What Christmas means to me...

I have noticed two signs here lately on businesses in my town that really bother me in their arrogance. They are both along the lines of Keep Christ in Christmas because that is what Christmas is all about. Now, I'm sure it's because I've gotten older and have learned that many, many people do not think the way I do but that just seems so narrow minded to me to say that Christmas is only for Christians. Don't get me wrong, I don't think the sentiment is bad necessarily, it just rubs me the wrong way when anyone says that this is the way it is and there is no other way.

I think I have also come to the conclusion that Christmas really isn't about Jesus either. I try to acknowledge the fact that Jesus was born and that he died for me at least once a week if not more. To me, Christmas is about the magic that surrounds this time of year. The anticipation of the gift giving. The kids just knowing without a doubt that Santa will be here on Christmas Eve with their gifts and being with family.

Being a parent, it's hard to figure out what to really teach our children about this holiday. My kids know that Jesus was born on Christmas but I have to say that I've always been very uncomfortable with singing Happy Birthday Jesus and having cake and ice cream like some people I've heard about. They talk more about Santa and what he's gonna bring them and I don't think that's bad. I know for me, when I was little, it was all about Santa. I knew that it was Jesus's birthday but Santa was the main event and I've come to realize this Christmas that what I want more than anything to share with my kids is not the getting of the gifts, it's the excitement, the anticipation and the giving. Which really goes back to what kinds of Christians I want them to be - excited about God, the anticipation of being with Him forever and wanting to give that joy to everyone they know. So....I guess there is way more Jesus in Christmas than I thought!

I know this was confusing but I'm still a work in process and most of the time, this blog reflects whatever I'm trying to sort out in my mind!

Merry Christmas to everyone and I hope that the New Year brings everyone much joy and peace!

Giving Thanks...

Since I won't be here next week, I'm gonna steal the email I got today from Max Lucado and use that as my Thanksgiving post.

Two Fathers, Two Feasts
by Max Lucado
The following is an excerpt from In the Eye of the Storm.Download Chapter 12 of In the Eye of the Storm to read even more.

I drove the family to Grandma’s last night for Thanksgiving. Three hours into the six-hour trip, I realized that I was in a theology lab.
A day with a car full of kids will teach you a lot about God. Transporting a family from one city to another is closely akin to God transporting us from our home to his.
A journey is a journey, whether the destination be the Thanksgiving table or the heavenly one. The fact that my pilgrims were all under the age of seven only enriched my learning experience.
As minutes rolled into hours and our car rolled through the hills, I began to realize that what I was saying to my kids had a familiar ring. I had heard it before—from God. All of a sudden, the car became a classroom. I realized that I was doing for a few hours what God has done for centuries: encouraging travelers who’d rather rest than ride.
I shared the idea with Denalyn. We began to discover similarities between the two journeys. Here are a few we noted.
In order to reach the destination, we have to say no to some requests.
Children have no concept of minutes or miles.
Children can’t envision the reward.
It’s worth it.
As we sat around the table today, no one spoke of the long trip to get here. Yesterday’s challenges were lost in today’s joy.
That’s what Paul meant. God never said that the journey would be easy, but he did say that the arrival would be worthwhile.

Remember this: God may not do what you want, but he will do what is right … and best. He’s the Father of forward motion. Trust him. He will get you home. And the trials of the trip will be lost in the joys of the feast.

Surrender...

I got a bunch of CDs from a friend of mine a couple of months ago and they are all Christian. I have a five player CD player in my car so every single slot is loaded with these CDs and I and the boys listen to them when we drive. Morgan and Matthew have their favorites and it switches from week to week but there is nothing better than hearing Morgan sing, "from the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky, Lord I life your name on high!" It makes me teary eyed just thinking about it! (And to all my Church of Christ relatives...yes, it has music!! But I figure we aren't in worship so it's okay!!)

Anyway...

I was bouncing around yesterday from track to track and I came upon this one by Stuart Townend called Jesus, Lover of My Soul. I can't find the words to it online because I guess it's another version of the original but the opening goes like this,

It's all about you Jesus

And all this is for you

For your glory and your faith

It's not about me

As if you should do things my way

You alone are God

And I surrender to your ways.

The first couple of times I heard that, I could feel myself start to well up and I wasn't even really listening, I just kept hearing this chorus over and over. This really just explains it all doesn't it? I mean, the hardest part of becoming a Christian or even staying a Christian is realizing that it's all about Jesus and who are we to make it about us? These words just keep reverberating in my heart every single time I read them or hear them. Just giving every single thing I am to God because he is God. But for those of who may not understand the fullness of this, once we give our whole self to God, guess what we become?

Take your pick...

Child of the King

Heir to the Kingdom

Bride of Christ

Saved for eternity

Not a bad exchange is it?

My thought for the day...

I was writing a post about marriage on a board that I belong to and this was the verse I used,
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."
Ephesians 4:29

The post was about arguing with your husband and the challenge was to remember this verse the next time you found yourself in an argument. And I got to thinking about all the people that I interact with and I realized that I've always done this (usually) and didn't even realize it. Part of me always kind of thought that I was playing people when I did this. But I've always tried to build people up according to their needs. When you think about it, different people in your life are treated differently by you. There are some who can take everything you say because they understand you and understand where you are coming from and how you mean what you've said. There are some where you have to temper what you say because they may find some sort of implication somewhere even if there was none intended. You get the idea. I've gotten really involved in Internet groups over the past three years and I've learned that there are certain people who join groups just to hear encouragement, they don't want to hear solutions to their problems, they just want a willing ear and a pat, "You're okay, you'll get over this." and that's all. Some people have to try to fix them and that's fine but just think about what the verse says, according to their needs. Not ours but theirs. Why is that? I mean, wouldn't their life be better off if I gave them solutions and they followed my advice? I do it because I care, it's really good advice, sometimes!! Or should we really try to get to know the person so we can give them that same advice but do it according to their needs so that it actually will be listened to and followed.

Just another quick observation because Matthew really wants on Nickjr!!

I've noticed that people deal with other people either on their level or the other's person's level. Do you listen to people and understand what they mean because of who that person is or do you listen and assume stuff because of what your mind is telling you?

Just something to think about!

Troublesome times...

I need to step away from political debates, I need to not watch our news, I need a whole new attitude check on my country. I'm sick and tired of everything in our society right now. The lack of responsibility, the sick, sick people who think it's okay to abuse four day old children. The gang bangers who get smacked in the face by a cop because he's reaching for their gun and cries abuse. I'm just sick of it. I have this sinking feeling in my stomach and I can't make it go away. I have no pride in my country right now and I hate that. It's not a matter of Republican/Democrats or anything like that, I'm just scared that if it's like this now, what is it gonna be like in 20 years when my kids get to be in it?

I was talking to Carol the other day and we had this same talk and I talked about how the only thing that really matters is family and what goes on in my four walls. But I just hurt for all the other people who are hurting out there and I don't know what to do. I'm a fixer and I can't see anyway to fix this problem.

What I need to do is just turn to God and realize that this place is not my home. I can only pray about the horrors I see and give them to God. I can only be responsible for my actions and I can teach my children to be responsible for theirs. I can only hope that there are more people out there who are teaching their children this same thing.

Say a prayer for our troops and their families this weekend. I know they signed up for war but it hurts just as bad when they pass. I don't agree with why they are there but I am still tremendously proud of the men and women who do sign up to protect our country and others. Stay safe. Give your loved ones a hug and try to make a difference somewhere.

I can not hold someone that does not believe in God to the standards that I am choosing to live by.

I read this the other day by someone on a message board. Any thoughts?

You can't go wrong with Proverbs!

I love the book of Proverbs. I love the simple 2-3 line verses that say so much. I'm just gonna list some favorites. I hope you like them!

Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
3:3-4

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
3:5-6

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act.
3:27

Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs.
10:12

Like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.
11:22
(You can't get any more eloquent than that!!)

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.
12:1
(Some of these pull no punches.)

Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
12:18

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
16:3
(Might, maybe...nope will!)

Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
16:24
(Words = healing, that's twice now and that's just the ones I've picked. So think twice the next time someone deserves the sharp edge of your tongue.)

Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life.
16:31
(That's great but I'm still gonna cover them up!!)

He who covers over an offense promotes love, but whoever repeats the matter separates close friends.
17:9

Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.
17:14

Like a madman shooting firebrands or deadly arrows is a man who deceives his neighbor and says, "I was only joking!"
26:18-19

A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day; restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand.
27:15-16

I think this one is my all time favorite...

Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, "Who is the Lord?" or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.
30:8-9
I love that, I've always said that I wanted enough money to pay my bills and go to Wal-Mart and get what I want. Not too sophisticated but just right for me!

Random Stuff...

I need to get back into the swing of the blog so I'm just letting it flow today!

"No matter how right I am, people need to know how good God is." paraphrased from our guest speaker at church Sunday. Isn't that right though? If people don't know how good God is then what is their first instinct when people start talking about Him? Feeling judged, fear, embarrassment ( I know I should be at church on Sunday!) But when you speak to people who know God...it's totally different, it's hard to get a word in when they go on and on about what God has done in their life! But...how do you show how good God is to people who don't know Him? I have a feeling that if I had the answer to that question, I could change a lot of lives!! I know I can tell them what He's done for me but I wish I could hand people the feelings I get in my heart when I truly feel close to God, I wish I could hug people and transmit that peace that passes understanding when they are hurting. But all I can do is tell them so God must know that if we do talk...that must be enough for Him to do His work.

Wow...I've never thought of it quite that way!

Grief and Heaven

"That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are quite small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever."
2 Corinthians 4:16-18 NLT

I got this off a website of a woman who lost her six year old son in June. She constantly amazes me how strong in her faith she is. She was talking about how much she looks forward to Heaven now, knowing that he is there. I also watched the Terri Irwin interview last night and her faith touched me also. She was saying that she knows that Steve's death happened for a reason and she knows she will see him again.

How bittersweet is death when you are a Christian? How can you grieve when you know that your loved one is in a place where there is no tears, no pain; only joy and thanksgiving? How can you survive if you don't have that comfort? How can you say goodbye to your child or your husband and believe that the connection you had is gone and they will only live in your memories?

My grandpa told me once that every time he would go see his mom, she'd say, "Foy, is that you?" and he said that he knows that when he gets to Heaven, he's gonna hear, "Foy, is that you?" How can you not rejoice when you hear that? I have a child that I know is being taken care of by Chad's dad in Heaven and I know that one day, I'll get to see her and meet her. (I don't know if she was a girl or not, we lost her too young, but in my heart I know.) Of course, I'll get to meet him too!

I don't mean this entry to be sad, I want you to read it and rejoice. I want you to know that death to God is not bad, it's when He gets to bring you home. Just think how happy you are when it's been a while since you've seen a loved one, that's the way it's gonna be for us. I think the reason we are on this Earth is to decide whether or not we're gonna follow God and then we get to celebrate for all of Eternity if we make that choice.

The "Do" verses...

For I don’t understand what I am doing. For I do not do what I want – instead, I do what I hate. But if I do what I don’t want, I agree that the law is good. But now it is no longer me doing it, but sin that lives in me. For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For I want to do the good, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but I do the very evil I do not want! Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer me doing it but sin that lives in me.
Romans 7:15-20

To me, these verses are such a comfort. When you can read them and understand them, you realize that God does get it! I call them the "do" verses because of how often that word is used. Okay...some background, Romans is written to baptized Christians who are trying to live a christian life. He is talking about that all Christians sin and these verses paraphrased by me go something like this...

I don't know why I do bad things. I don't want to, I want to be good and do what I should but I end up doing things that I can't stand. Even when I do bad things, I know that the things that God wants me to do are right. But, now that I am in Christ (baptized and living daily for Him), it's not me (the spiritual) doing these bad things, it's the physical (earthly) side. I know there is sin on earth and I know that as long as I am here, I will sin.

So, I find the law that when I want to do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God in my inner being. But I see a different law in my members waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that is in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Romans 7:21-25

So, I know what I should do but there are times, I don't do it. Even though I want and know that what God wants me to do is the way to go, there is a struggle between my heart and body. How can I bring these two ways of thinking together? Through Jesus, of course! As long as I give him my heart and soul, He knows that my flesh belongs to the Earth. This is the grace that Jesus gives us.

But!

What shall we say then? Shall we go on sinning so that our grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
Romans 6:1-2

Just because God knows the struggles we face doesn't mean we get a free ticket to act out all of our earthly desires! As you grow closer to the Lord, the struggles will get easier and there won't be temptations put in our path where He won't give us a way out. This is just so reassuring knowing that we don't have to be perfect and God isn't up there with a check list going, "Boy, you sure messed that up!" Doesn't that just make you feel good? This is what God meant for it to be - reassuring.

Amen!!!

I got this in my email this morning and I love it.

Our God is a Good God
by Max Lucado
“You are good, LORD. The LORD is good and right” (Ps. 25:7–8).
“Taste and see that the LORD is good” (Ps. 34:8 NIV).

God is a good God. We must begin here. Though we don’t understand his actions, we can trust his heart.
God does only what is good. But how can death be good? Some mourners don’t ask this question. When the quantity of years has outstripped the quality of years, we don’t ask how death can be good.
But the father of the dead teenager does. The thirty-year-old widow does. How could death be good?
In God’s plan every life is long enough and every death is timely. And though you and I might wish for a longer life, God knows better.
And—this is important—though you and I may wish a longer life for our loved ones, they don’t. Ironically, the first to accept God’s decision of death is the one who dies.
While we are shaking heads in disbelief, they are lifting hands in worship. While we are mourning at a grave, they are marveling at heaven. While we are questioning God, they are praising God.
But, Max, what of those who die with no faith? My husband never prayed. My grandpa never worshiped. My mother never opened a Bible, much less her heart. What about the one who never believed?
How do we know he didn’t?
Who among us is privy to a person’s final thoughts? Who among us knows what transpires in those final moments? Are you sure no prayer was offered? Eternity can bend the proudest knees. Could a person stare into the yawning canyon of death without whispering a plea for mercy? And could our God, who is partial to the humble, resist it?
He couldn’t on Calvary. The confession of the thief on the cross was both a first and final one. But Christ heard it. Christ received it. Maybe you never heard your loved one confess Christ, but who’s to say Christ didn’t?
We don’t know the final thoughts of a dying soul, but we know this. We know our God is a good God. He is “not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet. 3:9 NKJV). He wants your loved one in heaven more than you do. And he usually gets what he wants.

I would like to clarify that Mr. Lucado obviously believes that you just have to say the "Sinner's Prayer" to get into Heaven and I personally believe that baptism is a necessity. But to me, this article says that there are things between a human heart and God that we don't know anything about.

God's Design of a Helper

This study can be found here.

The heart of her husband has confidence in her,
And he has no lack of gain.
She brings him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
Proverbs 31:11-12

1. Man was made in the image of God.
2. They were to rule over the fish, the birds, the livestock, the earth and all creatures.
3. God told them to be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it.

God made this whole world for us. He made it so that we could create all the things that man has created. And he put us in charge of it.

God made woman to complete the man. She's to help him.

New Bible commentary:
The husband and wife complement each other. Suitable helper would be better-translated ‘helper matching him’, i.e. supplying what he lacks. She is his missing rib. Matthew Henry commented on God’s choice of a rib to create Eve: ‘Not made out of his head to top him, not out of his feet to be trampled upon by him, but out of his side to be equal with him, under his arm to be protected, and near his heart to be loved.’ Perhaps this reads a little too much into the rib, but it expresses well the biblical ideal of marriage.

"In Genesis 1 woman is part of God’s plan to create mankind in His image, along with the man. In Genesis 2 she is the companion and “helper” (NASB) or “companion” (NET) to her husband. Man was never intended to be complete apart from the woman; she is his perfect partner. Both are made in God’s image and likeness. Both are to rule and exercise dominion over all of creation. Genesis 1 relates God’s purposes for all of mankind, our overall responsibility on earth. Chapter 2 describes the relationship of husband and wife. "

Psalm 121:1-2
"I lift up my eyes to the hills-
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth."

If God can be a helper, then it's not a place of submission.

Proverbs 31:10-31
The wife supports the husband by bringing him good, clothes, feeds, buys property, plants a vineyard (brings in income), she trades, she creates, she gives to the poor, she sells cloth, she has strength, dignity, wisdom, humor and faith. She takes care of the house, her kids and her husband. God knew woman would work so hard for their family so he set this example up of how a man should appreciate her. This isn't some example women will never reach, it's God knowing that we would work without ceasing. He knows and He appreciates.
I've never read that passage and realized that.

Clarity

I had a moment of clarity at church Sunday and it's one of those thoughts that I need to keep in my head all the time.

Do not be proud of your relationship with God. Take pride in it, definitely, but don't think that just because you have one, you are better than anyone else. I wish I knew how to line out words because I was thinking of this last night and I don't agree with even taking pride in it. Instead, thank God every day that you have one. Thank God that he wants us to love him and be with him. Thank God that there is no goodbye and that we can all live with him and each other for eternity.

And what is so scary, is that there is such a fine line in those two things and it seems to me the only difference sometimes is the tone of voice. You've heard it, that oily tone that takes over when we talk about how we're doing something and we just happened to notice someone else not doing it. If it turns me off, think how it turns off people searching for the Lord.

September 11th

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."
John 16:33

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us."
Romans 8:18

I can't put into words what I want to say, so I'm just gonna let these verses speak for me today. See how the first part guarantees that there is suffering but the second part says that there is so much more out there for us?

I hope we all remember the victims and families of 9-11 today and remember that this part is hard but "God has all of eternity to make up for it."*



*My minister said that yesterday and I like it!

God's Design for Oneness

This lesson can be found here.

Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. - Genesis 2:24

Three things that characterize a marriage:
1. Leaving your mom and dad
2. Joining your spouse
3. Becoming one

The original Hebrew word cleave means to weld or glue. That means that it is something that is put together and meant to stay together. When you weld or glue something together, it isn't a temporary bond, it's meant to replace and become a new thing.

Ruth 1:16-17
...Where you go I will go and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die and there I will be buried...

I am incredibly close to my parents but Chad is my first thought and priority. I followed him to Florida from Oregon without a thought of leaving my parents. It's taken us a while but I think we rely more and more on each other than we used to. I don't consider myself independent from Chad on the important stuff and if I do, I don't mean to. I really try to work together with him in all ways. One thing I have learned in my marriage is that the marriage comes first before me or Chad. You know that saying, there are three sides to every issue - yours, theirs and the truth. Well, to me, my marriage is the truth. My opinion may not count and Chad's may not count but I'll do what I have to do to make the marriage count. I don't go behind Chad's back at all. I have to be honest with him.

Proverbs 31:11-12
Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.

I can say with full confidence that we live out those verses.

I try really hard not to usurp Chad's authority in front of the boys and we do discuss our parenting techniques, I give him my reasons and he gives me his. I try to always keep first and foremost in my mind that he's making them into men. I am too, but he is their main role model and I'm not a man. Neva was saying that Morgan was a really good boy and I agreed and then said that I thought Chad was too hard on him and she goes, "maybe that's why he's such a good boy." I'm so glad she said that because it's absolutely right. My boys aren't good because of just me. It's both of us that have created good kids.

As for putting Chad first before the kids, I try to do that too. The kids are gonna grow up and leave and I still want a healthy relationship with Chad when they are gone.

Your husband is your other half. Together you create a whole and that doesn't mean that either one of you is more important or anything. I love Chad and I will go out of my way every day to make him happy. Not because I have to but because I want to. I want him to look at me and know that his happiness is important to me. It's so easy to get carried away with the whole selfish outlook of "it's all about me and what about my happiness?" but I tell you, I am happier because I have a happy man. We appreciate each other and it's because we both work at it.

Dear God, help me to always put my marriage first. Help me to be the wife that You want me to be to Chad. Help me to be a good example to my boys of what a wife should be like. Thank you so much that I have a man that appreciates me and really tries to be the best husband he can be. In Jesus name, Amen.

Going in a new direction.

I wanted this to be a book by book study guide on the bible but I just can't do that. More importantly I wanted this to be my time to study and be in the Word and honestly, going over stuff I've already gone over is boring to me. So, I found some bible studies at www.bible.org and I've decided to go from there.

Acts 2:14-41

Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel:

" 'In the last days, God says,

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

your young men will see visions,

your old men will dream dreams.

Even on my servants, both men and women,

I will pour out my Spirit in those days,

and they will prophesy.

I will show wonders in the heaven above

and signs on the earth below,

blood and fire and billows of smoke.

The sun will be turned to darkness

and the moon to blood

before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.

And everyone who calls

on the name of the Lord will be saved.'

"Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him. David said about him:

" 'I saw the Lord always before me.

Because he is at my right hand,

I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;

my body also will live in hope,

because you will not abandon me to the grave,

nor will you let your Holy One see decay.

You have made known to me the paths of life;

you will fill me with joy in your presence.'

"Brothers, I can tell you confidently that the patriarch David died and was buried, and his tomb is here to this day. But he was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was ahead, he spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to the grave, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said,

" 'The Lord said to my Lord:

"Sit at my right hand

until I make your enemies

a footstool for your feet."

"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."
When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call."
With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.

Okay, it's getting good! Peter gets up and tells the group that this is what Joel prophesied about in the OT, they aren't drunk!

Verse 17 says, In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

What that means is that the last days between the Old Law and the New Law. The old law is the law of the OT. The new law is what Jesus set forth. With Jesus we are covered by grace and the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. The old law is physical and the new law is spiritual. This day had been prophesied since Adam and Eve's time.

When he says that he will pour out my Spirit on all people that means that anyone can receive it.

I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below - he's talking about the wind and the flame that appeared when the Holy Spirit came.

The sun will be turned to darknessandn the moon to blood - this is what happened when Jesus died.

the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord - Jesus' resurrection

everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved - calling on the name of the Lord doesn't mean to pray and your saved it includes faith and responding to that faith by actions.

I'm gonna continue this another time.

Acts 2:1-13

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.
Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language. Utterly amazed, they asked: "Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs-we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!" Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?"
Some, however, made fun of them and said, "They have had too much wine."

Pentecost is the 50th day after the Sabbath of Passover Week. It is also called the Feast of Weeks, the Feast of Harvest and the day of first fruits. Passover is sometime in April, so you're looking at sometime in June for Pentecost.

The speaking of tongues they are talking about is explained further below when they say that each individual person hears them speaking in their own native tongue. And it was the Holy Spirit that let that happen. I think it's funny that so many people find it amazing that they are speaking in different languages and then the last verse says that some thought they were just drunk. Kind of like today, some people are amazed at what God does and other people just blow it off as coincedence or whatever.

Acts 1:12-26

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk from the city. When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) and said, "Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through the mouth of David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus— he was one of our number and shared in this ministry."

(With the reward he got for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)

"For," said Peter, "it is written in the book of Psalms,

" 'May his place be deserted;
let there be no one to dwell in it,' and,
" 'May another take his place of leadership.'

Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection."

So they proposed two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

They are talking about Judas, who was the disciple that betrayed Jesus to the Roman guards. The verses they are talking about come from Psalms 69:25 and 109:8. They say that when he threw the 30 pieces of silver back at the priests that they used that money to buy the field where he died.

Basically what they did was just add another disciple to take the place of Judas.

Acts 1:1-11

I'm gonna start in Acts. The first four books of the New Testament are the stories of Jesus' life written by four different view points. We'll get back to them.

Acts 1:1-11

In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."
So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."


My bible, which is the Zondervan NIV states that Luke is the author and it was probably written anywhere from 63 A.D. to 70.

The former book Luke is talking about is his gospel Luke which discusses the life, death and resurrection of Jesus.

The gift he is talking about is the Holy Spirit which will be given to the disciples later on in Acts.

Restoring the kingdom to Israel - The disciples always had a hard time believing that Jesus wasn't going to give Israel back to them. When he would talk about being King or Lord, they always thought that it would be because he overthrew the current government and took over but he was always talking about the Kingdom of Heaven - which was the spiritual kingdom, concerning our souls as opposed to anything physical they were going to be rewarded.

When he talks about them being witnesses, the disciples were the next step in the formation of the church here on Earth. The early disciples had a lot of the same miraculous powers as Jesus did.

The two men in white - common description of angels. They were telling the disciples that Jesus was going to appear again the same way he had left - through the clouds.

Background

When I was ready to learn about the bible, my Grandpa taught me verse by verse most of the New Testament at his kitchen table. We would skip back and forth and he would show how one verse led to another and tied yet another into it. I want other people to learn what he taught me.

I also want to give people the chance to actually learn the bible. Not what they think it says by people who twist it around to fit their own purposes or verses used out of context. If I'm confused I'm lucky enough to have three people in my life that I can go to. My grandpa who started really getting into the bible so that he could prove people wrong. But he learned a lot more than just how he could win. My father and mother in law are also people I turn to when I have questions. They've both gone to Sunset International Bible Institute in Lubbock, TX and my father in law is a preacher at a church in Spearman, TX. I trust them because they've learned on their own, they have delved into the Word and have created their own relationship with God from their beliefs, not what others have fed them.

And that is what I want for myself and for you if you have found this site. I want you to learn on your own. Pick up a bible and read it. Don't listen to people who have been hurt by people at church. Church should be where you go to worship God, to fellowship, where you can interact with other Christians and know you aren't alone in the world. But the meat of your knowledge needs to come from your personal studies and if you are lucky enough as I was to have a man with a lot of years of knowledge under his belt to help, you're already half way there.