BASEBALL (OPENING SATURDAY)

Snippet

One of the beautiful things about baseball is that every once in a while you come into a situation where you want to, and where you have to, reach down and prove something. Nolan Ryan

Scripture

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever I Corinthians 9:24,25 NIV

Song

Dropkick Murphys - Jimmy Collins' Wake

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7Rbj-axneA

We've gathered here to bid adieu

Us Boston boys, alas are few

Some from crosstown some from the coast

To give our skipper one last toast

We'll pour the good stuff round his casket

Drop some coin into the basket

Bow our heads and praise the Lord

Then rouse ourselves and strike a chord...

Lets raise a glass and lift it up

Then sip from Jimmy Collins cup

And hail the lads that won the crown

That brought victory to our ground

Lets raise a glass and lift it up

Then sip from Jimmy Collins cup

And hail the lads that won the crown

While turning baseball upside down

We hit 'em hard, we hit 'em clean

The pitching of Big Bill Dineen

Some legged a bunt, some hit them out

Remember old Buck Freeman's clouts

We'll sing of Candy, Cy and Freddy

Patsy Dougherty, Broadway Hobe,

Chick, and Jack O'Brein

Honus Wagner sat there cryin'

Lets raise a glass and lift it up

Then sip from Jimmy Collins cup

And hail the lads that won the crown

That brought victory to our ground

Lets raise a glass and lift it up

Then sip from Jimmy Collins cup

And hail the lads that won the crown

While turning baseball upside down

Our days with you indeed were great

and now that you have crossed the plate

and scored that final run of life

We'll hug your kids and kiss your wife

and tell of how you played the game

and led us all to wealth and fame

We'll lift our heads with one loud voice

Pay homage to "The People's Choice"

Lets raise a glass and lift it up

Then sip from Jimmy Collins cup

And hail the lads that won the crown

That brought victory to our ground

Lets raise a glass and lift it up

Then sip from Jimmy Collins cup

And hail the lads that won the crown

While turning baseball upside down

Sentence Prayer

Baseball Players Prayer

God grant me wisdom,

to tell a strike from a ball,

to know where to throw

and never to fall.

Keep me always in the base line,

running straight and true

and I'll look for your sign,

to stretch one into two.

God give me vision,

to see every pitch,

so if a player needs help,

then I will see which.

Let me always hustle,

so I'll be at my best

and take pride in myself,

in sports and the rest.

God be my strength,

when I throw the ball

when I'm far from home plate,

or against a wall.

So I never miss a base,

please guide my feet,

bring me home safely,

so my job is complete.

When I help younger players,

let me always give praise,

so they'll see you in me,

in all of my ways.

God please guide our coach,

to be fair and smart,

to teach us to be good,

let it come from his heart.

Let me take a loss,

just as well as a win,

to do any less,

is surely a sin.

As long as I can play,

let me make my parents proud,

as proud as I am,

when they yell MY name out loud.

However my games end,

let me always have fun

and if Heaven has All Stars,

I want to be one.

When my games here are over

and my seasons are done,

let me play on your team.

just like your son.

Amen.

GOLD

Snippet

“Low self-esteem causes me to believe that I have so little worth that my response does not matter. With repentance, however, I understand that being worth so much to God is why my response is so important. Repentance is remedial work to mend our minds and hearts, which get bent by sin.”

― John Ortberg Jr., The Me I Want to Be: Becoming God's Best Version of You

Scripture

Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven. Matthew 5:4-6 Message

Song

Britt Nicole  Gold

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9PjrtcHJPo

"Gold"

Oh, oh, oh, oh

Oh, oh, oh, oh

You were walking on the moon, now you're feeling low

What they said wasn't true, you're beautiful

Sticks and stones break your bones, I know what you're feeling

Words like those won't steal your glow, you're one in a million

This, this is for all the girls, boys all over the world

Whatever you've been told, you're worth more than gold

So hold your head up high, it's your time to shine

From the inside out it shows, you're worth more than gold

(Gold gold, you're gold)

You're worth more than gold

(Gold gold you're gold)

Well everybody keeps score, afraid you're gonna lose

Just ignore they don't know the real you

All the rain in the sky can't put out your fire

Of all the stars out tonight, you shine brighter

This, this is for all the girls, boys all over the world

Whatever you've been told, you're worth more than gold

So hold your head up high, it's your time to shine

From the inside out it shows, you're worth more than gold

(Gold gold, you're gold)

You're worth more than gold

(Gold gold you're gold)

So don't let anybody tell you that you're not loved

And don't let anybody tell you that you're not enough

Yeah there are days when we all feel like we're messed up

But the truth is that we're all diamonds in the rough

So don't be ashamed to wear your crown

You're a king you're a queen inside and out

You glow like the moon, you shine like the stars

This is for you, wherever you are

Oh, oh, yeah, yeah, oh, oh,

You're gold

This, this is for all the girls, boys all over the world

Whatever you've been told, you're worth more than gold

(So hold your head) So hold your head up high,

It's your time to shine

From the inside out it shows, you're worth more than gold

(Gold gold, you're gold)

You're worth more than gold

(Gold gold you're gold)

So don't be ashamed to wear your crown

You're a king you're a queen inside and out

Sentence Prayer

God,

You are our beginning and you will be our end;

We are made in your image and likeness.

We praise and thank you for this day.

This is the day(Sunday) on which you created light and saw it was good.

This is  the day (Sunday) in whose early morning light

We discovered the tomb was empty,

And encountered Christ, the world’s true light.

This is the day you have made;

We shall rejoice and be glad in it.  Amen

(A New Zealand Prayer Book Pg 106)

DEAR FELLOW GOD SEEKERS

Who is Jesus?  One of the misconceptions many Christians have, is they expect Muslims to 

have little respect for Jesus. This simply from what I understand is not true.  Muslims

understanding of the Qu’ran and their Imams as I understand agree on the following;

1. Jesus was born of a virgin.

2. He was the Messiah.

3. He performed many miracles, including healing the sick and raising the dead.

4. He was a prophet.29

5. He was completely sinless throughout his entire earthly existence.

6. God raised Jesus to heaven.

7. He will come back to earth before the Day of Judgment.

8. He is the “Word of God.”

Muslims may sometimes interpret some of these points differently from Christians, but 

they provide a good start for discussing the faith each of us has in Jesus.

A huge difference between the faith of Islam and Christianity is how they view the term 

“Son Of God.”  Muslims, however, do not believe Jesus is the “Son of God.”  God is 

Spirit— He has no physical body for procreating. God has no wife. Mary was a virgin. 

Muslims would remind us that pagans believed in gods who had wives and children, but 

this cannot be said of the true God. Every time the Qur’an  denies Jesus is the “Son of God,”

it is denying that Jesus is God’s offspring in the sense that humans have offspring.” 

(Handbook on Islam for Christians Serving in the US Armed Forces Donald S. Tingle)

What I would say to my Muslim friend is; God or Allah is not in a LITERAL sense God’s Son.  

Only in how he relates to man.  Jesus has no mother.  God is not literally the father of Jesus.  

Understand as man we will never be able to completely understand, that God Himself came to 

Earth to do what no man could do. That this was the plan of God, and that God wants to have

a genuine, family relationship with His people.  To try and explain this I am inserting a sermon I 

gave during Christmas time on this question on the Son of God.  This insert will delve into the 

area of Mormonism because they also struggle with the concept that Jesus is the Son of God.  

Thank you for your replies and input.  May God richly bless you.

1.            Who is Jesus?

One apologetic facts that gives Christianity credibility is we never rely on one isolated verse to 

determine who Jesus is.  Over 700 years before Jesus came that first Christmas Daniel 7 

gives us a picture or what we mean when we say Jesus is the Son of Man and son of God.  

Listen to Daniel 7 starting in verse 13. Listen to verse thirteen:  In my vision at night I 

looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of 

heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was 

given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every 

language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass 

away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. 

Notice first this passage uses designation that was the favorite title Jesus used of 

himself: Son of Man.  That term is used over 80 times, just in the Gospels.  This 

passage was written 700 years before God was born of a virgin, we now 

celebrate as Christmas.  So when Jesus uses the term Son of Man; where is he 

claiming he came from?

Verse thirteen Clouds of heaven; Jesus existed before his birth in heaven.  But at the 

same breath he is Son of Man, this eternal one is both From heaven-God and from 

earth Man.  The God man. 

Next notice he comes before the Ancient of Day-That is God the Father.  Here is 

one more biblical place where we see the concept of the trinity: One god three 

persons-Not three God’s.  Because in this passage we are told that both the Ancient 

of Days and Son of Man are titles of deity.  

Son of man second person of the Trinity God the Son, creator entering into Creation 

to save mankind from his sins-this is what we should be celebrating at Christmas.  

Notices the last part of this passage in Daniel 7;  every part of verse 14 is worship 

language: and worship is reserved for whom? 

God alone!  So when we say Jesus is the Son of God; we are saying he is 

worthy of our Worship! He is worthy because according to Daniel 7 He is the 

King of Kings and Lord or Lords!

  The Jews knew this verse, and had waited hundreds of years for it’s 

fulfillment, and Jesus birth at Bethlehem it is fulfilled.  Notice how massive this 

statement is The one coming is going to rule over all peoples, his kingdom will 

never end and he is eternal! 

Time and time again in the Old Testament the Ancient of Days says to the 

world in Scripture He is Coming, He is coming!  My paraphrase; Almighty 

God is coming and going to enter into human history like a man, who will 

establish a kingdom for all that will never end.   This Son of Man-Son of God 

is to be worshiped, honored and glorified by man no matter what your ethnicity 

is, what your race is, what your sexual orientation is, what your cultural 

background is; everyone, everywhere should honor him! 

This is who Jesus is !  It is why we celebrate Christmas!  That is a 

massive statement-That is massive statement that has changed the world.

Now we enter into the immediate context of the birth of Jesus. Hundreds 

of silent years people have been waiting for whom? Son of Man!  

Son of God! Jesus himself confesses this Great truth in Luke 22 out of a 

bloody mouth .  You can not make a clearer statement of deity than that!  

And He does so in front of his enemies and on trial, recorded in public record, 

with nothing to gain for His confession.  Let me remind you what Luke 22:71 

says; They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?”  He replied, “You are 

right in saying I am.”   Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have 

heard it from his own lips.”

The issue for the Jewish leaders and for us today about Jesus is one thing: are you the 

Son of God?  Are they not saying He is guilty?  Guilty of what?  Blasphemy-Claiming to 

be God!  Are they not asking Jesus; are you saying you are the only God?  Jesus is

saying if that’s a crime then I am guilty and put me to death!  He is the Son of God!

2.What does the title Son of God mean?

Let me start by telling you what it does not mean.  Actually this issue has been in 

background of the news or our recent election and in the Middle East.  Because the 

issue of what does the title Son of God mean?   This is what separates Christians 

from Mormons and Muslims.  One issue in this past election was a Mormon running 

for president, are Mormons Christians?  Do they believe Jesus is the Son of God? 

At the same time in the background there is an ongoing debate on how we 

translate the bible for Muslims.  The debate is this; should we call Jesus the 

Son of God?  Translators in Istanbul make the case Muslims struggle with that concept.  

Both issues are right out of the headlines and both issues ask the question; Is Jesus the

Son of God?

  Before I go on let me make a clear statement; I am not judging anyone.  God alone is 

man’s judge. The bible is clear in the Old and New Testament it is man’s privilege to 

choose.  In Joshua we are asked chose this day who you will serve.  Paul in 

Philippians says we are to work out our Salvation with fear and trembling. 

Implying That there are right and wrong choices and they have consequences!  

I say this because the people I have met who are Jehovah Witness, Muslim, 

New agers and Mormons are good people!  I like them.  But from that I draw 

the conclusion they want to do what is right, but are being deceived by false 

teachers!

Now let me give you what the Mormon Church teaches about Jesus being the 

Son of God.   If you sat down with two Mormon Missionaries or Elders and 

asked them Is Jesus the Son of God?  I am certain they both would say; 

Yes we believe Jesus is the Son of God.  So does that mean they are 

Christians?  I do not believe so and here is why.  Ask them what they 

mean?  Because Cults and false teachers always twist definitions of 

words.  If you dig into Mormon theology you will see, they teach men

become gods, not that God became man, but that man can become a god. 

When they become gods they can impregnate women and they have children 

that become the sons of God. Oh that’s different –yeah we are heaven and 

earth apart on this issue!  So what they would teach is that there is a god 

called God the Father, who has all the working parts of man and this 

man had actual intercourse with a teen age girl called Mary and got her pregnant.  

She gave birth to Jesus, because God was a glorified spirit being this makes 

Jesus a son of a god.  According to this thinking lots of people are sons of a god.  

This is not what Jesus taught, it is not what the Bible teaches, therefore it is not 

what orthodox Christians believe.

  First go back to Luke 1:26 and you will see that Mary is a virgin. In addition in 

the Old Testament and New Testament it says God is not a Man.  In fact in 

John 4 Jesus tells us God is spirit and must be worshiped so!  What they over 

do is an extreme literal ism.

   So let me give you a 2 dollar word: Hermeneutics, means to interpret and it’s 

how we understand the bible.  Now understand we do view and understand the 

Bible literally, we just go off the rails if are as literal as the Mormons with 

Biblical language. 

For example if I were to say I am hungry.  You would say I believe Roger has 

preached too long, he is hungry.  Maybe there would be one who would say 

that maybe he hunger he is refers to the  Freudian desire for complete 

wholeness and the rest of you would say whatever! 

What it means is Texas Road House that’s what it means!  But let’s say I came 

to you and say: I am so hungry I could eat a horse.  Would you say; really a 

whole horse?  Most would under-stand I am using a figure of speech.  I do not 

want a horse with sauce an all.  So you would say that does not make sense; oh

I get it a hyperbole so he wants two steaks.

We do this all the time; a group of guys see a gal walking toward them they 

say she is really hot!  You being the nerd so no I think she looks like she has a 

normal temperature.  Girls same thing a nice looking Goy you say he is Hot!  

A figure of Speech, does notcmean they are on fire-it means they are attractive.  

The Bible does this all the time!

                So a good way to approach the bible is first approach verses

as literally true.  If that does not work then we go to a figurative language- 

literal truth.  If that is not possible, we then approach the text as a literal truth 

expressed in a figure of speech.  So what the Mormons do is say God is the 

Father and Jesus is the Son of God-so God must be a man who had a son by 

Mary!  Wrong Answer!

 Because if you do this you end up with some really weird views of God.  

For example Ps 91:4 says He shall cover you with His feathers, And under 

His wings you shall take refuge.  Okay, if take this literally then God is a 

Chicken and according to this verse one day I will stand before a huge 

chicken to give an account for my life.  Including all the chicken wings I ate.  

So hopefully you take a pause and say I don’t think that’s right.  

I think it’s figure of speech to express the literal truth God loves and 

care for us.  Like a mother hen care for her chicks.

Beautiful word picture if you understand literal, figurative language.

So celebrating Christmas by worshiping the Son of God does not mean

he is one of many gods-but the one true God!

   Think of it this way, we are nowhere near then intelligence of

God.  For example there not a lot beyond our three pound fallen

brain, that we understand ?  Especially when it comes to there is

one God, who reigns forever, in three persons in perfect union and

communion. Without a physical being but out of nothing created

everything.  And they love, serve and glorify one another.  I do not

know about you, but my brain is starting to sweat.  So okay let’s put

this literal truth in figurative language so my children can under-

stand.  There is one God, there are three persons a Father, Son

and spirit who share attributes, life and communion.  But at the

same time totally separate.

So we do not believe men can become gods.  And that gods can

impregnate women.  This is why the orthodox Christians consider

the teaching of the Mormon Church as false; because the bible

teaches there is one God and three persons.  Not that there are

many Gods.

  Now if a Muslim comes along he immediately thinks the same

thing the Mormons do.  Are you saying God the Father is a

physical being, who inhabits a body impregnates a Jr High Girl and

Jesus is born Making him the Son of God.  They would tell you

that is scandalous, that is horrible, that can’t be true, so they reject

the teaching that Jesus is the Son of God!  There is a lot of things

we disagree with Muslims but on this we agree: it is not sound

teaching to say God is a physical being who is intimate with a Jr

High Girl!  They would say that is wrong and it is wrong! 

Once again both Mormons and Muslims do not believe in the

trinity.  They do not believe that Jesus is God!  They do not believe

Jesus is both the Son of Man and the Son of god, because God

cannot die, so he must have swooned on the cross.  So they

would say Jesus is a prophet but he is not god!  They may even

say he was the best man who ever lived until Mohamed came

along.  They would go so far to say He is a Prophet.

Our response should be something like this. . .If as the scriptures

testify Jesus claimed not to be a prophet but the only God, how

can you call him a prophet?  You can’t say Jesus is a good man, if

he says he is god.  They would say that’s wrong, then how can

you say he is a good man?  What that actually makes him is a liar,

You cannot say he is a good man and prophet who lied about

being God.  That would make him a false prophet. 

So, who Is Jesus?  I believe all accounts point to One God, who came as the Man named; 

Jesus.  This God Man Jesus gave himself as atonement for Man’s sin. For God so loved 

the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not 

perish, but have everlasting life.   Truly God is merciful and Compassionate.

Every chapter in the Quar’an begins with “In the name of God, the merciful, the 

compassionate.” This is a truth that both Muslims and Christians should agree on 

Allah (Arabic for God) is compassionate and merciful. Let us be like Allah 

compassionate and merciful to one another.

Be God’s

Roger Miller

AMAZING GRACE

Snippet

Above all the grace and the gifts that Christ gives to his beloved is that of overcoming self.

Francis of Assisi

Scripture

But God’s mercy is great, and he loved us very much. 5 Though we were spiritually dead because of the things we did against God, he gave us new life with Christ. You have been saved by God’s grace. 6 And he raised us up with Christ and gave us a seat with him in the heavens. He did this for those in Christ Jesus 7 so that for all future time he could show the very great riches of his grace by being kind to us in Christ Jesus. 8 I mean that you have been saved by grace through believing. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God. 9 It was not the result of your own efforts, so you cannot brag about it. 10 God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us to do good works, which God planned in advance for us to live our lives doing. Ephesians 2:4-10 NCV

Song

Amazing Grace by Alan Jackson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ogxLNlgKM8c

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound

that saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found;

was blind, but now I see.

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,

and grace my fears relieved;

how precious did that grace appear

the hour I first believed.

Through many dangers, toils, and snares,

I have already come;

'tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,

and grace will lead me home.

When we've been there ten thousand years,

bright shining as the sun,

we've no less days to sing God's praise

than when we first begun.

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound

that saved a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found;

was blind, but now I see.

Sentence Prayer

Lord!  Have Mercy on me, a sinner!  Amen

TO MY MUSLIM BROTHERS AND SISTERS

Recently on twitter I had given a new follower the following greeting; 

Thanks for the follow!  He is Risen, Indeed!  A Muslim Brother replied 

back with several questions that will take some thought and time. 

The first question was Who was he? Then after several direct 

messages; he followed up with, What's his rank? Who is his 

mother? What is her rank?  I believe we could summarize the question 

like this who is Jesus?

            This is my initial response: I am certain we have theological 

many theological differences. But what we can agree on is there is just 

one God!  My friend replied; “My intention is not to argue, but I'm 

glad we agree that God is one. No equals, no sons, or any deity 

associated with Him.”

To begin let me state; arguing is not my intention either.  I do not find 

arguing very useful, but listening and discussing very helpful.  I am 

certain I have misconceptions about Islam, just as my friend has 

misconceptions about Christianity.  Muslims and Christians both 

have distorted the truth, A careful discussion I believe is a great start. 

Every chapter in the Quar’an begins with “In the name of God, 

the merciful, the compassionate.” This is a truth that both Muslims and 

Christians should agree on Allah (Arabic for God) is compassionate 

and merciful. Let us be like Allah compassionate and merciful to one 

another.

The person who sent me a direct message asked me to read Chapter 

3 of the Qur’an.  As I read the chapter, the main point the Qur’an 

was making is God is one! That is another point that Islam, Judaism 

and Christianity agree there is only one God.  We have vastly 

different approaches to the one God; who is the creator of heaven 

and earth.  Once again you may be surprised but the Qur’an agrees;

“Our God and your God is One; and it is to Him we submit.”  

(Qur’an 29:46)  In my limited understanding of Islam; we worship 

the same God.  The following reasons are why I believe we worship 

the same God. Muslims believe that Allah is:

1. Creator of everything

2. Eternal

3. All powerful

4. All knowing

5. Ever present

6. Lord over all

7. The God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the other

patriarchs

8. The One who spoke to Moses from the burning bush

9. The One who caused Jesus to be born of a virgin

10.The One who sent all true prophets

11.The Judge before whom we will stand on the Last Day

The differences begin to show up when we discuss the person of 

Jesus!  What I would say to my Muslims Brothers and Sisters is I 

have submitted to Allah and found peace with him, through Jesus.  

Sadly, I believe there is as many false misconceptions about Jesus 

in the Muslim world as there is of Allah in the Christian World.  I 

have written more than I intended for the first post, so the next post 

will seek to answer; “who is Jesus?”  To my Muslim brother thank 

you for great questions and causing me to think and pray.

Be God’s

Roger Miller

RAIN

Snippet

Suffering love is God’s strategy for overcoming evil.  His only strategy. God saves Through suffering.  Charles de Foucald said, “Not by his words or works, not even by miracles, but by his cross.” He overcame evil by surrendering to it in love and obedience.  (Brennan Manning Reflections for Ragamuffins pg 93)

Scripture

“Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy. 14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They do not belong to this world any more than I do. 17 Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth. 18 Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself as a holy sacrifice for them so they can be made holy by your truth.  John 17:13-19 NLT

Song

Bring on the Rain Jo Dee Messina & Tim McGraw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWYRfsjBNQk

Another day has almost come and gone

Can't imagine what else could go wrong

Sometimes I'd like to hide away somewhere and lock the door

A single battle lost but not the war ('cause)

[Chorus:]

Tomorrow's another day

And I'm thirsty anyway

So bring on the rain

It's almost like the hard times circle 'round

A couple drops and they all start coming down

Yeah, I might feel defeated,

And I might hang my head

I might be barely breathing - but I'm not dead, no ('cause)

[Chorus]

I'm not gonna let it get me down

I'm not gonna cry

And I'm not gonna lose any sleep tonight ('cause)

Tomorrow's another day

And I am not afraid

So bring on the rain

[Chorus]

Bring on the rain; bring on the rain

Bring on the rain

Bring on, bring on, the rain

Sentence Prayer

Father, bring on the rain and wash away the filth of evil.  Give me the courage to take up my cross this day, gladly bearing it with love and obedience.  Jesus, help us to see both the cross and the empty tomb as a reminder the rain will not last forever!  Help us look forward, by looking back at how your love has defeated every enemy that has opposed you.  Holy Spirit teach us how to dance in the rain, to drink up the challenges of this life. Holy Spirit protect us from the evil one.  Thank you for the rain.  Amen!

JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA

Snippet

But there's much more to Joseph of Arimathea than is found in the gospels. A whole host of other stories have grown up around him...

He was the first person to bring Christianity to Britain, having been sent with other disciples by St Philip

He built Britain's first church (some say this was actually the first church in the world)

He was Mary's uncle, and thus Jesus' great-uncle

He was a merchant who visited England to buy Cornish tin

He took Jesus with him to England when Jesus was a teenager (local legends say that among the places they visited were St Just in Roseland and St Michael's Mount)

He brought to England two vials containing the blood and sweat of Jesus (or two vials containing the sweat of Jesus)

He brought the Holy Grail to England and hid it in a well at Glastonbury, now called the Chalice Well

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/thepassion/articles/joseph_of_arimathea.shtml)

Scripture

Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away. 39 With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds[k] of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes. 40 Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth. 41 The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before. 42 And so, because it was the day of preparation for the Jewish Passover[l] and since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there. John 19:38-42 NLT

Song

Sail by AWOLNation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PPtSKimbjOU

Sail!

This is how I show my love

I made it in my mind because

I blame it on my A.D.D. baby

This is how an angel dies

I blame it on my own sick pride

Blame it on my A.D.D. baby

Sail!

Sail!

Sail!

Sail!

Sail!

Maybe I should cry for help

Maybe I should kill myself (myself)

Blame it on my A.D.D. baby

Maybe I'm a different breed

Maybe I'm not listening

So blame it on my A.D.D. baby

Sail!

Sail!

Sail!

Sail!

Sail!

La la la la la

La la la la la oh!

La la la la la,

La la la la la oh!

La la la la la,

La la la la la,

Sail!

Sail!

Sail!

Sail!

Sail!

Sail with me into the dark

Sail!

Sail with me into the dark

Sail!

Sail with me into the dark

Sail!

Sail with me into the dark

Sail!

Sail with me into the dark

Sail!

Sentence Prayer

Risen Christ,

You have risen indeed, my faith can no longer be kept secret.

Forgive me for giving into my fears.

Give me the courage to sail with you into new lands, to proclaim the gospel.  Amen

CHANGED

Snippet

The gospel is absurd and the life of Jesus is meaningless unless we believe that He lived, died, and rose again with but one purpose in mind: to make brand-new creation. Not to make people with better morals but to create a community of prophets and professional lovers, men and women who would surrender to the mystery of the fire of the Spirit that burns within, who would live in ever greater fidelity to the omnipresent Word of God, who would enter into the center of it all, the very heart and mystery of Christ, into the center of the flame that consumes, purifies, and sets everything aglow with peace, joy, boldness, and extravagant, furious love. This, my friend, is what it really means to be a Christian.” ― Brennan Manning, The Furious Longing of God

Scripture

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. Romans 6:1-7 NIV

Song

Changed by Rascal Flatts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVnMsW5J7gM

I came up out of the water

Raise my hands up to the Father

Gave it all to Him that day

Felt a new wind kiss my face

Walked away, eyes wide open

Could finally see where I was goin'

It didn’t matter where I been

I’m not the same man I was then.

I got off track, I made mistakes

Back slid my way into that place where souls get lost

Lines get crossed

And the pain won’t go away

I hit my knees, now here I stand

There I was, now here I am

Here I am

Changed

I got a lot of “hey I’m sorry's”

The things I’ve done, man that was not me

I wish that I could take it all back

I just want to tell 'em that

Tell 'em that

I got off track, I made mistakes

Back slid my way into that place where souls get lost

Lines get crossed

And the pain won’t go away

I hit my knees, now here I stand

There I was, now here I am

Here I am

I’ve changed for the better

More smiles, less bitter

I even started to forgive myself

I hit my knees, I’m here, I stand

There I was, now here I am

Here I am, here I am

I'm changed

Yes, I am

I’m changed for the better

Thank God, I'm changed.

Sentence Prayer

God, it wasn’t so long ago that we were mired in that old stagnant life of sin.  We let the world, which doesn’t know the first  thing about living, tell us how to live.  We filled our lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience.  We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat.  It’s a wonder, God, that you didn’t lose your temper and do away with the whole lot of us.  Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, you embraced us.  You took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ.  You did all this on your own, with no help from us!  Then you picked us up and set us down in the highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.  Amen!

(Praying from Ephesians 2:1-10 Message Eugen Peterson Practice Resurrection Study Guide Pg 23)