John 3:8 ~ Born of the Spirit

Does Van Gogh mind when I do 3D tilt images and photoshop? We will have to ask. Someday.

John 3:8 

"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."






God Buries His Workmen, but carries on His Work.

Charles Wesley. Now he had a friend with an amazing parish.

John Wesley said, "I look upon all the World as my Parish."

I bet John Wesley knew the heart of God to all of creation. Let all of creation sing with me now.

---

§ Kurt Aland did an amazing comparison

§ 2. Birth and Childhood of Jesus Christ

No.	Pericope	Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
2	The Promise of the Birth of John the Baptist			1.5-25
3	The Annunciation			1.26-38
4	Mary's Visit to Elizabeth			1.39-56
5	The Birth of John the Baptist			1.57-80
6	The Genealogy of Jesus	1.2-17		3.23-38
7	The Birth of Jesus	1.18-25		2.1-7
8	The Adoration of the Infant Jesus	2.1-12		2.8-20
9	The Circumcision and Presentation in the Temple			2.21-38
10	The Flight into Egypt and Return	2.13-21
11	The Childhood of Jesus at Nazareth	2.22-23		2.39-40
12	The Boy Jesus in the Temple			2.41-52

§ 3. Preparation for Jesus Christ's Ministry and Mission

No.	Pericope	Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
13	John the Baptist	3.1-6	1.2-6	3.1-6	1.19-23
14	John's Preaching of Repentance	3.7-10		3.7-9
15	John Replies to Questioners			3.10-14
16	John's Messianic Preaching	3.11-12	1.7-8	3.15-18	1.24-28
17	The Imprisonment of John	14.3-4	6.17-18	3.19-20
18	The Baptism of Jesus	3.13-17	1.9-11	3.21-22	1.29-34
19	The Genealogy of Jesus	1.1-17		3.23-38
20	The Temptation	4.1-11	1.12-13	4.1-13

§ 4. The Beginning of Jesus' Public Ministry (According to John)

No.	Pericope	Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
21	The Call of the First Disciples				1.35-51
22	The Marriage at Cana				2.1-11
23	The Sojourn at Capernaum				2.12
24	The First Journey to Jerusalem				2.13
25	The Cleansing of the Temple	21.12-13	11.15-17	19.45-46	2.14-22
26	Jesus' Ministry in Jerusalem				2.23-25
27	The Discourse with Nicodemus				3.1-21
28	Jesus' Ministry in Judea				3.22
29	John's Testimony to Christ				3.23-36

§ 5. Jesus' Ministry in Galilee

No.	Pericope	Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
30	The Journey into Galilee	4.12	1.14a	4.14a	4.1-3
31	The Discourse with the Woman of Samaria				4.4-42
32	Ministry in Galilee	4.13-17	1.14b-15	4.14b-15	4.43-46a
33	Jesus' Preaching at Nazareth	13.53-58	6.1-6a	4.16-30
34	The Call of the Disciples	4.18-22	1.16-20
35	Teaching in the Synagogue at Capernaum		1.21-22	4.31-32
36	The Healing of the Demoniac in the Synagogue		1.23-28	4.33-37
37	The Healing of Peter's Mother-in-law	8.14-15	1.29-31	4.38-39
38	The Sick Healed at Evening	8.16-17	1.32-34	4.40-41
39	Jesus Departs from Capernaurn		1.35-38	4.42-43
40	First Preaching Tour in Galilee	4.23	1.39	4.44
41	The Miraculous Draught of Fish			5.1-11
42	The Cleansing of the Leper	8.1-4	1.40-45	5.12-16
43	The Healing of the Paralytic	9.1-8	2.1-12	5.17-26	5.8-9a
44	The Call of Levi (Matthew)	9.9-13	2.13-17	5.27-32
45	The Question about Fasting	9.14-17	2.18-22	5.33-39
46	Plucking Grain on the Sabbath	12.1-8	2.23-28	6.1-5
47	The Man with the Withered Hand	12.9-14	3.1-6	6.6-11
48	Jesus Heals Multitudes by the Sea	4.24-25 12.15-16	3.7-12	6.17-19
49	The Choosing of the Twelve	10.1-4	3.13-19	6.12-16

§ 6. The Sermon on the Mount (According to Matthew)

No.	Pericope	Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
50	Occasion of the Sermon	4.24-5.2	3.7-13 a	6.17-20a
51	The Beatitudes	5.3-12		6.20b-23
52	The Salt of the Earth	5.13	9.49-50	14.34-35
53	The Light of the World	5.14-16	4.21	8.16
54	On the Law and the Prophets	5.17-20		16.16-17
55	On Murder and Wrath	5.21-26		12.57-59
56	On Adultery and Divorce	5.27-32	9.43-48	16.18
57	On Oaths	5.33-37
58	On Retaliation	5.38-42		6.29-30
59	On Love of One's Enemies	5.43-48		6.27-28 6.32-36
60	On Almsgiving	6.1-4
61	On Prayer	6.5-6
62	The Lord's Prayer	6.7-15	11.25	11.1-4
63	On Fasting	6.16-18
64	On Treasures	6.19-21		12.33-34
65	The Sound Eye	6.22-23		11.34-36
66	On Serving Two Masters	6.24		16.13
67	On Anxiety	6.25-34		12.22-32
68	On Judging	7.1-5	4.24-25	6.37-42
69	On Profaning the Holy	7.6
70	God's Answering of Prayer	7.7-11		11.9-13
71	The Golden Rule	7.12		6.31
72	The Two Ways	7.13-14		13.23-24
73	"By their Fruits"	7.15-20 12.33-35		6.43-45
74	"Saying Lord, Lord"	7.21-23		6.46 13.25-27
75	The House Built upon the Rock	7.24-27		6.47-49
76	The Effect of the Sermon	7.28-29	1.21-22

§ 7. The Sermon on the Plain (According to Luke)

No.	Pericope	Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
77	Occasion of the Sermon	4.24-5.2	3.7-13a	6.17-20a
78	The Beatitudes	5.3-12		6.20b-23
79	The Woes			6.24-26
80	On Love of One's Enemies	5.38-48		6.27-36
81	On Judging	7.1-5	4.24-25	6.37-42
82	"By their Fruits"	7.15-20 12.33-35		6.43-45
83	The House Built upon the Rock	7.21-27		6.46-49

§ 8. Jesus' Ministry in Galilee Continued

No.	Pericope	Matthew	Mark	Luke	John
84	Cleansing of the Leper	8.1-4	1.40-45	5.12-16
85	The Centurion of Capernaum	8.5-13	7.30	7.1-10 13.28-29	4.46b-54
86	The Widow's Son at Nain			7.11-17
87	The Healing of Peter's Mother-in-law	8.14-15	1.29-31	4.38-39
88	The Sick Healed at Evening	8.16-17	1.32-34	4.40-41
89	On Following Jesus	8.18-22		9.57-62
90	Stilling the Storm	8.23-27	4.35-41	8.22-25
91	The Gadarene Demoniacs	8.28-34	5.1-20	8.26-39
92	The Healing of the Paralytic	9.1-8	2.1-12	5.17-26	5.8-9a
93	The Call of Levi (Matthew)	9.9-13	2.13-17	5.27-32
94	The Question about Fasting	9.14-17	2.18-22	5.33-39
95	Jairus' Daughter and the Woman with a Hemorrhage	9.18-26	5.21-43	8.40-56
96	Two Blind Men	9.27-31 20.29-34	10.46-52	18.35-43
97	The Dumb Demoniac	9.32-34 12.22-24	3.22	11.14-15
98	The Harvest is Great	9.35-38	6.6b 6.34	8.1 10.2
99	Commissioning the Twelve	10.1-16	6.7 3.13-19 6.8-11	9.1 6.12-16 9.2-5 10.3
100	The Fate of the Disciples	10.17-25 24.9-14	13.9-13	12.11-12 6.40 21.12-19	13.16
101	Exhortation to Fearless Confession	10.26-33		12.2-9
102	Divisions within Households	10.34-36		12.51-53
103	Conditions of Discipleship	10.37-39		14.25-27 17.33	12.25
104	Rewards of Discipleship	10.40-42	9.41	10.16	13.20
105	Continuation of Journey	11.1
106	John the Baptist's Question and Jesus' Answer	11.2-6		7.18-23
107	Jesus' Witness concerning John	11.7-19		7.24-35 16.16
108	Woes Pronounced on Galilean Cities	11.20-24		10.12-15
109	Jesus' Thanksgiving to the Father	11.25-27		10.21-22
110	"Come unto Me"	11.28-30
111	Plucking Grain on the Sabbath	12.1-8	2.23-28	6.1-5
112	Healing the Withered Hand	12.9-14	3.1-6	6.6-11
113	Jesus Heals Multitudes by the Sea	12.15-21	3.7-12	6.17-19
114	The Woman with the Ointment	26.6-13	14.3-9	7.36-50	12.1-8
115	The Ministering Women			8.1-3
116	Jesus is Thought to be Beside Himself		3.20-21
117	On Collusion with Satan	12.22-30 9.32-34	3.22-27	11.14-15 11.17-23
118	The Sin against the Holy Spirit	12.31-37 7.16-20	3.28-30	12.10 6.43-45
119	The Sign of Jonah	12.38-42 16.1-2a,4	8.11-12	11.16 11.29-32
120	The Return of the Evil Spirit	12.43-45		11.24-26
121	Jesus' True Kindred	12.46-50	3.31-35	8.19-21	15.14
122	The Parable of the Sower	13.1-9	4.1-9	8.4-8
123	The Reason for Speaking in Parables	13.10-17	4.10-12 4.25	8.9-10 8.18b 10.23-24
124	Interpretation of the Parable of the Sower	13.18-23	4.13-20	8.11-15
125	"He who has Ears to Hear, Let him Hear"	5.15 10.26 7.2 13.12	4.21-25	8.16-18
126	The Parable of the Seed Growing Secretly		4.26-29
127	The Parable of the Tares	13.24-30
128	The Parable of the Mustard Seed	13.31-32	4.30-32	13.18-19
129	The Parable of the Leaven	13.33		13.20-21
130	Jesus' Use of Parables	13.34-35	4.33-34
131	Interpretation of the Parable of the Tares	13.36-43
132	The Parables of the Hidden Treasure and of the Pearl	13.44-46
133	The Parable of the Net	13.47-50
134	Treasures New and Old	13.51-52
135	Jesus' True Kindred	12.46-50	3.31-35	8.19-21	15.14
136	Stilling the Storm	8.23-27	4.35-41	8.22-25
137	The Gerasene Demoniac	8.28-34	5.1-20	8.26-39
138	Jairus' Daughter and the Woman with a Hemorrhage	9.18-26	5.21-43	8.40-56
139	Jesus is Rejected at Nazareth	13.53-58	6.1-6a	4.16-30
140	Second Journey (to Jerusalem)				5.1
141	The Healing at the Pool				5.2-47
142	Commissioning the Twelve	9.35 10.1,7-11,14	6.6b-13	9.1-6
143	Opinions regarding Jesus	14.1-2	6.14-16	9.7-9
144	The Death of John the Baptist	14.3-12	6.17-29	3.19-20
145	The Return of the Apostles		6.30-31	9.10a
146	Five Thousand are Fed	14.13-21	6.32-44	9. 10b-17	6.1-15
147	The Walking on the Water	14.22-33	6.45-52		6.16-21
148	Healings at Gennesaret	14.34-36	6.53-56		6.22-25
149	The Bread of Life				6.26-59
150	Defilement - Traditional and Real	15.1-20	7.1-23	11.37-41 6.39
151	The Syrophoenician (Canaanite) Woman	15.21-28	7.24-30
152	Jesus Heals a Deaf Mute and Many Others	15.29-31	7.31-37
153	Four Thousand are Fed	15.32-39	8.1-10
154	The Pharisees Seek a Sign	16.1-4 12.38-39	8.11-13	11.16 12.54-56 11.29
155	The Leaven of the Pharisees	16.5-12	8.14-21	12.1
156	A Blind Man is Healed at Bethsaida		8.22-26

Yesterday at The Woodland's United Methodist Harvest, we were encouraged never to let the opportunity for giving Hope pass you by.

Let's say that again:

We were encouraged never to let the opportunity for giving Hope pass you by
We were encouraged never to let the opportunity for giving Hope pass you by


Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty!!!



And I was completely astonished to find the guest singer (Mike Romero) sang so very sincerely and touchingly - he was the twin of Father Jerry Hill from Dallas who ran the largest homeless shelter in Dallas called Austin Street Shelter for decades and decades. The enthusiasm - the love - the very look was the same. A PROFOUND Blessing to me, coming back from my teenage years.

Live Long Enough and your blessings - float back to you.

Cast Your Bread upon the waters, after many days, this will return to you.
Ecclesiastes 11:1


And that reminded me of a sermon from Bishop Chuck Murphy, III of Pawleys Island, S.C. From 2001.


Chuck Murphy was an attorney in Charleston. His newlywed wife asked him to volunteer with her to do a stint in Nursery Sunday School. He declined soundly. His wife asked him with joy if he ever wanted to have children because this would be a good time to visit little children. He decided immediately to volunteer with her. As he shaved and dressed that morning he decided he would shop the children to put in an order with the Lord. (Not a bad plan really. God is our font of every blessing. Sing. Get overcome.)

And he picked one out. Allen. Because with this kindergarten child - "There was a 'Brightness'.' As they got home, Chuck decided He Really Liked Allen - age 5. He told his wife they could do that again. In fact, in a month the Church rang back and asked them to take on the first grade Sunday School. Chuck said he would if they got Allen. And so this went for 12 years. Allen and Chuck did Sunday School and Jr High Youth Group. And Sr High Youth Group.. Allen went on to college - Chuck had his law practice. They bumped into one another. Rejoicing.

One day, Chuck decided he'd had enough of law practice in his late 40's and went to Suwanee for Theology. Everyone was in their 20s. Bummer. Bummer. Great Big Bummer. And one of the students had a "Brightness"!!! They graduated together. The two men who had done 12 years of Youth Group and Sunday School.

And their careers took them across the vast Continent of the United States. And unknowingly,  they changed denominations. Time went on. Allen Hughes became a first rate Pastor, became a father, three then four times. Chuck became a Bishop.

And one day the "Brightness" connected the Bishop and the Pastor to be working together across the Continent. And then they worked in the same SC Church another decade later.

Chuck Murphy said to live the adventure of life is to find God repeats our blessings like a beautiful rug. Look forward with hope. The best is yet to be.



Amazing what Philippians 2 does. Setting the Love of God on Fire!!!
This is why God gave His Commandment to Love.





John the Baptist is compared to Elijah. And they were seen as separate.

The Waters parted for Joshua - just as they did for Moses.

Elijah and Elisha found God alone could raise the dead.





The Bible is alive. Active. Responding to Your Life. Your Soul. Your Heart.

This is why the Bible Repeats. And comes into Your Life. To warm and stir your soul just as Jesus did for His beloved friends on the road to Emmaus.




I have had two amazing widowed women as my grandmothers. They were part of my life daily. And my thoughts. Daily. And I was provided with a neighbor who was about 15 years younger than my grandmothers as my first newlywed neighbor. Teaching me that at 80 years old - pecans are harvested and sold for Christmas money. Seeing fresh paint applied continually. Walking the dog. Teaching me what Chess Pie is. Making my new to the neighborhood gift a Cherry Pie. Well, ok, it is pie.


What was given to you? What has God provided to you - that you KNOW was a gift of God. To you. His beloved. His Child. You are the one He loves. What has HE given you? Pass this along. Be the repeat. Be the blessing. Become you as the blessing.

It is in healing - we are healed.


Abba,

We welcome Jesus to pray with us. Who strengthened Peter to walk with Him in amazing ways. Let the Holy Spirit increase in us and around us to step forward in astonishing memories and hope in the days to come.

You give us the opportunity to be the Blessing.

The Word of God exists to create Love.

Thank You.

The Best of All is, God is with us.
The Best of All is, God is within us.
The Best of All is, God is within His God Creation. Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow.
Our father God says this is Good. We are part of His Creation. We Bless the Lord God for His Love.

How Great Thou Art.
How Great Thou Art.
How Great Thou Art.


Help us to walk with You Jesus. Agape for all of our loved ones.

Amen for the Love of God in us, around us, through us,

My Savior God to THEE. Amen.

♔ Lord Jesus Saves †