Wonderful Counselor

I know it's not time for Christmas songs but every time I come across Isaiah 9 in my reading, I always sing one. Why? I can't help it.

"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

⁷Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this." - Isaiah 9:6-7

See. Now you're singing it too. That's Handel's Messiah.

A couple nights ago I was awakened by a passing thunderstorm. Lots of lightning lit up the bedroom along with claps of thunder rattling the windows. I was pretty much wide awake, so I began to think about our Wonderful Counselor. You know, Almighty God. Our Wonderful Father. Suddenly I found myself praising Him in the midst of the storm. And it wasn't long before the storm had passed away to the east.

There's a lesson to be learned here, but let's let God do the teaching.

"Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

³⁹He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm." - Mark 4:36-39

Do you have a storm raging in your life right now? Notice that in the story we just read, Jesus did nothing until the disciples came to Him. It's the same with us.

We must remember to go to Jesus in prayer and praise Him for His amazing power over ALL things. Then we must simply wait and watch. The storm in OUR life will either pass by quickly or we will find things suddenly calm in our lives. Either way, let us praise Him for all that he does. And not just on stormy days, but EVERY day.

Oh, and Merry Christmas!

For Unto Us A Child Is Born - London Symphony Orchestra

Staying Warm

Today's story comes in two parts. The first is based on Ecclesiastes 4, verse 10. It involves stumbling or struggling with something. This same verse also offers a suggestion for how to navigate those struggles. A companion.

"Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. ¹⁰For if one falls down, his companion can lift him up; but pity the one who falls without another to help him up!" - Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

This is not only good advice for hiking or walking, but it is also good for going through our struggles in life.

Have you ever been in a situation that was really bothering you? I suppose you could just tough it out and say, "I don't need anyone's help." But there IS a better way.

What if you called a friend, someone you trust, and talked to them about it? Quite often the end result is that BOTH of you feel encouraged afterward. PLUS you have just grown closer to that friend.

The second part of today's story is found in the very next verse.

"If two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one keep warm alone?" - Ecclesiastes 4:9-11

Again, this involves struggling, maybe even spiritually. It is the reason for the church actually.

"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Every day they continued to meet together." - Acts 2:42, 44, 46

That's the church! They met together, they struggled together, they loved together.

And speaking of love, Jesus warned us that a time would come when even the church would struggle - those who believe.

"And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold." - Matthew 24:12

Ecclesiastes 4, verse 12, contains the answer.

"How can one keep warm alone?"

DON'T BE ALONE!

This life is hard enough going through it day by day. Wouldn't it be better the share the bumps in the road with someone? A companion?

A friendship or a spouse is how we stay warm when our faith starts getting cold. When we need encouragement, they provide it. When we need to be rebuked, well, a good friend will provide that too.

And don't forget about our closest friend and companion, Jesus. God has promised never to leave us or forsake us, in both the Old and New Testaments (Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5). You are never EVER alone.

I Will Never Leave You - Scripture Lullabies

The Parable of The Chipmunk

I think something must be wrong with me. Or right, I guess, depending upon your world view. You see, I see parables. 😮

I didn't always see things this way. It began 19 years ago. These stories that I write,  many of them, are simply parables of how I see things around me. An outlet of sorts. Or maybe a history of my walk with Christ.

For example, a few days ago I was cleaning out the gutters on our house. I had already opened the shed door to get the ladder, and was on my way back there to put it away, when a chipmunk ran past me and right into the open shed.

"Dude. You'd better not stay in there because I'm going to be shutting the door soon."

Instantly Bible verses came to mind. The Parable of the Ten Virgins for example. This is Jesus speaking.

“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut." - Matthew 25:10

And then in the Book of Revelation . . .

"What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open." - Revelation 3:7

The chipmunk in my backyard was a perfect representation of those who ignore the Bible. They're so busy "gatheting nuts and seeds" that they ignore the dangers of being locked inside a "prison" with no hope of escape.

Why did you and I stop to consider the dangers we faced by leading a life of sin? Why did WE repent and follow Jesus?

God forenew who would say 'yes' to His invitation and who would "run into the shed."

The problem that the chipmunk had was he didn't know the shed door was about to be shut. It's the same for the unbelieving souls in this world. Even though it can be frustrating and painful at times, we must never stop telling people about Jesus. He is the only one who can open the door to eternal life.

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me." - Revelation 3:20

All

Here's a tough question for you. Would you sell everything you have and give the money to the poor? No? Why not?

"Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell what you own and give the money to the destitute, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come back and follow me.” ²²But when the young man heard this statement he went away sad, because he had many possessions." - Matthew 19:21-22

What does it mean to surrender everything to Jesus? And that's . . . everything. Think about that for a moment. That's your car, your jewelry, your phone, computer, and television set. RV's, 4-wheelers, boats, fishing gear, etc. Keep going. 401k? Packers season tickets? Hey, wait a minute!

Everything! All of it. Then, follow Jesus.

We don't necessarily have to sell everything but, if Jesus asked us to, would we? Are we willing to sacrifice ALL we have to be a disciple of Jesus?

The Christian life SHOULD be one of sacrifice. Placing the best interests of others before thoughts of self. I give you the example of opening doors for others. It's easy just to open a door and walk through it. But look around. Is someone else heading for the same doors you are going to be walking through? Well . . .

I was at our local convenience store this past week. There was a young man next to me at the checkout. His hands were full as he followed me to the door, so I held the door open for him. It was a small thing for me, but a bigfer thing for him. He smiled and said "Thank you."

We don't hear Jesus saying "Thank you" when we do something for Him, or for others with Him in mind. That comes later. 🙂

Now this I say, he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.

"Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." - 2 Corinthians 9:6

I Surrender All - Michael W Smith w/ Coalo Zamorano

Anomia

I know what you're thinking. "He spelled ammonia wrong." Nope. "Anomia" is a Greek word. I'll get to it's meaning in a moment. But first, some scary Bible verses from our Lord and Savior, Jesus.

"Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. ²²Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’

²³Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’" - Matthew 7:21-23

What Jesus is saying is that some people who think they know Him will NOT be getting into heaven.

Today's word for the day is 'anomia' (pronounced an-om-ee'-ah). It is a Greek word and it means 'lawlessness.' It's the last word of the text above.

Basically, even people who say and think they know Jesus will NOT be getting into heaven. This is Jesus talking. Why would He not let us in? Two reasons.

1. (Verse 21) - "only he who does the will of My Father in heaven."

2. (Verse 23) - "I never knew you."

So, we have to do God's will and Jesus has to 'know' us.

I'm just guessing here but, I'm thinking if we do not obey God and His commands, our chances of being known by Jesus are a big fat zero. Why? Because of our anomia. Our lawlessness!

Obeying every one of God's commands,  every day of our lives, is impossible! What can we do then to be saved?

Hmm. That sounds like a bible verse, doesn't it?

“How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! ²⁵Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.”

²⁶Those who heard this asked, “Who then can be saved?”

²⁷Jesus replied, “What is impossible with man is possible with God.” - Luke 18:24-27

"Possible with God" is also in another verse. Same story, different Gospel.

Jesus was with his disciples in the Book of Matthew and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

"Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” - Matthew 19:26

"With God."

Are you "with God?" Does Jesus "KNOW you?" You need to believe in Him, obey Him (in everything), repent of your sins, and you will be saved.

Jesus KNOWS our very thoughts. He realizes that we are all sinners. He KNOWS all of those who are His. Talk to Him in prayer, beg forgiveness for your sins. If you mean it, He will forgive you. And that is the key.

Mean it! With all of your heart, soul, mind, and strength! And, yes, that is another Bible verse. It's the first and greatest commandment.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ - Matthew 22:37

Our being "saved" is by God's grace alone. But we do have to admit our sins to Him, and believe in Him as our Lord and Savior. The we can forever receive His bountiful blessings, in this world AND the next.

Jonah Did What?

Recently, I heard a different take on the story of Jonah that made me wonder. Was what I heard actually true? Let's investigate.

We catch up with Jonah as he got thrown into the sea by his shipmates. It's wasn't looking good for Jonah at this point. It gets worse.

"Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights." - Jonah 1:17

Okay, this is where questions begin to arise. For example, "How could a man spend three days underwater and come out alive afterwards?"

That's a logical question. There are a few possible answers. Either God kept him alive somehow, or Jonah actually died. And THAT is the new twist I heard on this story of Jonah. 

Let's fast forward to Jesus. You know the verse.

"He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. ⁴⁰For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth." - Matthew 12:39-40

There is no evidence, one way or another for whether Jonah was alive or dead. Just that he was "in the belly of a huge fish." Let's go back to Jonah's account.

"From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God." - Jonah 2:1

So, Jonah was alive inside the fish. He was praying. But did he STAY alive for three days? Here's some interesting verses. Keep in mind that Jonah wrote this book AFTER everything was over.

"From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry." - Jonah 2:2

Was he in Sheol (the place of the dead)? Or was this just a figure of speech?

"To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit." - Jonah 2:6

That sounds like Jonah died, but we can't be sure. I think we need to go back to Jesus when he said, "as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth."

Jesus died. The question then becomes did "the sign of Jonah" that Jesus spoke about include Jonah's actual death? It doesn't really say, but it would seem to line up with what actually happened to Jesus. And HE died.

If Jonah died, God IS all-powerful, and more than capable of raising someone from the dead. That's why we are all Christians afterall. But did God raise Jonah from the dead too? Or was that something that was reserved only for Jesus? Hmm.🤔

Jonah couldn't have been dead because then HE would have been the fulfillment of the Festival of "first fruits," not Jesus. Right? Jesus WAS raised from the dead during the Festival of First Fruits. But what if Jonah was spit out by the fish during the same festival?

"And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land." - Jonah 2:10

I give up. My brain is beginning to cramp. Lol! I'll just stick with the three days and three nights thing for now and ask Jonah about it when I see him.

Singularity

The prophet Daniel wrote about a future time when knowledge would increase.

"But thou, O Daniel, shut up the words, and seal the book, even to the time of the end: many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." - Daniel 12:4

This increase in knowledge will be a sign to all mankind that "the time of the end" is near. Right at the door.

Have you heard of the concept of singularity? Maybe the word is familiar to us and we think we know what it means. However, there is a NEW definition. This is from Wikipedia:

"The technological singularity - or simply the singularity - is a hypothetical point in time at which technological growth becomes uncontrollable and irreversible, resulting in unforeseeable consequences for human civilization. According to the most popular version of the singularity hypothesis, I. J. Good's intelligence explosion model of 1965, an upgradable intelligent agent could eventually enter a positive feedback loop of successive self-improvement cycles; more intelligent generations would appear more and more rapidly, causing a rapid increase ("explosion") in intelligence which would culminate in a powerful superintelligence, far surpassing all human intelligence."

Did the movie Terminator come to mind as you read that? Wargames? The Matrix? It did for me.

What was that that Daniel wrote of? That "knowledge would increase" at the time of the end. Experts in the A.I. field are talking about it now. They are very hush hush about the singularity word when they speak but most agree that we are getting there quickly.

In a November 2024 article, Popular Mechanics estimated we are six years away from that happening. Then, on June 1st, just a few days ago, they revised their estimate. It is now six MONTHS. Six months before A.I. becomes unstoppable by man. That's a little freaky.

Let's go back to Daniel for some encouragement.

"At that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book." - Daniel 12:1

In other words, the children of God, everyone whose name has been written in The Book of Life, will be delivered. In my opinion, we will be 'delivered - removed from the earth - via The Rapture of The Church.

Kind of makes one wonder what it will be like. Are you excited? I am. Unless of course your name is NOT written in The Book. If that's you, you should be very afraid. But you're probably not reading this anyway.

Trust in the Lord today! Time may be very short. I don't want to be here when there is an unstoppable, god-like intelligence running around controlling things. I wouldn't think that you would either, but that's your call.

Singularity - Popular Mechanics (6 years)

Singularity - Popular Mechanics (6 months)

I Just Got Towed

Last week I had kind of a bad day. One disappointment after another, or so it seemed. That's when I got an email notification that someone had commented on one of my blog stories.

"Oh, great," I thought. "More negativity."

But then I read the comment. It was given on a story I had written 10 years ago about my "new to me" truck and a tow rope I had just purchased. My intent back then with the tow rope was to pull people's cars out of ditches during the winter and then share the Gospel with the drivers.

The comment I received is as follows:

"Funny how something like snow and a car in a ditch can stir up so much inner reflection. It’s easy to think first about what we can do instead of who’s in need. Even moments that seem routine — like passing a tow truck at work — can carry something deeper if we’re paying attention."

Interesting.

That kind of cheered me up. And it ALSO made me think. Someone actually reads my stories! And this person actually took the time to comment!

How many times do we have a plan for our day and then everything suddenly goes sideways? More often than not, in my experience. So, what do we do in those situations? Do we whine and complain? Or do we make lemonade out of lemons? 

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord." - Isaiah 55:8

When things go south in our lives we should be asking, "What are you trying to show me, Lord? What are you trying to teach me?"

I did actually pull someone out of a ditch once back then. The ditch right in front of our house. I don't even remember what I said to the driver of the car. I don't remember saying anything "brillant" about God. Or ask if he knew Jesus. But I DID do something. And the driver was grateful.

Something just occured to me. Of course! The guy who commented on my story? He actually pulled ME out of the dismal "ditch" I was in that day. My bad day disappeared after reading his comment. Hmm. Was someone from above sending me a message? Or sending me a "tow truck?" He can pull anyone out of any "ditch." Anywhere and any time.

“Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him." - Psalm 91:14-15

Wicked Mockers

"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, ²but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. ³That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither - whatever they do prospers.

⁴Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. ⁵Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. ⁶For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction." - Psalm 1

That was the very first Psalm. Six verses, but is says a lot about the world we live in. Especially Hollywood.

If you open up your favorite search engine and type in the name C'ynthia,' you will find that the #1 result is Cynthia Erivo. Have you heard about her? You probably have seen all of the Hollywood hype about the movie Wicked. Well, she was the witch. And if that wasn't bad enough, it's about to get even worse.

God clearly detests witches and sorcery, but why stop there? This August the actress is playing Jesus in a remake of Jesus Christ Superstar. That's right. A woman pretending to be Jesus.

"In the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires." - 2 Peter 3:3

Well Peter . . . these surely must be the last days then. 

This latest scoffing of our Lord sickens me. It should disgust every confessing Christian on the planet.

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. ⁸Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction." - Galatians 6:7-8

John The Baptist spoke about Jesus when he said, "His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” - Matthew 3:12

Well, surely the Lord is coming soon with this latest blasphemous offering mocking Him.

And then there's this from the "queer" (her word, not mine) actress and "woman of faith":

"I have a deep belief that God makes people as they’re meant to be. The rules for themselves that people put upon others have nothing to do with me and my faith. I can’t allow narrow thinking that some Christians or Catholics have of what faith is to affect how vast I think faith can be. Faith is so big - so much bigger than set rules. As time changes, we are also meant to change. If me loving someone makes you upset, then we have to refocus. I think the main rule that we’re all supposed to follow is to love one another as you would love yourself. That’s it. That’s the big overarching thing. Am I making space to care for other people, be kind to other people, be as good to other people as I would have other people be to me? If those are the things I’m following, then I think I’m following my faith."

You're following YOUR faith alright. Not the one set forth by God in the Bible. Yes, she has PART of "the first and greatest commandment" right. But what about the very first part?

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

Part of 'loving God' is obeying His commandments, not editing them to syit our own desires. And she is WAY off track in that regard. We must pray for her and also for every lost soul who blasphemes God with their choices. Come, Lord Jesus!!

Hidden Treasure

Today's story is brought to you by the pastor of our church. It's actually a story HIDDEN INSIDE of another story. I think that's why I like it so much.

The story is found in the Book of Acts, the 20th chapter. Paul is going to be preaching, but then something happens.

"On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. ⁸There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. ⁹Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. ¹⁰Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” ¹¹Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. ¹²The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted." - Acts 20:7-12

Are you ready to start digging? How can I encourage you to grab a shovel and begin? Well, how about if I tell you that the "hidden treasure" in this story.  . . is Jesus? There is no mention of His name, but the clues, the gold, is everywhere.

Verse 7 - "the first day of the week" - this is Sunday, the Lord's day.

Verse 7 - "we came together to break bread" - communion? fellowship? Jesus said, "I am the bread of life." - John 6:25

Verse 7 - "Paul spoke to the people" - what was Paul preaching? It was the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Verse 7 - "he intended to leave the next day" - Jesus preached HIS message right up to the day HE left too.

Verse 7 & 8 - "midnight" and "many lamps" - it was dark. We all were in darkness, until we "saw the light."

Verse 8 - "the upstairs room" - the kingdom of heaven? Where did Jesus hold The Last Supper? In an upper room.

Verse 9 - "Eutychus" - just a coincidence here, but the first and last syllables of Eutychus are pronounced YOU and US. seriously? In this story, Eutychus represents "you" and "us."

Verse 9 - "sinking into a deep sleep" - so will you and "us" sinking into a deep sleep (eternal death ie. hell) without Jesus.

Verse 9 - "picked up dead" - again, this is us without Jesus.

Verse 10 - "Paul went down" - and so did Jesus - from heaven to earth. Why? To save us. But I am getting ahead on myself.

Verse 10 - "He's alive!" - and so are we when we receive Christ. It is nothing we ourselves have done. It is Christ alone!

Verse 11 - "Then he went upstairs again" - and so did Jesus after His resurrection.

Verse 11 - "talking until daylight, he left" - this represents Jesus talking with his disciples for 40 days AFTER his resurrection. And then Jesus left.

Verse 12 - "The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted." - the rapture of the church? When Jesus and the heavenly host come to take US home?

This story is simply amazing, but it is only REALLY amazing if for those of us who have heard the story and been brought fully to life. If we don't hear the message, if we do not come to life, in Christ, we will fall into the outer darkness and truly die.

My prayer is that all of us would embrace this message, this gold that we have found, and embrace Jesus, just as Paul "fell on Eutycus" in verse 10.

Forgot that one.

The Very First Responder

There are two types of people in this world - those who see a need and do nothing, and those who actually make an effort and do something about it. Why the difference? What makes one person keep walking while the other one stops?

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³²So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

³⁶“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” - Luke 10:30-36

That, of course, was Jesus' parable of The Good Samaritan. But why didn't the other two men stop? They were both "religious." Shouldn't THEY have shown mercy? And that was exactly Jesus' point.

Let's fast forward to a present day hypothetical scenario. There is a shooting, or gang members are beating up a cop. Where are the good samaritans now? Everyone is videoing the event, but no one is DOING anything.

The term "first responder" is kind of a misnomer. We give the term to our police, firefighters, and paramedics. But really, the very FIRST responder is the one who called 9-1-1. Right?

"For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead." - James 2:26

In the parable, Jesus was showing the  differences in their hearts, not their social or religious position in life. Basically, the condition of the heart is more important than any social or religious standing.

I am a Christian, but if I do nothing with my faith, I myself am nothing. Dead. Just another bad example in this parable we call life.

This past Saturday, my wife noticed a neighbor's "tree branch" had fallen onto the road. When we ventured outside to move it we discovered it was more like half of the tree. I scurried back to the house and got my chainsaw. Soon it was all cut up and moved out of the way, the roadway cleared. Although cars went by as we were working, no one stopped to help the two old folks clearing their roadway for them.

My wife and I didn't really think anything about it. Neither of us filmed ourselves or took selfies together with the fallen tree. We saw a need, we took care of it, and returned to our home.

It's pretty simple, this Christian life we live. It's "Golden Rule" simple. The question is, how will WE respond?

In Memoriam

It's Memorial Day here in the US of A. What's everybody up to? Going to a veteran's memorial service? Driving back home from a big weekend up north?

I personally don't think we spend enough time honoring those who sacrificed their lives in order for us to be free. I wonder if our younger generation (those under 20) understands just what it means. They have no idea what war is like.

The last US war ended in 2021 - Afghanistan. You remember that hideous withdrawl, right? 13 US soldiers died that day. Here are their names.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas

Marine Corps Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, 23, of Sacramento, Calif.

Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City, Utah

Army Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tenn.

Marine Corps Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, Calif.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, 20, of Jackson, Wyo.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui, 20, of Norco, Calif.

Marine Corps Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25, of Lawrence, Mass.

Marine Corps Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, 22, of Logansport, Ind.

Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz, 20, of St. Charles, Mo.

Navy Hospital Corpsman Maxton W. Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio

Marine Corps Cpl. Daegan W. Page, 23, of Omaha, Neb.

I know that other soldiers have died serving our country since these 13 perished in Afghanistan but these 13 came to mind for me. And look at their ages. All but one of them were in their 20's. Most of them in their EARLY 20's.

They were strong and courageous. I do not know if any of them knew The Lord. I hope they did. But this Psalm is for them regardless:

"Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle; he is my steadfast love and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield and he in whom I take refuge, who subdues peoples under me." - Psalm 144:1-2

May this Memorial Day be one of rememberance and honor for the fallen heroes of our country. And may there be no more names added to the list of the dead.

Thank you for your service and your sacrifice, and may the Lord above guard the hearts of their families and friends . . . today and always.

Choose Wisely

“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a whole heart and a willing mind; for the Lord searches all hearts, and understands every intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will let you find Him; but if you forsake Him, He will reject you forever." - 1 Chronicles 28:9

That was King David, giving advice to his son. But it is also something we ALL need to remember as we go through this life.

There is a huge difference between BELIEVING in God and KNOWING God. Choose the latter. Remember, Solomon requested knowledge when God gave him a choice of whatever he wanted. It was a wise choice, and God told him so. Still Solomon eventually ignored the knowledge he had gained about the One True God and turned after other gods through his foreign wives.

We face many decisions in life. Which will we choose? God-honoring choices? Or what WE want?

Read the last sentence of that verse above and let it sink in for a moment. Forever is a long time.

For most of my life I chose the things that I wanted, not what God wanted. Poor choices have a way of haunting us for the rest of our lives. Godly choices come without regret. 

Do you remember the old knight from Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade? He gave some good advice.

"You must choose. But choose wisely. For as the true grail will give you life, the false grail will take it from you."

The life of a Christian is one of obedience to God's will. We must choose wisely in our decisions and actions. Jesus followed the will of God, The Father. Shouldn't we?

"For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me." - John 6:38

Look at two of the biggest issues of our day - abortion and sexual dysphoria. What side is God on? What is His will? Search the scriptures and you will find the answers.

"¹⁶There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: ¹⁷haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood . . ." - Proverbs 6:16-17

Is there anything more innocent than a baby?

"You shall not lie with a male as with a woman; it is an abomination." - Leviticus 18:22

Need I say more? There are churches who "afirm" gay marriages and relationships. They have made an unwise decision in the eyes of God.

Jesus spoke about men simply looking at a woman with lust. He called it adultery of the heart.

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ²⁸But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart." - Matthew 5:27-28

Our decisions can have eternal consequences. Let us choose wisely, for the eyes of God are upon us.

Choose Wisely - Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade

Zion

The Bible is amazing! It has been preserved for our reading today for thousands of years. Scholars have studied it. Entire nations have built their foundations on its laws and precepts. And still, new things are being revealed from the scriptures. 

Today, I listened to a song by Aaron Shust. I've listened to his songs for many years and have seen him in concert a few times. Yet somehow this song has eluded me. Until today.

As you can tell by the title, the song is about Israel. It's actually about God's promise to return them to the land he promised them on oath.

"The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.” - Genesis 17:8

What I really love about this song is that every word, every line, is scripture. Somehow, Aaron captured a variety of verses and formed them into a beautiful song, honoring God and His people, Israel.

What if we did that with our own lives? Speaking or writing ONLY using God's Word. That might be tough. Try it sometime. It's harder than you think.

Although, as I wrote those words, I realized that there IS a time when we can easily speak in verses. 

When we pray . . .

"Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name . . ."

See? These verses also come ro mind . . .

"Gracious Lord, you are my Shepherd. I shall not want. You make me lie down in green pastures, you lead me beside still waters, you restore my soul."

"Who am Lord I that you are mindful of me? That you should care about me?"

"Into your hands I commit my spirit, Lord."

"You are the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, beginning and the end."

"Amen."

I guess it's not so hard after all. Now, let's try Hebrew. Lol!

"Adonai elohenu. Adonai echad. Shema Israel."

Zion - Aaron Shust

What's In A Name?

Early Saturday morning I awoke at 1 AM. I got up, went to the bathroom, and returned to bed. However, I was not able to get back to sleep. The name of someone from the Bible kept repeating itself in my head.

Eliehoenai, Eliehoenai . . .

Who the heck is Eliehoenai anyway? I finally dozed off, hoping not to forget this guy's name until morning so I could look it up. Here's what I found.

Eliehoenai was man's name from the Old Testament. He was a Korahite, and a returning exhile. He was a descendant of David, and both a Simeonite and a Benjamite. He was also a priest of the Lord.

But the cool thing about the name Eliehoenai is in it's meaning. 'El' means 'God' and 'ehoenai' means  'towards Jehovah (are) my eyes.' Basically, it means 'my eyes are on God.' What a cool name!

AND, it is a great reminder for all of us. No matter what situation we find ourselves in, we should always 'Eliehoenai' - look to God.

What does YOUR name mean? My name is Bob, or Robert. It means 'fame, bright, glory, honor, praise, renown, shining, light.' I was named after Robert the Bruce, king of Scotland.

Do our names, given at birth say anything about who we are . . . who we become? What about Jesus?

The name Jesus means 'Yahweh saves' or 'Yahweh is salvation.'

Perfect.

"²⁰Behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him (Joseph) in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” - Matthew 1:20-21

Perfect.

Nephilim

If you open up your Bible app and search for the word 'nephilim' you will get two scripture references - Genesis 6:4 and Numbers 13:33. First, a definition . . .

Nephilim were the offspring of fallen angels mating with human women. With that in mind, we read . . .

"The Nephilim were on the earth in those days - and also afterward - when the sons of God (Bene HaElohim - i.e. angels) went to the daughters of humans and had children by them. They were the heroes of old, men of renown." - Genesis 6:4

The other nephilim Bible reference is in the Book of Numbers. Moses sent spies into the land of Canaan to see what was there before they entered in to it. The spies came back with a report.

"We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.” - Numbers 13-33

They were giants, and strong.

I watched a video by Chuck Missler recently that seemed interesting. He was teaching on Genesis 6, saying . . .

"Unless you understand Genesis 6 you will not understand much of the Old Testament, much of the New, and certainly have a prophetic blind spot."

Okay, I'm listening.

At the 11:20 mark he says this: "there was a gene pool problem," intimating that the fallen angels producing offspring (nephilim) was part of the reason for the flood. 

God starts talking with Noah about bringing a flood on the earth in Genesis 6:9 - just a few verses after Moses wrote about the nephilim.

My question is this: If the flood wiped out every human on earth, other than Noah and his family, how could there be "descendants of Anak" in Numbers 13?

Aha! An error in the Bible!!

Let's stay calm and think abput this for a minute. Angels are eternal beings, right?Yes. Even fallen ones? Yes. Were the fallen angels, including Satan, alive after the flood? Yes. So, what prevented the fallen angels from coming to earth after the flood and having sons by "the daughters of humans" then. Nothing. End of controversy.

The nephilim are fascinating creatures. Goliath was a giant. Did he have a fallen angel in his lineage? Unknown. But it wouldn't surprise me. What do YOU think?

Golden

"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." - Matthew 7:12

That's The Golden Rule. And that was Jesus speaking, part of the Trinity that Christians worship. I had enough English in school to recognize that that verse is also A COMMAND. It is not a suggestion.

So, how are we doing with that? As a people, and as a nation, as a church, and as individuals? We are failing. We are not following Christ.

That's a problem. That's a REAL big problem. Especially in light of THIS verse. Again, it is Jesus speaking.

"Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?" - Luke 6:46

He's asking us WHY we are not following His commands. What will our answer be?

“³¹When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. ³²All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats." - Matthew 25:31-32

Trust me, you not NOT want to be one of the "goats".

It seems rather simple on the surface. Follow the commands of Jesus and all will be well with you. Yet somehow none of us can do it. We have all disobeyed God.

Our only hope is repentance, and God's saving grace. And his merciful forgiveness for those who love Him.

In the meantime though, we must keep trying. Our reward is not in THIS life, although God DOES bless us here. The real "payoff" comes later . . .

"³And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. ⁴He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” - Revelation 21:3-4

Come, Lord Jesus!

Shine

Have you seen it? Sure you have. It happens every spring. Life from lifelessness. In our yard it's the tulips and hydrangeas. I mean, there was nothing there when the snow melted. Then somehow, seemingly overnight, green shoots rose up from the ground.

And it's not just plants. It's trees. It's the spring peepers in the local swamp. It's the birds singing in the tops of the trees. It's a time of renewal and refreshing.

How does all of this happen? Does the dandelion "know" when it is time to burst forth from the ground? Do geese "know" when it is time to fly north? Do we "know" when it is time to put the snowblower in the shed?

Jesus spoke about this cyclical pattern when referencing his own death.

"Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds." - Matthew 12:24

And this . . .

"He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. ³²Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”" - Matthew 13:31-32

This pattern of birth, growth, reproduction, and death is prevalent in every living thing. It can be seen in the changing seasons as we go through each year. It is truly a miracle. A cyclical miracle of God's creation.

This same pattern is also visible in our faith, or so it seems. When we become born again, our faith is new. There is tremendous growth. It is abundant and flourishes. Then, we begin to fade. We've lost that 'fire' for Jesus. Our faith grows dormant and sadly, for some, it dies. But God . . .

Oh yes! But God, indeed!! God provided a way to break this endless cycle by eliminating death and replacing it with eternal life. 

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." - John 3:16

As we go through this earthly life, let us shine brightly for all to see. To make visible just what God has done on our hearts.

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." - Ezekiel 36:26

Here's a few of the lyrics from a song by the Newsboys:

Shine

Let it shine before all men

Let 'em see good works and then

Let 'em glorify the Lord

A 10-minute message from Peter Furler of the Newsboys . . .

Shine Sermon - Newsboys

Are We Obedient?

"At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream." - 1 Kings 3:5

This, and many other verses in the Bible, testify to the fact that God speaks to people in their dreams. Well, here's an interesting little story for ya.

Early Thursday morning, I awoke with a sudden desire to go visit "Uncle John", if you catch my drift. After taking care of that distraction, I tried to get back to sleep in my living room chair but failed.

I finally succeeded in The Chair, but for some reason I was still incredibly exhausted. And, upon hearing my wife stirring in the next room, I headed off to the spare bedroom to hopefully continue catching up on my lost sleep. That's when I had a dream.

I was in a sparsely decorated room with two other people. One was a man, about 15 feet away, setting up some lighting equipment off to the right.

He asked, "So, what was your biggest takeaway from your association with the PDGA?"

[PDGA = Professional Disc Golf Association. Yes, I was a member. Yes, I made money playing disc golf.]

I answered, "Probably my PDGA number - #1127. That's pretty low. But all that means is that I am pretty old."

Then I turned to my left and there was a woman sitting across the table from me. It was Jacqui Heinrich - Fox News' White House correspondent.

What?! Yeah. I have no idea. Anway, she looked troubled and asked, "How do you find the balance between what you do and your personal life?"

Odd questioon, but I smiled and said, "You are an answer to prayer." I continued . . .

"I am a Christian. I follow Jesus. He is my example and my Savior. His life is an example to me of sacrifice and devotion.

I look at MY earthly life. My relationships - my wife, my kids, my friends - and I wonder, do I sacrifice myself for them? I certainly hope so."

And that was the end of my dream.

I have no idea who the guy was nor why Mrs. Heinrich was there. However, it was her question that was my answer to prayer. It was an opportunity to share my faith with others.

I told this whole dream to my wife who pondered it along with me. I told her that in OUR relationship I have tried to sacrifice my own selfish desires and serve her and others FIRST.

Later that same morning, my wife walked into my office as I was reading 1st Kings (The verse above). She kissed me twice and told me that she loved me. That usually doesn't happen.

So, is that it?  Is that all that came out of this dream?

I continued with my day until 3:00, when I turned on the TV. There was an ad playing for some vitamin supplement. I never really noticed this guy's name before but today, after that dream, his name caught my attention. "Heinrich." As in Jacqui Heinrich? Hmm.

"Okay. What's going on here?

So, I went on Facebook, found Jacqui Heinrich's Facebook page, and sent her a message. It was short and to the point and included this verse:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." - Proverbs 3:5-6

I then continued . . .

I am not aware of your relationship status or your faith. I just felt like I should send you this message.

Thanks for reading this. If this is from God, it will find you. May God bless you and guide you.

I have no idea if this whole thing was from God or not, but one thing I DO know, and that is I want to be faithful and obedient.

The message is in her inbox. The rest is up to God and His Holy Spirit.

Are we always obedient to God's leading? I don't think so. We miss many opportunities to witness to someone, or to pray for someone, WITH that person.

We must continue to be bold. Time is getting short.

Like I said, I don't know whether or not this dream was from God, or what it meant. But I DID get two kisses and a hug from my wife so if that's all that comes from this, it was worth it. 🙂

Believing Is Seeing

The Matrix was on TV last night. Even by watching just a few minutes of it, I was reminded just how true it is when Morpheus says, "You've been living in a dream world."

And so have those who have not received Christ yet. When we place our faith in Jesus, and receive the Holy Spirit, we become changed. A friend of mine describes it this way:

"Since placing my faith in Jesus, I see things differently. It's like being in the shower. Once you've been washed clean by the shed blood of Jesus, you pull back that curtain, and you see everything differently than you did before."

Ain't that the truth!

The sad thing though is that people we love just can't see and feel the same things that we do. And that hurts. Why? Because we are destined for different places after we die.

One could focus on that alone and remain depressed for the rest of this earthly life, but that's not what God wants us to do. Read this:

"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ²Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is." - 1 John 3:1-2

[1st John is a great book. It's short and to the point, and if you look closely as you read, you can discover a checklist of sorts to determine whether or not you are truly saved.]

But let's get back to our topic. "You don't know what you don't know." Our pastor used that phrase on Sunday. It stresses the importance of reading The Bible.

We can say that we believe in God, but then we come across verses that test our beliefs. For example . . .

"You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe - and tremble!" - James 2:19

James was saying that there HAS to be more to our faith than simply "believing" in God. There must also be evidence of that belief in the things we say and do.

In the very next verse, James tells us that " faith without works is dead." He then goes on to say . . .

"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." - James 2:26

What James is getting at is this: What do we do with your faith? Do we go to church and that's it? Do we put money in the tithe box and say "look how much I have given?"

The Apostle Paul said, "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ." - 1 Corinthians 11:1

And what did Paul do? He preached the Gospel everywhere he went. How are WE doing with that?

Two Are Better Than One

One more disc golf related story for you this morning. When we go disc golfing, do we head out to the course with only one disc? No! Why not? Well, it's because discs vary. Some are heavier than others. Some are more stable, some less so. They fly differently. They ALL have different uses.

And that's just the discs we use. What about going disc golfing by ourselves. Is that preferred, or is it better to have someone with you?

I am old. My eyesight is failing, my back and my knees are cramping my game. Literally. Yet I still go play once or twice each week. Would it be better if someone went with me? Maybe. Probably. Yes!

We had a clean up event at our local course. We threw a round, picking up sticks as we went. On the last hole I was making my approach shot. The fairway slopes down towards the basket and is strewn with rocks. The footing was awkward and I fell.

"Are you alright?" my playing partner asked. Thankfully I was. But what if I wasn't. How long would I have been lying out there with a broken hip until someone found me? If I would have lost a disc, would I find it quicker by myself, or with someone helping me search?

Also, while we were playing that day, the friend I was playing with confided in me that one of his relatives was struggling in his marriage. I have since included the troubled couple in my prayers. Two ARE better than one.

"⁹Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:

¹⁰If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.

¹¹Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone?

¹²Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." - Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

And here's something worthy of note. This passage of scripture speaks about TWO being better than one. Up until the last verse when it says, "a cord of THREE strands is not quickly broken." WHO is that third strand?

Who do you think?

"Triples" anyone?

God's Provision

I'm sitting on a bench behind the #6 tee pad at my local disc golf course, known as The WEDGE. This place is where I often go to spend time with God. Like this morning . . .

When I think about this course in particular I think about the man who first put it in. His name Is Neil and he worked many hours to build this place. My friend Neil is a believer, and he goes to my church.

I was out here the other day with another man who was helping me clean up all of the fairways. He is my friend Devin. He too is a believer. He also goes to my church, and has been a great help.

There are two other courses in our area. Two other men helped put those in. One was a mentor of the other - a teenage boy. The mentor is my friend Alex. Alex is a believer. Are you sensing a pattern yet?

All of us men love disc golf, but we also love the Lord. More.

I sit here in awe, contemplating just how much the Lord has provided in this place. I work out here every week. And how did I get permission to create new holes, to put in baskets, and tee pads? I got permission from the high school grounds guy. That's my friend Matt. And he too is a believer in Jesus.

Oh yeah, speaking of sitting on the bench. My friend David helped assemble many of them. Dave is also a believer. We met at a disc golf tournament.

God has truly provided everything on this disc golf course. He has provided inspiration, friendship, and opportunity to reach others with the Gospel. How can we NOT praise Him!

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." - Matthew 6:33

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:19

Kill Them?

So, here we are at a crossroads in our faith. Well, not really. But it IS a time to reflect on what we truly believe, and just how far we are willing to go to apply those beliefs in our lives. Open your Bibles to Deuteronomy 13.

Deuteronomy is the book most often quoted by Jesus. One could easily say it is foundational to the life of any Christian. Yeah? Well, chew on this:

“⁶If your brother, the son of your mother, or your son or your daughter, or the wife you embrace, or your friend who is as your own soul entices you secretly, saying, ‘Let us go and serve other gods,’ which neither you nor your fathers have known, ⁷some of the gods of the peoples who are around you, whether near you or far off from you, from the one end of the earth to the other, ⁸you shall not yield to him or listen to him, nor shall your eye pity him, nor shall you spare him, nor shall you conceal him. ⁹But you shall kill him." - Deuteronomy 13:6-9

Okay . . . so, do we go out and start killing people who don't believe like we do? It's right there in the Bible. One word - context.

In this text, God was giving instructions to the Israelites. They were about the enter The Promised Land. God also tells the Israelites later in Deuteronomy WHY He wants them to do this.

"Otherwise, they will teach you to follow all the detestable things they do in worshiping their gods, and you will sin against the Lord your God." - Deuteronomy 20:18

God hates sin. Remember the flood? That was because of sin. Paul tells us in Romans that "the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 6:23

Time and time again God told Moses, "you must purge the evil from among you." - Deuteronomy 17:7

So, why isn't this done today? In some U.S. states the punishment for killing someone IS death. But in other places it is not.

Look at the world we live in today. Sin is everywhere! Look at Jerusalem. There are people who "serve other gods" living there. The Al Aqsa Mosque is right there on the Temple Mount!

So, what am I saying? That we should go out and kill every non-Christian? No. But what I AM saying is this . . .

God will.

"⁴¹The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil. ⁴²They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." - Matthew 13:41-42

That was Jesus speaking.

Crumbs

"Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. ²²A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”

²³Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”

²⁴He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

²⁵The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.

²⁶He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”

²⁷“Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”

²⁸Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment." - Matthew 15:21-28

There are several directions one could go whilst studying this story. First, note that the lady was not Jewish. She was from Canaan. 

And note that Jesus said, " I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." Interesting. What about us Gentiles?

We need to keep in mind that Jesus was Jewish and so were the disciples and ALL of the Israelites. As Paul writes:

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile." - Romans 1:16

I am a Gentile. Therefore I am one of the dogs eating the crumbs that fall from my master's table.

The world just watched the Pope's funeral. He was "a dog" just like I am a dog.

We see all the cardinals in their ornate red robes, looking so "religious," and I think about the tax collectors and prostitutes in Jesus' day. And the thief on the cross. All they had was their faith.

"While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and sinners came and ate with him and his disciples. ¹¹When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

¹²On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." - Matthew 9:10-12

All "religion" is man-made. So are the means by which a new pope is selected. Think back to the book of Acts. They simply met in each other's homes. Jesus was their head. Compare that visual with what happens at St. Peter's Basilica when a pope dies.

Would Jesus have wanted that? Or would He have preferred something more like his donner at Matthew's house? Joseph of Aramathia and Nicodemus were the only ones that attended our Lord's funeral. Hmm.

Was the Canaanite woman the beginning of hope for the Gentiles? Or was this God's plan from the beginning? I for one am grateful to eat the crumbs that have fallen from my Master's table. So incredibly grateful.