How about some More Gold and Silver??

carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counsellors have freely offered (Ezra 7.15)

Through the years I have often envisioned myself in a giant MONOPOLY game. I am terrible at MONOPOLY. Most know that MONOPOLY (I think that it needs to be spelled with all caps) is usually a dreadfully long game. Many times I have avoided embarrassment simply because I didn’t want to spend hours playing. Or rather hours waiting for everyone else to finish.

I am usually the first one eliminated. It is a proven fact. I can’t seem to win.

MONOPOLY is a game of strategy and luck. This mix can be fun when you are a good strategist and when the luck is going your way. But when the die does you bad you’re out in a flash.

I’ve tried to start small with Mediterranean and Baltic Avenues and grow. I’ve tried to start big with Park Place and Broadway and crush every opponent. I’ve tried the old barter system, buy a little of everything. I’ve tried to own all of the Utilities and Railroads but usually to no avail. I’m out first.

What if just before my swift exit a MONOPLY king and his court decided to offer me a bunch of the funny money? I could take all that I needed. That would be sweet. I might actually win a game!

What if that scenario happened in real life? What if just when all looked lost a king and all of his courtiers took up a freewill offering and came to the rescue with a boat load of gold and silver? Wouldn’t that be nice? I can see the heads nodding.

“When did this ever happen” you might ask? I read it just yesterday in Ezra seven. It happened just as the seventy-year captivity was ending. Artaxerxes, the king of the world, commanded that any Jew who wanted to could return to Jerusalem. He then made an astounding proclamation. He said, “Oh by the way, my men and I have taken up a collection of gold and silver that you can take as you like.”

THAT my friend was not normal protocol. There was something going on here. The reason for the king’s benevolence is seen in verse six where the text says that the blessing of God was upon Ezra. Because the blessing of God was upon Ezra the king was making an offer difficult to turn down. “Take all of the gold that you will need. Take the silver too! In fact if there is anything else you might need take that too.”

Ezra did. He lead a group back to Jerusalem. History was made.

Wouldn’t you like a similar situation? I would. I don’t want an early out of the MONOPLOY game of life. I want to at least survive. In fact I want to win. But wait a minute here. Could a scenario like Ezra’s happen to me?

Actually it has already happened! Jesus’ sacrifice at Calvary opened the Heavenly treasury. He offers more than gold and silver. He offers eternal life at His side in the presence of God. He offers an inheritance that will never fade in its glory. Think about it. Where is Artaxerxes’ gold these days? It may be a part of your wedding ring. Jesus offers security with His investment. Do you want it? Take it. No really, take it!

Daughter and dog...

About six months ago we discovered that Ann was pregnant and were very excited for she and Jackson. We will have babies on this side and that of the Atlantic. We weren't prepared for that news and we we were even less prepared for the news that our little dog is pregnant. To date we have spent more on the dog than on Annie (don't tell her... Ann that is). Ann has yet to discover whether her baby is a boy or girl. Both ultrasound images were inconclusive. Though I did some further investigation of my own and was startled with what I found. to me it looks as if the baby is definitely a boy and has some resemblance from both sides of the family. Take a look for yourself and let me know what you think.

God’s Orchestration

I love to see the Lord work His Salvation miracles. His works are Master Pieces of sweet music. They are arrangements that only He can make happen. Two weeks ago I began my second attempt at cello lessons. I had tried the instrument about five years ago and found my fingers so rusty and decrepit that I had given up after just a few months. So, why my second go? Here’s one short and sweet story. There is a youg man that works with Alexandre at school. He teaches music and is a musical genius. At sixteen he began a city wide music program to train young musicians in Sorocaba. Recently he has worked with two deaf children and has been able to teach them to play violin using a method that he developed. There doesn’t seem to be an instrument that he cannot play. His seventeen year old wife also plays the flute and is studying nursing. They are a very young but very sharp couple. In a conversation after the recent Recital Junior convinced me that it would be a good idea for me to take up...

Abs of Steel with Glasses

Have you ever wondered why Clark Kent always took his glasses off before he turned into Superman? I hadn’t ever thought about it either until this last Saturday when I almost got sucker-punched. Wellington, one of my spunky Juniors, wanted to wrestle. He feigned a punch to my gut and I said, “Go ahead. I have abs of steel!” I think that my gym visits might be going to my head because my abs of steel are buried under a healthy layer of blubber. I have improved my six-pack but it is far from chiseled. It looks more like a quarter of a keg. Anyway, quick as a wink and with near lightening speed Wellington said, “Yeah but up here is made of glass!” as his poke went within a hair’s breadth of my glasses! I belly-laughed. His rapid reflexes and wit had caught me by surprise. And what he said was so true and funny. It was an excellent though brief lesson. I often prepare for an oncoming fray. I get ready, set and then “BLAM”! The proverbial punch comes from a totally different direction. ...

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