What does it mean to abide in him?

As God's first born children left Egypt, the Egyptians were moved by the spirit of God to give them Gold,  and Jewels, and precious things. The Chosen's hearts became inflamed.  So instead of worshiping God, they turned towards a New God: the Golden Calf.  Working with their newly acquired Gold they attempted to supplant God with a God they could see and worship in their newly formed.  They deemed the Golden Calf more worthy than a God they could not envision.

 Jesus received a blessing of anointment from his father when John baptized him in the Jordan.  Jesus was tempted right afterwards for forty days in the desert by the Devil.  But instead of creating food from stone, or throwing himself off of the top of the temple, or claiming what was already his; he abide in the LORD.
Jesus walked under the shadow of God to illustrate God's enduring Love: love that does not change,  lasts forever, and  provides enough to eat when times are tough.

We are chosen to be stewards of a kingdom that is not yet complete but has already been redeemed.  We must turn to the LORD and repent for a Heavenly Kingdom is near.

Requesting to be a God (Rock Me Amadeus)

"I would offer up secretley the proudest prayer a boy could think of. "Lord, make me a great composer! Let me celebrate your glory through your music and be celebrated myself! Make me famous through the world, dear God! Make me immortal! After I die let people speak my name forever with love for what I wrote! In return I vow I will give you my chastity, my industry, my deepest humility, every hour of my life. And I will help my fellow man all I can. Amen and Amen!" Peter Shaffer's Play Amadeus.

Ursala K. Le Guin The Left Hand Of Darkness on Fear

But I do fear you, Envoy. I fear those who sent you. I fear liars, and I fear tricksters, and worst I fear the bitter truth. And so I rule my country well. Because only fear rules men. Nothing else lasts long enough. You are what you say you are, yet you're a joke, a hoax. There's nothing in between the stars but void and terror and darkness, and you come out of that all alone trying to frighten me. But I am already afraid, and I am the king. Fear is king! Now take your traps and tricks and go, there no more needs saying. I have ordered that you be given the freedom of Karhide. (Le Guin, 40)

Paul's Aeropetica Speech.

The whisperers gathered at dawn, awaiting the event. A small troubled man stood in front of them, on a stony windswept mount.

He cleared his throat and spoke, "To an unknown God. Good News, he brought me to the banquet house.... and his banner over me is Love."

Whispering worshipers awoke, and walked away quietly.

Prayer: (Prayer Starter: Exodus 3:4-5)
When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the Bush, "Moses, Moses! And he said, "Here I am." Then God said, "Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet for the place on which you are standing is holy ground."

III. Lords Super- Not About Us- Him

11.08.2008
Dear Ms. Winfrey,
I am delighted in your invitation to speak about my book, 55 Words on God. I am sorry but I decline your invitation. What about selling my book? God is a direct marketer to the heart. God draws readers to books, if that is his will.

Loving appreciation,
Gregorio Roth

Alas, I did not receive a letter from Oprah!!!

Heaven is opened by our savior, our final rabbi, our great LORD: Jesus Christ.

Prayer: Deuteronomy 3:24 O LORD GOD you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours. Thank you for allowing me to find the book The World's Shortest Stories. I need to sharpen my writing up, to be only able to write 55 Words per Story creates a rewarding challenge. I ask that you continue to work with me on my writing so that my gift can Glorify You.

III. Not Gloryfying Us, We Glorify Him: What is the Interlopers Gospel...

LORD's Supper Day Three: Praising Him for His Great Goodness Towards Us...

**** THe Merriam Webster Dictionary Defines Interloper as one that intrudes in a place or sphere of activity****

Granter of All Wishes: Give me what I want or I won't go! Quick Exchanges: Interlopers want quick gospels. Feeling Good: Interlopers sing happy songs about you! Marketing: Do not offend the world. The world has our money-bags. Interloper's views lead to Heresy. Franchising: Interlopers branch their churches out. American Idol: We become self centered Gods.

Are You Glorifying the LORD or YOUR COMMUNITY or Yourself? Allow the Interloper In You to Be Weeded Out.

Deuteronomy 3:24 O LORD GOD you have only begun to show your servant your greatness and your mighty hand. For what god is there in heaven or on earth who can do such works and mighty acts as yours. I know that at times I am a definite Interloper who acts like a hypacret. I am such a good actor that I fool myself. Lord thank you for your Holy Spirit which allows us to weed through the crapy self centered goodness. Allow me to grow as a person under you. Make me a man of integrity.

49 AD: Dogs out Of Rome

An ode written about feelings about leaving Rome in 49 AD. all Jews and Christians had to leave Rome due to a decree by Claudius.

Sepulchers and tombs, old memorials.
Leave Rome
Undisturbed in pepetuity, we
Leave Rome.

We respecting our Holy God;
in triumph
No one disturbs Rome's Decree.
We Leave Rome

Some of the Language for the poems inspiration was an inscription found in Nazareth written before 44 AD.

Scripture Cited:
Matthew 28:12;
Acts 24:5; 18:2; 17:6

Timeline:
49 AD: Expulsion from Rome by Roman Authority
48-49 AD: Writing of Galatians
51 AD: writing of I Thessalonians
51-52 AD: writing of II Thessalonians
53-55 AD: At Ephesus (Acts 19:1-20)

1. Bruce F.F. New Testament History. Garden City, York: Anchor Books, 1972. (268-278)
2. Shelley, Bruce L. Church History in Plain Language Waco, Texas: Word Books, 1982. (41-52)
3. Campbell, Joseph Primitive Mythology: The Masks of God New York, N.Y.; 1959. (229-281)
3. Illustration: Marvel Comics

November 10, 41 AD: Protecting A Community- Two Views...

I wax desperate with my imagination!

Scene: Alexandria, Egypt.... after the death of Gaius and the issuing in of Claudius... A letter written by Claudius on the State of Alexandria has just been read.

After hearing the letter read to the group...

Judas of Alexandria:
Let's follow. 'Tis-it not fit to protect our Jewish settlement.. here in Alexandria?

Why should we not meet and practice our customs, for they are ordained by God.

Josephus:
Have after. To what issue will this come? Your already on my last nerve.

Judas of Alexandria::

Alas, something is rotten in the state of Alexandria.

Josephus:
Heaven will direct it. For we have always had equality civil rights with them. The empire under Augustus did not prevent the nomination of the ethnarchs, because they desired all their subjects should be able to remain faithful to their representative customs.

Judas of Alexandria::
Nay, let's protect our rights. For the hordes of gentiles come at noon.

Josephus:

Should we follow Rome?

I say yea, for they have always protected us from the hordes.

Judas of Alexandria:

I say Nea, for Gaius is mad.

Gauis is a madman. Gaius is mad. Claudius will be just as bad, or worse!!!

We must take the handle, before the knife is plunged in.

Josephus:

Something is a foul!

But we must be aware of provoking any trouble, least we get all of our rights wiped away.

Josephus is real, and some of the dialogue comes directly from a letter written by Claudiuos Caeser Augustus Germanicus, translated by Josephus. Judas is a representative of the anti governmental view held by some Jews at the time. Judas was a common name back then due to the love of the Jewish Hero, Judas Maccabee. I also used Hamlet Act 1, scene 4, 87–91 to help me in creating the dialogue. Also this is not a critique of Judaism or Jewish History, it is an attempt to look at all of us. We all feel that our rights will be threatened. We all point to another person, another group, to blame. This I feel is truly aweful for it is us that need to change not a "them".

This is not a critique of Judaism or Jewish History, it is an attempt to look at all of us. We all feel that our rights will be threatened. We all point to another person, another group, to blame. This I feel is truly aweful for it is us that need to change not a "them". I am proud of my Grandparents, Pearl and Alex who were both Jews. I wear my grandfather's ring with pride, and tradition. See: Testimonial.

Diversity Calender: Thanks to N.E.A.
All Saints Day: Also known as All Hallows or Hallowmas and observed by Roman Catholics and some western protestant Churches, this feast day honors all saints, known and unknown.

46 AD: The Jerusalem Decree

Dan the man the Derb of Derbe was loudly discussing the news from Jerusalem. The tantrum was caught on TMZ,

DMDD"What does it mean they want to circumcise us? I aint gonna let any Jew or Christian near me. I say no to amendment 2, which defines a Christian by circumcision. Aint no way they can prejudize against me.

Waiter at the Vine Room: Sir, we can see you are upset. But can you please be more quite. You are disturbing the rest of our customers.
DMDD: Do they know who I am?
Do they know who I am?

This is not a critique of Judaism or Jewish History, it is an attempt to look at all of us. We all feel that our rights will be threatened. We all point to another person, another group, to blame. This I feel is truly aweful for it is us that need to change not a "them". I am proud of my Grandparents, Pearl and Alex who were both Jews. I wear my grandfather's ring with pride, and tradition. See: Testimonial.

46 AD: Early Gentile Christianity (Ode Part One)

46 AD Ode to the Early Gentile Christian Church
(Structure of Ode based on the Cranberry's song - Ode to my Family)

Understand the things I say
Don't turn away from me
Antioch, I spent half my life out there
You wouldn't disagree
Circumcise me, d'you see
Do you hate me. Do you Fear God standing there
D'you notice, d'you know
Circumcise me, circumcise me
Does anyone fear?

Who was I, when I was young
And we didn't give a damn
'Cause we were raised
To see life without a God, man
My mother, my mother she told me
Did she tell me, when I was out there
My father, my Aba, he held me
Oh he held me, does anyone care?

Understand what I've become
It wasn't my design
Yet if any man suffers
as a Christian, let him not
Be ashamed. Of you, I miss
'Cause I fear you. 'Cause I love you.
When I am near, you.
D'you know this, d'you know
I did not find you, your love will blind me.
Does anyone care?

Who was I, when I was young
And we didn't give a damn
'Cause we were raised
To see life resistant to God, man
My mother, my mother she told me
Did she tell me, when I was out there
My father, my Abba, he held me
Oh he held me, does anyone care?

Read the Original: Cranberries- Ode to My Family

Resources:

Bruce F.F. New Testament History. Garden City, York: Anchor Books, 1972. (265-268)
Illustration: Marvel Comics

Time Line:
The first Gospel, Matthew , was written in - 50 AD.
The Letters to the Thessalonians were written in 51-52 AD

YHVH your indelible, incredible word says that you can not be bought by deeds or by precious stones, your love is free, and your ways are freeing. Your word is incredible: And unto man, he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord that is wisdom; And to depart from evil is understanding. (Job 28:28) At times I value the opinions of men/women over what you have put in my heart. This is idol worship of a kind. Thank you Kyrios (LORD) for leading me away from man's understanding and ideals into your world of true knowledge. I ask that you continue to grow my graceful heart to fear you, to love you properly, and to enjoy the task at hand.

11BC - 48 AD: Herod Agrippa, King of the Jews Replies to Gaius

September 10, AD 38

Herod Agrippa
1211 Camel Jockey Way
Jerusalem City, Jerusalem, 72080

Gaius
101 Empire Drive
Rome, Roman Empire, 00120

Dear Emperor Gaius,

Gaius it has been so long since we seen each other in person. I am found of our relationship. The Hasmonaen household sends our prayers to the prosperity of the Roman Empire.

Sovereignty is important to our religious scruples. The people of Judea have a desire, a longing, a hope for independence. They desire a Jerusalem that is pure of outside influence. They see a free Jerusalem, as a freer way to God. They desire a holy city of Jerusalem.

The men of Judea are tired of living under Roman Control. They speak out against the border checkpoints. They hate the frequent screenings that demoralize their spirits. We see grown men looking like little Children caught for sending a love not in class at the Synagogue. They live in fear of everyone, for their neighbor may be a spy. We have seen the secret police raid households due to something said at the local market.

We understand your need to erect statues. Statues show our visible power. We have thoughts of erecting statues of the Herod family up in Caeserea. But we ask that you hold up from putting a statue of yourself in the Jerusalem temple. The thought would enrage the men of Judea. Their anger may rise up like a mighty wave, a mighty wind, that Rome would have a hard time controlling. Long live the Roman Empire!!!

Your boot shiner,

King Herod of Agrippa

Resources:

Bruce F.F. New Testament History. Garden City, York: Anchor Books, 1972. (258-264)
Illustration: Marvel Comics

Herod died in 48 AD
Note the first Gospel, Matthew , was written in - 50 AD.
The Letters to the Thessalonians were written in 51-52 AD

YHVH Your power is an awesome power, your love is an awesome, terrifying love, you surpass the strength of any boundary, your surpass any imagined monster guarding any imagined entryway, You unite and dive according to your sovereign will. I at times think I am strong enough to push through one of your boundaries by myself. I become stiff necked, like an Ox in a field, only making the chord on my neck tighter. Thank you for protecting me from my own destruction. I ask that you continue to show me how to be obedient in an independent world.

31-41 AD: Crisis under "Little Boots" Gaius

August 21, AD 38

Gaius
101 Empire Drive
Rome, Roman Empire, 00120

Herod Agrippa
1211 Camel Jockey Way
Jerusalem City, Jerusalem, 72080

Dear Herod Agrippa,

How are things in Jerusalem? I hope they are peaceful. How is the little Fox? How is your family? I hope the world finds you well. I treasure the friendship we have had through out all the years.

We were saddened to hear about the Gentiles who parodied you. We heard that "they seized a local idiot named Carabas, dressed him up with mock robe, diadem, and scepter, and paid homage to you in the gymnasium with loud cried of mari or was it maran. ("my lord' or "Our Lord" in Aramaic") (Bruce 251)

You have been a loyal servant to the Roman Empire. We are so thankful for your services your have rendered in the name of Rome. You have ruled the Provence of Jerusalem adequately.
We have rewarded you with your release from our prisons, endowment of Kingship, and a mighty fine salary.

We ask that you continue erecting statues of me in your synagogues and holy temples. We ask that you dedicate these temples, in order to bring a full blessing from our Empire. I am prepared to convert the Jerusalem Temple into a sanctuary bearing my mighty name, under the designation of Zeus Epiphanes Neos "The young Zeus made manifest." (Bruce 256) These stiff necked jews are not criminals but pitible fools, for they would have recognied my divine nature by now.

We also ask that you keep the peace between the Greeks and the Jews. We would hate to see what an uprising of those stiff necked Jews would bring to your stability. We hope you keep your territory under control, or else we might need to rethink your position.

In Hopes of Restoration,

Gaius "Little Boots"

Read More at the Ancient Jewish Text Center

Resources:

Bruce F.F. New Testament History. Garden City, York: Anchor Books, 1972. (234-246)
Illustration: Marvel Comics

Prayer for the Day: YHWH you are never changing, never corruptable by earthly sacrifices, never desiring a Golden Calf. I at times attempt to justify my lack of faith by my earthly goodness. But acts done outside of love are not what you require. Thank you LORD for continuing your renewal in my mind, for the old ways are slipping away and the new ways are blossoming. LORD I ask that you continue to renew my mind, continue to show how to be a pleasing servant in your kingdom, continue to use my life as a witness to others, and continue to keep me on the track back home to you.

35-48 AD: A NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN AD AGAINST SAUL OF TAURUS

The Apostle Paul the Early Years
A NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN AD AGAINST SAUL OF TAURUS endorsed by the EARLY CHRISTIAN CHURCH
"Borderline Psycho Path Rampaging Zealot..."
That's what friends of the Early Church are saying about Saul of Taurus. And some of our brothers want to speak to him?
Last weekend, Saul of Taurus, agreed to attack Christians, so that he could maintain the purity of the Jewish Faith. He has always stated, "The New should Go, so the Old can Stay."

The fact is: He was there... He was there the record shows that He was there when our brother Steven was stoned to death.
Something just does not add up?
Cat out of the bag Mr Saul of Taurus.
Why would we even make an attempt to talk to him after all his Zealous activities? Barnabas, Peter, Ananias, and James the Just must have fallen on their heads to suggest we continue to talk to Paul. We the brethren of the early christian Church just do not see why we are thinking about discussing our future with Mr. Saul of Taurus. We have worked tirelessly to protect our fellows in these fragile early days.
"Borderline psychopath..."

"Doesn't add up...."

"Cat out of the bag"

"He was there ... the record shows... "

Does Saul of Taurus sound like someone you want to discuss a future with?
We don't care that he has changed?
There must be a mighty wind to change a man Mr. Saul of Taurus ....
or is that Paul... same person different names.... what is he attempting to cover up....
what type of change?
Simple Truth of Antioch states, "Stoner, stoner, stoner, stoner, No Way, stoner, stoner, stoner."

Going Deeper:
Deuteronomy 27:26 21:23
Acts 22:3
I Cor. 15:9
Gal 1:14
Philipians 1:21 3:6 3:12
Romans 10:4

Resources:
Bruce F.F. New Testament History. Garden City, York: Anchor Books, 1972. (234-246)

37 AD ?: The Debate Rages and Stephen Gets Stoned

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he today that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother.
Shakespeare- Henry V.

Stephen stood amongst the stones.

He then crumpled in a pile dead.

The hated stones were thrown in defense of darkness and chaotic thinking. The hated stones were thrown in the defense of tradition. The hated stones were thrown in the defense of idolatry of the day. He had stood strong amongst the pain of being hated to death. He stood strong for the truth. He stood strong as God would have him do in Love of Christ, the Spirit, and God himself.

Stephen represents what is the good message in the gospel. If we utter the truth of the Gospel today, we need to be watchfull. We need to reason out that it may be costly. But we must embrace the call:

1 Peter 3:15
but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. (ESV)

Titus 1:9
He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instructions in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it. (ESV)

Titus 1:10-11
For there are many who are insubordinate, empty talkers and deceivers especially those of the circumcision party (Israelite Jews). They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach. (ESV)

Rd More on Stephen in your bible in Acts 7

Prayer for the day using the ACTS model: Adore, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication

YHVH your decision to stay true to your word, you chose a small remnant despite our ugly need to embrace different forms of idolatry. I know I have chosen different idols that limited my thinking of you; these idols included money, education etc.... I have not embraced you enough for I still fear upsetting others with telling of the Gospel. I need to stand amongst the pain that may come with following your lead. Thank you LORD for chosing to die so that I can live. I am so thankful you looked beyond my current chicken hearted, selfish heart, and loved me anyway. I ask that you strengthen me as a witness in your kingdom.

Written while listening to the Podcast:
Renewing Your Mind by R.C. Sproul
Books Referenced:

Bruce F.F. New Testament History. Garden City, York: Anchor Books, 1972. (217-226)
Mac Arthur Mac Arthur New Testament Comementary Acts 1-12 Chicago, Illinois: The Moody Bible Insitute of Chicago, 1994

Pre 1 AD - 37 AD: The Hellenist

One problem in religion is a belief that you have an exclusive claim on God. Religious faithful often believe that outsiders do not share the access they share with God. People in religion tend to think that their is a zero sum game with God. These people fear that if God inherits others than there will be no room for us at the table. Often outsiders are pushed out beyond the entrance to the temple. This was a question that boiled between the Hellenist Jews and the Israelite in the growing pains of Early Christian Church.

Christianity would have taken a different shape had their not been the divine providence to disperse Jews through out the Mediterranean World. These Jews were different than the ones who stayed in Jerusalem. Hellenistic Jews were more likely to think Globally due to their dealings in North Africa, Greece, Rome, and parts of Asia. Hellenistic Jews were more inclusive then their brethren in Jerusalem.

Another issue that separated the Hellenistic Jews from the Israelite Jews was language. Hellenist were more likely to speak Greek. Israelites held firm to the sacredness of their language.

Saul of Taurus/Paul was influenced by this Hellenistic global reality. In Acts 21:27-22:2 Saul almost sat off a riot. The Israelites were angered due to their thinking that Saul was a turncoat who was walking with a known Greek thinker. The people feared that Saul would pollute the temple by bringing a non believer, a non Hebrew speaker, into the shrine. The Israelite were stonewalled in their views. They desired a holy pureness from any influence of OTHERS.

Acts 21:27-22:2 from the Message

Some Jews:
Help! You Israelite! This is the man who is going all over the world telling lies against us and our religion and this place. He's even brought Greeks in her and defiled the Holy Place."

Standing on the barracks steps, Paul turned and held his arms up. A hush fell over the crowd as Paul began to speak. He spoke in Hebrew.

"My dear brothers and fathers, listen carefully to what I have to say before you jump to conclusions about me. " When they heard him speaking Hebrew, they grew even quieter. No one wanted to miss a word of this.

Written while listening to the Podcast:
APM Sound Opinions
Books Referenced:
Bruce F.F. New Testament History. Garden City, York: Anchor Books, 1972.
Shelley, Bruce L. Church History in Plain Language Waco, Texas: Word Books, 1982.
Latourette, Kenneth Scott Christianity Through the Ages: New York: Harper and Row Publishers, 1965.
Peterson, Eugene H. The Message Colorado Springs Colorado: Navpress, 1993.

Prayer: YHVH you are most knowledgeable. Your knowledge goes beyond language, color, place and human culture. Your truth stands forever-lasting. Your Truth will be there even when we are not. I have plenty of prejudices which hinder me from being a light in the wilderness. Thank you LORD for loving me despite my ugly prejudices. Thank you for sending your spirit to guide me through the wilderness of mass information. I ask that you keep my arrogance from feeling superior to the Israelite, for we all have prejudices. I ask that you help me listen to others without the need to jump to conclusions. I ask that you help me slow down and truly listen to my brothers and sisters of all whom I am or am not found of. In your name we pray. Amen.

30 AD: Mission Given to the 12 by the Holy Spirit

We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he today that sheds his blood with me Shall be my brother.
Shakespeare- Henry V.

I will be working on understanding God's mission for the rest of my life. But what God has shown me so far is this....

The mission is to realize that it is not about us, but about our Glorious God's relationship to all of us. Our neighbors interest before our own. That we are not to author the stories of our lives. That our own force has nothing to do with the mission of establishing God's Kingdom. When Greg Maddox the pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers said, when he feels the pressure, he gets "Softer."
Ezekiel 11:19;
And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, thaty they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them.
The map to our lives is written before we are even born. How is Christianity not a footnote in the annals of history? Because Christianity is authorized by God. God loves us so much to not be up and away, but in and amongst our messy lives.
As the Zohar reads in Chapter One:
By the secret and silent action of the divine will, from this primal luminous point radiated forth the vital life-giving spark which, pervading and operating in the great, enteric ocean of forms, became the soul of the universe, the fount and origin of all mundane life and motion and terrestrial existence, and in its nature and essence and secret operation remains ineffable, incomprehensible and indefinable.

We are to make disciples of all nations. All Nations. Not Just the United States, but all Nations. The lines on the map are man-made divisions. (This teaching is scary, yes scary). Baptizing all with the love of all. The spirit of being Christian is bigger than us. Because this lesson is so difficult to follow we are given the promise of a God who is stronger than any one of us.

Acts 2
When the day of Pentecost arrived they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house were they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them rested on each one of them. And they were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.... we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God. And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, "What does this mean." .... "Brothers what shall we do?" And Peter said to them, "Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will recieve the Holy Spirit."

We are at war today, tomorrow, yesterday... for all time: a battle to either to accept human kind divisions, or to live differently and with Christ. We are involved in an eternal war.

Luke 21:13
For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which none of your adversaries will be able to withstand or combat.
IN time differences will become part of the whole of Jesus:
Jeremiah 31:31
Behold the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah. (Uniting North and South Kingdoms together).

Inspired by the music of:
Blitzen Trapper, Gold for Bread

Books Referenced:

Bruce F.F. New Testament History. Garden City, York: Anchor Books, 1972.

Shelley, Bruce L. Church History in Plain Language Waco, Texas: Word Books, 1982.

Latourette, Kenneth Scott Christianity Through the Ages: New York: Harper and Row Publishers, 1965.

30 AD: The Full Pascal Moon Lit the Other Side of the Jordan

In the Light of a Pascal Moon

The Pascal Moon lit the other side of the Jordan. The red hills were witness to a fateful day, when we put the King of the Jews up onto a piece of wood.

Almighty God Ungirded him,
eager to mount the Gallows,
Unafraid in the sight of many:
He would set free mankind.
I shook when His arms embraced me
but I durst not bow to the ground,
Stand fast I must.

Say you want a Revolution:
Revolutions often happen in the Rural Areas first. Revolutions then grow in strength and attack the Urban Center. Not this revolution. This revolution attacked the fortification first and quickly surrendered. Jesus was surprised when he saw the armed strength of the Roman Band. He replied, "Did you think you were coming to overpower a bandit?" He gently surrendered.

Was this a human movement?
Jesus left no written record. He had chosen twelve men to be witness of the day. These were ordinary men, not necessarily leaders who could make a movement happen. In fact scripture says in Matthew 11 "From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and violent take it by force." He was telling his men that to bring the Kingdom to the people one can not use force. Humanistic force harms the Kingdom of Heaven.

Who were his men?
One of these twelve men betrayed him with a kiss. One of the twelve named the Rock (who would later be a significant part of church growth) had betrayed him three times in the course of a night.

What was the mission:
None of his twelve chosen men immediately understood the full light of The Mission. The mission was later defined.

Lasting Impression:
How did a simple movement, in a far off land, one prone to human failure, grow to effect me today in a far off non existent land?

Written while listening to the Podcast:
Groove Electric
Books Referenced:

Bruce F.F. New Testament History. Garden City, New York: Anchor Books, 1972.
Shelley, Bruce L. Church History in Plain Language Waco, Texas: Word Books, 1982.
Latourette, Kenneth Scott Christianity Through the Ages: New York: Harper and Row Publishers, 1965.
Davie, Donald ed. The New Oxford Book of Christian Verse Oxford, United Kingdom: Oxford University Press, 1981.

30 AD: Ieus Nazarenus Rex Iudaeorun: King of the Jews

What does it mean to be a religion where our God has been humiliated?

What is the cross?

Why does it matter to us today?

Why does the Cross need to remain pure?

Why won't deodorant take away the odoriferous smell off the cross?

Cicero warned, "Let the very name of the cross be far, not only from the body of a Roman citizen, but even from his thoughts, his eyes, his ears."

This weekend someone stole our two Church signs. These were signs were very important to the community of Redeemer Presbyterian Lakeland. They represented the desire of our community to reach out to those who may need some fellowship. The signs were put up in Love by our church. Our group loves the 863; and we do not make any type of indictment on the 863.

We don't believe in forcing our message down the guts of non believers. We do not try to market God to unbelievers. We believe our role is to witness to the Glory of God. We see this as telling others what Christ has meant for us.

But the Cross does smell! Humanity us humans, are responsible in the death of our Messiah and our God in flesh.

So why would someone steal our signs? How do we explain the anger towards the concept of Church?

How do we combat the human evil the human church has been part of for ever?

How do we show love when Christianity is an Exclusive Truth in a time of Relative Truths?

These are questions our Church and other Churches are working to answer. In the mean time we desire to bring our yearnings of peace and love, and our desire to dialogue in truth with others.

Shelley Bruce L. Church History in Plain Language Waco, Texas: Word Book Publishers, 1982.

381 AD - Gregory of Nazianzus, Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nyssa

The Nicene Creed Ramports

It took a long time for the idea of one substance and three persons to become encoded into the Church DNA.

We often struggle with the idea of the trinity. How can God be one and three? What is the three's relationship?

We must remember that it took 400 years for the words ousia (substance) and hypostasis (persons) to become coined by three men of the faith: Gregory of Naizanzu, Basil of Casarea, and Gregory of Nyssa. They held that in one entity there were three persons the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. If we struggle with the idea of the Trinity then we should not fear a lack of faith! We need to realize; it takes time to grasp the identity of the Trinity. And even when we we think we got the idea of the trinity, we should review our understanding.

Latourette, Kenneth Scott Christianity Through the Ages Harper Chapel Books, New York: 1965.

373 AD: Compromise: We don't Need No Stinkin Compromise Purity of the Cross

God is in the purity of the cross, the purity of the word.

1 Timothy 4:1 The spirit clearly says that in later times some would abondon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.

373 Roman Empire: God never compromises to the will of man. He is the type of Coach that never punts for a better position on the field. He is a coach of miracles so he will always go for it on 4th down.

Athanasius knew that toleration of doctrine that looks similar but is not taints the purity of the Cross. Athanasius knew that the Arieans based their hope on Toleration. The state of Rome hoped to maintain peace through a compromise. They did not see what the big deal was; "Why can't y'all just get along." Constantius hoped to build a compromise between the Arians and the Athanasiusians.

Constantius compromise was to build a new vocabulary of toleration. He coined the term homoiousion(of similar substance) to replace homoousion (Same substance).

Athanasius stood against this idea of "similar substance". He did not see that this replacement helped the Christian Cause. He also did not like being told by the state government what Church should or should not accept. And if the Son is the "Word" and "Wisdom" of God, how was there a time when He was not? It is the same as if they should say that God was once without Word and Without Wisdom?"

If we tolerate what is not written in the bible, what is not the WORD of GOD, than we transgress the kingdom. Witness's do not add anything to the event but truthfully tell what they saw.

Latourette, Kenneth Scott Christianity Through the Ages Harper Chapel Books, New York: 1965.