The Gospel for the week: Luke 14:1, 7-14

 

Luke 14:1, 7-14

On one occasion when Jesus was going to the house of a leader of the Pharisees to eat a meal on the sabbath, they were watching him closely.

When he noticed how the guests chose the places of honor, he told them a parable. "When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not sit down at the place of honor, in case someone more distinguished than you has been invited by your host; and the host who invited both of you may come and say to you, `Give this person your place,' and then in disgrace you would start to take the lowest place. But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, `Friend, move up higher'; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you. For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

He said also to the one who had invited him, "When you give a luncheon or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or rich neighbors, in case they may invite you in return, and you would be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. And you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you, for you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

 May you, the reader be blessed by these words,

Terry 

Lesson for the Week: Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

 

Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. Let marriage be held in honor by all, and let the marriage bed be kept undefiled; for God will judge fornicators and adulterers. Keep your lives free from the love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, "I will never leave you or forsake you." So we can say with confidence,

"The Lord is my helper;
I will not be afraid.

What can anyone do to me?"

Remember your leaders, those who spoke the word of God to you; consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

Through him, then, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

 May you, the reader, be blessed by these words.

Terry 

 Dear All: 

The tragedy that has happened in Minneapolis has made me heart sick to the point where I have been in tears grieving for the families of those involved, especially the two childeren that have lost their lives to a person that was mentally ill.

 Lets be honest, we have to stop affiming the notion that a person can undo what nature has wroght and change their sex.This is a biological impossibility with humans. What we are seeing here is a Mental Illness brought on by and idelogy that is very much Anti-Christ. 

It is time for the governments of all nations to come together and enact laws and reopen mental insitutions  in an effort to stamp out "Transgenderisim" and properly treat those affected by it. 

There is no such thing in nature!

I know from personal experiance that some of the drugs used for "Transitioning" are also used for Prostate Cancer Treatment. I can safely tell you that these drugs do indeed cause chronic depression and wreck havoc with a persons ability to properly process thought. Of course, the makers of these drugs will poo-poo my statements but baloney. Ask any man who has gone the drug- radiation seeding treatment for Prostate Cancer. 

We KNOW! 

In short, we must pray for a return to the Lord. If we don't, we will end up like Isreal did in the book of Isaiah.

Terry 

The Gospel for the Week Luke 13:10-17

Luke 13:10-17 Now Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, "Woman, you are set free from your ailment." When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, "There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day." But the Lord answered him and said, "You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?" When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing. May you, the reader be blessed by these words. 

Terry

Lesson for the week Hebrews 12:18-29

Hebrews 12:18-29 You have not come to something that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them. (For they could not endure the order that was given, "If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death." Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I tremble with fear.") But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven! At that time his voice shook the earth; but now he has promised, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven." This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of what is shaken-- that is, created things-- so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire. May you, the reader, be blessed by these words. Terry

The Gospel for this week : Luke 12:49-56

Luke 12:49-56 Jesus said, "I came to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! I have a baptism with which to be baptized, and what stress I am under until it is completed! Do you think that I have come to bring peace to the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division! From now on five in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three; they will be divided: father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law." He also said to the crowds, "When you see a cloud rising in the west, you immediately say, `It is going to rain'; and so it happens. And when you see the south wind blowing, you say, `There will be scorching heat'; and it happens. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?" May you, the reader, be blessed by these words. Terry

The Epistle for this week: Hebrews 11:29-12:2

Hebrews 11:29-12:2 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace. And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets-- who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented-- of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God. May you, the reader, be blessed by these words. Terry

A Weekend with Friends

 A story of something that happened to me in 2009:

 

A weekend with friends

Romans 13:9

Dear Reader: Here is an accounting of a weekend I recently spent in North Carolina with friends in Christ. I try to visit these people at least once a year. These people are true friends and have stayed with me in my struggles over the past two and a half years.
Normally these letters are of my trips to England but I thought I would write about something that happened here in America.
Sometime ago I had asked when would be a good time to visit and it was finally decided the weekend starting the 17^th of July 2009. I was asked if I could help teach a Sunday School Class that Sunday to my friend’s first grade class. I consented and he sent me some material I had to learn because I was the one who would be reading it to the class.

 Finally Friday the 17th rolled around and I was off at 05:30 in the morning. I know this sounds like a rather early departure but please remember I had to go through Baltimore and Washington D.C. and I really didn’t want to get jacked up in the horrendous traffic in that area on I-95.

 I arrived at about three thirty in the afternoon and after I unpacked and freshened up a bit, we went to his church. They were having activities and a sleepover for those who are going to be in the first grade in their Sunday school. This is a sort of “rite of passage” for these youngsters. I was very flattered and honoured that I as an outsider would be allowed to participate in an event like this with five to seven year olds. There were some older kids but this was actually open to all grade schoolers. Earlier in the day the group had gone to a pottery mill to learn how clay pottery is made. The place where they went makes all of their goods by hand and has been in business since the late 1700's. After a lunch in the mill’s picnic grove, they returned to the church. They had activities planned by a young lady who is working on a degree for teaching. This young lady not only developed the curriculum but executed it as well. When we arrived, she was in the middle of reading a Dr. Seuss story to them. The story was Bartholomew and the Oobleck (1959), which the kids seemed to enjoy very much. Afterwards, the kids went to tables that were set up out side with some kitchen utensils and bowls on them. There was water, cornstarch and green food coloring provided. The kids were instructed on how to mix the ingredients and went to it. The idea here was to make an Oobleck like substance as well as teach the kids the differences between solids, semi solids and liquids. I feel the most important thing taught here was teamwork. This is perhaps one of the most important lessons that can be taught a child and in my humble opinion; this is an excellent age to do it.

After they were done with the Oobleck, they went back inside to a critique of what they had learned and then went to supper. Supper consisted of Pizza, Pop Corn and “Bug Juice” 

When  supper was over, we had arts and crafts like activities as well as a game of “Bible Jingo”. The arts activities consisted of making our own “stained glass” figures of the fish symbol with a cross inside it [Icthus]. Some of the results were very nice as you can see.

No, I am not going to tell you which one is mine . There was another thing the kids were supposed to paint but by that time most had lost interest in painting. This is when the Minister of Education took over and held a game of “Bible Jingo”. The game is something like bingo only the prizes are not monetary. The game works like this.

The answers are on the boards that are given out. The caller asks a question and if the answer is on your board, you get to place a marker on it. The rest of Bingo rules apply for winning.

After this, it was time to get the kids ready for bed. This is where I had to leave. Since I am not a member of this church, the rules say this is one function I cannot participate in. This church, like most others has a “Safe Church” policy in effect. I returned to my host home for the night and enjoyed a quiet evening with his wife and son.

The next morning I went back to the church to have breakfast with my host and the kids. However breakfast was late in arriving and we had to get going, as we had to be in Raleigh for a show at the I MAX Theater. We stopped at Mc Donald’s and picked up Egg Mc Muffins and Hash Browns and went to his home for breakfast.

We arrived in Raleigh and went to the I MAX for a show that was one of their own productions. I had never been in an I MAX before so this was a real treat for me. I will say the realism is terrific and there is no comparison to the original 3 D movies we had when I was a kid. Afterwards we went to an “Olive Garden” for lunch. This is one of the nicer ones I have been in. The service was very prompt and courteous and the portions generous, generous enough for us to take part of our meals home with us .

We arrived home after a Cooks tour of Raleigh and just kicked back for the rest of the day. I went out and did some shopping and afterwards helped my host with some of the preparation for his Sunday school class the next day.

Sunday dawned mostly sunny and cool for the time of year. After we had a big cooked breakfast, my host had to get going early to set up the classroom and I soon followed to help with this. I also had to mind the room for kids coming in since all of the teachers had an emergency meeting. This classroom is equipped with a computer and the kids can take turns playing interactive Bible games. The favourite seems to be puzzles of different kinds.

After the meeting and a good many of the kids had arrived [some of whom remembered me from previous visits], we started the class. The day’s lesson was on Romans 13:9. There were a number of interactive games devised by my host as well as a monologue done by me. I was dressed in some stage props to look like the Roman Centurion Cornelius. I read the story to the kids of how Cornelius met Peter and then answered some questions afterwards. In all it was a very successful class with 12 students being in attendance.

After the class, I had gone out into the hallway to talk to the Minister of Education and ran into a 10 year old boy who has sent shock waves through the church. I had met this boy last year and in a way, I helped my host mentor him. The real shock to the congregation came when this past spring, he came forward at an alter call during a revival meeting and accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Saviour. The shock here is he has been the youngest to ever do this with out parental support!

This boy saw and greeted me with “Hello Mr. Terry, how are you” coupled with a handshake and a very surprising but modest hug. Needless to say, I was very touched by this act.

Afterwards, we went to the sanctuary for service and while we were waiting for the service to start, this very same boy had taken a piece of paper and made a paper boat out of it. He then turned to me and said, “here Mr. Terry, I made this for you”. I tell you truly, this is one of the most precious gifts I have ever been given by anybody and I have it at a place of honour on my computer monitor where it will serve as a reminder of just how awesome God is.

After the service we went home for lunch and just plain chilled for a while. It was a lazy afternoon and that was fine with me. I’m not one of those people that need some kind of constant activity, I am perfectly happy to just kick back and relax .

After a bit, we went back to the church for the evening activities. This church doesn’t have any organised activities as such during the summer vacation season but it has things like movies for the kids in the evenings. This night we were treated to a movie complete with munchies like popcorn, cake and bug juice. I also took this time to take some photos of the new Sunday school wing.

After the movie it was time to say farewell to my friends there. I met the boy from that morning in the hallway, shook his hand and wished him a goodbye, he in turn did the same to me then he hugged me again and said, “Mr. Terry, Please come back as soon as you can”. In all honesty, I almost lost it right there. I went outside and said my farewell to the adults that were kibitzing in the parking lot and went back to my host home. We had some supper and before I went to bed, I bade his wife and son goodbye as I knew by the time they got up I would be long gone. The next morning I was up and gone by 06:10 and had a rather uneventful 500 mile trip home.

Some things I wish to point out here. Before meals, grace is always said. Each person in the circle [yes, we hold hands and make a circle] offers the prayer at least once. I usually offer the prayer on Saturday evenings. Also, I have for two years gone to the alter call and have renewed my dedication to the Lord Jesus Christ. This may seem like a lot to some, but it never hurts to let Jesus know you’re still committed to him. Also, I was very blessed this past trip. I was allowed to participate in a children’s Sunday school class even though I am not a member of that church. The trust here came from my host say so. I was also very blessed by the presence of a ten-year-old boy who opened his heart to me and allowed the light of Christ to shine through him. Not only did he give me a precious physical gift, also, more importantly, he gave me his unsolicited love. I was very humbled by this act. This is a good example of Romans 13:9 “Love one another as yourself” ; I am a very rich man for what has been given me.

As always, you are in my prayers.

Terry

I might point out the children shown here are now adults in their early 20's.

 Sorry for the poor line spacing but this is a case of Google fixing something that wasn't broke :( 

 

 A Gospel Reading:

 

Luke 12:32-40

Jesus said to his disciples, "Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give alms. Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

"Be dressed for action and have your lamps lit; be like those who are waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet, so that they may open the door for him as soon as he comes and knocks. Blessed are those slaves whom the master finds alert when he comes; truly I tell you, he will fasten his belt and have them sit down to eat, and he will come and serve them. If he comes during the middle of the night, or near dawn, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.

"But know this: if the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour."

 

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words.

 

Terry 

 

 Lesson for the week:

 

Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.

By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; and he set out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith he received power of procreation, even though he was too old-- and Sarah herself was barren-- because he considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, "as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore."

All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.

 

May you, the reader, be blessed by these words.

 

Terry 

 

The Holy Spirit using Music

 Dear All:

On October 30th, 2024 my wife of 43 years passed on to Glory. While I am a believer, I was still pretty much down in the dumps and feeling sorry for myself with a "Woe is me" attitude.

One night this past February, I came across a posting on Facebook about Polish Christmas music. The music was presented by a famous Polish Highland Band. I had watched quite a few of their videos that night. I came across one in particular where a youngster who was apparently a bit bored or just being playful was clowning around on stage. I will admit, the actions did make me laugh a bit since in many ways, I was reminded of myself at that age. The one thing I did take note of was the energy and joy of the Polish Christmas Music. 

The next morning, after a good nights sleep which is rare for me, I was eating breakfast and it occured to me I had to stop whining abut the loss of Ida and get on with my life as I know Ida would have wanted me to. 

Fast forward. I now listen to a lot of this Polish Highland Bands music. Coupled with this, I have also studied about Poland and her people and learned of a Poland I never knew existed. I say that in a good way. While I am not fluent in Polish outside of some questionable language, I still enjoy the music. What makes it easy is I am able to download the lyrics with English translations :)

Since then, I have pretty much fallen in Love with Poland and her people for indeed, they have stolen my heart. I also like the food, my waistline is showing it 😉

In summation, this makes the second time in 20 years where the Holy Spirit used the power of music and  a child to deliver a message to get me to get off dead center. I will be forever greatful for what that young person unwittingly has done for me. In this case, the child did basically nothing ouside of being a child. I think the words of Isaiah 11:6 might apply here “And a little child shall lead them” .

Terry 

 

Note: I NEVER  use names in my post, especially minors. Do not ask me for details, I will respect the privacy of all concerned and keep any information I may have private! This is not negotiable!

 

Colossians 3:1-11

New King James Version

Not Carnality but Christ

3 If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. ³ For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

⁵ Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. ⁶ Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, ⁷ in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them.

⁸ But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, ¹⁰ and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, ¹¹ where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.