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A Bridge of Love Mark chapter 12 describes a confrontation between Jesus the Pharisee’s and Sadducees. The encounter begins as Jesus tells a story of a King some farmers and the Kings Son who is killed by the farmers.   The King is enraged by the farmer’s attitudes and actions towards his son and brings harsh retribution upon them.   He then replaces these tenant farmers with tenants who would respect their King.   Jesus is describing himself as the son, his father as the King and the Pharisees as the farmers.   Needless to say this story made the Pharisee’s furious because they didn’t believe that Jesus was God’s son and they denied, ridiculed, and undermined him at every turn.   There were two parties that belonged to the ruling religious counsel.   One party was known as the Pharisees and the other were known as the Sadducees.   These parties were at odds with each other over the teaching about the existence of angels and unseen spirits the Pharisees subscribing to

Do you enjoy getting snail mail?  Isn’t it delightful when someone actually take the time in this electronic age to get a piece of paper out and practice their penmanship?  Getting my own letter in the mail was a highlight of many ordinary days as a child.  The Holy Spirit of God has made many passages come alive to me in a special way and I want to share God’s Masterpiece Portrait of Grace with you.             The Apostle Paul’s purpose in chapter five of the letter to the Galatians was to illustrate the difference between freedom under the law and freedom under grace.  Under the law freedom could only be obtained through excruciating human effort in performance of religious duties.  In order to understand freedom you have to understand the nature of slavery.  The Israelites were God’s easel for the masterpiece of grace that he painted for the universe to admire. He put a frame around the picture that included the Ten Commandments and all of the various ceremonies an

Have you ever heard of the fable of the Golden Goose who laid the golden egg?  What is more important cultivating a healthy goose or making sure you always have that egg?  Any thinking person with what my Grandmother called "Old Fashioned Horse Sense" would know that the most important thing is to take care of the goose.  For purpose of discussion I am referring to the Holy Spirit as the Goose and the gifts of the Holy Spirit as the eggs. I believe that it is important that Christians cultivate spiritual gifts so that God is glorified and people are built up and encouraged.  Often the gifts are given more attention than the Holy Spirit who gives those gifts is given.  The greatest gift that Christians have been given is the indwelling Spirit of God!  He possesses every gift and gives them to us as He wills.  We are not given gifts so that we can label ourselves.  We are not given gifts so that we can promote ourselves.  The Father has sent us the promised Holy Spirit so t