The Agony of the Advent

 The Agonizing Parts of the Advent

 

1.    His own received him not. John 1

2.    Jesus’s family tree – filled with questionable women and men. Matthew 1

3.    Mentioning the deportation to Babylon.  Matthew 1

4.    The Barren Women…to The Virgin Woman  Matthew 1 and Luke 1

5.    Zachariah’s Doubt and Muted Voice. Luke 1

6.    Elizabeth’s private joy.  Luke 1

7.    Mary’s Doubt of the Angel.  “How can this be?”  Luke 1

8.    Zachariah’s reference to Darkness and Shadow of Death.  Luke 1

9.    Joseph’s Reluctance and Divorce Planning Matthew 1

10.Joseph joins Mary in the “Walks of Shame” Matthew 1

11.Taxes and Traveling Pregnant to Bethlehem. Luke 2

12.No Vacancy in the Inn. Luke 2

13.Laid in a Manger.  Icky.  Luke 2

14.Joseph delivers the Baby.  Were they married yet.  They had not been intimate. Awkward.  Luke 2

15.Shepherds are terrorized by an angel.  Luke 2

16.Shepherds Come for a Look.  Low-lifes, one and all.  Luke 2

17.Temple gifts required of even poor people.  Luke 2

18.Circumcision: Ouch Luke 2

19.Prescribed Religious Duties, Mary is “unclean” by childbirth.  Luke 2

20.Simeon’s Dire Words: Rising/Falling, Sign to be spoken against, and…as Sword. Luke 2

21.Anna’s words not being recorded.  Women’s speech is unimportant. Luke 2

22.The Magi’s partial prophetic understandings – Star: Yes.   Town: No.  Matthew 2

23.The star led them to…Jerusalem.  Oops.  Matthew 2

24.Herod’s Scheming and Syrupy Lie. Matthew 2

25.The wisemen are warned too late.  Matthew 2

26.The trudge to Egypt.  Matthew 2

27.The death of the Bethlehem Babies.  Matthew 2

28.Joseph’s need for constant angelic messages. 4 of them.  Matthew 1 and 2

29.The Holy Couple looses the Holy Pre-Teen.  John 2

30.The Holly Couple still don’t understand things…like “My Father’s House.”  John 2

Poem - His Brothers Knew

 

His Brothers Knew

O. Kris Widmer

Idea: 2/19/2021        Printed:  2/22/2021

Required:  Six Random Words from an Internet Generator

giants, noise, utter, stew, rock, throat

The stew was bubbling hot when he took it off the fire:

lentils, root vegetables and salt, with braised lamb.

The boy tied the lid down, then wrapped it all up in three woven fabrics,

Setting off on his feeding errand.

The noise of battle was abroad in the land,

and his brother’s swords made some of the clatter.

Their fears could be softened with some home cooking -

Mama’s jam, with some one grain bread.

The utterances; the “go to hell”‘s and hellos from the other side

Caused his eyes to narrow, his pulse to quicken;

He twirled the leather weapon in his belt with his middle finger.

“No one should be allowed to curse my God like that!”

The giants on the other side were dwarfed by their screaming leader.

He was undefeated and indefatigable.  He screamed morning and evening.

The boy’s king, his brothers and all the rest just stood there,

Looking down at their boots and the thousands of smooth stones.

The rock that ended up in the boys hand was round and hefty,

The size of a unknown caliber of a future cannon shot.

The brothers knew how this was going to end,

For they had seen their brother’s lion tooth necklace and bearskin rug.

The throat that once bellowed was suddenly silenced.

His last words are not repeatable here.

The neck that once joined head to shoulders was severed.

The forehead indented  with that rock.

The brothers knew how this was going to end.

The brothers knew…

Alvera Mickelsen - Order of Creation, Redemption and Climax Demands Female Supremacy

 

How Readest Thou?       How Do You Read it?

Introductory Comments by O. Kris Widmer, Adventist Minister and Chaplain

I have read much in the past 35 years regarding the pros and cons of the ordination of women to ministry in Christianity in general and my own branch of Protestantism – the Seventh-day Adventist Church.  

I have concluded that God created males and females to be equals in the home, church and society.  Any hierarchy due to sin, and is undone by the redemption of the Jesus – his example, his teaching, his death and resurrection.

It can be helpful to read the opinions of others, and what follows is a satirical piece by an Evangelical woman who worked all her life to teach the equality of the genders from a Bible perspective.  She wrote it to help people see that scripture is often interpreted according to the pre-conceived ideas of the speaker/writer/student.

When Jesus was asked a question about Biblical interpretation, he responded with a return question.  “What is written in the Law?  How do you read it?” Luke 10:26.  In studying any and all Bible texts, we must be honest with ourselves and answer two questions. 1.  What does the Bible say?  2.  What do I think it means?

I hope the reprinting of this piece will accomplish it’s intent – to help you think, and to advance the idea that the genders of humanity are equal before God.  This idea necessitates the equal recognition of ministry gifts in any and all churches – whether they have pastors, elders, priests, rabbis, imams or shamans.

Order of Creation, Redemption and Climax demands Female Supremacy

by Alvera Mickelsen

Mrs. Mickelsen founded Christians for Biblical Equality

She and her husband worked for years to help Evangelicals see men and women as equals before God and in ministry.  She died in 2016, at the age of 97.

Alvera Mickelsen: Life Biography and Tribute

Forward:

In light of the persistent emphasis on the assumed “order of creation” in Genesis 2, we present the following tongue-in-cheek look at the “order of creation, redemption and climax” to establish the subordination of men to women.  We believe our case has as much validity as the historical approach that sees the subordination of women in the order of creation. (The validity of both approaches, we believe, is equally non-existent.)

Article

In studying the early chapters of Genesis, before sin entered the world, we get a clear picture of God’s intention that females should dominate over males.

Let us first examine the order of creation that appears in Chapter 1.  The creation begins with chaos, darkness and void.  But God moves in an orderly way to change that chaos into a beautiful world in which human beings stand at the pinnacle.  First the light is separated from the darkness – day and night (first day). Then the waters are separated from the dry land (second day). Then the earth brings forth vegetation and plants (third day).  God next creates the sun, moon and stars (fourth day.) On the fifth day God makes animals, and finally, on the sixth day, God creates human beings.  The movement is clearly from chaos to harmony and order.

Chapter 2 refines this further as it tells how God creates man and finally woman – the pinnacle of his creation.  This second chapter indicates that God made the male as he made the animals and birds – from the dust of the ground.  Then he placed the male in the garden and told Adam (the male) to give each of them names.  In the process it was clear to both Adam and to God that the male was inadequate by himself for the responsibilities he had.  So God said he would make for Adam a strength and power corresponding to him.

Unfortunately, male translators have refused to recognize the clear force of the Hebrew word “ezer” used here and usually translated “helper”.  This word appears 21 times in the Old Testament and is nearly always used of God as he supports humans with his superior strength and power.  In the same sense, the woman “helps” the man with her superior strength and power and wisdom.

Adam clearly understood this subordinate relationship as is seen in Genesis 2:24, where the male says, “Therefore a man leaves his father and mother and cleaves to his wife, and they become one flesh.”  This surely indicates that the make is to be under the supervision of his father and mother until marriage, when he leaves them and “cleaves” (meaning “is glued to”) to his wife..  If God had intended the woman to be subordinate to the man, surely the Bible would say “For this reason a woman leave her mother and father and cleaves to her husband.”  If God has meant equality, the Bible would say “the man and woman will eave their mother and father and cleave to each other.”

This interpretation of the creation account is verified by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:7, where he writes, “woman is the glory of man (meaning mankind).”  This concept is further emphasized in 1 Corinthians 11:9 where Paul writes, “Neither was the man created for woman, but woman for man.”  He is obviously saying that woman was created because the man couldn’t get along with out her.  Paul then goes on in the next verse to say, “For this reason the woman ought to have authority over her head (the man).”  However, Paul seems to realize that what he is saying may tend to make the woman feel that she can lord it over the man, so he reminds woman, “nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman, for as woman was made from man (and is thus the pinnacle or glory of creation) so man is no born of woman.  All things are from God.” 

Satan clearly understood God’s hierarchy in the Garden of Eden for he approached Eve rather than Adam, knowing that she was the one in charge.  And when she handed the forbidden fruit to Adam, he ate some of it immediately, recognizing her God-given dominance over him.  When God called to Adam and asked what had happened, Adam replied, “The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree and I ate.”

This interpretation is verified in 1 Timothy 2:13-15 where Paul reminds his readers in Ephesus that Eve was created after Adam, thus she was the pinnacle of God’s creation. He also reminds them that Satan, recognizing the primacy of Eve went to her with his temptation – not Adam.  Eve, God’s chosen leader, was clearly deceived by Satan, while Adam simply followed her instructions.  In spite of this fact, Paul says, the woman is still the agent of salvation for all humanity (“she will be saved by the birth of the child.”) and in that position she is expected to live in faith, love and holiness, with modesty.

Of course, God held Adam just as responsible for the sin as Eve, since they each had the capacity to obey or disobey God.

When the punishment for sin was handed out, both Adam and Eve got a full share, but God still recognized the higher status of the woman.  He told Eve that although she had so grievously sinned, she would be the instrument though which salvation would come to the world.  “He (the seed of the woman) shall bruise your  (the serpent’s) head, and you (the serpent) shall bruise his heel.”  The person of the divine Savior would be the given to the woman as the dominant one in the pair, but it would be accompanied by great toil.  And worst of all, a terrible “role reversal” would occur.  The divine order of creation (female domination) would be reversed, and the male would rule over the female.  The havoc that this role reversal has wrought is easy for even the most casual observer to see.  We have war, fighting, inability to communicate with nations, friends, or neighbors – all the result of male dominance that entered the world with sin and thus reversed God’s ordained order of creation.

God’s own preference in roles with man and woman did not change – only the sinful acts of humans got mixed up.  For example, we see that “naming” was the primary responsibility of women.  The Bible does not say who named Cain or Abel, but it clearly says that Eve named the third child, Seth (Genesis 4:25)  All of the sons of Jacob (for whom the twelve tribes of Israel were named) were named by Rachel and Leah.  The only exception was Benjamin, because Rachel died in his childbirth and Jacob therefore had to name him. 

We see this same significance in the New Testament, where the angel Gabriel appears first to Mary and announces the coming Savior.  Gabriel tells Mary that she is to name the Baby Jesus.

God’s choice of Mary as the human parent of Jesus is another evidence that God still saw the primacy of the woman in the human race.  Actually, no male played any part in the conception of our redeemer, but God chose a woman to bear the Savior through apparently normal processes of growth within the womb.  Since the birth of the Savior was miraculous anyway, God could have just have easily have made Christ from the rib of Joseph, just as he made Eve from the rib of Adam.  But He did not.

Instead, God fulfilled the original promise to Eve in the garden of Eden.  HER “seed” would bruise the head of Satan.  Women were the exclusive human instruments of the salvation of all humanity.

Women will continue this role in the days ahead as is evident in the book of Revelation.  In Revelation 12, a woman is clothed with the sun, and on her head is a crown of twelve stars.  She is pregnant, and she and her offspring represent the people of God, whom the dragan (sic) (Satan) has been trying to destroy from the early church to the present day.  But God prepares a special place for her in the wilderness where she is nourished during persecution.  Again, God’s revelation to John shows the woman in her proper God-ordained place of leadership – the position from which she was removed when sin entered the world.  This is reinforced by the fact that when Satan is thrown out of heaven after the ascension of Jesus, he immediately went forth to make war on the woman and her posterity.

It is no accident that the church in the New Testament is always referred to as female.  The church embodies the very power of God and is his instrument for the salvation of His people.  The church (ekklesia is the feminine gender) is subject only to Christ, for it was through a woman that the Savior came to this world.  The woman through the Bible is God’s instrument though which salvation comes.

Often we hear men refer to the Jewish system of preference for the first male in the family as some kind of “proof” that God ordained Adam to be dominant over Eve.  The silliness of this interpretation is apparent when we note that God himself usually chose the younger to be his chosen leaders.  Jacob (the second born twin) became the ancestor of the Hebrew people, rather than Esau, the first born.  when God send Samuel to anoint the a king to take the place of Saul, he did not permit Samuel to anoint the oldest son of Jesse, as the Jewish custom would have it, but insisted on taking the youngest in the family.  God chose Moses rather than Aaron, the older son.  Jesus reinforces this principle when he said that to be great in his kingdom a person has to be come as “the youngest” (Luke 22:26)  This again would point to the primacy of Eve in God’s plan.

The God-ordained dominance of women is also seen in God’s choice of the ancestry of his chosen people.  Who was the determining ancestor of the Hebrews?  Was it Abraham?  Not at all.  Abraham had eight children, born of three different women.  God’s chosen instrument of ancestry was Sarah.  Isaac, Sarah’s only child, was the one through whom the Hebrews came.  Ishmael, the son of Abraham by Hagar, did not count in God’s plan, nor did the six children of Abraham and Ketura.  Obviously, Sarah was God’s chosen vessel for the ancestry of the Hebrews.  Abraham was only the agent by whom she became pregnant.  This is verified by Paul’s words in Galatians 4:21 where Christians are told that we are the children not of the bondwoman (Hagar), but of the free woman (Sarah).

Sarah’s God ordained leadership in the ancestry of the Hebrew nation is reinforced in Genesis 21:12.  In this passage, a conflict has risen between Abraham and Sarah over what to do with Ishmael.  In keeping with Sarah’s ordained dominant role, God tells Abraham that he is to obey Sarah in the matter.  “Whatever Sarah says to you, do as she tells you, for though Isaac shall your descendants be named.”  We should also note that nowhere in the Old Testament is any wife told to obey her husband.

God’s choice of female as the spiritual leaders in marriage is illustrated in the story of Manoah and his wife (parents of Samson) in Judges 13:2-24.  Since the Bible has been so overwhelming interpreted by males instead of females, small wonder that few people have ever heard or taken note of this remarkable evidence of God’s choice of the wife as the leader of the family.  Manoah and his wife were without children and longed for offspring.  One day, the angel of God appeared to the wife and old her that she and her husband would have a son who should be reared as a Nazarite (long hair, no wine or strong drink).  This son would be used of God to deliver the Israelites from the Philistines.

The woman told her husband about the angelic visitation.  He immediately believed her story (indicating his acceptance of her spiritual leadership) and prayed that God would again send his messanger (sic) with more instructions for his upbringing.  God did send the angel again and for the second time the angel appeared to the wife (even though it was an answer to the husband’s prayer.)  The woman understood the importance of her husband having first-hand contact with the angel and she rant to bring Manoah to the meeting.  When Manoah asked for further instructions, the angel responded, “Of all that I have said to the woman, let her beware.”  The angel reinforced her leadership in the family.

Manoah suggested they prepare sacrifices for the angel, but the angel said that the sacrifice should be offered to the Lord instead.  Manoah and his wife di so, and the angel “ascended in the flame of the altar.”  Manoah was so frightened that he said, “We shall surely die, for we have seen God.”

His wife had the better understanding of theology and she replied , “If the Lord had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and a cereal offering at our hands, or shown us all these things, or now announced to us such things as these.”  The woman obviously had the superior understanding of the nature of God.

This is probably the reason that one of the most crucial attributes of God is represented as female – wisdom in Proverbs 8.  And the love of God is often compared to the love of a mother for her child.

Simple observation of male female traits indicate how the “role reversal” that occurred when sin entered the world has damaged all of humanity.  Psychological tests and biblical data show that males tend to be more aggressive than females, more eager to show how “strong” they are, less skilled in building deep relationships, less able to communicate love and feelings.  Women usually have greater verbal skills, are better listeners, find nurturing easier than men find it, mature more rapidly, have greater endurance, are more willing to negotiate rather than fight.  These are the very skills that are needed in the world today both in leadership of nations and of the church.

The worldly practice of having men in places of leadership has brought an unending sequence of devastating wars (the natural result of the need to show who is “biggest and strongest”. Churches with male leadership have had a tragic history of conflicts – ranging from the Reformation to the smallest village hamlet.

The basic purpose of the church involves nurturing and communicating the Gospel – both of which tend to fit the “female psyche” better than that of the male.  The failure of the world of nations and of the church can perhaps be laid finally to the “role reversal” that changed God’s “ordained order of creation” involving female leadership to the sad state we have today.

Since the biblical teachings on this subject are crystal clear, it is obvious that the leadership of women over men as a divine mandate can only be denied by refusing the authority of the Scriptures.  There is no middle ground.  Either we accept the clear teachings of female leadership and male subordination - or we deny the authority of the very Scriptures that are the foundation of our faith. 

~  ~  ~

What are we trying to say in this article?  That selective, propositional exegesis can build whatever case the propositional logician wants to establish.  Unfortunately, big lies repeated often enough seem to become accepted regardless of how little foundation they have.  Let’s stop assuming that ancient myth that “female subordination” is found in the “order of creation” and substantiated in Paul’s interpretation of Genesis.  Let’s rather stay with sound principles of interpretation, all textual passages, and a fresh look at the new order Christ came to establish.

Tell Me the Story of Jesus - Verses Used

 

Tell Me the Story of Jesus

Verses for Sermon at Antioch Seventh-day Adventist Church on December 5

John 1:1-13

Colossians 1:15-20

Colossians 2:9-10

Hebrews 1:1-3

Revelation 12:7-10

Genesis 3:14-15

Genesis 18:1, 17 ff

Genesis 28:12-14

Joshua 1-7

Judges 6:11-24

Daniel 9:24-27

John 1:14

Luke 1:26 ff

Matthew 1:18 ff

Luke 1:1-38

Revelation 12:1-5

Matthew 2:1 ff

Luke 3:2 ff

Luke 4 :1-13

Matthew 4:18 ff

Matthew 5:1-12

Luke 15:11 ff

Luke 8:40 ff

John 11

Mark 11:1-11

Mark 11:15-19

Matthew 23:2-ff

Matthew 26:17 ff

Matthew 26:36 ff

Matthew 27:15 ff

7 Words of Jesus from the Cross

Luke 23:34

Luke 23:43

John 19:26, 27

Matthew 27:46

John 19:28

John 19:30

Luke 23:46

Matthew 27:50 ff

Matthew 28:1 ff

Mark 16:9-11

Luke 24:13 ff

John 20:24 ff

Acts 1:6 ff

Philippians 2:5 ff

Acts 2:29ff

Hebrews 7:23 – 8:6; 8: 24 ff

Romans 8:31 ff

Hebrews 12:1-3

Ephesians 1:19-23

1 Corinthians 15:20-28

John 16:5ff

John 14:1-3

1 Thessalonians 4:14-17

Revelation 14:14-16

Revelation 19:1-116

Revelation 21

Revelation:  Every phrase about the LAMB.  Read Revelation, and highlight them in your Bible!

Some verses/stories were omitted due to time realities.

Pomegranate Jelly - Eunice Widmer

 

Pomegranate Jelly – Mrs. Eunice Mae (Olson) Widmer

            Typed by O. Kris Widmer, her son November 14, 2020

Open Kettle Method

This recipe has been in use making jelly in our family for 40+ years.

It started in La Sierra/Riverside, using the fruit from 3 backyard trees, from trees near my dad’s office and anywhere else we could get them.  She used to do it herself alone, and then Andrea L. (Widmer) Barker joined her, giving away the beautiful jelly to friends and work associates.  Later, the Barker Bunch (David, Kristine and Jonathan) would help, along with anyone who was visiting their house at the time of production.

Eunice would always read a passage from the Bible about how pomegranates were on the bottom of the high priests garments in the wilderness tabernacle, and then she would say a prayer before the jelly was boiled, thanking God for the “holy juice” and asking a blessing on the process of making it and on every receiver…and asking that every jar would hermetically seal.

The Barker/Widmer jelly factory prepares to make 6 batches at a time, yielding 36 jars of jelly at a time.  Any foam or dregs from any batch is put in a container, refrigerated and eaten as “first fruits” in the days ahead.

Enjoy

*

3 ½ Cups Pomegranate Juice

Current #1 Method of Obtaining Juice:  

Purchasing it by the gallon from any supplier you can find.

Current #2 Method of Obtaining Juice:

We have a Manual Hand Crank Press Juicer…used for oranges, lemons.

Wash fruit in hot water in the sink or bin.

Cut fruit into halves or sections to fit in juicer and press.

Watch for rotten, moldy sections…and cut them out or discard whole fruit.

Pour this juice through strainer to catch seeds, pulp, etc.

Put into recycled juice containers or gallon jugs.

Refrigerate until “jelly day.”

¼ Cup Lemon Juice (Fresh Squeezed)

Wash Lemons in some warm water

2020 we juiced 30 large lemons, yielding 3 Quarts

  We figure on 2 quarts for annual production.

Turn the left over juice and pomegranate juice into pink lemonade

1 pkg (1 ¾ oz) of powdered pectin (Sure Jell)

4 ¼ Cups Granulated Sugar (It is jelly after all!)

6 Jelly Jars (8 oz) and 6 lids and rings per batch.

Kettles

Tongs, Hotpads, Towels, etc. as needed

Metal Spoon for Skimming Foam Off Cooked Jelly

Preparations

Wash jars and lids/rings in dishwasher.  

We put lids/rings in a mesh bag in the top rack.

Set up a smaller kettle of water on a low boil

as a hot bath for the clean rings/lids to be hot and ready.

Place metal skimmer spoon in this water bath to sterilize it too.

Measure out sugar into bowls so they are at the ready 

Measure out lemon juice into small bowls so they are at the ready

Unbox Sure Jell packages…so they are at the ready.

Heat oven to 225 deg F

Put jelly jars (6 per batch) on baking sheets and place in oven.

Put 6 lids/rings in the water bath, when you add the sugar.

Process

1. In a LARGE kettle measure in pomegranate juice. 

(Large kettle prevents boil overs)

2 Add lemon juice and powdered pectin, stir to dissolve and place on stove to cook.

3. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly.

4. Add sugar, stirring constantly, and bring again to a rolling boil for 2 full minutes.

5.  Remove from heat and skim off any foam into a container to sample soon.

6.  Remove hot jars from oven to a heat proof counter and…

7.  Pour or Ladle Jelly into the jars, leaving ¼ inch of “head space” at the top.

8.  Seal with rings/lids from the hot water bath.

9. Place filled jars on a table (protecting surface) under a large towel, to allow slow cooling (Probably Overnight)

10.  Listen to the lids as they pop/seal.  Yay!

11.  Wipe off any sticky residue from the cooled jars, and rebox: store in a cool, dark place.

12.  Eat on anything or in anything you would use jelly.

13.  Makes a beautiful gift to the discerning jelly connoisseur.

Jalapeno Version

Chop 6 jalapeno peppers into LARGE PIECES and remove seeds.

Boil with Pomegranate Juice/Lemon Juice for 10 minutes.

Strain Pepper Pieces Out

Return to Stove…Add Pectin and Return to a Boil

Add Sugar, Boil for 2 minutes…and follow the above from there.

A few thoughts on Marriage and Divorce and Remarriage
Leaving this here.

I’ve been working on a theology of divorce and remarriage…many of the sections are titled with a word that starts with the letter A.

 Adultery

            The oft quoted and cited Matthew 19:9

            But in context Matthew 19:1-12…Jesus appeals to the creation ideal as preventing divorce for any reason (vs 4-6)…but then recognizes in a sinful world we are all “hard hearted” people, so divorce (and remarriage) is necessary and permitted (vs 8, 9).  The disciples understand and conclude that perhaps it is better not to marry (vs 10) and then Jesus speaks about the people who are born or made sexually unable to copulate or procreate.  This passage on eunuchs is just beginning to be understood for  its implications with our love and care for the LGBTIAQ people of the world; especially our intersex and transgender family, friends and neighbors.

Abuse

            Ephesians 5:25-32

            Failure to love “as Christ loved the church.” vs 25 – Sacrificial Love

            Failure to love her body as his own body. vs 28

            No man husband hates his own flesh (vs 29) but he displays hatred for her flesh by abuse? 

            Failure to nourish and cherish her…as he does himself. vs 29

            Abuse can be physical, emotional, psychological, sexual, financial, social, etc.

            If he hits and beats her….

            If he isolates her from family and friends…

            If he belittles her in private or public…

            If he plays mind games…

            If he says “It’s my money” rather than “our money.”…

            If he adopts a lifestyle she didn’t see coming…(alcohol use/abuse for example)

            98.99% of the time it is the male “strong vessel” that abuses the female “weaker vessel.”

            I would tell a woman coming to me with the trauma of an abusive relationship… “The first time he hits you; is the last time he touches you.”  Get safe.  Many women die each year at the hands of their abusive boyfriends and husbands.

See: 1 Corinthians 7 – Study/Read the whole chapter…and find meaning and purpose for marriage then and now from the suggestions of Paul.  Be careful…for if you conclude that Paul insists on celibate singleness for the end-time saints (then and now)…then there is to be no marriage…for the last 2000 years, since he inked those words.  And then how would the human race have survived?  Is the mandate “be fruitful and multiply” still valid?  Is it still “not good for humans to be alone?” and all that.

Abandonment

1 Corinthians 7:10-16

Paul encourages the believing spouse to stay in their relationships. vs 12-14. 

In Adventism, we are mandated as pastors to not conduct marriages for interfaith relationships. An Adventist that eats haystacks and has a sundown calendar on the refrigerator may have turmoil with a Baptist that eats porkchops or a Lutheran that watches college football.  True. But then we will make an interfaith marriage in the baptistery at the close of our evangelistic meetings…when one member decides to be baptized…the other one doesn’t.

Perhaps that is what Paul was dealing with.  A former Jewish couple  is now changed, when one of them accepts Jesus as the Messiah, the risen one who was to come.  A former Pagan, Gentile couple is now changed, when one of them accepts Jesus as the Messiah.  In Corinth, there must have been many interfaith marriage: a believer with a non-believer.  Well…what to do then?

He invites the believer to stay in the marriage, and if the unbeliever consents to still live with their spouse, even though they have this new “Christian” faith and lifestyle. (“Wait…you want to give how much of “our” money to the poor fund in Jerusalem!) then by all means…stay together, work it out.  For the believer sanctifies (brings holiness and God) the home, the spouse and the children. (vs 14)

But what happens to that Christian spouse when their unbelieving spouse leaves?  Abandonment.  (“Wait…You are NOT circumcising my son!  You want to do what on Saturdays now?...)  If the unbelieving one leaves…let them leave.  The brother or sister is NOT UNDER BONDAGE IN SUCH CASES. (VS 15). (Emphasis mine)

I interpret this to mean that that suddenly single spouse that follows the Savior…would be free to remarry someone who would love them again…and also love God…and their kids.

Abstinence (Sexual)…that is chronic and longstanding

(Sexual Incompatibility)

1 Corinthians 7:1-5

Paul advocates singleness as the ideal end-time living arrangement vs 1 (and vs 7, 8 & 26) – Thanks, Paul!

But because of the sexual drive of humanity and because of immoralities, he concedes that getting married is O.K. – vs 2 – Thanks, Paul!

Paul teaches that each partner in the marriage has a “duty” to be a meaningful and fulfilling sexual partner. vs 3:  Both are entitled to getting their needs for pleasure and intimacy met by their spouse. – Thanks, Paul!

Paul teaches that when you get married…you don’t have authority over your own body anymore.  vs 4.  The implication is that all of one’s sexual capacity belongs to the other.  He has rights to her genitalia…and She has rights to his.  – Thanks, Paul!

Paul teaches that there should only be brief times of sexual separation – sexual fasting – during times of prayer, for example…but then “come together”, lest Satan tempt you to look elsewhere for sexual fulfillment. vs 5. – Thanks, Paul!

Alcohol

1 Timothy 3:3 (1 Timothy 3:1-13  Read the whole section and apply these character qualities to marriage…and see what you come up with.)

While this is in the context of counsel for overseers/elders in the church…it is applicable to good spouse behavior.

Above Reproach

Monogamous

temperate

Prudent

Respectable

Hospitable

Able to Teach

Not addicted to wine vs 3  (or tobacco or drugs)

            Alcohol has ruined millions of marriage relationships.

Not pugnacious

Gentle

uncontentious

Free from the love of money

Good management skills

a history of belief/faith (not a new convert)

good reputation inside and outside the church

These are all good things to have in any spouse too – male or female.

In Summary:

1 Peter 3:7

When a man lacks understanding of his wife.

He fails to build her up as the “weaker vessel”

Granting her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life

-       His prayers are hindered.

When a man does things that cause his prayers to be hindered…

When even God stops listening to him…certainly it is likely that his wife stopped listening before that.

And while God may hear his confession and grant forgiveness…sometimes it is too much and too late to expect the wife to grant forgiveness.

Why do we always expect the wronged partner to forgive…when we often don’t expect the wronging partner to change the way they are living and relating?  Part of the double standard, male preference and male dominated culture of the patriarchy handed down to us by the male headship of old and the resurgence of male headship ideology today.

vs 8 –

Be

harmonious

sympathetic

kindhearted

humble

When a husband or wife is not this…it could be over.

Cruelty

Breaking of Trust

Controlling

Domination

etc, etc, etc.

When a husband or wife is this…it will likely end soon.

I’m not talking a one time thing….

But over time; harmful actions, words and behaviors can and do break the bond of love and wound the soul of the other.  When this happens, divorce often occurs.

The breaking of the marriage vow includes

more than a physical act of joining body parts in a bed

(Though it certainly includes that.)

It is a breaking of the marriage promise.

To be faithful.

To love

To honor

To cherish

When love dies…the marriage is over.

Then…Of course…the two partners are free to remarry.

Remember a wife couldn’t divorce her husband in the Bible era.

She was property…bought for with a dowry/bride price given to her father.

Fact is divorce happens.

Be nice to divorcees.

Stop trying to figure out who is “guilty” or “the offender.”

Be gracious and forgiving to all.

The pain of divorce carries it’s own consequences…

            the good saints in the church need not make it any worse

             in the fellowship of the faithful.

That is all.

A few of my thoughts.

Hey…I’m not writing a book here.

Resurrection Proclamation - A Funeral Homily

Resurrection Proclamation

A Homily of Hope – Using Scriptural Quotation and Contemporary Paraphrase

by Elder O. Kris Widmer, Preacher and Poet

For the Memorial Service of Dr. Myron K. Widmer, his cousin.

Jesus is risen!  Hallelujah!

Christ is risen!  Hallelujah!

The Lord is risen!  Hallelujah!

We shall rise!  Hallelujah!

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

“I am the faithful witness.

I am the first born of the dead.

I love you.

I have released you from your sins

         By my death .

I have gathered you as a holy people

         by my resurrection.

Revelation 1:5,6

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

I am the A and the Z…and everything in between.

I am the Zero and the Infinity

I am the present, the past and the future.                           Revelation 1:8

I am the was, the is and the is to come.

I am the start and the finish.

I am the All in All…the everything.

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

 “Do not be afraid;

I am the first and the last.

I am the Living One;

I was dead; now behold I am alive forever.

I have the keys of all death and every grave.”     Revelation 1:17,18

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

I sit with Mighty God on the throne                                  Revelation 5:13

I am the creator and the re-creator.                                 Revelation 4:11

I am the Lamb…that was sacrificed…but now stands. Revelation 5:6

         receiving power, riches, wisdom,

         strength, honor, glory and blessing.

I am the Faithful and True                                               Revelation 19:11

I hold the mysteries of the future in my hand.                   Revelation 5,6

I say to all the dead…

 “Rest for just a little while longer.

Everything is on schedule and under control.”         Revelation 6:11

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

Why come looking for my corpse among the dead?

         It was only a borrowed tomb.

         I have returned it to it’s owner…slightly used, greatly blessed.

         I only needed it for the weekend.    (From Southern Gospel Song)

I am not there anymore…laying in stately state.

I am alive.                                                                                  Luke 24:5,6

I am with you.

I am with you always…even to the end of time.”              Matthew 28:20

()()()()()()()

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

Remember this.

Please, Remember this.

I will be handed over to sinful people.

I will be die by crucifixion.

But on the third day, I will rise again.                                   Luke 24:7

In the same way,

You shall certainly die.                                                             Genesis 2:17

But on the last day I will raise you up. John 6 – 4x repeated phrase.    

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

The one who comes to me

I will absolutely never, never, never,

never, never, never, never –

cast out, cast aside, cast off!                                                     John 6:37

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

You are mine!

Heavenly God, the one who sent me,

has given you to me.

What is given me I will NOT loose!

No how!  No way!  And I don’t mean maybe.          John Ammon Phrase

I will raise you up on the last day!                                         John 6:39

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

Every person who learns of me and believes in me

Already has eternal life.

I, Myself…

I personally will raise you up on the last day.                    John 6:40

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

Come to me all who are exhausted and burdened                Matthew 11

Come to me.

Almighty God is wooing you.

I will raise you up on the last day.                                         John 6:44

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

I am the New and True Manna, food for your inner hunger.

Remember the manna story?

Moses and company ate the daily bread

God rained it down from heaven.

Well, still; a whole generation died in the wilderness:

         A Sour Dough, indeed!

If all you eat is kneadable, bakeable, chewable, swallowable bread:

         Wonder Bread, White Bread, Wheat Bread

If all you eat is sliced or broken bread:

         Even if it is…

         Whole Wheat Bread -

                       with Rolled Oats, Quinoa and Nuts,

                       Non-GMO and Zero Trans Fats ! -

You will still die.

         It is still all just Sour Dough!

You have no life in yourselves.                                                    John 6:53.

Feast on me.

Eat me.

Drink me.

Now you may ask “What ARE you talking about?”                    John 6:52

Good Question.          Fair Question.

Again…like Moses and company

They ate unleavened bread and drank wine as they left Egypt

The Jews remember it with the Passover meal…

The Christians remember the Passover and the Last Supper

With their bread and juice communion.

    (Sometimes they wash feet also.)

These are all symbolic things pointing to me.

They are mere shadows.                                                   Galatians 2:17

I am the reality.

See, if all you do is munch communion wafers and sip grape juice,

You will certainly will still die physically

And could be lost eternally!

I am the reality.

I am the true food.

         Don’t just eat a lamb chop…eat ME! - The Lamb of Life

         Don’t just bite some bread…eat ME! The Bread of Life

I am the true drink.

         I drank “The Cup of Death”, so you could drink ME –

                       The  “Living Water”

I am your Passover.                                                          1 Corinthians 5:7

Eat me.     Drink me.

And eternal death will “pass over” you.

Eat me.    Drink me.

I will raise you up on the last day!                                         John 6:54

Jesus is risen!  Hallelujah!

WE shall rise!  Hallelujah!

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

This is what happened to me.

I was arrested and turned over to wicked people

         To show the world the true character of Satan

         and to destroy everything he has done.

I was crucified.

I was numbered with the transgressors…between two thieves.

I was buried through the kindness of others

But then on the third day…

My lungs started expanding.

        Inhale – Exhale

My nose started smelling.

        Mmmmm - Myrrh

My heart started beating.

        Lub-Dup

My hands moved

My feet flexed

My eyes opened.

My lips smiled.

My brain started thinking.

All that remained of the ordeal…was the instant scars.

        Hand…scars…where the nails impaled.

        Feet…scars…where the nails pierced

        Side…a scar…where the spear stabbed

        Head….scars…where the thorns punctured

        Back…scars…where the flog tore.

But as for you…

Ah, yes….YOU!

You will be raised immortal.

No trace of your infirmity will rise with you.

No scars will remain.

Like Ezekiel’s Vision

        Bones will come together.

        Muscle and tendons connect.

        Organs will appear

        Skin will cover

        Hair will grow

        It will all happen, as if in a time lapse.

New lungs will fill with air.

New heart will begin beating

New kidneys will start filtering.

New eyes will start seeing

New nose will start smelling

New teeth will start chomping (for all you denture wearers)

New hands will start doing

New brain will start thinking

You will be you again.

Then the scripture will be fulfilled For YOU.

“Even though my skin is gone

and my tissues have serious issues

…yet in my flesh will I see God.”

                                                                                                        Job 19:26 

When you whisper to me, with your dying breaths -

         just like that requesting thief -

“Remember me when you eventually are in Your kingdom.”

Today and everyday,

I give you the same response.

I tell you the truth today, (comma)

I tell you today… on July 13, 2019 -

“YOU WILL BE WITH ME IN PARADISE.”

Jesus is risen!  Hallelujah!

WE shall rise!  Hallelujah!

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

We know that the God that raised Me,

         will raise you

         and present you to Me.*

So don’t ever give up trusting in Him and Me.

Though the OUTER you might waste away and decay,

The INNER you can be stronger each and every day.

Whatever may lead to your death

is but a light and momentary annoyance

when compared to

the eternal and substantial glory that will be yours.

There is NO COMPARISON.

Don’t focus on the things you can see.

Look instead to the things you can’t see.

For the things you can see are temporary.

It is the things that can’t be seen that are…eternal.

                                                                   2 Corinthians 4:7-10; 14; 16-18

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

This is the Gospel.

         Proclaimed to you and received by you.

I died for all sins…according to the scriptures.

I was buried.

I rose on the third day…according to the scriptures.

This is Very Good News!

I appeared to Mary Magdalene first.

         Then to Peter and the other disciples…several times.

I appeared to Cleopas and his friend in Emmaus.

         Then to Thomas, just so he could touch me.

I appeared to more than 500 others at one time.

         Then to James

Finally,

I appeared to Paul…the last and least of all apostles.

                                                                                      1 Corinthians 15:1-9

Read what they wrote.

They’ll tell you.

I have been raised!

But some say “No.  That doesn’t happen.  It never has and never will!”

If that is true…than I’m not raised.

And…if I’m not raised….

         All preaching is foolishness done by false teachers. v. 14, 15

If I’m not raised…

         All faith is pointless.  v.14, 17

If I’m not raised….

         No sins are forgiven.17

If I’m not raised…

         then those who have died are dead FOREVER.   VS 18

If I’m not raised…

         those who think I am

         are to be pitied above all who have ever lived.  vs 19

What a miserable way to think.!

If I’m not raised…

         Live however you want.

         There will be no reckoning.

         It really is a dog-eat-dog world.

         Only the fittest will survive!

         You should say

         “Let’s Eat, Drink and Carouse –

         for tomorrow we may die.” VS 32

                                                                                  1 Corinthians 15:12-19

But I have been raised.

I am the first fruits of those who “sleep”

                                                                                       1 Corinthians 15:20

Jesus, the Anointed One…

         Jesus, the Risen One says…

Adam brought death.

I bring life!

Adam was earthy.

I am heavenly.                                                  1 Corinthians 15:21-22; 47

Now get this…

         I am Son of Man and Son of God.

         I am both earthy and heavenly.

This is so that YOU -

         Who are earthy in body now

         Can be heavenly in body later.                                                   vs 49

I proclaim to you a mystery.

You, my precious children, shall not all sleep.

No.  I will change you.

In a moment;

In the time it takes an eye to twinkle.                   1 Corinthians 15:51,52

I will come from heaven to earth…In the Clouds.

Every eye will see it!                                                           Revelation 1:10

I will shout.

My voice…the voice of the Archangel…will speak!

My voice will ring out, like a trumpet.

Awake.  Awake!

         The dust will give up its dead.

         The sea will give up its dead.

The dead who trusted in God will rise up.

         Changed.

         Death will hold them no longer.

The living ones remaining will be caught up.

         Changed

         Death will never touch them

Rise Up!  Caught Up!

Meeting in the Air.       Hugging in the Air.

There will be no more partings.

You and them and I will be together forever.

                                                                                1 Thessalonians 4:16,17

Finally, these prophecies will be fulfilled!

Life will swallow death - once and for all.   (Gulp!)

                                                                1 Corinthians 15:54 (Isaiah 25:8)

The dead shall live.

Their dead bodies shall rise.

Awake and start singing,

You who currently dwell in the dirt.

It is time to come forth - as dew rises from moist soil.

Come out, Come out - where ever you are!

                                                                                                    Isaiah 26:19

I will free them from the power of the grave.

I will liberate them from the strength of death.

O Death, Your reign of terror is over!

O Grave, Your cruelty is ended!

No more victory, No more sting for you!

                                                                                                    Hosea 13:14

Jesus is risen! Hallelujah!

We shall rise! Hallelujah!

By the mercy, grace and love of Jesus;

and the power of His resurrection -

our beloved dead shall rise!  Hallelujah!