfect. I'm sure Peter and Mark knew of Luke writing the Book of Acts.

And as we see the road is long, the journey is long - we find - Mercy prevails. Processing is allowed. John's Books in the Bible are about the obedience to Father God and the Love. The Prodigal was most certainly not loving when he left. He was allowed to go. The teen was not yelled at for his doubts.

The road with mercy. With teachable moments. The ability to see long-term belief. This is the Good News. Easter is not one day. This is the Good News. Easter is a life. Easter is a Journey. Easter is a Celebration. We can witness the strength and the hope in those who pray for others. We can see the mercy. Life plays out what the realities of God give us.




Father God, Abba,

We are the most Blessed of all people.

We Know Jesus is alive.

We given Thanks for all the reasons for Easter. You moved the sun and the moon and the earth. Tombs broke open, people came in and told of God's goodness. The Events were so profound Pontius Pilate, Prefect of the Roman province of Judaea wrote the Emperor of the Roman Empire.

Families reunited and prayed together when season has passed of coldness. Tolerance and mercy was found for people who ran away and were hidden. Millions had hidden and came to see Jesus and the Temple. Life had changed and radiated around the world. Israel was taken to ruin. And Mercy has prevailed for Israel again.

Your Word upholds the Heavens. Your Word brings Life and Love. We ask Easter to live in our souls, our hearts, our words and ways. We ask More Heaven on earth. And More Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

We would take the Goodness and Love You are, Father God, and spread this to our loved ones! To the People You have given us! To the Nation trusting in You. Your good willingness filling all of Your creation to Celebrate Your Son Jesus.

We are the Easter People. Jesus Christ has made us His. Alleluia. Amen.