Parable of the Rich Man, Part 2

Welcome to Part 2!

In Part 1 we had a bit of an overview of the Book of Luke in the Bible.

Chapter 12 of Luke is the chapter that stopped me in my tracks.  

I can't wait to get to that point, so let's move on!

Chapter 12

Jesus warned His followers against the teaching and lives of the religious leaders.  He said the path they  walked would lead to death.

A natural question at this point would be:

If the religious leaders didn't know God and their way would lead to death, then, 

how can someone know God?  What is the way to Life?

Ok, because I believe that the things Jesus teaches are Truth, let's switch to present tense.  Try to imagine you are one of His followers or maybe one in the crowd, interested in what He has to say . . .
He is speaking now:

Jesus warns His followers that if they believe what He says and start to live the way He teaches, they will be hunted by the religious leaders, too.  His teachings are so revolutionary that they will be treated like criminals for following them.

He spends a lot of time in this chapter reassuring His followers that God loves them and God will take care of them.  

He tells them not to be worried about what they will say when they are brought to trial as criminals.  He says the Spirit of God will teach them what to say right in that very minute they need it.

What does Life in God's Kingdom look like?  How do people live there?

(Oh, man, are you ready?!  This is pretty amazing stuff and you may not ever be able to go back after hearing it!)

Jesus says that people who live in God's Kingdom trust God to care for them.

He says that God loves His people so much that He cares for their every need.  

God gives them food and drink.  

God gives them clothes to wear.  

     God gives them everything for life.  

Instead of worrying about these things and living their lives to provide themselves and their families with these things, people in the Kingdom of God seek God and believe that He will provide what they need to live.  Free from worry about "tomorrow," they use what God gives them to serve others, today.

Jesus tells a story to emphasize his point.  And, as many of His stories are, it is a parable.

The Story of the Rich Man

“The farm of a certain rich man produced a terrific crop. He talked to himself: ‘What can I do? My barn isn’t big enough for this harvest.’ Then he said, ‘Here’s what I’ll do: I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll gather in all my grain and goods, and I’ll say to myself, Self, you’ve done well! You’ve got it made and can now retire. Take it easy and have the time of your life!’

Just then God showed up and said, ‘Fool! Tonight you die. And your barnful of goods—who gets it?’  

The Rich Farmer is a negative example.

  

He is rich already.  He has land that is very productive.  The land produces a great harvest.  

He has a barn but it isn't big enough to hold all the harvest. 

Problem:  What to do with the extra that he doesn't have room to store?

His Solution:  Find a way to store everything in his harvest.  Tear down his barn and build bigger ones.

Why does he want to do this?  - So he can stop working and not worry about what he will eat.  He can retire and live off his stored goods and grain.

God says to the Rich Man:  You fool!  Tonight you will die.  Now, who will own what you have prepared.

Jesus' Answer to the Parable

Don't worry, God will give you everything you need, including food, drink and clothes. 

God cares for the tiny creatures of His Creation and He will care for you. 

You are so much more than what you eat, drink or wear.

Seek God's Kingdom and then all these other things will be given.

Are you ready?  Now He tells them what they are supposed to do. . . 

Instead of worrying and storing up for themselves for the future, the people in God's Kingdom:

1.  Sell their possessions.

2.  Give to charity/to the poor and needy.

WHY? - People in God's Kingdom don't store up things here on earth.  They give!  God provides for them and they are free from worry.  They are free to think and live eternally - with a view toward Heaven.  Treasures for Heaven are found in giving to those in need.  

Oh my!  We are free!  Free to give and give and give from all the abundance God provides!  

This is so deep and wide and high; I can barely put my brain around it.  

Need some time to let it soak in?  

Me, too. 

to be continued . . . 

Parable of the Rich Man, Part 1

I love studying God's Word.  I hear God speak to me and I come away changed.  

Sometimes the changes are so world-shattering; I can never go back.  

This month God has had me in the Book of Luke.

I will never be the same. . . 

  

Luke was a physician who traveled with the ex-Pharisee, now follower of Jesus the Messiah, Paul.  Paul had a dramatic conversion where he claimed he heard the voice of Jesus and then was blinded for several days.  He was now traveling all over the Roman world teaching Jews and non-Jews about Jesus and why he believed Jesus was the Messiah - the Son of God sent to earth to proclaim that The Kingdom of God had come again on earth.

Luke also believed that Jesus was the Messiah  He wrote a book for a man named Theophilus (Lover of God) who was probably a Roman official of some sort.  Luke tells Theophilus that he has investigated everything carefully from the beginning and is writing it out for Theophilus in consecutive order, "... so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught."  

Luke's book to Theophilus is a biography of Jesus.

What did Luke write about Jesus?  What did he tell Theophilus - - over and over?

1.  Jesus proclaimed and taught about "The Kingdom of God."  

                   Jesus told stories that explained what God's Kingdom is like, 

                   what the people in The Kingdom are like,

                   and how people can become part of The Kingdom.  

2.  People were sick and dying.  

                   Jesus healed sick people and brought dead people back to life.  He made them 

                        healthy and alive.

3.  People had demons and spirits living in them - making them sick, "crazy," and slaves to the demons.  

                   Jesus cast out demons from people.  He set them free.

4.  People were living in the terrible consequences of their sin.

                   Jesus forgave people's sin.

5.  Jesus said He was the Son of God, The Messiah.

Jesus had thousands of people coming to hear Him speak and teach.  They followed Him wherever He went.  They asked Him to heal them and to cast out demons.  Jesus had a smaller group of followers that He hand picked to teach personally and intimately.  He trained these followers to also go into the villages and towns and teach about what He called The Kingdom of God.  They, too, healed the sick and cast out demons from people.

Not everyone who heard Jesus teach liked what they heard or believed He was teaching the Truth.  Many of the religious leaders disagreed with what Jesus taught and what He did.  They believed  He was actually a servant of Satan, not God.  They wanted to trap Him somehow in His Teaching so they could prove He was wrong and have Him discredited with the people.

Jesus had very harsh words for these religious leaders - priests, experts in the Law of Moses, members of very conservative religious groups.  He said that they tried their best to look and be important and "God-like" but they were really dead men on the inside.  He said that they didn't know God at all.  He warned the people following Him to stay away from the religious leaders and not to follow what they taught.  Jesus told the people that the way of the religious leaders would lead them to death.

If the religious leaders didn't know God and their way would lead to death, then, 

how can someone know God?  What is the way to Life?

Ok, let's stop here.

  

It brings us up to about Chapter 12 in Luke's book. 

The real meat of what God opened up to me this week is still yet to come!  

Be warned!! 

to be continued . . . 

The Crimea - Our First Family Vacation

Our view of the Black Sea from the apartment we rented just outside Yalta.

This spring we went South!

   

Well, first we went North, then we headed South . . .

It was quite trip . . .

We had some business to take care of in Smolensk so we 

flew from Houston to Moscow, 

drove to Smolesnk, 

then, a few days later 

we drove 24 hours to

The Crimea - on the Black Sea in Ukraine!

Masha and Sophia enjoy ice-cream in Yalta


We met up with some mountain biking buddies just outside of Yalta. 
 And, stayed in a hostel that caters to those who love downhill riding.
Every morning, the guys went up and down the mountains a few times 
while the women and children took in the area attractions.

Can only imagine what these Babushki are talking about . . . and what they have lived thru . . .

 Yalta is a quaint sea-side town.

  

It feels very Old World.

- a mix of Europe, Russia, Asia - 

- of Islam and Christianity-

- of The Empire and The Soviets - 

Anton Chekov "The Lady With the Dog (and 3 crazy kid)" statue in Yalta

The history alone is complicated 

with groups coming and going,

wars raging,

dreams of a New Constantinople,

of a pure people and a true faith . . . 

nothing new under the sun, it seems.

Yalta - I love how the mountains fall into the Sea and bump right up to my dear husband, keeping all in line.

The topography is amazing.

For some reason I always imagined the Black Sea to be murky, grey . . .
and, it can be, just before a rain.
But usually it is a brilliant blue.
Not bright, like the Mediterranean,
but brilliant, almost royal.

And the mountains . . .
great slides for a giant's water park,
 just roll into the sea.

This, my friends, is a great invention!
 Masha and Sophia spent hours catching fish while the parents rested!

Experiencing a new part of the world with my husband - LOVED IT!  (Can you guess my love language?)

 We had so much fun strolling along the boardwalk,

eating ice-cream, fishing for magnet sea creatures, and people watching . . .

old Ukrainian,

New Russian . . . 

"The Swallow's Nest" - a small castle built by a Baltic German oil magnate for his ballerina mistress.

Sophia and Masha in awe as we ride up the mountain.

We climbed the mountains . . .

Going up! 

In large gondolas - 

 moving rooms with a view,

barely missing the jagged cliffs 

just inches from our fingertips.

What a view!

 Mountains over-looking the sea.

 Look at the colors in the sky and water . . .

 No wonder artists flocked to live here 

and the nobles summered every year here.

Dressed in Crimean Tartar hats on top of the mountain.

 At the top of Ai Petri (Greek for Saint Peter)

we met a community of Crimean Tartars.

These people were deported from their native land 

during WWII.

Stalin wasn't sure of their loyalty, 

so to get the problem out of the way,

he had them all sent to Central Asia.

In a matter of hours, 

they lost their homes and most of their possessions.

Just recently, the Ukrainian government has invited the Crimean Tartars to return home.

Many are now living on their family's land again.

There is still tension, 

still some mistrust. 

Anton getting ready to ride - and what a view!

While some of us took the "sissy way" up the mountain,

others braved the serpentine twists of road 

so they could fly down and off the sides.

Here he comes!

Mt Bike Heaven!

Biker in Black! - I think I see a smile of anticipation!

The bottom of the trail . . . 

This is a whole new culture 

invading The Crimea.

It has its own language, armor,

costume, code of ethics, and rules of engagement.

My cool biker dude!

But still, it is young men,

looking for adventure 

and adrenaline rush.

Pushing themselves to the limit 

physically and mentally.

Conquering their fears 

and the mountain.

 Yep, nothing much new under the sun . . . 

Secret mount lake known only to those who ride the trails!

"The Littlest Mermaid" - Sophia and the Black Sea

 The Sea!

Every morning, after a common breakfast,

 the men went off to battle the mountains

and the women and children inched carefully 
down the steep slopes to 
The Sea!

"OOOooo!  It's COLD!"

The sun was warm

but

 the Black Sea is cold in May!

We sat on a rocky beach.

The children ventured into the water to 

catch jellyfish that didn't sting.

They built rock castles

and buried each other up to the neck in hot rocks.

Some people pay big bucks for a hot rock treatment!

Volodya - riding on the back of a beautiful Beluga whale.

One day we visited an aquarium.
The white whales allowed Volodya to swim with them.
They took him for a ride in exchange for fish and approval.
I wish I could have captured his beaming smile
and saved it to share on difficult days.

BFF! - "Best Friends Forever" 

 Smiles and ice-cream.

Friends.

ICF! - " Ice-Cream Forever!"

 Sun and Sea.

A Room With the Most Incredible View!

 Mountains and Sea

and Sky.

The Yastrebov's Family Vacation

The Crimea.

 A wonderful first vacation.

A Texas Spring

Sophia in the middle of Mrs Lee's daffodil garden.

This is my first Texas Spring in many years . . . and it is Anton and Sophia's first . . .  ever.

Texas Springtime is full of SUN!  

Bright, harsh, full-blast SUN!

"Do daffodils smell, Mom?"

There is no "Big Thaw" here.

No standing water.

No piles of trash and dog poop that suddenly appear after the cover of snow is gone.

There are no slip-sliding days.

No need for galoshes at all.

There is no mud.

In Texas, we slip 

quietly, warmly

 into Spring.

Just a few weeks of beautiful weather.

Blooming everywhere - full of bright green and technicolor

Before the heat begins.

Holding hands in the garden.

In Texas, the daffodils show their heads in March.

They are the first heralds of Spring!

Then come the dogwoods.

Their delicate white sprinkling hope in the dark, still-barren woods.

A signal for the blooming and budding to begin.

Delivering St Patrick's Day goodies!

The flowers come out  - and so do neighbors!

Little princesses, in their tiaras and best bright green

Sharing goodies in celebration of Spring!

And, women in hats 

Gather for a Southern salad luncheon

On the lake where azaleas bloom.

Seven and eight feet tall

Bushes awash in soft vibrant flowers.

Mom won in the "Makes Me Smile" category in the hat competition.

Even prize-winning Springtime hats 

Pale in comparison.

Thank you, God, for a Texas Spring!

Thank you for each budding, growing thing!

Thank you for friends with whom to share

Your great Beauty 

Everywhere!

Still Crazy For Coconuts - A 6 Week Review

Mother and Sophia at Mrs Lee's Daffodil Garden

About 6 weeks have passed since we began using coconut oil and I last posted.

Before I get into the results we've seen, let me review what we have been doing.

Our Coco-nutty Life:
         - Every meal, Mother adds about a tablespoon of coconut oil in with her warm food.
            (the food needs to be warm for the oil to melt - it becomes solid at room temp)

         - Every so often we use about a tablespoon of the liquid  MCT oil in smoothies/shakes/or cold
            foods.

         - Often, in preparing our meals, I will substitute the fat I would have normally used (butter, mayo
             olive oil) for coconut oil.  I have found no taste difference but the coconut oil does tend to
             smoke at high temps.

So, daily, Mother has been getting about 3-4 tablespoons of the coconut oil and/or MCT oil in her diet.


Results:
I did a verbal survey of the people in our family, living in the house with Mama, and here is what we had to say:

Mother - "I think more clearly.  I have more energy.  Sleep better."
Daddy -  "She is much more alert.  She argues more, has stronger opinions. She gets up better by
                  herself."
Sophia -  "She doesn't sleep so much and she plays more with me."
Me -        "She gets herself up in the morning and gets breakfast.  She initiates activities by herself, like
                  cleaning the kitchen, helping with meals, and picking up around the house.  She is ready
                  and eager to go walking/exercising.  She seems to remember a little better things that
                  earlier, I wouldn't have expected her to remember."

Others Going Coco-Nuts:
In the last 6 weeks we have had at least 6 people tell us that they have starting using coconut oil with their loved ones.  One gentleman called and told me that his wife had all but stopped talking and after using the oil, she has started talking again!

Caution:
Weight gain!  I have noticed that Mother's clothes are fitting a little tighter.  She will weigh at the doctor's office next week and we'll be able to confirm any weight gain.

Our Conclusion:
We have seen significant improvement in quality of life for Mama.  She sees and feels this herself.
We are going to keep using the oil!

Yes, we're still going COCO-NUTS!

DISCLAIMER:  I am not a medical doctor (neither do I play one on TV) and cannot make any scientific/medical claims about the effects of coconut oil on any illness.  Please consult your doctor!

We're Crazy For Coconuts!

Alzheimer's Disease and Coconut Oil

                                               ANDREW SCRIVANI / NYT

 What does coconut oil have to do with Alzheimer's disease?  

My mother was diagnosed a year ago with the beginning stages of Alzheimer's.  

It is a horrible disease, taking away a little of your brain at a time.  

Alzheimer's has been called, "The Long Good-bye."

My parents at their 50th Wedding Anniversary this past year.

My mother has been doing quite well, really.

  

It is obvious that her memory is getting worse.  

Her balance is off. 

She forgets things that have happened recently.  

She is having a more difficult time reading.  

She can't find things that are in her daily routine - make-up, toothbrush and paste - just can't put her hands on them.

She is much quieter.  She listens more.  Talks less.

Last week, in our Bible study group, she told all of us that she needed prayer.

  

"I have been content in Faith to know that God will take me through this illness.  I never asked God to take the Alzheimer's away, just to give me everything I need to get through it.  But, it is getting harder to do the normal things I've always done and, lately, I've been asking God to take this illness away.  

I don't know if I can do this.  I need your prayer."

I sit here in tears as I write this.  

She is my Precious Mother . . . 

Yesterday, a church friend of Mom's sent her an email with a link to a video.  

http://www.cbn.com/media/player/index.aspx?s=/mp4/LJO190v1_WS

I watched it and called Mother in to watch it with me.  

We downloaded a Kindle version of Dr Newport's book, 

Mom started reading it immediately.  

I began reading everything I could on the internet.

More of this series of interviews can be found here on Youtube.

We read and watched enough to convince us to give coconut oil a try.  

I sent Mom and Dad to our local health store for some pure, non-hydrogenated coconut oil.  

It took them a while, but they came home with the right stuff!

We have decided to be "crazy for coconuts."  

We are going to have our own little test.  

Mom is willing!

Yesterday, she had about 2 tablespoons of the oil with her food.  

Today, she has already had another 2 tablespoons.  

At lunch, I asked Mom, "Do you notice any difference in yourself?"

She replied, "What kind of differences do you think there could be?"

"I don't know.  Just whatever you notice about your mood, memory, abilities . . ."

"I'll let you know."   

We'll be reporting back the results we find, as we find them!  

Meanwhile, here is an interesting article from the New York Times about coconut oil, research, and even some recipes.

Coming Soon . . . Design Your Own TERVIS!

Have you discovered these cups?  
If not, believe me, you simply must be introduced!

"Dear Person Reading My Blog (btw, thank you so much for dropping by,)  please meet my favorite new drinking device - The Tervis Tumbler."

These cups are amazing!  

• They come with a life-time guarantee!
• They keep cold drinks cold for HOURS - even in sub-tropical Texas heat!
• They keep hot drinks warm.  My experience is that warm doesn't keep for quite as long as cold - but, still, for at least a couple of hours you'll have a nice warm cup'o.
• They are virtually indestructible.  We are a clumsy lot and have dropped them many times - not even a scratch!
• They don't "sweat" and never leave a wet ring.
• They are dish-washer safe.  Very important here - no matter how many times we say we are each going to use ONE glass all day.    
• They come with 500 designs from which to choose - for young and old alike! 
• They can be personalized with your own names or words. 

And, now . . . their website says that soon, we will be able to design our very own! 

How fun! 

We'll be able to upload our own photos to put on the cup and add text!  


I sure hope they get this up and running soon because I see all my Christmas list being filled with TERVIS this year!

Sophi has been sick this week with a runny nose and cough.  Drinking her hot tea out of the Princess Tervis her sweet auntie gave her for Christmas has helped her feel much better!

It really is so pretty - this photo doesn't do it justice.

And, it comes with a "big girl lid!" 

There are plenty of "look a likes" out there, but don't be fooled!  I tried a couple in an attempt to save money and had to throw the cheap'o's out - they just don't work.  

Believe me, if you want to have ice in your cup all afternoon, get a Tervis!  

Full Disclosure:  I'm drinking my Diet DP out of a "watermelon" Tervis tumbler right now!

Disclaimer:  I have not been reimbursed or subsidized by TERVIS in any way for this post.  I just really, really like these cups and wanted to share!  Enjoy!