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But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to Heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see Heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” Acts 7:55-56 (Acts 6-7)

As the church grew, so did its resources. What a lovely thing to have so much to share both spiritually and physically. BUT! There was dispute over the dispersion of assistance among the widowed and orphaned Jews of Jerusalem and the non Palestinian Jews, specifically the Greeks. Those who knew Jesus personally and witnessed His miraculous life were needed to spread the Gospel, so seven trustees were selected, among them, Stephen, a brilliant scholar and orator, to administrate the growing community of believers. This act increased the growth of the early church significantly.

There was regional prejudice among Jews in addition to resistance to the New Covenant and the Christ. Opposition to Stephen’s work grew. He was brought before the same counsel that condemned Jesus to death and like Jesus, he was wrongly accused of blasphemy. Stephen’s defense against those who had been paid to give false testimony was a recital of Old Testament, Jewish History, read in Acts 7:1-19. His face shown like an Angel as he spoke. He pointed to Jewish leadership’s habitual rejection and persecution of God’s prophets and teachers. As he pointed to their sin of injustice in Jesus’ crucifixion the authority became furious and ordered Stephen to be stoned.

Stephen knew his end was near and so, he kept his eyes on Jesus. He repeated the words of Christ, “Don’t hold this sin against them.” Grace and Mercy were not just the words he spoke, but the life he lived and died. As Heaven opened and Stephen met his Savior, Saul, a young pharisee, soon to be brutal persecutor, was watching the church’s first martyr stand firm. Quite possibly, Saul witnessed both Jesus’ and Stephen’s corrupt trials and executions and his heart became ready to receive the vision on the road to Damascus that changed the course of Christianity for all time. Did Stephen’s sacrifice change the world? Yes, and yours will too, guaranteed!

Love,

Gretchen

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Acts 3:6 (Acts 3-6:7)

Each day the new believers met at the Temple grounds. Their astounding growth alarmed the Jewish leadership, who was held in check by the positive opinion of the crowds. One day, as Peter and John walked by the Temple gate called Beautiful, a cripple was begging. Peter heals him, but the Jewish rulers become jealous and question him and Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit explains his miraculous power. The man that very recently allowed fear to deny any knowledge of Jesus, now courageously faces down his master’s murderers, preaches repentance and reminds the Jewish people they are heirs of the prophets and created to bless all nations.

There was trial and tribulation within and without the young Christian community.  Ananias and Sapphira, a married couple, sold some land and pretended to give all the proceeds to the disciples to share with everyone. Their false piety brought an immediate death sentence from God. This did not deter the progress of evangelism. Peter and John were arrested, then freed with a warning, arrested again, freed by an Angel and then flogged with a final warning to cease and desist. They didn’t! There was work to be done.

Acting without formal organization and prompted only by their commitment to Christ, the early Christians multiplied through brotherhood, fellowship and devotion to spreading the Good News. As the Pentecost crowds went home and the city quieted back to normal, God had other plans. This New World Order of love and sacrifice was changing the way life was lived for those who knew salvation. It’s amazing what a little love and sacrifice can do.

Happy Weekend,

Gretchen

Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under Heaven. Acts 2:5 (Acts 1-2)

The Acts of the Apostles, written by Luke, give the history of the first 30 years of spreading the Good News and the work of the Church. The disciples were instructed to wait in Jerusalem until they received power from on high. The Feast of Pentecost, or The Feast of the First Fruits followed 50 days after Passover. It was a required celebration so Jerusalem was filled with Jews from all over the known world, each with his/her own native language. Peter began to preach Jesus as the Messiah and resurrected Savior. Miraculously, everyone begins hearing the message in a tongue they understood. Peter indicts the Jews for demanding and allowing Jesus to be crucified, but followed with the hope of forgiveness. Thousands repented of their sin and are baptized.

This event marks the beginning of the Church. There was an immediate sense of community for sharing and sustaining one another, The Body of Christ began to live life to its full.

Jesus knew the perfect moment in time and place to present a message that would go throughout the world. It is known that many of those who came to believe that day, returned to their homelands and waited years before the first missionaries came and helped them build congregations to teach and encourage. Yet, they persevered because their lives were transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit and a message that was not bound by man’s language. Heaven’s Love, Mercy and Grace brought a new life’s order, hope worth waiting for and a faith that could endure for all time.

Never forget, YOU too, are the church. YOU are one of them!

Love,

Gretchen

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20

As Jesus ascends into Heaven His followers are directly instructed to evangelize the world through their personal testimonies regarding His life, death and resurrection. Let’s take a close look at this plain and simple command.

Therefore: Because of one thing, another must happen.

Jesus has been given all power in Heaven and on earth. He commands action from those who have experience His power.

Go and Make:  Verbs, meaning to proceed from one place to another and bring something into existence by changing and shaping existing parts.

Disciples: Lifetime followers of Christ.

Jesus rose, never more to die and is with us, guiding and protecting. The Gospels were written to preserve the teachings, life and miraculous works of Jesus so every generation of every nation may know and believe. The commander of all Heaven and earth is personally connected and involved in every person’s life. He commands those who know to go and spread the Good News.

Despite initial questions and doubt, time proved each one of these original group stood faithful and became the vibrant force that is Christianity, the Church, the Body of Christ, but the call is as eternal as the age. We must go!

Stayin’ Busy,

Gretchen

Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward Him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” which means teacher. John 20:16  (Matthew 28:1-15, Mark 16:1-14, Luke 24:1-44, John 20-21)

At daybreak on Sunday morning Jesus’ followers, who had dispersed all over the city, began making their way, in various groups, to His borrowed tomb. They wished to embalm Him for permanent burial, having no inkling the prophecies had been fulfilled. Angels came, rolled the stone out of the way and folded the head cloth of Heaven’s Son. The frightened guards fled to tell the priests, who quickly composed a coverup, a lie that misleads still remains today. The first women approached, found the body missing and ran to tell others. As John and Peter made their way in the direction of the garden, other women arrived and heard the angels’ news. They too left to tell others. All were bewildered and anxious, but hopeful, joyful with caution. Mary Magdalene stayed at the entrance to the grave, grieving for the man who restored her life by driving the demons from her soul. As she wept, she heard someone. Believing the gardener was attending his early morning duties she asked if he had moved Jesus’ corpse. Moments later, her name was spoken by the One who healed and brought new life!

Throughout the day, Jesus appears to all His disciples except Thomas. It will be a week before the doubter can touch the scars where nails held The Messiah to the cross. The appearances on this resurrection day were not apparitions. Jesus was not a ghost. This risen Savior ate and spoke with them and allowed them to touch Him, confirming He was the Christ, the Son of God and there is life uninterrupted through all eternity.

No one understood God’s Kingdom or the things to come. Jesus’ followers tried to make since of their very limited understanding and realized there was no hope beyond His resurrection. We cry for many things, but just like Mary Magdalene, when Jesus gently speaks our name, everything comes into perfect, peaceful order. Quiet your heart and listen close. Love is calling you.

Gretchen 

At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. John 19:41-42 (Matthew 27:57-66, Mark 15:42-47, Luke 23:50-52, John 19:38-42)

When Jesus was at the height of His popularity, they were secret believers. In the hour of Jesus’ greatest humiliation, they went boldly public. As members of the very counsel that sentenced Jesus to death, these two men, Joseph of Arimathea, a Jewish ruler and Nicodemus, a pharisee, risked everything when they asked to spare Jesus the indignity of a mass grave.
Their request was honored and they placed Jesus in a tomb, newly prepared for Joseph’s family, but yet unused.

Other believers (women) followed and watched so they would know where Jesus was. The Sabbath was approaching and in accordance with The Law they could not attend to the dead until after the Holy Day of Rest. In the mean time, some of the Chief Priests and Pharisees were worried the believers would steal and hide Jesus’ body and claim a false resurrection. They asked Pilot to order a seal and guard placed on the tomb. He did so, but it didn’t matter. The grave was a place of freedom, not bondage.

Joseph and Nicodemus were discrete, quiet believers, but took center stage at the most sacred moment and place on earth; where assurance of life everlasting began. Love made them brave, and together it was the formula of greatness.

Have a Great Week!

Gretchen

At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there. John 19:41-42 (Matthew 27:57-66, Mark 15:42-47, Luke 23:50-52, John 19:38-42)

When Jesus was at the height of His popularity, they were secret believers. In the hour of Jesus’ greatest humiliation, they went boldly public. As members of the very counsel that sentenced Jesus to death, these two men, Joseph of Arimathea, a Jewish ruler and Nicodemus, a pharisee, risked everything when they asked to spare Jesus the indignity of a mass grave.
Their request was honored and they placed Jesus in a tomb, newly prepared for Joseph’s family, but yet unused.

Other believers (women) followed and watched so they would know where Jesus was. The Sabbath was approaching and in accordance with The Law they could not attend to the dead until after the Holy Day of Rest. In the mean time, some of the Chief Priests and Pharisees were worried the believers would steal and hide Jesus’ body and claim a false resurrection. They asked Pilot to order a seal and guard placed on the tomb. He did so, but it didn’t matter. The grave was a place of freedom, not bondage.

Joseph and Nicodemus were discrete, quiet believers, but took center stage at the most sacred moment and place on earth; where assurance of life everlasting began. Love made them brave, and together it was the formula of greatness.

Have a Great Week!

Gretchen

Again, a story from the childhood of two little boys who grew to be wonderful men. Enjoy their antics and please leave the grapevines alone!

Part II

One of our favorite places that never was a disappointment for an exciting adventure was the fairgrounds branch.  This small stream was a clear, rock lined creek that ran on the east side of the fairgrounds.  I think God made it for especially for exciting boyhood adventures and exploration. We would often drink directly from the creek. It was not deep enough for swimming so parents had little concern for our safety, but we could wade up above our knees.  It was secluded enough that occasionally we would overcome any inhibitions we might have and enjoy the clear cool water in our birthday suits.  We could fish, catch crawdads, have water fights and all sorts of things boys could think of. 

This little stream with big rocks along the edge made a perfect place for an infrequent but risky behavior — smoking grape vines.  A dead grapevine made an ideal make-believe cigar.  These unique cigars were not easy to light, but when you did succeed in getting them lit you could draw genuine smoke through them. There was only one problem, the smoke of the smoldering grapevine cigar would make your tongue and lips sting and burn.  To remedy that unpleasant symptom of smoking grapevine you could lie of one of the big rocks jutting out into the water and stick your face into the water.  This helped as long as your lips and tongue were under water and being relieved of the pain by the water’s coolness. Although we thought we were being “cool” when we smoked grapevine, the pain involved may have discouraged Bill and I from ever taking up the tobacco habit.

Once when Bill and I were at the fairground branch we found an old coffee can in the water.  An old rusty coffee container may not seem of any value, but it wasn’t the can itself, it was what was in the can that caught our attention.  In the can was a small catfish.  Bill called it a “fiddler” catfish.  This unique discovery immediately became a treasure.  It quickly became so valuable in our eyes that we soon hurried across the fairgrounds to Bill’s house carrying the can full of water and the fiddler catfish.  It was getting late in the day and time for me to go home.  So, the question came up, “Who does the catfish belong to?”  Bill and I usually saw “eye-to-eye” on most things, but ownership of this catfish became serious business and an unheard of conflict arose between us.  We both adamantly laid claim to it.  We stood at his back door several minutes with both of us holding and pulling on the can insisting on ownership.  We were even glaring at each other.  In the midst of this high level intractability his mother, Inez, came to the door.   She immediately witnessed the deterioration of our normally good spirits toward each other and quickly became prosecutor, judge and jury, all three rolled into one. It didn’t take her long to make a determination of the case.  Her verdict was to summarily award the catfish to me.  Bill reluctantly and with look of disappointment and chagrin on his face, let go of the can. I sheepishly turned and started home with the fiddler catfish in my possession.  Although I had won I felt like a loser.   I never enjoyed that catfish.  I felt guilty for taking it and I wished I had left it with Bill.  Although the fiddler catfish ownership was a big deal for one afternoon, it was soon forgotten and Bill and I were as tight as ever.

Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when You come into Your Kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with Me in paradise.” Luke 23:42-43  (Matthew 27:33-56, Mark 15:23-38, Luke 23:32-46, John 19:18-37)

Around noon Jesus arrived at the hill top call Golgotha, The Skull. As He was raised in agony, He looked out and could see the bitter sorrow of His family, friends and followers mixed among His enemies scoffing and jeering Him as they might a circus freak show. Soldiers gambled for his clothing as He hung naked and bleeding. Jesus’ response? He spoke hope to the thief hanging next to Him and directed John, His disciple, to care for His mother. Kindness and mercy ranked higher than humiliation and pain.

As Jesus cried out from the cross a great darkness covered the land. For a moment, the King of Kings acknowledged the depth of brokenness man feels when it seems all hope is gone. This hour is marked by miraculous events, dispelling the thought that God would ever leave a wicked world to manage on its own. The Temple curtain was torn in two, signifying there is no barrier between man and God. The earth shook and rocks split open proclaiming Jesus as the conquering Savior, and the graves of many saints burst open granting proof and guarantee that death’s grip was forever broken and eternal life is a reality.

Jesus gives His up and the long reign of human sin and death is gone. Because Jesus lived to die, we can die and live. His suffering was for our salvation. Love manifested itself in obedience to God and goodness toward all mankind. It was the best day in the whole world!

Love,

Gretchen

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” John 18:37 (Matthew 27:27-56, Mark 15:1-22, Luke 23:1-31, John 18:28-19:17)

Responding to Jesus’ claim to being the Son of God, and their laws regarding blasphemy, the Jews have condemned Jesus to death. However, the Sanhedrin has no authority to execute prisoners without Rome’s approval. Roman’s believed in multiple gods, so one man claiming to be a god was not offensive to them. The Jews must come up with something more serious. They alleged sedition, promoting refusal to pay taxes and claiming to be King of the Jews.

The habitually brutal and cruel Roman procurator and governor, Pontius Pilot, primarily administrated financial matters and taxes, but he is also burdened with any death penalty issues within the local government. Pilate believes Jesus is innocent and does not want to sentence Him.  He goes to great pains to avoid responsibility for any goings on and sends the case to Herod Antipas, beheader of John the Baptist.  Herod wants no part either. They try to release Jesus by placating the masses with a public scourging where He is stripped and costumed as a ‘king,’ given a crown of thorns, spit upon, mocked and beaten further. This attempt fails, forcing Pilate to concede and order the death sentence.

Jesus was born to die. It was His Father’s plan. All through the pain and humiliation, He is in complete self-control. At any moment He could have stopped this end. He did not. In the presence of hard-hearted, inhuman cowards, those who thought they were defending God with hatred, Jesus loved. It was enough on that day. It is enough on this day too!

Happy Friday,

Gretchen