What's behind the "luck of the Irish?'

The new year is suppose to bring a change of fortune

Dear Gentle reader,

I am surprised to find you hear this morning. I see you made the coffee your self yes I have a cup. With the electric out I didn't know if I was going to find anything working or not.

We have a custom, though I'm not sure if its an Irish custom or just a O'Callaghan tradition. We put a bit of money out side the house on the 31st of this month and it is supposed to bring you money for the coming year. Last year I didn't have and "real" money so I put out my check book (I don;t know if that counts or not this year I'll put out ten Shillings (about 25 cents in American money) [ I told you I was a poor preacher , Oh you heard that one have you?]

Well since I am in the United States now I need to find a place to teach/preach so many churches but they are looking for the "perfect' pastor/teacher. Me? Well I like to find a group that is not so dead that they aren't willing to show up once in a while and help me open the Book and read a bit, maybe even want to share with those who need a little bit of help. I bet I've sent out more resumes that there are web sites on Google/MSN/Yahoo/and Bravenet combined. I quit counting resumes after we hit 2000. Makes one wonder if the churches seeking a pastor really want one called by God or just someone till fill up a Sunday sermon with nonsense.

Would I be willing to move? Duh yes, not many people can fit in the little mobile home that we in now! Where do I want to go? Some place where the people have an interest in improving their lot. I mean. for example.

In my last church I told them that unless all agreed that I should come I would not! And that was the same church in which I stood up one morning as they were about to take up the collection and said " If you can't afford to put anything in the collection, then take something out!" The treasurer had to receive CPR. No one ever did that before. You can count me to do the unexpected.

There was a movie called "The shoes of the Fisherman" staring Anthony Quinn as the Roman Catholic Pope when faced with a world wide famine sold all of the Catholic Church's possessions and used the money to help the poor. I guess that's what I was thinking.

Not that this church was rich they couldn't afford to pay me half the time. But they were dear people and I loved them very much. I guess you would call me a Grace Believer. That is I believe that God has things under control and He wants me to jump in once in a while a teach a bit. Which I do when He lets me.

Here are some jokes I shared with my last church. Hope you like them as much as they did!

An exasperated mother, whose son was always getting into mischief, finally asked him, "How do you expect to get into Heaven?"
The boy thought it over and said, "Well, I'll just run in and out and in and out and keep slamming the door until St. Peter says, 'For Heaven's sake, Jimmy, come in or stay out!'"

~~~~~

Finding one of her students making faces at others on the playground, Ms. Smith stopped to gently reprove the child. Smiling sweetly, the Sunday School teacher said, "Bobby, when I was a child, I was told that if I made ugly faces, it would freeze and I would stay like that."
Bobby looked up and replied, "Well, Ms. Smith, you can't say you weren't warned."

~~~~~

A little girl became restless as the preacher's sermon dragged on and on. Finally, she leaned over to her mother and whispered, "Mommy, if we give him the money now, will he let us go?"

~~~~~

A boy was watching his father, a pastor, write a sermon. "How do you know what to say?" he asked.
"Why, God tells me."
"Oh, then why do you keep crossing things out?"

Smile God loves you and so do I,

Denis

He's Here -The Great day has arrived

Gentle Reader,

Marti and I wish you a very Merry and blessed Christmas from our home to yours. Our last story is one of the best from a dear brother and it is called:

Christmas Hardships

The Workman

"Do you really expect me to go to Bethlehem?" Joseph banged down his chisel on the scarred bench.

Ephraim, his cousin, had just entered the low workshop. "You don't have a choice, Joseph. If you don't go the Romans will confiscate your house and your precious tools. Just try to carve a yoke with your fingernails."

"What are we, cowards?" the carpenter retorted. "Mark my words, Ephraim, this 'Enroll-in-your-ancestral-city' business is nothing more than a way to squeeze more taxes out of us. If we give into those foreign tyrants now they'll just be back for more money."

"What's more," Joseph continued, "you're crazy if you think I'd take Mary on a trip this month. She'd probably have the baby on the way!"

"Couldn't you just leave her with your mother for a couple of weeks? She'd be all right. Nobody says the women have to go. It's the heads of households who have to register."

"Register, hah! Be taxed, you mean."

"So why not leave her at home?"

Joseph brushed the woodchips aside and motioned for his cousin to sit down. The carpenter spoke in a low but earnest voice. "Mary's aunt has made life miserable for her ever since she found out Mary was pregnant. Some people were willing to let it go. Not Tabitha."

"She got my wife all stirred up about it," Ephraim volunteered.

"Not just your wife. Most of the women in this town go out of their way to avoid her. At the village well they whisper, "Little slut!" just loud enough for her to hear. Many's the day she's come running home in tears."

"People sure can be cruel," Ephraim said. "At least you and Mary went ahead and got married."

Joseph bit his lip, but didn't say more.

Ephraim got up. "Well, you are going to Bethlehem, aren't you? You'd be a fool to get the Romans on your back. You know what they did to old Ben."

Joseph stood up slowly. "Yes, I'll go. But Mary'll have to come along. There's no way I'd leave her in Nazareth by herself!"

However, when Joseph talked to Mary about it, she didn't seem nearly as sure as her husband. "How could I walk all that way?" she said. "I waddle now. I just can't make it."

"Mary, we'll bring old Jake. You can ride him when you get tired."

"Have you ever ridden on Jake?"

"Well, no."

"That animal is the most bony, jolting mule in Nazareth. I'd rather walk!"

She did ride, though ... some of the way. Joseph would finally stop for the day when Mary just couldn't take any more. He'd help her down off Jake, then he'd fix a fire while she would unload their heavy blankets and try to find some shelter under a tree or large rock.

Mary would always be the center of attention among the few women traveling that time of year.

"I remember when I was carrying Levi," one would start. "Made my feet swell. I couldn't do anything for months."

"That's nothing," replied another, "my sister got so big everyone thought she was carrying twins. But her time came there was only one baby. Died though."

Joseph glanced over at Mary in the flickering firelight. He could see fear flit across her face. Her hands moved to her swollen belly so she could feel the baby's reassuring kick.

The women didn't notice. The first one went on, "Oh, the pain's so awful! I'm glad I'm too old to have any more babies."

Joseph put his arm around Mary's shoulders and pulled her close. Only one more night on the road before Bethlehem.

They reached the sleepy village of Joseph's ancestors just about dusk the fifth day. Joseph went to the inn and nearby houses trying to find a place to sleep. "God," he whispered as he combed the town, "can't You find us a decent place to have this baby?" Nothing.

All at once he saw Mary's face tighten. She tried to suppress a groan as she fought with the pain. It was a long moment before she relaxed, but he could see worry written all over her.

Joseph went back to the innkeeper again. "Are you sure there isn't any room? My wife's about to have a baby. We've got to find a place out of this wind tonight!"

The innkeeper thought a while. "Did you try the house at the end of the street? They sometimes take people in."

"I tried an hour ago."

"Any relatives in town? Any second cousins?"

"No."

Mary was shivering now, in obvious discomfort. "Joseph," she said weakly, "I've got to lie down somewhere."

"Well, there's the stable in the back," offered the innkeeper at long last. "Of course, it's full of animals from all the visitors in town for that blasted Roman census. But if you can find a place in the corner, I guess that'd be okay." He paused. "Just don't keep the animals awake all night."

It was the other way around. The dozen donkeys in the strange barn never stopped moving. And the smell was overpowering to Mary who had been fighting nausea as her pains got stronger.

In the wee hours of the morning Joseph knocked on the innkeeper's door again.

"What do you want this time of night?" the innkeeper snarled when he finally came to the door.

"Is there a midwife in town?"

"Oh, it's you. A midwife? Yes, old Martha lives in a little house about three blocks from here. You go down the main road, turn left at the two-story house, and go to the alley. You can't miss it. You go down the alley and across the pasture. She lives in a shack just behind the third house after that."

"I ... I really don't think I should leave my wife. Her pains are coming awfully fast now.... Could you go?"

"Jonathan!" the innkeeper yelled into his darkened house. "Get up and fetch old Martha. A lady's having a baby in the barn. Hurry!"

He turned to Joseph as he closed the door. "Have some pity, man. My whole family's awake now."

Pretty soon the door opened again and a young lad ran off in the chilly air. After a while he returned, walking slowly so he wouldn't outdistance the old midwife whose arthritis certainly didn't to take to cold winter nights. The boy was shivering by the time he got to the stable.

"Here's Martha, sir," he muttered quickly, and darted back into the warmth of his house.

The old lady put them at ease right away. She had Joseph fetch water and cloths from the innkeeper. It must have been nearly two in the morning by the time the baby came, and another hour before Joseph dug into his robe for a few coins to give the old woman as she hobbled away.

Then he returned to his wife and took her hand as they looked into the puffy face of their son. Alone at last.

"I'm so tired, Joseph," Mary said, settling back into the blanket-covered straw.

The baby finally stopped crying and drifted off to sleep.

Joseph stirred a few minutes later as some men peered from the darkness into the lamp-lit stable. He nudged Mary awake and reached for his staff.

"What do you want?" Joseph said to the men in a forced whisper. "Don't wake the baby."

"We're shepherds," one called out. The baby started crying.

"We saw angels out on the hills an hour ago." The entire story tumbled out as the shepherds edged into the stable to see the baby. Joseph relaxed his grip on the staff.

The shepherd continued, "And the angel told us, 'To you is born this day in the City of David a Savior which is Messiah the Lord.' The angel even told us about the swaddling cloths and the manger here."

"The angel told you about the manger, too?" Joseph interrupted.

"Oh, yes. That's how we knew where to look."

Joseph glanced over at Mary. Her eyes met his. He squeezed her hand.

"This baby is the Messiah, isn't he?" Joseph said quietly. "After all these hassles I had started to question. But..." He paused. "It's almost like God planned the whole thing: the trip neither of us wanted to take." He chuckled. "He must have seen you on bony old Jake." Joseph laughed out loud. "Even this smelly old barn and it's manger."

He stood up, still chuckling. "What do you know? In spite of the problems--no, in the midst of the problems--God's been at work all along."

Love,

Denis and Marti

Nollaig Shona dhuit/dhíbh*

* Happy Christmas to you (In Irish)
Christmas isn't for just Kids!

Gentle Reader,

You have seen the bad side of people now lets look at what I see in you!

Have you bought your Christmas gifts yet? No? Neither have I! Well We both Herself and me wish you a very Merry Christmas! Here is a wee bit of the customs in Ireland.

In many rural areas of Ireland still today the custom of whitewashing the outhouses and stores prevails. At One time, it was the whole farm, inside and out. The women would scrub and polish everything til it shone, and the men would take a bucket of whitewash, or limewash, and purify everything in honour of the coming of the Christ child.

This custom goes back long before Christianity or even Celtic civilisation. It was a purifying ceremony from the most ancient of times, the ancient Mesopotamians, 4000BC would cleanse their homes, sweep the streets even, in an attempt to assist their god in his battle against the powers of chaos. And in Central European lore, it was believed that the deity, Frigg, would check all the threshholds of each house to make sure they were swept clean. The links are so tightly intertwined, it becomes difficult to separate one belief from another, Christmas is like a Tapestry, tightly and colourfully woven. It is almost impossible to find a thread and trace it to its beginning in the picture. From this ancient custom comes the modern traditions of putting up fresh curtains, a special Christmas Bedcover, cushions and table linens etc. The whitewashing of the house.

And now what I see in each of you

Dear Sir,

I am one of America's soldiers who received a copy of "A Soldier's Christmas" over the internet, and I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for giving some of my friends and family an opportune way to say 'thanks.' It meant a lot to me.

I have not been stationed in the US since 1995, and the nature of my job will keep me overseas throughout my career. Although I am not always viewed as that soldier with "dusty boots," I know all too well what it is like to be away from home for so long -- especially during the holidays. I would like, however, to take this opportunity to thank you, and America, for being the fine, grand, noble Nation that makes each and every one of us out here serving in the military extremely proud of the country and the people we protect.

You don't necessarily have to pray for us soldiers, as we have chosen this life....and we will sacrifice our life for OUR people and OUR country. No, do not pray for us this holiday season.....Pray for OUR Nation and Her people......for only then will the life we 'chose' be worthwhile.

Yes, I do pray for peace on Earth...always. But, "there will be wars, and rumors of wars," so, in the meantime; maybe, just maybe, this year you can put out a suggestion to OUR American people......

We tend to fly our flag on 4th of July, we tend to fly our flag on Veteran's Day......maybe this year, through your web-site, you could maybe "ask" the American people to put a small American Flag on their Christmas Tree, amongst their ornaments, (or within their own religious ceremony/custom) just to "remember." A small reminder that "we" are free to celebrate whatever holiday, however we please, because of that flag and what She represents.

Sir, I have volunteered to protect ALL Americans....Christian, Jewish, Agnostic, even Atheist......it is my proud honor to do so.... and all I ask is that maybe, during this "holiday" season (whether one believes in it or not) is your help in asking "America" to wave Her flag in Unity and be thankful for our Grand Nation. It would mean a lot to us out here, wherever we are......

God Bless us Gentle reader, God Bless us every one!

Love,

Denis & Marti

An overview of Genesis

Genesis 1: 1 - 26 Observational background study of the book of Genesis
The author of the book of Genesis is Moses. Genesis is the first of five books also known as the Pentateuch, Torah or the Law. Moses wrote this historical narrative for the descendants of Israel.

The cultural setting begins in the Garden of Eden perhaps as early as 10,000 B.C. and then into the Patriarchal Period followed by Joseph and the Jewish nation in Egypt somewhere around 1750 B.C.

Man enjoyed unbroken fellowship with God in a literal paradise while in the Garden of Eden.
However, the relationship was soon broken because of mans fall into sin. Sometime after the fall and during the Patriarchal Period, which extended from 2086-1871 B.C., man was busy populating and settling the earth.

Egypt, which started somewhere around 5000 B.C., was by now on its way to becoming a world super-power. By the time Joseph was born in 1910 B.C., Egypt was in its strong middle kingdom, ruled by the XXII dynasty. Abram, who later became Abraham, was the first Patriarch and the father of the Jews; so until this time there was no “Jewish” nation.

Moses structured Genesis from two major periods, each with four key features.
The first major period is the primeval history of mankind found in Gen. 1:1-11:26.
The first feature is in Genesis 1-2. Here we find God creating the heavens, earth, and all that is in them.

Next, we see man spoiling Gods creation as he begins his perilous journey into sin and its full extent in chapters 3-5.

Third, in Genesis 5-9, there is a period of cleansing and repopulation. The great flood rid the earth of all its wickedness in order to begin life anew with Noah and his seven family members.

Chapters 10 and 11 offer the fourth key feature with an account of the lineage of Noah’s sons up to Abram and demonstrate with the tower of Babel mans determination to rebel despite Gods warnings

From this point, we move into the second major period in the book of Genesis, which is The Patriarchal Period.

The first feature is in chapter 12, with the Abrahamic covenant where God begins to map out His plan of salvation for everyone to see. We see the covenant confirmed in chapter 15 and carried out by circumcision in chapter 17. We continue with the story of Abraham until His death through chapter 24.

In chapters 25-28, we receive the second key feature: the life of Abraham’s son, Isaac, who has two sons named Esau and Jacob.

The third feature is in Genesis 28-36 where we examine Jacobs’s life.
Chapters 37 to the end of the book, 50, give us the fourth and final feature where we are shown the lives of Jacobs’s sons, mainly Joseph who finishes the book in Egypt.

The key word in the book of Genesis is “Beginning”. The Hebrew people call it bereshit, which means “in the beginning”. We see this evidenced in the creation account, the fall of man (the beginning of sin), the flood and repopulation of the earth, Gods covenant with Abram, and Josephs forgiveness toward his brothers in Egypt. It is a book of new beginnings and second chances.

The major points of theology in this book are numerous. I have included only a few.
In chapters 1-11, we see the nature of human life:
1. God made us in His image. (1:1-2:4)
2. We have needs and limits. (2:5-25)
3. Sin brings alienation and punishment. (3:1-24)
4. God punishes pride and irresponsibility but by grace protects the sinner. (4:1-15)
5. God punishes sinful society but preserves a faithful remnant. (6:1-8:22)

In chapters 12-50, we see the mission and nature of God:
1. The Lord has a redemptive plan for His world. (11:10-25:18)
2. God works through human conflicts to protect His people and His land. (25:19-36:43)
3. God brings reconciliation even in exile in an enemy land. (37:1-50:26)



Alexander, David, ed. Zondervan Handbook to the Bible Michigan: Zondervan, 1999
Unger, Merrill F. The New UNGERS Bible Dictionary Chicago: The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago, 1988
Disciples Study Bible Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers, 1983

Mark your Calendar for January Genesis teaching

Gentle readers,
Beginning in January I will be teaching through the entire Bible on our wee study site http://scripturalstudies.ning.com (A study and social network an outreach of Scripture Institute) on the Christianity 101 group I would like to invite you to join with us for this perhaps last of my teaching through the Bible.
Here is a we sample to get your interest in the Word of God.

Genesis and the Entire Bible

The Bible is not the earliest revelation of God. Genesis is explanatory. The other writings of the Bible are inseparably bound up with it as it gives us the origin and initial explanation of all that follows. The bible carries our minds back to the patriarchal and primeval and even pre-Adamite eras on earth, the bible itself did not begin to be written until the time of Moses.
As a historical revelation its commencement coincides with the third Chapter of Exodus, which records . . . to be continued.

Introduction to the Genesis project

Gentle Readers,

For a long time I have desired to teach through the entire Bible, deep studies, but God had a better idea. Instead of placing me in one fellowship He allowed me to serve several fellowships and to write for many around the world. In just under 40 years. I have reached out to more than several million (that I know of) not the deep studies that I enjoy for the most part but studies just the same. Rather like pieces of a puzzle that one wants to finish before they go to bed.

Our Father has allow me to teach most of the Old Testament and the New Testament several times and all of the Pauline writings extensively over time. But there seemed to be a piece missing. Not with me so much, but with those fellowships through the world that have focused on one small part of the whole, i.e. Baptists emphasizing baptism, Methodist focus on methods. Certain groups focus on a small part of the Holy Writ to the exclusion of other parts. But what happens is that our brother and sister in the pew never get a glimpse the whole of Gods word. The big picture as it were. The one thing I would like to accomplish in this rather daunting undertaking is for you to see Christ on every page and in every verse. If we do that then perhaps the time will have been well spent.

I should say a wee bit about the method that I want to use. The Bible is such an endless book and there are so many ways to study. One may study the books of the Bible spiritually, historically, typically, topically, prophetically, dispensationally, analytically, biographically, critically, devotionally to name just a few. The method I want to use is what I would call interpretative. That is to say we shall study the books of the Bible interpretatively. We shall seek to get hold of the controlling thought, the outstanding meaning and message of each book, and then see it in relation to the other books of Scripture. Each book contains within it a “ KEY” that will provide the significance of what is written. Along the way we will stop from time to time to “smell the roses” as we examine the structure by means of analysis, its main movements in the form of a SYNOPSIS; and its special features by way of suggestion for further study.
We shall allow each book to tell us its secret and open its heart to us. Therefore our aim shall be to deal with each book or part in just such a way as will most effectively bare its special significance, and thus contribute most effectively toward a practical understanding on the message of the Bible in its entirety, toward hearing the Spirit of God as he speaks to our spirits. If you are like me then these words of the Apostle Paul will resound its clarion call. “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” and again “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth”.
If your desire is to know Him, really know Him then perhaps you will invite me to share what our heavenly Father has taught me so that I may teach you.


Denis

Join me for one last time

Gentle readers,
I soon will be celebrating 40 years of Bible teaching, which is 280 years in dog years.

Forty has long been universally recognized as an important number, both on account of the frequency of its occurrence, and the uniformity of its association with a period of probation, trial, and chastisement—(not judgment, like the number 9, which stands in connection with the punishment of enemies, but the chastisement of sons, and of a covenant people). It is the product of 5 and 8, and points to the action of grace (5), leading to and ending in revival and renewal (8). This is certainly the case where forty relates to a period of evident probation. But where it relates to enlarged dominion, or to renewed or extended rule, then it does so in virtue of its factors 4 and 10, and in harmony with their signification.

There are 15 such periods which appear on the surface of the Scriptures, and which may be classified:
Forty Years of Probation by Trial:
Israel in the wilderness, Deut 8:2-5; Psa 95:10; Acts 13:18 (the third 40 of Moses' life, 120 years).
Israel from the crucifixion to the destruction of Jerusalem.
Forty Years of Probation by Prosperity in Deliverance and Rest:
under Othniel, Judg 3:11,
under Barak, Judg 5:31,
under Gideon, Judg 8:28.
Forty Years of Probation by Prosperity in Enlarged Dominion:
under David, 2 Sam 5:4,
under Solomon, 1 Kings 11:42,
under Jeroboam II. See 2 Kings 12:17,18, 13:3,5,7,22,25, 14:12-14,23,28,
under Jehoash, 2 Kings 12:1,
under Joash, 2 Chron 24:1.
Forty Years of Probation by Humiliation and Servitude:
Israel under the Philistines, Judg 13:1.
Israel in the time of Eli, 1 Sam 4:18.
Israel under Saul, Acts 13:21.
Forty Years of Probation by Waiting:
Moses in Egypt, Acts 7:23.
Moses in Midian, Acts 7:30

FORTY DAYS
There are eight of such great periods on the surface of the Bible:
Forty days Moses was in the mount, Exo 24:18; and to receive the Law, Exo 24:18.
Forty days Moses was in the mount after the sin of the Golden Calf, Deut 9:18,25.
Forty days of the spies, issuing in the penal sentence of the 40 years, Num 13:26, 14:34.
Forty days of Elijah in Horeb, 1 Kings 19:8.
Forty days of Jonah and Nineveh, Jonah 3:4.
Forty days Ezekiel lay on his right side to symbolize the 40 years of Judah's transgression.*
Forty days Jesus was tempted of the Devil, Matt 4:2.
Forty days Jesus was seen of His disciples, speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God, Acts 1:2.
* Thus 40 becomes a number closely connected with Judah, as 390 (Eze 4:5) is the number of separated Israel. The significance of this will be seen for 40 is a multiple of 8, and 390 is a multiple of 13. It may also be noted that 65 (5x13) is the number of Ephraim, while 70 is specially connected with Jerusalem.

And with this in mind, beginning in January 2010, I will be teaching through the entire Bible on our wee study site http://scripturalstudies.ning.com (A study and social network an outreach of Scripture Institute) on the Christianity 101 Group I would like to invite you to join with us for this perhaps last of my teaching through the Bible Under the heading Doc notes.

Here is a wee sample in the Word of God.

Genesis and the entire Bible
The Bible is not the earliest revelation of God. Genesis is explanatory. The other writings of the Bible are inseparably bound up with it as it gives us the origin and initial explanation of all that follows. The bible carries our minds back to the patriarchal and primeval and even pre-Adamite eras on earth, the bible itself did not begin to be written until the time of Moses.

As a historical revelation its commencement coincides with the third Chapter of Exodus, which records the communication of God through the burning bush of Horeb, and synchronizes with the eightieth (40 x 2) of Moses. All that proceeds this chapter was already past when the writing of our Bible began.

The Bible is not the earliest revelation of God. its pages clearly convey that the first human pair and the antediluvian and post-flood partriarchs received Divine revelation; and it is not improbable that was in some degree committed to written form. In Genesis we have a synopsis of all former revelation, sufficient to constitute a working introduction to further revelation of God. Moreover besides being introductory, Genesis is explanatory. Here we have in germ form all that is later developed. “Whoever would truly understand the Revelation of God must begin here”.
To be continued...

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