Where are you? God is looking for you.

WANTED! SAUL'S ACCOMPLICES TO DAMASCUS

by Ogaga Eruteya  

Certainly, the story of Saul’s conversion in the bible will always make an interesting read. However, something quite intriguing (to probe) is the fate of the men who journeyed with him on that despicable mission. The last we heard of these guys was that they led blind Saul by the hand into Damascus[1]. Beyond that, nothing more as it is unlikely that they were with him at Judas’ place on the Straight Street where Ananias went to extend a hand of fellowship[2].

The big question is what happened to them? Why wasn’t any other detail provided about them – particularly after such a dreadful, life-defining episode? Just a singular idea comes to mind. The holy writ gave no further information about them probably because there was nothing noteworthy (and therefore scripture-worthy) about them, sequel to that event.

At this, a curious mind is left to wonder what these men, made of what happened to their former kingpin. Were they convinced? Were they confused? Were they convicted? Here was a fearless, ruthless, daredevil persecutor with a seared conscience brought down to his knees right before their very eyes. First, a sudden wave of light from heaven flashed around him (alone)[3]. This means it was a clear scene for their view. Then, Saul smitten by the force behind the illumination fell to the earth[4]. Immediately, the voice of an invisible being, audible enough for all of them to hear, conversed with their master[5]. Initially, the brightness of the light made Saul, by reflex to shut his eyes. However, after the dialogue, opening his eyes, he discovered he was blind![6]

To start with, was the conversation they heard revealing enough to convince them of Jesus’ lordship and therefore, the need to submit to Him (as Saul had done)? Was it anything to them that valiant Saul trembled in fear and surrender to the lord? Was it anything to them that after that encounter Saul jumped ship into the same camp he had hitherto antagonized? Was it anything to them that Saul became a completely overhauled person – very different from whom they previously knew? If these meant anything to them, why then did they not commit to the Lord as well? We did not read of this, whether during those strange moments or thereafter.

So, what became of these people? Is it true that after being privileged to witness such life-changing episode, they themselves were unaffected? Indeed, it is disheartening to note; but this seems to be the reality. After standing speechless for some time, everything dissipated from their minds as though it were a mere occurrence.

Alas, many of us have been in these same shoes sometime – privileged to witness dramatic encounters that redefined destinies but we remained unchanged. Well, it is no longer news that all such people are wanted. Yes, if you are one of them, then heaven is on the lookout for you! The saints are concerned about you. Now, is the time to reflect deeply on that encounter and make your own turnaround. How could you have allowed such to pass just like that? The Lord is calling out to you. Respond now, so we can find you.        

1 Acts 9:8

[2] Acts 9:9-11, 17

[3] Acts 9:3

[4] Acts 9:4

[5] Acts 9:4,7

[6] Acts 9:3-4, 8-9

Source: FaithWriters.com

Today is the day to reconcile yourself with God. Stephen Kimball reminisces about the past and the opportunity we still have while we are alive to seek God's forgiveness.

Moving On

by Stephen Kimball  

Recently, I traveled with my family to the area where I spent my childhood.

“That seems a lot smaller than it did when I was a kid.” I say, as I try to reconcile the differences between the humble abode that I am looking at and the memories of the nest from which I flew out of, twenty something years ago.

To me it was home, but no one can join me on that journey back in time. My mind plays a video of many, many of the memories that are held in its recesses. I can only try to describe for my kids what the house looked like, back in the day - in its prime. Dingy and overgrown now, I know the kids can’t envision its former glory. I drive around, dumbfounded by the changes in the neighborhood. Besides the general run down look, there is nobody around.

“When I was a kid, this place was active and inviting. There were always kids riding their bikes around, playing out in the school fields.”

We move on to drive by my old schools, the church I grew up in and my grandparents’ home, each one evoking so many memories. At each stop, the experience is much the same as it was at my old house.

We finally reach the cemetery where my grandparents are buried and it hits me like a ton of bricks that my kids could never understand how things used to be. Too many things have changed. Tears begin to well up in my eyes as I ponder the day and I think to myself…”You can go back, but you can never go back to the way it was.” 

Perhaps instead of a trip to your old stomping grounds it is a spiritual mountain top experience you are looking at in your rear view mirror but when you try to get back there, something has changed; you realize the moment was a gift or a mirage that cannot be recaptured. Maybe it was when you first encountered the gospel message, when God’s forgiveness first seemed possible and hope filled your heart. I want to remind you today that you are God’s treasure. He loves you just as much today as He did when He was nailed to the cross in your place. 

Has your “faith” fallen into disrepair, like my old neighborhood? Is it dingy, run down and unattractive? Yes, life happens and people err but forgiveness is still available, hope is still available. God desires to wrap His arms around you once again and bring you back into His fold, but He won’t force you. He can take your questions, doubts and failures and turn them into something beautiful and useful in His hands, the likes of which you have not yet seen. Make a fresh start today; it’s never too late to place your trust in Jesus.

"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."Lamentations 3:22-23

Source: FaithWriters.com

Hi Everyone!

Happy New Year!

It's been a while since I posted any comments. I've been enjoying my retirement and studying the bible. I will turn 70 this month, so my mind is becoming more and more focused on seeing God face to face, rather than pursing ambitious goals. I'm just thinking about what I can do for the Lord during the years I have left. To receive our crown of victory in the next life, God expects you and me to fight the good fight, keep the faith, and persevere until the end in this one. So my work is not yet done.

If there is something on your mind of a spiritual nature that you would like me to comment on, feel free to let me know.

In the meantime...

May the Lord bless you and protect you. May He look with favor upon you and give you peace by healing you and providing all that you need to live life abundantly.

John

Psalms 147-150 from my new book:

A NEW LOOK AT THE OLD PSALMS

Praying the Psalms: a modern interpretation

____________________

I present here a new perspective on the psalms. I have rewritten them from a New 
Testament Christ-centered point of view. I did not try to capture the poetry of the 
psalms – I leave that to more gifted writers – but I attempted to capture their message
with a more modern interpretation.

God bless,

John

____________________

Psalm 147

H

ow good it is to sing praises to our God, for he has built his Church through his Son, Jesus, who healed the wounded and created the heavens and the earth with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Who is as strong or wise as our Lord? He lifts up the lowly and humbles the wicked.

Let us sing a song of thanks to the Lord who dots the sky with clouds, showers the earth with rain, and covers the mountains with grass. He feeds the animals, large and small. Both savage beasts and nestlings look to him for sustenance. He values strength less than the love of those who revere him and rely on him for his mercy.

Praise your God, O Church. He guards you with his power and blesses you. He brings peace and supplies the needs of his faithful. He revealed to the Jewish people his word, the laws he wanted them to follow. And then he sent the Word, Jesus, to spread the good news to all nations and help them attain salvation through His Church. Alleluia!⁷⁰

Psalm 148

M

ay heaven and the angels; all the earth; all sea creatures; all elements of nature: fire, cold, snow, ice, hail, and wind; all mountains and hills; all fruit trees and trees for lumber; all animals wild and domestic; all creatures that creep or fly; all rulers and their subjects; all leaders and judges; all young men and women; all seniors and children bless the Lord. Only he created the earth and the heavens, yet he is close to all his creatures. Alleluia!

Psalm 149

L

et all his faithful celebrate the Lord with a new song. Let them rejoice in their creator with music and dance. He loves his people and will bless the childlike with his saving grace. The righteous will boast of their redemption and sing for joy on their beds upon which they had shed so many tears before. His victorious Church will praise him for their deliverance. And on Judgment Day, they will wield a two-edged sword that will cut both ways: one edge will defeat Satan once and for all and bring justice and eternal joy to the faithful; the other edge will cut the wicked off from the love of God and banish them into the pit where the presence of God will never be felt again. This honor is reserved for his holy ones. Alleluia!

Psalm 150

P

raise God in his Church and with the choirs of angels in heaven. Praise him for his mighty power and wondrous deeds. Praise him because he is magnificent. Bless the Lord with trumpets, stringed instruments, woodwinds, and dance. Let the crashing of cymbals mark the great victory of our Lord Jesus Christ over sin and death. Let all creation make his name glorious. Alleluia!

____________________

Cover image: Christ the Saviour (Pantokrator)." Web. 25 Sept 2016.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay.jpg
"Creative Commons License." Web. 18 May 2016.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

⁷⁰The Psalms, New International Version, St. Joseph Catholic Edition. 

(New Jersey: Catholic Book Publishing Corp., 1996), 776.

This book and other books I have written are posted for your reading pleasure at Booksie.

Scriptural quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 

copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois
60189. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2016 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must 

be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is 

offered to the public free of charge for the glory of God.

Psalms 144-146 from my new book:

A NEW LOOK AT THE OLD PSALMS

Praying the Psalms: a modern interpretation

____________________

I present here a new perspective on the psalms. I have rewritten them from a New 
Testament Christ-centered point of view. I did not try to capture the poetry of the 
psalms – I leave that to more gifted writers – but I attempted to capture their message
with a more modern interpretation.

God bless,

John

____________________

Psalm 144

B

lessed be the Lord who prepares me for war against my sinful passions. He is my shelter and my salvation; my savior and liberator. He is the God in whom I hope for protection; the one who gives me the power to overcome evil temptations.

Lord, why do you concern yourself with such a weak creature as man? He has become so vain, yet he is just a fleeting shadow. Lord, make your presence known. Make your volcanoes smoke; shoot your arrows of lightning. That will scare off the wicked. You sent your Son, Jesus, from on high to save us from arrogant and self-centered men. Such men speak nothing but lies and make promises they have no intention of keeping. Lord, come and rescue me, just as you rescued Jesus, our King, from the grave and consequently destroyed the fear of death for us all.

So free me, Lord, from the grasp of the ungodly whose words and vows mean nothing. Let your sons and daughters grow in virtue, and may we live our life abundantly, filled with your grace. May we not give in to temptation or fear for our souls again. The righteous will call us blessed, but our true blessing comes from having Jesus, our Lord and our God, as our Savior. Amen.⁶⁸

Psalm 145

(The Church prays and glorifies Jesus Christ, our Lord and King.)

J

esus, the Church exalts your name, for you are our God and King, the Lord of all. We will worship you every day on earth and forever in heaven. Your greatness exceeds all knowing. You are most worthy to be praised. Your Church blesses you for becoming man, and we stand in awe of the power you showed in your mighty work of salvation. We will proclaim the magnificent glory of your goodness. We will sing of your majesty and wondrous deeds. We will always remember your love and compassion.

You, Lord, are merciful, kind, patient, and good to all your people. The angels, saints, and your faithful on earth magnify your name. They sing of the glory of heaven, the power of your marvelous works, and the eternal reign of God.

Faithful to his promises and compassionate to his children, the Lord supports the weak and heals the brokenhearted. We all trust him to supply our needs and help us live life abundantly. He does what is right and just. He loves all that he has created. He is ready to help those who revere him; he will save them. The Lord watches over all who give their hearts to him, but he will condemn hardened sinners. I will praise the Lord. May all his people worship him forever and ever. Amen.⁶⁹

Psalm 146

I

will bless the Lord, my soul, every day of my life. Do not place your trust in people, even those in power. They cannot save you. Their thoughts perish with them when they die. But the one who depends on the Lord is blessed indeed. He made the planets and stars; the earth, oceans, and seas; and all the life that swims in them. The Lord is forever truthful. He brings justice to those treated unfairly; feeds the hungry; sets prisoners free; lifts up the downtrodden; helps the blind to understand what they cannot see; loves the godly; befriends the lonely; and cares for orphans and widows. But he will condemn the wicked. The Lord will rule over his people forever. “I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Alleluia! Matt 28:20 (NLT) 

____________________

Cover image: Christ the Saviour (Pantokrator)." Web. 25 Sept 2016.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay.jpg
"Creative Commons License." Web. 18 May 2016.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

⁶⁸The Psalms, New International Version, St. Joseph Catholic Edition. 

(New Jersey: Catholic Book Publishing Corp., 1996), 774.
⁶⁹Ibid., p. 775

This book and other books I have written are posted for your reading pleasure at Booksie.

Scriptural quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 

copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois
60189. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2016 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must 

be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is 

offered to the public free of charge for the glory of God.

Psalms 139-143 from my new book:

A NEW LOOK AT THE OLD PSALMS

Praying the Psalms: a modern interpretation

____________________

I present here a new perspective on the psalms. I have rewritten them from a New 
Testament Christ-centered point of view. I did not try to capture the poetry of the 
psalms – I leave that to more gifted writers – but I attempted to capture their message
with a more modern interpretation.

God bless,

John

____________________

Psalm 139

L

ord, my enemies bear false witness against me. Yet you have examined me and know my innermost being. You know when I am sitting or standing. You are familiar with all my thoughts. You see where I am going, even when I cannot, and you know all my intentions. You even know what I am going to say before I do! You surround me with your protection. You made me, and your guiding hand leads me forward. I cannot begin to fathom such depth of knowledge of a human being. It leaves me speechless.

Where can I go that your Holy Spirit would not also be with me? To outer space? To the earth’s core? To the edge of the world? No, you would be there. I cannot escape from your love or protection. Could I hide in the dark? No, darkness is as bright as day to you. I realize now that you have loved me since you formed me in my mother’s womb. Thank you for creating me, Lord. What a marvelous thing my body is, but all your works are marvelous. My soul knows this, even if my mind does not understand it.

Before my body was even formed, you saw me. I was just a thought, but you had already recorded all my days in the book of life. How vast is the mind of God! To number your thoughts, Lord, would be like trying to count all the grains of sand on a beach! I could spend my whole life counting and never come to the end of it. Yet even after death, you would still be there beside me!

Lord, dispose of these wicked people who have lodged false complaints against me. You know how much I hate those who hate you. Your enemies become my enemies. Stay away from me, you bloodthirsty men! Tell them, Lord, that they are wasting their time, that their charges against me are baseless. Search my heart, O God, to see if I have broken your laws. Then lead me to everlasting life. Amen.

Psalm 140

(Jesus prays for his Church during his torture and death.)

" F

ather, rescue my Church from Satan and those who do his bidding. They have plotted against it, slandered it, and fought unceasingly to destroy it. Save it from the wicked beings who have devised traps to bring it down.

Father, you are our God. Hear my prayer. You have the power to deliver us and shield us in this battle. Do not let the enemy get the upper hand. Do not let them succeed with their schemes, for that would only make them more arrogant. Let them fall into their own traps. Punish them for their injustice and cast them into the pit. Let them not rise to hurt us again. 

Slanderers will not be tolerated among your people. Evil men will bring about their own undoing. I know, Father, that you will protect the lowly and give justice to those in need. The righteous will then praise your name with thanksgiving, and the godly will live under your watchful eye. Amen.”⁶⁷

Psalm 141

L

ord, hear my prayer. May it rise up before you like incense. I lift up my hands this evening to praise you and receive your blessings. Keep my lips from speaking evil words; my mind from evil thoughts; my intentions always pure; my actions always true to you. Let me not be drawn into sin by the ungodly and their pleasurable enticements.

Let the upright correct me with love and compassion. Let me not darken the doorstep of sinners. I pray intensely for those who have lost their way. Chastise the worst offenders — those who draw others into sin. Sinners may not understand the gravity of their offenses until they see their 

ringleaders severely punished. The road to hell is paved with the broken bones of ignorant sinners.

But I look to you, Lord, to keep me faithful. My hope is in you. Let my soul not perish. Protect me against the wickedness and snares of the devil. Let evildoers fall into their own trap while I escape unharmed. Amen.

Psalm 142

L

ord, help me out of my desperate situation. I am nearly exhausted. You know where my path is leading and have always been there to help me. But today I feel alone. The enemy has set a trap for me. There is no way I can escape without your intervention. No one will help me because they do not care.

So I call upon you, Lord. You are my only hope, the only one who can protect me. Answer my prayer, for I am without any other recourse. Rescue me from my pursuers who have more strength than I. Deliver me, Lord, from this living hell, and I will give you thanks before the righteous who will see how you have saved me. Amen.

Psalm 143

L

ord, I beg you to hear my prayer. Answer me according to what is right and just. Do not hold all my sins against me, for no one is righteous in your eyes. The devil pursues my soul. He has humiliated me and deprived me of your grace, leaving me spiritually drained, my body a soulless husk.

I remember all the wonderful things you did for your people in the past. I beg you to fill my soul with your saving grace again. Come quickly, Lord, for I am barely clinging to life. If you reject me, I will lose my soul. Have mercy on me, for I trust in your faithfulness. Show me the way back into your graces. My soul is in your hands. Save me from the evil that surrounds me, for no one can help me but you.

You are God, and I want to do your will, not mine. Let your Holy Spirit show me the way to godliness. Because of who you are, save my soul. Because of your mercy and faithfulness, rescue your servant from the clutches of the devil. Cast Satan and all his evil spirits into hell. Amen. 

____________________

Cover image: Christ the Saviour (Pantokrator)." Web. 25 Sept 2016.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay.jpg
"Creative Commons License." Web. 18 May 2016.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

⁶⁷The Psalms, New International Version, St. Joseph Catholic Edition. 

(New Jersey: Catholic Book Publishing Corp., 1996), 772.

This book and other books I have written are posted for your reading pleasure at Booksie.

Scriptural quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 

copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois
60189. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2016 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must 

be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is 

offered to the public free of charge for the glory of God.

Psalms 136-138 from my new book:

A NEW LOOK AT THE OLD PSALMS

Praying the Psalms: a modern interpretation

____________________

I present here a new perspective on the psalms. I have rewritten them from a New 
Testament Christ-centered point of view. I did not try to capture the poetry of the 
psalms – I leave that to more gifted writers – but I attempted to capture their message
with a more modern interpretation.

God bless,

John

____________________

Psalm 136

L

et us acknowledge the goodness of the Lord, *for his love and compassion endure forever.

Let us give thanks to him who…

— is the one true God, *

— is the King of kings, *

— is the great miracle worker, *

— created the planets and stars with his great wisdom, *

— created the earth and surrounded it with oceans and seas, *

— created the sun to rule the day and the moon and the stars to govern the night, *

— compelled Egypt to submit to his will, *

— liberated his people from slavery in Egypt with his great strength, *

— parted the Red Sea for his people to pass through safely, *

— closed the waters to drown Pharaoh and his army, *

— guided his people through the desert, *

— caused water to spring forth from a rock, *

— defeated mighty rulers and destroyed great kings who opposed his people, *

— bequeathed their lands to the Israelites and their descendants, *

— was mindful of his people’s humiliation and rescued them from their enemies, *

— feeds all his creatures, *

Let us give thanks to God in heaven, for his love and compassion endure forever.

Let us give thanks to the King of kings, for his love and compassion endure forever. Alleluia!

Psalm 137

L

ord, it grieves us to be exiled in this world so far from our home in heaven. We are strangers in a foreign land where people abhor us and persecute us, but we would rather lose the use of a hand or our ability to speak than give up our belief in you. Nor could any earthly pleasure distract us from our heavenly goal.

Remember your children, Lord, and see how much we are tormented by the wicked. We praise you, for we know you will deliver justice to those who have treated us so unfairly. You will give us eternal joy in heaven as a reward for all the hardships we have suffered on earth. You, Lord, will have the last word in the fullness of time when good prevails over evil, and the wicked are condemned to eternal separation from your love. Amen.

Psalm 138

I

will thank you, Lord, from the bottom of my heart for having heard my prayer. I will praise your name before the heavenly court and kneel down and worship you before the Tabernacle on the altar of your Church. I will thank you for your love, compassion, and truth that you revealed in your Son, Jesus. Because of your faithfulness to your promise, your name is exalted above every other name. I know that whenever the time comes that I need your help, you will answer me quickly. Your powerful right arm will protect me from harm.

Lord, may all the rulers of nations adore you. They have learned that all your promises are true. Let them praise you for all the wonderful works you have done, for they see that your glory is great. Although you live in highest heaven, you stoop down to care for the lowly. But you leave the proud who do not trust in you to their own devices.

When I am in trouble, you protect me. Your strong right hand will reach out to save me from my enemies. You will deliver justice for me to those who seek to harm me. Lord, your mercy is unending. Do not abandon me, for I am your child, created by your own hand. Amen. 

____________________

Cover image: Christ the Saviour (Pantokrator)." Web. 25 Sept 2016.
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Spas_vsederzhitel_sinay.jpg
"Creative Commons License." Web. 18 May 2016.
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

This book and other books I have written are posted for your reading pleasure at Booksie.

Scriptural quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, 

copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois
60189. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2016 by John P. Gross. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this material must 

be done in its entirety with the copyright notice intact. This book is not for sale, but is 

offered to the public free of charge for the glory of God.