Beginning April 22nd, join the Mosaic Women as we Draw The Circle with forty days of prayer with a small group via conference call. In Draw the Circle, through forty true, faith-building stories of God’s answers to prayer, daily scriptures and prayer prompts, Batterson inspires you to pray and keep praying like never before. Begin a lifetime of watching God work. Believe in the God who can do all things. Experience the power of bold prayer and even bolder faith in Draw the Circle.
Save the Date
Turn In Your Vacation Requests Now
SEPTEMBER 1-14, 2019
Travel abroad this year with The Church Without Walls. We will visit London, Rome, Paris and end in Cape Town for the IC3 Church Growth & Development Conference – South Africa.
Per person with double occupancy
Single room supplement
NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT: $100 BY FEBRUARY 28TH
*Price does not include registration fee for IC3 Conference.
For additional information, please contact:
Courtney Clark – Real Escape Travel
email@example.com – 713.584.5186
Financial Peace University
The Knowledge You Need To Win With Money
Financial Peace University will help you take control of your money, plan for your future, and transform your life. Join us for 9 weeks on the Queenston Campus,Tuesdays beginning February 5th for Financial Peace University.
FPU Kit is $99 and is required for attendance.
God Loves A Cheerful Giver. Become a Good Steward of What God Has Given You.
Financial Peace University includes nine video lessons featuring Dave Ramsey, Rachel Cruze, and Chris Hogan. Follow along in your workbook as they teach you:
- Lesson 1: Build a Starter Emergency Fund and Learn How to Budget
- Lesson 2: Pay Off All Debt
- Lesson 3: Save a Fully Funded Emergency Fund
- Lesson 4: Invest for the Future and Build Wealth
- Lesson 5: Buyer Beware
- Lesson 6: The Role of Insurance
- Lesson 7: Retirement Planning
- Lesson 8: Real Estate and Mortgages
- Lesson 9: Living and Giving Like No One Else
- Additional Course: Teach your kids to make wise financial decisions (six lessons)
- Additional Course: Truly live and leave a legacy for generations to come (six lessons)
Classes begin February 5th 7pm on the Queenston Campus.
MoMentum Men’s Annual “Real Manhood” Breakfast & Conference
Theme: “RISE UP! OH MEN OF GOD”
Friday, February 22, 2019 | 7pm -9pm
Saturday, February 23, 2019 | 7am -1pm
TICKETS: $40 (includes T-shirt)
Rise up; this matter is in your hands. We will support you, so take courage and do it. (Ezra 10:10)
The spiritual climate in our nation, our families, and in our churches hangs in the balance as many Christians teeter on the edge of spiritual apathy and decay. We need revival in our country, in our families, and in our churches!
While we need God to show up, He is looking for men of God to Rise Up!
Register Today for Small Groups Bible Study – New Session Starts Feb 5th
We want you connected and growing spiritually! Sign up today for our new session of Small Group Bible Study Classes. This is a great way to build new relationships with other believers while growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Classes start February 5th on the Queenston Campus and February 6th on the Eldridge Campus.
The following classes are available:
- Mosaic Discipleship
- Momentum Discipleship
- Her Journey Bible Studies for Women
- Momentum Men Bible Studies
- Grief Share
- Living in the In-Between Times
- Facilitator’s Training
- Financial Peace University
- Positive Lessons from Negative Families
- Evangelistic Expressions – A study from Pas’ sermons on Evangelism
Choir room dedicated to Bruce Linscomb and Dr. Michael McFrazier. We honor their dedication and faithful commitment to the Worship & Arts ministry.
Pillars of Faith Unveiled
On Sunday, November 18th, we unveiled our Pillars of Faith, a dedication to all of our givers who contributed to the Leaping Beyond Our Walls building campaign. We are so thankful for Pastor West’ vision to establish a legacy that will stand for generations to come. Our children’s children will have a visual representation of how important giving is.
We had an amazing time celebrating our volunteers. We are truly grateful that God has blessed us with members that are so willing to give their time and talents to serve in ministry. The staff, Pastor West, Lady Sheretta West and family truly thank all of our volunteers for what they do. It was our pleasure to serve you!
Tuesday November 20th is Dr. Ralph Douglas West Day! In recognition of his 31st pastoral anniversary and his 43rd preaching anniversary, the City of Houston congratulates and commends Pas on his steadfast Christian leadership and global impact. Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner will proclaim, November 20, 2018 as Dr. Ralph Douglas West Day in Houston.
If you are able to attend the formal proclamation, please come!
Time: 1:15 pm
Date: November 20, 2018
Location: Houston City Council Chamber – Second Floor of City Hall, 901 Bagby, Houston, Texas 77002


« PreviousContinue »
9. THE KINGDOM OF CHRIST.
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth
peace; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
The Lord hath comforted his people, and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
The wilderness and the solitary place shall
The desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
The house of the Lord shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills. And many nations shall
Let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob,
They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.
The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid ; and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.
They shall not hurt nor destroy in all God's holy mountain ; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.
Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them.
And they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God.
Praise our God, all ye servants of his, and ye that fear him, both great and small.
Alleluia: the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him.
Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever.
Who are these, which are arrayed in white robes ? and whence came they?
These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever he goeth. And in their mouth was found no guile : for they are without fault before the throne of God.
Therefore do they serve him day and night in his temple ; and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.
They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more.
There shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain. There shall be no night there, and they
need no candle, neither light of the sun ; for the Lord God giveth them light.
They shall see his face ; and his name shall be in their foreheads.
The Lamb, which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters.
There shall in no wise enter there any. thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie ;
But they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may, enter in through the gates into
Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing
11. CHARITY AND BROTHERLY LOVE.
Blessed is he that considereth the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.
The Lord will preserve him, and keep him alive ; and he shall be blessed upon the earth.
The Lord will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in sickness.
He that hath pity upon the poor, lendeth unto the Lord.
And that which he hath given will He pay
Blessed are the merciful; for they shall
Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you,
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.
Condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned ;
Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven.
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep
with them that weep. Recompense to no man evil for evil.
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
God is love; and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him.


Anger Series: Part 6 – A Biblical View and Understanding
Two Primary Bible Passages
“Be angry and yet do not sin, do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the
devil an opportunity.” Ephesians 4:26
“… the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” James 1:20
These are the two primary passages used to understand and deal with anger in a TPM context. From these passages several principles are gleamed and applied.
1. We have been given permission to be angry. “Be angry…”
Anger is a God-created response to injustice. When we see injustice we should feel angry. God Himself is angered by injustice. Most of the anger that we experience is initially established in the context of an injustice; such as when a child is being violated and feels angry because of it. However, this same anger later becomes a cancer that can destroy us if it is not rightly dealt with.
2. We have been instructed not to sin in our anger. “… and yet do not sin…” Although we are created with the capacity to feel angry in the midst of an injustice, we are not equipped to reside in it for long. Anger is a powerful force that typically results in our acting out inappropriately. We can be angry, but it is not good that we carry it around for too long a time. We tend to sin in our anger more than act out righteously.
3. We have been instructed not to hold on to it for too long. “Don’t let the sun go down on your anger.” If we continue to hold it after the “sun has gone down” we will become susceptible to the deception of the enemy. Satan wants us to hold onto the anger because he knows that if we carry it for very long, we will sin. Anger sustained is a sin just waiting to happen.
4. If we hold on to the anger we afford the devil an opportunity. “you will give the devil opportunity…” The opportunity he desires is to provide us a lie-based reason for why we need to hold onto the anger. Lies such as, “Your anger will keep you safe or protect you.” “Your anger holds the person who hurt you accountable and keeps them from getting by with what they did.” Your anger keeps you in control.” “Your anger punishes those who hurt you.” Etc. Once we embrace any of these lies, we will not be able to let the anger go apart from God’s intervention. These lies provide us a rational and logical reason for staying angry. For example, why would I let my anger go if I believed that it keeps me safe and it holds the one who hurt me accountable? This is exactly what the devil wants; for us to believe a lie and make poor choices because of it.
5. Belief Keeps the Person Holding Onto His Anger. If I embrace the lie afforded me by the devil in my anger, it becomes glue in my hand making it literally impossible for me to let go apart from God’s intervention. After the “sun goes down” the anger is no longer about what happened, but now is about what might happen if the anger is released. Because I have embraced these – “what might happen” beliefs, my letting go of the anger becomes highly unlikely because for me to let go of it will require I go against that which I believe.
6. Our anger does not accomplish God’s purposes. Even if we are angry and are able not to sin in it, our anger will not accomplish God’s best or intended purpose for our lives. James the apostle is clear where he said, “the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” James 1:20


Description: A wedding announcement for the marriage of Frances Franklin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Thornton Brooke, to Mr. John Bailey Hill. The wedding was to be held on Wednesday, December 18, 1901, at 8:30pm, at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in McKinney, Texas.
Date: December 18, 1901
Creator: Brooke, William Thornton & Brooke, Mrs. William Thornton
Item Type: Refine your search to only Text
Partner: UNT Libraries Special Collections


- Sunday April 3 – Taking The Stone Away; A Life-Giving Rhythm
[link to full email]: https://mailchi.mp/coutreach/word-of-the-week-apr3
[excerpt from email]: To Practice: The rituals we perform in preparation for our time of contemplative practice are helpful ways of lovingly stepping into our intention to consent to the presence and action of the Godly presence into which we come; lighting a candle, gentle movements, making a sign of the cross or gazing at an icon all help us to cross the threshold from focus on daily life into focus on deepening our Divine relationship. This week, having made a trip to your garden or while out taking a stroll, you are invited to allow your eyes to be drawn to a small stone. Once you have found a stone that catches your eye, take it home and place it in a container in your place of prayer. As you prepare for your prayer session, add to your ritual the removal of your stone from its container accompanying the action with the words “take away the stone.” Whether during prayer you have decided to hold it in your hand or place it close by, at the end of your practice, gently and with great love and care replace it, in its imperceptibly changed form, back into its container.
The unknown unblinder. One year a group of four of us dramatized the raising of Lazarus. We made a box that we could crawl into. When Jesus said, “Lazarus, come forth”, we crawled out of the box. We were each holding onto a pillow. Then someone would come from the assembly, take the pillow and walk us down to a pew. The lesson: Jesus could raise us but we needed someone to unbind us. I did it at all four Masses. The most powerful one for me was the noon Mass since I did not know the person who “ unbound” me. One never knows who might emerge to unbind one from some constricting habit and thus enable one to rejoin the community.
- This reply was modified 1 year, 8 months ago by Susan Kenney.
Your experience, Susan, of your unknown binder and sitting today with Jesus’ words: “Take off the graves clothes and let him go.” I recall a difficult meeting last week, now with new eyes, “my grave clothes receiving a bit of unwinding, that can only happen when you trust someone else enough (not my favorite person) to unwind a fraction of “my grave clothes”. As this week begins I consent to “unbinding”….
Sunday April 3: Taking The Stone Away; A Life-Giving Rhythm
I pondered where I would locate a stone as I brought out my Anglican prayer beads. Inside the black cloth bag is a small piece of polished citrine, placed with the beads during a period of healing prayers. I place the citrine between my left palm and thigh as I center. What a wonderful daily reminder to examine what is being called forth in me from death to life. <3 linda
The stone in my heart. This morning as I found a stone for our time together,
I asked that the stone be removed from my heart. I realized that I had been protecting myself from the reality of the mass shooting in Sacramento. Tears and memories came flooding back. I had worked at the Sequoia Hotel, a single room occupancy hotel located on the block where the shootings had occurred. Many residents were isolated, without family or support. They often died alone and might not be discovered for several days. We would have a memorial service for each, sometimes finding photos and relatives. The person’s life then became bigger than that little room where they had lived. The message: no one will be forgotten, each life is important. As we mourn the six people who died on Sunday morning, I pray that I will take into my heart all of the sadness, remorse, and confusion that accompanies all who are in mourning.
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4th Sunday before Lent – If Jesus asked – what would you do?
By the Sea of Galilee, Jesus goes up to two brothers, going about the comparatively lucrative business of fishing and tells them that he has chosen them as disciples. Conscripted, commandeered, requisitioned. James and John, the same thing, ‘Drop all that, your father and the rest of the family can keep the business going, get your coat, we’re off.’
If Jesus called you to serve him, if he came to you right now and said “whatever you are doing, stop that, follow me’ what would your answer be?
By chapter 17 of Luke’s gospel, we are now approaching the end of what is called the journey narrative. Jesus’s disciples will soon welcome him into Jerusalem, for some brief moments of triumph, and so it is fitting that the main focus of his teaching now moves to them. By now his audience is well primed to favour the ‘poor’ over those of riches and privilege. But, just because you might be considered among the more blessed poor, Jesus warns them, don’t think for a moment that you are exempt from responsibility and judgement. Even in the Kingdom there is opportunity for scandal and the need for repentance and forgiveness. How might that warning apply to us in our own time and very different circumstances?
The idea of the ‘gated community’ has grown enormously in recent years. They are a symptom of societies that are so divided, so unequal, with such a small proportion of those who might be called well off and a vast number of those living in poverty, where such communities fear that at any moment the dreadful reality of their society could come crashing into their lives and homes. Gated communities are an attempt to deny the truth, to create a bubble of existence, that shuts its ears and eyes to the pain and suffering of society, in which one is actually involved and of which one might be also a cause. In today’s gospel reading Jesus confronts the timeless reality of injustice and indifference.
In Amos, the guilty are directly addressed – “…. you that trample on the needy and bring ruin to the poor of the land.”
And as he continues to travel towards Jerusalem, preaching as he goes, Jesus tells those with him just what it means to be a ‘disciple’.
Many of those with him would be the poor, the outcast, the oppressed, so a story about a rich man, moreover the most hated kind of all, the absentee landlord, would go down well. The master directs the cruel policy, the manager, the steward enacts it.
A tragic story not unknown in this land too.
And Jesus goes on to speak of money, how in their case, but also how for us, our attitudes to money can reveal who we are.


Written by Pastor Carlyn Cole
Stepping aside as Associate Pastor at Hope Community Church is an opportunity for me to explore other interests and to determine what God might be wanting me to consider. As with any change, a myriad of emotions might rise to the surface. I was reminded of what our posture toward the future ought to be in my reading through the book of Hebrews.
“For we do not have an enduring city here; instead, we seek the one to come” – Hebrews 13:14
How we feel about change in our lives depends on whether we think that the change is going to be an improvement. If we have come to enjoy the status quo or feel like there really isn’t a need for improvement, we consider change with melancholy or perhaps even anger. If on the other hand we see change as something that will make our life in some way substantially better, we embrace the change with open arms. Now the actual effect of the change is sometimes hard to tell. How many times have we been pained over the thought of an upcoming change only to find out that it wasn’t as bad as we had anticipated, perhaps we have even come to embrace it? Of course, the opposite can also happen.
One thing that the writer of Hebrews brings to our attention is that there is going to be, in fact we must look forward to, change as it relates to our experience in life. What we have now is not something that is ultimately going to endure. There will be change. However, for those of us who are fixing our eyes on Jesus, we can be a people who are looking forward to the change to come. In fact, we are to seek it out, look forward to it, put our efforts into that which is to come more so than anything that we see and experience here and now.
Ok, but what does it mean for us to seek the city which is to come? I am sure that if we put our heads together, we could come up with several ways we might seek the city which is to come, but let me offer three:
No ‘city’, past or present, will ever endure. Only that future city will endure, the one where Christ is King. Let us together seek that city!


Teaching God's Love
Our Children's Ministries team is focused on introducing every child to his or her heavenly Father and teaching God's unconditional love. Children are taught of God in a number of ways--Sabbath School lesson, Children's Church, singing songs, and learning of God through creation and nature. Songs like "Jesus Loves Me this I Know" and "Jesus Loves the little Ones Like me, me, me" are ways we teach children their importance to God.
Fostering a Relationship with God
Children start to develop a relationship with God as they learn their identity as part of God's family. Cultivating a dependency and faith in God as a child happens in little yet significant ways. Much like a small seed planted in a pot of soil that is watered and placed in the sun eventually takes root, so does an understanding and relationship with God in our children. This is our most important work.
Train up a child in the way he should go and when he is old he will not depart from it.
The Children's Ministries team is here to serve all children of the community. We host toy drives, field trips, vacation bible school, movie nights, arts & craft days, Children's Church, and many other activities to keep your little ones having good clean fun. Enroll your child(ren) today!


Don’t Keep Me Waiting Too Long
I have this ongoing connection to the full moon. Something about it constantly stirs in me a deep sense of expectation. This is probably a little bit dangerous, but regardless, the full moon will either be tonight or tomorrow night and I can feel it in my bones. There’s a achingness to the light that shines full into my bedroom window from that moon. It’s clarity and white light that’s nearly as bright as daylight was streaming in at 1am this morning. So much so that I had to get up and take a look. I pondered my old prayers again, and said how long, Lord, how long. My Psalm 40 is getting more worn as the days and years go by. However, even though I’m not always sure what it is that I’m waiting for, this verse from John 12.24 keeps appearing to me.
24″Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over.
24I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.
24The truth is, a kernel of wheat must be planted in the soil. Unless it dies it will be alone–a single seed. But its death will produce many new kernels–a plentiful harvest of new lives.
24Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain.
24I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains [just one grain; it never becomes more but lives] by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces many others and yields a rich harvest.
24verily, verily, I say to you, if the grain of the wheat, having fallen to the earth, may not die, itself remaineth alone; and if it may die, it doth bear much fruit;
24I tell you for certain that a grain of wheat that falls on the ground will never be more than one grain unless it dies. But if it dies, it will produce lots of wheat.
Interpret that. It ties in very much with what we were talking about at Queens Birthday. The cycle of life and death, growth & decline, building and taking down that is chronicled in Solomon’s reflection in Ecclesiastes. Wok proposed it as a valid cycle of ministry and life.
That under the pressure of a secularly-based, exponential time-profit ratio mindset, we have neglected the value that a death-conception-birth cycle brings to us. We look to borrow and adopt other people’s lifecycles in order to maintain our own.
But.. he says, based out of Ecclesiastes and observing creation all around us .. there must be cycles of barrenness, that lead us to desperation on our knees before God, that then allows for utter emptiness, then a new conception, the preparation for birth, the labour & birth itself (the hardest part beyond barrenness) and then the new life that follows. These ‘new lives’ then continue to grow and develop completing their own life cycles, that eventually end in decline as well. The struggle then, is realising that the cycles of barrenness to new life happen in small ways all over the place, especially in ministry environments, and to understand that they overlap each other. Different aspects of life take hold, while other things decline, only to be born again in new and different ways.
So.. in my life.. where is barrenness? Where is my Sarah-like desperation before God? It comes to me when the moon is full and I feel empty and hesitant, expectant and yearning. Longing for a deeper vision and deeper satisfaction. In letting go of dreams, in holding on to hope despite my weakness.
Lord, make me with the spirit of a barren woman
ever ready to pour out my oil, a vessel empty
and awaiting your gift
a dangerous prayer
for emptiness is dangerous territory
but with all my heart and soul
I entrust to you a seed
that is willing to lay down in the soil
and lay out it’s life
anticipating a less than easy death
but a restorative, worthwhile conception
help me, Lord
to lay down in the soil
and be buried
and also to die
not just go on living
in damp darkness


Jan Hendrik Warnshuis, brother of Hendrik Jan Warnshuis, was not at all like that brother. He was an upright, God-fearing, conservative leader in the church in Clymer. I have also concluded that he didn’t have much of a sense of humor. He was Dominie Dunnewold’s right-hand man and was a leader in keeping order among the congregation. He made home visitations with the dominie and, on occasion, substituted in the pulpit for him. Sometimes he read a sermon, sometimes he preached one of his own. It has been said that the congregation greatly preferred to hear him preach rather than read because he wasn’t a very good reader.
Jan Hendrik Warnshuis, b.28 Oct 1817 Winterswijk, d.17 Jan 1893 Clymer, was a son of Gerrit Jan Warnshuis and Catharina Groters. He was married in Winterswijk on 4 November 1838 with Johanna Konings, b. 22 Jan 1817 Winterswijk, d.22 Jan 1910 Clymer. She was a daughter of Jan Hendrik Konings, who was also known as Jan Derk, and Johanna ten Hulsen.
In 1845 they and their children left from the "Kortschot" at Henxel 27 to come to America. They sailed on the "Caledonia," which reached New York City on 3 October 1845. They continued, by boat, up the Hudson River to Albany and then went by canal boat across the Erie Canal to Buffalo.
The water part of their jouney was completed as they traveled on Lake Erie from Buffalo to Westfield in Chautauqua County. There they hired a wagoner to take them to Clymer. In Clymer they settled on a farm on Clymer Hill, a short distance from the church. Jan Hendrik was the first of his family to come to America. Although not a wealthy man, in 1847 he somehow managed to finance passage across the ocean for his mother and siblings.
Making this journey with the Warnshuises were, among others, Johanna’s sister Dora Konings (b.16 Jun 1821 Winterswijk, d.22 Feb 1906 Clymer) and the family of Jan Hendrik ten Hulsen and Maria Mentink. Their son Berend Willem ten Hulsen (b.16 Jan 1822 Winterswijk, d.13 Jul 1890 Clymer) would soon become the husband of Dora. Berend Willem bought a farm right next to the one Jan Hendrik bought.
Life in Clymer
Jan Hendrik and Berend Willem were not at all alike. Whereas Jan Hendrik was very serious and his goal was to spread the Gospel to all, Berend Willem was a jovial man whose goal appears to have been to acquire as much land as he possibly could. Throughout his lifetime here he bought land, one farm at a time, worked hard, and improved the land. When he came to Clymer he owned nothing but the clothes he was wearing. At the time of his death he owned over 500 acres of land, which made him one of the largest property owners in Clymer. He left a farm to each of his five sons and comparable sums of money to each of his three daughters. He loved talking with people and he loved horses, especially fast ones.
It has been said that when two Dutchmen get together they form a church and when three get together the church will split. That seemed to be true in Clymer. For a time in the 1850s there were two churches on Clymer Hill, located a short distance from each other. One was the conservative congregation, composed of seceders or seceder-leaning people, and it became the Clymer Hill Reformed Church that still exists on Clymer Hill today. The other was a more liberal congregation, probably composed of people who had not been dissatisfied with the church in the Netherlands.
Of course, Jan Hendrik and Johanna were members of the conservative church, as was Dora. Berend Willem would drop her off at that church and then drive the horse and buggy a few yards beyond to attend the other church. That worked well for a time, but then the liberal church disbanded because they were not able to secure a pastor. After that, Berend Willem didn’t go to church.
Toward the end of his life he was visited by the pastor of the Clymer Hill Reformed Church. Berend Willem said to the pastor that he regretted that he had not done more for the church. The dominie told him that he could remedy that by leaving money to the church in his will. Berend Willem’s regrets must not have been very strong as he left all his worldly possessions to his wife and children.
Jan Hendrik and Berend Willem, as different as they were from each other, did not get along together very well. One instance of this involved Jan Hendrik’s sheep. It seems that Jan Hendrik’s sheep had a habit of leaving their property to visit the farm next door. One Sunday morning, when the sheep were again grazing on Berend Willem’s land, he rounded them up and tied them in front of the church. He also left a little sign that said, "Feed my sheep." When Jan Hendrik came out of church and saw this he was not amused. He went to the church consistory and complained about Berend Willem and his actions, but there wasn’t much the consistory could do about it because Berend Willem was not a member. Eventually, Jan Hendrik sold his farm to Berend Willem and moved about a mile away.
I can only imagine how Jan Hendrik felt a few years later when his granddaughter married one of Berend Willem’s sons.


By Charlie Wetherington
TBCH Coordinator of Communications
BRENTWOOD — Greg McCoy, pastor of First Baptist Church, Portland, has been elected to be the seventh president/treasurer of the Tennessee Baptist Children’s Homes in its 124-year history.
McCoy, 51, was the unanimous recommendation of the TBCH’s presidential search advisory committee. The committee’s recommendation was presented to a called meeting of the full board of trustees on Sept. 16 which unanimously approved the selection.
McCoy will begin his 14-month tenure as president/treasurer elect on Nov. 1 of this year. Millsaps will continue to serve as president/treasurer of TBCH through Dec. 31, 2015, at which time he will retire and McCoy will assume the full responsibilities of leading the ministry to children and families in crisis.
McCoy was licensed to preach by Memorial Baptist Church, Crossville, in 1982. He was ordained to the ministry by First Baptist Church, White House, in 1985.
He earned a bachelor of arts in religion from Belmont University in Nashville in 1985. He was also awarded a master of divinity by the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas in 1989.
From 1984-1986, McCoy served as the minister of youth at First Baptist Church, White House, prior to enrolling at Southwestern. From 1989-1998, he served as pastor at Friendship Baptist Church, Culleoka. He has been pastor at First Baptist Church, Portland, since 1989.
McCoy and his wife Jeri have been married since August 1984. They have four children.
McCoy has served as a member and leader of the TBCH board of trustees for 12 of the last 14 years (2000-2010, 2012-2014). During this time he has served as secretary, vice chairman, and chairman of the board; as a member of and chairman of the board’s nominating committee; as chairman of the board’s budget committee, and as chairman of the board’s executive committee.
Bruce Chesser, chairman of the presidential search advisory committee and pastor of First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, in his report to the board of trustees told how the committee came together in unanimous consent on the selection of McCoy.
“It was amazing to see how God moved in the minds and hearts of the search committee throughout the entire process. The unanimous support of Greg to succeed Bryant Millsaps was a clear sign to all of us that he is God’s man for this time in the strong history of TBCH.”
James Yarbro, chairman of the TBCH board of trustees and a member of First Baptist Church, Martin, praised the presidential search advisory committee for a job well done.
“I could not be happier with the recommendation of the search committee than I am with Greg McCoy. It was my hope in appointing the committee made up of current trustees, former chairs of our board, and a representative of our statewide staff that the outcome would be as outstanding as this selection is.”
Randy C. Davis, executive director of the Tennessee Baptist Convention, offered an assessment of McCoy’s selection.
“I’m looking forward to serving alongside Greg McCoy. He has a great family and is a great family man.
“I’ve admired Greg’s pastoral leadership at First Baptist, Portland, where he has led that congregation to be one of the most missions-minded churches in Tennessee.
“The thing I’m most excited about is Greg’s love of people. Our state is facing a foster care crisis and the children and families across Tennessee need someone who will love them and will share the love of Christ with them,” noted Davis.
“Greg McCoy is that man, and I commend search committee chairman Bruce Chesser and his team for finding God’s will personified in Greg McCoy to follow the godly leader the TBCH had in Bryant Millsaps.”


The local youth and sports ministry charity PSALMS, has changed its name, to reflect its growth.
Tag: Sports Ministry
A team of lay and ordained people from the UK have made a trip to Rwanda to see the Scripture Union’s ReadySetGO sports ministry in action. Now they are home,Continue reading
Leaders of young people gathered at Bishopscourt from around the Diocese to celebrate their work together and hear a vision for future ministry and vocation from Bishop Rachel. As wellContinue reading
Sport enables people to form a bond. They share a common interest and have a common ground for communicating which can develop into friendship. Going to a local park orContinue reading


Iranian Christians celebrate their new year with the beginning of January. Most of Iranian Christians are Armani people. If you step out these days, you will feel this great holiday even behind the showcase of stores and coffee shops which have used Christmas decorations.
Behind the showcase of Armani Stores, you will see posters which represent time and place of celebration and live play of music. Charity markers are hot these days. The smell of delicious sweets made specifically for this holiday, and also the colourful candies beside the smile of people and children will excite you no matter which religion you are following. We are all got used to the doll Santa clauses, artificial Christmas tree, the glamour of stores, small drums, striped red and white sticks, candles and golden stars. This much of happiness and colour will excite the child within us. We are willing to see the kind Santa Claus to make our dreams come true. No matter in which religion we are, we believe this day is one of the greatest days of God like our sisters and brothers in Christianity.
The first night of January churches has a specific atmosphere in Iran. Right at the middle of the night the bell of the church will ring and the sound of it will din in the cities. The loud laughter of children could be heard, and whispers are praying God. Everyone is looking at the sky and the rituals are being held. In such a great ceremony you are invited whether you are Christian or not. Hands are kindly shaken, and smiles are freely given and taken.
In Iran churches are considered as tourist attractions since they are of ancient times. From among famous churches in Iran we can call Sur Garapet in Abadan, Vank or Amna Perkij in Isfahan, Saint Sarkis Cathedral in Tehran, Saint Estepanous church in Jalfa.
Try visiting these churches if you have devised travelling to Iran
Sur Garpet Church in Abadan:
This church which is next to Behbahani Mosque in Abadan apart from Iranian architecture, represents how unbiased people Iranian Are toward others’ religion.
Vank cathedral in Isfahan:
this beautiful church in Jolfa neighborhood in Isfahan has specific architectural beauties by which you will be excited. The ceilings are inlaid with historical paintings.
Saint Sarkis Cathedral in Tehran:
This church is the central place for Armani people in Tehran. This church with its specific architectural characteristics it was built by one of the Armani People as the reminder of his wife. Large windows, two domes on the top of two great towers in order to hold the great ring, and biblical paintings are all among the beautiful features of this church.
How We Celebrate Christmas in Iran
Celebrating Christmas On 1st Jan, The ceremony of sacrifice begins. Families enter the yard of churches, kiss the relatives. Children play and adults do greetings. At the exact time of 12:00 when bells ring, the sound of silence is all you will hear, everybody look at the sky and pray, lighten candles, sing while their tears wash out their faces.
On 5th Jan, Armenians break their fasting, doing communion in Church. For the consecration, they give some butter to families to be added in their meals.
In the Christian New Year Eve family members gather together around the Christmas tree and pray and then attend to church services. Pine trees are ornamented by colourful glass balls and shining lights and under the Christmas trees, there are always gifts. Some family members put on Santa clause clothes, and some hire a Santa clause to give presents to the children.


I begin to feel much better. Not a trace of the cramp. I head to my inbox. Ah! Let me see what my sis is up to. Wow! Here is my comment.
My sis, been a while since we touch. Life. Up. Down. All around. Father knows. No matter how much it hurts. No matter what pathetic expletives we throw at Him? No matter. His embrace tightens around us! He won’t let go of us! He knows. He knows.
What are we to do? How can we praise Him in such horrid times? How can we trust when the hurt is at its peak? No way! He knows. He knows. He knows.
Wait. Wait. Wait comes the voice in our heads and hearts. WAIT! HOW LONG? Wait. Wait. Wait. The voice insists. Wait. Wait. Wait. Soon the DOOR shall open wide for you, for each one who waits on ME!
Much love, my sis. thiaBasilia. 🙂 End of comment.
Now what, my Father? Ah! Little by little You are formulating Your plan in my head and heart. I see. In awe of Your doings I remain. Let it rain. Let it flow my brain.
Saturday, November 4, 2017 at 2:22 am.-5:52 am.
I need to go back to sleep. I expect this to be one of the best 7th Day of Rest in a while. The last post was a hit with more likes than the previous one.
Your children are beginning to stir in my midst. And me? I wait. I wait. I wait until You deem necessary for me to wait.
Ahmad? Much laughter and fun at my expense. No pride left in me. Shamelessly, I talked about my foolishness in asking for a British husband. He laughed about it before, but now? He roared in laughter.
All the time? He’s been knowing he is the MAN to represent my Father for the rest of my days until Yahushua’s return. What a blessed moment we shared last night.


As a parish of the Diocese of Australia & New Zealand (within the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia), our ruling bishop and First Hierarch is Metropolitan Hilarion. His assistant bishop is Bp George, who is the Vicar General of the Diocese and resides in Sydney.
As a part of ROCOR, we are within the Church of Russia, headed by Patriarch Kyril of Moscow and All Russia.
Biographies of our hierarchs are available online:
- His Holiness Kyril, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia;
- His Eminence Hilarion, Metropolitan of Eastern America and New York, First Hierarch of ROCOR, Archbishop of Sydney, Australia and New Zealand;
- His Grace George, Bishop of Canberra.
In addition, our parish is within the Deanery of Queensland. This is headed by Archpriest Gabriel Makarov, who is also the Dean of St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Cathedral, Brisbane.


This is the final part of a special series on Abraham.
Today, Denver continues addressing the questions: What do we need to understand about Abraham in order to understand our place in the last days events? What is God’s view of The Book of Abraham and what ought we to take from it as we look towards a continuation of the restoration?
Today’s podcast excerpts are taken from:
- Denver’s conference talk entitled “Things to Keep Us Awake at Night” given in St. George, UT on March 19th, 2017, including a question and answer session following it
- Denver’s remarks at “A Day of Faith and Connection” youth conference in UT on June 10th, 2017
- The presentation of “Answer and Covenant”, given at the Covenant of Christ Conference in Boise, ID on September 3rd, 2017
- A fireside talk entitled “The Holy Order”, given in Bountiful, UT on October 29, 2017
- A fireside talk entitled “Cursed, Denied Priesthood”, given in Sandy, UT on January 7th, 2018
- Denver’s remarks given at the Joseph Smith Restoration Conference in Boise, ID on June 24, 2018
- Denver’s remarks entitled “Keep the Covenant: Do the Work” given at the Remembering the Covenants Conference in Layton, UT on August 4, 2018


'This Is What The Lord Says' in the Bible
"Go and announce directly to Jerusalem that this is what the Lord says: I remember the loyalty of your youth, your love as a bride- how you followed Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.
This is what the LORD says: "What did your ancestors find wrong with me that they left me, and pursued worthless things, and so they became worthless?
For this is what the Lord says to the men of Judah and Jerusalem: Break up the unplowed ground; do not sow among the thorns.
For this is what the Lord says: The whole land will be a desolation, but I will not finish it off.
This is what the Lord says: Stand by the roadways and look. Ask about the ancient paths: Which is the way to what is good? Then take it and find rest for yourselves. But they protested: We won't!
Therefore, this is what the Lord says: I am going to place stumbling blocks before these people; fathers and sons together will stumble over them; friends and neighbors will [also] perish.
This is what the Lord says: Look, an army is coming from a northern land; a great nation will be awakened from the remote regions of the earth.
You are to say to them: This is what the Lord says: Do [people] fall and not get up again? If they turn away, do they not return?
Speak as follows: This is what the Lord says: Human corpses will fall like manure on the surface of the field, like newly cut grain after the reaper with no one to gather [it].
This is what the Lord says: The wise must not boast in his wisdom; the mighty must not boast in his might; the rich must not boast in his riches.
This is what the Lord says: Do not learn the way of the nations or be terrified by signs in the heavens, although the nations are terrified by them,
For this is what the Lord says: Look, I am slinging out the land's residents at this time and bringing them such distress that they will feel it.
"Therefore, this is what the Lord says: I am about to bring on them disaster that they cannot escape. They will cry out to Me, but I will not hear them.
Therefore, this is what the LORD says about the men of Anathoth who seek to kill you, all the while threatening you, "Don't prophesy in the name of the LORD so you won't die by our hand!"
This is what the Lord says: "Concerning all My evil neighbors who attack the inheritance that I bequeathed to My people, Israel, I am about to uproot them from their land, and I will uproot the house of Judah from among them.
"This is what the Lord says: Just like this I will ruin the great pride of both Judah and Jerusalem.
And you will say to them, This is what the Lord says: I am about to fill all who live in this land-the kings who reign for David on his throne, the priests, the prophets and all the residents of Jerusalem-with drunkenness.
This is what the Lord says concerning these people: Truly they love to wander; they never rest their feet. So the Lord does not accept them. Now He will remember their guilt and punish their sins.
"Therefore, this is what the Lord says concerning the prophets who prophesy in My name, though I did not send them, and who say: There will never be sword or famine in this land: By sword and famine these prophets will meet their end.
If they ask you: Where will we go? you must tell them: This is what the Lord says: Those [destined] for death, to death; those [destined] for the sword, to the sword. Those [destined] for famine, to famine; those [destined] for captivity, to captivity.
Therefore, this is what the Lord says: If you return, I will restore you; you will stand in My presence. And if you speak noble [words], rather than worthless ones, you will be My spokesman. It is they who must return to you; you must not return to them.
For this is what the Lord says concerning sons and daughters born in this place as well as concerning the mothers who bear them and the fathers who father them in this land:
"For this is what the Lord says: Don't enter a house where a mourning feast is taking place. Don't go to lament or sympathize with them, for I have removed My peace from these people"-[this is] the Lord's declaration-"[as well as My] faithful love and compassion.
This is what the Lord says: Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind, who makes [human] flesh his strength and turns his heart from the Lord.
This is what the Lord says: Watch yourselves; do not pick up a load and bring it in through the gates of Jerusalem on the Sabbath day.
So now, say to the men of Judah and to the residents of Jerusalem: This is what the Lord says: I am about to bring harm to you and make plans against you. Turn now, each from your evil way, and correct your ways and your deeds.
Therefore, this is what the Lord says: Ask among the nations, Who has heard [things] like these? Virgin Israel has done a most terrible thing.
This is what the Lord says: "Go, buy a potter's clay jug. Take some of the elders of the people and some of the elders of the priests
for this is what the Lord says, 'I am about to make you a terror to both yourself and those you love. They will fall by the sword of their enemies before your very eyes. I will hand Judah over to the king of Babylon, and he will deport them to Babylon and put them to the sword.
"But you must say to this people, 'This is what the Lord says: Look, I am presenting to you the way of life and the way of death.
House of David, this is what the Lord says: Administer justice every morning, and rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor, or My anger will flare up like fire and burn unquenchably because of their evil deeds.
This is what the Lord says: "Go down to the palace of the king of Judah and announce this word there.
This is what the Lord says: Administer justice and righteousness. Rescue the victim of robbery from the hand of his oppressor. Don't exploit or brutalize the alien, the fatherless, or the widow. Don't shed innocent blood in this place.
For this is what the Lord says concerning the house of the king of Judah: You are like Gilead to Me, [or] the summit of Lebanon, but I will certainly turn you into a wilderness, uninhabited cities.
For this is what the Lord says concerning Shallum son of Josiah, king of Judah, who succeeded Josiah his father as king: "He has left this place-he will never return here again,
Therefore, this is what the Lord says concerning Jehoiakim son of Josiah, king of Judah: They will not mourn for him, [saying,] Woe, my brother! or Woe, [my] sister! They will not mourn for him, saying, Woe, lord! Woe, his majesty!
This is what the Lord says: Record this man as childless, a man who will not be successful in his lifetime. None of his descendants will succeed in sitting on the throne of David or ruling again in Judah.
But if you say: The burden of the Lord, then this is what the Lord says: Because you have said, The burden of the Lord, and I specifically told you not to say, The burden of the Lord
"But as for the bad figs, so bad they are inedible, this is what the Lord says: in this way I will deal with Zedekiah king of Judah, his officials, and the remnant of Jerusalem-those remaining in this land and those living in the land of Egypt.
"This is what the Lord says: Stand in the courtyard of the Lord's temple and speak all the words I have commanded you to speak to all Judah's cities that are coming to worship there. Do not hold back a word.
You are to say to them: This is what the Lord says: If you do not listen to Me by living according to My law that I set before you
this is what the LORD says to me: "Make restraints and yokes for yourself and put them on your neck.
Then I spoke to the priests and all these people, saying, "This is what the Lord says, 'Do not listen to the words of your prophets. They are prophesying to you, claiming: Look, very soon now the articles of the Lord's temple will be brought back from Babylon. They are prophesying a lie to you.
In the presence of all the people Hananiah proclaimed, "This is what the Lord says: 'In this way, within two years I will break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, from the neck of all the nations.' " Jeremiah the prophet then went on his way.
"Go say to Hananiah: This is what the Lord says: You broke a wooden yoke bar, but in its place you will make an iron yoke bar.
Therefore, this is what the Lord says: 'I am about to send you off the face of the earth. You will die this year because you have spoken rebellion against the Lord.' "
For this is what the Lord says: "When 70 years for Babylon are complete, I will attend to you and will confirm My promise concerning you to restore you to this place.
But this is what the Lord says concerning the king sitting on David's throne and concerning all the people living in this city-that is, concerning your brothers who did not go with you into exile.
This is what the LORD says: "I'm about to send the sword, famine, and plague on them, and I'll make them like rotten figs that cannot be eaten because they're so bad.
"Send [a message] to all the exiles, saying: This is what the Lord says concerning Shemaiah the Nehelamite. Because Shemaiah prophesied to you, though I did not send him, and made you trust a lie,
this is what the Lord says: I am about to punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants. There will not be even one of his [descendants] living among these people, nor will any ever see the good that I will bring to My people"-[this is] the Lord's declaration-"for he has preached rebellion against the Lord."
Yes, this is what the Lord says: We have heard a cry of terror, of dread-there is no peace.
For this is what the Lord says: Your injury is incurable; your wound most severe.
This is what the Lord says: I will certainly restore the fortunes of Jacob's tents and show compassion on his dwellings. Every city will be rebuilt on its mound; every citadel will stand on its proper site.
This is what the Lord says: They found favor in the wilderness- the people who survived the sword. [When] Israel went to find rest,
For this is what the Lord says: Sing with joy for Jacob; shout for the chief of the nations! Proclaim, praise, and say: Lord, save Your people, the remnant of Israel!
This is what the Lord says: A voice was heard in Ramah, a lament with bitter weeping- Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted for her children because they are no more.
This is what the Lord says: Keep your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for the reward for your work will come- [this is]*The bracketed text has been added for clarity. the Lord's declaration- and your children will return from the enemy's land.
This is what the Lord says: The One who gives the sun for light by day, the fixed order of moon and stars for light by night, who stirs up the sea and makes its waves roar- the Lord of Hosts is His name:
This is what the Lord says: If the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below explored, I will reject all of Israel's descendants because of all they have done- [this is] the Lord's declaration.
Zedekiah king of Judah had imprisoned him, saying: "Why are you prophesying, 'This is what the Lord says: Look, I am about to hand this city over to Babylon's king, and he will capture it.
Therefore, this is what the Lord says: I am about to hand this city over to the Chaldeans, to Babylon's king Nebuchadnezzar, and he will capture it.
"For this is what the Lord says: Just as I have brought all this great disaster on these people, so am I about to bring on them all the good I am promising them.
"This is what the LORD says who made the earth, the LORD who formed it in order to establish it whose name is the LORD
"This is what the Lord says: In this place which you say is a ruin, without man or beast-that is, in Judah's cities and Jerusalem's streets that are a desolation without man, without inhabitant, and without beast-there will be heard again
For this is what the Lord says: David will never fail to have a man sitting on the throne of the house of Israel.
"This is what the Lord says: If you can break My covenant with the day and My covenant with the night so that day and night cease to come at their regular time,
This is what the Lord says: If I do not [keep] My covenant with the day and with the night and fail to establish the fixed order of heaven and earth,
"This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: Go, speak to Zedekiah, king of Judah, and tell him: This is what the Lord says: I am about to hand this city over to the king of Babylon, and he will burn it down.
"Yet hear the Lord's word, Zedekiah, king of Judah. This is what the Lord says concerning you: You will not die by the sword;
"Therefore, this is what the Lord says: You have not obeyed Me by proclaiming freedom, each man for his brother and for his neighbor. I hereby proclaim freedom for you"-[this is] the Lord's declaration-"to the sword, to plague, and to famine! I will make you a horror to all the earth's kingdoms.
You are to proclaim concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: This is what the Lord says: You have burned the scroll, saying: Why have you written on it: The king of Babylon will certainly come and destroy this land and cause it to be without man or beast?
Therefore, this is what the Lord says concerning Jehoiakim king of Judah: He will have no one to sit on David's throne, and his corpse will be thrown out [to be exposed] to the heat of day and the frost of night.
This is what the Lord says: Don't deceive yourselves by saying: The Chaldeans will leave us for good, for they will not leave.
"This is what the Lord says: 'Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine, and plague, but whoever surrenders to the Chaldeans will live. He will keep his life like the spoils [of war] and will live.'
This is what the Lord says: 'This city will most certainly be handed over to the king of Babylon's army, and he will capture it.' "
He said to them, "This is what the Lord says, the God of Israel to whom you sent me to bring your petition before Him:
This is what the Lord says: I am about to hand over Pharaoh Hophra, Egypt's king, to his enemies, to those who want to take his life, just as I handed over Judah's King Zedekiah to Babylon's King Nebuchadnezzar, who was his enemy, the one who wanted to take his life.' "
" 'This is what you are to say to him: This is what the Lord says: What I have built I am about to demolish, and what I have planted I am about to uproot-the whole land!
This is what the Lord says: Look, waters are rising from the north and becoming an overflowing wadi. They will overflow the land and everything in it, the cities and their inhabitants. The people will cry out, and every inhabitant of the land will wail.
For this is what the Lord says: He will swoop down like an eagle and spread his wings against Moab.
About the Ammonites, this is what the Lord says: Does Israel have no sons? Is he without an heir? Why then has Milcomdispossessed Gad and his people settled in their cities?
"For this is what the Lord says: If those who do not deserve to drink the cup must drink it, can you possibly remain unpunished? You will not remain unpunished, for you must drink [it] too.
About Kedar and the kingdoms of Hazor, which Nebuchadnezzar, Babylon's king, defeated, this is what the Lord says: Rise up, go against Kedar, and destroy the people of the east!
This is what the Lord says: I am about to stir up a destructive wind against Babylon and against the population of Leb-qamai.
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In verses 10-17 John continues to teach on what identifies a true Christian.
10 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. 11 For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, 12 not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous. 13 Do not marvel, my brethren, if the world hates you. 14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? 1 John 3:10-17 (NKJV)
Here John highlights the fruit of true conversion and provides a test to measure whether we are really born again. This once more takes us back to his refutation of the Gnostic heresy that teaches that what we do with our bodies does not really matter. John shows that if we are born again it will be manifested in love toward other believers. Not the love of saying “God bless you,” but the love of doing that ministers to the spiritual and material needs of others. We can know that we have passed from death to life, that is, we have been born again, if ‘we love the brethren.’ What does it mean to ‘love the brethren?’ having compassion on them and ministering to their needs. Which in practice is laying down our lives.
If we want to lay down our lives it helps to understand what it means. If we think in terms of military or law enforcement someone may lay down their life by losing it in the exercise of their duty. That is one aspect and a very significant one. Yet in most of our day to day lives we will never be in this situation. Yet Paul said, ‘I die daily.’ It helps to think of our lives as having a bank account with a set amount of money in it that we can spend. If we spend it on ourselves it is gone. If we spend it on others it is gone from our current account but is then deposited in an eternal bank account, an investment that goes on ahead. We choose where to spend our life but only one way of spending is a true investment. This does not mean spending every waking moment seeking to help others; that in general becomes legalism. It does mean living with a larger purpose so that all our time and energy is ultimately connected to a larger life purpose and goal, serving Jesus and His kingdom.
If we reflect on this, is there a better way to invest our lives?


For reaching the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
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As we’ve previously noted, as soon as the Fall occurred God promised to send Messiah, one who would deliver his people from their guilt, shame, sin—and from attacks from Satan, humanity’s enemy, that ancient serpent. For having deceived the woman and tempted the man, the devil, Satan, who came disguised as one of God’s creatures, was cursed and judged by God. As stated in Genesis 3:15 the LORD God said to the serpent, “I will put enmity”—active hostility—“between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” And so it was that from this point forward humans were given a choice to follow either in the way of the serpent’s offspring or in the way of the offspring of their Maker.
Last week we saw how Abel chose the way of his Maker whereas his brother, Cain, chose the way of the serpent when he determined to murder his younger brother rather than receive the gentle correction and admonition given him by God. Whereas, as stated by the author of Hebrews, Abel “[b]y faith…was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings,” Cain, by his lack of faith demonstrated, as stated by the apostle John, that he “belonged to the evil one.” And so we see that following the account of Cain’s punishment, over the course of time his line, the line of the serpent, continued to perpetuate evil as Lamech, one of his descendants, killed a man who wounded him. As Cain had reacted disproportionately when he killed his brother, Abel, for having followed and then being commended by God, so now his descendant, Lamech, similarly acted disproportionately in killing a man who had merely injured him.
Cain’s rejection of God and monstrous choice to follow in the ways of the serpent meant that the line of the Messiah ended with the death of righteous Abel. Yet because God always keeps his promises, he graced Adam and Eve with another son, Seth, to continue Messiah’s line. As initially stated starting in verse 25 in chapter 4 of Genesis, “Adam made love to his wife again,”—also translated as “Adam knew his wife”—“and she gave birth to a son and named him Seth, saying, ‘God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him.’” Yet as we see in the transition to chapter 5, Seth’s birth wasn’t immediate. As stated in verse 3, it wasn’t until Adam was 130 years old that his third son was born. God is far more patient in keeping his promises than we are in receiving them, isn’t he? And that Seth became part of Messiah’s line is made clear in the third chapter of Luke’s Gospel which records Jesus’ genealogy beginning with, “23 Now Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was the son, so it was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli.” And Jesus’ genealogy ends with “38 the son of Enosh, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.” Thus we see that the Messiah’s line was preserved through Seth.
Now at the end of Genesis 4, after noting that “Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh,” we find this curious statement, “At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord.” Whereas prior to the time of the Fall, humanity’s relationship and fellowship with their Maker had been unbroken, even this early on in human history those from Seth’s Messianic line had need of calling upon God, of beckoning his name—something that no one from Cain’s evil line is recorded as having done. Yet humans, having been created in the image of God, were created to depend upon God, to call upon the name of the LORD. Another possible translation is that “people began to proclaim the name of the LORD.” In this case it would suggest that the reason for this need was because the serpent’s work was not yet done. As he would continue to seek to multiply his followers through the line of Cain, those who followed the LORD God through the line of Seth would need to reach out to them, proclaiming the goodness and greatness of God and the possibility of forgiveness of their sin by him even as followers of Christ Jesus, the promised Messiah’s line, continue to do today. In returning to 2 Corinthians 4 this morning, we were reminded yet again that the proclamation of the Gospel is necessary because from the beginning Satan, the devil, “[t] he god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” This is why at the time of Seth continuing to now people have needed to call on and proclaim the name of the LORD.
Now chapter 5 of Genesis provides both a reaffirmation of humanity’s beginnings as well as a selective presentation of Messiah’s lineage. Verses 1 and 2 essentially restate Genesis 1:27: “1 This is the written account of Adam’s family line. When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them ‘Mankind’”—or “Adam”—“when they were created.” Despite the disobedience of “Mankind,” both male and female, God’s blessing wasn’t withdrawn but instead was affirmed in this post-Fall presentation of Adam’s genealogy. Regarding this genealogy, Old Testament scholar Carol Kaminski notes, “It is a linear genealogy, meaning that only one son in each generation is named. Accordingly, even though Adam and Eve have three sons (and other sons and daughters, Gen. 5:4), only Seth’s name is given in the genealogy (Gen. 5:3). The genealogy lists ten generations, establishing an unbroken genealogical line from Adam to Noah, who is the tenth member.” In other words, in this initial genealogy we see [count out loud]:
- God created Adam in the first generation (verses 1–2);
- then Seth was born to Adam (verse 3);
- then Enosh was born to Seth (verse 6);
- then Kenan was born to Enosh (verse 9);
- then Mahalalel was born to Kenan (verse 13);
- then Jared was born to Mahalalel (verse 15);
- then Enoch was born to Jared (verse 18);
- then Methuselah was born to Enoch (verse 21);
- then Lamech was born to Methuselah—obviously not the same Lamech who was Cain’s descendant (verse 25);
- then Noah was born to Lamech (verses 28–29a);
In addition to being selective, the genealogy is formulaic in that it states how long people lived after they had their son and also comments upon other unnamed sons and daughters they may have had whose names are not recorded since they aren’t part of Messiah’s line. Hence, we read in verses 3–5: “3 When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth. 4 After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 5 Altogether, Adam lived a total of 930 years, and then he died.” In other words, we again see an editorial hand in what God has chosen to reveal in his Word. For what he has chosen to reveal, and what he will continue to focus upon, is the yet–to–come and promised Messiah who will one day crush the serpent’s head and thereby destroy all evil and sin.
Returning to the opening verses in chapter 5, again as the LORD God created mankind in his own image—as also stated in Genesis 1:27—and in his own likeness—as stated in verse 1 of this chapter, so, too, we see in verse 3 that Adam’s third child was similarly, “in his own likeness, in his own image.” Now what immediately comes to mind in reading this is how children often physically look like their parents. I know that as I’ve looked back at photos of my own mother, I realize that I could pass as her sister when we were similar ages. What is more, I once observed how an image and likeness can be passed along to adopted children as well. Years ago, I commented to a boss how much a photo of his son he had hanging in his office looked like him. He smiled back at me and said, “Thank you. He’s adopted.” I was dumbfounded. Despite being adopted there was no denying the physical resemblance between father and son.
However, given that God is Spirit, I believe that the way in which Adam and Eve bore God’s image was by reflecting his goodness in their spirit or soul. As we’ve previously noted, that God’s image and likeness was reflected in Adam and Eve is indicated in the fact that he made them “good.” For God who is goodness itself was only capable of creating a creation that was similarly good in every way. Yet when Adam sinned, when he disobeyed God by partaking from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the good image in which God had made him was damaged. And this sullied image was now part of the “likeness and image” of Adam found in Seth. For as the representative head of all humanity, Adam passed along to Seth—and to all humanity that followed—his fallen nature. As the apostle Paul teaches, “sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned.” Therefore “death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.”
Indeed, as the select chronology in Genesis 5 continues, we see that in each case, each person stated experienced the result of Adam’s disobedience in that they died:
Adam died after 930 years;
Seth died after 912 years;
Enosh died after 905 years;
Kenan died after 910 years;
Mahalalel died after 895 years;
Jared died after 852 years.
All of these deaths are stark reminders of God’s promised judgment of certain death falling upon Adam should he transgress God’s command not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden. Because Adam partook of this fruit, to Adam and his descendants, death certainly came.
Now before going on I want to comment briefly upon the lengthy lives of each of those mentioned. Are these literal or figurative numbers? Scholars have argued for both. Those in favor of the figurative note that some of the numbers seem to have a symbolic significance. For example, Enoch’s 365 years in verse 23 is the same as the 365 days that exist in a year. Therefore, this may indicate that he lived full life. Similarly, Lamech’s 777 years in verse 31 may indicate completeness, 7 being the number of completeness in Scripture. However, this figurative interpretation doesn’t account for the many other ages listed that don’t provide any symbolic significance. Additionally, the ages listed all differ from one another, suggesting that they’re actual. For it’s possible that at this early stage in human existence people were granted lengthy lives in order that the creation mandate to be fruitful, increase, and fill the earth might be fulfilled. Too, as one commentator argues, “The traditional understanding is that the numbers should be taken at face value, often assuming that something changed in the cosmology of the earth or in the physiology of humans (or in both) after the flood, resulting in a rapid decline in longevity, finally stabilizing at a ‘normal’ life span in the range of 70 years or 80 years….” I, for my part, agree with this traditional understanding.
Returning to the genealogy, I want to pause upon Enoch for as verse 22 states concerning him, “Enoch walked faithfully with God 300 years.” And verse 24 reiterates, “Enoch walked faithfully with God;…” Now the real shocker is what is stated at the end of verse 24, for after living a total of 365 years, unlike the others listed in the genealogy Enoch didn’t die. Instead the text says, “then he was no more, because God took him away.” Enoch is only one of two people named in Scripture who are said to escape death. The other is the prophet Elijah. As recorded in 2 Kings, as Elijah and Elisha “were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.” The theological term for conveying someone who is still alive to heaven is “translate.” Both Enoch and Elijah were translated from earth to heaven. As to Elijah, there’s much we’re told about him in Scripture. As we’ve noted before, he is arguably the most important prophet in the Old Testament and he even appears in the New Testament, along with Moses, at Jesus’ transfiguration.
Yet in the case of Enoch, the only thing we’re told about him—twice—is that he walked faithfully with God. Referring to these verses Hebrews 11, the hall of faith chapter, states, “5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: ‘He could not be found, because God had taken him away.’ For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” It’s reasonable to assume, then, that by believing in and earnestly seeking after God, Enoch walked in the image and likeness of his LORD.
To this end, I love Carol Kaminski’s observation about Enoch in her Casket Empty book. After noting, as we did earlier, that everyone in Adam’s genealogy dies, she states,
It is important to observe, however, that one person is exempt, namely, Enoch, who walks with God (Gen. 5:22–24), so he did not face death. Although not fully explained, this gives us a word of hope that walking with God is the solution to death…. Enoch’s escape from death points us in the direction of the living God, who alone has power to overcome death. In a mysterious way, walking with the Creator God is a journey toward life.
Isn’t that awesome??!! If we live the way our gracious, almighty LORD created us to live, we have the hope of escaping and overcoming death. Enoch didn’t merely live. He walked with God throughout his life. To walk with God means that we live with God in both this life and the next. As Jesus similarly taught, because God is a living God, he gives his life to all who are his. For the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is not the God of the dead but of the living. Therefore, all who are his live unto him.
Next in line after deathless Enoch came Methuselah who lived an incredible 969 years before he died. Having lived so many years, he probably died in the year of the flood. Next was Lamech—again, obviously not the same Lamech found in Cain’s line—who was the father of Noah. As we know, and as we’ll see next time we return to Genesis, when the human race had completely and utterly turned against God by choosing to act according to its evil thoughts and heart, of all who were living at the time, only Noah “found favor in the eyes of the LORD.” Only he, as stated in verse 29, was able to “comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the Lord has cursed.”
Well, what can we learn from this brief genealogy? I think the most important lesson we learn is that we were made by the LORD God to walk in his image and likeness. The problem, however, is that Adam’s disobedience made this imaging far more difficult for the Fall resulted in our imaging Adam and Eve in our propensity to disobey God and in our vulnerability to being deceived by both the enemy and ourselves—rather than our imaging God as he intended. This is why God placed enmity, hostile opposition, between the woman’s seed and that of the serpent. And, again, that enmity came in the form of Messiah, the Christ, the eternal Son of God who in agreement with the Father and Holy Spirit determined, before the foundation of the world, to come to earth in human form so that he might save us from the effects of the Fall and from our ancient enemy, the serpent.
Now if Adam as our head represents the Old Covenant that required regular sacrifices to atone, to make amends or reparation, for our sins, Jesus Christ as our head represents the New Covenant for he gave himself as the ultimate and final sacrifice to atone, to make amends or reparation for, the sins of all who believe in and receive him as their Savior. Paul puts it this way in Romans 5:
15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! 16 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man’s sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification. 17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! 18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people. 19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
Therefore, in Jesus Christ and in him alone can we find hope. For though we have been made in the image of God, as stated at the end of the 2 Corinthians 4:14, Christ is the image of God. So, too, does Paul teach in the passage from Colossians read earlier:
15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
Christ came as the image of God incarnate, as the image of God in the flesh, in order that he, being God, might restore in us the godly image from which we fell. As the passage from Colossians continues, “19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.” The cross, the death of the Son of God, the blood shed by Christ Jesus, is how fallen humanity can be reconciled to God. For he who made the world and continues to sustain the world he made, died for his disobedient—and sinless—and hopeless image-bearers in order that they might be forgiven and enabled to become obedient—and holy—and full of hope as God created us to be. Christ Jesus, Messiah Jesus, died for sinful humanity in order that we might live the pure lives he intended. As stated by the author of Hebrews from the final New Testament passage read earlier, “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”
Dear brothers and sisters, it is by—and because of—and through Jesus Christ alone, the last Adam, that you and I can be remade into the beautiful, living, eternal godly image from which we fell by—and because of—and through the first Adam in the Garden. Like Enoch, we were made not merely to live our earthly lives. No, we were made to walk with God. We were made to walk with him by faith this side of heaven as he restores the broken image and likeness from which we fell; and we were made to walk with him by sight when, having restored our broken image and likeness into the radiant image of his Son, he takes all who are his to be with him, to walk with him forevermore, for all eternity, in heaven. Let us, then ever call upon and proclaim the name of our gracious and merciful and kind LORD.
Let us pray.
 See sermon preached on 01/26/20, God’s Compassionate Judgment on Genesis 3:14–24.
 Hebrews 11:4: By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead.
 1 John 3:12: Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own actions were evil and his brother’s were righteous.
 Genesis 4:23: Lamech said to his wives, “Adah and Zillah, listen to me; wives of Lamech, hear my words. I have killed a man for wounding me, a young man for injuring me.”
 Luke 3:23, 38.
 2 Corinthians 4:14.
 Genesis 1:27: So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them [or “him”]; male and female he created them.
 Genesis 5:4: After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters.
 Genesis 5:3: When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth.
 Carol M. Kaminski, Casket Empty: God’s Plan of Redemption through History, Casket Empty Media, 2012, p. 21.
 1 This is the written account of Adam’s family line. When God created mankind, he made them in the likeness of God. 2 He created them male and female and blessed them. And he named them “Mankind”[Hebrew adam] when they were created.
 When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth.
 When Seth had lived 105 years, he became the father[Father may mean ancestor; also in verses 7-26.] of Enosh.
 When Enosh had lived 90 years, he became the father of Kenan.
 When Kenan had lived 70 years, he became the father of Mahalalel.
 When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he became the father of Jared.
 When Jared had lived 162 years, he became the father of Enoch.
 When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah.
 Genesis 4:17–18: 17 Cain made love to his wife, and she became pregnant and gave birth to Enoch. Cain was then building a city, and he named it after his son Enoch. 18 To Enoch was born Irad, and Irad was the father of Mehujael, and Mehujael was the father of Methushael, and Methushael was the father of Lamech.
 When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he became the father of Lamech.
 When Lamech had lived 182 years, he had a son. 29 He named him Noah….
 John 4:24: God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.
 See sermon preached on January 12, 2020, Why Did God Create Us? on Genesis 1:26–30, 2:7–9.
 Psalm 34:8: Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.; Psalm 107:1: Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.; Matthew 19:17: “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”
 Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 17–18, 21, 25, 31: 4 God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness…. 10 God called the dry ground “land,” and the gathered waters he called “seas.” And God saw that it was good….12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good….17 God set [the greater and lesser lights] in the vault of the sky to give light on the earth, 18 to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good….21 So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing with which the water teems and that moves about in it, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good….25 God made the wild animals according to their kinds, the livestock according to their kinds, and all the creatures that move along the ground according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good….31 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.
 Romans 5:12.
 Romans 5:14.
 Genesis 5:5: Altogether, Adam lived a total of 930 years, and then he died.
 Genesis 5:8: Altogether, Seth lived a total of 912 years, and then he died.
 Genesis 5:11: Altogether, Enosh lived a total of 905 years, and then he died.
 Genesis 5:14: Altogether, Kenan lived a total of 910 years, and then he died.
 Genesis 5:17: Altogether, Mahalalel lived a total of 895 years, and then he died.
 Genesis 5:20: Altogether, Jared lived a total of 962 years, and then he died.
 Genesis 2:16: And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
 Zondervan NIV Study Bible note on Genesis 5:5.
 Genesis 1:28: God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”
 Crossway ESV Study Bible note on Genesis 5:1–32.
 See also Genesis 6:1–3 which indicates that a partial reason for the shortening of years of human life was due to the great evil humans had done: 1 When human beings began to increase in number on the earth and daughters were born to them, 2 the sons of God saw that the daughters of humans were beautiful, and they married any of them they chose. 3 Then the Lord said, “My Spirit will not contend with humans forever, for they are mortal”—or “corrupt”— “their days will be a hundred and twenty years.”
 2 Kings 2:11.
 See sermons preached on June 23, 2019 (The Power of a Whisper on 1 Kings 19:1–15a and The Silence of God on June 19, 2016) and June 30, 2019 (How the LORD Answered Elijah’s Prayer on 2 Kings 2:1–18 and Preparing God’s Way on June 26, 2016).
 See Matthew 17:3: “Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus.”; Mark 9:4: “And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.”; Luke 9:30: “Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus.” Peter and John later refer to their having borne witness to this miraculous event respectively in 2 Peter 1:16–18: 16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain./John 1:14: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
 Interesting to note is that Enoch is seventh from the chronology recorded for Adam. As the Zondervan NIV Study Bible note on Genesis 5:24 observes, “Lamech, the seventh from Adam in the genealogy of Cain, was evil personified. But ‘Enoch, the seventh from Adam’ (Jude 14) in the genealogy of Seth, ‘was commended as one who pleased God’ (Heb 11:5).” The Reformation Study Bible note on Genesis 4:17, 18 similarly observes that whereas Lamech “inflicted death,” Enoch “did not die.” Finally, the Reformation Study Bible note on Genesis 5:3–32 (3rd paragraph) states, “The significant seventh generation of each genealogy marks a high point—the height of wickedness in the Cainite Lamech (4:18–24), and the height of godliness in the Sethite Enoch (vv. 18–24…).” Jude 1:14–16: “14 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: ‘See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.’ 16 These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.” The allusion is to the Jewish Testament of Moses (~1st c. AD).
 Ibid., p. 21. Emphases added.
 In the account of the hypothetical woman who married a brother, was widowed, and went on to marry the next brother in line after being widowed seven times, the Sadducees—who didn’t believe in the resurrection—nonetheless asked Jesus whose wife she would be at the resurrection. Jesus’ response can be found in Luke 20: 34–38: 34 Jesus replied, “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are considered worthy of taking part in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection. 37 But in the account of the burning bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord ‘the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.’ 38 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.”; Matthew 22:29–32: 29 Jesus replied, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 31 But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, 32 ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”; Mark 12:24–27: 24 Jesus replied, “Are you not in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God? 25 When the dead rise, they will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 26 Now about the dead rising—have you not read in the Book of Moses, in the account of the burning bush, how God said to him, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but of the living. You are badly mistaken!”; All three passages reference Exodus 3:6: Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
 As noted in the Zondervan NIV Study Bible note to Genesis 5:27: “If the figures concerning life spans are literal, Methuselah died in the year of the flood (the figures in vv. 25, 28 and 7:6 add up to exactly 969).”
 Genesis 6:8.
 Ephesians 1:3–4: 3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
 This is what is understood by federal head, the governing systems in the Old and New Testaments (Covenants), respectively.
 Romans 5:15–19.
 Colossians 1:15–18.
 Hebrews 1:3.


John 21, 1-3
Something to read
After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
New Revised Standard Version
Something to think about
What is most interesting about Jesus, whom Christians confess as the incarnation of God and Second Person of the Trinity, is that his apostles are not sophisticated, not wealthy and not important.
They are ordinary peasants, fishermen, in Roman-occupied Palestine. Fishing was (and still can be) a dirty business, so dirty that Jewish fishermen of that time did not wear clothes while at work. They fished naked.
This seemingly salacious piece of information highlights the point: our last resurrection story of Jesus begins in a boat with five naked fishermen on a large lake in Galilee.
It has none of the solemnity we expect of the apostles, the way they are pictured in sacred art, in Roman togas and with luminous halos around their heads.
However, with eighty percent of the world in poverty, we can see this story as illustrative of whom Jesus called to be his disciples – the poorest of men and women, who often did the jobs no one wanted.
Something to do
When you see the homeless with inadequate clothing, when you see television images of poverty, think about the fact One of the Trinity took on flesh, dwelt with us, and chose as his apostles poor people who became the bearers of the Gospel to the world, and in whose name we build lavish cathedrals and shrines.
Something to pray
Risen Lord Jesus, we remember your apostles were poor and yet you chose them to be your witnesses in the world to the Good News.
Help us to see in those who are poor, whom we have always with us, not helplessness or persons to be pitied, but people who bear the image of God and who are as dear to you as the apostles whom we hold in honour.
Help us to serve the poor, for it is in doing so – in being servants to those who are never served, that we serve you. Amen.
Today's contributor is the Rev James Matarazzo Jr, a United Church of Christ (USA) minister from Boston, Massachusetts. He moved to London in 2007. Jim is a founding member of INERELA+ (International Network of Religious Leaders Living with and Affected by HIV and AIDS), a Christian Aid partner. He is now working on a DPhil in Systematic Theology at Oxford University.


The abandonment of faith or the concession of shaky faith on the part of Marty Sampson, the Hillsong songwriter leads to a discussion on romanticism and religion. The equation of authenticity to the intensity of emotional outpouring is a fatal mistake committed too often by the new generation. There is the false impression — The most emotionally expressive person is the most pious, holy, genuine, and committed person. That is the worldview of Romanticism. . .and it has infiltrated a great deal of modern religion in the western world. How would you gage authenticity of faith, if you were to leave music to the side?
Homeschooled himself in the 1960's and 70's, Kevin Swanson and his wife, Brenda, are now homeschooling their five children. Since graduating from his homeschool and then serving as student body president of a large west coast university, he has gone on to other leadership positions in corporate management, church, and other non-profits.