Proverbs 19:9. “A false witness shall not be unpunished, and he that speaketh lies shall perish.”

Malachi 2:10. 10Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us? why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, by profaning the covenant of our fathers?

It is still many weeks away from Summer - and already I am weary of the drone of lawn mowers every fricking day. Apparently, my retired neighbor doesn't have anything better to do than cut his lawn - every day, over and over...

A Godless society is a lawless society, ripe for anarchy and tyranny.

Meditation for April 14, 2024 _ After Holy Week _ D. Franklin

Communion Meditation for 14-APRIL-2024: After Holy Week.

Good morning, Church Family! I hope each of you is well on this beautiful Sunday morning! Two weeks ago, we celebrated Resurrection Sunday; and Holy week has now passed for another year. The Robins Egg Easter candies are all gone; and Christ has risen! Amen? So, what happens next?

Our communion meditation today addresses Jesus’ activities here on Earth following His Resurrection and through His Ascension to the Father, a period of approximately 30 days. In this one-part meditation series, we will review just a few of Jesus’ activities and sightings of Him. These witness accounts further support the argument that Jesus was undoubtedly resurrected from death and was seen publicly many times among the people following his resurrection.

There are specific dates associated with some of these accounts. Note that these dates are from the Roman calendar which starts each new day at midnight; not the Hebrew calendar which starts each new day at sunset.

1. Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene. Sunday, April 9, 30 AD. Mark 16:9 - 11, John 20:11 – 18: Mary is the first person to whom Jesus chose to reveal himself alive after his resurrection. This occurred at his tomb early Sunday morning after God brought him back from the dead. Mary at first did not recognize Him, mistaking him for the gardener. Then she recognized Jesus, and He instructed her to go tell the other followers.

2. The Road to Emmaus. Sunday, April 9, 30 AD. Luke 24:13 – 33:Jesus unexpectedly appeared to two followers while they are walking to Emmaus (Luke 24:13 - 33). They discussed the events of the week, and He then explained to them all the Biblical verses and prophesy pertaining to the Messiah. He mildly criticized them for not believing what the prophets foretold regarding His coming. They did not recognize Him until after he departed from them. One of the two is Cleopas, the other was likely his wife, Mary, though some accounts identify the second as the Apostle Simon.

3. Appearance with His followers. Sunday, April 9 after sunset. John 20:19. This is the first time Jesus showed himself alive to his followers. Most of the disciples had been hiding behind closed doors since Jesus was arrested in fear of persecution by the Jews. The Apostle, Thomas, was not with the group at this meeting.

4. Doubting Thomas
Sunday, April 16 after sunset. John 20:26 – 29. This was the fourth time Jesus showed himself to humans to prove he has risen from the dead and the first time all those (except Judas) who ate Passover with him saw him as a group. In this passage of scripture, The Lord allowed Thomas to observe the wounds he received on the cross, for Thomas to overcome his doubt.

5. Sea of Galilee, Jesus appears to 7 disciples that were fishing
Between April 17 and May 17. John Chapter 21: 1 - 14. This is the account of the disciples fishing all night and catching nothing. From the shore, Jesus instructed them to cast the net on the other side of the boat, which yielded a net full of 153 fish.

6. Jesus appears to a multitude Between April 17 and May 17
In 1 Corinthians 15:6. The apostle Paul describes Jesus appearing to a crowd of more than 500 people at one time, then again meeting with his brother James.

There are other additional events documented in scripture, including Christ’s Ascension to Heaven on May 18, witnessed by his disciples as described in Matthew 28:18 - 20. Shortly after this, the disciples receive the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, and begin preaching, healing and establishing Christian churches throughout the region.

Jesus, in spiritual form, converts the Pharisee, Saul of Tarsus, who had persecuted Christians even to death, to the Apostle Paul on the road to Damascus. Paul became man of great faith, as we know, establishing churches and writing half of the books of the New Testament.

Holy week has passed for another year, but the work of our Risen Lord continues every day, every week of the year.

Let us pray:
Father God, master and creator of the universe, we thank you for the sacrifice of your son and the gift of your grace. We know we can never repay you for the sacrifice of your son, Jesus, or earn the forgiveness and salvation you have given to us. As we prepare to take communion in His honor, let us always bear in mind that the cup and bread represent His sacrifice that bore our sins away. We praise you and worship You, Father, on this Sunday and every day. In Christ’s name we pray, Amen.

For food, for raiment, for life, for opportunity, for friendship and fellowship - we thank thee Oh Lord. Amen

From my youth in Boy scouts - the 'Philmont Grace' we said before each meal when camping.

My word, times have changed.

1 John 4:5. “They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.”

I expected to hear about a bunch of cult-related nonsense associated with the eclipse; like the 'Heaven's Gate' cult mass suicide in the approach of a comet in 1997. I guess there is still time for weirdness to hit the news cycle...

Zechariah 8:16-17. These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: and let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.

Jackson Brown. Love Needs A Heart. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9gpnr3_e-qc

GAL 6:7. "Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap."

Mock God at your own peril.

Prov 19:9. A false witness will not go unpunished, and whoever pours out lies will perish.

the red-wing blackbirds have returned!