ANGELS CAME
For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.
When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
ON VIDEO [Angels came]
.I recount the journey from New Jersey to Texas as a young kid
.The Dream
.Miguel
.How did we decide Texas? On a coin flip
.The hospital ‘church’ days- Kingsville
.North Bergen High School
.Bon Jovi
.The communion of the saints is real
.Family Altar
.Union city
.Yes- Trump n Russia too
.Cathedral- Court house- Caller Times
.Catholics and Protestants
.The church has a voice too!
.Yes Pilate- we mention you every Sunday brother [Suffered under Pontius Pilate]
And there appeared an angel unto him from heaven, strengthening him.
ON VIDEO [See the angel]
.The journal
.The angel
.North Bergen
.Super Nova
Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If it be marvellous in the eyes of the remnant of this people in these days, should it also be marvellous in mine eyes? saith the Lord of hosts.
NEW- I made the video on the spur of the moment- because I wanted to share what happened- before I forgot.
I have been talking some about seeing some of my friends who have died- in dreams.
On the video I mentioned how we have some famous stories in the bible about dreams.
So- I wanted to tell one more- as soon as I woke up- a verse came to my mind- but I didn’t connect the two right away [the dream and the verse].
So- it was a real time example of how God can speak to us at times.
Right after I turned the camera off- I opened my journal and sure enough- there it was!
‘There what was’?
Well- you will have to watch the videos- sorry about that [the 2nd video is short- you probably can ‘get it’ by just watching it- I myself do not watch videos- I review mine- but if I go to a news site- and a video pops up- if I can’t mute it right away- I leave]
When I do off the cuff videos- even regular teaching ones- you have no real plan on every thing you will say-
I found it interesting how I got into Pilate near the end- and sure enough- we have another famous bible dream in his case as well-
So yes- I guess I was supposed to speak on dreams this day-
And I did.
New Living Translation
"And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides.
"And there will be strange signs in the sun, moon, and stars. And here on earth the nations will be in turmoil, perplexed by the roaring seas and strange tides.
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
PAST POSTS [verses below]
I ‘rambled’ about a lot of stuff today- below are some past teachings I did that relate- [Verses below]
http://corpuschristioutreachministries.blogspot.com/p/protestant-reformation-luther-1766-lil_25.html
Okay- let’s try and transition a bit.
In the last Philosophy post I hit on the 10th-14th century development of modern thought- today I want to jump into the 16th-18th centuries. Like I said in a previous post- after the Renaissance and the Reformation and the great scientific revolution- you had the world in somewhat of a tailspin.
What I mean is for hundreds of years people trusted in the old institutions [like the Catholic Church] to tell them what was true or false- then with the development of all these modern movements people began questioning stuff.
Was it good to question things? Sure. But some challenged the very foundations of thought and knowing [called Epistemology] and went a bit too far.
Some thinkers went back to the thought of Plato [400 years BC] and said that the mind is the main source of all knowledge- these were the 17th century Rationalists.
Rationalism- as a philosophy- was an outgrowth of all the great strides that man was making in all these other areas of life. The Scientific Revolution totally challenged the age old beliefs of many in the church.
Math became a sort of new ‘god’. How so? As science invented the Microscope and Telescope- man was able for the first time to peer deeply into the heavens- and to see deeply into the microscopic world.
As the great minds [Copernicus] showed us that the Universe was different than what we thought [Heliocentric versus Geocentric] man was able to do mathematical calculations and to say that a specific planet or star [or Comet] would show up at an exact date- or spot- and Walla- it would happen [you could look thru the Telescope and sure enough the math was right- the object that was calculated to be there- was.]
These calculations were mathematical formulas- so math began to be seen as the new religion in many ways.
There are even some thinkers in the modern day that still say the only ‘real truth’ that exists is mathematical formulas. Yeah- one guy wrote an entire book on the subject- the problem? Well- his book was not written in math- but words.
Yes- even the extreme deniers of Objective truth do make mistakes.
Now- what’s wrong with rationalism? Of course being rational is okay- but the philosophy itself denied real Objective truth. Truth that corresponds to some other ‘outside’ reality.
This form of thinking [rejecting outside reality] is called Relativism/Subjectivism. While there is some truth to all the various fields of thought- yet extreme Relativism denies ‘reality’ as most of us understand the term. There was a strong resistance to the 17th century rationalists- we call this Philosophy Empiricism.
The main thinker in this field was John Locke. Locke lived most of his life in the 17th century- but his thought laid the foundation for the 18th century Empiricist.
This philosophy says that the mind does indeed play a major role in the knowledge of things- but this knowledge does not originate in the mind [Plato] but in the ‘thing’ itself [Aristotle- remember when we covered these men? Plato was an idealist- Ideas were more real than matter. Aristotle was a Realist- closer to the thought of Locke].
Locke developed a theory called the Correspondence theory- that truth that the Mind discovers corresponds to real things that actually exist apart from the mind.
Locke was a practicing doctor- and most of the other thinkers of the day had room to speculate about reality in a way that Locke could not.
He lived in a real world with real patients who had real symptoms- in a nutshell Locke had to diagnose his patients based on his findings- he could not deny that there was a real problem- he had to have his ‘feet on the ground’ [based in reality] while engaging with his head up high.
Okay- I think we’ll end with this. Maybe you can go back and read some of my previous posts on this subject- just to become a little more familiar with it.
As Christians- we are not ‘required’ to know Philosophy- or current events- or science- but it helps us engage the culture when we do educate ourselves in these areas.
Go slow in learning [not too slow!] and try and see how the Christian Worldview agrees with- or rejects certain aspects of these different felids of thought.
Most Christians would reject Rationalism as a Philosophy- because it denies real objective truth- it says truth is relative- whatever the mind can conceive- or think- can be defined as truth [Unicorns?]
Biblical truth is based on real historic events- 1st Corinthians chapter 15 says that if we deny the physical resurrection of Christ- a real event- then our faith is in vain.
Christians base their faith on a real historic event- not simply on a belief system.
[parts]
One of the first experiments with people saying ‘we will throw off the church and king’ was what we call the French Revolution.
It took place right at the end of the 18th century- right before the Napoleonic wars.
It was a Secular [non religious] effort to depose the rule of govt we call Monarchy [King and Queen] and it resulted in the Guillotine and beheading of many Catholic priests and leaders.
It was truly a rebellion that got way out of hand.
Yesterday- one of the current Repub candidates for president made headlines when he compared Obama’s recent ‘anti religious’ actions to the French Revolution.
One commentator [CNN] said the rebels were all Catholics and that to say the revolution hurt the church was wrong.
This man [Paul Begala] had no idea what he was saying- its sad that they say misinformed statements like this to such a wide audience.
Some of our founding fathers were fans of John Locke [Jefferson] and our country drew up the founding documents during a time when these ideas were ripe and were seen as a new type of govt. for the people.
Thus- we have our Democracy today- for which I am grateful- do indeed think it’s the best in the world today- but it is not inherently ‘more just’ than all other styles.
[parts]
2ND KINGS 8:7-29 Elisha goes to Damascus and the king of Syria hears about it, he sends his servant to inquire ‘of the prophet’ whether or not he will get well from some sickness. The servant goes and finds Elisha and Elisha says ‘yes, he would recover. But instead he will die’. What ? Elisha sees that the sickness would not be fatal, but that the king will be assassinated! The servant in front of him will be the killer. So Hazael goes back to the king and says ‘he said you would get well’ true enough, but he left out the part where he was going to kill him! So the next day he does the deed and becomes the king. A few things, I find it interesting that the Syrian king had no problem receiving Gods prophet. They believed in prophets! Now, they did not have a ‘Christian/Judeo’ culture, but they had a religious background that accepted ‘messengers from God’. In today’s world the church needs to take advantage of the willingness of other world religions to listen to prophets. We need to appeal as much as possible to the Muslim world and use any agreement on religious things as a tool to share the gospel. Right after the 16th century reformation the world would embark on a couple hundred year age of exploration and colonization. The Protestants were good at exploring the seas and impacting Europe, but they failed at reaching the Far East. Instead the Catholic Church had great success thru the Jesuits at impacting the Far East. They would make inroads into Japan and China and eventually take the gospel to the influential city of Peking. The problem arose when the Dominicans and Franciscans [Catholic orders] came in after them. They felt that the Jesuits were too accommodating in mixing in the religious beliefs of the east along with Christianity. Many Chinese believers were still practicing a form of worshipping dead ancestors and stuff like that. The Jesuits justified this by seeing these things as cultural beliefs and felt like allowing them to ‘keep their culture’ along with the faith was okay, the Dominicans and Franciscans disagreed and took the argument to Rome. Eventually this disagreement would leave a bad taste with the leaders in China and all Catholic expressions of the faith would be banned. This is called Syncretism, the mixing of religious beliefs. Now, why get into this? Christians should appeal to the willingness of Muslims and other world religions to hear religious voices. Both Jews and Muslims believe in Jesus, now they don’t believe the way Christians believe, but we should take advantage of this basic belief when appealing to them. Muslims reject the doctrine of the Trinity, but a careful study of history shows us that the actual Trinity they are rejecting is not the Christian understanding. Muhammad was actually rejecting a skewed view of the Trinity that saw Jesus and God and Mary as the Trinity. Obviously a pretty big mistake. So we as believers should be willing to correct and give a word to the ‘Muslim messengers’ when they come looking for answers. We should give them credit where credit is due, like their development of apologetical arguments in the Middle Ages [the Kalaam cosmological argument] but at the same time present the uncompromising gospel of Jesus Christ to them. I side with the Franciscans and Dominicans on this one.
The govt. we see in the bible is Monarchy [mostly- Rome was Imperial- did have a senate and all- but in no way was it a democracy like we think of].
The point?
When we try to help these countries- when people rise up and protest- we must not simply jump to the conclusion that all of these rebellions are seeking- or will end up like the U.S.
We must not condemn all ‘monarchies’ as evil- the bible says there are just ones.
Kings can rule justly- be fair- and do good.
We should not assume that all ‘non western style democracies’ are evil- they are not.
Most of these present uprisings are in countries where you have what’s called Autocratic rule- not full ‘kingdoms’ with kings in the way we think.
Yes- I do think our experiment- based on the Enlightenment idea of govt. by and for the people is the best- but we must not assume all other types are inherently evil- nor should we be so quick to side- militarily will all rebels- like some already calling to arm the rebels in Syria.
The end result of these protests are not secure at all- it is highly doubtful that any of them will become ‘little U.S. of A’s’.
So we should call for non violence on all sides- we should stand on the side of innocent victims- be against all regimes that use military force on their people- but be realistic about the situation- violence [on all sides] is very rarely the answer- Sarkozy learned this lesson the hard way.
[parts]
2ND KINGS 8:7-29 Elisha goes to Damascus and the king of Syria hears about it, he sends his servant to inquire ‘of the prophet’ whether or not he will get well from some sickness. The servant goes and finds Elisha and Elisha says ‘yes, he would recover. But instead he will die’. What ? Elisha sees that the sickness would not be fatal, but that the king will be assassinated! The servant in front of him will be the killer. So Hazael goes back to the king and says ‘he said you would get well’ true enough, but he left out the part where he was going to kill him! So the next day he does the deed and becomes the king. A few things, I find it interesting that the Syrian king had no problem receiving Gods prophet. They believed in prophets! Now, they did not have a ‘Christian/Judeo’ culture, but they had a religious background that accepted ‘messengers from God’. In today’s world the church needs to take advantage of the willingness of other world religions to listen to prophets. We need to appeal as much as possible to the Muslim world and use any agreement on religious things as a tool to share the gospel. Right after the 16th century reformation the world would embark on a couple hundred year age of exploration and colonization. The Protestants were good at exploring the seas and impacting Europe, but they failed at reaching the Far East. Instead the Catholic Church had great success thru the Jesuits at impacting the Far East. They would make inroads into Japan and China and eventually take the gospel to the influential city of Peking. The problem arose when the Dominicans and Franciscans [Catholic orders] came in after them. They felt that the Jesuits were too accommodating in mixing in the religious beliefs of the east along with Christianity. Many Chinese believers were still practicing a form of worshipping dead ancestors and stuff like that. The Jesuits justified this by seeing these things as cultural beliefs and felt like allowing them to ‘keep their culture’ along with the faith was okay, the Dominicans and Franciscans disagreed and took the argument to Rome. Eventually this disagreement would leave a bad taste with the leaders in China and all Catholic expressions of the faith would be banned. This is called Syncretism, the mixing of religious beliefs. Now, why get into this? Christians should appeal to the willingness of Muslims and other world religions to hear religious voices. Both Jews and Muslims believe in Jesus, now they don’t believe the way Christians believe, but we should take advantage of this basic belief when appealing to them. Muslims reject the doctrine of the Trinity, but a careful study of history shows us that the actual Trinity they are rejecting is not the Christian understanding. Muhammad was actually rejecting a skewed view of the Trinity that saw Jesus and God and Mary as the Trinity. Obviously a pretty big mistake. So we as believers should be willing to correct and give a word to the ‘Muslim messengers’ when they come looking for answers. We should give them credit where credit is due, like their development of apologetical arguments in the Middle Ages [the Kalaam cosmological argument] but at the same time present the uncompromising gospel of Jesus Christ to them. I side with the Franciscans and Dominicans on this one.
Note- Do me a favor, those who read/like the posts- re-post them on other sites as well as the site you read them on. Thanks- John
[parts]
Nova story-
FOR WHERE A TESTAMENT IS- THERE MUST ASLO BE THE DEATH [or going away] OF THE TESTATOR- Hebrews.
1st week of December -2013
Well- I have been back in Texas for a couple of months now.
Our little halfway house is doing good- the friend I started it with last year has had lots of physical problems and I thru myself into this ministry again.
I also re-connected with the street crew- my original ‘gang’ from Texas.
And this past week I also got back in touch with Cameron.
I posted about Cameron right before I left Texas in 2013.
He was a new kid at the halfway house- was on probation [10 years!] and tested dirty on a drug test.
So- when I left Texas- he was back in jail.
He was released [once again] to the halfway house- and I have been getting with him this past week.
Took him to Bay Area Fellowship yesterday-might take him for a city cruise [like the apostle Paul said in the book of Acts ‘let’s go and visit all the cities we preached the gospel in’] today.
Yeah- I need to take a ride to Kingsville- Bishop- and maybe even Rio Grande city.
I met a new guy this week- Albert.
He spent a week at our halfway house- and had some ministry background.
Whenever we get a new guy- and he has some bible background- David [the guy I started the halfway house with] always wants me to meet him.
I’m sort of the Pastor for the halfway house.
So- I got with Albert on his last day with us [he only spent a week].
He’s from Robstown [an area city that’s known for drug dealing].
His wife has a church right on the border of Texas/Mexico.
He asked me if I knew where Rio Grande City was.
Heck- I spent 2-3 nights there about 10 years ago [a Firefighter school I went to].
So- God willing- I might take a trip to the area.
Albert worked as a missionary in this region years ago- it’s where his wife grew up.
But even he told me it’s very dangerous now- the drug runners will kidnap/kill you in a second.
So- do me a favor and pray for our safety- I do want to make the trip.
2-
Being I have not posted- or written any posts in 2 months- I want to give a brief update on the ‘North Bergen Crew’ [the street guys I befriended while in New Jersey].
The guys keep in touch with me regularly.
About 2 days ago Rick called [he’s the only one with a phone- or has my number [Nick too] - so the other guys ask how I’m doing and stuff- they were already asking when I’m coming back! Geez- not yet].
He gave me an update on the area- Rick moved to Hoboken about a month ago- but he still hangs out at the White Castle in North Bergen.
It’s funny- this spot became the meeting place for the crew- I used to eat at this restaurant when I was a kid.
Of course they rebuilt the thing- but it’s still in the exact spot.
Let me share one interesting story that happened the day before I left North Bergen.
During my 3 month trip- and before- the year was a year of Signs [dreams- visions- etc.]
Over the years I try not to talk too much about these experiences- because they are subjective- you never really know if the sign is ‘real’ or the person is simply wrong.
So- as those of you who read the site know- I try to teach in line with Historic Christianity.
Ok- when I ‘moved’ to North Bergen [the town I was raised in right across the Hudson River from New York City] I seriously thought I might move back for good.
The first 2 months back- I checked into housing- asked about the rents and all- and left the door open to stay.
In Texas I gave away/sold lots of my stuff.
I got rid of both my vehicles- and did the ‘sell what you have and come follow me’ thing.
As I sit here writing- I’m in an empty study- that used to be filled with my books.
I acquired- literally- thousands of dollars in books over the years.
I gave the majority of them away- to a church- before I left.
So yeah- I did leave the option open that I was leaving for good.
As time went on- I realized I will go back every year- for around 3 weeks [by the way- this year- 2014- my goal is to start some home bible studies- if anyone in the North Bergen/NYC area is interested- text me at 361-461-0588. My email never gets checked- so the best way is to message me].
Ok- because the rents were high- I wound up staying at my old house where I grew up as a kid.
My mom and sister still lived there.
I led my sister to the Lord many years ago- and she always viewed me as sort of her spiritual mentor.
When I told her I will be moving back to New Jersey- she was so happy!
The week before I flew back- she died.
So- for a few weeks I lived in her old downstairs apt- surrounded by all her little trinkets and stuff- and I would wake up early [around 3 or 4] and pray for about an hour or so in the yard.
Her cats [just like mine in Texas] knew what time I would be walking and praying- and they would wait for me in the yard- they love being petted when I do this. I pray with a stick in my hand- sort of a staff- and as they walk next to me I pet them. In Texas they follow me on the roof- it’s low- so I pet them right on the roof- they get so into it a few times they fell off trying to get noticed!]
There was a very real sense that the death of my sister would play a redemptive role in this whole journey.
It would take too much time to teach this now- but I felt she made a very real sacrifice as well as me- for the spiritual benefit of the town we grew up in.
When my friends die- I sort of include them in my payer time- not praying ‘to them’ but in a way ‘gathering’ all their prayers- and concerns- into one prayer community.
[Someday I will teach this entire theme from scripture- in Acts chapter10 it says the prayers of Cornelius came up as a ‘memorial before God’. In the book of Revelation we read about an Angel [messenger] casting a censor into the earth- and it was filled with the collected prayers of the people. These images speak of the spiritual reality of ‘collecting’ the prayers of others as you pray. Protestants are not very aware of this principle- Catholics are].
So- as you can imagine- the actual death of my sister- and me living in her apt. and driving her car [my mom gave me my sisters car- that is the car I’m driving right now in Texas- remember- I sold both my vehicles] were all giving me a real sense of the ‘partnership’ I had with my sister as we both were back in our old town- for the sake of the Kingdom of God.
So- one morning while I was going downstairs to the yard [I walked down thru an upstairs hallway- thru the old garage [which is now a finished apt.] where I kept many a dirt bike [and go cart!] back in the day- and down the alley into the yard.
This morning I had a sense of ‘what would you do if you saw your sister’.
It was eerie!
In the bible- there are just a few cases of ‘seeing dead people’ [not talking Bruce Willis and the 6th sense either].
One of the most famous is the story of the prophet Samuel during the time of King Saul.
In a scripture that’s been debated a lot- we read about a sort of soothsayer [Palm Reader type person] who brings back the dead prophet Samuel to appear to King Saul.
Obviously this can be used in many strange ways- some question the authenticity of whether the lady brought Samuel back.
As you read the account [off hand I forget the actual verse] it seems to say that she did indeed bring a dead guy back- not a raising from the dead- but an appearance of the soul/spirit of Samuel.
So- though I wouldn’t build a doctrine on the thing- yet stuff like this can happen.
Ok.
After I had this experience- of sort of sensing ‘what if you see Laura- who died’.
I got a chill- but simply prepared myself for some type of sign- which has happened a lot this year.
But nothing happened- yet.
So- one day my mom [whose house I was staying at] said ‘ok John- today before you run out [yeah- I got up early- and would take off most of the day- either walking New York City- or North Bergen- Union City- etc.- I wanted to run into as many street guys as possible before I left] I have a job for you and Patrick to do.
Patrick was a good friend of mine for many years- used to date my sister- and in a way I used to see him as the street friends I have made over the years.
He is a recovering addict- and we went to a lot of the NA meetings together.
So- Pat lives at my mom’s house- uses a spare bedroom- and I see him like a brother.
But- my mom would ask us to both do some type of job together- fix the fence- move some furniture- whatever.
And I realized it would be better for her to just give me the job- everyone else go out- and I’ll do it alone [you know-the micro manager type thing was a problem].
Not to be mean- but trust me- it worked better that way.
So a few days before I left- she asked ‘ok- you and Patrick need to paint 2 walls in the living room today [today? It will take me less than an hour- I used to paint houses for a living].
So- Pat bought all those little paint devices you see on TV- you know- the stuff the pro’s NEVER USE [Edger’s- sponge type brushes- Tape for the edges- EEK!]
I told mom ‘Please- just get me one good paint brush- a roller and paint- I don’t need all of these other things- including the tape to ‘tape the corners’.
Not to be mean- but the best way to do this is to simply ‘cut’ the area with a brush.
Over the years you learn to use the paint brush without going over the edge.
Anyway- she had some cheap little brush- and the roller and paint.
What the heck- I told her ‘please- you and Pat go in the other room- I’ll be done in around 30 minutes’.
I was- moved the furniture- laid a drop cloth- rolled and cut- under an hour- done.
Ok- my mom had just printed new pictures of my sister- and the night before I left I hung them up on this freshly painted wall.
So- as mom’s go- she wanted to buy me stuff for the road trip back to Texas.
She bought me this nice little road light [as a side note- 2 nights ago I started our first home church- this year I want to start a few of them- Texas- New Jersey- Switzerland. There were 2 little 5 year old girls- real sweethearts- they were the kids of some of our new team of young leaders that I’m enlisting for this new mission- they somehow got a hold of this light- and they were having so much fun running thru the house- in the yard- flashing this light].
You know- if you get a flat the thing blinks and all- roadside emergency type light.
As we are sitting in the living room- I am opening up the package- trying to get the car packed before the morning [I left just a few hours after this].
And my mom walks into the living room and sees me with the light- and the batteries still in the package- unopened.
She says ‘Oh- the light works real nice- but how did you get it to work without the batteries’.
I said ‘what do you mean- it’s not on’.
She looked puzzled- she is standing in front of the wall with my sisters new pictures- and she says ‘John- your light is flashing- I’m looking at Laura’s picture- don’t you see it flashing’.
Ok- I knew this was the ‘sign’ I sensed a few nights earlier- a sort of Open Vision- where you see something while awake.
Now- as I convinced her the light was not on- she began to panic- she kept asking ‘don’t you see it flashing John- it’s so bright!
I sat her down and walked her through it.
I told her ‘mom- I don’t see it flashing- but if you do- I believe you’.
I told her it’s possible that Laura- in a way- is saying ‘John- I really was part of this whole adventure you just had- I’m up here- with your other friends who have died- the ones you ‘have gathered’ as a communion of Saints- I’m saying goodbye on your last night in North Bergen- OH- thanks for petting my cats’.
Now- I simply tried to explain to my mom that I felt God had told me a few days before that I would indeed see some type of sign from my sister.
Surely this must have been it.
[By the way- thanks for the car Laura- it’s truly the best running car I ever had. It drove back to Texas great- everyone compliments me on it].
NOTE- One of the bible verses that was impressed on my mind this year was from the book of James ‘Every good and perfect gift comes from above- from the FATHER OF LIGHTS’. If you remember- this year I posted about seeing a Supernova one morning while up praying in the yard- and later that day there was the most viewed meteor ever- it took place in Russia.
These of course were LIGHTS- the above sign from my sister was a blinking light.
And right after I got back to Texas I was walking home from the local street mission where I meet the homeless crew.
As I walked under the highway overpass- I saw a homeless guy- who I never met before.
He caught my attention because he had this paint brush hanging from his belt- and it was actually the one I needed when I painted the wall in New Jersey [the one where my mom saw the picture flashing].
I walked up to the brother and hung out with him for about 30 minutes- right there off the street.
In about 5 minutes we were talking like we knew each other for years.
That’s the way the street guys live.
He told me after a few minutes-
‘We can tell when someone’s for real- that he really cares for the homeless’
He was simply saying he knew I wasn’t a fake.
As I talked with him- he told me his name was Orville and he’s been around for years.
I asked him if he knew ‘so and so….’
I usually rack up a bunch of names so the guys know I’m not making stuff up- that I have been around a while.
He knew the names I mentioned.
He told me he also sings gospel songs- and he wrote one.
Sure enough- he started singing- pretty good- right there.
Geez- like angels songs!
I asked him if he needed a few dollars.
He said ‘sure’.
And as has happened before- I open my wallet and I only have a five- no big deal- he got the 5.
He tells me ‘wait- I have a gift for you’.
Huh?
For me?
Right before I left North Bergen- I picked up a few things I thought I might need.
One was the little flashlight things that you hang on a key chain.
Every so often- you need a light to see where your stuff is when you’re parked on the side of the road- sleeping at the rest stops [I drove back and slept in the car overnight].
Sometimes when I need something- I try and wait a day or so before I buy it.
Because I either find I have an extra one laying around- or someone gives me one.
But- I bought a little Mag light- but it’s not too bright.
So- as I’m talking to this strange homeless brother- with ‘my’ paint brush on his belt.
He reaches under his shirt and pulls out a chain he has around his neck.
And he pulls off of the chain- you guessed it- one of the little lights I needed.
Man- the things is about 10 times brighter than the one I bought.
Cool!
I take the gift- which was sort of strange- the street guys usually don’t give out gifts.
I finish our talk- and off I went.
The next few days I ask the local street crew ‘Hey- I met some guy named Orville- he said he knew you- do you know the guy’.
One by one- no one knew him.
Ok- in the book of Hebrews it says ‘be careful to help strangers- because some have helped angels and they didn’t even know it’.
After my buddies did not know the guy- I went home later in the day and double checked if that light was for real- still in my drawer.
Sure is- bright as a little Nova.
I don’t know if Orville- the drunk gospel singer- was an angel or not.
But this year one of the verses was ‘FATHER OF LIGHTS’.
Felt it was cool either way.
VERSES- [here are just a few examples of God- angels coming to people in dreams]
But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, Behold, thou art but a dead man, for the woman which thou hast taken; for she is a man's wife.
And God said unto him in a dream, Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart; for I also withheld thee from sinning against me: therefore suffered I thee not to touch her.
And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in adream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.
And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.
And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
In Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream by night: and God said, Ask what I shall give thee.
But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost.
And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him.
But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
But when he heard that Archelaus did reign in Judaea in the room of his father Herod, he was afraid to go thither: notwithstanding, being warned of God in adream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:
When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
Michael the archangel verses-
But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.
But I will shew thee that which is noted in the scripture of truth: and there is none that holdeth with me in these things, but Michael your prince.
And at that time shall Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be delivered, every one that shall be found written in the book.
Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.
And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,
More verses I quoted-
10 Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
11 Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.
But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.
Note- Please do me a favor, those who read/like the posts- re-post them on other sites as well as the site you read them on- Thanks- John.#
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