Jesus Story: The Wedding in Cana

In the book of John chapter two we have the only account of a wedding feast attended by Jesus and His disciples. This means nothing except that John was lead to record it and the others were not. It is a wonderful picture of Christ's character to see that the first recorded event that He took the disciples to was a celebration. A wedding.
There have been many assumptions about this story by well meaning ministers and Hollywood. I would like to first address a couple of these and keep in mind that this story is about Jesus and all of the other characters in the story are extras and not meant to be scrutinized. It was not written to present doctrine. When we stray from Jesus and focus too much on others and events, we risk the danger of taking our eyes off Jesus and sinking into the deepest of error.
For example, Mary is shown in movies as being a relative of the couple. No where does it say this, although Mary seems to be overly concerned about the wine running out and making the family look bad. Either she was a relative, a busy body or just a compassionate person noticing that the "MC" was not doing his job by tending to the wine. Many have tried to prove that Mary is not so important because Jesus called her "Woman" and not Mother. Mary did give some very good advice, " What ever He says to you, do it." But again these passages are not about Mary, although "Blessed is she among all Women". This story is about Jesus.
Another example is how many use the fact of the MC calling the wine Jesus made as "good" to show that Jesus made unfermented wine and we as Christians should not drink it also. But these verses are not about the wine. Whether the unfermented wine was drank last so the people would not get drunk all through the ceremony or the fermented wine was served first. Who knows and really, "Who cares?" This story is about Jesus.
Some have tried to use numerology to set some kind of mystic meaning to the number of pots used and how much they held. But in truth all it shows is that a lot of water was used. This story is about Jesus and not a bunch of pots.
Now to the point, when I read this story about Jesus I saw the finger of God all over it. A story no earthly man could have conceived. You see the story, which is a fact, is also a prophecy as to the way Christ's ministry on earth will end. As it states, " in three days." We remember the stories of Jonah and Lazarus and how these stories point to the Resurrection of Jesus. This event is the same. It points to Jesus rising again on the third day to complete the task giving Him, as in the deliverance of Jonah from the great fish and Lazarus from the grave. We see in this picture that the pots used in the obedience of the law, were used to produce wine by Jesus. We know that wine is symbolic of His blood being shed
for our transgressions. Out of the pots that were set aside, consecrated and used only for the purification ritual, came grace. Showing that law became grace and that's when the party got into full swing. The celebration really started then. Only the Lord could have set this up to show us He had a plan from the beginning. NO man could have done this. The Bible truly is a remarkable book and inspired by God.

Seeking the Kingdom

Our Pastor, Bro. Robert, has been teaching us on prayer. The other day he
mentioned Luke 12:32 and the three aspects of God seen in this one verse.
"Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you
the kingdom."
1st God is a Shephard. Jesus the Good Shepard always cares for the sheep. See
the 23rd Psalms
2nd God is a Father. A real father always wants to bless His children.
3rd God is a King. Jesus is the King of Kings. And it is His pleasure to give it
to us. Not to give us control of it, but to set it up for us to live in.

In full control of His reign.
These are three really good marks of the Lord. Those who say He is venageful and
hatful just don't know Him like I do.And in knowing this I have no problem
seeking the Kingdom First (Luke 12:31)

Just Read: Rescue by John Bevere & Mark Olsen

My wife, Stephanna, just read a book and gave it to me about three days ago with
the challenge to get it read by Sunday. I started it that day and finished it in
two days.
The book was, "Rescue" by John Bevere and Mark Olsen. I do not believe I have
ever read any of John or Marks books before. I am familiar with Mark's
"Hadassah: One Night With The King". This book was written in 2006 and published by Bethany House.
I found it to be a very good work of fiction with a lot of Biblical truth and
teaching, mixed in with a little suspense. I believe Steph wanted me to read it
before Sunday because it dealt a lot with Church, the Gospel, marriage, divorce
and just plain relationships without being sentimental worldview dribble. A good
look at how what looks like a great church on the outside can be deceiving. But
we want beat that dead horse.
I really recommend that everyone from Pastor down get a hold of this book and
read it. Caution through, it might mess up some of your theology.

What Color Is Your Blood?

"For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which he was betrayed took bread;" 1 Cor. 11:23 NKJV

Since I have been ministering the Communion part of our worship service on Sundays, I have noticed that the night discussed is always referred as, “the night He (Jesus) was betrayed”. Not the night of the Lord’s Supper or Communion Night. This speaks to me. Many times before that night the Lord warned His disciples and they did not heed.

Matt. 17:22 & Luke 9:44, Matt. 20:18 & Mark 10:33, Matt. 26:2

In Luke 9:44 He told them, “to let these words sink down into your ears”, and they did not hear.

You may ask, ”What does this mean to us?”. To me it means that not only did Jesus know far ahead of His betrayal, In Luke 21:16 He told us to expect it also.

Now, what I shared in Church is this: How we react when we have been betrayed is a good measurement of our spirituality. It shows us and others just how much we are like Christ. Or not.

Years ago in high school, BC, I carried a large knife in my back pocket. One day in class a good friend of mine pulled the knife out of my back pocket and cut me in the back (about one inch). It bleed as if he had stabbed me. Being my friend and knowing he did not mean to harm me, I made up a good lie to tell the teacher that patched me up. He either has naive and believed me or just did not want to deal with it.

Anyway, it was easy to forgive a friend. It is hard to forgive a person you thought was a friend but stabs you in the back. I bleed red. My scar healed a long time ago. When we are betrayed, what is in us comes out. We show our true colors.

Do we bleed spiritually like Jesus bleeds. With forgiveness.

In Luke 17:4 it reads,” And if he trespasses against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turns again to you, saying, I repent, you shall forgive him. “

That’s a lot of stab wounds. But we have a Lord that heals. If we bleed like Him.

Just Read: Torches of Joy by John Dekker

If you loved the books "Eternity In Their Hearts" and "Peace Child" by Don Richardson, you will read without putting down, "Torches of Joy" by John Dekker. Although the story took place in the 1960's and the book was written in the 1980's it is still up-to-date.
I just found, read, and devoured the book.
It tells the story of missionaries John and Helen Dekker’s ministry to the stone-age tribe of the Danis in the jungles of Irian Jaya. It chronicles the start and growth of the Church in Irian Jaya. It could be viewed as a volume of the book of Acts continued.
The troubling aspect of the book for me is that if a stone-age tribe that does not even have a written language can grow in Christ in such a short time, what is wrong with us? By the end of the third year, there more than 100 Danis had been baptized, Churches were being established, with elders, and the first Pastor ordained. By the fifth year the first Danis had responded to help evangelize another tribe. By the eighth year, the Church sent out missionaries that were graduates of its own three year Bible School. And the growth moves on.
This is an inspiring true story that every Christian should read and learn by.
The ministry of John and Helen Dekker was the results of different mission organizations that must be mentioned. The Prairie Bible College in Alberta, Canada, the Regions Beyond Missionary Union, Wycliffe Bible Translator’s Summer Institute of Linguistics, and Missionary Aviation Fellowship.

Memorial Day Post

Just wanted to remember some family on memorial day. Since MD started with our country remembering those who died during the Civil War, I would like to acknowledge two that gave their lives. I do not know if they had family to caring on so I'll do this to remember them.
Joel Brooks went off to war with five of his sons. He and my 2nd great grandfather returned to leave the line that I am from. But two Samuel's brothers did not.
Balaam Brooks of the 1st Al. Perote Guards was captured at Is. 10, survived Camp Randell and was killed at the siege of Port Hudson. Port Hudson was the last Confederate stronghold to fall on the Mississippi River and not Vicksburg. The Confederates got to the point they had to boil their shoe leather to eat in order to survive. Only after they got the news that Vicksburg fell did they surrender.He was killed before the end. As fare as I can tell his father Joel who's service was up went to Port Hudson to be with his boys and stayed for the siege. He is listed at the park that is there now but not listed in the official Alabama records.
Lucius D. Brooks of the 60th Al. was killed by a snipper at Petersburg, Va. The report says minnie ball which makes me think he was shot by a confederate, but let's stick with the official record.
Both of these I would like to remember. There are more details of their service but I let it go.
My father served in the navy was not in any war. And I take it MD is for those who died in war time.
To those who served , RIP
(All Direct bloodline to me exept 4 of Joel's sons)
Joel Brooks 1st. Al. Co.G
John Brooks s/o Joel 34th Al. Co. A & 60th Co. A
Lucious D. Brooks s/o Joel 60th Al. Co. B (Killed)
Andrew J. Brooks s/o Joel 1st. Al. Co.C (Missing)
Balaam Brooks s/o Joel 1st. Al. Co.C & B (Killed)
Samuel Brooks s/o Joel 1st. Al. Co.G
John E. Cook 1st. Al. Co.G
Edward Y. Martin 60th Al. Co. C
Elish W. Blankenship 33rd & 60th Al.
A. Matthew Grantham 1st Al. Co. I (Died POW)
J. Andrew Grantham 18th & 39th Al. (Died POW)
William R. Albrittion Provost Guard (Killed)
Jasper E. Barnes 3rd Reg. Hillard's Leg. 59th Al
Dempsy Cook 4th Reg. Ga. St. Trps Co. G

No Nudist In The Kingdom; The Conclusion: The Putting On

In parts 1-7 we looked at items in 1 Peter 2:1-3, Colossians 3:8-9 Eph. 4:31-32 and that we are to “put off” or better translated as “take off” as in taking off a coat and laying it aside. And we discussed how the Lord always gives us something better to put on when He has us take something off. Therefore not leaving us Spiritually naked.
Now we come to the conclusion, “The Putting On”.
In Ephesians 6:13-18 (NAS) we read:
"Therefore take up the full Armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore,
having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, Which is the Word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.
I’ve heard a lot of versions of this passage and in a sense all of them are true. Here is my take on the armor of God.
The girdle of Truth. Take off all the falseness and lies and put on truth. Just tell the truth. Be truthful. Not to the point of hurting others but don’t be a liar. No matter what else you do, being caught in a lie can undo all of it.
1. Breastplate of Righteousness. Take off all evil and be clothed in righteousness. Not our own but Christ’s. The Word says our righteousness is like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). Not good for anything. Stand before God in Christ. In Right Standing with the Father.
2. Shod with the Gospel of Peace. Take off all strife. And put on Peace. The Gospel in a whole is Peace. Peace with God, Peace with self and peace with others. Being always in strife can crush your testimony. Who always wants to be in turmoil?
3. Helmet of Salvation. The helmet protects the head therefore we must renew our minds by focusing on the Word and keeping our thoughts on the Kingdom.
4. Shield of Faith. The shield is not an item of clothing, but it is necessary for the armor. All through the Book of Psalms God is said to be our Shield. Pick up your Faith in God. You can lay it down and become vulnerable to the enemy. Pick it up and stand side by side with others (in the Church of Faith) and you all become a mighty fighting force. Just like the Romans depicted in the movies with their line of battle with shields in front, above and all sides. Unbeatable.
5. The Sword of the Spirit. It is as it says. The sword is the Word of God. The Bible. But it is much more. It is the Word of God used in and by the Holy Spirit in the Believer. Pick it up and use in His Spirit for attack and defense.
6. Prayer. Now prayer is listed as part of the whole military thing because without a good supply line the army will fail no matter how they won the battle.
So here we are at the end. Take it all off and put on the glorious garments the Lord has for you.

Prayer: Lord, help us to take off all actions and attributes that do not bring Glory to Your name and Kingdom and help us to put on the things that would further your Kingdom. Amen

Black History Part 3: Andre' Cailloux and the Black Regiment

"Now", the flag sergeant cried,

"Through death and hell betide,

Let the whole nation see

If we are fit to be

Free in this land; or Ground

Down, Like the whining hound-

Bound with red stripes of pain

In our old chains again!"

Oh! What a shout there went

From the black regiment!

From "The Black Regiment" by George Henry Boker

In this 3rd part of my posts on Black History, I would like to tell of Capt. Andre' Cailloux and the Native Guards of La.
They were the first black regiment that was mustered in by the Union Army during the Civil War.
I am interested in these guys because of the connection that I have with them in history. My family fought at the siege of Port Hudson, La. during the war and one did not return. They were in the 1st Al. Vol. Reg. Inf.
They were with the troops from Arkansas had these men as their worthy foe.
The native guards charged the hill that the Alabamians and those from Arkansas held.
So great was their bravery that the confederates risked their lives to carry water to the wounded blacks on the fields. News of the attack and their bravery filled the northern papers. Making way for other blacks to be enlisted. Swelling the ranks of the Union.
But unknowing to the north, the south also took notice and many petitioned the Confederate congress to enlist slaves. Capt. W. C. Oates told congress that if his troops thought they were fighting to keep blacks enslaved, they would pack and go home. The south did start enlisting blacks but it was to late in the war.
Their actions also showed whites that blacks were not under-evolved humans and not more monkey than man.
That they could do what white man could do.
Too bad this lession was not remembered in later years during World War 1 and 2.

Andre' Cailloux was the Captain, who received his civil and military education in Paris, that lead the attack of the Native Guards. He advanced with his arm shattered from a shot and when he advanced forward a cannon shattered the rest of him. His bravery made history in making him the first Black officer killed in American History.

Links of interest:

Andre' Cailloux at Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andre_Cailloux

Article Commemorating Andre' Cailloux's Death at Port Hudson
http://www2.netdoor.com/~jgh/bravery.html

The Black Regiment by George Henry Boker
http://www.civilwarpoetry.org/union/battles/black-regiment.html

Port Hudson
http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/twhp/wwwlps/lessons/71hudson/71hudson.htm

No Nudist In The Kingdom: Part Seven

In parts 1-6 we looked at items in 1 Peter 2:1-3 and Colossians 3:8-9 that we are to “put off” or better translated as “take off” as in taking off a coat and laying it aside. And we discussed how the Lord always gives us something better to put on when He has us take something off. Therefore not leaving us Spiritually naked. Now in Eph. 4:31-32 I would like to show you the final two items that we need to shed before being able to put-on what the Lord has for us.

"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking,

be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another,

tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:31-32 KJV

Bitterness, just the sound of the word tells us that it is bad. It’s the attitude that we have to a person or an event in our lives that leaves a bitter taste in everything we do or say. One of the best tricks of our enemy is to make us bitter. There may not be a worst testimony for Christ than a bitter Christian. Second, we see clamour as another ill fitted garment for a Christian. Do you know someone in your Church or workplace that is constantly stirring up trouble? And they love it. They seem unable to function without doing it. Well that person wears the cloak of clamour. Take it off.

We have already gone through the others in this verse: wrath (Col. 3:8), anger (Col. 3:8), evil speaking (1 Peter 2:1), and malice (1 Peter 2:1 and Col. 3:8). Also; guile, hypocrisy, envy (1 Peter 2:1) along with blasphemy and filthy language (Col. 3:8). In conclusion to the “Put Off” section on this series I plan on sharing the “Put On” part. Unless I come across more put-offs like before.

Please notice the last part of this verse, ”And be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Being kind to others and tenderhearted (opposite of hard-hearted) is the tool used to take off the garments of bitterness and clamour and place it into the fire, like a leper’s garment that is defiled and unable to be used for anything else.

Prayer: Lord, help us to take off all actions and attributes that do not bring Glory to Your name and Kingdom like bitterness and clamour. Give us the right attitude to live and the right words to speak. Amen