We had reached a verdict today in our trial… I can’t explain HOW HARD we worked to make the right decision… And after we turned in the verdict and the Judge confirmed the vote… One of the Lawyers asked for a side bar and following that we were informed we would need to come back on Friday for further testimony…
We have no idea why… hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
Now this orginal 2 week trial could go into a fourth week…..
You ARE praying for me…. correct?????
I received a newsletter from an organization called “Jews for Jesus” and in this newsletter they gave a wonderful explaination and definition of the celebration of Hanukkah. I thought you would enjoy reading this article and so I am posting this on my blog. The article states the following……
• Hanukkah celebrates the victory of the Maccabees over the armies of the Syrio-Greek tyrant Antiochus Epiphanes IV, around 165 B.C. At that time, the armies of Judah Maccabee recaptured Jerusalem, cleansed the Temple, and reinstated the sacrifices that had ceased. And that’s why this holiday is called “Hag Hanukkah” – the Feast of the Dedication.
• According to tradition, when the menorah – the seven-armed candelabrum in the Temple – was rekindled, there was only enough consecrated oil to keep the light burning for one day. But by a miracle, the light burned for eight days, providing enough time to bring fresh oil for the lamp. And that’s why Hanukkah lasts for eight days.
• Unlike the seven-branched menorah that stood in the Temple, the Hanukkah menorah (or hanukkiah) that we light during this holiday has nine arms. The center arm is called the shammas, and it’s used to light all the other lights on the menorah, one for each night. By the eighth night, our homes are aglow with the brightness of the fully-lit menorahs. And that’s why Hanukkah is also called the Festival of Lights.
• There is only one place in the entire Bible where we find a reference to Hanukkah: “Now it was the Feast of Dedication [Hanukkah) in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch” (John 10:22-23).
• It was at Hanukkah that Y’shua, the Light of the World, stood in the Temple area and declared, “I and My Father are one” (John 10:30).
Well, somehow I was elected Jury Foreman today and we are now in deliberations.
The Jury is made up of very capable people and my job is just to keep them on task, and to let each of them reach their own conclusion and then make sure we follow the intructions given to us by the Judge.
It is such an interesting and fair process I want to encourage any of you who’ve never served to give it a try. I have learned so much and I cannot wait to talk to the Judge when the trial is over. He has taught me alot and I actually have been writing down some questions for him. He knows the Law and he IS the JUDGE, yet he is full of grace and mercy. Now WHO does THAT remind you of???????
And yes… I have a NEW appreciation for lawyers…. these are HARD WORKING individuals who are gifted at their trade.
Looking forward to seeing you this weekend in church as we will be concluding last weeks sermon on “preparing our hearts to hear from the Lord”.
Week number 3 is underway. We are getting closer to being in deliberations. I actually tore a hamstring tonight and I might have to stand for the entire day tomorrow….
Pray for your Pastor…
I’m no longer a spring chicken…
Dudley
My joy is overflowing at our services this past weekend. There was such a great spirit on both campuses and we held a baptism service in Westwood where 13 people gave their lives to Jesus Christ and were baptized into Jesus’ name. So many of you have sacrificed in order for this to take place.
Pictured above is David Chan and Diane Hsu. David grew up in our church but recently started dating Diane and she’s been attending the Shepherd Westside in Brentwood. We purchased Diane a Bible and she began reading God’s Word and she eventually stepped forward to accept Jesus Christ as her Lord and Saviour and she was one of the 13 that was baptized this past weekend.
I pray that each of you understands why we have the video service at 11:30 and why we started this campus on the Westside. It’s because of people like Diane who otherwise would NOT have had the opportunity to be saved. I want to thank each of you again for being people who truly care about reaching lost people. And more importantly David and Diane thank you. 🙂
Just think how thankful Jesus must be!
Shepherd continues to set the mark for committed people being obedient to the great commission. Matthew 28:18-20.
Sixty-five years ago today, in 1941, the United States naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, was attacked. The bombing killed 2,388 Americans, put much of the Pacific fleet out of commission, and came while the Japanese ambassador in Washington was preparing for a diplomatic appointment at the State Department. Among the losses was the battleship Arizona, which went down with nearly all hands on board. It is still there as a national shrine.
In President Roosevelt’s speech to Congress the next day asking for a declaration of war, he called Dec. 7 “a date which will live in infamy.” Congress responded promptly with a declaration of war against Japan. It followed up on Dec. 11 with retaliatory declarations of war against Germany and Italy. World War II was the last time the United States has declared war, though it has fought three major wars (Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan-Iraq) and numerous minor ones. Not many Americans are old enough to remember the events of 65 years ago.
One of the best books ever written that explains the details of that day is a book entitled “At Dawn We Slept”. I purchased my copy when I visited Hawaii many years ago. The name of that book explains it all. We were sleeping when Japan initiated a surprise attack on that December day.
I’ve always felt that title “At Dawn We Slept” would be a good moniker for the Church. So many people lost and dying without Jesus and the Church just sleeps, not realizing that Satan is trying to destroy as many as possible. We need to wake up and rally the troops. All hands on deck. This is not a time to be asleep at the wheel. God has called the Church to sound the trumpet to reach a dying world with the saving message of Jesus Christ.
My question to you are as follows.
Have you ever led someone into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ?
When was the last time you shared your faith?
When was the last time you brought a visitor to church?
When was the last time you bought a Bible for an unsaved acquaintance?
When was the last time you parked in the off site area and rode the shuttle?
When was the last time you fasted for a lost friend?
When was the last time you gave a sermon CD to a fellow employee?
When was the last time you thought about moving to Saturday night to free up more room for visitors who usually attend on Sunday morning.
When was the last time you cried over someone being lost?
When was the last time you wept over a soul?
When was the last time you invited your neighbor to church?
If Jesus came today…
If Jesus came tonight…
If Jesus came in the morning…
Could they say of the church?
Could they say of you?
Could they say of me?
At Dawn We Slept.
