This picture is right up there with "terrified tissue" and the days when we used to sing "on top of spaghetti all covered with cheese". Days when we completed "99 cans of beer on the wall" several times in one day and were PROUD of it. We had friends and enemies, but the lists were never permanent and at the end of most days there wasn't anyone in the enemies category. So it is that this picture brings back a lot of childhood memories, especially of grade school comrades so far removed from Florida. When I think of people, I remember Romans chapter 16 and the importance of people to the apostle Paul.
World English Bible: Romans Chapter 16
[1] I commend to you Phoebe, our sister, who is a servant of the assembly that is at Cenchreae, [2] that you receive her in the Lord, in a way worthy of the saints, and that you assist her in whatever matter she may need from you, for she herself also has been a helper of many, and of my own self.
[3] Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, [4] who for my life, laid down their own necks; to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the assemblies of the Gentiles. [5] Greet the assembly that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first fruits of Achaia to Christ. [6] Greet Mary, who labored much for us. [7] Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and my fellow prisoners, who are notable among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. [8] Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. [9] Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. [10] Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. [11] Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet them of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. [12] Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Greet Persis, the beloved, who labored much in the Lord. [13] Greet Rufus, the chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. [14] Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. [15] Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. [16] Greet one another with a holy kiss. The assemblies of Christ greet you.
[17] Now I beg you, brothers, look out for those who are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and turn away from them. [18] For those who are such don’t serve our Lord, Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and flattering speech, they deceive the hearts of the innocent. [19] For your obedience has become known to all. I rejoice therefore over you. But I desire to have you wise in that which is good, but innocent in that which is evil. [20] And the God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
[21] Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives. [22] I, Tertius, who write the letter, greet you in the Lord. [23] Gaius, my host and host of the whole assembly, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, as does Quartus, the brother. [24] The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all! Amen.
OK, I know I put a lot of things in BOLD today, but frankly I could have emphasized a lot more! What stands out is how personal Paul wrote, how concerned for individuals he was!!! Every Christian is important, no matter how hard it is to pronounce their name!!! Aside from Jesus and the apostles, Tertius is my most favorite character in the Bible! I think of him often because he was a nobody, some slave who was identified by a number representing his status to a Roman master. To be number five on a list of slaves was nothing to brag about. Yet, he did the physical writing for the book of Romans and that is something!!! If a "nobody" like him can be blessed with such a great spiritual task, then there is hope for someone as insignificant as myself. In many ways we should strive to be like children; innocent and straightforward, loving those who love us and forgiving those who don't. Don't like this?? Am I bad? Say the words of the picture out loud!!
[1] I commend to you Phoebe, our sister, who is a servant of the assembly that is at Cenchreae, [2] that you receive her in the Lord, in a way worthy of the saints, and that you assist her in whatever matter she may need from you, for she herself also has been a helper of many, and of my own self.
[3] Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus, [4] who for my life, laid down their own necks; to whom not only I give thanks, but also all the assemblies of the Gentiles. [5] Greet the assembly that is in their house. Greet Epaenetus, my beloved, who is the first fruits of Achaia to Christ. [6] Greet Mary, who labored much for us. [7] Greet Andronicus and Junia, my relatives and my fellow prisoners, who are notable among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me. [8] Greet Amplias, my beloved in the Lord. [9] Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys, my beloved. [10] Greet Apelles, the approved in Christ. Greet those who are of the household of Aristobulus. [11] Greet Herodion, my kinsman. Greet them of the household of Narcissus, who are in the Lord. [12] Greet Tryphaena and Tryphosa, who labor in the Lord. Greet Persis, the beloved, who labored much in the Lord. [13] Greet Rufus, the chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine. [14] Greet Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermes, Patrobas, Hermas, and the brothers who are with them. [15] Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints who are with them. [16] Greet one another with a holy kiss. The assemblies of Christ greet you.
[17] Now I beg you, brothers, look out for those who are causing the divisions and occasions of stumbling, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and turn away from them. [18] For those who are such don’t serve our Lord, Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by their smooth and flattering speech, they deceive the hearts of the innocent. [19] For your obedience has become known to all. I rejoice therefore over you. But I desire to have you wise in that which is good, but innocent in that which is evil. [20] And the God of peace will quickly crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
[21] Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives. [22] I, Tertius, who write the letter, greet you in the Lord. [23] Gaius, my host and host of the whole assembly, greets you. Erastus, the treasurer of the city, greets you, as does Quartus, the brother. [24] The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all! Amen.
OK, I know I put a lot of things in BOLD today, but frankly I could have emphasized a lot more! What stands out is how personal Paul wrote, how concerned for individuals he was!!! Every Christian is important, no matter how hard it is to pronounce their name!!! Aside from Jesus and the apostles, Tertius is my most favorite character in the Bible! I think of him often because he was a nobody, some slave who was identified by a number representing his status to a Roman master. To be number five on a list of slaves was nothing to brag about. Yet, he did the physical writing for the book of Romans and that is something!!! If a "nobody" like him can be blessed with such a great spiritual task, then there is hope for someone as insignificant as myself. In many ways we should strive to be like children; innocent and straightforward, loving those who love us and forgiving those who don't. Don't like this?? Am I bad? Say the words of the picture out loud!!