John 4

John 4 is an interesting chapter in that Jesus pretty much manages to offend just about everyone.
Cultural and social morals have nothing to do with God's work.
A point not appreciated during his lifetime, nor today.
Nor in those of his followers whom to reach the lost must bear the wrath of the "religious" ie: pretend Christians.
Even Christians can choke here as well.
Everyone knows better than God it seems.

Samaria was populated by Jews born "on the wrong side of the tracks", so to speak.
Their ancestors were left behind by the Babylonians during the evacuation from Judea and Israel.
They were uneducated and therefore of no social or economic status.
And this has changed little with time as we advance to Jesus' day!

The town is a place called, Sychar.
Meaning "drunken".

First WHOOPS, good Jews avoided Samaria.
Jesus purposely went there.

Next WHOOPS, a Rabbi would never be found in the presence of a woman!
Jesus sat, waited for her and talked with this one!

He declared himself to her - and she believed!
This was SACRELEDGE to the Jew!
Plus women were not considered worthy of having valid opinions!

He was to stay two days here, and many came to belief because of this woman's spreading the tale of what happened - and Jesus' teaching while there.

Some points seem to stand out here:
- You have to choose to listen to Jesus
- You will have to overcome prejudice, tradition, cultural bias to witness to those in need
- God will change you in the process to be effective
- You must see the need of those without God
- You may sow, while another reaps
- And visa-versa, another sows and you may reap
- It is all of God, you are just allowed to participate in His work.
- Expect condemnation
- (and know that you will be blessed accordingly ...)


Jesus' Second Miracle
Jesus and his troop of Deciples now traveled to Cana.
This was where He had changed the water into wine earlier.

Now an official in Capernaum heard Jesus was now in Cana.
As his son was dying, with a fever, he went to Jesus.
Hoping to persuade Jesus to come with him to heal his son.

Jewsus rebukes the faithlessness of this generation,
Tells the fater to go home,
As the son would now live!

And, he and his household now all believed in Jesus ......

But, really, how few come to God without direct intervention by God?
Jesus said that number would be, none .....

Indiscreet

Boy you are not going tp believe this one!

So, I am uncomfortably sitting in the over-stuffed hospital chair, listening to the constant alarms going off.
Yeah, sleep is out of the question ...

Now a redheaded nurse walks up and starts talking to me ....
"I have your blood work up from last week's draw ..."

"Yes?"

"Now, you have significant inflammation indicators.  So, you are a good candidate for the study."

"Cool...."

She continues, "No Hep A, B, C, D, or F!"

(F? where heck did that one come from?!!?)

I notice several of the Filipino woman have wandered over and are listening.

She continues, "In fact you do not have any indicator for any sexually transmitted disease!"

I gasped!

How utterly indiscreet!

One of the women echoed many of the comments, but in Spanish,"Nothing?  He is clean!"

And the chattering was off to the races!

Now, the nurse realizes what she has done.
Turns redder than her hair.
And slinks off between the groups of women.

The real test would come next Friday ...

So, Friday came and I go through the usual squealing as I get stuck by needles four times.
I settled back to read an archaeology magazine.
And eight nurses and/or technicians kept interrupting my reading.
Finally it smoothed out to only two.

One I know is single and was overly very chatty.
However, the married one, was over the top with me!
She had put on false eye lashes and other such adornment as befitting a mighty hunter!
I kind of felt sorry for her.
Somewhere along the way she was taught that her self-worth is completely linked to her looks.
And ability to strike a pose.

Sigh
I run into women like her all of the time in this vacuous culture.
I would much rather have a discussion on the merits of Filipino life versus American ...
Not be forced to view her!
sigh ...

But then we all know I am not exactly a human....
Or an American male.

I just hope Friday's weirdness will not be repeated .....

As for yesterday?
Well, the big cahuna of the needle ladies, did me, hovered over me and drove all away.
:)
So, it seems it is now safe I think ......

Catch Up

What a past week!

So, you tear your diaphragm - breathing is all but impossible and lifting my right arm is also impossible!
So, why not throw your back out, as well?!?

Yeah, Swede and I went to Barnes and Nobel bookstore, I dropped my cane on the floor,  bent over ...
and that was all she wrote concerning my back!
And would anyone help me?
At all?
Heck no.
I  even had to shuffle over to a book rack, kicking my cane!
So, I could steady myself while leaning and stretching and squealing like the little piggy I am to get my cane!
Poor Swede finally had to kick my folded over body to the curb.

So, back on codeine, aspercream and ben-gay!
Oh that minty fresh old people scent!
Yeah, I am in the twilight zone.
And everybody is a fuzzy bunny ...

But, doing better - sort of.
Lots of pain but at least I can sit upright at the moment.

Musical Saturday Morning

Sorry

Living on codeine for the back injury.
Have ten minutes to do this in before my brain goes numb again.
This has been six days of misery, let me clue you!
I am certain my detractors are cheering
:)

And if this torn muscle was not bad enough,
I sliced my ankle badly,
Running into a tool box of all things!
Well, with my diaphragm damaged I can't exactly bend over or pick anything up!
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


So, I will take it very easy this week, with my back muscles!
And hopefully recover quicker.
sigh

I really do hate being down!

Musical Saturday Morning

Comments

I had several comments sent my way, as to why I have said nothing about Paul Allen's death.

History is written by the victors.
A  semi-truism.
Defining our age where "political correctness" erases truth.
No one really wants to remember truth.
It is so inconvenient.

So why my silence?
Because I have nothing positive to say concerning him.

I knew him and his cohorts back in the 1980's.
Socially and professionally.
'nough said.

It is interesting that my readers think I should say something.
Yeah the people of Seattle whom saw what he did in business were impressed with him.
People whom worship wealth were impressed with him.
But get passed the superficial ... not much there.

The only real question is, what was his relationship with Jesus?

When I knew him well, he was an atheist.
When last we crossed paths, he was so full of himself - there was no room inside him for any but him.
But when you are one of the richest men in the world - you are free to believe your own press.
And maKe really dumb mistakes.
While calling all others morons.
Yeah a narcissist.
And if you are a long time reader, you know how I feel about them!

Locally, I have heard him called Jewish, Methodist and Mormon.
But if so, I am unaware of it.

One hopes all people will make their peace with their Creator.
To face Him, without doing so, only guarantees eternal tragedy.
And, honestly, I really do hope Paul did do so at some point.

Eternal separation from God has some profound implications .....