He is risen!

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Reading for today:

Matthew 28

Mark 16:1-8

Luke 24:1-49

John 20:1-25

Easter is the most important day in Christianity. We wouldn’t be Christians without Easter. Anyone can die – but only God himself can raise himself from the dead! It is beyond belief, unfathomable. No wonder Yeshua’s followers didn’t get it – didn’t hear what he had repeatedly told them.   Who would?

I loved putting together puzzles as a kid – and even well into adulthood – just haven’t done one for while – but these passages provide us a puzzle worthy of challenge.  It is a perfect example of who said what, and who’s testimony for precision is most credible. It’s also a model of what is most important to mention in one’s view is not equally important in another’s.   But – the main message is there, and is undeniable. The tomb was empty. Jesus did the impossible. He rose from the dead!   He appeared to the women and his disciples, but Thomas wasn’t there….  

He was risen indeed!

MAJESTY

by Lola Cain

“A King who ruled in majesty”

That’s what people wanted him to be!

No crown of thorns or whip of shame

No cross on which to bear our blame

No nails, no spear, no agony

No death upon a criminal’s tree

No burial in a borrowed grave

…No resurrection power to save!

Thank God for His eternal plan

for justifying fallen man

He came as atoning sacrifice

in sending His Son to pay the price

Coming incarnate to earth to die

He redeemed His created from Satan’s lie

Thank you, Sacrificial Lamb,

…for overriding the will of man!

The veil was rent! God’s plan complete!

We now can worship at his feet!

We enter his presence unafraid

by the blood that Jesus shed to save!

Thank the LORD, he rose again

victory over death to win

Thank Father, Son and Holy Ghost

…an anthem sung by heavenly hosts!

“He’s risen,” we shout. “HE’S RISEN INDEED!”

The cornerstone of our Christian creed

And coming once, he’ll come again

His promised victory over sin

“It’s finished,” his final words on the cross

Our redemption sealed. Our salvation bought.

Now he reigns eternally

…what both God and man wanted him to be…

“A KING WHO RULES IN MAJESTY!”

Thank You, LORD!

Love, Lola

Humor for today:

Joseph of Arimathea was questioned about why he would be willing to give his prime location gravesite to a crucified, rejected man, and Joseph replied, “It won’t be a problem. He only needs it for the weekend.” 

Our Terrible Choices for President

I lost sleep the night of the last Presidential candidate debate.   I am distressed by the rhetoric and embarrassed for our country that in spite of all the wonderful people who would actually be qualified to be President of the United States, we have 2 horrible choices.  

Hillary is guilty of criminal activity (and a lot more) - - but apparently has the right connections to avoid being prosecuted.  She also has both a public and private position - - which simply means that she says whatever it takes to get votes.  Being dishonest and not being forthright means she is a liar and not to be trusted.  She is a woman - - so a lot of people will vote for her just because they want a female president for the first time in the history of the country - - and they will do so to our final unraveling and demise if she is elected.  I would love to have a woman President - - but I want the right woman, and she's not it.  

Our other option is Donald Trump.  Yikes!  Trump is certainly less than laudable.  Far less.  I hate his horrible comments about women and his entitled view of being able to get whatever he wants from women because of his power and financial status.  I also question his ability to negotiate and work with people to move our country forward.  He loses his cool too easily, did not give direct answers to  the questions he was asked, and takes things personally instead of refocusing on policies.  He is definitely not a silver-tongued orator.   But - - he makes some good points.  Fewer than I'd like, but some.  

Still, no matter how bad Trump is - - and he clearly has red flag issues for me - - he is far better than Hillary, and that is saying a lot.  She is dangerous - - and just for the record, Hillary is entitled, too.  She is at the very least equally out of touch with the challenges of the normal taxpayer.  But even beyond that, her policies will destroy us.  

I hate the mud-slinging on both sides - - and hate that the mainstream media is conspicuously inequitable in their reporting.  It seems to me that they jump on the slightest negative about Donald and fail to investigate any of the scathing claims about Hillary.  When he claimed his inappropriate comments made over a decade ago were "locker-room talk" even I understood that he meant it was just "the braggadocio" common to some guys.  Disgusting, but unfortunately true.  But what did the media do?  Run to real locker rooms to interview sports figures and ask if that is what they say in the locker room!  Preposterous.  I do not and will not defend his sickening words.  They are awful, and they definitely do reflect a huge flaw in his character.  

However, the media is all too eager to point out his flaws - - but not Hillary's.  It would be fair if they were equally hard on Hillary.  They don't do the same due diligence in their reporting of her escapades.  Nothing has been said about Hillary's purported infidelities.   I guess if there is no tape there is no proof.  Her alleged behaviors don't necessarily preclude her being a good President - - but her policies do, her lies do, her criminal behavior does and her protection of her criminal husband does.

The video I saw online that recorded an interview with women Bill Clinton raped reports that Hillary knew.   It appears that Hillary encouraged Bill's lust, rapes and external liaisons.  That is even more horrible than the words Donald said.  And - - Bill should be in prison, not on the verge of being "first man" in the white house.  I still have a visual of him implanted in my head from when he had Monica Lewinsky under his desk in the Oval Office of the White House giving him oral sex.  I remember that he lied, saying he didn't have sex with her...and later qualified his original statement with the rationalization that because it was not normal intercourse he didn't consider it sex.  

If the media wants this election to be about sexual innuendo and sexual impropriety they should report about both candidates.    Those may have been Bill's rapes and indiscretions, but Hillary cannot say she champions women if she knew and said nothing to protect the women he assaulted or failed to promote his prosecution.  That makes her complicit, and just as guilty as he is.  Her behavior goes far beyond mere enabling.

One positive thing Donald brings to the role is a very successful history as a businessman and that gives us at least a glimmer of hope for moving toward getting America's debt under control; and even more importantly he is the only one of the two major candidates who has the likelihood of approving Supreme Court Justices who will actually be equitable in their judgments and bring balance to the Court.  That's huge!   Even Donald knows that.  On July 28, 2016 I heard him say on T V, "If you really like Donald Trump, that's great, but if don't you have to vote for me anyway.  You know why? Supreme Court Judges.  Supreme Court Judges."
(Yes, he has an annoying habit of repeating himself...repeating himself.")  He went on to add, "Have no choice, sorry, sorry, sorry.  You have no choice."  He's right!  

His third ace is his running mate.  In my view the only candidate running for the top 2 positions in our country who is worthy of holding the office is Pence.  When Donald said he did a good job in his first "hire" by asking Pence to be his running mate, he was spot on.  I wish everyone who is sick to death of how horribly awful our choices are could just write in his name and have him be the next President.  Sadly, it doesn't work that way.  But having Pence on the ticket is another glimmer of hope....  I just wish he had the top slot.  

The reality is that it is the Electoral College who chooses the President, not the majority vote of the people.  It is all very confusing.  

I grieve for America.  Truly, I am afraid that we already lost the America we love - - but this election is critical to fostering any residual hope of stemming the current tide.  

I am so glad that my hope is not in the Donkey or the Elephant.  My hope is in the Lamb!  The Lamb who is also the Lion of Judah.  

So - - given my options, I am voting for the Trump-Pence ticket and praying for Divine intervention! 

P S:  I was truly surprised when Trump got the Republican nomination.  He got it because so many people are sick of politics on both sides of the aisle.  At least he offers us a slight glimmer of hope....  Hillary's offers come at the price of higher deficits and compromised security.   A sliver of hope or hopelessness....those are our choices.  

Still counting on the Lamb.   

I'm back!

My blog disappeared!  I haven't been able to access it for months, and finally decided this morning to just start a new one.  Same name.  Same provider.  Just starting over....

Life is like that.  Starting over moments.  Most often I am grateful for them.  My 71st birthday was September 18.  My younger brother's greeting to me was "HAPPY NEW YEAR!"  I thought that was both fun and clever.   I like new beginnings.  A fresh new day.  The first day of the week.  New months.  New Seasons.  New years.

Blog - I've missed you!