A Brief Break ...

"For me, reason is the natural organ of truth; but imagination is the organ of meaning. Imagination, producing new metaphors or revivifying old, is not the cause of truth, but its condition." C.S. Lewis


The Traveler's Gift was recommended to me by a co-worker. What caught my attention was a scene described to me about a warehouse that held all the things given up on. This concept drove me to find a copy of this book. Something about a such a place drew me to want to read this book. The ideal and concept of never giving up on my dreams has always been a part of my character and has been nourished in me since I was young and encouraged by great teachers in my life.


The Traveler's Gift is a real treat. A travel through time to learn lessons that will ultimately build into truth that we should have all learned at a young age. This book by Andy Andrews involves a man by the name of David Ponder who is at a cross roads in life. Faced with hard times with finances, family and career David feels as though life is out of his control. Through a series of events he ends up traveling through time meeting people of importance all who have something to teach him. It is by following Mr. Ponders. journey that we ourselves are enriched. 


I do not want to ruin this great adventure that awaits you. Take a read and let me know your thoughts...

I Peter

I Peter 

Summary: Peter was a young successful fisherman when he met Jesus. Not even in the prime of his life he was called to follow Son of God. Traveling through out the country side seeing miracles and preforming them in Jesus' name Peter experienced many things as a disciple. Impulsive, brash and vibrant Peter had by this time in his life been beaten, jailed and threatened. He saw first hand Christians die and churches scattered. This is a letter in response to the tribulation being face at the time. 

Things I Noticed:

1.  According to God's great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading kept in heaven for you.

2. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.
3. Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
4. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passion of your former ignorance.
5. Jesus was know before the Earth was laid but was made manifest in the last times for our sake.
6. Having, purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another  earnestly from a pure heart.
7. As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious.
8. You yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house to be holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
9. A people of his own possession...Once you were not a people, nit mow you are God's people.
10. Beloved, abstain for the passions of the flesh which wage war against your soul.
11. Keep your conduct among unbelievers honorable, so when they speak against you calling you ignorant, the same as them or hypocrites, the may see your lives, actions and deeds glorify God...
12. Live free not using your freedom in grace to cover-up evil but as servant to God.
13. Honor everyone, Love the those who call Christ savior, and Honor the President.
14. For this is a gracious thing, when mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
15. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
16. Have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repeat evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain blessing.
17. 1 Peter 3:18-21 Baptism is as understood through the concept of Noah and the cleaning of water.
18. Since Christ suffered in the flesh prepare your mind in the same way.
19. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling.
20. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith , knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood through out the world.

We're into some of the shorter letters of the New Testament next is Peter's follow up. As I still travel with Job through his journey of woes and wisdom. Till then, Read up, Post up, and Shalom.

Book Of Matthew

 Matthew

Summary: What can drive a person to persecute and be little another. Could it being pick-on as a child, maybe short comings in school, whatever it maybe some people look for vengeance in their profession. A tax collector in the of Jesus was a hated profession. They where seen as traitors to Israel, they where known for over taxing and taking the extra for themselves and they end up being hated in any jewish community. Jesus on the other hand had compassion on tax collectors and was scandalized for spending time with them. Still his example of tenderness went to the next level when he saw Matthew. The lost look he saw in that young tax collectors eyes sung to Jesus heart and he call to Matthew to follow him. Matthew wasted no time and left his scales and ledger. It was a moment that turned his world around and led him to a loving adventure with the creator of the universe. This book is a piece of that story a memory for Matthew.  

Things I Noticed:

1. Wise men from the east.

2. Blessed are  (the whole beatitudes ).

3. ...Not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.

4. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?
5. And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others?
6. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
7. And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.
8. Forgive others so your Heavenly Father will forgive you. (Matthew 6:14)

9. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
10. No man can serve two Masters, for either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. (You can only give yourself whole heartedly to one cause.)
11. And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
12. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you.
13. Ask and keep asking like knocking on your next door neighbors till he opens up and lends you what you ask. Pound away, loudly and repetitively. Cause if you seek you shall find it. (Matthew 7:7)
14. How much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
15. Behold, I am sending you out as sheep in the midst of wolves, so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves.
16. When they deliver you over do not be anxious how you are to speak or what you are to say, for what you are to say will be given to you in that hour. for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.
17. and you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. 

18. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is heaven, but whoever denies me before men. I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.
19. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
20. The one who receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet's reward, and the one who receives a righteous person because he is a righteous person receives a righteous person's reward. And whoever gives one of these little ones eve a cup of cold water because he is a disciple, truly I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.
21. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and not knows the Father except the Son and anyone whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
22. I am gentle and lowly of heart, and you will find rest for your souls
23.Whoever is not with em is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
24. But what come out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defiles a person.
25. Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.
26. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven.
27. Matthew 16:19 & Matthew 18:18 Discuss the Authority of Binding and loosing things in heaven.
28. But many who are first will be last and the last first.
29. The greatest is the servant to all.
30. If you have faith and do not doubt... And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.
31. Whoever humbles himself will be exalted.
32. Weightier matters are Law, Justice, and Mercy and Faithfulness
33. And because of Lawlessness will be increased the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. (As a Jew Jesus would refer to Torah or Law and the Lack of Torah which is Lawlessness.)
34. For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even elect.
35. Sun will darken, the moon will not give light and the stars will fall from the heavens.
36. Watch and pray that you may not enter unto temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
37. And the CURTIAN that was the symbol of division between man and God tore in two from top to bottom.
38. The Angels appearance was like LIGHTNING and his clothing as white as SNOW.
39. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
40. And Behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.

Well,  I finished reading about Matthew which conclude our journey with the tax collector. Traveling back to through the books of wisdom I now sit with Job and his friends learning of woes and wisdom. I plan on also reading Peters letter. Till then, Read up, Post up, and Shalom.