Something New To Think About

 What time did the women visit the tomb?

Matthew: "as it began to dawn" (28:1)

Mark: "very early in the morning . . . at the rising of the sun" (16:2, KJV); "when the sun had risen" (NRSV); "just after sunrise" (NIV)

Luke: "very early in the morning" (24:1, KJV) "at early dawn" (NRSV)

John: "when it was yet dark" (20:1)

Who were the women?

Matthew: Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (28:1)

Mark: Mary Magdalene, the mother of James, and Salome (16:1)

Luke: Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and other women (24:10)

John: Mary Magdalene (20:1)

What was their purpose?

Matthew: to see the tomb (28:1)

Mark: had already seen the tomb (15:47), brought spices (16:1)

Luke: had already seen the tomb (23:55), brought spices (24:1)

John: the body had already been spiced before they arrived (19:39,40)

Was the tomb open when they arrived?

Matthew: No (28:2)

Mark: Yes (16:4)

Luke: Yes (24:2)

John: Yes (20:1)

Who was at the tomb when they arrived?

Matthew: One angel (28:2-7)

Mark: One young man (16:5)

Luke: Two men (24:4)

John: Two angels (20:12)

Where were these messengers situated?

Matthew: Angel sitting on the stone (28:2)

Mark: Young man sitting inside, on the right (16:5)

Luke: Two men standing inside (24:4)

John: Two angels sitting on each end of the bed (20:12)

What did the messenger(s) say?

Matthew: "Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified. He is not here for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead: and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you." (28:5-7)

Mark: "Be not afrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him. But go your way, tell his disciples and Peter that he goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you." (16:6-7)

Luke: "Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee, Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again." (24:5-7)

John: "Woman, why weepest thou?" (20:13)

Did the women tell what happened?

Matthew: Yes (28:8)

Mark: No. "Neither said they any thing to any man." (16:8)

Luke: Yes. "And they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven, and to all the rest." (24:9, 22-24)

John: Yes (20:18)

When Mary returned from the tomb, did she know Jesus had been resurrected?

Matthew: Yes (28:7-8)

Mark: Yes (16:10,11)

Luke: Yes (24:6-9,23)

John: No (20:2)

When did Mary first see Jesus?

Matthew: Before she returned to the disciples (28:9)

Mark: Before she returned to the disciples (16:9,10)

John: After she returned to the disciples (20:2,14)

Could Jesus be touched after the resurrection?

Matthew: Yes (28:9)

John: No (20:17), Yes (20:27)

After the women, to whom did Jesus first appear?

Matthew: Eleven disciples (28:16)

Mark: Two disciples in the country, later to eleven (16:12,14)

Luke: Two disciples in Emmaus, later to eleven (24:13,36)

John: Ten disciples (Judas and Thomas were absent) (20:19, 24)

Paul: First to Cephas (Peter), then to the twelve. (Twelve? Judas was dead). (I Corinthians 15:5)

Where did Jesus first appear to the disciples?

Matthew: On a mountain in Galilee (60-100 miles away) (28:16-17)

Mark: To two in the country, to eleven "as they sat at meat" (16:12,14)

Luke: In Emmaus (about seven miles away) at evening, to the rest in a room in Jerusalem later that night. (24:31, 36)

John: In a room, at evening (20:19)

Did the disciples believe the two men?

Mark: No (16:13)

Luke: Yes (24:34--it is the group speaking here, not the two)

What happened at the appearance?

Matthew: Disciples worshipped, some doubted, "Go preach." (28:17-20)

Mark: Jesus reprimanded them, said "Go preach" (16:14-19)

Luke: Christ incognito, vanishing act, materialized out of thin air, reprimand, supper (24:13-51)

John: Passed through solid door, disciples happy, Jesus blesses them, no reprimand (21:19-23)

Did Jesus stay on earth for a while?

Mark: No (16:19) Compare 16:14 with John 20:19 to show that this was all done on Sunday

Luke: No (24:50-52) It all happened on Sunday

John: Yes, at least eight days (20:26, 21:1-22)

Acts: Yes, at least forty days (1:3)

Where did the ascension take place?

Matthew: No ascension. Book ends on mountain in Galilee

Mark: In or near Jerusalem, after supper (16:19)

Luke: In Bethany, very close to Jerusalem, after supper (24:50-51)

John: No ascension

Paul: No ascension

Acts: Ascended from Mount of Olives (1:9-12)

courtesy of Curt P. Terry 2-1-21

2020 Needs a Redo

This has been one heck of a year. We hardly had time to catch our breath from Christmas and New Years before we had to face another hurdle when a pandemic broke out across the world. America was hit hard with disinformation and indecision as the virus spread across the nation. We saw the effects of the disease across the world as it ravished other countries. America as a whole was lax in responding and medical facilities had to scramble for supplies and fight an unknown disease and learn on the fly.

When I was in high school I learned early that one side would cheat or steal to win at all costs when the homecoming queen won the vote AND her two best buddies helped the office lady (their friend) count the votes. No, I will not go silently into the night. This involves my social security and healthcare. We all have preexisting conditions, especially the ones who have contracted Covid-19. If we lose our pension and our healthcare they might as well line us up against the wall and execute us all over a "certain age". Plus I don't like the turn this country has taken by giving the uber-rich and corporations permanent tax breaks but people on the lower pay scale a short term tax break. BTW those people not paying payroll taxes right now will have to pay them in April. I want a country that cares about every one of it's citizens and other people living in the country. America is great because of our diversity. I don't think the Founding Fathers agreed not to fight if their demands for a free and democratic society were not successful.

Plus I am ashamed of the heartlessness of our fellow citizens who see nothing wrong with caging children and separating them from their families.

Go ahead and delete me if you like but FYI everyone is getting ready for a civil war but it was fomented by the hate and vitriol of our dear leader.

I was right. 2020 sux.

 

 

It Ain't What You Think

I was thinking about how the way things are labeled sounds like what they're not. That's why people are always confused about political terms. I know I always was when I went into the voting booth and tried to decipher exactly what I was voting for and if the wording meant what I thought it meant.  It's important to get online and research each issue and candidate.

One such example is The Right To Work State. That's total bullshit. It's actually the right to control workers and prevent unionization so workers can't have a vocal advocacy organization.

Georgia is a Right To Work state that has stamped out most unions in our community. Violence broke out and people were injured or killed for demanding higher wages and better working conditions decades ago.

Another example being used to misinform people who aren't aware of the deeper issue is Religious Liberty. That's code talk for the base to unite and shun anyone who isn't of "our" religion. You know which one I'm talking about. 

People started this extremism and became divided when they turned their backs on an influx of immigrants into our communities. People who go to church every Sunday and raise their children to follow in their ways have turned on immigrants seeking a better life for themselves and their families.

“When a stranger sojourns with you in your land, you shall not do him wrong. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself ... " Leviticus 19:33-34

What really pisses me off is the fact that people are too ignorant to understand that the illegal immigrants migrated to our community in the 21st century because of corporations and to escape violence in their own countries. People are mad at brown people because they have flooded into our communities and send their kids to our schools and drive on our roads. They blame the immigrants for the rise in taxes and the cost of living and the fact that they aren't getting a raise again this year. 

They don't realize that these people pay taxes into the system which is being funneled into our treasury every year to the  tune of about twelve billion dollars a year. The illegal immigrants aren't ever able to access this money and if they are banned from entering America or living here, we will lose that much in taxes.

Don't get me started on immigrants. Just like I figured, when they clamped down on illegal immigrants, people went underground, and now there is a severe shortage in the farming industry, causing farmers to lose millions of dollars in waste. Crops are left rotting in the fields.

When the economy was booming before the great recession, employers posted signs at the Mexican-American border advertising jobs in the carpet industry in north Georgia. Thousands of people flooded into the community working in various jobs. They raised their kids, and bought homes, in the belief that they would be setting down roots and become a vital part of the country.

Today, you can notice a change in the area. There are lots of stores with signs out front advertising to the Hispanic community all over Dalton and Calhoun but there are not as many people from South America as there used to be. 

I know of families who went back to their country voluntarily when their visas ran out. Their children had been raised in America and gone to school with American children and were fully assimilated. They faced a cultural shock when they went back to their parent's home country to live. A friend of mine, who told me about her friend and their family, said she got letters from them sometimes and the mother told her there weren't any stores nearby and it didn't matter anyway because nobody had any jobs or money to spend. It was heartbreaking.

Another family who came from England had to leave after their visas expired. They had established a business in America, which was very profitable, providing taxes which helped pay for government services but they still had to leave.

Another friend told me about a lady who came to America years ago, long before the rift of today. She described her South American friend as beautiful, vivacious, and interesting.

Georgia may be very much set in it's ways but we have visitors from all over the world and we used to have a reputation for great southern hospitality. I guess that was back when Christians really believed in following the good book and treating everybody with courtesy and respect. Well, not so much. We mustn't whitewash slavery in our attempt to honor our heritage and we must not accept the hateful racism of any race, color, or creed ever again.

When religion, be it Christianity or any other religion, is used to control people and separate them, it is not a godly religion. God is Love. How can God be black, or brown, or yellow, or white when he is omnipotent? How can God be love and yet hate anyone who's not a white Christian? 

We can't afford to allow Religious Liberty to take control of America. That is an oxymoron. Either religion is free for all, or it is state run. Our forefather's came to America to get away from that. 

AS ALWAYS

PIO

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The Good Samaritan

Donny was going to work one morning when a white work truck stopped in front of Valley Point School to turn in. There is lots of construction work going on because Valley Point is building a new school building. 

Donny was sitting, waiting on the man to turn in, when a car suddenly hit him from behind. The impact was so unexpected that he took his foot off the brake and it rolled into the truck in front of him. Now both bumpers are dented and the tailgate looks bad. Fortunately, the guy's truck wasn't damaged because of his trailer hitch but the car that hit Donny was totaled.

The insurance company finally approved the repairs for Donny's truck. Donny asked me to meet him at the house around four o'clock so we could take the truck to the mechanic, Mr. Carroll, to get it fixed. 

I had been at the Whitfield County courthouse this morning. Later I picked up my friend, Joann, and we went to the Cracker Barrel for a bowl of soup. She paid the bill and I paid the tip. That's how I know I had my wallet then. 

Later we went to Walgreen's and while we were in line I got out to look for my pocketbook I had stuffed behind my seat. I needed my dark sunglasses because the sun was finally shining too brightly.

I rushed home to meet Donny and we took his truck to Mr. Carroll's and started to go home but I remembered that Mamma said Donny could drive my daddy's truck while his was being fixed so we went on to Mamma's house to get the truck.

As luck would have it, it wouldn't start, so we called my son and got him to come help push the truck away from the carport so we could get close enough to boost the battery off.

I went to the Walmart Neighborhood Market after that. 

I tried to find my wallet and tore my pocketbook apart and looked all around inside the truck but couldn't find it. Naturally, I got mad and started panicking and calling Joann to ask if she could remember where I had it last. She mentioned that I'd gotten out of the truck. 

She drove around Walgreen's and I called them to see if anybody had turned it in. Joann even called the Cracker Barrel for me. Nobody knew anything.

After about an hour I finally came home and looked for it even though I'd already got Donny to look for it.

The phone rang and I answered it. Somebody said they were Officer Rittenhouse from the Dalton Police Department and wanted to talk to Pamela or Donny Strickland. I was excited and said "I'm Pamela Strickland. Did you find my billfold?"

She told me a nice 85 year old lady turned my wallet in to the police. I asked her where she found it and the lady said it was at the Walgreen's. The officer said I could come pick up my wallet at the police station.

I couldn't believe my good fortune. I offered Officer Rittenhouse a reward for the lady who turned my wallet in and she called the lady to tell her that I wanted to give her something but she said she was just glad she was able to help. Her name was Mrs. Manis. She has renewed my faith in people again. 

                                                

There aren't enough stories about good people who do good deeds and I believe people like Mrs. Manis are few and far between. They deserve a special thanks and honor. Not everybody would be that honest.

Thank you, Mrs. Manis. 
Donny said I'm lucky. 
No, I'm blessed.

AS ALWAYS
PIO