Martha, Mary, and Lazaurs

The Point of the Gospel

Martha and Mary {Luke}

Jesus and his disciples came to a village and were asked to stay with Martha.  Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet to listen to him talk. Making preparations for her guests, Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, tell my sister to help me. Don’t you care that she’s making me do all the work?”

“Martha,” Jesus said, “many things concern you but only one is required. Mary chose what is needed and it will not be denied her.”

Jesus Anointed at Bethany {Matthew and Mark}

While in Bethany at the home of Simon the Leper, a woman brought in an alabaster jar of costly perfume and poured some on Jesus’ head as he reclined at a table. The disciples thought this wasteful. “This perfume could have been sold and would have given us a good sum for the poor.” ({Mark} They sharply criticized the woman.)

Jesus said, “Don’t bother the woman. She has done something beautiful for me. The poor will always be with you; I will not. Her gift prepares me for burial. Truly, wherever my story is told in the world, she will also be remembered.”

Lazarus Dies {John}

In Bethany, Lazarus, brother to Martha and Mary—the woman who poured perfume on the Lord’s head and wiped his feet with her hair—lay ill. The sisters sent for Jesus saying, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

Jesus loved Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, yet stayed where he was for two more days and said, “Lazarus will not die. This is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified.” He told his disciples they would return to Judea, but they protested.

“Rabbi, you’re going back after the Jews tried to stone you?”

“A man can see in daylight and not trip. At night, with no light, is when he trips. (Personal Thought: Jesus obviously spoke of himself as the light, though he didn’t explain this as he did the next passage.) Lazarus has gone to sleep, but I am going to wake him.” His disciples thought he spoke of natural sleep, so he explained. “Lazarus has died, and for your sake I’m glad I wasn’t there, so you may believe.”

Thomas said to the other disciples, “Let’s go and die with him.”

Next time—Jesus raises Lazarus.

Books I'm Reading

Books I’m Reading

Science Fiction/Fantasy

I read the second book in George R. R. Martin’s ice and fire series, The Clash of Kings, and liked it better than Game of Thrones—not so much about paranormal creatures whose descriptions I found implausible in the first book.

I seem to be reading a lot of series lately. The final book in a series about a character called Odd Thomas, Saint Odd by Dean Koontz, left me unsatisfied. When I read the book before, I said I thought it had run out of steam. Unfortunately, some of the ongoing story lines when tied up seemed trite. I mostly kept reading for the main character’s sweetness, determination to do the right thing, and willingness to sacrifice himself.

Action/Adventure

James Patterson’s Hope to Die is the latest in his Alex Cross series. I haven’t read the others and didn’t feel disadvantaged. Have to admit I bought the book as a Christmas present and read it first. I generally don’t get into crime stories. I found the beginning slow going, then it hummed along. The take on the villain—Alex Cross says he’d never understand what motivated the villain to act as he did—was sloppy writing. If the character doesn’t understand the villain’s motivation, the reader should. Made the villain less believable.

I’ve heard a lot about Harold Robbins and always wanted to read one of his books. Someone gave me The Pirate. Written in the seventies, it held up pretty well. Sex scenes were definitely written from a male perspective and tended to be violent. The characters’ actions continually hurt themselves and those sharing their lives. Kind of sad and depressing and the pat ending didn’t ring true. The history and cultures of the time were interesting.

The Scarpetta Factor by Patricia Cornwell is also part of a series about a medical examiner. This one comes somewhere in the middle and I was lost. I’m not sure if all the medical jargon I skimmed over made me miss parts of the story or if you had to read the others in the series first. Either way, don’t think I’ll bother.

Blind but Now I See

The Point of the Gospel

I Was Blind but Now I See {John}

On the Sabbath, Jesus came upon a man born blind. His disciples asked, “Rabbi, was this man born blind because he sinned or because his parents sinned?”

“Neither,” Jesus said. “It happened so God’s work could be seen. During the day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night will arrive and no one will work. I am the light of the world.” He spat on the ground to make mud and dabbed it on the blind man’s eyes. “Go and wash in the Pool of Siloam.” Siloam meant Sent.

The man did as Jesus told him and gained his sight. Those who knew him and others who had seen him begging argued whether this sighted man could be the same one. He assured them he was. They demanded to know how he’d been healed.

“The one called Jesus.” But the man didn’t know where he had gone. The people brought the man to the Pharisees. Some of them said Jesus couldn’t be from God since he didn’t follow the laws of the Sabbath. Others wondered how a sinner could do miracles. They asked the former blind man what he had to say about Jesus. “He is a prophet.”

The Jews still questioned if the man had been blind at all and brought his parents to them. “Is this your son who you say was born blind? How can he now see?”

“He is our son, born blind. We don’t know how he was healed.” Afraid of the Jews who had threatened to throw out anyone praising Jesus from the synagogue, they added, “Our son is an adult. Ask him.”

The Jews said to their son, “Give the praise to God. Jesus is a sinner.”

“Sinner or not, I cannot say. I can say I was blind, but now I see.” They asked again how he had been healed. “I’ve told you. You want to hear it again so you can follow him?”

They insulted the man and said, “You are his disciple. We are disciples of Moses. God spoke to him. We don’t know where this Jesus comes from.”

The man said, “God doesn’t hear sinners, only godly men who follow him. If not from God, Jesus could not have healed a blind man.”

“You were filled with sin at birth and you dare instruct us?” They threw him out.

The Blind Aren’t Blamed for Their Sin

Jesus heard of all this and found the man. “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

“I want to believe in him. Tell me who he is.”

“I am he.”

The man said, “Lord, I believe” and worshipped him.

Jesus said, “The blind will see and those who see will become blind.”

Some Pharisees with him asked, “Are we blind then?”

Jesus said, “The blind are not blamed for their sin but those who claim they can see are guilty.”

Sex Toys

Sex Toys

 

Dildoes made of various hard materials and often shaped like a penis have evolved to vibrators that simply vibrate or have extra functions such as rotating tips or beads, movements to stimulate the G-spot, and trusting capabilities. Many are meant for vaginal or anal penetration, though they should be dedicated to one or the other to prevent infection. Cleaning cannot guarantee no cross contamination. Fingertip vibrators are meant for clitoral stimulation.

Nipple clamps for men or women apply varying degrees of pressure for the pain/pleasure response or simply to sensitize them by pulling engorging blood to the area. Suction devices also exist for the latter purpose.

Anal Toys

The anus has multiple nerve endings that can enhance sexual pleasure. Anal beads attached on a string or other device and of varying circumferences are inserted into the anus and pulled out during orgasm to heighten the sensation. A safety ring on the outside ensures they won’t get lost in the rectum. As the anus and rectum are delicate tissues, anal lubricants are a safety necessity for any anal play.

Anal plugs have flared ends for the same purpose as the anal beads’ ring and to prevent inserting it too far. Once inserted, it can be gently twisted or pulled in and out to enhance pleasure.

Toys for Men

There is a vast array of toys worn on the penis to combat erectile dysfunction or to provide extra stimulation to the man, his partner, or both, and for masturbation. Many come with vibrating options. Some are meant to lengthen the penis or add massaging nubs for the man’s partner.

Men sometimes use a vacuum pump to promote erections. There are anal plugs specifically designed for men to stimulate the prostate, which can produce stronger orgasms. The toy is meant to be used in a gentle circular motion over the prostate, not for thrusting.

Laws on Sexuality

The sale of sex toys is illegal in some countries and even in some states here in the US, Alabama in particular. Texas still has some bans on the books. Many are fighting these legal bans as a violation of the 14^th Amendment’s right to privacy.

Rebuking a Demon

Rebuking a Demon {Matthew, Mark, and Luke}

{Matthew} Before a large crowd, a man knelt to Jesus and said, “Lord, have compassion for my son. He suffers from seizures to the point of falling into the fire or the water.”

{Mark} Teachers of the law argued with some of Jesus’ disciples and he asked what they argued about. {Mark and Luke} A man said, “Teacher, my son is possessed by a spirit that makes him mute and throws him to the ground foaming at the mouth. He grinds his teeth and goes rigid.” {Luke} “The spirit seldom leaves my son alone and is destroying him.”

{Matthew, Mark, and Luke} “I brought him to your disciples but they couldn’t heal him.”

Jesus said, “How long must I deal with a people obstinately determined to persist in their faulty judgment? Let me see the boy.”

{Mark and Luke} When the spirit saw Jesus, it caused the boy to go into a seizure.  

{Matthew and Luke} Jesus reprimanded the demon. It left the boy and he was healed.

{Mark} The child fell to the ground, rolling and foaming at the mouth. Jesus asked the boy’s father how long his son had suffered with this. “From childhood. It has tried to kill him by throwing him into fire or water. If you can do anything, take pity and help us.”

Jesus said, “If? Everything is possible for the believer.”

“I do believe. Help me overcome my unbelief.”

The spirit shrieked, violently seized the boy, and left. The crowd thought the boy had died but Jesus lifted him to his feet and he stood up.

{Matthew and Mark} When alone, the disciples asked Jesus why they’d been unable to drive out the demon. Jesus said,

{Matthew} “Because of your lack of faith. You need faith only as small as a mustard seed to make a mountain move from one place to another. Nothing would be impossible for you.”

{Mark} “This kind of spirit requires prayer to be cast out.”

{Matthew, Mark, and Luke} Later in Galilee, Jesus told the disciples, “The Son of Man will be betrayed and given to those who will kill him. But on the third day he will rise again.”

{Matthew} Grief filled the disciples. {Mark} The disciples didn’t understand but were afraid to pursue the subject. {Luke} Jesus’ meaning was hidden from the disciples’ comprehension.