T.J.I.F.A.

THANK JESUS IT'S FRIDAY AGAIN!

PASS IT ON ...& ON...& ON...& ON
MARCH 28, 2003

SUBJECT: SEPARATENESS

LAST WEEK, PETER WAS REBUKED BY JESUS.  THIS WEEK, PETER IS CORRECTED ON THE MOUNT OF TRANSFIGURATION BY THE  VOICE FROM THE CLOUD.  AS  HE FOLLOWS JESUS ALONG THE WAY TO HIS RESURRECTION, PETER IS EXPERIENCING THAT WHICH CANNOT POSSIBLY BE LEARNED IN THE CLASSROOM.  WE, ALSO ARE LEARNING THROUGH HIS ERRORS AND CORRECTIONS HOW TO RENEW OUR THINKING ABOUT JESUS, THE CHRIST.

NOTEWORTHY: BMCC SUBMITS A PRAYER FROM AN UNKNOWN CONFEDERATE SOLDIER.  VERY FAMILIAR AND TIMELY.

HAVE YOU WONDERED ABOUT DIABETIC RISKS?  HERE IS A LIST TO KEEP YOU ON YOUR TOES.  MANY PEOPLE HAVE UNDIAGNOSED DIABETES, WE WANT OUR READERS INFORMED. TER

FRIDAY'S WORD: INEFFABLE

IN THE MIRROR: S.L.C. ASKS A QUESTION

O TASTE AND SEE: A BROWN SUGAR CARAMEL POUND CAKE..OOPS

LOOKING FORWARD


SEE YA NEXT TIME

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SEPARATENESS

Marriage emphasizes unity to the _expression of ‘One Flesh.'  A union which is so enmeshed that it no longer has  seams or defects yielding DIVISION.  The Word of GOD also speaks of the UNITY of faith, in  which all believers should BE PARTICIPANTS.  .

In Mark 9:2-10;  Jesus taketh with Him Peter, James and John and leadeth them up unto a high mountain apart by themselves  And He was transfigured before them.  And His raiment became  shining,  exceeding white as snow so as no fuller on earth could white them.    And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses and they were talking with Jesus, and Peter answered and said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here,  and let us make three tabernacles one for Thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias."  For he wist not what to say, for they were sore afraid.    And there was a cloud that overshadowed them and a voice came out of the cloud saying, "This is my Beloved Son hear Him."  And suddenly when they looked around about, they saw no man. Anymore, save Jesus only with themselves.  And as they came down from the mountain He charged them that they should tell no man what things they had seen until The Son of Man had risen  from the dead.

These three disciples had no idea what would take place on the mountain with Jesus.  They only knew  that they had been chosen to go up ‘a little higher' with the Master, so, in obedience, off they went. It was here that the Jesus they knew, was  transfigured  before their eyes.   

It's interesting to note that there is no recorded utterance from James or John.  The only reaction is that of being afraid.  But, Peter, has things to say.  Peter reminds us of one who blurts out whatever is on his mind at the time.  So, being true to his  personality he speaks: ‘Let's build Tabernacles for each one of them.'  

The natural tendency of man is to see; take and keep.  But the way of the Cross is to believe; receive and GIVE!   Just to look into Peter's thoughts a little, he probably thought, just as you or I, that since Jesus brought him to this place and allowed him to see these great things, then, surely Jesus wanted this ordeal to be SEPARATE from the mundane.   And what better way to SEPARATE this than to build dwelling places ‘on the mountain top' for these great men and Jesus.     Then, Peter, John and James could STAND GUARD  with their swords and keep everybody else away.   But, why did Jesus come?  Did He come to be SEPARATED?  Did He come to break the faith into denominations?  Did He come for a few or for many?  

These are the questions that must be answered when we find ourselves BREAKING  UP AND BEING    PULLED, LIKE METAL TO  MAGNETS, TO A PLACE THAT CLAIMS TO HAVE ‘IT.'

The Pharisees  wanted to see  SEPARATENESS in Christ IF indeed He was the Christ.  In Mark 2:16  they reviled Him and His disciples  for eating with sinners and publicans.  Many people will deny and rebuke you when you give the Gospel to those that others think shouldn't have ‘It.'  Or they may FEEL like the disciples in Mark9:38-41, "John answered and said unto Him, "Master, we saw one casting out devils in Thy Name and he followeth NOT us and we forbade him for he followeth not us."  And Jesus said, "Forbid him not for there is no man which shall do a miracle in  My Name that can lightly speak evil of Me.  But he that is not against us is on our part.   For who so ever shall give you a cup of water to drink in My Name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward."
   
It took the voice of GOD to stop the babbling of Peter on the mountain.  It takes the POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT to bring about an understanding in the Church of Jesus Christ.  

Jesus has a Bride; it is the Church of Jesus Christ.  Just as He never picked out certain nationalities, He hasn't picked out certain denominations.    Denominations were put in place by man who can't get along with other men.  In it's own right, it is exclusive and separate from others who don't act, look, worship, pray or serve as it does.  SEPARATENESS.    Jesus didn't come for separateness, unless it is the separateness from the world and  its system.  It is written, "Ye are in the world, but not of the world."  In participation, we are separate.  In sin, we are separate.  In unbelief, we are separate.  But, as the Body of Jesus Christ, we are united.  We are the Church made of living epistles.  The same precious Blood that was shed on Calvary flows through the church.  Note:   (Blood Type is the determinating factor in proving paternal relationship.)   

In this unity we are to be so united that when others see us they see Jesus.  Like a marriage.  After  YEARS of  being together, a married couple begins to speak and think alike.  When the children come with a question, they know that going to mother is like going to father, and vice versa.   Their answers are without division or separation.  The inhabitants in marriage can speak for one another  write checks; drive one another's car; occupy  property together; share monetary benefits as well as the lack of benefits;  share joy and mourning.    

If we could only understand our goal...UNITY...we would then enjoy the journey  Together, united ; without separation.  We'd then have the ability to offer a cup of cold water to our brethren in Jesus Name.  But, as long as we look on the outside at obvious differences, and yearn to adhere to only those who resemble ourselves, there will be ... SEPARATENESS.  

Looking Forward

See Ya Next Time

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NOTEWORTHY:
A PRAYER
BY AN UNKNOWN CONFEDERATE SOLDIER  

I asked GOD for strength that I might achieve,
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.  
I asked for health, that I might do greater things, I was given infirmity that I might do better things.
I asked for riches, that I might be happy,
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.  
I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of GOD.  
I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.  
I got nothing that I asked for,
But everything that I had hoped for.  
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered am among all men,
Most richly Blessed.

Submitted by     BMcC

Merely anticipating a funny event can improve your mood.
From: Health and Nutrition January 2003 "

16,000 Americans have Diabetes and many of them don't know it.    The following risk factors should be noted:

-Impaired Fasting Glucose.  If the level of fasting glucose in the blood is between 110 and 125 mg.  You are not quite diabetic, but your risk is high.    As well as the increase risk of heart disease and death.

-Age - Your increase risk of Type 2 Diabetes increases with age.  Specifically those over 40 years old.

-Over weight - The more overweight you are the more resistant your own cells become to your own insulin, produced in the pancreas.

-Family History - If you have a family history of Diabetes this increases the risk.

-Race - -Blacks; Hispanics and American Indian; all have  particularly high rates of incidence of Diabetes.  

-Inactivity - The less physically inactive that you are the more at risk you are for Diabetes.   Physical activity helps you control your weight uses up Blood Sugar as energy, makes cells more  sensitive to insulin, increases blood flow, and improves circulation. In even the smallest blood vessels.      It also adds muscle mass, which improves use of glucose.  
If you have one or more risk factors, you may want to  talk with your Doctor about getting your blood glucose levels tested and you may want to take steps to control your Blood Sugar.  

From: Mayo Clinic Newsletter January
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FRIDAY'S WORD: ineffable-in*ef*fa*ble; (adjective) inexpressible, unable to be expressed or described in words
(This would be a good word to help describe why God had to ‘show' Jesus' love within us, and through us)

IN THE MIRROR:
If someone were to ask you, "What are the Conditions?" You might respond,"Conditions to what?"

There's a passage in scripture I've always been attracted to in the 14th chapter of Luke  25-33. Why? Because of the candid, uncensored, honesty of Jesus. The Bible tells us that a great‘ multitude' was with Him,  and He turned and began to minister to them about discipleship. I never had a difficult time imagining the love that He had for people as He spoke to every one who would follow Him.

Walking the earth He possessed a perfect knowledge of man because He created mankind, and knew that man has an innate propensity where  there are conditions or terms  in which he must abide  by. All of Life, and everything that we will ever have any real faith or trust in will certainly have accompanying conditions. We either accept, or reject anything based on our knowledge, or understanding of it's usefulness to us.

Jesus takes it from the apex, which is where He always begins. He always underscores ‘discipleship', because it's vital to everything else that we will ever learn about Him, and essential in our willingness to follow Him through the most difficult areas  of life.
Central to every teaching, doctrine, and principle, are Eternal goals; Eternal values; and that's not only what He was telling His followers of that day, but He's still at work letting us be aware of this very truth today.

He never rejected anyone that came to Him, and as He's saying, "he cannot be my disciple," He's simply saying, ‘IT WON'T WORK.'
According to the Bible, Jesus is incessantly making us aware that if we come to Him under the conditions of the revelations of Scriptures, we will find all our needs met [Matt.6:33] in this life, and the life to come.

This message is especially dedicated to all the families who may have a loved one in the Armed Services. May you take extra comfort in knowing that Jesus Christ has already made a way for that loved one by bearing Calvary's Cross for you, and for me.

There's not a Condition in your life that cannot be changed today through a saving faith in CHRIST JESUS!

S.L.C.
O TASTE AND SEE!


BROWN SUGAR POUND CAKE

3   STICKS BUTTER
1   BOX DARK BROWN SUGAR
5   EGGS
1   CUP MILK
3   CUPS CAKE FLOUR
½   TSP  SALT
1  TSP BAKING POWDER
1   TSP VANILLA

DIRECTIONS:

CREAM BUTTER AND SUGAR
ADD EGGS AND BEAT WELL.
ADD FLOUR SIFTED WITH SALT AND BAKING POWDER AND ALTERNATE WITH MILK.
ADD VANILLA.
BAKE AT 350 F FOR ONE HOUR.

CARAMEL ICING:
1   BOX LIGHT BROWN SUGAR
1   SMALL CAN EVAPORATED MILK
1/3   STICK BUTTER
POWDERED SUGAR

DIRECTIONS;
BRING SUGAR, MILK AND BUTTER TO A HARD BOIL.
THICKEN TO SPREADING CONSISTENCY WITH POWDERED SUGAR.  POUR OVER  WARM CAKE.
 
SUBMITTED BY: BMCC  BAKE A CAKE FOR A NEIGHBOR.

BRING YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD CLOSER TOGETHER.