Matthew 11:16-19 ~ wisdom is justified by her deeds

Matthew 11:16-19

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling to their playmates,

17 “‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance;
we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

I ran into an interesting blog saying all the self-help books in the world can be condensed into 12 thoughts. I looked at comparing this wisdom to the Word of the Lord.

1. Create Your Own Life

You are not a victim. You are 100% responsible for the life you have right now. If you are unhappy, you have the power to change your attitude and actions to begin making your life better. Always remember, whether you think life sucks or you think life is great, either way, you're right.

Think and grow rich? And in the case of dire illness? Or extreme circumstance? Unhappy marriage?

In Scripture – this is unsound. And can deny reality. Job did not decide he was happy. Neither did he curse God and die as his spouse suggested. David did not decide being a political exile made him happy. They both squarely looked at their good and bad in life. What the people of God decide is that their choices matter. In hope, they looked to God for improvement in their life situations. Looking each day, earnestly, for His blessings. Seeing the blessings and acknowledging Him.

Job 42:1-6
Then Job answered the Lord and said:
2 “I know that you can do all things,
and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
3 ‘Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’
Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.
4 ‘Hear, and I will speak;
I will question you, and you make it known to me.’
5 I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear,
but now my eye sees you;
6 therefore I despise myself,
and repent in dust and ashes.”

Psalm 9:18
For the needy shall not always be forgotten, and the hope of the poor shall not perish forever.

1 Corinthians 13:7
Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

John 14:27-31

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.

If you Google peace images, wow, so many of the symbols look like violence is going to happen next; sort of a militant peace. Like my dad used to say on car vacations, " Oh, Yes, You are Having A Good Time." Worldy images of peace, look a little bit like half-time between events.

When we think about Jesus before His death, we remember He really prayed for the cup to pass from Him. This sacrifice was terribly difficult for Him. What Jesus said at the Last Supper, before His death, was John 14 to chapter 18, & Jesus had a lot to say. When Jesus tells us about peace, He isn't speaking from a peaceful place in His own life, the night before his betrayal & death. Jesus is telling us God's peace isn't temporary and it doesn't have to do with happy events. Jesus is telling us, regardless of events, He has a place for us. Regardless of events, we are loved. Regardless of events, God has not forgotten, His will is being accomplished.

I think God's peace can present the Christian with guilt. No.... Guilt. If we aren't in our happy place, then we aren't letting God's Holy Spirit work in us. That isn't it. Jesus was in relationship with His Father; He didn't pretend to grit his teeth, look supreme & aloof, and march to His death. Jesus was able to live His life with Joy. Jesus could have dinner with the people Jesus declared were his mother, brother & sisters doing God's will and let the new covenant be a celebration. Sure, the disciples were confused, but Jesus knew exactly what He was saying about Peace, then telling Peter about desertion and the rooster crowing 3 times.

Imagine the joyful celebration of the new covenant. Jesus is telling them a supreme message of hope. He tells them... He will never leave them orphaned. Jesus would cry out to God in just hours that He felt forsaken. Peace isn't about the stiff upper lip, peace is being rescued by God even when it is faith - the substance of the unseen.


2. You Make Yourself Feel the Way You Feel

Ever notice how some people are able to brush off insults, while others get furious and start throwing punches? Realize that nobody can "make" you feel anything. You are the one that "chooses" to feel good or bad about a particular event or action that occurs.

When things are all going well, it is easy to step past barbs and darts. Yet sometimes, insults and things that hurt us - can educate us.

1 Thessalonians 5:21-25
But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil.

23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.
25 Brethren, pray for us.

Sometimes the most powerful thing we can do when oppressed by circumstance and emotion is to look UP.

Romans 8:24-26
For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. 26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.

1 John 4:1
Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Psalm 37:7
7 Rest in the LORD and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who carries out wicked schemes.

8 Cease from anger and forsake wrath;
Do not fret; it leads only to evildoing.

Sometimes we make our emotions " Supreme Ruler of the Galaxy."

Philippians 2:3
Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.


3. Fake It Until You Make It

If you want to be more confident, happy, or positive, then "pretend" that you already are this way. Eventually, after practicing this long enough, you'll realize that you're no longer "pretending".

In truth, put your best foot forward.

2 Timothy 2:15
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

1 Timothy 3:13
Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

1 John 4:19
We love because he first loved us.

4. Follow Your Purpose

A purpose is what you enjoy doing that you never get tired of and you will do for the rest of your life. Is your purpose to write screenplays? Is it to help sick people? Write down on index cards a list of purposes and choose the one that speaks to you the most.

Psalm 138

I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
before the gods I sing your praise;
2 I bow down toward your holy temple
and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
for you have exalted above all things
your name and your word.
3 On the day I called, you answered me;
my strength of soul you increased.

4 All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord,
for they have heard the words of your mouth,
5 and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
for great is the glory of the Lord.
6 For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly,
but the haughty he knows from afar.

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
and your right hand delivers me.
8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
Do not forsake the work of your hands.

5. Set Goals and Schedule Your Day
List out 5 to 10 goals that you want for your life. Break each goal up into smaller sub-goals and then break those sub-goals into individual tasks and action steps. Every night, plan the next day in advance. Create a daily "to-do list" with those tasks that you need to do to accomplish your goal.


2 Peter 5:7
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 make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.


Galatians 5:22-26
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.

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

6. Live in the Present

Regret and shame come from dwelling in the past. Worrying and anxiety come from living in the future. True peace of mind comes from living in the present. The more you become aware of being in the present, the more it becomes a part of your daily life.

2 Corinthians 5:17-19
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!

All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.

Romans 13:11-14
11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.


7. Visualization

A powerful mental tool. The process works by focusing and visualizing you already have it.

I'd call this visualization, using the eyes of faith.

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.

Luke 18:1
Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

8. Expand Your Comfort Zone

Your comfort zone (what you feel comfortable doing) is always in a state of either expanding or contracting. The more you get out in the world and do what you feel uncomfortable doing, the less inhibited you become, thereby allowing you to live a richer and fuller life.

Proverbs 26:13
The sluggard says, "There is a lion in the road, a fierce lion roaming the streets!"

Psalm 56:3
When I am afraid, I will trust in you.

Philippians 4:13
For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.


9. Be Thankful for What You Have

Every morning before you start your day, give thanks and appreciation for what you have. It's only when we are thankful for what we have that life gives us more blessings and abundance to be thankful for.

Psalm 7:17
I will give to the LORD the thanks due to his righteousness,and I will sing praise to the name of the LORD, the Most High.

Psalm 54:6
With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you;I will give thanks to your name, O LORD, for it is good.

Psalm 100:4
Enter his gates with thanksgiving,and his courts with praise!Give thanks to him; bless his name!

Matthew 26:27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, "Drink of it, all of you"

1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 3:15-17 15
And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.


10 The Power of Asking

Don't be afraid to ask for what you want. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. It's the reason that children ask their parents for the same thing over and over again, because they know mom and dad will eventually cave in. The same concept works in the real world. If there is something in the world you want, ask for it...or at least ask how to get it.

Christians call this ongoing conversation prayer. God tells us He wants our conversation and praise. It is a great thing for prayer to include gratitude and praise.

Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Luke 18:1
Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

11. Learn from the Pros and copy them

Find the successful people in your field and ask them for advice. Ask them what they do to be successful, take notes, and then copy them. A lot of people think that the pros don't want to share. The opposite is actually true. Most successful people are more that willing to share their knowledge if you ask them.

Proverbs 1:1-23

The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

2 To know wisdom and instruction,
to understand words of insight,
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the youth—
5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning,
and the one who understands obtain guidance,
6 to understand a proverb and a saying,
the words of the wise and their riddles.

7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;
fools despise wisdom and instruction.

8 Hear, my son, your father's instruction,
and forsake not your mother's teaching,
9 for they are a graceful garland for your head
and pendants for your neck.
10 My son, if sinners entice you,
do not consent.
11 If they say, “Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood;
let us ambush the innocent without reason;
12 like Sheol let us swallow them alive,
and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
13 we shall find all precious goods,
we shall fill our houses with plunder;
14 throw in your lot among us;
we will all have one purse”—
15 my son, do not walk in the way with them;
hold back your foot from their paths,
16 for their feet run to evil,
and they make haste to shed blood.
17 For in vain is a net spread
in the sight of any bird,
18 but these men lie in wait for their own blood;
they set an ambush for their own lives.
19 Such are the ways of everyone who is greedy for unjust gain;
it takes away the life of its possessors.

20 Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; 21 at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: 22 “How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? 23 If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you.


Proverbs 2
1 My son, if you receive my words

and treasure up my commandments with you,
2 making your ear attentive to wisdom
and inclining your heart to understanding;
3 yes, if you call out for insight
and raise your voice for understanding,
4 if you seek it like silver
and search for it as for hidden treasures,
5 then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom;
from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7 he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
8 guarding the paths of justice
and watching over the way of his saints.
9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice
and equity, every good path;
10 for wisdom will come into your heart,
and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
11 discretion will watch over you,
understanding will guard you,
12 delivering you from the way of evil,
from men of perverted speech,
13 who forsake the paths of uprightness
to walk in the ways of darkness,
14 who rejoice in doing evil
and delight in the perverseness of evil,
15 men whose paths are crooked,
and who are devious in their ways.

16 So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman,
from the adulteress with her smooth words,
17 who forsakes the companion of her youth
and forgets the covenant of her God;
18 for her house sinks down to death,
and her paths to the departed;
19 none who go to her come back,
nor do they regain the paths of life.

12. Ignore the Trolls

Trolls are people that will try to discourage you from your dreams. Don't listen to them. Realize that the only reason they are doing it is because by seeing you chase after your dreams, it's reminding them that they aren't chasing theirs. Misery loves company.

Sometimes this involves finding the positive and stressing the good.

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.



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Self-help compare contrast Bible. Christianity, Bible, Scripture, Jesus Christ is Lord, Messiah, Lord God Almighty, Anglican, Prayer, Faith, Hope, Love, Miracles, setting goals. Look up.

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John 9:24-41 ~ God listens to him

John 9:24-41

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

24 So for the second time they called the man who had been blind and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.” 25 He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.” 26 They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?” 27 He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?”

28 And they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses. 29 We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.”

30 The man answered, “Why, this is an amazing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes. 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him. 32 Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a man born blind. 33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”

34 They answered him, “You were born in utter sin, and would you teach us?” And they cast him out.

35 Jesus heard that they had cast him out, and having found him he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?” 36 He answered, “And who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?” 37 Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and it is he who is speaking to you.” 38 He said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, “For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.”

40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard these things, and said to him, “Are we also blind?” 41 Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would have no guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.



Psalm 147:1-7

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

Praise the Lord!
For it is good to sing praises to our God;
for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.
2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem;
he gathers the outcasts of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars;
he gives to all of them their names.
5 Great is our Lord, and abundant in power;
his understanding is beyond measure.
6 The Lord lifts up the humble;
he casts the wicked to the ground.

7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving;
make melody to our God on the lyre!


Praise God and Pass the Ammunition. The practical, the probable and impossible. The mighty works of God. God put all under the feet of Jesus.

What did Jesus think at the end of this particular day. A day to Jesus, like others, when He announces suddenly He has a destination to His disciples. The Sea of Galilee to cross. A town to visit. Today - we see clearly, Jesus sought for the man who had been blind. Walking through the streets of Jerusalem, Jesus went to see a man who spoke wisely about the nature of God: finding, healing, loving the intentions of the soul.

Mark 12:28-34
And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?”

Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

32 And the scribe said to him, “You are right, Teacher. You have truly said that he is one, and there is no other besides him. 33 And to love him with all the heart and with all the understanding and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is much more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

And when Jesus saw that he answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”

Did the seeing man send for Jesus. No. Jesus went to him.

Luke 7:1-10
7:1 After he had finished all his sayings in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2 Now a centurion had a servant who was sick and at the point of death, who was highly valued by him. 3 When the centurion heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and heal his servant. 4 And when they came to Jesus, they pleaded with him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy to have you do this for him, 5 for he loves our nation, and he is the one who built us our synagogue.”

6 And Jesus went with them. When he was not far from the house, the centurion sent friends, saying to him, “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof. 7 Therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word, and let my servant be healed. 8 For I too am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”

9 When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turning to the crowd that followed him, said, “I tell you, not even in Israel have I found such faith.” 10 And when those who had been sent returned to the house, they found the servant well.


John 13:1
Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

Blessed be the name, the love and the will of Jesus Christ. Amen.



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Christian Eschatology in the News....... Rapture!!

The news rarely presents news in a cohesive manner. For instance, why the U.N. decided we would forge into Libya, and we 'followed'; when so many areas of the world are in riot and turmoil. The Economist Website has an interesting article that Libya - this oil rich, with significant oil reserves country, 17th largest in the world, very close in geographic area to Europe, with Italian (French and U.K.) history of being a well-placed 'port' in the Arabic world during WWII, ...... suddenly discovered - in the middle of the Sahara Desert - an aquifer with plenty of fresh water and a project to irrigate Libya. And... if we have a 'port' for ourselves in the Middle East region - will we need Israel, politically, militarily (forgetting spiritually)?

What tide is this blog post riding?

It would seem, if we want to know something - we have to think about it and want to know something of it, to study the subject. For news, or to know what God says in the Scriptures.

Harold Camping, speaking in 2008 (3 years ago!) in this photo, was born in born July 19, 1921. He is almost at 90 years old. I don't know if you've noticed lately, but in the movies, in media, it is not cool to be a Christian. Lots of Harold Camping billboards. Well, okay..... Dallas, Texas suddenly has lots of huge expensive billboards up in Downtown Dallas. Very expensive. Matching. Very Large. And they say, we are sinners, that Jesus Christ is the answer and we need to find out who Jesus Christ is to us today. Where is the media blitz on these lovely Christian billboards asking us to look to Jesus Christ without asking about the rapture?

The media blitz is covering fear. Fear that 2010 Russian fire wiping out lots of crops for a lot of people happened last year. Fear of flooding in the USA. Fear of earthquakes. Fear of weather. Fear of famine and rising food prices. Fear about rice shortages. Fear of riots. Fear of war. Fear of massive animal die-offs. The Google world was kept busy in February with people, some of them looking for the first time, to see if this is the end of the world.

How to displace fear - laughing .... we have taken a 90 year old man and we have turned him into a pet rock. Or an Edsel. We are not a biblically illiterate nation. Not yet.

Matthew 24:36
But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Duh.

No one was too worried. But Harold Camping wasn't shown too often (or at all) with an updated image of his actual visage. A younger photo, by decades, with his finger up in the air, looking rather smug was used, when he was shown at all. It is more difficult to be honest and portray this frail man as a fool when showing his gentle, frail, elderly face.

What is the larger picture here? If we are going to worry about the end of the world, let's find something to laugh at. What........ oh! look over there..... that 90 year old Christian is predicting the end of the world. Never mind there is a lot of unfulfilled prophesy still to happen at the end. And that he is frail and NINETY Years Old !!!!!

So, the water has heated up. Christians are portrayed as prissy and set apart - not always in a nice way.

Last night, my son and I really enjoyed Pirates of the Carribean, On Stranger Tides. It was interesting, it was the first Pirates movie where it was examined - what is evil. Does it affect a soul? Are even the evil open for salvation? These questions were asked. Out loud.

Christians are set apart.

Interestingly enough. There was one poor soul literally tied to Mr. Blackbeard's mast. Who? The man who was a Christian. Why? Well.... they never really said. He was tied up because he was a Christian. But he was not only the only Christian on board....


My husband always likes the bottom line. He was an accounting major at Texas A&M. The bottom line is this..... it has been an extremely eventful news year. People are worried. No. They are Worried. Laughing at the Rapture predicted by a frail 90 year old man doesn't help anyone.

The Way, the Truth, the Life. Is this the end? Probably Not. But we have had a taste of riots, wars, earthquakes and one man claiming the messiah is here.

Matthew 24:21
For then there will be great distress, unequaled from the beginning of the world until now--and never to be equaled again. If those days had not been cut short, no one would survive, but for the sake of the elect those days will be shortened. At that time if anyone says to you, 'Look, here is the Christ!' or, 'There he is!' do not believe it.

The bottom line is this. How are you? If tomorrow, a bus changed lanes and your life ended... how are you? There is One who loves you. He gave His life for you. An unblemished Lamb of God came to this world to heal, to touch, to transform lives. Even to someone who has not looked to God, can see the Church has been here for 2,000 years, still at work - providing peace and hope to a busy, troubled world. The end has been predicted for the world, but no one has predicted a real end of the Church. The Churches growing, the millions accepting Jesus Christ see something important. Jesus Christ changes lives as we grow in Him. Not religion, relationship.

2 John 1:6
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.

Even to Harold Camping and the circus of media around him. Surrounding a vital question. How are you?




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John 15:1-8 ~ I am the vine, you are the branches

Espalier Grapevines growing on a house

John 15:1-8

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned.

7 If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples.

Vinography by Michael Regnier


Yesterday wasn't my favorite day. We had a busy weekend - jam packed with family flying in, a college event at our house, later a college graduation party for my son's girlfriend's family, then another big high school graduation party for family friends, the son did youth group with us, at our house, lasting 5 or 6 hours. Today, I went to my Church function and felt looked past, when usually I like our small group.

Don't we all feel overlooked sometimes? God tells us it isn't all about us - And our favorite thing, our feelings, our specialness, me. God doesn't tell us we are the star. God tells us we are part - not of the group thing - not of special closeness fellowship. God tells us we are part of Him. In fact, when we are shining the brightest - for ourselves - God says we are apart from Him.

Sure there are days of blessing in fellowship. The light falls fair on our head. There are also other days to listen and support others. A day to pray for others.

God doesn't say I will always feel connected to Him like an umbilical cord. Feelings don't always mean fact. Sure, our feelings are important, leading us how to discern and act, but we are fallible. Seeing with the eyes of faith. God says when I abide in Him, I can ask what I wish. Strong words. I believe when I reach out, earnestly, when I know He is my refuge, when I want what He wants in the love of knowing Him - I move His hand in faith, willingly. In God, we can rest in Him when the situation says He is our only refuge as well. Letting prayer rest with God's answer willingly. Sometimes He does love us to keep talking to Him with what we earnestly desire and need. I know a woman restored from hereditary blindness, in her sheer determination to seek Him for healing. God tells me, tells us, faith and love open His ears to our prayers. Always pray and have hope. God is perfectly willing to hear us complain to Him. Just as He asks us to abide with Him in our actions and words.

I abide in Him. Earnestly. In love, faith and hope. Faith, He means what He says. Hope, He means me. Love - all there can be - God loves me. I will be the Light, when there is not a open reward for doing so. I will not just be meek when God says to work at communication. I will put my hands out in faith and say, let me make this day - You have given me - matter and work for Your desire. God help me to be Light, when it requires compassion. God help me to be salt, when it requires courage. In Jesus' name. Amen.


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Luke 16 ~ a manager

Luke 16:1-13

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

1 He also said to the disciples, “There was a rich man who had a manager, and charges were brought to him that this man was wasting his possessions. 2 And he called him and said to him, ‘What is this that I hear about you? Turn in the account of your management, for you can no longer be manager.’ 3 And the manager said to himself, ‘What shall I do, since my master is taking the management away from me? I am not strong enough to dig, and I am ashamed to beg. 4 I have decided what to do, so that when I am removed from management, people may receive me into their houses.’

5 So, summoning his master's debtors one by one, he said to the first, ‘How much do you owe my master?’ 6 He said, ‘A hundred measures of oil.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.’ 7 Then he said to another, ‘And how much do you owe?’ He said, ‘A hundred measures of wheat.’ He said to him, ‘Take your bill, and write eighty.’ 8 The master commended the dishonest manager for his shrewdness. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own generation than the sons of light. 9 And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of unrighteous wealth [mammon, a Semitic word for money or possessions], so that when it fails they may receive you into the eternal dwellings.

10 “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much. 11 If then you have not been faithful in the unrighteous wealth, who will entrust to you the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in that which is another's, who will give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.”

We were talking yesterday about preparing a straight path, the path of the Lord. Today, we are speaking of entangling the desire for a higher path, with the shrewd desire to get ahead. The 16th chapter of Luke seems to condemn the higher classes and people of position. And it does. It also condemns striving to get ahead, middle management or middle class.

Nailed. We are all labelled as sinners. And forced to examine ... how would Jesus put it?

Luke 16;15
15 And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.

Jesus told us, the more comfortable we are.....

Matthew 19:24
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.

Where is our straight path? In our lives? In the Kingdom of Israel divided into Judah? In the lives of Isaiah? Jonah? How easy it is to gloat when we strive and strive and someone suffers. Isaiah (8th century B.C.) served 4 kings of Judah, seeing the promise of Jesus - the Gospels begin to unfold. At the same time, Jonah is directed by the LORD to the Assyrians. While Jonah tangled with the nasty Assyrians, growing - willing to thrust under them - the current threat in the lives of the Kingdom of Judah. Isaiah is coming to realize the Babylonian Empire is the real and coming threat. The Messiah is coming, not just for the Children of Israel, but all nations.

A parallel to the parable of the shrewd manager - today - the worries of a United States President and the 1967 borders of Israel. For us the work a day world. Always getting ahead is the story of mankind. At that time, the challenge of the Assyrian Empire. Later, the culturally, ethically, religiously more tolerant empire of the Babylonians. Isaiah could see the defeat of all of them, foreigners would align themselves to the Children of Israel.

This is what man exalts and what God does with what we strive for:

Isaiah 14

For the Lord will have compassion on Jacob and will again choose Israel, and will set them in their own land, and sojourners will join them and will attach themselves to the house of Jacob. 2 And the peoples will take them and bring them to their place, and the house of Israel will possess them in the Lord's land as male and female slaves. They will take captive those who were their captors, and rule over those who oppressed them.

3 When the Lord has given you rest from your pain and turmoil and the hard service with which you were made to serve, 4 you will take up this taunt against the king of Babylon:

“How the oppressor has ceased,
the insolent fury ceased!
5 The Lord has broken the staff of the wicked,
the scepter of rulers,
6 that struck the peoples in wrath
with unceasing blows,
that ruled the nations in anger
with unrelenting persecution.
7 The whole earth is at rest and quiet;
they break forth into singing.
8 The cypresses rejoice at you,
the cedars of Lebanon, saying,
‘Since you were laid low,
no woodcutter comes up against us.’
9 Sheol beneath is stirred up
to meet you when you come;
it rouses the shades to greet you,
all who were leaders of the earth;
it raises from their thrones
all who were kings of the nations.
10 All of them will answer
and say to you:
‘You too have become as weak as we!
You have become like us!’
11 Your pomp is brought down to Sheol,
the sound of your harps;
maggots are laid as a bed beneath you,
and worms are your covers.

12 “How you are fallen from heaven,
O Day Star, son of Dawn!
How you are cut down to the ground,
you who laid the nations low!
13 You said in your heart,
‘I will ascend to heaven;
above the stars of God
I will set my throne on high;
I will sit on the mount of assembly
in the far reaches of the north;
14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds;
I will make myself like the Most High.’
15 But you are brought down to Sheol,
to the far reaches of the pit.
16 Those who see you will stare at you
and ponder over you:
‘Is this the man who made the earth tremble,
who shook kingdoms,
17 who made the world like a desert
and overthrew its cities,
who did not let his prisoners go home?’
18 All the kings of the nations lie in glory,
each in his own tomb;
19 but you are cast out, away from your grave,
like a loathed branch,
clothed with the slain, those pierced by the sword,
who go down to the stones of the pit,
like a dead body trampled underfoot.
20 You will not be joined with them in burial,
because you have destroyed your land,
you have slain your people.

“May the offspring of evildoers
nevermore be named!
21 Prepare slaughter for his sons
because of the guilt of their fathers,
lest they rise and possess the earth,
and fill the face of the world with cities.”

22 “I will rise up against them,” declares the Lord of hosts, “and will cut off from Babylon name and remnant, descendants and posterity,” declares the Lord. 23 “And I will make it a possession of the hedgehog, and pools of water, and I will sweep it with the broom of destruction,” declares the Lord of hosts.

24 The Lord of hosts has sworn:
“As I have planned,
so shall it be,
and as I have purposed,
so shall it stand,
25 that I will break the Assyrian in my land,
and on my mountains trample him underfoot;
and his yoke shall depart from them,
and his burden from their shoulder.”

26 This is the purpose that is purposed
concerning the whole earth,
and this is the hand that is stretched out
over all the nations.
27 For the Lord of hosts has purposed,
and who will annul it?
His hand is stretched out,
and who will turn it back?

28 In the year that King Ahaz died came this oracle:

29 Rejoice not, O Philistia, all of you,
that the rod that struck you is broken,
for from the serpent's root will come forth an adder,
and its fruit will be a flying fiery serpent.
30 And the firstborn of the poor will graze,
and the needy lie down in safety;
but I will kill your root with famine,
and your remnant it will slay.
31 Wail, O gate; cry out, O city;
melt in fear, O Philistia, all of you!
For smoke comes out of the north,
and there is no straggler in his ranks.

32 What will one answer the messengers of the nation?
“The Lord has founded Zion,
and in her the afflicted of his people find refuge.”

Isaiah - poetry, prophet, seer. Isaiah sees so many subjects so quickly - he sees like the LORD. A thousand years are one day in the sight of God.

How will we see what Isaiah means for us? This is what man exalts and what God does with what we strive for:

2 Chronicles 36:22-23
22 Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the Lord by the mouth of Jeremiah might be fulfilled, the Lord stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom and also put it in writing: 23 “Thus says Cyrus king of Persia, ‘The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the Lord his God be with him. Let him go up."





Matthew 24:35
Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.

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Mark 1:1-20 ~ Prepare the way of the Lord, make His path's straight

St. John the Baptist, painted by Leonardo da Vinci. 1513 to 1516, believed to be da Vinci’s last painting. Musée du Louvre.

Mark 1:1-20

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,

“Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who will prepare your way,
3 the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord,
make his paths straight,’”

4 John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea and all Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 Now John was clothed with camel's hair and wore a leather belt around his waist and ate locusts and wild honey. 7 And he preached, saying, “After me comes he who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8 I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 And he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan. And he was with the wild animals, and the angels were ministering to him.

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.

~ Prepare the way of the Lord, make His path’s straight.

A famous biblical quote, when this passage seems to zig and zag from an amazing Spiritual baptism into denigrating into temptation in the wilderness. Why?

Jesus was both man and fully Divine. The temptation of Christ mirrors the spiraling ministry of Jesus. The vast crowds of people saw Good News! The blind -see! The lame - hear! While Jesus' siblings at first mocked Jesus, telling Jesus (in John 7) not to mind the Pharisees were looking for Him, but to go to Jerusalem for the festival to prove Himself. The Pharisees know, in probability, this ministry is not headed in Jesus' favor:

John 7:35
The Jews said to one another, “Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks?

Another choice provided. Even Jesus' family changed their mind about getting Jesus to jump more into the fray and ask Him to leave with them, in Matthew 12. Another zig-zag.

The point I am trying to make is this - because Jesus was man, God gave Jesus choices in the beginning, the middle and even the end....

Matthew 26:53
Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?

Even in the middle of Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, drinking from the cup of sacrifice - given to Him by the Father - Jesus heals.

Luke 22:51
But Jesus answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him.

Were the events making a straight path for the Lord? Yes, Jesus, being God, knew what was in the heart of man - and, yes, Jesus strove for us daily - placing mercy and sacrifice above honor. Our lives don't always make sense to us. We really don't see eternity - it is another reason to trust the Lord - His plan is at work even in our lives.

In faith we remember Jesus told His mother, His time had not come for wonders of God. But it was. In love and harmony, Jesus stepped forward to help His mother and His ministry unfolded.

The cross isn't a straight path. It is the cross section - the Upward Force of God meeting at the intersection of God taking our sins, flaws, mistakes, embarrassments, lukewarm-ness, indifference and washing our sins white. East becomes West.

God uses our welcoming attitudes & actions affirming love, and what is not what we would label as good to move His plan forward. In the life of His Son and in our lives as the adopted children of God.

Matthew 21:42
Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: "'The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it is marvelous in our eyes'

Psalm 118:22
The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone

Isaiah 28:16
So this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.

Blessed are You, Lord God. Blessed is Your Son, Jesus Christ. Forever. Amen.



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John 14:1-14 ~ Lord, show us the Father

Questioned Jesus, painted by James Tissot


John 14:1-14

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

1 “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.


Mark 2:5
And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."

Luke 5:23
Which is easier, to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Rise and walk'?

Luke 7:47
Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.

Luke 7:48
And he said to her, "Your sins are forgiven."

Matthew 8:13
Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment.

Matthew 9:22
Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.

Matthew 15:28
Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment.

Matthew 17:18
Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of the boy, and he was healed at that moment.

Luke 8:24
The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm.

John 6:16-21
When evening came, his disciples went down to the lake, 17 where they got into a boat and set off across the lake for Capernaum. By now it was dark, and Jesus had not yet joined them. 18 A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough. 19 When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus approaching the boat, walking on the water; and they were frightened. 20 But he said to them, “It is I; don’t be afraid.” 21 Then they were willing to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the shore where they were heading.

Luke 4:29-30
They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him down the cliff. But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

John 10:37-39
Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father." Again they tried to seize him, but he escaped their grasp.

Father God, the Children of Israel cried in the desert for more of your wonders continually. Each day they had insecurity. The disciples saw so many proofs and still doubted. Help us each day to be strengthened in You, as You did for the disciples. We ask in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord. Amen.

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