you can control the music by clicking on the above console OR click on the following link to learn more about controlling music/sound <sound> Do you recognized the song? It is identified at the end of the articles for the month. by telling a friend about this web site March 1 - Wash Day . . . (back) Wash Day Monday - WashDay Lord, help me wash away all my selfishness and Vanity, so I may serve you with perfect humility Through the week ahead. Tuesday - Ironing Day Dear Lord, help me iron out all the wrinkles of prejudice I have collected through the years So that I may see the beauty in others. Wednesday - Mending Day O God, help me mend my ways so I will not Set a bad example for others. Thursday - Cleaning Day Lord Jesus, help me to dust out all the many faults I have been hiding in the secret corners of my heart. Friday - Shopping Day O God, give me the grace to shop wisely So I may purchase eternal happiness for myself and all others in need of love. Saturday - Cooking Day Help me, my Savior, to brew a big kettle of Brotherly Love and serve it with clean, sweet bread of human kindness. Sunday - The Lord's Day O God, I have prepared my house for you. Please come into my heart so I may spend today And the rest of my life in your presence. March 14 - Why Did Jesus Fold the Napkin? . . . (back) Why Did Jesus Fold the Napkin? Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection? The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin. Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, 'They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!' Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple out ran Peter and got there first. He stopped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side. Was that important? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes! In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished. Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, "I'm finished." But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because.... The folded napkin meant, "I'm coming back!" March 21 - The Seed of Choice . . . (back) The Seed of Choice He placed one scoop of clay upon another until a form lay lifeless on the ground. All of the Garden's inhabitants paused to witness the event. Hawks hovered. Giraffes stretched. Trees bowed. Butterflies paused on petals and watched. "You will love me, nature," God said. "I made you that way. You will obey me, universe. For you were designed to do so. You will reflect my glory, skies, for that is how you were created. But this one will be like me. This one will be able to choose." All were silent as the Creator reached into himself and removed something yet unseen. A seed. "It's called 'choice.' The seed of choice." Creation stood in silence and gazed upon the lifeless form. An angel spoke, "But what if he..." "What if he chooses not to love?" the Creator finished. "Come, I will show you." Unbound by today, God and the angel walked into the realm of tomorrow. "There, see the fruit of the seed of choice, both the sweet and the bitter." The angel gasped at what he saw: Spontaneous love, Voluntary devotion, Chosen tenderness. Never had he seen anything like these. He felt the love of the Adams. He heard the joy of Eve and her daughters. He saw the food and the burdens shared. He absorbed the kindness and marveled at the warmth. "Heaven has never seen such beauty, my Lord. Truly, this is your greatest creation." "Ah, but you've only seen the sweet. Now witness the bitter." A stench enveloped the pair. The angel turned in horror and proclaimed, "What is it?" The Creator spoke only one word: "Selfishness." The angel stood speechless as they passed through centuries of repugnance. Never had he seen such filth: Rotten hearts, Ruptured promises, Forgotten loyalties, Children of the creation wandering blindly in lonely labyrinths. "This is the result of choice? the angel asked. "Yes." "They will forget you?" "Yes." "They will reject you?" "Yes." They will never come back? "Some will. Most won't." "What will it take to make them listen?" The Creator walked on in time, further and further into the future, until he stood by a tree. A tree that would be fashioned into a cradle. Even then he could smell the hay that would surround him. With another step into the future, he paused before another tree. It stood alone, a stubborn ruler on a bald hill. The trunk was thick, and the wood was strong. Soon it would be cut. Soon it would be trimmed. Soon it would be mounted on the stony brow of another hill. And soon he would be hung on it. He felt the wood rub against a back he did not yet wear. "Will you go down there?" the angel asked. "I will." "Is there no other way?" "There is not." "Wouldn't it be easier to not plant the seed? Wouldn't it be easier to not give the choice?" "It would," the Creator spoke slowly. "But to remove the choice is to remove the love." He looked around the hill and foresaw a scene. Three figures hung on three crosses. Arms spread. Heads fallen forward. They moaned with the wind. Men clad in soldier's garb sat on the ground near the trio. They played games in the dirt and laughed. Men clad in religion stood off to one side. They smiled—arrogant and cocky. They had protected God they thought by killing this false one. Women clad in sorrow huddled at the foot of the hill. Speechless. Faces tear streaked. Eyes downward. One put her arm around another and tried to lead her away. She wouldn't leave. "I will stay," she said softly, "I will stay." All heaven stood to fight. All nature rose to rescue. All eternity poised to protect. But the Creator gave no command. "It must be done...," he said, and withdrew. But as he stepped in time, he heard the cry that he would someday scream: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" He wrenched at tomorrow's agony. The angel spoke again. "It would be less painful........" The Creator interrupted softly. "But it wouldn't be love." They stepped into the Garden again. The Maker looked earnestly at the clay creation. A monsoon of love swelled up within him. He had died for the creation before he had made him. God's form bent over the sculptured face and breathed. Dust stirred on the lips of the new one. The chest rose, cracking the red mud. The cheeks fleshened. A finger moved. And an eye opened. But more incredible than the moving of the flesh was the stirring of the spirit. Those who could see the unseen gasped. Perhaps it was the wind that said it first. Perhaps what the star saw that moment is what has made it blink ever since. Maybe it was left to an angel to whisper it: "It looks like ... it appears to so much like ... it is him!" The angel wasn't speaking of the face, the features, or the body. He was looking inside - at the soul. "It's eternal!" gasped another. Within the man, God has placed a divine seed. A seed of his self (a seed of choice). The God of might had created earth's mightiest ... And the One who had chosen to love had created one who could love in return. Now it's our choice. March 28 - The Tree . . . (back) THE TREE He created the tree He molded and built A small lonely hill, That He knew would be Called Calvary. Then He made the seed, That would grow to be thorns That would make His Son bleed. Then He made a green stem Gave it leaves and then Gave it sunshine and rain And sheltered it with moss. With tears in His eyes, God looked down in time Saw Him spat upon, Beaten and mocked. Still, He grew the tree, That He knew would be Used to make The old rugged cross. Nothing took His life. With love He gave it. He was crucified, On the tree that He created. With great love for man God stayed with His plan He grew the tree, That He knew would be Used to make the old rugged cross. Author Unknown Received from: Laugh & Lift Daily Issue Subscribe to Laugh & Lift by sending an email with a subject of "subscribe" to: laughlift-subscribe@yahoogroups.com >< + <>< + <>< + <>< + <>< + <>< + <>< + <>< +<>< + <>< + <>< + <>< March Bonus – Good Friday . . . (back) The Crucifixion by George Konig This poem was inspired by an African-American Christian spiritual entitled "Were you there," which was sung by Rexella Van Impe during a television broadcast. The poem talks about our own responsibility for the rejection of Jesus as the Messiah when He rode into Jerusalem nearly 2,000 years ago. Many decades ago, on a Passover night In a garden called Gethsemane, my Lord was in prayer A crowd rushed upon, this precious Nazarite And He was betrayed by a friend, as shouts filled the air Yes when they arrested my Jesus, I was there Take Him to the Sanhedrin, we will charge Him in court This Man is not a king, but a Galilean Jew Give false witness against Him, to lies we'll resort Peter deny Him three times, before that unholy crew I was in that courtyard, and denied Him too We do not have the right, to perform the execution To Pilate we'll take, this Man from Galilee Roman justice will give us, the final solution This King shall be crucified, and Barabbas set free Did you walk with Jesus, to Calvary? Give Him thirty-nine lashes, with a three-pronged whip Fulfill the prophecy, by His stripes we will heal Let the barbs sink in, give His back a good rip Swing with your might, and watch the skin peel I heard every crack, and witnessed His ordeal Place our sins on His head, with a crown made of thorn Press down on the crown, and watch the blood flow Despise Him, ridicule Him, show Him your scorn Intensify His pain, witness the death throe And where were you, in that time long ago? Pull out the hairs of His beard, strike Him on the face In His right hand put a reed, in a purple robe let Him sit Bow in mockery to the King, make Him a disgrace Strike Him again, then cover Him with spit Yes I was there, and watched Him submit Let us journey now, to the place called the Skull Put the cross on His back, can He stand up to the weight? If You are the Messiah, then perform a miracle And get away from these people, who are filled with hate And I was in that crowd, on that famous date Stretch Him out on the cross, drive a nail through each wrist Fasten the feet together, with one long spike Through the enormous pain, He does not seem to resist Lift up the cross, lift it straight and high I watched the hammer swing, and heard every strike "The King of the Jews," nail over His head Crucify the others, on the left and the right Cast lots for His clothes, as His blood runs red Look up in horror, at this terrible site And what were you doing, as day turned to night? Watch Him raise up His body, and strain for each breath Listen to the screams of the crowd, hear the women wail It will be many long hours, before He is overcome by death And He thought about me, as He hung by the nails I stood on that ground, and saw every detail "Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do" See there's Mary and John, "Woman, behold your son" The rulers sneered, "You saved others, save Yourself too" But He held off His angels, until His mission was done He fought the good fight, and the battle He won The sun disappeared, from noon until three And the veil of the Temple, down the middle did split "My God, My God, why have You forsaken me" "Father in Your hands, I commend My Spirit" We watched Him breathe His last, as an earthquake hit Tombs were opened, and Saints raised from their sleep The soldiers feared greatly, as they felt the ground shake The Centurion stood amazed, a new feeling began to creep Could this Man be the Son of God, and not a fake? And I cried in anguish, as He died for my sake Take Him down off the cross, as sorrow fills the air Lay Him on a slab, in a rock hewn tomb Wrap Him with linen, prepare His body with care Seal up the entrance, of that sacred room Did you weep for Jesus, in that day of gloom? And behold the weeping is over, for the third day Became a time for rejoicing, the end of our woes An earthquake occurred, the stone rolled away And the tomb was found empty, Jesus had arose Did you see the angels, in their dazzling white clothes? He appeared to many, including the Eleven And fulfilled the prophecies, as He had sworn With His ministry now finished, He ascended into Heaven In a transfigured body, He does now adorn Were you there, when Christianity was born? Copyright ©1999-2005 George Konig www.konig.org This month's song is "How Great Thou Art." (back) (home)
you can control the music by clicking on the above console OR click on the following link to learn more about controlling music/sound <sound>
Do you recognized the song? It is identified at the end of the articles for the month.
by telling a friend about this web site
March 1 - Wash Day . . . (back)
Wash Day Monday - WashDay Lord, help me wash away all my selfishness and Vanity, so I may serve you with perfect humility Through the week ahead. Tuesday - Ironing Day Dear Lord, help me iron out all the wrinkles of prejudice I have collected through the years So that I may see the beauty in others. Wednesday - Mending Day O God, help me mend my ways so I will not Set a bad example for others. Thursday - Cleaning Day Lord Jesus, help me to dust out all the many faults I have been hiding in the secret corners of my heart. Friday - Shopping Day O God, give me the grace to shop wisely So I may purchase eternal happiness for myself and all others in need of love. Saturday - Cooking Day Help me, my Savior, to brew a big kettle of Brotherly Love and serve it with clean, sweet bread of human kindness. Sunday - The Lord's Day O God, I have prepared my house for you. Please come into my heart so I may spend today And the rest of my life in your presence.
March 14 - Why Did Jesus Fold the Napkin? . . . (back)
Why Did Jesus Fold the Napkin?
Why did Jesus fold the linen burial cloth after His resurrection? The Gospel of John (20:7) tells us that the napkin, which was placed over the face of Jesus, was not just thrown aside like the grave clothes. The Bible takes an entire verse to tell us that the napkin was neatly folded, and was placed at the head of that stony coffin. Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, 'They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!' Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple out ran Peter and got there first. He stopped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side. Was that important? Absolutely! Is it really significant? Yes! In order to understand the significance of the folded napkin, you have to understand a little bit about Hebrew tradition of that day. The folded napkin had to do with the Master and Servant, and every Jewish boy knew this tradition. When the servant set the dinner table for the master, he made sure that it was exactly the way the master wanted it. The table was furnished perfectly, and then the servant would wait, just out of sight, until the master had finished eating, and the servant would not dare touch that table, until the master was finished. Now if the master were done eating, he would rise from the table, wipe his fingers, his mouth, and clean his beard, and would wad up that napkin and toss it onto the table. The servant would then know to clear the table. For in those days, the wadded napkin meant, "I'm finished." But if the master got up from the table, and folded his napkin, and laid it beside his plate, the servant would not dare touch the table, because.... The folded napkin meant, "I'm coming back!"
March 21 - The Seed of Choice . . . (back)
The Seed of Choice
He placed one scoop of clay upon another until a form lay lifeless on the ground. All of the Garden's inhabitants paused to witness the event. Hawks hovered. Giraffes stretched. Trees bowed. Butterflies paused on petals and watched. "You will love me, nature," God said. "I made you that way. You will obey me, universe. For you were designed to do so. You will reflect my glory, skies, for that is how you were created. But this one will be like me. This one will be able to choose." All were silent as the Creator reached into himself and removed something yet unseen. A seed. "It's called 'choice.' The seed of choice." Creation stood in silence and gazed upon the lifeless form. An angel spoke, "But what if he..." "What if he chooses not to love?" the Creator finished. "Come, I will show you." Unbound by today, God and the angel walked into the realm of tomorrow. "There, see the fruit of the seed of choice, both the sweet and the bitter." The angel gasped at what he saw: Spontaneous love, Voluntary devotion, Chosen tenderness. Never had he seen anything like these. He felt the love of the Adams. He heard the joy of Eve and her daughters. He saw the food and the burdens shared. He absorbed the kindness and marveled at the warmth. "Heaven has never seen such beauty, my Lord. Truly, this is your greatest creation." "Ah, but you've only seen the sweet. Now witness the bitter." A stench enveloped the pair. The angel turned in horror and proclaimed, "What is it?" The Creator spoke only one word: "Selfishness." The angel stood speechless as they passed through centuries of repugnance. Never had he seen such filth: Rotten hearts, Ruptured promises, Forgotten loyalties, Children of the creation wandering blindly in lonely labyrinths. "This is the result of choice? the angel asked. "Yes." "They will forget you?" "Yes." "They will reject you?" "Yes." They will never come back? "Some will. Most won't." "What will it take to make them listen?" The Creator walked on in time, further and further into the future, until he stood by a tree. A tree that would be fashioned into a cradle. Even then he could smell the hay that would surround him. With another step into the future, he paused before another tree. It stood alone, a stubborn ruler on a bald hill. The trunk was thick, and the wood was strong. Soon it would be cut. Soon it would be trimmed. Soon it would be mounted on the stony brow of another hill. And soon he would be hung on it. He felt the wood rub against a back he did not yet wear. "Will you go down there?" the angel asked. "I will." "Is there no other way?" "There is not." "Wouldn't it be easier to not plant the seed? Wouldn't it be easier to not give the choice?" "It would," the Creator spoke slowly. "But to remove the choice is to remove the love." He looked around the hill and foresaw a scene. Three figures hung on three crosses. Arms spread. Heads fallen forward. They moaned with the wind. Men clad in soldier's garb sat on the ground near the trio. They played games in the dirt and laughed. Men clad in religion stood off to one side. They smiled—arrogant and cocky. They had protected God they thought by killing this false one. Women clad in sorrow huddled at the foot of the hill. Speechless. Faces tear streaked. Eyes downward. One put her arm around another and tried to lead her away. She wouldn't leave. "I will stay," she said softly, "I will stay." All heaven stood to fight. All nature rose to rescue. All eternity poised to protect. But the Creator gave no command. "It must be done...," he said, and withdrew. But as he stepped in time, he heard the cry that he would someday scream: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" He wrenched at tomorrow's agony. The angel spoke again. "It would be less painful........" The Creator interrupted softly. "But it wouldn't be love." They stepped into the Garden again. The Maker looked earnestly at the clay creation. A monsoon of love swelled up within him. He had died for the creation before he had made him. God's form bent over the sculptured face and breathed. Dust stirred on the lips of the new one. The chest rose, cracking the red mud. The cheeks fleshened. A finger moved. And an eye opened. But more incredible than the moving of the flesh was the stirring of the spirit. Those who could see the unseen gasped. Perhaps it was the wind that said it first. Perhaps what the star saw that moment is what has made it blink ever since. Maybe it was left to an angel to whisper it: "It looks like ... it appears to so much like ... it is him!" The angel wasn't speaking of the face, the features, or the body. He was looking inside - at the soul. "It's eternal!" gasped another. Within the man, God has placed a divine seed. A seed of his self (a seed of choice). The God of might had created earth's mightiest ... And the One who had chosen to love had created one who could love in return. Now it's our choice.
March 28 - The Tree . . . (back)
THE TREE
He created the tree
He molded and built
A small lonely hill,
That He knew would be
Called Calvary.
Then He made the seed,
That would grow to be thorns
That would make
His Son bleed.
Then He made a green stem
Gave it leaves and then
Gave it sunshine and rain
And sheltered it with moss.
With tears in His eyes,
God looked down in time
Saw Him spat upon,
Beaten and mocked.
Still, He grew the tree,
Used to make
The old rugged cross.
Nothing took His life.
With love He gave it.
He was crucified,
On the tree that He created.
With great love for man
God stayed with His plan
He grew the tree,
Used to make the old rugged cross.
Author Unknown
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March Bonus – Good Friday . . . (back)
This poem was inspired by an African-American Christian spiritual entitled "Were you there," which was sung by Rexella Van Impe during a television broadcast. The poem talks about our own responsibility for the rejection of Jesus as the Messiah when He rode into Jerusalem nearly 2,000 years ago.
Many decades ago, on a Passover night In a garden called Gethsemane, my Lord was in prayer A crowd rushed upon, this precious Nazarite And He was betrayed by a friend, as shouts filled the air Yes when they arrested my Jesus, I was there Take Him to the Sanhedrin, we will charge Him in court This Man is not a king, but a Galilean Jew Give false witness against Him, to lies we'll resort Peter deny Him three times, before that unholy crew I was in that courtyard, and denied Him too We do not have the right, to perform the execution To Pilate we'll take, this Man from Galilee Roman justice will give us, the final solution This King shall be crucified, and Barabbas set free Did you walk with Jesus, to Calvary? Give Him thirty-nine lashes, with a three-pronged whip Fulfill the prophecy, by His stripes we will heal Let the barbs sink in, give His back a good rip Swing with your might, and watch the skin peel I heard every crack, and witnessed His ordeal Place our sins on His head, with a crown made of thorn Press down on the crown, and watch the blood flow Despise Him, ridicule Him, show Him your scorn Intensify His pain, witness the death throe And where were you, in that time long ago? Pull out the hairs of His beard, strike Him on the face In His right hand put a reed, in a purple robe let Him sit Bow in mockery to the King, make Him a disgrace Strike Him again, then cover Him with spit Yes I was there, and watched Him submit Let us journey now, to the place called the Skull Put the cross on His back, can He stand up to the weight? If You are the Messiah, then perform a miracle And get away from these people, who are filled with hate And I was in that crowd, on that famous date Stretch Him out on the cross, drive a nail through each wrist Fasten the feet together, with one long spike Through the enormous pain, He does not seem to resist Lift up the cross, lift it straight and high I watched the hammer swing, and heard every strike "The King of the Jews," nail over His head Crucify the others, on the left and the right Cast lots for His clothes, as His blood runs red Look up in horror, at this terrible site And what were you doing, as day turned to night? Watch Him raise up His body, and strain for each breath Listen to the screams of the crowd, hear the women wail It will be many long hours, before He is overcome by death And He thought about me, as He hung by the nails I stood on that ground, and saw every detail "Forgive them, Father, for they know not what they do" See there's Mary and John, "Woman, behold your son" The rulers sneered, "You saved others, save Yourself too" But He held off His angels, until His mission was done He fought the good fight, and the battle He won The sun disappeared, from noon until three And the veil of the Temple, down the middle did split "My God, My God, why have You forsaken me" "Father in Your hands, I commend My Spirit" We watched Him breathe His last, as an earthquake hit Tombs were opened, and Saints raised from their sleep The soldiers feared greatly, as they felt the ground shake The Centurion stood amazed, a new feeling began to creep Could this Man be the Son of God, and not a fake? And I cried in anguish, as He died for my sake Take Him down off the cross, as sorrow fills the air Lay Him on a slab, in a rock hewn tomb Wrap Him with linen, prepare His body with care Seal up the entrance, of that sacred room Did you weep for Jesus, in that day of gloom? And behold the weeping is over, for the third day Became a time for rejoicing, the end of our woes An earthquake occurred, the stone rolled away And the tomb was found empty, Jesus had arose Did you see the angels, in their dazzling white clothes? He appeared to many, including the Eleven And fulfilled the prophecies, as He had sworn With His ministry now finished, He ascended into Heaven In a transfigured body, He does now adorn Were you there, when Christianity was born?
Copyright ©1999-2005 George Konig www.konig.org
Copyright ©1999-2005 George Konig
www.konig.org
This month's song is "How Great Thou Art."
(back) (home)