Crazy insane

Einstein was an unusual looking character, but don't let that fool you: He was a down-to-Earth person in real life.  He liked to joke and play the violin.  He lived before the current "computer era", in a world of pen and paper and perhaps a abacus or slide rule.  I can only wonder how he would have reacted to the computers of today, and whether or not he would made this famous quote is a matter of conjecture.  One thing is sure: Einstein was NOT CRAZY!  Sometimes exceptionally blessed people are accused of being CRAZY by people who do NOT UNDERSTAND THEM!!!  Here is one such example...

Acts Chapter 26

 6 Now I stand here to be judged for the hope of the promise made by God to our fathers,  7 which our twelve tribes, earnestly serving night and day, hope to attain. Concerning this hope I am accused by the Jews, King Agrippa! 8 Why is it judged incredible with you, if God does raise the dead?

  9 “I myself most certainly thought that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth.  10 This I also did in Jerusalem. I both shut up many of the saints in prisons, having received authority from the chief priests, and when they were put to death I gave my vote against them.  11 Punishing them often in all the synagogues, I tried to make them blaspheme. Being exceedingly enraged against them, I persecuted them even to foreign cities.

  12 “Whereupon as I traveled to Damascus with the authority and commission from the chief priests,  13 at noon, O king, I saw on the way a light from the sky, brighter than the sun, shining around me and those who traveled with me.  14 When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, "‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’"

  15 “I said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’

“He said, "‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.  16 But arise, and stand on your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose: to appoint you a servant and a witness both of the things which you have seen, and of the things which I will reveal to you;  17 delivering you from the people, and from the Gentiles, to whom I send you,  18 to open their eyes, that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive remission of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’"

  19 “Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to them of Damascus, at Jerusalem, and throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, doing works worthy of repentance.  21 For this reason the Jews seized me in the temple, and tried to kill me.  22 Having therefore obtained the help that is from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, saying nothing but what the prophets and Moses said would happen,  23 how the Christ must suffer, and how, by the resurrection of the dead, he would be first to proclaim light both to these people and to the Gentiles.”

  24 As he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, “Paul, you are crazy! Your great learning is driving you insane!”

Agrippa obviously had a problem in accepting the concept of the resurrection from the dead; worldly people sometimes do.  That does not mean it isn't true, it just means that THEY have a problem.  Paul was not crazy, he had just experienced something very unusual.  Great learning should bring a person closer to God, not farther away!!!  Christianity is founded on facts first and foremost; while it is true faith is necessary, historical facts take precedence!!!  If you are a Christian, you are not crazy, God will take care of you in this world AND THE NEXT!!!  Truthfully, I look forward to meeting Albert Einstein and asking him what he thinks of computers.  And I wonder... will he think I AM CRAZY when I tell him about them???

May 14 Joshua 9, 10

May 14

Joshua 9, 10

Jos 9:1 It happened, when all the kings who were beyond the Jordan, in the hill country, and in the lowland, and on all the shore of the great sea in front of Lebanon, the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard of it

Jos 9:2 that they gathered themselves together to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.

Jos 9:3 But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,

Jos 9:4 they also resorted to a ruse, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks on their donkeys, and wineskins, old and torn and bound up,

Jos 9:5 and old and patched shoes on their feet, and wore old garments. All the bread of their provision was dry and moldy.

Jos 9:6 They went to Joshua to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him, and to the men of Israel, "We have come from a far country. Now therefore make a covenant with us."

Jos 9:7 The men of Israel said to the Hivites, "What if you live among us. How could we make a covenant with you?"

Jos 9:8 They said to Joshua, "We are your servants." Joshua said to them, "Who are you? Where do you come from?"

Jos 9:9 They said to him, "Your servants have come from a very far country because of the name of Yahweh your God; for we have heard of his fame, all that he did in Egypt,

Jos 9:10 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon and to Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.

Jos 9:11 Our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, 'Take provision in your hand for the journey, and go to meet them, and tell them, "We are your servants. Now make a covenant with us." '

Jos 9:12 This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we went out to go to you; but now, behold, it is dry, and has become moldy.

Jos 9:13 These wineskins, which we filled, were new; and behold, they are torn. These our garments and our shoes have become old because of the very long journey."

Jos 9:14 The men sampled their provisions, and didn't ask counsel from the mouth of Yahweh.

Jos 9:15 Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them, to let them live. The princes of the congregation swore to them.

Jos 9:16 It happened at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they lived among them.

Jos 9:17 The children of Israel traveled and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim.

Jos 9:18 The children of Israel didn't strike them, because the princes of the congregation had sworn to them by Yahweh, the God of Israel. All the congregation murmured against the princes.

Jos 9:19 But all the princes said to all the congregation, "We have sworn to them by Yahweh, the God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.

Jos 9:20 This we will do to them, and let them live; lest wrath be on us, because of the oath which we swore to them."

Jos 9:21 The princes said to them, "Let them live, so they became wood cutters and drawers of water for all the congregation, as the princes had spoken to them."

Jos 9:22 Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, "Why have you deceived us, saying, 'We are very far from you,' when you live among us?

Jos 9:23 Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you will never fail to be bondservants, both wood cutters and drawers of water for the house of my God."

Jos 9:24 They answered Joshua, and said, "Because your servants were certainly told how Yahweh your God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you. Therefore we were very afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.

Jos 9:25 Now, behold, we are in your hand. Do to us as it seems good and right to you to do."

Jos 9:26 He did so to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they didn't kill them.

Jos 9:27 That day Joshua made them wood cutters and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of Yahweh, to this day, in the place which he should choose.

Jos 10:1 Now it happened when Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem heard how Joshua had taken Ai, and had utterly destroyed it; as he had done to Jericho and her king, so he had done to Ai and her king; and how the inhabitants of Gibeon had made peace with Israel, and were among them;

Jos 10:2 that they were very afraid, because Gibeon was a great city, as one of the royal cities, and because it was greater than Ai, and all its men were mighty.

Jos 10:3 Therefore Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, to Piram king of Jarmuth, to Japhia king of Lachish, and to Debir king of Eglon, saying,

Jos 10:4 "Come up to me, and help me, and let us strike Gibeon; for it has made peace with Joshua and with the children of Israel."

Jos 10:5 Therefore the five kings of the Amorites, the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, the king of Eglon, gathered themselves together, and went up, they and all their armies, and encamped against Gibeon, and made war against it.

Jos 10:6 The men of Gibeon sent to Joshua to the camp to Gilgal, saying, "Don't abandon your servants! Come up to us quickly, and save us, and help us; for all the kings of the Amorites that dwell in the hill country have gathered together against us."

Jos 10:7 So Joshua went up from Gilgal, he, and all the people of war with him, and all the mighty men of valor.

Jos 10:8 Yahweh said to Joshua, "Don't fear them, for I have delivered them into your hands. Not a man of them will stand before you."

Jos 10:9 Joshua therefore came on them suddenly. He went up from Gilgal all night.

Jos 10:10 Yahweh confused them before Israel, and he killed them with a great slaughter at Gibeon, and chased them by the way of the ascent of Beth Horon, and struck them to Azekah and to Makkedah.

Jos 10:11 It happened, as they fled from before Israel, while they were at the descent of Beth Horon, that Yahweh cast down great stones from the sky on them to Azekah, and they died. There were more who died from the hailstones than who the children of Israel killed with the sword.

Jos 10:12 Then Joshua spoke to Yahweh in the day when Yahweh delivered up the Amorites before the children of Israel; and he said in the sight of Israel, "Sun, stand still on Gibeon! You, moon, stop in the valley of Aijalon!"

Jos 10:13 The sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the nation had avenged themselves of their enemies. Isn't this written in the book of Jashar? The sun stayed in the midst of the sky, and didn't hurry to go down about a whole day.

Jos 10:14 There was no day like that before it or after it, that Yahweh listened to the voice of a man; for Yahweh fought for Israel.

Jos 10:15 Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp to Gilgal.

Jos 10:16 These five kings fled, and hid themselves in the cave at Makkedah.

Jos 10:17 Joshua was told, saying, "The five kings are found, hidden in the cave at Makkedah."

Jos 10:18 Joshua said, "Roll large stones to the mouth of the cave, and set men by it to guard them;

Jos 10:19 but don't stay. Pursue your enemies, and them from the rear. Don't allow them to enter into their cities; for Yahweh your God has delivered them into your hand."

Jos 10:20 It happened, when Joshua and the children of Israel had finished killing them with a very great slaughter until they were consumed, and the remnant which remained of them had entered into the fortified cities,

Jos 10:21 that all the people returned to the camp to Joshua at Makkedah in peace. None moved his tongue against any of the children of Israel.

Jos 10:22 Then Joshua said, "Open the mouth of the cave, and bring those five kings out of the cave to me."

Jos 10:23 They did so, and brought those five kings out of the cave to him: the king of Jerusalem, the king of Hebron, the king of Jarmuth, the king of Lachish, and the king of Eglon.

Jos 10:24 It happened, when they brought those kings out to Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the chiefs of the men of war who went with him, "Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings." They came near, and put their feet on their necks.

Jos 10:25 Joshua said to them, "Don't be afraid, nor be dismayed. Be strong and of good courage, for Yahweh will do this to all your enemies against whom you fight."

Jos 10:26 Afterward Joshua struck them, put them to death, and hanged them on five trees. They were hanging on the trees until the evening.

Jos 10:27 It happened at the time of the going down of the sun, that Joshua commanded, and they took them down off the trees, and cast them into the cave in which they had hidden themselves, and laid great stones on the mouth of the cave, which remain to this very day.

Jos 10:28 Joshua took Makkedah on that day, and struck it with the edge of the sword, with its king. He utterly destroyed them and all the souls who were in it. He left none remaining. He did to the king of Makkedah as he had done to the king of Jericho.

Jos 10:29 Joshua passed from Makkedah, and all Israel with him, to Libnah, and fought against Libnah.

Jos 10:30 Yahweh delivered it also, with its king, into the hand of Israel. He struck it with the edge of the sword, and all the souls who were in it. He left none remaining in it. He did to its king as he had done to the king of Jericho.

Jos 10:31 Joshua passed from Libnah, and all Israel with him, to Lachish, and encamped against it, and fought against it.

Jos 10:32 Yahweh delivered Lachish into the hand of Israel. He took it on the second day, and struck it with the edge of the sword, with all the souls who were in it, according to all that he had done to Libnah.

Jos 10:33 Then Horam king of Gezer came up to help Lachish; and Joshua struck him and his people, until he had left him none remaining.

Jos 10:34 Joshua passed from Lachish, and all Israel with him, to Eglon; and they encamped against it fought against it.

Jos 10:35 They took it on that day, and struck it with the edge of the sword. He utterly destroyed all the souls who were in it that day, according to all that he had done to Lachish.

Jos 10:36 Joshua went up from Eglon, and all Israel with him, to Hebron; and they fought against it.

Jos 10:37 They took it, and struck it with the edge of the sword, with its king and all its cities, and all the souls who were in it. He left none remaining, according to all that he had done to Eglon; but he utterly destroyed it, and all the souls who were in it.

Jos 10:38 Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to Debir, and fought against it.

Jos 10:39 He took it, with its king and all its cities. They struck them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed all the souls who were in it. He left none remaining. As he had done to Hebron, so he did to Debir, and to its king; as he had done also to Libnah, and to its king.

Jos 10:40 So Joshua struck all the land, the hill country, and the South, and the lowland, and the slopes, and all their kings. He left none remaining, but he utterly destroyed all that breathed, as Yahweh, the God of Israel, commanded.

Jos 10:41 Joshua struck them from Kadesh Barnea even to Gaza, and all the country of Goshen, even to Gibeon.

Jos 10:42 Joshua took all these kings and their land at one time, because Yahweh, the God of Israel, fought for Israel.

Jos 10:43 Joshua returned, and all Israel with him, to the camp to Gilgal.

May 14, 15 Luke 24

May 14, 15

Luke 24

Luk 24:1 But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they and some others came to the tomb, bringing the spices which they had prepared.

Luk 24:2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb.

Luk 24:3 They entered in, and didn't find the Lord Jesus' body.

Luk 24:4 It happened, while they were greatly perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling clothing.

Luk 24:5 Becoming terrified, they bowed their faces down to the earth. They said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead?

Luk 24:6 He isn't here, but is risen. Remember what he told you when he was still in Galilee,

Luk 24:7 saying that the Son of Man must be delivered up into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again?"

Luk 24:8 They remembered his words,

Luk 24:9 returned from the tomb, and told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest.

Luk 24:10 Now they were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James. The other women with them told these things to the apostles.

Luk 24:11 These words seemed to them to be nonsense, and they didn't believe them.

Luk 24:12 But Peter got up and ran to the tomb. Stooping and looking in, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he departed to his home, wondering what had happened.

Luk 24:13 Behold, two of them were going that very day to a village named Emmaus, which was sixty stadia from Jerusalem.

Luk 24:14 They talked with each other about all of these things which had happened.

Luk 24:15 It happened, while they talked and questioned together, that Jesus himself came near, and went with them.

Luk 24:16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.

Luk 24:17 He said to them, "What are you talking about as you walk, and are sad?"

Luk 24:18 One of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who doesn't know the things which have happened there in these days?"

Luk 24:19 He said to them, "What things?" They said to him, "The things concerning Jesus, the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people;

Luk 24:20 and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.

Luk 24:21 But we were hoping that it was he who would redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.

Luk 24:22 Also, certain women of our company amazed us, having arrived early at the tomb;

Luk 24:23 and when they didn't find his body, they came saying that they had also seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.

Luk 24:24 Some of us went to the tomb, and found it just like the women had said, but they didn't see him."

Luk 24:25 He said to them, "Foolish men, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!

Luk 24:26 Didn't the Christ have to suffer these things and to enter into his glory?"

Luk 24:27 Beginning from Moses and from all the prophets, he explained to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

Luk 24:28 They drew near to the village, where they were going, and he acted like he would go further.

Luk 24:29 They urged him, saying, "Stay with us, for it is almost evening, and the day is almost over." He went in to stay with them.

Luk 24:30 It happened, that when he had sat down at the table with them, he took the bread and gave thanks. Breaking it, he gave to them.

Luk 24:31 Their eyes were opened, and they recognized him, and he vanished out of their sight.

Luk 24:32 They said one to another, "Weren't our hearts burning within us, while he spoke to us along the way, and while he opened the Scriptures to us?"

Luk 24:33 They rose up that very hour, returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and those who were with them,

Luk 24:34 saying, "The Lord is risen indeed, and has appeared to Simon!"

Luk 24:35 They related the things that happened along the way, and how he was recognized by them in the breaking of the bread.

Luk 24:36 As they said these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, "Peace be to you."

Luk 24:37 But they were terrified and filled with fear, and supposed that they had seen a spirit.

Luk 24:38 He said to them, "Why are you troubled? Why do doubts arise in your hearts?

Luk 24:39 See my hands and my feet, that it is truly me. Touch me and see, for a spirit doesn't have flesh and bones, as you see that I have."

Luk 24:40 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet.

Luk 24:41 While they still didn't believe for joy, and wondered, he said to them, "Do you have anything here to eat?"

Luk 24:42 They gave him a piece of a broiled fish and some honeycomb.

Luk 24:43 He took them, and ate in front of them.

Luk 24:44 He said to them, "This is what I told you, while I was still with you, that all things which are written in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms, concerning me must be fulfilled."

Luk 24:45 Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures.

Luk 24:46 He said to them, "Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,

Luk 24:47 and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Luk 24:48 You are witnesses of these things.

Luk 24:49 Behold, I send forth the promise of my Father on you. But wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high."

Luk 24:50 He led them out as far as Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.

Luk 24:51 It happened, while he blessed them, that he withdrew from them, and was carried up into heaven.

Luk 24:52 They worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,

Luk 24:53 and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.

"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" Chapter Twenty-Six by Mark Copeland

                       "THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

                           Chapter Twenty-Six

This lengthy chapter describes the flurry of events leading to Jesus’
arrest and trial, with the plot to kill Jesus (1-5,14-16), Jesus’
anointment by Mary (6-13), the last Passover supper and institution of
the Lord’s Supper (17-35), Jesus’ prayers in the garden (36-46), the
betrayal by Judas and accompanying arrest (47-56), the appearance before
Caiaphas and the council (57-68), and Peter’s denial as foretold by
Jesus (69-75).

POINTS TO PONDER

   *  The events leading to the arrest of Jesus

   *  The institution of the Lord’s Supper

   *  Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - The plot to kill Jesus - Mt 26:1-5,14-16
   - Jesus anointed at Bethany - Mt 26:6-13
   - The last supper - Mt 26:17-35
   - The garden of Gethsemane - Mt 26:36-46
   - Betrayal and arrest - Mt 26:47-56
   - Before Caiaphas and council - Mt 26:57-68
   - Peter denies Jesus - Mt 26:69-75

2) Who plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him? (3-4)
   - The chief priests, scribes, elders, along with Caiaphas the high
     priest

3) What did Jesus say would be done for Mary who anointed Him? (13)
   - Her kind deed would be proclaimed throughout the world as a
     memorial to her

4) For how much did Judas agree with the chief priests to betray Jesus?
   (14-15)
   - Thirty pieces of silver

5) What did Jesus institute while eating the Passover? (26-28; cf. 1Co
   11:17-34)
   - The Lord’s Supper

6) What did Jesus predict would happen that night? (31-35)
   - All His disciples would stumble, Peter would deny Him three times

7) What did Jesus pray for three times in the garden of Gethsemane (39,
   42,44)
   - "let this cup pass from Me, nevertheless not as I will, but as You
     will"

8) What claim was Jesus willing to accept at His trail? (63-64)
   - That He was the Christ, the Son of God

9) After Peter denied knowing Jesus three times, what did he do? (75)
   - He went out and wept bitterly