My Friend John...Fights On

I want to tell you about a friend of mine, in a fight for his life

Went to work as any other day, not knowing what was on the way

The day my friend John, and his friends, the best, became heroes

Racing across a clear blue sky, clear evil impacted a dual bullseye 

Mayhem, chaos, destruction, and murder of innocence on high

The day my friend John, and his friends, the best, became heroes

Panic ensued, a city in ruins, large mountains of rubble piled high

Clouds of debris overwhelmed the air, horror, panic, death...fear

There, before the smoke cleared, were bloodied battered heroes

The magnitude of this horrific event cannot be told viewed on TV

Only those who lived it in real time could describe such a tragedy

Only those who by a miracle lived, many now gone, many now sick

I want to tell you about a friend of mine, now in a fight for his life

Twenty-five years later this act of valor has taken a physical toll

He has always been a fighter, even now, in pain, suffering...misery

My Friend John...Fights On!

Faithful Tenants

Jesus began to speak to the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders in parables. "A man planted a vineyard, put a hedge around it, dug a wine press, and built a tower. Then he leased it to tenant farmers and left on a journey. At the proper time he sent a servant to the tenants to obtain from them some of the produce from the vineyard. But they seized him, beat him, and sent him away empty-handed. Again, he sent another servant. And that one they beat over the head and treated shamefully. He sent yet another whom they killed. So, too, many others; some they beat, others they killed. He had one other to send, a beloved son. He sent him to them last of all, thinking, 'They will respect my son. But those tenants said to one another, 'This is his heir. Come, let us kill him, and the inheritance will be ours.' So, they seized him and killed him and threw him out of the vineyard. What then will the owner of the vineyard do? He will come, put the tenants to death, and give the vineyard to others. Have you not read the Scripture passage: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; by the Lord has this been done, and it is wonderful in our eyes?"

Consideration: The Father sent his Son, but he was rejected, ridiculed, beaten, abused and put to death. All things that were given freely to the tenants of the land shall be taken away and given to the tenants that are faithful and thankful. Amen.

Loving You

It quickly passes, this speck of time 

How in the world did it come to be, really

Family, friends, run the course of life

We carry on, do our best, all with a smile

Lord, give us the faith we need…to believe  

Joys of having family to share, everything,

With you at our side we'll make it through 

Believing everything...loving you

Watch the kids grow, stories of the old, wisdom of the years

Man, I love those gray hairs 

The little things, live dreams, no regrets when the time is here

Rock solid and steady years

Lord, give us the faith we need…to believe 

To believe, to believe 

Joys of having family to share, everything,

Everything, everything

With you at our side we'll make it through 

Believing everything...loving you

It's all good, we believed everything...loving you!

A Solid Foundation

Jesus said to his disciples: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name? Did we not drive out demons in your name? Did we not do mighty deeds in your name?' Then I will declare to them solemnly , 'I never knew you. Depart from me, you evildoers.'
"Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like the wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like the fool who built his house on the sand. the rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined."
Consideration: Some things remain constant in life. There are those who claim to follow the teachings of Jesus, but they do not act them out in their lives. And there are those that claim that they are grounded in truth, but when the storms of life come they are devastated. Remember, Jesus called Peter the Rock, and said his Church would be built on it. Jesus knew Peter's weaknesses, but also that he would not buckle because he built his foundation on the teachings of his Master, Jesus. Amen.

Cunning Traps

Jesus and his disciples returned once more to Jerusalem. As he was walking in the temple area, the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders approached him and said to him, "Buy what authority are you doing these things? Or who gave you the authority to do them?" Jesus said to them, "I shall ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things. Was John's baptism of heavenly or human origin? Answer me." They discussed this among themselves and said, "if we say, 'Of heavenly origin, 'he will say, 'Then why did you not believe him?' But shall we say, 'Of human origin'?" - they feared the crowd, for they all thought John really was a prophet. So they said to Jesus in reply, "We do not know." Then Jesus said to them, "Neither shall I tell you by what authority I do these things."

Consideration: Jesus recognizes the chief priests, scribes, and elders, were attempting to set him up with a question. So what does he do?, he asks them a question in reply. Understanding that they were out foxed by Jesus, they did not answer his question, and Jesus likewise did not answer their question. 
This is a teaching moment for all of us, especially when the wolves of today come at us and try to devour us by their cunning traps. Let the name of "Jesus" be praised. Amen.

Flames of Desire

Awake the day, at work, at play 

Dreams, realities, we move on 

Thoughts all remain for keeps 

The mind, so wise never sleeps 

Guard against drifting eyes, sparks fly in a moments time  

Remember the fox in hiding smiling is cunning and sly   

A burning heart loses control  

All caught up in foolish things 

Where it comes from, we know 

Living the joy pleasure brings  

It only takes a spark for a fire 

In seconds it's out of control 

Keep in check flames of desire 

The end is the cost of a soul 

Guard those drifting eyes, sparks fly in a moments time 

Thoughts, dreams, and a mind so wise it never sleeps 

Stay awake, and avoid the pleasures sure to take a toll 

Dim the fire of desire, the end game is the loss of a soul 

 

 

Rejoice Exultantly

Beloved: The end of all things is at hand. Therefore, be serious and sober-minded so that you will be able to pray. Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. As each one has received a gift, as to serve one another as good stewards of God's varied grace. Whoever preaches, let it be with the words of God; whoever serves, let it be with the strength that God supplies, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Beloved, do not be surprised that trial by fire is occurring among you, as if something strange were happening to you. But rejoice to the extent that you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that when his glory is revealed you may also rejoice exultantly. 

Consideration: Peter gives us examples of how we should conduct ourselves in the service of Jesus Christ. Also telling us to rejoice when we endure sufferings also endured by Jesus so we will rejoice when his glory is revealed. Amen.