Today is the feast of St. Ambrose, Bishop and Doctor.

St. Ambrose

AMBROSE was of a noble family, and was governor of Milan in 374, when a bishop was to be chosen for that great see. As the Arian heretics were many and fierce, he was present to preserve order during the election. Though only a catechumen, it was the will of God that he should himself be chosen by acclamation; and, in spite of his utmost resistance, he was baptized and consecrated. He was unwearied in every duty of a pastor, full of sympathy and charity, gentle and condescending in things indifferent, but inflexible in matters of principle. He showed his fearless zeal in braving the anger of the Empress Justina, by resisting and foiling her impious attempt to give one of the churches of Milan to the Arians, and by rebuking and leading to penance the really great Emperor Theodosius, who in a moment of irritation had punished most cruelly a sedition of the inhabitants of Thessalonica. He was the friend and consoler of St. Monica in all her sorrows, and in 387 he had the joy of admitting to the Church her son, St. Augustine. St. Ambrose died in 397, full of years and of honors, and is revered by the Church of and as one of her greatest doctors.

(The picture is by Francisco de Zurbarán)

You can read more about St. Ambrose here.

The great day of Jehovah began in 1874 and will continue 40 years and end with the expiry of the times of the Gentiles in the dethronement of the worldly and satanic rule on earth and full investiture of Emmanuel Jesus Christ and the saints .. . The times of the Gentiles will end definitively in 1914 y. .. at that time will be demolished and the Kingdom of Christ will be fully established.

(Studies in the Scriptures, pp. 170 and 250).

The Bible refers to the time we live as “The Last Days” or “end times” (2 Tim. 3, 1, Dan 11, 40). Reality shows that this is a limited time you have a definite beginning and a definite end. It began in 1914 when Jesus Christ was enthroned as king in heaven. It will end when God destroys the wicked system of things … Is it much for that? God’s own Son, Jesus Christ, gives the answer. After drawing attention to the many things that make detiempo the period from 1914 onwards as the “end times” Jesus said: “By no means will this generation until these things happen” (Mt 24, 33). Persons born fifty years ago (This book is the 1968) could not see “all these things.” They came to the scene after the predicted events had already begun. But people still living who were alive in 1914 and saw what was happening and that age have enough time, still remember those events. This generation is getting older now. A lot of people in this generation has already died. However, Jesus said directly, “No way will this generation until all these things happen.” Some of these people still be alive when you come to this iniquitous system and see it. This means that only very little time left before the end comes. So now is the time to take urgent action if you do not want to be swept away with this unjust system.

(The Truth that Leads to Everlasting Life, pp. 94-95).

Why is the beginning of that limited time is the year 1914? What was the enthronement of Jesus in 1914?

Those born in 1914 have already served or are to meet the seventy-five, in this year of 1989 [to take this issue on line those people have already served or are for his eightieth, three ... and counting!]

The Bible offers the fact that some of the world will end, but the circumstances of “when” and “how” is hidden at the time of this event.

Two key passages address the issue directly:

“The eschatological discourse of Jesus (Mt 24 = Mark 13 and Luke 21).

“Letters of Paul to the Thessalonians.

1. Eschatological discourse

It’s called “eschatological” because it speaks of the end of Jerusalem and the world, also called “synoptic apocalypse.

In his address two issues are intertwined: the destruction of Jerusalem and the end of the world. At the beginning of discourse (Mt 24, l-3), Jesus speaks of building the temple and its coming destruction.

The disciples asked, “When is all this and what is the sign of thy coming and the consummation of the world?”.

There will be many misfortunes precursor. But this is not yet the end.

The destruction of Jerusalem becomes a type or figure of the end of the world. It is hard to group the phrases that refer to one thing or another. Even the great cosmic upheaval spoken of “the sun will be darkened, moon not give its light, stars fall from heaven” is not really have to refer to the end of the world. This is apocalyptic images taken from the prophets who speak of the fall of empires:

-Is 13, 9-10: fall of Babylon;

Jer-4, 23-26, invasion of Judah by the kingdoms of the North-Ez 32, 7-8: destruction of Egypt;

-Am 8, 9: mysterious punishment that does not materialize.

When Jesus says “this generation shall not pass until this happens” refers to the destruction of Jerusalem, which occurred in 70, which was a symbol of world destruction.

2. Letters to the Thessalonians

In both letters to the Thessalonians are frequent allusions to the “coming of Christ.” The expression leads us to think of the last glorious coming of Christ to the end of time. But these phrases seem to refer not all so clear and unanimous in the final coming, but sometimes speak of the coming of Christ, of meeting him at the time of death of each. Can be understood in this sense:

Tes-l 1, 10, 2, 19, 3, 13, 5, 23.

The same meaning is expressed in St. Paul:

-2 Cor 5: 1-10; Phil 1, 20-26, 2 Tim 4,6-8.

For this personal encounter with Christ in death of each, we must prepare. In this sense we must understand the call for vigilance with which Matthew ends 24. It is really imminent end of our mortal course. Then we will account to God for our deeds.

Other texts speak of the manifestation of Christ against the Holocaust, which will end with the destruction of Jerusalem has not yet occurred when Paul-back in the ’50s – he wrote these letters to the Thessalonians. Paul has been precisely this Jewish persecution in Thessalonica with particular virulence (Acts 16 and 17). Here:

-2 Thes 1, 1-1; 2 2, 1-12.

This latter text is the darkest and difficult to interpret.

Among the fundamental truths of Christianity, Paul lists, with faith and baptism, “the resurrection of the dead and the final trial. “Christ will come to judge the living and the dead” (2 Tim 4, l). This formula expresses the universality of doom. It is clear in this respect the text of 1 Thessalonians 4, 13-18:

Brothers, we are not lucky enough to be ignorant of the dead, not to grieve as men without hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, just as those who have died in Jesus, God will take him.

This is what we say as word of the Lord: we who live and look for his coming, no advantage to the dead. For himself, the Lord, the voice of the archangel and the sound of the trumpet of God, descend from heaven and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we who are still living will be caught with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air. And so shall we ever be with the Lord. Comfort ye, therefore, another with these words.

The Thessalonians were concerned about the fate of the dead. They thought they could not go to meet Christ at his coming. Paul consoles them saying that those who have died in the Lord shall rise first to receive the prize deserved. Pablo is placed hypothetically between those living in the Lord’s coming. This led to think that Paul expected the imminent coming of Christ. It is merely a literary device: Paul, to dialogue with its partners, spoke in first person, the same thing repeatedly found in the following chapter:

-not belong to the night (v 5);

-not sleep as others (v 6);

-belong to the day (v 8);

-awake or asleep we might live with him (v 10).

3. When did all this happen?

At all times, and St. Augustine alludes to this, “he wanted to indicate in detail specific dates imminent doomsday. All predictions have failed to be released. Just read the following texts:

Mt 24, 36:

From that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Mt 24,42-44:

Watch therefore, for ye know what day your Lord is coming. Entendedlo well: if the homeowner had known at what time of night the thief was coming, I would be awake and not let it break through the house. Therefore be ye also ready, because when you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.

l Thess 5, 1-3:

In regard to time and time brethren, ye have no need to write to you. You yourselves know perfectly that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say “peace and security” then it suddenly comes upon them to ruin, as labor pains which pregnant woman, and not escape.

These texts would be enough just to point to the conclusion that any attempt to proclaim the end is totally against the Gospel and St. Paul, which say explicitly that this date is not revealed.

Dear Reader,

Life is what you can dream. I dream of peace, happiness and freedom. I am only who I am. I wear the divine mask of my identity and seek to share with the world through writing. The truth stated in love shall set me free.

Love You,

Rochelle

I don’t write about sports, and I want to be up front with that in this post. This is a total fluff piece, okay? You want in depth news and analysis of the sports world, go to deadspin.com. You can thank me later.

This is a love letter.

Dear Saints,

I do not remember a time I did not root for you.

I remember the dark days when people would show up at the Superdome with bags over their heads so people wouldn’t recognize them. I will admit to having called you, once or twice, The Aints. I remember the Bum Phillips days when occasionally his sideline jibes to the officials were more interesting than the game. I remember the last Bum Phillips day because it was, I believe, the first starting game for Bobby Hebert.

I remember the Jim Mora days when, yes, you had that Dome Patrol, but you could still blow a double digit lead in the single digits of the fourth quarter. I didn’t care. If all else failed, I could just make googly eyes at Jim. That Jim Mora is a beautiful man, my friends.

Fast forward through the acid trip that was Ditka, Venturi, and Haslett, and here we are. You are undefeated. People outside of a 200 mile radius of New Orleans can name at least three of your players. I can regularly find people in bars in Memphis wearing a #25 jersey. I had a conversation about Jeremy Shockey in the line at Schnuck’s the other day, and it DIDN’T involve me explaining who he is.

I love you because you are the team that made me love football. I stick with you even though you make me cry. I stick with you even though you’ve never been to a Super Bowl. I stick with you because you are the closest thing to a home team I will ever have because I don’t root for the Titans. Unless they play Miami, that is. I stick with you even though, last night, when you were up by 21 points with five minutes left to go, I thought you might still lose, and I was afraid to turn off the game. I stick with you because you turned a good quarterback into a great one. I stick with you because last night you had, what, like four players out with injuries–including your star running back– and at the end of the night everyone was like, “Reggie Who?” And I mean that in the nicest possible way, Mr. Bush, sir.

It makes me happy when people ask if they can jump on the Saints bandwagon. A true Saints fan will always say yes because we know the more the merrier.

And this exchange from two friends this morning makes me happy. I’m paraphrasing a bit.

Friend 1: I know that it’s only football and there are a lot more important things in the world to worry about but, I’m very happy that for the last eleven weeks the New Orleans Saints have put a smile on my face.

Friend 2: You don’t have to put a caveat on that statement. Anyone who would give someone crap for being happy about their team by saying,“there are more important things in the world than sports, you know,” should be smashed in the face with a shovel! Yeah, ass face, we know there are more important things, but these little distractions keep us from focusing on the problems of the world non-stop. Enjoy the ride! And if anyone gives you crap about enjoying it I will be happy to supply the shovel!

Congratulations on your season so far. You’ve earned it. And so have your fans.

Love,

Bergs

Last week was definitely a sleep deprived week.
During PartnerCon by Pictage I stayed at the event location. It was a wonderful hotel where any request at all to the staff was met with “It would be my pleasure”. The only downside was that my room faced Bourbon Street and as anyone who has been to Bourbon Street knows….it doesn’t shut down. Well, it might but not until folks my age have long gone to bed. The first night I was there coincided with a New Orleans Saints game. They were playing the Ravens – And won! The Saints have had and undefeated season. Now I’m not a religious woman but I think The Saints having a winning season is listed as one of the signs of the “End of Days” the Pentecostals like to reference so much. Not that I’m not thrilled for The Saints, but it does leave me a little worried……

Onward though.

The point I was making was that it was extremely loud that night and I heard drumming and music into the wee hours of the morning. The next day, I would have been groggy had I not been so excited about the conference! I sailed through the day but was stick-a-fork-in-me-I’m-done by the end of the day. I retreated to my room and climbed into bed relishing the silence. Ahhh, that was the stuff. After room service arrived with my seafood gumbo (I decided to be a pescatarian during this trip as being a strict vegetarian is just too hard around all that fresh seafood) and I had all that creole goodness digesting in my belly I was looking forward to dropping off effortlessly into blissful REM. That’s just about the time the drums started up. I almost couldn’t believe it. I wanted to cry. I tried to drown it out and after about 3 hours I gave up and stuffed the earplugs that came in my welcome bag into my ears. I hate the feeling of anything in my ears, but it did help and I was able to wedge some sleep in between the hours of I-can’t-believe-I’m-still-up-thirty and 4 AM. Throwing salt into the wound of my bloodshot eyes were two facts. The first was I was in Central time – meaning 5 o’clock Central time felt like 6 o’clock Eastern time (home time). BUT it was the first few days after Daylight Savings Time – meaning 4 o’clock CDT was 6 o’clock EST.

Have I lost you? Do you even care at this point?

Regardless – I had sacrificed sleep again. The second day of the conference was just as good if not better than the first and this is probably due to in no small part, the photo workshop I went to hosted by Jeff and Erin Youngren – As I discussed in my ParnterCon Review a couple of posts down. Fast forwarding to that evening. I did sleep more but that had more to do with the wine I drank than the lack of noise from the street. By the time Thursday rolled around I was running on excitement and adrenaline….

And that’s when Ginger Snapps came for a visit from Baton Rouge! And the first thing she said to me? “I hope you know we aren’t going to sleep much”. I was amazed at her clairvoyance.

Now, I don’t know about you, but being a woman I easily get intimidated walking around taking photos, especially in New Orleans, especially at night. It was SO nice to have a friend to walk around with! As much for the security as the camaraderie. We had a GREAT time taking pictures of the French Quarter at night and you’ll see them below. We wrapped up our nighttime walk around 11:00 or so and went back to the room. I was pretty exhausted and ready to let myself float away regardless of any distractions. We were in bed, lights out by 11:30. I was so tired I let the music below just carry me and my consciousness. Somewhere my brain was thinking “Just go with it and don’t fight it”…and it was working! It was wonderful!

Until, inexplicably the alarm clock went off at 12:00.

Loudly.

The clock was closest to the bed Ginger was sleeping in and I heard her blindly fumbling for the “off” switch or at least a merciful “snooze” anything to stop the intrusion the alarm was rudely introducing to the night. She finally got it and we returned to bed. It took a while but I found the groove again and floated in and out taking little sips of sleep for the rest of the night.

At 6 am my brain woke up and forced the rest of me to follow suit. Ginger confessed she had not slept well because of all the street noise. Funny, because I didn’t think it was so bad and then realized I’d started getting used to it, and poor Ginger was freshly initiated. We got up, showered and dressed and hit the streets by 7:00 AM. I wanted to show her the light in the city at that time the same way the Youngrens had shown us a couple of days prior. I did and the light was still great. We even went to the same street we had gone to during the workshop and shot each other. (I love how violent photography is…You get to “take” peoples’ pictures and schedule shots and shootings ). Using each other as models was a good exercise. In a low stress environment we got to play with lighting and poses. I really like a lot of the shots I got of Ginger but I also learned what I did wrong and how to avoid it. I felt bad for Ginger while she was shooting me. I’m about as natural and fluid in front of the camera as the Tinman without his oil can. I mean, I’m bad. And while sometimes I can look good, most times I just look goofy. It leaves me wondering if I look that goofy all the time. I’m so much cooler in my head.

After our initial modely posey thing we walked all over the Quarter again taking pictures. I truly love New Orleans.

We finished up the Quarter at one of the intriguing cemetaries. If you are unfamiliar with how it works in NOLA, let me tell you. Since NOLA is below sea level and the water table is 6′ below the surface, residents cannot bury their dead in the ground. Everything must be above ground which makes for some interesting gravesites as you’ll see below.

Our last place before my battery died was the Garden District and as proof of this city’s comeback, we stumbled upon a set, either TV or movie I’m not sure, where they had wrapped shooting. I don’t know what was shoot or who was in it, but we got to see all the equipment.

Enjoy the pictures below and know that I love New Orleans!

WV

I have been going to New Orleans for most of my life and the following images capture what I love about the city. It’s old, original, grungy and authentic.

These remind me of the movie Saw for some reason

New Orleans has its share of street urchins. Some of whom have read too much Anne Rice


This reminded me of the Exorcist for some reason. Lots of spookiness in the Quarter at night


For me, I can actually feel the history oozing out of the walls in some parts of the French Quarter



OK, break in spooky photos courtesy of random homeless guy asking us to take his picture. It is the French Quarter afterall

Back to the spookiness

Touchdown Jesus


I don’t know why I like this pic so much but I do!

Walking back to the hotel. Love how everyone has a balcony

The lights of Bourbon Street

Night Tours

Jackson Square was beautiful at night and we found a new Nikon Creative Lighting System….wait until the cars almost pass by before taking a picture so you can use their headlights as a light source!

St Louis Cathedral has always reminded me of Disney World

The band beneath my window and the drunks who love them

MORNING TIME! My favorite portrait taken by Ginger Snapps!

My favorite I took of Ginger Snapps

Street Shots

Love the Grunge and the History



St Louis Cathedral in the daylight


Hardest working Donkey in the business

I think Brad and Angelina live here…just kidding

Loved this doorknob and the lock reminded me of what I learned during a haunted history tour. The living used to install the lock upside down after a loved one died. It was supposed to confuse them and they couldn’t unlock the door and get in the house. Actually a night in the French Quarter is enough to leave unable to use a key to get in the house too.

Still with me? These are a lot of pictures I know but we’re almost done. Here is one of the cemetary we visited. I really just included this picture because in the reflection I look skinny

This was an unmarked site but apparently voodoo followers knew that this was a voodoo grave. Since it was so close to Halloween I think folks must have gathered and left offerings.

Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau is reportedly in this tomb. There is controversy as to whether she is really in there or not. I’m not sure what the triple “X”s mean but if you know please email me so I can include it in the captions.


Another unmarked tomb of a voodoo practioner.

and another

Enough with the voodoo. Here are some God fearing graves. Most of them were all in French so I didn’t undestand all of what I was reading





Some bling for you




Last one

And right before my battery died I got the shot of the No Parking sign.
That’s it! You made it to the end! Thanks for looking and if you have any feedback i.e. were there too many picture, let me know! Thanks everyone!

Camera Obscura

I always get so excited about the Sydney Festival. This time it was no different. Rumours had it the Scottish indie pop-rockers Camera Obscura were going to hit the town this January, and to my extreme delight, yes they are! Often compared to one of my absolute favourite bands Belle & Sebastian, this fine quintet came to my attention only a couple of years ago with Let’s Get Out of This Country. I fell in love with their memorable intimate bedroom pop melodies instantly. This is one band you will absolutely adore in the outdoor settings of the Beck’s Festival Bar.

It won’t be as epic as this year’s All Tomorrow’s Parties, but anything staring the brilliant Warren Ellis assures a spellbinding experience. Dirty Three and Laughing Clowns will perform Ocean Songs and History of Rock ‘n’ Roll Vol. 1 albums in their entirety at the Enmore Theatre on Australia Day. Dirty Three formed in Melbourne in 1991 and are Warren Ellis (Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds and Grinderman), Mick Turner  and Jim White. Sydney-based Laughing Clowns formed in 1979, after Ed Kuepper left The Saints. Alongside Kuepper and Jeffrey Wegener, the Sydney Festival version of Laughing Clowns will also feature Louise Elliott, Les ‘Biff’ Millar and Alister Spence.

In my opinion, festivals are just as much about seeing your favourite artists, as discovering new ones. I am quite keen to check out the Chicago-formed alternative country husband and wife duo The Handsome Family, especially since I’ve never seen anyone perform in The Famous Spiegeltent before. The Handsome Family have an impressive musical career of 14 years and nine albums! I say bring on some surreal, poetic American folk.

A new addition to Beck’s Festival Bar are the wonderful folk-rockers The Decemberists. This is an unmissable gig people!

CONGRATS to the New Orleans Saint on their huge comeback and ultimate victory yesterday! This puts us 6 in 0!! YEAH BUDDY!!

BUT in an even crazier turn of events Reggie Bush got out there and actually did his job.Check out this awesome play that reminds us why Reggie gets paid the big bucks!

WHO SHOULD PRAISE THE LORD?

• All people (Psalm 148:11-13, Psalm 67:3-5)
• Everything that has breath (Psalm 150:6)
• All flesh (Psalm 145:21)
• The people of God and our children (Psalm 78:4, Psalm 79:13)
• The righteous (Psalm 140:13)
• The saints (Psalm 145:10)
• The redeemed (Psalm 107:1-2)
• Those who fear the Lord (Psalm 22:23)
• Those who know and believe the truth (2 Timothy 4:3)

.

WHEN SHOULD WE PRAISE THE LORD?

• From morning till night (Psalm 113:3)
• All day long (Psalm 71:8)
• As long as we live (Psalm 146:2)
• At all times (Psalm 34:1)
• In times of depression (Psalm 42:11)
• In everything (Ephesians 5:20)

For St. Paul, Christ is everything: “I did in fact forfeit everything. I count it so much rubbish for the sake of gaining Christ…my one desire is to know Christ…”- Philippians 3.8, 10.

Central to St. Paul’s message is the doctrine of justification by faith. In the Epistle to the Romans, St. Paul wrote: “Whoever is justified through faith shall gain life.”- Romans 1.17. Faith is explicitly in Christ’s Person and work, his death, burial and resurrection:

“If on your lips is the confession, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and in your heart the faith that God raised him from the dead, you will find salvation. For the faith that leads to justification is in the heart, and the confession that leads to salvation is on the lips.”- Romans 10.9-10.

Justification is not a static thing; it is not merely a legal declaration, but a Covenantal, personal relationship with God in Christ that continues all of our life. Justification is a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ who lives within us. St. Paul testifies: “I have been crucified with Christ: the life I now live is not my life, but the life which Christ lives in me; my present mortal life is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me.”- Galatians 2.20.

We cannot save ourselves by our own efforts, by our good works or by our religion. It is only by God’s grace through faith that we are saved:

“For it is by grace you are saved through faith; it is not your own doing. It is God’s gift, not a reward for work done. There is nothing for anyone to boast of…”- Ephesians 2.8-9.

Although we are not saved by works, we are indeed saved for good works. St. Paul teaches that all who have been destined to salvation are destined to do good works: “we are God’s handiwork created in Christ Jesus for a life of good deeds, which God designed for us.” – Ephesians 2.10. True faith has good works with it; there is no contradiction between St. Paul’s and St. Jame’s teaching. Our good works are a loving and grateful response to God’s mercy shown us in Christ.

When we are saved, we are able to do good works because of the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives: “through the Holy Spirit he has given us, God’s love has flooded our hearts.”- Romans 5.5.

Byzantine Christians understand the grace of God to be more than simply his favor; the grace of God is none other than God himself, the presence of the Holy Spirit through his Divine Energies.

 Prevailing means to triumph or succeed.  Charles Finney said, “Prevailing prayer is that which secures an answer”.

Have you ever prevailed in prayer? This means praying and seeking God with the confidence that you will hear from Him. If you have been diligent to do all you can physically (the known will of God) and prayed but not prevailed, perhaps it’s time to think like a farmer. What does farming have to do with prayer? You might ask. Well the farmer works hard, planting, watering and fertilizing his crop. He knows and must believe that the harvest will come.  Bashini, an Irish immigrant who came to this country with nothing, said “Work like a hunter but think like a farmer.”  Today he is a millionaire.  How did he do it? He says he committed himself to a routine of consistent and accountable behavior and then waited for the results. 

A sister once said to me, “things are getting really bad” in her life even though she was praying and living right.  I asked her, “How are you praying? What do you believe when you pray?” She said, “I don’t think God wants to help me.” Well, I explained, this is unbelief. Image for a moment a farmer throwing seeds into the ground saying, “I’ll do this hard work but I don’t think I’ll have a harvest.” Of course not, he has confidence that the seeds will bring forth a bounty. Otherwise why go through the trouble.

When you pray, you have to disciple your mind and have faith. In the old testament, when people would bring there needs to the king, they did so knowing he could do for them what they could not do. Whatever the need, unsaved loved ones, financial needs, or health issues, we put our faith in God. We must trust and we are assured that God will work a miracle. 

Matthew 9:30 God is called “Lord of the harvest”.

2 Kings 4:1-7 This is the story of the poor widow that had nothing to offer but a little oil. God brought the increase as the oil continued to flow until all the jars were full.

I Tim 2:8  I will that men pray everywhere, lifting up hold hands without wrath and doubting

James 4: 3 ye ask and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

Psalms 66:18   If I regard iniquity in my heart the lord will not hear me.

James  5:16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

Psalm 51:6 “Behold, Thou desireth truth in the inward parts.” If the heart be not in a truthful state, if it be not entirely sincere and unselfish, we regard iniquity in our hearts; and, therefore, the Lord will not hear us.

Romans 8:26- 27 “For we know not what we should pray for, as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the heart knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

This Kingdom verse is for faithful & wise servants….doing.

Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. (Matt 24:45-47 NIV)

- When the King returns He will reward all His faithful & wise servants.
- Those servants will be active doing the King’s service whenever He returns.
- Doing means serving others because of their King’s example.
- He will reward them by putting them in charge of ‘all his goods’ for 1000 years.

Prayer: Gracious Father, Help me to have the wisdom do the things that will be pleasing to Your Son now, so that at His coming I might find favour in His sight. In His precious Name. Amen.

Supporting verse: You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth. (Rev 5:10 NIV) ….and they lived, and reigned with Christ a thousand years. Rev 20:4

In the process of throwing together a quick barbecue lunch for the diligent souls installing the dance floor in our studio, I came up a few items short of a full meal.  Off to the grocery store I went, on my list: macaroni and canned green beans.  I scanned my list again as I priced macaroni thinking, “Is there anything else I need?”  My head said, “nope,” but my heart said, “yes.”  It’s been a lonely day.  Choosing contentment, I moved to the next aisle.

I was putting cans of green beans in my basket when an elderly gentleman passed by and feeling better about life in general, I smiled at him.  He smiled back, I finished my selection and moved to the check out line.  As I was waiting I heard someone behind me say, “Excuse me, Miss.”  I turned to find the gentleman from the canned good aisle standing behind me.  He wanted to thank me for smiling at him.  He is a recent widower and today would have been his 50th anniversary with his wife.  He told me, with tears,  ”It made my day to receive a smile from such a beauty.”  

I told him that my relationship with Jesus gives my joy and that any kindness that I show is small compared to the kindness that God longs to show him.  He smiled widely and informed me that he was a Christian too.  I asked if I could pray for him and we took a moment then and there to thank Jesus for all the years that he had with his wife. 

It was so simple: a smile, a prayer and a bag full of macaroni and green beans.  I am astounded by the care God takes with his children and overwhelmed by this display of it.  It made my day.

There will be no place for racism in God’s kingdom.

…..for thou (Jesus) was slain, and didst purchase unto God with thy blood men of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation,  And hast made us unto our God a kingdom of priests: and we shall reign on the earth. (Rev 5:9-10)

- True believers of every age are redeemed by the sacrifice of Christ.
- They will be part of the government of God under the Lord Jesus Christ.
- Because they are to help Jesus govern in the future, they need to learn to govern themselves now.
- God’s just & righteous government will extend over the whole earth.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank you for sending Jesus into the world to redeem me from sin and corruption.  Help me to lead my life faithfully and honestly now, so that by your grace I could help your Son govern the world in the future. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Supporting verse: For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder….of the increase of his government and of peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David (Jerusalem), and upon his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from henceforth even for ever. (Isa 9:6-7)

One king – one religion.

And the LORD shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one LORD, and his name one. And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited. (Zech 14:9 & 11)

When the Lord Jesus returns:
- He will be king over the whole world.
- There will only be one religion.
- Jerusalem will never again be destroyed.
- She will be a safe place for all who dwell in her.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I pray for the peace of Jerusalem because I know all who love her will prosper.  In the Name of my King. Amen.

Supporting verse: Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. Psa 122:6-7

Now that I’ve joined the ranks of the unemployed once again, I’ve had more time to chill with one of my favorite saints, St. Joseph.  Unlike all of my other favorite saints, I didn’t fall in love with him because of his beautiful writings (Sts. Julian or Theresa of Avila) or compelling life story (Sts. Joan or Oscar Romero).  Of all of my favorite saints, St. Joe is the only one I didn’t choose.  He chose me.

All of the important things in my life seem to have some St. Joe connection.  St. Joe is the patron saint of my hometown, which means the parish that I grew up in was named after him.  After my brief sojourn away from Catholicism, I was brought home by the Catholic Worker movement, which also has Joe as their patron saint.  In fact, my favorite prayer to a saint is one that Dorothy Day would say to Joe when the Catholic Worker was having trouble paying bills, or heating the building, or feeding the ever increasing number of guests that would come to their door.  She’d light her St. Joseph candle, throw up her hands and say “you have to do something about this!”  With St. Joe being the patron saint of house hunting and job hunting, rest assured this young adult has repeated that prayer a few thousand times.

And I consider it a good sign that one of the grad schools that I’m looking at was founded by the Sisters of Saint Joseph.

Here is a short list other fabulous things and people that St. Joe watches out for:

• Italians
• communists
• the international labor movement, in general
• Nashville, TN
• interior souls (honestly, I have no idea what that means.  but it sounds poetic.)
• daddys
• babies
• pregnant ladies (ok, so that’s a little weird, but even so…)
• The Americas
• immigrants
• Vatican II

What I love best about St. Joe is how he’s always been there for me, quietly supportive as I’ve grown and changed.  Just like you’d imagine the adoptive father of Jesus to be.

And hopefully, after all this flattery, he’ll be willing to throw a few phenomenal job opportunities my way.

(Thanks, Joe.)