What Do You Know?

This is what people think they know….

They have heard there will be something called the Mark of the Beast…
                This “mark” which will be either in/on the hand or forehead, will be the only determination if you can buy or sell. So it won’t matter if you are rich or poor, without that mark, you won’t be able to buy what you need or sell what you have.

They have heard there will be plagues & pestilences on a global scale.
                We are living through one of those plagues now. The COVID-19 Virus. A global pestilence affected many areas of the Middle East and Europe only last month with a swam of locusts described as biblical proportions. They decimated everything in their path for a few weeks.       

They have heard there will be a man who will come to power as a global leader called the anti-Christ.
                This to me is the scariest, if you stop and think for just a minute, what would have to transpire on the earth to turn the entire globe toward one man for governance.

They have heard there will be a one-world government.
                A one-world government. Think about that a minute. What would happen on this planet that would convince the entire globe to back one plan of government?

In a book on the prophecies of the End Times, the author wrote: “Almost all of us, have grown numb to the warning signs in scripture to the storm that will break on the whole world at the end times.”

Lots of folks have poo-pooed the prophecies. In the beginning of this COVID-19 Virus, toilet paper and paper towels flew off the shelves as people started hording. But one thing very few reported was the fact that one of the other items landing in everyone’s car next to those paper products were bibles.

See, everyone knows a little about the end time prophecies, but they all knew they didn’t know enough. So where did they turn? Not a government briefing, but the bible.

When you want to know how to repair a car, you don’t grab a cook book. And when you want to know what literally is coming your way as far as reality is concerned, you grab the bible.

Lots of prophecy in there. Some fulfilled and some being fulfilled. But regardless of stages, the bible has NEVER been wrong. Never.

Some people think it’s all already been fulfilled. That might make them feel better, but if they could show me in history where blood ran up to the horse’s bridles in the valley of Megiddo, I’d be willing to discuss. But they can’t.

Jesus Himself tells John in The Revelation of Jesus Christ, the last book in the bible, that these are the “things that were, the things that are, and the things that will be.” He doesn’t want anyone to be surprised by what is happening or is going to happen. He lays it all out from beginning to end. All for us.

Are you surprised? Worried? Do you want to know what’s coming next? It’s all in the book, the bible.

If you have a copy, start from Genesis 1:1 and by the time you are at Revelation 22:21, you’ll know.

And somewhere along that reading road, I pray you meet Jesus. That’s who the entire book is about. Then you won’t be surprised or worried about pretty much anything ever again.

Please let me know if I can help!

All Too Much

I watched YouTube videos yesterday and within in 3 hours I had decided to try and make Trisha Yearwood’s “Company Fried Chicken” as well as Pioneer Woman’s “Fried Apple Pies”.

I send all of the ingredients to the Walmart Grocery Pick-up App (I love that thing!) and by 11:00 this morning I was knee deep in Company Fried Chicken.

Lots of prep. Marinating, sifting, combining, coating, dredging and frying. Lots of mess.

After making the main course, I peeled, cored and chopped Granny Smith apples, combined with melted butter and brown sugar, just like Rhee did it. I felt like a FoodTV Network star!

It all sounded so good….on paper…or video.

My husband said the chicken wasn’t as good as my regular recipe and the fried apple pies weren’t a hit either.

And he was right on both counts.

Sometimes we are dazzled by the ease or simplicity of what we see on these videos. Deceived I think is a better word. It may only take 10 minutes on the video but that doesn’t count the peeling, chopping, marinating, dredging, frying, etc.

I feel like I wasted not only money, but the resources I bought with that money.

I think I’ll stick with what I know to be a guaranteed hit!

A Baby Changes Everything

It’s that time of year again. I love it.

Summer slowly released its grip on North Texas around Halloween this year. Everyone’s attitude lifted. The Texas heat can really change personalities. Never for the better. Too much hot for too long just burns your temperament. Kind of like baking a cake at 400 degrees for an entire day. The end product won’t be anything anyone would want.

Fortunately the cold snap at Halloween was cold enough to cool everyone off and immediately we were all looking ahead to the holidays.

Thanksgiving is a real family and eating holiday. Twenty years ago we were blessed to have a foreign exchange student from Serbia…right in the big middle of the Serbia/Croatia fighting. We were spending Turkey Day in Corsicana at my husband’s sister’s house and all the family from North Texas showed up.

Our Serbian guest was amazed by all the food and tradition. But after spending that entire day eating, laughing, getting to know people she would never see again, when she called her mother that week she related the festivities of the day as an American day devoted to and celebrating food and football.

To tell you the truth, I was ashamed that she took only that away from the day. In this country we take too much for granted and I don’t think I ever bothered to explain the Thanksgiving Holiday to her until after I overheard her conversation.

I know we do the same thing with Christmas. Determining what our loved ones want as a gift on that day, searching for it, fighting mall crowds, and marking names off a list just to in a couple hours later find something you think they would like better.

The convenience of online shopping I think had simplified all of our lives. The buying is no more than, Search, Click, Pay, Ship. The difficult part of it then is waiting for it to be delivered and hope you’re home to beat the Porch Pirates to your purchases!

Office parties, Sunday School parties, multiple family gatherings. What to take? What to cook? Did we get it all? Is it all wrapped?

Some families have decided a maximum of three gifts per person, like the Wise Men brought the Baby in the manger. The gifts were three, but we really don’t know how many Wise Men there were.

Actually, we don’t know a LOT about that first Christmas!

Was He born on December 25^th? Probably not. He was probably born in the spring.

The shepherds were guarding their flocks by night. That’s usually a spring thing. Sheep are usually somewhere safe and dry in December. A wet sheep could spell disaster for the poor sheep. Sheep are skittish creatures. They scare easy and in their panic they manage to do all sorts of dangerous acts. They must be led and watched carefully.

I think that’s why Christ in the Bible refers to His children as sheep. And all the angels who have appeared to us have begun their Holy announcements with “Be not afraid”. Otherwise we would have been scattering or fainting.

And when did the Wise Men find Jesus? The bible says “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child…” So, He wasn’t in a manger. They had relocated to a house and he was a young child. A toddler probably.

But with all of the facts not fitting what we have construed as Christmas, this is still the time the world has chosen to celebrate Jesus’ birth.

And to be truthful we should celebrate every day. Because, in the distant pass, 2019 years ago, The Creator of everything seen and unseen chose to step off of His throne in Heaven, leaving His glory behind and entering the womb of a teenager and be born in a barn with only some animals, a scared mother and an anxious step-father.

And as the song says, “….and our souls felt their worth.” The Jews had looked forward to this night for thousands of years. The gentiles had heard the story too, but they had less hope than the Jews. They didn’t have the rich history told in the Old Testament. But in truth, the stories were old…very old. And even though they were continuously told, the telling didn’t make them feel any closer.

So this night, first to the shepherds, everything changed. This baby changed everything, forever.

I hope you feel His presence in your life today. I hope you feel the love He feels for you today. And if you jump 33 years forward from the manger, I hope you feel how much He gave for you simply because He would rather die than live without you. So He did.

But Sunday’s coming!

The Prince and Meghan

So, prior to Meghan Markle, all was fine in the Royal household. The Queen had even accepted Camilla.

To me that was a shocker since Charles had been carrying on with her even behind Diana’s back. I thought the Queen would have a bit stiffer upper lip when it came to Charles’ shenanigans, but I was wrong.

But along came Meghan and to my astonishment, she seemed to be accepted as a suitable addition to the Royal family.

Did they not know that for months prior, Meghan’s script was to become “acquainted” with a “royal” who she could marry? Her family tried to warn Harry and the others but the world was caught up in the royal-engagement, royal-wedding frenzy.

Meghan pleaded for Tabloid Coverage Prior to Meeting Harry

And before anyone could say “Bob’s your uncle”, there was a royal pregnancy!

That was a bit curious. The line to succession is very long. Elizabeth is still on the throne. And after her comes Charles and Camilla. And in the event Charles doesn’t prove to have the longevity that his mother does, then Willian and Kate. And many many years later, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and finally Prince Louis.

And I just get the impression that Meghan really isn’t the “fit” normally required of the British Royals. Perhaps it’s because she is so far removed from the throne

Prince Harry admits he and William have grown apart

But clearly, all isn’t fine in the Royal household.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Might Move to Africa to Escape British Media

Why Moving To Canada Won’t Solve Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Problems

Meghan Markle Has Spoken Candidly About The Pressures Of Being In The Public Eye

I guess Meghan has gotten what she wanted. I don’t think looking in from the outside she realized what being in the public eye 24/7 would actually feel like.

I mean, the British crown is 1209 years old. Even if we here in America claimed our beginnings from discover with Christopher Columbus, that is only 527 years. We are such “newbies”!

The Queen Has Removed a Photo of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry From Her Sitting Room

Who knows why the Queen removed the photo, but in the last paragraph it says nothing has been done like this before….that tells us a lot.

I’m thinking slowly but surely the Meghan the Royal family was warned about is beginning to appear and now Harry and Meghan are experiencing some long overdue push-back.

Canada, South Africa or America may be their next stop.

R.I.P. Elijah Cummings

Elijah Cummings died this morning.

I was not a fan of the man’s flip-flop politics, but above all he was or thought he was on this planet, this morning at 2:45 am, he met the One who really matters, Jesus Christ.

At that moment, as Elijah Cummings stood in the Pure Light of Love, he knew exactly what was right and what was wrong with his life while here on earth.

I hope you are there when I get there Elijah.

THE INVITATION

ME:                     Hey, do you want to go with me Sunday to church? We’re starting a study of The Revelation.

CO-WORKER:     Nah, I don’t want anyone to tell me what to think.

ME:                        What to think? No one is going to tell you what to think! What do you mean?

CO-WORKER:     Like Jesus is God.

ME:                        Huh?

CO-WORKER:     You know, that Jesus is like God.

ME:                        Well, He IS God!

CO-WORKER:     I don’t believe that.

ME:                        If He isn’t God, why did He have to die on the cross? If He’s not God, anyone could have been beaten and nailed to that cross. But no one else could have been resurrected on the 3^rd day by His own power. Only God.

CO-WORKER:     Well, I don’t believe that.

ME:                        Then come judgement day….you DO believe in judgement day, don’t you?

CO-WORKER:     Sure, we’re all gonna be judged.

ME:                        Well, come judgement day, how do you intend to pay for your sins? What are you going to offer God as your payment?

CO-WORKER;     Oh, I don’t believe in sins.

ME:                        Well, if you don’t believe in sin, what are you being judged for?

CO-WORKER:     My good works.

ME:                        What good works?

CO-WORKER:     The things I did during my life that were good.

ME:                        Good according to who?

CO-WORKER:     Well, God of course.

ME:                        Well, the bible says none of our works are good. “All like filthy rags”.

CO-WORKER:     I don’t believe that. Anyway, no one knows if the bible is true.

ME:                        No one?

CO-WORKER:     Well, the bible has been changed over time. Edited.

ME:                        It has? Where?

CO-WORKER:     You know, King James put it together.

ME:                        He did? Oh, the council of Nicaea. That was in 325 AD convened by Emperor Constantine to resolve the controversy of Arianism, a doctrine that held that Christ was not divine but was a created being.

CO-WORKER:     How do you know all this?

ME:                        I asked the same questions you are asking. Then I went and found the answers.

CO-WORKER:     Anyway, the bible is a good book, but you know…who knows if it’s all true?

ME:                        Well, the bible contains 66 separate books, written by 40 different authors who were spread over three continents and written over a 1,500 year period. They didn’t know each other and yet the central message of each book and the bible as a whole is the person of Jesus Christ. How would you account for that?

CO-WORKER:     How do you know that?

ME:                        I told you, I asked the same questions you are.

CO-WORKER:     :::: puzzled look ::::

ME:                        Anyway, it’s going to be a great study and you can start to find out where all this craziness in the world is leading.

CO-WORKER:     Leading?

ME:                        Yeah…you know, end time….last days….what’s next.

CO-WORKER:     Oh that won’t happen in our lifetimes!

ME:                        Really? How do you know that?

CO-WORKER:     :::: another puzzled look::::

ME:                        Anyway, let me know if you want to come and I’ll pick you up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

WIDOWS

Last night I made the mistake of watching a movie named “Widows” on one of the streaming services.

The synopsis is: “Set in contemporary Chicago, amid a time of turmoil, four women with nothing in common except a debt left behind by their dead husbands’ criminal activities, take fate into their own hands, and conspire to forge a future on their own terms.”

That makes it sound almost heroic, right? Well, if all you have to choose from is evil, maybe the lesser evil is better?

I am in no way suggesting you watch this film…I can’t believe I watched the entire movie! But the hook wasn’t the story line. The hook for me was it was set in “contemporary Chicago”.

Once upon a time I would imagine Chicago was a star in America’s crown. But that must have been back before the invention of rope because I have never heard anything but bad about Chicago!

It’s dirty. It’s run by corrupt politicians, both in office and out of office. It’s always portrayed as dark and darker. The city is actually known for all those negative ear marks. In this movie was the only time I can recall seeing the affluent areas of Chicago, but even then it was the homes of the corrupt politicians.

We’ve all seen the under belly of Chicago played out on not only nightly news but film after film. The city’s reputation is known far and wide. Not a secret.

And that alone made me sad.

All of the areas of Chicago that get the limelight,…all bad.

I’m sure the people living is in less fortunate areas, the slums, the ghettos, the high-rise section 8 apartments…I’m sure they want nicer. They want better housing. They want safe play areas for their children. They want to feel safe when they walk down the street. I mean, this is America, they deserve that. We all do.

But what do they get? Generations of corruption. Powerful politicians who promise them more and fail every time. This isn’t a secret.

But the people of those areas of Chicago continually believe the lies they are told. Why? Because the corruption will leak into their communities through those of the community who have higher profiles and are being paid to lie to those who have chosen to trust them. Their own community.

The Bible says…”A little leaven leavens the whole lump” What does that mean? Yeast doesn’t stay in one spot in the dough it spreads throughout. Jesus using yeast as an example of evil meant, it doesn’t take a lot of evil to corrupt the entirety of a thing.

Now, I don’t want anyone to think I’m living in a glass house, chunking stones. My city is corrupt as well. Matter of fact, it’s beginning to look more and more like Chicago with every election. Just not as well publicized as Chicago.

This very week, another of America’s tarnished stars was forced into the light of the media. Baltimore.

I’ve been to Baltimore but only as a tourist there for a conference in the neat and tidy hotel district. But we were warned that it wouldn’t be recommended to leave the area outlined in the glossy full-color map provided by the hotel. Of course, we heeded the warning.

But after the blazing light of truth was shined on Baltimore this week, there’s no mistaking the similarities to Chicago.

Just like Chicago and the rest of the cities being chewed up by corrupt politicians, we all need to realize the politicians aren’t the answer. They never have been and they never will be.

Surely everyone sees that.

Unfortunately most say, “Well, it’s always been like that” as if to justify what is happening. But does it?

No, there’s no rationalization or excuse for what is happening.

“The heart is more deceitful than anything else, and incurable–who can understand it?”…that’s another thing the Bible has to say about man’s intentions. And that’s a big time truth.

Even though I can guarantee you the producers of the movie, “Widows” had no intention of it being a vehicle for the Gospel, that’s what it felt like to me.

• None of us want to be in a situation where there doesn’t seem to be an “out”.
• There has to be something better!
• Surely things weren’t meant to be like this?
• There’s got to be more to life than this?

Well, you are right. On all points. There is.

His name is Jesus. And he never intended for us to have to live anything but perfection. He can show you the truth and all He has created for you.

Don’t throw away this chance to experience exactly why you were created. There really is more than what your eyes can see.

Ask Him to show you.

 

But Sunday is Coming

Whether you consider yourself a Christian or not, I think we have all heard the stories of Jesus, his birth and his three year ministry, maybe to the point that when Christmas and Easter roll around every year and the stories are retold, we stop actively listening. We’ve heard it all, over and over. I remember that’s how I used to feel about it.

After all, it’s been 2,019 years since he was born and approximately 1,986 years since he was crucified. That was a while back.

Actually, we know very little about his birth except he was born in a manger. But we know a lot about his death. And that is very significant.

From the day Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey, the scripture not only notes his daily activity, but after Wednesday of the week he was crucified, it pretty much breaks it down into hourly.

SUNDAY:
That Sunday, what we now refer to as Palm Sunday, was the first time Jesus had allowed anyone to refer to him as Messiah. The crowds were waving palm branches and shouting “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest.”

Those who believed he was the Messiah, knew who he was. All Jews at that time were very well versed in the Old Testament. And the passage in Zechariah 9:9 clearly identifies him, and they knew it. “REJOICE GREATLY, O DAUGHTER OF ZION! SHOUT, DAUGHTER OF JERUSALEM! SEE YOUR KING COMES TO YOU, RIGHTEOUS AND HAVING SALVATION, GENTLE AND RIDING ON A DONKEY, ON A COLT, THE FOAL OF A DONKEY.”

This was the King, the Messiah, they had been waiting for all of these hundreds or years. Of course they were expecting a King who would restore Israel and put down her enemies with an iron hand.  None of them expected him to be crucified and placed in a borrowed tomb within the week. None of them actually expected much of anything. Now that he was there, not that he was real. They just didn’t know exactly what to expect.

Israel had been in Egyptian bondage for 400 years and there had been war with other nations time and again. They knew no other way to overcome their enemies other than by fighting.

Jesus and his Apostles spent Sunday night in Bethany. This is where Lazarus, who Jesus raised from the dead, and his sisters lived. Since they were such close friends, he probably stayed with these friends.

MONDAY:
Monday morning Jesus and his apostles return to Jerusalem.

When Jesus arrives at the Temple he finds the courts full of corrupt money changers and becomes angry! The key word here is “corrupt”. This was Passover and there were thousands of people who had made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem to make a sacrifice. Some had bought their lamb or dove with them but many hadn’t so they would have to purchase their sacrifice at the Temple.

Since those journeying to Jerusalem were from areas all over the known world at that time, their money was not in shekels which was the mode of payment in the Temple. Most had Roman currency so in order to buy their sacrifice they must first change their money into shekels. Much like you or I have to exchange our US dollars into another countries currency when we travel abroad.

Unfortunately, the money changers were under the oversight of the Pharisees and Sadducees of the Temple and they got a cut of the exchange. The money changers were not exactly known for their honesty in their exchange rates of the monies. I think they would size up who was standing before them and would charge either more or less. Whatever they thought the person could pay.

Nevertheless, that is why Jesus was angry and turned over the tables saying they had turned his Temple into a “den of thieves”. Luke 19:46.

Monday evening, they returned to Bethany. It was only a little over 3 miles from Jerusalem to Bethany.

TUESDAY:
Jesus and his disciples return to Jerusalem where Jesus is confronted by the religious leaders he offended the previous day at the Temple because he had set himself up as spiritual authority.

Up until that point the religious leaders, the Pharisees and Sadducees, were the only spiritual authorities the people looked up to and it was a very good lifestyle for them.  However, they had always seen Jesus as a threat from the time he began to heal people and forgive sins. There were more people following Jesus around than attending the Temple and they saw him as a serious threat.

Later in the afternoon, Jesus and the disciples left Jerusalem and went to the Mount of Olives which is just east of the Temple and overlooks Jerusalem.  There Jesus gives the Olivet Discourse, an elaborate prophecy of the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the age, including his Second Coming and the final judgement.

This is also the day Judas Iscariot negotiates with the Sanhedrin, the rabbinical court of Israel, to ambush Jesus and betray him.

After a very tiring day of confrontation with the Temple religious leaders and warning of the future, Jesus and the disciples return to Bethany for the night.

WEDNESDAY:
The bible is silent about what Jesus and the disciples did on Wednesday, but I would imagine after everything that had happened since Sunday, they use that day to just rest.

THURSDAY:
Sundown
Holy Week takes a somber turn on Thursday.

From Bethany, Jesus sends John and Peter ahead to the Upper Room in Jerusalem to make the preparations for their Passover Feast.  A little after sunset Jesus washed the feet of the disciples as they prepared to share in the Passover. With this humble act of service, Jesus demonstrates by example how believers are to love one another. Even today some churches practice foot-washing as part of their Maundy Thursday services.

Then Jesus shares the Passover Feast with his disciples saying: “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” (Luke 22:15-16)

Jesus was about to fulfill the meaning of Passover, as the Lamb of God, by giving his body to be broken and his blood shed in sacrifice, freeing us from sin and eternal death. Jesus establishes the Lord’s Supper during this Last Supper, or Communion, instructing his followers to continually remember his sacrifice by sharing the bread and wine.

FRIDAY:
1:00 AM:
Jesus and the disciples leave the Upper Room and go to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus asks his disciples to “pray that you enter not into temptation” while he goes further into the garden to pray alone.

His prayer to the Father is intense. He knows just how painful his death will be. He prayed that if it were possible to accomplish the ultimate goal of being the payment for mankind’s sin in any way other than what he sees coming, to “please, take this cup away from me.” And knowing the answer to his question wasn’t with another way, an angel appeared to him, from heaven strengthening him. And praying more earnestly his “sweat was as drops of blood falling to the ground” The sacrifice had begun.

In the account of this incident recorded in Matthew 26:53, when one of the men who are with Jesus pulls his sword, Jesus reminds him “Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels?”, so I think the Father seeing his son in such agony, sent the angel.

1:30 AM:
Judas enters the garden with Temple guards. Wakes the disciples who have fallen asleep and identifies Jesus with a kiss of betrayal.

Jesus now knowing all things that were about to happen to him asked, “Whom are you seeking?” and the guards answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” And Jesus said to them “I AM he.” “As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground” (John 18:4-6).

Notice how Jesus identified himself. He told them, “…I am he….” These mighty words come from the Greek words ego eimi, which is more accurately translated, “I AM!” It was not the first time Jesus used this phrase to identify Himself; He also used it in John 8:58 and John 13:19. When the hearers of that day heard those words ego eimi, they immediately recognized them as the very words God used to identify Himself when He spoke to Moses on Mount Horeb in Exodus 3:14.

So, in that moment, Jesus unveiled his majesty. His statement of deity. “I am”, manifested such glory that it literally threw the guards to the ground.

2:00 AM: TRIAL #1
Jesus is taken to ex-high priest, Annas’ house for interrogation. Annas was Caiaphas’ father-in-law.

3:00 AM: TRIAL # 2
Jesus is taken to the high priest Caiaphas. Since Caiaphas and Annas were related, the family shared one large house. So, taking Jesus to Caiaphas was just a matter of walking from one side of the house to the other.

Here Caiaphas mocks Jesus and has him beaten.

6:00 AM TRIAL #3
Jesus appears before the Sanhedrin and is condemned to death for blasphemy. In Jesus’ day the Sanhedrin was composed of 23 judges of scribes and elders.

On the Friday of not only Passover but the Friday Sabbath as well I find it curious they could convene a court of Sanhedrin at 3:00 AM. That alone should let us know the rabbinical Jews were out to frame Jesus at all costs!

Since Israel was a Roman occupied city, the Jews were not allowed to put anyone to death. So the chief priests take Jesus to the home of Pontius Pilate.

6:30 AM TRIAL #4 “it was early”
Pontius Pilate was the fifth prefect of the Roman province of Judaea, serving under Emperor Tiberius from AD 26/27 to 36/37. He was known to be a heartless violent man that was all about keeping the peace in Judea, whatever the cost.

Hearing all of the evidence against him, Pilate asked him, saying “Are you the King of the Jews?” and Jesus answered him, “It is as you say.” Pilate then says, “I find no fault in this man.” Then the chief priests wanting Pilate to take care of their problem for them became angrier. “He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea beginning from Galilee to this place.”

Pilate heard Galilee! He knew Galilee was under Herod’s jurisdiction. He could pass this problem on to someone else. So Pilate sends Jesus to Herod who is in Jerusalem for Passover.

7:00 AM TRIAL #5
King Herod Antipas was the Roman client king of Judea. A client state is a state that is economically, politically, or militarily subordinate to another more powerful state in International affairs. He wasn’t actually a Jew. He was born in Edom, south of Judea in what we know today as Jordan, but he was raised a Jew.

When Herod saw Jesus he was excited since he had heard of the many things Jesus had done. He was anxious to meet him primarily to see him perform a miracle.

Herod asked Jesus many things, but Jesus said nothing. So Herod and his men mocked him, put a gorgeous robe on him and sent him back to Pilate.

7:30 AM TRIAL #6
Again Pilate questions Jesus and Jesus says nothing. Pilate sends Jesus to be scourged. If you have seen Mel Gibson’s “The Passion of the Christ”, that is an accurate picture of what the scourging would have been like for Jesus.

Pilate remembers that at the feast, the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner who they wished. Pilate still found no fault in Jesus and thought this would give not only himself but the Jews a concession. Pilate truly wanted to release Jesus. He knew that nothing deserving of death had been done by Jesus.

Pilate released the prisoner Barabbas but the crowd became very angry and shouted “Crucify him, crucify him!” Again he tells the crowd “What evil has this man done?” but the crowd continued to shout. Final judgment of death is rendered and Pilate commands Jesus to be crucified. Once again he says he finds no guilt in Jesus and ceremoniously washes his hands saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just person. You see to it.”

8:00 AM
Jesus is taken by the governor’s soldiers. He is stripped and a scarlet robe was put on him along with a crown of thorns and a reed for a scepter. They mocked him bowing and saying, “Hail to the King of the Jews”. They put his own clothes back on him and led him away to be crucified on Golgotha.

The distance between the Pastorium (official residence of the governor) and Golgotha was approximately 750 yards.  Because it helps to see just how close things were in Jerusalem, please refer to this map.

9:00 AM “the third hour”
Jesus is crucified outside the city walls. Feet and wrists nailed. I know most accounts say “hands” and it is usually portrayed with nails being driven through his palms. But if that were the case, each time Jesus attempted to lift himself to ease his gasping for breath, the nails would have torn through that fleshy part of the hand. After all the Romans had perfected this torture and the idea was not to allow for a quick or pain free death.

12:00 NOON “the sixth hour”
As Jesus hung between heaven and earth the people thought they heard him calling for Elijah. But another account records him as saying “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Remember when Jesus was praying fervently in the Garden of Gethsemane one of the anguishing things he knew then was that he and the Father were going to be separated since Jesus was to become sin and God the Father couldn’t even look upon sin.  They had never been separated and even though Jesus knew this would happen, I think the instant that he knew he was separated from the Father, he still cried out.

3:00 PM: “the ninth hour”
It’s at 3:00 in the afternoon, after a fourteen hour ordeal of trials, beatings and betrayal, Jesus cries out with his dying breathe, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. It is finished!” The word in Greek for it is finished is tetelestai. It is an accounting term used to signify an account has be “paid in full”. And that is exactly what Jesus did. He paid our sin debt in full. Once and for all.

At the same hour as Jesus’ death, the Priests at the Temple are offering Passover sacrifices for the people. And the Lamb of God is slain as well.

But Sunday is coming!

Problem Solving 101

Have you ever had a problem?

I mean a REAL problem. One that doesn’t seem to have a solution? The problem requires a level of ability to solve or change that you just don’t possess. And you are in knots, physically and mentally trying to figure out what you can do to eliminate, alter, or lessen the degree of damage that is being done or will be done to your life?

You simply can’t think of or find any help for this problem.

It could mean your job, your welfare, your marriage, your well-being. The problem is just overwhelming. It could change everything as you know it!

It looks and feels hopeless.

If this isn’t talking to you, then you know someone that is or has been in this predicament.

I know I’ve personally been there. And I have literally been walking the floor and crying in the middle of the night.

We need someone outside of the problem and yet someone close enough to care who can step in and right our wrongs or change minds and hearts.

No man, or woman, has that kind of power. But I know someone who does.

I met him about thirty years ago. Wow…doesn’t seems like it’s been that long, but it has.

I had heard about him most of my life, when I was paying attention. But I really didn’t believe the stories I had heard. I wasn’t the kind of person he would help, so I never bothered with seeking him out.

Then one day, I had a problem. Really it wasn’t a big problem but I thought he would be more likely to help on a small problem rather than an overwhelming one. I didn’t want to take up too much of his time.

It didn’t take me long to explain the problem and I started off by reminding him he had helped several of my friends so why wouldn’t he help me. I know, kind of pushing, huh?

But I was amazed. Within 5 minutes the little problem was solved. It was almost like magic, but better!

From that point forward, I found myself taking thing after thing to him. And every time, he would fix it.

I remember one time I asked him to help me with something and he just kind of smiled and said, “Let’s wait a little while and see what happens. “ Of course he was right. Something else happened and made the problem pretty much non-existent. At the time you couldn’t have convinced me, but waiting was the best answer.

So if you have a problem that you just can’t seem to handle, just call on my friend, Jesus. He’s definitely in the people-business and he gets it right every time. You can trust him with whatever you have.

You don’t need an introduction. He knows exactly who you are and he’s all about helping you. Just ask. He’ll answer.

He’ll change your outlook on everything!

You Sir? Me Sir? No Sir, Not I Sir!

Up until now, I don’t think I have wasted any time or blog-space on Hillary Clinton. She’s just not worth the effort.

But today, I think I want to point some things out that I hope a few more people than me have realized.

Look at this face. Don’t look at her as the well-known political celebrity. Just look at her as a person. The lady next door.

She has been in the limelight for years and yet has failed time and again to become what she would like to be.

In the last Presidential election she lost miserably but here we are two-plus years later and she is still blaming any and every one other than herself.

Since her loss she has blamed the following:

Voter Suppression
Sexist Women
James Comey
The Russians
Vladimir Putin
Anti-America Forces
Low Information Voters
Everyone Who Assumed She Would Win
Bad Polling Numbers
Obama for Winning Two Terms
People Wanting Change
Misogynists
Suburban Women
The New York Times
Television Executives
Cable News
Netflix
Facebook
Twitter
WikiLeaks
Fake News
Content farms in Macedonia
The Republican Party
The Democratic Party

What a list, huh?

Can you believe it?

Now look at that picture of that woman again. Not as anyone you have ever known or heard of. Just a random person.

This woman cannot nor will not accept any of the responsibility for what happened to her. What is the rest of her life like?

If she’s walking and trips, is it someone else’s fault?

If she doesn’t feel well, whose fault is it? Not hers!

If she misspeaks, who will she blame?

I don’t think I would like her as a person. I think she has some serious mental problems. But because she has some fame, she just continues to blame everyone else in the world for her shortcoming.

Amazing…and sad.