"That which is striking and beautiful
is not always good,
but that which is good is always beautiful."
Ninon de L'Enclos
is not always good,
but that which is good is always beautiful."
Ninon de L'Enclos
Some Questions:
Let's Think: It should be understood that this named angel - Gabriel - is dispatched from Almighty God for the purpose of communicating with Mary. Mary is considered to be favored (or favorite) of God, and there is great care on the author's part to identify Joseph as being in the lineage of David. It almost sounds as if Gabriel is excited as he says, "Greetings, favored one!" It's difficult to imagine standing in Mary's place. The passage notes that Mary is perplexed and is pondering the angel's greeting when Gabriel instructs her not to be afraid. He tells her she has "found favor" with God, implying that if she was not a favored one, Mary might have a reason to fear. Matthew's primary readership for his account of the Gospel are the Jews. They would have been aware of Messianic prophecy involving the birth of a coming Savior. Specifically, they should be looking for a virgin birth with the child being an heir to the David's throne. Even though verses 26-30 only tell of the greeting shared between Mary and Gabriel, there is depth here as prophecy is in the process of being fulfilled. The following is the next lesson in a historical and faithful study beginning at 7:00 pm on Wednesday evenings. at the church of Christ in Carthage, Missouri, south of the Ford dealership PLEASE JOIN US!
A Military coup in America?Before we get into this lesson, let us work through the 1783 Newburgh Conspiracy scenario in George Washington's Mount Vernon's Be Washington! At this link, select Single Player and the Newburgh Conspiracy scenario, then follow directions in the simulation.  In 1783, with the ending of the Revolutionary War, the country was on unsteady ground. Washington would not become president for another six years. Some of the major leaders and generals under George Washington -specifically, General Horatio Gates - planned to meet, along with around 300 men in all, to decide if they should lead a military coup on the Continental Congress, thus establishing a military government for the new United States of America. The soldiers suspected that when the war ended, there would be no chance they would be paid for their service. They thought they could keep Congress to their obligations as long as the standing army still existed. This moment in our history is known as the Newburgh Conspiracy. When George Washington heard this was happening, he masterfully showed up to the meeting with a prepared speech. Primary documents describe this event. In 2018, I had the privilege of visiting George Washington's Mount Vernon for a summer residency and teacher institute. The lead scholar for the institute was Dr. Bill Fowler, professor at Northeastern University in Boston, and former director of the Massachusetts Historical Society. He described the moment in which Washington made his speech. He also demonstrated the way Washington ended his speech by reading a letter from Joseph Jones ensuring everyone that Congress would live up to its responsibilities to them. To read the letter, the commander-in-chief took his new glasses out of his coat and stated, "Gentlemen, you must forgive me. My hair has grown gray and my eyes have grown dim in the service of my country." It is said that there was not a dry eye in the house. Almost immediately, the group agreed to follow Washington's advice and allow the new government to fulfill its mission.
Dr. Fowler described a moment when he was the person in charge at the Massachusetts Historical Society. Knowing that Washington's original Newburgh address, penned by his secretary, is currently in the Library of Congress, Fowler received a package containing another copy of the speech, this one written by Washington himself. This copy is different that the original, because Washington wrote it in letters large enough that he could read it without his glasses. It is only when he takes out the letter from Joseph Jones that he must use his glasses.  The Big Questions Our focus for this study hinges on answering these two big questions. The goal is to get closer to the answers each week in our class. How did we we get the Bible? Is the Bible accurate and dependable? Running Some Numbers (& More Significant Information about the Manuscripts)
 Application Question How important is it? Is it important to you that the Bible comes from reliable sources, or is it just a collection of wise sayings and advice for living? Many atheists agree that there is wisdom in the teachings of Jesus Christ, but they do not believe that Jesus is a Messiah, that He performed miracles, that He walked out of His own grave, or that He prepares a place where His faithful disciples will be rewarded for eternity. We contend that the Bible and everything it contains is supported by:
So how important is it to you that the Bible can be proven true? Do you believe there is irrefutable evidence to its validity? Is proof something that strengthens your personal faith in the existence of God? Should faith alone be enough to drive you to drive you to your knees? Is "blind" faith a stronger kind of faith? If so, then why did God provide so much evidence? Go forward with us - or in this case, back to the beginning - as we continue our study next time. When the list gets this long, that's another sign that the educational system is cracking. Some could argue that the cracks are break up into larger holes, but let's reserve that kind of talk for another time. For now, here are five more warning signs that our schools are in danger of breaking (and there are still plenty more signs to come). 
Well, there you have them, just five more warning signs that the educational system is cracking. What's it going to take for just one school board, one superintendent, one principal, or one state legislature or educational department to say, "That's enough! We've played with this system for too long and received minimal successes, and now it's time to overhaul things or raze it all and start over"? It could get interesting. A group of people from church met for a little field trip to the Freedom of Flight Museum, located on the grounds at the Joplin Regional Airport. Mr. Coit and Mr. Trumbly deliver a thorough explanation of all things aeronautical at the museum. The old control tower at the airport is a part of the museum, and it's always fun to watch planes take off and land while listening to the controllers in the newer tower across the field. A couple of simulators invite guests to sit in the cockpit and fiddle with the countless, unknown controls. Lots of artifacts are on display in the museum, including all sorts of missiles, jet parts, schematics, ejection seats, parachutes, and more tedious parts than a regular person can comprehend.
 I suppose a lot of us “kids” are disappointed every time it happens. You’ve seen the reaction. Every forecaster in town has predicted snow or ice. We know it may not happen, but we go to bed with hopes that school could – just might – be canceled tomorrow. Tomorrow arrives. We awaken slowly, still hopeful, ready to turn over and go back to our dreams. Mom comes into the room. We sense her presence as she looms over us, dreading the task before her. She announces that we will be late for school! There were no cancellations. There was no snow – no accumulation – no snowmen, no snowball fights, no snow angels. That’s OK. We learn to deal with it. It’s a small disappointment, and by the end of the day, we’re usually fine. However, other disappointments are not as easy to handle. The team has been winning all season. They have a real chance to win the championship. They only need to win one more game. As the clock ticks down to the end of the game, the team has the lead. Then, at the buzzer, the other team scores. It’s over. You are sick of your job, and you’ve applied for a different position. You agonized over the opportunity. You’re confident; the interview went well; you’re more than qualified. Then you get the call: you didn’t get the job. You dealt with the disease. You followed doctor’s orders. You rested. You took your medicine. You suffered through side effects and inconveniences. Then the doctor gives you the news: it’s back. You looked all your life for a Godly mate. You think you found her. The relationship progresses nicely. You’re comfortable with each other. You think this might be the one. Then, out of the blue, she tells you it’s over. Tom Norvell asks, your hopes are gone. Your dreams have faded. What might have been, will not be. What do you do? How do you deal with the disappointment? When those following Christ faced their great disappointment and saw their dreams dying on the cross, they were confused and afraid, but they waited, they hoped, they prayed, they listened, they opened their eyes, they opened their hearts, they saw Jesus, they believed, and their disappointment turned to joy. Jesus’ appearance to them after His death renewed their faith, reinforced their hope, and their disappointment turned to joy. No one can promise that if you pray hard enough, you’ll wake up to snow and school will be canceled, but if you look for Jesus in your disappointment, you will eventually find joy. It doesn’t pay to worry about such things. I hope we all understand and believe the words of Christ, recorded in Matthew 6, beginning in verse 24. These were the verses that rolled over and over in my mind as I sat and stood in the waiting room at the hospital after taking my wife to the emergency room, a few years ago. Both of us were concerned that something had gone wrong, that major surgery may be necessary, that our lives had suddenly taken a turn. My mind kept coming to some of these words. The phrases drifted in and out of my head as I waited for word, any word, of her condition. Reference Matthew 6:24-34: No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will hold to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. For this reason I say to you, do not be anxious for you life, as to what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for you body as to what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body than clothing? Of course, as most of you know, the news from our hospital experience was quite the opposite of what we feared. Truly, our disappointment was turned to joy, and thankfulness, and hope.
Don’t let worry and disappointment defeat you. Keep hope alive in your heart! Trust Jesus! It’s a gift to share something hard with someone you love;
it means you care enough to let them help you. (Dan Twelvetrees, Resident Alien) Sometimes, when we go to the movies or as we watch a show on TV, we are transported into the plot. Directors understand that their selection of background music can change and enhance a scene. Now it is time to turn it around. This time, the music comes first. Do not watch the video; instead, let the music lead your imagination. As it plays, allow it to transport you into a scene that has yet to be written. Then, write the scene. Use all the visual imagery you can muster in your writing. At the end, you will share your writing. Will it stand on its own, without the music in the background?
Some Questions:
Let's Think: Elizabeth must have thought Zechariah was crazy at first. He's too old. She's too old. And yet, he came home with news about an angel. I wonder if his wife understood what he was signing and writing to her (Remember, he couldn't speak.). Did she believe her husband's news? For some reason, Elizabeth hides out for five months. Perhaps it was the custom. I have to wonder if that was the first or the last part of her pregnancy. It almost sounds like Elizabeth regrets the prayers to have a child. That is, it sounds like that until next verse: in verse 25, she makes it clear that she feels blessed by God that He has chosen her to be a vessel for the forerunner of the Savior. In fact, until now, she says, she has been disgraced in the minds of society because of her inability to conceive and bear a child.
The following is the next lesson in a historical and faithful study beginning at 7:00 pm on Wednesdays. at the church of Christ in Carthage, Missouri, south of the Ford dealership PLEASE JOIN US! The Big Questions Our focus for this study hinges on answering these two big questions. The goal is to get closer to the answers each week in our class. How did we we get the Bible? Is the Bible accurate and dependable?  Birth - CertifiableIntroductory Questions: What kind of information do we find on a birth certificate? What does a birth certificate establish? Why is a birth certificate important?
That authentication is always a question that emerges for our English Bible as well. We want to know that what we are reading is what was intended by the Holy Spirit. We want to confirm that our driving Document is true and that we may trust its ability to lead. No one wants to be deceived. 
 The OriginalsOf course, we don't have the original texts of Scripture. Those writings were preserved in ancient times by various methods. The Book of the Law, for example, traveled inside the Ark of the Covenant (Deuteronomy 31:9, 24). The Old Testament grew gradually as inspired writers recorded history and prophecy. Incredibly, according to Lightfoot, "The Jewish authority, Josephus, sad that no book was added to the Hebrew Scriptures after the time of Malachi. The New Testament came about in much the same way, over a short period of time (AD 50-100). The letters, written by inspired men, were passed from church to church to be read in assemblies. More information about all of this is shared within the text of How We Got the Bible. The preservation of such is an incredible process. If the materials could not be protected and preserved, at least the words could be.  More from our Text Our book has something to say about how our Bible is arranged and in what languages it is presented, mentioning that in regards to the Old Testament, the Hebrew Bible groups books differently than that with which we are accustomed, but the text is all the same:
Likewise, the New Testament is also grouped into three sections:
Refer to the book for more details. We heard samples of the three languages in which the original text was presented. Lightfoot has some things to say about those three languages on pages 27-29, providing more information about which sections are written in Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek.  In Praise of the Scribes
Their notes, known as colophons, tell something about their work. Sometimes, the scribe would include his name, the location of his work, and the date. Lightfoot's book mentions a scribe telling of the completion of a manuscript and adding the commentary, "with great sweat and toil". Others, the book reports, exclaim, "The end of the book - thanks be to God!"
 Application Question How important is it? Is it important to you that the Bible comes from reliable sources, or is it just a collection of wise sayings and advice for living? Many atheists agree that there is wisdom in the teachings of Jesus Christ, but they do not believe that Jesus is a Messiah, that He performed miracles, that He walked out of His own grave, or that He prepares a place where His faithful disciples will be rewarded for eternity. We contend that the Bible and everything it contains is supported by:
So how important is it to you that the Bible can be proven true? Do you believe there is irrefutable evidence to its validity? Is proof something that strengthens your personal faith in the existence of God? Should faith alone be enough to drive you to drive you to your knees? Is "blind" faith a stronger kind of faith? If so, then why did God provide so much evidence? Go forward with us - or in this case, back to the beginning - as we continue our study next time.  A crack in the boat allows water in and eventually the boat sinks. It can be a slow process that people don't notice, but it can also allow enough water into the boat to cause people to panic and evacuate. In education, that leak seems to constantly cycle. We just can't seem to learn from our mistakes and misguided leadership in history, so we repeat the same issues and programs. Millions/ billions/trillions of dollars are spent to fix the problems, then millions/billions/trillions are spent to re-implement the same wolfy programs in new, shiny sheepy clothing.
Here is another few signs that we can observe right now. Let's emphasize this: these things are listed here as a warning that they could happen, but that they are occurring in the present.
It's a horrible shame to run teachers out of the system and then lament the fact that there is a shortage of teachers. Good grief! It's not hard to motivate this section of our society. They made the decision to teach, wanting to do their parts to benefit the community. Teachers don't want low test scores. Teachers don't want to defy their bosses. But they also want their students to experience the joy of being in their presence and improving their skills. Some teachers know how to do that for kids, and they should never be punished for doing it - even when it means that they are doing things that are different from the norm. Hold them accountable, but don't limit them.  Do we continue to drive nails into the hands and feet of Jesus Christ? Or are we celebrating the richness and fullness of living within His resurrection? One day, each of us will stand before Him in judgment. Will we, as the people in Acts 3:11, be full of amazement, or will we already know what Christ has done for us? Will we already believe in the power He holds? Will we have taken the steps to live in Him?
After healing the lame man, the apostle, Peter, addresses those people in Acts 3, asking, "Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this…?" He continues his response to the people, fundamentally convicting them of driving the very nails that were put into their Savior’s hands and feet. He says, "The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified His servant Jesus, the one whom you delivered up, and disowned in the presence of Pilate, when he had decided to release Him. But you disowned the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, but put to death the Prince of life, the one whom God raised from the dead…" (emphasis added). I ask again, have our sins, our actions, and our thoughts convicted us? Because of our sins and unrighteous thoughts and actions, Christ’s burden on the cross is made even heavier. We are thankful to God Almighty for the sacrifice of His beloved Son! But we are also thankful for the resurrection of His Son! It is through His death, burial, and resurrection that we, too have hope of eternal life. In verse 19, Peter says, "Repent therefore and return, that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord…" In verse 38 of the previous chapter, Peter even better defined repentance as including more than simply becoming a good person. He says, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins…" If you have not taken these steps, or if you continue to drive nails into the cross, you stand convicted by Jesus Christ. "We need to learn to set our course by the stars, not by the lights of every passing ship."
(General Omar N. Bradley)
I visited these trails, this year, in between preaching the Sunday morning and Sunday evening services for the church in Washburn, Missouri. Eureka Springs, Arkansas, is only about a half-hour drive, so it makes for a terrific time-filling activity on a Sunday afternoon.
Of course, as mentioned, my goal was to find the tabernacle, and I finally did. No one was in or around the area, especially in the off-season, but the tabernacle is along one of the hiking trails, so I ventured inside. The measurements are right, although the materials, design, and construction of the facility is not accurate according to the descriptions given to Moses toward the end of the Old Testament book of Exodus. The items in the tabernacle walls might need some explanation for people who are not familiar with their descriptions in Exodus. For those of us who have studied, the things in the tabernacle are pretty much in the correct locations. It is interesting to see them in their positions and ready for reverent attention by the priests. Even the Holy of Holies is here, complete with the Ark of the Covenant. There is a dark window to look into this very special room into which only the high priest would be allowed to enter.
Because of a recent visit to Virginia, where I observed the making of bricks in the tradition of the early American Colonies, another plot of land also drew my attention. This was supposed to be a re-creation of the Israelite task of making bricks while they were enslaved in Egypt in the times of pharaohs. The layout of brick frames and clay bricks in this area was very similar to what I saw in Colonial Williamsburg, though the bricks here were much larger. This area on the Passion Play property is normally not open to the general public unless one has a ticket for their Holy Land tour. While it is accessible by walking the hilly miles-long trails, it is not something one normally just happens across. To me, it was a peaceful repose from the aerobic exercise of the hikes, but it still felt like I wasn't supposed to be there. Hiking up one more mild hill, I came to a gate across the paved road, and I worked my way around the gate to see the sign on the other side that announces that, unless ticketed, no one is supposed to go beyond that point. Obviously, the trails extend into that area, and the trails are free, so it wasn't as if I was trespassing, but it still felt a little naughty and adventurous to exit the trail in that manner.
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