Reading the Bible like you've never read it before, in the company of Holy Spirit and Jesus Himself is like read a love letter with the one who wrote it sitting beside you to explain between the lines. He watches your face as you read His words and you stop to ask "Can you still do that?" Sure.
After Jesus rose from the dead, He didn't just leave it for everyone to figure out. He made sure that it was understood.
He appeared to a couple of His guys, hung around all day and talked with them. How they did not recognize Him is a mystery to me, but they didn't ...not until He broke bread. And then, POOF! He disappeared! He can do that!!! He can pop in and out between realms of the spirit and flesh because He took His earthly body with Him. Way cool!
Of course they were exploding with excitement and ran to tell the others. While they were talking, POOF! He appeared again. He had to calm them down because - well, they were freaking out with fear and panic. I guess so! But that did not scare Him away.
The story just oozes with His love.
He wanted to be sure "they knew that they knew " He had risen as well as WHY all this had happened. He encouraged them to touch His body so they were certain it wasn't a ghost. He asked for food and ate with them. I can just picture them handing him a plate of fish and honeycomb, with their mouths hanging open and hands trembling, unable to mentally process what they were experiencing.
He told them to tarry for the "Promise" until they were "endued with power from on high." They didn't know what He was talking about ---yet.
And then, they all walked with Him to where He was "carried up into Heaven."
I held the book to my heart and laughed and cried and laughed and cried.
Read it for yourself : Luke 24
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Saturday, July 3, 2010
Being American
Today there was an article in the paper about people who had just become American citizens. There were people from South Africa, Guatemala, Albania and so on. All of them had chosen to leave their native country and come to the USA. After living here for at least five years, learning the language, taking an American history test , filing a 10-page application and being interviewed, they were finally taking the oath. Everyone of them was very proud to finally say "I'm an American."
It made me think of what it means to be American. I was born here. Being an American, for me, was a very significant birthright that I would not trade it for anything.
Being American means I can openly express my religious and political beliefs without absolute certainty that they'll not get me thrown in jail. Actually that goes for anyone on our soil, American or not. So, no - that's not what it means.
Being American does mean I an vote anyway I please in elections though.
In many nations of the world, Americans are seen as the strong and wealthy ones who might help them out of poverty and oppression.
I'm fairly sure the world still connects Christianity with America, regardless of what they see on
TV or what they think of Christianity.
This is a nation that was chosen by those who floated across the ocean as a home where God would be worshipped freely, without interference ,restriction or dictates from the Government.
The laws of the land were written by Christians. I don't what the new versions of textbooks say - that the truth.
So anyway, back to my pondering of what it means to be an American....
Well, to me , it means responsibility.
Responsibility to first of all, protect our purpose for being a nation...One Nation, UNDER GOD.
As an American, I have to do my part to preserve the Christian heritage which is the core of why we are free and so hospitable that the nations want to come here.
As an American, I must pray for the government officials who have been entrusted with so much of our future.
As for me, I cannot separate being an American with being a Christian. There are many who are not Christians, but are Americans, but without Christians, this nation would simply never have become anything good that it is.
It was the compulsion to worship Christ Jesus that brought them here.
What about the Indians? No I didn't forget about them. Who knows what this land would have looked like if European Christians had never had landed. . . but it would not be the United States of America.
Being an American to me is a gift from God. I love what she stands for. I love being knowing that any government leader of whom I disapprove is subject to removal in a short few years of time. I don't have to wait for their death...unless of course they are a Supreme Court Judge.
I'm an American, a citizen of the nation known the world over for freedom.
It made me think of what it means to be American. I was born here. Being an American, for me, was a very significant birthright that I would not trade it for anything.
Being American means I can openly express my religious and political beliefs without absolute certainty that they'll not get me thrown in jail. Actually that goes for anyone on our soil, American or not. So, no - that's not what it means.
Being American does mean I an vote anyway I please in elections though.
In many nations of the world, Americans are seen as the strong and wealthy ones who might help them out of poverty and oppression.
I'm fairly sure the world still connects Christianity with America, regardless of what they see on
TV or what they think of Christianity.
This is a nation that was chosen by those who floated across the ocean as a home where God would be worshipped freely, without interference ,restriction or dictates from the Government.
The laws of the land were written by Christians. I don't what the new versions of textbooks say - that the truth.
So anyway, back to my pondering of what it means to be an American....
Well, to me , it means responsibility.
Responsibility to first of all, protect our purpose for being a nation...One Nation, UNDER GOD.
As an American, I have to do my part to preserve the Christian heritage which is the core of why we are free and so hospitable that the nations want to come here.
As an American, I must pray for the government officials who have been entrusted with so much of our future.
As for me, I cannot separate being an American with being a Christian. There are many who are not Christians, but are Americans, but without Christians, this nation would simply never have become anything good that it is.
It was the compulsion to worship Christ Jesus that brought them here.
What about the Indians? No I didn't forget about them. Who knows what this land would have looked like if European Christians had never had landed. . . but it would not be the United States of America.
Being an American to me is a gift from God. I love what she stands for. I love being knowing that any government leader of whom I disapprove is subject to removal in a short few years of time. I don't have to wait for their death...unless of course they are a Supreme Court Judge.
I'm an American, a citizen of the nation known the world over for freedom.
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