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In Love with Jesus Christ - by Roger Harris

How would you feel if you had been one of the Roman soldiers who had helped to crucify Jesus, and his blood had spilled on you You quickly realized you had done wrong. That is the next story from the Holy Bible. Roi Allen My name is not so important. Perhaps Pilate or others will read this epist...

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Woman Who Wanted Water Found Jesus John, one of Jesus apostles, wrote about the woman that Jesus asked for water from her. She has no name in the Gospel of John. Whoever she was isnt so important since Jesus asked her and other followers to help Him. She was from Samaria, making her dis...

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This is a hard article to write. Consider how to tell a gay man, who has all the elements of a loving Christian, that he cannot get into what many other men are striving for It is much easier to tell a crippled youngster that the crippling illness are only temporary. That is easier. To tell a dying...

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Mary, would you stop singing and help me with the cleaning. It was Martha speaking to her younger sister. All right, Sis, chimed the cheerful sister. She was three years younger than Martha, which entitled Martha to ownership of the humble house after their father had died. I am well able to ...

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He was very human. I doubt that he had heard of Jesus, the Christ. Still, somehow he knew of Him and loved Him. How do I know When I study the life of David, I see the love he had for God and for the Son of God, Whom he referred to in his own writings. Was David a superman, someone who coul...

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As I studied material about the death of Bill McChesney in the Belgian Congo in 1964, I was anticipating an interview with Aldine McChesney, Bills mother. She had written a book entitled Through Congo Shadows, Story of the Life and Martyrdom of Bill McChesney in the Congo. My job as a writer fo...

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I remember so much about her. Her name was Myrtle, but many people called her Mame. I didnt, though. I had done some gardening work for her and some lawn mowing in my teen years and respected her enough to call her by her given name. Of course, that was over forty-five years ago. She attended t...

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Mommy, cried the small boy, running toward his mother. Mommy, you must help my sister. She is trying to take some food away from a dog. I think she will eat it. The fragile-looking woman hurried outside just in time to see her daughter putting some unclean food into her mouth. The dog had ...

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Shortly before his death, Moses talked to Joshua, the man who was to take of the leadership role over the Israelites. They were at Mount Pisgah, the place where God led Moses in order to show him the land that the Israelites were to soon enter, the Promised Land. Joshua, Im near the end of my e...

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Roman Soldier with Jesus' Body	Woman Who Wanted Water Found Jesus	Big Little Man
She said :Bless God: when she say him.	Can a Gay Man Enter Heaven?	Blind Songwriter of 8000 Hymns—Fanny Crosby
Abraham, the Friend of God	Three Siblings Who Loved Jesus	An Infertile Black Man Learns to Love Jesus
Obituary of a Cousin	Human Songbird of Israel	Slain Missionary's Mother
Myrtle Waves Good-bye	A Dog Who Loved Jesus	Moses' Prediction

Roman Soldier with Jesus' Body

February 5th 2012 12:25

How would you feel if you had been one of the Roman soldiers who had helped to crucify Jesus, and his blood had spilled on you? You quickly realized you had done wrong. That is the next story from the Holy Bible. Roi Allen

Jesus' Death

My name is not so important. Perhaps Pilate or others will read this epistle.

You see, that I am with the Roman army for some time.I have seen many crucifixions, both good and bad ones. I remember wives whose husband have died on this hill. Many of the men were anxious to feed their families, but many also were guilty of crimes.

This one I am writing about is typical in some ways, but also very different. This guy they called Jesus claimed to be the ruler of the Jews. That is what He told Pilate. Therefore, they made Him look rather king like. Some of my men also were involved/

Yes, He looked like a beggar when they finished him. A crown of thorns as His crown and a purple robe they forced Him to wear and all. He looked like a beggar. Stll,in tpite of they beggarly look,He had the countenance of royalty.

Yes, he took the brutal beatings they handed out. He was so cruel as to ge unable to carry the cross. WE had to carry it for Him. His blood stained the area, just as surely as anyone's did. There was no pleasure from the soldiers.

However, He did something different, though. He prayed to His God and asked that they be forgiven since He says that they have nothing to do with his crucifixion. That was a very different statement.

He died rather quickly,too. We did not even bead His legs as he was already dead. I, also, remember things He said. He prayed to His god, named Jah, and asked why he died alone. When He died, I remember that He prayed, "It is finished".Maybe he was referring to His death, but I distinctly remember He was talking about the duty He asked for was finished.

What I remember most, however, is the next part of this letter. As usual, I put my hands on the cross just to be sure all things were correct. When I touched His cross, some of His blood spilled on me. For some reason, I said,'Surely this man may have been the actual Son of God, just as He told us. His words touched me that I had heard earlier, "Forgive them,Father. They don't know what they did to Me." It may seem simple,but those words still ring in my ears.

Was this Jesus the Son of God? Did He forgive me for becoming involve.

I hope so. He had no sins to repent about. His crime, as I see it, was to claim to be God's Son.

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Woman Who Wanted Water Found Jesus

December 8th 2011 05:18

Woman Who Wanted Water Found Jesus

John, one of Jesus’ apostles, wrote about the woman that Jesus asked for water from her. She has no name in the Gospel of John. Whoever she was isn’t so important since Jesus asked her and other followers to help Him.

She was from Samaria, making her disrespectful to Jews. Still, Jesus approached her for a drink of water. He, Who made water in the first place, asked her for a drink. It was His way of approaching her, just as He approaches many of our needs today. He always finds a way to make His evidence known.

When he asked the woman for water, it made her begin to talk. She mentioned the Jews hated her people, the places to worship, and her own way of living. She approached Jesus with her own needs if finding Him.

Her husband was one of the major topics since she had no real husband. He knew about her without her telling Him, just as He knows about each of us today. She evidently did not want to talk to Him about her own needs. She told him about where to worship to worship God. All of these enabled Jesus to tell her that He was the One Whom all seek.

After talking to Jesus, the woman decided to tell others about Him. Just as He talks to us, he asks us to make the decision to come to Him.

I am glad that He asked me to come to Him. Aren’t you in agreement that He is asking you, also, to become one of His disciples?

The woman is nameless but her response is the proper response to Jesus, the Lover of Our Souls. He loved the nameless person but gave her a name that He knows and loves, just as He loves you and me.

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Big Little Man

August 13th 2011 07:52

Big Little Man

A couple of Hebrew boys were watching in the town of Jerico, where Jesus was working with the people. There were crowds of people so it was hard to see everything.

They noticed as a short-statured man hurried up to s sycamore tree and began to climb into the tree. It was clear hat he intended to see Jesus as he climbed up to see him better.

The two boys watched. One of them spoke up. “I think that is Zacceus, the tax collector. M dad really doesn't seem to like him.”

The other boys replied. “My parents always make me take the expensive gifts to hide while they entertain him. They don't like him to see the everything we have.”

The other boy asserted. “Why they chose someone so short in stature. Look at him. He's about as short as that old grandma in the crowd.”\

|”My dad says it is because he is a friend of Herod. That got him the job.”

|Maybe so!” added the other boy. “Herod's friends always get the good jobs.”

The short man in the tree was noticed by Jesus. Jesus told Zacceus,”Let's hurry up from your tree and get ready for I plan to spend the day at your house.” If Zacceus and had great joy to get ready for Jesus and received Him joyfully.

Many people said that Jesus was not right because he was going to be going to a sinner's home.

Zacceus had a few things to say at the time. “Lord, I am giving half of my goods to the poor people around me.” Even if I have taken things fom which I have not installed by my house, I will restore the price four times.”

Jesus had something to say to the Zaccus and the other people around him.”This man has salvation today.. He is one whom I came to save.”

The little man with such a bog job was very happy to see and hear Jesus.

Those two boys had big stories to tell their parents, that Jesus loves everyone. No matter who people are. IF they find Jesus, they have found all that matters.
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She said :Bless God: when she say him.

September 14th 2010 04:48

This story is about Elizabeth Schooley, a former member of the Friends Church in Keystone, Indiana, USA. I met her after I was converted at the Friends Church on March 8, 1959. That was and still is my birthday spiritually.

The little church knew everyone inside and most of the folks who lived around Keystone such as it is a very small town. She and her husband, Fred, had recently been accepted within this small churchhouse, and everyone knew her. They were an old couple of the nearby town of Bluiffton. They rode to church with the Wibels, an older couple. Keystone is sixteen miles from Bluffton, Indiana.

Everyone knew Elizabeth although Fred was lesser known. She was the talker and visitor. She tells over and over again how when she was a little girl, her teacher asked her, “What is your name?”

Her reply was always the same, “I’m Withy Attingken”. She always wanted everyone to know that she had been Withy from the Attingken family. She had this lisp that made her hard to understand.

She and her husband had evidently been married quite in old age as they had no children. Her husband was more quiet generally although during the Quaker (Friend’s member) prayer meeting, he was the one during the payer service who was led by the Spirit to say, “Bless God:” I never did understand that phrase although everyone thought it was his way of Blessing God in his prayers.

During years that I was beginning my spiritual lessons, it was always Fred who said, “Bless God”. Fred was quiet but spiritual in his saying to Bless God. It was shortly after that that Fred had a health problem and passed away, leaving Elizabeth alone. She did not remarry but lived in the same house in Bluffton. She rode to church with the Wibels and was a blessing to the little meeting house.

After sometime, the Wibels were getting old and feeble. I often walked them to their car after the church and said our good=byes. One Sunday afternoon, my friend who was pastoring another church about eight miles away,called. I answered the phone and heard that news that the Wibles had both been killed on the road back from Keystone to Bluffton. Mrs. Schooly (Elizateth) had also been hurt since she was sitting on the back seat of their car. That made my heart hurt since the Wibels and I were quite close.

Everybody knew Elizabeth and many visited her in the hospital while she was there. She had been hurt sseriously and was not expected to live. She had been around when one of the other members of the Keystone Friends Church passed away (Read about the passing of Myrtle Keesling at Orble page at Really Long Link

Several people were at the hospital when Elizabeth was passing from this world to the next. According to the versions that I heard, she was commenting to herself and others around the room. She remarked about the flowers she saw. It must have been a dream (Or she was remarking about her glimpse of Heaven). After a while, she mentioned people she saw in her glimpse. She mentioned several people that many of the people knew, such as Brother England and several other people who had gone on before.
In a few minutes, she lifted her right aarm. It was as if someone were there to help her in the final step into Heaven. It was soon evident that she saw her former husband, Fred Schooley. It was because she said, “I knew that you would be here.” Soon she said the phrase which Fred had used so many times before in the Friends Meetinghouse.
Her voice trembled asshe she said, “Bless God”.Then, God took her home.
What did Bless God mean? I don’t know for sure. I have wondered at times but no positive response comes to mind.
Yes, Elizabeth went home. I can imagine her quietly “Blessing God” as she and the many who welcomed there. No doubt, the home coming of Elizabeth is a Blessing to God Himself. The Bible tells us that He is pleased when one of his saints come home.

No, I really don’t know what Fred Schooley meant when he said,”Bless God”. Maybe he had a special relationship with God that the rest of us do not have. Anyhow, I feel sure that he and Elizabeth at the Blessing God and waiting for others who come to the Blessing of God the Father and Jesus, His Son, are Blessing God, Our Father.
I want to Bless God somehow. I hope I can feel the presence of God when He is blessed by whatever I can tto for Him and His homeland in eternity.

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Can a Gay Man Enter Heaven?

July 1st 2010 05:31

This is a hard article to write. Consider how to tell a gay man, who has all the elements of a loving Christian, that he cannot get into what many other men are striving for? It is much easier to tell a crippled youngster that the crippling illness are only temporary. That is easier. To tell a dying old man that Jesus still can save him. That is easier than to tell a dearly beloved saint that he cannot inherit Heaven. Tell the crippled missionary that he made a mistake and accidently shot his own friend. The missionary will agree that Jesus knows of our mistakes and will kindly honor our missionary service. But, to tell the man who is gay that he has no chance of getting to Heaven, no matter what. Still, I want to help the gay man or woman in their lifetime goal of inheriting Heaven.

I am Steve. You do not need to know my last name. The picture of me above shows only my back side so you can’t tell it is me. I am Steve, and I fell in love with Jesus during my latest years as a Christian teenager. I did not fall in love with the ideas of Christianity. Instead, I learned about Jesus in Sunday School. I learned that He loves mankind, and in particular He loves me.

As a twenty-one year old male, I of course, like other people. I believe that other people like me as well. Of course, being in a rather strict church helps me to keep my strictest principles to myself. Of course, my parents and friends do not know that I am not as other people in some ways, important ways. By reading and by listening to what other people say, I found that I am gay. I don’t have all the same measurements inside me as many of my friends have inside them. I have done some reading inside the library and found that I am a gay man. I also have found many ideas about gay men that helped me to see that I am helpless. I have read a few accounts of gay men who said they gave up their gayness, but I do not believe them usually. Some scientiest tell me that we were born to be gay, and we really cannot to anything about it. So you now know that Steve is a twenty-one year old gay man, one who is in love with Jesus.

Maxine, my mother, has said that women should wear dresses and that men should not wear them. Of course, I have done lots of search on this subject as well as other subjects that my parents have stressed. I have found that this subject as well as many other subjects are not found in the Bible. That is where I try to get my religious beliefs. In the time of Jesus, all men and women wore a type of dress, no pants allowed back then.

As I let myself wander through people who are positive, I come across many whom I suspect may be as gay as I am but who seem to have a positive views among the church leaders. For one, my cousin is a fairly active in the church where he goes. I don’t think people think of him as gay. Still, I have strong feelings that he is gay and maybe what they call fresh on men and women. A couple who visits our church are also gayish in their ways. It is woman and her female friend. They live together and go to church together. Their ways tend to make me wonder. Oh well, my article is not about the other people in church lives. It is about my and my life with Jesus.

I told you before that I and Jesus the Christ fell in love a few years ago. As I have already said, I fell for Him and how He loves people. He is God, the Son of the Heavenly Father, yet he is lowly as any human. He told me, as well as His followers, to come unto Him. That is what I did. The times between us has been so good. We have times when the time slips away and we just spend time together. As the song says, “He walks with me, and He talks with me, and He tells me that I am His own. And the joys we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known.” I dearly love this Savior of mine.

I know that most reverential preachers take a stand against my type although they do not know that I am the type their stand a stand against. I have never been able to tell anyone about my inside thoughts. Of course, some of the writers of the Old Testament and in the New Testament also stand against gay men.

What I wonder is whether Jesus took a stand. As I read the New Testament, I have found nothing in which Jesus said anything about us gay men or women. He took a stand in the favor of marriage. He also took a standard about how men and women will react in Heaven. He said that we will be as angels and have no sexual yearnings in Heaven. He said to “Come unto me.” What He said about the gays is not included in Scripture.

What about me, Steve _______? Where do I stand in the sight of the words of Jesus? Do You have some words to this young man who loves You so much?

Is there something in the Word to tell me the very words of Jesus? Do you have something to say to a young guy who has most of his life ahead? Do you have something to say to the man who has some of the same thoughts in his head that others have, but whose thoughts are toward people of the same sex? It there something that I must give up in order to make living a satisfactory life, one that pleases you, Jesus. Do I have to give up having a loving person to nurture me and keep me in the life of the Christian man? Must I become like the nuns or priests of the Catholic religion? I doubt I could do that. I love Jesus too much to become a slave to that religion.

No, I am not ready to ever have to say to Mom and Dad that their son will never bring home their grandchildren? I don’t really to want to have to take a wife, just so the neighbors will think I want a wife and kids. I really want to somehow find a Christian man who will love me and take me for who I am. But, how to do it. An even stronger ‘but’ is Will Jesus Love Me Enough to Let Me into Heaven.

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Blind Songwriter of 8000 Hymns—Fanny Crosby

February 8th 2010 06:15

As one of music greatest hit writers, Fanny Jane Crosby should have complained because of her tragedies. However, she rejoiced in the blindness she had from her early childhood.

Born on March 24, 1820, she had a long and happy life. She lived to nearly ninety-four years for her Savior. She became blind when a doctor was not available when she was six-weeks of age. A quack was advised, and he recommended a mustard plaster, the cause of her blindness. About a year later, her father died. Thus, Fanny was raised by her mother and grandmother and spent a lot of time in the Protestant movement. This was where she became acquainted with the Bible and memorized portions of the Holy Word.

During her teen years, she enrolled in the New York Institute for the Blind. This was where Fanny began singing, playing the guitar and piano. Her music was one of her interests although she had been writing poetry from about age eight years. Fanny realized that her blindness made her better. She wrote one of her earlier poems from eight years of age.

“Oh what a happy soul I am,
Although I cannot see;
I am resolved that in this world
Contented I will be.
How many blessings I enjoy,
That other people don't;
To weep and sigh because I'm blind,
I cannot, and I won't."

For Fanny, marriage was also available. She married a fellow teacher, a man who was also blind, in 1858. They had one daughter who died very early in life. The husband, Alexander Van Alstyne, insisted that she continue to write using her maiden name rather than to write using his name. However, she also used many pseudonyms for her writing. As to Fanny’s marriage, it ended in 1902 when Alexander died.

Fanny said that if God would give her back her sight, she would not accept it since her blindness helped her to see spiritual insights that she maybe would not have seen if she had been sighted.

Although considered feeble by many people, Fanny was very outstanding in other realms besides her religious beliefs. Dignitaries, presidents, and military generals all knew her. She also played the hymn, “Safe in the Arms of Jesus”, at the funeral of President Grant in1885. She became a popular public speaker during her later years.

She was not only a gifted speaker, but she also was a gifted hearer of the many speakers around her. She attended many public religious gatherings to hear others. She was often at God’s Bible School in Cincinnati during their camp meetings.

This article has provided her outward life to a great degree. However, Frances Crosby (Alstyne) was most in love with Jesus, her Savior. Her thousands of poems and songs reveal that Jesus Christ was her major lover. She was quoted as saying, “When I get to Heaven, the first face that shall gladden my sight will be that of my Savior.” Her poems, which became songs, were in her mind until she could have someone record them. She is said to have up to twelve hymns or poems in her mind at once.

The well-known hymn writers of her day used her poems in the songs that have been credited to her. William B. Bradbury, Robert Lowery, Ira D. Sankey, Philip P. Bliss and many others of her time used Fanny’s poems. She wrote nearly 8000 poems which became hymns. It has been reported that many publishers of hymn books decided to not record many of her writings since they may be accused of writing about her poems too much.

Although she could not remember ever having eyesight, so many of Fanny’s poems have incidents of “seeing” in them. “Blessed Assurance” has “visions of rapture” in the second verse. The third verse has “watching and waiting, looking above” in the song.

“My Savior First of All” has so many visionary areas in it. “When I view His blessed face” and “robes of spotless white” are all visionary messages from this blind saint of God.

So many songs from this blinded songwriter have helped us to see what her blindness was able to see. Just to name of few of her anointed songs, let’s take a quite look into most of the Protestant hymnals of the last 130 years. Fanny Crosby’s name is attached to so many of our greatest songs of triumph.

To God Be the Glory
Draw Me Nearer
Tell Me the Story of Jesus
Savior, More Than Life to Me
Rescue the Perishing
Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It
Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior
Jesus Is Tenderly Calling You Home
All the Way My Savior Leads Me
I Am Thine, O Lord
Praise Him, Praise Him

It is said that soldiers around 1900 were very much aware of the writings of this brave woman of God, the story is told.

“During the re¬cent war in the Trans¬vaal when the sol¬diers go¬ing to the front were pass¬ing ano¬ther bo¬dy of sol¬diers whom they re¬cog¬nized, their greet¬ings used to be, ‘Four-nine-four, boys; four-nine-four’ and the sa¬lute would in¬var¬i¬a¬bly be an¬swered with ‘Six fur¬ther on, boys; six fur¬ther on.’ The sig¬nif¬i¬cance of this was that, in ‘Sac¬red Songs and So¬los,’ a num¬ber of co¬pies of the small edi¬tion of which had been sent to the front, num¬ber 494 was ‘God Be With You Until We Meet Again’ and six fur¬ther on than 494, or num¬ber 500, was ‘Bless¬ed As¬sur¬ance, Je¬sus is mine.’”

How little is our sight when compared to this blind saint of God. We remember you Fanny Crosby for helping us to see our Savior.

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Abraham, the Friend of God

January 8th 2010 03:13

Although it seems wrong for a wife to scold her husband, at least in the eyes of a Middle Eastern value system. Still, Sarah tried to confront her husband, Abraham.

They had only the one son, and of course, he was born quite late according to the Scriptures. His mother was around ninety years old when he was born. He was quite extraordinary in terms of his birth. His father may have been astounded when God told him that he would father a son to his aged wife. Still, God’s relation to Abraham was rather astounding anyhow.

This was before the days of the Ten Commandments. People lived largely by the laws that were written on their own consciences. Abraham tried to live as God had commanded him. Abraham was obviously a man who endeavored to be as Godly as he could be.

Anyhow, Sarah tried to persuade Abraham against his intended goal. That goal was to take his son, Isaac, to the area around Mount Moriah and offer to sacrifice the boy to God. As mentioned above, there were no Ten Commandments yet at that time so the idea of killing was written only in the hearts of humans, not on a carved out piece of granite.

Abraham, though, was adamant to do what he felt God intended for him. Somehow, he knew that God had an answer, even if Abraham actually did put a knife though his son’s heart. Abraham was not a madman according to the Scriptures. Instead, he was a godly man. His motives were to please the God whom he had worshipped and tried to love. This plan that God had placed in the mind of Abraham was clearly rational to God although it did not make sense to the godly human who was to initiate the plan.

In Abraham’s own mind was the fear that Sarah his wife had been cautioning him about. Still, when God asks us to do something, it is reasonable to God. The man may not see anything reasonable about God’s treasure.

Even the son was not sure how the plan would work. He mentioned to Abraham that they had the knife and wood and rope, but there was no sacrifice among their possessions as they headed toward Mount Moriah. No lamb and not even a few turtledoves to sacrifice. God used the father’s words to help the youngster understand. “God will provide the sacrifice,” said the father to Isaac.

As they began the journey, Abraham took Isaac and two other men on the three day trip to Mount Moriah. Actually, the place was historic from that day to today. Mount Moriah is the place where Jerusalem would one day stand.

Undoubtedly, Abraham had tremendous fears about this project. He had solitary pain in his heart at the thought of Isaac being bound on the wooden altar and being ready for Abraham to put a knife through his son’s heart. How could he face his wife after being guilty of killing his son. He may have even wondered if the two servants he had with him would kill him for his ungodly act. How could Abraham even think of releasing himself for what he was about to do? Surely, Abraham’s fear was very agonizing on this trip to the mountain.

Regardless of the fears he had, Abraham bound his son with the rope and placed his body on the altar. The boy’s alarms and cries should have caused Abraham to begin to realize the hopelessness of his act.

Knowing that God had positioned him to this point, Abraham raised his hands very high and held the blade in such a way as to hit Isaac’s heart. Just at that minute, an angel of God raised his voice. “Abraham, Abraham,” called the angel and got Abraham’s attention.

A voice from the Heavens called out to Abraham. “Do not harm the boy. I know that you fear God and would even give the life of your son.”

A ram was heard in the thicket beyond Abraham. The boy was soon untied and helped to lay the ram on the altar. The sacrifice went on and Isaac lived to tell the story.

The story is one of the Patriarch’s tales to this day. The Jews still tell the story and many Christians also relate the story.

Among the features in the story is the idea that Abraham, although he had never heard of Jesus who would be born much later, was a type of God and Isaac was a type of Jesus. God gave his only Son. Just as Abraham was ready to do with Isaac, God’s Son died to save the people who would believe in Him. Of course, the terrifying story of Abraham and Isaac is so little in comparison to God giving His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us.

In the book of Genesis, Abraham is called as the Friend of God. I wonder how many of us Christians would give as much as Abraham offered to God.

I recall a missionary in South America. He was found dead after the people whom he loved killed him. In his Bible is a quote that has meant so much to me. “No man is a fool who gives something that he cannot keep to gain something that he cannot lose.”

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Three Siblings Who Loved Jesus

May 2nd 2009 05:49

“Mary, would you stop singing and help me with the cleaning.” It was Martha speaking to her younger sister.

“All right, Sis,” chimed the cheerful sister. She was three years younger than Martha, which entitled Martha to ownership of the humble house after their father had died. I am well able to work and sing at the same time, though.” She picked up a cloth for dusting the sand and dust from some shelves in the house as she more quietly went over the words in Psalm 75. Sometimes, as she was doing now, she changed some words in the Psalms to make it more personal. “Unto thee do I give thanks,” she began.

Martha, a slight scowl on her face, reprimanded her sister. “Martha, you should not desecrate the Scriptures by changing the words.”

“I’m not desecrating the Psalm. I’m making it my own testimony by saying ‘I’ instead of ‘we’”, Mary responded.

Shaking her head in mild disgust, Martha seemed intent on having a neat and clean abode in which to receive guests. While Mary did some dusting inside the house, Martha went to the flat-topped roof to put it in order.

Although Mary and Martha appeared to be in their late thirties, their brother, Lazarus, had the appearance of a physically weak man in his mid twenties. Lazarus was born sometime after the death of his father, whom he never got to see. Their mother died during the birth of Lazarus. The baby was a weakling from the beginning of his life and often had to choose begging on the street for enough income.

The family had never been wealthy. In fact, most of the neighboring families tended to look down on them. Their parents had managed to put together the house they now lived in. It was given to the oldest child, which was Martha, as soon as their father died a few months before Lazarus’ birth. Since the mother had experienced several problems with the pregnancy, hardly anyone had expected the baby to be born alive.

The house in Bethany, on the slopes of Mount Olivet, was the only home the three siblings had ever known. Being somewhat near to Jerusalem, they often had guests drop in. Thus, Martha wanted the house to always be as clean as conditions allowed. Martha was always telling Lazarus and Mary that the house reflected on all three of them, even though it was her house legally.

“You should always expect visitors to drop in,” Martha repeated again today. “Maybe even Jesus will come to see us again.”

“Not very probably,” Mary countered. “Nazareth is several days’ journey from here, you know.”

“But He travels all over our country,” Martha reprimanded. “He does not always warn us before He comes south to Jerusalem and our little town. His birthplace is not so far from Bethany. He may visit there again.”

“All right, Sis, I get the point,” said Mary with a smile. “We will work and sing and worship, all at the same time.”

“You talk like a ten-year old girl rather than the thirty year old maiden lady that you are,” Martha scolded.

That was when their younger brother came home.

Martha showed concern for Lazarus since he always seemed sickly. “Are you hungry, Lazarus?” she asked. “I have been stewing some mutton. It is probably tender by now. I’ll dish some up for you.”

“No need to, Martha,” said Lazarus as he pleasantly rubbed his stomach. “I already ate.”

Martha’s expression became motherly toward her brother. “I’ve told you to not buy food with the money you beg. Bring it home so we all three can enjoy meat and fruit instead of only you.”

“No, I didn’t buy anything. Here is the money I collected so far today,” said the young man offering a few coins to Martha.

“Then, tell me why you are not hungry, young man,” ordered Martha in her most motherly fashion.

Noticing the expression on her brother’s face, Mary guessed, “Jesus is here again, right?”

“You always seem to read my thoughts, Mary,” he answered.

“Is he in Bethany now?” Martha asked, looking around the house as if inspecting for any undone condition.

“He was here for a while, but He moved on,” Lazarus told them. “However, I suspect He will be back soon. I talked with Him and some disciples. They said He had recently provided food for more than 5000 people when he was up north.”

“That sounds like His nature,” Mary offered.

Lazarus continued, “There were not that many here today, but after a long talk to the crowd, He asked for fish and bread. Then, He prayed and began dividing the food. It seemed to become much more than He had started with.”

Martha guessed the truth. “So you ate with that crowd?”

A gleeful smile on his face and his patting of his stomach satisfied his sister’s curiosity.

As her siblings expected, Martha announced that they needed to work to be ready if Jesus should come to their house. “He seems to enjoy spending time with the three of us,” Martha said with a smile.

Soon, the three were visited by the guest. He came with a few of his disciples although most of them went elsewhere, leaving Jesus in the home of His three friends, Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Mary had gone out to meet the group as Martha stayed busy at home.

Mary sat near Jesus while Martha worked on the mutton she had been stewing. A scolding look on her face showed that she had hoped that her sister would at least lend a hand. Finally, Martha suggested, “Jesus, don’t you think that my sister should help me with the dinner rather than make me do it alone?”

With little displeasure evident toward anyone in the house, Jesus replied, “Martha, you tend to be a careful person about many good things. However, your sister here has chosen something better.”

Martha accepted the Lord’s words and thought on them as she finished getting the meal on the table for the four of them.

Later, when Jesus had gone away, Mary tried to be helpful to her sister although she did not apologize for having given Jesus so much attention while He was with them.

A few weeks later, Jesus and His disciples were interrupted in their walking from one place to another. A messenger approached with news for Jesus. He told Jesus that one of His very dear friends from Bethany was quite sick. Although his followers wondered about it, Jesus spent two days in the same area before beginning his journey toward Bethany. At the time, many suspected that Jesus did not immediately go to Bethany because He had been threatened with a stoning if He came around.

As Jesus began walking toward Bethany, he told those who were with him that Lazarus was sleeping. When He suggested the word, they tended to feel that Lazarus would perhaps be better off since sleep would be good for him. Jesus felt the need to tell them that He meant to say that Lazarus had died.

“I am pleased that I was not there in time to keep him from dying,” Jesus told them. “This will be another opportunity for you all to believe in Me.”

One of the more negative of Jesus’ disciples named Thomas said, “I guess we will go and die with Him.”

As they approached Bethany, it was Martha who left the house to meet Jesus while Mary stayed in the house. Martha became bold enough to tell Jesus that if He had been there, Lazarus would still be alive.

“Still,” she said, “I feel sure that if You were to ask God for a miracle, God would give it.”

Bluntly, Jesus remarked, “Your brother will rise again.”

“Of course he will,” she agreed. “I’m not a Sadducee. In the resurrection, Lazarus will live again. That is many years into the future.”

“I am the resurrection, and I am the life. Whoever believes in Me will live, even if he appears to be dead,” Jesus told Martha.

“I believe You, Lord,” she said. She asked someone to go tell Mary that Jesus was there, that He had arrived.

When Mary heard the news, she went to meet Martha and Jesus. Several mourners also followed her and witnessed the upcoming events. Mary bowed at the feet of Jesus when she saw Him and repeated the message of Martha, her sister, “If you had been here, Lazarus would not have died.”

Jesus seemed upset and asked where the tomb was. Jesus cried as He walked toward where His friend had been laid to rest. His tears could have been for Lazarus; they could have been for Mary and Martha; He could have been crying for the unbelieving people around the burial site. The Son of God cried.

People around remarked at the tears on the face of Jesus. “He must have loved Lazarus very much,” someone remarked.

A more skeptical person suggested that the healing power of Jesus, which they had seen several times, should have kept Lazarus alive.

A small argument broke out between Jesus and Martha when Jesus asked them to remove the stone which covered the opening of the tomb.

“He’s been dead for four days, Jesus,” objected Martha. “He will be smelling quite bad by now.”

“Did I not tell you to believe?” Jesus responded. “If you believe, you will see God’s glory in all of this.”

After some men finally got the stone moved out of the way, Jesus prayed to His Father in Heaven. He thanked God that God always hears His prayers. Then, in a loud voice, Jesus commanded, “Lazarus, come forth.”

And, it happened.

Lazarus came forth the best he could since he was wrapped in grave clothing. They removed those death rags and rejoiced in the resurrection of the frail young man who had lived longer than most people had expected him to live.

The skeptic who had complained that Jesus had not kept Lazarus from dying was among those who became believers.

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An Infertile Black Man Learns to Love Jesus

December 22nd 2008 10:16

I do not know his name. The Holy Bible does not tell me. I only know that he was a servant of Candace, who was the queen of the people of Ethiopia in those days. He was a castrated man as was the custom as a protection of important women from being violated by a man who was not a husband. There would be nothing good about a queen having an illegitimate child from being raped. Anyhow, this man from Ethiopia was a man with a lot of authority in the Queen’s business. In fact, the Bible tells us that he was in charge of all her valuables.

According to Scriptural testimony in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles, one of the deacons in the early Christian church was advised by one of God’s messengers to go to a remote place. This deacon (which means his major duty was to serve tables and see to the material needs of Christians) was named Philip. The Scriptural testimony says that an angel (or a messenger of God) told Philip to start a journey toward Gaza.

In spite of a revival type of atmosphere at Jerusalem, Philip took off in the direction of Gaza. I have no reason to believe that Philip questioned God about this order to leave the place where so much was taking place and to go to a nearly deserted place. No records in the Book of the Acts indicate any frustration on the part of Philip. No doubt, he had seen enough in the past several days to know that it is not wise to have any rebellious notions about doing what God wants done. He had likely seen a couple of people die on the spot when they showed dishonesty in their dealings with God. He probably witnessed the death of another of the deacons, the first Christian martyr. If he witnessed that, he also saw how God welcomes His children into Heavenly courts.

Philip is reported to have come upon this black eunuch from Candace’s court. He felt that God wanted him to get close to the man’s chariot so he could hear what the man was saying.

The eunuch was reading from Old Testament Scripture since the New Testament had not yet been written. The man was reading aloud so Philip could hear his words. It became evident that he was reading from the book of Isaiah, a part of the book which prophesied about the coming of a Messiah.

Of course, several questions could come to mind as we consider this account. For one thing, we may wonder why this man from North Africa was in the Promised Land. He was not a Jew, or so it seemed to Philip. Still, if we consider the history of Israel in earlier times, we may recall that the Queen of Sheba (in Ethiopia) visited Solomon and was quite impressed. She may have taken many of the Israelite stories back with her. In fact, she may have even taken some Israelite people back to Ethiopia; we do not know for certain about that. Anyhow, the Ethiopians have had an earlier history with the Israelites from the days of King Solomon.

Perhaps this eunuch was partly Jewish, especially if the Queen of Sheba did indeed take some Israelites back to Ethiopia with her. If so, he may have decided to do some investigating about the past of his ancestors on the Jewish side of his family.

We are sure that the eunuch was not a part of any Jewish religious activities in Jerusalem since he was altered in his private parts. The Old Testament forbids such men from being allowed to enter the sanctuary of God, according to Deuteronomy chapter 23, one of the books of Moses.

He was surely a highly educated man since his native language was not Greek or Aramaic, the languages most used in Israel at the time. He was reading from Isaiah, probably either a Hebrew version or a translation into Greek or Aramaic or even Latin.

Back to the account, Philip approached the eunuch as he read. Apparently, the rest of the group from Ethiopia were busy so the eunuch was alone as he read from Isaiah. The beginning of the conversation was probably somewhat like this.

“Hello, Sir. I am named Philip. I see you are reading from scrolls. Do you understand what you are reading?” asked Philip.

“Oh, hello, Philip,” the eunuch responded. “Yes, I am reading from Jewish scrolls, but no, I don’t actually understand everything that I read here.”

“Would it be all right with you if we look at the message together?” asked Philip.

“Of course, I really need someone who understands this language and may have read these same words before. I need someone to explain it,” the eunuch responded eagerly.

Philip sat next to his new friend and looked at the scroll with him.

The eunuch asked, “Is the writer talking about himself or someone else?”

Philip read the words aloud, “He was led as a sheep to the slaughter and like a lamb, was dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth. In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away, and who shall declare his generation? For his life is taken from the Earth.”

“Dear Sir,” began Philip. “He was talking about another Person, One whom I represent for Whom I am living my life.”

Philip went on to explain how Isaiah was talking about the coming of Jesus, the Christ. He explained the life of Jesus and how His death and resurrection made eternal life a possibility for everyone who believed in him. No doubt, he explained the ordinance of water baptism as a sign of being a believer in Jesus.

The eunuch was engrossed in the message that Philip was presenting simply. The message of salvation is a simple message of the God Who loves mankind deeply and has done everything He can to redeem men from the results of living a life of rebellion. The message of God is the message of Jesus Who said, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.”

With the eunuch’s permission, Philip travelled with him for a distance. After a time, they came upon a body of water. The eunuch said, “Here is water. What would hinder me from being baptized?”

Philip responded wisely, “If you believe with all your heart, you may be baptized.”

The eunuch testified, “I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” He ordered the chariot to stop so he and Philip could go down into the water.

The Book of the Acts of the Apostles does not tell me this part of the story, however. I think that there was a great uproar in Heaven when this Ethiopian eunuch gave his heart to Jesus and began living a Christ-centered life.

Think about it. The country of Ethiopia has a very long history of Christianity for centuries. No doubt, this important but humble man returned with a testimony that helped to change his whole country.

This unnamed eunuch fell in love with Jesus, the Christ, and helped thousands of his countrymen to hear the same gospel which changed his life so significantly.

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Obituary of a Cousin

October 1st 2008 01:34

By ROI ALLEN, Staff writer

Jerusalem-- Juan Bautista, known in English as John the Baptist, died today at the age of only thirty-two years. He is survived by his mother, Elizabeth, his father, Zacharias and many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Born in the hill country in a city of Juda, John was not a typical child. He eschewed the higher standard of living of most of his neighbors and childhood friends. He became a social outcast to some degree although he seemed happy with his simple life style.

According to urban legends, or perhaps they were not actually legends at all, before John was born, his Aunt Mary visited his mother to announce the coming birth of her first child. She was not yet aware that John had also been conceived a few months earlier. When Mary spoke to Elizabeth, the unborn baby John was so blessed that he leapt within his mother’s womb. Although John has never claimed to have remembered this pre-natal event, he did talk of it and how his mother often remarked that John and his cousin had unusual futures ahead of them.

Other events were recounted by John during his short life. He claimed that his Aunt Mary had conceived his cousin without being married. In fact, he claimed that her pregnancy was supernatural, that she was a virgin until the baby was born. Because the story sounds so preposterous, few people tended to believe it. Still, John said that he definitely believed that his cousin was born of a virgin.

There were odd circumstances concerning the birth of both John and his cousin. In John’s case, Zacharias, his father, lost his ability to speak before John was born. When it came time to announce the name of the baby, everyone expected him to be named Zacharias after his father, but Elizabeth did not approve. She said to call him John. Neighbors asked Zacharias about the boy’s name. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote that his son was to be named John. Then, Zacharias’ tongue was loosed, enabling him to talk and especially to praise God. It seems that the neighborhood had awesome feelings about that family from that time forward.

Although the people around John’s home town are generally not well-off financially, the young people, in particular, tried to be as presentable as possible, taking regular baths and keeping their hair and bodies neat. John, however, was not as vain as others his age. His hair usually needed to be trimmed and combed, but he neglected doing those vain activities.

As John got older, he was possessed of the notion that he was designated by God to be a prophet. In fact, he claimed that God was going to use him as the proverbial ‘voice in the wilderness’ that many Jews expected to witness in their lifetimes. That may be why John did not take more interest in his own appearance or his own comforts.

He chose unusual wearing apparel. Leather clothing made of camel’s hide and a girdle of leather around his waist made John seem odd in appearance. His victuals, too, were simple. He ate insects and honey from wild bee nests.

John began a religious ministry, which did not surprise his family or neighbors. His message was a warning of the need for people to repent and clean up their lives. He claimed that God’s Kingdom was becoming very near and that people should begin living according to God’s written word. He spoke against corruption among the people and in the government. He spoke out against selfish motives. At one time, he even told the soldiers to ‘be content with your wages’ rather than asking for more income so often. John seemed to be an evangelist preaching on the theme of repentance.

This writer was present to witness when John met his cousin, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus came to John to be baptized in the Jordan River. It was customary at the time for people to declare themselves to be on God’s side by having John the Baptist go through the ceremony of water baptism. I, myself, watched when Jesus approached John, his cousin. He said he wanted to be baptized, but John refused by saying that he should be baptized by Jesus instead of being the one who baptised the Son of God. John did accept his duty to baptize Jesus, however.

I shall never forget that event. They entered the river, John baptized Jesus by immersion, and the supernatural happened. It felt like the heavens, maybe Heaven itself, opened up. A strange Spirit came out of the heavens and sat upon Jesus. It was so unforgettable! Then, to add to the royal atmosphere around us, a booming voice came from Heaven saying, “This is my Son in Whom I am well-pleased.” There is no way that this writer can ever forget this happening! This marked the beginning of the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth.

When Jesus began His ministry, the miracles and the teaching which He did brought great crowds of people. Some of the followers of John decided that Jesus and His followers were encroaching upon their duties. John, however, declared that he, himself, must decrease in popularity while Jesus must increase. He referred to Jesus as the Messiah and as the Lamb of God, One Who must die for the sins of others.

Shortly after the baptism of Jesus, John was put in prison because of speaking out about an incestuous relationship between Herod Antipas, the tetrarch in Galilee, and a female named Herodias. While in prison, John began wondering if Jesus was actually the One whom he had expected. He sent messengers to Jesus to ask if He was actually the Messiah. His momentary doubting seems encouraging to this writer; it seems that the enemy of our souls wants us to doubt Jesus.

Jesus claimed that John’s appearance on the scene related to the return of the prophet Elijah, one of the two men listed in the Scriptures who did not die.

However, John did die. The event seems to revolve around a very erotic dance done by Salome. This dance appealed to Herod Antipas so much that he promised the girl anything she would ask for. She asked for the head of John the Baptist. It was delivered.

John the Baptist was undoubtedly the last of the Old Testament prophets. Most of John’s followers became followers of Jesus since John felt that his duty was to witness to Jesus’ role as the Messiah, the Lamb of God which takes away the sins of the world.

Although this writer knew both John and Jesus, he chooses to keep each in his own place in Christianity. John was a forerunner. He was a witness, just as I am. Jesus was and is the only Savior of whosoever will come to Him.