Newsletter 193 - May 15, 2010
Bob Mills
Jesus used the words “I AM” in reference to himself many times. (The bread of life, the light of the world, the door of the sheep, the good shepherd, the resurrection and the way, the truth and the life, and the vine) And there are numerous others a little more indirectly. This is my body, and, this is my blood, and the head of the church come to mind.
These are all very true, and they illustrate just how we are absolutely dependent upon him. We are considering only one of them today, “I am the bread of life.” In these few verses, the thought is voiced four times. Food is essential to sustain life. This is true both in the physical and the Spiritual sense, and contrary to popular opinion, the Spiritual is by far the greater. The physical is limited to this earthly life, but the Spiritual is eternal. In relation to his discussion with the Samaritan woman at the well, he told the apostles, “I have food to eat that you know not of.” He was not talking about bread. One can become so engrossed in a conversation or in writing that he forgets to eat. If only we all did that far more often.
Satan had thought that he could tempt Jesus to make the stones become bread, but physical food was not what was on his mind at that time. That could wait, as it had already for many days. With the exception of a diabetic, most of us would probably benefit from an occasional fast. Better a fast than a feast.
John 6:31-51 (King James Version)
31 Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. (Exodus 16:4, Exodus 16:15, Numbers 11:8, John 6:49, John 6:58, Psalm 78:24, Exodus 16:4, Exodus 16:15, Nehemiah 9:15, Psalm 105:40)
32 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven.
33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. (John 6:41, John 6:50)
34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. (John 4:15)
35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. (John 6:48, John 6:51, John 4:14)
36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. (John 6:26)
37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. (John 6:39, John 17:2, John 17:24)
38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. (John 3:13, Matthew 26:39, John 4:34, John 5:30, John 6:29)
39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. (John 6:37, John 17:2, John 17:24, John 17:12, John 18:9, Matthew 10:15, John 6:40, John 6:44, John 6:54, John 11:24)
40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 12:45, John 14:17, John 14:19:, John 3:16, Matthew 10:15, John 6:39, John 6:44, John 6:54, John 11:24)
41 The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. (John 1:19, John 6:52, John 6:33, John 6:51, John 6:58)
42 And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? (Luke 4:22, John 7:27, John 6:38, John 6:62)
43 Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves.
44 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. (Jeremiah 31:3, Hosea 11:4John 6:65, John 12:32, John 6:39)
45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. (Acts 7:42, Acts 13:40, Hebrews 8:11, Isaiah 54:13, Jeremiah 31:34, Philippians 3:15, 1 Thessalonians 4:9, 1 John 2:27)
46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. (John 1:18)
47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. (John 3:36, John 5:24, John 6:51, John 6:58, John 11:26)
48 I am that bread of life. (John 6:35, John 6:51)
49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. (John 6:31, John 6:58)
50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. (John 6:33, John 3:36, John 5:34, John 6:47, John 6:51, John 6:58, John 11:26)
51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. (John 6:35, John 6:48, John 6:41, John 6:58, John 3:36, John 5:24, John 6:47, John 6:58, John 11:26, John 1:29, John 3:14, Hebrews 10:10, 1 John 4:10, John 6:53-56)
_________
RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
MAY
16th. Sunday – 1 Samuel 3, 4, John 10:1-21, Proverbs 12:1-13
17th. Monday – 1 Samuel 5, 6, 7, John 10:22-42, Psalm 62
18th. Tuesday – 1 Samuel 8, 9, John 11:1-27, Psalm 63
19th. Wednesday - 1 Samuel 10, 11, John 11:28-57, Psalm 64
20th. Thursday – 1 Samuel 12, 13, John 12:1-22, Proverbs 12:14-28
21st. Friday - 1 Samuel 14, John 12:23-50, Psalm 65
22nd. Saturday – 1 Samuel 15, 16, John 13, Psalm 66:1-10
____________
OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
(With links to 683 titles)
GOOGLE TRANSLATOR: The Translator is available only to e-mail blog readers and needs to be activated by scrolling to the very bottom of the monitor screen. Using it, you may have any of our blogs on the screen translated into one of many languages and you can then copy and forward them to email addresses all over earth. “Go ye unto all the world.”
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com/
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com/
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ 4 published books & more to come
http://priceless.but.free.gift.blogspot.com
God’s gifts cannot be bought for any money.
____________
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.”
John 6:27
____________
SEARCH: “Turning Point, by PJ Mills”
Bottle trouble
A woman was trying hard to get the catsup to come out of the jar. During her struggle the phone rang so she asked her four-year old daughter to answer the phone.
"It's the minister, Mommy," the child said to her mother.
Then she added, "Mommy can't come to the phone to talk to you right now. She's hitting the bottle."
Friday, May 14, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
THE WOMAN AT THE WELL
Newsletter 192 - May 8, 2010
Bob Mills
John 4:27-42 (King James Version)
JESUS TALKED WITH EVEN A CASUAL MEETING.
27 And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? (John 4:8)
28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? (John 4:17, Matthew 12:23, John 7:26, 31)
30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. (Matthew 23:7, Matthew 26:25, Matthew 26:49, Mark 9:5, Mark 11:21Mark 14:45, John 1:38, John 1:49, John 3:2, John 3:26, John 6:25, John 9:2, John 11:8)
MORE IMPORTANT THAN FOOD
32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? (Luke 6:13-16, John 1:40-49, John 2:2)
34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. (John 5:30, John 6:38, John 5:36, John 6:38, John 5:36, John 17:4, John 19:28, John 19:30)
THE TIME IS NOW
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. (Matthew 9:37, Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. (Proverbs 11:18, 1 Corinthians 9:17, Romans 1:13, Matthew 19:29, John 3:36, John 4:14, John 5:24, Romans 2:7, Romans 6:23)
A DIVISION OF LABOR ACCORDING TO TALENTS
37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. (Job 31:8, Mark 6:15)
38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours. (John 4:5)
ALL NON-BELIEVERS ARE PROSPECTS
39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. (John 4:29)
40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.
41 And many more believed because of his own word;
EXPECT RESPONSES
42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. (Matthew 1:21, Luke 2:11, John 1:29, Acts 5:31, Acts 13:23, 1 Timothy 4:10, 1 John 4:14)
_________
RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
MAY
9th. Sunday – Judges 14, 15, John 6:1-38, Psalm 58:1-6
10th. Monday – Judges 16, 17, John 6:39-74, Psalm 58:7-11
11th. Tuesday – Judges 18, 19, John 7:1-31, Psalm 59:1-8
12th. Wednesday - Judges 20, 21, John 7:32-53, Proverbs 11:22-31
13th. Thursday – Ruth 1, 2, John 8:1-32, Psalm 59:9-17
14th. Friday - Ruth 3, 4, John 8:33-59, Psalm 60
15th. Saturday – 1 Samuel 1, 2, John 9, Psalm 61
____________
OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
(With links to 682 titles)
GOOGLE TRANSLATOR: The Translator is available only to e-mail blog readers and needs to be activated by scrolling to the very bottom of the monitor screen. With it you may have any of our blogs on the screen translated into one of many languages and you can then copy and forward them to many email address on earth. “Go ye unto all the world.”
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com/
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ 3 published books & more to come
http://priceless.but.free.gift.blogspot.com
Gifts that can not be bought for any money
____________
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“He that spareth not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”
Romans 8:32
____________
FAMILY NEWS
These are exciting days in the Mills apartment! Our four daughters and their families have banded together to plan and host the celebration of our 60th wedding anniversary. They, and our extended family and guests are coming to Dallas from every direction. Kathy plans to arrive from Ohio this Saturday, and Ruth and Becky from South Africa also this week end. Donna already lives nearby. A reception is planned here at Evergreen in the media room on Friday the 21st starting at 2:00. The family is invited to Donna’s home for a get-together Saturday morning. The main event is to be Saturday afternoon in the choir room of the Valley View Christian Church.
Just to add to the excitement, the second book in Phyllis’ missionary novel series has just been published. It is titled “Turning Point” and we hope to have a box of copies in time for the reception so we can show them off. This book is available as a paper-back, a hard back, or in e-book format. The first volume was only available as a paper-back. Volume number three in the series is titled “The Paper Heart”. They have promised to print it free of charge if we send it soon enough, so we are now doing a final proof reading of its text.
SEARCH: “Turning Point, by PJ Mills
Bob Mills
John 4:27-42 (King James Version)
JESUS TALKED WITH EVEN A CASUAL MEETING.
27 And upon this came his disciples, and marvelled that he talked with the woman: yet no man said, What seekest thou? or, Why talkest thou with her? (John 4:8)
28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men,
29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? (John 4:17, Matthew 12:23, John 7:26, 31)
30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
31 In the mean while his disciples prayed him, saying, Master, eat. (Matthew 23:7, Matthew 26:25, Matthew 26:49, Mark 9:5, Mark 11:21Mark 14:45, John 1:38, John 1:49, John 3:2, John 3:26, John 6:25, John 9:2, John 11:8)
MORE IMPORTANT THAN FOOD
32 But he said unto them, I have meat to eat that ye know not of.
33 Therefore said the disciples one to another, Hath any man brought him ought to eat? (Luke 6:13-16, John 1:40-49, John 2:2)
34 Jesus saith unto them, My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work. (John 5:30, John 6:38, John 5:36, John 6:38, John 5:36, John 17:4, John 19:28, John 19:30)
THE TIME IS NOW
35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest. (Matthew 9:37, Matthew 9:38, Luke 10:2)
36 And he that reapeth receiveth wages, and gathereth fruit unto life eternal: that both he that soweth and he that reapeth may rejoice together. (Proverbs 11:18, 1 Corinthians 9:17, Romans 1:13, Matthew 19:29, John 3:36, John 4:14, John 5:24, Romans 2:7, Romans 6:23)
A DIVISION OF LABOR ACCORDING TO TALENTS
37 And herein is that saying true, One soweth, and another reapeth. (Job 31:8, Mark 6:15)
38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour: other men laboured, and ye are entered into their labours. (John 4:5)
ALL NON-BELIEVERS ARE PROSPECTS
39 And many of the Samaritans of that city believed on him for the saying of the woman, which testified, He told me all that ever I did. (John 4:29)
40 So when the Samaritans were come unto him, they besought him that he would tarry with them: and he abode there two days.
41 And many more believed because of his own word;
EXPECT RESPONSES
42 And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world. (Matthew 1:21, Luke 2:11, John 1:29, Acts 5:31, Acts 13:23, 1 Timothy 4:10, 1 John 4:14)
_________
RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
MAY
9th. Sunday – Judges 14, 15, John 6:1-38, Psalm 58:1-6
10th. Monday – Judges 16, 17, John 6:39-74, Psalm 58:7-11
11th. Tuesday – Judges 18, 19, John 7:1-31, Psalm 59:1-8
12th. Wednesday - Judges 20, 21, John 7:32-53, Proverbs 11:22-31
13th. Thursday – Ruth 1, 2, John 8:1-32, Psalm 59:9-17
14th. Friday - Ruth 3, 4, John 8:33-59, Psalm 60
15th. Saturday – 1 Samuel 1, 2, John 9, Psalm 61
____________
OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
(With links to 682 titles)
GOOGLE TRANSLATOR: The Translator is available only to e-mail blog readers and needs to be activated by scrolling to the very bottom of the monitor screen. With it you may have any of our blogs on the screen translated into one of many languages and you can then copy and forward them to many email address on earth. “Go ye unto all the world.”
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com/
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ 3 published books & more to come
http://priceless.but.free.gift.blogspot.com
Gifts that can not be bought for any money
____________
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“He that spareth not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?”
Romans 8:32
____________
FAMILY NEWS
These are exciting days in the Mills apartment! Our four daughters and their families have banded together to plan and host the celebration of our 60th wedding anniversary. They, and our extended family and guests are coming to Dallas from every direction. Kathy plans to arrive from Ohio this Saturday, and Ruth and Becky from South Africa also this week end. Donna already lives nearby. A reception is planned here at Evergreen in the media room on Friday the 21st starting at 2:00. The family is invited to Donna’s home for a get-together Saturday morning. The main event is to be Saturday afternoon in the choir room of the Valley View Christian Church.
Just to add to the excitement, the second book in Phyllis’ missionary novel series has just been published. It is titled “Turning Point” and we hope to have a box of copies in time for the reception so we can show them off. This book is available as a paper-back, a hard back, or in e-book format. The first volume was only available as a paper-back. Volume number three in the series is titled “The Paper Heart”. They have promised to print it free of charge if we send it soon enough, so we are now doing a final proof reading of its text.
SEARCH: “Turning Point, by PJ Mills
Friday, April 30, 2010
PRICELESS BUT FREE GIFT - LIGHT
Newsletter 191 May 1, 2010
Bob Mills
In this case the precious but free gift is guaranteed by the creator of all things, Jesus Christ. He is identified as having been not only with God but that he is God. As he said to his apostles, “He that hath seen me has seen God.“ His guarantee is absolute. His gift is certain. He created light.
Light eliminates darkness. I recall, that as a sailor, we were instructed that when we were going on watch at night, we were to be in darkness for several minutes before we went on duty. That was to allow our eyes to adjust, but also to prevent any light when we opened the hatch to go out. Once on duty, even the glow of a cigarette was forbidden. It could be seen for great distances.
As a former radar operator, I am aware that the radar, at that time, was the eyes of the ship. The navigator depended on the information supplied by the radar. The same was true of the men operating the big guns for our defense, we supplied the height, distance, speed and direction of flight of incoming enemy ships or planes.
John 1:1-13 (King James Version)
THE WORD ALWAYS EXISTED
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (Genesis 1:1, Colossians 1:17, 1 John 1:1, John 1:14, Revelation 19:13, John17:5, 1 John 1:2, Philippians 2:6)
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
HE WAS THE CREATOR
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:10, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Colossians 1:16, Hebrews 1:2)
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (John 5:26, John 11:15, John 14:6, John 8:12, John 9:5, John 12:46)
HE WAS THE SOURCE OF LIGHT
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
(John 3:19)
HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE REJECTED THE LIGHT
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. (Matthew 3:1)
JOHN WAS SENT TO PREPARE THE WAY
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. (John 1:15, John 1:19, John 1:32, John 3:26, John 5:33, John 7:12, Acts 19:4, Galatians 3:26)
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. (John 1:20)
THE TRUE LIGHT IS NOW FOR THE WHOLE WORLD
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (1 John 2:8)
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. (1 Corinthians 8:6, Colossians 1:16, Hebrews 1:2)
MOST OF THE WORLD ALSO REJECT HIS TRUE LIGHT
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
BUT BELIEVERS ARE OFFERED SALVATION
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 11:52, Galatians 3:26, John 1:7, John 3:18, 1 John 3:23, John 5:13)
PROVIDED THEY BELIEVE AND ARE REBORN THROUGH BAPTISM
(Mark 16:16, Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 2:38, John 3:)
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 3:51, James 1:18, 1 Peter 1:23)
Light can be “true light” or it can be deceptive. I well remember the first time I reported a small island to be traveling, forgetting that it was we who were traveling. It was standing still. The true light is of the Lord, we only reflect it. Most of what we call stars in the sky, really have no light of their own. They are reflecting light from another source.
The creator of all things, loves his handiwork. He breathed life into mankind, and he sent his Son to make possible the salvation of all. His Son carried the plan to save sinners like us. It had to be a simple test of our faith, and it had to be free.
He gave himself to take away our sins and prepare us to live with God, but we have to have faith enough to do as he asked. Nothing can bring light, nothing can save, but through Christ Jesus. No one an buy acceptance. The price is not measured in wealth. He alone gives us the power to become his sons. (John 1:12) There is no other way. The plan so simple that it is summarized in one verse, (Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16) Light your lamp. Let your light shine.
_________
RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
MAY
2nd. Sunday – Judges 2:16-3:31, John 1:29-51, Psalm 55:1-11
3rd. Monday – Judges 4,5, John 2, Psalm 55:12-23
4th. Tuesday – Judges 6, John 3, Proverbs 11:7-12
5th. Wednesday - Judges 7, 8, John 4:1-26, Psalm 56
6th. Thursday – Judges 9, John 4:27-54, Psalm 57:1-6
7th. Friday - Judges 10,11, John 5:1-23, Psalm 57:7-11
8th. Saturday – Judges 12, 13, John 5:24-47, Proverbs 11:13-21
____________
OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
(With links to 679 titles)
GOOGLE TRANSLATOR: The Translator is available only to e-mail blog readers and needs to be activated by scrolling to the very bottom of the monitor screen. With it you may have any of our blogs on the screen translated into one of many languages and you can then copy and forward them to many email address on earth. “Go ye unto all the world.”
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ 3 published books & more to come
http://priceless.but.free.gift.blogspot.com/
God’s gifts that can not be bought for any money.
____________
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”
John 5:39
____________
What's Your Business?
A cowboy named Bud was overseeing his herd in a remote mountainous pasture in California when suddenly a brand-new BMW advanced out of a dust cloud towards him.
The driver, a young man in a Brioni suit, Gucci shoes, RayBan sunglasses and YSL tie, leans out the window and asks the cowboy, "If I tell you exactly how many cows and calves you have in your herd, Will you give me a calf?"
Bud looks at the man, obviously a yuppie, then looks at his peacefully grazing herd and calmly answers; "Sure, Why not?" The yuppie parks his car, whips out his Dell notebook computer, connects it to his Cingular RAZR V3 cellphone, and surfs to a NASA page on the Internet, where he calls up a GPS satellite to get an exact fix on his location which he then feeds to another NASA satellite that scans the area in an ultra-high-resolution photo.
The young man then opens the digital photo in Adobe Photoshop and exports it to an image processing facility in Hamburg, Germany. Within mere seconds, he receives an email on his Palm Pilot that the image has been processed and the data is stored. He then accesses a MS-SQL database through an ODBC connected Excel spreadsheet with email on his Blackberry and, after a few minutes, receives a response.
Finally, he prints out a full-color, 150-page report on his hi-tech, miniaturized HP LaserJet printer and finally turns to the cowboy and says, "You have exactly 1,586 cows and calves."
"That's right. Well, I guess you can take one of my calves," says Bud. He watches the young man select one of the animals and looks on amused as the young man stuffs it into the trunk of his car.
Then the Bud says to the young man, "Hey, if I can tell you exactly what your business is, will you give me back my calf?"
The young man thinks about it for a second and then says, "Okay, why not?"
"You're a Congressman for the U.S. Government", says Bud.
"Wow! That's correct," says the yuppie, "but how did you guess that?"
"No guessing required", answered the cowboy. "You showed up here even though nobody called you; you want to get paid for an answer I already knew, to a question I never asked. You tried to show me how much smarter than me you are; and you don't know a thing about cows...this is a herd of sheep.
Now give me back my dog."
Bob Mills
In this case the precious but free gift is guaranteed by the creator of all things, Jesus Christ. He is identified as having been not only with God but that he is God. As he said to his apostles, “He that hath seen me has seen God.“ His guarantee is absolute. His gift is certain. He created light.
Light eliminates darkness. I recall, that as a sailor, we were instructed that when we were going on watch at night, we were to be in darkness for several minutes before we went on duty. That was to allow our eyes to adjust, but also to prevent any light when we opened the hatch to go out. Once on duty, even the glow of a cigarette was forbidden. It could be seen for great distances.
As a former radar operator, I am aware that the radar, at that time, was the eyes of the ship. The navigator depended on the information supplied by the radar. The same was true of the men operating the big guns for our defense, we supplied the height, distance, speed and direction of flight of incoming enemy ships or planes.
John 1:1-13 (King James Version)
THE WORD ALWAYS EXISTED
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (Genesis 1:1, Colossians 1:17, 1 John 1:1, John 1:14, Revelation 19:13, John17:5, 1 John 1:2, Philippians 2:6)
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
HE WAS THE CREATOR
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:10, 1 Corinthians 8:6, Colossians 1:16, Hebrews 1:2)
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. (John 5:26, John 11:15, John 14:6, John 8:12, John 9:5, John 12:46)
HE WAS THE SOURCE OF LIGHT
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
(John 3:19)
HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE REJECTED THE LIGHT
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. (Matthew 3:1)
JOHN WAS SENT TO PREPARE THE WAY
7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. (John 1:15, John 1:19, John 1:32, John 3:26, John 5:33, John 7:12, Acts 19:4, Galatians 3:26)
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. (John 1:20)
THE TRUE LIGHT IS NOW FOR THE WHOLE WORLD
9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world. (1 John 2:8)
10 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. (1 Corinthians 8:6, Colossians 1:16, Hebrews 1:2)
MOST OF THE WORLD ALSO REJECT HIS TRUE LIGHT
11 He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
BUT BELIEVERS ARE OFFERED SALVATION
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 11:52, Galatians 3:26, John 1:7, John 3:18, 1 John 3:23, John 5:13)
PROVIDED THEY BELIEVE AND ARE REBORN THROUGH BAPTISM
(Mark 16:16, Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 2:38, John 3:)
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 3:51, James 1:18, 1 Peter 1:23)
Light can be “true light” or it can be deceptive. I well remember the first time I reported a small island to be traveling, forgetting that it was we who were traveling. It was standing still. The true light is of the Lord, we only reflect it. Most of what we call stars in the sky, really have no light of their own. They are reflecting light from another source.
The creator of all things, loves his handiwork. He breathed life into mankind, and he sent his Son to make possible the salvation of all. His Son carried the plan to save sinners like us. It had to be a simple test of our faith, and it had to be free.
He gave himself to take away our sins and prepare us to live with God, but we have to have faith enough to do as he asked. Nothing can bring light, nothing can save, but through Christ Jesus. No one an buy acceptance. The price is not measured in wealth. He alone gives us the power to become his sons. (John 1:12) There is no other way. The plan so simple that it is summarized in one verse, (Acts 2:38, Mark 16:16) Light your lamp. Let your light shine.
_________
RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
MAY
2nd. Sunday – Judges 2:16-3:31, John 1:29-51, Psalm 55:1-11
3rd. Monday – Judges 4,5, John 2, Psalm 55:12-23
4th. Tuesday – Judges 6, John 3, Proverbs 11:7-12
5th. Wednesday - Judges 7, 8, John 4:1-26, Psalm 56
6th. Thursday – Judges 9, John 4:27-54, Psalm 57:1-6
7th. Friday - Judges 10,11, John 5:1-23, Psalm 57:7-11
8th. Saturday – Judges 12, 13, John 5:24-47, Proverbs 11:13-21
____________
OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
(With links to 679 titles)
GOOGLE TRANSLATOR: The Translator is available only to e-mail blog readers and needs to be activated by scrolling to the very bottom of the monitor screen. With it you may have any of our blogs on the screen translated into one of many languages and you can then copy and forward them to many email address on earth. “Go ye unto all the world.”
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ 3 published books & more to come
http://priceless.but.free.gift.blogspot.com/
God’s gifts that can not be bought for any money.
____________
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.”
John 5:39
____________
What's Your Business?
A cowboy named Bud was overseeing his herd in a remote mountainous pasture in California when suddenly a brand-new BMW advanced out of a dust cloud towards him.
The driver, a young man in a Brioni suit, Gucci shoes, RayBan sunglasses and YSL tie, leans out the window and asks the cowboy, "If I tell you exactly how many cows and calves you have in your herd, Will you give me a calf?"
Bud looks at the man, obviously a yuppie, then looks at his peacefully grazing herd and calmly answers; "Sure, Why not?" The yuppie parks his car, whips out his Dell notebook computer, connects it to his Cingular RAZR V3 cellphone, and surfs to a NASA page on the Internet, where he calls up a GPS satellite to get an exact fix on his location which he then feeds to another NASA satellite that scans the area in an ultra-high-resolution photo.
The young man then opens the digital photo in Adobe Photoshop and exports it to an image processing facility in Hamburg, Germany. Within mere seconds, he receives an email on his Palm Pilot that the image has been processed and the data is stored. He then accesses a MS-SQL database through an ODBC connected Excel spreadsheet with email on his Blackberry and, after a few minutes, receives a response.
Finally, he prints out a full-color, 150-page report on his hi-tech, miniaturized HP LaserJet printer and finally turns to the cowboy and says, "You have exactly 1,586 cows and calves."
"That's right. Well, I guess you can take one of my calves," says Bud. He watches the young man select one of the animals and looks on amused as the young man stuffs it into the trunk of his car.
Then the Bud says to the young man, "Hey, if I can tell you exactly what your business is, will you give me back my calf?"
The young man thinks about it for a second and then says, "Okay, why not?"
"You're a Congressman for the U.S. Government", says Bud.
"Wow! That's correct," says the yuppie, "but how did you guess that?"
"No guessing required", answered the cowboy. "You showed up here even though nobody called you; you want to get paid for an answer I already knew, to a question I never asked. You tried to show me how much smarter than me you are; and you don't know a thing about cows...this is a herd of sheep.
Now give me back my dog."
Friday, April 23, 2010
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RESURRECTION
Newsletter 190 - April 24, 2010
Bob Mills
Many accounts of the life of Christ, both written and filmed, chronicle his birth and his ministry up to and including his crucifixion, and then stop there as though that were the end of the story. If they were meant to be a biography, and that only, that might be true. But, the whole reason for his coming to live on the earth as a man with all the frailties that involved, was to fulfill the prophecies and become the final blood sacrifice for the sins of mankind. If he had died and stayed in the tomb, all would have been pointless.
The Gospel is told in the facts of his death, burial, and resurrection. Death, without a resurrection would have been entirely human and meaningless to all. The prophecies would not have been fulfilled. The blood sacrifices of the old covenant would have been without reason. His divinity would not have been proven beyond doubt. Satan would have won, and we would face eternity with him.
The resurrection is central to the sacraments, commanded by Christ Jesus. Of baptism, he commanded, “Go…preach the Gospel.” (Mark 16:15) That is a clear, concise instruction. There are two results of doing that. People either believe and obey the command to be baptized, or they do not. The result is salvation Mark 16:16, “”believeth and is baptized shall be saved” or it is to be lost, “believeth not shall be damned.” (Mark 16:16) The wonder of the resurrection is shown in baptism. This is the first sacrament. The second is His memorial table. Our memories are short, and even more so as we grow older. Praise the Lord for that part of our weekly fellowship in His House of worship and prayer. We can do without that weekly chat with our friends in the foyer with a donut in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. As enjoyable as they might be. We would probably be healthier without either, but we need that time with Him about His table of Communion. We need to remember what He did on our behalf. His statement was, “Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:24) These are essential to Christianity, and both are pictures in action, of His death, burial and resurrection, on our behalf. Take either away and you have little of significance remaining.
Luke 24:1-12 (King James Version)
1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. (Luke 24:1-10, Matthew 28:7-8, Mark 16:1-8, John 20:1-8)
2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. (Luke 7:13, Acts 1:21)
4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: (John 20:12, Luke 2:9, Acts 12:7)
5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, (Mark 16:6, Matthew 17:22, Mark 9:30, Luke 9:44, Luke 24:44)
7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. Matthew 16:21, Luke 24:46)
8 And they remembered his words, (John 2:22)
9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.
10 It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. (Matthew 27:56, Mark 6:30)
11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. (Mark 16:11)
12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. (John 20:3-6, John 20:10)
_________
RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
APRIL
25th. Sunday – Joshua 16-17:13, Luke 22:24-46, Psalm 51:1-9
26th. Monday – Joshua 17:14-18:28, Luke 22:37-71, Proverbs 10:21-32
27th. Tuesday – Joshua 19, Luke 23:1-25, Psalm 51:10-19
28th. Wednesday - Joshua 20, 21, Luke 23:26-56, Psalm 52
29th. Thursday – Joshua 22, 23, Luke 24:1-27, Psalm 53
30th. Friday - Joshua 24, Luke 24:28-53, Proverbs 11:1-6
MAY
1st. Saturday – Judges 1:1-:2:15, John 1:1-28, Psalm 54
____________
OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
(With links to 672 titles)
GOOGLE TRANSLATOR: The Translator is available only to e-mail blog readers and needs to be activated by scrolling to the very bottom of the monitor screen. With it you may have any of our blogs on the screen translated into one of many languages and you can then copy and forward them to many email address on earth. “Go ye unto all the world.”
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com/
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ 3 published books & more to come
____________
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“He that rejecteth me; and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”
John 12:48
____________
Spreading Stupidity...
Only in America......do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front.
Only in America.....do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet coke.
Only in America.....do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the counters.
Only in America ......do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage.
Only in America......do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight.
Only in America ......do they have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering
Bob Mills
Many accounts of the life of Christ, both written and filmed, chronicle his birth and his ministry up to and including his crucifixion, and then stop there as though that were the end of the story. If they were meant to be a biography, and that only, that might be true. But, the whole reason for his coming to live on the earth as a man with all the frailties that involved, was to fulfill the prophecies and become the final blood sacrifice for the sins of mankind. If he had died and stayed in the tomb, all would have been pointless.
The Gospel is told in the facts of his death, burial, and resurrection. Death, without a resurrection would have been entirely human and meaningless to all. The prophecies would not have been fulfilled. The blood sacrifices of the old covenant would have been without reason. His divinity would not have been proven beyond doubt. Satan would have won, and we would face eternity with him.
The resurrection is central to the sacraments, commanded by Christ Jesus. Of baptism, he commanded, “Go…preach the Gospel.” (Mark 16:15) That is a clear, concise instruction. There are two results of doing that. People either believe and obey the command to be baptized, or they do not. The result is salvation Mark 16:16, “”believeth and is baptized shall be saved” or it is to be lost, “believeth not shall be damned.” (Mark 16:16) The wonder of the resurrection is shown in baptism. This is the first sacrament. The second is His memorial table. Our memories are short, and even more so as we grow older. Praise the Lord for that part of our weekly fellowship in His House of worship and prayer. We can do without that weekly chat with our friends in the foyer with a donut in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. As enjoyable as they might be. We would probably be healthier without either, but we need that time with Him about His table of Communion. We need to remember what He did on our behalf. His statement was, “Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Corinthians 11:24) These are essential to Christianity, and both are pictures in action, of His death, burial and resurrection, on our behalf. Take either away and you have little of significance remaining.
Luke 24:1-12 (King James Version)
1 Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them. (Luke 24:1-10, Matthew 28:7-8, Mark 16:1-8, John 20:1-8)
2 And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
3 And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus. (Luke 7:13, Acts 1:21)
4 And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments: (John 20:12, Luke 2:9, Acts 12:7)
5 And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
6 He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, (Mark 16:6, Matthew 17:22, Mark 9:30, Luke 9:44, Luke 24:44)
7 Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again. Matthew 16:21, Luke 24:46)
8 And they remembered his words, (John 2:22)
9 And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.
10 It was Mary Magdalene and Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things unto the apostles. (Matthew 27:56, Mark 6:30)
11 And their words seemed to them as idle tales, and they believed them not. (Mark 16:11)
12 Then arose Peter, and ran unto the sepulchre; and stooping down, he beheld the linen clothes laid by themselves, and departed, wondering in himself at that which was come to pass. (John 20:3-6, John 20:10)
_________
RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
APRIL
25th. Sunday – Joshua 16-17:13, Luke 22:24-46, Psalm 51:1-9
26th. Monday – Joshua 17:14-18:28, Luke 22:37-71, Proverbs 10:21-32
27th. Tuesday – Joshua 19, Luke 23:1-25, Psalm 51:10-19
28th. Wednesday - Joshua 20, 21, Luke 23:26-56, Psalm 52
29th. Thursday – Joshua 22, 23, Luke 24:1-27, Psalm 53
30th. Friday - Joshua 24, Luke 24:28-53, Proverbs 11:1-6
MAY
1st. Saturday – Judges 1:1-:2:15, John 1:1-28, Psalm 54
____________
OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
(With links to 672 titles)
GOOGLE TRANSLATOR: The Translator is available only to e-mail blog readers and needs to be activated by scrolling to the very bottom of the monitor screen. With it you may have any of our blogs on the screen translated into one of many languages and you can then copy and forward them to many email address on earth. “Go ye unto all the world.”
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com/
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ 3 published books & more to come
____________
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“He that rejecteth me; and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.”
John 12:48
____________
Spreading Stupidity...
Only in America......do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front.
Only in America.....do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet coke.
Only in America.....do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the counters.
Only in America ......do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage.
Only in America......do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight.
Only in America ......do they have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering
Saturday, April 17, 2010
“YOUR PRESENCE IS REQUESTED”
Newsletter 189 April 17, 2010
Bob Mills
Our first passage to Africa was made on a passenger liner which also carried cargo. There were only about seventy passengers which assured that we got great service since they had space for at least twice that many. We also were allowed unlimited baggage and a very cheap rate on our automobile. Soon after we sailed, we received an beautiful invitation to the captain’s “Cocktail Party.” Having two small children, one of them very ill, and not being interested in such an evening, we chose to ignore it. When the time arrived, there was a discreet knock at our door. One of the officers had been sent to see why we had not appeared. I had not realized that no one ever ignored what was considered to be a “command appearance.”
Later, Phyllis told me of the times that her family had been invited to such affairs by the Colonel in charge of the city of Batang, China. There, it was considered unacceptable to go on the first invitation. There would be a second, and even a third. Then it was time to go, and it was a required appearance.
And later I was sent a gold printed invitation to the State President’s reception on the occasion of the opening of the Afrikaans Language Museum in Bloemfontein, South Africa. I was included because of my publication of Bible study booklets in that language. That was another occasion we did not accept, largely since I had set the type totally from translations others had made. I, at that time, neither understood or spoke Afrikaans at all.
The host in Jesus’ parable here is God Himself, and the feast is probably the wedding feast of His Son, Jesus, and his bride, the church. That feast is still to take place, of course. And it is one we do not want to miss. It too is a command appearance, and God has provided proper attire. We know that because another parable tells us of a man who attempted to enter in, not wearing the proper garments. In other words, he tried to “crash the gate”, without repentance, confession, and baptism. It is obedience to these commands that prepares one. In still another, Jesus compares this to being like the thief who tries to climb into the sheep kraal over the side and not by the entrance he has prepared. There is only one entrance, and that the one of Acts 2:38., and Acts 8:23-39. The apostle Peter was the man with the key that opens the door..
Luke 14:15-24 (King James Version)
15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. (Revelation 19:9, Matthew 8:12)
16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: (Matthew 22:2-14, Luke 14:16-24)
17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
BOUGHT A PIECE OF LAND
Who would buy land, sight unseen?
18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
EXCUSE OF THE OXEN
This would be the equivalent of buying a major farm tractor without starting its motor.
19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
MARRIED A WIFE
A newly married man was exempted from the military, but not from a wedding!
20 And another said, I have married a wife, therefore I cannot come. (Deuteronomy 24:5, 1 Corinthians 7:33)
THE JEWS HAD BEEN THE INVITED, BUT NOW EVERYONE
21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
SEARCH THE WORLD. THE ORIGINAL GUEST LIST IS SCRAPPED!
24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
GO YE UNTO ALL THE WORLD. (Mark 16:15-16, Matthew 28:19-20)
_________
RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
APRIL
18th. Sunday – Joshua 4, 5, Luke 19:1-27, Proverbs 10:1-10
19th. Monday – Joshua 6, 7, Luke 19:28-48, Psalm 48
20th. Tuesday – Joshua 8, 9, Luke 20:1-26, Psalm 49:1-10
21st. Wednesday - Joshua 10, Luke 20:27-47, Psalm 49:11-20
22nd. Thursday – Joshua 11, 12, Luke 21:1-19, Proverbs 10:11-20
23rd. Friday - Joshua 13, 14 , Luke 21:20-38, Psalm 50:1-15 24th. Saturday – Joshua 2, 3, Luke 22:1-23, Psalm 50:16-23
____________
OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
(With links to 670 titles)
GOOGLE TRANSLATOR: The Translator is available only to e-mail blog readers and needs to be activated by scrolling to the very bottom of the monitor screen. With it you may have any of our blogs on the screen translated into one of many languages and you can then copy and forward them to many email address on earth. “Go ye unto all the world.”
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com/
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ 3 published books & more to come
____________
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
John 14:27
____________
Three Contractors...
Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence at the White House in D.C.; one from New Jersey, another from Tennessee and the third, from Florida. They go with a White House official to examine the fence.
The Florida contractor takes out a tape measure and does some measuring, then works some figures with a pencil. "Well", he says, "I figure the job will run about $900: $400 for materials, $400 for my crew and $100 profit for me."
The Tennessee contractor also does some measuring and figuring, then says, "I can do this job for $700: $300 for materials, $300 for my crew and $100 profit for me."
The New Jersey contractor doesn't measure or figure, but leans over to the White House official and whispers, "$2,700."
The official, incredulous, says, "You didn't even measure like the other guys! How did you come up with such a high figure?"
The New Jersey contractor whispers back, "$1000 for me, $1000 for you, and we hire the guy from Tennessee to fix the fence."
"Done!" replies the government official.
And that friends, is how it all works!
Bob Mills
Our first passage to Africa was made on a passenger liner which also carried cargo. There were only about seventy passengers which assured that we got great service since they had space for at least twice that many. We also were allowed unlimited baggage and a very cheap rate on our automobile. Soon after we sailed, we received an beautiful invitation to the captain’s “Cocktail Party.” Having two small children, one of them very ill, and not being interested in such an evening, we chose to ignore it. When the time arrived, there was a discreet knock at our door. One of the officers had been sent to see why we had not appeared. I had not realized that no one ever ignored what was considered to be a “command appearance.”
Later, Phyllis told me of the times that her family had been invited to such affairs by the Colonel in charge of the city of Batang, China. There, it was considered unacceptable to go on the first invitation. There would be a second, and even a third. Then it was time to go, and it was a required appearance.
And later I was sent a gold printed invitation to the State President’s reception on the occasion of the opening of the Afrikaans Language Museum in Bloemfontein, South Africa. I was included because of my publication of Bible study booklets in that language. That was another occasion we did not accept, largely since I had set the type totally from translations others had made. I, at that time, neither understood or spoke Afrikaans at all.
The host in Jesus’ parable here is God Himself, and the feast is probably the wedding feast of His Son, Jesus, and his bride, the church. That feast is still to take place, of course. And it is one we do not want to miss. It too is a command appearance, and God has provided proper attire. We know that because another parable tells us of a man who attempted to enter in, not wearing the proper garments. In other words, he tried to “crash the gate”, without repentance, confession, and baptism. It is obedience to these commands that prepares one. In still another, Jesus compares this to being like the thief who tries to climb into the sheep kraal over the side and not by the entrance he has prepared. There is only one entrance, and that the one of Acts 2:38., and Acts 8:23-39. The apostle Peter was the man with the key that opens the door..
Luke 14:15-24 (King James Version)
15 And when one of them that sat at meat with him heard these things, he said unto him, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God. (Revelation 19:9, Matthew 8:12)
16 Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: (Matthew 22:2-14, Luke 14:16-24)
17 And sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready.
BOUGHT A PIECE OF LAND
Who would buy land, sight unseen?
18 And they all with one consent began to make excuse. The first said unto him, I have bought a piece of ground, and I must needs go and see it: I pray thee have me excused.
EXCUSE OF THE OXEN
This would be the equivalent of buying a major farm tractor without starting its motor.
19 And another said, I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to prove them: I pray thee have me excused.
MARRIED A WIFE
A newly married man was exempted from the military, but not from a wedding!
20 And another said, I have married a wife, therefore I cannot come. (Deuteronomy 24:5, 1 Corinthians 7:33)
THE JEWS HAD BEEN THE INVITED, BUT NOW EVERYONE
21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.
22 And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room.
23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
SEARCH THE WORLD. THE ORIGINAL GUEST LIST IS SCRAPPED!
24 For I say unto you, That none of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.
GO YE UNTO ALL THE WORLD. (Mark 16:15-16, Matthew 28:19-20)
_________
RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
APRIL
18th. Sunday – Joshua 4, 5, Luke 19:1-27, Proverbs 10:1-10
19th. Monday – Joshua 6, 7, Luke 19:28-48, Psalm 48
20th. Tuesday – Joshua 8, 9, Luke 20:1-26, Psalm 49:1-10
21st. Wednesday - Joshua 10, Luke 20:27-47, Psalm 49:11-20
22nd. Thursday – Joshua 11, 12, Luke 21:1-19, Proverbs 10:11-20
23rd. Friday - Joshua 13, 14 , Luke 21:20-38, Psalm 50:1-15 24th. Saturday – Joshua 2, 3, Luke 22:1-23, Psalm 50:16-23
____________
OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
(With links to 670 titles)
GOOGLE TRANSLATOR: The Translator is available only to e-mail blog readers and needs to be activated by scrolling to the very bottom of the monitor screen. With it you may have any of our blogs on the screen translated into one of many languages and you can then copy and forward them to many email address on earth. “Go ye unto all the world.”
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com/
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ 3 published books & more to come
____________
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
John 14:27
____________
Three Contractors...
Three contractors are bidding to fix a broken fence at the White House in D.C.; one from New Jersey, another from Tennessee and the third, from Florida. They go with a White House official to examine the fence.
The Florida contractor takes out a tape measure and does some measuring, then works some figures with a pencil. "Well", he says, "I figure the job will run about $900: $400 for materials, $400 for my crew and $100 profit for me."
The Tennessee contractor also does some measuring and figuring, then says, "I can do this job for $700: $300 for materials, $300 for my crew and $100 profit for me."
The New Jersey contractor doesn't measure or figure, but leans over to the White House official and whispers, "$2,700."
The official, incredulous, says, "You didn't even measure like the other guys! How did you come up with such a high figure?"
The New Jersey contractor whispers back, "$1000 for me, $1000 for you, and we hire the guy from Tennessee to fix the fence."
"Done!" replies the government official.
And that friends, is how it all works!
Friday, April 9, 2010
SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD
Newsletter 188 - April 10, 2010
Bob Mills
I don’t remember where I read it first, but the quotation went somewhat like this. “Show me a man’s check stubs and I will tell you how seriously he takes the Lord’s work.” I know it did not come from me first, but it is very true. I make a spread sheet of all my banking and it reveals a lot; the source of all my income, and where it is spent. If one were to add a log of every day’s activities, even more would be revealed. Our lives are open books, nothing is hidden from God. Jesus knew Judas Iscariot was a thief, right down to the last penny. He knew Judas had arranged to betray him, and how much he had been promised. He knows exactly everything about every one of us, and he still loves us. He loves the most vile sinner, for he knows what he is capable of being, and doing. He knows why he made them as they are.
His disciples represented a cross section of mankind. There was a thief, there was a tax collector, there was one so unstable that he was called a little pebble stone, one was a doubter. Each has his own weaknesses, but it is not what they were, it is what they became that counts. Jesus also knew that.
WE WORRY INSTEAD OF TRUSTING HIM
Luke 12:22-34 (King James Version)
22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. (Luke 12:22-31, Matthew 6:25-33)
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
GOD WILL CARE FOR HIS OWN
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? (Job 38:41, Luke 12:18)
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? (Psalm 39:5)
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? (1 Kings 10:4-7, 2 Chronicles 9:3-6)
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? (Matthew 6:30)
JESUS SENT THE SEVENTY OUT ON FAITH
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. (Matthew 6:31)
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Matthew 14:27John 21:15-17, Ephesians 5:9)
33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. (Matthew 19:21, Luke 11:41, Luke 18:22, Matthew 6:20, Luke 12:21)
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:21)
It is natural for anyone to feel uneasy when he lacks a sense of security. Jesus is pleased when we place our trust in him.
This a lesson that I have difficulties with, so you can imagine how uneasy I was recently when bringing my spread sheet up to date I saw that it had dropped to a very uncomfortable low balance. God was showing me that He cares and will provide. Surely enough a few days later it was restored to a much more acceptable balance. God sees, and he cares when we trust Him.
_________
RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
APRIL
11th. Sunday – Deuteronomy 25, 26, 27, Luke 13, Psalm 44:1-12
12th. Monday – Deuteronomy 28, Luke 14, Psalm 44:13-26
13th. Tuesday – Deuteronomy 29, 30, 31, Luke 15, Psalm 45:1-9
14th. Wednesday - Deuteronomy 32, Luke 16, Proverbs 9:13-18
15th. Thursday – Deuteronomy 33, 34, Luke 17, Psalm 45:10-17
16th. Friday - Joshua 1, Luke 18:1-17, Psalm 46
17th. Saturday – Joshua 2, 3, Luke 18:18-43, Psalm 47:1-8
____________
OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
(With links to 670 titles)
GOOGLE TRANSLATOR: The Translator is available only to e-mail blog readers and needs to be activated by scrolling to the very bottom of the monitor screen. With it you may have any of our blogs on the screen translated into one of many languages and you can then copy and forward them to many email address on earth. “Go ye unto all the world.”
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com/
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ 3 published books & more to come
____________
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”
Luke 12:40
____________
RIVALARIES...
A first-grade teacher explains to her class that she is an New England Patriots fan. She asks her students to raise their hands if they are Patriots fans too. Not really knowing what a Patriots fan was, but wanting to be liked by their teacher, their hands fly into the air.
There is, however, one exception. Kelly has not gone along with the crowd. The teacher asks her why she has decided to be different. "Because I'm not a Patriots fan" she reports.
"Then," asks the teacher," What are you?"
"I'm a New York Giants fan," boasts the little girl.
The teacher asks Susie why she is a Giants fan.
"Well, my Dad and Mom are Giants fans, so I'm a Giants fan too," she responds.
"That's no reason," the teacher says. "What if your mom was a moron, and your dad was an idiot. What would you be then?"
Kelly smiles and says, "Then I'd be a Patriots fan."
Bob Mills
I don’t remember where I read it first, but the quotation went somewhat like this. “Show me a man’s check stubs and I will tell you how seriously he takes the Lord’s work.” I know it did not come from me first, but it is very true. I make a spread sheet of all my banking and it reveals a lot; the source of all my income, and where it is spent. If one were to add a log of every day’s activities, even more would be revealed. Our lives are open books, nothing is hidden from God. Jesus knew Judas Iscariot was a thief, right down to the last penny. He knew Judas had arranged to betray him, and how much he had been promised. He knows exactly everything about every one of us, and he still loves us. He loves the most vile sinner, for he knows what he is capable of being, and doing. He knows why he made them as they are.
His disciples represented a cross section of mankind. There was a thief, there was a tax collector, there was one so unstable that he was called a little pebble stone, one was a doubter. Each has his own weaknesses, but it is not what they were, it is what they became that counts. Jesus also knew that.
WE WORRY INSTEAD OF TRUSTING HIM
Luke 12:22-34 (King James Version)
22 And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on. (Luke 12:22-31, Matthew 6:25-33)
23 The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
GOD WILL CARE FOR HIS OWN
24 Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls? (Job 38:41, Luke 12:18)
25 And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? (Psalm 39:5)
26 If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest? (1 Kings 10:4-7, 2 Chronicles 9:3-6)
27 Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28 If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith? (Matthew 6:30)
JESUS SENT THE SEVENTY OUT ON FAITH
29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind. (Matthew 6:31)
30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
SEEK FIRST HIS KINGDOM
31 But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33)
32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Matthew 14:27John 21:15-17, Ephesians 5:9)
33 Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth. (Matthew 19:21, Luke 11:41, Luke 18:22, Matthew 6:20, Luke 12:21)
34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:21)
It is natural for anyone to feel uneasy when he lacks a sense of security. Jesus is pleased when we place our trust in him.
This a lesson that I have difficulties with, so you can imagine how uneasy I was recently when bringing my spread sheet up to date I saw that it had dropped to a very uncomfortable low balance. God was showing me that He cares and will provide. Surely enough a few days later it was restored to a much more acceptable balance. God sees, and he cares when we trust Him.
_________
RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
APRIL
11th. Sunday – Deuteronomy 25, 26, 27, Luke 13, Psalm 44:1-12
12th. Monday – Deuteronomy 28, Luke 14, Psalm 44:13-26
13th. Tuesday – Deuteronomy 29, 30, 31, Luke 15, Psalm 45:1-9
14th. Wednesday - Deuteronomy 32, Luke 16, Proverbs 9:13-18
15th. Thursday – Deuteronomy 33, 34, Luke 17, Psalm 45:10-17
16th. Friday - Joshua 1, Luke 18:1-17, Psalm 46
17th. Saturday – Joshua 2, 3, Luke 18:18-43, Psalm 47:1-8
____________
OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
(With links to 670 titles)
GOOGLE TRANSLATOR: The Translator is available only to e-mail blog readers and needs to be activated by scrolling to the very bottom of the monitor screen. With it you may have any of our blogs on the screen translated into one of many languages and you can then copy and forward them to many email address on earth. “Go ye unto all the world.”
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com/
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ 3 published books & more to come
____________
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
“Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.”
Luke 12:40
____________
RIVALARIES...
A first-grade teacher explains to her class that she is an New England Patriots fan. She asks her students to raise their hands if they are Patriots fans too. Not really knowing what a Patriots fan was, but wanting to be liked by their teacher, their hands fly into the air.
There is, however, one exception. Kelly has not gone along with the crowd. The teacher asks her why she has decided to be different. "Because I'm not a Patriots fan" she reports.
"Then," asks the teacher," What are you?"
"I'm a New York Giants fan," boasts the little girl.
The teacher asks Susie why she is a Giants fan.
"Well, my Dad and Mom are Giants fans, so I'm a Giants fan too," she responds.
"That's no reason," the teacher says. "What if your mom was a moron, and your dad was an idiot. What would you be then?"
Kelly smiles and says, "Then I'd be a Patriots fan."
SOW THE WORD OF GOD
Newsletter 187 - April 2, 2010
Bob Mills
This scripture separates itself into two separate portions. We shall treat it in the same way. The first portion is the parable as Jesus taught it to the large crowd of people who were following him from the cities through which he had traveled and preached. (Luke 8:4-8)
As was the custom of teachers of his day, he taught them with both words amd deeds. What he said was reinforced by what he actually did. But there was a crowd, sometimes a very large crowd, of those who came and went. They were attracted by his miracles, and by his preaching., but they varied much in the intensity of their faith. For some, it was more curiosity, than faith. With others it was more political than a way of life. They sought an earthly king to deliver them from the despised Romans. These were not the characteristics of a true disciple.
To these Jesus used many parables.
THE PARABLE MESSAGE
Luke 8:4-15 (King James Version)
4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable (Luke 8:4-8, Matthew 13:2-9, Mark 4:1-9)
5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Matthew 11:15, Mark 7:16, Luke 14:35, Revelation 2:7)
THE PARABLE EXPLAINED
9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? (Luke 8:9-15, Matthew 19:13-23, Mark 4:10-20)
10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. (Matthew 13:11, Isaiah 6:9, Matthew 13:14, Acts 28:26)
Jesus made it clear that he was not here to provide what the masses were seeking.
He was not seeking a political agenda.
Neither was he entertaining the curious.
Nor was it, his primary purpose to perform miracles. Yes, he performed miracles, but their purpose was to establish without question that he was the Son of God and the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Covenant, which they all knew,
11 Now the parable is this: (1 Peter 1:23)
THE SEED
The seed is the word of God.
12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
The message is preached to all, “all the world“: ( Mark 16:15, Matthew 28:19-20) All will hear, but many will not believe. Mark tells us that they judge themselves. (Mark 16:16) They do not believe. They, shall be damned.
ROCK
13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
These represent those who are attracted by the wrong reasons. They like the excitement,. They like the novelty of the music, perhaps much like the music of the world they knew and perhaps still listen to. They are attracted by the crowds, like those who followed Jesus but departed when they discovered that His purpose was not their purpose.
THORNS.
14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
These are those who follow the masses and respond in droves, only their faith is not strong enough to sustain them when the going gets tough. Satan will see that it does just that, the sooner the better as far as he is concerned.
GOOD GROUND
15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
These are the faithful who have loved the Word of God and prepared and maintained their Spiritual relationship with God through His Word and prayer.
Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden to tend and care for it. Let us make our hearts a well cared for garden, tending and caring for it. Know that the Word will fall on many deaf ears, but know that some will respond and flourish. That is our purpose in this life.
_________
RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
APRIL
4th. Sunday – Deuteronomy 7, 6, 9, Luke 9:46-62, Psalm 41:1-6
5th. Monday – Deuteronomy 10, 11, Luke 10:1-20 , Psalm 41:7-13
6th. Tuesday – Deuteronomy 12, 13, 14, Luke 10:21-42, Proverbs 8:32-36
7th. Wednesday - Deuteronomy 15, 16, 17, Luke 11:1-26, Psalm 42:1-6
8th. Thursday – Deuteronomy 18, 19, 20, Luke 22:37-34, Psalm 42:7-11
9th. Friday - Deuteronomy 21, 22, Luke 12:1-30, Psalm 43
10th. Saturday – Deuteronomy 23, 24, Luke 12:31-59, Proverbs 9:1-12
____________
OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
(With links to 670 titles)
GOOGLE TRANSLATOR: The Translator is available only to e-mail blog readers and needs to be activated by scrolling to the very bottom of the monitor screen. With it you may have any of our blogs on the screen translated into one of many languages and you can then copy and forward them to many email address on earth. “Go ye unto all the world.”
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com/
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ 3 published books & more to come
____________
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God,”
Luke 9:62
____________
A feisty 70 year-old woman had to call a furnace repairman.
After a quick inspection, the man put some oil into the motor and handed her a $70 bill for labor.
"Labor charges! One hour?" she exclaimed. "It only took you five minutes!"
The repairman explained that his company had a minimum one-hour charge on every house call.
"Well, I want my remaining 55 minutes of labor," the lady responded, and she handed him a rake.
The repairman spent the next 55 minutes in her yard bagging leaves.
Bob Mills
This scripture separates itself into two separate portions. We shall treat it in the same way. The first portion is the parable as Jesus taught it to the large crowd of people who were following him from the cities through which he had traveled and preached. (Luke 8:4-8)
As was the custom of teachers of his day, he taught them with both words amd deeds. What he said was reinforced by what he actually did. But there was a crowd, sometimes a very large crowd, of those who came and went. They were attracted by his miracles, and by his preaching., but they varied much in the intensity of their faith. For some, it was more curiosity, than faith. With others it was more political than a way of life. They sought an earthly king to deliver them from the despised Romans. These were not the characteristics of a true disciple.
To these Jesus used many parables.
THE PARABLE MESSAGE
Luke 8:4-15 (King James Version)
4 And when much people were gathered together, and were come to him out of every city, he spake by a parable (Luke 8:4-8, Matthew 13:2-9, Mark 4:1-9)
5 A sower went out to sow his seed: and as he sowed, some fell by the way side; and it was trodden down, and the fowls of the air devoured it.
6 And some fell upon a rock; and as soon as it was sprung up, it withered away, because it lacked moisture.
7 And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprang up with it, and choked it.
8 And other fell on good ground, and sprang up, and bare fruit an hundredfold. And when he had said these things, he cried, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. (Matthew 11:15, Mark 7:16, Luke 14:35, Revelation 2:7)
THE PARABLE EXPLAINED
9 And his disciples asked him, saying, What might this parable be? (Luke 8:9-15, Matthew 19:13-23, Mark 4:10-20)
10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand. (Matthew 13:11, Isaiah 6:9, Matthew 13:14, Acts 28:26)
Jesus made it clear that he was not here to provide what the masses were seeking.
He was not seeking a political agenda.
Neither was he entertaining the curious.
Nor was it, his primary purpose to perform miracles. Yes, he performed miracles, but their purpose was to establish without question that he was the Son of God and the fulfillment of the prophecies of the Old Covenant, which they all knew,
11 Now the parable is this: (1 Peter 1:23)
THE SEED
The seed is the word of God.
12 Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
The message is preached to all, “all the world“: ( Mark 16:15, Matthew 28:19-20) All will hear, but many will not believe. Mark tells us that they judge themselves. (Mark 16:16) They do not believe. They, shall be damned.
ROCK
13 They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe, and in time of temptation fall away.
These represent those who are attracted by the wrong reasons. They like the excitement,. They like the novelty of the music, perhaps much like the music of the world they knew and perhaps still listen to. They are attracted by the crowds, like those who followed Jesus but departed when they discovered that His purpose was not their purpose.
THORNS.
14 And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
These are those who follow the masses and respond in droves, only their faith is not strong enough to sustain them when the going gets tough. Satan will see that it does just that, the sooner the better as far as he is concerned.
GOOD GROUND
15 But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience.
These are the faithful who have loved the Word of God and prepared and maintained their Spiritual relationship with God through His Word and prayer.
Adam was placed in the Garden of Eden to tend and care for it. Let us make our hearts a well cared for garden, tending and caring for it. Know that the Word will fall on many deaf ears, but know that some will respond and flourish. That is our purpose in this life.
_________
RESOLVE TO READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2010
APRIL
4th. Sunday – Deuteronomy 7, 6, 9, Luke 9:46-62, Psalm 41:1-6
5th. Monday – Deuteronomy 10, 11, Luke 10:1-20 , Psalm 41:7-13
6th. Tuesday – Deuteronomy 12, 13, 14, Luke 10:21-42, Proverbs 8:32-36
7th. Wednesday - Deuteronomy 15, 16, 17, Luke 11:1-26, Psalm 42:1-6
8th. Thursday – Deuteronomy 18, 19, 20, Luke 22:37-34, Psalm 42:7-11
9th. Friday - Deuteronomy 21, 22, Luke 12:1-30, Psalm 43
10th. Saturday – Deuteronomy 23, 24, Luke 12:31-59, Proverbs 9:1-12
____________
OUR CHRISTIAN BLOG LINKS
(With links to 670 titles)
GOOGLE TRANSLATOR: The Translator is available only to e-mail blog readers and needs to be activated by scrolling to the very bottom of the monitor screen. With it you may have any of our blogs on the screen translated into one of many languages and you can then copy and forward them to many email address on earth. “Go ye unto all the world.”
http://searchingthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com/
Our weekly Bible Letter
http://47yearsinafrica.blogspot.com
Biographical, with photos
http://whatdoesgodsayaboutthis.blogspot.com
Questions and discussions
http://scripturegems.blogspot.com
Favorite Scripture Quotation
http://salvationtracts.blogspot.com
Representing 70 world languages
http://searchthescriptureswithbob.blogspot.com
Short Bible studies
http://bookletbiblestudies.blogspot.com
Several pages in length
http://phyllistheauthor.blogspot.com
Portions of Phyllis’ 3 published books & more to come
____________
THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE
No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God,”
Luke 9:62
____________
A feisty 70 year-old woman had to call a furnace repairman.
After a quick inspection, the man put some oil into the motor and handed her a $70 bill for labor.
"Labor charges! One hour?" she exclaimed. "It only took you five minutes!"
The repairman explained that his company had a minimum one-hour charge on every house call.
"Well, I want my remaining 55 minutes of labor," the lady responded, and she handed him a rake.
The repairman spent the next 55 minutes in her yard bagging leaves.
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