I am glad to get to the “The Back Porch” this week. This week I need to clear my mind of this opinion thing. Everyone has one…and it sometimes appears that this world favors Opinion.   Please remember my “ponder rules”. A good ponder does not require facts and in most cases it does not answer all your questions but thinking about something is a good thing. It started a few years back with what was referred to as Sciatic nerve pain.

A visit to a doctor, who by the way specializes in the spine, is what has led me to this “Ponder”. Does fact trump opinion? Here is fact from the fine folks at the Mayo Clinic.

“Sciatica refers to pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve. The sciatic nerve travels from the buttocks and down each leg. Sciatica most often happens when a herniated disk or an overgrowth of bone puts pressure on the lumbar spine nerve roots. This happens “upstream” from the sciatic nerve. This causes inflammation, pain and often some numbness in the affected leg.” Amen!

Now the Opinion from the doctor I saw. There is no such thing, I have been practicing back and spinal medicine for 20 years now. I must be fair here… I did not add quotation marks because I am simply writing what I believe I heard him say. I can say that from my perspective he gave me a good five minute lecture in a very condescending manner. Ok, I admit my feelings were hurt but that doesn’t matter…however, my ego was severely damaged. I am 80 years old and have been dealing with this…sciatica pain for 30 years and I might add my medical insurance has been paying for treatments for a health problem that does not exist! 

Now the fun part… This Ponder has answered no questions and solved no problem and that is exactly what a good ‘ponder’ should do. I can go to Panera Bread now with a clear mind.

I have spoken before about this thing I call…surface reading… we all do it and I find the most prevalent time this happens to me is while studying or reading the Bible. I also believe that it happens to a lot of folks. Over the years all of us most likely have read the same stories and verses many times, some in fact are just a matter of rote. Because we know the story we get ahead of the words. So this week let’s take awhile to meet these people, some of Paul’s friends in the ministry. From 2Timothy 4:9-22…  “Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia”…Demas, in Greek is probably the short form of Demetrios, a man mentioned by the Apostle Paul in the New Testament of the Bible, and appears to have been involved for a time in his ministry. Keep in mind that Paul is writing this letter while in prison in Rome. He also writes of Crescens who has gone to Galatia. Crescens was an individual who appears in the New Testament. He is traditionally considered one of the 72 disciples sent out by Jesus in Luke 10. Mentioned with him is also Titus. He was a Gentile converted to Christianity by Paul. He was a literary or artistic assistant, in particular one who takes dictation or copies manuscripts. 

Now onto verse 11…

“Only Luke is with me. Bring Mark with you when you come, for he will be helpful to me in my ministry.” Ok, Luke is an easy one…Luke was a physician and possibly a Gentile. He was not one of the original 12 Apostles but may have been one of the 70 disciples appointed by Jesus (Luke 10). He also may have accompanied St. Paul on his missionary journeys. Mark is known as Peter’s interpreter, both in speech and in writing. As a fisherman from Galilee, Peter may not have spoken Greek fluently, so Mark interpreted for him. In his book, Mark wrote down the observations and memories of Peter, one of the original Apostles. We continue with verses 12-13. “12 I sent Tychicus to Ephesus. 13 When you come, be sure to bring the coat I left with Carpus at Troas. Also bring my books, and especially my papers.”

Here is a fellow that doesn’t often get the recognition due him. He is only mentioned five times in the New Testament but his ministry is considered noteworthy. We first hear of him during Paul’s third missionary journey. He is mentioned as one of Paul’s companions on the way from Corinth to Jerusalem to deliver a gift to the church there. Tychicus was a native of Asia, or what we would call Asia Minor today. Paul called him a “dear brother” and a “faithful servant” of the Lord’s. One other thought from “Got Questions”, a great site for any questions you might have about the Bible…

“We may not know much about Tychicus, but what we do know is impressive and praiseworthy. Tychicus was a trusted messenger, faithful preacher, and loyal friend.” 

We also notice a name mentioned only once in the New Testament, Carpus. We know that he was in Troas and Paul left his cloak with him. Paul must have known him very well and been acquainted with the family of Carpus. Most likely one of his converts. He had to have considerable confidence in him, since he committed to his care not only the comparatively valueless “cloak,” but especially the priceless “books and parchments.”  

This next verse 14 introduces us to a coppersmith that Paul felt had done him great harm. His name is Alexander. In verse 15 Paul sends a warning…”15 Be careful of him, for he fought against everything we said.” Alexander the coppersmith, “a worker of metals.” The crux of the problem was that Paul’s preaching was hurting their business of idol making and they wanted Paul gone.

Let’s move to the last few verses in 2 Timothy chapter 4. Verses 19-22 are Paul’s final greetings. We start off with verses 19-20… 

“19 Give my greetings to Priscilla and Aquila and those living in the household of Onesiphorus. 20 Erastus stayed at Corinth, and I left Trophimus sick at Miletus.” There are five names here…

Priscilla and Aquila – Priscilla and Aquila were a first century Christian missionary married couple described in the New Testament. Aquila is traditionally listed among the Seventy Disciples. They lived, worked, and traveled with the Apostle Paul, who described them as his “fellow workers in Christ Jesus”. Wikipedia

Onesiphorus – Onesiphorus was a Christian referred to in the New Testament letter of Second Timothy. According to the letter sent by St. Paul, Onesiphorus sought out Paul who was imprisoned at the time in Rome. Wikipedia

Erastus –  A person named Erastus mentioned in 2 Timothy 4:20 and Acts 19:22 is often taken to be the same person. According to the tradition of the Eastern Orthodox Church, Erastus is numbered among the Seventy Disciples. He served as a deacon and steward of the Church at Jerusalem and later of Paneas in Palestine. Wikipedia

Trophimus – Trophimus or Trophimus the Ephesian was a Christian who accompanied Paul during a part of his third missionary journey. He was with Paul in Jerusalem, and the Jews, supposing that the apostle had brought him into the temple, raised a tumult which resulted in Paul’s imprisonment. Wikipedia

The chapter ends with these verses…21-22…

“21 Do your best to get here before winter. Eubulus sends you greetings, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia, and all the brothers and sisters. 22 May the Lord be with your spirit. And may his grace be with all of you.”

Eubulus – (Euboulos, literally, “of good counsel,” 2 Tim 4:21): One of the members of the church in Rome at the time of Paul’s second imprisonment in Rome.

Pudens, Linus, Claudia – Pudens was an early Christian saint and martyr. He is mentioned as a layman of the Roman Church in 2 Timothy 4:21. He is said to have been the son of Quintus Cornelius Pudens, a Roman senator, and his wife Priscilla. According to tradition, they were among the first converted by Peter in Rome. wikipedia.org

Claudia – The only mention of Claudia in the Bible occurs in 2 Timothy 4:21. In this verse, Paul mentions Claudia in his final greetings to Timothy while Paul is imprisoned in Rome.  Claudia has intrigued biblical scholars, and many have sought to understand her brief role in Paul’s letter to Timothy. She was a Christian woman, her heart was devoted to Paul, and she knew Timothy.

Linus – Linus is named in the valediction of the Second Epistle to Timothy. In that epistle, Linus is noted as being with Paul the Apostle in Rome near the end of Paul’s life. Irenaeus stated that this is the same Linus who became Bishop of Rome. Wikipedia

I hope you have enjoyed this new way of looking at scripture. I believe it helps us to see the story better when we understand who these people were and what part they have in the narrative.

Not everyone has the time to look this deep into the scripture. I am retired and this wonderful world of digital knowledge allows me to share with you some of the stuff beyond the word. I like to share the word and I like to think “The Pew” shares, and informs and we encourage others to desire to know more about our Christian faith. 

Life is Good

jk

Pondering can get out of hand… I find it a good way to get things off my mind but then sometimes it brings on just the opposite. I need to get this age thing off my mind but somehow it is now a national obsession…Thanks Joe. Three years ago we were introduced to Papa Joe, he was presented as a kind of “grandfather figure” kind, understanding, reasonable and sympathetic, highly qualified. History presents age as a thing of wisdom gained over time, to be respected, valued and very much part of our daily lives. What we don’t seem to consider is the fact that people age differently. I will be 81 in a few months and I will share this with you…Me and Joe, we are old, not getting old, we are old. I look at it like a huge storm coming through… some of us will do well, others will suffer some damage…none of us will ever be the same as we were before the storm. I am trying to paint a picture here. There are people who tell me “for 80 you sure look good.” I have a 15 year old car that still looks good but it does not run as well as it used to. Joe, you and me are old. I am not going to turn this into a political thing it’s about age. I am not as sharp as I used to be, I don’t walk…I shuffle and have fell a couple of times, which I like to attribute to tripping. I forget things and have at times even forgot which direction I was going. There are a few things us old folks need to consider giving up. One thing that comes to my mind is driving a car because if I mess up I could hurt some people. The other is leadership…I used to teach Sunday School Classes but I just am not clear minded enough or quick enough for a leadership position in that at this time. We are old Joe and the porch is a good place to sit and watch the young dogs run. 

jk

The book of Esther is one of the five books which the Jews call Megilloth (Rolls). They appear in the Hebrew Bible in the following order:

1. Canticles, that is, Solomon’s Song, read in connection with Passover;

2. Ruth, read on the feast of weeks (Pentecost);

3. Lamentations, used on the ninth day of the month Ab, commemorating the destruction of the temple, which happened twice on the same day, first by Nebuchadnezzar and then afterwards by the Romans;

4. Ecclesiastes, which is read during the celebration of the feast of tabernacles;

5. The book of Esther, read on the feast of Purim.

The Book of Esther does not specifically name its author. The most popular traditions are Mordecai (a major character in the Book of Esther), Ezra, and Nehemiah (who would have been familiar with Persian customs). The book of Esther is held in high regard by the Jews and holds a special place among the other Megillah but not without some objection from both the Jews and Christians as to its rightful place in the canon of the Old Testament. Two leading objections, the first objection is that the name of God does not appear in this book. Add to that, because Esther was to be used in connection with the feast of Purim (a feast of merrymaking) the name of the Lord was omitted on purpose to avoid its irreverent use amid the scenes of feasting and drinking. The second objection is that because it is not quoted in the New Testament but it has been found that several other OT books are not quoted in the NT. One of the better known to object was Martin Luther.

The Book of Esther shows us the protective nature of God toward His people, the people of Israel through the words we read in Esther.The deliverance of of the Jewish Nation by God through Esther. It is a simple book of a specific people each having a pivotal role in the outcome of the story. Hegai, the king’s eunuch who was in charge of the harem, Mordecai is one of the main personalities in the Book of Esther in the Hebrew Bible. He is described as being the son of Jair, of the tribe of Benjamin. Mordecai was also the cousin and guardian of Esther. There are three main sections in the book of Esther…by chapters, Chapters 1:1-2:18 – Esther replaces Vashti… 2:19-7:10 – Mordecai overcomes Haman and 8:1-10:3 – Israel survives Haman’s attempt to destroy them. The noble Esther risked her own death as she realized what was at stake. In Esther we see the ongoing struggle of Satan against God and the promise of a coming Messiah. The story of Esther shows us the power of a person’s love for others and a God that shows the strength of his love and providential care for His people as a nation and individually. 

There may be a time in your life, it may have already occurred, when God will use you stand in the gap…Will you be ready? In simple terms that is what Esther did and her actions saved a people and nation. I have treated Esther like a book review, Done so on purpose… because it is just that a book. 

Life is Good

jk

Been nice here for a few days, which means the weather has been as expected.I find as I get older that change is really not hard unless you resist it. This is a bit of advice that I find hard to accept. Us old dogs don’t accept change all that well. One constant that has been around a long time is best verbalized as such… “this younger generation is taking us to hell in a handbag.” Now we find ourselves looking out of that handbag accusing this younger generation of doing just that… It is the old folks version of “groundhog day.” The truth is somebody got us here and that reminds me those famous words of POGO . “We have found the enemy, it is us.” Ever since that apple and the garden man & woman have always been at odds with the world  and as always it was someone else’s fault. Eve blamed the devil, Adam blamed Eve…and Adam, not to sure but I know he did disavow his headship which God had given him and in the process disobeyed God. Change is around us every day in most areas of our life…time doesn’t stand still. One recent change I read about involves the up-dating of a major denomination’s Hymnal. This is a subject worthy of at least a moment of pondering. A few years ago I lived out in the country… I define that these days as meaning we had a septic tank. Right behind my home was a place that for years had hosted a Gospel Sing every year. I would sit on my back porch and listen to the hymns being sung in the cool of a early summer evening. I loved the sound of those early hymns as they traveled over the empty ground from that stage to my home, a deep rich sound that carried God’s word over His creation to the ears of one in need of some good news. In most cases you are hearing The Word put to music. God’s people have sung hymns since the time of Moses in honor of the Almighty. That is what a Hymn is…a song of praise which in Greek understanding would be referred to as a hymnos, a musical praise to the gods or heroes of the day. We Christians of course sing hymns to the one true God. There is much to ponder about this thing…hymns and I have said that this time on the porch is meant to clear my mind but one thing I’ve learned from this time is that certain things need to be retained…it should also be a time of reflection. Some times in these times of quiet pondering we find a peace that gives us hope. 

Ephesians 5:19-20 singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. 20 And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 3:16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

The wonder and worth of a good ponder… It’s better than pointless chatter to clear a worried mind.

jk 

 We finish this series this week with The Book of Luke.  The synoptic gospels are the three books we are looking at, Matthew, Mark and Luke. These three books contain a total Red Letter 31,426 words in red. Today we have arrived at the book of Luke. This book is often referred to as the “lovely book”. We note that John is a bit different as it stands alone. The first three often contain the same stories, even at time using the same words. It is agreed that Luke was a Gentile and some say the writing style was tailored to appeal to the gentile population at that time. Now to Luke and I would encourage you to read Luke, there are 24 chapters in this book.

It is not until the second chapter, verse 49 that we encounter first words in Red… Mary and Joseph had left Jerusalem after the Passover Festival to return return home to Nazareth. They were traveling with in a group and and did not miss Jesus at first. When they discovered Jesus wasn’t with them they returned to Jerusalem to look for him…They found him in the Temple after a frantic search and when they questioned him his reply was…Luke 2:49“But why did you need to search?” he asked. “Didn’t you know that I must be in my Father’s house?”. There are 24 chapters in Luke which contain a total of 123 Red Letter verses. If you step back and study the book of Luke, the first three chapters are all about the entrance of Jesus into the world and His ministry. Here are some other verses from the book of Luke.

Luke 6:37-38  “Do not judge, and you will not be judged. Do not condemn, and you will not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. ³⁸ Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

Luke 6:46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you?”

Luke 6:43-44 “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit”  

Luke 9:24 “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

Luke 10:2  “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”

Luke 23:34 “And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

These verses are indicative of the story being told here in the Book of Luke, to me they are the keys that instruct us in the good way. I encourage you to read Matthew, Mark and Luke. If you do not have a Red Letter Bible you can go on-line and you will find a Red Letter bible offered for free. These words of Jesus are a road map to a good life.

Life is Good

jk

I have shared with you how I enjoy coming out here in the evening to clear my mind. This visit is a bit different, this time it is to get something off my chest to ease my mind. The other reason for The Porch is that I try hard to keep The Pew clear of divisive topics, staying with sharing the gospel only. But here on the Porch I can vent a little.  

The View

“Created in 1997 by veteran journalist Barbara Walters, “The View” is a daytime talk show hosted by women — including Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, Sunny Hostin, Sara Haines, Alyssa Farah Griffin and Ana Navarro — and each offers her take on the day’s news during the opening “Hot Topics” segment. Later, the ladies welcome various celebrities, who join them in a chat or perform for the audience. The program also offers tips on beauty, fashion, diet and relationships. Known for their freewheeling style, the hosts are often lampooned in late-night sketches. (ABC)”

In earlier times it was a nice mid-morning break. The folks on the show were pleasant enough and the topics interesting. For the past few years its producers, writers and hosts have been carrying water for The Democratic National Party. The topics for the most part are still interesting, but agenda driven. There are no discussions, just verbal warfare. To disagree with Whoopi or Joy, oh let me interject… Joy, she has got to be one of the most   unhappy individuals in the world and the least informed. Now to be fair Whoopi does a better job because she has the facts but has the skill to get around them. I don’t know what Joy was known for before the “View” came along but Whoopi was a great actress and I enjoy her movies even now. What drew me to this ponder this week was a segment on a recent “View”. My whole point of sharing this on the “Porch” was the subject itself being how difficult it is to buy a house in today’s market. In a recent article in the New York Post, Kelly Jane Torrance, wrote this… 

“The View’ is the biggest source of misinformation in America”. 

The truth is that buying a home is difficult for a large portion of the population. Consider this…it is in a way unfair to pick on “The View” because it is really just a mirror of what we have become in the USA. Facts, reason, civil discourse and truth are not present at the table anymore. They are not completely dead yet but are in an anemic state and their daily diet of mainstream news, social justice warriors along with political activists and the major network programing are feeding this condition. Hate, fear and misinformation add strength to the chaos and decay of society at large. I might add God is not at the table either. By the way there is a book that tells you how all this is going to end…It is called the Bible.

jk

I had planed to continue on in the Red Letter Series but there are times that the Holy Spirit might lead us in another direction…this is one of those times. I have heard preachers and those who have chosen to work within the faith community often say… “you never know when something you say will resonate with someone, make a difference in their lives and may even led them in a different direction.” Of all things after a “children’s message” in church last Sunday I found the subject for my next blog. “Get Salty”… It is time to get salty.

What is the role of salt in the Bible? For us to answer that question we need to know a little about the Hebrew society and and culture in both the Old and New Testaments. Salt was a necessity of life in that day and had many uses, seasoning, a preservative, a disinfectant, even used in various ceremonies. During the children’s time John reminded us that salt was an enhancer, when added to water it causes it to boil faster…we all know its value to make food taste better. To continue on metaphorically it had these virtues, permanence, loyalty, durability, fidelity, usefulness, value, and purification. In the first century salt was used to preserve food, especially meat, which would quickly spoil in the desert. The thought here is that man having turned from God can do no good, we have become corrupt as a people. Salt was also an enhancer, thus Christianity…Christians, who Jesus called the “salt of the earth” that were living under the guidance of the Holy Spirit should be to others like salt is to food. Christians should enhance the lives of others by being an example of good, a positive influence in a sinful world. We should stand out as a light for others but a deeper and meaningful way is written and can be found in Matthew 5:16…

“In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” Consider this…We  work against that from happening because we settle for things that are more convenient or comfortable, rather than that which is truly best and pleasing to the Lord. Shame is, it is not that difficult to correct. We need to be humble before God, by showing obedience to the commandments of Christ. We can do that by living a spirit-led lifestyle of genuine discipleship that the distinctions between ourselves and the rest of the world are put aside and we remain focused on Christ and being obedient to Him. Now about Getting Salty… What could that mean to a christian?

First it is necessary to point out that the dictionary defines it as being tough and aggressive. My view is simple… Christians are often looked at as being timid and that in itself is a prevailing opinion among those outside the faith but I tend to disagree, you knew I would. 2 Timothy 1:7 says something different…

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”

We are a bit different in the manner in which we react to this mess we find ourselves in. We respond best when we present a reasonable defense of the Christian faith and truth to those who disagree. There is what I call a Godly amount of restraint because we are all commanded to be ready and equipped to proclaim the gospel and defend our faith. Look to 1 Peter 3:15-16

“Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. 16 But do this in a gentle and respectful way.”

So the first point to be made is one of the missions in living a christian life is to Get Salty… if you will, to challenge these false teachers who promote false doctrines and deny the key truths of

the Christian faith. Getting Salty means that you know what you believe, why you believe it, how to share it with others, and how to defend it against lies and attacks. You can do this, you are not alone, The spirit will guide you. We need to speak up, to regain our place at the table, so to speak. You have all you need in the person of the Holy Spirit for guidance and if I may say so…you have the play book…The Bible…Read It!

Life is Good 

jk

Next week in the “Pew” we will be back in the Red…

Saw the sun today the first time in over a week. I think as strange as it may seem I ponder better on cloudy days, for some reason.  Also have noticed that a good ponder leans toward things remembered. Best story teller in my day was Tom T. Hall. I don’t much like labeling people but seems that is a part of the culture of the day. Everything has a place and purpose…so they labeled Mr. Tom country or folk, to me he was neither, he was first and foremost a great story teller. Why Tom could paint a picture with words that came alive in images in your mind and eyes. There was another great story teller, Louis L’Amour, a writer of western stories who could set a scene to the point you could taste the dust and smell the gun smoke. He excelled at describing a character to the point that you could see him standing there. Oh well back to Tom. One of his best story songs was “Old Dogs, Children, and Watermelon Wine” Here is a part of that song:

“Old dogs care about you even when you make mistakes

God bless little children while they’re still too young to hate”

When he moved away, I found my pen and copied down that line

‘Bout old dogs and children, and watermelon wine

(Old Dogs Children and) Watermelon Wine lyrics © Sony/atvAcuff Rose Music

Now I don’t know about watermelon wine but I sure can agree about the old dogs and children thing. Don’t be surprised…Put me to pondering about a line from that song…  

“Ain’t but three things in this world that’s worth a solitary dime

But old dogs and children, and watermelon wine” So I got to pondering what my three would be. Everybody’s  got at least three things that stay on their mind. I guess I would write that line to read… “Ain’t but three things in this world that’s worth a solitary dime but God, Family and the USA. What is your’s?

Kurt