Recent Events

Some things that have happened recently in no particular order:

Home Depot April 2007

Home Depot for April 2007. We built a roller coaster car. Of course the decals for it were for Six Flags. Neat advertisements I guess. Click on the link for the Picasa Photo album.

Easter Eggstravaganza 2007

Easter Eggstravaganza. Our Church, Grace Church in Tulsa, held their 'no chocolate cause it melts in the sun' easter egg and candy hunt. Door prizes were given and Israel even participated in the 'Hands of Grace' performance. Move in the album if you click on the link.

Baptism Annie and Izzy

Last month, Annie and Israel, as a sign of their accepting Jesus in to their lives chose to get baptized. Here are some pictures and even some movies of the event.

Lots of stuff happening in the house of Dr. Bob.

Playing with new tecnology

I have been experimenting with some new stuff. I can not say that I am impressed with any off it but I am not sure if it is just me or if there really is not reason to have them.

Twitter: While it seems like a neat idea, I just do not see why. The concept is that I can send a text message to it or update it there. It then tells people what I am doing. The concept is that if you want to follow what I am doing then you can either go to the page or subscribe to my feed by RSS or have it sent to you by text message on your phone. Since no one subscribes to my feeds I update it and no one sees it. Then because no one is seeing it I tend not to update it as much. I guess it is like blogging. I have a handful of people who read this on a regular basis, and the rest trip across it by googling some term (you should see some of the ways that they get here), so I am not what they call an A list blogger (more of a D or below list blogger). When I get enough people that would be interested in finding out what i am doing, then it makes sense, other wise it is a waste of time.

Tumblr: This is for blogging if you do not like to blog. You do not put up paragraphs of things like I do here. It would basically be quick links to other places, or images, conversations, Utube videos, etc. You can even cut and paste logs of IM conversations that you have. As you can see by my page I really am not sure what to do with it. I have been blogging on Blogger almost as long as it has been here. I have worked with these tools for so long and know what I am doing with them that to be brief does not seem to make sense to me. If you use it and like it let me know.

ImiFied: What I thought would be a neat idea has turned out to be a great disappointment. The theory is that I can use an IM program to update my Google calendar, one of many different blogs, other web based productivity tools from other sites and some from their own. I thought the blog one would be neat, I could IM and update the blog. Unfortunately they GTalk bot is down a lot, and when it is up, they only support the old Blogger API, not the new one. I have updated to the new one a while back (just before my surgery), so I am dead in the water with it. The other things are nice, but not something that I would do a lot. Any one have any luck with it?

Well, some things to look about and let me know what you think.

MacGyver Tip: CD spindle bagel tote - Lifehacker

MacGyver Tip: CD spindle bagel tote - Lifehacker

Got to love this idea. But the question is how much data can you store on that bagel? Thanks Lifehacker for a great idea (even if it is strange looking).

For those who do not love the car of tomorrow

CHARLOTTE, NC -- Only days after its long-anticipated, much-criticized Car of Tomorrow debuted to overwhelmingly negative reviews at the Bristol Motor Speedway, NASCAR responded to the wishes of competitors and fans alike by introducing the stylishly retro, technologically retrograde NEXTEL Cup Car of Yesterday
"This is exactly what everyone from race teams to race fans wanted all along -- a real American racecar," said Robby Gordon, standing in front of the Jim Beam '77 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme he will drive for the rest of the season. "To hell with things like spoilers, adjustable suspensions, disc brakes, shoulder belts, all that junk. People want to see us racing the cars they drive every day, and anyone who's seen the parking lot at a NASCAR race will tell you that's what the Car of Yesterday gives them."

Onion Sports: NASCAR Unveils New 'Car Of Yesterday' - CBS SportsLine.com

I do not usually care for the Onion as a source of humor, it is a little too crude for me.  But this is just too funny.  After all the complaining that came out of the drivers mouths last week, this is what they should be provided. 

technorati tags:NASCAR

Blogged with Flock

River Church of the Mall of America Podcast
These are my notes from the Podcast. All scriptures are King James Version.

Growing Bigger Hearts – Being a Great Friend

River Church at the Mall of America

Recorded January 8, 2006

1Sa 18:1-4 KJV

(1) And it came to pass, when he had made an end of speaking unto Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul.

(2) And Saul took him that day, and would let him go no more home to his father's house.

(3) Then Jonathan and David made a covenant, because he loved him as his own soul.

(4) And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was upon him, and gave it to David, and his garments, even to his sword, and to his bow, and to his girdle.

After the victory over Goliath, Saul takes David under his wing, for a while at least. Then the crowds begin to sing David's praises. Saul gets jealous and Saul looks to get rid of him. While this is going on, Jonathan (Saul's son) and David become friends. We need to look at four characteristics of their friendship.

1. Take the initiative – Jonathan takes the initiative in their friendship. All good friendships happen that way. If we want to have a friendship like they had, then we need to take the initiative. Why did Jonathan take the initiative? Did he see the relationship with God that David had? David took on Goliath with God as his aide. Later Jonathan will act like this when he goes to battle. It must be the glue that holds the friendship together. We look for people who are like us.

2. Be generous – In verse 4, Jonathan gives many gifts to David. This was not a homosexual relationship, but more of a covenant relationship, a next in line to the King covenanting with a Shepard boy. He was giving signs of his kingship. The robe, protection for David. The tunic Represents the heart, to know David better. The sword, the most powerful weapon, like the Word, God's power. The Bow, the long range weapon, praying for David. Belt, the practical support David would need. Would we do the same for those that are our friends?

3. Be honest –
   1Sa 19:2 KJV
   (2) But Jonathan Saul's son delighted much in David: and Jonathan told David, saying, Saul my father seeketh to kill thee: now therefore, I pray thee, take heed to thyself until the morning, and abide in a secret place, and hide thyself:
   
   How do you handle things when problems are arising. Jonathan could have been loyal to his father. He was next in line to be king. He kept honest to friend. When correction is necessary, be honest in private.

4. Be loyal – He was loyal to David. Like God covenanted with Abraham, Jonathan made a blood covenant with each other. They were loyal to each other, a concept foreign to our society today.

These characteristics are God's as well. This defines who God is in the world. God did each one of these. God is a fantastic friend to each one of us.

Insainity rises its head again.

Form Boston.com (Boston Globe's on line version)

Diebold Election Systems Inc. , one of the country's largest manufacturers of voting machines, is scheduled to argue in court today that the Office of the Secretary of State wrongly picked another company to supply thousands of voting machines for the disabled.

Diebold says it will ask a judge to overturn the selection of AutoMARK , a Diebold business competitor, because the office of Secretary of State William F. Galvin failed to choose the best machine.

I guess that if you can not win the bid you can sue them into giving you the contract now. I realize that I am only getting one side of this here BUT, even with both sides this sounds like it sounds stupid!

Prayers for stepson Robert

You may or may not know that my stepson Robert is in the Navy. We knew he and his ship (USS Stennis) had been deployed to the Middle East but were not sure when he would arrive. Well, I heard on Fox news this afternoon that the Stennis is in the Persian Gulf and they are part of the demonstration of airpower that is going on. While some readers may not care for the war, and I respect that, he is after all a human being who needs support. Please keep him in your prayers in the next few days as I am fairly sure that he will need it. If he does not, I know his mom and I will.

Grace Church Sermon Notes - Teachings That Hinder Health

Teachings That Hinder Healing

Grace Church

Pastor Bob Yandian

Wednesday Feb. 7, 2007

All scripture King James Version. These notes are what I got from sermon, not necessarily what was preached. Sermons are available to view/listen to at Grace Church website for approximately 1 month from time sermon preached.

Paul was one of the greatest proponents of divine healing. One of the teachings that we have heard is Paul's thorn in the flesh. It was supposed to be given to him to keep him from being proud. The problem is the more word you get the less proud you get. If what they say is true, then God should be really sick because He has the most Word in Him. (Joke)

Gal 4:15 KJV

15. Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.

People have said that this supports the thorn in the flesh was an eye disease. The words 'pluck out your own eyes' is just an expression, much like the one that Jesus used when he said 'do not let your right hand know what your left hand is doing.' Do your hands have their own brains?

Gal 6:11 KJV

(11) Ye see how large a letter I have written unto you with mine own hand.

This was also supposed to be another proof of eye problems. Galatians and Hebrews were possibly written at the same time. Where Galatians ends, Hebrews picks up. This would make it the largest letter that Paul had written. Both books talk about the same things, one to the gentiles and the other to the Jewish people. Both talk about grace and law.

Jesus said he would be with us through all troubles, not that we will not go through trouble. He can be an opportunity for you to use your faith and grow.

2Co 11:20 KJVR

(20) For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face.

These people were letting people come in and put them back into bondage by putting them under the law. Paul would not do this. Though these people were probably one of the richest of the groups he preaches to. He will not take an offering from them. The poor Philippians take an offering and provide it to Paul so he can quit making tents. Though he would not take an offering from them, the ones trying to put them under the law took what they have. Exalt in Greek is epairō (ep-ahee'-ro). It means to exalt and is in the present middle indicative meaning: present – happening right now; middle – done to self; indicative – it really is happening. They were doing it to your self and receiving it.

2Co 11:30 KJV

(30) If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.

Paul wants to testify of what God has brought them through. He does not want to talk about what he had to give up to serve God.

2Co 12:7-10 KJVR

(7) And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

(8) For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

(9) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

(10) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Paul says that the revelation that he had gotten from God, Satan tried to come and defeat him. Exalted above measure. The exalted here is huperairomai (hoop-er-ah'ee-rom-ahee) a derivative of the word we just looked at. It is in the present passive subjunctive. Something that could happen so this was not happening. He was getting to a point that the ministry was going to take off so Satan had to do what he could to stop it. If studying scriptures brought thorns (sickness and disease) from God, why would we want to study the Word. God said that Paul could handle it. The thorn was greater persecution in his life. God was going to bring Paul through it.

Thorn in flesh in scripture:

Numbers 33: 5, Joshua 23:15, Judges 2:3,

The thorn was people that were going to come against him.

The messenger from Satan comes from the same word we get from angel. If we follow the logic of the thorn in the flesh people we would be saying obedience to God means we will get demons sent to us. God does not work with the devil. Paul knew it was satanic, so he went to God. Satan is really attacking God when he attacks us. We will go though problems but God will deliver us from them all.

Podcast Sermon Notes - River Church Mall of America - Growing Bigger Hearts

Growing Bigger Hearts 1
Giants in our lives

Jan 1, 2006 sermon recorded

River Church of the Mall of America Podcast
These are my notes from the Podcast. All scriptures are King James Version.

The God of the Bible is a communicating God. He wants to talk with us and relate to us.

We need to grow bigger hearts. We need to grow spiritually so we can hear him on a daily basis. We need to look at a man who was like this and see what he was like. To see how he got to be a man after God's heart.

David was told by his father to see how his brothers were doings during a war they were in. When he gets there he sees Israel and the Philistines were in a stalemate. No one wanted to go into the others person's area to fight. The Philistines did not want to fight in the hills of the Hebrews and the Hebrews in the open plains. They agree to send one champion from each side. Goliath who double major in assault and battery and minored in smack talk was chosen by the Philistines. He was so big that he scarred the Hebrews. Then he started to smack talk the God of the Hebrews. This gets David angry.

His brother tries to stop thin but David will not listen. He is taken to Saul who should have been fighting this battle but is too scared. Saul tries to give David his armor but David will not use it. As David faces Goliath, he taunts David. And David replies that God will get him through all of this and defeat Goliath.

And then David slings the stone and taker him out with one blow. So what does this have to do with us today? We face giants in our lives every day. Giants of relationships, jobs, medial reports. They smack talk us in our minds much like Goliath did to the Hebrews. How did David face his giants? Here are four sequential ways;

• We can prepare in private.
  
  1Sa 17:34-35 KJV
  (34) And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:
  (35) And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.
  
  David took care of preparations by his care of the sheep. He did it physically with the lion and the bear, but spiritually in times of worship to God.
  
  
• Fight the right foe.
  
  1Sa 17:28 KJV
  (28) And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spoke unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.
  
  Would we face the Eliabs or focus on the giant foe? David made sure that his focus on Goliath. We need to fight the devil not the people on our own team. We do not need to fight each other.
  
  
• Recognize the resources
  
  1Sa 17:40 KJV
  And he took his staff in his hand, and chose him five smooth stones out of the brook, and put them in a shepherd's bag which he had, even in a scrip; and his sling was in his hand: and he drew near to the Philistine.
  
  David realized he needed spiritual help and God led him to the five smooth stones. When we face our giants look for the tools that will help us.
  
  
• Value your victories
  
  1Sa 17:54 KJV
• And David took the head of the Philistine, and brought it to Jerusalem; but he put his armor in his tent.
  
  He took the head and weapons to display them. Write down when God puts a victory in your life. These events need to be celebrated.

Someone has way too much time on their hands...

KOTV.com - The News On 6 Fun With Peeps Video

I guess sanity still does exsist...

FOXNews.com - British School Puts Three Little Piggies Back in Play - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News: "The three little piggies will live on after all.

A day after it was reported that a school in Britain would be changing characters in its play from the three little pigs to the three little puppies to avoid offending Muslims, the Honley Church of England Junior School changed its mind, and will use the pigs in the music festival."

Cooler heads must have won out on this one..

My God is an awsome God

My Turn: Seeing a Smile I Had Not Known Existed - Newsweek My Turn - MSNBC.com:

"March 19, 2007 issue - Under the fluorescent lights and lazy ceiling fans of a Pentecostal church in Milwaukee, I watched my oldest brother crouch down and rest his head in his hands. He began to pray silently, moving his lips. Two pastors knelt alongside him and rubbed his back. They, too, began to pray. It was a remarkable sight, because our family is Jewish. Even more remarkable was the fact that my brother was allowing himself to be touched."

Take some time to read the rest of the article. A fascinating story to me since I have a son diagnosed with Asperger's. God is a good God.

Political Correctness gone mad....

FOXNews.com - School Changes Name of Play to 'Three Little Puppies' to Avoid Offending Muslims - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News: "Little Red Riding Hood ... Hansel and Gretel ... the Three Little Puppies?

That's what one British school renamed the traditional Three Little Pigs story for a school play, so as not to offend Muslims in the community, London's Daily Mail reported."

In this really necessary? Even the Muslim people think this one went to far. Oh Well!

No Man is an Island... but his house might be

You got to know that this guy's commute is going to be really tough.

House is an island

Developers have turned a house into an island in China after the owner refused to move out.

The villa now stands alone in a 30ft deep man-made pit in Chongqing city, reports Jinbao Daily.

The Chongqing Zhengsheng Real Estate Company wants to turn the area into a £40m 'Broadway' square, including apartments and a shopping mall.

But the owner of the villa says he won't move out unless the company pays his price - the equivalent of £1.3 million.

"The villa owner refuses to move, so the real-estate developer has had to dig out all around it to force him to," says a saleswoman at Weilian Real Estate Sales Company.

Time to have some one admit they screwed up

Suspended crew chief returns to Michael Waltrip Racing

Suspended crew chief David Hyder has returned to work at Michael Waltrip Racing.

Unfortunately, the one who probally knows the most about what happend does not want to say what he knows and claims he is inocent. And now he goes back to work. One can hope that thngs can get done soon. It is bad enough that Michael has missed another race. He cannot concentrate on everything at once.

Blogged with Flock

Gentlemen, start your engines.... time to take the Subway

Is the Busch Series coming to dead end? (phillyBurbs.com) | Ernie Saxton:

"Anheuser- Busch has told NASCAR that it no longer wants to sponsor the series. It is giving up the title sponsorship after 26 years. It may have something to do with NASCAR asking for a very hefty increase in the sponsorship rights fee over what they had been paying. Sources say that NASCAR wants at least $30 million for the title sponsorship while Anheuser-Busch had been paying about $10 million.

Rumor has it that Subway may be interested in taking over the sponsorship."

Am I the only one that thinks the name "Subway Series" should be for Baseball not NASCAR

Open Source Alternative - Find Open Source Alternatives to commercial software

Open Source Alternative - Find Open Source Alternatives to commercial software

Looks like a site to keep track of. I tend to use open source/freeware because of the cost. Keeps my hobby low cost.

Grace Church Sermon Notes

Like a Virgin
Desperate Households 2
Bob Yandian

All scripture King James Version. These notes are what I got from sermon, not necessarily what was preached. Sermons are available to view/listen to at Grace Church website for approximately 1 month from time sermon preached.

Gen 2:24-25 KJVR (24) Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. (25) And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.


One flesh is a term for marriage. Naked is a sign of sexual relationships. This is God order of things. Unless you leave you cannot cleave. Unless you cleave you can not be one flesh.
Mat 19:5-6 KJV (5) And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh (6) Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

Marriage is a covenant made between a man, a woman, and God. It is a covenant to turn to God and away from all others.

Job 31:1 KJV (1) I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?

1 Tim. 3 talks about husband of one wife. A translation for this would be a one woman man.

God said he was married to his nation Israel. When they went after other gods he said they went a whoring.

Eph 5:30-33 KJV (30) For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. (31) For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. (32) This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Paul goes back and forth between marriage and the relationship with God. Get to know one and you can understand the other. We are one flesh with God.

Today marriage and sex are being challenged when it comes to what God has set for us. The world says:

• You are expected not to be a virgin when you get married.
  
• It is OK to have sex unless if it is protected sex.
• You can have sex if you love them.
  
• Live with each other to see if you are compatible.
  

How does God look at sex outside of marriage?

1Co 6:15-17 KJV (15) Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of a harlot? God forbid. (16) What? know ye not that he which is joined to a harlot is one body? for two, saith he, shall be one flesh. (17) But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.

When you have sex with a harlot it is you being tied to her. It is considered one flesh. Sex is the outward sign of marriage. In the time of the Bible, you got married by getting things set up with parents, and when you picked her up and went on your honeymoon, you were married when sex took place. So every time you have sex with someone, that is a sign of marriage to that person. You are made in God's image and this is what He believes. By having sex outside of marriage you start to build up an image of a person who does not exist as each is imprinted on you.
Exo 20:5-6 KJV (5) Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; (6) And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

If sex outside of marriage is OK, why do we have jealousy. We know it is not right. When we do not serve God it is the same feeling for Him as when we feel hurt from the pain of a cheating spouse.

God has a plumb line for us.

• Premarital sex does not make you a better marriage candidate.
  
• Living together does not prepare you for marriage. Marriage is a covenant.
  
• Sexual compatibility does not produce a good marriage. A good marriage produces sexual compatibility.
  
• Good sex is progressive in a marriage. You need to learn together. And you also have to learn to forgive the mistakes. It is like learning to drive a stick shift. Cars are more forgiving than marriage partners.
  
• Living together without marriage is a sin.
  

Fornication - sex before marriage.
Adultery - sex outside of marriage.

Adultery is a reason to break up a marriage. God divorced Israel over their adultery with other gods. Marriage is where freedom exist. Outside it is bondage.

So what do we do with the feelings of not what to forgive and the rage that happen from a spouse having an affair. Turn it loose, and forgive. If God can forgive, so can you.

Sermon Notes - Shake It Off

Shake it off
Rick Renner
01/31/07

All scripture King James Version. These notes are what I got from sermon, not necessarily what was preached. Sermons are available to view/listen to at Grace Church website for approximately 1 month from time sermon preached.

I Thess. 2

17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.

18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

Paul had a great many times to get to these people. Pall tried multiple times but was hindered. He had reached and impasse. Satan had hindered, stopped by any way that he could to block Paul's way. Not just once time, but many times.

What should we do when we hit an impasse? We all hit impasses in our lives. It is even worse when you hit it when you are doing right.

In a chain of events that lead up to this point, Paul is on his way to Rome to be put on trial. He was appealing to Cesar because he thought he had a better chance with the government than he did with religious people. He is on a boat to go to Rome to see Cesar.

Acts 27

18 And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship;

19 And the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship.

20 And when neither sun nor stars in many days appeared, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope that we should be saved was then taken away.

They had lost all hope at this point. There is no rescue they think.

21 But after long abstinence Paul stood forth in the midst of them, and said, Sirs, ye should have hearkened unto me, and not have loosed from Crete, and to have gained this harm and loss.

22 And now I exhort you to be of good cheer: for there shall be no loss of any man's life among you, but of the ship.

23 For there stood by me this night the angel of God, whose I am, and whom I serve,

24 Saying, Fear not, Paul; thou must be brought before Caesar:

God said that he would go to Rome. So he is going to go. His destiny is to go to Cesar.

and, lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee.

25 Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer: for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.

26 Howbeit we must be cast upon a certain island.

27 But when the fourteenth night was come, as we were driven up and down in Adria, about midnight the shipmen deemed that they drew near to some country;

They were out there 14 days.

28 And sounded, and found it twenty fathoms: and when they had gone a little further, they sounded again, and found it fifteen fathoms.

29 Then fearing lest we should have fallen upon rocks, they cast four anchors out of the stern, and wished for the day.

30 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under color as though they would have cast anchors out of theforeship,

31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved.

32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off.

33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.

34 Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you.

35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat.

36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat.

37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.

38 And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, and cast out the wheat into the sea.

39 And when it was day, they knew not the land: but they discovered a certain creek with a shore, into the which they were minded, if it were possible, to thrust in the ship.

They did not know what the land mass was that they had found at daybreak, but it looked like, when they were able to see something, that it appeared to be a good place for them to set the ship into. They all of a sudden saw it. They had not seen land for 14 days. They had not even eaten for that time. Here was their escape. They were not sure that they would be able to make it. They had to make a corporate decision.

40 And when they had taken up the anchors, they committed themselves unto the sea, and loosed the rudder bands, and hoisted up the mainsail to the wind, and made toward shore.

They had no time to bring the anchors up so they cut them. They went to the sea, they had no choice now to do it. The rest of the verse shows that they are going forward as fast as they could.

41 And falling into a place where two seas met, they ran the ship aground; and the forepart stuck fast, and remained unmovable, but the hinder part was broken with the violence of the waves.

They are now moving at top speed with full sail. They rammmed into an underwater reef and it falls apart as they sail full speed. The boat is now falling apart, the sail was sending the front of the boat forward, the back was breaking under the waves.

42 And the soldiers' counsel was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim out, and escape.

43 But the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land:

44 And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land.

The centurion says for them to get to shore any way possible.

Acts 28

1 And when they were escaped, then they knew that the island was called Melita.

Paul could have had a big pity party about now. Paul has not lost everything. His luggage, his passport are now all gone.

2 And the barbarous people showed us no little kindness: for they kindled a fire, and received us every one, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.

They went from bad to worse. The island is full with uncivilised people. So Paul gets up and does something. He does not give up, he had a destiny to fulfill. He changed his environment.

3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.

A viper is a very dangerous beast. It is more dangerous than a snake. This was a serious bite. It was bite so deep the viper was stuck on his hand and it would be pushing the poison into him.

4 And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.

It was there long enough for a crowd to form. They were basically saying that he got what was coming to him. But Paul knows better.

5 And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.

This is a violent shake. It was an opportunity to give up, but he knew he had a destiny. You will have a viper attack some time. What happens when they bite is it paralyzes you. When someone you know bites you, Satan will try to use it to paralyze you in the walk of faith you are having.

6 Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

When you declare something in faith you are in the public. No one pay attention to you, but declare it in faith and everyone looks to see you fail. Keep going, people will keep watching and they will see the success. Your success will be a testimony to those watching to you.

7 In the same quarters were possessions of the chief man of the island, whose name was Publius; who received us, and lodged us three days courteously.

Courteously is a luxury environment. Faith rewarded him from a shipwreck to a palace.

8 And it came to pass, that the father of Publius lay sick of a fever and of a bloody flux: to whom Paul entered in, and prayed, and laid his hands on him, and healed him.

9 So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed:

He starts a revival in this chaos he was in. There is opportunity in the middle of catastrophe.

10 Who also honored us with many honors; and when we departed, they laded us with such things as were necessary.

11 And after three months we departed in a ship of Alexandria, which had wintered in the isle, whose sign was Castor and Pollux.

They gave them a huge amount of money. They gave him all the clothes and the luggage he needed. That and what he needed for the journey. The ship they left on was one of the elegant, fastest ships. This was high class. He now goes to Rome dressed to the nines and in style.

And when Paul should have come in on a dull drab ship. This was a wealthy ship. Castor and Pollux were the gods to protect the rich people. What a testimony he had to the believers that were there to meet him. Remember Romans 8:28

Rom 8:28
(28) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

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