Author: John Thomas Frazier

Readings for Thursday of Easter Week: Year C

Acts 3:11-26;  Luke 24:36b-48; Psalm 8 or Psalm 114 or Psalm 118:19-24:

 “And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers. In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer. Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah appointed for you, that is, Jesus, who must remain in heaven until the time of universal restoration that God announced long ago through his holy prophets.”  (Acts 3:17-21)

I don’t think we expect a leader to be weak, much less be one who suffers. Then, like today, we want someone to be in charge who is strong and flawless.  However, I have noticed and pondered about the fact that conquering nations often copy habits or traits of those they dispossessed. This is the stronger copying the weaker. For example; European colonist displaced Native Americans and picked up their smoking habit as a pastime.  The Romans dispossessed the Hebrew people from their native land only for Rome to then become the seat of the Judeo-Christian Church of the world. Often a dominant group will adapt the habits or customs of a minority group.  This seems to me counterintuitive. Peter recalls from the prophets that the Messiahwould suffer.  This is not what they expected but it seems the suffering people leave a lasting change on those who oppressed them: good or bad.

Yet this is the path to universal restoration, that is, change for good.  Peter says that universal restoration is when Jesus will return to us.  I ponder that this means all people; all families, are reconciled back to God.  Currently, there are many families who are not reconciled back to God.  So we’ve got work to do.  I’m at a loss as to how to proceed.  Perhaps I’m still in ignorance as Peter says about his friends and their leaders.  I guess the best that I can do is to keep on pondering, praying, and preparing to be a suffering leader. Ouch!   

It is said that it is lonely at the top.  Does that mean suffering at the top? Jesus often went to a place by himself to pray.  Abraham was also a suffering leader and often afraid of what following God was going to cost him, even his own son.  Many of the prophets also suffered because they followed God.  But Peter reminds us that “You [we] are the descendants of the prophets and of the covenant that God gave to your ancestors, saying to Abraham, “And in your descendants all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” (Acts 3:25 recalled from Genesis 22:18) 

All the families of the earth sounds like universal restoration to me.  This means everybody acknowledging God and God’s love working in us for all people.  I am thinking only a leader willing to suffer on behalf of their people can do this kind of work.  It’s hard to hear this message but necessary for our salvation. So, hear it we must, and hopefully our future leaders will be people who are willing to suffer, and hopefully, we will appreciate them. I continually want to lift up Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president of Ukraine, as a great example of a suffering leader. He is standing strong for the people of Ukraine. God bless him. We could use more leaders like him.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Eucharistic Readings for Wednesday of Easter Week; Year C

Acts 3:1-10;  Luke 24:13-35; Psalm 105:1-8 or Psalm 118:19-24:

 “When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them.  Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight.” (Luke 24:30-31)

It seems the Resurrected Jesus did a lot of appearing and disappearing as he so chose.  This lesson on the road to Emmaus is just such an encounter.  Jesus retells scripture to them from Moses to their present which would include the kings and prophets, how God’s love and presence was always with humanity and how God came to them in the person of Jesus.  God took humanity, blessed humanity, sent humanity in their various directions starting with twelve tribes.  This is the way God loves us.  God loves us, takes us, blesses us, divides us in good ways, and sends us off to do good works. Anything less is not Godly.

It is when Jesus joined the two of them at their table and conducted the Holy Communion that they realized who he was.  At that point, he was no longer seen – magically, as he chose.

This four-fold consecration of the elements has been handed down to us from Jesus himself.  It is God’s formula for spreading love.  God takes creation and blesses it – says it is good.   Then God divides the spaces of where various created creatures are to live, some in the waters, some in the trees some on the open plain, some in the mountains, and so on; and gives to each their own.  However, humanity has the option of living in any climb and place where we can take love.  Humanity has the intellect to manipulate conditions to suit the necessary living conditions required for us.  So we, humanity, are taken, blessed, divided and sent to all parts of the earth to remember and proclaim the Creating Word. 

Jesus, like the angels throughout the Bible, does not arrive, but rather, appears.  This means the angels, and perhaps Jesus, are already with us, but prevents us from seeing them.  Jesus did not let them know who he was until he was ready.  As shown in this chapter of Luke, “While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him.” (Luke 24:15-16)

We have very limited perceptibility.  We see what the Holy One wants us to see, when the Holy One wants us to see it.  We, like the two on the road to Emmaus, are to see the sacred in the four-fold formula of God.  It is then that our hearts also will burn with desire.    

When we misuse God’s formula of taking, blessing, sharing and giving we corrupt our divine mission of spreading love in the world and it can cause war to happen such as it has in Ukraine. We now need to receive them, bless them, share what we have, and give back to them what is theirs.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Eucharistic Readings for Tuesday of Easter Week: Year C

Acts 2:36-41; John 20:11-18; Psalm 33:18-22 or Psalm 118:19-24:

 “Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”   Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”  Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:36 – 38)

It really hurts to learn you have been a part of something that was bad.  When I visited Christ Episcopal Church, downtown Philadelphia (in 2015) I got into a conversation with a historian there about the heroes of the Civil War.  The question he put forth to me was how do the ancestors of Confederate soldiers honor the bravery and courage of their great, great grandparents and at the same time disapprove of what they were fighting for?  In the same vein I have a friend who is a priest and who has an old sword of his father connected to a form of White supremacy that he is ashamed of.  I told him that that was a different time. He told me, “that’s not a good enough answer.”

I myself have bought products made with slave labor from around the world.  I am sorry for participating in such shameful acts.  I have pretended not to see abuses of people different than myself. I have seen what I believed to have been evidence of domestic violence and not reported it. I continue to crucify Jesus.  I too am cut to the heart.  What should I do Peter, I have already been baptized?

I believe the waters of baptism never stop flowing.  While I believe in one baptism, I did engage in a ceremonial baptism in the Jordan River while on pilgrimage in Israel. Jesus was baptized in the River Jordan. A river is a “moving” body of water.  The Jordan River takes the sins of the baptized down river to the Dead Sea!  That’s something to ponder.

 The waters of baptism continue to move over us long after someone has initially started pouring the water over us, or submerging us in it.  This continual “Fount of Every Blessing”, this running water, like a regular shower, continues to rinse away our sins.  We, however, must keep regular visits to Holy Communion to keep that holy water moving.  This is why a little water is mingled into the wine at Communion.  It is a reminder that as a Baptized people we vowed that we will continue in the apostles teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and the prayers. (BCP 304)

Thanks to modern day social media and the world wide web, we can’t pretend to not know about the different horrors around the world – yes, especially Ukraine. We must reach out to them as best we can. To ignore them and their troubles is to again ignore the crucifixion of Jesus. At Communion Jesus’ words ring out, “This is my blood of the New Covenant that is shed for you, and others, for the forgiveness of sins…”  Thank You Lord Jesus!

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Eucharistic Readings for Monday in Easter Week

Acts 2:14,22b-32; Matthew 28:9-15; Psalm 16:8-11 or Psalm 118:19-24:

“Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”  (Matthew 28:10)

I have been to the Holy Land.  There is a difference between Galilee and Judea.  There is a difference in the land and climate.  In the North, in Galilee, there is rain and there are fields with crops and live stock. This is where Lake Galilee is (also called Sea of Galilee).  This is where the Jordan River is (where Jesus was baptized).  It is a blessed place with or without people.

Judea to the south is arid.  Judea is desert.  It is where the Dead Sea is.  Jerusalem is in Judea. Jerusalem is 2,474 feet above sea level and in its natural state it is a very dry heap of sand. How it got to be a Holy City is probably affixed to David, Solomon and the subsequent Temples built and rebuilt there and the longing of the Hebrew people to be there.

But as I listen to Jesus’ story and his words it occurs to me that it is not so much Jerusalem of Judea that he focuses on for good works and teaching but Galilee and its towns and villages.  Of Jerusalem Jesus says, “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:37) So something about Judea and Jerusalem in the south is not so blessed to me, with or without people.

I prayed for God to give me an unbiased mind as I was preparing to travel to the Holy Land.  I think God did. Putting aside all I had read and heard about Jerusalem and Judea I witnessed firsthand the nature of Israel, upper and lower Israel. I took the picture of the Galilean countryside from a boat in the middle of Lake Galilee that is posted at the top of all my blogs.

It was in the region of Galilee that Jesus turned water into wine (Cana). In the region of Galilee He walked on water (sea of Galilee), preached the sermon on the mount (Mount Tabor), raised the widow’s son (Nain), healed Peter’s mother-in –law (Capernaum) fed the 5000, and much, much more.  So, it is not surprising to me that the Resurrected Jesus tells the women to tell his followers to meet him in Galilee.  I just wish I knew where in Galilee.

I think sometimes it is a good thing to meditate and ponder on what Scripture says, and what it does not say.  We, as Christians, focus on Jesus, what he does and what he says for us to do.  Jesus was conceived and later raised in Nazareth of Galilee.  And while he was born in Bethlehem and taken to Nazareth by way of Egypt as a baby and a child, it was of his own accord that he went to Capernaum of Galilee and walked along the shore inviting his followers to follow him.  I highly recommend Christian pilgrims desiring a trip to the Holy Land to pay much more attention to Galilee as they plan. Remember, the Resurrected Jesus, the “Easter” Jesus actually invites us to go to Galilee. “Then Jesus said to them [us], “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers [and sisters] to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”  (Matthew 28:10)

I also believe that the Holy Presence of God dwells in Ukraine. God’s ears hears tears. We too must listen to, and respond to, the tears of the Ukrainian people. Let us meet our Lord Jesus there also.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Eucharistic Readings for Easter Sunday: Year C

Acts 10:34-43 or Isaiah 65:17-25; 1 Corinthians 15:19-26 or Acts 10:34-43; John 20:1-18 or Luke 24:1-12; Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24

 “Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”  Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.” (John 20:17-18)

Mary runs twice.  First she sees that the body of Jesus is missing and runs and tells Simon Peter and (we think John also), that the body of Jesus is missing.  After they have their “verification run,” Mary sees and talks with Jesus and then is sent (Running again) by Jesus to announce the Resurrection!           

Mary owes everything she knows about herself to Jesus.  She was possessed by 7 demons from which Jesus released her (Luke 8:2).  Jesus was her life-line.  So when Jesus called her by her name, “Mary” it was like the impossible happening! She got her life back.

Mary is sent by Jesus to give the Resurrection sermon; I have seen the Lord! She gives the information that Jesus has risen from the dead! 

Jesus coming back from the dead might be shocking.  But I think what is more divine about Jesus is that he rose from the dead, and is able to let us know that he rose from the dead.  I wonder how many rose from the dead but are not able to share with us the reward of faithful living.

God has made covenant with humanity for the whole existence of humanity.  But we always found a way to break it. We broke it with Noah. We broke it with Abraham. We broke it with Moses. Now God comes to us as one of us to show us how to keep covenant. This time in order to break covenant we have to kill God Incarnate, and we do.  But God says “NO.”  This time God un-breaks the broken.  God in Christ Jesus, as a human and as God, sustains our covenant with God by defeating death, thus maintaining covenant with God.

Jesus tells Mary to go and tell “us” that he has gone back to his Father and our Father, to his God and our God. This is so reminiscent of Ruth 1:16-17 where Ruth refuses to leave Naomi but says, “   Where you go, I will go; where you lodge, I will lodge; your people shall be my people, and your God my God. Where you die, I will die— there will I be buried.”

 I can see Mary running with more excitement than she can bear with the Good News of the Resurrection! But will Simon Peter and John and the others (and us), will we listen to Mary Magdalene’s sermon and rejoice? Or do we too need to run some kind of verification race for geologic or forensic evidence? We need to hear her words and believe her and get our lives back also. Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

Let us also pray for the Resurrection of Ukraine; that death and destruction may cease and life starts anew.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

New Testament Eucharistic Readings for Easter Vigil: Year C

Romans 6:3-11 and  Luke 24:1-12

 “But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.” (Luke 24:12)

 “What?” “ No, it can’t be!”  This must have been what Peter thought when Mary Magdalene and the other women brought the disciples the news that Jesus was no longer in the tomb.

So Peter runs to the tomb to see for himself. I guess in all honesty, I might have done the same thing.  But as a Monday morning Biblical quarterback, and a big fan of Mary Magdalene, I ask why couldn’t the men just believe her?  But since it does sound too good to be true, I probably would have ran to see for myself also.  In John’s Gospel account, Peter runs with another disciple who outruns Peter but hesitates at the door and Peter rushes right inside the tomb. 

Peter has had some life changing experiences with Jesus.  Jesus has become part of who Peter is.  Just as Jesus has become a part of who all Christians are.  Peter however, got to live and travel with Jesus and witness firsthand the power of God working out salvation in the personhood of Jesus. While it was difficult to have Jesus to die, it must be amazing to see his burial place be empty.  This is the turning point for Simon Peter. For him and for us, it means hope!

From this point forward, Peter is a new person.  From the Resurrection forward, for all of us who are Christians, we are new persons in Christ Jesus.  We walk, or run, with Peter and we too are amazed. The tomb of our sin is empty and our future is full.  We have a guaranteed next life that has no end. Thank You Jesus.

The question becomes, “how do we use our remaining earthly life in thanksgiving to God for God’s mercy, forgiveness and the promise of eternal life?  The answer of course, is in gratitude.

Jesus now lives in the stories told and written about Him, in our prayers to Him, and in our hopes and trust in Him.  God is able to be with us in Christ Jesus still today.

As God in Christ Jesus is now watching us even closer through human eyes, and knowing that we are aware of what is going on in Ukraine, let us be seen by God advocating for Ukraine, and all people threatened by terrorist organizations, be they an organized government, or renegade gangs. Wrong is wrong. Unloving acts are unloving acts.  Easter is love Resurrected. Let us live as a resurrected people. The Spirit of our Lord Jesus now dwells in all who believe in Him and are committed to amendment of life wherein all human life is precious in His sight. Halleluiah; He is Risen!

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

 Daily Office Readings for Good Friday: Year 2

Morning, Psalms 95 and 22; Evening,  Psalms 40 and 54;

Lamentation 3:1 to 9 and 19 to 33; 1^st Peter 1:10 to 20; Morning, John 13:36-38 and Evening, John 19:38-42:

“Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds.”  (John 19:39)

Nicodemus finds himself near the beginning of the Gospel of John, in the middle, and at the end like this reading for today.  Nicodemus is a secret admirer of Jesus.  But because of his position with the Pharisees he was distant and secret.  He almost got in trouble defending Jesus with his fellow authorities. We read in John’s Gospel, “Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus earlier and who was one of their own number, asked, ^“Does our law condemn a man without first hearing him to find out what he has been doing?” (John 7:50 – 51). He was quickly jumped on about that question and he backed off.

Nicodemus is another follower of Jesus who felt shame for not standing up for Jesus more than he did. Perhaps this is why he brought well more than enough mixture of myrrh and aloes to anoint his body.  When we act outside of our Christian values we too disown Jesus. Today we remember his crucifixion. This is a very sad thing we did.  I say we, as in humanity.  I think God looks upon this act as an example of our ignorance.  For the most part, we still are.  Most theologians believe this was a necessary sacrifice for the atonement of our sins. Because of this sacrifice, we dub today “Good Friday.” I must confess, I have a hard time connecting “good” and murder together.

For me, our Lord Jesus was born as one of us by the Holy Spirit working through Mary, was raised in Galilee setting the example for how we should live together by teaching and preaching the Good News of the Gospel. He healed the sick, cast out demons, gave sight to the blind, enabled the lame to walk, raised the dead back to life, and most importantly, he forgave sins. This latter is something we can all do if we try. Perhaps Good Friday is good for Jesus too because he gets to go back to the Father from whence he came.

While Good Friday is a sad day for Christians all over the world, let us not forget that our brothers and sisters in Ukraine are suffering Good Fridays every day. Please keep Ukraine in your prayers today, and everyday.

 “Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all their multitude. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done” (Genesis 2:1 and 2). So, for this evening and tomorrow day my friends, Shabbat Shalom. 

What is Shabbat? Intro to the Jewish Sabbath – YouTube

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Maundy Thursday of Holy Week: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 102; Evening, Psalms 142 and 143;

Lamentation 2:10 to 18; 1^st Corinthians 10:14 to 17 and 11:27 to 32; Mark 14:12 to 25:

“While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them, and said, ‘Take; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it.  He said to them, ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.  Truly I tell you, I will never again drink of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.” (Mark 14: 22 – 25)

This is the central sacrament of our Christian faith.  This act means so much more than sermons or readings.  This is what our Lord Jesus left for us to do and to remember him by. Today is what our Church has named “Maundy Thursday.”  This is the night our Lord Jesus was arrested and taken into the custody of the chief priests and the scribes and the elders of the Temple.  He knew this was coming but insisted on this sacramental meal anyway. 

I ask each Christian family to also have a prayerful meal this evening as did Moses at the first Passover Meal. This is the faithful tradition that our Lord Jesus was maintaining, and asking us to do the same. And we must remember His words regarding the wine, ‘This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.” It fortifies us for the sake of many.

St Paul also asks us to continue this tradition in our 1^st Corinthian’s reading for today. He says, “The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ?  Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread;” (1^st Corinthians 10: 16 – 17).  The four-fold parts of Holy Communion are “Take,” “Bless,” Brake,” and “Give.” We are our Church regardless of where we are. It is not the building that makes us the Church; it is being the body of Christ that makes us the Church; broken apart but blessed nevertheless for the benefit of many.

And let us not get a big head about being Church. Being Church means being in service to those who do not belong to it. It was  William Temple (1881–1944), who said, “The Church exists primarily for the sake of those who are still outside it.”  God loves humanity – all humanity. As Church, sustained by the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, we are Baptized into the welfare of all people regardless of what they believe or do not believe.

The people of Ukraine are outside the Anglican Church and should be targets of all that we can do for them. I am proud to say that I belong to, and lead, our Women’s Bible Study at St. Paul’s in the Pines, Fayetteville, N.C. ( I am the only male member of the group).  We just sent money to the Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) program for the relief of Ukraine. We are truly Church.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Wednesday of Holy Week: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 55; Evening, Psalm 74;

Lamentation. 2:1-9; 2^nd Corinthians 1:23 to 2:11; Mark 12:1 to 11:

Psalm 74: 8 to 11:

8. There are no signs for us to see; there is no prophet left; there is not one among us who knows how long.

9. How long, O God, will the adversary scoff? Will the enemy blaspheme your Name forever?

10. Why do you draw back your hand? Why is your right hand hidden in your bosom?

11. Yet God is my King from ancient times, victorious in the midst of the earth.

These central words from Psalm 74 seem appropriate for today for Ukraine as they wait for God to intervene in the midst of their troubles.  I guess verse 11 brings some glimmer of hope. 

I spoke with a dear friend who reminded me of the old story about the preacher who was sent two boats and a helicopter as a flood was devastating his town. The preacher refused to let the boats or helicopter save him not realizing that this was indeed God’s way of saving him.  God uses us, for us. God is using us, who are outside of Ukraine, to aid and assist Ukraine. And Ukraine is both receptive and thankful, to God, through us.

I used this Psalm and the same verses two years ago to talk about our fight against Covid.  Now I use it to lift up the Ukrainian people in their distress. Perhaps some of you are tired of my continued worrying over Ukraine. I am spiritually connected to the Ukrainian people. 

They can’t afford to not think of their situation or get rid of it although I am sure they would like to.  I will stay with them in prayer and lamentation until their situation improves, just as they must do also. In this country, we have sound-bites of the war in Ukraine, and then the next news item might be about some celebrity show, or some pending American court case. The Ukrainian people don’t have choices about what they will think about or watch next.  Every day, every minute, is about “who died,” or, when and where will the next bomb hit?  It is a living hell for them. I am trying to keep us aware of their choice-less horror.

I too pray for the God of ancient times to act today, in the midst of Ukraine.

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John

Daily Office Readings for Tuesday of Holy Week: Year 2

Morning, Psalm 6 and 12; Evening, Psalm 94;

Lamentation 1:17 to 22; 2^nd Corinthians 1:8 to 22; Mark 11:27 to 33:

“So they answered Jesus, ‘We do not know.’ And Jesus said to them, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things.”  (Mark 11:33)

When our Lord Jesus says, ‘Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things,’ it suggests that the chief priests and the scribes did in fact know that John’s Baptisms were from heaven. But they would rather play the “ignorant” card than admit that John was more holy than they were.

The truth is an amazing thing.  The truth is not always pretty, but admitting it, is always noble. When our personal truth is not pretty or noble we want to conceal it. We forget that God knows the truth that is in us just as God knew about Cane killing Able. While the actions of our personal truths may not be noble, being accountable for them is very noble.   

Let us look at the George Washington/Cherry Tree incident. “The Cherry tree myth is one of the most well-known and longest enduring legend tale about George Washington. In the original story, when Washington was six years old he received a hatchet as a gift and damaged his father’s cherry tree.  When his father discovered what he had done, he became angry and confronted him.  Young George bravely said, “I cannot tell a lie… I did cut it with my hatchet.” Washington’s father embraced him and rejoiced that his son’s honesty was worth more than a thousand trees.” (https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/cherry-tree-myth/)

So, while the act of cutting the tree was shameful, his being accountable for it brought nobility to him.  Perhaps it is this kind of character that enabled him to become our first President of these United States. 

Instead of concealing their thoughts about John the Baptist, the chief priests and scribes should have just told our Lord Jesus that they truly believed his Baptisms were from heaven. God did ask Cane where his brother Able was. God was giving him a chance to be truthful. God will also ask you about what you have done.  What Cherry tree have you chopped at lately? Want to be President one day?

How do you truly feel about the pain and suffering taking place in Ukraine? The noble thing to do is to own your truth. Give voice to the love welling up inside you for their pain and suffering. Hold on to your truth and live it out. “The truth will set you free;” (John 8:32).

As we listen to what the Spirit is saying to us, let us live to love, to serve, and to teach, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John