“And the Lord said, Behold, there is a place by me, and thou shalt stand upon a rock….” Exodus 33:21 KJV
In 1883, New York physician, Dr. Asa G. Stillman, told the story of his former teacher. The best way to describe Cephas is that he was average. “We already know this stuff, why do we have to practice it over and over again?” would come the whining.
“And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46 KJV
She asked, “Daddy, why aren’t you crying?” He put his hand on her shoulder very softly and looked her in the eyes. She saw so much comfort and peace in those eyes. If you look closely, though, there are times when his Superman outfit seems to be missing. I notice my Superman outfit sitting on the dresser.
“Then said Thomas, which is called Didymus, unto his fellow disciples, Let us also go, that we may die with him.” John 11:16 KJV
Her father’s death didn’t stop her mother from making sure she raised her children so they weren’t afraid to make a difference. She had faith that her life’s example was the biggest advertisement to change the unjust things she witnessed. I’m sure old Eeyore, I mean Didymus, was really discouraged now. I am a very logical person.
“And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Mark 15:34 KJV
As the crowds gathered around him I’m sure he felt all alone. No one could take his pain away from him. No one could understand. No matter how large the crowd in the room, his loneliness would never leave him. There on another branch was a single dove. That single dove seemed to be looking back at the four birds. They weren’t cheering him on, they were crying because they knew his life was at an end. Then just as He was about to die, God abandoned him, too.
“Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” Isaiah 6:8 KJV
He suggested that this young Virginian, Thomas Jefferson, be on that committee of five. But who else should be on that committee? It would probably be impossible for the Bible to mention all the characters that made a story happen. We basically know nothing about Alon, except for the fact he will play a very minor role in our story. It was my first summer as a plumber’s helper.
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” Philippians 2:3 KJV
Those brown eyes no longer floated in a sea of ivory. No, they drifted aimlessly, as though seeking help, in a bath of crimson. He knew the America he had worked so hard to form was not about its history, but it was about its future. He had to be very hungry and the devil knew it. “It’s easy to make that hunger go away,” the devil would tell him.
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16 KJV
I’m not sure if it was the first stamp my new collection, but it was the one my Dad talked about the most. As I stood outside that cottage, I looked across the field and I wondered what all those soldiers thought when they heard that the man who cared so much for them had been assassinated the day before. We often get in our biggest trouble when we start looking at our reflection instead of where our shadow falls.
“Abraham begat Isaac; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat Judas and his brethren; And Judas begat Phares and Zara of Thamar; and Phares begat Esrom; and Esrom begat Aram; And Aram begat Aminadab; and Aminadab begat Naasson; and Naasson begat Salmon….” Matthew 1:2-4 KJV
Once upon a time there was a boy. I would like to close this story by saying that he lived happily ever after: the end. As time is passed from one generation to another, the twist and turns often take us in different directions.
I just want some of that passion juice. The spark that started their relationship was remembered at its end. One of the problems with the defense of never being burnt by passion again is that you spend so much time defending against the hurt and you just might miss out on the things that make happiness happen.
It was September 30, 1971 and our beloved Washington Senators played their last game at RFK Stadium. They would move to Arlington, Texas and become the Texas Rangers. This future President would say in his book, “I almost jumped out of my chair. Owning a baseball team would be a dream come true. I was determined to make it happen.”
