From Gary... A new way to describe an old problem

Drama Queen

Some thoughts from the internet...

Over the past few days, I have been posting pictures from the "photo shoot" that Lizzie and I did last week.  I took the above picture because I had never seen anyone ever ADMIT to being a "drama queen" and I was curious as to what it really was.  I searched for "drama queen" and chose the two links above because the video defined by example and the article was interesting.  Although I have met people in real life who fit the bill, I am not sure whether or not I have known one in the church so far, but frankly I don't want to because they sound like trouble....  

1 Corinthians, Chapter 3

  1 Brothers, I couldn’t speak to you as to spiritual, but as to fleshly, as to babies in Christ.  2 I fed you with milk, not with meat; for you weren’t yet ready. Indeed, not even now are you ready,  3 for you are still fleshly. For insofar as there is jealousy, strife, and factions among you, aren’t you fleshly, and don’t you walk in the ways of men? 

Let me add just one more "drama queen" definition- carnal.  You know- those who like to "stir the pot" and cause trouble.  So, with this added information, I guess I have to be brutally honest and say I have known some in the church - and not just a few.  But, God isn't finished with them yet and hopefully they will be in church long enough to change!!!  Just in case you are wondering - NO, I AM NOT GOING UP TO THE FRONT DOOR OF THE HOUSE IN THE PICTURE- I have enough "drama"in my life already!!!!

ps. I really DO LIKE THE FLOWERS, THOUGH!!!!

From Jim McGuiggan... Enriched in Jesus Christ (2)

Enriched in Jesus Christ (2)

“For in him you have been enriched in every way—in all your speech and in all your knowledge—because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you.” 1 Corinthians 1:5-6

They had been enriched in “every way”. Paul then illustrates what he means by isolating speech and knowledge and, of course, what is true of the Corinthians is true of all who are in Jesus Christ.

It’s fashionably wise and spiritual to dismiss speech and knowledge as mere surface issues. Christ didn’t take such an approach and neither did Paul. Christ said his words were spirit and truth and he said that knowing the one true God and his Son, Jesus Christ, was eternal life. Paul knew the dangers of knowledge and the vanity of words but the cure for such abuse and vanity is not ignorance and speechlessness. It isn't wise to be wiser or more spirituall than God. In the passage above he says Christ enriches our speech.

We’re enriched in Christ in our speech. When his influence in us has its way cheap and sleazy talk leaves the building. Our stories are cleaner, truer and funnier (in part because they’re cleaner); they carry people’s minds down better avenues and generate pleasure and joy without being tasteless and crude. Our life stories are enriched because our master Story is far and away the best, the most enthralling, the most adventurous, the most mystifying and the most hopeful of all master stories. The Story is cosmic as well as personal; it affects how we see the darkest corridors of space and the way we look at little children; it gives us a sense of mission and destiny as it cultivates strength and calls us to moral heroism.

In Jesus Christ we’re enriched because we have something to talk about that dwarfs all the social programmes (even good social programmes) while it careers us headlong into rich social engagement and change, as agents of change for Jesus’ sake. In Jesus Christ we have something to say to a chattering Western world that can make its voice heard in far-flung galaxies but has nothing worth saying!

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... Jesus On Divorce And Remarriage

                          "THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

               Jesus On Divorce And Remarriage (10:1-12)

INTRODUCTION

1. A serious problem in the world today is that of divorce and
   remarriage...
   a. Its affect on children has been well documented by Judith
      Wallerstein, author of Second Chance (Ticknor & Fields, 1988)
      1) Almost half of children of divorces enter adulthood as worried,
         underachieving, self-deprecating, and sometimes angry young men
         and women
      2) Half grew up in settings in which the parents were warring with
         each other even after the divorce  -- Reported in Time, 2/6/89
   b. Parents who divorce are not left unhurt either
      1) "A divorce is like an amputation: You survive, but there's less
         of you." - Margaret Atwood (Marriage Partnership, Vol.7, No.4)
      2) Average percentage change in a woman's standard of living the
         year following a divorce:  minus 73% - Daniel Evan Weiss, (The
         Great Divide, Poseidon Press, 1991)
   c. As described by God, divorce is a treacherous, violent act - Mal 2:16

2. Remarriage after divorce is not without it problems also...
   a. It does not always heal the wounds inflicted by the divorce:  "I'm
      lucky my parents have stayed together. Unlike so many of my
      friends, I've never had to cry on a holiday." - Tales Out of High
      School, Marriage Partnership, Vol. 5, no. 6
   b. Many remarriages are unlawful in God's eyes, constituting what
      Jesus called "adultery"

4. While social and psychological effects of divorce and remarriage are
   serious, it is the spiritual effects that concern me most...
   a. Too many people are ignorant of what the Bible teaches on this
      subject
   b. Such ignorance leads to quick and easy divorces, and to adulterous
      marriages that are unlawful

5. In Mk 10:1-12, we find Jesus discussing divorce and remarriage...
   a. Jesus had left Capernaum as was teaching by the Jordan river in
      the region of Judea
   a. His teaching on divorce and remarriage was occasioned by a
      challenge from the Pharisees
   b. He used the opportunity to teach His disciples what people today
      need to know!

[As we consider this passage carefully, we first read how...]

I. THE PHARISEES' QUESTION JESUS (2)

   A. TO TEST HIM, NOT TO BE TAUGHT BY HIM...
      1. Divorce was a touchy issue then, even as it is today
      2. Divorce was not uncommon; e.g., King Herod - Mk 6:17-18
      3. The scribes were divided over the proper grounds for divorce
         a. The school of Hillel taught that a man could divorce for
            just about any reason
         b. The school of Shammai permitted divorce only in the case of
            fornication

   B. ANY ANSWER JESUS GAVE WOULD OFFEND SOMEONE...
      1. If He took the popular lax view, the Pharisees could deride His
         claim as a teacher of superior morality - cf. Mt 5:20
      2. If He upheld the stricter view, He would be unpopular with the
         majority (which the Pharisees could use against Him)

[Of course, Jesus was not concerned with what man thought, but in
pleasing His Father in heaven.  This becomes evident as we next
consider...]

II. JESUS' RESPONSE TO THE PHARISEES (3-9)

   A. HE ASKED WHAT MOSES TAUGHT...
      1. "What did Moses command you?" - Mk 10:3
      2. "Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce, and
         to dismiss her" - Mk 10:4
      3. They understood Moses to permit divorce if a "certificate of
         divorce" was given to the wife - Deut 24:1-4; cf. Mt 5:31
      4. Yet a careful reading of that passage reveals:
         a. Moses forbid remarrying of a spouse, even if her second
            husband had died - Deut 24:4
         b. The reason was the woman became "defiled" when she remarried
            - Deut 24:4
         c. The word "defiled" used elsewhere to describe adultery - 

            Lev 18:20; Num 5:13-14
         d. She actually became an adulteress by remarriage (despite the
            certificate!) - cf. Ro 7:1-3
      5. While they appealed to this passage in divorce (and presumably,
         remarriage), it actually described the treachery of divorce:
         defilement of the spouse - cf. Mt 5:32

   B. MOSES PERMITTED DIVORCE DUE TO THEIR HARD HEARTS...
      1. "Because of the hardness of your heart he wrote you this
         precept" - Mk 10:5
      2. The Jews at that time were a hardened people - cf. Deut 9:6;
         31:27
      3. Is this not a commentary on the state of one's heart when they
         desire to divorce?
         a. It takes a hardhearted person to want to divorce their
            spouse
            1) Either to divorce arbitrarily (for no scriptural grounds)
            2) Or to divorce when the guilty person is pleading for
               forgiveness and reconciliation
         b. Of course, that is exactly the condition of those in the
            world (or those in the church who are of the world) - cf.
            Ep 4:17-19

   C. IT WAS NOT WHAT GOD HAD IN MIND FROM THE BEGINNING...
      1. The permission to divorce was only temporary - cf. Mt 19:8
      2. "From the beginning it was not so" - note carefully:
         a. The Law of Moses (which was temporary) considered the
            hardness of men's hearts, and permitted hardhearted actions
         b. The gospel of Christ (which replaces the Law) cures the
            hardness of one's heart!
            1) His grace removes the heart of stone, and replaces it
               with a heart of love!
            2) I.e., a heart able to abide by God's original design for
               marriage
      3. Paul made it clear that under normal conditions divorce is not
         an option - 1Co 7:10-11

   D. JESUS REMINDED THEM OF THEIR GENESIS...
      1. "But from the beginning of the creation, God 'made them male
         and female'" - Mk 10:6
      2. It is helpful to keep in mind: Where we came from, who created
         us, what we are
      3. For our views on divorce and remarriage will be influenced by
         our views of ourselves!
         a. Are we simply animals, compelled by instinct?
            1) Unable to control fleshly desires?
            2) Then divorce and remarriage ought to be free and easy
         b. Or God's highest creation, made in His image?
            1) Able to control fleshly lusts to the glory of God?
            2) Then divorce and remarriage ought to reflect God's desire
               for man's holiness!

   E. HE ATTRIBUTED THE INSTITUTION OF MARRIAGE TO GOD, NOT MAN...
      1. Notice, it was GOD who said "For this reason..." - Mk 10:7; cf.
         Gen 2:24
      2. Therefore questions about marriage (such as divorce and
         remarriage) must be answered by God, not by man (nor by man's
         laws)!

   F. HE EMPHASIZED THAT IN MARRIAGE GOD CREATES A UNION...
      1. The two become one flesh - Mk 10:8; cf. Gen 2:24
      2. They are joined by none other than God Himself!

   G. HIS CONCLUSION:  LET NOT MAN SEPARATE WHAT GOD JOINED...
      1. What GOD has joined together, let not MAN separate - Mt 19:6
      2. Man has no right to separate what God Himself has joined
      3. It is clear that God's intention is that marriage is to be for
         life

[According to Mark's gospel, the disciples later asked Jesus privately
more about this subject (Mk 10:10).  And so we now read...]

III. JESUS' TEACHING TO HIS DISCIPLES (10-12)

   A. DIVORCE AND REMARRIAGE LEADS TO ADULTERY...
      1. Whether the man divorces the wife or vice versa - Mk 10:11-12
      2. Jesus taught the same consequence of divorce and remarriage in
         Mt 5:31-32
      3. The one exception:  if spouse is put away for fornication - cf.
         Mt 19:9

   B. THE DISCIPLES' REACTION...
      1. They thought it better not to marry - cf. Mt 19:10
      2. Jesus described celibacy as a viable option if necessary - cf.
         Mt 19:11-12

CONCLUSION

1. Any divorce must be on the grounds specified by Jesus...
   a. For marriage is an institution ordained by God - Mk 10:7-8
   b. And man must not separate what God has joined together - Mk 10:9
   c. The only ground specified by Jesus is fornication - Mt 19:9

2. A divorce for any other reason...
   a. Is an attempt to separate what God has joined together - Mk 10:9
   b. Is forbidden by the Lord - cf. 1Co 7:10-11
   c. If a couple divorces, they should remain unmarried or be
      reconciled - 1Co 7:11
   d. For it will result in adultery if there is a remarriage - Mk 10:11-12

May the Lord bless those with the faith to live according to His word,
and may we be diligent in teaching our children what the Bible teaches
regarding divorce and remarriage...!

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

 

From Gary... Beauty and the baggage

It was late afternoon when I took this picture; and the sun was so bright that it was hard to focus the camera at all.  When I uploaded the image to my computer- surprise- there was that weed of a "flower" in the gutter.  Instead of cropping it out of the image, I decided to use it anyway because, after all, it IS PART OF THE HOUSE!!!  It occurred to me that sometimes people are like this image; fantastic in many ways, but the baggage they bring with them is their undoing...

1 Samuel, Chapter 9

  1 Now there was a man of Benjamin, Yahweh has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and Yahweh has appointed him to be prince over his peoplewhose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor.  2 He had a son, whose name was Saul, an impressive young man; and there was not among the children of Israel a better person than he. From his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people. 

  3  The donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. Kish said to Saul his son, “Take now one of the servants with you, and arise, go seek the donkeys.”  4 He passed through the hill country of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they didn’t find them: then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and there they weren’t there: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they didn’t find them. 

  5  When they had come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come, and let us return, lest my father stop caring about the donkeys, and be anxious for us.” 

  6  He said to him, “See now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is a man who is held in honor. All that he says comes surely to pass. Now let us go there. Perhaps he can tell us concerning our journey whereon we go.” 

  7  Then Saul said to his servant, “But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?” 

  8  The servant answered Saul again, and said, “Behold, I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver. I will give that to the man of God, to tell us our way.”  9 (In earlier times in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he said, “Come, and let us go to the seer”; for he who is now called a prophet was before called a Seer.) 

  10  Then Saul said to his servant, “Well said. Come, let us go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.  11 As they went up the ascent to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said to them, “Is the seer here?” 

  

  12  They answered them, and said, “He is. Behold, he is before you. Hurry now, for he has come today into the city; for the people have a sacrifice today in the high place.  13 As soon as you have come into the city, you shall immediately find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he come, because he blesses the sacrifice. Afterwards those who are invited eat. Now therefore go up; for at this time you shall find him.” 

  14  They went up to the city. As they came within the city, behold, Samuel came out toward them, to go up to the high place. 

  15  Now Yahweh had revealed to Samuel a day before Saul came, saying,  16 “Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel; and he shall save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked on my people, because their cry has come to me.” 

1 Samuel, Chapter 13

  10  It came to pass that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might greet him.  11 Samuel said, “What have you done?” 

Saul said, “Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that you didn’t come within the days appointed, and that the Philistines assembled themselves together at Michmash;  12 therefore I said, ‘Now the Philistines will come down on me to Gilgal, and I haven’t entreated the favor of Yahweh.’ I forced myself therefore, and offered the burnt offering.” 

  13  Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of Yahweh your God, which he commanded you; for now Yahweh would have established your kingdom on Israel forever.  14 But now your kingdom shall not continue. Yahweh has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and Yahweh has appointed him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept that which Yahweh commanded you.” 

Saul was a very special man; tall, handsome- attractive in every way.  BUT, he feared the people more than God.  And his disobedient nature cause him to be rejected by God and another (David) was to take his place.  God gives us one life- what we do with it is up to us.  Saul made his choice of putting God second and paid dearly for it.  Now, I didn't realize what baggage came along with the beautiful yellow, purple, red and blue flowers, if I had- I would have just not included them.  Look at your life.  Is there any baggage keeping you from serving God as you should?  If so, do a little editing today and avoid the consequences it may bring tomorrow!!!  Remember Saul!!!!

From Jim McGuiggan... Enriched in Jesus Christ (1)

Enriched in Jesus Christ (1)

In 1 Corinthians 1:4-5 Paul has this to say. “I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way.” He goes on to give some illustrations of how they were enriched (see 1:7). But for all God’s generosity to them, many of the Corinthians were spoiled brats (compare 3:1-3 and elsewhere) though it didn’t need to be that way.

Does our giftedness enrich or impoverish our personalities and congregations? Apart from the love that rises out of a covenant relationship with Jesus Christ and so takes its character from him—apart from that everything is nothing! See 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. There can be giftedness without love but there can be no Christlikeness without it and if love of Christ is present, not only are we socially and spiritually useful, any lack of particular gifts becomes irrelevant.

No one ever came to Christ and discovered he/she was robbed. In Christ there is only enrichment and he who was rich became poor that we might be rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). It’s true that many who came to Christ discovered that their lives became harder and, sadly, thinking they were cheated they walked away; but those that have stayed the course have found they lost nothing and gained everything.

With his eye on certain present and past leaders Jesus said that they were robbers whose business turned out to be stealing and destroying but he, the Christ said, came to give fullness of life (John 10:8-10). In Jesus Christ there is only enrichment.

But it is only in him that the Christian and a church is truly enriched.

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... Principles Of Discipleship

                          "THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

                  Principles Of Discipleship (9:38-50)

INTRODUCTION

1. Previously, we saw Jesus teaching His disciples the way to true
   greatness...
   a. A way involving servitude - Mk 9:33-35
   b. A way involving humility - Mk 9:36-37
   c. Both important principles of discipleship

2. In response, John brings up what seems to be a totally unrelated
   subject...
   a. How the disciples tried to prevent someone who would not follow
      them - Mk 9:38
   b. Which Jesus answers, relating it to principles of discipleship
      - Mk 9:39-50

[The principles taught may appear unrelated (at least to my mind), but
they all relate to the matter of following Jesus as His disciples.
Let's consider them one by one, beginning with...]

I. HE WHO IS NOT AGAINST US IS ON OUR SIDE

   A. THE PRINCIPLE...
      1. Stated in response to John's question - Mk 9:38
         a. The disciples saw a man casting out demons in Jesus' name
         b. Whom the disciples tried to forbid because the man would not
            follow them
      2. Jesus' response:  do not forbid Him - Mk 9:39-40
         a. The man was clearly empowered to do works in Jesus' name
         b. So empowered, it was unlikely he would speak evil of Jesus
         c. So while he did not follow the other disciples, he was still
            on their side

   B. THE APPLICATION...
      1. A common misapplication
         a. Many commentators use this passage to decry denominational
            rivalry
         b. Which might be appropriate if denominational distinctions
            were not wrong
         c. But denominationalism is wrong within itself - cf. 

            Jn 17:21-23; 1Co 1:10-13; 3:3-4
      2. A more proper application
         a. Do not fault individuals or churches who may choose to do
            things differently
         b. Assuming that what they do is "in His name" (by His
            authority) - cf. Col 3:17
         c. There are often different ways to do the will of the Lord;
            if someone prefers not to do something "our" way, we should
            not forbid them doing it "their" way

[Next, we learn the value of...]

II. A CUP OF WATER IN HIS NAME GIVEN

   A. THE PRINCIPLE...
      1. He who gives a servant of Christ a cup of water in His Name
         will be rewarded - Mk 9:41
      2. The principle further explained in Matthew's gospel - Mt 10:40-42
      3. Even the smallest acts in helping others serve the Lord will be
         noticed by Him

   B. THE APPLICATION...
      1. When we help the brethren of the Lord, He takes notice cf. Mt 25:34-40
      2. When we support their ministries, we have fellowship in their
         work - Php 1:5; 3Jn 1:5-8

[Then we are warned of...]

III. CAUSING LITTLE ONES TO STUMBLE

   A. THE PRINCIPLE...
      1. Causing the little ones who believe to stumble is a great
         offense! - Mk 9:42
      2. Again, Matthew's gospel expands on this theme - Mt 18:6-7,10

   B. THE APPLICATION...
      1. We should be very careful about our example and influence on
         the young
      2. Every one is a role model, either for good or evil
      3. The best way to show love for the children of God is by loving
         God and keeping His commandments - 1Jn 5:2

[Another principle is that sometimes it is necessary to have...]

IV. RADICAL SURGERY TO AVOID HELLFIRE

   A. THE PRINCIPLE...
      1. Sometimes radical actions are needed to avoid hellfire - Mk 9:43-48
      2. Eternal life is worth whatever cost it takes - ibid.

   B. THE APPLICATION...
      1. Not to be taken literally, because one could still sin with one
         hand, one eye
      2. But anything close to us (family, job, friends, etc.) that
         would keep us away from God must be removed if necessary - cf.
         Mt 10:37; Lk 14:26,33
      3. Note:  Jesus believed and taught the reality of hell! - cf. 

                Re 20:15; 21:8

[Finally, Jesus segues from the punishing effects of hellfire to the
positive effect of a different kind of fire...]

V. SEASONING EFFECTS OF FIRE

   A. THE PRINCIPLE...
      1. We are seasoned with fire, like sacrifices are seasoned with
         salt - Mk 9:49
      2. The salt makes the sacrifice better, so fire can make one
         better - Mk 9:50

   B. THE APPLICATION...
      1. Appreciate the purifying nature of trials and difficulties - Jm 1:2-4
      2. As difficult as it may seem at the time, there can be glory in
         suffering - cf. Ro 5:3-4

CONCLUSION

1. Thus we find in our text five principles regarding discipleship...
   a. He who is not against us is on our side
   b. A cup of water in His name given
   c. Causing little ones to stumble
   d. Radical surgery to avoid hellfire
   e. Seasoning effects of fire

2. Seemingly unrelated perhaps, but important to serving Jesus with
   humility...
   a. Others don't have to follow "our" ministries, plans, etc., to be
      faithful
   b. Sometimes we may only help in the smallest of ways, but the Lord
      notices
   c. We cannot arrogantly overlook the needs of the little ones around
      us
   d. Sometimes we have to deny ourselves those things that mean much to
      us
   e. We need to humbly accept the seasoning effects of trials when they
      occur

Indeed, the way of following Jesus requires much humility on our part.
With such humility, we will find ourselves at peace with one another (Mk
9:50).  Are we willing to humbly follow Him...?

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

 

From Gary... A rainbow, a gift and empty pockets

I went to Sunday evening services last night, expecting a perfectly normal time.  Then, a young man (He told us later on in the Adult Bible Class that he was 24) came in and sat down it the row of seats on the other side of the auditorium.  He was very dirty looking and most of the time just played with his cell phone.  When it ran out of juice, he just walked around until he found a charger and with nothing to do, he participated in the class.  He spoke as though he thought he was a wise old man and related his experiences with drugs and alcohol as if he had now conquered all his problems; this, while being homeless and asking us for food.  At the close of the service, most everyone reached in their pockets to pool money to buy him the nourishment he sought.  I felt awkward because I was broke and so I left as quickly as possible.  On the way home, I felt awful that I couldn't help him and I was depressed.  This morning, I was sprucing up some of the pictures for use on the blog and had a headache, so I sat in the recliner for a long time with Buddy using my left leg as prop.  As I closed my eyes, I thought of the picture at the top of this post and realized how hard life must be for those who live on the street; and how, even there, people know they can get help from "church folks".  And it was THEN, that I thought of this passage from the Gospel of Luke...

Luke, Chapter 7

1 After he had finished speaking in the hearing of the people, he entered into Capernaum.  2 A certain centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and at the point of death.  3 When he heard about Jesus, he sent to him elders of the Jews, asking him to come and save his servant.  4 When they came to Jesus, they begged him earnestly, saying, “He is worthy for you to do this for him,  5 for he loves our nation, and he built our synagogue for us.”  6 Jesus went with them. When he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying to him, “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I am not worthy for you to come under my roof.  7 Therefore I didn’t even think myself worthy to come to you; but say the word, and my servant will be healed. 8 For I also am a man placed under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go!’ and he goes; and to another, ‘Come!’ and he comes; and to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” 

  9  When Jesus heard these things, he marveled at him, and turned and said to the multitude who followed him, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith, no, not in Israel.”   10 Those who were sent, returning to the house, found that the servant who had been sick was well. 

The Centurion knew he wasn't one of the chosen people and yet, in time of need, went to Jesus.  The soldier was a man of authority with a great deal of responsibility, but felt unworthy to even be in the presence of Jesus.  When his servant was healed, I can imagine him saying to himself... he did this for me???  The picture shows the rainbow coming right to you, as if it is yours for the taking.  A very special gift, just for you.  I think this is how the Centurion must have felt by Jesus' gift of healing for his servant.  And, I hope that the homeless man felt blessed by the help the church gave him.  I just wish that I had something in my pocket to help him in his time of hunger.  Maybe next time...