WAITING THE EXECUTION-- II Timothy 4


What a bitter-sweet chapter II Timothy 4 is.  Paul, now quite senior, and having been well tortured throughout his ministry and various incarcerations, senses that his life on earth is rapidly coming to a close.

Any day now, or even in the darkness of the night, they will come, further restrain him and disconnect him violently from his fleshly existence.  Even in the face of this finality, he delivers the Gospel;

4:2  Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching.

His passion for Christ, and especially for those he fathered, in the spiritual sense, will bring a tear to your eye as you read;

4:5  But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 
4:6  For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 
4:7  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 
4:8  Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 

Emperor Nero ordered Paul to be tortured, then beheaded, circa AD 67,  thus closing the many chapters of Paul's (Saul's) brief period on this planet.  What sweet justice in the fact that he will reside and worship in the presence of his True King forevermore, no tortures, no pain, no tears.  He has overcome death.

Each of us will soon face our own disconnect as our earthly time expires.  Will we be as prepared, as reflective, as confident as Paul?  If tomorrow that time comes, are you ready?

WAITING THE EXECUTION-- II Timothy 4


What a bitter-sweet chapter II Timothy 4 is.  Paul, now quite senior, and having been well tortured throughout his ministry and various incarcerations, senses that his life on earth is rapidly coming to a close.

Any day now, or even in the darkness of the night, they will come, further restrain him and disconnect him violently from his fleshly existence.  Even in the face of this finality, he delivers the Gospel;

4:2  Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching.

His passion for Christ, and especially for those he fathered, in the spiritual sense, will bring a tear to your eye as you read;

4:5  But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 
4:6  For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 
4:7  I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 
4:8  Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing. 

Emperor Nero ordered Paul to be tortured, then beheaded, circa AD 67,  thus closing the many chapters of Paul's (Saul's) brief period on this planet.  What sweet justice in the fact that he will reside and worship in the presence of his True King forevermore, no tortures, no pain, no tears.  He has overcome death.

Each of us will soon face our own disconnect as our earthly time expires.  Will we be as prepared, as reflective, as confident as Paul?  If tomorrow that time comes, are you ready?

The Talking Pelican

I hold my best conversations with God while sitting at the God Spot, just a short distance from our house. The spot sits right on the mouth of the East Bay and teams with the beauty and awe of God's creation. Trees, plants, animals, birds, sky, breezes, the whole deal. This is where I can clear my mind and be alone to hold secret prayer with my maker.

Today my mind, driven by the Spirit, came to life as I visualized the following event:

The pelicans were feeding. Oh how they glide so effortlessly with such grace then suddenly dive for the catch. They rarely miss. Then, right out of the blue, my mind saw a big beautiful pelican fly in and land on one of the uprights at the boat dock, thirty feet to my front. I sat there, at the picnic table and admired this wonderful sight. I said:

ME: Morning pelican!

PEL: Oh, morning human...

ME: WOW! You talk!

PEL: ah....Yup! Weird huh?

ME: Well, it certainly is unexpected, ya know....

PEL: Its a God thing! You know about Him don't you?

ME: Oh....ah...well yes. Yes I do! He made all of us, each and every one!

PEL: Yup, that's the same one! GOD!

ME: I can't get over this. A conversation with a pelican.

PEL: Anything is possible, with God! Sometimes God wants to open your human eyes to the awe of His creation and tells us pelicans to fly by real slow to show off the grace of our flight. He's God, you know. If He says fly over there, we fly over there. If He says fly over here, we fly over here! We do as He says. God made all of us, you know.

ME: So true. So, how is it being a pelican? Tell me about how your average day goes.

PEL: As the sun is beginning to light up the morning sky, we pelicans wake up where ever our perch is located. We stretch out our wings, and yawn real big. You know, pelican breath is really bad in the morning, and if the wind is in the right direction when we yawn, we get a whiff of rotten fish breath. I hate that! Anyway, We get all stretched out and appreciate the sunrise. Each sunrise is completely different. Have you noticed that?

ME: I sure have!

PEL: Then its time to head out for breakfast. Pelicans love to fish. I think the Bible says something about Fishing, but I can't read. Anyway, ya fly along and use the incredible eyesight all pelicans have, a fish is spotted and BINGO, breakfast!

ME: So, how many fishes makes up a good breakfast?

PEL: Can be one, if it is big enough, but usually four or five small to medium swimmers do the job. We have to be careful when we are really, really hungry. Sometimes we snag a fish bigger than will fit down our throats and we end up having to puke the fish back up or choke to death!!! Sea Gulls love it when that happens. They laugh, and point their beaks at us. You know.........they eat that stuff!! Those are some dirty birds!

ME: How do you get along with the other birds?

PEL: Pretty good. We are a fairly big bird, and other than making a lot of noise, others pretty much leave us alone. Once in a while a pelican will stray into the wooded areas and meet up with a big old Owl. Now, that is one scary bird. No body messes with the owls!

ME: How do you get along with humans?

PEL: Ahh, they seem to be ok. What really makes my waddle wiggle is when they cut their fishing lines and leave fish hooks floating on the water. Even with our good eyesight, we occasionally get a fish hook caught in our throats or in our gullets. Very, very painful. Many times it gets infected and the pelican dies. I wish they would be better stewards and clean up after themselves. They are the higher ups, you know!

ME: Yes, I know exactly what you mean.

PEL: Well, Sir, its lunch time and I see fish jumpin out there in mid-bay. It was a pleasure talking with you. Would I be out of line if I blessed you in His name?

ME: Not at all.

PEL: Well, God Bless you human!

ME: God Bless you pelican.

The Talking Pelican

I hold my best conversations with God while sitting at the God Spot, just a short distance from our house. The spot sits right on the mouth of the East Bay and teams with the beauty and awe of God's creation. Trees, plants, animals, birds, sky, breezes, the whole deal. This is where I can clear my mind and be alone to hold secret prayer with my maker.

Today my mind, driven by the Spirit, came to life as I visualized the following event:

The pelicans were feeding. Oh how they glide so effortlessly with such grace then suddenly dive for the catch. They rarely miss. Then, right out of the blue, my mind saw a big beautiful pelican fly in and land on one of the uprights at the boat dock, thirty feet to my front. I sat there, at the picnic table and admired this wonderful sight. I said:

ME: Morning pelican!

PEL: Oh, morning human...

ME: WOW! You talk!

PEL: ah....Yup! Weird huh?

ME: Well, it certainly is unexpected, ya know....

PEL: Its a God thing! You know about Him don't you?

ME: Oh....ah...well yes. Yes I do! He made all of us, each and every one!

PEL: Yup, that's the same one! GOD!

ME: I can't get over this. A conversation with a pelican.

PEL: Anything is possible, with God! Sometimes God wants to open your human eyes to the awe of His creation and tells us pelicans to fly by real slow to show off the grace of our flight. He's God, you know. If He says fly over there, we fly over there. If He says fly over here, we fly over here! We do as He says. God made all of us, you know.

ME: So true. So, how is it being a pelican? Tell me about how your average day goes.

PEL: As the sun is beginning to light up the morning sky, we pelicans wake up where ever our perch is located. We stretch out our wings, and yawn real big. You know, pelican breath is really bad in the morning, and if the wind is in the right direction when we yawn, we get a whiff of rotten fish breath. I hate that! Anyway, We get all stretched out and appreciate the sunrise. Each sunrise is completely different. Have you noticed that?

ME: I sure have!

PEL: Then its time to head out for breakfast. Pelicans love to fish. I think the Bible says something about Fishing, but I can't read. Anyway, ya fly along and use the incredible eyesight all pelicans have, a fish is spotted and BINGO, breakfast!

ME: So, how many fishes makes up a good breakfast?

PEL: Can be one, if it is big enough, but usually four or five small to medium swimmers do the job. We have to be careful when we are really, really hungry. Sometimes we snag a fish bigger than will fit down our throats and we end up having to puke the fish back up or choke to death!!! Sea Gulls love it when that happens. They laugh, and point their beaks at us. You know.........they eat that stuff!! Those are some dirty birds!

ME: How do you get along with the other birds?

PEL: Pretty good. We are a fairly big bird, and other than making a lot of noise, others pretty much leave us alone. Once in a while a pelican will stray into the wooded areas and meet up with a big old Owl. Now, that is one scary bird. No body messes with the owls!

ME: How do you get along with humans?

PEL: Ahh, they seem to be ok. What really makes my waddle wiggle is when they cut their fishing lines and leave fish hooks floating on the water. Even with our good eyesight, we occasionally get a fish hook caught in our throats or in our gullets. Very, very painful. Many times it gets infected and the pelican dies. I wish they would be better stewards and clean up after themselves. They are the higher ups, you know!

ME: Yes, I know exactly what you mean.

PEL: Well, Sir, its lunch time and I see fish jumpin out there in mid-bay. It was a pleasure talking with you. Would I be out of line if I blessed you in His name?

ME: Not at all.

PEL: Well, God Bless you human!

ME: God Bless you pelican.

YOUR NEW ADDRESS

When you received your new address, did you give any thought in how you might inform others of the change? After all, changing your status from resident to visitor presents certain issues, especially when mixing with the local population.

Many of the local residents have never known anything other than where they reside right now. Some claim that such a change would be boring, no longer fun, and there is probably no MTV or cable in the new place anyway. Others have long had a desire to make the change but the investment portfolio is now producing money like never before. They'd hate to lose a penny dealing with a long-term commitment like that!

If someone were to ask me for directions to where I now reside, I would smile, and simply turn my gaze upwards. Those who know would quickly understand. Others, sadly, will never connect those dots.

Jesus said in John 8:23; You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. In verse 15:19, Jesus continued; If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

You see, when we put-off the old man, [Eph 4:22] crawling with ugly, nasty, vile and wretched sin, and put-on the new man in Christ, we gave up our residency here on earth. Under the promise and in the faith, we have brand new quarters waiting for our arrival just beyond those Pearled gates. It comes with a new, indestructible body, [1 Cor 15:54 ] eternal life with joy, wonder, and the extraordinary honor of being in the very presence of He who created it all! That, my friend, is a pretty exclusive address, and I am a proud citizen. I am just a visitor here on earth. I'm just visiting ya'all for a little while.........Are you ready to make the change?

YOUR NEW ADDRESS

When you received your new address, did you give any thought in how you might inform others of the change? After all, changing your status from resident to visitor presents certain issues, especially when mixing with the local population.

Many of the local residents have never known anything other than where they reside right now. Some claim that such a change would be boring, no longer fun, and there is probably no MTV or cable in the new place anyway. Others have long had a desire to make the change but the investment portfolio is now producing money like never before. They'd hate to lose a penny dealing with a long-term commitment like that!

If someone were to ask me for directions to where I now reside, I would smile, and simply turn my gaze upwards. Those who know would quickly understand. Others, sadly, will never connect those dots.

Jesus said in John 8:23; You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world. In verse 15:19, Jesus continued; If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.

You see, when we put-off the old man, [Eph 4:22] crawling with ugly, nasty, vile and wretched sin, and put-on the new man in Christ, we gave up our residency here on earth. Under the promise and in the faith, we have brand new quarters waiting for our arrival just beyond those Pearled gates. It comes with a new, indestructible body, [1 Cor 15:54 ] eternal life with joy, wonder, and the extraordinary honor of being in the very presence of He who created it all! That, my friend, is a pretty exclusive address, and I am a proud citizen. I am just a visitor here on earth. I'm just visiting ya'all for a little while.........Are you ready to make the change?

The Preeminent Glory of Christ

The Seven superiorities of Christ

Col 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

Col 1:16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

Colossians 1:15-18

The Preeminent Glory of Christ

The Seven superiorities of Christ

Col 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

Col 1:16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.

Colossians 1:15-18

DATELINE:  WASHINGTON, D.C.

SUBJECT:  SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

ISAIAH 3: 6;

A MAN WILL SEIZE ONE OF HIS BROTHERS AT HIS FATHER'S HOME AND SAY,
"YOU HAVE A CLOAK, YOU BE OUR LEADER, TAKE CHARGE OF THIS HEAP OF
RUINS!"


THAT IS ALL

DATELINE:  WASHINGTON, D.C.

SUBJECT:  SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE

ISAIAH 3: 6;

A MAN WILL SEIZE ONE OF HIS BROTHERS AT HIS FATHER'S HOME AND SAY,
"YOU HAVE A CLOAK, YOU BE OUR LEADER, TAKE CHARGE OF THIS HEAP OF
RUINS!"


THAT IS ALL