Sunday Sharing: Plotting Against Jesus

Once again I read many interesting things this week in John 9-11, including the first time in history that someone ever gave sight to someone born blind, the analogy of Jesus being our good shepherd, Jesus declaring that He is the Son of God, the raising of Lazarus from the dead to prove it and the Jewish leaders' plot to kill Jesus!  Whew!  It sure is hard to come up with just one highlight for the week out of all that, but here it is:

(45) Therefore, many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary and had seen what Jesus did [raised Lazarus from the dead], put their faith in Him.  (46) But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. (47) Then the chief priests and the Pharisees' called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.  "What are we accomplishing?"  they asked.  "Here is this man performing many miraculous signs."  (48) If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation." 

 (49) Then one of them named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year spoke up, "You know nothing at all!  (50) You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish."  (51) He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, (52) and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one."  (53) So from that day on they plotted to take his life.  Therefore, Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the Jews.  (emphasis added)

--John 11:45-54 (NIV)

I always thought the Jewish leaders were jealous of Jesus because many people were putting their faith in Him and he was gaining a lot of followers and the people would listen to Jesus rather than them, but it was really more than this.  In my Contemporary English version, the footnote to this passage explained that they were afraid Jesus was getting a lot of followers to rebel against the Romans and then the Roman army would come and destroy their temple and their nation.  When Caiaphas talked about Jesus dying to save their nation, little did he know that he was prophesying about Jesus' death in order to save all people.  When I read verses 50-52, I thought of I Peter 3:18 which says:  For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:   

The fact that God would leave His glorious heaven to become flesh and die a cruel undeserved death on the cross so I can be forgiven and spend eternity in heaven with God forever is just mind boggling and so amazing!  Amazing love, How Can It Be, that thou, my God should die for me!


Please share a highlight from your scripture reading this week in a comment or feel free to comment on this post.  Reminder:  The third segment of "The Bible" mini-series is on the History channel tonight at 8 p.m. EST.  I'm enjoying it! 

(other Sunday Sharing posts from the Gospel of John):
 The First Speed Boat
A Personal God
He Knows My Thoughts

Share this:

Now I'll Think of Cows When I Hear This Song! (Writer's Workshop)

Here's something that made me smile this week. The jazz band played for the cows in France and they all came over to listen and stayed still for the entire performance. I thought it was a funny sight so hope it will make you smile too.


When I hear "When The Saints Go Marching In" from now on I'll probably think of these cows thanks to this video.

This is in response to Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop prompt: Tell us and/or show us something that made you smile this week.

Share this:

Don't Judge By Looks

I loved how this pair nailed it and made the judges and audience feel foolish for laughing at them at the beginning. So often we make judgments based on appearances, don't we? I'm sure it took a lot of courage for Jonathan to go on that show and I give him a lot of credit for being loyal to his friend who helped give him the confidence he needed to do it. Simon told him he thought he should dump his friend because she may hold him back but he said they would continue as a duo. Good for him! It's not always easy to overcome a bad first impression, but this 17-yr. old boy did it in just a few seconds--as soon as he started to sing. (50 cents per legitimate comment during March goes to The American Cancer Society by sponsoring Mrs 4444 and Lucky Lady in The Race For Life.)

 Share this:

Unique Presentation of The Hallelujah Chorus in Alaska

This video from the small Yupiq Eskimo Village of Quinhagak, Alaska, was a school computer project intended for the other Yupiq villages in the area." I found this over at Along the Way and just had to share it with you!





I think it's amazing that none of the letters were going the wrong way by mistake and that they were flipped right on cue! A lot of work went into making this video and I really enjoyed it! Hope you will too.

Share this:

8 Things We Learned This Week 18 of 2011 (poll, garbage, blogging, shopping, zoo, cleaning)

Easter Hymns

According to you poll, there is a tie for the favorite Easter hymn between "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Christ The Lord Is Risen Today."

New Dryer

When hhgregg came last Saturday to hook up our new electric dryer, they said we needed to get a gas one. I saw that gas line connected to it but we also plug it into the outlet too. I didn't know what it was and now I do. Went back to order the gas one instead (which was $87 more).

Garbage

After posting The Morning Stomp over at "My Funny Dad, Harry" I am surprised to learn that others do not compact their boxes by stomping on them. Some tear them, fold them or cut them but no one else stomps them--yet. Do you?

Choose Your Charity

For the month of May, the two people who leave the most comments on Red Pine Mountain blog will have a 25.00 donation made in their name to the charity of their choice. I wonder what she'll do if there's a tie.

Cleaning Fun

Over at Modern Mom's post, Clear Away Cobwebs I learned a fun way to clean away those high cobwebs, or low ones too for that matter with a tennis ball! Attach a dust cloth with rubberbands to a tennis ball and throw it at the cobweb! Makes you want to clean now, doesn't it?

Arcsoft Photo Impression

When installing my photo scanner, I discovered that the software can edit photos and I can make photos for my blog at a low resolution which causes them to load much faster!  I think it only works though when I load in new ones, not on ones already on my computer. 

Cinco de Mayo

I kept seeing "Cinco de Mayo" on different blogs but had no idea what it meant or was about. Now, thanks to Mike at "Live Life 365," I learned that it means May 5 and it about celebrating Mexico's victory in a battle in 1862. I guess you celebrate by eating Mexican food that day. Be sure to stop by Mike's blog if you want to see how to make salsa, Guacamole or enchiladas.

Elephant Crossing

Willy

Yippee! The elephants are back on display at the Cleveland Zoo in their brand new 5-acre exhibit, including a couple new ones: Shenga and Willy, an 11-foot tall bull elephant. The biggest we ever had. Gerard and I look forward to going this weekend.

Visit Half-Past Kissin' Time to find more Friday Fragments.

Because He Lives

I am so glad I have place my hope in Jesus! I know he holds the future and I can trust him for all my needs and life is worth the living. So many people do not know Jesus as their personal Savior and those of us who do, need to share the good news and love and forgive others like Christ loves and forgives us!

Hope you enjoy this last of the Easter hymns that I am sharing on this blog.




Which was your favorite? I can't even just pick one! Thanks for those who took the time to view these! I hope I didn't lose too many readers by doing this.

Check out our book giveaway of "I'm Outnumbered--One Mom's Lessons In The Lively Art Of Raising boys" to a mom (or gift for a mom)--winner to be announced May 1 so you have it in time for Mother's Day.

He Lives!

I love that I serve a risen Savior! Do you? I enjoy spending time talking to God in prayer each day and reading His Word. I hope you enjoyed these Easter hymns I shared with you to help us worship Jesus together through blogging! Just one more to go. Can you guess what it will be?

Hope you enjoy this video:

Check out our book giveaway of "I'm Outnumbered--One Mom's Lessons In The Lively Art Of Raising boys" to a mom (or gift for a mom)--winner to be announced May 1 so you have it in time for Mother's Day.

Have you voted in our favorite Easter hymn poll at the top right yet?

Christ Arose! Happy Easter Monday!

I told you there were a lot of good Easter hymns! This is one of the most fun ones to sing because it starts out so slow and serious and winds up so quick and fun! All these videos are the same song, but each has a special quality that makes them stand out. The first is a small choir that reminds me of my small church that I grew up in and attended for years.  If you don't want to watch all of them, just skip to the last one--it's the cutest of all and will make you smile!







This video is a sweet little girl singing it without any accompaniment for her aunt. I loved it!







These three little boys are so cute and I can't help but share their enthusiasm. If you skipped watching the first two, please take time to view this one! I guarantee it will make you smile!







Easter may be over, but the celebration of Christ's resurrection continues!

Check out our book giveaway of "I'm Outnumbered--One Mom's Lessons In The Lively Art Of Raising boys" to a mom (or gift for a mom)--winner to be announced May 1 so you have it in time for Mother's Day.

Christ The Lord Is Risen Today!

Got marshmallow eggs?

This is Easter and I am so excited! We are doing our puppet presentation for the children at church today telling the Easter story and showing clips from the Jesus film along with the puppets. Easter is special for Christians everywhere but it is extra special for me because I was born again into the family of God on an Easter Sunday 50 years ago!

Hope you enjoy this video I found on YouTube:







Happy Easter Everyone!

The best Easter decorated house Abby found in our neighborhood.

Check out our book giveaway of "I'm Outnumbered--One Mom's Lessons In The Lively Art Of Raising boys" to a mom (or gift for a mom--winner to be announced May 1 so you have it in time for Mother's Day.

Jesus Paid It All!

I picked this one for Good Friday because it is one of my favorites about what Jesus' death means for us. Have a good Friday!



Have you voted in our favorite hymn pool at the top right yet?

(If you are wondering about our "Things We Learned This Week"--we'll be posting those tomorrow, didn't learn too much. We did however do a "Friday Fragment" post on our book blog today.)

At Calvary

"At Calvary" is one of the easiest hymns to play so one of the first I learned on the piano.  I hope you enjoy this one that I found on YouTube.



Be sure to vote in our poll for your favorite Easter hymns in the right sidebar at top.

The Old Rugged Cross

"The Old Rugged Cross" is probably the best known Easter hymn but is not my favorite. In fact, I really don't like this one much at all, but included it for those who do. Do you want to know why I don't like this one? Well, I'll tell you. It seems to me as thought it's the cross that is getting all the attention instead of Jesus, almost like idol worship. I'm sure that isn't the intent, but the cross is only a symbol and not one I cling too. I cling to Jesus!

For those of you you love this hymn, enjoy:



Did you vote in our favorite hymn poll yet at the top right?

Down At The Cross (Glory To His Name)

Continuing to worship Christ the Lord this week through sharing Easter hymns that we hear so seldom. I love these, even more than I do Christmas carols! Hope you enjoy this one I found on YouTube:




Have you voted in our favorite hymn poll at the top right sidebar?

Come Celebrate Easter With Us This Week and Next

There are so many great Easter season songs that I love to sing and thought I would share them on this blog the whole week leading up to Easter and some even the following week to celebrate the greatest event in history ever--the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ my Savior and Lord! I may or may not post other things as well this week, but for sure I wanted to take time out from my regular blogging to praise God and just share some good old Easter hymns. I don't get to sing them in church very often because we generally just sing them on Easter or Good Friday. I hope you will join me in listening to these that I post each day to praise the Lord with me and make this Easter week special.

I don't know that "And Can It Be" is really considered to be an Easter song or not, but it certainly has the message of Easter in it and expresses my awe better than any other I know. Hope you enjoy this video I found on YouTube.



Have you voted in our favorite hymn poll yet at the top of our right sidebar?

Songs I Can't Escape. . . And Don't Want To (Writer's Workshop)

I love starting my day with praise to my God and lately, the following two songs seem to pop into my head every morning at the bus stop, sometimes even before I get there. I sing as I wait for the bus. Don’t worry, it’s okay, no one else is around to hear, just my God and me.

(I forget the title of this one, anyone know it? Gerard thinks it's "How Majestic Is Your Name")

Oh Lord, oh Lord,
How majestic is your name in all the Earth.
Oh Lord, oh Lord,
How majestic is your name in all the Earth.
Oh, Lord! I praise your name!
Oh, Lord! I magnify your name.
King of Kings, Lord of Lords,
Oh, Lord God almighty!



Ah, Lord God
(based on Jeremiah 32:17-19)

Ah, Lord God,
Thou hast made the heavens and the earth by thy great power.
Ah, Lord God,
Thou hast made the heavens and the Earth by thine outstretched arm.
Nothing is too difficult for thee, Nothing is too difficult for thee
Great and mighty God,
Great in counsel, mighty in deed.
Nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing,
Nothing is too difficult for thee!

This is part of Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop. Also participated with my other blog: My Earliest Memory--There's A Mouse In The House!--the freaking out prompt.

Tweet This

God Only Made One You--What An Awesome God He Is!

I heard this song "God Only Made One You" on the radio when we went to the library and I thought what a great thought that is, I should do a post about it. "God Only Made One You" is one of the songs Gerard taped from the radio for me before we were married and I think it's is such a cool song. Here are the lyrics to this kid's song:

There's no one like you with your special smile;
There's nobody else that has quite your style.
There's only but one who's wearing your face,
in all of the world no one takes your place.

Chorus:
There is just one you.
Not 20 not 10 not 2;
in all of the whole world through,
God only made one you.

When it comes to you there's no duplicate,
although you may have your family traits,
Your mother's bright eyes, your father's physique;
But all put together you are unique. (chorus)

The things that you say, the thoughts that you think,
in most every way you're very distinct.
If one were to search they never could find
another like you, you're one of a kind. (chorus)

When I consider all the people of the world since the beginning of time and no two are exactly alike it is mind boggling how creative God is. We are all God's special creations for his purpose.

(Ephesians 2:10--We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hat before ordained that we should walk in them. (KJV)

For the music Click here

Three Things I Learned This Week--Part 14

At Mother Knows Best, I learned the history of the "12 Days Of Christmas" song. It actually as a double meaning. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality which the children could remember.

I also learned from another post there titled Treat Your Kids To Chat With Santa that now kids can actually chat with Santa online at www.chatwithsanta.com.

Thanks to a little memory game at Lady Banana, I found out my short-term memory is better than I thought. I reached level 8 which was better than the others who played and shared their scores. I may have even done better if Gerard did interrupt me with "Look at the cats" and "Are you playing a game?" Click here to try it and see how you do.

By the way, we hit 100 visitors who signed our guest book yesterday and 20 followers! Yippee!!

Here is something I'd like to learn:
Since I got my photo scanner, when I choose pictures to use as my wallpaper on my computer, some still fill the screen as usual the way I want, but others show up as a bunch of smaller pictures of the same thing filling up the screen--I hate this! Can anyone tell me why this happens or how I can fix it so that they all show as one full screen picture?