Sope: middle English spelling for soap, an emulsifier, bleach and cleanser.
Fuller: a craftsman who softens, bleaches, purifies and cleanses wool cloth.
Have you ever been around sheep? Sheep are not clean animals. Like a magnet to metal the thick wool of sheep attracts all sorts of impurities. That's putting it lightly. For every bit of dust stirred, every icky thing a sheep lays in not only stains, but permeates the fibers of wool. In short sheep stink. Ever wonder why Jesus calls us His sheep? Could it have something to do with the stain of stinky sin?
The Son of God came down from heaven to be born the Son of Man. To be close to us, he became one of us. What better way to communicate? What better way to show His love? Jesus also came down from heaven as both Good Shepherd and Lamb. The Shepherd calls us His sheep. Again, Jesus became one of us. Jesus the deity became a sinless man among sinful men. Jesus the Shepherd became a Lamb without blemish among a flock of dirty sheep. On the cross Jesus, the spotless Lamb, gave his own blood to wash away the blemishes of his fellow sheep. For Jesus is the Master Fuller, whose own blood is the fullers soap: that washes the wool of His sheep whiter than snow. Thankfully, Jesus clothes us in His righteousness. For no unrighteous thing, nothing with blemish, nothing with even a hint of the stain of sin enters heaven... The catch is: Jesus clothes only those who ask...
Malachi 3:2 KJ, "But who may abide the day of his coming? And who shall stand when he appeareth? For he is like a refiner's fire and fuller's sope." Jesus, the fuller's soap that purifies and cleanses the wool and hearts of all us dirty stinky, sin stained sheep... who call upon him...
Mark 10:46-52 KJ, "And they came to Jericho: and as they went out of Jericho with his disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus, sat by the highway side begging. 47) And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus thou son of David, have mercy on me. 48)And many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried out the more a great deal, Thou son of David, have mercy on me. 49)And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise; he calleth. 50)And he casting away his garment, rose and came to Jesus. 51)And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. 52)And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way." By faith Bartimaeus saw to cast off his garment; saw to cast off the old and receive the new; saw to put on the whiter than snow garment of salvation... Indeed, Bartimaeus not only followed on the road, but followed Jesus ...in the way... the Way, the Truth, and the Life. (Romans 10:13; 2nd Corinthians 5:17; John 14:6)
Isaiah 35:8 KJ, "And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein." Down the road from Jericho, Jesus continued on to Bethphage and Bethany on the slope of the Mount of Olives, then unto Jerusalem. There, two of Jesus' disciples cast their garments upon the back of a never ridden donkey colt. On cast off garments Jesus sat riding, and many spread their cast off garments on the road before him. Not only did they spread their garments on the roadway in reverence to his divine royalty; but more so cast off those worldly sin stained garments, that sin and death be cast off and trodden; and that they be newly clothed in the way... clothed in the salvation and righteousness of Jesus.
Mark 11:9 KJ, "And they that went before, and they that followed, cried saying, HOSANA; BLESSED IS HE THAT COMETH IN THE NAME OF THE LORD." Hosana: from the Hebrew hoshiahnna & Greek hosanna: a cry of adoration and acclamation, and even more so a cry out, literally meaning... pray save us. So may we also be clothed: Romans 10:13 KJ, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Isaiah 61:10 KJ, "I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and a bride adorneth herself with jewels." Jesus clothes each Christian, His church, His bride in His whiter than snow garment of salvation and robe of righteousness (Rev. 19:7-16). And you must wear His clothing and no other or be cast out of the wedding (Mat. 22:1-14).
Atop a mountain, Peter, James and John witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus: Mark 9:3 KJ, "And his raiment became shining, exceedingly white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them."
"The Fuller's Soap," the only brand of soap that gets you squeaky clean and clothes you forever in the love of... Jesus...
Saturday, August 31, 2013
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
KNOW IT ALL
Never known till it happens, what sparks may fly between two old adversaries at a reunion. Ten years had passed. The faces had changed a bit, most bodies had added a pound or two, but one thing had changed not at all: the feud between a certain two, the valedictorian and salutatorian of good old Anguish High.
Something about banquet tables invites the lonely eyed to hide in plain sight at class reunions. Hide eyes, dancing couples reflecting; hide eyes, longing to be a couple dancing. So dwelt the eyes of Matt Meeks, as he reached for punch bowl ladle, found ladle handle soft and warm. His eyes drifted from dance floor, met blue eyes not unfamiliar, the eyes of Sarah Demure. "Miss Know It All, I shoulda' known!" Matthew's hand recoiled from hers.
"Mr. Know Nothing!" Sarah countered.
"If you knew, what you think you know, you'd know better!" Matthew spewed.
"If you knew what I knew, then you'd know what I know!" Sarah chewed.
Was it something about the attraction of two opposite poled hearts; or was it planned purpose camouflaged as coincidence... the kiss twas soft?
And so it was that Saturday night reunion led to Sunday morning date. Matthew gathered Sarah from her parents' door and off to Church they went. Of course it was a neutral denomination in a neutral nearby small town, but it was Church. And so they came, and so they settled to settle down in mid neutral pew.
And after song and prayer, it seemed that directly at a certain mid pew two, the pastor stared, delivered yet another not so camouflaged coincidence of purpose, "I may not know it all, but I know our Creator, who does know it all. For at night my eyes behold the heavens, the moon and the stars, the very work of His fingers..."
There in mid pew did eyes open, turn to one another, well traces of joy filled tears.
And so it was that planned purpose of coincidence came to pass. Three children in the back yard played, while mom and dad were just a swinging in a swing made for two. Matthew and Sarah held hands while sparking neath the shade of that old oak tree, a neutral tree of course... But then again twas GOD who made them all...
In the garden one became two, that two become one...
Genesis chapter 2
The beautiful PSALM 8, a Psalm of David
The Song of Solomon, by David's Most Wise Son
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Something about banquet tables invites the lonely eyed to hide in plain sight at class reunions. Hide eyes, dancing couples reflecting; hide eyes, longing to be a couple dancing. So dwelt the eyes of Matt Meeks, as he reached for punch bowl ladle, found ladle handle soft and warm. His eyes drifted from dance floor, met blue eyes not unfamiliar, the eyes of Sarah Demure. "Miss Know It All, I shoulda' known!" Matthew's hand recoiled from hers.
"Mr. Know Nothing!" Sarah countered.
"If you knew, what you think you know, you'd know better!" Matthew spewed.
"If you knew what I knew, then you'd know what I know!" Sarah chewed.
Was it something about the attraction of two opposite poled hearts; or was it planned purpose camouflaged as coincidence... the kiss twas soft?
And so it was that Saturday night reunion led to Sunday morning date. Matthew gathered Sarah from her parents' door and off to Church they went. Of course it was a neutral denomination in a neutral nearby small town, but it was Church. And so they came, and so they settled to settle down in mid neutral pew.
And after song and prayer, it seemed that directly at a certain mid pew two, the pastor stared, delivered yet another not so camouflaged coincidence of purpose, "I may not know it all, but I know our Creator, who does know it all. For at night my eyes behold the heavens, the moon and the stars, the very work of His fingers..."
There in mid pew did eyes open, turn to one another, well traces of joy filled tears.
And so it was that planned purpose of coincidence came to pass. Three children in the back yard played, while mom and dad were just a swinging in a swing made for two. Matthew and Sarah held hands while sparking neath the shade of that old oak tree, a neutral tree of course... But then again twas GOD who made them all...
In the garden one became two, that two become one...
Genesis chapter 2
The beautiful PSALM 8, a Psalm of David
The Song of Solomon, by David's Most Wise Son
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Saturday, August 24, 2013
HIGHLY DOUBTFUL
The highly doubtful doubt just about all, except that non-existent. Seems a doubt here, a doubt there leads to doubt almost everywhere. Ends in the fear of of fear itself. In one such bed of despair, sheets tossed off for fear of something crawling there, lay lady Hylee Doubtful's disheveled hair.
Next morning suspicions lingered on in Hylee's head. "Nothing another mug of Joe can't nix," Hylee described her eight mug a day latte fix. Seemed the only thing Hylee could hold together were trembling hands round that nother mug a Joe. And even though caffeine sloshed to and fro over mug rim, Hylee brimmed, "I can quit anytime I want to. I just don't want to."
And friends, well what few friends were left, often whispered one to another, "Hylee's last name ought to be Deceitful, not Doubtful. The only thing she doesn't deny is herself another mugful."
On and on this went, till Hylee shook so bad, she hatched convoluted plan to visit Ol' Doc. Surely Doc could ease her too tightly wound clock. "What are drugs for?" Hylee thought.
In the room of examination Doc pulled stethoscope from ears, undid the pressure cuff, asked, "Hylee, how much coffee 'do' you consume in a twenty-four hour period?"
Hylee blurted, "I cut myself back to eight mugs a day!"
Doc pondered a while, then smiled, "How big are those mugs, pitcher sized?"
"No, no, not quite that big!" Hylee was caught, "A little smaller, maybe." A tear ran down twitching cheek, "I'm in big trouble, aren't I, Doc?"
"Let us review," Doc read as he wrote, "Trembling hands, facial twitches, vibrating eyes, pupils pinpoints, erosion of esophagus, stomach pain, not sleeping, not dreaming, no rest, paranoia, hallucinations," Doc drew a deep breath, "and one self deceiving heart that almost blew up my blood pressure monitor."
"I'm going to die!!" Hylee screamed!
"Panic attack," Doc added to the list. He opened the door and to passing nurse ordered, "Ambulance - stat."
Hylee survived. Graduated the Betty Fiat Christian No Mas Latte Rehabilitation Center a mere three months later. For Hylee had finally asked Jesus to cast out all doubt and bless her with fearless spirit.
To this day, to all who will listen, Hylee does say, "Let not the heart plead innocent, when the spirit knows better. Look to Jesus and find peace..."
Jeremiah 17:9; Matthew 7:7-8; 11:28-30
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Next morning suspicions lingered on in Hylee's head. "Nothing another mug of Joe can't nix," Hylee described her eight mug a day latte fix. Seemed the only thing Hylee could hold together were trembling hands round that nother mug a Joe. And even though caffeine sloshed to and fro over mug rim, Hylee brimmed, "I can quit anytime I want to. I just don't want to."
And friends, well what few friends were left, often whispered one to another, "Hylee's last name ought to be Deceitful, not Doubtful. The only thing she doesn't deny is herself another mugful."
On and on this went, till Hylee shook so bad, she hatched convoluted plan to visit Ol' Doc. Surely Doc could ease her too tightly wound clock. "What are drugs for?" Hylee thought.
In the room of examination Doc pulled stethoscope from ears, undid the pressure cuff, asked, "Hylee, how much coffee 'do' you consume in a twenty-four hour period?"
Hylee blurted, "I cut myself back to eight mugs a day!"
Doc pondered a while, then smiled, "How big are those mugs, pitcher sized?"
"No, no, not quite that big!" Hylee was caught, "A little smaller, maybe." A tear ran down twitching cheek, "I'm in big trouble, aren't I, Doc?"
"Let us review," Doc read as he wrote, "Trembling hands, facial twitches, vibrating eyes, pupils pinpoints, erosion of esophagus, stomach pain, not sleeping, not dreaming, no rest, paranoia, hallucinations," Doc drew a deep breath, "and one self deceiving heart that almost blew up my blood pressure monitor."
"I'm going to die!!" Hylee screamed!
"Panic attack," Doc added to the list. He opened the door and to passing nurse ordered, "Ambulance - stat."
Hylee survived. Graduated the Betty Fiat Christian No Mas Latte Rehabilitation Center a mere three months later. For Hylee had finally asked Jesus to cast out all doubt and bless her with fearless spirit.
To this day, to all who will listen, Hylee does say, "Let not the heart plead innocent, when the spirit knows better. Look to Jesus and find peace..."
Jeremiah 17:9; Matthew 7:7-8; 11:28-30
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Saturday, August 17, 2013
NAPE OF NECK
As wives do, Grace sensed something amiss. Knew the brain of hubby Bernie be boredom bent.
Bernie R. Beorde knew it all too well as well. Seemed no thing and no one anymore rang his bell. Many in the shoes of Bernie would sport a story of infidelity not to tell, but Bernie figured it'd be just one more boring temporary spell. "Besides," he thought, he smiled, "I do so love my Grace." So Bernie puttered on with life. "Better to putter than not putter at all," Bernie smiled at only semi-lamentful life crawl.
Till one Sunday sunny, while he and Grace were getting ready for church, from the TV set the preacher proclaimed, "The nape of the neck shines forth attitude. So why emit stiff necked ingratitude? The nape of the neck reveals who we are; even more so shines whose we are."
Curiosity pricked, Bernie decided to explore; opened the Bible, entered sacred door; then through the window to the soul named Proverbs, his eyes did soar, "Remember our Creator that wisdom and discretion sow 'grace to thy neck' and life to thy soul."
And Bernie thought, "What does this mean?"
So it was that the slow puttering of Bernie caused him and Grace to be late for church. Thus they seated three rows from the back. For already all stood standing, praiseful song lifting, bodies swaying in the dance of grace. Bernie sang too, even added a sway or two, when the Lord drew his eyes to next pew. Drew eyes to a little girl's hair pulled back save soft singular curl on right side of nape of neck. And Bernie thought, "How precious..."
Then the Lord reached out; lifted Bernie's eyes to see all about. See the napes of the necks of fathers, of mothers, of children, of the old and of the new. And Bernie saw... beautiful and bright each life of light... Saw whose they really are... each light of Spirit... each light of soul...
And the river of each life light, all that made them who they are, their rivers of light swept over and through him. His breath left him. He was drowning in too much to bear. He sank to his chair. Bernie whispered, "Take it from me, Lord... Yet, so beautiful... Just a little while longer, Lord." And again he stood, as his tears flowed with the flood of beautiful lights.
From then on the nape of the neck of Bernie Beorde shined forever more never bored.
...By the light of Jesus, the neck receives grace...
...By the nape of the neck, your light is shown...
...You are wonderfully and fearfully made...
(Please note this little story is very closely based on an awesome, not so long ago, real life event... You just never know what blessing awaits, while praising God...)
Proverbs 3:1-4 & 5-8; also 19-22 & 23-24 KJV
Bernie R. Beorde knew it all too well as well. Seemed no thing and no one anymore rang his bell. Many in the shoes of Bernie would sport a story of infidelity not to tell, but Bernie figured it'd be just one more boring temporary spell. "Besides," he thought, he smiled, "I do so love my Grace." So Bernie puttered on with life. "Better to putter than not putter at all," Bernie smiled at only semi-lamentful life crawl.
Till one Sunday sunny, while he and Grace were getting ready for church, from the TV set the preacher proclaimed, "The nape of the neck shines forth attitude. So why emit stiff necked ingratitude? The nape of the neck reveals who we are; even more so shines whose we are."
Curiosity pricked, Bernie decided to explore; opened the Bible, entered sacred door; then through the window to the soul named Proverbs, his eyes did soar, "Remember our Creator that wisdom and discretion sow 'grace to thy neck' and life to thy soul."
And Bernie thought, "What does this mean?"
So it was that the slow puttering of Bernie caused him and Grace to be late for church. Thus they seated three rows from the back. For already all stood standing, praiseful song lifting, bodies swaying in the dance of grace. Bernie sang too, even added a sway or two, when the Lord drew his eyes to next pew. Drew eyes to a little girl's hair pulled back save soft singular curl on right side of nape of neck. And Bernie thought, "How precious..."
Then the Lord reached out; lifted Bernie's eyes to see all about. See the napes of the necks of fathers, of mothers, of children, of the old and of the new. And Bernie saw... beautiful and bright each life of light... Saw whose they really are... each light of Spirit... each light of soul...
And the river of each life light, all that made them who they are, their rivers of light swept over and through him. His breath left him. He was drowning in too much to bear. He sank to his chair. Bernie whispered, "Take it from me, Lord... Yet, so beautiful... Just a little while longer, Lord." And again he stood, as his tears flowed with the flood of beautiful lights.
From then on the nape of the neck of Bernie Beorde shined forever more never bored.
...By the light of Jesus, the neck receives grace...
...By the nape of the neck, your light is shown...
...You are wonderfully and fearfully made...
(Please note this little story is very closely based on an awesome, not so long ago, real life event... You just never know what blessing awaits, while praising God...)
Proverbs 3:1-4 & 5-8; also 19-22 & 23-24 KJV
John 1:1-4; 8:12; 12:36; 1st John 4:17
Psalm 139:14
Saturday, August 3, 2013
RICH YET POOR
Not so long ago in Texas land, the rich yet poor visited home. Few in the town of Blessing did not know Lashlee Whippitt, whose name just about said it all; for as small towns go, the life story of any dwelled not afar. Otherwise said, all the wise knew what was not new with Lashlee Whippitt. For alas this poor rich lass had traded-in her name of birth for that of a country star in Austin's big city lights.
Yet, twas for blessed reason that the lips of Blessing folk remembered Lashlee Whippitt by her given name, Mercy Ann Love. But seemed every time so greeted as Mercy or Miss Love, a grimace un-graced the pouty lips of that otherwise beautiful young lady.
And so came the day, all would forever pay, or so schemed the tell them all off mind of Miss Whippitt. Miss Whippitt, who drove in four wheel drive her Cadillac truck over the curb into the drive of the Hotel Blessing. The Hotel Blessing where all are welcome to share the meal of high noon.
Mini whirlwinds whipped the parking lot dust in the wake of each flip-flop flip. And on way to the Hotel dinning room door, Lashlee's brain spit flame, "Never will anyone ever, no not never, call me Mercy nor Love, not never again!"
Now at the Hotel Blessing it is serve yourself, all you can eat, down home cooking, kept warm in kettles atop a row of antique stoves. And in line you stand with friends and neighbors, for in the Hotel Blessing all are neighbors, no matter where from, no matter how far traveled.
And in the line of waiting, pretty pink painted toenail toes strummed flip-flop soles, till time to fill the plate. And oh did she wait for it, wait for it with spite, ready to pounce if cheerfully greeted, when that awful name of birth be repeated.
"Well hi, Miss Mercy Ann Love. Why this very morning on KICK radio, I was just listening to you coo like a dove. That new song of yours is so..." interrupted in mid complement was an in line neighbor named Angel.
"My name is Lashlee! Don't ever, no not never, never, never ever call me Mercy nor Love again! I hate that stupid name." Lashlee Whippitt blew flame.
"Oh Miss Love! I didn't mean no harm. I, well actually most all folks in this little ol' town call you Miss Mercy Ann Love, cause we love our sweet home grown girl. We just love you, for being you. No matter how successful you are... no matter how far you go... you stay in our hearts... Why heavens! We love you, like Jesus loves us."
And love filled tears put out the flames of un-loved fears in the heart of Miss Mercy Ann Love, as she hugged her Blessing Angel. And from the rest of the waiting line, and from across every dining table, from every heart of neighbor flowed love for Miss Love. Miss Mercy Ann Love... once rich yet poor... was poor no more...
And so was that not so long ago of every day... at the Hotel Blessing...
Three weeks later Lashlee Whippitt vanished from Austin city neon light; that there instead the name Mercy Ann Love shine so bright...
John 15:12; Proverbs 22:1-2
pawpawcorner.blogspot.com
Yet, twas for blessed reason that the lips of Blessing folk remembered Lashlee Whippitt by her given name, Mercy Ann Love. But seemed every time so greeted as Mercy or Miss Love, a grimace un-graced the pouty lips of that otherwise beautiful young lady.
And so came the day, all would forever pay, or so schemed the tell them all off mind of Miss Whippitt. Miss Whippitt, who drove in four wheel drive her Cadillac truck over the curb into the drive of the Hotel Blessing. The Hotel Blessing where all are welcome to share the meal of high noon.
Mini whirlwinds whipped the parking lot dust in the wake of each flip-flop flip. And on way to the Hotel dinning room door, Lashlee's brain spit flame, "Never will anyone ever, no not never, call me Mercy nor Love, not never again!"
Now at the Hotel Blessing it is serve yourself, all you can eat, down home cooking, kept warm in kettles atop a row of antique stoves. And in line you stand with friends and neighbors, for in the Hotel Blessing all are neighbors, no matter where from, no matter how far traveled.
And in the line of waiting, pretty pink painted toenail toes strummed flip-flop soles, till time to fill the plate. And oh did she wait for it, wait for it with spite, ready to pounce if cheerfully greeted, when that awful name of birth be repeated.
"Well hi, Miss Mercy Ann Love. Why this very morning on KICK radio, I was just listening to you coo like a dove. That new song of yours is so..." interrupted in mid complement was an in line neighbor named Angel.
"My name is Lashlee! Don't ever, no not never, never, never ever call me Mercy nor Love again! I hate that stupid name." Lashlee Whippitt blew flame.
"Oh Miss Love! I didn't mean no harm. I, well actually most all folks in this little ol' town call you Miss Mercy Ann Love, cause we love our sweet home grown girl. We just love you, for being you. No matter how successful you are... no matter how far you go... you stay in our hearts... Why heavens! We love you, like Jesus loves us."
And love filled tears put out the flames of un-loved fears in the heart of Miss Mercy Ann Love, as she hugged her Blessing Angel. And from the rest of the waiting line, and from across every dining table, from every heart of neighbor flowed love for Miss Love. Miss Mercy Ann Love... once rich yet poor... was poor no more...
And so was that not so long ago of every day... at the Hotel Blessing...
Three weeks later Lashlee Whippitt vanished from Austin city neon light; that there instead the name Mercy Ann Love shine so bright...
John 15:12; Proverbs 22:1-2
pawpawcorner.blogspot.com
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