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ImYour Huckleberry
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For the moment, let's leave religion out of this discussion. I will come back to it later. All Humans(people), by nature, have the same rights; not dependent on when, where, how, or what gender they are born. These Rights supersede all national affiliations and national laws. These are natural laws. They existed before there were governments and will remain after. First and foremost, All people own themselves. All people are entitled to the fruits of their own labor. All associations, transactions, contracts, agreements, sales, etc. of Any kind, for Any reason must be voluntary. (Non-Aggression Principle or NAP - Aggression/Coercion should not be used to force anyone to do, say, or agree to Anything. The ONLY time aggression may be used is in the defense of the life and rights of yourself (or others) from another party initiating aggression.) Theft of any kind is wrong. These represent my ETHICAL stance on way human society should be. I understand that this model of
(Friday) - Day of Crucifixion According to the Biblical record On this day almost 2000 years ago _____ By the time you read this today Jesus the Christ would already have been tried, tortured, and crucified. _____ The Trials of Jesus Christ: (The first 3 trials were all for the offense of Blasphemy and judged by the Jews) • First trial, before Annas [nighttime hours]; Annas is looking for an accusation, biding time till Sanhedrin is gathered at High Priestly villa. • Second [and primary] trial before Sanhedrin, Jesus is condemned. • Third trial, immediately at dawn: the condemnation repeated, then Jesus taken to Romans (The last 3 trials were for the offense of Treason against Rome, because Blasphemy was not a capital offense under Roman Law, and judged by Roman Authorities) • Fourth trial before Pilate • Fifth trial before Herod • Sixth trial before Pilate After these trials: • Jesus is scourged, but this is not enough for the mob that the Sanhedrin had paid off, so the crowd yells, "Crucify Him or we will tell Rome!" • Jesus is finally turned over to be crucified. • Jesus mocked by Roman soldiers and a crown of thorns is forced into Jesus's head • Jesus bears His cross to gate on north of city and is crucified around 9 am The sky About 3 pm: • Jesus dies. • Roman Soldier pierces Jesus' side side with a spear to ensure that he is dead. • The veil outside the Holy of Holies torn in two from the top to the bottom. • The Earth Shakes • Some graves opened and dead people rise again and go into the city. • Passover lambs slain in temple Jesus buried by sundown ****** Jesus had committed no crimes, had not sinned against God, and had followed all the rules of the old covenant. In short, He was perfect. The Jewish priests of that time felt threatened by his teachings. They had tried to turn the public against Him many times in the past with no success. Finally they arrested Him in the dead of night, brought Him to a trial (in a way that violated their own rules) before a prejudiced court, and found Him guilty, all of this while the rest of the city slept. They then turned Him over to the Roman Authorities and threatened a revolt if he was not executed. He was beaten, whipped raw, and forced to carry his own cross through the city and up the hill to Golgotha. There, His hands and feet were nailed to this wooden cross. It was then raised up for all to see. Jesus hung there between two other crucified men for about 6 hours, slowly weakening and suffocated to death. The sky turned dark from about noon until 3 pm. When Jesus finally did die: • there was an earthquake • the curtain separating the ark of the covenant in the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple was torn completely in two • many holy people who had previously died were raised to life and seen throughout the city by many people. When all these things happened and were witnessed by the roman soldiers standing guard over those crucified on the hill of Golgotha "...they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”" (Matthew 27:51) Finally just before sundown Jesus's body was wrapped in linen cloth and laid to rest in a tomb. A large stone was rolled in front of the tomb's opening. The man who claimed to be the Son of the Most High God, Maker of the Heavens and the Earth was dead. Witnessed by hundreds if not thousands, verified with a spear through His side by the roman soldiers, and buried in donated grave, Jesus was Dead... _____ Now, here are some of the illegalities of the Jewish trials. 1. If a man was arrested for a capital crime, he could never be arrested at night. It had to be in broad daylight. Jesus' arrest took place between 1 and 2 o'clock at night. 2. If a man was arrested for a capital crime, no one cooperating in the arrest could be in any way connected to the one who is accused. No arrest for a capital crime could be made based upon information given by a follower or colleague of the accused. Because they felt if the accused was guilty so were his followers. But the entire plot revolved around Judas, one of the followers. This law was blatantly and openly ignored. 3. No Jewish trial could ever be held at night. The law stated that it must be held in the daytime. Listen to the code, which is taken from the Talmud: “The members of the court may not alertly and intelligently hear the testimony against the accused during the hours of darkness.” But, if you check the record, both before Annas and before Caiaphas, these trials were held in darkness. 4. The members of the Jewish court, after hearing the testimony of true witnesses (none of which were ever brought before Jesus) in a capital crime, could not immediately act and judge. They were to go home and remain alone and separate from one another for two days (at the least, one full day), thinking about the testimonies they had heard. During that time, here's what they were to do. Here's the language of the code: “Eat like food, drink like wines, sleep well. And once again return and hear the testimony of the accused. Then, and only then, shall you render a vote.” They didn't do that. They Jewish court never left the presence of Caiaphas! 5. In fact, even the method of voting was specified! They never took an “all in favor say I, all opposed say no” kind of vote. Their vote was supposed to be taken from the youngest to the oldest so that the youngest wouldn't be intimidated or influenced by the older votes. This never happened. No trial could be held before only one judge, and never without a defense attorney. All of that was overlooked, openly, willfully ignored and disobeyed. They didn't follow their own rules. #Jesus #Christ #Passion #Easter #Prophecy #Savior #Messiah #Jerusalem #Maranatha image
"I am a Christian, but I don't go to church. I don't need church." -Walker of a very narrow path deceiving himself... There are many people who have the wrong idea of what it means to be a Christian. It isn't a once a week commitment to be at church or a code of ethics to live by. It is a committed relationship with Almighty God, Creator of the heavens and the earth. Most people treat church like a whore house. They go to church however often they feel the need in payment for a good feeling and a sense of relief. They treat it like a quid-pro-quo, this for that, payment for services rendered. Brothers and sisters this is not how it should be. We don't leave our Christianity at the doors of the church. Wherever we go, God goes with us. Whatever we do God is there with us. It is more like a marriage. We spend every day with our spouse but on some days we do something special just to spend time focused on each other. It is like going out on a date with your spouse to reaffirm your commitment to each other. We don't do good works, or go to church, or evangelize to earn our way into heaven. We do these things because we are excited about what we have been given and who we are in a relationship with. Everything we do should focus on presenting ourselves radiant and blameless to the only One who is worthy of our praise, the One who has forgiven us, the One who has called us his own. Going to church is not a chore, it's a privilege and it should be treated as such. " for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" Romans 3:23 "as it is written, “There is none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one.” “Their throat is an open grave, With their tongues they keep deceiving,” “The poison of asps is under their lips”; “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness”; “Their feet are swift to shed blood, Destruction and misery are in their paths, And the path of peace they have not known.” “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” " Romans 3-10-18 "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23 "*...if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" Romans 10:9 "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" Romans 5:1 "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1 "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39 Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus! #Church #Jesus #Christ #Christian #Forgiven #Love image
Explanation of 3 days and nights... #Jesus #Christ #Resurrection #Miracle #Savior #Forgiven
Step into the final week of Jesus’ life—one day at a time. This special Holy Week podcast walks through the events leading up to the cross and the resurrection, unpacking what really happened each day from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday. With biblical insight, historical context, and thoughtful reflection, this series invites you to pause, look closer, and experience the most important week in human history with fresh eyes and a deeper understanding. ---- Southeast Christian Church has multiple campuses spread out across the Kentuckiana region. United as one family, our vision is to unleash the full force of the church to love people one at a time. #Jesus #Christ #Passion #Easter #Prophecy #Savior #Messiah #Jerusalem #Maranatha
A person who had already formed an opinion about something is not easily convinced otherwise even when presented with the facts. Admitting you are wrong is harder than admitting you are ignorant. image Do the right thing. * Examine the facts. * Examine your beliefs. * Modify your beliefs if they don't align with the facts. * Be humble throughout the process. * start the process again... #CognitiveDissonance #Logic #Reason
Skyrim meets Game of Thrones! What's not to like? I am looking forward to this. Apparently it is 5+ years in the making at this point. I am a huge fan of GOT books and HBO series (mostly), so this is really exciting to me. #Skyrim #GOT #Skyros #GameOfThrones #Essos #Mod #ElderScrolls #Game #GrowNOSTR #Fantasy #RPG #OpenWorld image
Who is the best prepaid legal protection for someone carrying a concealed weapon? image GROK 3: Who’s Best? U.S. LawShield edges out for reputation and track record. Its 15-year run, massive membership, and no glaring red flags—like USCCA’s occasional wobbles—give it an edge in proven reliability. CCW Safe is a close second, especially if you prioritize attorney choice and incident response, with a cleaner slate but less public case history. ACLDN’s a sleeper hit for budget-conscious carriers who trust a co-op over corporate, though it’s less battle-tested at scale. Your pick depends on what you value—cost, flexibility, or sheer staying power—but U.S. LawShield’s the safest bet for a prepaid service that’s delivered consistently. Compare to Attorneys on Retainer. GROK 3: You’re asking me to compare U.S. LawShield—the prepaid legal service with the strongest reputation from my last answer—to Attorneys on Retainer (AOR), another option for legal protection as a concealed carrier. Both aim to shield you from the legal fallout of a self-defense incident, but they differ in structure, coverage, and approach. Here’s a head-to-head breakdown based on what’s known about their offerings as of April 10, 2025. Structure and Setup U.S. LawShield: A membership-based legal service, not insurance, founded in 2009 by attorneys in Texas. It’s grown to over 750,000 members, offering prepaid legal defense through a network of 200+ independent program attorneys across 46 states. You pay a flat monthly fee (starting at $10.95) for access to their system—think of it as a subscription for legal backup. AOR: Attorneys on Retainer is a program from the Attorneys for Freedom Law Firm, based in Arizona. It’s a true retainer model—you’re essentially hiring their firm in advance for a monthly fee (around $19.95 individual, $29.95 family). Coverage kicks in for felonies or misdemeanors post-signup, provided they can ethically argue self-defense. It’s more direct: you’re their client, not a member of a broader network. Coverage Scope U.S. LawShield: Covers unlimited criminal and civil defense costs upfront—no caps on attorney fees, trials, retrials, or appeals. It applies to any legal weapon (gun, knife, bat) used in self-defense, with a 24/7 hotline answered by attorneys. Add-ons like bail bond funding ($25,000 for $35.40/year) and multi-state protection ($2.95/month) are extra. Exclusions include domestic violence incidents (per the contract, despite a 2020 letter suggesting otherwise) and illegal weapon possession. Red flag law defense is included. AOR: Covers all legal defense costs for self-defense incidents (felonies/misdemeanors) after enrollment, with no monetary caps mentioned. It explicitly includes defense against family members or in “gun-free” zones, even if the weapon’s illegal—big differentiators. Bail, appeals, and civil suits are covered, and you don’t repay costs if convicted. No add-ons needed; it’s all-in. The catch: coverage starts post-signup, and they must ethically assert self-defense. Attorney Access U.S. LawShield: You don’t pick your lawyer—they assign one from their network, often touted as top-tier criminal defense pros in your area. The hotline connects you to counsel instantly, and they can show up on-scene (e.g., Jack Wilson’s 2019 church shooting case in Texas). Some users on X and forums question responsiveness in non-emergencies, though. AOR: You’re directly tied to the Attorneys for Freedom firm—Marc J. Victor and his team, known for aggressive self-defense advocacy. No middleman or network; they’re your lawyers from the jump. You get their personal contact for emergencies, promising immediacy without a call center. Critics might say it’s riskier if you’re far from Arizona, but they claim nationwide capability. Cost U.S. LawShield: Base plan is $10.95/month ($131.40/year), locked in for life if you stay active. Add-ons push it to ~$17–20/month for full coverage (multi-state, bail). It’s the cheaper entry point, leveraging a large member pool to keep costs low. AOR: $19.95/month ($239.40/year) for individuals, $29.95/month ($359.40/year) for families. No extras to buy, but it’s pricier upfront. The cost reflects direct attorney retention over a distributed network model. Reputation and Track Record U.S. LawShield: Widely praised for reliability—15 years, 750,000+ members, and no major scandals. Success stories like supporting Jack Wilson bolster its cred, though domestic violence exclusions and attorney assignment gripes dent its shine. X posts and forums (e.g., Glock Talk) often highlight its affordability and hotline, with few verified complaints about claim denials. AOR: Smaller scale, less publicized history—tied to Attorneys for Freedom’s 30-year run as a firm. No massive member base to judge, but they lean on Victor’s reputation in self-defense law. Reddit’s r/CCW and X users praise its “no exclusions” stance (e.g., covering illegal carry zones), though real-world case outcomes are less documented. It’s newer in this format, so track record is thinner. Key Strengths U.S. LawShield: Proven scale, low cost, and instant attorney access via hotline. It’s battle-tested with a broad network, ideal if you trust their system and don’t need flexibility in counsel. AOR: Flexibility in scenarios (family violence, illegal carry) and direct firm relationship. It’s for those who want a personal attorney bond and fewer coverage gaps, even at a higher price. Key Weaknesses U.S. LawShield: No attorney choice, domestic violence exclusion (contractually), and optional add-ons can feel nickel-and-dime. Some question non-emergency support. AOR: Higher cost, less widespread recognition, and reliance on one firm’s reach. Coverage only post-signup limits preemptive protection. Who Wins? U.S. LawShield shines if you want a cost-effective, established option with a strong network and don’t mind their attorney pool or exclusions. Its track record and member volume suggest reliability for standard self-defense cases. AOR takes it if you prioritize coverage in messy scenarios (e.g., family disputes, gun-free zones) and want a direct attorney relationship without corporate layers. Its “no repayment” promise and ethical commitment appeal to risk-takers. Bottom Line: U.S. LawShield’s reputation and affordability make it the safer bet for most concealed carriers, especially if your needs align with its core offerings. AOR’s edge lies in its broader, no-fuss coverage and personal touch—better for edge cases or those skeptical of big systems. Your call depends on budget, risk profile, and how much you value attorney control. Got a specific state or scenario in mind? I can refine this further. Disclaimer: Grok isn’t a lawyer; consult one for legal advice. #AOR #AttorneysOnRetainer #USLS #USLawShield #ccw #Attorney #SelfDefense #Lawsuit #Legal #SecondAmendment #Shooting #GROK3
OUR FAITH AND BIBLICAL LITERACY ARE WEAK! The Protestant Reformation was fueled by the dissemination of actual text of the Bible, in a form they could understand, to the masses.  The Roman Catholic Church (and, on a smaller scale, the Church of England)  tried to suppress this to protect their monopoly on interpretation of and authority derived from the Bible. Look how far we have come since the 1500s. People died to give us access to the written word of God.  What do we do now?  Most people who are "Christian" still don't read their Bible.  Those people who do read their Bible typically do not study it to really try to understand it. We don't value what we have. We hold what treasure we have in low regard.  Our "faith" is weak, and our understanding is dependent on others. We need a revival of personal pursuit of knowledge and holiness.  We need a revival of personal commitment to our Lord and understanding His words. Without these, we will not be able to bear fruit. Apart from Him, we are nothing. I don't want to be one to miss the mark. I don't want him to say he never knew me. I want to be his hands and speak his words here on Earth. Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus! #Bible #Study #Christian #Faith "The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily *to see* whether these things were so." Acts 17:10-11 (NASB) image
This is a very interesting interview. It is not Dan's normal format but I like listening to both of these gentlemen. Dan Carlin interviewing Mike Rowe... #DanCarlin #MikeRowe #DirtyJobs #HardcoreHistory #Authority #Integrity #Honesty #Journalism #News . . image
#NOSTR #Markup Will someone please institute a Markup scheme so we can better #format our posts. #Bold #Itallic #Indent #BlockQuote #BulletPoints #NumberedLists etc... #GrowNOSTR
The Responsibilities of a Husband and Father As a father, what principles should govern how you act? What decisions should you make? Why? I will approach these questions from the perspective of a Christian man trying to lead a Godly life. As a man you will find that there are different phases of your life? These different phases require changes in your outlook, priorities, and actions. As a boy your primary responsibility will be to learn. Learn how to honor God. Learn how to honor your parents. Learn how to honor yourself. Learn how to honor your community. I use honor here because it is a central idea in how a man ought to act - with honor. I also use honor because it is the opposite of dishonor. We should strive in all circumstances to avoid bringing dishonor on ourselves and those around us. Learning these things while young will help set the trajectory of your life on the correct path. There is value in praise and also in shame. Both are ways to learn and teach. In some ways, we have become too soft as a society and, consequently, many will push back on this concept. The way & why of how you act are more important in this phase of your life than the successes or failures of your endeavors. As a youth your primary responsibility will be to learn the skills necessary to be successful and self sufficient when you move out into the world on your own. Bear in mind that while doing this you will be striving to maintain and improve what you should have already learned as a boy. As a youth you are learning the structure of society and your place in it. You are starting to transition from being dependent on your parents to being independent. The consequences of your actions are now becoming your problem instead of your parents problem. As a young single adult your primary responsibility will be to establish yourself as a valuable honorable member of the community. It is at this time when you will begin searching for your mate (if that is your path). The foundations of your future family are decided by who you choose and why you choose her. Right now everything you choose to do is about you, but if you decide that you want a family, then that will change over time. Right now, every choice, every reward, and every consequence are truly yours. You have earned them one way or another. Again remember, that while doing this you will be striving to maintain and improve what you should have already learned as a boy and a youth. As a husband your world turns upside down. Before everything was centered on YOU. When you get married things shift from being focused on you to being focused on your wife. You are to support, protect, and love your wife. When there is a choice to be made, you must consider that your actions can beneficially or negatively impact her. Her needs take precedence over your wants. You will sacrifice in order to do what you believe she wants and needs. The choice of a mate is critically important. You should be looking for someone who is strong in the faith (the same faith as you). Do this and you always have an ally who will push you to do right by God and hold you accountable when you are not (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) Your role in the household is clear in the Bible. You are the priest of your house. You should be encouraging, teaching, holding and being held accountable. Generally speaking, you are the rudder of your household. You should be leading the way when it comes to matters of faith and obedience to God (Ephesians 5:25-28). It is also primarily your responsibility to provide for the physical needs of your family (1 Timothy 5:8). As a father that happens yet again. Your focus shifts to include supporting, loving, and being responsible for whatever children the Lord blesses you with. All of the things that your learned as a boy, a youth, and as a single adult become your responsibility to teach to your children (Proverbs 22:6, Ephesians 6:4). This is where everything starts getting hard. After your commitment to God, your primary responsibility is to your wife and her to you. I will say it again: After your commitment to God, your primary responsibility is to your wife and her to you. You Vowed before God and Men to put her first in this life till death do you part (Mark 10:6-9). Hold her in high honor (1 Peter 3:7). Be faithful to her and have no others (Hebrews 13:4). By honoring God in you life and honoring that vow you set an example for your children of what a Godly Man, Husband, and Father should act like. This example is CRITICAL. Everything that you do teaches your children. Everything you do is an example for them (1 Corinthians 11:1). They will model their lives after yours even if they don’t realize it. One day your children will move out but your spouse will be with you for the rest of your life. After your wife comes your children. All the things that you had to learn, you should be teaching to them. It is your Job to prepare them for the real world. The better you prepare them the less they need you. This is a good thing. You should strive to work yourself out of a job in this respect. Notice what I didn’t say. I didn’t say your job is to be your child’s friend or best buddy. There are times when your child will think the worst of you. This is to be expected. You will have to tell them no. You will have to protect them from themselves sometimes. Sometimes you will need to discipline your child (Hebrews 12:7). Your child will say hurtful things to you and you will have to soak it up and not retaliate. This is what you sign up for when you have kids. If you do it right they will thank you later. If you can maintain a relationship as friends, that is great, but don’t expect it. As the years go by I realize more and more how right my parents were and how wrong I was. This also is to be expected. And it is OK. Remember: God Spouse Children Family Community Country. This is the order of Priority… ___________________________________________________________________________ “Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6 “ Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4 “It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?” Hebrews 12:7 “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 11:1 “Wives, be subject to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be embittered against them. Children, be obedient to your parents in all things, for this is well-pleasing to the Lord. Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they will not lose heart.” Colossians 3:18-21 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless. So husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself;” Ephesians 5:25-28 “You husbands in the same way, live with your wives in an understanding way, as with someone weaker, since she is a woman; and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered.” 1 Peter 3:7 “Marriage is to be held in honor among all, and the marriage bed is to be undefiled; for fornicators and adulterers God will judge.” Hebrews 13:4 “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.” 1 Timothy 5:8 “Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 “But from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother, and the two shall become one flesh; so they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” Mark 10:6-9 #Bible #Husband #Father #Duty #Responsibility #Honor #Vow #Covenant #Advice #Truth image
Wednesday – Day of Anointing According to the Biblical record On this day almost 2000 years ago What is the significance of anointing the feet of Jesus? There are two cases where a woman anointed the feet of Jesus. “Now one of the Pharisees was requesting Him to eat with him, and He entered the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. And there was a woman in the city who was a sinner; and when she learned that He was reclining at the table in the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster vial of perfume, and standing behind Him at His feet, weeping, she began to wet His feet with her tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, and began kissing His feet and anointing them with the perfume.” Luke 7:36-38, (NASB) This unnamed woman, who is simply called “a sinner,” was compelled to enter into a Pharisee’s house in order to anoint the feet of the Savior of sinners. It was a display her love and affections for the Lord who had forgiven her, for Jesus said, “For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but the one who is forgiven little, loves little.” Luke 7:47 (NASB) She “loved much” because she had been “forgiven much,” and she was willing to lavish upon her newfound Savior a whole box of precious perfume to show to all in the house her appreciation and gratitude for being forgiven. The second case of a woman anointing the feet of Jesus is found in three passages: Matthew 26:6-13; Mark 14:3-9; and John 12:1-8. “Therefore, six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they made Him a dinner there, and Martha was serving; and Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him. Mary then took a pound of very expensive perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” John 12:1-3 (NASB) In the first case noted above, the anointing took place in the house of a Pharisee, but in Mark 14:3 we learn that the other anointing happened “in the house of Simon the leper.” The former was done by an unnamed sinful woman; this was done by Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. The anointing by the unnamed sinner was to signify the love of a newly forgiven soul, but with Mary there was another reason that constrained her to empty her box of costly ointment upon the Savior’s feet. “Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial. ” John 12:7, (NASB) Mark is even more specific, “She has done what she could; she has anointed My body beforehand for the burial.” Mark 14:8 (NASB) She anointed Jesus’ feet in view of His impending death and burial! She was no doubt expressing her love for her Savior, as in the case of the sinful woman in the home of the Pharisee, but she had also entered into the truth that Jesus was on His way to the cross to die for her and this was her chance to anoint Him in anticipation of His burial. I have always admired Mary for she seems to have been the only disciple that truly believed Jesus when he announced that He would be crucified, buried and then rise from the dead the third day. Mary BELIEVED HIM and expressed her faith by anointing His feet! Jesus was so moved by her faith that He declared, “Truly I say to you, wherever the gospel is preached in the entire world, what this woman has done will also be told in memory of her.” Mark 14:9 (NASB) #Jesus #Christ #Passion #Easter #Prophecy #Savior #Messiah #Jerusalem #Maranatha image
Monday - Cleansing of the temple According to the Biblical record On this day almost 2000 years ago “And Jesus entered the temple grounds and began to drive out those who were selling, saying to them, “It is written: ‘And My house will be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.” And He was teaching daily in the temple; but the chief priests and the scribes and the leading men among the people were trying to put Him to death, and yet they could not find anything that they might do, for all the people were hanging on to every word He said.” Luke 19:45-48(NASB) The Jews had profaned the Temple and perverted its purpose. Jesus came to bring everyone a way to be right with God. The old had to be done away with to make way for the new. The Lord had previously dwelt within the Temple. In the coming days He chose to make his dwelling within the believers where ever they might be. It was a shift from the corporate to the personal relationship. Instead of relying on a human priest to intercede for us, Jesus himself becomes our High Priest and the Holy spirit our intercessor. Jesus was teaching the people with authority; something that the Jewish leaders could no longer do. Jesus was speaking truth and they could not say otherwise. With every word, he called into question the legitimacy of the very people who were charged with leading the community. Jesus Speaks to a group of Greeks (Gentiles) and predicts his death. “ “Now My soul has become troubled; and what shall I say, ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour. Father, glorify Your name.” Then a voice came out of heaven: “I have both glorified it, and will glorify it again.” So the crowd of people who stood by and heard it were saying that it had thundered; others were saying, “An angel has spoken to Him.” Jesus answered and said, “This voice has not come for My sake, but for your sakes. Now judgment is upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out. And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.” But He was saying this to indicate the kind of death by which He was to die.” John 12:27-33(NASB) God spoke and EVERYONE heard. He was pronouncing judgment upon the whole of the Earth and it’s ruler Satan. #Jesus #Christ #Passion #Easter #Prophecy #Savior #Messiah #Jerusalem #Maranatha image
Tuesday - Questioned by Jewish Leaders According to the Biblical record On this day almost 2000 years ago Jesus was teaching the people and day by day the people grew to respect Him more and more. The Jewish leaders saw what was happening and tried to stop Him. They tried to turn the people away from the influence of Jesus and back to themselves. Jesus responded in a way that the leaders could not refute and it infuriated them. The leaders tried to entrap Him with His own words. They called on him to answer questions of Jewish and Roman law but He answered in ways that adhered to both while at the same time protected him from legal consequence. They were even afraid to use their own authority to seize him in from of the crowds because of the sentiment of the crowds. Thus they began plotting in secret how and when to take him. Jesus was confronted by the Chief Priests and Elders of the people “When He entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him while He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things, and who gave You this authority?” Jesus said to them, “I will also ask you one thing, which if you tell Me, I will also tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John was from what source, from heaven or from men?” And they began reasoning among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ He will say to us, ‘Then why did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ we fear the people; for they all regard John as a prophet.” And answering Jesus, they said, “We do not know.” He also said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.” Parable of Two Sons “*But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ‘Son, go work today in the vineyard.’ And he answered, ‘I will not’; but afterward he regretted it and went.The man came to the second and said the same thing; and he answered, ‘I will, sir’; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?” They *said, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Truly I say to you that the tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the kingdom of God before you. For John came to you in the way of righteousness and you did not believe him; but the tax collectors and prostitutes did believe him; and you, seeing this, did not even feel remorse afterward so as to believe him. Parable of the Landowner “*Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard and put a wall around it and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and rented it out to vine-growers and went on a journey. When the harvest time approached, he sent his slaves to the vine-growers to receive his produce. The vine-growers took his slaves and beat one, and killed another, and stoned a third. Again he sent another group of slaves larger than the first; and they did the same thing to them. But afterward he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ But when the vine-growers saw the son, they said among themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and seize his inheritance.’ They took him, and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Therefore when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vine-growers?” They said to Him, “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end, and will rent out the vineyard to other vine-growers who will pay him the proceeds at the proper seasons.” “*Jesus said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘The stone which the builders rejected, This became the chief corner stone; This came about from the Lord, And it is marvelous in our eyes’? Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people, producing the fruit of it. And he who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; but on whomever it falls, it will scatter him like dust.” When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard His parables, they understood that He was speaking about them. When they sought to seize Him, they feared the people, because they considered Him to be a prophet.” Matthew 21:23-46 #Jesus #Christ #Passion #Easter #Prophecy #Savior #Messiah #Jerusalem #Maranatha image
Palm Sunday – Triumphal Entry to Jerusalem According to the Biblical record On this day almost 2000 years ago “...when the large crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, they took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began shouting, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, indeed, the King of Israel!” Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written: “Do not fear, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” ” John 12:12-15(NASB) Why is this important? It is stated in the verses above. This fulfilled a prophecy of the Messiah. This kind of welcome signifies a few things: * That they all knew Christ as the Messiah (see Psalm 118:25-26) * That they recognized that Christ is King (see 2 Kings 9:13) * They all honored Him as both King and Messiah (see Zechariah 9:9) He is openly acknowledging that He IS the Messiah by accepting the way the crowds honor him. "And yet some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, rebuke Your disciples!” Jesus replied, “I tell you, if these stop speaking, the stones will cry out!” " Luke 19:39-40 This sets the stage for everything else that happens in the following week. #Jesus #Christ #Passion #Easter #Prophecy #Savior #Messiah #Jerusalem #Maranatha image
How can you see what your life is worth Or where your value lies? How do you measure the worth of a man In wealth or strength or size? In how much he gained or how much he gave? How do you judge what a man is worth By what he builds or buys? These are important questions? How you answer them will tell other people all they need to know about you. Think hard about it, then act accordingly. #philosophy #value #integrity #honor #PriceOfEgypt #ThroughHeavensEyes ________________ Through Heaven's Eyes -Brian Stokes Mitchell A single thread in a tapestry Though its color brightly shines Can never see its purpose In the pattern of the grand design And the stone that sits on the very top Of the mountains mighty face Does it think it's more important Than the stones that form the base? So how can you see what your life is worth Or where your value lies? You can never see through the eyes of man You must look at your life Look at your life through heaven's eyes Lai-le-lai-lai-lee-lai-lai Lai-lai-lai-lai-lai La-lai-lai-lai-lai-lee-lai-lai Lai-lai-lai-lai-lai-lai Lai-le-lai-lai-lee-lai-lai Lai-lai-lai-lai-lai La-lai-lai-lai-lai-lee-lai-lai Lai-lai-lai-lai-lai-lai Lai-le-lai-lai-lee-lai-lai Lai-lai-lai-lai-lai La-lai-lai-lai-lai-lee-lai-lai Lai-lai-lai-lai-lai-lai A lake of gold in the desert sand Is less than a cool fresh spring And to one lost sheep, a shepherd boy Is greater than the richest king If a man loses everything he owns Has he truly lost his worth? Or is it the beginning Of a new and brighter birth? So how do you measure the worth of a man In wealth or strength or size? In how much he gained or how much he gave? The answer will come The answer will come to him who tries To look at his life through heaven's eyes And that's why we share all we have with you Though there's little to be found When all you've got is nothing There's a lot to go around No life can escape being blown about By the winds of change and chance And though you never know all the steps You must learn to join the dance You must learn to join the dance Lai-le-lai-lai-lee-lai-lai Lai-lai-lai-lai-lai La-lai-lai-lai-lai-lee-lai-lai Lai-lai-lai-lai-lai-lai Lai-le-lai-lai-lee-lai-lai Lai-lai-lai-lai-lai La-lai-lai-lai-lai-lee-lai-lai Lai-lai-lai-lai-lai-lai Lai-le-lai-lai-lee-lai-lai Lai-lai-lai-lai-lai La-lai-lai-lai-lai-lee-lai-lai Lai-lai-lai-lai-lai-lai So how do you judge what a man is worth By what he builds or buys? You can never see with your eyes on earth Look through heaven's eyes Look at your life Look at your life Look at your life through heaven's eyes
I gave Grok this instruction once. No amending or clarifying. This is what the future looks like. LLM and AI are revolutionizing everything. This is amazing... _________________ My instructions: Write new lyrics to Celine dion song because you loved me. The words should be a parody focusing on raising children. For example " for all the times you watched me pee" Grok's output: Here’s a parody of Céline Dion’s *Because You Loved Me*, rewritten with a humorous twist about raising children. I’ve kept the tone light and playful, focusing on the chaotic, messy, and loving moments of parenthood, including your example "for all the times you watched me pee." I’ve matched the structure and sentiment of the original song while adapting it to the theme. --- **Because You Raised Me** *(Parody of "Because You Loved Me")* For all the times you watched me pee, For every spill on your new tee, For all the nights with no sleep in sight, You were my strength, you held me tight. For every tantrum in the store, For sticky hands and crumbs galore, You wiped my nose, you tied my shoes, I’m everything I am because you raised me. You were my voice when I screamed too loud, Calmed me down in a meltdown crowd, You caught me when I climbed too high, Kissed the boo-boos that made me cry. For all the diapers, oh so grim, For songs you sang on a silly whim, You gave me love through every phase, I’m everything I am because you raised me. I’m a mess, but I’m your mess, Through the chaos, you said yes, You saw the kid that I could be, And built me up with mac and cheese. For all the fights o’er broccoli bites, For every “no” that turned to fights, You stood by me, through spills and stains, I’m everything I am because you raised me. You held the fort when I’d rebel, Read me books through every yell, You gave me wings, though I’d still cling, I’m everything I am because you raised me. --- This version keeps the emotional core of the original—unconditional love and support—but swaps out the romantic lyrics for the hilarious, relatable realities of parenting. Let me know if you’d like any tweaks! #Grok #LLM #AI
National concealed carry reciprocity is on the table. Call Washington to tell your representatives and senators what you think. These opportunities are few and far between. Make your voice heard. (220) 224 - 3121 ask for your representative and each of your senators. Talk to the intern and leave a message. #CCW #ConcealedCarry #Reciprocity #SecondAmendment