Thank all of you for your support this past year. May this New Year ahead strengthen your relationship with God through Prayer, Study and Devine Guidance. May God’s Peace that passeth all understanding be with you…Now and Forever.  jk

Please Click on the Link Below

 Christmas letter Pew 12.23.24 pdf  

James Strange, a New Testament and biblical archeology professor, wrote this:  Writers of the gospels of Matthew and Luke “are so laconic about the [Nativity] event because they assume the reader would know what it was like. [W]e have no idea how difficult it was.”

Sometimes words are just not enough, thus the saying that a “picture is worth a thousand words”….. and since there are no actual pictures from that time we are reduced to just the words. Fortunately we do have written records of that time, and there are biblical archeologists whose studies print a vivid picture in our mind and of course theological based studies of the lives people had in those times. As noted above Matthew and Luke were rather sparse in their words used to describe the difficulties and challenges such a trip would present to Joseph and Mary. I share with you some words from Deacon Frederick Bartels in an article he posted 12 January 2019. While I am paraphrasing his words I wanted you to know the Deacon’s excellent  writing on this subject is my source of information. 

After a demanding trip to Bethlehem and finding room only in a cave that was being used to stable live stock, what would this trip had been like for Mary and the child in her womb? Deacon Bartels asks a question that requires we go beyond the written word. Most of us have a very firm picture in our minds of what Mary was like. An alabaster complexion, clothed in ornate robes whose hands had never seen a day of ordinary household work. But in reality Mary was an ordinary Palestinian Jewish girl, poor and as we have come to learn of extraordinary faith and abilities. Truth is Mary would have been no different from other Jewish woman of her place and time. Her day would be one of tedious chores and duties to be done, having none of the modern every day technology available to aid her. She would start at sunrise or maybe a bit sooner preparing a meal, then there would be water that needed to be brought in, carried by hand in jars or wine skins. The water would be used for drinking, cleaning, bathing and washing clothes. Ground wheat-flour and other food ingredients had to be gathered and of course firewood to cook with and heat to provide warmth in the cold mornings and evenings. All of these things would require, as some estimate, at least ten hours of work. I think we can say she had to be strong and efficient. Joseph was a carpenter and his day began at sunup and would last till there was no light left to work by. I imagine his face would be of a ruddy complexion, with lines reflecting the responsibility of family and providing for them. His hands would be the rough calloused hands of a working man. He would be a strong and resilient man. Further more it very likely that both Mary and Joseph were, as many of the people of that time illiterate to some degree. Because of where they lived it is possible they had limited knowledge of some Greek and Latin. They most likely lived in a small complex, four small one room houses with dirt floors which were connected by a shared courtyard for cooking and other daily needs. Most of these complexes were shared with kin. It would have been a good thing because the women would be able to help each other with water, wood and other needs. It was not an easy world to live in. They were taxed by both the Temple and the Roman government and people of bad intent were all about them.

Moving to the journey they were about to make it could not be said that they did not know the dangers of taking such a trip, not to mention that Mary was heavy with child at this time.  Mary and Joseph were aware of all the dangers of such a trip. They would have to travel about sixty miles and at best given her condition ten miles a day would be all they really could expect. There would be wild animals, bandits and desert robbers to contend with. Weather would also be a factor as temperatures in winter in this area would be a bone chilling 41 degrees at night and rise into the high forties during the day. I don’t know why but I have always read or been told that the desert temperatures at night felt much colder than you would think. They would have had to have warm clothing, build a fire each night to protect themselves from predators and of course to keep warm as they rested. Their provisions would have consisted of bread, herbs, oil and some dried fish. Water was carried in wineskins. Yet all these things did not intimidate Joseph or Mary.

At this point we switch our attention to the Shepherds. Luke 2 verse ….8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. 

 Theirs is a unique position. One of  the little known facts…things not included in Luke 2: 8-14. They were only about eight miles from Jerusalem in the fields near Bethlehem, that we are told but the reason while practical, is not that well known. These shepherds  were tending sheep that had been designated for sacrifice in the Temple in Jerusalem and most likely the property of the Temple. These shepherds were educated in the specific quality of sheep needed for sacrifice and it was their job to protect them from being hurt, damaged or blemished. Shepherds were in general looked down on by most people. Tending sheep was a 24/7 job and required the shepherds attention at all times. Realistically there were many of the daily religious practices that they couldn’t practice because of the demands of their job. They were rarely in the synagogue for worship or instruction and their fellow Jews looked down on them for it. It must be noted that the task of shepherding was an honorable job and often fell to the youngest son in the family. It has always had a place in Jewish history and in that part of the world was part of the history of all the people living in those times. God got some great leaders from the ranks of shepherds. It is here that the angel came on high to announce the birth of a Savior… He who is Christ The Lord. 

The weak, average, illiterate, lowly in status…the shepherd … to him was first given the news of man’s salvation to come. This birth, this one who by God’s intent has come among us…God incarnate, would go among those of similar standing. He would become a tradesman from an uneducated working class family. When time for his ministry came upon him he chose twelve others, fishermen and such, from the northern region of Israel which at that time was considered to be inferior to the rest Israel. He who’s coming was told to these lowly shepherds keeping the sheep…He would become a shepherd of men and some of their people Fishermen of men.

Life is Good

jk

On the porch this week I invite you to join me and Ponder… Have we reached a point in society that we have become desensitized or just overwhelmed by the meanness of others? Last week another shooting…a school shooting…a Christian School. From that pull out these three words… shooting, school, Christian. Starting about 1913 it was decided that good reporting would contain at least Five W’s

 Who? – Asking about a person or animal

  What? – Asking about an object or action

   When? – Asking about a time

   Where? – Asking about a place

   Why? – Asking about a reason or cause

Then someone must have asked how Did this Happen? When you look at the list above it would be fair to say most of those questions are answered…but wait. How about why? Not hard to answer that. The reason…well nobody knows why but the cause was the gun. “The Gun” caused this. Please understand this. People died in this latest shooting…and please know this. Most of the time a firearm is involved in bad situations someone will die or at least require more than a bandaid. I am not going to plow this ground again. This is my take on the whole Firearm issue. The social justice warriors, the agenda driven activists and then add the politicians, this thing ain’t going to get solved. After every shooting it’s the same old Mantra from the same people and organizations and well meaning folks. 

A 14 year old is dead…the hopes dreams and the life she may have lived is now over. A 42 year old lady…a teacher leaves a husband and three children to wonder why. The one that fired the shots…a youngster that no one really knew…lost the fight to the pressures of life and the misery that sometimes comes with it. But we who are left here ask the same questions to no avail. Now this may be a bit hard to take but here is my Ponder on this gun thing. As nation and a society we have chosen to allow this “gun” to live among us… Here is the hard truth…Guns can and often do Kill but they have to have help. Lay a fully loaded gun on a table in the middle of a mall and it can not do a thing without help. We will struggle with this loss of life, pick up the pieces and move on…except for the families who lost loved ones, the children that were there that day in the mist of that carnage and make no mistake, it will always be imprinted in their minds. 

Nuff said, some of you will get this most of you won’t. Pogo a cartoon of some time back while traveling on an endless river had this message for us.. “We have found the enemy …they is Us”

Ponder That!

Kurt

As you know “The Pew” loves the Word…and we try hard to share and make your day a little stronger through the hope and comfort of God’s word. Sometimes we like to stray a bit and examine a little closer what’s behind the words we are reading. We are close to the day Christ was born and all the many parts of the story are coming together to fulfill the prophecy that will start us on the path of reconciliation with our God. Today we spend some time in the village of Bethlehem.

First off how did such a town rise to such prominence? That’s a simple question for most anyone to answer. Bethlehem was the birth place of Jesus…Christ…The Messiah. Messiah comes from the Hebrew word mashiach and means “anointed one” or “chosen one.” …..Anointed One… In that time anointing someone with oil was a sign that God was consecrating or setting apart that person for a particular role. Someone with a special God appointed purpose. In old testament times people were anointed for the positions of prophet, priest, and king. God a long time before through Isaiah foretold the coming Deliverer, chosen by God to redeem Israel (Isaiah 42:1; 61:1–3). This Deliverer the Jews called the Messiah. Now let’s move on to Bethlehem, an city of that time whose importance in the Bible comes from its relationship to Jesus Christ. Both Matthew and Luke wrote that Jesus was born in the humble village of Bethlehem. Some other points…also known as the City of David. Bethlehem was also mentioned in… 

Genesis 35:19…So Rachel died and was buried on the way to Ephrath (that is, Bethlehem.)NLT…

A few points of interest about Bethlehem. Bethlehem is near bountiful fields within the Judean desert. The village of Bethlehem is situated about five miles southwest of Jerusalem in the hill country of Judah. It’s fertile fields, orchards, and vineyards surround it. It is also a place of diverse people of all cultures of that time. In New Testament times it was or had become a rather humble village. But all that was about to change…Bethlehem was soon to fulfill the prophecies of old. For it is here that Joseph returned due to the decree of Caesar Augustus to register and pay taxes…with him, heavy with child was Mary…and here as prophesied in the City of David was born The Messiah…King of the Jews. More than a place on the map, it was the place where our Lord and Savior was born…the beginning of the reconciliation of God to His People. 

Life is Good

jk

This is a rather odd choice of topic for this time of year, most people are focused on holidays, Thanksgiving and now on to Christmas and The New Year. The Zoom Group I work with are into the book of Genesis, where, how and when and where it all began. We have just gone through chapters 13-14 and here and I admit it has kinda caught my eye… What has got my attention is as the title of this blog says…the Eyes of Lot. When I combine the eyes of Lot with the eyes of Abram and how they each see things a bit differently, then add the importance of God’s Will in our lives and the difference it makes in people and in this world, that to me requires a bit of insight. Websters defines that as: the capacity to gain an accurate and deep intuitive understanding of a person or thing. In simple speak, we are going to “take a deep dive into this.”

At the beginning of chapter 13, Abram has returned from Egypt to Canaan. You know what they say “you can’t go home again.” That may apply in some ways here but the current state of this region at this point is at best a mixed bag. Canaan no doubt had a historic place in this time and story. Theologically there was a lot going on. The region was in a period of abundance that oddly was causing tensions among the people…mostly social change and political agendas. The land was crowded causing conflicts between different groups of herders and other conflicts that caused Abram and Lot to decide to part ways. Both of these men had prospered here, having large herds of live stock and had accumulated much personal wealth and position. One big factor was the inability of the land to actually produce enough to meet the need of the people there, and then causing some territorial disputes. As Lot and Abram part we are shown an insight into the character of each man. Abram allows Lot to chose the land he wishes although as the elder he had that right. Abram’s humility and faith in God’s Will, verses Lot’s vision of wealth that could be had in such a fertile Land as the Jordan Valley, not including the larger cities there…Sodom…Gomorrah…were what his eyes, and thus his mind and heart saw. There are many things we can take from this but it does reinforce the fact that there are repercussions for choices made. Lot’s choice lead him closer to the sin-laden cities Sodom and Gomorrah and Abram’s faith ensuring his alignment with the divine plan God had for him. There is the eternal truth that choices outside of God’s Will for us will lead to bad things. Lot saw wealth, Abram’s eyes were on God’s vision and promise to him.

Where are your eyes in this Advent Season? Are they on the lights, tree, presents and all the distractions of this most wonderful season? Or do they see the miracle of the birth of Jesus Christ… The son of God…God incarnate among us? 

Life is Good

jk

I believe I should make one thing clear…with the cooler weather there are days the “The Back Porch” becomes the office…these old bones don’t tolerate this cooler, damper weather very well. So…I have presented, voted and approved “the office” as a suitable location for pondering during this time of year. Which leads me to remind everyone that ‘Elections have consequences’.

Does anyone remember when Mr Obama reminded Republicans of that?… Would have been in 2009 I believe. Today’s Ponder is a reminder that sometimes what we say can come back and bite us. What this amounts to in straight talk …when transferred to the political genre …“Tough luck, you lost. Get over it.” Our country is divided and I am going to put my own numbers to it. I am even going to give you some new labels to work with. 48% of the people vote I think based on agendas and political affiliation, these are the “me too folks.” 46% vote and think on their personal beliefs and moral convictions. These are the “I believe folks.” That leaves us with 6%. Of this 6% I think 4% are what I would refer to as “free thinkers”…they go where the wind blows them. Then last would be the 2%. I refer to these folks as “it is what it is.” They are a special breed…it is an “in the booth thing”…might as well do something.

There is one other group that I think are present in all these divisions… Those who believe they are above everyone else…I don’t have a % for these folks but I do have some advice…and something to Ponder… “Get over it.”

Kurt

Advent is the season of the year leading up to Christmas. The word advent itself means “arrival” or “an appearing or coming into place.” Christians often speak of Christ’s “first advent” and “second advent”; that is, His first and second comings to earth. (Got Questions)

Right away we encounter what I call a moment of need to know. During Advent we are waiting and preparing for the arrival of Jesus Christ…Simply put…His birth. In the secular world it is referred to most often as The Christmas Story. Most everyone knows the story, I have a problem with calling it The Christmas Story. To me it is the written account of God’s gift to a struggling world. There is another word we read when studying this event…The Incarnation, it is a term used by theologians to indicate that Jesus, the Son of God, took on human flesh.The word incarnation means “the act of being made flesh.” I believe that we don’t realize the enormity of “the arrival”, we are distracted by the decorations, gifts and secular traditions, which we refer to as “tis the season”. Christ came among us in this way, the Son of God was to be like us… What does that really mean? You have heard it said, or even had someone say to you “you should have to walk in my shoes”. Understand this…Jesus was like us there is ample proof of his humanity. Biblical support for Jesus’ humanity is extensive. We read he had and was subject to life’s basic needs. The Gospels report Jesus’ human needs including sleep, food, protection from the elements and Jesus was capable of the full range of human emotions. Joy, sorrow, anger. He walked in our shoes…literally. During His time with us HE referred to himself as a man and even after the crucifixion the humanity of Jesus was never questioned. The point is we sometimes get distracted by “The Season” and the burden of theological reasoning. Remember this word…Incarnation. Advent is more than an event on the church calendar… It is the time we as the church prepare for the brith of Christ…  Now add this word… Incarnation… Once again I don’t believe that all of us fully understand the enormity of what has taken place. God literally came among His people…I am overwhelmed by this. Praise God!

Life is Good

jk

Last Sunday we welcomed in the Advent Season… The “Pew” blog, to be published tomorrow, I will share with you some thoughts about this Christian season of preparing for the birth of Christ. Please join us in the “Pew”. Some early thoughts…

Four Themes of Advent

• Hope: The first theme of advent is hope. …
• Peace: The second week of advent focuses on peace. …
• Love: In week three, we celebrate love. …
• Joy: The theme of the last week of advent is joy — how fitting is that!

 These themes of Advent are represented by the Advent Wreath’s candles.   

 The four candles of the Advent wreath specifically symbolize the Christian concepts of hope, peace, joy and love, with these candles being lit subsequently throughout each week of the Advent season.

jk

Been quite on the porch which I attribute to the holiday, change in the weather and the election being over. But if you listen, read a little more, you can always find a good “ponder” in the bushes. Well, I found one…and in my mind it is a good one. As best as I can understand the Government of Mexico is suing various gun manufacturing companies here in the US for damages caused by the smuggling of weapons into their country. The case has made its way to Supreme Court of The United States. Now my reply would be to Mexico ok…let’s counter sue for all the illegal immigrants they are allowing to travel through their country into the us and don’t forget the drugs being smuggled into the US by the drug Cartels in Mexico. Now when you ponder this a bit… this has to be one heck of a stupid idea. These companies (gun) are in the business of making these weapons…but they are not smuggling them into Mexico…the other term would be “the business of gun running.” Now I will admit that there was at one time a suggestion that Hillary and company were running a gun running operation at one time. Remember Benghazi? Now to be fair the verdict on this matter is still being disputed. Now I will present to you the Ponder of this week on the Back Porch… Now how I got here, I really don’t know… 2 Amendment Rights

How many of you have ever heard of “The Battle of Athens? Ah…I forget and left out the folks of Etowah. Here is the skinny on that…

The Battle of Athens was a rebellion led by citizens in Athens and Etowah, Tennessee, United States, against the local government in August 1946. The citizens, including some World War II veterans, accused the local officials of predatory policing, police brutality, political corruption, and voter intimidation.

Gun Manufacturing companies have been sued by various people and groups for years here in the US. Anti Gun Groups want to ban all guns and have sought to dismantle the Second Amendment for a long time. So goggle The Battle of Athens, the best example of why we have a Second Amendment.

Ponder that awhile!

Kurt