Saturday, December 29, 2007

Jesus not a one-off

What is a one-off?

one-off

(wŭn'ôf', -ŏf') Chiefly British.

adj.

Happening, done, or made only once.

n.

Something that is not repeated or reproduced.




Look up each of the following in the Bible and Say the Story Like You Know it
What can you conclude after reading about the various ‘acts’ of these men?



Elisha
II Kings 6:13-23
PV

Elijah:
II Kings 2:1-12
om

Elisha
II Kings 4: 39-
41
cpm

Jesus
Acts 1;9
A


Elisha
II Kings 6:8-12
KT

Elisha
I Kings 5:2-4
HL


Jesus
John 1: 1-10
cpm


Jesus
Luke 5: 12-13
HL


Jesus
Matt 26;\:5-13
PV


ELISHA
II KINGS 6:1-7
om


Jesus
John 20:19 or 26
om


Jesus
Luke 7: 11-15
RD

Elisha
II Kings 4:42-44
fm


Jesus
John 6:5-14
fm


Jesus
Matt 12:25
KT


Elisha
II Kings 4:18-36
RD


Elisha
II Kings 6:13-23
PV

Elisha
II Kings 4: 39-41
cpm

Elijah
II Kings 2: 1-12
om a

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Nativity completion

26 And in the sixth month the angel ____________ was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named _______________

27 To a ______________espoused to a man whose name was _____________, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was __________________.

28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the ____________ is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

29 And when she saw him, she was ______________ at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.

30 And the _____________ said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.

31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name _____________..

32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the ___________: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

33 And he shall _________ over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

34 Then said Mary unto the ____________, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?

35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The _____ _______ shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall _____________ thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.

36 And, behold, thy cousin ___________, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.

37 For with God _____________ shall be impossible.

38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.

8 And there were in the same country __________abiding in the field, keeping watch over their _________ by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were ____________.

10 And the angel said unto them, __________ not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great ______, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto ___________ is born this day in the city of David a __________, which is Christ the Lord.

12 And this shall be a _________ unto you; Ye shall find the _____ wrapped in _____________ clothes, lying in a manger.

13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth _________, good will toward ___________

3 When __________the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.

4 And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

5 And they said unto him, In _______________of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet,

6 And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the ________ ______ inquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.

8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.

9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young ______was.

10 When they saw the ______ they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

11 ¶ And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; ______, and __________, and _____________.

12 And being warned of God in a ___________ that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.

Saturday, December 15, 2007

Like Elisha being surrounded by bullying challenges

Elisha’s observation when apparently surrounded by menacing bullies

And we too are surrounded by angels… they that be for us, are more than they that be with them… What’s the original story?

Another take on that kind of assurance:

"Like a lion, king of the beasts,
that gnaws and chews and worries its prey,
Not fazed in the least by a bunch of shepherds
who arrive to chase it off,
So God-of-the-Angel-Armies comes down
to fight on Mount Zion, to make war from its heights.
And like a huge eagle hovering in the sky,
God-of-the-Angel-Armies protects Jerusalem.
I'll protect and rescue it.
Yes, I'll hover and deliver."

5 Like birds hovering overhead,
the LORD Almighty will shield Jerusalem;
he will shield it and deliver it,
he will 'pass over' it and will rescue it."

We are surrounded by resources. Pray to open our eyes to the reality.

When the divine precepts [ directives and orders] are understood, the will unfold the foundation of fellowship

Opposed

The human mind is opposed to God and must be put off.

Acting against or in opposition: adversarial, adverse, antagonistic, antipathetic, opposing, oppositional. See support/oppose.

When we are confident in God’s care we act differently. Treating others accordingly we change history ( and the armies came no more unto Israel)

Exodus: Getting out from the bondage of Egypt

God brought us up.. from the challenges

What are the details: what parallels or relevance?

He hath brought us up from the land of bondage.
Which did those great signs in our sight
Preserved us all the way wherever we went.
And among all the people through whom we passed.

From Egypt on to freedom

After 10th Plague Pharaoh frees them
After they left the nobles protest
Incident at the Red Sea
Israelites are divinely guided through it
Israelites sing God’s praises ( 13:2)

God goes before them, a pillar of cloud by day, a fire by night.
Once in the desert they complain about…
God provides a daily shower of…
They are attacked by the Amalekites ( Amalek, the grandson of Essau)
Joshua fought them off.

Jethro hears what Moses is doing and advises setting up judges.
In the third month, they arrive at Mt Sinai. God appears to some of them as a light.
God announces, via Moses that the Children of Israel as God’s …………..

God announces a summarized moral code.
God promises the land of Canaan to the children ( it comes with a warning against…)

more

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Bible Stories..

Bible Story Checklist

Bible Character Similarities

Here's our beginning lists of story characters.
Feel free to add some fresh ones , or post some favourite stories.


Here's a timeline of Bible Days


Adam/ Eve Caine and Abel

Enoch was translated in 3017 B.C. at the age of 365.

  • Seth's great-great-great grandchild, Enoch, son of Jared was born. Enoch lived 365 years and fathered sons and daughters. ("The Arabian name of Enoch is Edris, and their traditions of him are that he was an eminent astronomer, mathematician and prophet of God.")
  • Seth's great-great-great-great grandchild, Methuselah, son of Enoch was born. Methuselah lived 969 years, making him the oldest of the ancient ones, and the oldest man to ever live. (Methuselah's name means, "At his death, it will come." Methuselah died the year of the flood.) Methuselah fathered sons and daughters.
  • After Methuselah's birth, the Bible records that Enoch developed an especially close relationship with God leading to his translation to heaven at the age of 365. "And Enoch walked with God 365 years and begat sons and daughters," Gen. 5:22 "And he was not for God took him." Gen. 5:24
  • Methuselah's son was Noah


Noah
undated.. prior to 2500 BC


Abram [ father of the Jewish Nation] and Sarai 2000 BC
- story begins in Gen 11

Chronology

-bio: from humble beginnings to pre-eminent leader in history
Roots in Mesopotamia
Sarah highlights

One of three [ Isaac and Jacob ] important patriarchs of Judaism - autocratic ruler of an extended family

Lot ( nephew)
- family strive, beautiful wife, famine.. The Egyptian years .. barren.. Hagar -Egyptian
- had 8 sons in total with 3 women

Job:

Elihu
whose God is he. (1.) "The son of Barachel, a
Buzite" (Job 32:2), one of Job's friends. When
the debate between Job and his friends is
brought to a close, Elihu for the first time makes
his appearance, and delivers his opinion on the
points at issue (Job 32:1-22).



Hagar
From handmaid to Concubine- jealousy, family split, separation agreement/ promises of heirs for Ishmael ( founder of Islam) . Muhammed was said to be a direct descendant)

Isaac and Rebekah
Rebekah highlights

2006 BC
Essau AND Jacob
[ Rachel and Leah]

Leah highlights

Rachel highlights


Jacob: 'holder of the heel'
struggles with Essau were prenatal..
Life highlights

After deceiving his father and having

Essau and the buying of the birthright
-a wild hunter.
-was tricked by Jacob into giving up his birthright (leadership of Israel)
- was well aware of the upcoming enslavement of 400 yrs so he saw the birthright of Abrahamic blessing of no value
-started the Edomites
- paternal blessing and the deceit
-promise of reprisal

-Enroute to Uncle Laban at Haran.. Jacob's ladder
--received many blessings.. but also represented the Exiles ahead

Met Rachel and Leah at the well.. and fell in love.
Laban 's two daughters and the deception

Return... and Wrestling with the Angels.. the name change


Joseph [The Lord will increase/add".] and his 11 brothers
- 1915 BC - 1805

Moses 1500
1526 BC - Moses born

1446 . the exodus

1291 Gideon, Israels' 5th Judge rules for 40 years

Joshua and Caleb Joshua had a name change.. which reflects a change of character and emphasis

Samson and Delilah
"[One who] weakened or uprooted or impoveris
1209
Deborah
a prophetess, the last judge before the monarchy
highlights



1146 Nebuchanezzar
Shadrack, Meschak and Abednego

Eli
-- family disappointments, and an important protege

Hannah
Highlights
- challenges
- a conversation at a very sad time
- facing childlessness, she she makes a big promise

1105 Samuel
born



1060
Ruth --"For wherever you go, I will go ...,"
- asks Boaz to marry her
-highlights
Book of Ruth -- themes
- great grandmother of David


Obed son of Ruth and Boaz
grandfather of David
1043 Saul becomes first king of Judah
Saul highlights



David becomes king 1004

Solomon

Azariah
- son of Oded, a wiseman and prophet
-more details

931 BC Asa
king of Judah - routed out idolatry.. peace in the land for 35 yrs
- great grandson of Solomon.
- his army of 580 000 defeated Ethiopena army of 1 000 000
more details

Elijah 840
highlights
more details

Elisha
Sampling of accomplishments
highlights


793 BC - Jonah becomes a prophet


740 BC - Isaiah becomes a prophet


605 BC - Daniel taken captive to Babylon
A summary of his triumphs and challenges

539 Darius King of Babylon who appointed Daniel one of three princes, is
tricked into putting him in the lions den.

Daniel and Ashpenaz... a special regimen refused

Malachi, the prophet 450

he book of Malachi was written to correct the lax religious and social behavior of the Israelites – particularly the priests – in post-exilic Jerusalem. Although the prophets urged the people of Judah and Israel to see their exile as punishment for failing to uphold their covenant with Yahweh, it was not long after they had been restored to the land and to Temple worship that the people’s commitment to their God began, once again, to wane. It was in this context that the prophet commonly referred to as Malachi delivered his prophecy.
In 1:2, Malachi has the people of Israel question God’s love for them. This introduction to the book illustrates the severity of the situation which Malachi addresses. The graveness of the situation is also indicated by the dialectical style with which Malachi confronts his audience. Malachi proceeds to accuse his audience of failing to respect God as God deserves. One way in which this disrespect is made manifest is through the substandard sacrifices which Malachi claims are being offered by the priests. While Yahweh demands animals that are “without blemish” (Leviticus 1:3, NRSV), the priests, who were “to determine whether the animal was acceptable” (Mason 143), were offering blind, lame and sick animals for sacrifice because they thought nobody would notice.
In 2:10, Malachi addresses the issue of divorce. On this topic, Malachi deals with divorce both as a social problem (“Why then are we faithless to one another ... ?” 2:10) and as a religious problem (“Judah ... has married the daughter of a foreign god” 2:11). In contrast to the book of Ezra, Malachi urges the people to remain steadfast to the wives of their youth.
Malachi also criticizes his audience for questioning God’s justice. He reminds them that God is just, exhorting them to be faithful as they await that justice. Malachi quickly goes on to point out that the people have not been faithful. In fact, the people are not giving God all that God deserves. Just as the priests have been offering unacceptable sacrifices, so the people have been neglecting to offer their full tithe to the Lord. The result of these shortcomings is that the people come to believe that no good comes out of serving God.
Malachi assures the faithful among his audience that in the eschaton, the differences between those who served God faithfully and those who did not will become clear. The book concludes by calling upon the teachings of

Jesus
------------

John's Baptism of Jesus 27

Crucifixion 30

Paul
-------------------

Saturday, November 03, 2007

Vocabulary - Nov 4th -- prodigal and more

Fain deceit, intentional deception

Substance victory, triumph

Redeemed rescued, delivered

Conquest money or wealth

Fraud gladly

Retrogression improvement

Reformation going backwards

Entreated begged, requested

Cherish young goat

Kid care for, value, support

Infirmity powerless, helpless

Impotent illness, disability, weakness

Publican die, wither, vanish

Repentance a change of mind

Perish tax collector

The man by the pool had an_____________________ thirty-eight years.

He was an ___________________________ man.

Jesus said he came to call sinners, not good people to ________________.

The prodigal son’s father ______________________ him to come in and join the party.

The prodigal son wasted his _________________________ .

He was so hungry he would have ________________________eaten the corn husks.

The older son said his father never gave him a _______ to party with his friends.

______________ were not popular because sometimes they asked for too much money.

Sunday, October 28, 2007

Vocabulary Oct 28th

If something is at hand it is _______________- probation

Someone who gives help, support or money is a _____________ repent

If you change your mind or your outlook, you ____________ ark

A locality is a ______________ benefactor

The small wooden box containing the commandments was the _______ ewe

People who were instructed in/converted to Christ’s teachings were________ near

A female sheep is a ___________ evangelized

A time of proving yourself is called ____________________ place

You can walk through a ____________________ portal

Abideth or abides Imagine, suppose

Fancy Became pregnant

Condemns Stays with, remains or lasts

Conceived Blameless, innocent, righteous

Paramount Greatest in significance, supreme

Upright Reward or payment

Recompense Cancel, pay, excuse, forgive

Rectified Complete happiness or joy

Bliss Erased, obliterated, expunged

Remit sentences, dooms, rebukes

Effaced corrected, set right

David and Bathsheba

( from the Message)

1When that time of year came around again, the anniversary of the Ammonite aggression, David dispatched Joab and his fighting men of Israel in full force to destroy the Ammonites for good. They laid siege to Rabbah, but David stayed in Jerusalem.

2-5 One late afternoon, David got up from taking his nap and was strolling on the roof of the palace. From his vantage point on the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was stunningly beautiful. David sent to ask about her, and was told, "Isn't this Bathsheba, daughter of Eliam and wife of Uriah the Hittite?" David sent his agents to get her. After she arrived, he went to bed with her. (This occurred during the time of "purification" following her period.) Then she returned home. Before long she realized she was pregnant.

Later she sent word to David: "I'm pregnant."

6 David then got in touch with Joab: "Send Uriah the Hittite to me." Joab sent him.

7-8 When he arrived, David asked him for news from the front—how things were going with Joab and the troops and with the fighting. Then he said to Uriah, "Go home. Have a refreshing bath and a good night's rest."

8-9 After Uriah left the palace, an informant of the king was sent after him. But Uriah didn't go home. He slept that night at the palace entrance, along with the king's servants.

10 David was told that Uriah had not gone home. He asked Uriah, "Didn't you just come off a hard trip? So why didn't you go home?"

11 Uriah replied to David, "The Arkt is out there with the fighting men of Israel and Judah—in tents. My master Joab and his servants are roughing it out in the fields. So, how can I go home and eat and drink and enjoy my wife? On your life, I'll not do it!"

12-13 "All right," said David, "have it your way. Stay for the day and I'll send you back tomorrow." So Uriah stayed in Jerusalem the rest of the day.

The next day David invited him to eat and drink with him, and David got him drunk. But in the evening Uriah again went out and slept with his master's servants. He didn't go home.

14-15 In the morning David wrote a letter to Joab and sent it with Uriah. In the letter he wrote, "Put Uriah in the front lines where the fighting is the fiercest. Then pull back and leave him exposed so that he's sure to be killed."

16-17 So Joab, holding the city under siege, put Uriah in a place where he knew there were fierce enemy fighters. When the city's defenders came out to fight Joab, some of David's soldiers were killed, including Uriah the Hittite.

18-21 Joab sent David a full report on the battle.

"By the way," said Joab's messenger, "your servant Uriah the Hittite is dead."

Then David told the messenger, "Oh. I see. Tell Joab, 'Don't trouble yourself over this. War kills—sometimes one, sometimes another—you never know who's next. Redouble your assault on the city and destroy it.' Encourage Joab."

26-27 When Uriah's wife heard that her husband was dead, she grieved for her husband. When the time of mourning was over, David sent someone to bring her to his house. She became his wife and bore him a son. 27-3 But God was not at all pleased with what David had done, and sent Nathan to David. Nathan said to him, "There were two men in the same city—one rich, the other poor. The rich man had huge flocks of sheep, herds of cattle. The poor man had nothing but one little female lamb, which he had bought and raised. It grew up with him and his children as a member of the family. It ate off his plate and drank from his cup and slept on his bed. It was like a daughter to him.

4 "One day a traveler dropped in on the rich man. He was too stingy to take an animal from his own herds or flocks to make a meal for his visitor, so he took the poor man's lamb and prepared a meal to set before his guest."

5-6 David exploded in anger. "As surely as God lives," he said to Nathan, "the man who did this ought to be lynched! He must repay for the lamb four times over for his crime and his stinginess!"

7-12 "You're the man!" said Nathan. "And here's what God, the God of Israel, has to say to you: I made you king over Israel. I freed you from the fist of Saul. I gave you your master's daughter and other wives to have and to hold. I gave you both Israel and Judah. And if that hadn't been enough, I'd have gladly thrown in much more. So why have you treated the word of God with brazen contempt, doing this great evil? You murdered Uriah the Hittite, then took his wife as your wife. Worse, you killed him with an Ammonite sword! 13-14 Then David confessed to Nathan, "I've sinned against God."

Nathan pronounced, "Yes, but that's not the last word. God forgives your sin. You won't die for it.

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Parables vs History

Different than myths, fables, allegories, or tales, a parable was a form of teaching in Jewish tradition. In the New Testament it is called "parabole," from "ball - to throw" and "bole - the other side." And in Jesus' parables it is interesting that although he was speaking of and to the simple, there was often a surprise element, and a link to a deeper reality.

PARABLE OR HISTORY?

An unjust judge gives a persistent woman justice.

A man who owed a lot of money is forgiven, but then puts the screws to people who owe him a few bucks.

A house built on sand fell in a big wind and rain storm; a house built on a rock was fine.

Someone makes an axe head float

A good Samaritan helps a wounded man.

A man leaves this world in a chariot of fire.

A son who wasted his inheritance is sorry, comes home and is instantly forgiven.

Two men walk on top of the water and don’t sink.

Many different nationalities hear people speak the same words, but they each hear the words in their own language.

A shepherd left 99 sheep in the wilderness till he found the lost one.

A woman calls her friends to celebrate her finding of her 10th piece of silver, for which she had been searching for by cleaning her house.

A man is healed after 4 days being dead.

A rich man died and in torment in a fire, looked up and saw Lazarus being held by Abraham.

An arrogant Pharisee and a humble tax collector prayed in the temple together, but the tax collector’s prayers were effective and not the bragging Pharisee.

A man was swallowed and hurled by a whale.

3 men walked in a furnace and were not burnt.

Men break up a roof to get their sick friend in a house to see a healer..

A man calls down fire which burns up stones and water.

At midnight a man knocks on his neighbour’s door to borrow food for his guest. The neighbour, who is in bed with his children eventually comes down and gives it to him because of his persistence.

A man feeds 100 men with a few loaves. A man feeds 5000 men with a few loaves

The kingdom of God is like unto a woman who put  some bread and hid 3 measures of leaven in  them until the whole was leavened.
(talking about the Kingdom of Heaven, about what we might call the ultimate spiritual reality, not about baking bread! )

Sunday, October 14, 2007

Parables for Oct 14

The Parable of The Dragnet

Matt 13:47-50 "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven is like a dragnet, that was cast into the sea, and gathered some fish of every kind, which, when it was filled, they drew up on the beach. They sat down, and gathered the good into containers, but the bad they threw away. So will it be in the end of the world. The angels will come forth, and separate the wicked from among the righteous, and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be the weeping and the gnashing of teeth." (web)

The Parable of The Wheat and the Weeds

Matt 13:24-30; 36-43

He set another parable before them, saying,
"The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field,
but while people slept,
his enemy came and sowed darnel also among the wheat, and went away.
But when the blade sprang up and brought forth fruit, then the darnel appeared also.
The servants of the householder came and said to him,
‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field?
Where did this darnel come from?’
"He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ "The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them up?’

"But he said, ‘No, lest perhaps while you gather up the darnel,
you root up the wheat with them.
Let both grow together until the harvest,
and in the harvest time I will tell the reapers,

· "First, gather up the darnel, and bind them in bundles to burn them;

· but gather the wheat into my barn."‘"

The Parable of The Leaven

Matt 13:33; Lk 13:20,21

Luke 13:20,210 Again he said, "To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God? It is like yeast, which a woman took and hid in three measures of flour, until it was all leavened." (web)

The Parable of The Mustard Seed

Matt 13:31,32; Mk 4:30-32;

Lk 13:18,19 He said, "What is the Kingdom of God like? To what shall I compare it? It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and put in his own garden. It grew, and became a large tree, and the birds of the sky lodged in its branches." (web)

The Parable of The Lost Sheep

Matt 18:12-14; Lk 15:3-7

Luke 15:3-7 He told them this parable.
"Which of you men, if you had one hundred sheep, and lost one of them, wouldn’t leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one that was lost, until he found it? When he has found it, he carries it on his shoulders, rejoicing. When he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!’ I tell you that even so there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents, than over ninety-nine righteous people who need no repentance." (web)

Sunday, September 23, 2007

Next Interview

Themes:
Helping others
Finding your 'place'
Helping through volunteering
Finding our purpose.

Sample questions from previous interviews
More samples

Add My Story

Step 1.

Identify yourself. (* Required inputs)





Last Name:


*First Name:




Email:


*Business Name:

Sunday School Superintendent

l City:

Victoria

Province or State:

BC

School Country:


Your Website (url):


Current Grade:


Employment (if any):

Lecture/Publicity Consultant, Board of Lectureship

The First Church of Christ, Scientist, Boston



Responsibilities:

Help branches sponsor lectures for their community including assisting with publicity and advertising.



Step 2.

What do you do?

Accomplishments in my life:

  • Growing understanding of God and my spiritual identity
  • Worked in Boston for The Mother Church for 5 years (now do same work from home)
  • Have been First and Second Reader
  • Contributing to the community through volunteering
  • Healing for myself and others

Challenges in
school/work/life:

  • Learning to appreciate qualities in others that I don’t have myself
  • Be more alert to what God is doing moment by moment
  • Training my dog more effectively!



Step 3.

Tell us something about yourself.



Interests:

  • Learning to play the bass guitar (mine is red)
  • Music (rock, U2, etc)
  • I read a lot (mysteries mostly)
  • Knitting (to donate to those in need, for gifts, and for myself)
  • Baseball
  • Soccer

Interesting Course or
Subject I have taken:

  • Astronomy
  • Jane Austin in the movies (at Harvard)
  • Speakers training course (Dale Carnegie)

If I had a month to do
anything I wanted I would:

Go back to Ireland and travel around in between studying and praying.

What do I want to be
doing 5 years from now:

‘Praying for others as Christian Science practitioner

Question 1:

What is God's special purpose for me?

Question 2:

How can I help (any situation)?

Question 3:

Whose idea is this?



Step 4.

Comments



Comments:








Responding to a call for help

Subject Line: Help

I don’t want to slip from being the person I want to be

As I write back,

affirming them of who they are

A minute spent

As I press SEND

I don’t know if this helps

But one thing for sure

Is it's helpful for me

A response comes back

Thanks.. it helped so much

It reminded me I can’t be

Anything but perfect and pure.

Even a simple gesture

Over the Internet

Can mean so much

To someone

Franes McDonald

Blending our thoughts with God.. a collaborative poem

Two vines intertwining

Blending our thoughts with God

Two vines intertwining

God and me

Twisted together

Becoming one

Thinking in my native tongue

Twice as strong

Appearing as one.

Name that miracle

There are 37 miracles.

List of miracles


1

Turning water into wine (John 2:1-11


2
Healing of a nobleman's son (John
4:46-54)


3
Delivering a man in the synagogue from demonic spirits (Mark 1:21-28; Luke 4:31-37)



4
Healing Peter's mother-in-law (Mark 1:29-31; Luke 4:38-39; Matthew 8:14-15)


5
The first of two nets of fish and the calling of His first disciples (Luke 5:1-11)


6
Cleansing a leper (Mark
1:40-45; Matthew 8:1-4)


7
Healing a paralytic (Mark 2:1-12; Matthew 9:2-8; Luke
5:17-26)


8
Healing of the man at
Bethesda (John 5:1-15)


9
Healing a man with a withered hand (Luke 6:6-11; Matthew 12:9-13; Mark 3:1-5)


`10
Healing the Centurion's servant (Luke 7: 1-10; Matthew 8:5-13)


11
Raising the widow's son (Luke
7:11-16)


12
Casting out a dumb and blind spirit (Luke 11:14-26; Matthew 12:22-32; Mark
3:22-30)

13 Man born blind
John 9:1-34.

1sr

14 Stilling of the Storm
Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41, and Luke 8:22-25.

Displaying His power over His creation

2nd

15 Raising Lazarus
John 11:1-44.

Power over death


Sunday, September 02, 2007

Sept 2 vocab

Toiled .... worked long and hard, progressed slowly and with difficulty

Evangel .... significance, or meaning conveyed

Import .... bearer of Christ’s message

Blessed .... peaceful and gentle, not easily annoyed, free of resentment

Divers .... sweet smelling

Meek .... happy

Redolent .... various, different kinds



Beatific .... brightening

Illuming ..... radiant with perfect happiness, peace, serenity

Precedent .... rule, model, pattern, example

Theology .... improved, educated

Cultivated .... gift

Legacy .... religious studies and teachings

Infallible .... written account

Commemoration .... remembrance

Saturday, September 01, 2007

Jeopardy

He thought he could get away from God in a boat.

She had no one to look after her until Jesus raised her son from the dead. [ widow of Nain]

They would rather be thrown into a fiery furnace than worship a golden idol.

He had to do it because the door was locked.

An angel woke him up and told him to put on his sandals and cloak and follow him out of jail. [ Peter]

They sang hymns and shouted till they made this happen in the jail.
[Paul and Silas -- small earth quake]

His original name was Simon.

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons.

He was dead for 4 days before Jesus healed him.

Life, Truth, Love, Mind, Soul, Spirit, Principle, Soul.

His original name was Jacob.

He ascended in a chariot of fire and was never seen again.

It means Messiah.
[ Christ]
Within you.

An old testament prophet who healed blindness and leprosy.
[Elijah]

A story told to teach a lesson.

He told the authorities which one was Jesus so they could arrest him. Then he hanged himself.

He thought Christians were dangerous and took them away in chains until he saw a light and heard a voice that sent him in another direction.

Both father and mother.

A man who changed his name from one that meant powerful king to one that means small.
[Saul]
His new name means ROCK


------------------------
These are some sample questions for a Jeopardy game for SS.

Her new name means Princess and her original name was Sarai.

His old name was Abram.

She was over 90 when she gave birth to her first baby.

Eutychus

A person who says one thing and does another, or makes a false profession of their faith.

Parables that show Jesus dislike of hypocrisy.

Love one another.

He gave us the commandments.

Exodus 20

Lazarus, 12 year old girl, son of the widow of Nain and himself.

He raised the son of the widow of Zarapeth.

He got into trouble for praying 3 times a day.

These four people fed a large crowd with a small amount of food.

He made poison harmless.
[ Elisha ]

Herod, Nebuchadnezzar, Darius, Saul, David
[ kings]

Peter, Paul, Jesus, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Silas
[ all arrested]

Matthew Mark Luke John
[ gospels]

Because he was afraid when he saw the windy and waves.

His new name means Prince.
[ Jacob]

He got his new name after he wrestled all night.
[ Jacob]
On the cross and crown on Science and Health.
[ heal the sick...]
One is his name and the other is what he was.
(Jesus Christ)

Isaiah 64:24
(God's phone number)

People who aren’t Jewish.
(Gentiles)

He was the father of 12 sons who became the 12 tribes of Israel.
(Jacob)

He planned to take Joseph out of the pit before his brothers could harm him.
(Who was Rueben)


He invited Joseph and his father and brothers to live in Egypt as honoured guests because Joseph saved all Egypt from starvation.
(Pharoah in Egypt)


They both heard God as a voice.
(Samuel and Elijah...also Moses...Solomon)


He built a wall when many people were dissing him and trying to prevent him.
(Who was Nehemiah)

She wasn’t Jewish but she was David’s grandmother and the many times grandmother of Jesus.
(Who was Ruth)

He kept the Children of Israel – the Jews – to be his slaves and build the pyramids.
(Who was a later Pharoah)

He thought he could not do public speaking, but God asked him to.
(Who was Moses)

To find out which of 2 women were the mothers of a live baby, he told the guard to cut him in half.
(Who was Solomon)


It opened up to made a dry path for the Jews to travel on, but closed up again over their pursuers.
(What happened to the Red Sea when Moses hit it with his mantle)

He should have been drowned at birth but his mother hid him for 3 months and then put him in the water in a small ark made of rushes.
(Who was Moses)

The Good Samaritan.
(What was the parable Jesus told to show us who our neighbour really is?)

He wouldn’t wear Saul’s armour to fight because he wasn’t used to it.
(Who was David)

He commanded everyone who didn’t worship the idol to be thrown into the furnace.
(What did Nebuchadnezzar do)

They didn’t want to eat the Kings food or drink his wine.
(Why did Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego ask for pulse and water)

He heard God as a voice and built an ark to save living things from a huge flood.
(Who was Noah)

He was whiny because he always did what he was told and didn’t think his younger brother should be getting all this good stuff from his father when he had been a bad boy.
(Who was the elder son in the parable of the prodigal son)

Someone who can see the future or who sees spiritually.
(What is a prophet?)

“Love one another”.
(What was the commandment Jesus gave us?)

He wanted to kill David because he was jealous of him.
(Who was Saul?)

He gave the sermon on the mount.
(What did Jesus do when he went up a small mountain?)

The Boy Who Cried Wolf illustrates this commandment.
What is "Thou Shalt Not Bear False Witness?)

To make up for something bad.


Leave your gift - go home and make up with your family and then go back and offer your gift.
(What did Jesus tell the one who was coming to the altar with his gift?)

To get their sick friend who was on a stretcher into the house to see Jesus when there was no room to get in because of the crowds.
(Why did the men break up the ceiling of the house where Jesus was?)

And we solemnly promise to watch and pray for that mind to be in us which was also in Christ Jesus, to do unto others as we would have them do unto us and to be merciful, just and pure.
(What is the 6th tenant of Christian Science?)

Blessed are…
(How do all the beatitudes start?)

The meek
(Who will inherit the earth?)

They shall be filled.
(What will happen to those that hunger and thirst after righteousness?)

They shall inherit the earth
(What will happen to the meek?)

They shall be called the children of God.
(Who are the peacemakers?)

They shall be comforted
(What will happen to those that mourn?)

Thou shalt not covet.
(What is the last commandment?)

He was his father’s favourite son, which made his brothers jealous.
(Who was Joseph?)

It means lie in one of the commandments.
What is bear false witness?)

Bible characters who changed their name

Those are Sarai and Abram, who became Sarah and Abraham after God spoke to Abram. Sarai was 90 years old at the time and it says “it ceased to be with Sarai after manner of women”. Because of this, she laughed when her husband told her that God said she would have a son. Abraham means “FATHER OF NATIONS” and Sarah means “PRINCESS”. The son Sarah gave birth to after was 90, was named Isaac.

The next one to have a name change (also in the old testament) was a son of Isaac’s. His name was Jacob. But after cheating his brother and running away for many years he was on his way home, when he had a strange experience while trying to sleep. It says, that “there wrestled a man with him until the break of day”. When Jacob asked his name, he was not told the name, but the wrestler gave Jacob the new name of Israel, which means PRINCE, because the wrestler said that Jacob had wrestled with God and had prevailed. This Jacob/Israel person was the first Jew and his 12 sons became the 12 tribes of Israel, who, with their descendants are called the children of Israel or the Jews.

Another one to have his name changed was Simon. This fisherman was one of the first disciples called by Jesus to be fishers of men. He was very outspoken and enthusiastic. When people were confused and making contradictory speculations on who Jesus really was (a resurrected John the Baptist, one of the prophets come back to life, or Elijah returning from the past), Peter blurted out that Jesus was the Christ – the Messiah the Jews had long been waiting for. For this statement, Jesus changed his name to Peter, which means the ROCK.

The next name changer was Saul. He was a very righteous Jewish person, who was quite sure that the Christians were totally mistaken and dangerous. He was going around collecting them and taking them in chains to be gladiators or burned etc. So he was going on his way when he saw an overpowering bright light which had him flat on the ground. He heard a voice say, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” He asked who was speaking and was told it was Jesus. Saul asked what he was to do and was told by the voice to go to a certain house and he would find out. When he stood up he was blind. His people took him to a house and someone came and healed his sight. Right after that, Saul who had been named after the great King Saul of the Old Testament, took the new name of Paul, which means SMALL. This all happened after Jesus’ resurrection so that Paul never met him in the flesh, but he did hear his voice and follow what he said. He did more than anyone to spread Christianity.

Sunday, July 08, 2007

What would you do , what would you say

Part I

The over-night with a friend:
You and some ( CS) friends are camping overnight. Off by yourself a friend shares some stories of difficulties at home, and asks you to pray for them because they have a headache. What do you say and do?

Looked at each line of the Lord's Prayer and its application to the situation.

Saturday, June 30, 2007

Sermon on the Mount

Themes from the Sermon on the Mount

Salt and Light

Christ Came to Fulfill the Law

Anger

Lust

Divorce

Oaths

Retaliation

Love Your Enemies
Good deeds, quietly

Prayer

Forgiveness

Fasting

Accumulating

Perspective/ eyes: windows to the body

Serving one

Provision

First things first

Judge not

No pearls before swine

Ask, seek, knoock

Golden rule

Beware of false prophets

Building upon the rock

Beatitudes

the first four emphasize turning to God for help.
Proclaiming the joy of those who say yes to the one all-encompassing God.


1.. Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2. Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.
3. Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the land.
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.


these latter beatitudes move from desiring righteousness to living it.

5. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
6. Blessed are the pure of heart for they will see God.
7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
8. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.



1.. Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

How happy are those who know their need for God,


To know one’s need of God is a joyful condition, a condition that, when we’re in it, triggers a promised reward.
Turning to God for help

"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.   - Message

2. Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.


To care deeply

3. Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the land.
To think and live not arrogantly,
Belongs to those who are not windbags.

"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.



4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
Blessings to those who exemplify righteousness in their actions—
When you've worked up a good appetite for God.


5. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
To care deeply
Those who show mercy, those wholehearted in their devotion to God,

You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.



6. Blessed are the pure of heart for they will see God.

The Christly purity inherent in each one of us.

You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

When you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right.

You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.

8. Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
To stand for goodness

You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom