LUKE
CHAPTER 7
VS 26-50

26 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? Yea, I say unto you, and much more than a prophet.

27 This is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

28 For I say unto you, Among those that are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptist: but he that is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he.

29 And all the people that heard him, and the publicans, justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John.

30 But the Pharisees and lawyers rejected the counsel of God against themselves, being not baptized of him.

31 And the Lord said, Whereunto then shall I liken the men of this generation? and to what are they like?

32 They are like unto children sitting in the marketplace, and calling one to another, and saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned to you, and ye have not wept.

33 For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil.

34 The Son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners!

35 But wisdom is justified of all her children.

36 And one of the Pharisees desired him that he would eat with him. And he went into the Pharisee's house, and sat down to meat.

37 And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,

38 And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.

39 Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.

40 And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.

41 There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.

42 And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?

43 Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.

44 And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.

45 Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.

46 My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.

47 Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.

48 And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven.

49 And they that sat at meat with him began to say within themselves, Who is this that forgiveth sins also?

50 And he said to the woman, Thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.

Luke
Chapter 7
VS 1-25

1 Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum.

2 And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die.

3 And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant.

4 And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this:

5 For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue.

6 Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof:

7 Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed.

8 For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it.

9 When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

10 And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.

11 And it came to pass the day after, that he went into a city called Nain; and many of his disciples went with him, and much people.

12 Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.

13 And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

14 And he came and touched the bier: and they that bare him stood still. And he said, Young man, I say unto thee, Arise.

15 And he that was dead sat up, and began to speak. And he delivered him to his mother.

16 And there came a fear on all: and they glorified God, saying, That a great prophet is risen up among us; and, That God hath visited his people.

17 And this rumour of him went forth throughout all Judaea, and throughout all the region round about.

18 And the disciples of John shewed him of all these things.

19 And John calling unto him two of his disciples sent them to Jesus, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

20 When the men were come unto him, they said, John Baptist hath sent us unto thee, saying, Art thou he that should come? or look we for another?

21 And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits; and unto many that were blind he gave sight.

22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached.

23 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

24 And when the messengers of John were departed, he began to speak unto the people concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness for to see? A reed shaken with the wind?

25 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which are gorgeously apparelled, and live delicately, are in kings' courts.

Huge sigh of relief

https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/12/republican-van-epps-wins-tennessee-7th-district-us/

**The Politics Of Cause And Effect**

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2025/12/the_politics_of_cause_and_effect.html

The short article linked above explains one of the many problems we have with the current manifestation of our government; the delay in seeing the results of our decisions in the voting booth. One cause is the usually interminable slow process of our elected representatives enacting and implementing policy changes to effect necessary changes, whether at the local, state, or federal levels. Unless they have a personal agenda or are otherwise motivated. [*Wink wink*] Think of the Patriot Act or the TARP act.

While due diligence and thoughtful deliberations are necessary to achieve needed changes, the dog and pony shows we see in our governing bodies obscure our ability to connect cause and effect. It seemingly starts with tight-lipped politicians who refuse to be open and transparent about their thought processes, rightfully fearful they will reveal their lack of depth and clarity, thus exposing their inability or unwillingness to think long-term and big picture for the common good. Or fearful they'll lose the support of special interest constituencies necessary to retain their incumbency. So they resort to orchestration of the publicly seen process, a liturgy to sustain an illusion of openness and transparency and public duty.

Then come the drawn out bureaucratic processes of study groups, hearings soliciting stakeholder and public comments, trial balloons of flawed proposals subsequently returned or redirected to staff or committee or board or commission for further review or refinement. All of this occurs within the supposition (or desperately held hope) there's an ethos and culture within the hired government bureaucracy of ethical conduct, competence, and stewardship. Which given the odds, are likely isolated to only a few departments within the bureaucracy.

Earlier I stated, "It seemingly starts with tight-lipped politicians..." It would be more accurate to say it starts with the electorate, most of whom pay scant attention to the issues, who themselves are trapped in a short attention span prison, consumed with their pressing personal needs, despair, and distractions; unwilling to think critically, and more committed to relationships than principles. And then there are those who would naturally, instinctively, and cynically take advantage of their failure (refusal?) to think long-term and big picture. Those would be the so-called political class; the thought leaders, the deal makers, those lobbying and jockeying for advantage, the king makers, those pandering to increasingly narrow special interests.

I believe bell curve distribution of attributes are usually accurate. Bell curves don't have to be symmetrical and pretty, but they're usually workable depictions. And societal structures are historically pyramids.

Walt Kelly, creator of the Pogo comics, said it best in 1970.

Rant over.

Good Morning Everyone

Spirit of the Dying Sun

It stands - unmoving,
like a spell pressed into the earth.
Antlers stretch like ancient branches,
cradling the burning sun behind.

Not a deer
but the memory of forests,
the whispered prayer of ancestors,
the heartbeat of stone.

That red glow
not just sunset,
but a wound from a thousand years,
a fire from a dream that never died.

Its eyes
not looking at us,
but through us,
toward the spirits still walking
in the wind of forgotten seasons.

Serin Alar

🖊Poem: Piahn

In your heart

May You Always
https://terrylclark.substack.com/p/may-you-always?publication_id=934525&post_id=162243587&isFreemail=false&r=1maoyr&triedRedirect=true

Many just want to complain!


There Must Be Some Misunderstanding
https://terrylclark.substack.com/p/there-must-be-some-misunderstanding?publication_id=934525&post_id=162608720&isFreemail=false&r=1maoyr&triedRedirect=true