for the week ending February 19

A Note from the Parson’s Desk

I am looking forward to seeing you this Sunday at 8:00 central, 9:00 eastern time on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ParsonJohnMaggie

Links to Sunday Services are also available at https://travelingchurch.org/videos/.

This week’s scripture readings

Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9
Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Epistle: 2 Peter 1:16-21
We did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we had been eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honor and glory from God the Father when that voice was conveyed to him by the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, my Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” We ourselves heard this voice come from heaven, while we were with him on the holy mountain. So we have the prophetic message more fully confirmed. You will do well to be attentive to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. First of all you must understand this, that no prophecy of scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, because no prophecy ever came by human will, but men and women moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God.

Psalm: 73
1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart.
2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone#stm8804; my steps had well nigh slipped.
3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm.
5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men.
6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment.
7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.
8 They are corrupt, and speak wickedly concerning oppression: they speak loftily.
9 They set their mouth against the heavens, and their tongue walketh through the earth.
10 Therefore his people return#stm8799 hither: and waters of a full cup are wrung out to them.
11 And they say, How doth God know? and is there knowledge in the most High?
12 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches.
13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency.
14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning.
15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.
16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me;
17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end.
18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction.
19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.
20 As a dream when one awaketh; so, O Lord, when thou awakest, thou shalt despise their image.
21 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins.
22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee.
23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand.
24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee.
26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.
27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee.
28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.

Prayer Requests

I will call on You, My God, for you will answer me; turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. Psalm 17:6

We invite you to share your needs as well as your praises. Unspoken requests will be honored. To add or update this list, send updates to: eric@fairewynds.com. For private messages or consultations please contact Frank directly at parson@parsonjohn.org

Wednesday Night Bible Study

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needed not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15

Join us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/parsonandmaggie for a time of study, fellowship and prayer.

This weeks study will be I Corinthians 12

The Parson’s Schedule for both Live and Online services

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:24-25

The sermon text will be from Romans

Live services will be held at Conner Long Rifle Trade Fair, Noblesville, Indiana. Contact us for time and location.

Online services will go live at 9:00 Eastern, 8 Central on Facebook at https://www.youtube.com/@ParsonJohnMaggie

Our Post Script

Well last week we finished up a 14 day reading/devotion/study on the Tabernacle in the Wilderness. Coming up we are working on studies of the 7 Candlesticks and their relationship to the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, a look at the 7 Feasts in Leviticus practiced by the Israelites and how they point to Christ, and we might even delve a bit into a controversial subject-the 7 Churches of Revelation.

Meanwhile, we are going to start a new section that we will intersperse between our longer studies, entitled ‘BIG WORDS of the BIBLE’. So if you have ever wondered just what this ‘propitiation’ is Frank keeps going on about, or what is meant by ‘sanctification’, we are going to talk about it. More than that though ,we hope to answer some questions no one wants to talk about like what is the difference between ‘adultery’ and ‘fornication’ (here’s a hint: don’t do either!) Whats the idea of the Catholic calling communion a ‘transubstantiation’ that Luther said was really ‘consubstantiation’ and Eric thinks Zwingli had the right idea about (Zwingli was the guy Calvin said ‘He might have all the good ideas, but I have a better PR department’!) And we will look at some more obscure things-such as ‘Christophony in the old Testament’ and some very serious subjects like just what IS ‘blasphemy of the Holy Spirit’ and why is it the ‘Unpardonable Sin’.

But we don’t claim to be ‘great theologians’. (Frank says the only ‘great theologians’ are dead ones, anyway) but we Do have a desire to grow, learn and share. And part of that is being challenged so…have a question about a ‘BIG WORD’ or something biblical related? Send it over and we will do our best! We might know the answer. We might not. But we WILL strive to give you the scriptural basis for our answers. And if we don’t know, we will say ‘let us get back with you on that’ and we will start searching for the answers ourselves. Because that is how we learn, grow and challenge ourselves. We walk together, debate and discuss with the goal of learning more of the goodness (GREATNESS) of God and to draw closer to our Lord! So send them on to eric@fairewynds.com and we will get started!

In Christ

Eric