As part of my amnesia, I find that I retain only a rudimentary knowledge in and of myself concerning Christianity. Yeah, I know I am a Christian, nope can not tell you why, can not tell you anything about coming to salvation, only fuzzy pictures in my mind of my conversion experience (thank you Debby Kramer, where ever you are!), baptism in the LaPush River with my friend Maureen Fraher, Easter 1974. Yup that is about it. No memory of over 40 years of teaching! So, starting over from scratch it seems!
The need for, the requirement for Christian fellowship is important in our lives - to grow, to learn, to live! Without it, well, you are not going to last long as a Christian and find yourself a bit sideways from where you thought you would be ...
Philemon 1-7
Verse 1: Paul is in prison and is writing to a house church of friends.
Verse 4: Paul is in prayer for them.
Verse 5: Paul hears of their love and faith.
Verse 6: Paul prays for their witness.
Verse 7: Paul is joyful for the witness of Philemon amongst the family of God.
Wait a minute! What the heck does this have to do with fellowship?
Philippians 1:1-8
Verses 1-2: In essence, all are workers
Verses 3-4: Fellowship means praying for one another
Verses 5-7: Fellowship means serving together
Verse 6: Fellowship means trusting God together
Verses 7-8: Fellowship means Grace and affection
So we can see that Paul was in fellowship with those in Philemon's house church.
Paul was in fellowship with those in Philippi.
So, whom are you in Christian fellowship with?
Whom do you pray for regularly?
Whom do you support one way or another?
An interesting thought ...
May 9, 2016
May 7, 2016
Musical Saturday Morning
I sit still in a daze, a week now.
I thought of how this new life is far from what I had expected. Black is white and wrong is right. All is upside down in this world. People have proven that I was actually never wrong - before or after the change. And approaching from a standpoint of love is never enough. And silly me had thought that was the basis of a relationship - not the totality.
And this is a special Saturday, a first Saturday and I need a 1980's tune. So, I looked backwards, to the time when I did not know what an ordinary world really was. To a time when I struggled to understand ... when I thought if only I could be human I could understand, I could be understood. And God made the changes in me to make me fully human - a complete and utter miracle! He gave me a heart, He gave me need, He showed me love in all of its forms - which I tried to understand, always misunderstood. And I found myself reviled on all sides, close became distant, distant disappeared - and the hardest stroke was the silence.
I had lived in an ordinary world, where all was dead, nothing existed - except the rare glimmer of something beyond the horizon. Where I could never reach. But, now I can - and all is not as it seemed back then, nor imagined ...
I thought of how this new life is far from what I had expected. Black is white and wrong is right. All is upside down in this world. People have proven that I was actually never wrong - before or after the change. And approaching from a standpoint of love is never enough. And silly me had thought that was the basis of a relationship - not the totality.
And this is a special Saturday, a first Saturday and I need a 1980's tune. So, I looked backwards, to the time when I did not know what an ordinary world really was. To a time when I struggled to understand ... when I thought if only I could be human I could understand, I could be understood. And God made the changes in me to make me fully human - a complete and utter miracle! He gave me a heart, He gave me need, He showed me love in all of its forms - which I tried to understand, always misunderstood. And I found myself reviled on all sides, close became distant, distant disappeared - and the hardest stroke was the silence.
I had lived in an ordinary world, where all was dead, nothing existed - except the rare glimmer of something beyond the horizon. Where I could never reach. But, now I can - and all is not as it seemed back then, nor imagined ...
Came in from a rainy Thursday on the avenue
Thought I heard you talking softly
I turned on the lights, the TV, and the radio
Still I can't escape the ghost of you
Thought I heard you talking softly
I turned on the lights, the TV, and the radio
Still I can't escape the ghost of you
What has happened to it all?
Crazy someone say
Where is the life that I recognize?
Gone away
Crazy someone say
Where is the life that I recognize?
Gone away
But I won't cry for yesterday
There's an ordinary world
Somehow I have to find
And as I try to make my way
To the ordinary world
I will learn to survive
There's an ordinary world
Somehow I have to find
And as I try to make my way
To the ordinary world
I will learn to survive
Passion or coincidence once prompted you to say
"Pride will tear us both apart"
Well now prides gone out the window
Cross the rooftops, run away
Left me in the vacuum of my heart
"Pride will tear us both apart"
Well now prides gone out the window
Cross the rooftops, run away
Left me in the vacuum of my heart
What is happening to me?
Crazy someone say
Where is my friend when I need you most?
Gone away
Crazy someone say
Where is my friend when I need you most?
Gone away
But I won't cry for yesterday
There's an ordinary world
Somehow I have to find
And as I try to make my way
To the ordinary world
I will learn to survive
There's an ordinary world
Somehow I have to find
And as I try to make my way
To the ordinary world
I will learn to survive
Papers in the roadside tell of suffering and greed
Fear today, forgot tomorrow
Besides the news of holy war and holy need
Ours is just a little sorrowed talk
Fear today, forgot tomorrow
Besides the news of holy war and holy need
Ours is just a little sorrowed talk
(Just blown away)
And I don't cry for yesterday
There's an ordinary world
Somehow I have to find
And as I try to make my way
To the ordinary world
I will learn to survive
There's an ordinary world
Somehow I have to find
And as I try to make my way
To the ordinary world
I will learn to survive
Every world is my world
(I will learn to survive)
Any world is my world
(I will learn to survive)
Any world is my world
Every world is our world
(I will learn to survive)
Any world is my world
(I will learn to survive)
Any world is my world
Every world is our world
May 6, 2016
Prayer Requests
There is an interesting man in the church I attend, a loner whom goes out of his way to talk to me. I realized early on that the reason behind this is that I took some guys shooting with me when my little arsenal arrived here and well that is the stuff legends are made of. I think that was the day I was letting guys shoot my guns, even my politically incorrect one :) It was a fun day but I inherited a few guys after that whom are shooters but just not with me that day. I also figured out that doing that was a mistake in this paranoia driven culture. So most guys love me, most women think I am Satan incarnate. :)
So the man whom seeks me out has a wife but she is rarely seen, so back in August, when I could walk and go to church for one of the few times in 2015, I asked him about what was up with his wife. And oh, did he ever dump that one one me!
She is an alcoholic, in a huge way - with a capital A! Apparently far worse than my own great-father of whom drunken legend are made of and there is nothing which can be done for her it seems.
So, Sunday was an update: body mass now so low she can no longer walk. She has been through rehab now 13 times! and can not stop drinking. Luckily, because of her weight problem she now can not get alcohol - but I doubt that is a positive to her interaction with her husband. He has tried to get her back in rehab for round 14 - but she is so abusive that they turned him down last week. And he is pretty sure she is going to die and there is nothing he can do to help her because she does not want help.
Sad part is - she is a really nice person, as is he, but no ability to not take a drink.
Also it turns out that her parents live across the street from me and four houses down, her brother diagonal to them across an intersection, her niece across the street from her father on my side of the block and their cousin across the street from me!
Now the cousin, I knew back in the 1970's, back in my youth pastor days - he was a youth pastor with a Lutheran church a few miles from here. We used to do youth events together. And I saw him on crutches the other day, so I waddled over to see him (hopped?).
Seems he went on a binge - undefined - other than it shot his sugar level past the point of death (so had to be alcohol) and his spine died! Yeah, good-bye nervous system! So, I gave him a month's worth of the trial drug which restored my spinal system after its severing. That was two weeks ago, last night I saw him still on crutches but he was moving his legs to match the alternating rhythm of the crutches! Not weight bearing but no long worthless lumps of meat hanging off his waist line! So, Praise God!
But, Steve has continued need for prayer as he is completely disabled due to this!
And if you remember my recovering body as well, thank you. Prayer is all that sustains me - I know this for a fact - just do not know whom to thank.....
So the man whom seeks me out has a wife but she is rarely seen, so back in August, when I could walk and go to church for one of the few times in 2015, I asked him about what was up with his wife. And oh, did he ever dump that one one me!
She is an alcoholic, in a huge way - with a capital A! Apparently far worse than my own great-father of whom drunken legend are made of and there is nothing which can be done for her it seems.
So, Sunday was an update: body mass now so low she can no longer walk. She has been through rehab now 13 times! and can not stop drinking. Luckily, because of her weight problem she now can not get alcohol - but I doubt that is a positive to her interaction with her husband. He has tried to get her back in rehab for round 14 - but she is so abusive that they turned him down last week. And he is pretty sure she is going to die and there is nothing he can do to help her because she does not want help.
Sad part is - she is a really nice person, as is he, but no ability to not take a drink.
Also it turns out that her parents live across the street from me and four houses down, her brother diagonal to them across an intersection, her niece across the street from her father on my side of the block and their cousin across the street from me!
Now the cousin, I knew back in the 1970's, back in my youth pastor days - he was a youth pastor with a Lutheran church a few miles from here. We used to do youth events together. And I saw him on crutches the other day, so I waddled over to see him (hopped?).
Seems he went on a binge - undefined - other than it shot his sugar level past the point of death (so had to be alcohol) and his spine died! Yeah, good-bye nervous system! So, I gave him a month's worth of the trial drug which restored my spinal system after its severing. That was two weeks ago, last night I saw him still on crutches but he was moving his legs to match the alternating rhythm of the crutches! Not weight bearing but no long worthless lumps of meat hanging off his waist line! So, Praise God!
But, Steve has continued need for prayer as he is completely disabled due to this!
And if you remember my recovering body as well, thank you. Prayer is all that sustains me - I know this for a fact - just do not know whom to thank.....
May 5, 2016
Who Is Your Authority?
I continued thinking about yesterday's post for many hours and thought, "Yeah, I need to say more ..."
All of my kids, at one time or another, even in unison howled, "You are not my boss!" Well, on the one hand they were approaching this from the viewpoint of I am not their biological father, I am not Russian (save for a little on my Grandmother's side, and they did not choose me! So, I should have no input or over ride of their desires! Those whom fought the hardest - are my most ardent supporter within the family - because I never led them incorrectly - and always in their best interest.
So, I would laugh, they would get angry, if not turn beat red and blow their stack while cursing me out in Russian! LOL, well I still think it funny.
Mark 11:27-33
Mark 12:13-17
Jesus did a good job of trashing the outer court of the Temple, leaving the question in the Rabbi's lips, the populous' mind and to the Disciple observers:
Who is in Authority?
Jesus ALWAYS!
Authority comes FROM Jesus.
Evidenced by:
Nature obeyed Jesus
Demons obeyed Jesus
Sickness/disease/handicap obeyed Jesus
Jesus has the authority:
Matthew 7:29
Matthew 8:9
Matthew 9:8
Matthew 28:18-20
The Crowd NEVER!
Mark 11:27
Mark 12:13
Jesus is seen as a real threat by the religious leaders.
Enemies within the Jewish system came together to plot an end to Jesus.
They sought to trap him ...
They tried flattery.
The Government MOSTLY!
The tax Jesus was asked concerning was a head tax, to be paid because you were alive to the Emperor, using a coin declaring Ceasar to be the god!
And, Jesus called them on their hypocrisy! You use this coin to buy and sell - so pay your taxes with it!
Romans 13:1 - you must pay
But, many rebel.
1. God is the authority
2. State is the authority
3. God and State are the authority, but State comes first
4. God and State are the authority, but God comes first
Correct approach is 4.
You obey the State when it does not come in conflict with God (what the Bible clearly states!).
When is it okay to disobey?
And here we have the topic of my very first book! It is a very real subject and complex, but let us distill this down to:
Anytime you are told to disobey God - then be disobedient to the State!
Told not to meet.
Told not to pray.
Bibles are outlawed.
Told you must kill.
Told you must compromise your faith/beliefs.
Told you may not give.
etc - all examples from just my lifetime!
Make your stand only in God's love for mankind,
Witness of His love to whom you address,
Be a physical threat to no one,
Proclaim Jesus Gospel - His cross and resurrection alone.
AND THEN - be willing to take the consequences of your statement of faith .....
All of my kids, at one time or another, even in unison howled, "You are not my boss!" Well, on the one hand they were approaching this from the viewpoint of I am not their biological father, I am not Russian (save for a little on my Grandmother's side, and they did not choose me! So, I should have no input or over ride of their desires! Those whom fought the hardest - are my most ardent supporter within the family - because I never led them incorrectly - and always in their best interest.
So, I would laugh, they would get angry, if not turn beat red and blow their stack while cursing me out in Russian! LOL, well I still think it funny.
Mark 11:27-33
Mark 12:13-17
Jesus did a good job of trashing the outer court of the Temple, leaving the question in the Rabbi's lips, the populous' mind and to the Disciple observers:
Who is in Authority?
Jesus ALWAYS!
Authority comes FROM Jesus.
Evidenced by:
Nature obeyed Jesus
Demons obeyed Jesus
Sickness/disease/handicap obeyed Jesus
Jesus has the authority:
Matthew 7:29
Matthew 8:9
Matthew 9:8
Matthew 28:18-20
The Crowd NEVER!
Mark 11:27
Mark 12:13
Jesus is seen as a real threat by the religious leaders.
Enemies within the Jewish system came together to plot an end to Jesus.
They sought to trap him ...
They tried flattery.
The Government MOSTLY!
The tax Jesus was asked concerning was a head tax, to be paid because you were alive to the Emperor, using a coin declaring Ceasar to be the god!
And, Jesus called them on their hypocrisy! You use this coin to buy and sell - so pay your taxes with it!
Romans 13:1 - you must pay
But, many rebel.
1. God is the authority
2. State is the authority
3. God and State are the authority, but State comes first
4. God and State are the authority, but God comes first
Correct approach is 4.
You obey the State when it does not come in conflict with God (what the Bible clearly states!).
When is it okay to disobey?
And here we have the topic of my very first book! It is a very real subject and complex, but let us distill this down to:
Anytime you are told to disobey God - then be disobedient to the State!
Told not to meet.
Told not to pray.
Bibles are outlawed.
Told you must kill.
Told you must compromise your faith/beliefs.
Told you may not give.
etc - all examples from just my lifetime!
Make your stand only in God's love for mankind,
Witness of His love to whom you address,
Be a physical threat to no one,
Proclaim Jesus Gospel - His cross and resurrection alone.
AND THEN - be willing to take the consequences of your statement of faith .....
May 4, 2016
John's Letters On The Apostasy
As Christians, especially in this day and age, we are blasted from all sides by influences and media - mostly non-Christian in nature, presenting us with cultural values so superior, to follow, to lead us astray from the path established by Jesus and well worn by our predecessors. But, we are not unique in that regard, from Christianity's earliest moments apostasy has been attempting to lull believers away from The Way, to an accommodating life of being led by lies and man. In fact, there was a point in early Christian history when it was eclipsed by those whom sought other ways to God, than the simplicity of the Gospel of Jesus.
And in what is today's Turkey, poor Turkey, Christianity only survived because the Apostle John had taken up residence there! Even at that, every attempt was made to kill him by the Romans - grueling work in the mines of Patmos (a sure death sentence! but we got the Book of Revelation from that one!) to being boiled alive in oil! Well, he kept on surviving. And as he aged, he lost the ability to travel to visit his churches and so had to be carried on a litter by volunteers - no we are not talking about paved roads, think goat trails here and an old frail man in a chair with two poles, being held aloft by perhaps six volunteers for mile after mile after mile! Yeah, he probably talked a lot, so a great chance to learn from the mouth of the last one whom had been there and walked those miles with Jesus, had cared for Jesus mother Mary, etc.
So, in John's Second Letter, we find barely a note. To one of his churches, a church were love was encouraged to abound but did deceivers as well. Deceivers whom are not representing Jesus, nor the Church's best interests, but their own. And so John warns his children not to listen to these men whom are not teaching the Gospel but a message which is foreign. Do not even think of supporting these people, John warns!
Today, we call these men Gnostics, they sought to confuse the church with "hidden" knowledge. Salvation by Jesus' death and resurrection was not enough - you needed to be circumcised, you needed to follow the Law of Moses, you needed something else - the "hidden" knowledge only they could share with you! Not so unlike many church movements even to this day!
In John's third letter, again barely a note, an encouragement for supporting missionaries. But, even in a Church that seems to be getting it right, a man named Diotrephes had risen to power and was on an ego trip. Heck we can see that daily in many churches or on TV - men driven by power, riches, the limelight, whatever - but not God, nor glorifying God. More interestingly, not recognizing that John is the authority over THE Church! And perhaps worse of all: he throws those out of the church whom would support missionaries! Wow, talk about a power trip!
I wonder if your church has problems with Gnosticism? Does it believe that salvation is more than just confession and baptism? Forms of baptism are an issue? Magic words in the confession? Special classes required? Evidence of the Holy Spirit (tongues) been added to the salvation formula? Are there dietary restrictions? Behavioral (not within reason!) expectations? Is there hidden knowledge on what will get you that car or beautiful home? Special baptisms for "levels" within the faith? Is there anyone between you and Jesus that you must go to in order to reach God? If any of this is true - and oh so many more variations - welcome to Gnosticism!
And Gnosticism ultimately destroyed the early church in Turkey.
As I write this, Turkey has again began another extermination of the Armenian believers in Turkey and what used to Armenia. These are Christian believers being killed, their churches flattened, their homes and property seized or destroyed! And yes, there is still snow on the ground - so these people are hard pressed to survive.
Lift up these people in prayer and for the end of Ottoman repression against Christians. Pray for Turkey to find once again its Christian roots. Pray for the end of Gnosticism in Turkey and in the Christian Church and in your own church! I certainly pray constantly against the rise of this my own church! It rears its ugly head all of the time but the faithful are blind and do not see that best of intentions are not what God wants ...
And in what is today's Turkey, poor Turkey, Christianity only survived because the Apostle John had taken up residence there! Even at that, every attempt was made to kill him by the Romans - grueling work in the mines of Patmos (a sure death sentence! but we got the Book of Revelation from that one!) to being boiled alive in oil! Well, he kept on surviving. And as he aged, he lost the ability to travel to visit his churches and so had to be carried on a litter by volunteers - no we are not talking about paved roads, think goat trails here and an old frail man in a chair with two poles, being held aloft by perhaps six volunteers for mile after mile after mile! Yeah, he probably talked a lot, so a great chance to learn from the mouth of the last one whom had been there and walked those miles with Jesus, had cared for Jesus mother Mary, etc.
So, in John's Second Letter, we find barely a note. To one of his churches, a church were love was encouraged to abound but did deceivers as well. Deceivers whom are not representing Jesus, nor the Church's best interests, but their own. And so John warns his children not to listen to these men whom are not teaching the Gospel but a message which is foreign. Do not even think of supporting these people, John warns!
Today, we call these men Gnostics, they sought to confuse the church with "hidden" knowledge. Salvation by Jesus' death and resurrection was not enough - you needed to be circumcised, you needed to follow the Law of Moses, you needed something else - the "hidden" knowledge only they could share with you! Not so unlike many church movements even to this day!
In John's third letter, again barely a note, an encouragement for supporting missionaries. But, even in a Church that seems to be getting it right, a man named Diotrephes had risen to power and was on an ego trip. Heck we can see that daily in many churches or on TV - men driven by power, riches, the limelight, whatever - but not God, nor glorifying God. More interestingly, not recognizing that John is the authority over THE Church! And perhaps worse of all: he throws those out of the church whom would support missionaries! Wow, talk about a power trip!
I wonder if your church has problems with Gnosticism? Does it believe that salvation is more than just confession and baptism? Forms of baptism are an issue? Magic words in the confession? Special classes required? Evidence of the Holy Spirit (tongues) been added to the salvation formula? Are there dietary restrictions? Behavioral (not within reason!) expectations? Is there hidden knowledge on what will get you that car or beautiful home? Special baptisms for "levels" within the faith? Is there anyone between you and Jesus that you must go to in order to reach God? If any of this is true - and oh so many more variations - welcome to Gnosticism!
And Gnosticism ultimately destroyed the early church in Turkey.
As I write this, Turkey has again began another extermination of the Armenian believers in Turkey and what used to Armenia. These are Christian believers being killed, their churches flattened, their homes and property seized or destroyed! And yes, there is still snow on the ground - so these people are hard pressed to survive.
Lift up these people in prayer and for the end of Ottoman repression against Christians. Pray for Turkey to find once again its Christian roots. Pray for the end of Gnosticism in Turkey and in the Christian Church and in your own church! I certainly pray constantly against the rise of this my own church! It rears its ugly head all of the time but the faithful are blind and do not see that best of intentions are not what God wants ...
May 3, 2016
Nickels By The Ton
I did well several years ago selling off my coin collection but I have also been picking up coins as well. A very eclectic collection todate, to say the least!
My main interest has always been Jefferson nickels. Of course, with complete amnesia I can not tell you why I liked him, why I liked the US Mint nickels nor even what I already have! So, this past weekend, I dug out one of my boxes and began sorting through it. :)
I quickly figured out on Friday that I needed some form of a database to keep track of what I was finding. So, I pulled up my old Dbase 3+ software from antiquity and ... it does not actually run under today's technology ... sigh ... it wants an environment with two 5.25 inch floppy drives! So that left only Word or Excel to do the listing in, I opted for Excel. It was a bit nerve wracking since I was having to do this with no manual - who knows where they are! But, I got a nice layout that tracks dealers, purchasing information on all of the coins, the nickels, the proof varieties, the errors I have collected, Washington State nickel tokens used a century ago during coinage shortages and then eclectic things like: artistic commemorative medals.
And the great sorting began.
Rather quickly I realized that I have quite a few duplicates in just the proof nickels I was working on. I guess I can either sell those at a fall show or off to my coin dealer friend. How many 1962 proof nickels does one need?!?!?!? And, why on Earth did I buy so many? Are they rare? I must find out! But, I have only opened one box so far! And surprisingly I have quite a few of the rarest of the Jefferson nickels! I may have known or guessed at the time certain varieties would be rare and indeed 1994 and 1997 had special issues with a satin texture, only 25,000 of those it seems were made! I guess I own a percentage of those strikes! So, they should sell!
And, I surprised myself that I did own one of what I think is America's high point in coinage: the 1925 Norse American Centennial on a thick flan!
If you are interested, my second choice for most beautiful coin from the US Mint is the 1937 Oregon Trail Commemorative!
Yeah, those were made the era when coinage was an art form and the US Mint produced some great pieces, but these two were the best of the best - well except the $20 gold piece! But, who has that kind of money? LOL.
It will take me weeks to completely dig through just this one box and I have three more to sort through as well! So, lots to keep me interested in as I rest and recover between long walks and exercise periods!
My main interest has always been Jefferson nickels. Of course, with complete amnesia I can not tell you why I liked him, why I liked the US Mint nickels nor even what I already have! So, this past weekend, I dug out one of my boxes and began sorting through it. :)
I quickly figured out on Friday that I needed some form of a database to keep track of what I was finding. So, I pulled up my old Dbase 3+ software from antiquity and ... it does not actually run under today's technology ... sigh ... it wants an environment with two 5.25 inch floppy drives! So that left only Word or Excel to do the listing in, I opted for Excel. It was a bit nerve wracking since I was having to do this with no manual - who knows where they are! But, I got a nice layout that tracks dealers, purchasing information on all of the coins, the nickels, the proof varieties, the errors I have collected, Washington State nickel tokens used a century ago during coinage shortages and then eclectic things like: artistic commemorative medals.
And the great sorting began.
And, I surprised myself that I did own one of what I think is America's high point in coinage: the 1925 Norse American Centennial on a thick flan!
If you are interested, my second choice for most beautiful coin from the US Mint is the 1937 Oregon Trail Commemorative!
Yeah, those were made the era when coinage was an art form and the US Mint produced some great pieces, but these two were the best of the best - well except the $20 gold piece! But, who has that kind of money? LOL.
It will take me weeks to completely dig through just this one box and I have three more to sort through as well! So, lots to keep me interested in as I rest and recover between long walks and exercise periods!
May 2, 2016
Jesus' Only Prayer Request
Matthew 9:37
The Laborers are few.
But, there is a great need for the harvest!
Pray for the harvest!
That means it is near!
Matthew 10:1
Laborers are called!
Not in general but by name!
God will call you and you alone!
Laborers are given authority!
Over what will oppose them!
Matthew 10:5-6
Laborers are given clear instructions.
For the Apostles, it was to the House of Israel alone!
No gentiles.
No Samaritans.
Israel first!
Matthew 10:7
Laborers are given a specific message.
The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!
Matthew 10:22
Laborers are expected to endure.
Hatred
Persecution
Death
Torture
Loneliness
Matthew 10:26-31
Laborers are free from fear.
Not controlled by it.
Yes, you will fear.
Death comes as your reward.
The Laborers are few.
But, there is a great need for the harvest!
Pray for the harvest!
That means it is near!
Matthew 10:1
Laborers are called!
Not in general but by name!
God will call you and you alone!
Laborers are given authority!
Over what will oppose them!
Matthew 10:5-6
Laborers are given clear instructions.
For the Apostles, it was to the House of Israel alone!
No gentiles.
No Samaritans.
Israel first!
Matthew 10:7
Laborers are given a specific message.
The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!
Matthew 10:22
Laborers are expected to endure.
Hatred
Persecution
Death
Torture
Loneliness
Matthew 10:26-31
Laborers are free from fear.
Not controlled by it.
Yes, you will fear.
Death comes as your reward.
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