Meet Jesus, Part 3 of 3 Parts

Note: To view Parts I and II click on dates Oct 22, Oct 23 (to the left). Later in the day, Jesus’ lifeless body was taken down from the cross, tenderly cared for, and placed in a new sepulcher with a heavy boulder sealing the entrance. Roman guards were in place to prevent anyone from removing the body. Sunday the tomb is found open,the Resurrection of Jesus had taken place. Mary Magdalene does not know where Jesus is.When Jesus speaks to her she recognizes Him and is marveled by His words. Jesus speaks saying “Do not be afraid; go, take word to my brethren that they are to set out for Galilee; there they shall see me.” “The eleven Apostles went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had directed them to go. And when they saw Him they worshipped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus drew near and spoke to them saying, ‘All power in heaven and on earth has been give to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and behold, I am with you all days, even unto the consummation of the world’” (Mt 28:16-20). Jesus stayed with His Apostles 40 days. They ate and drank together, He teaching more of what needed understanding. Before leaving them for heaven, He gave Peter, the chosen leader of the Apostles, all authority to bind and loose on earth; that which he held bound or loosed on earth would be held bound or loosed in heaven. He also gave Peter the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. In essence, all authority for the followers of Jesus is given to no one but Peter, and handed to his successors since the undenieable assignment by Jesus, period. When Jesus did leave them at His amazing Ascension to Heaven, the Apostles stood as in a trance gazing up at Him. A couple of angels standing beside them broke their mindset by telling them that there was work to be done, that Jesus, Who was just taken up, will return at the close of the age the same way He left. Through Jesus’ sacred Passion, His sufferings and death on the cross, He actually effected the redemption of humankind, the work which in obedience to the will of His Heavenly Father He had come into this world as Incarnate Jesus, God-man, to accomplish. Today, Around 2000 Years Later Christmas is an ancient, glorious celebration in remembrance of Jesus’ birth. As described, He was born, became a real He Man, showing us what we must do to attain to our heavenly home. In the process of showing us and teaching us, He brought upon himself the wrath of the Jewish High Priests that were content to rule by distorted Mosaic Laws,and wanted to rid themselves of Him. This piece is not meant to judge;that certainly is not my place to do. This article is offered for people who do not know about God and Jesus,or people that think they know,and for people that ought to know their Brother, Who came, Who saw, and, through His Love, conquered, and Who now sits at the right hand of the Father, to judge the living and the dead. So, you, everyone, bar none, will meet Him for Judgment, no force that exists can alter that day that is sure to come. Amen. Now, and in the past dozen or so years, there are significant numbers of people and groups doing their utmost in mean-spirited, vile and illegal ways to destroy Christmas. They are atheists, people with guilt consciences from choosing wrong over right, and now choose not to know what to do to be at peace; people unable and unwilling to face their sins and cannot handle goodness and moral love. Yes, we also have fallen away Christians that cannot admit to the error of their ways, even as they form groups with Catholic Christian names. All,knowingly or unknowingly advocates of the devil. Moreover,we always have a segment of ignorant people who just do not know any better, and who have stopped learning, setting their minds in concrete. All of these repugnant people seem to be increasing in number yearly. What to do: In your space, remain vigilant, know what is happening that is not right, take a stand and have your say when you ought, keeping in mind that two wrongs do not make a right. Jesus said, “Love your enemies.” Also, “If you love only those who love you, what merit is there in that?” There is so much more that He wisely taught man how to live as a way to one-day reach heaven. All we need do is open His Holy Bible. Spend time with Him, with His Gospels. His words are as fresh and lively today as ever. I compare the evildoers that work to destroy Christmas today to the shouts of the malevolent people of Pilate’s day, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him! The devil is happily behind the workings of both. Are we going to allow the evil mischief-makers existing in our day to continue in their yearly destruction of our Christ’s Birthday (Christmas)across this nation? I pray not. Doing nothing is not an option. Seek true peace – not in earth, but in heaven; not in men, nor in any other creature, but in God alone. – Thomas ‘a Kempis I have made an honest attempt to abbreviate the life of “The Greatest Story Ever Told.” To reduce more from the life of Jesus would be a serious omission. My prayer is that this message reaches everywhere in an attempt to repair an invalid gross indifference by Christians, and weaken the care less attitude by others of different dispositions that exists toward heavenly things about which Jesus taught. I hope, at the very least that “Meet Jesus,” which reveals much of the awful price He paid to save us will lead readers to the wonderful Love Letters from God, i.e. His Holy Bible, and His Love and Friendship; at best, I pray readers find themselves in the House of God with more understanding,and in His Sanctuary in prayer. God’s Love and Peace be with you, † I feel charged in telling you about Jesus, I do not feel charged in making you believe it. Thank you for visiting. - Bob Eph. 3:16-19

Meet Jesus, Part 2 of 3 Parts

Note: To view Part I of this article click on date Oct 22 (to the left). For three years Jesus taught, raised the dead, healed the sick, made the blind to see, the deaf to hear, and the lame to walk again or for the first time. The crowds increased, people sought after Jesus relentlessly, perhaps to get something from Him. There was no loyalty of any sort from the people; it was something people wanted from Him. After feeding thousands with so little, word of that miracle got around faster than the fastest computer of our day. One day Jesus took Peter James and John up a high mountain. As they were going up Jesus was transfigured, i.e. while His body retained its form, it began to shine, His face becoming like the sun, His garments like snow (or a shining light), and two men, Moses and Elias, representing the Law and the Prophets, were talking with Him. As they were speaking a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My Beloved Son, in Whom I am well pleased; hear Him.” Having just foretold His Passion (Lk 9:22), Christ was transfigured to strengthen His disciples for the severe trials soon to come. Christ’s transfiguration showed an example of what His glorified body would be after the Resurrection and of what our bodies will be after the general resurrection. As His mission on earth was nearing a climax, He arranged for the Last Supper and His solemn hours with His Apostles. While together in the Upper Room, He indirectly told Judas to do what he needed to do now. Judas slinked out to meet with the Jewish High Priests who want to kill Jesus because they were afraid He would weaken their positions in the eyes of the people. Meanwhile, still in the Upper Room, while Judas was arranging for Jesus’ “capture” Jesus taught His Apostles a personal lesson in the importance of humility. Then Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane, asking His Apostles to stay awake and watch while He prays. Judas’ betrayal took place here with a kiss. The ordeal began Thursday evening in the dark garden of Gethsemane, with this kiss by Judas. The Jewish High Priests brought false charges against Jesus. Because of the Jewish law, the High Priests could not kill Jesus. That led to sending Him to Pontius Pilate, who found no guilt in Jesus, but sent Jesus to Herod, who thought Pilate ought to take care of this, so Herod sent Jesus back to Pilate, who, because of the Jewish High Priests’ trumped up charge of Jesus being a threat, had Jesus tortured – even after he declared Jesus innocent four times! Without further ado, you could say that Jesus was “flogged.” That would not be correct. Jesus was tortured by the Romans beyond anything imaginable, including inhumane whipping no one but Jesus could endure. Then a crown of thorns* was crudely fashioned and pressed down upon His head and pushed into His skull; all of this would have killed any other man. Jesus was then returned to Pilate who claimed himself innocent for “this man.” * Click on Oct 12 for article "A Crown of Thorns." Pilate asks the Jewish Priests and the crowds “What do you want me to do with this man?” Like a political campaign with shills in the audience, the voices shouted, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him! There were more exchanges between Pilate and the people but the result was the same, “Crucify Him!” Those who were ignorant and those just plain evil were shouting louder,commanding more attention than those good and knowing. The Christmas birth, God-Man, who came into the world that He created, to the people He created, was now being condemned to an earthly death by the very people He loves and came to save by showing the way to heaven and eternal salvation. Jesus could have called on legions of angels to defend Him, instead He carries His heavy wooden cross, freely giving up His earthly life – no one takes it from Him, He gives it up to obediently fulfill His mission given to Him by the Father to save humanity. Reaching Golgotha, the cross drops to the ground and Jesus’ hands and feet, roughly handled, are nailed to it. The crown of thorns still pierces His head and now, His bodyweight, held by nine-inch crude nails holding his hands and feet to the cross, is pain beyond anything we can imagine. His horrible passion continues with taunting and laughter, and gambling for His clothes. Despite all, Jesus prays "Father,forgive them for they no not what they do." Jesus was just 33 years old; at approximately 3PM, Friday (now Good Friday), Jesus uttered, “It is finished.” His head slumped to His chest. The sky and earth blacken, the earth shook, and the curtains in the Jewish Temple tore apart. Onlookers became perplexed; for the first time many participants realized they could have made a mistake. Part III tomorrow, Oct 24, 2010. Be advised: I feel that I am charged in telling you about Jesus, I do not feel charged in making you believe it. Thank you for visiting. - Bob Eph 5:1-17

Meet Jesus Part 1 of 3 Parts

In December, Christians will commemorate the awesome birth of Emanuel, the Baby Jesus. Through God’s goodness, He became God-Man like us in every way except sin. The great moment of which the prophets had prophesized for centuries, and the psalmists had sung had arrived. A body had been prepared for Him to permit the Godhead to be veiled in flesh. This holy moment in history was marked by Three Wise Men from the distant East who followed a star to the place Jesus laid, bringing gifts; and angels from “On High” appeared to lowly shepherds with glorious song in the air of a star filled night, announcing the birth of the Savior, where to go and find and adore the babe. They all were the first to exalt the wondrous birth of Jesus. From the very beginning of Jesus’ life here on earth, He faced evil, as shown in Herod’s order to slaughter the innocent children as a way to stop His existence. By God’s providence, Herod failed to kill Jesus. His mission to walk the earth as a man and teach as no one has ever taught, and to suffer and die for our sins was set. God knew that man was incapable of making things right for the original sin of Adam and Eve, so God sent us His Only-Begotten Son to show us how to live and tell us of the Father and of heaven. Every year Christmastime reminds us of Jesus’ birth. Wherever we may be, with hearts aflame with love and yearning, we try to find our way to loved ones to be with them. It is a time for togetherness and reflections over past years together, and remembering those who have passed on. For Christians especially it is a time for holy celebration, and a time of heartfelt love. Genuine feelings are shared, often through precious, emotional moments to be long remembered. Deep expressions of love, often absent during other days of the year, are associated with Christmas and Christmas as a Birthday Celebration. Adam and Eve brought humanity disobedience and darkness. Through Jesus Christ’s obedience, we were brought out of darkness and into the light again. Now, above all, charity, i.e. divine love, is the needful grace for man to follow Jesus. Jesus came to preach to all men the Kingdom of God, to tell them what they must do to gain everlasting life, and to save their souls. By His words, He preached to all the truth, which they themselves could see verified in the example of His perfect life. Everywhere Jesus manifested God’s infinite love for sinful man, and everywhere He worked miracles to prove His divine claims. Jesus had been an obedient son to parents named Joseph and Mary. Joseph was Jesus’ stepfather and chosen by God to be Jesus’ earthly guardian. Joseph taught Jesus how to toil as a carpenter. After Joseph died, Jesus took care of His Mother, Mary. By the age of 30, Jesus’ ministry began. He had long realized His reason for being on earth was to teach man his reason for living. Jesus talked the talk and walked the walk in the real sense. He often spoke in parables. His wisdom has never been equaled. At the start of His ministry Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, the last prophet to end the line of many prophets from the Old Testament times, transitioning into the New Testament and the life of Jesus. At this baptism, the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit were seen and heard together for the first time “Behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and coming upon Him. And behold, a voice from heaven said, ‘This is My Beloved Son in Whom I am well please.’” Jesus then went off into isolation for forty days to be tempted by the devil. When He reappeared among the people, John the Baptist was imprisoned. John revealed to his followers that Jesus was the One Who was to come. John’s few followers turned to Jesus to begin learning from Him. Soon Jesus gathered a small, select group, the Apostles, and promised to build His Church on Peter, whom He selected as their head. He called fishermen, a tax collector, a physician, and others, to become “fishers of men.” For the most part, they instantly responded, dropping everything they were doing. They sojourned and stayed with Jesus everywhere Jesus went. Jesus was constantly on the move, going from place to place; He taught His Apostles and delivered His message to the people who gathered about them, especially around Jesus. He taught them to pray, say “Our Father…” Becoming Man makes Jesus our Brother, God our Father. What a gift! Now and then I read no one knows what Jesus looked like. When I’m asked what Jesus looked like I heretofore only could reference that all you need to do is look at yourself and your neighbor and you’ll know what He looked like. God’s story tells us that we have been made in His image and likeness. What more could we ask for? Recently in an older book, I came upon the description of Jesus by someone who saw him and recorded his appearance. I came upon this quite by chance. It was a pleasant surprise to say the very least. I’d like to share what I read with you and with anyone who will value the story, take a few minutes and ponder it. Here, quoted exactly: “There lives at this time in Judea a man of singular virtue, whose name is Jesus Christ, whom the barbarians esteem as a prophet, but His followers love and adore Him as the off-spring of the immortal God. He calls back the dead from the graves and heals all sorts of diseases with a word or touch. He is a tall man, well shaped and of an amiable and reverend aspect; His hair of a color that can hardly be matched, falling into graceful curls, waving about and very agreeably couching His head, running as a stream to the front after the fashion of the Nazarites, His forehead high, large and imposing; His cheeks without spot or wrinkle, beautiful with a lovely red; His nose and mouth formed with exquisite symmetry; His beard, and of a color suitable to His hair, reaching below His chin and parted in the middle like a fork, His eyes bright blue, clear and serene, look innocent, dignified, manly and mature; in proportion of body most perfect and captivating; His arms and hands delectable to behold. He rebukes with majesty, counsels with mildness, His whole address, whether in word or deed, being eloquent and grave. No man has seen Him laugh, yet His manners are exceedingly pleasant, but He has wept frequently in the presence of men. He is temperate, modest and wise. A man for His extraordinary beauty and divine perfection, surpassing the children of men in every sense.” --Above is believed to have been written by Publius Lentulus, President of Judea in the reign of Tiberius Caesar, 14 to 37 A.D. -- Around this same era, Matthew (3:16, 17 ) recounted “…and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him. And lo, a voice from heaven saying ‘This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased…” It is conceivable that others have taken note of this description because before I discovered this piece my favorite lithographic image, which I possess and display, was always that image described above – in every detail. Let us thank God for Publius Lentulus for recording what he observed so very long ago. As far as I am concerned, Jesus, the Son of God, looked very much like the incarnate man he was meant to be and “in the image and likeness” of God Himself. I feel charged in telling you about Jesus, I am not charged with making you believe it. Parts 2 and 3 will follow in the next two days. Thank you for visiting. - Bob Ephesians 4:32

A Crown of Thorns

(In the name of The Good News) You nor I could never have endured the excruciating pain we can only imagine Jesus felt, and not for a few minutes, but for hours! Following the evenings Last Supper, and following Jesus’ arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, He was manhandled and ill treated by the Jewish priests and forced back and forth between different authorities for hours, into the next day. All the while terribly abused, denied and abandoned by His friends. He was physically alone. He knew what was going to happen before it happened. He knew that this mission was God’s plan and that He was on His last leg of His journey Home, back to His Father, our God. Jesus yet had to take our sins and punishment for those sins upon Him. This was about to take place with Pilate trying to satisfy the Jewish priests. Pilate ordered cruel and unusual punishment while proclaiming his own innocence with the blood of this man. Of course, that made history for its outrageousness. The mystery of the Passion is lost in the butchery. The guards were merciless in their scourging and flaying with metal-tipped whips slicing at Jesus’ body. That awful scene would have ended His life right there it seems, if one of the guards, a centurion, had not stopped the flaying; other soldiers sat Jesus up and managed to press a crude crown of thorns down upon His head. And, as prophesized in the Old Testament, “He opened not His mouth.” No one on earth that I know of could take this sort of inhuman treatment without screaming in unimaginable pain, and suffering murderous torture. Yet, Jesus was led on to stand before Pilate and the crowd, with all the welts all over His body from the brutal whipping – and the pain from the Crown of Thorns still penetrating His head, Pilate made the cowardly decision to accede to the priests and crowds’ cry to crucify Jesus. The ritual of Pilate washing his hands, while claiming to be innocent of murdering a known innocent Man, sealed Jesus’ fate. The barbarous soldiers made Jesus, with His body wracked in pain, carry the heavy wooden cross the long way outside the city to the place called Golgotha (meaning Skull Hill) we today, refer to as Calvary. There they stripped Jesus of His clothes, threw Him down to the cross on the ground, actually nailed Him to it. They then raised the cross and Jesus upon it, and dropped the cross into the hole in the ground with such force that Jesus, in all of His already existing, torturous pain, had to feel with the thud or jolt upon all of His body, pulling upon the nails in His hands and feet. As if this horrible treatment wasn’t enough, all of this suffering was followed by taunting and torment, probably from some of the same people whom Jesus may have helped as He walked and talked, and taught and shown so much wisdom and compassion and love among them as recent as a week or so before. We can muse: How soon humans forget, how insincere, superficial man is. All manner of miracles seen and experienced by thousands, were soon ignored. Then, as now, what seems to matter is “What’s in it for me?” Shortsightedness is a sad, common trait among most people in this world. People in general live as though life here is without end. Many find themselves surprised when their end does come. Meanwhile, dying takes on many forms. There is the dying in unbelief, dying in distortion, dying in failing to reason, dying in shame, etc., and literally, dying seems only to happen to other people. Obituaries and cemeteries are for others. How self-deceiving, delusional and grossly self-misguiding this attitude is. I hope there are many people who would like to save themselves from their hopelessness. There are a number of things one can do in this 21st century. What has been written, Moses and the prophets (Lk 16:31), i.e. the Bible, is your best chance for coming back to life from the death of selfishness and sensuality. Save yourself by wanting to know the truth. There is an end for each of us. When that end comes for you, then what? How sure are you about your answer? The Bible can bring you back to care and love again, and recognize God in people. Uncomplicate your daily life, make time to read the word of God in peace and silence; hear the word of God; God is pure love, you have nothing to fear; pray, as you know how. Live God’s word for dear life. Any other way leads to irreversible destruction. Why, you may ask, should I make such a change in my personal life? My reply is simply because you never know how or at what hour you will be called home for Judgment; there are things you need to do while you are here. Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life; only by Him can you come to the Father and return home. Of course, you have the God-given freedom to choose the alternative. However, with the Bible you know what to expect. God’s Bible remains unyielding from the ages, and Jesus’ New Testament of the Bible is our most recent Guide. The Bible, God’s word, will not pass away. Alleluia! Jesus’ Resurrection showed us the way, overcame the sting of death, and leads us home. The Bible IS our guide, always will be until God says “Time.” When He alone says that this time as we know it is over, it will be over; the end is His to call, not ours. By our increasing disobedience, we will be the cause for hastening God’s disgust for all of the many things we now do that abhors Him. God’s Love is merciful, not foolish. Jesus, God’s only Begotten-Son, became Man, walked the earth among man. God’s people treated Jesus’ love and His works with inhuman cruelty. Those who really knew Him loved Him, yet showed the weakness of humanity in virtually all possible circumstances. Despite knowing all about man’s weakness, before Jesus ascended to heaven He set the rules for life and living, and brought light into the world where there was only darkness. Jesus’ plan was that of the Father. He was destined to take man’s sins upon Himself to the cross and suffer. He did all of this for love of us. His giving Himself up to death for us, His glorious Resurrection, brought a new way of life into the world. The sin of Adam and Eve brought us death and darkness;Jesus brought us love and Light. If we die before He comes in glory upon the clouds with His angels, we will face Him on Judgment Day, then we shall see Him face to face and render an account for our life in this temporary place called earth. If He comes before Judgment Day, His actions will not only raise the dead and call them forth refreshed, but will separate the worthy from the unworthy en masse. That is why the warning: “Be ready. You know not the time when the Son of Man will come.” In today’s world, there is an apt slogan used in the Air Force that reads, “You can run but you can’t hide.” By Jesus’ death on the cross and His Resurrection, He made all things new. His inhuman suffering Passion and the Crown of Thorns, were voluntary acts of complete obedience to the Father, acts that would bring ignorant, straying peoples back to Him. He is the Light, the Life, and the Way to the Father. No power on earth can ever change that. Before His ascension to heaven, Jesus told His Apostles to go into all the world and proclaim the Good News, promising to be with them until the end of time. Now Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father, receiving glory and praise from all who have gone before us worthy of His promises; for those whose time has not yet come, and who know and love Him, and keep His commandments, we pray and praise Him from earth until He calls us home. Upon our death, we will face Him either eagerly or with reluctance. As for me, I live and pray for eternal salvation; for all our Savior did for us I say with Saint John, Come, Lord Jesus! Thanks for visiting. - Bob Rom 15:13

Earth, Then and Now

Imagine being able to view earth from a height from between here and heaven, where you see no human, no human activity, nothing man-made upon it – absolutely nothing but earth in its natural form – just as God created it, period. This imagining is earth before the creation of man, and earth created by our Lord God and Master, in its original beauty. The first thing you would see is an unspoiled earth, a beautiful orb among the heavenly universe, free from smog, radiant blue sky with gorgeous clouds to spark the creative imagination, fresh running rivers and streams and unpolluted bodies of seas and oceans of water reflecting the blue of the skies above. Forests, trees (that only God can make) expelling necessary oxygen covering every inch of the globe. Silence everywhere, except for natures sounds punctuating here and there. Slowly, as God fashions the earth sounds would enter the void with the birds of the air, the roars from the animal kingdom, the sounds from flowing rivers, streams, waterfalls large and small, short and steep. The warmth from the sun would shine on all of God’s creations providing essential energy for the growth of all life forms. Night and day would be seen with their purpose, along with the stars and the far distant planets with its major, unspeakable mysteries and awesomeness, a universe that calls attention to itself for it majesty and wonder. All a reminder to future humans of an all-encompassing, self-sufficient place made especially for them to behold and enjoy. Fast forward. Advancements made only these past 50 or so years have brought humanity well outside earths orbit and into space, literally reaching for the stars, as it were. With all of man’s unsolvable ills among cultures and among nations, and severe pollution of this beautiful, planet, whether or not it is prudent to reach heavenward is not for such as I to say. However, I ask, why? What can we do better elsewhere that we cannot do right here on earth? If the Good God allows man to achieve the incomprehensible, who will go into space to live nearer to the stars? Who will not be allowed to venture skyward to reside in a new place? Not everyone will be capable of escaping whatever it is those who envision a future on earth want to escape. It seems to me to be a case of “jumping ship” or, rather than admit that earthly problems among humans cannot be solved, they would occupy their minds with aspirations of “another place” away from here. Of course, this future speculation is far ahead in the unknowns of time – or is it? Let us remember that not so long ago we were just thinking about flying. For centuries ships were primarily for crossing oceans; airplanes now break the sound barrier without thought. Many seagoing vessels are for entertainment, some ships are now nuclear powered, and tremendously huge in size. Yes, we have even had men go to the moon - more than once. We need to put these advances and those that spring up virtually every day, in service for the good of all humanity, right here on earth, instead of planning an escape from earth. I mentioned that man has gone to and actually landed on the moon. We have been blessed by the foresight of astronauts who have taken pictures of earth from the moon; pictures which showed us the natural, multicolored planet on which we live. It is a breathtakingly beautiful and awe inspiring, sufficient to make anyone, no matter who he is, to think about earth to be as beautiful as anyone could describe. God, in His infinite mercy and goodness knows what He is doing. Undeniably, He has blessed earth with abundance, anticipating and fulfilling our every need. God especially guided freedom-loving men to come to these shores to form a land of Freedom and Liberty called America. These men did so under divine guidance. History tells us it was not without terrible cost. Today we not only have an unsettled globe but unbridled treachery, unnatural human frailty, in the best and worst of men; we are now in the process of allowing the unraveling of America’s historic past (deserving to be copied), by men elected to govern on behalf of the masses, men who have lost their way, choosing between good and evil. The devil is in the details. Sadly, the earth our Creator designed for us is in a self-destructive, ugly mode. Let us pray. Thanks for visiting. - Bob Gal 6:3

Been Thinking

Do you ever wonder about things that just makes you wonder? Try these: A. Why doesn’t glue stick to the inside of the bottle? B. Do you ever wonder why you gave me your email address? C. Do illiterate people get the full effect of Alphabet Soup? D. If corn oil is made from corn, and vegetable oil is made from vegetables, what is baby oil made from. E. If quizzes are quizzical, what are tests? F. Why does your OB-GYN leave the room when you get undressed if they are going to look up there anyway? G. If “Jimmy cracks corn..”and no one cares, why is there a song about him? H. Who was the first person to look at a cow and say, “I think I’ll squeeze these dangly things and drink whatever comes out? I. If you are home alone, do you still close the bathroom door? J. How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire? K. In the 60’s people took acid to make the world weird. Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal. L. All of us could take a lesson from the weather. It pays no attention to criticism. M. Whenever I feel blue, I start breathing again. N. Health nuts are going to feel stupid someday, lying in hospitals dying of nothing. O. The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth. P. Healthy is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die. Q. Life is sexually transmitted. R. There are two kinds of pedestrians: The quick and the dead. S. I used to eat a lot of natural foods until I learned that most people die of natural causes. T. Why did Kamikaze (suicide) pilots wear helmets? Thanks for visiting. - Bob Eph 5: 1-17

Children Are Quick

Art Linkletter, famous for recognizing humor in children and reporting it, missed some of them that arise periodically. The following came to me via a hand-me-down. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did for the few minutes that I needed to briefly change the course of my thinking: T + Teacher S = Student C = Class T: Maria, go to the map and find North America. T: Correct. Now class, who discovered America? C: Maria T: John, why are you doing your math multiplication on the floor? S: You told me to do it without using tables. T: Glenn, how do you spell ‘crocodile?” S: K-R-O-K-O-D-I-A-L T: No, That’s wrong. S: Maybe it's wrong, but you asked me how I spell it. T: Now Simon, tell me frankly, do you say prayers before eating? S: No sir, I don’t have to, my Mom is a good cook. T: Clyde, your composition on ‘My Dog’ is exactly the same as your brother’s, did you copy his? S: No sir. It’s the same dog. T: Harold What do you call a person who keeps on talking when people are no longer interested? S: A teacher. T: Donald what is the chemical formula for water? S: H I J K L M N O T: What are you talking about? S: Yesterday you said it is H to O. T: Winnie, name one important thing we have today that we didn’t have ten years ago. S: Me! T: Glen why do you always get so dirty? S: Well, I’m a lot closer to the ground than you are. T: George Washington not only chopped down his father’s cherry tree, but also admitted it. Now, Louis, do you know why his father didn’t punish him? S: Because George still had the axe in his hand? Thanks for visiting. - Bob Eph 5: 1-17

Listening to Your Conscience

There is no such thing as a child born badly. God does not create any thing or any one evil. God, pure love, creates only good. Man fails in following God for reasons of his own making and reasons of others’ interference. From the beginning of time, each of us has had an instinctive awareness of the existence of God and of our own mortal soul. We can ignore it for a time, but eventually we realize the truth, and we decide our fate,our eternity by our actions. It has been said that conscience is one avenue God uses to commune with man, His creation. Trifling with your conscience (which tells you right from wrong), trying to reason with it to make it come around with your preference rather than what your conscience tells you, is often the cause for ignoring God, your heavenly Father. Your relationship with God ought not to be set aside because you do not understand God’s providence. For God’s law see Exodus 20:1-17 and Deuteronomy 5:6-21, there are only slight variations between them. The First of the Ten Commandments instructs us: Love the Lord, your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul and with all your strength, and have no other gods before Him. You may ask, “what other gods?” That would mean anything or anyone that you place before and above God Himself. To obey the first commandment we need to know our God. If you do not open and read His Holy Book there is no way you can fulfill the command to know Him; there is no way you can understand and obey the other nine commandments so vital for an orderly, peaceful heart and mind, and eventually attain eternal life with Him in heaven. There is no other way. The risk of loss is greater than you have given time to imagine. Not paying attention to your conscience has consequences that interfere with, even distort, your normal thought process. At risk, each time you try to make an excuse for not listening to your conscience, is erosion of your mental peace. What peace you may have had becomes corrupt. In time,if God graces you with more time,a behavioral change is necessary to recapture the peace previously enjoyed in your age of innocence – i.e. before you began negotiating with your conscience to have your way. It is not hard to understand that when you ignore your natural conscience your life takes a detour. This can be temporary; however, if you never learn it becomes permanent,with self-condemning consequences. This danger need not be the situation. Listen and follow your conscience when it instinctively tells you right from wrong, you will be confident you are doing what is natural. Then enjoy peace of heart and mind as meant to be. You cannot put a price on this condition. The more you obey your natural instincts, plus the more you learn about our God, the more you will come to know Him and love Him while in this world, and be ready to be with Him in eternal bliss in the next. † Thanks for visiting. - Bob Mt 10:29-33