Abigail, part 2
Abigail To the Rescue! Part 2
I Samuel 25, continued
Here’s the scene - a rich sheep herder named Nabel disrespected David and David and his men are on their way to wipe out this man, his family and all his servants. Filled with anger and vengeance, David is heading straight into some good ole’ fashion sinful disobedience.
Even though David is wrong, Nabel brought this upon himself. Nabal is simply a selfish, foolish and ignorant man. However, there is one rational and thoughtful person in this story. Thank God for Abigail, Nabal's wife. She is the superstar of this story; intelligent, resourceful, honorable, persuasive and "beautiful in appearance." Pretty much the total package. How did a smuck like Nabal land such a beautiful and intelligent woman. Read more
Abigail, part 1
Personal note: The next couple of months are very busy for me. I'm not going to be able to post fresh content five days a week. I may occasionally post encore posts from a year or two ago. So today, following the theme of faithful and honorable women in the Bible, this post and the next will be about Abigail. This section of I Samuel tells of the adventures of David when he was being chased by King Saul. David and his faithful men were living in hiding.
Abigail to the Rescue, Part 1
I Samuel 25, Part 1
This is truly an amazing chapter. We meet an evil bonehead of a man; a most beautiful and intelligent woman; and David digresses from his noble actions in the last chapter when he spared Saul's life into childlike behavior. Once again, women rule, men drool.
Two hot-headed men
There was a wealthy man named Nabal who's 3000 sheep and 1000 goats wandered in the wilderness in the area where David and his men camped out. Some of Nabal's men tended to the sheep but apparently not enough to keep all the livestock safe. David and his men took it upon themselves to aid the men, guard the sheep against predators and thieves, all while trusting that the owner would grant them kindness and provisions.Read more
Women
This picture hangs in my home office.
Thank you for praying for me on Tuesday as I shared the Word with Men at the Star of Hope Gospel Mission. God was very kind to me and blessed my time of teaching. The men were encouraging and appreciative.
Women
John 20
Christianity is sometimes accused of oppressing woman and suppressing their importance. I can't speak to the way all supposed Christian men act, but the Bible, especially the life of Jesus, tells of many women who were immensely important in God’s plan and deeply loved and honored by Jesus. The first person that Jesus appeared to after his resurrection was Mary Magdalene, not the bone-headed disciples.
John emphasizes the critical role of Mary Magdalene in the death and resurrection of Jesus. There’s no mention, except John, of the disciples being present at the crucifixion. However, John writes, But standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. The Bible tells stories of noble women; sometimes outcasts in their time, wonderfully saved by the grace of God. There are many stories of women characterized by courage, passion and dedication. Here's just a few:Read more
The Greatest Day
The Greatest Day
John 20
It’s Easter morning! To us, knowing what we now know, it’s a glorious day of celebration, as it should be. He is risen.
But what about the disciples and the followers of Jesus on that day? It’s not a celebration...yet.
A lot has happened in a few days. Read more
This I Know
Octopus stew. One of Nate's favorites. Really! A taste he developed in Japan and is now happy to find in Bulgaria.
I ask that you pray for me today as I have the opportunity to teach at the noon devotions at the Men's unit of the Houston Star of Hope Gospel Mission. Will be about 350 men in attendance.
This I Know
John 19
John's writing is different from the other three gospel accounts. His account of the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus is very succinct. His brief account of it is to prove a premise rather than give a detailed description of the event.
They took Jesus, therefore, and He went out, bearing His own cross, to the place called the Place of a skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha. There they crucified Him..., 19:17, 18.
I would prefer more specific details to create context, color and emotion. John doesn't do that. He provides a view into a few events with the purpose of emphasizing the Deity of Jesus. As part of his purpose, John emphasizes fulfilled prophecy rather than creating deeper emotion within his readers by describing the details of Jesus’ brutal and inhumane suffering. Before their eyes, Jesus was fulfilling prophecies written of Him hundreds of years before. Fulfilled prophecy is a validation of Jesus’ claims! Read more
To Fulfill
This is Zoe, the daughter of our precious friends, Pete and Lori Marshall, Seattle, WA
To Fulfill
John 19
After a few mock trials before the High Priest, Jesus was sent to Pilate with the succinct request from the Jews; crucify him. He was ushered in before Pilate. Pilate was the Roman Governor and Military Commander with jurisdiction over Jerusalem. Pilate wanted nothing to do with Jesus. He declared Jesus innocent. But the Jews, knowing that Pilate was not seen favorably by Caesar, taunted Pilate and threatened to cause an uprising if Pilate didn’t do what they wanted.
Pilate hated the Jews and, in his heart, wanted to always do the opposite of what the Jews wanted. But Pilate didn’t want any trouble and risk another bad report being sent to Caesar. As a compromise, Pilate had Jesus beaten severely, hoping that would satisfy the Jews thirst for blood. Read more
Volatility
Volatility
John 18
Two times in this chapter, Jesus says, I AM who you say I am. Three times in this chapter, Peter says, I am not, who you say I am.
Then the slave girl who kept the door said to Peter, ‘You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you? He said, ‘I am not.’
Now the slaves and the officers were standing there, having made a charcoal fire, for it was cold and they were warming themselves...Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. So they said to him, ‘You are not also one of His disciples, are you? He denied it, and said, ‘I am not.’
One of the slaves of the high priest, being a relative of the one whose ear Peter cut off, said, ‘Did I not see you in the garden with Him?’ Peter then denied it again, and immediately a rooster crowed.
The volatility of Peter has always been an interesting study of mine. He tells Jesus He will die with Him; Jesus tells Peter He will be a rock in his service to Jesus; with great courage, Peter pulls out his sword and takes (misguided) action when the soldiers come to rescue Jesus...but then he denies he knows Jesus 3 times in a matter of a few minutes. What's with that? Read more
Not of this World
Ryker wanted an accordion for Christmas from a street vendor in Sofia, Bulgaria.
Not of this World
John 18
Therefore, Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, ‘Are you the King of the Jews?’... Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.’
Therefore, Pilate said to Him, ‘So You are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say correctly that I am a king. For this reason, I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.’ Pilate said to Him, ‘what is truth?’ John 18:33-38
(please be sure to read the verses above before you read my post below).
My Life in this world
I like my life. Primarily, I have the peace of knowing Jesus as my Lord and Savior. The general purpose of my life and my eternal destiny are set. By faith, I know that to be true. I do experience trials and difficulties, some of them have been fairly intense. But the Marco-view of my life is secure and rests in the grace and Sovereignty of God.Read more
John 18
John 18
When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth with His disciples over the ravine of the Kindron, where there was a garden, in which He entered with His disciples. Now Judas also, who was betraying Him, knew the place, for Jesus had often met there with His disciples. Judas then, having the Roman cohort and officers from the chief priest and the Pharisees, came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.
Jesus, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth and said to them, ‘Whom do you seek?’ They answered him, 'Jesus the Nazarene.’ He said to them, ‘I am He.’ So, when He said to them, ‘I am He’, they drew back and fell to the ground.
Therefore, He again asked them, ‘whom do you seek?’ They said to Him, ‘Jesus the Nazarene.’ I told you that I am He, so if you seek Me, let these go their way.’
This chapter contains the betrayal, arrest and trials of Jesus. It’s a chapter of contrasts. It’s a chapter of God’s power, sovereignty and loving sacrifice. It's also a somber chapter of greed, hatred and betrayal. In spite of the greed, hatred and betrayal, Jesus was in complete control. The deeds of the conspirators produced God's intended results. Jesus fulfilled His mission, the reason He came to earth. Read more