1,000 years before Christ, David writes in Psalm 16:9-10, “Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.”
David died, was buried, and decayed. But the Holy One, Jesus Christ, never saw decay after His death. He rose from the grave three days later. (The sign of Jonah, hinted Jesus long before his death, for Jonah stayed in the belly of the fish for three days.)
I guess some prophecies should never fade from memory.
A question for all of us: If God can raise a man from the grave after three days, what can He do in our lives if we only let him? Let us celebrate the Resurrection by allowing God to work in our lives.
Sunday, April 08, 2007
A Prophecy Forgotten of a Different Sort
This passage is directly from the Bible. From reading it, see if you can figure out who it is referring to:
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent. Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel. In you our fathers put their trusts; they trusted and you delivered them. They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.
“But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. All who see me mock me. They hurl insults, shaking their heads. ‘He trusts in the Lord: let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.’ Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother’s breast. From birth, I was cast upon you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God. Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.
“Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me. I am poured out like water and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.”
Would it surprise you to find out that this passage was a Psalm written by David almost 1,000 years before Christ was crucified? Would it surprise you even more to find out that the piercing of hands and feet never happened in the Jewish culture during David’s time and that crucifixion was not even introduced in Israel until the Romans conquered it several hundred years after this passage was written. This passage is from Psalm 22, and it is considered a prophecy pointing to Jesus’ crucifixion and death. One more question: What do you think inspired David to write this passage?
And now, I will let many of you in on a little secret with this: Some Prophecies Should Never Fade From Memory. See if you can figure it out!
“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far from the words of my groaning? O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer, by night, and am not silent. Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One; you are the praise of Israel. In you our fathers put their trusts; they trusted and you delivered them. They cried to you and were saved; in you they trusted and were not disappointed.
“But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by men and despised by the people. All who see me mock me. They hurl insults, shaking their heads. ‘He trusts in the Lord: let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.’ Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother’s breast. From birth, I was cast upon you; from my mother’s womb you have been my God. Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help.
“Many bulls surround me; strong bulls of Bashan encircle me. Roaring lions tearing their prey open their mouths wide against me. I am poured out like water and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death. Dogs have surrounded me; a band of evil men has encircled me, they have pierced my hands and my feet. I can count all my bones; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.”
Would it surprise you to find out that this passage was a Psalm written by David almost 1,000 years before Christ was crucified? Would it surprise you even more to find out that the piercing of hands and feet never happened in the Jewish culture during David’s time and that crucifixion was not even introduced in Israel until the Romans conquered it several hundred years after this passage was written. This passage is from Psalm 22, and it is considered a prophecy pointing to Jesus’ crucifixion and death. One more question: What do you think inspired David to write this passage?
And now, I will let many of you in on a little secret with this: Some Prophecies Should Never Fade From Memory. See if you can figure it out!
Friday, April 06, 2007
The No Name Saturday
A Time of Fear and Doubt for the Disciples
It’s very interesting to look at the Easter traditions. We have Maundy Thursday, celebrating the Last Supper. Then we have Good Friday, which if you were Christ 2000 years ago, was not so good. And of course, there is Easter Sunday. But no one has a name for Saturday that I know of. I could be wrong.
This past year, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about faith and the development of faith. I’ve been studying I & II Samuel in the Bible, and I’ve really been paying attention to King David’s faith through trials. So this Saturday, I’m pausing to think about the disciples and what they must have been going through the day after their master—the guy they thought was the Messiah—had died.
My thoughts wander to Peter. When Jesus met Peter, called Simeon, He changed his name to Peter, saying “upon this rock I will build my church.” (Take a guess as to what the root word for Peter means….) And Peter, the Rock, the guy who walked on water, and the first disciple to profess Jesus as the Messiah, totally denied that he even knew Jesus just before Jesus died. The Rock had crumbled. How was Peter feeling on Saturday? What was Peter feeling? Was he feeling guilt that he had denied Christ, or was he feeling a horrible, sinking feeling that the man he once believed was God’s Son was really nothing more than a mere mortal fooling the world with magic tricks. Did he remember that this same man who hung helpless on a cross once walked on water?
I also think about John. John was the only disciple who didn’t run away. He watched Jesus’ trials, followed Him to the crucifixion site, and watched His execution. John showed no fear of the Roman guards or of the Pharisees. He stayed, and he watched Jesus take his final breath, saying, “It is finished.” (I really believe that God rewarded John for his bravery by letting him die a natural death instead of the executions that the rest of the disciples went through, but that’s another story.) My real question is: what was John thinking on Saturday after the crucifixion? Did he question the years he spent following Jesus? Did he wonder why he risked his life to watch Jesus die? Did he understand that when Jesus said, “It is finished,” He meant something so much more? Did he wonder why Jesus used an accounting term that meant, “Paid in full”?
I think Saturday for the disciples, was a day of despair—a day of hopelessness and questioning whether or not God himself even existed. It was a day of darkness. I guess that’s why it doesn’t have a name. Dark Saturday or Sucky Saturday just doesn’t have a ring to it. It’s so interesting to think about because the disciples had no idea what was about to happen. They had no idea what God was planning. They only knew that their Messiah, their Jesus, was dead—along with the promises they had chosen to believe.
It’s so easy for me to dwell in the darkness. So often, I forget that I can’t see everything God is doing. I don’t know His plan. I get scared, forgetting that God is God. I don’t know what many of you are going through right now. Some of you probably have problems that I can’t even imagine. I do know this. God has a plan for your life. He has a reason for making you, and He has given your life a purpose. Sometimes, life might not make sense, just as it didn’t make sense for the disciples on Saturday, but that’s because we can’t see God’s entire plan. And I know His plan is good.
It’s very interesting to look at the Easter traditions. We have Maundy Thursday, celebrating the Last Supper. Then we have Good Friday, which if you were Christ 2000 years ago, was not so good. And of course, there is Easter Sunday. But no one has a name for Saturday that I know of. I could be wrong.
This past year, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about faith and the development of faith. I’ve been studying I & II Samuel in the Bible, and I’ve really been paying attention to King David’s faith through trials. So this Saturday, I’m pausing to think about the disciples and what they must have been going through the day after their master—the guy they thought was the Messiah—had died.
My thoughts wander to Peter. When Jesus met Peter, called Simeon, He changed his name to Peter, saying “upon this rock I will build my church.” (Take a guess as to what the root word for Peter means….) And Peter, the Rock, the guy who walked on water, and the first disciple to profess Jesus as the Messiah, totally denied that he even knew Jesus just before Jesus died. The Rock had crumbled. How was Peter feeling on Saturday? What was Peter feeling? Was he feeling guilt that he had denied Christ, or was he feeling a horrible, sinking feeling that the man he once believed was God’s Son was really nothing more than a mere mortal fooling the world with magic tricks. Did he remember that this same man who hung helpless on a cross once walked on water?
I also think about John. John was the only disciple who didn’t run away. He watched Jesus’ trials, followed Him to the crucifixion site, and watched His execution. John showed no fear of the Roman guards or of the Pharisees. He stayed, and he watched Jesus take his final breath, saying, “It is finished.” (I really believe that God rewarded John for his bravery by letting him die a natural death instead of the executions that the rest of the disciples went through, but that’s another story.) My real question is: what was John thinking on Saturday after the crucifixion? Did he question the years he spent following Jesus? Did he wonder why he risked his life to watch Jesus die? Did he understand that when Jesus said, “It is finished,” He meant something so much more? Did he wonder why Jesus used an accounting term that meant, “Paid in full”?
I think Saturday for the disciples, was a day of despair—a day of hopelessness and questioning whether or not God himself even existed. It was a day of darkness. I guess that’s why it doesn’t have a name. Dark Saturday or Sucky Saturday just doesn’t have a ring to it. It’s so interesting to think about because the disciples had no idea what was about to happen. They had no idea what God was planning. They only knew that their Messiah, their Jesus, was dead—along with the promises they had chosen to believe.
It’s so easy for me to dwell in the darkness. So often, I forget that I can’t see everything God is doing. I don’t know His plan. I get scared, forgetting that God is God. I don’t know what many of you are going through right now. Some of you probably have problems that I can’t even imagine. I do know this. God has a plan for your life. He has a reason for making you, and He has given your life a purpose. Sometimes, life might not make sense, just as it didn’t make sense for the disciples on Saturday, but that’s because we can’t see God’s entire plan. And I know His plan is good.
Good Friday
A pause from the mayhem to focus on what really matters...
And Jesus took the bread, saying, “This is my body, which is broken for you.” At the time, no one else in the room knew the meaning of those words. As the disciples ate and drank heartily, laughing and enjoying each other’s company, Jesus sat, knowing that only a few hours later, he would begin to endure what is known throughout history as one of the most brutal forms of torture and death—crucifixion.
It is so easy for us to be like the disciples, laughing, talking, enjoying our friends, or basking in the glory of a hard earned accomplishment. Let us pause for a moment and remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us so long ago.
And Jesus took the bread, saying, “This is my body, which is broken for you.” At the time, no one else in the room knew the meaning of those words. As the disciples ate and drank heartily, laughing and enjoying each other’s company, Jesus sat, knowing that only a few hours later, he would begin to endure what is known throughout history as one of the most brutal forms of torture and death—crucifixion.
It is so easy for us to be like the disciples, laughing, talking, enjoying our friends, or basking in the glory of a hard earned accomplishment. Let us pause for a moment and remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us so long ago.
Thursday, April 05, 2007
My First Real Book Signing!
Or, Buy My Book From Barnes & Noble on May 4th!
I’ve scheduled my first “bookstore” book signing at Barnes & Noble—Waterside Shops. It’s on Friday, May 4th at 7:00pm. If you’re planning on buying A Prophecy Forgotten at Barnes & Noble, buy it then! After the book signing, please join me for an After-Signing Coffee Break—a time where I can meet and talk with people about writing, politics, baseball—anything. It’s a tradition I plan to continue with each book signing. My first After-Signing Coffee Break will take place at PJ’s of New Orleans at the intersection of Pine Ridge and Goodlette. If you have not tried PJ’s iced coffee, you must! It’s the best stuff in the world!
For more information on my debut novel, A Prophecy Forgotten, check out my website at http://www.elysianchronicles.com.
I’ve scheduled my first “bookstore” book signing at Barnes & Noble—Waterside Shops. It’s on Friday, May 4th at 7:00pm. If you’re planning on buying A Prophecy Forgotten at Barnes & Noble, buy it then! After the book signing, please join me for an After-Signing Coffee Break—a time where I can meet and talk with people about writing, politics, baseball—anything. It’s a tradition I plan to continue with each book signing. My first After-Signing Coffee Break will take place at PJ’s of New Orleans at the intersection of Pine Ridge and Goodlette. If you have not tried PJ’s iced coffee, you must! It’s the best stuff in the world!
For more information on my debut novel, A Prophecy Forgotten, check out my website at http://www.elysianchronicles.com.
I’m Teaching a Summer Writing Program for Teenagers at Barnes & Noble—Waterside Shops!
Or, I’m Just Too Tired to Think Up A Cool Title…
I met with the CRM (Community Relations Manager) and the Assistant CRM at my local Barnes & Noble, today. They are probably two of the nicest ladies I’ve ever worked with. We met at the Naples Press Club Writers Conference back in January, where we began to discuss the idea of me teaching some writing workshops for teenagers. I finally put a plan together and brought it to them today. We decided let me teach a summer writing program for teenagers. They’re also going to let me hang out after each workshop and do a book signing. (Which gives me more time to drink coffee!) We are also considering doing something similar this fall for adults. Here are the dates and the times:
· Tuesday 06/19/07 2:00 to 4:00: Plot and Structure
· Tuesday 06/26/07 2:00 to 4:00: Character Development
· Tuesday 07/03/07 2:00 to 4:00: Sensory Details & Landscape
· Tuesday 07/10/07 2:00 to 4:00: The Rules of Great Writing
If you’re a teenager from South Florida who loves to write—be there! We’ll have loads of fun, I guarantee it!
For more information on my debut novel, A Prophecy Forgotten, check out my website at http://www.elysianchronicles.com.
I met with the CRM (Community Relations Manager) and the Assistant CRM at my local Barnes & Noble, today. They are probably two of the nicest ladies I’ve ever worked with. We met at the Naples Press Club Writers Conference back in January, where we began to discuss the idea of me teaching some writing workshops for teenagers. I finally put a plan together and brought it to them today. We decided let me teach a summer writing program for teenagers. They’re also going to let me hang out after each workshop and do a book signing. (Which gives me more time to drink coffee!) We are also considering doing something similar this fall for adults. Here are the dates and the times:
· Tuesday 06/19/07 2:00 to 4:00: Plot and Structure
· Tuesday 06/26/07 2:00 to 4:00: Character Development
· Tuesday 07/03/07 2:00 to 4:00: Sensory Details & Landscape
· Tuesday 07/10/07 2:00 to 4:00: The Rules of Great Writing
If you’re a teenager from South Florida who loves to write—be there! We’ll have loads of fun, I guarantee it!
For more information on my debut novel, A Prophecy Forgotten, check out my website at http://www.elysianchronicles.com.
BabelCon: I’m Right Next to the Incredible Hulk!
You’ve got to check this out! I’m going to be a panelist at BabelCon, a Sci-Fi/Fantasy Fest in Baton Rouge, and they’ve listed me on their website—right next to Lou Ferrigno! Oh yeah! I’ve arrived! I’m on par with the Incredible Hulk! Check out the site! The beautiful lady next to me is Deborah LeBlanc, an author I met at the Emerald Coast Writers Conference. I really admire her zeal and her persistence in promoting her work.For more information on my debut novel, A Prophecy Forgotten, check out my website at http://www.elysianchronicles.com.
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