SCRIPTURE




         12 - 05 - 00


      Konban wa otomodati,

      How is it going out there? For many of us the term is winding down,
and that means crunch time. I know for me, this week is especially tough.
But anyway, let's go on to Scripture.

      Kyoo, I thumbed through and I read Matthew 5:21-26. Here are 23-26:

      23 "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there
      remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your
      gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to
      your brother; then come and offer your gift. 25 "Settle matters
      quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it
      while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over
      to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and
      you may be thrown into prison. 26 I tell you the truth, you will
      not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Man, this passage is soo important to keepin a smile on your face at all
times. Man, sometimes you see people right, and they are happy all the time,
always smilin and such. Well, what do you think one of the reasons for that
is? Quite possibly what this passage here is talkin about, not holding a
grudge. Holding a grudge is one of the worst things we could do. Not only
does it strain relations with that person (or persons), but it puts us in a
bad mood. Grumpy, angry, hissing, matter of fact, lookin like gleock or
hyena. Yeah, im serious yo. You're whole demeanor and attitude becomes this
poor wretched and haggard thing, and people in general won't want to be around
you. And why? Just cuz ya hold a grudge. And yet, the person you may be
holding a grudge against, might not even know it, or may know it but is just
chillin cuz he/she isnt even thinking about it. So whats the result? A
messed up grudger, a happy grudgee. Why hold a grudge, as you can see, it
produces only negative affects. Happy is healthy, angry is just dangerous.
When you're relaxed and happy, man you feel like you can do anything. But
when you're tense and uptight, man you can't see straight, think straight, or
even poke someone in the belly just to hear that giggle (or see them flinch
heh heh). What does the Word say? It says, stop, dont even offer your gift on
the altar, but go and make peace with your brother first!! It's like saying,
before you offer up anything to God, man, go make peace with your sister, your
brother, family, friends, wife, significant other. In other words, clear your
heart, make it joyous. "Settle matters quickly". Now i know what some people
might be thinkin... "oh yeah, i can settle it quickly, i'll tickle him to
death until he says sorry" or "oooh yeah, wait till he comes back.. naa,
forget it, i can do this right now quickly, let me go knock him out". No no
no, settling matters quickly doesnt mean brutality, maming, destroying, or in
some cases killing. It means make peace, and do it quickly and sincerely.
Cuz if not, this thing could drag and drag, involve people it doenst need to
involve, go even to the law and government, and then jail. And notice what
Jesus says, "I tell you the truth", whoooooaaaaa, wait a minute. Whenever
Jesus says that man, watchout. It's obvious He is tellin the truth, for he
will not lie, yet he says it anyway, "I tell you the truth". You know you
know you know something powerful is comin, and he finishes "you will not get
out until you have paid the last penny." So if ya led it drag out and drag
out, tempers being pent up festering and growing, when it explodes, that's it
yo. It's take something great, and a long time, to re-establish good
connections, wholesome and happy, healthy. Please please Please, don't hold
grudges or harber contempt, its not worth it man, its not worth it, it makes
you lose your cool, and the essence of chill.

      Aight my bruthaz and sistaz, peace out. Take care.

      God bless,

      - patrick



         12 - 08 - 00


     Hey hey heY,

      WaaZzzuUUuUUuUP!!! Yeah yeah, i'm pretty happy. This week is OVER!!
Man was it trying, but alas, I beat it. Uh huh, and not only that, but now im
only 2 weeks and a day from going back home ohhh yeah. I'm feelin it, i'm
feelin it. It snowed today peeps. Yuuuup. Now its only a matter of time
before a snowball war erupts heh heh heh. Aight, on to Scripture:

      Kyoo, I read some of John 12 and 13. Verses 42-46 of chapter 12 stuck out
in my eyes.

      42 Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him.
      But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for
      fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for they loved praise
      from men more than praise from God. 44 Then Jesus cried out, "When
      a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one
      who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no
      one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

Apparently, Jesus was talking to Jews again and perform miracles and such.
But they still would not believe him (according to verse 37). Yet, we come to
verse 42, and it says that at the same time many even among the believers
believed. So man did not believe, and many did. But something held them
back. What was it? One, they feared they would be put out of the synagogue,
and two they loved praise from men. Who doesnt like praise from men? I mean,
when someone compliments you, it makes you feel good and brightens your day.
So whats wrong with that? Well, nothing. In fact, its part of loving your
neighbor as you love yourself. But the mistake that does happen is what these
fellas did. They loved praised from men.... more than praise from God.
yoooooooooooo, come on now!! God, and man, who is greater? Yet these guys
loved the praise from the men more!?!? Sounds ridiculous huh? but its true.
The thing holding them back from fully going to the Father was their love of
praise from men. In other words, they were trying to serve two masters. They
put something that was within the world above he that is not of the world,
heck, He that had no beginning: God. How do you do that, i dont know. But,
as it says in the word, a man connot serve two masters, he will either like
the one or despise the other. One cannot follow the desires of God as well as
the desires of the flesh. They just dont mix yo. The flesh wishes to indulge,
God wishes for to bring you in, so that you can have Life and more abundantly.
The flesh wants to rebel, cheat, and more, God wants you to become more than
mere man, wants you to become of Him, wants you to be not of this world and
above its chains. Does it look like the desires of the flesh and that of God
mix? heeeeeeck naww. And as you can see, the desires of God reaps one a good
harvest, aka phaaaaaat results yo!!!! So Jesus speaks again saying that when
a man believes in him, he believes also in the one who sent him, da Father.
But you must believe, not think you believe (as the jews and leaders had, but
loved man's praise more than God's). If they truly believed, they would have
contemplated the proportion of Praise from God to praise from man. But they
didnt. And Jesus continues by saying he came as a light so that whoever
believes would not be left in the dark. Oops, my bad, there is a difference
actually. He actually said so that not one would be left in dark, not one yo.
That's why he came as he so states. Thus believe wholeheartedly and rest not
on the pleasures of this world, for what God has for you is many times better
(orders of magnitude better). I mean, seriously, that's God. He takes care
of the birds and ensures they live, and they are wild. How much more will he
take care of you, you whom He has made in His own image.

      Aight peeps, bruthaz and sistaz, time for me ta bounce. Checkittycheck
yall later. Peace.

      God bless,

      - patrick




         12 - 11 - 00


      Konniti wa!!

      Sukuulu wa weeku huta-tu dake desu. (There is just two weeks of school
left). Watasi wa final tesuto yot-tu arimasu kedo.. (I at least have 4 final
tests, but [i dont know about others]). Otherwise, we be chillin. I know
some of you already had finals or are having them right now, good fortune to
you and do well. This week is going to consist of organizing stuff and
studying, sore kara (after that), i take them finals and go HOME!!!! yeah
yeah yeah. When and how long are yall going to go home? Hope ya have a
daizyoobu bureku (a good break). Aight, on to Scripture (Sukuriputuu desu nee)

      Kyoo, watasi read 2 Timothy 2. Verses 22-26 jumped out at me. Checkit:

      22 Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love
      and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
      23 Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because
      you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord's servant must not
      quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not
      resentful. 25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope
      that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the
      truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the
      trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.


The first verse that caught me was verse 23 (take a quick peak at it). Then i
read the stuff around it more closely, and "waBAAAAM" that passage hit me, so
i had ta write about it. Checkit, first it advises to "flee from the evil
desires of youth, and pursue.." pursue what? and what are these evil desires
of youth? In answer to the first question it says to pursue "righteousness,
faith, love and peace." So what are the evil desires of youth? I'm sure you
take a stab at them. But basically they are those which breed
unrighteousness, unfaithfullness, pseudolove or hate, trouble and destruction.
Who do righteousness, peace, faith, and love characterize? Yup, da Man, God.
These are but a few of His characteristics. Imagine if you pursue just these
few!!! We become more like our Father in heaven, in other words, we continue
to become of Him and not of this World (which verse 26 describes somewhat).
And whats more that caught my eye is that it says to pursue these things along
with those "who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." See, it doesnt say to
purse these along with just anybody, but with those who pursue out of a pure
heart. In other words, with those whose desire is not a false pretense merely
to "fit in". Seriously, would you like someone working for you, in yo crib or
in your place o' business whose heart is not in it? How will they share you
vision? How will their work output reflect their demeanor? Oh yeah, it shows
yo. But if you're workin with someone of pure heart, maan, production sky
rockets. Not only that, you gotta ensure a phat atmosphere, one where they
feel like da bomb, like they matter. See the comparison? The Father wishes
you to be more like him, you who He made in His own image, and he has great
things in store fore you if you seek after Him. And not just seek, but seek
with a pure heart. Cuz if your heart is in it, then you yourself know you are
not lying to yourself and will be determined in your search.
      And then verse 23 comes into play saying, "Don't have anything to do with
foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels." Man,
how true is that? The verse doesnt ive conjecture about it, it plainly and
simpley says that you know, and you know that you know. Foolish and stupid
arguments, man, they abound everywhere. Some people will fight over a
paperclip, a seat save (when you sit somewhere, before you get up you say
"SEAT SAVE!!!!", that way no one can sit in yo seat heh heh ;) tru tru), if a
picture frame is a centimeter to the left or to the right. Why? That's a
question for the ages eh? It happens all the time, I've done it, and i know
my brothers and sister have done it (man when we was little, whoooooweeee, we
use to fight over the littlest things like burping in my room, but we was kids
so it was all good heh heh) Yet it still happens even today, although with
less frequency. Man, its not worth it, cuz we know that having anything to do
with foolish or stupid arguments produces quarrels. So why indulge in them
eh? That's right, its pointless to. And then it just gets us all uptight and
fidgety and we can't sit in one place and then your little son or daughter,
baby bro or sis, or the baby you are babysittin looks up at you with big round
curious eyes... and you know what they are thinking "Man, what's wrong with
this guy? His face looks like my baby food." They they start laughin and
smilin and you loosen up a lil bit and joy re-enters your heart for a minute.
(okay okay, I went a lil overboard, but you know what I mean). So how does
this verse relate to the first verse about pursuing after Godly things? Ahh,
that's a question for tomorrow (this has gotten quite long so let break dis up
into a 2 part series my bruthaz and sistaz).
      Aight, time to bounce. Man, da sword is so full of truth and strength,
wield that bad boy, and not just wield it, but wield it with skill. Aight,
peace.

      God bless,
     
      - patrick




         12 - 12 - 00

     
     Yo wassup!!

      Hey, its been a pretty good day. Really cold wind a blowin but otherwise
nice. Basically its its smooth sailin for about a day. Most people have
started the onslaught of printing everything they need for their exams
(including me, i just got a head start). So, as i wait for my print jobs to
end, here comes part II, the continuation of yesterday's Scripture:

      Here are the verses again to refresh ya memory:

      22 Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love
      and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
      23 Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because
      you know they produce quarrels. 24 And the Lord's servant must not
      quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not
      resentful. 25 Those who oppose him he must gently instruct, in the hope
      that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the
      truth, 26 and that they will come to their senses and escape from the
      trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will.

From the verse two verses we saw that the word advises us to flee from evil
desires and seek after the God and His character. It also warned against
having anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments. Why? Cuz we know it
just be leadin to bickering and fightin and cat fights and the like, heh heh
heh. So why bother having anything to do with em in the first place? Then i
left you with this question, "So how does this verse relate to the first verse
about pursing after Godly things?" Well, to answer that, let's look at the
next verse, verse 24 "And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he
must be kind ot everyone, able to teach, not resentful" BAAAAAAm, there it go
yo!! How does it relate? Cuz if you are quick to anger, easily annoyed, etc,
then ya ain't exhibitin the character of God. The true servant will not
quarrel, cuz he will know it leads to nothing, but he will instead be kind to
everyone (lovin yo neighbor as you love yo self). See, from love, all these
things flow. It's like water: flowing, unified, strong, life giving, and
more. So intead of quarrelin, da tru brutha will instead be kind, and able to
teach!! Cuz if you can teach instead of yell, people are more apt to hear
instead of fight. And most of all, da brutha or sista wont be resentful.
Resent remains in the heart yo, having a resentful heart is not having a
loving heart. A resentful heart instead yields bitterness and contempt, a
dent in your state of chill. And then it goes on, saying in laymans terms,
cuz if this brutha be chillin, he can gently instruct those who fight against
him and rest assured in the hope and Faith that Pops upstairs will open their
eyes, ears, and soften their hearts. Why? So that they may be lead to the
knowledge of the truth. See, you remain always in the state of chill, chillin
wit da Pops, full in Faith of His Mighty hand. Man, if you know Pops, he's
gonna take maaaad care of ya. Ain't nothin to fear, and hence his servant
need not quarrel but teach and hold fast to faith and hope. Cuz if they do,
da brutha or sista they are teachin will come to their senses man, and be
FREED. Freed from the clutches of that sly fox known as the devil. He
dresses up many a thing in this world to look sooooooo Good and sooo tempting
man, that many fall. But when ya got Pops, you're eyes will be opened, and
you will see, and no longer fall prey. Free yo, and in the state of chill.
     
      Aight padnas, time for me to jet. Peace out, and keep it real.

      God bless,

      - patrick




         12 - 13 - 00

      Yo yo yO!!!


      What is up my padnas? Hey, today was the last day of classes, all that
remains are finals. 4 of them and then i am done done done!!! Lots of
learning to do though between now and the finals. But, as the Italians would
say, "Forgot about it." Aight, on to Scripture.
Kyoo, I unsheathed my sword and low and behold, 1 Corinthians 2:1-5 sliced
the air. Here is what it says:

      1 When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or
      superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.
      2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus
      Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness and fear,
      and with much trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not
      with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the
      Spirit's power 5 so that your faith might not rest on men's
      wisdom, but on God's power.

Aight, if you haven't guessed it yet, this cat is Paul talking. Paul was one
of the New Testament bad mammajammas. This cat was hardcore in his Faith and
love for God. In any case, check out his message and look at it closely. He
first explains how he came to this set of brothers by telling them how he did
not come. He came now with eloquence or superior wisdom. In other words, he
didnt come exuding "I am Holier than thou" mentality. Man, you know how much
of a turn off that is? that Holier than thou mentality. One makes more
enemies than allies by doing so. It's seen even in the work place. If you
got a boss who is your dawg as well, as in he chills with the workers, doenst
put them down, etc, you like that cat. And you work cuz you enjoy workin for
him/her as well as liking what you are doing (maybe). And hence, your output
is phenomenal. But if you got one of them bosses who constantly puts you
down, makes the atmosphere hostile, and exudes an "I am Mightier than thou"
mentality... man he has a ton of enemies. So this is what Paul is saying,
that he is coming as a human, just like them, since all are God's creation.
And then he says he resolved to know jack, except Jesus Christ and him
crucified. Why? Cuz what good is it if you have the whole world, but not
Life? not the truth? So he came with the Good News of Jesus Christ. How else
did he come? He came with weakness, and fear, and trembling. The note in my
sword says that Paul may have been at a crossroads in his life at this time
cuz he saw a promising beginning crushed by fanatical jews and other trials.
So my man was probably feelin the effects and hence came with weakness, fear,
and trembling as in He wishes these brothers open their ears and listen,
soften their hearts and receive. And then comes an awesome word from Paul's
lips. He says:

      My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive
      words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power.

Man, talk about bringin it back to God!!! See, he isnt accepting any praise
for his speech and is ensuring that people wont falsely believe that all this
things came from him. No, he wants to make sure that they know that which he
speaks comes from the Father. See, Paul isn't relying on his own abilities.
He knows of something better. He knows that he can rely on God. And his
message and preaching were not of his own ability, but a demonstration of the
Spirit's power, the Holy Spirit whom God sent as a Comforter and a Guide to
those who seek and follow Him. And what is the ultimate purpose of using what
God has given? "so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on
God's power." Shonuff, that is tight. Paul doesnt want them to rest their
faith on man's wisdom. no no no, he wants them to rest their faith on God's
power. Cuz where does this wisdom that Paul has come from? From Pops yo.
And Paul is merely sharing the good news about Pops. Thus, if Paul relies on
the God and speaks relying on the God, then man, people will know that it is
all from God and not Paul's own mind. So how can we use this today? Be
stupid, exactly. In other words, don't try to do it all yourself, come as if
you know nothing, and rely on the Power of God. Cuz man, dat's Pops yo, He
who had no beginning but always existed. Imagine what He's got and that He
freely offers you.

      Aight peeps, gotta start organizin stuff. Peace out.

      God bless,

      - patrick



         12 - 27 - 00


      Hey Hey,

      WassuuuuuuP! How have you been doing? How was Christmas? Have fun?
      Get to see some faaaaamily? and gruuub (that means chow down)? Mine was
nice, my second oldest bro came aruond with his kids. I hadn't seen them in
about a year. Wow they've grown a lot!!! And they are talking a lot more
too? (still a lil shy though at times). One of my buds from down here
bought me "The Hurricane" for Christmas. I recommend that you see it. It is
such an awesome moive, awesome. It starts Denzel Washington as the
Hurricane. Aight, on to Scripture.

      Kyoo, I read Psalm 27. Some of you know what it says, some don't, but it
is a pretty popular chapter. I want to concentrate though on the first 3
verses.

      1 The Lord is my light and my salvation -- whom shall I fear? The Lord
is the
      stronghold of my life --- of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When evil men
advance
      against me to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me,
      they will stumble and fall. 3 Though an army besiege me, my heart will
not
      fear; though war break out against me, even then will I be confident.

Powerful huh? Remember that state of chill I am forever mentioning. BAAAAM,
this describes a lot of it, though not all of it. checkit, the first thing
it says is "The Lord is my light and my salvation." See, David, an old
testament badmammajamma and warrior of God, wrote this poem. He first
acknowledges that the Lord is his light. And that the Lord is his salvation.
      If he didn't believe that, then how could he not fear anything? If he
didnt believe in da Man, how could the man protect him? See, he personally
acknowledges and confessed this truth, that the Lord is his light and his
salvation, and he believed it. He knew that he knew that he knew. And
that's why he could cap it off with "-- whom shall I fear?" Chaching. He
had Pops on his side, the creator yo, who could possibly stand against da One
who created all things? And David KNEW that, and he acknowledges something
else, "The Lord is the stronghold of my life-- of whom shall I be afraid?"
Fear has no place!!!! Instead of Got milk, it should be, "Got God?" Fear
has to flee. And there's more!! check it: "When evil men advance against me
to devour my flesh, when my enemies and my foes attack me, they will stumble
and fall." Two things, first this tells that there will be forces acting
against those who have God. Even if you were just chillin in school, a
popular kid, havin fun and everybody likes you, there are those who are
jealous of your success and who oppose you. Its just like that, there will
always be somebody tryin to start somethin, never fails. Second, ahhh, so
someone tries to start somethin. They get up in yo face and talk all this
junk. They even try to eat you!! (heh heh) Not literally, but you catch my
drift. And others try to attack. heh heh, key word here is try my bruthaz
and sistaz. See, they be tryin, but they be stumblin and fallin. Cuz why?
      In answering the question "Got God?", the enemies are silent, where as you,
you proclaim it to the heavens and above that YES, I DO. And hence, nothing
can take you cuz Pops got yo back. Not even an army comin to cause some
havoc will raise fear in your heart. And if war breaks out against you,
"even then will I be confident." How can one remain fearless and remain
confident amidst such odds? Seriously, HOW?? That's the chill factor
friends. The state of Chill, with God you can accomplish all things, with
God fear has no power over you, with God enemies cannot destroy you. Living
provides you the opportunity to spread the good news and learn some folks
about the gift God has for them. Dying allows you to finally be with the
Father. Its a WIn Win situation!!!! hehh heh, nothin to loose my friends.
Hence nothing to fear. But the question is, "Got God?" David first
acknowledges taht he does, and he knows that he knows that he knows the Lord
is his light and his salvation... and his stronghold. And hence, he has
Pops, and Pops got his back. So, the question remains, "Got God?"

      Aight potnas, i about to eat some good old Haitian soup that my moms
made. OOOOOWEEEEEEE, mmmmmmm caint wait, YUM!!! heh heh, aight aight, take
care and hit me back about how your break is going. Peace.

      God bless,

      - patrick





         12 - 28 - 00


      Goooooood afternoon (Konniti wa!),

      I had a good nights sleep man. Feels good, this break is awesome.
My Moms and my sister went to Miami yesterday night, i had to drive em to the
bus statoin. After that, i chilled wih one of my good friends and we watched
a lil bit of this and a lil bit of that. OOHH, and she got to eat some
haitian food! mmmmm, heh heh. Aight on to Scripture.

      Kyoo (today), I read Jeremiah 7-18. Let me give you a lil somethin about
Jeremiah. This kat, just like you and me, was born, and was a child. But as
a child, God called him to be his prophet. As a child yo! I wrote about the
calling in an early Scripture email. If you want to read it, check out my
webpage at web.mit.edu/dranem05/www/scripture.html or it might be
web.mit.edu/dranem05/www/scritpure.htm . So this man is prophet. Here are
the verses that jumped out at me.

      9 But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name,"
his
      word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary
of
      holding it in; indeed, I cannot. ... 11 But the Lord is with me like a
mighty
      warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail
and
      be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten.

A lil back story, Jeremiah is having a lil crisis, kind of. When he speaks,
the people are hard of heart and do not hear but instead mock and ridicule
him. So a couple times he tries not to speak.... but he can't. Check it
out, in verse 9 Jeremiah is sayin that if he says he will not speak, "his
word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones." What is this
fire? What is this fire that is shut up even within the bones? well, he
says it is the Word, the Word of God --> "his word is in my heart like a
fire". And what is this Word potnas? The Word, my friends, is awesome. It
is your sword as well. It has informatioin for correcting, uplifting,
praising, and lots more. What is it? It is the truth. So what is burning
inside of Jeremiah so forcefully that it wont remain inside? The truth, the
truth. "I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot." Homeboy cannot hold
it in, he just can't. It burns within him fueling his flame as well and
wants to burst out and spread so that all may come to know the truth, for the
truth will set you free. How does this apply to us? heh, i think that is
easily seen. If we have the truth, that is the Word of God, the good news,
it should be like fire within us, like a baby ready to pop out, a bubble so
gargantuan it is ready to burst. It should be so awesome that we can't but
help to go and tell of others of this wonderful news, this wonderful truth.
And indeed, if we truly understand what we hold, man oh man, then we will
know that is is like a great fire within our bones and even though we may
try to keep quiet, we can't cuz we a driven to share this truth. Back to
Jeremiah. Aight, homeboy is speaking to peeps all over and yet they and even
his friends wait for him to slip so that they can take revenge on him. Man,
its a shame, the truth is being told but the people, even his friends are
being hard of heart and do not hear. They instead want to take revenge on
homeboy Jeremiah. You think that phases him? Maybe it bothers him just a lil
bit (or else he wouldnt have had his lil crisis). But, he knows something.
He knows that he knows that he knows that Pops got his back --> "But the Lord
is with me like a mighty warrior". Persecutors will stumble and not prevail.
      He didnt say they might stumble and might not prevail. No, he had full
faith in Pops and said his persecutors will, will stumble and not prevail.
Gotta remember man, homeboy is in a win win situation (described in
yesterday's scripture). And he knows this as truth. MAAAAN. To know this,
how could anyone keep that it? Fire buring within. woooooweeeeee.. Know
that you know that you know and share the truth.

      Aight people, its that time. Except i dont have to go do work!! OHHH
YEAAHH!! Its time for more rest and relaxation and chillin wit my dawgs.
Latah.

      God bless,

      - patrick





         12 - 29 - 00



      Ohayoo Gozaimasu!

      It is Friday Morning. It doesnt look to sunny outside, but hey, its
nice and cool (just the way i like it). So I'm down with it. Yesterday I
hung around Tarpon chillin with some fellas. Today I'll be a headin to
Clearwater.. tadowwwww. Aight, on to Scripture.

      Kyoo (today), I read John 4:43-54

      48 "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told
      him, "you will never believe." 49 The royal official said, "Sir,
come down
      before my child dies." 50 Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son
will live."
      The man took Jesus at his word and departed. 51 While he was still
on
      the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living.
      52 When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they
said to
      him, "The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour." 53 Then the

      father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said
to
      him, "Your son will live." So he and all his household believed.

Here is lil background. Jesus is in Galilee doin his thang, and he went to
Cana in Galilee where this royal offficial heard Jesus was coming. So this
official went to Jesus and begged him to come and heal his son who lay sick
and near death in Capernaum. There you go, that's the lil background. Then
Jesus says, maaaan, unless these peeps see some tiiiight signs or wonders,
they ain't ever gonna believe. This rings very very true. Many that came to
believe Jesus came to believe after he done did somethin hot. It's like his
words weren't enough, they needed to see something. But what they lack to
understand is that a sign is merely that, a sign. It is not going to save
you. It's just a sign. Granted, its one by Pops but still, it is just a
sign. Life can be attained by believing, not seeing. In fact, many people
saw all kinds of signs, all Kinds, and yet, they did not believe. Did they
gain Life? Unless they believed later, then probably not. But, oh the signs
they saw, yet they could do nothing to gain that person life. No, the
persont themself must believe. So after Jesus said this, the official
remained persistant and said, "Sir, come down before my child dies." And
Jesus replied, "You may go. Your son will live." Upon saying this, what did
the official do? Well, all the Word says is that the official took Jesus at
his word. Doesnt say he whined or kept pressurin the matter. Just took
Jesus at his word and departed. That is to say, he believed what Jesus said
and would not doubt it. So this kat starts goin back home, to Capernaum some
distance away but as he was struttin back fully confident in the Lord, his
servants met him. They told him, YOOOOOO!!! That boy is alive and KICKIN!!!
      Now the official asks inquires as to what time this happened right. That's
legit right? I mean, he took Jesus at his word so he knew his son would
live, but he just wanted to know when the miracle happened you know (curious
george). The servants said, yesterday at the seventh hour. Now mr. royal
official is thinkin and thinkin and he realizes, YO that's the exact time
Jesus said my son will live!!! A miracle happened. It' s kinda strange, at
the beginnin Jesus is like, Man, unless these people see a sign..... Sounded
almost like he wasnt gonna do any more of em. Yet, he did. My guess is,
this royal official and his household needed to see a wonder, some miracle.
So Jesus gave it. They saw it, and realized that it happened the exact my
man Jesus said "Your son will live." And as such, the royal official and his
house believed. Not just that his son was healed, but now believed in Jesus.
      They came to know. But, it seems, they needed that sign. Signs and
miracles are kool and all, but they won't happen all the time. It's up to
God whether he wants to do one or not. People now who are searching and want
proof, cold hard proof. Man, they will be searching a long time. And the sad
part is, they may never find it. Proof is all around, but though they see
with their eyes and hear with their ears, they do not see nor hear but see or
hear that which they want to. Others try hard to find something to disprove,
yet what they find sometimes they know themselves is nonsense. But if it
will give them a reason not to take that step of Faith, they will believe
that reason. It's too bad. This miracle was the second that Jesus
performed having come from Judea to Galilee (verse 54). So my man is truckin
along, going and going, spreadin the Good news.

      Aight peeps, until Monday. Peace out. Have some fun over the weekend
and be chill. heh heh, later.

      God bless,

      - patrick


DATES

12 - 05 - 00
12 - 08 - 00
12 - 11 - 00
12 - 12 - 00
12 - 13 - 00
12 - 27 - 00
12 - 28 - 00
12 - 29 - 00


BaCk