Matthew 4 – 7, Funny Billboards, and Kite Flying

Matthew 5 – 7

When I first read the Beatitudes in the New Living Translation, I wasn’t sure if I liked the change from “Blessed are” to “God blesses those who,” but after I thought about it for a while, I decided I like the NLT version better. “God blesses those” seems much more personal and active than “Blessed are.” We have already read a somewhat shortened record of this event in Luke, but Matthew gives us much more detail.

Jesus speaks so poetically and so eloquently, yet in words everyone listening to would understand. Wouldn’t you like to have been there. He uses common objects to drive his meaning home, e.g. the salt of he earth and the light of the world. I’m sure he caused a lot of people to think about the depth of the Ten Commandments. It’s not just a sin to kill someone, but also to be angry with someone, i.e. not forgive someone. In other words, it’s not just the actual acts that condemn us, but our thoughts and what is in our hearts.

He warns about our motives for doing good deeds, or fasting, or praying, or giving to the poor. We shouldn’t do it to be seen and praised by others. There is so much truth in these three chapters, we could discuss it for months. Interesting that Matthew 7 ends with the passage about where wise and foolish men build their houses and the result.

Tomorrow, we’ll read Matthew 8: 1 – 13 and Luke 7.

Funny Billboards

It seems I am not the only one a bit (a bunch) upset with our Prez....?? Highway billboard attacking Obama inspires heated newspaper letters: a billboard in West Plains showing a caricature of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama wearing a turban and using his middle name - Hussein - in quotes has sparked outrage and accusations of racism Look at the bot tom of the sign to see who paid for it. Love it!!   5 miles east of Clovis , New Mexico on Highway 60-70-84. That's the Texaco highway for those of you who don't know. Please send this to all your friends and ask them to do the same... We are really going to have to work to limit him and his administration to one term. Thanks …………… If you get this more than once, keep sending it around in case we forget the damage he has done.

It would be nice to keep this going until November 2012...

Kite Flying

This guy is pretty amazing and the music is outstanding – be amazed...I sure was...watch it to the end,,,for sure!

Ray Bethell, a resident of Vancouver, B C, is one of the most famous kiteflyers in the world.  He controls three kites in a ballet set to "The Flower Duet".....

It is neat.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=nr9KrqN_lIg

Until next time…