(Matthew 4: 1-11 below) Jesus is baptized, God speaks His favor of the event and immediately, Jesus is carried into the wilderness. A little aside here....Have you ever noticed when you are really trying to do your best to follow Christ, the most ridiculous, trying, ungodly temptations, trials and stresses enter your life? Satan knows we often tie our feelings and emotions to our faith, and if the devil beats on us enough, he knows we might give up. Take heart, if the devil isn't trying to... Read Full Story

(Matthew 3: 13 - 17 below) As I had written in my last posting, people were all coming out to John, showing repentance and being cleansed by baptism. Jesus goes out to His cousin to get the same baptism. Isn't this peculiar when you think of it? God in the flesh who needs no purification, no washing, no cleansing asks for baptism - the outward sign of a cleansed heart that is willing to repent. Why did He do it? I think it was to show that although He was God, at this moment, He was a man... Read Full Story

(Matthew 3:1-12 below) John the Baptist, First Baptist, no less....Sorry, couldn't resist. John was Jesus' first cousin. Nothing is said of their relationship prior to their adulthood. Sometimes I wish we had more fill in the blank info on the years not recorded in scripture. John and Jesus had to have known each other growing up. In John's adulthood, he has either been called by God and/or seen who Jesus really is and has gone forth to notify the world of the impending ministry of Jesus... Read Full Story

(Matthew 2:19-23 below) We don't know exactly when this happens, it states that Jesus is still a child. Herod has died and his plan of doing away with Jesus has failed. God sends and angel to speak to Joseph again - twice to be exact. The angel lets Joseph know that all is well, you can go back. Upon arriving in Israel, Joseph is told of danger since Herod's son is ruling in his former area. Under advisement from the angel in a dream, Joseph settles in Nazereth. Nazereth - the Nazarene... Read Full Story

(Matthew 2:13-18 below) The wise men have left Jesus, Mary and Joseph. The gifts have been delivered and after the wise men have witnessed the Savior, they proceed home, interestingly by a different path. They have seen God on earth, realized Herod's attempted deception and in their wisdom have realized that this "King of the Jews" was no threat, He was a blessing. God comes to Joseph again in a dream. First God entered Joseph's dreams to tell him to keep Mary, change his plans to do away... Read Full Story

(Matthew 2:1-12 below) Jesus - even those who don't know of Him get the notice of His arrival. The wise men stop and pursue the king of the Jews. Right away, jealousy and ulterior motives enter the story. Herod is disturbed. If Rome knows that the Jews have a king, Herod might lose his power. If the Jews have a king, they won't need Herod. If the Jews have a king, Herod might be liked less than Jesus. Herod feared that which he did not understand. Note also, all of Jerusalem is disturbed too... Read Full Story

CONTINUING FROM MATTHEW: 18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take... Read Full Story

1A record of the genealogy of Jesus Christ the son of David, the son of Abraham: 2Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jaob the father of Judah and his brothers, 3Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram, 4Ram the father of Amminadab, Amminadab the father of Nahshon, Nahshon the father of Salmon, 5Salmon the father of Boaz, whose mother was Rahab, Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth... Read Full Story

For many years, 33 to be exact, God has had His hand out to me. Have I always taken it - no. Have I always recognized it - no. Have I always appreciated it - yes. The greatest thing about our God is that no matter our attitude toward Him, He always has the unconditional, loving fatherly attitude toward us. If you don't believe, He does. If you don't have faith, He does. If you need anything - He's there. I have had a political blog that I've ranted and raved on, but it only does... Read Full Story

From Op-Ed news:"The "war on terror" is Bush's witchhunt for anybody who is "either with us or against us", and many who are labeled "against us" are either nothing of the kind or else just plain vocally opposed to his crime ring. That's the fact of the matter, as borne out by the ACLU's very clear statistics. " I love to parse the statements of the uninformed whistle britches empty skulls of the left. Let's pull the above paragraph apart. "War on Terror" in quotes....kind of like putting... Read Full Story