Pastor Kyle here,

  • I am putting articles and things here that I find interesting.

  • I am not telling you everything in these articles is perfect and true.

  • I am telling you that I find them interesting and I trust you to read them with a learner’s eye.

February -April 2021

February -April 2021

March 21, 2021. Philippians 2:1-11. He became a servant.

March 21, 2021. Philippians 2:1-11. He became a servant.

March 14, 2021. He broke the dividing wall of hostility. Ephesians 2:11-22.

March 14, 2021. He broke the dividing wall of hostility. Ephesians 2:11-22.

March 7, 2021. Christ’s Triumphal Procession

March 7, 2021. Christ’s Triumphal Procession

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February 21, 2021

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February 7, 2021 - Wisdom

Most popular bible verses. Here

Great topical study of the proverbs. Here

Visualizing the themes of Proverbs (Click Here).


I want to buy one of those mugs:

January 2021 - 5 sermons through the book of Mark

January 2021 - 5 sermons through the book of Mark

A series of Articles about Bethphage/Mt. Of Olives

The Red Heifer Sacrifice and the Crucifixion

Case for the Crucifixion Site of Jesus Being on the Mount of Olives

The Significance of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives

Locating Golgotha

The Sanhedrin and the Mount of Olives

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Links

An excellent analysis of sin and deception

http://www.geftakysassembly.com/Articles/Perspectives/MalignantNarcissism.htm

The text of the book, People of the Lie. It is an excellent presentation of demonic possession. The last chapter covers group evil in an analysis of the MyLai massacre.

http://www.journeytoforever.org/farm_library/ppl-lie.html

Here is the audio version of the book if you want to listen.

Audiobook 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IT1qj4pTo0I

I am reading 

Demonic Foes: My Twenty-five years as a psychiatrist investigation possessions, diabolic attacks, and the paranormal by Richard Gallagher. The cover is a bit much - looks like a publisher sensationalism, but the book so far is solid and very interesting.

Here is the article that Gallagher wrote that spurred the book

https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2016/07/01/as-a-psychiatrist-i-diagnose-mental-illness-and-sometimes-demonic-possession/

Mark and the fight against evil.

https://media.ascensionpress.com/2015/03/09/gospel-mark-spiritual-warfare/

Here is a fantastic article that covers the views of medicine, magic and miracles at the time of Jesus by David Garland - now of Truett Seminary. Click Here

If you do not know this website, it is a good place to get to good research and articles.

An interesting take on miracles and their function in the writing of the New Testament Here. This is a good presentation of the liberal view of miracles. in the last paragraph “The miracle story is not interested in whether it ever happened or not.” Compare this to Garland. He differentiates the 3 types of stories and clearly asserts that miracles happen.

Christian Magic and Miracles - Biblical Archaeology Society

How Magic and Miracles Spread Christianity Biblical Archaeology Society

Arch Underwood news archives click here

Link for lake underwood

Underwood recognized 40 years after his death in Lubbock

https://www.lubbockonline.com/article/20140812/LIFESTYLE/308129764

Underwood film archives

https://texasarchive.org/taxonomy/term/115921

Picture from Life Magazine

http://www.gstatic.com/hostedimg/2fd269f3ca23f0df_large

photojournalist Alfred Eisenstaedt. The dark story behind the famous “kiss photograph.”

https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/famed-image-marking-v-j-day-sinister-shade-article-1.2774540

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Read Micah 5:1-5a

Meeting Each Other in the Text:

  1. What is your experience like in owning/taking care of an animal?  What animal was it?  What do you love about caring for your animal?  What frustrates you about your animal?

  2. What is the longest you have waited for something you really wanted?  What was it?

  3. Do you know of a story of something small (maybe an action or deed) that ended up resulting in significant change or a major impact?  

  4. When was the last time you felt in control?  When was the last time you felt out of control?  

  5. When and where do you feel the most safe and secure?  

Dig Into the Text:

  1. Knowing those given the role of shepherd in ancient times were the “weakest and least significant” people, why do you think Jesus is referred to as a “Shepherd-ruler” in Micah and calls himself “the Good Shepherd” in the New Testament?

  2. How do you think Micah’s audience responded to the idea of a “Shepherd-ruler?”

  3. What impact do you think the message of a new upcoming ruler/Messiah would have given the people in Micah’s audience?  Do you think they thought this rulers arrival was imminent?

  4. How do you think the audience might have reacted/responded to Micah’s message that an ancient and strong ruler will come out of small/insignificant Bethlehem?  

  5. What might the contrasting themes of Micah 5:1-5a of small/weak/insignificant things actually being impactful/strong/significant be trying to teach the people of Micah’s day?  Does this message translate to today? How so?

Apply the Text:

  1. What does it mean to you that Jesus is your Good Shepherd?

  2. What specific insecurities and scarcities have you experienced in 2020?  (Name your losses)

  3. How would you describe the state of your soul right now?  What toll has 2020 taken on your soul?  Are you weary?  Discouraged?  Hopeful?  

  4. What are you waiting/longing/hoping for right now in your life?

  5. What are three things you are grateful for right now?  (Name your gratitude) 

RESEARCH/STUDY MATERIALS:

Book about “Lynne the Shepherdess”: Scouting the Divine: Searching for God in Wine, Wool, and Wild Honey by Margaret Feinberg 

Article about “Carlos the Shepherd”:  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-16318626

Watch The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian:

— Disney Plus

— Amazon Prime Video

Wild Shepherdess with Kate Humble:  BBC Documentaries on YouTube: 

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Read Hosea 1 & 3.

Meet each other in the text

  1. Have you ever watched a soap opera? Which one/s?

  2. What movies or TV shows seem to reflect the situation that Hosea and Gomer where in?

  3. What does your name mean?

  4. Have you ever met a person with a strange name? Like what? How do you think it impacted that person?

  5. What is the highest number to which you have counted? Why?

Discuss the text.

  1. Where you grew up, what was the impact of a person’s moral reputation? What is surprising about 1:2 and the charge to Hosea?

  2. In 1:4 Hoseas is instructed to call his kid the name of a terrible massacre at Jezreel (it could be a whole study to read about what Jehu did. He seems to be following the Lord’s commands, but then he goes way too far. This is one of the traps - we tell people and ever ourselves that we are pursuing God, but really are in it for ourselves). What is the name of a massacre that you know about. Can you imagine naming a child after a massacre?

  3. In verse 6 and 7 we see that Israel will be saved, but not Judah. What is the difference between Israel and Judah? Look it up if you don’t know. How did the nation get divided? What does that have to teach us for today?

  4. In verse 7 he says that we will be rescued “not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses and horsemen.” In what ways had Israel depend on these things for rescue? Read 9:3. What does it look like Israel was depending upon for help?

  5. What is the promise of 1:11? 

  6. 3:1 is probably the oldest text in the world describing the reconciliation between a couple when betrayal has entered their relationship. If you were to counsel a couple experiencing that trauma what would you tell them?

  7.  What are Sacred raisin cakes? Without looking anything up, just from the context what do you think they could be? Read the wiki article for Dumuzid. Read the section about worship. Who was baking for who? Read the section “In the Bible.” Now what do you think the cakes were? 

  8. Read Chapter 11. What did Israel do over and over again?

  9. Read 11:9. What was the natural thing for God to do?

  10. Why does God forgive?

  11. What can God’s forgiveness teach us about our forgiveness?

Apply the text

  1. In what way are you like Hosea? Gomer?

  2. What have you learned about forgiveness?

  3. How does a person get better at forgiveness?

    Research Notes

    Smith County Historical Monument

    https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=91380

    The Pernicious Myth of the ‘Loyal Slave’ 

    https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/pernicious-myth-loyal-slave-lives-confederate-memorials-180964546/

    The Hosea Love Story. Six Episodes from Irving Bible Church

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyWWXSwtPP0&list=PL0E4A71D4DBC2F595

    Texas History Shankleville Tours

    https://texastimetravel.oncell.com/en/index.html

    AFRICAN AMERICANS IN TEXAS: A Lasting Legacy

    https://www.thc.texas.gov/public/upload/African-Americans-in-Texas-2016.pdf

    Texas Forest Trail - great videos of Shankleville

    https://texasforesttrail.com/plan-your-adventure/historic-sites-and-cities/sites/shankleville-community

    Texas Historical Commission

    https://www.thc.texas.gov/blog/going-mobile-shankleville

    Elzie Odom - First Black Mayor of Arlington. Shankle descendant.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elzie_Odom



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Questions

Read Revelation 22

Meet Each Other in the Text

  1. What is your favorite river?

  2. What is your favorite city?

  3. What is your favorite fruit that comes from a fruit tree?

  4. How often do you use the flashlight on your cell phone (if you have one)?

  5. Who is the best guide you ever had?

  6. What is the most exclusive place you have ever visited?

Explore the text

  1. Read Genesis 1:1-2. Compare this passage to it. How is this a reversal of that?

  2. Read Ezekiel 47:1-12. How is this a fulfillment of that prophecy?

  3. What do you think it means in v2 “the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations?”

  4. Look up “curse in the bible.” What curse is undone in heaven (v3)?

  5. Look up “face of God.” What is significant about people seeing God’s face (4)?

  6. Reread vs 10-11. Why does the angel tell these people to “continue” instead of “stop”?

  7. Read the list in vs 15. Who on this list do we tend to excuse and who do we tend to condemn? Why don’t we feel the same about all those sins?

  8. Extra Credit. Read vs. 16. Then read Is 14:12. What’s up with that? A good article describing the two passages

  9. Read verse 18-19. In light of these verses how much should we explain the book of Revelation? How are our interpretations “adding to it” and “taking away” from it?

Apply the text

  1. What are you most looking forward to about heaven?

  2. How will people see each other - think about each other in heaven? How could we do more of that now?

  3. What should we do about the people who will end up (15) outside of the gates?

Research Restore the Forest 

I.D. FAIRCHILD STATE FOREST

U.S. Department of Defense and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: Red-cockaded Woodpecker

Downlisting the bird

Safe Harbor Agreements

Fish and Wildlife Service and Partners Celebrate 20th Anniversary of First Safe Harbor Agreement

https://www.fws.gov/news/ShowNews.cfm?ID=E2CE308B-04DC-AC05-D949E3F1EE9B4AB3 

Safe harbor agreements benefits

https://tpwd.texas.gov/business/grants/wildlife/section-6/docs/birds/e1_j4-1_final_report.pdf

Story of the city cutting down its trees. https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/24/us/24woodpecker.html

Rusk Prison

https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/rusk-penitentiary

https://pubs.usgs.gov/bul/0902/report.pdf

Iron ore geology. See 144-145.

Penitentiary Investinging Committee

https://lrl.texas.gov/scanned/interim/31/31_PenitInvestPartI.pdf

https://lrl.texas.gov/scanned/interim/31/31_PenitInvestPartII.pdf

https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/rusk-penitentiary

Convict management at the Rusk Penitentiary largely followed the Auburn System. That technique, introduced at the Auburn, New York, prison in 1823, required rehabilitation and discipline for prisoners through a daily routine of silence, meditation, and labor designed to encourage desirable moral habits and self-respect. 

https://www.tsl.texas.gov/exhibits/prisons/lease/rusk.html

The committee discovered that conditions at the sugar farms, cotton camps, and coal mining and timber operations were degrading and unsanitary. At many camps, men were permitted to bathe only once a week. There was no laundry, and men were forced to wear the same socks and underwear and sleep on the same bed linen for weeks at a time. The legislators found men wearing filthy rags, men covered with bruises and wounds, men tormented by bedbugs and lice.



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Questions

Read Revelation 16

Meeting Each Other in the text

  1. Bowls (1). What is your favorite cereal bowl?

  2. Painful sores (2) Do you react strongly to poison ivy? 

  3. Sea. (3). Have you walked on a beach? What is your favorite thing to collect at the beach? 

  4. Just judge (5). Have you ever had an unjust judge?

  5. Sun (8) Have you ever had a bad sunburn? Whose fault was it?

  6. Darkness (10-11). What is the most unexpected darkness you have experienced?

  7. Sleep in your clothes (15). Have you ever slept in your clothes?

Dig into the text

  1. What do you think is the worst of the 7 bowls of wrath?

  2. Look up Meggido on a map. What do you notice about the place? Why was the city located there? Search for trade routes near Megiddo. Why did that make the city important?

  3. Find Nazareth on a map. Compare it to Meggido. How far away was it? Was is the significance that Jesus grew at that spot?

  4. Find Mt Carmel on a map. Compare it to Megiddo. What famous incident happened at Mt Carmel? I Kings 17-19. 

  5. In verse 17 it says “it is done” compare that to “It is finished” that Jesus spoke from the cross. How does what happened after the voice in 17 compare to what happened after the death of Jesus on the cross?

  6. Look up “cup of wrath.” John 3:36, Luke 22:39-46, Jeremiah 25:15, Job 21:20, Isaiah 51:17, 22; Psalm 75:8, (Link) Who did the cup of wrath fall upon? Do you think it will be different in the future?

  7. Why do people curse God when trouble comes? If you live by an active volcano whose fault is it if you are crushed by an eruption?

Apply the text

  1. Why is repentance so hard for us?

  2. Is it more important to read this passage as addressed to us or to the future?

  3. If the real battle of Armageddon is the battle for personal repentance which battle are you in? 

    1. Little Big Horn - I'm losing, but acting like I’m winning.

    2. Alamo - I’m losing and I know I’m losing, but I’d rather fight than give up.

    3. Pearl Harbour - I’m on shore leave and not paying attention.

    4.  Yorktown - I’m surrounded, I’m losing, I’ve bent my knee and waved the white flag.

Armageddon Research notes

The Battle of the Neches.

http://www.paulridenour.com/tabor.htm

https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/mount-tabor-indian-community

https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/mount-tabor-indian-community

https://shannonselin.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Cherokees-in-Texas-1836-map.jpg

https://shannonselin.com/2015/12/cherokee-indian-chief-bowles-duwali/

https://texasbeyondhistory.net/tejas/voices/without.html

https://alchetron.com/Battle-of-the-Neches

http://files.usgwarchives.net/tx/smith/military/indian/cherokee.txt

It is ranked second only to the Battle of San Jacinto.

A few days after the battle the sky was real black in that direction. They rode their horses to the place to see what was happening and they found the sky filled with buzzards and all those Indian bodies scattered around.

Treaty

https://www.tsl.texas.gov/treasures/giants/cherokee-1.html

Mentions of Armeggedon

https://www.businessinsider.com/battle-armageddon-israel-evangelical-christians-2013-1

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium.MAGAZINE-armageddon-101-the-true-history-of-the-end-of-the-world-1.6079081

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/22/world/doomsday-prophets-coronavirus-blake/index.html

https://foreignpolicy.com/2010/04/02/four-minutes-to-armageddon-2/



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Questions

Read Revelation 5

Find each other in the text

  1. What is your favorite chair in your house?

  2. Who is the loudest person in your family?

  3. What makes you cry the most: onions, a sad movie, physical pain?

  4. Have your eyes ever played tricks on you?

  5. What is your favorite smell?

  6. What is the biggest “sing-a-long” you have been part of? A concert, a football game? What did everyone sing?

Question the text

  1. Why do you think it mentions that writing was on “both sides”?

  2. What qualifies “lion of Judah” to be able to open the scroll?

  3. Type “prohedria” into google search. Compare the pictures to 4:6-7 & 5:6. What do you think? Could John have been describing them?

  4. Compare 5:9, 5:11, 5:13. How does this make you feel? What does it mean to you?

Apply the text

  1. What would take for you to yearn for the Word of God like John in 5:4?

  2. How do you picture Jesus? Is it more “lion” or more “lamb”? How does your picture of Jesus change the way you apply Jesus to your world?

  3. When is the last time you were “loud” for the Lord?

Revelation 5 sermon notes

The Golden Age of Magic Posters  

Published on May 11, 2016  

The Nielsen Collection Part I Live Auction June 25, 2016

https://issuu.com/potterauctions/docs/catalog39_issu


https://www.ijert.org/research/the-promotion-of-american-culture-through-hollywood-movies-to-the-world-IJERTV1IS4194.pdf


http://www.theradiohistorian.org/xer/xer.html


https://www.whitman.edu/theatre/theatretour/glossary/glossary.htm

67 Estus.jpg

Meet Estus Pirkle (click to read interview with his wife. She talks about Athens briefly.

The burning hell (his most famous movie).

https://www.bynwr.com/articles/the-burning-hell

If Footmen Tire (His first big movie).

The Believers Heaven



https://revelationdrama.com/greek-drama/nero-theater/

the theatre was subsidized by the empire and it was a privilege of being a Roman citizen, to be able to enjoy the theatre at no charge.  Even if you were illiterate, the theatre was where everyone would receive their education of the classics.

The amphitheater in Athens was in continual use from 400B.C. to 400A.D. The theater in Ephesus could seat 25000 people. The theater in Pergamum could hold 20000 people. 

Much of the public’s education came from the theater, even though they were mostly illiterate, they received an education of the classics, the successful military campaigns, and the latest political propaganda, from the theater. Like today the bulk of the public’s opinion would have been formed by the theater. 

Theater and drama were the greatest and most effective way to sway, and control public opinion of the time. It was much the same then, as it is today.

Episkenion: Greek; literally the upper, upper story of the Greek Hellenistic skene. In the early Hellenistic theater episkenion was the second floor of the skene or Greek stage house. It was recessed from the roof of the proskenion. The proskenion roof was the stage logeion of the Hellenistic theater. The episkenion façade was pierced by one of more openings, thuromata that could be filled with painted panels or doors.

The stage at Ephesus is the only such stage building ever excavated with seven thuromata or windows. Thus, for nearly 300 hundred years before to the writing of Revelation, the number of seven had acquired great significance for the inhabitants of Ephesus. The main purpose of these windows was to effect presentation of scenery in Greek drama. Painted panels were placed in the windows, depicting scenes too difficult to perform on the stage.  This suits well many of the scenes in Revelation.

_______________

http://eerdword.com/2016/05/11/revelation-as-visionary-drama/

the hearers and readers of Revelation would have experienced this document as the oral enactment of a visionary drama. 

https://1library.net/document/q0e861vy-reading-revelation-drama-reading-interpreting-revelation-greco-performance.html

Its lurid language,potent imagery and seemingly impenetrable allusions have alienated many Christians who dare not open the text

As literary critic Harold Bloom argues,

The influence of Revelation is out of all proportion to its literary strength or spiritual value. Though it has affected the strongest poets, from Dante and Spenser through Milton on to Blake and Shelley, it also has enthralled the quacks and cranks of all ages down to the present moment in America.

the reversals and hybridity in Revelation are intended to force

John’s audience to consider their position as Christians and what it means to stand against the injustices of empire.

The public reading of Scripture is a practice attested to throughout the Hebrew Bible.

understanding the text as a performance removes any requirement for its words or imagery to be understood from a literalistic point of view. Pg 20

it is clear that Revelation is a text that posits the reign of the kingdom of God over against earthly kingdoms and empires, and against evil. Pg 25

texts were generally written to be read aloud—the concept of “silent reading” was uncommon

Revelation1:3, “Blessed is the one who reads aloud (ἀναγινώσκων) the words of the prophecy”10


Revelation was designed to be read aloud and heard all at once... the Apocalypse must be grasped as a whole, for it simply cannot be understood verse by verse. It is a narrative, a drama with action and movement that conveys the message of each part within the context of the story in its totality.

pg35-36


the theatre and performance became the cornerstone of Roman entertainment, 

Pg 80


The physical space of the theatre represented an area of transformation and reversal, where the rich and powerful were subjected to the scrutiny of those who were normally their inferiors. As we shall see, Revelation also represents an inversion that upsets and destabilises the power structures of the Roman Empire, and so setting Revelation in the space of the theatre (or at least imagining it as such) is an appropriate move.

Pg 83

The vivid language of the Hebrew traditions (Babylon!) and the Greco- Roman iconography of power, war and victory over sea, land and the nations, are juxtaposed and redefined in order to challenge the assumption that the gods / God must be on the side of the powerful and that peace comes only through conquest.44

Pg 121

that apocalyptic literature is “resistant discourse that unthinks the logic of empire and asserts in its place an alternative vision of reality”83—that is, literature that actively opposes imperial hegemonies and promotes instead a utopic vision of the Kingdom of God. 

134



It is important to note that John does not encourage his readers to rebellion or to violent resistance, but rather calls them to witness and martyrdom. 

161

Around the perimeter of the orchestra, usually in the front row of auditorium seats, was a semicircular row of carved stone seats, or “thrones,” reserved for priests or high dignitaries in attendance upon the dramatic performance.89

196


the emperor Domitian had increased the maximum number of lictors accompanying the emperor from twelve to twenty-four,99

200

Domitian would “preside at games flanked by various priests wearing gold crowns.”100 I

200

For John’s audience to hear and see hymns re-employed in service of Christianity and sung by white-robed elders would have been quite confronting.

205

Revelation, then, presents its readers with a choice: they can choose to persevere with Christ, and ultimately fill the position of elder, singing acclamations to God, or they can choose to be subservient to the emperor.

205

acclamations (acclamatio) shouted to the emperors of Rome. Seal notes that acclamations were generally rhythmic, easily-learned phrases that lent themselves well to being chanted by groups of people,116 and were used for a variety of purposes: to demonstrate public opinion, to reaffirm an emperor’s rule, or to spread propaganda about that emperor.117

204

As in much of the literature relating to trumpets in the Hebrew Scriptures, many of the texts surrounding trumpets and trumpeters in the Greco-Roman context are focused on their use in and association with warfare and combat.

214


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Judaea_Capta_coinage#/media/File:Sestertius_-_Vespasiano_-_Iudaea_Capta-RIC_0424.jpg


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gav6zpE7nls


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYR3McjxHdo

https://www.icollector.com/Roman-Empire-Vespasian-69-79-Sestertius-71-28-39g_i9258028

https://archive.org/details/diebaugeschichtl00fiecuoft/page/n11/mode/thumb

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Revelation_17_22_Volume_52C/SF8qDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=david+aune+revelation+coin+roma+reclining&pg=PT147&printsec=frontcover





November 15, 2020

November 15, 2020

Read Revelation 3:7-13

““To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test those who live on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Those who are victorious I will make pillars in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 3:7–13)


Find Each Other in the Text

  1. What is the last handwritten letter you have received? Sent?

  2. Have you ever lost a key and it was a problem?

  3. What is the worst thing to open - something in a hard plastic case or tightly sealed jar?

  4. Have you ever supported a sports team, but gave up on them? What happened?

  5. What is a place you used to go, that you do not go to any more?

  6. Have you ever held a record (not a music record, but an accomplishment)? For what? How long? What did it feel like to lose it?

  7. Have you ever had a nick-name that you loved?

Dig in the Text. 

  1. Compare the identifier “holy and true” to the other openings of the other 6 letters. Why are they different in different places? 

  2. What Key does he hold?

  3. What are deeds that God notices?

  4. How does knowing that the “synagogue of Satan” people will eventually acknowledge that the Christians were correct help now?

  5. What will everyone eventually know about the followers of God (9)?

  6. How does “enduring patiently” help us in the troubles to come? Do you think this means we will not be here for the trouble or that we will be safe in the trouble?

  7. The letter says he is coming “soon” (11), but that was 2000 years ago. What are we to make of that?

  8. What do you think is the name that God wants to write on you?

Apply the Text

  1. How would seeing parts of the Bible like a letter written directly to you make the words more meaningful and powerful?

  2. What door do you think God has opened for you, but that you might not have walked through?

  3. Who are you praying will eventually understand that you are right about Jesus and that one day they will accept him?

Research notes and articles keys sermon November 15 2020

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/lifting-the-veil-trauma/202005/what-is-collective-trauma

Collective trauma is extraordinary in that not only can it bring distress and negative consequences to individuals but in that it can also change the entire fabric of a community (Erikson, 1976).

he has found it increasingly difficult to reach out for support. Erik has found himself more irritable with his family and children and wondering why he can’t just “shake this off.”

https://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2237-60892017000200135&lng=en&nrm=iso&tlng=en

one of the most life-threatening, devastating, and uncontrollable of the many different types of natural disaster.


In a 3-year case-control study, several independent risk factors for chronic PTSD were also identified, including witnessing someone being killed in the earthquake, having no regular income after the earthquake, receiving mental health support only once after the earthquake, and lower social support.36

https://english.kyodonews.net/news/2020/06/e6d2ac524db0-japan-extends-2011-disaster-recovery-agencys-work-by-10-years.html

Tsunami Stones

\https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/century-old-warnings-against-tsunamis-dot-japans-coastline-180956448/

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/tsunami-stones

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Meeting Each Other in the Text

  1. What is the furthest you have ever walked?

  2. Have you ever not recognized someone you should have recognized?

  3. What were arguments like in your home of origin?

  4. Have you ever been the last to know something?

  5. Have you ever been told something that you thought was crazy, but it ended up being true?

Digging in the Text

  1. How did the death of Jesus at the hands of the religious leaders impact the followers of Jesus?

  2. Why did they not believe the women?

  3. Why do we sometimes have to see things ourselves?

  4. What do you think happened in the breaking of the bread that made them see Jesus?

  5. When has a scripture really touched you as you read it, like you saw it for the first time?

  6. When has reading a scripture changed your behavior immediately?

Applying the text

  1. Cleopas and his traveling companion were so busy arguing that they missed Jesus. How have you experienced that in life?

  2. Jesus shows up and Cleopas gives him a rundown of the last 3 years of Jesus' work. If Jesus showed up last week and asked you “What is going on?” how would you explain what is happening in our world? What would you think were the things he needed to know to understand what has gone on?

  3. How did the empty tomb and the living Christ change Cleopas and friend? How should it change us?

Links:

From the Yellow Chair Interview. John Gowans work. Several of our church people are voice actors in these episodes.
the Noah Episode

The Moses episode

Articles.

John Pipers Critique of the current problem for Christians and the church.

The Wildest Insurance Fraud Scheme Texas Has Ever Seen

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Read Luke 4:1-11

Meeting Each Other in the Text

  1. When is the last fire you had?

  2. Have you ever been part of a fire that got out of control?

  3. What is your favorite part of a fire?

  4. When was the last time you went fishing?

  5. What is the biggest fish you have ever caught while fishing?

  6. What is your favorite fishing story?

  7. Have you ever been hooked by a lure?

Dig Into the Text

  1. In what ways do you think the location of the temptation of Jesus made a difference to what Jesus was thinking?

  2. How is Jesus’ temptation like the temptation of Adam and Eve? How is it different?

  3. How is a fishing lure a good metaphor for the temptations we feel? How is it a bad metaphor?

  4. Read: James 1:!3, Math 6:13, I Cor. 10:13, I Peter 4:2, Heb 4:15. What do these teach us about temptation?

  5. What was Jesus' plan of attack to overcome temptation?

  6. Why does the story begin by telling us that Jesus was “full” to the Holy Spirit? Do we associate temptation with Spiritual Maturity of Spiritual weakness?



Apply the Text

  1. What is a place that is tempting for you? How do you deal with it?

  2. How does the temptation tell us what the hardest thing for Jesus to deal with was?

  3. C.S. Lewis said, “only the person who never yielded to temptation knows the full strength of temptation.” Was it hard for Jesus to resist temptation? What does that say to us?

  4. Why is it important to know who you are to be able to resist temptation?

  5. What is the function of scripture reading and scripture memory in resisting temptation?

  6. Both the devil and Jesus quote scripture. What lessons do we need to learn from that?

Research Notes Lures Sermon Luke 4 October 4 2020

History of Lures

https://finandflame.com/antique-fishing-photo-sam-wallace-cdv/

https://www.tacklewarehouse.com/Yamamoto_Senko/descpage-YAS.html

 Athens headline

https://www.athensreview.com/sports/lake-athens-bass-good-with-senkos-and-small-baits/article_613c1d6e-92c2-11e9-a03d-57c393a3a143.html

Stanley casting jig

https://www.athensreview.com/sports/dancing-the-jig-east-texas-lure-maker-celebrates-40-years-in-the-bass-bait-business/article_4385703a-2030-11ea-bfc6-4f0a4f6ddbdd.html

Share lunker program

https://www.jacksonvilleprogress.com/sports/famous-lake-fork-guide-finally-reels-in-hall-of-fame-induction/article_e67f6a78-a33c-11e4-b2df-ff7aa068e06e.html

The guy who caught what is arguably the most famous fish ever caught in the history of Texas freshwater fishing is finally in line to reel in the recognition he deserves.

Stevenson is a Lake Fork fishing guide who caught a 17.67 pound largemouth bass from the 27,000-acre reservoir on Nov. 26, 1986. The fish ranked as the Texas state record until 1992, when Barry St. Clair reeled in an 18.18 pounder that gobbled up a live shiner as he fished for crappie near the dam.

 Twenty-eight years later, Stevenson's bass still ranks as the heaviest bass ever caught by an angler in Texas using an artificial lure. He caught it on a Stanley Jig.

it was the inaugural entry to Texas Parks and Wildlife's Operation Lone Star Lunker Program (currently called Toyota ShareLunker).

Hundreds of people attended, including company founder Johnny Morris and dozens of members of the press.

 Morris' appreciation for the big bass extended well beyond the 1994 memorial service. In 2004, he provided a $650,000 challenge grant to aid in the construction of a $2 million classroom/conservation center at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center in Athens. He dedicated the contribution in Ethel's name.

https://seekingandserving.wordpress.com/tag/temptation/

And that is a temptation we understand all too well.  “…temptation is not so often temptation toward something – usually portrayed as doing something you shouldn’t – but rather is usually the temptation away from something – namely, our relationship with God and the identity we receive in and through that relationship.  Too often Christians have focused on all the things we shouldn’t do, instead of pointing us to the gift and grace of our identity as children of God.”[ii]  In the end, the temptations Jesus faces could be anything.  They could certainly be “Bread, power, and safety.  But [the temptations] just as well might have been youth, beauty, and wealth.  Or confidence, fame, and security.”  The devil does not care about the content of the temptation.  The devil seeks “to shift our allegiance, trust, and confidence away from God and toward some substitute that promises a more secure identity.”[iii]


Jesus leans not on his own personal strength, but instead leans on the truths that he learns in the Hebrew Scriptures.  


https://cep.calvinseminary.edu/sermon-starters/lent-1c-2/?type=the_lectionary_gospel

As C.S. Lewis once said, only the person who never yielded to temptation knows the full strength of temptation.  If a hurricane roars ashore somewhere, which person will be in the best position to talk about the strength of the wind: the one who was blown over immediately, the one who managed to stay on his feet until the wind hit 75 MPH, or the one who never was blown over, not even when the wind topped out at 130 MPH?  Obviously the one who was able to resist the storm’s fullest fury is the one who knows better than anyone what all it took to stay on his feet. 

Jig underwater

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PG9kHY-O15A


Ethel

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKTKCdm0gjw&feature=youtu.be\


How smartr are bass?

https://www.bassresource.com/fish_biology/smart_bass.html

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NOTES, Cotton greed sermon september 27 2020

Science Hill. Here

Cotton Culture. Written in 1867 just after the Civl War. It gives an incredible picture of the process right at that time. Here

How much land does a man need? Here

https://digital.library.cornell.edu/catalog/ss:3293762

Southern merchants and diplomats, attempting to persuade the British to break the blockade, argued that a Northern victory would result in the end of American slavery and a dramatic increase in the cost of cotton for the mills of Liverpool and Manchester. Northern merchants and diplomats responded that the end of slavery would not result in higher cotton prices.

Olmsted's map was part of that advocacy. His goal, along with his collaborator Daniel Goodloe, was to produce a map such that a “British observer might quickly notice that those areas most committed to slavery were not necessarily those with the highest cotton exports.” (Schulten 2012, 147-48). In order to accomplish that, the map used different colors to shows the relative production of cotton (in bales per slave) and different black lines to show the density of slavery (in slaves per free man). "Those areas shaded as highly productive but without corresponding slave populations were, in their view, clear economic evidence against forced labor." (Ibid. 147).

But Olmsted’s concept did not account for a number of potentially significant factors, including differences in soil and rainfall; the use of slaves to produce tobacco, sugar cane, rice and other crops; and assumptions implicit in the ratio of slaves per free man. Apart from conceptual problems, the finished map is so complex that viewers of the map would be hard pressed to find the supposed correlations. Finally, Olmsted may have set himself an impossible objective: a century and a half later, with the benefit of better data and far superior analytic tools, the overwhelming consensus of modern economic historians is that slavery was in fact a more cost-effective means of producing cotton than free labor (Whaples 1995, 141, 146).

Harpers Weekly, "Scenes on a Cotton Plantation"

https://digital.library.cornell.edu/catalog/ss:21813140

East Texas set on fire

http://usgenwebsites.org/TXHenderson/OldNewspaper/08211860HoustonTelegraph.pdf

Houston Telegraph

deprives the dehumanized of those redeeming rational and spiritual qualities that give humans a sense of pride, of dignity, of being made in the image of God. At the same time, the projection enables the victimizers to become almost psychological parasites, whose self-image is immeasurably enhanced by the dramatic contrast with the degraded and dehumanized

https://thepointmag.com/examined-life/problem-slavery-david-brion-davis/

Cotton became the first mass consumer commodity.

https://www.pbs.org/wnet/african-americans-many-rivers-to-cross/history/why-was-cotton-king/

“Cotton was the leading American export from 1803 to 1937.”

The Cotton Revolution

http://www.americanyawp.com/text/11-the-cotton-revolution/#:~:text=The%20Cotton%20Revolution%20sparked%20the,and%20funded%20a%20wider%20world.

Wealth and Culture in the South

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-ushistory1os2xmaster/chapter/wealth-and-culture-in-the-south/

We still love getting cheap stuff, but is it good for us?

https://grist.org/business-technology/2011-11-11-is-your-stuff-falling-apart-thank-walmart/

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Notes Sermon ponder practice promise peace September 20 2020

Morgan’s Wonderland

Gordon Hartman’s TED talk

Gordon Hartman Interview

BRECKENRIDGE VILLAGE OF TYLER

History

Video presenting The ministry

http://www.ce.memphis.edu/3121/stuff/fallingwaters.html


https://www.archdaily.com/235341/ditherington-flax-mill-maltings-in-shrewsbury-wins-heritage-lottery-fund-support-fcb-studios

Ditherington Flax Mill

Built in 1797 this is the oldest surviving cast-iron framed building in the world and is the forerunner of the modern skyscraper. Until this time factories and mills were frequently destroyed by fire so the development of cast iron frames was a huge factor in putting Britain way ahead in the Industrial Revolution.

The Foundation Building[edit]

Cooper Union's Foundation Building is an Italianate brownstone building designed by architect Fred A. Petersen, one of the founders of the American Institute of Architects. It was the first structure in New York City to feature rolled-iron I-beams for structural support; Peter Cooper himself invented and produced these beams.[35] Petersen patented a fire-resistant hollow brick tile he used in the building's construction.[36][37] The building was the first in the world to be built with an elevator shaft, because Cooper, in 1853, was confident an elevator would soon be invented.[38] The building was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1961,[11][39][40] and a New York City Landmark in 1965,[41] and added to the Historic American Engineering Record in 1971.[42]

Sir Henry Bessemer

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Bessemer

Bessemer had been trying to reduce the cost of steel-making for military ordnance, and developed his system for blowing air through molten pig iron to remove the impurities. This made steel easier, quicker and cheaper to manufacture, and revolutionized structural engineering. One of the most significant inventors of the Second Industrial Revolution, Bessemer also made over 100 other inventions in the fields of iron, steel and glass. Unlike most inventors, he managed to bring his own projects to fruition and profited financially from their success.

For example, in 1909, the company erected its first metal building, an all steel garage. That simple structure would help to lay the foundation for what would eventually become Butler's bread-and-butter business. Other major ventures included metal farm implements and oil field equipment.

https://www.steelincga.com/a-brief-history-of-steel-construction/

From 1875 to 1920 steel production in America grew from 380,000 tons to 60 million tons annually, making the U.S. the world leader.

https://time.com/4791002/frank-lloyd-wright-sketches/

He was the man called "the Michelangelo of the 20th century" by the architect Eero Saarinen, so it's no surprise that 150 years after his birth, the work of renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright still provides plenty to unpack.

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/06/08/arts/frank-lloyd-wright-at-150-moma.html

Does New York’s skyline excite him, Wallace asks. “It does not,” Wright says. “Because it never was planned – it’s all a race for rent, and it is a great monument I think to the power of money and greed.”

https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/17/16304212/never-built-new-york-queens-museum-art-exhibit-preview

Never built

https://www.6sqft.com/frank-lloyd-wright-had-a-plan-to-build-a-city-of-the-future-on-ellis-island/

Ellis Island

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The Wedding Dress

Podcast and tons of info. [CLICK HERE]

History of Marriage by Bond

  1. Marriage Banns, Marriage Bonds, and Marriage by Bond: a history of marriage in Texas [Click Here]

  2. Form of Marriage in Spanish North America[CLICK HERE]

    1. the communication of the Spanish Governor of Texas to Moses Austin stipulated that the original three hundred settler families had to be Catholics, or agree to become such, before entering Spanish territory.

    2. article four of the Mexican Constitution of 1824 specifically provided: "The religion of the Mexican nation is and shall perpetually remain the Roman Catholic and Apostolic. The nation protects it by just and wise laws, and prohibits the exercise of every other.

    3. The Republic of Texas acted swiftly and decisively to validate pre-independence marriages by bond. The first attempt in this direction even antedates the formal declaration of independence on March 2, 1836. An Ordinance and Decree of the Consultation, dated January 22 of that year, empow- ered "regular[ly] accredited ministers of the Gospel, of whatever denomination, in addition to "all judges . . .

  3. Example of a marriage bond--John Crownover and Nancy Castleman, April 29, 1824.[CLICK HERE]

History of the struggle to validate the marriages of black people during and after slavery

    1. Slaves "by the laws of bondage were precluded from the rites of matrimony." [CLICK HERE]

    2. “The ‘Chords of Love’: Legalizing Black Marital and Family Rights in Postwar Texas.”[CLICK HERE]Texas did not record marriages, and the state did not officially formalize slave and postwar rela-tionships until 1869"All men were born free and equal," the newspaper contended, "and yet you will let a whole race of people whom the Constitution would govern, labor under the shame and outrage and inequality of what is known in law as bastardy—it is one of the enormous sins of slavery which it is the duty of a Republican Convention to rectify as far as it can be done," The very idea of "excluding children born, without their fault, out of wed-lock, from the right of support from their parents, arid the right to inherit property," the editor reasoned, "is one of the oldest and worst wrongs of society."

The lost marriage book of Henderson County

  1. A brief description and information about availability [CLICK HERE]. 

People ask me sometimes how I find stuff. This is a good example. Several weeks ago I was preaching about racism and the black cemetery that has been erased in Athens. I was looking for the sworn statements by people who lived in the area. They had been prepared for a proposed historical marker. 

I was reading them when I came to the last page, which had nothing to do with the former discussion. Go and read it. [CLICK HERE]

Stories of Early Henderson County

This is an amazing collection of stories. Transcription of newspaper articles which include marriage stories [CLICK HERE]

Submission

A critique of Emerson Eggerichs Love and Respect. While I like the book and have seen it help people, it is clear that abusive people of bad will can manipulate the system to further abuse and injure others.  [CLICK HERE]

A thoughtful presentation by a woman about a traditional view of headship and marriage. [CLICK HERE]

A thoughtful presentation by a woman that about an alternate view of headship and marriage  [CLICK HERE]

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August 30, 2020. Katie Mussat. Mark 6:45-56.

August 30, 2020. Katie Mussat. Mark 6:45-56.

I, pastor Kyle, picked these research links to give you additional research notes about this passage.

The dew of compassion.

Why was Jesus going to walk by?

Article, “He wanted to Pass Them By.”

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If you want to learn more about Honor - Shame and sharing your faith look here.

METAPHORS OF SALVATION - an depth look at the different ways the Bible talks about salvation.

Take this amazing inventory to see what world you live in,. It is super interesting.

I have treasured finding his guide to Texas from 1940. It is a rich resource, the illustrations so cool.

Pages 98-100 tell a piece of Athens history.

If you are interested in how law and prisons have worked for the last 40 years and some of the consequences and some of the lack of change, then check out this

Poor farms. If you didn’t know about this system fo care, you need to read about poor farms in our area.

Britain paid from 1833 to 2015 to free the slaves. The story is so hard to believe. It is worth reading.

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Thanks so much to Crossfit Van Zandt South for hosting our sermon filming this week.

They were welcoming and very encouraging. Lots of our church people work out there. They had an encouraging environment and would welcome you. 

CrossFit Lingo that might help. https://greatist.com/fitness/ultimate-guide-crossfit-lingo#1

Men and masks and weakness study. https://psyarxiv.com/tg7vz?mod=article_inline

Men more than women agree that wearing a face covering is shameful, not cool, a sign of weakness, and a stigma

Henri Nouwen Quote https://henrinouwen.org/meditation/what-is-most-personal-is-most-universal/

“The Christian often tries to forget his weakness; God wants us to remember it, to feel it deeply. The Christian wants to conquer his weakness and to be freed from it; God wants us to rest and even rejoice in it. The Christian mourns over his weakness; Christ teaches His servant to say, 'I take pleasure in infirmities. Most gladly ...will I...glory in my infirmities' (2 Cor. 12:9)' The Christian thinks his weaknesses are his greatest hindrance in the life and service of God; God tells us that it is the secret of strength and success. It is our weakness, heartily accepted and continually realized, that gives our claim and access to the strength of Him who has said, 'My strength is made perfect in weakness” 

― Andrew Murray, Abide in Christ: The Joy of Being in God's Presence

Barbara Robinette Moss. Read this excerpt, it one of my favorite chapters. 

  • https://jodyewing.com/author-interviews/barbara-robinette-moss-zeus/

  • “I had no idea I was writing such a universal story,” says Moss in reaction to the calls and letters pouring in.

  • https://www.bookbrowse.com/author_interviews/full/index.cfm/author_number/586/haven-kimmel

  • I'm thinking specifically of a memoir published in the last year, Barbara Robinette Moss's Change Me Into Zeus's Daughter. There was so much in that book I treasured (courage, beauty, delicacy), but the most amazing thing to me was the way Moss revealed events in her life that were so odd and so idiosyncratic--in some cases so extreme--that few people, I'm guessing, would recognize or understand their content. But again and again I thought of my own sister, Melinda, and the way Melinda and Barbara Moss seem to share a certain posture in relation to life, and I knew immediately that the book would be a comfort to Melinda. I sent her a copy and by the time she finished it she was a little speechless (very unusual for her, I must say). When she called me to talk about it, I said, "Who knew?" Memoir is the voice of our common humanity, even in the most uncommon lives. 

Rhabdomyolysis. Weakness and rest. 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/brucelee/2018/06/03/rhabdomyolysis-what-can-happen-when-you-work-out-too-much/#62c57b81624d


https://www.ancient.eu/Roman_Triumph/

Star of the show, the god-like victor would ride a spectacular tall-sided chariot pulled by four horses. He wore a laurel crown and carried a laurel branch in his right hand. In his left hand, he carried an ivory sceptre with an eagle at the top, symbolic of the triumph. He was accompanied by a slave whose job was to hold above his head a gold crown and continuously whisper in his ear that, amongst all this adoration, he should remember that he was only a mortal and not actually a god. For this reason, he would repeat respice or ‘look behind’.

respice finem Latin phrase: consider the end : live so that your life will be approved after your death

Music function in workout.

https://www.boxrox.com/music-enhances-crossfit-performance/


Presidential Fitness Test



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A Walk Across America - here is a pdf that has the National Geographic covers, parts of the articles, photographs, and the pages from the book that are about Athens. (click here)

The Sanborn Fire Maps

Collection of old photos of Henderson County

Listing for old hotel

Three times Jesus predicts death and the disciples resist him in Mark

Story of the Dixie theater fire

A series of old ads that show the marketing ploys


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The measure sermon notes

I would love for you to look through all of these, but if you just do one thing. Please watch this video.It will help. Listen. I showed a couple of minutes in my sermon. The whole thing is very good. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AGUwcs9qJXY

The History of Norwegian immigration into Texas

    •  Freehling, 1991, p. 396: "... Texas could govern themselves if they conceded Mexicans' theoretical sovereignty" or Britain's minister to Mexico Doyle "[could] suggest that Mexico grant Texas independence if Texas should make [its] blacks independent."

    • Freehling, William W. 1991. The Road to Disunion: Volume I: Secessionists at Bay, 1776–1854. Oxford University Press. 1991. ISBN 978-0-19-507259-4.

  • The historical markers you igonroe when driving through Brownsboro on the way to Tyler

City on the Hill

  • The interpretation is obvious. For what do you suppose Jesus lighted us? To have our light, the Word which illumines us, hidden away where no one can see it? No; we are to be lamps that are set out prominently on lampstands. The Word we possess is to enlighten also others.

The Highpoint of Henderson County

Negative Interpretation in Marriage

How Herod became Great

Seek First to Understand

The Golden Sayings of Epictetus

https://www.bartleby.com/2/2/ —Epictetus, in The Golden Sayings of Epictetus, trans. by Hastings Crossley. Vol. II, Part 2. The Harvard Classics. New York: P.F. Collier & Son, 1909–14; Bartleby.com, 2001. 17:33, 8 April 2007 (UTC)

See Appendix A. Fragments Attributed to Epictetus, VI

Listening to Abstract Art

A good introduction to abstract art. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96hl5J47c3k

The Overground Railroad. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/books/story/2020-01-10/overground-railroad-candacy-taylor-green-book

What did not make it in the Sermon?

Notes on weights and measures as relates to recipes in America. 

This is a good example of a whole stream of research that does not make it into the sermon, but I find fascinating. 

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/making-modern-american-recipe-180964940/

Standardization of weights and measures, driven by industrial innovation, also fueled the rise of the modern American recipe. For most of the 19th century, recipes usually consisted of only a few sentences giving approximate ingredients and explaining basic procedure, with little in the way of an ingredient list and with nothing resembling precise guidance on quantities, heat, or timing. The reason for such imprecision was simple: There were no thermometers on ovens, few timepieces in American homes, and scant tools available to ordinary people to tell exactly how much of an ingredient they were adding.

One common approximation, for instance, was “the weight of six eggs in sugar." They also struggled to give instructions on temperature, sometimes advising readers to gauge an oven’s heat by putting a hand inside and counting the seconds they could stand to hold it there. Sometimes they hardly gave instructions at all. A typically vague recipe from 1864 for “Rusks,” a dried bread, read in its entirety: “One pound of flour, small piece of butter big as an egg, one egg, quarter pound white sugar, gill of milk, two great spoonfuls of yeast.”

rigorous precision made cooking more satisfying and food more delicious, and her tinkering soon turned into wholesale revision.

Farmer insisted that all quantities be measured level across the top of the cup or spoon, not rounded in a changeable dome, as American cooks had done for generations.

The Original Boston Cooking-School Cook Book, “Correct measurements are absolutely necessary to insure the best results. Good judgement, with experience, has taught some to measure by sight; but the majority of people need definite guides.”

Betty Crocker test kitchen when I lived in Minnesota. Our tour guide told us about recipes before standardization. One of the instructions was “stir until your arm gets tired.”

Informal measurements such as a "pinch", a "drop", or a "hint" (soupçon) continue to be used from time to time.

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Bubba Wallace. If you don’t know him, a good place to start is his wiki article (HERE)

Castle Oaks Vineyard and Winery (HERE)

Its one of the 7 species (HERE)

This is an excellent article about the economics of the temple and the judgment of the poor. (HERE)

History of Israel and vineyards (HERE)

The Symbolism of Vine in Scripture (HERE)

“God came looking for justice and righteousness; instead he found oppression, cruelty, exploitation, and indifference to the needs of others.” Ray Stedman (HERE)

A great article on Justice and the vineyard. (HERE)

  • Samuel Wells.  It makes you wonder whether anyone really believes in justice, or if we’ve all settled for the manipulation of the legal system to get the results we want. 

  • As Martin Luther King Jr. said, “It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that’s pretty important.”

The Justice Calling book from IJM. (HERE)

Blue Ray vs Hd DVD. 2008 (HERE)

Reflections on the Battle Hymn of the Republic 

  • 'The Battle Hymn of the Republic': America's Song of Itself. (HERE)

  • How "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" became an anthem for every cause. (HERE)

  • 'Battle Hymn Of The Republic': The Other National Anthem (HERE)

  • Battle Hymn of the Republic: What do Those Words Mean? (HERE)

  • Biblical Backgrounds of the Battle Hymn of the Republic (HERE)

Martin Luther King, Jr. How a D.C. hotel played an important role in Martin Luther King Jr.'s speech. (HERE)

Juneteenth

Athens History

Founder of First Baptist Church, Athens

Fischer-Robins Cemetery

Slave map

Jews and slaves washing feet

"Six years shall he serve": I might think (that he performs) both demeaning and non-demeaning service. It is, therefore, written (Leviticus 25:39) "Do not have him work the service of a slave" — whence they ruled: He should not wash his feet or tie his sandals or carry his clothing to the bath-house or gird his loins for an ascent or carry him in a litter or in a chair or in a sedan-chair, as slaves do. Whence is this derived? From (Ibid. 46) "And in your brothers, the children of Israel, one may not lord it over another." But with his son and his disciple, it is permitted. 21:2:6 Reference

Examples of foot washing in the bible

  • Genesis 18:4(TNIV)4Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree.

  • Genesis 19:2(TNIV)2“My lords,” he said, “please turn aside to your servant’s house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning.”“No,” they answered, “we will spend the night in the square.”

  • Genesis 24:32(TNIV)32So the man went to the house, and the camels were unloaded. Straw and fodder were brought for the camels, and water for him and his men to wash their feet.

  • Genesis 43:24(TNIV)24The steward took the men into Joseph’s house, gave them water to wash their feet and provided fodder for their donkeys.

  • Judges 19:21(TNIV)21So he took him into his house and fed his donkeys. After they had washed their feet, they had something to eat and drink.

  • 1 Samuel 25:41(TNIV 41She bowed down with her face to the ground and said, “I am your servant and am ready to serve you and wash the feet of my lord’s servants.”

This is a great overview of Dieselegate.

If you have Netflix. Watch episode one of Dirty Money. Read about it here.

Hitler and the VW. Read about it here.

If you have never read about Generational Trauma you will not likely understand the Children of Israel, or the Black experience in America. Read This,

This one is also good. Read This.

I have been asked about the Tulsa Race Riot several times this week. A number of people did not know. Not knowing someone’s story can impact your understanding of them. This is a good overview of the Tulsa Race Riots

A little off target, but I listened to this podcast on apologizing this week. It is really good. Listen here

Cultural lines, religious lines, ethnic lines, and gender lines mark dramatic rings around that particular well. But here’s the thing about Jesus: he’s not afraid to cross lines.https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/samaritan-woman-savior/

What's Wrong With This Picture? John 4, Cultural Stereotypes of Women,and Public and Private Space"https://www3.nd.edu/~jneyrey1/picture.html

Jesus and the Samaritan Woman. Click Here

The Largest Human Zoo in World History: Visiting the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. Click Here

Click on the map to open a full size image. Search the right side of the map. There is an “open area.” Find the word, “Woodward.” Just to the left are the words, “Anthropology Exhibit. That is where Ota Benga was placed on display in the name of sci…

Click on the map to open a full size image. Search the right side of the map. There is an “open area.” Find the word, “Woodward.” Just to the left are the words, “Anthropology Exhibit. That is where Ota Benga was placed on display in the name of science.

The 1904 World's Fair: A Turning Point for American Food
Click Here

Interesting theory about the presence of swords and the execution of Jesus Click Here

On Root / What Does the Word 'Hebrew' Mean?

https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/culture/.premium-on-root-what-does-the-word-hebrew-mean-1.5293110

WHY DO JOSHUA'S READERS KEEP CROSSING THE RIVER? THE NARRATIVE-GEOGRAPHICAL SHAPING OF JOSHUA 3-4. JOHN A. BECK*

https://www.etsjets.org/files/JETS-PDFs/48/48-4/JETS_48-4_689-699.pdf

This is an amazing description of the Jordan River long before agriculture and population seriously strained it.

Narrative of the United States' Expedition to the River Jordan and the Dead Sea by W. F. Lynch, U.S.N.,Commander of the Expedition, 1849

https://www.history.navy.mil/research/library/online-reading-room/title-list-alphabetically/n/narrative-us-expedition-river-jordan-dead-sea.html

The Jordan Valley in the Bronze Age. W. F. Albright,  The Annual of the American Schools of Oriental Research, Vol. 6 (1924 - 1925), pp. 13-74. https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/3768510.pdf

What is the Meaning and Significance of Gilgal in the Bible?

https://leewoof.org/2014/02/01/what-is-the-meaning-and-significance-of-gilgal-in-the-bible/

Gilgal drone from the actual location of the Gilgal Camp. Notice the shape of the foot of the camp.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIWyWimfbvY&feature=youtu.be&t=11&fbclid=IwAR0IUhNALD14VqwLXgDOy04zdJ1U7zKgDd7AGc3Sx9V2skSJx2FJ3tRT504

A landslide dammed the Kaiwhata river in New Zealand to create a lake. The dam then broke, to cause a flash flood down the valley below. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V2mqEiCZqcw

Description of Columbia River and sudden blockages of it.  Records of the Past Volume 5, 1906, 243-248

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Records_of_the_Past/IVPoAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=anticlinal+jordan+river+joshua+crossing&pg=PA248&printsec=frontcover

Landslide black river. Black and white movie of a landslide that damned up a river and the people helping to get it flowing again. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=miwFDOU0R00

Israels stonehenge. Three different views of this amazing stone circle in the north of Israel

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rujm_el-Hiri

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPWjZ4YPuw4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FPOgrlNP7Y

Killough. Information about the monument. 

https://www.indiancountrynews.com/index.php/news/politcs-business/10015-texas-community-remembers-killough-massacre

Sam Houston Cherokee treaty

https://www.tsl.texas.gov/exhibits/texas175/cherokee.html

Cherokee Almanac, see how Chief Bowles

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42_H4tq6Sj4

Where is the Cosmosphere? (here)

What is the most import thing you have witnessed? (here)

How Americans see the future of space exploration, 50 years after the first moon landing (Here)

Moon-Landing Hoax Still Lives On, 50 Years After Apollo 11 (Here)

Refuting the people who think its a hoax (Here)

Why people believe its a fake (Here)

What do kids want to be when they grow up (Here)

Van Goghs letter to his brother (Here)

Communion on the Moon (Here)

  • If you don’t know about Meridian brick (North America's largest manufacturer and supplier of brick and masonry products) here in Athens, check these links out.

  • The story of Herostratus

  • An amazing book 500 pages, totally free from the Getty Museum that describes the Ephesus lamps, blow you away beautiful. (Click Here)

  • A very helpful analysis of of “remembering” as spiritual discipline from a Jewish persepective.. Page 75-77. (Click Here) or here is a (static picture) of those pages (apparently the google preview does not show everyone the same pages)

  • An excellent article, “Remembering to remember.” (Click Here)

Research about Beauty:

  • Why watching the sunrise and sunset makes you better (click here)

  • Amazing research on interacting with the 3 types of beauty - natural, artistic and moral (Click Here)

  • How much honey to Americans eat? (Click Here)

    Honey and the Jewish faith and the bible

    Rosh Hoshanna - Jewish new year, honey and apples.

  • Where will you eat your apple and honey video in Israel? (Click Here)

  • Rabbi teaching about Honey and Apples (Click Here)

  • Jewish children, Honey and the Word of God. Read the introduction to this amazing book for free here. (Click Here)

  • The Torah and honey (Click Here)

  • Interesting facts about honey (Click Here)

Sermon for April 26, 2020

Perception issues (Click here to read about the “dress”) If you want a deep dive into this dress and current research on eyes and perception keep digging in this article (Click Here) Especially see these two scholarly articles (Click Here) and then (Here- this is the best one. Amazing images)

History of the duck rabbit image (click here)

Supreme Court decision affirming that juries must be unanimous in murder convictions (Click here)

How worldview impacts evangelism. Amazing article introduced me to the author. Then I chased him down a rabbit hole and read of his nearly 20 years in Ethiopia, how he pastored my favorite church there and knows my friends there and then read his story about his fight with Pancreatic Cancer. (Click here) and then (Click Here)

Study of American travels. How far from home, how many states, how many countries (Click Here)

William James book the Varities of Relious Experience has informed us for over 100 years and it still has so much value in understanding people and religion (Click here)

If you have never read Kerry Max Cooks story you should (Click Here)

Atheits tend to know more about the Bible and other world religions and the US Constition and the Bible. It is a bad stereotype to believe that Atheist are uninformed. (Click here to see recent data).

The growth in people who do not have a religious world view is documented here. The Pew Trust is the gold standard. They are reputable and fair. You can trust these numbers. (Click Here)

Sermon for April 19, 2020.

What people are feeling is grief - one of the best articles I’ve read about what people are feeling right now (Click Here)

The experience of being in solitary confinement in prison Click Here

The risks of social isolation (Click here)

If you don’t know about Curtis Mathes Electronics you should. (Click Here)

  • Amazing Motto: "most expensive television set in America, and darn well worth it"

  • Important Legacy.

    • From 1968 to 1988 it was the only fully American-owned electronics firm and the only American television manufacturer.

    • The last remaining fully U.S.-owned electronics company when it was sold to Enhanced Electronics in 1988.

  • Dynamic Employer.

    • Peak of 5000 employees and seven manufacturing facilities

    • In the 1960’s Equal Pay for all employees

  • Great TV’s.

    • Design a modular TV so that repairs cost about $20.

    • Introducing longer warranties to electronics retailing.

The story of the Harvey Industry Reclamation Project (Click Here)

Are we made of clay? Genesis and the language of dust and clay. (Click Here)

How to build a lake - the importance of clay (Click Here)

Athens Pottery History in Pictures (Click Here)

Information of Pottery Historical Marker (Click Here)

Amazing early Athens inkwell (Click Here)

Sample of Athens Pottery for sale (Click Here)

The Story of the Palo Duro Lake -$39 Million and no water. (Click Here)

Sermon for April 12, 2020 Easter.

SERMON SPLASH SCREEN AHA.jpg

Information about the Cholera Epidemic in London

Click on photo to find out more about John Snow and his famous Aha moment.

Click on photo to find out more about John Snow and his famous Aha moment.

Click on photo to find out more about Pastor Henry Whitehead and how his research confirmed John Snow’s brilliant insight.

Click on photo to find out more about Pastor Henry Whitehead and how his research confirmed John Snow’s brilliant insight.

Click on the picture to go on a deep dive about Eunuchs in the Bible.

Click on the picture to go on a deep dive about Eunuchs in the Bible.

The Meaning (and Science) Behind Those Life-Changing, Transformational Aha Moments and article in the Readers Digest

The Meaning (and Science) Behind Those Life-Changing, Transformational Aha Moments and article in the Readers Digest

Sermon for April 5, 2020. Acts 5.

SERMON SPLASH SCREEN comfort.jpg

Two nations. Disraeli’s work Sybil can be found here. Click for the Two Nations quote. Its on page 149.

Goldilocks.

  1. Thought to be the original Version of “Goldilocks” called the Three Bears. Click here for Southey’s original story. Its on page 381-383

  • Pay close attention to the quote at the beginning, the the unusually typesetting, and the footnote at the end.

  • It was written as a philosophy piece, think how loud/scary the words look, who do you suppose the “little people” were?

2. An even older version not discovered until 1949. Click here to see the earliest version of the story known.

  • Its clear that the old woman was considered a witch as the two methods of determining a witch were burning or drowning.

    • Burning at the stake

    • Drowning

      • “Since witches were believed to have spurned the sacrament of baptism, it was thought that the water would reject their body and prevent them from submerging.”

    • It is clear that the ending is referring to a weather vain on a tall building. Maybe pour eye sight left the impression that the one on top of St. Paul’s was a person? I can’t find evidence yet of what it was at that time. Still looking. Here is a bunch of Weather vain in London.

Fear Not. List Of 365 Fear Not Bible Verses Click here for list

Bear market. Why is it called a Bear market? Click here for article

What are the phases of a disaster? How long will the goodwill last? Click here for an amazing article.

20 questions to discuss todays sermon. Comfort (click here)

Sermon for March 29, 2020

SERMON SPLASH SCREEN new community.jpg

I quote a book and a movement called Bowling Alone. This is so worth reading about. Click here for Bowling Alone

Here are links to some studies of church attendance and membership in church. Click for Gallup Christianity Today

Take trip to the Vatican Museum. Go all the way down the hall. When you get there look up and to the left. You will see the menorah from the temple. This is the last time it is seen in art, though some suggest is was seen in Rome after that. This relief is from a Triumphal Arch dedicated to the final destruction of Jerusalem in 132 AD. Picture of what you are looking for.

Religious Freedom is a Baptist idea and we are the primary champions. Click for Baptist Joint Committee

A quick concise picture of Baptist and Religious Liberty Click for Baptist History and Religious Freedom

A summary of the Pastor Fuller’s resignation Click for Athens Daily Review article on Fuller’s resignation

An article Pastor Fuller wrote in 1931 called, “Why go the church” Click article

Great coverage of Texas Baptist disaster relief donations. Click for Texas Baptist donations article

A great article reviewing “Breaking of Bread” Click for Bread in the Bible


SERMON SPLASH SCREEN new community.jpg

I quote a book and a movement called Bowling Alone. This is so worth reading about. Click here for Bowling Alone

Here are links to some studies of church attendance and membership in church. Click for Gallup Christianity Today

Take trip to the Vatican Museum. Go all the way down the hall. When you get there look up and to the left. You will see the menorah from the temple. This is the last time it is seen in art, though some suggest is was seen in Rome after that. This relief is from a Triumphal Arch dedicated to the final destruction of Jerusalem in 132 AD. Picture of what you are looking for.

Religious Freedom is a Baptist idea and we are the primary champions. Click for Baptist Joint Committee

A quick concise picture of Baptist and Religious Liberty Click for Baptist History and Religious Freedom

A summary of the Pastor Fuller’s resignation Click for Athens Daily Review article on Fuller’s resignation

An article Pastor Fuller wrote in 1931 called, “Why go the church” Click article

Great coverage of Texas Baptist disaster relief donations. Click for Texas Baptist donations article

A great article reviewing “Breaking of Bread” Click for Bread in the Bible


Sermon for March 22, 2020. Matthew 27:45-54. The crucifixion of Jesus.

27:45. Eli Eli Lama Sabachthani (Click Here) . The language of Jesus - Aramaic or Hebrew on the cross. I want to learn more about that.

27:51. The Temple Curtain Torn In Two.

27:60. Where was Jesus crucified and buried? You can read the text or watch a video here (Click Here).

 

What is my next step?