End of 2010

Our family has grown and continues to grow. Our family is now 6 in number.

From left to right: Bushis, Mums, Boogle, Tater, Pops, and Tukie.

Ruth and Boaz - Royal Parents

The book of Ruth depicts the life of King David's great-grandmother, a Moabitess (non-Israelite) who marries the Israelite son of Naomi.  When both of their husbands die, Ruth vows not to leave Naomi, stating: "Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me." Her faithfulness both to her mother-in-law and to the Lord are shown to be sure.  The Lord truly blessed her and he descendents after her for her faithfulness.

The Lord had prepared a righteous man as a near kinsman who would later marry her.  The scriptures depict Boaz' righteousness when Ruth, asking to glean in the field behind his servants, is treated very kindly and given special priviledge.  When she asks Boaz why he is so kind to her, he replies: "It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother-in-law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust." He saw true faith in her and was willing to accept her into the covenant even over others of his servants.

Under Naomi's direction Ruth informs him that he is a near kinsman and proposes marriage to which he willingly accepts, provided that the nearest kinsman is in favor.  After Boaz shows his strict obedience to the Lord's statutes by first contacting the nearest kinsman, Ruth and Boaz get married.  From Boaz and Ruth comes Obed, who fathers Jesse, who fathers Israel's King David, who was also the father of the wise King Solomon.

About one thousand years later another young handmaid, who was a direct descendant of David and thus of Boaz and Ruth, is visited by an angel who tells her: "Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end." She simply replied, "Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word."

Thus was announced the birth of our Savior, quietly, to a young woman whose faith was like her ancient mother's faith, sure and certain.  Following this angelic visit, the birht was also announced, quietly, to a young man who would help the young woman raise her heavenly son in obedience just like his ancient father Boaz, for he was also a direct descendant of David.

When does the Truth Set us Free?

Summary: We must believe and follow Jesus for the Truth to set us free.  The main truth that Jesus subsequently teaches is that he comes from the Father and that he is Jehovah.

In St. John 8:31-32 it reads, "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

In context, this scripture is teaching that the truth makes us free only if we believe on Jesus and continue obeying the words we receive from Him. In fact, it seems rather obvious after the fact that the truth will only condemn us if we refuse to abide by it.

One important truth that is taught time and again in the scriptures is that Jesus is the Son of God, Jehovah. This can be found in St. John 8:45-59.

The the unbelieving among the Jews refuse to believe Jesus teaching and say that his words won't free them because they are free already as the seed of Abraham. Jesus acknowledges that the Jews are Abraham's seed but says that these Jews are not Abraham's children because they don't follow Abraham's example. Neither are these Jews the children of God, because they refuse to listen to one who "proceeded forth and came from God". Jesus tells them that their father is the devil who seeks to murder and lie and has done so since the beginning (of this Earth presumably).

Jesus then tells them that "If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death." The Jews are incredulous and ask if he thinks he is greater than Abraham, and ask him who he is pretending to be. He tells these Jews that his honor is given him from his Father, who is God, and that even Abraham "rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad." Again, incredulous, they remind him that he is hardly old enough to know what Abraham was thinking 1000 years ago. Then Jesus says "Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am." This final phrase angered these Jews so much that they picked up stones to stone him to death.

The grammar is not improper. Jesus is using the Biblical name of Jehovah, I AM. He is stating that he, I AM, came before even Abraham. Unless this statement is true, under the Mosaic law it would be blasphemous. Not believing Jesus, these Jews prepared to stone him to death.

Our family has grown and continues to grow.

From left to right (and top to bottom): Tater, Pops, Tukie, Boogle, and Mums.

There is also another little one in Mums' belly, due in August.

First Post

Well, we have officially started our blog, per request of friends and family. Don't expect too much! Haha!