Tag Archives: Jesus

Free Parking

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Welcome back! At least that is what I am saying to myself right now. I feel like I have been really busy lately.

Oh wait, I have. Being a school teacher, this is a crazy part of the year. So yes, I have been busy but now I am ready to write!

I started a series back in August. Here is the first post, and also the second. These can help give you context.

Free Parking

You have probably figured out by now that this series will all have Monopoly titles. While these titles may not be specifically related to the content, they will be directly drawn from the game.

Hence, Free Parking.

In the rules of Monopoly, Free Parking is just a space. It is a free space on which to land. You don’t get anything or pay anything. There are house rules that are certainly different from the original though!

On my road trip, we had one day in which we took a mini trip to Philadelphia.

Even though I had never been to Philly before, I had some places on my wish list that I needed to visit.

Liberty Bell, check.

Liberty Hall (where the Declaration of Independence was signed), check.

See the steps where Rocky ascended in the movie, check.

Eat a Philly cheese steak sandwich, check.

These were places (or food items) that I knew about. We also discovered a few more hidden gems along the way.

So in order to keep this to two minutes, I will have multiple posts regarding Philadelphia.

Here is the first connection from Philly that I would like to share.

It involves the Declaration of Independence, more accurately, the signing of the Declaration.

I am not concerned with how many signers there were.

It doesn’t matter where they were.

The signatures are of differing sizes, so what.

I am intrigued by the timing of the signing.

When these men laid ink to parchment, they were not free men. They were still under British rule.

The founding fathers chose to identify with the spiritual King, not their earthly king.

They were acting on their future freedom in America, not their present prison from England.

For me, the connection came to me when we were standing in Liberty Hall.

It hit me about the timing.

Technically, British rule still applied. But these men did not want that fact to determine the outcome of their life.

They were free. They said it, signed it, and sealed it!

What will you do with your freedom?

Go to Jail, Do Not Pass Go, Do Not Collect $200.

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You might recognize the title of this post. You certainly will if you have ever played Monopoly.

As I mentioned in my last post, (click here to read) I recently was on a road trip with my family.

In the rule book from the original Monopoly game, there is a reference to Atlantic City. The creator of Monopoly had vacationed in Atlantic City with his wife. When he made the game, he named all of the streets after streets that he saw in Atlantic City.

So I made it my mission, as a lover of board games, to find these streets.

There are some websites with pertinent information and of course generic internet searches.

I was warned by some locals that the streets are not exactly the same ones that are used in the game.

I was lenient in my expectations. Over the course of the week, I took selfies with all of the streets in the game.

Take a look.

I hope you can read the words!

My wife and kids were also enjoying the adventure.

Before the week was out, I completed the quest!

So what would the connection be here?

John 10:10 says that Jesus came “to give life and life more abundantly”.

It is my opinion that my quest in Atlantic City was part of the “life more abundantly”.

God gives blessings to His children. And I feel blessed by HIm every day.

What blessing are you enjoying today?

One of 2 things…

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Plans change. Sounds like life, doesn’t it?

If you read my post form last Tuesday, you would not be expecting any new content today.

Plans change.

Here is a link for last week so you can catch up. Summer break!

My original plan was to not post anything new until September. I wanted to focus more on a novel I am trying to write.

Plans change.

A thought came to mind while I was reading a book. I try to do this on a regular basis.

The book is entitled 33 A.D. It is the second of two in a series.

Ted Dekker, the author, blends the life of Jesus into a fictional story. I am almost done with the second book. They are really engaging and thought-provoking.

There are no spoilers here just some praise for a good read.

There is one section that describes the scene at the Garden of Gethsemane. The night before the crucifixion, Jesus and his disciples go to the garden after the last supper.

Two things take place.

  1. Jesus wept. (Luke 22)

Jesus went to God with his pain, concern, anxiety, and troubles. He knew that he was destined to be killed.

But his flesh did not want it to happen. After all, he was fully human as well as fully God.

2. Peter slept. (Luke 22)

He was tired. Maybe he was trying to stay awake but he failed. We know that later that night, he denied Jesus.

His flesh was also pulling on his mind. And he yielded to it.

When we choose to be like Jesus, we become adept at getting through trials.

If we behave like Peter, we stay inept while being tempted.

Isn’t it nice how those four words rhyme?

Jesus wept and in doing so, became adept at overcoming temptation.

Peter slept and in doing so, was inept to fighting the temptation.

We all have Gethsemane moments in our lives. Sometimes daily.

One of 2 things is happening: sleeping or weeping.

Which one are you doing?

24/7/365

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In the USA, yesterday was Memorial Day. This day (going back to the Civil War) is a day when we remember/celebrate/honor fallen soldiers.

These men and women have given their lives in service of this country.

They died so we could be free.

It is fitting that we, as a country, recognize this sacrifice.

Freedom has cost the lives of millions of soldiers throughout the years.

To experience that freedom is somewhat humbling. Even more so because I have never been in the military.

I am certainly not saying that we are perfect and that our country has it all together.

But I am thankful that I am living here.

There is another place that is experiencing freedom as well.

This place has tremendous joy. All of its citizens are perfect.

In fact, there is no crying, pain, or hardships of any kind.

You may have already guessed it but I speak of heaven.

Heaven will be my future home. This home, earth, is just a stop on the road of eternity.

The bible references heaven numerous times. So much so that there is not time in this post to look at all of those passages.

But what I do have time for is to explain why I am going to heaven.

Jesus fought and died in the ultimate war. He is a fallen hero.

His death paved the way for freedom and ultimately, heaven.

That battle is over now. Jesus is not in the grave anymore. He is risen!

The bible explains how Jesus is now in heaven preparing for us a place.

For eternity.

We will be with Him for all of time.

And so when Memorial Day comes around and we honor those who have fallen, let’s not forget the One who died for our spiritual freedom as well.

For those who have put their faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, everyday is memorial day.

The Ultimate Vaccine

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Grace and mercy are fun attributes to study. Saying that God is graceful just feels good.

His mercies are new every morning. Good thoughts but even better theology.

We love to think about the positive characteristics of God.

He loves us.

Grace and mercy are right along side that love.

What about His faithfulness or kindness?

What about holiness? Surely this trait is no less important that any of the others?

I Peter 1:16 “For it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” ” NIV

Peter is quoting Leviticus 11:44-45.

Here are those verses:

“44I am the Lord your God; consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am holy. Do not make yourselves unclean by any creature that moves along the ground. 45I am the Lord, who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.” NIV

So why does Peter quote these verses? They speak to the dietary restrictions God has originally placed on the Israelites. Does that apply to me? Today?

God is different than we are. I really didn’t even need to type that sentence. Of course He is!

And that is the point. God is holy.

The Holiness of God | God Speaks I Listen

In a word, holy means seperate.

God is separate from us. The impurity of sin does not come in contact with God because He is separate, or holy.

He is the ultimate vaccine!

Because God is holy, He and sin cannot abide in the same space at the same time.

When you turn on the light switch, the darkness goes away. The light is holy, separated from the dark.

Now, add in grace and mercy. Because God also has these traits, He desires a relationship with us.

His love compels Him to restore relationship with us.

His holiness (and our sin) prevents Him to be with us.

His grace provides a solution to sin.

His mercy envelops us back to Him.

They all work together.

We can holy like God (as Peter was encouraging us to do).

All because God is who He is!

30 Bible verses about God, Holiness Of

Accepting Jesus into our lives is the key.

Our very life depends on it.

Take all of these traits of God and let them roll around in your mind for a while.

God might just be calling you.

God bless you.