1John 2 1-5

 a paraphrased ‘enter the story’

 🍃🕊️  reading & study  🕊️🍃

08/07 ~ From New Testament Letters

   (In the Order Believed Written)

1 - My little children (disciple, elder and apostle John is now an old man) I am writing these things to you so that you may not miss the mark, the goal. But if anyone does, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation [hilasmos - atonement, expiation-took on the penalty] (wage, result) for our sins [hamartia - missing the mark] (which penalty is in it.. the missing the mark, imperfection, which is not only imperfect, an abyss of potential even, but is this slow gehenna fade, entropy which “does not quit” but the end-aim (greek tel/end) is death - the debt he paid) and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

     3 And by this we know we have come to know him, if we do the things he says [entolé - instructs, orders, commands, instructions]. 4 Someone who says “I know him” but doesn’t follow after him is claiming a falsehood, and the truth is not {yet} in them. 5 But whoever keeps his words, in them truly, the love of God is being perfected. And by this - we can know we are abiding in him.

                          ~ * ~

🗝️ [  ] - word/language insights, usually from biblehub dot com - peering through translator partial unbelief; cross references, etc.

      {  } - thots

Tomorrows verses - 1John 2:6-10

My own studies, had to paraphrase to post..

Start the day with a Psalm (jan 1-20, feb-20’s, mar-30’s, apr-40’s, etc. dec-120-150)

Hebrews 2 15-18

 a paraphrased ‘enter the story’

 🍃🕊️  reading & study  🕊️🍃

06/15 ~ From New Testament Letters

   (In the Order Believed Written)

[14 - Since the sons and daughters are flesh and blood, Jesus {“forever first” and the firstborn Son} took on flesh and blood to be like them. He did this so that by dying he would destroy death and the one holding its strength, the devil [diabolos - accuser, slanderer, in order to cause harm] 15 - and so deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to a life of captivity. 16 For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham.

     17 Therefore it behooved him to be made like the brothers and sisters in every respect, so as to be a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and to satisfy the debt for the sins of the people. 18 And because he himself has suffered being tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. {We can be tempted to join the accuser, and, or the ideas, trends/spirits of “the world”.}

                          ~ * ~

🗝️ [  ] - word/language insights, usually from biblehub dot com - peering through translator partial unbelief; cross references, etc.

      {  } - thots

Tomorrows verses - Hebrews 3:1-6

My own studies, had to paraphrase to post..

Start the day with a Psalm (jan 1-20, feb-20’s, mar-30’s, apr-40’s, etc. dec-120-150)

Romans 6 1-7

 02/01 ~ From New Testament Letters

  🕊️ (In the Order Believed Written)

         Paul’s Letter To The Romans

1 - What shall we say then? Should we continue in sin so grace may abound? 2 Certainly not! How can we who died to sin still live in it? {Captured by it.} 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus, were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried with him, by our baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. {Under the water, representing our dying to self, and raised up out of the water, as into newness of life and being.}

     5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 We know that our - old - self was crucified with him in order that the tendency to sin might be broken, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. 7 For one who has died {in this way} has been set free from sin.

                          ~ * ~

🗝️ [  ] - word/language insights, usually from biblehub dot com - peering through translator partial unbelief; facts, cross references, etc.

      {  } - thots

Tomorrows verses - Romans 6:8-16

By Necessity Paraphrased

Daily ‘Enter the Story’ Gospels and N.T. Letters Reading & Study (In their natural order) My own studies.

Romans 5 11-15

 01/30 ~ From New Testament Letters

  🕊️ (In the Order Believed Written)

         Paul’s Letter To The Romans

11 - Not only this! But we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus, through whom we have received reconciliation. {We are no longer at odds with God - in ouR heart - but now we are friends with him.} 12 Therefore - just as - sin [hamartia - missing the mark] entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all, because all sinned (fall short). 13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given. But sin is not charged against anyone where there is no law stated. (Like no crime can be taken to court if there are no laws to have been broken.) 14 Regardless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who never sinned by breaking a command, as Adam did. Adam being a pattern (type, shadow) of the one [the real “first”/proto] that was to come. 15 But the gift (from the one that came) isn’t like the trespass. For if “the many” died by the trespass of the one - how much - moRe - does the gift overflow and abound to “the many”. (The same many.) The gift that came by the one man, Jesus Christ, and by God’s grace. [Both death, and the gift of Life, each came through one person, death through Adam, life through Jesus.]

                          ~ * ~

🗝️ [  ] - word/language insights, usually from biblehub dot com - peering through translator partial unbelief; facts, cross references, etc.

      {  } - thots

Tomorrows verses - Romans 5:16-21

By Necessity Paraphrased

A Daily ‘Enter the Story’ N.T. Letter Reading & Study

Romans 4 19-25

 01/27 ~ From New Testament Letters

  🕊️ (In the Order Believed Written)

         Paul’s Letter To The Romans

19 - Abraham didn’t weaken in his faith (that he and Sarah would have a son) when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead. Since he was about a hundred years old. Or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah's womb. 20 No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, instead he grew strong in his faith [it was exercised] as he gave glory to God. 21 For he was fully convinced that God was able to do what he had said and promised. 22 And that’s why his faith was “reckoned to him as righteousness.” {The partnership, and balance? Of belief and blessedness/trusting God’s gift.}

     23 But the words “it was reckoned to him” were not written for only his sake! 24 But for ours as well. It will be reckoned to us who believe in he who raised Jesus our Lord out from the dead [nekros - dead, deceased, lifeless, without life] 25 who was delivered over for our trespasses and raised for our justification. {Who is GOD trying to convince? Logically, the human psyche ..and conscience. As we mature the cross becomes a clear indication of God’s sincerity. But the thing is, the human conscience has to be appeased, and double the thing is, it has to convince the hardest hearts and the very guiltiest of consciences. ..To awaken into (Matthew 25:46’s) “aionion korrection”, and you had oppressed, horribly abused and ruined many people.. or even one. Ultimately what gut wrenching remorse! ..And isn’t that how it should be? For a while. Imperfection is an abyss of potential. But.. the other option is creation as an ant farm? So this unavoidable, all important contrast is being let to run its course, in all its (dark?) glory. “All the world is a stage” ..Shakespeare.}

                          ~ * ~

🗝️ [  ] - word/language insights, usually from biblehub dot com - peering through translator partial unbelief; facts, cross references, etc.

      {  } - thots

Tomorrows verses - Romans 5:1-5

By Necessity Paraphrased

A Daily ‘Enter the Story’ N.T. Letter Reading & Study

2 Corinthians 7 1-10

  12/29 ~ From New Testament Letters

   🕊️ (In the Order Believed Written)

1 - Since we have these - promises - beloved, let us rid ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the reverence of God.

     2 And make room for us in your hearts. We have wronged no one, we have corrupted no one, we have taken advantage of no one. 3 I don’t say this to judge you {but to nudge you?} for I said before that you’re in our hearts, whether we die together or live together! 4 I’m acting with great boldness toward you because I have great pride in you. I’m filled with comfort! In all our troubles, I’m overflowing with joy! 5 Even when we came into Macedonia, we had no rest, we were afflicted at every turn, fighting without and fear within. 6 But God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus! 7 And not only by his coming but by the good words of comfort with which he had been comforted by you. For he told us of your longing, your mourning, your zeal toward me. So that I rejoiced even more. 8 Because even if I made you grieve with my letter, I don’t regret it. Though I did regret it! For I knew the letter would grieve you. But only for a while! 9 As it is, I rejoice! Not because you were grieved, but because you were grieved unto repentance [metanoia - to change ones mind, turn, repent]. For it was a godly grief, so you lost nothing from it. 10 For godly grief produces a coming to senses which gains life, safety, wholeness, without regret. Whereas worldly grief [lupé - sorrow, grief, pain, distress] produces loss of life. {Stress, etc, equals less life? Now, and shorter duration of life? Sweeping issues under the carpet isn’t the best remedy?}

                          ~ * ~

🗝️ [  ] - word/language insights, usually from biblehub dot com, and facts, cross references, etc.

      {  } - thots

Tomorrows verses - 2 Corinthians 7:11-16

By Necessity Paraphrased

Annual Daily Reading & Study

1 Corinthians 15 18-26

12/08 ~ From New Testament Letters

  🕊️ (In the Order Believed Written)

18 - If there’s no resurrection, then those who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished {are forever gone}. 19 If in Christ we have expectation in this life only, we are of all people, the most to be pitied!

     20 But in fact, Christ has been raised from the dead [nekros - (from being) dead, deceased, lifeless, without life]. And so he is THE firstfruits and first of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. {This, with Mt.13:33, key word 3, Which says “the kingdom is like a woman working leaven into three loaves” three harvests.} But each in their own order — (1)Christ THE firstfruits {barley harvest} then (2)at his coming those who belong to Christ {the wheat}. 24 Then (3)comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying eveRy rule and every authority - and - power [overflowing grape harvest, Rev.21:1-5]. 25 For he must reign until he has put all enmity under his feet. 26 The last enemy to be destroyed is death. [1Tim.4:10 - “God is savior of all.”]

                          ~ * ~

🗝️ [  ] - word/language insights, usually from biblehub dot com, and facts, cross references, etc.

      {  } - thots

Tomorrows verses - 1 Corinthians 15:27-33

By Necessity Paraphrased

Annual Daily Reading & Study

1 Corinthians 3 16-23

 10/29 ~ From New Testament Letters

        (In the Order Believed Written)

           By Necessity Paraphrased

16 - Do you not know you are God's temple and God's Spirit (Presence) dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys [phtheiró - destroy, corrupt, spoil, ruin, the root pht literally means  - waste away, degenerate, moving down from a higher level, quality, status to a lower] God's temple [in context, with bad or misleading teaching. Or via Dn.12:11?] God will ruin them! (Imo, cause and effect.) For God's temple is holy [hagios - sacred] and you are that temple. (Each one of us, a stone of that temple.)

     18 Let no one deceive theirself. If anyone among you thinks they are wise in this age, let them become a fool, so they may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is folly. For it’s written, “He catches the wise in their craftiness”. (And eviL doers, in their own traps? All in their own natural cause and effect.) 20 And again, it says “The Lord knows the thoughts of the ‘wise’, that they are futile [mataios - vain, empty, useless, groundless, not real].” 21 So let no one boast in man/men (and in the views of “the world”). For all things are yours, 22 whether  Paul or Apollos or Peter, or the world, or life or death, or the present, or the future, it all belongs to you, 23 and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's.

                                    ~*~

🗝️ [  ] - word/language insights, usually from biblehub dot com, and facts, cross references, etc.

      (  ) - thots

Tomorrow’s Verses - 1 Corinthians 4:1-6

Sept-16 From Lk-12 Ja-5

 🕊️ A paraphrased NT scripture study

   (sometimes w/ commentary) 

  [and original language insight]

         📜🍞+🍷🕊️(+Logic)

Today’s GospeL Verses ~ Luke 12:13-21

13 - Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” 14 But Jesus said, “Man, who made me a judge or arbitrator over you?” 15 And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one's life doesn’t consist in the abundance of his possessions.” 16 So he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced a great harvest, 17 and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? For I have nowhere to store my crops.’ 18 And he said to himself, ‘I will do this, I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones! And so shall I store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to myself, ‘Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years. Relax, eat, drink, and be merry.’ 20 But then God said to him, ‘Fool! This very night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ 21 So is anyone who lays up treasure for theirself but is not rich toward God.”

         - - - - - - - - - - - -

From New Testament Letters

     (In the Order Believed Written)

                ~ James 5:9-20 ~

9 - Don’t grumble against one another, brethren, (brothers and sisters) so you may not be judged, for behold! The Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience think of the prophets who spoke in the name of the LORD. 11 And we consider those blessed who steadfastly endured. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

     12 But above all, my brethren, don’t swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

     13 Is anyone among you suffering? Let them pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let them sing praises. 14 Is any among you sick? Let them call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise them up. And if they have committed sins, they will be forgiven.16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain upon the earth. (A 3.5) 18 Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore fruit.

     19 My brothers and sisters, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings them back, 20 know that whoever brings back a sinner from their wandering, will save their souL from-death, and covers a multitude of sins.

                       ~*~

🗝️ [  ] - word/language insights, usually from biblehub dot com, and facts, cross references, etc.      (  ) - thots

Tomorrow’s Verses:

Luke 12:22-40

1 Thessalonians 1:1-7

Acts & Rev - weekly

Recently Jonah, Daniel

psalms - jan-1-19 / feb-2o's / mar-3o's / apr-4o's / may-5o's / jun-6o's / jul-7o's / aug-8o's / sep-9o's / oct-100-110 / nov-11o's / dec-12o-15o ..the psalms are very prophetical in an overview sense.

Is.11:7 - The lion will eat straw like the ox!⛲️

Dec-12 from Jn-21 1Cor-15

 Enter The UR/CU Story Daily

    a paraphrased scripture study

          - - - - - - - - - - - -

  GospeL Verses ~ John 21:7-15

7 - The disciple whom Jesus loved (this is John, how he referred to himself at least twice, Jesus’ close friend) said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work/fishing, and he jumped into the water. 8 The other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, only about a hundred yards off. 9 When they got out on land, they saw a small fire in place, with fish laid upon it, and bread. 10 Jesus said, “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught.” 11 So Simon Peter went out and dragged the net full of fish ashore, a hundred and fifty three of them. And although there were so many, and they were large fish, the net didn’t tear. 12 Jesus said, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” For they knew it was the Lord. 13 Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and also the fish. 14 This was now the third time the disciples saw Jesus after he was raised from the dead. 15 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than all this?” Peter said, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.”

         - - - - - - - - - - - -

From New Testament Letters

           (In the Order Believed Written)

~ 1 Corinthians 15:50-58 ~

50 - I tell you this, my fellow believers, it is not flesh and blood that inherits the kingdom of God, nor can the perishable inherit the imperishable. (And imperfect cannot make itself Perfect.) 51 But behold, I tell you a mystery. Not all of us will sleep, but we shall all be changed. 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised indestructible, non decaying, immortal. 53 For this perishing must put on the non perishing, and this mortal put on immortality. 54 When the perishing puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written - “Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But how thankful to God we are, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus. 58 Therefore, my beloved, be steadfast and determined, abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in him (feeding his lambs he loves) your labor is not in vain.

                          ~*~

🗝️ [  ] - Language insight

   adapted from biblehub dot com

     (  ) - thoughts & ruminations

Tomorrow’s Verses:

John 21:16-25

1 Corinthians 16:1-7

         A link to the annual schedule is pinned in the side column.

               ✔️= posted

Acts this week, 18:1-16

Rev/Apoc this week, 18:9-24 ✔️

Prophets - Isaiah 1 - 5 ✔️

       Prophets - Each part includes the previous parts also. Disclaimer, some are long.

Is.11:7 - The lion will eat straw like the ox! ~ hope you have a blessed day.. 

🗞️📜⛲️

06/15 𝔉𝔯𝔬𝔪 Lk.24, Mk.16, Heb.2

 𝓓aily 𝓖ospel \/erses ✨

     Lk.24:49-53, Mk.16:19-20

49 “And now I will send the Holy Spirit(/Presence of God) just as my Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from heaven.” 50 Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them. 51 While he was blessing them, he was taken up to heaven. 52 They worshiped him and went back into Jerusalem, filled with great joy, 53 and were continually in the temple praising God.

      Mk.16:19 - After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and sat at the right hand of God. 20 Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.

                     

           🌙☀️🌲🪐🕊️💫

From New Testament Letters

          (In Order Written)

           ~ Hebrews 2:15-18 ~

15 And to set at liberty all those in bondage to death and its fear. 16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s seed (descendants). — “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” Gal.3:29. — 17 Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins [hamartia - missing the mark] of the people. 18 And since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.

🗝️ [  ] - 𝕃𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕦𝕒𝕘𝕖 𝕚𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤

      (  ) - 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤

𝒯𝑜𝓂𝑜𝓇𝓇𝑜𝓌’𝓈 𝒱𝑒𝓇𝓈𝑒𝓈:

𝐿𝓊𝓀𝑒 1:1-25

𝐻𝑒𝒷𝓇𝑒𝓌𝓈 3:1-6

𝒜𝒸𝓉𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓌𝑒𝑒𝓀, 4:1-22

𝑅𝑒𝓋/𝒜𝓅𝑜𝒸 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓌𝑒𝑒𝓀, 6:15-17

𝒫𝓇𝑜𝓅𝒽𝑒𝓉𝓈 (𝒮𝑜𝑜𝓃!?🤞🏼)

            🗞️📜

06/13 𝔉𝔯𝔬𝔪 Jn.22, Heb.2

 𝓓aily 𝓖ospel \/erses ✨

            John 21:16-25

16 Jesus asked a second time, “Simon (Peter) son of John, do you love Me?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus responded, “Shepherd My sheep.”

     17 A third time he asked him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter was hurt that Jesus asked the question a third time. He said, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I love you.” Jesus said, “Then feed my sheep.

     18 I tell you truly” he continued, “when you were a young man, you dressed yourself and went wherever you wanted to go. But when you are old, you will hold out your hands and others will wrap your belt around you and lead you where you don't want to go." 19 Jesus said this to tell how Peter would die and bring honor to God. Then he said to Peter, "Follow me."

     20 Peter turned around and saw behind them the disciple Jesus loved—the one (Jn.) who had leaned over to Jesus during supper and asked, “Lord, who will betray you?” 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him?” 22 Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You, follow me.” 23 Because of this, the rumor spread among the believers that this disciple would not die. But Jesus did not say that he would not die, he only said, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you?” 24 This disciple is the one who testifies to these events and has recorded them here. And we know that his testimony is true. 25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written. (End of the Good News account of John, disciple of Jesus.)

                   

           🌙☀️🌲🪐🕊️💫

From New Testament Letters

          (In Order Written)

           ~ Hebrews 2:9-11 ~

9 What we now see is Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. 10 In bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and by whom all  are, should make the pioneer/archtype [arxēgós - from arxḗ - the first/proto and ágō - to lead, properly, the first in a long procession, who pioneers the way for many others to follow, leader] of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. (Like tempered metal.)

     11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters. [Another version - So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.]

🗝️ [  ] - 𝕃𝕒𝕟𝕘𝕦𝕒𝕘𝕖 𝕚𝕟𝕤𝕚𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤

      (  ) - 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤

𝒯𝑜𝓂𝑜𝓇𝓇𝑜𝓌’𝓈 𝒱𝑒𝓇𝓈𝑒𝓈:

𝑀𝒶𝓉𝓉𝒽𝑒𝓌 28:16-20

𝐻𝑒𝒷𝓇𝑒𝓌𝓈 2:12-14

𝒜𝒸𝓉𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓌𝑒𝑒𝓀, 4:1-22

𝑅𝑒𝓋/𝒜𝓅𝑜𝒸 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝓌𝑒𝑒𝓀, 6:15-17

𝒫𝓇𝑜𝓅𝒽𝑒𝓉𝓈 (𝒮𝑜𝑜𝓃!?🤞🏼)

            🗞️📜

Finished But Not Completed

     Heb.2:9 says, “..so that by God's grace He would experience death on behalf of everyone” - the word here for everyone is “pas - all, every, the whole”.

     The work is finished, He has died for all, but the work is not completed until death no longer exists.

     1Cor:15:24-26 says, “Then the end” (and a ReGenesis, Rev.21:1-5) “will come, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father after he has destroyed all dominion, authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”

     Followers of Christ are still given the mandate concerning the “message of reconciliation” but by the Spirit.. as there is not the reason to panic.

     For the Lord told us He will “draw all” (Jn.12:32). And told us how He will do it - “These (not yet saved/still wild weeds/goats) will rise into aionion-kolasis *AGE*LASTING-CORRECTION” which is “after the thousand years” Rev.20:5 (translated, everlasting punishment, the most extreme possible usage of both words) “but the righteous into aionion life” (into “the thousand years”/millennium age)- Mt.25:46.

     Some being “corrected” now, and some during “the judgment”.

     But if part of our message is ‘you needn’t be born again’ we set them up for failure, they will remain still wild weeds rather than being part of the wheat harvest (and our works are in danger of being straw and stubble and being burned up at the consummation when Jesus arrives).

Was I A Grinch - Christmas And Easter

I always told our kids that Santa was a game we played. Just sort of mentioned it. That’s because I didn’t want the story of Christ to be in the same category as Santa - tho, in all honesty, I very much see Santa as a big part of the character of the heavenly Father.

Over time both Christmas and Easter have gotten more and more covered over by, not only the materialistic, but those fun things like Santa and the Easter bunny, and eggs and all that.

Then came the icksnay on saying “merry Christmas”. Add to that a growing percentage of Christians deciding the days are heathen and therefor are forbidden. Sigh.. there go the annual reminders to those of us who haven’t yet learned it experientially.. that God who is Love sent - this is the Christmas aspect - to us the remedy to death - the Easter message.

Ever since that message began, there’s been the furious trend to bury it. [And to misrepresent it, which went mainstream, sigh again.] That’s a sure way to know how true it is! Anything purposely buried has to be a nugget we’re not supposed to know about!

I’m in no hurry to throw the days out. I’m more in favor of resurrecting them as a solid part of the culture. Even without understanding the truest import, they’re for good cheer.. Expressing fondness for our whole human family. That of course is the message of the saga of Scrooge. Just what is it that can make Christmas merry? We all know it’s the spirit of “good will”. Any reminder of that is (surely?) worth preserving.

Why It's Easy For Us To Think In Terms Of Billions Of Years

(As to origins, that is.) It's because we are in what is called a very long process. And the father of lies weaves strands of truth into all of his tapestries. (Which is doubly clever, for then we weave them into our psyche and life.)

When God endowed thinking ability a whole new realm (tree?) of possibilities came about, and He is being, and has been, infinitely patient awaiting the outcome. You see thinking ability includes being able to make choices, and hence we have life as it is and also death. Because God is Life itself, and is also Perfection. That makes imperfection, the opposite of life. And sooner or later, some one (some rational creature) is bound to think, "say.. do we really have to do all things, and think all things, God's way?"

He first made angels to be rational creatures. He waited and created the universe and man and woman, not only after the first rebel thought occurred, but waited until after it had matured into outright revolt and sedition. (Why? So all "in heaven and earth" would take this unavoidable journey and lesson, all together, at once.)

"Waited a very long time".. surely!? ..Here's where the "billions of years" actually comes from(!?) For when there was 'only' the Presence of the Father and the Son and the angels, surely there wasn't all that much to go astray about(?) And just think, God, being life itself, lives through all sufferings and disasters which ever occur (while He is for the most part, letting choice run its course).

And when God created the universe, in that majestic explosion of life / Himself, he placed all things where He wanted them to be, and began the motion from there. And! From the "foundation of the world" / from the beginning, He built the rescue of all into it - Jesus on the cross - an image, and love, strong enough to ultimately pierce every psyche. He is perfect, the only 'end' result imaginable, is the best one possible.
1 Timothy 4:10, among many, many verses, says "God is the savior of all.."

A thank you to Pixabay.com for the image.

Fine And Dandy Or Thanatos And Tartarus

I don't begrudge anyone comfort when having lost a loved one. Absolutely not. And I do of course believe we will again see our loved ones who have left us. And I most ardently believe in "happy ever after" for all God's children.

But if we take a 'life goes on' into an after life, for granted, how will we learn to fully abhor death? And, therefore too, every thing that leads to it, all imperfection, no matter how small?

More and more I find myself thinking our heavenly Father is designing by this life of learning good from evil (life from death!) ..not only that we would have affection and compassion for our fellow person... our brothers and sisters, but that we would truly, truly abhor death. And all its causes - within our selves, most of all - which is all and any tiny straying from God, knowing full well that He is Life itself and Perfection. Therefore imperfection, is the opposite of life. And its a course - imperfection - which is irreversible, because imperfect, by itself, cannot make itself perfect.

It is darkness, even deepest darkness "tartarus", and is the bottomless pit (of potential)! Without God's salvation (Great Plan Of) we would all perish. But this journey through imperfection (surely?) is an unavoidable journey and lesson. Do you know why? (Or that is, what makes me think so? After all, it is only theory!)

What was God's other choice? No rational creatures? ..ever..?

monastic mourning.. (happens to us all..)

No More Death Nor Graves

COLOSSIANS 1:20 - "..through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven.."

JOHN 12:32 - (Jesus said) "If I be lifted up from the earth, I will draw all to myself.."

1 TIMOTHY 4:10 - "God is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe."

1 CORINTHIANS 15:22 - "..as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive."

REVELATION 21:4,5 - "..God will wipe away all tears.. there shall be no more death.. Behold, I make all things new.."

Truth Will Win

I don't know why untruth (untrue things) get such a deep hold within people and within institutions. Why?

If Christians (the churches) think they are going to, or are supposed to "subdue the world" they're wrong! Jesus said His kingdom was/is not of this world"! Yes, I'd like to see the mad dash toward collapse,etc slowed down (my interest in politics). But that's about all I can hope for. This world is going to, and actually is supposed to, collapse! Why? So God can be proven right! God is life. A person (or angel, or any other rational creature) cannot wander away from God. That's the whole thing/lesson in a nutshell, this chewing upon the knowing of good from evil (life from death, true from untrue).

Yes, God could have spared us all this! Himself too! He being Life, lives through and experiences it all! Why'd he put Himself, and all of us, through all this? I can only assume, through logic, that it's because He's not creating robots or an ant farm. And this life is a unavoidable journey and lesson, if there's to be thinking ability or rational creatures that is! Because, thinking ability sooner or later includes being able to choose and make choices, etc.

"It pleased God to reconcile ALL things to Himself through Him (Jesus), all things whether in heaven or on earth" Colossians 1:20

"For even as in Adam all die, so also in the Christ all shall be made alive, 23 but each in his proper order, " 1 Corinthians 15:22

Resurrection of all - Contemporary English Version (CEV)
"22 Adam brought death to all of us, and Christ will bring life to all of us. 23 But we must each wait our turn. Christ was the first to be raised to life, and his people will be raised to life when he returns. 24 Then after Christ has destroyed all powers and forces, the end will come, and he will give the kingdom to God the Father." [oh! 1st, Jesus was resurrected, then 2nd, the resurrection of all believers at His return, and 3rd, another raising to incorruption and immortality at the 'end' when ALL things are made new.. after the millennium and its purpose, and what is commonly called judgment day, and its purpose.]

"25 Christ will rule until he puts all his enemies under his power, 26 and the last enemy he destroys will be death. 27 When the Scriptures say that he will put everything under his power, they don't include God. It was God who put everything under the power of Christ. 28 After everything is under the power of God's Son, he will put himself under the power of God, who put everything under his Son's power. Then God will mean everything to everyone."

"God is the savior of all, especially those which believe" 1 Tim 4:10

What Is Life? Where Are We From? Where Are We Going?

As for me, I have always had a very strong desire to know truth, utter truth, and nothing but the truth. What is life? Where do we come from? Or did come from? ..what is life? and also where, if anywhere, are we headed? So I started my search at a bunch of very good libraries all around Denver, Colorado (USA) where I was living at the time. I studied some on the world religions, meditation and astrology. Astrology, as to co-incidental figurations in the stars, planets and sun and moon at the time of certain occurrences in the world, or in this case, in my life.. I could go into those and a couple are very, very striking! But that might be another story.. I was learning how to meditate which in this case was how to still one's mind quiet enough one could 'hear' God's voice. The main way of doing that, for me, was to hold an image in my mind, with eyes closed, of an eight pointed radiant star, representing to me all that I had been studying, and I later learned it is the star most shown at Christmas as the Bethlehem star.. basically a star of light which rays are a cross and an x.
 - One day I was in the beautiful foothills of the Rocky Mountains sitting at the side of a hill on a sunny day, when all of a sudden, it seemed as though I could 'see' a thought drift across the very blue sky and hit me in the head! Yes, it hit me in the head. And what the thought said was "you've been studying about different forces at work in the universe, what of the force which created the universe and what if that thought has consciousness?" Then it was like a bright light dawned (like a light bulb turning on as they say when you realize something or put something together) and I exclaimed "God!" and it seemed as though I could feel a strong presence, but one I realized I had always known..
- My life completely changed after that day. It got to be when I was in the foothills or nature, I was happy, could feel His Presence, but anywhere else and He was absent! Which made me feel incomplete and out of sorts, til one day I found a Bible tract at my local post office (I met the lady later who was in the habit of leaving them around town). The tract was titled in large letters "God's Great Plan of Salvation".
 - Well, I'll tell ya, I read that thing 4 times and just could not get a handle on it! Something about being imperfect, which leads to death, aka nonlife. I've later learned God himself is Life and Perfection, but endowed thinking ability which includes being able to make choices, but any move away from what God thinks or does, is to become imperfect, the opposite of life. (If you get my drift..?)
- The tract said if I asked Jesus into my heart I would be "saved" (rescued, my journey toward nonlife checked) by Jesus paying the price of my death for me (and everyone else's).
- It was very unusual, but I was home alone that day, so four times I came out of my room where I had knelt at the side of my bed and said that salvation prayer, but came away sort of unbelieving, not that necessarily I didn't believe its message, but could it be true for me? So that's what I asked. And then the sun was setting over the mountains in the west and the sunlight from it came streaming through an inch of open curtain and shone across the room filling the off tv screen with a radiant eight pointed star. As miracles go, it may be small, but ever since then I've had no doubt.
- That was 33 years ago. And 17 years ago my son asked me two questions, which I answered but I wasn't at all happy with my answers so I prayed for the answers, and they came back to me "boom! boom! boom!" and knocked my socks off! And my socks are still knocked off! The questions were "why did God put the tree of good and evil in the garden" (the tree of knowing good and evil) and "isn't it nice we get to be an ant farm?" (So Cynical for one only 16 at the time!)
 - What I found out was that's the whole thing, we're not an ant farm! The whole 'packet' or 'cloud'(?) of information ended with a question to me! "Why did God wait such a very long time, and only create the universe and man and woman, not only after the first bound to occur rebel thought had occurred (as it did in Lucifer high angel) but after it had fully matured into outright sedition and trickery?"
 - So now I keep a blog where I go into these things I learned, mainly that God is Life and is Perfect and Perfection makes no mistakes, therefor the 'end' result of all this can only be the best one possible.. think of it, God being life, lives through, experiences, and suffers, all sufferings which ever occur! Why would He put Himself through all that? Because He's not creating an ant farm, or robots, but His family and an eternally un-breakable paradise, un-breakable, for all will fully understand good from evil / life from death / true from untrue.

More Creativity, Appreciation and Diversity

I heard a Christian rap song today.. It was beautiful! Some people think The Kingdom will be 'boring'.. Not so! It will, of course, be far superior to this world, and life as we presently know it. There will be more creativity and inventiveness, deeper appreciation and complete harmony. And best of all there will be no human failings, no spoiler(s). All things will no longer be "under the law of sin and death" (all things will no longer fall apart and fade away). Truly the sky will be the limit. No back biting, no fraud, no cheating, etc, etc, etc! I believe it's only after this issue of "good and evil" (life and death; true and untrue) has been fully proven and deeply etched upon every heart, mind and psyche, that life will spread throughout the universe..