1 Peter 4:1-11 ~ judge the living and the dead

1 Peter 4:1-11

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

¹Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, ² so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. ³ For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. ⁴ With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; ⁵ but they will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. ⁶ For this is why the gospel was preached even to those who are dead, that though judged in the flesh the way people are, they might live in the spirit the way God does.

⁷ The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. ⁸ Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. ⁹ Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. ¹⁰ As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: ¹¹ whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

As I grew up, I attended several Episcopal parochial schools. Running through winter rain to Church or seeing spring starting. Edward & I sent our children to Episcopal and Catholic parochial schools when we lived in a large city. Every day in Morning Prayer, where the The Apostles Creed was said a lot.

I believe in God the Father Almighty,

Maker of heaven and earth:

And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord,

Who was conceived by the Holy Ghost,

Born of the Virgin Mary,

Suffered under Pontius Pilate,

Was crucified, dead, and buried:

He descended into hell;

The third day he rose again from the dead;

He ascended into heaven,

And sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty;

From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Ghost;

The holy Catholic Church;

The Communion of Saints;

The Forgiveness of sins;

The Resurrection of the body,

And the Life everlasting.

Amen.

And as a child, there were Many mornings I found the Apostles Creed.... Much more interesting than the morning sermon. Sitting and drowning out the sermon after gauging from the first few minutes of it. The Apostles Creed contains all of the personal beliefs we are supposed to hold as Christians. But I really didn't believe until I was 15.

So, for the point of this discussion, more or less I was spiritually dead and having the Gospel preached to me. How old was I when I started guiding my own path... about 4th grade. It was as likely as not, the beginning of this blog. I could sit and think about judging the living (the quick) and the dead. And in my mind, it dollars to donuts looked a lot like Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein. About then I discovered I liked old movies.

Or another day... I'd think about conceived by the Holy Ghost. And the Christmas Art Contest..... What angels looked like. Or descending to hell. And it made me think, I just wasn't sure you could believe all of this as I was growing up.

But I have to say, I liked Morning Prayer. Singing the songs, walking to the Church, and no one was going to call on you and ask your opinion or a religious fact. If they did call on you, the answer was always Jesus. It felt great to just sit in the Church and be quiet. Even to just think or think of old movies.

And I remember hearing as an adult - in my thirties - from a wonderful Catholic Priest - when your mind wanders in Church, it's okay to just come back to what is being said. Just rest and come back. Years of feeling ..... bad... about all this was wiped out by the Priest smiling and telling us this. Father Bierchenck just was smiling in this beautific way and he said, "It's like Jesus says, just come back. Like Jesus making breakfast for the disciples on the beach, just come back. The door is open. Rest."

Just like this passage today. The Gospel was given to one who wasn't ready or attentive or all that interested or worthy. But it was given. As a gift. Not in judgement ( I never really remember anyone having a hush up problem in Morning Prayer with any great fuss), but it provided a way to be quiet. To enjoy the beauty of the day or the crash of weather or wind. To find shelter in Church. Steadfast love given. Earnest love covering a multitude of doubts. The opportunity in self-control to enjoy peace. Hospitality of God's House. To learn and become the person God has created. To rejoice, find joy and be at peace.

John 21:7-12
That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.

⁸ The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, but about a hundred yards off. ⁹ When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread.

¹⁰ Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." ¹¹ So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn. ¹² Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast."

Our Church Needlepoint Christmas Luncheon. Look at those handmade scarves Mary made us!! When was the last time you had a homemade, beautiful gift! (And my dog is doing just great - Vet said to expect no healing and all the spots are healing with new fur - this doggie is pulling and running with me on walks! Better than his photo.)


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Hosea 14 ~ He shall take root like the trees of Lebanon

Hosea 14

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio

¹ Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God,
for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.
²Take with you words
and return to the LORD;
say to him,
"Take away all iniquity;
accept what is good,
and we will pay with bulls
the vows of our lips.
³ Assyria shall not save us;
we will not ride on horses;
and we will say no more, 'Our God,'
to the work of our hands.
In you the orphan finds mercy."

⁴ I will heal their apostasy;
I will love them freely,
for my anger has turned from them.
⁵ I will be like the dew to Israel;
he shall blossom like the lily;
he shall take root like the trees of Lebanon;
⁶ his shoots shall spread out;
his beauty shall be like the olive,
and his fragrance like Lebanon.
⁷ They shall return and dwell beneath my shadow;
they shall flourish like the grain;
they shall blossom like the vine;
their fame shall be like the wine of Lebanon.

⁸ O Ephraim, what have I to do with idols?
It is I who answer and look after you.
I am like an evergreen cypress;
from me comes your fruit.

⁹ Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;
whoever is discerning, let him know them;
for the ways of the LORD are right,
and the upright walk in them,
but transgressors stumble in them.

Cedars of Lebanon - built God's Temple


Ezekiel 17:24
And all the trees of the field shall know that I am the LORD; I bring low the high tree, and make high the low tree, dry up the green tree, and make the dry tree flourish. I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it

Isaiah 60:13
The glory of Lebanon shall come to you, the cypress, the plane, and the pine, to beautify the place of my sanctuary, and I will make the place of my feet glorious.
Psalm 23:6
Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Psalm 25:5
Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 40:11
Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD; may your love and your truth always protect me.



May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus' name. Amen.






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Matthew 1 ~ the genealogy of Jesus Christ

Matthew 1

1 The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

2 Abraham was the father of Isaac, and Isaac the father of Jacob, and Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3and Judah the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar, and Perez the father of Hezron, and Hezron the father of Ram,[a] 4and Ram the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab the father of Nahshon, and Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5and Salmon the father of Boaz by Rahab, and Boaz the father of Obed by Ruth, and Obed the father of Jesse, 6and Jesse the father of David the king.

And David was the father of Solomon by the wife of Uriah, 7 and Solomon the father of Rehoboam, and Rehoboam the father of Abijah, and Abijah the father of Asaph,[b] 8 and Asaph the father of Jehoshaphat, and Jehoshaphat the father of Joram, and Joram the father of Uzziah, 9 and Uzziah the father of Jotham, and Jotham the father of Ahaz, and Ahaz the father of Hezekiah, 10 and Hezekiah the father of Manasseh, and Manasseh the father of Amos,[c] and Amos the father of Josiah, 11 and Josiah the father of Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.

12 And after the deportation to Babylon: Jechoniah was the father of Shealtiel,[d] and Shealtiel the father of Zerubbabel, 13 and Zerubbabel the father of Abiud, and Abiud the father of Eliakim, and Eliakim the father of Azor, 14 and Azor the father of Zadok, and Zadok the father of Achim, and Achim the father of Eliud, 15 and Eliud the father of Eleazar, and Eleazar the father of Matthan, and Matthan the father of Jacob, 16 and Jacob the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, of whom Jesus was born, who is called Christ.

17 So all the generations from Abraham to David were fourteen generations, and from David to the deportation to Babylon fourteen generations, and from the deportation to Babylon to the Christ fourteen generations.


What are we to make of this list? For starters, all of these people, whether we know their lives, stories, hearts - all are important to God. Very important.

And all of the people Father God placed in the genetics of Jesus where flawed. Two prostitutes. Thieves, liars. And all of them loved by God. We know most of these stories from the Bible. From Sunday School even.

Boaz was so loved for the way he cared for Ruth and adopted Naomi, as Mother-in-law and adopted Grandmother, Solomon named the pillar by the front door of the Temple - Boaz.

And the list of Kings - some did well with what they were given and some made spectacular mistakes with their lives and the lives they were entrusted with. Remember David was a Shepherd and David's descendants were Shepherds as well. All Kings are recorded nicely for the rest of mankind to read. No pressure.

v. 11 Jechoniah and his brothers, at the time of the deportation to Babylon.


One of the clay tablets revealing the presence of the Judean royal house as prisoners in Babylon. Excavated from an arched building near the Ishtar Gate of ancient Babylon. The cuneiform texts, 595 - 570 B.C., contain lists of rations of barley and oil issued to the captive princes and artisans, including "Yaukin, king of the land of Yahud." This is a direct reference to Jeconiah. The other tablets mention his 5 sons accompanying him to Babylon. Staatliche Museum, Berlin

v. 12 ~ Zerubbabel marched or trudged back with the freed slaves into Israel with high hopes from Governor Nehemiah for Zerubbabel to become governor next. The people hope the curse God gave Zerubbabel will be removed, the sentence on his father, Jeconiah, for his impiety. To Jeconiah He had said Jeremiah 22:24, "though he were the signet upon My right hand, yet would I pluck thee thence; and I will give thee into the hand of them that seek thy life."

Haggai 2

¹ In the seventh month, on the twenty-first day of the month, the word of the LORD came by the hand of Haggai the prophet, ² "Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to all the remnant of the people, and say, ³ 'Who is left among you who saw this house in its former glory? How do you see it now? Is it not as nothing in your eyes?

⁴ Yet now be strong, O Zerubbabel, declares the LORD. Be strong, O Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest. Be strong, all you people of the land, declares the LORD. Work, for I am with you, declares the LORD of hosts, ⁵ according to the covenant that I made with you when you came out of Egypt. My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not.

⁶ For thus says the LORD of hosts: Yet once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth and the sea and the dry land. ⁷ And I will shake all nations, so that the treasures of all nations shall come in, and I will fill this house with glory, says the LORD of hosts. ⁸ The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, declares the LORD of hosts. ⁹ The latter glory of this house shall be greater than the former, says the LORD of hosts. And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts.'"

What a blessing. Who wouldn't hope for that Word from the Lord.

It was a blessing indeed. Yet Zerubbabel did not rule. The blessing was for him and also for Jesus.

The mercy God had for David continued. Zerubbabel did not make the history books. Perhaps that is a blessing as well. But God's word cannot be broken.

But Basically. All of these people were called to be Shepherds.

Luke 12:48
From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

Romans 8:27
And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will.

Acts 20:28
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?


Gratitude is a major component to understanding blessing and living it. We are given gifts by God to live the life He gives us to have. Jesus called this abundant life. Jesus was a King who did not live as a King on this earth.

Something to think about.




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Nehemiah 3 ~ built, repaired and restored

Tunnel under Western Wall (Broad Wall) today


Nehemiah 3

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio


1 Then Eliashib the high priest rose up with his brothers the priests, and they built the Sheep Gate. They consecrated it and set its doors. They consecrated it as far as the Tower of the Hundred, as far as the Tower of Hananel. 2 And next to him the men of Jericho built. And next to them[a] Zaccur the son of Imri built.

3 The sons of Hassenaah built the Fish Gate. They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 4 And next to them Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired. And next to them Meshullam the son of Berechiah, son of Meshezabel repaired. And next to them Zadok the son of Baana repaired. 5 And next to them the Tekoites repaired, but their nobles would not stoop to serve their Lord.[b]

6 Joiada the son of Paseah and Meshullam the son of Besodeiah repaired the Gate of Yeshanah.[c] They laid its beams and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. 7 And next to them repaired Melatiah the Gibeonite and Jadon the Meronothite, the men of Gibeon and of Mizpah, the seat of the governor of the province Beyond the River. 8 Next to them Uzziel the son of Harhaiah, goldsmiths, repaired. Next to him Hananiah, one of the perfumers, repaired, and they restored Jerusalem as far as the Broad Wall. 9 Next to them Rephaiah the son of Hur, ruler of half the district of[d] Jerusalem, repaired. 10 Next to them Jedaiah the son of Harumaph repaired opposite his house. And next to him Hattush the son of Hashabneiah repaired. 11 Malchijah the son of Harim and Hasshub the son of Pahath-moab repaired another section and the Tower of the Ovens. 12 Next to him Shallum the son of Hallohesh, ruler of half the district of Jerusalem, repaired, he and his daughters.

13 Hanun and the inhabitants of Zanoah repaired the Valley Gate. They rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars, and repaired a thousand cubits[e] of the wall, as far as the Dung Gate.

14 Malchijah the son of Rechab, ruler of the district of Beth-haccherem, repaired the Dung Gate. He rebuilt it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars.

15 And Shallum the son of Col-hozeh, ruler of the district of Mizpah, repaired the Fountain Gate. He rebuilt it and covered it and set its doors, its bolts, and its bars. And he built the wall of the Pool of Shelah of the king’s garden, as far as the stairs that go down from the city of David. 16 After him Nehemiah the son of Azbuk, ruler of half the district of Beth-zur, repaired to a point opposite the tombs of David, as far as the artificial pool, and as far as the house of the mighty men. 17 After him the Levites repaired: Rehum the son of Bani. Next to him Hashabiah, ruler of half the district of Keilah, repaired for his district. 18 After him their brothers repaired: Bavvai the son of Henadad, ruler of half the district of Keilah. 19 Next to him Ezer the son of Jeshua, ruler of Mizpah, repaired another section opposite the ascent to the armory at the buttress.[f] 20 After him Baruch the son of Zabbai repaired another section from the buttress to the door of the house of Eliashib the high priest. 21 After him Meremoth the son of Uriah, son of Hakkoz repaired another section from the door of the house of Eliashib to the end of the house of Eliashib. 22 After him the priests, the men of the surrounding area, repaired. 23 After them Benjamin and Hasshub repaired opposite their house. After them Azariah the son of Maaseiah, son of Ananiah repaired beside his own house. 24 After him Binnui the son of Henadad repaired another section, from the house of Azariah to the buttress 25 and to the corner. Palal the son of Uzai repaired opposite the buttress and the tower projecting from the upper house of the king at the court of the guard. After him Pedaiah the son of Parosh 26 and the temple servants living on Ophel repaired to a point opposite the Water Gate on the east and the projecting tower. 27 After him the Tekoites repaired another section opposite the great projecting tower as far as the wall of Ophel.

28 Above the Horse Gate the priests repaired, each one opposite his own house. 29 After them Zadok the son of Immer repaired opposite his own house. After him Shemaiah the son of Shecaniah, the keeper of the East Gate, repaired. 30 After him Hananiah the son of Shelemiah and Hanun the sixth son of Zalaph repaired another section. After him Meshullam the son of Berechiah repaired opposite his chamber. 31 After him Malchijah, one of the goldsmiths, repaired as far as the house of the temple servants and of the merchants, opposite the Muster Gate,[g] and to the upper chamber of the corner. 32 And between the upper chamber of the corner and the Sheep Gate the goldsmiths and the merchants repaired.


Footnotes:

Nehemiah 3:2 Hebrew him
Nehemiah 3:5 Or lords
Nehemiah 3:6 Or of the old city
Nehemiah 3:9 Or foreman of half the portion assigned to; also verses 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18
Nehemiah 3:13 A cubit was about 18 inches or 45 centimeters
Nehemiah 3:19 Or corner; also verses 20, 24, 25
Nehemiah 3:31 Or Hammiphkad Gate


Ancestor.com is running a commercial of an African American man who has used Ancestor.com and he says he, "Found his great-grandfather was born a slave, but died a business man. It meant everything to me."

This is the Biblical version of this. And it happened in the Second Exodus - we even know the date of the Siege of Jerusalem. 2 Adar (March 16) 597 B.C. From the Babylonian Chronicles photographed below.



These are the slaves who left Babylonian enslavement with all the Temple Tools made by Moses. 3 Babylonian Emperors held the people as slaves and the Temple Tools, yet they were made free. This is a monument built to King Darius explaining he decided to release the slaves and return the Temple Tools..... And to finance re-building the Temple. Only God.

Israel has had 3 Exodus events - one from Egypt (See Impuwer Document in the Netherlands Musuem) and the next from the Babylonian Empire. And in our grandparent's lifetime from the Holocaust. This rebuilding of Israel from complete destruction, regathering exiles from around the globe is a sign of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. No other nation. Only God.


Ishtar Gate - located in Babylon, where the slaves entered and left 60 years later. And 3 Emperors later. Located now in the Berlin Museum.
Arch of Titus in Rome - Mosaic of the Temple Tools taken from the 2nd Temple - minus the Ark of the Covenant that Jeremiah records hiding on Mount Nebo.



Temple Institute, located in Jerusalem today. They've rebuilt the Temple Tools waiting for the 3rd Temple.
The table for the bread

See the size of the Menorahs, these are raised on tables. These were used like we use Street Lights.
Model of the Temple by Alec Gerrard. Notice the Menorah in the model.
These are the people completely privileged to build the Temple

Ezekiel 22:30

And I sought for a man among them who should build up the wall and stand in the breach before me for the land, that I should not destroy it, but I found none.

Ezekiel wrote these words during the Babylonian enslavement. You would think the people - who were now amazingly free - would have built the Gates to the Temple willingly. No. This work of God had to go through human hum drums and tedium. There was a political tattle tale and religious methods of persuasion. The Governor of Israel had to get permission all around.The people were more interested in themselves before the building for the Lord. It is still an amazing act of God.

What is left of it today?

The Western Wall is prayed at because no other walls are standing - False. All four walls are actually standing. Why specially pray at the Western Wall? The answer is tradition: for long periods of time, this was the only side of the Temple Mount Jews had access to. Even today, the other walls (except for the South Wall, which was recently excavated) are dangerous, because they are in areas hostile to Jews.

The nation of Israel makes the Western Wall open to pilgrims from around the World.

The Western Wall for prayer is the entire western wall - False. The wall continues in both directions - the traditional "Western Wall" site is only a small portion of the actual western wall. The only section of it, is the one Israel has access to.

The Western Wall is a wall of the destroyed Temple - False. The four walls of the Temple Mount are not Temple's walls - they were the surrounding walls of the Temple, the outer walls that separated the Temple from Jerusalem.

According to Nehemiah, The whole assembly of people gathered was 42,360. This work took 52 days. At the culmination -

Nehemiah 8

¹And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the LORD had commanded Israel. ²So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. ³ And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.

⁴And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. ⁵And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood. ⁶And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. ⁷ Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places.

⁸They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

⁹And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the LORD your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law.

¹⁰Then he said to them, "Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength." ¹¹So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, "Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved." ¹²And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.


Be with us, Father God, as we have our mustard seed of faith grow to become the largest tree in the garden. Let it be the increase of Your Holy Spirit within us. Help us to do the good works You have prepared in advance for us to do. May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify us through and through. May our whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.



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Matthew 22:34-40 ~ The great and first commandment. And a second is like it

Matthew 22:34-40

<sup>English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


34</sup> But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. ³⁵ And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. ³⁶ "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" ³⁷ And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. ³⁸ This is the great and first commandment. ³⁹ And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. ⁴⁰ On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."


Bells ~ Church bells announce the birth of Jesus.

Candles and Christmas Lights - Represent the Light Jesus brought to earth.

Candy Canes - A Shepherd's symbol, a Shepherd's Crozier, combined with the stripes given to Jesus by Pilate.

Christmas Cards ~ Private notes of good tidings were sent at Christmas time. In 1843, Sir Henry Cole had 1000 special designed cards printed. The custom of sending Christmas cards began.

Christmas Stocking ~ A legend associated with the origin of Christmas stockings. St. Nicholas, Bishop of Turkey, wanted to remain anonymous while helping a poor family, threw gold coins down their chimney. They fell into a stocking hanging to dry.

Evergreen Tree ~ Tree was decorated by the pagans at the feast of the winter solstice. Christians use evergreen tree as a sign of life unending.

Gifts ~ The first Christmas gifts were given by the Wise Men to Baby Jesus. More importantly, Jesus came to give us the gift of Life.

Holly ~ A play on the word for Holiness. Early Christians used Holly on their doors to symbolize a home in which Christ's birth is celebrated.

Icicles ~ A tree decoration. An old story, the Christ child took shelter for a night under a pine tree. When the tree realized it was caring for Jesus, tears of happiness fell from its branches. The tears froze into icicles.

Mince meat pie ~ Full of spices and fruits. Represents exotic treasures of the East the Wise Men brought to Jesus.

Poinsettia ~ Flower was brought to the U.S. by Dr. J.R. Poinsett in 1825. He was the first first United States ambassador to Mexico. Because of its flame leaf, the poinsettia is sometimes called the Christmas Star sending the Magi & Shepherds to see the Birth of Jesus the Christ.

Frankincense - A resin from a rare and sacred tree used as incense

Myrrh - A resin from a shrub used in making perfume.

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It seems to be a contradiction when Psalm 116 says boldly all men are liars. And Jesus continues that thought when He said:

John 2:25
He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.

Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.

Why would God tell us to love one another so well when He says we all have the taint of Adam - original sin - in us? Because we are All included in the condemnation of the innate sinfulness of mankind. When we talk about the first 2 commandments as being love and loving, we are really implying there is a 3rd Commandment - Forgive One Another.

When we forgive each other in earnest, we are forgiving ourselves. Forgiveness expands our lives.

Rick Warren and Tom Holladay examined forgiveness in the book "Relationship Principles of Jesus" and the book begins by saying Jesus places the highest priority on relationship between people. God would not have a relationship with us without forgiveness.

Tom Holladay looks in depth at turning the other cheek and giving your shirt or your coat talked about in the Gospels of Jesus. The meaning isn't literal. We are supposed to live with love in ourselves instead of bitterness and revenge. This isn't an example of a child at school willingly choosing to be beaten, again, by the school bully. It is not living in fear and not living for revenge. It is offering not to hate as a first step to peace and love.

As a sign: An early Church example of turning the other cheek would be the people's need to hide their belief in Christianity and all the letters being copied of the new Gospel and New Testament. Nero collected the Bible from them and imprisoned them for the games. When the Christians turned the other cheek and died bravely, it make the Coliseum crowd uneasy. Then the Christians knelt and prayed for their captors, Nero turned them into human torches for the night games, which was not a crowd pleaser either. The Christians went into hiding and/or fled back into the depths of Europe and Asia, continuing in their flight to take Christ's love and the New Testament with them. Both in flight/hiding and in standing and turning the other cheek - the full Love of the Lord spread all over as people were hungry to know this Love and Forgiveness.

Just as all the Christmas symbols are symbols of Jesus choosing to live in the muck we can all create out of life - Forgiveness is a symbol that we understand our anger, our hurt, our embarrassment isn't the most important thing on the planet. There are larger matters. And God chose not to label us "unworthy."

Acts 20:28
Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood.

Isaiah 12:1
In that day you will say: "I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me."

Hezekiah and the Kingdom of Israel were saved by God by one of the largest and most brutal empires of world history - Assyria. They were not especially sin free, but blessed - they knew to be grateful. It was one of the few times Israel was grateful.


2 Chronicles 22:20-23

20 Then Hezekiah the king and Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, prayed because of this and cried to heaven. 21 And the Lord sent an angel, who cut off all the mighty warriors and commanders and officers in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned with shame of face to his own land. And when he came into the house of his god, some of his own sons struck him down there with the sword. 22 So the Lord saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib king of Assyria and from the hand of all his enemies, and he provided for them on every side. 23 And many brought gifts to the Lord to Jerusalem and precious things to Hezekiah king of Judah, so that he was exalted in the sight of all nations from that time onward.

With this salvation from God, the Kingdom of Israel decided to act in selfishness and enslave the Kingdom of Judah:

2 Chronicles 28:8-15

The men of Israel took captive 200,000 of their relatives, women, sons, and daughters. They also took much spoil from them and brought the spoil to Samaria. 9 But a prophet of the Lord was there, whose name was Oded, and he went out to meet the army that came to Samaria and said to them, “Behold, because the Lord, the God of your fathers, was angry with Judah, he gave them into your hand, but you have killed them in a rage that has reached up to heaven. 10 And now you intend to subjugate the people of Judah and Jerusalem, male and female, as your slaves. Have you not sins of your own against the Lord your God? 11 Now hear me, and send back the captives from your relatives whom you have taken, for the fierce wrath of the Lord is upon you.”

12 Certain chiefs also of the men of Ephraim, Azariah the son of Johanan, Berechiah the son of Meshillemoth, Jehizkiah the son of Shallum, and Amasa the son of Hadlai, stood up against those who were coming from the war 13 and said to them, “You shall not bring the captives in here, for you propose to bring upon us guilt against the Lord in addition to our present sins and guilt. For our guilt is already great, and there is fierce wrath against Israel.” 14 So the armed men left the captives and the spoil before the princes and all the assembly. 15 And the men who have been mentioned by name rose and took the captives, and with the spoil they clothed all who were naked among them. They clothed them, gave them sandals, provided them with food and drink, and anointed them, and carrying all the feeble among them on donkeys, they brought them to their kinsfolk at Jericho, the city of palm trees. Then they returned to Samaria.

At least they were willing to be redeemed.

Isaiah lived 2,800 years ago and mankind has not changed much. Can we trust Isaiah to accurately have recorded the war with Assyria and the salvation of Israel from this mighty Empire. Yes. Implicitly.

Sennacheribs Prism Isaiah Bible Archaeology - A. Must. See....


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The 2,000 year old Isaiah Scroll found with other Dead Sea Scrolls. One of the reasons the Dead Sea Scrolls were so important - it is so very, very old and matches the Biblical versions we have today.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

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Psalm 116 ~ I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living

The Ultra Talanted BarlowGirl (s) sing a beautiful favorite, O Come Emmanuel



Psalm 116

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible


I love the LORD, because he has heard
my voice and my pleas for mercy.
2 Because he inclined his ear to me,
therefore I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The snares of death encompassed me;
the pangs of Sheol laid hold on me;
I suffered distress and anguish.
4 Then I called on the name of the LORD:
"O LORD, I pray, deliver my soul!"

5 Gracious is the LORD, and righteous;
our God is merciful.
6 The LORD preserves the simple;
when I was brought low, he saved me.
7 Return, O my soul, to your rest;
for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you.

8 For you have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling;
9 I will walk before the LORD
in the land of the living.

10 I believed, even when I spoke,
"I am greatly afflicted";
11 I said in my alarm,
"All mankind are liars."

12 What shall I render to the LORD
for all his benefits to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the LORD,
14 I will pay my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people.

15 Precious in the sight of the LORD
is the death of his saints.
16 O LORD, I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your maidservant.
You have loosed my bonds.
17 I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving
and call on the name of the LORD.
18 I will pay my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the house of the LORD,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD!


God's mercy, preservation and blessing. Deliverance from trouble and answered prayer. You can say Psalm 116 has it all. Wonderful Matthew Henry says the Psalms are a warm place to be. And he is right as usual. All of the power and deliberate-ness of the Old Testament and the Love and Mercy of the New Covenant.

Psalm 116 is a favorite of mine. Why? Answered prayer. All the compassion of Love appealing to me in God. Assurance when I am low - He cares for me. The end of tears. Rest, as in a huge sigh. All of this available to me now, not far away. The return of fellowship and good company - my friends. The remembrance not to make friends into gods, for all people let each other down.

Psalm 116 is a happy, soothing Psalm. More joy in joyful times. A balm when there is trouble. My mother's mother used to say in great vexation, "I am greatly afflicted." This is a homecoming Psalm to me. I can remember her loosing something (like Chapstick) in the bathroom and hearing her say that. And rolling on the floor laughing, literally. And other times. My grandmother did have times of real tragedy in her life, but she was a woman who had tremendous joy. She knew where to turn, to her Father God.

I will be someone who's word is their bond. My vows will be honored. I want to be that person, who can be relied upon.

Precious to my Father is the end of my life. Not haphazard intention, but careful consideration. A hope and a future. Not a down spiraling. Going from this life like my grandmother used to pray - like a whole Camellia flower. Remembering again - thanksgiving - is the best and most basic guide to living, being and dwelling in blessing.


And again; Why would giving thanks be a sacrifice? We have to give up what our selfishness calls for and see the blessings God bestows, gives and packs into our lives. We have to be willing to look, search and be grateful each day.

I love the LORD, because he has heard my voice

The blessings are there - we have to be willing to look for them. In the way we are all selfish and self-centered, it requires some deliberate effort. Not just to make the choice to be happy, but to appreciate the real goodness God has placed in our lives. In turn, being the right person to bless each situation.


I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the LORD!




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Hebrews 13:17-21 ~ keep watch

Below, the Glue Society created this overview image of Adam & Eve in the garden of paradise. Scripture says "The Bright Morning Star" is Jesus in Revelation 22. This Eden image would be the view of The Bright Morning Star. The Garden of Eden was given to Adam as a gift, until sin removed him from the Garden. Man then toiled in creation even today.

How is your Eden?



Hebrews 13:17-21 17

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. They keep watch over you as men who must give an account. Obey them so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no advantage to you.

18 Pray for us. We are sure that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way. 19 I particularly urge you to pray so that I may be restored to you soon.

20 May the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21 equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.



Genesis 2: 15
The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

18 The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."

Why would God tell mankind not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Mankind has always, from Genesis on, wanted to replace God's wisdom with his own. Each of us seeks to place himself as God.

Genesis 3: 8
Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"

The Lord God knew where they were and why they were hiding, but it is our question for today: "Where are you?"

I Corinthians 15: 45
So it is written: "The first man Adam became a living being"; "the last Adam, a life-giving spirit."

To clarify the above question "Where are you?" It means - are you a life giving spirit or Adam - just being a salmon swimming upstream - doing the same old thing?

This term 'last Adam' is to point out the similarities & differences between Adam and Jesus.

Colossians 1: 15
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.

19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

This Biblical quote examines the question again...

Galations 1:10

Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.

We all work with each other. And we are accountable to Him.

Colossians 3:24:
It is the Lord Christ you are serving.


Where would we begin to have this renewal of life-giving in our lives?

It begins with 3 steps.

Romans 10:9
Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Micah 6:8
He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

And in all of our actions to allow Jesus to be part of them and most importantly -

Psalm 116:17
I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.

Why would giving thanks be a sacrifice? We have to give up what our selfishness calls for and see the blessings God bestows, gives and packs into our lives. We have to be willing to look, search and be grateful each day.

The blessings are there - we have to be willing to look for them. In the way we are all selfish and self-centered, it requires some deliberate effort. Not just to make the choice to be happy, but to appreciate the real goodness God has placed in our lives. In turn, being the right person to bless each situation.

Ecclesiastes 11:1
Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days.

Deuteronomy 15:10
Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to.

Matthew 25:40
And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me."

Matthew 25:45
Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me."




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Psalm 28 ~ Blessed be the LORD! For He has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.

Shepherds in the Field, painted by Nicolaes Berchem. Detail of the angels below





Psalm 28

English Standard Version, David Cochran Audio Bible

1 To you, O LORD, I call;
my rock, be not deaf to me,
lest, if you be silent to me,
I become like those who go down to the pit.
2 Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,
when I cry to you for help,
when I lift up my hands
toward your most holy sanctuary.

3 Do not drag me off with the wicked,
with the workers of evil,
who speak peace with their neighbors
while evil is in their hearts.
4 Give to them according to their work
and according to the evil of their deeds;
give to them according to the work of their hands;
render them their due reward.
5 Because they do not regard the works of the LORD
or the work of his hands,
he will tear them down and build them up no more.

6 Blessed be the LORD!
For he has heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
7 The LORD is my strength and my shield;
in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
and with my song I give thanks to him.

8 The LORD is the strength of his people;
he is the saving refuge of his anointed.
9 Oh, save your people and bless your heritage!
Be their shepherd and carry them forever.


The Meek Were Kneeling
by Max Lucado
“Blessed are the meek,” Jesus explained. Blessed are the available.

That’s why the announcement went first to the shepherds. They didn’t ask God if he was sure he knew what he was doing. Had the angel gone to the theologians, they would have first consulted their commentaries. Had he gone to the elite, they would have looked around to see if anyone was watching. Had he gone to the successful, they would have first looked at their calendars.

So he went to the shepherds. Men who didn’t have a reputation to protect or an ax to grind or a ladder to climb. Men who didn’t know enough to tell God that angels don’t sing to sheep and that messiahs aren’t found wrapped in rags and sleeping in a feed trough.

A small cathedral outside Bethlehem marks the supposed birthplace of Jesus. Behind a high altar in the church is a cave, a little cavern lit by silver lamps.

You can enter the main edifice and admire the ancient church. You can also enter the quiet cave where a star embedded in the floor recognizes the birth of the King. There is one stipulation, however. You have to stoop. The door is so low you can’t go in standing up.

The same is true of the Christ. You can see the world standing tall, but to witness the Savior, you have to get on your knees.

So …

while the theologians were sleeping

and the elite were dreaming

and the successful were snoring,

the meek were kneeling.


Written by Bob Deffinbaugh -
One of the key words we must deal with is the word “blessed” because it occurs over and over and over again. You will find that in a number of translations, the word is rendered “happy,” and there is a sense in which that is probably true. But, I think you have to say that the word “happy,” just because of the meaning we give to it today, is probably not the best word.

But in the Sermon on the Mount, in fact, you would have to say that those who mourn are not really happy. It’s hard to be both, so I reject as a preference making the emphasis on happiness, although there certainly is that. You could say that there is a sense in which there is always joy and delight—that’s always there, and I would certainly be willing to see that in this text. Probably the primary sense of the word “blessed” here is the sense of approval. It is saying that God has expressed His approval on these people. To be blessed is to be approved by God, and I think that probably fits.



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