Why Christmas or( Holiday) Trees?

Dear Gentle reader,

 Interspace between the serious business of the study of Scripture (the meaning of the gospels, what they meant to those first  early Christian believers) we intend to place the importance of the history of Christmas in perspective. Duh? "what you mean Denis?"

 Well, with the downturn in the economy of America (as well as the rest of the world) we need to keep in mind why we even celebrate Christmas, barring those who just feel like raining on your parade. so here is the first in the series of Christmas what we celebrate and why (don't worry in between we'll continue our study on what the gospels meant and what they mean today.) Confused? well hang in there... see you at the end of the lesson. 

Why Do We Have Christmas Trees?

The history behind evergreens, ornaments, and holiday gift giving.

 

 

The evergreen tree was an ancient symbol of life in the midst of winter. Romans decorated their houses with evergreen branches during the New Year, and ancient inhabitants of northern Europe cut evergreen trees and planted them in boxes inside their houses in wintertime. Many early Christians were hostile to such practices. The second-century theologian Tertullian condemned those Christians who celebrated the winter festivals, or decorated their houses with laurel boughs in honor of the emperor:

"Let them over whom the fires of hell are imminent, affix to their posts, laurels doomed presently to burn: to them the testimonies of darkness and the omens of their penalties are suitable. You are a light of the world, and a tree ever green. If you have renounced temples, make not your own gate a temple."

But by the early Middle Ages, the legend had grown that when Christ was born in the dead of winter, every tree throughout the world miraculously shook off its ice and snow and produced new shoots of green. At the same time, Christian missionaries preaching to Germanic and Slavic peoples were taking a more lenient approach to cultural practices—such as evergreen trees. These missionaries believed that the Incarnation proclaimed Christ's lordship over those natural symbols that had previously been used for the worship of pagan gods. Not only individual human beings, but cultures, symbols, and traditions could be converted.

Of course, this did not mean that the worship of pagan gods themselves was tolerated. According to one legend, the eighth-century missionary Boniface, after cutting down an oak tree sacred to the pagan god Thor (and used for human sacrifice), pointed to a nearby fir tree instead as a symbol of the love and mercy of God.

Paradise trees

Not until the Renaissance are there clear records of trees being used as a symbol of Christmas—beginning in Latvia in 1510 and Strasbourg in 1521. Legend credits the Protestant reformer Martin Luther with inventing the Christmas tree, but the story has little historical basis.

The most likely theory is that Christmas trees started with medieval plays. Dramas depicting biblical themes began as part of the church's worship, but by the late Middle Ages, they had become rowdy, imaginative performances dominated by laypeople and taking place in the open air. The plays celebrating the Nativity were linked to the story of creation—in part because Christmas Eve was also considered the feast day of Adam and Eve. Thus, as part of the play for that day, the Garden of Eden was symbolized by a "paradise tree" hung with fruit.

These plays were banned in many places in the 16th century, and people perhaps began to set up "paradise trees" in their homes to compensate for the public celebration they could no longer enjoy. The earliest Christmas trees (or evergreen branches) used in homes were referred to as "paradises." They were often hung with round pastry wafers symbolizing the Eucharist, which developed into the cookie ornaments decorating German Christmas trees today.

The custom gained popularity throughout the 17th and 18th centuries, against the protests of some clergy. Lutheran minister Johann von Dannhauer, for instance, complained (like Tertullian) that the symbol distracted people from the true evergreen tree, Jesus Christ. But this did not stop many churches from setting up Christmas trees inside the sanctuary. Alongside the tree often stood wooden "pyramids"—stacks of shelves bearing candles, sometimes one for each family member. Eventually these pyramids of candles were placed on the tree, the ancestors of our modern Christmas tree lights and ornaments.

Nicholas and Wenceslas

It also took a long time for trees to become associated with presents. Though legend connects the idea of Christmas gifts with the gifts the Magi brought Jesus, the real story is more complicated. Like trees, gifts were first a Roman practice—traded during the winter solstice. As Epiphany, and later Christmas, replaced the winter solstice as a time of celebration for Christians, the gift-giving tradition continued for a while. By late antiquity it had died out, although gifts were still exchanged at New Year's.

Gifts were also associated with St. Nicholas, bishop of Myra (in modern-day Turkey), who became famous for giving gifts to poor children. His feast day (December 6) thus became another occasion for gift exchanges. During the early Middle Ages, Christmas gifts most often took the form of tributes paid to monarchs—although a few rulers used the holiday season as an opportunity to give to the poor or to the church instead (most notably Duke Wenceslas of Bohemia, whose story inspired the popular carol, and William the Conqueror, who chose Christmas 1067 to make a large donation to the pope).

Like trees, gifts came "inside" the family around the time of Luther, as the custom of giving gifts to friends and family members developed in Germany, the Netherlands, and Scandinavia. Often these were given anonymously, or hidden. One Danish custom was to rewrap a gift many times with different names on each wrapper, so that the intended recipient was only discovered when all the layers were opened.

Victorian Christmas

In the English-speaking world, the union of gifts, trees, and Christmas was due to the influence of Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert, a native of Saxony (now part of Germany). German immigrants had brought the custom of Christmas trees with them in the early 1800s, but it spread widely after Victoria and Albert set up an elaborate tree for their children at Windsor Castle in 1841. At this point, Christmas presents were usually hung on the tree itself.

German and Dutch immigrants also brought their traditions of trees and presents to the New World in the early 1800s. The image of happy middle-class families exchanging gifts around a tree became a powerful one for American authors and civic leaders who wished to replace older, rowdier, and more alcohol-fueled Christmas traditions—such as wassailing—with a more family-friendly holiday. This family-centered image was widely popularized by Clement Moore's 1822 poem, known today as "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" (which also helped give us our modern picture of Santa Claus).

As many of us make trees and gifts the center of our own Christmas practice, we would do well to remember that they are ultimately symbols of the One who gave himself to unite heaven and earth, and who brings all barren things to flower. So there you have it, Gentle reader, and a special thanks to those who put all this together for your reading enjoyment... 

  Love, Denis

Edwin Woodruff Tait is assistant professor of Bible and religion at Huntington University. Jennifer Woodruff Tait is adjunct professor of church history at Asbury Theological Seminary.

 

 

 

 

 

The Gospel of Mark and suffering- the why of it?

"For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Rom 5:6-8 ) 

Part 9 Mark- A divided community

Gentle Reader,

In the gospel that we ascribe to Mark, we see that Mark speaks not only of Persecution from without but he also points out defection and betrayal within. You must remember first of all that the first readers of these gospels were "living them"! No wonder were are told by the author in the book of Hebrews "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Heb 4:12)

Brother is betraying brother-as happened with the Lord Christ Jesus. Mark alone of all the evangelists speaks and writes of Jesus’ sisters and brothers and he gives the names of all 4 brothers. Unlike Jesus himself they were all named for patriarchs - James (half-brother of our Lord Yeshua) ...Yes! it is the English - as would be translated from the Hebrew name, Ya'akov (Jacob), then Joseph, and Judas, and last Simon. The most important of these was the eldest Jacob ( James ) who presided over the gathering in Jerusalem during the middle years of the 1st century (Acts 21:18 ) Note: we might point out here the while in our English versions of the Bible Jacob is translated James and is used, yet in the Hebrew Scriptures and the English versions retain the form "Jacob" One would do well to try to remember that "Jacob" (JAMES) tried to keep the Jerusalem community observant of the Jewish Low, which became the cause of his conflict with the apostle Paul in the Galatians epistle "For before that certain came from James [Jacob], he did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision. And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation. But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, livest after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compellest thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? "(Gal 2:12-14)

That conflict must have left it’s imprint of the communities that Marks Gospel addressed. But before we leave and move on I feel constrained to point off another wee bit of controversy. There are many that try to make Scripture fit in or squeeze into a particular doctrine taught by a denomination of church hierarchy. And that is that some Christians have tried to deny that Jesus had "brothers and sisters", because they take "born of a Virgin" as a biological, not a theological, datum. And while I could (and perhaps will at some point explain Scripture on this matter).

One suspects strongly that Mark addressees must have included believers who had suffered and failed- a community that offers hope and not condemnation, since it points out that even Jesus did not want to drink the cup of suffering and that even his most intimate disciples failed. Since evangelistic theology is geared to spiritual response, this is a Passion Narrative that had and will have special meaning for those who seek to follow Christ. But find the cross that they bear is virtually insupportable in life. To those of the early believers and those of us today who cry from the brokeness of heart "My God, My God, for what reason have you forsaken me?" But never fear Gentle Reader, God has not forsaken the early believers nor you! He is with each of us as we go through the sufferings, and will bring us through with a hand held high in victory.

Enough for now,

next time....

Love,

Denis

The 4th Wise Guy (A story of Time at Christmas)

 

Gentle Reader,

With the season so close and with me not a place to preach, nor a home to call my own. I find I have a lot of time on my hands (so to speak) It's starting to get cold here and Marti wants me to purchase a new winter coat [I really wanted to get a train set] What I want money can't buy.... but that's another time. What I wanted to say is that with all this time I get to read a bit more ( just for the sheer enjoyment which I intend to share). I know, I know its the last few hours of prime time shopping and you haven't gotten Uncle Shamus and Aunt Tody  anything. My advice re-gift! How about that 12 year old fruitcake that your using as a doorstop in the winter and as third base in the summer? 

Well come in and sit, I'll wet some tea and we'll share a story that will entertain you and perhaps give you some last minute ideas . Ready? Ok. hold on here she blows....  

“The 4th Wise Guy”

I was miles from anywhere when I first saw him. He was walking at the side of the road, gas can in hand, and I assumed that he'd run out of fuel somewhere. I didn't remember passing any stranded cars on the road but figured he could have broken down on a side road. Anyone would have stopped to give him a ride.

Because I had one of those mental debates while deciding whether or not to stop, the car was quite a distance ahead of him when I brought it to a halt. I watched in the mirror as he approached. He was in no hurry, it seemed, just ambling along as though out for a stroll. When he came level with the passenger window, I leaned over and called out to him.

"D'you need a ride to the next gas station, pal?"

He stopped and leaned over so that he could see my face.

"Actually, Denis, I was hoping you'd take me all the way to Akron."

I swear I'd never set eyes on the guy in my life before. How could he know my name? And the fact that I was driving to Akron? I was too dumbfounded to say anything in reply and just watched while he opened the door to get into the car. As he sat down, he threw the gas can into the bushes.

"Aren't you gonna need that?" I asked.

"Oh no, I was only carrying it so you'd take pity on me and stop," he replied. "Bought it at that gas station where you're going to drop me off. But you wouldn't have seen that, of course. You were gone by then."

This was becoming confusing. Was he claiming to have met me before or was he some kind of lunatic with wild delusions?

"Pardon?" I said. "Have we met before or something?"

"Yes and no, Denis. Look, it's complicated. Why don't you get this thing moving and I'll explain as we go, okay?"

I realized then that he was right. If he was a madman, the sooner I got him to where he wanted to go, the better. He didn't look dangerous or anything, in his early twenties but slightly built and pale, as if he'd been locked away out of the sunlight. I could easily win any tussle with him, I figured. So he wanted to talk in riddles? That was fine; it might be amusing and help the journey to go that much faster. I eased the stick into Drive and let the car move off.

"How d'you know my name?" I asked as we reached the speed limit and I hit the cruise control.

"You told me," he replied. When I said nothing but raised one eyebrow a little, he continued, "I'd better explain from the beginning. As I said before... Oh, you won't remember that, of course. Fact is, Denis, I'm living backwards."

A dim memory sparked in my brain. "You mean like Merlin? I read a book once by T.H. White about him. Called The Once and future King, I think. Anyway, it was about King Arthur and all that but I remember Merlin was supposed to be living backwards in it. Is that what you mean?"

"Exactly," he said.

I waited for him to go on but he said no more; just sat there watching my reaction to his ridiculous statement. So I gave him none.

"Am I supposed to believe that?" I asked. "It's a pretty freaky thing to say, you know."

He laughed. "Yup, it's weird alright. Most people would be driving me to the loony bin by now. But that's why I chose you. You're going to believe me by the time we get to Akron."

I don't often snort but I did so then. This guy was a hoot. "Okay, pal, tell me more. I'll listen."

"We'd better get that sorted for a start. I'm not your pal, well, not yet anyway. My name's Merlin."

This time I couldn't hide my disbelief. I turned and looked at him. "Are you serious? Are you trying to tell me that you're the Merlin?"

"That's me," he said, without blinking an eye. "Old Merlin the magician, alive and well in the 21st Century, living backwards and loving it. Quite a kicker, huh?"

I couldn't help but smile. "You're crazy," I said. "Pretty entertaining, I grant you, but crazy as a loon."

He grinned back at me. "Yup, you're right. Nutty as a fruitcake, that's me. But that's got nothing to do with what we're talking about. I'm still living backwards."

There was a sincerity in his voice that stopped me from dropping him off right there and then. Crazy he may have been but I couldn't help liking the guy. I decided to play along and see how good his story was.

"So, okay, you reckon you're Merlin. But how can that be? He lived, oh, about fifteen hundred years ago, I reckon. How could you be that old? Look at you, you're no more than twenty-five at the most."

"Ah," he said, "That's the thing, you see. I'm living backwards so I'm younger now than I was then."

"But more than a thousand years? Come on, even living backwards you're not going to be born for a millennium at least."

"Always with the math," he sighed and eased himself back into the seat to watch the road ahead. "It's hard to understand, Denis, but basically it's like swimming against the tide. Easy enough for you folks just going with the flow; of course you live much faster. But for me it's a struggle. Takes me three hundred years to get ten years older."

I did some quick mental calculations. That would make him about seventy in Arthur's time; about right, I thought. And it also meant...

"So you're not going to be born for another six hundred years?"

"You catch on fast," he said.

There was silence for a long time then. I was trying to think of a way to catch him out and he seemed content to wait. The mid west hurtled by our windows.

Eventually, I thought I had sorted things out and was ready for him again.

"So, to you, the future is like the past? You can remember what's going to happen?"

"Yup," he said.

"And the past is like the future?"

"Just so," he returned.

I thought I had him then. "Ah, in that case, how can you know about King Arthur? How can you make jokes about being the great magician when you can't possibly know that's what he was?"

It was his turn to snort. "Oh come on, Denis; you can do better than that. I can read, can't I? D'you think we don't have books in the future? And, as it happens, I've read Mallory and that guy White you mentioned. Which reminds me..."

"What?" I asked.

"Oh, nothing. Was just thinking that I might drop in on old T.H. in a few years and give him some ideas."

"So now you're the reason he wrote that book?" This was becoming weird. "I suppose you created all our history on your way back to 500 AD?"

"Nah, don't be silly," he said. "Just think I might dabble a bit here and there."

"Oh great. Now we've got a lunatic running around in history, tweaking and fiddling."

He laughed again. "Hey, don't get worried. It's all past to you and anything I do is already incorporated."

We fell silent again as I pondered this. Then he began to speak and I just listened.

"You see, Denis, six hundred years from now we're going to be able to do things that you can't even dream of. Look at the pace of change over the last hundred years or so. It's accelerating all the time. In a few hundred years we're going to prove that time travel is impossible. But we're also going to find a way to turn ourselves around and live in the opposite direction. Not that many will, of course. In fact, I'm the only one. But it's a form of time travel, I suppose."

He paused to see how I'd react to this. Once again, I didn't. So he went on.

"We became aware that there was something that needed doing in the past. And I volunteered. I've always liked history and I wanted to see it for myself. To actually make a contribution to it was an unbelievable dream.

"It's slow, of course. Man, you can't imagine how slow it is. But it's the only way we've got. All to do with changes at the molecular level, you know."

He rambled on into a long explanation of how it worked but I couldn't understand it. He probably knew that but was just enjoying the opportunity to speak. And I turned everything over in my mind as I drove. It was all too much to be believed but he certainly made a pretty airtight story of it. His knowledge of my name and destination was hard to explain away especially. And that strange business of the gas can.

By the time we got to Akron, night had fallen. Merlin directed me through the dark streets towards the gas station and it occurred to me that he seemed to know his way around pretty well.

"You've been here before, haven't you?" I asked.

"Nope. Just remember it from the future. Take a left here."

"I'm sorry but I can't believe that."

He glanced at me then. "Okay, Mr Doubtful, get your head round this. When we get to the gas station there'll be a green SUV filling up. The driver's a young blonde woman in jeans and a pink top. And just after we arrive, a silver Honda will drive in from the opposite direction."

It was just as he said. I stopped the car and began to apologize for my doubts but he shrugged them off. "It's okay, Denis, I get it all the time. Thanks for the ride, by the way."

A thought crossed my mind then. "Oh, uh, Merlin, you said you chose me as your ride. Why was that?"

He winked. "Figure of speech. Actually I just traced you back from this moment."

He opened the door and was getting out when I realized that there was something else I wanted to know.

"And what about Arthur and all that?" I asked. "What was it that you have to change?"

He turned to look at me. For a moment he seemed to be considering something, as though he wasn't sure that I could be trusted with it, but then he shrugged and spoke.

"That Arthur thing wasn't it at all," he said. "It was just one of my little tweaks. After all, we know the Angles and Saxons win in the end, don't we?"

There was a slight pause before he went on. "No, after Arthur, I'm going to wander over to Persia. There's a couple of interesting guys there that I want to meet and get to know. And then, just before I die, the three of us have an appointment in a stable in a little town called Bethlehem..."

He turned away. The last I saw of him was a slight and unimposing figure walking into the bright lights of the service station.

Thanks to Clive Adams (Merlin)for that wonderful story

Time to go, be off with you have you no home?

Denis

The Prosperity Gospel of Mark?

Gentle Reader,

Rather than start at Matthew, I plan to start in Mark’s gospel for several reason. First of all you must remember that when reading all of these gospels, you need to put yourself in the sandals of a first Century Christian. I mean you are stepping back and as it were "living history as it were today" only when you have an understanding of what these believers were holding on to in their faith , can you step up to whatever century your living in and then make an application to today's events.

You have heard it said "Well, that just your interpretation." Perhaps you have said it your self once or twice. But in fact and in reality there is only ONE Interpretation (and that is God’s) and many applications which while prove useful and truly make the Word of God living to each of us for any situation and circumstance. The problem still exists that we only can know ‘Truth" as far as our understanding can take us. So with that in mind. Let’s try to get a handle on, to start with the Book or Gospel of Mark.

I choose Mark for several reasons, 1) Mark is the shortest of the 4 gospels. 2) the Greek that is in Mark is clumsier and more awkward than used by the other evangelists. Augustine called Mark (pedisequus et breviator) "the drudge and condenser" of Matthew.

It was the least cited Gospel in the early Christian period. And if that was not enough, one of the most quoted parts of the Markan Gospel was a latter addition to it (the so called Markan Appendix) - the last 12 verses added to its ending.

We find the Matthew, Luke cite and use (and correct) Mark , but he does not do the same for them which would indicate the his is the first gospel setting a pattern for the others. Writing was difficult and a rare act- so difficult that "writers" dictated to scribes, who did the laborious inditing on papyrus.

This is why Paul "wrote" and his letters were written first to only 5 communities, under two conditions- that he had to be away from a community, and that the community needed his intervention in its internal conflicts.

We find that in Mark sets down the oral teachings that were important to his community and a part of an effort to remind and strengthen to console them in their discord under persecution. The repetition of his message was in the liturgies and debates of his fellows was his way of keeping Jesus present through the storms that these early Christians were going through.

Mark write to a local community and references that he uses have a special resonance to the people that he is addressing. There appears an intense almost obsessive focus on the community’s suffering. For example. We read in "But take heed to yourselves: for they shall deliver you up to councils; and in the synagogues ye shall be beaten: and ye shall be brought before rulers and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them. And the gospel must first be published among all nations. But when they shall lead you, and deliver you up, take no thought beforehand what ye shall speak, neither do ye premeditate: but whatsoever shall be given you in that hour, that speak ye: for it is not ye that speak, but the Holy Ghost. Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house: "

(Mar 13:9-15)

What Jesus predicted is (at the time of of the writing and reading) actually occurring in the community. Mark gives that away with these words " Mar 13:19 ‘ For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be."

This has often been taken to be a prediction of the "tribulation" of the END TIMES. But the clumsily inserted "until this time" (heos nym) indicate that Mark is applying the words of Jesus to the situation he and his brethren are sharing as he writes.

What Jesus predicts for His followers must first happen to Him. "Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles: And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again". (Mar 10:33-34).

Jesus says that brother will betray brother among his followers. His own family has first turned against Him "And when his friends heard of it, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself. (Mar 3:21)

People in his home town say there must be something fake or sinister about Him. Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching". (Mar 6:3-6)

According to Mark, Jesus supplies a model for those who must renounce their family in this 1^st Century Christian community, if it stands in the way of the Revelation of who is Jesus Christ truly: " There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? And he looked round about on them which sat about him, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is my brother, and my sister, and mother". (Mar 3:31-35)

Mark connects the idea of family division with persecution (the situation in his community) that he uses persecution in an ironic answer when Peter asks what reward will he get for following Jesus: "And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, But he shall receive an hundredfold now in this time, houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come eternal life". (Mar 10:29-30) And Jesus connect his own suffering and those of His followers "And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." (Mar 8:34) "But Jesus said unto them, Ye know not what ye ask: can ye drink of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? (Mar 10:38 ) 

It is Jesus’ calm bearing under trial and torture and execution that Mark portrays as a model for his followers as they faced their own ordeals- as opposed to the desertion of Peter and others. He speaks of the need of people (brethren) to be rooted in the Gospel The revelation of Who Christ is, Lest "And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended". (Mar 4:17)

Enough for now Gentle reader, I have given you much to think about in the light of what the first believers suffered and what was recorded in Mark. How does the prosperity gospel of today square with what Mark writes?

Love,

Denis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanksgiving- It all about editing

Gentle Reader,

Yes,  thanksgiving is all about editing. Its remembering the good things and and forgetting the bad. Someday this time that we find ourselves in, just a memory! I look back at what Marti and I have been through. The walks in the "soft days" in Mallow where we stopped in at a wee tea shoppe and I tried to get a "good cup of coffee, while Marti get a excellent cup of Irish breakfast tea.

 The times in England when I stepped backed and almost fell out of the pulpit (the church wanted to hire me anyway, but I didn't decide to go there. 

 The time when I was teaching a school and talking about the 23rd psalm and couldn't remember that baby sheep are called lambs so I called them sheeplets! The kids never forgot that!!!

While in Germany, the great food and the wonderful people that made the stay there a never to be forgotten memory.

 Here in America the time Marti was down and I went out and bought her a wee bird. And then I realized that I had open the flood gates and we had a house full of wonderful colorful birds who talked and screamed and make our wee home come alive! 

 The children who I taught at "Pastors pals (those 12 and under) who came forward to sit around before the adults had their worship service. And listened to to me regale then about what "Pastor was afraid of" And to watch the dear saints of God fall on the floor laughing at some of my more silly comments.

The Time that I took the teens to a 'Christian Rock concert" and was so tired that I fell asleep in the midst.

 Yes gentle reader, well all suffer at times but thank God God gives us the ability the edit out the bad and remember the good.

We will get through the bad times for God has promised to wipe away every tear.

I wonder how he thought up this editing process (maybe its when He looks at us and sees His beloved Son)

Happy  Thanks giving from 

Denis, Marti, and the Fids (Paddy the pooch, Chi Chi the fearless Chihuahua, and Duffy sun conure  

Deep in History - Deep in Scripture

Gentle reader,

To understand something requires that we do something . In the case of the Gospels it requires that we put down our rose colored glasses and look again at what we we have before us. And then stop and think (I know that is hard especially when so many let others think for them) But Gentle reader,  I want you to sit back inhale the delicious aroma of my Irish coffee and think for a moment or two.

Now then if we would remove that pesky page in out bible which says "The New Testament" we could actually have a complete or at least better understanding of how we came to what we call "the New testament"

When the last book of the Hebrew Bible was penned there was period of approximately400 years which we call the inter-Testament period. A period from Malachi (374 B.C.) To Matthew. A interval in which has been called "the dark period" where there was neither prophet nor inspired writer . A period in which Israel history in pro Christian times as was declared in Psalm 74: <Maschil of Asaph.> O God, why hast thou cast us off for ever? why doth thine anger smoke against the sheep of thy pasture? Remember thy congregation, which thou hast purchased of old; the rod of thine inheritance, which thou hast redeemed; this mount Zion, wherein thou hast dwelt. Lift up thy feet unto the perpetual desolations; even all that the enemy hath done wickedly in the sanctuary. Thine enemies roar in the midst of thy congregations; they set up their ensigns for signs. A man was famous according as he had lifted up axes upon the thick trees. But now they break down the carved work thereof at once with axes and hammers. They have cast fire into thy sanctuary, they have defiled by casting down the dwelling place of thy name to the ground. They said in their hearts, Let us destroy them together: they have burned up all the synagogues of God in the land. We see not our signs: there is no more any prophet: neither is there among us any that knoweth how long. (Psa 74:1-9)m What we had at the end of The "Hebrew Bible and the Book of Malachi in its four successive compartments, (i.e.) The Organizational, the Historical, the Philosophical, the Prophetical, is a book of 1) UNEXPLAINED CEREMONIES, 2) UNACHIEVED PURPOSES, 3)UNAPPEASED LONGINGS, 4) UNFILLED PROPHECIES. UNTIL WE COME TO THE "New Testament".

I like to tell my study groups when we turn to what has been called the "new testament or the new covenant" to turn to for example Matthew in their old testament which strictly speak is true!

We have looked the first few studies at an abbreviated form of her·me·neu·tics which is ( the branch of theology that deals with the principles of Biblical exegesis.) That is to say the science of interpretation - which most feel that they have that principle locked down.... much to my dismay!! Unfortunately everyone who has heard a message (sermon to my American friends) feels that it’s a simple thing "just get up and read a verse of Scripture and then tell people what you think about something else. It was in the Book of Hosea that we read " My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. (4:6) I suppose that if I have a hobby horse it is the unlearned teaching the unwilling to be unrighteous. To be ignorant is a dangerous thing Gentle reader, but I have hopes that in you we shall turn the ignorance of many into the wisdom for it has been written we have the "mind of Christ" 1Co 2:16 For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

So allow me to share with you some insights garnered through years of thinking about what we have all read. When one first reads the 4 gospels one finds a structure that is unmistakable, We find for example in the Book of Matthew a structure that looks like this:

A. The Proclamation of the Kingdom (Matt. 4:12-7:29 )

B. The Proclamation of the King (Matt. 8:1-16:20 )

B. The Rejection of the King (Matt.16:20-20:34)

A. The Rejection of the Kingdom (Matt. 21:1-26:35 )

But we want to move past all of that to consider, this that the writers of the 4 Gospels were living in a time when they were not thinking WWJS (What would Jesus Say? If He were present) But what was Jesus saying! Because He was present!

This was not a later development but from the very beginning those who embraced the Messiah were absolutely convinced that He was there with them it was settled from the very earliest time. Paul appealed to these believers by these words: For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many. (1Co 12:12-14) You are Messiah’s body, each with a function. This belief was asserted in the earliest baptismal hymn that Paul quotes: For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as have been baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.

(Gal 3:26-28 ) . So given this sense of Jesus indwelling in the community its members did not ask (as we struggle with today) what would Jesus be saying. They knew!

So as we look at these gospels we will see Jesus in persecution in Mark Jesus in instruction in Matthew, Jesus in consolation in Luke and in mystical exaltation in John. Which we will take up in turn next time. Remember we are looking at the first believers and their understanding of the marching orders of Christ. How exciting is that?

Love,

Denis 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Things you never learned in Church

Gentle Reader,

We now return to the examination of the various gospels that we have delineated previously. Ready? We have:

"THE GOSPEL (or GOOD NEWS) OF GOD".

This is the Gospel unto which Paul the Apostle was separated (Rom. 1:1), and is supplementary to "the Gospel of the Kingdom", of which it was another aspect. "The Gospel of the Kingdom" was first proclaimed by John the Baptist and the Lord. But both were rejected and put to death. The Lord, however, was raised from the dead and the Gospel of God has to do with a risen Messiah. It characterizes the ministry of the Acts rather than that of the Gospels; especially Paul's share in it. The Gospel of a risen Messiah, re-proclaimed as about to come and restore all things, was the burden of the apostolic proclamation during the dispensation of the Acts. See Acts 2:23-36; 3:12-18; 4:2, 10-12.

"With great power gave the Apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus; and great grace was upon them all" (4:33). Also 5:29-32; 10:34-43; 13:23-29.

This too, was the burden of Paul's proclamation, as we may see from Acts 17:1-3, 7. He proclaimed "Jesus, and the resurrection" (vv. 18, 31, 32). True, it was the proclamation of the Kingdom, and, in its wider aspect, "the kingdom of God" (14:22; 19:8); because it was He Who had raised Christ from the dead, and the proclamation was being sent out by God Himself. It was His own special good news. It was of His own motion and will. And it was all of grace. If "His own" would even now receive Messiah, He would "send Jesus Christ" (Acts 3:20). In spite of all their sins, and their heinous crime in murdering His beloved Son, He would blot out all their sins and fulfill all His promises. Truly, this was in very deed :--

 

"THE GOSPEL (or GOOD NEWS) OF THE GRACE OF GOD".

This is why, in the canonical order of the books of the New Testament, God's overruling is seen in the fact that the first writing which comes to us following on the double rejection of His Son (in the Gospels and the Acts) is the word and good news of His grace in Rom. 1:1. In spite of all that we should consider the unpardonable nature of Israel's crime, the first written words which meet our eyes are these :--

"Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, a called Apostle (or, an Apostle by Divine calling), separated to God's Gospel (or glad tidings), which He before promised by means of His prophets in sacred writings concerning His Son, Who came of the seed of David according to the flesh, Who was demonstrated [to be] God's Son, in power, with respect to [His] holy spirit [body, 1Cor. 15:45], by resurrection of the dead --even Jesus Christ our Lord, by Whom we received GRACE -- yea, apostolic grace, with a view to the obedience of faith among all the nations, on behalf of His Name (or for His glory), among whom yourselves also are [the] called of Jesus Christ" (Rom. 1:1-6).

Here we have the sum and the substance of the good news of the grace of God. It was not new. It was promised before and written down by His prophets. The sufferings, death and resurrection and glory, were all foretold. But now "those things, which God before had showed by the mouth of all His prophets that Christ should suffer, He hath so fulfilled. THEREFORE, Repent ye, and turn again that your sins may be blotted out, so that [haply] may come seasons of refreshing from the presence (or face) of the Lord, and [that] He may send Him Who was before proclaimed (or according to all the critical texts, "was foreordained") for you -- even Jesus Christ" (Acts 3:18-20).

Thus "God's Gospel" was based on the prophecies of the Old Testament, and was the logical development of them. It is in this that it is distinguished from that which had not been before revealed by the prophets in the concluding verses of Romans. That epistle begins with what had been written in the Scriptures; it ends with what had never been written till "now", when the SECRET which had been kept in silence from times eternal, or during [the] times of [the] ages was then at length made manifest (Rom. 16:25, 26. Eph. 3:1-12. Col. 1:26-28).

The time had come fro this secret to be revealed, and to be committed to prophetic writings. This revelation is contained in the three Epistles written by Paul from his prison in Rome, to the Ephesians, Phillippians, and Colossians. Thus "the Gospel of the Kingdom" was the proclamation by and concerning the Messiah made by John the Baptist and Himself, and is the subject of the Four Gospels.

Thus "the Gospel of the Kingdom" is the proclamation concerning the same Messiah, made by the Twelve, the apostle Paul, and "them that heard" the Lord, during the dispensation of the Acts of the Apostles, and is the subject of their testimony and of their writings and the earlier Epistles of Paul. Seeing it was good news sent after the resurrection of Christ, it is all of pure grace and favour, and hence is "the Gospel of the Grace of God".

 

THE GOSPEL (or GOOD NEWS) OF THE GLORY OF CHRIST (2COR. 4:4).

This is connected with Christ's exaltation as Head over all things to His church, which is His body, which is developed and revealed more fully in the Prison Epistles (Eph. 1:21-23. Phil. 2:9-11. Col. 1:14-19). It not only involves the present glory of Messiah, but includes the final defeat of Satan, the crushing of his head, and the subjugation of all spiritual beings, be they powers, principalities, authorities, dominions, or thrones, &c.

Hence, it is Satan's great aim now, at this present time, to blind the eyes of them that believe not, so that they may not learn of his coming defeat, as foretold in Gen. 3:15, and seen fulfilled in Rev. 20 (see 2Cor. 4:4). Knowing his object, and being "not ignorant of his devices", we know also what should be our own object : viz. the making known this good news which he would seek to hide; and proclaiming "the Gospel of the glory of Christ".

Next time we look a wee bit deeper into the Gospels that we call Matthew, Mark Luke and John

Love.

Denis

 

 

 

 

The Parables of the Kingdom

Gentle Reader,

The following parables set forth the proclamation of the Gospel of the Kingdom, from various points of view:

THE PARABLE OF THE SOWER (Matt. 13:3-32).

This, the first parable, covers the whole ground. The "seed "was" the word of (or concerning) the Kingdom". When repeated later (Luke 8:5-15), the sphere is extended and widened, and is less local and exclusive. This is by way of application.

The First Sowing was "by" the wayside. This must have been the proclamation by John the Baptist (Matt. 3. Mark 1:1-8. Luke 3:1-18. John 1:6-36). This was "by the wayside", and the opposition of the evil one is shown in the birds of evil omen (as in the case of the mustard tree, vv. 31, 32). Hence the seed was "devoured" and the word was "not understood" (vv. 4, 19).

The Second Sowing was by Christ Himself (Matt. 4:17), and Twelve (Matt. 10:7), and the Seventy (Luke 10:1-20). This sowing was on the stony ground, and was received "with joy" (Matt. 13:20; see Mark 6:20, and 12:37. Luke 4:22). This was unfruitful (Mark 4:16, 17).

The Third Sowing was by Peter and the Twelve, and "by them that heard Him" (the Son, Heb. 2:3) during the Dispensation of the Acts. It was "among the thorns". Peter proclaimed the Kingdom (Acts 3:18-26), and repeated the call to national repentance, which was the one abiding condition of national blessing. But the seed was choked. The "thousand of jews" who at first "received the word", continued "all zealous of the law" (Acts 21:20. Gal. 3:1-5, 10-13; 4:9; 5:1-4). This sowing came to a crisis in Acts 28, when the Kingdom was rejected, and has since been in abeyance. See Ap. 112, 113, and 114.

The Fourth Sowing is in the future (According to those who hold a End Times Tribulation position-While I don’t not take a stand on this position I present it from this position). It will be the final proclamation of "the Gospel of the Kingdom", immediately preceding and during the Tribulation (Matt. 24:14). Blindness has "happened to Israel", but it is only "in part" (Rom. 11:25). The "how long" of Isa. 6:11 will ere long be seen. This sowing will be of short duration only, as were the other three, and numbered by "days" (Dan. 12:13. Matt. 24:22. Luke 17:26). There will be a special manifestation of the presence and power of the Lord (Matt. 28:20), at the end (sunteleia) of this age; and when this sowing is over, the end (telos) will come (Matt. 24:13, 14), concerning which the disciples had enquired in v. 3.

 

THE PARABLE OF THE MARRIAGE FEAST. (Matt. 22:1-14).

The servants first sent forth were John the Baptist, the Twelve, and the Seventy, and there were sent to those who had been previously bidden. But "they would not come". The "other servants" who were next sent were Peter, the Twelve, and "them that heard Him" (Heb. 2:3, 4) during the dispensation of the Acts, as foreshown in v. 4. They proclaimed that "all things were ready". Nothing now was wanting. The "sufferings" had been fulfilled and the glory was ready to be revealed (Luke 24:26, 46. Acts 3:18. 1Pet. 1:5). Therefore, "Repent ye", &c. (Acts 2:38, 39; 3:19).

But instead of repenting they "took His servants, and entreated them spitefully, and slew them" (Matt. 22:5, 6). Some they imprisoned (Acts 4:3; 5:18; 8:3; 9:1, 13, 21); one they stoned (Acts 7:59); another they "killed with the sword" (Acts 12:2). This shows that that dispensation could not have ended with the stoning of Stephen in Acts 7, for James was slain after that; and other persecutions were continued up to the end (Acts 28:17).

"But the King was wroth, and sent His armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city" (Matt. 22:7). The Temple was burned, and the nation dispersed. The last servants sent will go "into the highways" of the world. Here we have, again, a reference to the yet future proclamation of "the Gospel of the Kingdom". Now, this marriage-feast is postponed; and all invitations to it are in abeyance. Its future fulfilment is yet to take place. This is referred to in Matt. 24:14, and is proved by Rev. 19:6-9, where we have the same word in v. 9 as in Matt. 22:2.

 

"THE GREAT SUPPER" (Luke 14:15-24).

This was spoken in immediate connection with the blessedness of eating bread in the Kingdom of God. Again we have the Four Ministries, as in the above parables. The supper was made by "a certain man", and many were bidden. This bidding was the ministry of John the Baptist. It is set forth as a simple statement of a past and accomplished fact. This was the First Ministry (v. 16).

The Second Invitation was sent to those who had been already bidden by John. It was sent by "His Servant", Who was none other than the Lord Jesus Himself. His Ministry is expressed in one sentence : "Come; for all things are now ready" (v. 17). he was sent "at supper time", according to Eastern custom. But they all with one consent began to make excuse (vv. 18-20).

The Third Invitation was sent, not to those who had been already bidden, but to another class altogether. It was sent by "The Master of the House", Who has perfect right and authority to invite whom He will. He sent "quickly" : i.e. very soon after the return of the second servant; and "into the streets and lanes of the city". This was the ministry of Peter, the Twelve, and Paul.

The Fourth Invitation is yet future, as shown above in the other parables. It will be sent forth by "the Lord" (v. 23), by Him Who has all power in heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18-20). This will be a ministry of compulsion, carried out in the "highways and hedges" of the wide world; and it will be effectual like the last in the preceding cases. All, in turn, receive the call, but it is the last who "hear and understand" (Matt. 13:23); who "hear and receive" (Mark 4:20); who "hear and keep" (Luke 8:15); and who "bring forth fruit". For this, special wisdom and understanding is needed, as foretold in Dan. 11:33; 12:3, 10.

Thus the present dispensation (since the destruction of Jerusalem and dispersion of Israel, which took place shortly after Acts 28, has nothing to do with the Kingdom, and the proclamation of the good news connected with it is postponed and in abeyance. Meanwhile, and during this dispensation, we have...

To be continued next time.

Love,

Denis

(Part 3) Gospel or Gospels

Study the Bible With Denis your own personal Bible teacher (Bring your note book!)

Gentle reader,

About the meaning of the word rendered "Gospel" there is no question or doubt; and the origin and exact meaning of the English word does not matter. The Greek word evangelion means good news, glad tidings; and these good tidings, which may be concerning various and different subjects, must be distinguished.

Note: See Phil. 1:10, which says this "That ye may approve things that are excellent *; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ" * translated to mean things that differ (We are to test the things that differ, and having found them different should not attempt to join or put them together, but to "rightly divide them" 2 Tim. 2:15 "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (KJV) or The Literal Translation "Give diligence to present yourself approved to God, a workman unashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth". Which I have studying the original have translated this way "You, yourself, be diligent to present  approved to God as a workman who needs not to be ashamed handling accurately the word of the Truth"

There is, first :

"THE EVERLASTING GOSPEL" (or GOOD NEWS).

This was proclaimed from the first, i.e. after the Fall, and it was proclaimed to men as men, by God, the Creator, to His creatures. Its message was that the Creator alone to be feared and worshipped, and men were to have no other gods beside Him. He was the holy and righteous One, and He was, and is, and will be the only and final Judge of men. God proclaimed this from the first, and among its heralds were ENOCH, "the seventh from Adam", who proclaimed His coming for this judgment of the ungodly (Jude 14:15); and NOAH, a herald of righteousness and of coming righteous judgment (Heb. 11:7 and 2Pet, 2:5).

When the "calling on high" shall have been given (Phil. 3:14), and when "transgressors are come to the full" (Dan. 8:23), and before the Kingdom is set up in glory, this Gospel (or Good News) will again be proclaimed (Rev. 14:6). It is "everlasting", and men, as such, will be called upon to "Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come : and worship Him that made heaven, and earth", &c (Rev. 14:7). This is the Gospel proclaimed by the Creator to His sinful creatures after the Fall; and it will be proclaimed again at the end. Hence its name "everlasting". Then followed :

 

THE GOSPEL (or GOOD NEWS) OF THE KINGDOM.

To Abraham and his seed was the good news proclaimed, and the promise given that God would make of him a nation in whom all the families of the earth should be blessed (Gen. 12:1-3). This good news was gradually expanded and developed. In Gen. 15:4 the heir was announced, and this heir was to be the Messiah (Gal. 3:16). In Gen. 15:8-21 the inheritance was secured by an unconditional promise (not by a covenant between two parties, one of whom might break it, Gal. 3:18-20). That inheritance was (and is yet to be) "the Holy Land", "Immanuel's Land" (Isa. 8:8 ) , Immanuel Himself being the Governor (Isa. 9:6, 7), and "the zeal of the LORD of hosts" its security.

In 2Sam. 7 the throne was secured to David and his seed by another unconditional promise, and in due time Messiah came unto His own (John 1:11). This "good news" was first heralded by angels sent specially from heaven; and the exact terms of the proclamation are recorded. The angel of Jehovah spoke from the glory of Jehovah, and said :

"Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of David, a SAVIOUR, which is CHRIST, THE LORD."

Thus the good news concerned a Person, Who would "save His people from their sins" (Matt. 1:21) : the Saviour Whom God had anointed (Messiah), appointed, given, and sent. In the proclamation of this Kingdom the Lord taught in Parables; for there were "mysteries" (i.e. secrets) which concerned the rejection, and consequent postponement and abeyance of the Kingdom, which could not openly be made known, but only in private ("in the house", Matt. 13:36).

It had been foreseen, and therefore foretold, that His People would not receive Him, and would reject Him (Isa. 53, &c) and put Him to death. This would not affect the fulfilment of all the promised glories connected with the Kingdom. See Luke 24:26: "Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into His glory?" Cp. Acts 3:18; 17:3. True, Christ had been put to death; but God had sworn to David, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, He would raise up Christ to sit on his throne (Acts 2:30). This was now fulfilled : therefore the proclamation of the Kingdom and the King (for there cannot be the one without the other) was at once formally made by Peter in Acts 3:18-26.

This proclamation was made by Peter and the Twelve in the capital of the Land (according to Matt. 22:1-7), and by Paul throughout the synagogues of the Dispersion, until it was all brought to a crisis in Rome (the capital of the Dispersion). Paul and those who heard the Lord thus "confirmed what at the first began to be spoken by the Lord". They did not go beyond it by altering its terms; and God bare them "witness by signs and wonders, and divers miracles, and spiritual gifts" (Heb. 2:1-4).

In Acts 28 this was brought to a conclusion by a formal rejection on the part of "the chief of the Jews" (Acts 28:17-20), and of these, not a few, but "many" (v. 23); and, after a discussion, which lasted throughout the whole day, the proclamation was finally rejected; and, after the prophecy of Israel's blindness (Isa. 6:9, 10) had been quoted for the third and last time ( The second time being in John 12:37-41).

The dispensation of the proclamation of "the Gospel (or good news) of the Kingdom" ceased, and is now, therefore, in abeyance, for "NOW, we see NOT YET all things put under Him" (Heb. 2:8 ) .

All these "mysteries" (or secrets) concerning the postponement and abeyance of the Kingdom were spoken "in parables", "because (the LORD said), it is given unto you (unto the disciples) to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them (to the People) it is not given" (Matt. 13:11); going on to explain His action by quoting (for the first time) the prophecy of Israel's blindness (Isa. 6:9, 10).

There was nothing in Old Testament prophecy that told of what the Lord reveals in these Parables of the Kingdom : how it would be rejected, and to what lengths the People would go in the rejection of the King; what would happen in consequence; how a second offer would be proclaimed, and how that too would be rejected : and what new revelation would be made in consequence.

All this was hidden in the parables spoken by the Lord, yet revealed to the disciples, and written for our learning (Matt. 13:16, 36, 51, 52. Luke 24:26, 27, 44-46. Acts 1:3, 6, 7). Any interpretation which proceeds on other lines can only end in a blindness equal to that which fell on the Jewish nation. This interpretation will in no wise detract from, or lessen, the value of such application as we may make for ourselves, so long as such application does not ignore the definite revelation made subsequently in the Prison Epistles in fulfilment of the Lord's promise in John 16:12-15. Next Time we will take up the parables set forth within the proclamation in the gospel of the Kingdom.

So Gentle Reader you will find many preachers who will try to tell you they are trying to bring in the Kingdom, not knowing that they are living in another time and place. Don’t be fooled by the undereducated. And by all means check me out that I don’t teach something that does not square with Scripture.

Love,

Denis

Bible 101 the Gospel

"The greatest danger besetting American Evangelical Christianity is the danger of anti-intellectualism. . . . For the sake of greater effectiveness in witnessing to Jesus Christ Himself, as well as for their own sakes, the Evangelicals cannot afford to keep on living on the periphery of responsible intellectual existence."

Please note these studies can not in any way take place of your personal Bible study I am just pointing you a directions that I have taken in the past. If they are hard to follow let me know and I’ll try to break them down for you a wee bit. The purpose is to get you to think outside your comfort zone and grow in the Grace and knowledge of Our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus.

Gentle Reader,

It has been assumed by many that simply calling yourself a Christian is the same as walking into a car park and calling yourself a automobile!

Christians need to understand that they (like so many others) are a faith based on a Book [which we call God’s Word]. The problem is that so many are willing to take their denominations perspective, or their pastors or deacon....they carry their Bible which sits on their lap for most of the worship service (Protestant not Catholic) {note: Catholic have a liturgical service which is built around a mass with prayers and music leading up to the communion service, but I digress).

The Protestant service for the most part revolves around music and a message and or teaching from a selected Bible verse or verses, chosen by the Pastor/Principle teacher or by a committee of their denomination. If there is any Bible study (most people hate that word "Study" because they never received a good impression from their teachers in primary school and have carried with them ever since a distaste for learning which also is unfortunate as their opportunity to learn more about their Lord and Saviour is also lost.

Do you remember that meeting in the Book of Acts?

And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert. And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship, Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet. Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot. And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest? And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he

would come up and sit with him. The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth: In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth. And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man? Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus. And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? (Act 8:26-36).

So Gentle reader God intends for us to learn of Him for Scripture has said: "Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Mat 22:35-40)

We cannot worship God without the use of our mind for "God does not do His deepest work in our shallowest part!"

The Gospel: Which one did you find? Or which one do you follow?

Here are 15 different gospels for you to consider:

1. Mat 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

2. Mar 1:1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

Mar 1:14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,

3. Mar 16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mar 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;

Mar 16:18 They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

4. Rom 1:1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated unto the gospel of God,

5. Rom 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

6. Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

7. Rom 2:16 In the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ according to my gospel.

8. 2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

9. Gal 2:7 But contrariwise, when they saw that the gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

10. Gal 2:7 ...as the gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter;

11. Act 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

12. Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,

13. Eph 6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

14. 1Ti 1:11 According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust.

15. Rev 14:6 And I saw another angel fly in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people,

In addition we can add Ephesians 3:6 and 2 Timothy 1:10,11 where the gospel is defined as that which Paul has been a minister, a preacher, an Apostle and teacher of the Gentiles.

It would be as untrue as it would be absurd to say that because we have compiled a list of 15 different titles of the Gospel, that there are 15 different "Gospels", but it would be equally harmful and untrue to sweep them aside and heap them altogether in a pile and not notice all the manifest differences that are here and to think there is little or no importance.

Next time we’ll look at two different gospels and consider the sameness as well as their differences.

Love,

Denis 

 

 

What your Father didn't know and your mother wouldn't tell you

The Gospel

Gentle Readers,

As you know it is a difficult thing to go back to school even if you have not completed even primary school. For Christians they receive much in terms of "education" but many times they are sadly lacking in what we would call the basics.

What my job is in these next blogs is to bring you along a wee bit so that you may speak with a little more assurance about your Christian faith.

We hope to dig a wee bit deeper into what the Bible says and teaches. Now you need to know that I have no ax to grind, no denomination to hold up as the "only place you can receive truth"

Since I am no longer in the paid ministry as many of my brethren are. I do not answer to a board, or a deacon (with deep pockets) who decides what I can speak about and how much teaching is allowed ("He doesn’t share our values") I need not hold back because of someone’s hurt feelings. "I don’t like the way our pastor combs his hair and do you know that he was seen (fill in the blank)

Do you remember the wee song that you sang in Sunday school as a child?

"Jesus love me this I know

For the Bible tells me so"

Learning something new or at least different is rather like that. You have to open your mind to the possibility that some things may be different or the only song you will ever know is that wee song.

Now I am going to teach you some things you may have never thought of before Gentle reader, but don’t be afraid it won’t hurt and I’ll be with you every step of the way!

Let’s start with what you know. The word "Gospel" what does it mean? Everyone that I ask in the sound of my laptop would say " Gospel? It means good news" Why just the other day My pastor preached about how he was called (by God) to preach the Gospel!"

So I ask you gentle Reader, which Gospel? And what Good News was he preaching about? Hold tight we about to enter some thoughts you perhaps have never given and thought to. (I know there is a pun there somewhere) .

Now you need a proper definition of What is a Gospel? A Gospel is a meditation on the meaning of Jesus Christ in the light of Sacred History as recorded in the Sacred writings.

The Gospels are not biographies or history books, or treatises. Their shape is determined by their uses, by their place in the lives and memories and prayers of early believers. They are themselves a form of prayer. It was once said that Jesus began as a biography and ended as a creed. We know now that the reverse is true.

The meditation is a communal act, incorporating the preaching and prayers of many Christians partly born out of and partly intended for the early liturgies.

The Gospels are an application of the continuing Sacred History to the the particular situations of the gospel writers. The books represent and reflect not only the past events from the life of Christ but His experienced life in the members of the community.

And you Gentle Reader are living out the life of Christ in your life. Col 1:27 "To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:"

Well, little ones, I see the coffee pot is empty and the last of the Irish cream cheeses muffins are gone so that must mean that our time is up for today. So go home dust off your bible and look up the word gospel in your concordance. Your in for a treat next time.

Love,

Denis

A Still, Small Voice

There’s a quiet spot in the depths of my being where God in silence dwells,

The holy, infinite presence of God where awareness slowly wells,

Away from the noisy outer world, enclosed where it’s calm and still,

Breathing in deep tranquility as mind and spirit fill.

It’s a silence that speaks without words, and doesn’t sound to the ear,

But listening to it with my heart can calm every doubt and fear.

The unconditional love I feel makes each anxiety cease,

As the overwhelming essence of God fills my soul with the sweetest peace.

Part 3 Humpty Dumpty

 Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall

Gentle readers,

You might ask why do I tell you all these things for what happened to us several years ago (and is still in some fashion going on). It’s because you need to understand that sometimes God whispers in the darkest times. Even Christians go through what has been called "the silence of God" or "the dark night of the soul" it is when the people favored by God have by their actions or altitudes have turn their back on what God wants for each of us. Remember the sermon on the mount?

"And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,

Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

(Matt 5 ) 

Or in a nut shell we might say "Do to others as you would have them do to you. It’s time Gentle reader, for us to turn not inward as we have in the past but outward! Reaching out to help one another! For when we do this one thing God will in turn give us that which we need. We no long can allow our political leaders to steal, rob and cheat! No longer can we allow those people who have been given much to continue to allow greed to rule their lives.

We must decide the way we want this country to go. Up and giving to all mankind or hoarding and grasping for self. You cannot do this alone Gentle Reader, but you can start. Help your neighbor, help that stranger, help the poor, yes and even help the rich!

God is giving us as individuals and as a nation  a chance to show what we are really like. Are we good? Or are we not? It’s up to each of us to put that best part of ourselves out there. Mat 25:40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

And what will you do Gentle Reader? What will you do?

Part 2 of Passports, President, Politics and Pastors

Well Gentle reader,

Again within a month I fell sick to the point I was taken into the Hospital The ammonia that I had breathed in caused me to develop COPD (which developed into the loss of the use of one lung). What does COPD mean? COPD stands for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. It encompasses two types of disease processes namely chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Quite often, people who suffer from COPD show a combination of features of both disease processes. In lay person's term, COPD means persistent lung disease with features of airway narrowing. To be more specific, bronchitis means inflammation of the bronchi or the larger airways of the lungs whereas emphysema means destruction to the smaller airways and alveoli or airsacs of the lungs. Thus COPD is commonly used to describe chronic bronchitis, emphysema, or both.

What happened then was I was fired! Reason: Not coming to work! Welcome to Indiana!!! ( remember I told you that Indiana has what is called "A right to Work law" in other words The employer can fire you without any reason "I don’t like the color of your skin" extreme but has been true in this state!). Now then we found out shortly after that that Marti had a disease called CFS Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is the most common name given to a poorly understood, variably debilitating disorder or disorders of uncertain causation.

Symptoms of CFS include widespread muscle and joint pain, cognitive difficulties, chronic, often severe mental and physical exhaustion and other characteristic symptoms in a previously healthy and active person. Fatigue is a common symptom in many illnesses, but CFS is a multi-systemic disease and is relatively rare by comparison Rare! Quite an understatement, considering she is in constant pain and now has been bedfast for more than 4 (count them) 4 years. The doctors in Indiana and for that matter around the whole of America don’t know, don’t care, do want to help.

In the process we dipped into our savings again and again, only to find that the chances of returning to Ireland becoming dimmer and dimmer. The medical cost were rising and rising until we were in a word broke

Having spent our life savings in a short space of time. With no job (no church wants someone who has a sick wife, "too much trouble" and no insurance. We turned as many oif you have done in the past ( or perhaps in the future). To our "safety net" only to find that the bureaucratic system has no truck with those who have fallen on hard times "Remember "tough times never last, tough people do" What you may ask how dare we look for help, isn’t that just a socialistic attitude? No gentle reader, that is the American way to help one another when the need arises. Wouldn’t you agree.

 If not then close this blog and go out and look at the results of the greed in this country now coming out in the open (159,000 jobs lost in the past month for example 750,000 alone this year).

We turned to our (and your Government ) I wrote to Mich Daniels Republican Governor of Indiana for help His answer " and I quote we never heard a word " ! I wrote to our State Senators Evan Bayh (D) and Richard Lugar (R) Lugar responded by sending a form letter that told me How great he had been standing up for the likes of people like me! Bayh never responded rather like the Governor of this great state. I even wrote the President G. W. Bush (never heard a peep). And Dick Cheneny sent a spent shotgun shell- not really)!

We had mounting bills, utility bills over $4000. No help! We lost our only possession our home with all of our birds (FIDS) and everything we had collected in out marriage.

So Gentle reader, when I am told and I have looked at the Presidential Candidates What I want is a leader who cares about you and me.

To Be continued ...