Week Twenty-Four, 2024

So, God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good (Genesis 1:21).

We live on an incredible earth, all created by an intelligent designer in just a week. There are various creatures and topography, and it all works together as designed. There are blistering deserts and frozen glaciers. I have been to both and everywhere in between. Each of the seven continents is unique and populated by living creatures that are designed to live there and co-exist with others.

Recently, we spent a week in Botswana, deep in the tundra. As we traveled daily across the Mashatu, we saw animals, big and small, all designed to exist together.

The giraffes eat the treetops to allow the sun to penetrate to the earth, where is feeds the growing plants that provide a foot source for smaller vegetarians. The elephants eat all day and only digest forty percent of what they eat, so as they walk, they re-seed to replace the plants that they eat.

The lions are carnivorous, and they always win, as they capture the zebras and impalas for meat. But they don’t eat it all, leaving some for other animals who can’t capture their prey. Once the bones are clean, the hyenas, having the strongest jaws, chew the bones and make a paste, which they deposit on the ground for the birds to eat and get the calcium for their eggshells. When it is all over, the vultures wipe it all clean. The cycle is repeated over and over again, as He made all capable of recreating themselves, by the union of male and female. And they haven’t changed since God first created them.

And the list goes on. God made every kind of wild animal, every kind of tame animal, and every kind of thing that crawls on the ground. God saw that it was good. (Gen 1:25) And then He made man, the most complex creature of all. Features of living organisms such as the locomotive organs, internal organs like the heart and the kidneys, the sense organs, the ability to react on external stimuli, the social behavior, the understanding of symbols, the use of language, and the intelligence are examples of features displaying man’s complexity.

Adam and Eve were the first human beings created. God spent six days creating all the different elements of the universe and created Adam on the final day before he rested.

The Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and He breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. God then called the man Adam, and later created Eve from Adam’s rib. And they haven’t changed since God first created them.

Our God is an awesome God!

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

In the New Testament – Jesus made…

• 132 public appearances – 122 were in the marketplace

• 52 parables that Jesus told – 45 had a workplace context

• Of 40 miracles in the Book of Acts – 39 were in the marketplace

• Work, in its different forms, is mentioned more than 800 times in the Bible – more than all the words used to express worship, music, praise and singing combined.

• Don’t minimize your daily work – it is nothing less than a Holy Calling

• God has you right where He wants you… Right now!

• Remember – Jesus was a Carpenter most of His adult life

— o —

There was a television show called Extreme Makeover which ran from 2003 to 2007. The premise was that a woman who was thought to be less attractive than she could be, by so-called societal norms, was treated with plastic surgery, weight loss, hair and makeup, clothing and more as needed. They would trumpet the before and after pictures and think it was a life changing event.

But was it? They could change what a person looks like on the outside, but they couldn’t change one’s real person on the inside. Too often, we look at people the same way. We form our opinions of them by the outside, when it’s the inside that matters.

God doesn’t do that. He looks at our character on the inside and determines if that needs a makeover. And since it so often does, He provides the means. All we have to do is place our trust in Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit of God comes alive in us and creates a true-life changing event.

Let God give you an extreme makeover. Rich Jensen

— o —

Words of wisdom from Edgar Aponte:

• Christ’s grace extends to us even when we are neither expecting nor asking for it.

• There is a cost to follow Jesus, but the cost to not follow Him is infinitely more.

• Jesus is not like a used car salesman trying to trick you to buy anything.

• Discipleship is living a life with Jesus.

• There is a cost to follow Jesus, but there is also an urgency.

• Jesus paid an incredible cost for our redemption. Be prepared to pay a cost for being His disciple.

• A call to follow Jesus is a call to count the cost and to commit to Him completely. Follow Him now.

• Conditional acceptance is a complete rejection and delayed obedience is disobedience. Follow Him today.

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

He created each and every human being and He reads the thoughts and determinations of their mind. Yet He is generous to extend salvation to all, who choose to be saved. Stephen Bernard

Focus on what it truly means to be a Follower of Jesus. Not just by words that come from our lips, but by action and deed. Let’s truly begin to live out what we say we believe. Marty Stubblefield

Failure will never stand in the way of success if you learn from it. Hank Aron

The Bible is life’s ultimate and best instruction book. It tells us how to deal with all our encounters successfully. But don’t wait until it becomes your last resort. Read the instructions before they are needed so you will be properly prepared. Rich Jensen

Formula for success:

Live simply

Work diligently

Give generously

Everyone wants a miracle, but no one wants to be in a position to need one.

A day wasted on others is not wasted on one’s-self. Charles Dickens

If a hummingbird can find food in the midst of a rainstorm, God will help me find food for my soul. Dwight Short

I usually make up my mind about a man in ten seconds, and I very rarely change it. Margaret Thatcher

We like to think of ourselves as seeds until we realize that to succeed, we must die to ourselves. Dwight Short

Never let go of what you do know because of something you don’t know. Dan Shock

Pursue what catches your heart, not what catches your eyes. Roy T. Bennett

Regarding your Christian faith, don’t be a reservoir; be a river. Rob Taylor

Be transformed from the inside and out by adjusting your thinking to the Word and the Holy Spirit.

Truth is beautiful, without doubt; but so are lies. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Worshiping and thanking our God who, is our salvation through His Son Jesus, is something we do because He is worthy of our worship and praise. Elbert Nasworthy

What we learn from history is that people don’t learn from history. Warren Buffet

Peace comes when we turn those overwhelming issues over to God and cease trying to dictate the outcome. Dan Shock

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Your feedback is welcome. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2024

June 2, 2024

Jesus commanded, “Take, eat … Do this in remembrance of me.” But most of us have participated in the Lord’s Supper so often that we’re in danger of forgetting its significance, of simply going through the motions, and behaving like the Corinthians Paul rebuked.

The Apostle Paul gives us two reasons why we must take our Lord’s command very seriously:

First, by sharing communion, you testify to the world that you worship the crucified, resurrected and soon to return Christ. Our Lord’s Cross divides all time, history, and humanity. He died in your place! Paul sums it up:

For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes.

I Corinthians 11:26

I’m pretty certain that the bread is not symbolized by a donut, nor the blood by a cup of coffee.

Second, Paul shows us the other side of the coin, warning us:

Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

I Corinthians 11:27

Paul then tells us what can happen to you if you are guilty of the body and blood of Christ:

For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep.

I Corinthians 11:30

Wait! Are all Christianswho become sick guilty of sin? Of course not. Paul said, “many are!”AndJesus had already clarified the issue, in John chapter 9:

Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?” Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.”

John 9:1-3

How should we prepare for communion? Paul tells us:

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body.

Corinthians 11:28-29

I don’t mean to darken this glorious morning by threatening anyone. We are celebrating our Lord in this new shelter that he’s provided. Paul gave you the solution to your problem: He said, examine yourself! That is, identify, sorrow over, confess and turn from your sins.

This morning is a defining moment, an instant when your flesh will again war with your spirit, demanding that you hold back and not yield everything to Christ.

But, dear friends, right now you can make sure you have a clean slate. If you haven’t received Jesus, ask him to to be your Savior, and give your life to him. If you have, then search your heart, repent, confess, start fresh!

When Jesus shared the Passover meal with his disciples, he hadn’t yet been crucified, he hadn’t risen from the dead, nor had he, 40 days later, ascended into heaven.

At this last supper, Jesuscommanded:

“TAKE, EAT; this is My body which is broken for you!”

Corinthians 11:24

Now, on a happier note, let me point out some wonderful promises of which you may not be aware. A thousand years earlier, King David uttered a similar invitation:

OH, TASTE and see that the LORD is good;How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!”

Psalm 34:8

Many of you have “tasted” and seen that the Lord is good. The 34th Psalm describes the results of King David’s tasting the Lord. In verse 4, David states:

“I sought the LORD, and He answered me;

He delivered me from all my fears.

In verse 5: “Those who look to Him are radiant with joy; their faces shall never be ashamed.

Verse 6: “This poor man called out, andthe LORD heard him; He saved him from all his troubles.

7 “The angel of the LORD encampsaround those who fear Him, and he delivers them.

Verse 9 “Fear the LORD, you His saints, forthose who fear Him lack nothing.

Verse 10 “Young lions go lacking and hungry,

but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing.”

You must taste of the Lord before you can experience his blessings, and to taste, you must come in innocence and trust. The Apostle Peter, too, implies that you may not have tasted:

…as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.”

1 Peter 2:2-3.

We are tempted to enjoy the benefits without bearing the responsibilities. God asks us to walk worthy, and he provides the means. Before you take of the bread and the cup today, don’t risk doing so unworthily. Put every fault you can think of under a magnifying glass, and take it to God.

Wednesday night, I came under the conviction of the Holy Spirit, when I realized I’d begun judging those with whom I had been laboring shoulder to shoulder as we prepared this building to shelter our fellowship. Those folks are the very best! Over the past few months, they have literally shed blood, sweat, and tears, even risking their health.

It’s been a time of stress when old, dear, and trusted friendshave have been in danger of breakingone another’s hearts by saying things they shouldn’t.

Remember the old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” That’s not true. Words can do awful damage, and slander and gossip are grievous sins! Mark those who practice them, and avoid them.

Sure, we all grow exhausted and short-tempered, but that’s no excuse. In fact, it’sa great testing ground for God to measure our self-control and humility. Criticisms may have been made, often by those who contributed little or nothing to the work. Did people make mistakes? Sure! Dare we judge them? Absolutely not!

We have too few godly friends, and we get enough criticism from Satan. Name calling is one evil;manipulating people to gain favor or power is wicked, and God hates such behavior! Don’t help our very capable enemydamageour fellowship.

Is there any volunteer here that did not spill some paint, spread sawdust on the carpet, or damage something during our labors? I know that I did! I bear in my body the marks of a careless painter. Remember Isaiah’s words (Take off your coat!):

“Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.”

Isaiah 1:18

This building is just a pile of sticks and stones. It’ll pass away, but God’s Word will not pass away. The Lord provided this structure for us to build one another up. It must not be the cause of division. Look around! Everything worked out. Someday this place will be forgotten just as quickly as the building we occupiedlast Sunday.

In his letter to the Romans, Paul warned:

Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things.

Romans 2:1

Jesus said:

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 6:14-15

As we pray, search your heart to make certain you haven’t any unconfessed sin in your life, and aren’t about to eat and drink unworthily. Make your confession.

Then, “Taste and see that the Lord is good!”

June 1, 2024: Teaching Notes from John 18

The Bone Box (Ossuary) of Caiaphas

Between 37 B.C. and 70 A.D., Jews placed the bodies of their dead in tombs and then returned one year later to retrieve the bones and put them in ossuaries. As they moved ground to build a waterpark south of Jerusalem in 1990 a construction crew uncovered a first-century tomb. Inside the tomb archaeologists discovered an incredibly ornate, stone ossuary with the inscription, “Joseph, son of Caiaphas.”

Ronny Reich, a renowned Israeli archaeologist, explains, “The name Joseph son of Caiaphas does not necessarily mean that Caiaphas was Joseph’s father. Caiaphas may designate simply a family nickname….. A person named Joseph with the nickname Caiaphas was the high priest in Jerusalem between 18 and 36 [A.D.]. The New Testament provides only his nickname…. Josephus [a first-century, Jewish historian], however, gives his proper name as … ‘Joseph Caiaphas’ or elsewhere, ‘Joseph who was called Caiaphas of the high priesthood’” (Biblical Archaeology Review, Sept/Oct 1992).

—In short, we are explicitly told by Josephus that Caiaphas was indeed a nickname. In all probability then we have recovered the bones of the high priest who presided over the trial of Jesus. That’s extraordinary!

You may remember that Caiaphas asked Jesus, “Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!” (Matthew 26:63). Jesus responded, “It is as you said” (v. 64). But the proof of Jesus’ identity goes beyond his claim that day before Caiaphas! Just follow the bones. We have those of Caiaphas. The bones of Jesus have never and will never be found! He rose from the dead to defeat sin and death. It is as Jesus said!

—Daniel McCabe

The Bone Box (ossuary) Caiaphas was discovered in 1990 by chance during earthwork on a hill south of the old city of Jerusalem. Twelve bone boxes (Ossuaries) were found in the burial cave. One, very ornate, was inscribed, in two places, “Joseph son of Caiaphas.”

Inside the box, the skeletal remains of a 50-year-old male were documented. The ossuary is most likely of Caiaphas, the high priest who interrogated Jesus after the “Last Supper,” and is one of the most important finds related to both Christian and Jewish history. It is on display at the Israel Museum next to the Pilate Stone and the pierced foot of the crucified man from Jerusalem.

Week Twenty-Three, 2024

Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom — He judges the world. So, you have Christ at his second coming described as the judge of the living and the dead (2 Timothy 4:1).

Recently, I accompanied a home inspector on one of his rounds. He was doing an inspection prior to closing so that the buyer would be aware of any problems. He was very meticulous and left not a corner uninspected. He even removed the cover of the circuit box to make sure the wiring was in proper form. He even went ten floors up and onto the roof. Nothing was overlooked.

It will be like that in our lives. We will be judged and nothing will be overlooked. Matthew 25:31-33 tells us clearly that the Son of Man is the Judge presiding over the judgment of nations. John 5:22 tells us that the Father will not judge anyone; He has committed all judgment to His Son, Jesus Christ.

Yes, all those who have given their heart to Christ will be saved and live for eternity in heaven. But, we all will be judged. We all must someday give an account to Jesus of what we have done to build His kingdom.

For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.—2 Corinthians 5:9-11

God is a just God who will judge us according to our work. The Bema Seat of Christ is where Jesus will examine all we have done for Him—all we have done to build His Kingdom on earth. When it comes to building God’s Kingdom, we need to consider what are the right plans? What is the right foundation? What are the right materials?

When we stand before the Bema Seat of Christ on the Day of Judgment and have built His Kingdom using the right plans, foundation, and materials, we will receive the right rewards.

We will be purified, made white, and refined. The judgment that takes place at the Bema Seat of Christ is not a judgment for how we responded to Christ for salvation—that is, the Great White Throne Judgment. Rather the Bema Seat of Christ, or Judgment Seat, is for examining what we did for Christ after coming to salvation. This is a refining judgment.

Christians will be judged on…

• How they built their lives

• How they used their spiritual gifts

• The motives of their heart

Our lives will be closely inspected. Our life should be a preparation for that day of judgment. It’s not for salvation rather it is for believers and how they have lived their lives. Are you ready?

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM EDGAR APONTE:

• Your heart toward God is revealed in how you approach Him and in how you treat others.

• Worship that pleases God springs from a pure heart. Don’t expect to fool God with faithless religious activities.

• We are in a constant battle against sin. Do not let sin exercise dominion over you.

• Hatred toward God becomes hatred toward others. Guard your heart from anger and envy.

• An unrepentant heart leads to destruction. Accept God’s provision of grace in Christ.

• Life without God is more than what we can bear. Don’t walk away from the Lord.

— o —

Since 1987, Forbes has released its list of the world’s billionaires. This year, seven Tampa Bay residents are on the list.

The business publication reported that there are now more billionaires than ever: 2,781 in all, 141 more than last year and 26 more than the record set in 2021. The list is wealthier than ever, worth $14.2 trillion in aggregate, up by $2 trillion from 2023 and $1.1 trillion above the previous record, also set in 2021.

The seven members of the list who live in Tampa Bay are worth a combined $24.3 billion.

— o —

When a woman is pregnant, she is not “expecting a child” – she already has one. She is not “going to be a mother” – she already is a mother. The baby is not “on the way”, the baby has already arrived. If we are going to change the way society treats unborn children, we have to change the way we speak about them. Frank Pavone

— o —

If you have trusted in Jesus Christ, and Him alone for your salvation, (and I hope you have), then preparations are also being made for your marriage to the Lamb of God. You are being made ready, not by the finite things available to us, but by the infinite resources of Jesus Himself. You are being perfected daily by the sanctification of His Word. The venue, the guests, the service and the feast have been prepared perfectly beyond your expectations. And it takes place where you will spend your eternity….Heaven.

Will you be there? Rich Jensen

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Everything in Scripture points to Jesus. Jim Wilson

Noah fell down many times in the ark, but he never once fell out of the ark. Charles Spurgeon

It is not the length of our prayers that makes them effective —it’s the relationship we have with God that counts. Dan Shock

This time, like all times, is a very good one, if we but know what to do with it. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Judas is the best reminder of the caution required when pointing fingers and we discover three of them pointing at us! Dwight Short

We must make some radical decisions concerning separation from the world and its pollution. Dan Shock

Either you run the day, or the day runs you. Jim Rohn

Passion is a consuming, motivating love and commitment for someone or something. In this context, it is a burning desire to please God above men. Ted Traylor

Passion is what drives men and women to desire more than what is expected. It’s a fire in the belly that drives one to go deeper… to try harder… to give that extra push. Marty Stubblefield

“Growth is a fundamental aspect of life. We begin to grow and develop physically, mentally, and emotionally from the moment we are born,” wrote author, speaker, and host of the podcast Passion Struck, John R. Miles. “As we progress through life, we seek new experiences and challenges that help us grow and develop as individuals.”

Just as God was ready to forgive the Israelites, He is ready to forgive you —no matter what you’ve done. Dan Shock

The excellence of a gift lies in its appropriateness rather than in its value. Charles Dudley Warner

If earth is our “temporary home” then less than 1% of our time at work matters for eternity. Jordan Raynor

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Selected portions of Thoughts on Life can also be read at TheLife.com.

Your feedback is welcome. Feel free to pass this along to others and to contribute your ideas and thoughts. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. © Thoughts on Life Copyright 2024

Shortly before his death, Joseph’s father, Jacob, called all twelve of his sons to his side to tell them quite plainly what would become of their lives and their legacies.

Simeon and Levi were summarily denounced for their anger and cruelty. Reuben was described as unstable and told he’d accomplish little in life. Jacob likened Isaachar to a donkey, Dan to a serpent, and Benjamin to a wolf.

It must have been tough to hear their dad’s straight talk, though not all Jacob said was hard to hear, for Joseph, he said, would be a fruitful vine that flourished alongside a spring and whose branches would climb over the wall (Genesis 49:22), a beautiful promise that prompted Harold Wilmington in his masterful work, Wilmington’s Guide to the Bible, to describe Joseph and his legacy as “the fruitful shade tree.” I certainly wouldn’t mind if legacy is a fruitful shade tree, and I think it’s a great description of Joseph’s life.

His story first takes root in Genesis 37 with these words, “Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brothers” (v. 2). Joseph quickly spreads out his branches “in the land of Canaan” (v. 1) until finally we read in Genesis 50:26, the final verse of Genesis, “So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten years old … and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.”

From age 17 to 110, from Canaan to Egypt, and from Genesis 37 to 50, we see Joseph’s fruitful shade tree planted, survive through storm and drought (none of it his making as best as I can tell), and produce thick, spreading branches, branches made strong “by the hands of the Mighty God of Jacob” (Genesis 49:24-25) “who will help [him] and … bless [him] with blessings of heaven above [and] blessings of the deep that lie beneath,” word pictures that suggest blessings enjoyed by Joseph because he stayed close to God throughout every season of his life. That’s our charge as well!

Wilmington summarizes Joseph’s story in this way. He’s called …

• The Favored Son, chapter 37
• The Faithful Steward, chapter 39
• The Forgotten Servant, chapter 40
• The Famed and Forgiving Statesman, chapters 41-44
• The Forgiving Saint, chapters 45-48, and
• The Fruitful Shade Tree, 49-50.

But what’s interesting about Wilmington’s outline (and by any outline of Joseph’s life for that matter) is that Joseph went from Favored Son in chapter 37 to Faithful Steward in chapter 39 with the narrative skipping over chapter 38 entirely. Chapter 38 doesn’t mention Joseph at all, only Judah, one of Joseph’s older brothers, who had a very unusual encounter with Tamar, his daughter-in-law.

What’s this chapter doing then in the middle of the story of Joseph? Chapter 38 seems out of place, and some believe that it is, but then you realize that it’s an intentional insertion by Moses of a parallel story that contrasts the deceit and immorality of Judah with the integrity and purity of Joseph, and that further serves to reinforce Joseph’s deserved reputation as a godly man and a fit example for imitation. For whereas Judah slept with a woman he believed to be a harlot, Joseph in the very next chapter refuses to sleep with his boss’ wife despite her advances toward him.

Observing Joseph’s dependence on the Lord should motivate us to flourish next to God’s spring of blessings and climb to great heights that please him.

– Daniel McCabe

Week Twenty-Two, 2024

Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me”. (Matthew 16:24).

He came to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover in the temple. He was from Cyrene, a region in Northern Africa that became a Roman colony and had a sizable population of Jewish people. He was the father of Alexander and Rufus. He stopped to see the procession, the procession of Jesus carrying the cross-member of the cross on his way to Golgotha. His name was Simon a Cyrenian, who was coming in from the country.

Jesus was lame and could barely walk, especially carrying the cross. He had been lashed thirty-nine times and was already beginning to bleed out. The Roman centurions were afraid he would not make it to his destination, and they would be in trouble if he didn’t get there.

Jesus fell to the ground under the burden of the cross. After their efforts to get Him to continue on His way, the Roman soldiers are in trouble, looking for a solution to the situation. According to Roman law, they could force a traveler to help carry the burden for a mile.

So, they pressed Simon into service. He didn’t come for that, rather he came for the Passover. But he had no choice, as he was forced into service by the law. The text itself appears to say that Simon was forced to carry Jesus’ cross, meaning that he did not willfully want to be associated with this “criminal.” (Mark 15:21)

They found Simon of Cyrene, seized him, and put the cross on his back to take it after Jesus. To hasten Jesus’ execution by crucifixion the soldiers forced Simon to carry the cross, which weighed approximately 88 pounds, a distance of three quarters of a mile from the fortress of Antonia to Calvary.

Simon paid a price. He was forced to do what he did not come to do. He followed behind Jesus and was the recipient of his blood. This made him unclean and therefore unable to enter the temple for the celebration of the Passover.

Since Simon is not otherwise prominently mentioned, for most Bible readers, the story stops there. But there is more. Simon became a believer and strong in the Christian faith. But there is more. His sons, Alexander and Rufus, who are mentioned in the story of the cross, are mentioned again by Paul in Romans. Paul writes: Salute Rufus, chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine (16:13). He later became Bishop of Thebes, in Greece. All this because Simon was diverted by God from what he came to Jerusalem to do, to what God shows him to do.

God has a way of wrecking your life, so He can bless your life. He has a way of re-directing your life from where you want to go, so He can direct your path to where He wants you to go.

Anybody at any time can be used by God. It’s amazing where God can take you….. places you would never go on your own.

Where is He taking you?

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

Faith Under Siege

Surveys show that approximately two-thirds of Americans believe the country is headed in the wrong direction. While most commentators tend to think only of economic issues, I have often suggested that much of this concern is also related to the breakdown of cultural norms and values. Here’s proof.

A new survey by the Pew Research Center finds that 80% of Americans believe the influence of religion in America is declining. Nearly half of those surveyed (49%) said religion’s declining influence is bad for the country, and nearly as many (48%) felt there was “some” or a “great deal” of conflict between their religious beliefs and American culture.

Equally troubling is the fact that 41% of Americans felt it was best to “avoid discussing religion at all” whenever they disagreed with someone about religion. This growing impulse to self-censor is a result of the left’s increasing intolerance, and it’s exactly what they want. They want to shut us up and shut down debate.

Let me be clear: I believe this trend is a very disturbing development – especially in a nation founded on religious liberty and which adopted the phrase “In God We Trust” as our national motto.

Some may say, “You can’t legislate morality.” Yes, you can. We do it all the time. All law is someone’s idea of what is right and what is wrong. The question is: Whose ideas are going to prevail?

Our first president, George Washington, was also very clear about his belief in the role of religion in American life and that only a virtuous people can remain free. In fact, Washington felt so strongly that he wrote at length about the importance of religion in his Farewell Address. Washington declared:

“Of all the dispositions and habits, which lead to political prosperity, Religion and Morality are indispensable supports. In vain would that man claim the tribute of Patriotism, who should labor to subvert these great pillars of human happiness, these firmest props of the duties of Men and Citizens. . .

“And let us with caution indulge the supposition, that morality can be maintained without religion. . . reason and experience both forbid us to expect, that national morality can prevail in exclusion of religious principle.

“It is substantially true, that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government.”

Nearly 190 years later, President Ronald Reagan put it more succinctly when he warned, “If we ever forget that we’re one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.”

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

A rebirth out of spiritual adversity causes us to become new creatures. James Faust

It’s a very thin pancake that has only one side. Ken Whitten

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Love is demonstrated by our actions.

No matter what you have or desire, the most valuable is already paid for, purchased with the blood of Christ. Chris Dodson

If you focus on doing God’s work, He will focus on doing yours. Brenden Schlappi

People don’t perish because they didn’t hear the Gospel, they perish because they have sinned and rejected the Lord. The Gospel is the only hope for salvation. Edgar Aponte

No matter how hard any of us might try we can never be right with God unless we do it God’s way. Elbert Nasworthy

We often get upset because we think someone is getting by with evil deeds. But sooner or later, their sins will catch up with them. Dan Shock

How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world. Anne Frank

Knowing and doing are two completely different things. Brenden Schlappi

God knows that fear is born when we focus on the problem or on the power of the enemy. Dan Shock

We often put ourselves in some pretty miserable positions because we move ahead without seeking God.

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore, do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Ephesians 5:15-17

Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Jomo Cousins

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—I’ve spent hundreds of hours driving along I-30, having lived in and around Dallas, Texas for a good chunk of my life.

For several years of his life, beginning around 30 A.D., Jesus traversed Route 87 along the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. Well, that’s how the road is labeled today in Israel. In Bible times it was known as the Imperial Road, and it passed right by Jesus’ adopted hometown of Capernaum.

Heading south out of Capernaum, this road joined up with an international highway that made its way all the way to Egypt. Heading north out of Capernaum, the road bee-lined for Damascus, which easily explains how Jesus’ fame “went throughout all Syria” (Matt. 4:24). Traders passed through Capernaum, looking for sales, but also sharing news from far and wide.

—Stationed along the Imperial Road and other Roman roads, just like today along I-30, markers signify the distance one has traveled. If you happened upon a Roman soldier going your way he might even demand that you help him carry his equipment, prompting theses words of Jesus, “And whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two” (Matt. 5:41). 

The Romans routinely used stone obelisks to mark the miles along major routes, and, in fact, one such mile marker that dates to approximately 120 A.D., a little after the time of Jesus, was discovered in Capernaum in 1975, adding to my fascination with this ancient town. 

—Daniel McCabe

Week 21, 2024

He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Like one from whom people hide their faces he was despised, and we held him in low esteem (Isaiah 53:3).

It was a familiar hymn that I had sung many times, but when I sang it recently, it spoke to me in a new way and how it affects our culture today. “The Old Rugged Cross” is a popular hymn written in 1912 by American evangelist and song-leader George Bernard. Troubled by contemporary disregard for the gospel, Bernard said he had a vision where he saw the Christ and the cross as inseparable.

What is the meaning behind The Old Rugged Cross? He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed. The Old Rugged Cross’ lyrics reflect a life that has been changed by the gospel truth that we are saved by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.

“On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame; And I love that old cross where the dearest and best, for a world of lost sinners was slain. Oh, that old rugged cross, so despised by the world, has a wondrous attraction for me; for the dear Lamb of God left His glory above, to bear it to dark Calvary.”

What stood out to me were the words despised by the world. How appropriate that is in today’s contemporary world. John 15:18–27 predicts that those who follow Christ faithfully will experience hatred and persecution from the world. The intensity of this experience has varied according to time and culture, but the non-believing world is generally hostile to authentic faith and perhaps today it is now more pronounced than ever.

Here in the United States, for the first time ever, less than fifty percent belong to a church, synagogue or other religious institution ….. less than half! Could it be that the absence of religion in American lives has anything to do with the hatred in our country. For many, religion is not something to be tolerated, but something to be hated.

It is so sad to see the rising antisemitism spreading in government, business and the neighborhoods where we live. I have Jewish friends who are actually afraid of what may happen to them.

As you love the Lord, be prepared to be despised by the world and notwithstanding that the old rugged cross has a wondrous attraction for me.

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

We all dread the time when our age prevents us from doing the things we must do and the things we enjoy doing the most. It’s not just the physical but also the mental failings. And having a clear memory of when we were younger doesn’t assuage the melancholy we feel.

However, it’s not just old age. How many times have we said this job is getting old. Or all that people expect of me is getting old. Or the general burden of life is just getting old!

It’s those times when we must look to the source of our strength and resilience. Consider the source of your strength. “The Lord is my strength and my shield….” Psalm 28:7 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1 “My flesh and my heart fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26

With God’s help finish strong. Rich Jensen

WORD OF WISDOM FROM EDGAR APONTE:

• Do not compromise. Be faithful to the Lord. People will dislike you and oppose you.

• Do not reject Jesus. He is worthy of your trust.

• You can be in a Christian crowd, but still not following Jesus.

• Faith should lead us to obedience.

• It takes special eyesight to see who Jesus is. It is spiritual sight, not physical sight.

• Jesus is there to help us even when we think He is not paying attention.

• Jesus, the expected King and Messiah, saves us and makes us whole.

• Faith cries to the Lord and is transformed by the Lord. Keep pursuing Jesus!

• People of faith can disobey Jesus. Do not excuse disobedience, instead obey His Word. 

• The crowds are amazed by the Lord but are not transformed by the Lord because they are not following the Lord. Follow Jesus!

• The currency used in heaven is faith.

The average cost of college in the US is $36,436 per year.

U.S. consumers spend a record $19 trillion dollars in January 2024, most of it on credit cards.

New Estimate Shows More Than 1 Million Babies Killed in Abortions in 2023.

According to the latest poll from Gallup, more than one in five Gen Z adults in the US—people born between 1997 and 2012—now identify as LGBTQ+.

But while that number may seem high, it’s right in line with the changes in sexuality from generation to generation. The study found that people in each generation are roughly twice as likely as the one preceding it to identify as LGBTQ+. If the trend continues, then nearly half of those who come after Gen Z will share a non-heterosexual identity.

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

Living fully with boldness today, because we know that on that One Day we will be stepping into Heaven with the Risen Christ. Scott Whitaker

Suffer not the little children to come unto me…Jesus never pushed the little ones away, but instead drew them closer to Him. Dwight Short

The uncommitted stand by and watch as the forces of darkness take over. Dan Shock

For all the people who want to see a miracle in order to believe in God, perhaps a trip to the doctor to see just how amazing our human bodies are would remind them that they are not an accident, and in fact a real miracle of Creation. Dwight Short

God’s wisdom is more valuable than any material wealth. John MacArthur

The first generation creates the wealth, the second generation conserves it, and the third generation loses it. This is true to human nature: when we receive a gift we didn’t deserve, we typically acknowledge it with gratitude and seek to use it well. Then we take it for granted as though we deserved it. Then we abuse it until it’s gone. Jim Denison

Jesus will not leave you the way He found you. He is such a great friend and savior that he will not leave you in your sin. He will find sinners in their sin, but He will not leave them in their sin. Edgar Aponte

Don’t expect to make a withdrawal if you’ve never made a deposit.

Our adversary seems to attack us at the very time when we are not fully awake, or at a time when we are least prepared to fend off the attack. And it happens when we’re being productive and least expect it. Take heart. The same Jesus who calmed the storm for His disciples will calm the storm in your life as well. He is always there. Focus your eyes on Jesus, not the storm. Rich Jensen

Your mind cannot be both grateful and anxious at the same time. Chris Dodson

The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history. George Orwell

The fear of the Lord may be the beginning of wisdom, but the love and obedience of the Lord’s precepts will be the basis of wisdom for a lifetime. Dwight Short

Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile. Albert Einstein

Beautiful young people are accidents of nature, but beautiful old people are works of art. Eleanor Roosevelt

The things that we love tell us what we are. Thomas Aquinas

We have enough money. We just cannot control our financial appetite. Chris Dodson

You can change what a person looks like on the outside, but can’t change one’s real person on the inside. Too often, we look at people the same way. We form our opinions of them by the outside, when it’s the inside that matters. Rich Jensen

There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it’s going to be a butterfly. R. Buckminster Fuller

Perseverance, secret of all triumphs. Victor Hugo

Never, never, never give up. Winston Churchill

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May 11, 2024

Notes from John 18

Vs. 3, the confrontation of Jesus by Judas Iscariot with …

1. a Roman “detachment,” σπεῖρα, speira, 1/10th of a legion, 600 men under normal circumstances; cf. Luke 22:47, “a multitude,” a different word, but used elsewhere to describe 120 disciples of Jesus in Acts 1:15
2. “officers from the chief priests and Pharisees,” ὑπηρέτης, huperetes, literally “under-rowers,” usually translated “servants, helpers, attendants”; some differentiate them from the Jewish temple guards and others with them
3. “lanterns, torches and weapons”

——lantern—φανός, phanos, “light, brightness”

——torch—λαμπάς, lampas, cf. “bright and morning star,” Rev. 22:16

——weapons—clubs are noted in Matthew 26:55

Vs. 4, “Jesus …knowing all things”—Jesus’ awareness and a sign of volunteer submission to the Father’s will

Vs. 4, “Jesus … went forward”—offering himself voluntarily; notice too that he identifies himself willing, “I am He” (3X, vs. 5, 6, 8), literally, Ἐγώ εἰμι, cf. Ex. 3:14

Vs. 6, “they drew back and fell to the ground”—did the Jews recoil from the “blasphemy”? Was it divine intervention (Ps. 27:2; Luke 4:28-30)?

Vs. 8b-9, “let these go … that the saying might be fulfilled … I have lost none”—see John 6:39; 17:12.

Vs. 10, “Peter, having a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant and cut off his right ear”—a sword in the hand of a fisherman, a machaira, μάχαιρα; did Peter misunderstand Luke 22:35-38 (cf. John 18:36)?

—Only John names the servant (Malchus), and only Luke notes that Jesus heals the servant (Luke 22:51), notably Jesus’ last miracle before the cross.

—V. 11, “Shall I not drink the cup which My Father has given Me?”

—“the cup”—Jesus had just come from the Passover meal which highlights four cups:

• 1st cup, Sanctification
• 2nd cup, Plagues
• 3rd cup, Redemption
• 4th cup, Praise
• Now he will drink the “Garden” cup, suffering on the cross

Vs. 11, “My Father”—the cup was from his Father and so needful.

Matthew, 16 uses of “My Father” in his Gospel

Mark, none

Luke, 8 uses of “My Father” in his Gospel

John, 37 uses of “My Father” in his Gospel

II. Two Common Roman Swords—the photo below shows an ancient rusted machaira, such as the dagger mentioned in v. 10.

Week Twenty, 2024

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation (Romans 5:8-11).

Christians understand the concept of salvation. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. But what does it mean to be redeemed? That is the deeper question. The concept of being delivered from bondage begins in the Old Testament. It is described in Exodus 6:6-7

Therefore, say to the Israelites: ‘I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians. I will free you from being slaves to them, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with mighty acts of judgment. 7 I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God, who brought you out from under the yoke of the Egyptians.

Redemption literally means having been saved or delivered from sin and its consequences. In the Old Testament, the people of Israel were delivered from the bondage of the Egyptians by the Lord God through Moses, the mediator. They were delivered by faith, as they didn’t do a thing to earn it. They were delivered for restoration, worship and a relationship with God. He delivered and they worshiped.

Fast forward to the New Testament. Again, God delivered again through a mediator who bore the sin of all, His Son Jesus the Christ. Again, we were delivered by faith and did nothing to earn it. We too were delivered for restoration, worship, and a relationship with God.

A redeemer is someone entrusted with securing one’s release from oppression, harm, evil, enslavement, or some other binding obligation. A redeemer restores the lost rights and freedoms of another by avenging any wrongs and paying whatever price is required to set that person free. The role of “Redeemer” is uniquely assigned to Jesus Christ, who rescues believers “from the dominion of darkness” and delivers them into God’s kingdom of light.

Is He your redeemer?

SOMETIMES TRUE STORIES

“Be conformed to the image of His Son.” Romans 8:29

There was an anti-smoking commercial decades ago where a father and son were sitting at the base of a tree. The father lit up a cigarette and the son mimicked him using a small stick. Girls across the country see the popularity of Taylor Swift and want to emulate her. Boys see the moves and technique of Tom Brady and practice to become like him. All these are efforts to be like what someone does.

Instead, they, and we, should strive to be like what someone is, their character. We have a model of one Who demonstrates all the positive character traits we should want. That one is Jesus Christ. And when we trust in Him, we automatically get all the positive attributes we need. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Look in the mirror. Who do you see? Who do others see? Rich Jensen

— o —

Counterculture: a subculture whose values and norms of behavior differ substantially from those of mainstream society, often in opposition to mainstream cultural mores. In a society and culture moving further and further from the values in which it was founded, how then should we live?

A Countercultural Standard For Living:

• Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.

• Do not conform to what the world/age says is ok.

• Be transformed by the renewing of your mind so you can discern God’s perfect will.

• Do not think of yourself more highly than you should.

• Think sensibly.

• Be a functional part of the body of Christ.

How, then, will you live? For Christianity is naturally countercultural. What, then, will you follow? Mainstream society and the direction its world is pulling and leading? Or the counter… a world led by Biblical values, with decisions and choices made through prayer and supplication? Marty Stubblefield

— o —

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM EDGAR APONTE:

• King Jesus has power to forgive sins because He is God and Lord.

• Forgiveness of sin is your biggest need, and only Jesus can give it to you. You need to come to Him in faith!

• Do not harden your heart. Stop resisting God and honor Jesus!

• In faith and love, bring others before Jesus. Pray for the lost and tell them about Jesus.

— o —

Pontius Pilate: Joseph, I really don’t understand. You are one of the richest men in the region, and you spent a small fortune on a new tomb for you and your family and now you want to give it to this man Jesus.

Joseph: It’s just for the weekend.

QUOTES YOU CAN USE

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink. You can show a person the truth, but you can’t make him think.

Experience is the hardest lesson you can have. It gives you the test first and the lesson afterward. Oscar Wilde.

Human beings are born with different capacities. If they are free, they are not equal and if they are equal, they are not free. Alexander Solzhenitsyn

The razor blade is sharp, but it can’t cut a tree. The axe is strong, but it can’t cut your hair. Everyone is important according to their unique purpose. Never look down on anyone unless you are admiring their shoes.

We witness other people’s storm from the shelter of our own perspectives. Let’s be mindful that we don’t ask the cold rain of judgment to their already soaked spirits.

Worship is no longer worship when it reflects the culture around us more than the Christ than is within us. A.W. Tozer

Death is not the end of life. It is only the gateway to eternity. Billy Graham

Orphanage babies don’t cry. There is no point in crying because they know no one will come for them. They just shut down. It is the loudest silence you can ever imagine.

Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, rather it is about learning to dance in the rain.

People don’t need to decide their futures. They decide their habits and their habits decide their futures. F.M. Alexander

Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake. Napoleon Bonaparte

A sign of intelligence is an awareness of one’s own ignorance. Niccolo Machiaveli

Dead people receive more flowers than the living ones because regret is stronger than gratitude. Anne Frank

If Adam and Eve had been Cajuns, they would have eaten the snake instead of the apple and saved all of us a lot of trouble.

Have we reached the ultimate stage of absurdity when some people are held responsible for things that happened before they were born, while other people are not held responsible for what they themselves are doing today? Thomas Sowell

It is far better to be alone than to be in bad company. George Washington

We are guilty of focusing on the small things in life while we ignore the big things. Jomo Cousins.

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Your feedback is welcome. Address all items and comments to [email protected]. ©Thoughts on Life Copyright 2024