Hope and Easter go together especially in a violent world

Breaking News at this hour is from Sri Lanka where it is being reported at least 50 people are killed attending churches and hotels celebrating Easter. 

Worship and focusing on the events on the last week of Jesus ministry leading up to his death and resurrection have always been the center of the gospel and the message of the church. The days after these events Jesus appeared to many as outlined in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8

15 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

3 For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. 6 After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, 8 and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.

The last chapters of Matthew, Luke, Acts 1, and John give more info on the events of Easter and events following. 

It saddens me deeply that there are too many people in the world who show such hatred. 

I am glad to know Jesus died for my sins and was actually buried exactly as the Scriptures said he would be. When God raised him from the dead it demonstrated his death actually atoned for my sins. His resurrection means upon my death or His return I will be immediately in the presence of God in heaven. My now old body will return to earth and be recycled. One day of resurrection I will be reunited with my body readied for a life of eternity. Until that day I will be in heaven and will be recognized and will know others who have gone before. This is what is called the Christian’s hope. Today it is by faith in heaven by sight. 

What is true for me is also true for anybody else who puts their faith in Christ. It is God who saves us. He has us by his hand. Happy Easter to you and your loved ones. 

I pray that those who did this evil may be accountable in the land of the living, I know they will in the life beyond the grave. I pray we may have courage to continue to practice our faith in an ever increasing violent world. 

I have another hope expressed in the last chapter in the bible, “Amen, come Lord Jesus.” Keep walking

God remembers the little things

One of the people that I listen to on the radio when I first became a Christian back in 1971, was Theodore Epp and Back to the Bible. He wrote me a letter when I was a missionary in Africa. The letter is one of my little treasures. 

Back to the Bible still shares his writings in the form of devotions from their website.

Here is a sample, Enjoy the devotion

Thank God for the Godly!

Read Revelation 2:18-29

There were some good people in the Church of Thyatira. The Lord knew their works, all the hard work they were doing and the love that was the basis for it and their faithfulness to Him. He saw all they did even to their giving of a cup of cold water.

(In Liberia a cup of cold water was given to a traveler who trusted your water source. Our water was boiled and filtered. The traveler would remember this kind gift to grant a favor later on. Little acts matter Reeves)

Some people are quick to spread a great banquet, but they are slow to give just a cup of cold water.

The smallest deed of kindness done in our Lord's name will not go unrewarded.

There is too much today of the big showy things. Let us remember that God does not overlook the ministry of the little things.

The Lord commended some in Thyatira because they were hard working and the things they did increased in value. The last things they did were better than the first things.

We might well ask ourselves if we are growing in our spiritual lives. Were the works done after our conversion the greatest works for the Lord? Have we left our first love? Or are we progressing in our Christian lives to where we are more effective in what we do for the Lord as the days go by?

Apparently some in Thyatira had come back to their first love and were growing in grace and in the knowledge of Christ.

"For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister" (Heb. 6:10). 

(Be aware these are same people referred to in the warning passages of Hebrews. They were at present fighting unbelief in their lives, but God remembers both their little and greater deeds. Unbelief can rob us of going through “the valley of the shadow of death” with the Lord; to see it through the other side to climb the heights again with our feet planted on firm ground of God’s care. We all go through tough times. Reeves) Keep walking

Devotional key, pray back the scriptures

In my mail box was a daily devotion from Dr. Ken Boa. I found it help in my prayers this morning. I looked up different verses from bible.org Lumina study of the net Bible. It is a real gold mine for Bible study. Her are a few thoughts on how to personalize the scriptures.

Example:

“I will guard my heart with all diligence, for out of it flow the issues of life.”

(Proverbs 4:23) Ken Boa

compare w Net Bible

“Guard your heart with all vigilance, for from it are the sources of life.”

The NKJV translates Prov. 4:23 this way,

“Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life.”

Other translations use “wellspring”, “springs”, check the Scripture note below from the Net Bible which gives insight into the translator’s process in the work of translating.

Dr. Ken Boa has put together several prayer books where you pray back to God the scriptures using personal pronouns. His work is done with reference to the original languages of the Bible. This discipline is very helpful in praying.

You can do the same thing with any translation. The goal is to help and focus your prayer life with the

The starting point of the Jordan River at the foot of Mt.
Hermon. Water drinkable here. There is only one
woman looking at me here. She has eyes for me.

actual words God has given. In Boa’s translation of Prov. 4:23 if you drop “I will” you have the essential verse, “Guard my heart with all diligence, for out of it flow the issues of life.”

In prayer you have applied the thought for yourself in a meaningful way.

Try personalizing God’s word in your prayer life.

If you would like to see Dr. Boa’s work on this, google Dr. Ken Boa and go to his website. 

I have shared two notes from the Net Bible. The notes give you the mind of the translator working with this verse. Insights are cool. 

notes

Heart - tn Anatomically the Hebrew word לֵב (lev) refers to the “heart.” But abstractly it can refer to one’s inner self, will, understanding, or mind. They did not see the heart and mind in opposition, such that the advice here includes both one’s thinking and feelings. NB translation notes bible.org

Issues, sources - sn The word תּוֹצְאוֹת (totseʾot, from יָצָא, yatsaʾ) means “outgoings; extremities; sources.” It is used here for starting points, like a fountainhead, and so the translation “sources” works well. Keep walking and in this case keep praying.

The reality of the Bible illustrated

In Acts 16:11-40 is the story of a young slave girl controlled by evil spirits to tell fortunes and make profits for her owners. She was set free of evil infuence by Apostle Paul. No longer able to make money for her masters they sought to imprison Paul for their disruption of business.
I can remember talking to young prostitutes (ages 13 and 14) about the gospel who were beat up for talking to me. The girls were a mess the next time I talked to them. The johns who drove by to use these girls I used to yell at them in their cars, "Don't I know you? Hey I bet the misses would like to know what you're doing!" They always sped off. After a couple of memorable confrontations with the pimps I was asked to lead the discipleship program and was moved away from the red light district. (Co-workers feared retaliation) Most of the prostitutes were on the younger side of 15 and all were abused by the pimps. If you want to see evil you don't have to look far.

Philippian Jail in Paul's Day

Life has many bumps, and often for doing right by others. Paul for helping this abused slave girl used in perverted ways only to make money was thrown into prison. There he was beaten and his companion and put in prison. In the picture you can see the actual prison he was thrown into. You can see where the rocks are built up from the ruins found. You can see the Roman Street in the lower left. The prison and town was a real location. The evil in slavery we still see today. Young men and women are still enslaved all over the globe for sexual and human misuse for money. The events of the Bible are in real places effecting real people. Protecting our girls from abuse is still as vital as it was in the Roman world with 60% slavery. People still may suffer for doing the right thing. The good news of Christ still delivers people from evil. Keep walking.

Can we depart from the Living God?

One of the classes I am taking is this survey of the general letters of the Bible, Hebrews-III John with Dr. Toussaint from Dallas Theological Seminary. Besides my class notes, I have looked at previous teachers of the class from Dallas as well. Some of these presentations may be expositions to their congregation. 

Hebrews contains a series of warnings that can be very difficult for those who believe they can lose their salvation. I have two safeguards for our oversensitive friends that can be very encouraging. First of all, we have to clear teaching in the Bible concerning salvation in which the Bible in which the Bible will not contradict itself. God gave us eternal life by believing on Jesus, he cannot take it away because that would not have been eternal. Along with this it is God who saves and not man. The second safeguard I offer is context. So far in Hebrews 2 & 3 we have two warnings for Christians not to do, The writer includes himself in the audience 1:2; 2:1, 4:1 and specifically in 3:1 and 3:12, 14 where he refers to his readers as “holy brethren, partakers of a heavenly calling”; “brethren”; “we have become partakers of Christ.” Clearly his audience is Christian. 

Can a Christian drift away, neglect the things of God? Can a Christian develop an evil heart the fall away from the living God? Can they be deceived by sin? All of this is serious in the same way in the physical world a person can develop the symptoms of a heart attack even at an early age and 30s 40s. Heart disease can become very serious in a matter of weeks.

The wilderness is a dry and desolate
place and pictures on departed from
the Living God

In the same way a Christian can neglect their walk with God, or through difficult circumstances come to believe God has let him or her down, make a decision to turn from the living God in unbelief. Soon the deceitfulness of sin will take over and the Christian develops an evil and hardened heart. Their decision is done at the exact time they needed to do the opposite and cling to the Lord. 

Besides not experiencing God helping them through their difficult time, they will miss their fellowship with the Lord when they most needed it. They will miss the blessings in their future. They'll missed the encouragement from other believers. They will most likely experience some downward trend in harmful behavior towards themselves or others. 

But because they're saved, or trusted Christ as their Savior they did not lose their salvation. 

When a person has a heart attack and there able to get to the hospital the medical team may have to do some drastic measures to restore health. From blood thinners, stents, open heart surgery there are number ways the doctor aggressively works to save the life. 

Hebrews chapter 4 is connected to chapter 3 in which the writer talks about the Lord disciplining those He loves. The Lord may have thousands of ways in which He disciplines the believer. They may be gentle or not. He is God and He knows best. When the believer has drifted away, and falling away from living God, in the land of living the believer is hardened his or her heart and lives in the lies of sin, this is a serious condition that requires God's emergency care.

Go back to that hardship, that loss where you turned your back on the Lord, it is there in which you must learn to trust. The rest of your life in the living can experience God’s loving care and healing. Healing and restoration takes time but here you will find a gentle Physician. Keep walking

Do you ever think about the afterlife, Earl? Learning from the funnies

I am glad these old birds are talking about the afterlife. Showing up to heaven in the buff would be difficult for many of us. My friend Jim Smith reminded me of the song title, “I Don’t Look Good Naked Anymore.” There could be thousand reasons why our bodies don't look as good as they used to. But even when we were younger it was a pretty good idea for us to wear clothes.

Have you ever watch the Discovery series, "Naked and Afraid?" The participants are covered with a blur around their genitals and breasts, their backsides are generally seen. Everybody that is on the show starves, losing a lot of weight and most of the women on the show find some sort of covering. I bring up the show because it shows a couple  reasons why we have clothes. 

We live in less than ideal situations. Clothes are our first level of defense or shelter. The layer that the clothes provide is our first home. We are protected from the weather, we are protected from our environment. Think of all the protection that your pair shoes does. When I go to the beach now I wear a shirt that protects me from the sun. I can easily swim and the shirt. I will actually wear hat or a bandanna. Clothes keep our heat in when it's cold and protects us from snow, sleet, ice, or rain. On the discovery show the participants have not of these protections. They are greatly limited without shoes. It restricts their movement and ability to gather food. Without the clothes they have to deal with the heat and the cold. The only thing that saves these people is the time restraints that they have to be in the wilderness. If they had to do it for year they would not survive.

Clothes also protect us and make us less vulnerable to attacks not in our favor. Truth is people have problems with people and clothes give a barrier of defense of the body and person. People of the past would speak of wrongdoing, sin, living in a fallen world. Clothes have purpose and our daily news backs this up.

In heaven we won’t have sin and harm, but we will have clothes. We will be ourselves and we will be recognized, but we will not be in our aged or sick bodies. Our new body suggest we will be prepared to live in heaven. We will be complete and mature and what the whole lot better than we ever did in this life. God will have many changes in store for us. How to be ready for our eternal experience is the trust Christ as our Savior and depend on Him to bring you home. That home will be very different from the one we have enjoyed on our blue planet. Keep walking 

Before I forget, a thought on forgiveness

“As far as the East is from the West, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” Psalms 103:12

The problem with the past, good or bad, is we stay in the past and do not take hold of today. We are not looking to the future and the promises of God. When God forgave us in Christ’s redeeming death, He did so unconditionally. Our past, present and future sins were forgiven at that time. 

In time, we walk with the Lord and deal with those present and future sins as they come up. 1 John 1:9; Ps. 51 share with us those principles that keep us in fellowship with God. He forgave us when Christ took on the cross our sins, but He does work with us in the process of sanctification and growing in Christ. 

In Isaiah 43: 18, 19 Gene Getz shares a principle to live by to forget the past. Paul did this in Philippians 3: 13, 14 “forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead”. When we became a Christian “we became a new creation,” 2 Corinthians 5:17. 

This idea of living in the moment is what Jesus had in mind when he talked about worry. Worry and anxiety about our past has dynamics that make it hard to forget. 

Jesus teaches about anxiety in Matthew 6:25-34. The principle here is helpful for the worries and anxieties of life. Anxiety attacks, in connection with depression, become a medical issue. The truths contain are solid for any therapy and treatment that may be required. Notice what Jesus says in verse 34, “Therefore don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” Here we are warned not to negatively think about the future. Like dwelling in the past, focusing on the worst possible outcomes for the future can keep us from doing what we may need to do right now. What we think and do right now we have some control of. 

In sports as a coach I always wanted my players to be in the moment. The best players can make a mistake and quickly put it out of their minds to be ready for the next play. It takes experience for player to get this ability. When a player stays in the moment their best performance will be seen. 

It is often a good habit after the game to review what can be learned. A good coach may bring into practice drills what will improve a weakness. God does the same thing with us. We may, at the end of the day, review our actions and thoughts to learn from our experiences. He will give us plenty of practice to overcome what we need to overcome. But in the sports world it does no good to dwell on defeats. To dwell on defeats can eat up a player.  

The same is true of us as we dwell on our past sins. We actually have to make the focus on the good things to do and think about. That refocus reduces the energy of the negative behaviors or thoughts. We will experience a whole new freedom by letting go of the past, focusing on now, looking forward to the promises God gives us about the future. The apostle Paul shares the reasoning behind our forgiveness in Colossians 1:13, 14. Keep walking                                     

The danger in drifting and neglecting spiritual disciplines

True story baby rescued

 Can you imagine sunbathing and looking up and seeing your baby 1km away drifting out in the ocean. This true story ends well but the parents neglect could have been very costly.
After studying Hebrews 2:1-4 I made the following note. Neglecting our  spiritual life can cause us to drift away from the Lord, Reeves - neglecting here gives a warning but the warnings in Hebrews will explore even more dangerous problems. Drifting is so easy to do. When we neglect spiritual disciplines such as reading the Bible, praying, going to church, witnessing, Bible study, devotions, seeking daily cleansing and forgiving, encouraging others, loving others as Christ loved we open the door for drifting. Some of these disciplines are more important than others, I list them because by neglect in these basic practices we can lose ourselves. We find ourselfes without purpose and discouraged with the trials and struggles of life. 

In Africa the most dangerous creature is the tiny mosquito that carries malaria. It kills thousands of people every year. Snakes, large predators such as lions, hippos and elephants each only kill over 100 every year. The mosquitoes so small he would hardly notice. Yet many more suffer by this tiny creature. 

Drifting seems so small in comparison to other actions that Hebrews warns about, but more Christians suffer spiritually from drifting and neglect then any other problems.

Picture ourselves in a boat and we fail to anchor or tie the boat up. Without a motor or paddle the boat will move with the current. Sometimes we are playing in the waves and are not aware that we are in a rip tide that can carry us quickly out to sea. People unaware of what they were facing have died trying to swim back in. Many of these people are strong swimmers. You can't swim straight into shore. Knowing you are in a rip tide and swimming parallel to the shore you can quickly be out of the rip tide and able to swim in. My knowing this saved my life or at least saved a lifeguard coming in the water and get me. I singled to him to let him know I was going to swim parallel, which I did about 50 feet then I easily was able to swim into the shore. The riptide was really strong and carried me a good hundred yards before I knew what was happening. They are capable of taking you out several miles. For a minute I was just playing in the water not knowing that I was in danger. 

Drifting tumbleweed wasted life

That is how neglect and drifting work the Christian life, we are in lala land and all of a sudden we're hit with danger.

From neglect we find ourselves at a lost in trials and temptation. When an unexpected danger comes we are unprepared.

Let me illustrate personal safety, if we neglect being alert for those who might hurt us, or not being aware of our surroundings we will not notice the predator lying in wait. A shopper goes out to the car arms filled with bags, not looking around will not see the thief hiding near by. Neglecting watching may cost a life. Always use your eyes and walk back to the store if you think you are in danger.

OK staged, but he would be in trouble

When it comes to our spiritual life we can neglect so many things. I know church is filled with imperfect people, but we need them for encouragement. We have so many bibles today to enjoy, we need to read them. Prayer is simple to do, talking to God will get you talking to His so much God won't be able to shut you up. You have troubles and cares take them to the Great Physician for understanding and care. These are also practicing your spiritual muscles to fight sin and evil. We are to overcome evil with good. People today need love and encouragement from you. That is God's #1 way to love people today. 
I'm an old man and I am trusting God to yet work through me. e can neglect these thing and drift away. Keep walking

Being in tune with God helps us face our darkest and difficult times.   

It was a good stretch of the legs.

Going from Jericho to Jerusalem Jesus would travel 15 to 18 miles and climb 340 stories. It would take you 5 to 8 hours to walk it depending on your pace and fitness. Along the trail you would go past the spot of the story of the Good Samaritan. Jesus with his disciples would be safe from the robbers that preyed on travelers. Jesus on that final journey would know the outcome of the cross. 
Right now I would be challenged to make such a walk. At 35 or 55 I could. I am amazed recovering from injuries how much more challenging it is to get back to walking conditioning. The good news I am making progress. 
In your Bible reading read one of the gospel's account of the last week. I am looking at Luke 18:34 to 24:52. Read it in a Bible with paragraphs and it should take about 30 minutes. Think about the hard walk from Jericho. Read Wayne Styles blog on that walk. 
http://www.waynestiles.com/the-ascent-of-adummim-a-tough-hike-in-more-ways-than-one/
The physical walk helps us to see the Bible come alive. Each day of holy week Jesus walked 2 miles to Bethany in the early morning and evening. Be blessed, keep walking

Developing awe and gratitude is good for health

Polett Villalta scuba diving off Key Largo, Fla., 
next to the statue Christ of the Abyss, left. 
PHOTO: VETERANS OCEAN ADVENTURES 
her story is awesome

Read three articles today that may improve our health and relationships to others. The Wall Street Journal Elizabeth Bernstein wrote an article of researchers studying “awe” and finding it is good for relationships. Awe improves our health as well. The feeling of awe makes us care about others. A Dr. Kelter Took 56 inner city kids on a rafting trip for a week and researchers found the kids were more curious and engaged about what was happening in the world.

Awe helps fight depression because it lowers inflammation which is a factor in depression. Awe attunes us to things bigger than ourselves. It actually increases kindness and compassion toward others. The evidence that supports the feeling of awe is still a little soft. Awe can be religious, nature (creation my word) a sports event or political rally Ms. Bernstein reports. We may be in awe or amazed at others things or people. What ever it is, it is good for us and others and in the fat man terms keep us walking. http://www.wsj.com/articles/researchers-study-awe-and-find-it-is-good-for-relationships-1424717882 

Pastor Rick Warren whose Church shares The Daniel Plan informs us the more grateful you are, the happier you are. Sometimes the longer we know somebody, the more we take them for granted. Replacing a negative thought with thanks can have an impact on how we feel. It also has a direct impact on the person we say things to. If you're not thankful don't fake it. Find something else to be thankful about. Apostle Paul could say concerning the Philippians, “Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God” (NLT). Philippians 1:3 http://danielplan.com/blogs/dp/the-more-grateful-you-are-the-happier-you-are-2/

A reporter recently died for the New York Times. Many people said kind things and thanks for the reporter. Greta Van Susteren laments "Wouldn’t it nice if we could say those things before a person dies." It reminds me to say things or write thanks in the land of the living. It is an easy way to make people feel better. 

From the Daniel plan Dee Eastman and Shelly Antol wrote an article about creating space for solitude. It seems to me if we have a place of silence we can create moments of awe and thanks more often. Since positive attitudes have a direct impact on our physical and mental health increasing good thinking would be a good idea. 

In the hustle and bustle of our life silence can be a little hard getting used to. The article quotes Henry Nouwen “without solitude it is virtually impossible to live a spiritual life. Solitude begins with a time and a place for God, and him alone. If we really believe not only that God exists but also that he is actively present in their lives-healing, teaching and guiding-we need to set aside a time and space to give him individual attention.” Mother Teresa is quoted to have said, “silence is essential in a religious house… there is no life of prayer without silence… God is a friend of silence.” http://danielplan.com/blogs/dp/creating-space-for-solitude/

The other day I wrote about aloneness and I think this is part of it. Keep walking

Prayer is no pat answer

Earlier this week I had a devotion in Psalm 77 from Radio Bible class. Today I took time to study psalm 77 and to read it carefully. Looking at it right now from the HCSB Bible. If you're trying to make sense of Psalm 77 it is a good idea to have an English Bible that attempts to put the verses together in paragraphs. You can divide the Psalm into sections: 77:1-9 and 77:10-20. The first section can be divided 1-3; 4-6; 7-9. The second section can be divided 10-12; 13-15; 16-20. If you want on outline you can use the following format.

77:1-9 (Big idea) - 

• 1-3 (support idea) -
• 4-6 (support idea) - 
• 7-9 (support idea) - 

77:10-20 (Big Idea) - 

• 10-12 (support idea) - 
• 13-15 (support idea) - 
• 16-20 (support idea) - 

Read the verses then make up the two big ideas of the Psalm. Have a little fun and use only 3 to 5 words to describe those big ideas.

Then read the Psalm again using the support ideas and again only use 3 to 5 words to give the idea of each supporting section. Force yourself to come up with these brief titles we'll give you a good handle on what the Psalm is all about. I also think you'll get a good sense of difficult times and trying to come to terms with it.

We are in a time of crisis we may pray but I have no sense that God is answering our prayer. We may in fact be in the middle of a problem that we have to go through. It may be the most unpleasant of experiences. Our reactions maybe a ton of questions. We may in fact experienced the most negative emotions. Our perspective could be unbalanced at the time and we may not be seeing everything.

What did the writer draw upon to understand his own circumstances? How did he get through his awful night? When do you think he know he had answers to prayer? Prayers not a cliché nor is it a pat answer. It is not the why that gets us through, but the who. Prayer is honest in heartfelt. Songs in the night… keep walking

Inductive Bible Study my passion

I have added a new page concerning Inductive Bible Study in my pages about Observing the Bible in study. It is a passion of mine for over 40 years. The 10 keys I write about can be easily learned in time and you will find yourself seeing things automatically. Paste and copy to your word processing program and print it out. Take a paragraph in the Bible and try it out. Let me know what you think.
I first learned of the Inductive Bible Study from Terry Hall in a class from Moody Bible Institute. A few years later I read and studied a book by Oletta Wald on Inductive Bible Study. Irving Jenson and Howard Hendricks have also written expertly about the Inductive Method of Study. You can Google these names and read their books. You won't be disappointed. The page I adapted from Wald's work.

Oletta Wald. The New Joy of Discovery in Bible Study (Kindle Locations 143-151). Kindle Edition. 

Dealing with difficult emotions, God can Help

I was studying my Bible with Thomas Constable's  Notes (https://lumina.bible.org/bible/John+20) and came up with the following key insights into how the Lord help the negative emotions of grief, fear, and doubt. When you read John 20: 1 to 29, you find the people who benefited by seeing the resurrected Lord who all were engulf with certain human emotions. 

• Mary Magdalene we find her experiencing great grief. With her we see the emphasis of love and our Lord giving her a mission.

How often in our grief do we get a new direction in our life. When I was being treated for depression I received two things I wanted to explore and help others with. 

1. That there is hope today for recovering from depression. 
2. To listen to and encourage others who had stories of their lives to tell.

• We find the disciples locked in a room filled with fear, with them Jesus emphasizes hope and as a result they are filled with joy. 

Fear often makes us withdraw and has a way of limiting what we do. Rightly so the disciples were scared for life, but they didn't know how their shepherd already protected them. When they see the Lord whom had the marks that killed him resurrected He gives them hope that no matter what happens in their life, eternal life is real. There was more to Jesus's story then crucifixion, He was more than man, what he said was true in like he predicted their sadness was turned to joy. 

We are made to run or fight to face's struggles that we encounter. 

Our fears can cripple us, but we can face our worst-case scenarios knowing 

1. that our trials are temporary 
2. life is eternal.

• With Thomas he is overwhelmed with doubts. Jesus gives him a lesson in faith and as a result he becomes a man of faith.

We have come to some sense of reality in our experience. When we encounter things that are different then it that new reality we doubt. I may tell a man in the jungle about things he has never seen. He may doubt it but I have experienced it. I may tell him stories or show him pictures and maybe I even show him a movie. By the way what I'm showing him he may never have seen before. To him these are even more incredible. But if I were to take him back with us and buy a week pass to Disneyland where he can see it and experience it for himself he may say this is unbelievable but at the same time he now believes that. 

We may have the same problem with the realities of heaven. We have been living on this planet for 62 years, but eternity we may only have been given words, the testimony of others who experience it firsthand. We long for that first-hand experience with the spiritual. 

A parable illustrates A earthly truth to show a heavenly one. We understand what happened on earth but the spiritual part we hope to understand. Thomas sees the nail marks on Jesus's hands and feet that happen at the crucifixion when Jesus died. He is now talking to the resurrected Lord. What do you thought couldn't be real is now real and he believes. 

1. When my eyes were clouded over with cataracts and a disease lens was removed and replaced with a clear lens, my eyesight now could see things I never saw better. Just think how many people in the past with cataracts would be amazed at the procedure. Removed at the same time was my stigmatism. I can almost consider it a miracle. Ben Franklin who invented bifocals would be blown away with cataract surgery.
2. Today I walk by faith, but in heaven I will walk by sight. My body will be made for heaven. Life in a new sphere may have similarities with what I know today but there will be drastic differences. There're a lot of ways by reality here on earth changes and in the same way my reality will change in heaven. 

We all experience grief, fear and doubt. In what ways does the Lord love us to lift our grief and give us hope of new possibilities? How does God renew our hope to give us joy to overcome fear? How does God increase our reality to walk in faith to comprehend me eternal life? 

You may have other negative emotion besides what is shared here that you're dealing with, but the Lord can meet them in love, hope, and faith:Keep walking

Dutch priest, Frans Van der Lugt a well lived life

Frans Vander Lugt, 76 a life well lived

Last week I read an article by John L. Alan Jr. From the Globe staff, April 12, 2014.
He reported a Dutch Jesuit priest Frans Van der Lugt, killed in Syria last week just shy of his 76 birthday, personified the best of the missionary spirit in Catholicism.
Since 1964 he is lived in his adopted country, serving the humble, the poor, disabled people and mentally ill regardless of their race or religion.
Lugt told her friend, "I don't see Muslims or Christians, only human beings."
For the last several years he served at a small center for the mentally and physically disabled people. And Muslim charity would give him about 9 pounds of flour every week, which he turned into bread, giving half a loaf to the 30 neediest people he knew. 
In a recent interview, Vander Lugt said, "I try to help them, not by analyzing their problems, as the problems are obvious and there is no solution for them here. I listen to them and give as much food as I can. "
He was the last Westerner to live in the city of Homs. An unidentified assailant drag him out in the street outside of his residence, beat him and shot him twice in the head.
Most observers believed the killer was either an Islamic radical, or a possible suspect from the Assad regime to orchestrate the murder and then blame it on the rebels.
Just a couple observations, Frans Van der Lugt was a life well lived. Helping the helpless is a good thing, and it speaks well of his faith, The Muslim charity that gave him the flour speaks well of their charity. People of faith can live together and work together for good. They don't have to necessarily agree to look out for their fellow man. If I knew this priest, I am sure that him and I would have our differences, as well as our sincerity help others. Whatever the differences the thought of actually taking his life would never occur to me. 
But political and religious ideologists, who are willing to use brute force against helpless people shows no courage at all. What it does show is evil. And until more and more people see this type of action is being wrong, we will continue to see this kind of stupidity.
Another thing we see here, as Western values become the minority in any situation in the Middle East, we see these kind of thugs working to silence opposition. How many people won't be cared for by the old priest, how many years was he actually robbed of his life, we can't know?
To live your life for something greater than yourself that's a life well lived, especially if it service that is motivated by love and care rather than self-interest. Keep walking

Good Friday tomorrow, down load photo and have a good study

I made a picture which you should be able to save and open to enlarge. The picture is a study of a chart made by Dr. Irving L. Jensen, Mark: Self Study Guide pp. 113-115, Moody Press 1972
My adaptions and analysis focus on the theme of service. It was very interesting looking at my notes as a new believer some 42 years ago and how was able to create this slide.
Read the text, observe and ask your own questions. You be surprised how much you learn. Keep walking

Summing up my not so secret disciple

Church built on the ruins of the fist church built in England

• I spent today researching Joseph of Arimathea, and I discovered rather directly how many tradition and legends have him in the very King Arthur story. And after a while the legend becomes very fanciful. I spent some time trying to figure out his age. And right now I don't have anything definite. I think his age has a lot to do with what he could have done in the future. So here's some things that I found out.

I am of them the opinion that he would be older being one of  Jewish elders of the Sanhedrin. One source says he's eight years older than Jesus was and that would put them about 41. I looked up the source and I don't know how I could verify it, but I think he is the older based on the fact that he had taken the effort to buy a grave and usually we do those kind of things as we get a little bit older. Not that you couldn't do it at 41 and that's that's possible. You would be considered an old man if you made it into your 60's during this time so he may not been that old. If he was old it would be much harder for him to go out have a long history of reaching out to people and making a big impact as a disciple called an apostle to England. He was not an apostle according to the Bible. He is talked about being robust some 30+ years later. I think it is possible but not probable.

The story goes that he had mine interest in tin in Cornwall. So he might have been in the area were Doc Martin of the series on PBS. He is said to have built the first church in the first century before the church of Rome. Most churches in the first century were home churches.

Now we move into the area of legend. You may remember hearing the reference watching Indiana Jones. In the voices of Indy's father and Marcus Brody they recount the myths of Joseph's part in the Holy Grail that was in the notes of Henry's notebook they had to retrieve from Hitler. Hitler himself was fascinated by such legends.  Joseph is also said to brought the shroud of Turin. Legend also has the queen of England comes from bloodline of Joseph.

A few lines challenge some of these legends:
There is a contrast between the real segments of a real person struggling in good and evil in

Summit of Glastonbury, seen this on
Doc Martin

the Gospels versus the imagination of the Arthur legends.
The cup of Christ and the Shroud of Turpin are both objects that could lead to meet people worshiping them. These fanciful items have taken too many peoples on a silly chase from the truth and the real things that happened in the Bible and an early church history. It is along the same lines of Chasing Bigfoot or vampires. 
Considering his age being older and the effort for an older man to do move from his comfortable dwelling in Jerusalem to a harsher place in England should be factored in. Did he do church work in England? Middle Age traditions say yes. History may not be as certain. The linens that wrapped Jesus were several pieces and the face covered with a separate cloth. The Shroud of Turin has a Middle Ages origin. His activity is not in the book of Acts, but what we know from the gospels is pretty cool. 

How secret was he as a disciple? But a disciple is a learner, a follower. His faith is really between him and God. It is Paul says in Romans of faith that God sees, (Romans 2:2) what we see is what James talks about faith you see the action, 2:24 "you see", the external things that show to us some indication what the heart is like. Joseph here gives us several indications where he stands.

1. One he probably states his disapproval of the Sanhedrin's actions. He puts himself politically in a minority situation.

2. He gathers up the courage to ask Pilot for the body. Bodies of criminals who died in on the cross were put into a public poor man's grave. Probably a grave that had many bodies in it. Once again it was a public action that Joseph took for all to see.

3. Here we see him lovingly taking down the body of Christ and preparing it for burial. Joseph went for the body and Nicodemus got the supplies for burial. The spices dried the body and masked the smell of decomposition. He becomes unclean in a major holiday to care for Jesus he loved and respected. His actions here go against many of the ceremonial actions of the Pharisees.

4. I believe he's already an outsider who is excluded from the trials. Like our own politics it is well known where people stand, not so secret. Annas and Caiaphas knew.

5. He places Jesus in a grave that he himself had for himself. To me this suggested he was probably an older man. But it also shows he was willing to back up what he believed with this very important property.
He is a good man willing to help others. He is a righteous man in that he is honest before God about his sins and walks with God. He is not a perfect man as we see. He overcomes his fear to act bravely which I find fascinating. He stands up for right and shows compassion. Not bad for a secret believer. Keep walking

Some views for Easter

Jerusalem at sunrise. Don't worry everybody is up, church bells and mosques sound off early. Photo by Picturial Bible Lands

Easter, if you want to get a deeper experience past an Easter bunny or egg hunt you can participate at a church or you will have to do it on your own. It is a good idea to do both. There is little to gain from our schools or media. If you bring up happy Easter at work or school or see in the media you will notice people  will display rashes and itches, and at least a change of color. Maybe if your lucky blood vessels will start to appear. I have always thought at such times to remember that famous philosopher "Bugs" who said, "Silly ain't we."
For a good experience from the Holy Land visit http://www.waynestiles.com/places-of-the-passion-week-in-360-degrees/#more-10104
Great information and wonder views in the 360 format. You can click on Flat image and save pic. suggest label you won't remember later. Keep walking

"He gives sleep to the one He loves." some thoughts on insomnea

"He gives sleep to the one He loves." (Ps. 127:2b) The other day I posted a blog from Mart Dehahn who had the most fantastic quote. "When I first heard a friend talk about the idea that a relationship with Jesus boils down to a chance to live loved, I was hooked."  Having a chance to live a life loved by God through it all is pretty amazing. Paul shares a similar truth in Eph. 1:6 NKJV : "to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved." The truth and experience of being loved and accepted is at the heart of all care and relationships. We may have feelings about God of rejection and separation, but they can be gone as we trust Him as our Savior. Then the adventure begins. 
Back to Ps. 127:2b "He gives sleep to the one He loves." Being loved and forgiven are ideas that lend to a good night sleep. But we may still find it hard to sleep. There could be a thousand reasons why but for many of us it is a result of getting older. In the Huffing Post today there was a blog that reported a study in the UK that indicated poor sleep may effect the immune system and cause cancer to grow. Yikes! Well, a breakdown in our immune system can cause a lot of bad things. Loss of sleep is something we can not ignore. A short term crisis is one thing but if it is habitual we may need help.
For me getting help to deal with panic attacks has really improved my sleep, getting physical therapy for a rotator cuff allowed me to sleep on my side as usual, and walking has reduced pain in my legs. My list goes on, but dealing with these things helped me to sleep through the night on most nights and go back to sleep.
Insomnia is not fun. I recall talking to a lady in the hospital who slept in a chair. She was 20 years older than me and her problems were more complicated. She told me she has began to have problems with dementia and was in the hospital for treatment. She was intelligent and delightful to talk to and her insight was remarkable. For the week I was there, I would get up at 5:00 am (not by choice) go get coffee and share the morning paper with her in conversation. Each day more night owls would join us and we had quite the group. Most we teachers, lawyers, with me being a the low end of the totem pole. We listened and shared our sleeping struggles and I learned a lot. One thing we did was ease our pain. Over time medicine and therapy open the door for me to improve my sleep. It takes effort and time so whatever the ailment give it a go. Sleep is a wonderful experience. Keep walking