Oklahoma!

It's good to go back to the land of my nativity (meaning: place where I was born). This was Libby and I's first time to really have some free time around there. So I showed her places I thought of fondly from my childhood. So in honor of the double graduation of both our nephew and niece, we drove to Tulsa for a short vacation.

Congrats to Jeff and Arran on graduation from BA High. Congrats to Gene and Cindy on getting all three kids through high school. I'm not sure who is more excited that they are done, parents or children. Thanks to Over one thousand students graduated with them, which made it a really big deal even in the Mabee Center.

Following the ceremony, we drove up Riverside Drive, enjoying the scenery. We wandered around downtown, which is much less sketchy than it used to be. Spent the night at a HIEx, and the next morning we went to Expo Square for the horse show.




Not sure if you are aware of this, but the Golden Driller is HUGE! I somehow thought that like all other things, he would seem smaller now that I am an adult. Nope. Standing at his feet, he is monstrous. Even Libby was impressed. Especially since her experience with giant statuary consists of the 12 foot tall chicken in Springdale (pictures soon to follow).

Gene and Cindy then took us to lunch at one of his childhood favorites - Brownie's. The food combined with the stories of old have made Brownie's my new favorite burger place in Oklahoma. Not sure who was the old favorite burger place, so eclipsing is Brownie's. Libby and I plan to work their grilled onions into our burgers at home. But we won't be able to duplicate the fries.

I conclude with a couple Catoosa favorites taken on the way out of town from a previous trip. The pics from Natural Falls State Park will wait for another day (I didn't like most of them anyway).

It's Friday

It’s Friday, Jesus is praying, Peter’s asleep, and Judas is betraying. But Sunday is coming.

It’s Friday, my Savior on trial is silent, the high priests of Israel are violent, my Jesus is a lamb before slaughter. But Sunday is coming.

It’s Friday, Pilate is struggling, the council is conspiring, the crowd is vilifying. They don’t even know that Sunday is coming.

It’s Friday, the disciples are running … like sheep without a shepherd. Mary is crying. Peter is denying. But they don’t know Sunday is coming.

It’s Friday, the Romans beat my Jesus, they robe Him in scarlet, the crown Him with thorns. But they don’t know that Sunday is coming.

It’s Friday, see Jesus walking to Calvary. His blood dripping, His body is stumbling, and His spirit is burdened. But you see it’s only Friday. Sunday is coming.

It’s Friday, the world’s winning, people are sinning, and evil is grinning.

It’s Friday, the soldiers nail my Savior’s hands to the cross. They nail my Savior’s feet to the cross. And they raise Him up next to criminals.

It’s Friday, but let me tell you something. Sunday is coming.

It’s Friday, the disciples are questioning. What has happened to their King? And the Pharisees are celebrating, that their scheming has been achieved. But they don’t know. It’s only Friday. Sunday is coming.

It’s Friday, He’s hanging on the cross, feeling forsaken by His Father, left alone and dying. Can nobody save Him? Oh! It’s Friday, but Sunday is coming.

It’s Friday, the earth trembles. The sky grows dark. My King yields His spirit.

It’s Friday, hope is lost. Death has won. Sin has conquered. Satan is just laughing.

It’s Friday, Jesus is buried. A soldier stands guard. And a rock is rolled into place.

But it’s Friday. It’s only Friday.

Sunday is coming.

Read ellisonsnapshot

We are all grieving the loss of our nephew, Aaron. Duane said it first and probably best on his blog. So for now, link over to his blog to read his March 11 post about how we are feeling now.

Fred and Michelle, our prayers are with you and the kids.

Borrowed from next door

Just to put something new here and let you know what I'm thinking about this week.
Originally posted on hedge2230.blogspot.com

Tuesday
The second song from the Book of Psalms (v1-9)
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
"Let us burst Their bonds apart and cast away Their cords from us."
He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.
Then He will speak to them in His wrath, and terrify them in His fury, saying,
"As for me, I have set My King on Zion, My holy hill."
I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to Me, "You are My Son; today I have begotten You.
Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your heritage, and the ends of the earth Your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."

The Gospel according to Matthew (26:3-5, 14-16)
Then the chief priests and the elders of the people gathered in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill Him.
But they said, "Not during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people."
Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, "What will you give me if I deliver Him over to you?" And they paid him thirty pieces of silver.
And from that moment he sought an opportunity to betray Him.

The Acts of the Apostles (4:24-28)
And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,
who through the mouth of our father David, Your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, "'Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against His Anointed'--
for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel,
to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.

The Letter to the Romans (10:9-10)
Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.

Homily
A long collection of Scripture to show the rich tapestry in the Word of God regarding His plan using the rebellion of humanity for His greater glory. While the world, oft described as at enmity against God, plots to destroy His Anointed One (literally the Messiah), God uses their rebellious energies to forward His plan of redemption. They have no need for God nor desire His rule. Instead they will lift man to the place of God. Meanwhile, the proclamation of the people of God is their submission to His Messiah, Jesus, as their Lord and King. While the world claimed Caesar, we claim Christ.

Prayer ...

Postscript
The Revelation of Jesus Christ as given to John (19:15-16)
From His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty.
On His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.