READING THE BIBLE:

BIBLE ROULETTE – FIND THAT SCRIPTURE –THAT MAKES SENSE

I wonder how many people know how to read the Bible.  Do I know how to read the Bible?  Well, do I know how to read it correctly?  Is there a right and wrong way? 

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.               2 Timothy 3:16-17

BIBLE ROULETTE

BIBLE ROULETTE:  The act of flipping the Bible open at random and believing God will supernaturally speak to you in this way; that He will guide you to a very import Divine message.

I promise each scripture was random.

Try #1:  Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.  I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord” – and you forgave the guilt of my sin.  Psalm 32:5 

Wow!  This works.  I did not have a question in mind, but God sure sent me a fantastic, life saving verse. 

Try #2:  You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas,  Psalm 65:5 

Maybe I need to go to a casino, because I am two for two.  This verse says God answers us and is our Savior, the hope of all.  It doesn’t get much better than that.

Try #3:  Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, “If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations,   Nehemiah 1:8    

I will admit, after two tries opening to Psalms, I tilted the Bible a bit to the front.  Again, I had no question in mind, but this  random verse doesn’t help me today.

Try #4:  “I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “today – yes, tonight – before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.”  Mark 14:30 

A bit of a tilt to the back and the Bible opened to this scripture.  Pretty good verse considering Easter was last Sunday.  But what is God trying to tell me? 

I know:  I need to fess up, listen to God for an answer, be faithful or I might get moved somewhere far away, and do not disown Jesus.  These are all good points but Bible Roulette doesn’t make sense as the way to read the Bible.  What if I had opened to ….

FIND THAT SCRIPTURE

….Your carcasses will be food for all the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and there will be no one to frighten them away.  Deuteronomy 28:26

Oh, now that was fun.  I looked and looked to find a far out scripture to prove that Bible Roulette could be harmful.  Who would want to continue reading if this was the first verse they came across?

Find That Scripture is used a lot.  A WHOLE LOT!  How often do you hear: “I am right.  It is in the Bible.”

If you read “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.”, you could prove Jesus did not want to die.

If you read “Then the king said, “Bring me a sword” so they brought a sword for the king.  He then gave an order: “Cut the living child in two and give half to one and half to the other.”, you could prove the Bible supported infanticide. 

If you read “Also a dispute arose among them as to which of them was considered to be greatest.”, you could prove the disciples did not get along and they argued.

Find That Scripture doesn’t make sense as the way to read the Bible either. 

THAT MAKES SENSE

So what does make sense?  A few thoughts:

• The Bible is God-breathed so every verse is important.  Every verse has meaning. 
• The Bible is meant to be read in context.
• Reading the Bible is to provide spiritual nourishment by understanding and applying the truths of the scriptures.
• We have to be open/receptive to the Word.

Where do we start? 

• Find the right Bible.  I am not going to advise anyone on this.  There are literal translations (following the words of the original very closely and exactly) and non-literal (figures of speech).  If you want guidance on finding the right Bible for you, talk to a minister. 

• PRAY – Before you start reading, pray.  This will calm your body and open your mind to understanding the scripture.
• Do not try to read large amounts at one sitting.  Believe me, your mind will wonder, your brain will get fuzzy, and your butt will get tired.  (On occasion, you will get lost in the action and read and read and read.  Been there, done that…sorry dear lunch is not ready.  I will get right on it.)
• If you do not understand a passage, read it again.  If you still do not understand, make a note and go back to it. 
• A new Christian should read the New Testament first.  Read and search for how Jesus lived and allow His actions to become yours.
• Read more than a verse here and there.  You need to see what was going on, who was there, why something was said, and what was the outcome.  No Bible Roulette.  You need the content.
• Begin “new” and do not try to make the Bible say what you want.  No Find That Scripture.  As you read, let the scriptures find you.
• Respect the Bible, but the Bible is for you to use.  Either make notes in the margin or have paper or journal ready for notes.  Do what makes you comfortable. 

  

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Genesis 1:1

through

The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.  Amen.  Revelation 22:21

NOTE TO URBANA YOKE PARISH:  This image is on the website.  Can you find it?

IT IS FINISHED

Jesus was going home!  He was going to see His FATHER!  He was going back to sit on His Throne!  Jesus would have been filled with joy and excitement.  JESUS WAS GOING HOME!

OH MY GOODNESS!!!  JESUS IS HOME!!!  JESUS IS SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF GOD!!!

Wow.  My soul is just jumping around inside me with joy.  I swear the Holy Spirit is turning cartwheels.  Doing handstands.  The Holy Spirit is putting his hand in the air, making a fist, bringing that hand down, and shouting, “Yes!”

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I closed the first two parts of the Easter message with TO BE CONTINUED, because my story - your story - our hope began the day Jesus said, “It is finished.”

It was not his life that was finished.  He arose.

It was not his work that was finished.  That continues.

What is finished?  Glad you asked.

WHAT IS FINISHED?

I am a sinner.  No matter how hard I try, I sin.  I try to not make the same mistake twice, but I even fail at that.  I am a sinner.  And I was lost.

You see, when Jesus said, “It is finished.” he was talking about me being lost.  He changed “was” to “no longer.”

I am a sinner.  No matter how hard I try, I sin.  I try to not make the same mistake twice, but I even fail at that.  I am a sinner.  And I am no longer lost.

Jesus was on that Cross for me.  To pay for the sins I know I do and for the sins I don’t even know I commit.  When Jesus died, my life changed.  When Jesus died, every blessing, every gift of God became available to me.  To me...a sinner.  Right there for the taking was hope and peace and grace and eternal life.

And one Sunday morning, when I was still a young girl, I walked to the altar and accepted Jesus as my Savior.

And someday, Jesus will take my hands and look into my eyes and gently say, “I love you Mary.  Look, I am ALIVE!  It told you everything would be okay.  Wait till you see the room I have prepared just for you.  I had them put some bubble stuff in your room.  Oh, Mary, the bubbles here reflect the jewels.  The bubbles can even look like pearls.”

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Jesus took my sin.  Guess what...HE TOOK YOURS TOO!  Have you accepted Jesus as your savior?  I pray you have, because we all need saved and we all need a Savior to take our hands, look us in the eyes, and give us the assurance that it will be okay.

HE AROSE

And...and, Jesus is so calm.  It will be okay.  Jesus is calm.

A very long time ago, the worst of man came out and condemned God’s Son.  And calmly Jesus died.

AND NOT SO CALMLY HE AROSE.

As you all know, my mind seems to work a bit differently than most.  (I saw your heads nod in agreement.) I do not picture Jesus coming out of that tomb as quiet and calm.  Jesus would have been calm, but everyone else ...  no way.

The disciples were still hiding.  I get it.  They were afraid.  I am always saying, “I wish God would put a note beside my bed, so when I got up, I would know exactly what to do that day.” The disciples needed a note.  Even though Jesus had told them, they did not understand.  Yup, they needed a note.  They were not calm.  They were troubled.

As the men sat around discussing, the women were busy.  They knew what they had to do.  And it was not easy.  As they gathered the burial spices, as they worked in silence, as they walked to the tomb, they had so many unanswered questions: Why?  What now?  But I thought...  Questions and no one to give them answers.  They needed a note.  They were not calm.  They were troubled.

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NO NOTE —- AN ANGEL

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.  Come and see the place where he lay.  Then go quickly and tell his disciples; ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee.  There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

And immediately it was not calm.  No quiet thoughts.  No slow walk.  Now there was HOPE!

The air would have become charged with hope and renewed energy.  They ran!  The women ran!  They were filled with joy!  Jesus is alive!  They were no longer troubled.  The women had hope.

The disciples could not believe what they were told.  And told by very excited, joyful women.  Can you picture these men suddenly standing tall and hurrying out the door, instead of hiding and talking quietly?  Could it be?  Can you picture them stopping, looking at each other, and their eyes becoming bright with understanding?  Their souls were filling with hope as they turned and rushed to Galilee.  Jesus is alive!  They were no longer troubled.  The disciples had hope.

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The Easter Story is full of emotions.  There are shouts of Hosanna and of give us Barabbas.  There are palm branches and there are hammers.  There is the washing of feet and the sound of feet running away.  There is despair and there is hope.

And...and, Jesus is so calm.  It will be okay.  Jesus is calm.

I do believe Jesus was calm.  Except..except for when he arose.  The picture is always of Jesus, in a white robe, spreading his arms, and floating away.  The disciples, heads turned toward heaven, watching him disappear into the clouds.

I think this image is all wrong.  Jesus was going home!  He was going to see His FATHER!  He was going back to sit on His Throne!  Jesus would have been filled with joy and excitement.  JESUS WAS GOING HOME!

I found a picture that I think represents Jesus’ resurrection.

TO BE CONTINUED

IT IS NOT TIME TO WAKE UP

I don’t know about you, but I hate it when I wake up at 4:00 or 5:00 AM.  It is not time to wake up, but my eyes will not close and my mind will not shut down.  How can a mind be awake at 4:00 AM?  How can a complete thought even form at 4:00 AM?  It is not time to wake up.

A very long time ago, there were some men sleeping soundly, when they heard, “Are you still sleeping and resting?  Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.  Rise!  Let us go!  Here comes my betrayer!”

Waking up suddenly can be confusing:  Where am I?  What day is this?  What time is it?  We have all had this experience.  Think how confused the disciples must have been.

Hour for what?  How long did we sleep?  What is Jesus talking about?  A betrayer?  Why are there soldiers coming toward us?  Judas?  Why is Judas walking up to Jesus?

So much confusion.  So much happening.  And...and, Jesus is so calm.  It will be okay.  Jesus is calm.

No.  Do not take him!  What are you doing?  A sword.  An ear healed.  What is going on?  And..and, Jesus is so calm.  It will be okay.  Jesus is calm.

So many soldiers.  They have Jesus.  Fear.  We should stay.  Will they take us next?  Go now.  Hide.

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I can picture that night.  Jesus praying.  The disciples sleeping.  Judas leading the soldiers.  It is like a play taking place in my mind.  I have read it many times.  I have seen many movies.  I can picture that night.

But my heart..my heart wants to cry out, “Do not leave Jesus alone!  He loves you.  He has walked beside you.  Prayed with you.  Taught you.  He will turn his children over to you.  Do not leave Jesus alone.”

I can picture that night.  My mind sees it very clearly.

But my heart..my heart wants to cry out, “Run Jesus.  It is not time.  I need to know more.  I need more parables.  I need you to be alive.  I need you to take my hands and look into my eyes and gently say, “I love you Mary.  Look, I am calm.  It will be okay.”

I can picture that night.  I can close my eyes and it plays in my mind.  But my heart..my heart wants to write a different ending.  No trial.  No beating.  No cross.  No tomb.

And...and, Jesus is so calm.  It will be okay.  Jesus is calm.

I do not want to see the whip.  I do not want to hear the crowds.  I do not want to feel the earth shake.  I want to fast forward.  I want ...I need Jesus to take my hands and look into my eyes and gently say, “I love you Mary.  Look, I am ALIVE!  It will be okay.”

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As hard as it is, never forget that the worst of man came out against Jesus.  We condemned him.  We beat him.  We held the hammer.  We gave him vinegar.  We crucified him.

And...and, Jesus is so calm.  It will be okay.  Jesus is calm.

A very long time ago, the worst of man came out and condemned God’s Son.  And calmly Jesus died.

TO BE CONTINUED

PUNCTUATION

I know, I know, but I think Pastor Larry opened his Bible to the wrong page.  It is getting close to Easter and he read Isaiah 9:6.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

We all love this scripture because it describes Jesus.

            Wonderful                   Mighty            Everlasting                  Prince

            Counselor                    God                 Father                          Peace

What comfort to say Jesus is wonderful, mighty, everlasting and a Prince.  He is my Counselor, God, Father, and my Peace.  Then, just like the voice on as seen on TV, he said, “But wait.”  (Now he might not have used those exact words but that is what my mind heard.)  Wait for what?  I know this passage.  It is not confusing and what does it have to do with the quickly approaching Easter?

Well, doesn’t that beat all!  He pointed out that we should read this passage carefully and notice the commas.  Or lack of commas. 

No commas?  What difference could four commas make? Actually…a lot.

He is not Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty, God, Everlasting, Father, Prince, and Peace.  Think about that freshman English class. 

Wonderful, Mighty, Everlasting, and Prince are adjectives.  Counselor, God, Father, and Peace are nouns.

Jesus is my Counselor.  And no run of the mill, just out of college, barely passed the last class Counselor.  Jesus is a Wonderful Counselor.  Wonderful!  Jesus’ counsel is marvelous, astonishing, admirable, dynamite, first-class, splendid, unsurpassed, and primo. 

Jesus is my God.  And not just any god that promises and cannot deliver or found at every tourist shop or fashioned after an earthly being god.  God is a Mighty God.  Mighty!  God’s might is powerful, cosmic, enormous, super, Brobdingnagian (look it up), and vast. 

Jesus is my Father.  And He will never leave me.  A Father who is Everlasting.  Everlasting!  Jesus, a Father who is eternal, enduring, indefinite, ageless, immortal, and perpetual. 

Jesus is my Peace.  And not the peace that comes through having money or having family and friends or no trials.  Jesus’ Peace is a Princely Peace.  It is royal, noble, has high standing, and is Kingly. 

Now I tell you, “But wait!”

Jesus is more than a Counselor.  He is a Wonderful Counselor.

Jesus is more than a God.  He is a Mighty God.

Jesus is more than a Father.  He is an Everlasting Father.

Jesus is more than Peace.  His is the Prince of Peace.

And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.     Luke 2:52

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water.  At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.  And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”     Matthew 3:16-17

Pastor Larry did not open his Bible to the wrong page.  He opened his Bible to the exact correct page and the exact correct passage.  The baby grew up.  The baby became our Savior.  Became our Savior when he arose at Easter.

SEND THEM AWAY

I teach a Sunday School class and I am never exactly sure where the lesson will go.  It is usually my fault when a lesson takes a U-Turn.

“When Jesus heard what had happened, he withdrew by boat privately to a solitary place.  Hearing of this, the crowds followed him on foot from the towns.  When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.  As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it’s already getting late.  Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away.  You give them something to eat.” “We have here only five loaves of bread and two fish,” they answered.

“Bring them here to me,” he said.  And he directed the people to sit down on the grass.  Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves.  Then he gave them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.  They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve baskets full of broken pieces that were left over.  The number of those who ate was about five thousand men, besides women and children.”     Matthew 14:13-21 NIV

This lesson was going as planned.  Jesus was going away, because he had heard that John the Baptist had been beheaded.  The people from “towns” — plural — followed him.  Being Jesus, he did what Jesus did.  He healed the sick and felt compassion for them.  This was no short devotional time...not even a Sunday morning hour service.  The teaching, in this place where Jesus sought solitude, went on longer than those mornings when the minister is long winded and our tummies begin to growl.  It became evening and the disciples wanted Jesus to send the people away.  Now, I think the disciples were hungry and wanted to head toward the local McDonald's and sending the people away would mean they could get on their way.

Jesus had a better idea.  He wanted to continue feeding their souls and feed their bodies.  Are you thinking:

• Crowds
• Five loaves of bread — This would not have been an Aunt Millie’s loaf with 20 slices of bread.  This was like a small McDonald’s hamburger bun.
• Two fish — Do not picture two large trout.  Picture a McDonald’s tiny fish square.

And the crowd was five thousand men plus the women and children.  JESUS SHRUGGED AND TOLD EVERYONE TO SIT DOWN. 

Jesus thanked God.  All the people were fed and there were leftovers! A LOT OF LEFTOVERS!

We talked about how all those people would leave, go back to their towns - plural - and tell others.  Can you hear them?

• Jesus healed so many.
• You should have seen the compassion Jesus had for the ill and the hurting.
• Jesus taught and healed and listened for a very long time.
• There was a big crowd.  At least 5,000 ...  plus the women and children.
• He blessed two fish and five loaves — and there were leftovers.  Leftovers.
• YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE!

Yup, the lesson was going as planned, until — until my mind looked at the words and lines I had drawn ...  what if:

• I marked out the word people and wrote us?
• I marked out fish and bread and wrote mercy, forgiveness, hope, peace.....?
• What if those baskets were now full of all the blessings we have available to us?

That is when the discussion really began —

• How fast would the Word of God spread and how many people would find the salvation of Jesus if we spread the word.
• How amazing that we can take everything we need out of the basket and there is still plenty to give to others.
• I needed forgiveness, but my goodness; there is still forgiveness for you and you and you.  The basket is still full. 
• I have taken out mercy, grace, peace, and salvation, but the basket is still full. 
• I have learned wisdom from the Word of God, but look...right on top is the Word of God waiting for the next person.  The basket is still full.

We realized it is our responsibility to offer God’s grace, mercy, peace, salvation, wisdom, and forgiveness to all.

Sadly, too often, we are like the disciples.  We are tired and hungry.  It has been a long day.  We don’t want to make sure those around us are fed.  We just want them to leave.  We want Jesus to ourselves.  We want him to listen to us and take care of our needs. 

Sadly, too often, we are like the disciples.  We are tired and hungry…and someone goes away without peace or mercy or grace or salvation or wisdom or forgiveness or…..

NAME THAT TUNE – ANSWER SHEET

Google Music Quizzes and you will find:  Name That Tune, Beetles Song Quiz, Find The Song Title Quiz, and Can You Finish These 60’s Song Titles Quiz.  So here we go…

FIND THAT HYMN

Traditional and Contemporary

Some faith journeys begin at birth, because the person spent their life growing up in Jesus.  Some faith journeys begin slowly, but are built on the church’s one foundation.  Some faith journeys take a lifetime before a person becomes gracefully broken.

My journey?  My parents did not attend church, but they sent us kids off to church with a smile.  Truth be told, the only reason I went was because I was made to go.  Although I did not go down to the river, I was baptized and joined the church.  I was such a good little Christian.  I went to church.  I went to Sunday School.  I listened to the old church choir sing “To God Be the Glory.”  Finally, I remembered my grandmother, a woman who read her Bible and believed the good news, had told me to take time to be Holy. 

Take time?  Be Holy?  God is a mighty fortress, I tried to find time for a sweet hour of prayer, and I had told Jesus, “I believe.”  Was I missing something?

Even then, I needed someone to remind me who I am, so I had just a little talk with Jesus.

“Mary, are ye able to understand that I just want you?”

Why me, Lord?  I ….

“You are what?  Afraid?  My child, do not be afraid.  Fear is a liar and will make you doubt yourself and me.  Take a minute to just breathe.  My Son did not remain on the old rugged cross and because he lives, it is a glorious day and, in my eyes, you are flawless!”

That’s it?  I only need to believe, to confess and to trust and obey?  I only need to say, “Here I am” and ….

“I do expect you to grow your faith, share your faith, help others …but yes, when the roll is called up yonder your name will be on the roll.  MARY in big bold letters will proclaim you have arrived!  Now what do you think of that?”

I think I need to shout, “Joy to the World.”  Then do a happy dance.

“I have given you a few talents.  I expect you to use them!  BUT the talents you received did not include singing or dancing.”

Okay.  Okay.  I received your blessed assurance loud and clear.  How about if I make a quiet joyful noise and shuffle my feet?

“Deal.  Now go give thanks and spread some wonderful words of life.  Just write them, not sing them.”

AND ALL THE PEOPLE SAID AMEN!

NAME THAT TUNE

Google Music Quizzes and you will find:  Name That Tune, Beetles Song Quiz, Find The Song Title Quiz, and Can You Finish These 60’s Song Titles Quiz.  So here we go…

FIND THAT HYMN

Traditional and Contemporary

Some faith journeys begin at birth, because the person spent their life growing up in Jesus.  Some faith journeys begin slowly, but are built on the church’s one foundation.  Some faith journeys take a lifetime before a person becomes gracefully broken.

My journey?  My parents did not attend church, but they sent us kids off to church with a smile.  Truth be told, the only reason I went was because I was made to go.  Although I did not go down to the river, I was baptized and joined the church.  I was such a good little Christian.  I went to church.  I went to Sunday School.  I listened to the old church choir sing “To God Be the Glory.”  Finally, I remembered my grandmother, a woman who read her Bible and believed the good news, had told me to take time to be Holy. 

Take time?  Be Holy?  God is a mighty fortress, I tried to find time for a sweet hour of prayer, and I had told Jesus, “I believe.”  Was I missing something?

Even then, I needed someone to remind me who I am, so I had just a little talk with Jesus.

“Mary, are ye able to understand that I just want you?”

Why me, Lord?  I ….

“You are what?  Afraid?  My child, do not be afraid.  Fear is a liar and will make you doubt yourself and me.  Take a minute to just breathe.  My Son did not remain on the old rugged cross and because he lives, it is a glorious day and, in my eyes, you are flawless!”

That’s it?  I only need to believe, to confess and to trust and obey?  I only need to say, “Here I am” and ….

“I do expect you to grow your faith, share your faith, help others …but yes, when the roll is called up yonder your name will be on the roll.  MARY in big bold letters will proclaim you have arrived!  Now what do you think of that?”

I think I need to shout, “Joy to the World.”  Then do a happy dance.

“I have given you a few talents.  I expect you to use them!  BUT the talents you received did not include singing or dancing.”

Okay.  Okay.  I received your blessed assurance loud and clear.  How about if I make a quiet joyful noise and shuffle my feet?

“Deal.  Now go give thanks and spread some wonderful words of life.  Just write them not sing them.”

AND ALL THE PEOPLE SAID AMEN!

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There are 34 songs.  The answer sheet will post Wednesday, March 11, 2020

FEBRUARY

My hubby says the reason February is short is because we can only take 28 dreary and grey days.  As if 28 days is not enough, every four years February is blessed with an extra day.  Gee thanks. 

Even the special days in February are a bit unusual.  We all know Groundhog Day, President’s Day and Valentine’s Day, but what about these:

       9th         Toothache Day

     16th         Do A Grouch A Favor Day

     18th         Battery Day

Those are a stretch even for my imagination.  Then I saw February 26 – Tell A Fairy Tale Day

Who does not like a story that begins Once upon a time…?  Those words bring up images of a princess and a charming prince.  Seven dwarfs.  Three bears.  Giants.  And a slow turtle.

How will you do on this quiz?

1. ____________ stole from the rich to give to the poor.
2. The miller’s daughter spun ____________ into gold.
3. Paul Bunyan was the greatest ____________?
4. Henny Penny told everyone the ____________ was falling.
5. When ____________ lied, his nose grew longer.

But if you really like to tell stories, get your imagination going and begin with “Did you hear about….

• the people who shouted the walls of Jericho down?  Just picture the priests leading a whole lot of people and the people in Jericho laughing at them.  Where is Jericho?  In a land far, far away…

• Daniel?  With all the royal food he could eat, he only wanted vegetables and water.  I know!  How crazy is that…or…was it….

• the woman who turned into a pillar of salt?  They were escaping and her husband, Lot, told her not to look back…Why were they escaping?...What would a pillar of salt look like?  Let’s find out.  Google Lot’s Wife and pillar of salt….

• the fish that was so large it could swallow a man?...Yes, a man!!!...Why was the man in the water?...Well, the crew threw him overboard…….

Fairy tales are fun and good for the imagination, but if you want to tell a really, really good story..if you want to get really, really excited telling that story…if you want those little ears to hear about heroes and villains and good and evil…dig into the Bible…and find a windstorm coming out of the north – an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light.  The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, and in the fire was what looked like four living creatures.  (Are those little eyes getting bigger?)  (Continue reading very animated and quickly.)  In appearance their form was that of a man, but each of them had four faces…YES, FOUR FACES…and four wings…….I saw that from the waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him.  YES, ALL AROUND HIM…(Now finish slowly and quietly, until you are almost whispering.)  Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him.  This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD.  (From Ezekiel)

THAT MY FRIENDS WILL BEAT A FAIRY TALE ANY DAY OF THE WEEK!

Answers in case you have not heard or read a fairy tale in a very long, long time: 

Robin Hood, Straw, Lumberjack, Sky, and Pinocchio

PROTECTING ME?

The minister was talking about the arrest of Jesus.  During the message, Pastor Larry said Jesus died for our protection.  PROTECTION?  To have my sins forgiven --Yes.  But protect me from what?

But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.  2 Thessalonians 3:3

I must admit the evil one comes in many forms.  For me, misdirection does get me in a bit of a pickle.  I can be oh so determined to send a card, clean house, call a friend, or find a place to volunteer, but something to google pops into my tiny brain and I am very quickly misdirected.  Now, not cleaning house is no biggie (It is picked up, the bathrooms are clean, the laundry done, and the dust does not show until the sun shines.), but maybe the card I didn’t send or the call I didn’t make or the volunteering I didn’t do would have changed someone’s day.  LORD PROTECT ME WHEN THE EVIL ONE MISDIRECTS ME FROM DOING YOUR WORK.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.”  John 10:27-28

Who is this “no one” who wants to snatch me out of Jesus’ hand?  I don’t know anyone who is trying to yank me away from God’s Son.  And yet…. whose voice do I listen to?  FOX news is telling me one things and CNN is telling me something else.  What the left says is true.  What the right says is true.  Wear this.  Look like this.  Wine is wrong.  Wine is good for you.  This pill will … do not say that … it is okay if you do that … the Bible does not say that.  Who is trying to yank me away from God’s Son?  Who:  Those that are trying to tell me what to think and how to live.  LORD PROTECT ME FROM THOSE THAT WANT ME TO FOLLOW BLINDLY INSTEAD OF LISTENING TO YOUR VOICE AND LEARNING FROM YOUR WORD.

So say with confidence, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.  What can mere mortals do to me?”  Hebrews 13:6

Maybe mere mortals are no match for the Lord, but mere mortals can sure do a number on me.  What chance do I have?  I mean, really!  I am 73.  A mere mortal could whoop my backside.  A mere mortal can destroy my confidence.  A mere mortal can use words that frighten me:  Cancer.  A loved one is very ill.  Alzheimer’s.  A mere mortal … LORD PROTECT ME FROM THE ACTIONS AND THE WORDS OF MERE MORTALS WHICH FRIGHTEN ME.

Jesus died to protect me, but how do I know he will? 

Jesus is faithful,

Jesus is holding me in His hand,

Jesus is my helper,

and

I TRUST HIM!

A RED HEART, CANDY, AND ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

Warning:  My usual process is to pull up a blank blog page, put the date on…at that point I realized the 14th is Valentine’s Day…and add a title.  This is the title which appeared and I have absolutely no idea where this is going or in what order a red heart, candy and kidding me will appear. 

June 4, 2020 will be our 55th Anniversary.  During that time, some Valentine’s Day were spent looking into each other’s eyes, as we held hands in a very nice restaurant.  (Of course, in the beginning the “very nice restaurant” was our kitchen.  No money!)  Some Valentine’s Days were preceded by writing the names of every child in our kid’s class, on those Valentine envelopes which usually had a minimal amount of glue on them -- which resulted in the envelope coming apart when the sweet “You are my friend forever, Happy Valentine’s Day” card was stuffed in by a first grader.  And said first grader took an extremely long time to print their name.  Well, the daughter took a long time.  The son did not care so much about his signature and whipped those cards out in no time. 

We have spent Valentine’s Day in Indiana, Michigan, and Alabama.  Two years ago, we were in Alabama and were holding hands as we walked down the hall to our hotel room.  (Yes, we still hold hands.)  The nice gentleman sweeping the hall asked how long we had been married.  Then asked what room we were in.  Fast forward to after our romantic Valentine’s Day dinner.  We opened the door to our room and there on the desk – here comes the “are you kidding me? – was a bottle of bubbly, two wine glasses, and some fancy candy.  A fun and enjoyable surprise.

Candy?  The Sweetheart candies began in 1866 and today over 8 billion flow into stores where they sell out in six weeks.  Question 1:  Is there anyone who really likes the special heart candies that will last from February 14 till the ants come in during the summer.  Not sure they eat them either, but when you see ants on them, it is okay to throw the candy away.  Question 2:  The words started out with Be Mine, but later included such romantic phrases as Email Me and Fax Me.  Do you sort through the candies to find the one which conveys your undying love?  If not, you might want to reconsider.  The gleam in the eyes of your sweetie might change from loving to confusion, if the candy heart says chill out.

What about the red heart?  I have a very old, red, heart shaped, candy box.  It belonged to my mother.  I like to imagine my dad, handing her the box, and --- taking the first piece.  Hey, he liked candy!  My parents, like most parents of their generation, were not lovey, dovey and rarely said, “I love you.”  But that box!  That box tells me that my daddy loved my mommy.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

The End.

WHY DID THEY PUT THAT IN?

I have a bottle of white-out sitting on my desk.  I have often thought about using it when I come across a scripture I do not like.

Please explain why any hard working person would leave in Romans 13:6?  This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing.  I get the pay your taxes.  Well sorta.  I do want good roads and schools and libraries and… BUT maybe someone should send an email to all those ‘authorities’ and explain to them they are God’s servants.  Okay.  Okay.  The verse about taxes stays in.

I always tell people I am going to remove the word ‘patience’ because it is a struggle to be patient.  Isaiah 7:13:  Then Isaiah said, “Hear now, you house of David!  Is it not enough to try the patience of humans?  Will you try the patience of my God also?  I do not like to think about trying God’s patience.  What if he got as impatient with me as I get with some of the… Oh.  Pretty sure I need to reword that.  I need to be as patient with God’s children as God is with me.  Patience stays in.

“But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven.”  Matthew 5:44-45  Who was Jesus talking to?  The first four Disciples?  Surely Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew and James, son of Zebedee, and his brother John were the only ones who would pray for their enemies.  Sadly, Jesus was talking to a crowd and these words would also be meant for me.  How do I pray for a person who hates me?  Or tries to harm me?  I put the white out away.  Love and prayer for those who persecute me stays in. 

The Bible – will I ever understand every passage?

The answer would be NO!

But I am trying.