Interview with Malchus

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Quiet Spirit: Today, we have Malchus with us. 

                       Thank you for coming to see us.

Malchus: Thank you for having me today.

Q.S.: You have a very interesting story to share with

             us. Let’s  get started. Can you tell us a little 

              bit about yourself?

Malchus: I am a servant in Caiaphas’ household. I 

             started in service as a young boy, about eight

            or nine. My duties at that time were working

            with the animals. As I got older, those duties changed.

Q.S.:  How did you meet Jesus?

Malchus: The year I was 20, on the night of Passover, I found myself going in a group of 200 men, some assigned to Caiaphas, who went with Priests and Roman soldiers. It was dark; we carried torches to illumine our way through Jerusalem, up the Mount of Olives, and into the garden Gethsemane.

              As we approached this man Jesus, the one we followed there gave the sign to identify him. Jesus asked who we were looking for. The priest answered. Jesus asked another question and again the priest answered. One of the men with Jesus asked yet another question and suddenly I felt something hit the side of my head. I reached up with my free hand and felt something warm on my skin. Someone near me held his torch closer to me and shouted, “This man is bleeding; his ear has been cut off.”

Jesus chided one who was with him “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” He took my severed ear in his hand, placed it against my head; said a few words, and removed his hand. This itinerant preacher, who everyone wanted to die, healed me!

My fellow servants told me which one of the men with Jesus did this to me. Later, after they brought Jesus to my master’s house, I recognized that man. A couple of my friends asked him if he was with the Galilean. Both times, he denied it.

Q.S.: How has your encounter with Jesus affected your life?

Malchus: All I knew about Jesus was what I overheard from Caiaphas, Annas, and the other priests. I really didn’t care for him. That’s why I didn’t mind going in that group to find him that night.

After he healed me, I thought about how he showed compassion to me by taking the time to heal me, someone unworthy. If Jesus had not healed me, I don’t know what my life would have been like. I could have been reduced to a life of begging.  He will always have my thanks.

Q.S.: Thank you, Malchus. It has been nice hearing from you. 

Interview with Bartimaeus

Prayershake,Blogspot.com

Today, we have with us, Bartimaeus.

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Quiet Spirit: Welcome Bartimaeus. I am glad you could join us today.

Bartimaeus: Thank you.

Q. S.: Let’s get started. Could you please tell us about your background?

            I lived in Jericho, a short way from the Mount of Olives. I was among the poorest of the poor; my blindness reduced me to begging. Although the Law told the hale and hearty ones to care for those of us who were impaired, it didn’t work that way.

Q.S.: How did you encounter Jesus?

Bartimaeus: One day, I sat along the road leading out of Jericho. I heard a commotion that got louder and louder. I asked the people around me what was happening. They told me, “Jesus is passing by!”

            I had heard of this Jesus. Stories of the miracles He performed were on everyone’s lips. From the time I was a small lad I heard of the promised Messiah. I had learned He would be a descendent of King David. That day when I was told that Jesus was going past, I believed He was the Messiah, the true Son of David.

            I felt I had to call out to Him. Those around me told me to be quiet, that he had other places to be and other people to meet. I yelled all the louder and got His attention. He asked me, “What do you want me to do for you?” I responded, “Rabbi, I want to see.” He told me my faith had healed me.

Q.S.: How did the people of Jericho respond to you after your encounter with Jesus?

Bartimaeus: My friends were happy for me. Those of the privileged class mocked me. The others, mostly those who didn’t like Jesus, were cynical. They thought my eyesight would go away again. Those who mocked me and those who were cynical believed I was cursed by God for my sins.

Q.S.: How do you feel about what Jesus did for you?

Bartimaeus: I am thankful for Jesus taking the time to come to me and for restoring my sight. Because of what He did, I am able to see the sun and the trees and the plants. I can see the smiles on children’s faces. For these small things, I am eternally thankful. I was able to follow Him.

Interview with Jairus

Pinterest. com

Another interview with someone who had an encounter with Jesus.

Quiet Spirit: Today, we have with us Jairus, a Synagogue official. Welcome, Jairus.Could you please share with us your story about your encounter with Jesus.

Jairus:  Thank you. I was a ruler of our Synagogue in Capernaum. In my work there, I looked after the building, ran the school through the week, supervised the worship services, and found Rabbis to teach on our Sabbath days. My life was blessed by God; I had a wonderful wife and a beautiful daughter.

Q.S.: How did you meet Jesus?

Jairus: I first met Jesus when I engaged Him to preach in our Synagogue one Sabbath. His message set me to thinking. Could what He preached be true? Several of the priests and scribes were not pleased with Jesus’ words.

            Later, when my daughter fell ill. I sought Jesus out, I heard He was in our town againI sought Him out. I fell at His feet and begged Him to heal my daughter. As I spoke to Him, two of my servants approached me with the message that she had died. I became confused, fear overcame me. In that instant, I lost hope. The Teacher spoke words of comfort to me. He said words I have not forgotten, “Don’t be afraid, just believe.”

            Jesus accompanied my servants and me to my home. By the time we arrived, a large group of mourners was there. They cried and wailed so loudly, I couldn’t hear The Teacher’s words to my wife and me. He told them that our child was not dead, just asleep. I am afraid those people acted rudely to Him. In spite of their rudeness, Jesus restored our daughter’s life.

Q. S.: How did the community of Capernaum react to you after your encounter with the Lord?

Jairus: The merchants of our town gave us better service. They were friendlier to our servants and to our family. Those associated with the Synagogue treated me differently than before; they were more distant, less friendly. Jesus chose to move to Capernaum, allowing those in the Synagogue to witness His miracles and hear His preaching more often. I am sorry to say that not all the town’s people accepted Him for who He is. There were some who did but they had difficulties dealing with the Pharisees and the Sadducees.

Q. S.: How has your experience with Jesus affected your life?

Jairus: My experience with Jesus gave me a new outlook on life. I learned not to take anything for granted; I also learned to treasure my family and my friends.

Q. S.: How do you feel about what Jesus did for you?

Jairus: I am thankful for Jesus’s presence in our town. I am thankful for meeting Him and, especially for His returning our daughter to us. I will forever be thankful to Him for what He did for us.

Interview with Mary Magdalene

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Biblefilms.blogspot.com

Hello, for the next few posts I will present parts of a script on which I am working. Over the next week or so, you will see a very special group of people. Each of these persons had an encounter with Jesus and received either personal healing, healing for someone close to them, or forgiveness. Let’s allow each of our guests to introduce themselves. These posts will take the form of interviews between me and the Biblical characters. I would appreciate any input you can give me. In the original manuscript, I have an emcee. This format is that of a talk show.

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Quiet Spirit: Hello, Mary Magdalene. I am thankful you could be with us today.

Mary Magdalene: Hello, Quiet Spirit. Thank you for having me.

Q.S. Let’s get started. Can you tell us something about yourself before your encounter with Jesus?

Mary Magdalene: I lived in Magdala, a town on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. People shied away from me. Jesus came through our town often. I always stayed away from where he was until one day, he sought me out. I didn’t want him to see me. My hair was matted and tangled. My family commented that my eyes had no life in them, they believed I had given up any hope of getting rid of the many demons that had taken over my mind and body. But that day I met Jesus, he looked on me with compassion and cast out those demons.

Q.S.: That’s amazing. How did those in your town receive you after your meeting Jesus?

Mary Magdalene: Those in my town who disbelieved in Jesus were cautious. Those who always welcomed Him accepted what He did for me. They embraced me

.

Q. S.: How did your life change?

Mary Magdalene: My life changed because Jesus gave me a new life, a purpose. He gave me friends, true friends! I was able to follow Him as He traveled from town to town where He preached the Word of His Father.

Q. S.:  How do you feel about what Jesus did for you?

Mary Magdalene: I am thankful. Because Jesus drove out those demons, I have a new life. I am healthier, I was able to follow Him and support his work. I shudder to think what my life would be like if He had not sought me out that day.

My World in April

A  cabin on the land at Muscatatuck Wildlife Refuge

          April found me rather busy. We had three dress rehearsals for our Good Friday drama. The cast requested the third one. I had to miss that one because Hubby and I had to go down to the southern part of Indiana so he could do some work for our friends who lost their mother in February. While he was helping them, our son and I went to the nearby wildlife refuge and took some pictures. 

One of the lakes, also a Muscatatuck

            Holy Week was extra busy for me. On Monday that week, Hubby told me we were leaving for Florida the next Monday. In our talking about this earlier, I had told him I didn’t think I could go until like April 30. We left on April 17. I had a Sunday school class party I wanted to go to this past Sunday.

            I had an eye exam and ordered new glasses before we left. When we returned home, I had seen they had called to tell me my new spectacles were in. I picked them up this past Monday.

I am part of a prayer group that meets on Wednesday mornings. Usually, every other Tuesday, a lady from church and I do visitation, making contact with some of our shut-ins, one in an assisted living facility, one in a memory unit of a retirement home, and three in an area nursing home. That week we had to go on Friday. On Maundy Thursday, evening, our church was invited to join a sister church for a Seder Meal service. I always find these services meaningful and instructive. I was trying to sort through summer clothes (packed away) and sweat pants to get washed.

The drama was well attended and well received. The Seder Meal was instructive. My Gluten Fee diet caused me to miss out on the Matzo Ball Soup and Communion with Matzo Bread. However, I did try one piece of Matzo bread with ground apples. AND two days later, it caught up with me.

I am working on two plays for our drama group, one I hope we can present just before Thanksgiving. The other one might be for next Good Friday. I have had to do some research on these. I even took some of my folders and legal pads to Florida, along with a small Bible and did some work on the Thanksgiving play while we were there. Right now the manuscript is 4/5 of the way of being done.

I await return the manuscript of my collection of meditations from one of my readers. I need to get with the program and work on the book proposal

With the advent of spring-like weather, I have been getting to sit on my porch. I call it “Porch Time.’ When we returned home from our vacation, our Dogwood tree we planted last year was in full bloom. 

Red Bud at the Wildlife Refuge

St. Andrews State Park, Panama City Beach Florida

                                            

Our Dogwood Tree.(Planted 2016)

A Spectacle of Glory:

Zondervan/ BookLookBloggers

                                  

God’s Light Shining through Me Every Day

By: Joni Eareckson Tada with Larry Libby

The title of this devotional book tells the reader what it contains. You will see God’s glory in each reading. The contents of this book are divided into monthly sections. I found the subtitle to be true, as I saw Jesus in each reading.

In the majority of the short meditations, the reader will realize that Joni speaks from her heart. Those who know her history know she has lived close to the Lord since her accident at the age of 18. Her faith is evident in each page of this book.

I would recommend this book to anyone who desires to grow closer to God. The short readings would be appropriate for use for devotions at Christian or para-church meetings or as an opening for a Sunday school class. This book may make a great gift for a young person who is going off to college.

I received a free copy of this book from Booklook Bloggers, a part of Harper Collins Publishers. This volume was published by Zondervan. All they asked of me was an honest review.

The Holy Spirit

Slide share, net

            What do we know about the Holy Spirit of God?

            Jesus promised to send a helper to His disciples after He departed this world.

“If you love me, keep my commands. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever” John 14:15-16

            The Holy Spirit was present at the creation of our earth.

“Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” Genesis 1:2

 

            Jesus invited the disciples to wait for the Holy Spirit.

“Do not leave Jerusalem, wait but wait for the gift which my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. . . in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 1:4

            The disciples dramatically received the promised Holy Spirit. They heard it and they saw it alight on each other.

“Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.” Acts 2:2-3

            Through the infilling of the Holy Spirit, the disciples received powers they had not experienced before.

“All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues[a] as the Spirit enabled them.”  Acts 2:4

            Why am I going into all this detail about the Third Person of the Trinity?  While we were traveling back from our vacation, I sensed this urge to pray for a special writing friend. In years past, this has happened to me numerous times.

            One of the men I met while I was in college grew up about ten miles south of the town where I still live. I used to remember something that I saw when a group of us toured his fraternity house. I used to think about that at odd moments twenty years after first seeing it. This happened three times close together. Then one day, I picked up our local newspaper and saw his obituary. He had returned to his parent’s home and had succumbed to cancer.

            That day, I learned a lesson. God, through the Holy Spirit, will speak to us and even give us tasks—such as praying for someone He puts on our hearts, sending a card or making a call to one having difficulties. I have fallen short in doing this. I know I need be more faithful in doing these things.

            The Holy Spirit enabled the disciples to carry God’s message to their world. I pray that I can help carry His message to our world of today.