Understanding and the filters people use by Gary Rose

 

Today, I saw a picture of an owl (the one on the extreme left above) that was quite interesting to me. Interesting, because this little guy had turned his head to an extreme angle, which seemed to say that he was making quite an effort to understand me. Now, I am fairly sure that he is able to do this because the anatomy of his neck differs from yours and mine, but irregardless of how he does it- HE CAN DO IT!

Anyway, as you can see from the photo labels, I tried adjusting the original picture in the following ways: Black and White, Edge detection, Emboss and Outline. I did this to reciprocate his action- namely, it appears that he is trying to understand me, so I should do the same in return.

How do I understand HIM?

1. The original picture: as presented in normal understanding.

2. A very literal understanding (black and white) that is superficial.

3. A colored view (Edge detection) with my ideas colored by my own preconceived ideas.

4. A superficial view of his main ideas only (Embossed).

5. A selective view that (Outlines) only the ideas that I like and ignores the rest.

Then, I thought of the following passage from the Bible; it says…

Matthew 16 ( World English Bible )

¹³ Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

¹⁴ They said, “Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”

¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Who is the Son of Man? People have differing opinions, which, like the picture at the top are mostly are the result of trying to understand him through something other than a straightforward method. Face it, people understand life as they wish to understand it! People use whatever filter they can to achieve the result they want, period. Only Simon Peter gave the correct answer. He just accepted Jesus based on the facts as he knew them. OK, its many, many, many years later, so what kind of conclusion do we arrive at? I don’t know what you will say, but I think that in spite of all the time that has passed, there is one thing that PROVES the identity of Jesus- HIS RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD! No one has ever produced his corpse, and for me, that is enough.

How about you?

Color Me Believing by Gary Rose

 

At first, I thought this picture was a phony; some manipulated effort to deceive. I did a little research on the internet and found many references to the Peruvian colored mountains, including the following picture…

 

 

Well, color me BELIEVING!

The above led me to think of a passage from the Gospel according to John…

The Bible Says...

John 20 (World English Bible)

¹⁹ When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”

²⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord.

²¹ Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.”

²² When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit!

²³ If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.”

²⁴ But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Jesus came.

²⁵ The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

²⁶ After eight days again his disciples were inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace be to you.”

²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.”

²⁸ Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹ Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.”

³⁰ Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book;

³¹ but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

What does it take to truly believe in God, and in JESUS? First, it takes a rational mind. Why? Because Jesus of Nazareth is probably the most documented person in history; investigate this for yourself and believe truth of it. Secondly, The Bible is founded upon thousands upon thousands of ancient manuscripts in Greek (the predominate language at the time of Jesus), which testify to the truth about this man. Third, from the first century to this very day, millions upon millions of people have died rather than deny him. Fourth, either what Jesus said was true or he was a mad-man. Just read the Gospel account of the Sermon on the mount (Matthew, Chapters 5-7) and you will quickly realize that no mad-man ever spoke like this!

I do not know who you are or what you believe, but believe me when I say that Jesus was exactly who he said was. No, Jesus is not physically here now, so that those who disbelieve can not use their hands to touch him like Thomas, but eventually he will return (and that will be too late for those who disbelieve).

I urge you to both believe in Jesus and obey his Gospel; your very life depends upon it! Consider Jesus’ last message as found in the Gospel of Matthew…

Matthew 28 (WEB)

¹⁶ But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had sent them.

¹⁷ When they saw him, they bowed down to him, but some doubted.

¹⁸ Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

¹⁹ Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Become a disciple by believing in Jesus, repenting of sin and being baptized for the remission of all your sins (see the book of Acts, the second chapter, for the first Gospel Sermon) and obeying his commandments for the rest of your life! Eventually, the age will change and Jesus will return and take his own to heaven.

Start with belief and go from there, it is entirely possible that Jesus will return in our lifetime! Believe these things, for they are absolutely true.

Will you Color yourself as Believing?

"If" by Gary Rose

 

I have been feeling a little “down” lately, with the passing of my best canine friend ever, Pal. I really do not know how to express this relationship, but we genuinely loved one another; of that I am absolutely convinced. In addition to Pal, I have loved my wife of 54 years, Linda. Our love is best described as “complex”, but, it endures. When Pal died, we cried as one. Beyond this, I have many friends and those of you who are my friends know it- because I have told you that you are. For my fellow followers of Christ who I have not told; I am telling you now – I love you. As flawed as I am, I do love you with all the Agape love that I can understand and practice.

Yet, I have a friend that I have never even seen and without a doubt, I KNOW that HE is my friend, because he died for my sins. His name is Jesus and our friendship is unlike any other that I have ever known. You see, HE loves me in-spite of every thing I have every thought, said or done. He forgives me of every sin when I truly repent and will be at my side in the final judgment.

Jesus said:

 

John 15 ( World English Bible )

¹ “I am the true vine, and my Father is the farmer.

² Every branch in me that doesn’t bear fruit, he takes away. Every branch that bears fruit, he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.

³ You are already pruned clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.

⁴ Remain in me, and I in you. As the branch can’t bear fruit by itself, unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me.

⁵ I am the vine. You are the branches. He who remains in me, and I in him, the same bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

⁶ If a man doesn’t remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and is withered; and they gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned.

⁷ If you remain in me, and my words remain in you, you will ask whatever you desire, and it will be done for you.

⁸ “In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples.

⁹ Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love.

¹⁰ If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love.

¹¹ I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full.

¹² “This is my commandment, that you love one another, even as I have loved you.

¹³ Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.

¹⁴ You are my friends, if you do whatever I command you.

If I will listen and do what he commands me to do, I have his promise that he will love me and be my friend. This has given me great comfort of late and will continue for the rest of my life, if I remain faithful.

If you don’t know Jesus, now, now is the time to become his friend and be blessed for it! Do it now, you will never be sorry, ever!

Your friend,

Gary

Reminders of love by Gary Rose

 

Today, I tried writing a post several times, but without success. I just couldn’t seem to think clearly. Unlike other episodes of “writers block”, I had a very good reason- My dog Pal. We took him to the vet last Thursday and waited for what seemed like an hour. I held him the entire time and he didn’t move a bit. It has always been like that, for I know he loved being held. His kidneys had failed and this had an awful effect on his already weakened heart. Anyway, there was only one thing to do; put him to sleep.

The thing is: Pal will always be with me. His love was so sincere and intense that over the past decade it has genuinely changed me. Today, as I sat at my computer, I just happened to look up and noticed a paper printout of last weeks picture of Pal that I had used for my blog post. I realized that my memory of him will never fade away because his life and mine will always be intertwined. While looking for a picture for today’s post, I found a poem that just seemed to say how I felt, so I used the picture of the poem (above). After looking at it a bit, I thought about a passage from the Bible and the following words became more meaningful to me than ever before.

The Bible says…

Luke 22 ( World English Bible )

¹³ They went, found things as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.

¹⁴ When the hour had come, he sat down with the twelve apostles.

¹⁵ He said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer,

¹⁶ for I tell you, I will no longer by any means eat of it until it is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.”

¹⁷ He received a cup, and when he had given thanks, he said, “Take this, and share it among yourselves,

¹⁸ for I tell you, I will not drink at all again from the fruit of the vine, until the Kingdom of God comes.”

¹⁹ He took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and gave to them, saying, “This is my body which is given for you. Do this in memory of me.”

²⁰ Likewise, he took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.

You know, the poem and the celebration of the Lord’s supper have something in common- doing. When I do something it often triggers a fond memory. I will remember my dog Pal by simple actions that I do and I will remember Jesus while partaking of the celebration of the Lord’s supper. Funny, as I think about it, there is another thing that the poem and the supper have in common- love. Somehow, my life seems much better as I contemplate these things. Humm, Pal and especially Jesus both really, really loved me. I think I will hold onto that thought...

Your Friend,

Gary

Of love and friendship by Gary Rose

 

This is a picture of my dog Pal just after his last grooming in November of last year (2022). Lately, he has been having a rapid decline in health and doesn’t look as good as he did in November. Frankly, I don’t think he will make it to his 15^th birthday (June 3^rd).

He is undoubtedly the best dog that I have ever had. His love and dedication to me is beyond my ability to describe. Should he die soon, I don’t know how I will be able to deal with it, but I will have the memory of my best friend to help me cope with his absence.

During the last ten years of Pal’s life, he has reminded me of what love and dedication to his master really means. Namely, that my will is to be that of MY master because I love HIM unconditionally.

As I consider this situation, I am reminded of a passage of Scripture from the Gospel of John…

The Bible says…

John 21 ( World English Bible )

¹ After these things, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself this way.

² Simon Peter, Thomas called Didymus, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together.

³ Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going fishing.” They told him, “We are also coming with you.” They immediately went out, and entered into the boat. That night, they caught nothing.

⁴ But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples didn’t know that it was Jesus.

⁵ Jesus therefore said to them, “Children, have you anything to eat?” They answered him, “No.”

⁶ He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” They cast it therefore, and now they weren’t able to draw it in for the multitude of fish.

⁷ That disciple therefore whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Lord!” So when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he wrapped his coat around him (for he was naked), and threw himself into the sea.

⁸ But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from the land, but about two hundred cubits away), dragging the net full of fish.

⁹ So when they got out on the land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.

¹⁰ Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”

¹¹ Simon Peter went up, and drew the net to land, full of great fish, one hundred fifty-three; and even though there were so many, the net wasn’t torn.

¹² Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.” None of the disciples dared inquire of him, “Who are you?” knowing that it was the Lord.

¹³ Then Jesus came and took the bread, gave it to them, and the fish likewise.

¹⁴ This is now the third time that Jesus was revealed to his disciples, after he had risen from the dead.

¹⁵ So when they had eaten their breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.”

¹⁶ He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I have affection for you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.”

¹⁷ He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you have affection for me?” Peter was grieved because he asked him the third time, “Do you have affection for me?” He said to him, “Lord, you know everything. You know that I have affection for you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

^{John 21 ( Emphasized Bible Rotherham )}

¹⁵ When, therefore, they had broken their fast, Jesus saith unto Simon Peter––Simon, son of John! lovest thou me more than these? He saith unto him––Yea, Lord! thou, knowest that I am fond of thee, he saith unto him––Be feeding my lambs.

¹⁶ He saith unto him, again, the second time––Simon, son of John! lovest thou me? He saith unto him––Yea, Lord! thou, knowest that I am fond of thee. He saith unto him––Be shepherding my sheep.

¹⁷ He saith unto him, the third time––Simon, son of John! art thou fond of me? Peter was grieved, that he said unto him, the third time, Art thou fond of me? and he said unto him––Lord! all things, thou, knowest: thou perceivest that I am fond of thee. Jesus saith unto him––Be feeding my sheep.

This exchange between Jesus and Peter is important. Important because Jesus refers to true heavenly love (agape) and Peter refers to friendship (phileo). Normally, I use the World English Bible, but today I added The Emphasized Bible by Rotherham as I think the latter more accurately conveys the meaning. Why is this important to me now? Well, I love my dog in a way that he will never understand because HE is a DOG and I am a HUMAN. We both love, but in different ways due to our natures. The same is true for my relationship with God. I love The Almighty with my best effort to attain to the true love which Jesus exhibits. My best efforts fall abysmally short, but nonetheless, I keep striving to do better.

I do not know what the immediate future will bring for my beloved dog Pal, or what will happen to him after he dies, but I know that my master, Jesus, loves me in this life and in the life after this one. I do not know EXACTLY what heaven will be like, but deep down I hope that Jesus will allow Pal to be there. Humm, I wonder if there will be squirrels in Heaven ( I think Pal would like to know as well )?

I know this all may be a bit too personal for many of you out there, but it is what it is. I have just one question for YOU: Have YOU thought about your relationship with God lately- Do you really, really love HIM?

I hope and pray that you respond with an overwhelming YES!

Contrast by Gary Rose

 

Beautiful picture. I have seen many similar pictures over the years, but none quite like this. This one differs from the norm in intensity; specifically, in its contrast. As I thought about it, this aspect of the picture made me think of the lives of people. Some people are bright and cheerful, while others are dark and dismal. And these contrasts are reflected in their behavior as well. Generally speaking, those who are bright often do good things, but those who have a predominant darkness to their character often do very bad things.

This human contrast caused me to recall a passage from the apostle Paul’s letter to the Galatians…

Galatians 5 ( World English Bible )

¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you won’t fulfill the lust of the flesh.

¹⁷ For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, that you may not do the things that you desire.

¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are obvious, which are: adultery, sexual immorality, uncleanness, lustfulness,

²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, hatred, strife, jealousies, outbursts of anger, rivalries, divisions, heresies,

²¹ envyings, murders, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these; of which I forewarn you, even as I also forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,

²³ gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

²⁴ Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and lusts.

²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let’s also walk by the Spirit.

The things of the Spirit are good attitudes and actions, but those characteristic of the flesh are evil. Life is full of choice and those decisions and subsequent actions will ultimately determine both our life in this world and our abode of either heaven or hell in the next.

Take a few minutes and look at the qualities and characteristics of each group and choose. Which people would you like to live with eternally; Spiritually minded or those set on the flesh. Your choices will lead one way or another, for to choose the things of the Spirit will lead to choosing Jesus and eternal life, but the other choice results in destruction. Quite a contrast isn’t it?

Hardness of Heart by Gary Rose

 

 

^{Well, here is something new- an exasperated lion. I have more than a few doubts about this image being one that has been photo-shopped, but I will imagine for a moment that it is real. Since I know that the lion’s mate does most of the hunting, perhaps she brought home only a small bit of game. Or, perhaps he was napping and the cubs ate everything she caught. Maybe the waterhole had dried up ( again? ). Whatever caused this expression, it is familiar. We experience moments like this periodically and they usually are not the best moments of our day. Sometimes our exasperation can go further and we become agitated to the point of anger. Our actions and attitudes may or may not be a justifiable response to the situation, but this picture makes me wonder- did Jesus have moments like this?}

^{The Bible says...}

^{Mark 3 ( World English Bible )}

¹ He entered again into the synagogue, and there was a man there who had his hand withered.

² They watched him, whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day, that they might accuse him.

³ He said to the man who had his hand withered, “Stand up.”

⁴ He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath day to do good, or to do harm? To save a life, or to kill?” But they were silent.

⁵ When he had looked around at them with anger, being grieved at the hardening of their hearts, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored as healthy as the other.

⁶ The Pharisees went out, and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.

Rules and regulations; that is all the religious leaders of Jesus’ day knew. This sort of thinking was all about obedience and although I would like to think their hearts were right with God, it is plain from verses 5 and 6 above that they were NOT.

Yet, the Pharisees were supposed to not only know the letter of the Law, but its intent as well. Jesus knew their hearts and performed this miracle in spite of their spiritual condition. When Jesus’ actions conflicted with their state of mind and attitudes, they did what all evil men do- they conspired to destroy the opposition.

Today, I spent some time reflecting upon something I should have been doing and have not. I realized that I was wrong and have made steps to change. You see, I really don’t want Jesus ( the lion of the tribe of Judah ) looking at my life and being exasperated ( or even worse-angry ).

How about you? Anything wrong in your life? If your reflections reveal the need to change, don’t put it off- just do it! I don’t know about you, but I am glad that the God I worship is a forgiving one! Continue in your attempts to follow God more closely and you will be blessed for both your attitude and actions. Believe this, because its TRUE!