Saturday, April 25, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
From Silence to Peace
The fruit of silence is prayer;
The fruit of prayer is faith;
The fruit of faith is love;
The fruit of love is service;
The fruit of service is peace.
The fruit of prayer is faith;
The fruit of faith is love;
The fruit of love is service;
The fruit of service is peace.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Harmony Day
Harmony Day is a day to remind each other that to live in peace and harmony with one another in a society with many cultures and lots of individuals, it is important that we get along and work together. Yes this is important. The question, however, is how? The children don’t find it easy, but they are giving it their best shot. To be honest, adults don’t find it easy either. In fact I’d say, if we take one look at our world with its many nations being torn apart by war, and our own homes as well, its an impossible task. Try and live in peace and harmony for just one day and you’ll know what I mean. Thank God, for Good Friday. Jesus, the Prince of Peace, came and gave his life on a cross so that through union with Him we have the power of His Holy Spirit to help us live in peace and harmony both with God and one another. When we mess up, hit the wrong note, we can come to him for forgiveness and find the peace that he freely offers. Praise God, Jesus still lives today.
Easter 2009
In my preparation for Easter this year I was struck by Nicodemus' role (John 19:39) and the words of the Chief Priest to Pilate (Matt 27:63) "Sir, we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.'..."
TV Documentaries
I recently viewed "Walkiing the Bible" - a three part series on SBS. It was like a virtual tour of the Genesis to Deuteromomy. Amazing photography. Facinating interviews. Helpful conclusions.
I also viewed John Dicksons "Life of Jesus" on Good Friday on Channel 7. "There is a resurrection shapped dent in the history of the world". Since no one saw Jesus actually rise from the dead we are convinved because of the evidences for it: the empty tomb, the witness of the women and the witness of the apostles and the newfound church.www.lifeofjesus.tv .
I also viewed John Dicksons "Life of Jesus" on Good Friday on Channel 7. "There is a resurrection shapped dent in the history of the world". Since no one saw Jesus actually rise from the dead we are convinved because of the evidences for it: the empty tomb, the witness of the women and the witness of the apostles and the newfound church.www.lifeofjesus.tv .
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Burial Linen
I am grateful to Biblical scholar Dolores Testerman of Glad Tidings Studio for the following valuable Easter lesson:
Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection?
The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the graveclothes.
"Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, ‘They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and I don’t know where they have put him!’ Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple outran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying to the side."
In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out ofsight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished. Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table,wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, ‘I’m done’. But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because..........the folded napkin meant, ‘I’m coming back!’ He is Coming Back!
This was new to me. Any comments?
Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection?
The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the graveclothes.
"Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, ‘They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and I don’t know where they have put him!’ Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple outran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus’ head was folded up and lying to the side."
In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out ofsight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished. Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table,wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, ‘I’m done’. But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because..........the folded napkin meant, ‘I’m coming back!’ He is Coming Back!
This was new to me. Any comments?
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Easter Puzzle
Change one letter at a time to make a new word:
D E A D
_ _ _ _
_ _ _ _
_ _ _ _
_ _ _ _
_ _ _ _
_ _ _ _
L I V E
D E A D
_ _ _ _
_ _ _ _
_ _ _ _
_ _ _ _
_ _ _ _
_ _ _ _
L I V E
Friday, April 3, 2009
Job Description - Parent
POSITION TITLE :
Mum, Mummy, Mama, Ma, Old Girl Dad, Daddy, Dada, Old Man, Old Boy
JOB DESCRIPTION :
Long term, team players needed, for challenging,permanent work in anoften chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communicationand organisational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips toprimitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities! Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.
TERM OF EMPLOYMENT:
The rest of your life.
RESPONSIBILITIES :Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily,until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of apack muleand be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges,such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toiletsand stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars andcoordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organise social gatheringsfor clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute,an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of ahalf million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability forthe quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance andjanitorial work throughout the facility.
POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION:
None. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE :
None required unfortunately.On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.
WAGES AND COMPENSATION :
Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 becauseof the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is thatyou actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.
BENEFITS :
While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love, and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.
Mum, Mummy, Mama, Ma, Old Girl Dad, Daddy, Dada, Old Man, Old Boy
JOB DESCRIPTION :
Long term, team players needed, for challenging,permanent work in anoften chaotic environment. Candidates must possess excellent communicationand organisational skills and be willing to work variable hours, which will include evenings and weekends and frequent 24 hour shifts on call. Some overnight travel required, including trips toprimitive camping sites on rainy weekends and endless sports tournaments in far away cities! Travel expenses not reimbursed. Extensive courier duties also required.
TERM OF EMPLOYMENT:
The rest of your life.
RESPONSIBILITIES :Must be willing to be hated, at least temporarily,until someone needs $5. Must be willing to bite tongue repeatedly. Also, must possess the physical stamina of apack muleand be able to go from zero to 60 mph in three seconds flat in case, this time, the screams from the backyard are not someone just crying wolf. Must be willing to face stimulating technical challenges,such as small gadget repair, mysteriously sluggish toiletsand stuck zippers. Must screen phone calls, maintain calendars andcoordinate production of multiple homework projects. Must have ability to plan and organise social gatheringsfor clients of all ages and mental outlooks. Must be willing to be indispensable one minute,an embarrassment the next. Must handle assembly and product safety testing of ahalf million cheap, plastic toys, and battery operated devices. Must always hope for the best but be prepared for the worst. Must assume final, complete accountability forthe quality of the end product. Responsibilities also include floor maintenance andjanitorial work throughout the facility.
POSSIBILITY FOR ADVANCEMENT & PROMOTION:
None. Your job is to remain in the same position for years, without complaining, constantly retraining and updating your skills, so that those in your charge can ultimately surpass you
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE :
None required unfortunately.On-the-job training offered on a continually exhausting basis.
WAGES AND COMPENSATION :
Get this! You pay them! Offering frequent raises and bonuses. A balloon payment is due when they turn 18 becauseof the assumption that college will help them become financially independent. When you die, you give them whatever is left. The oddest thing about this reverse-salary scheme is thatyou actually enjoy it and wish you could only do more.
BENEFITS :
While no health or dental insurance, no pension, no tuition reimbursement, no paid holidays and no stock options are offered; this job supplies limitless opportunities for personal growth, unconditional love, and free hugs and kisses for life if you play your cards right.
John 3:16
John 3:16 was the first verse of the Bible I learned. In recent years the Good News and Contemporary English translations are inaccurate. and misleading. It annoys me greatly. The verse does not answer the question of "how much" God loves us (the quantity), but "how" (the manner in which) he loves us.
If we ask ourselves how much God wants us to love him, the answer is simple - with ALL of our heart, soul, mind and strength. How much Does God love us? A. With ALL of his heart, soul, mind and strength.
God loved us in such a way that he gave (once for all upon the cross) his only (unique, begotten) Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Hallelujah
If we ask ourselves how much God wants us to love him, the answer is simple - with ALL of our heart, soul, mind and strength. How much Does God love us? A. With ALL of his heart, soul, mind and strength.
God loved us in such a way that he gave (once for all upon the cross) his only (unique, begotten) Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Hallelujah
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