God Reflections: John 19

God Reflections: John 19 by ric gustafson

When Jesus spoke his final words from the cross, The Apostle John was there. Before his death, Jesus was arrested late in the night. During that night and early morning, Jesus had to go through illegal trials by the religious establishment. Jesus was taken to Pontius Pilate. Pilate was the Roman official in charge of Judea. Only the Romans could give Jesus the death penalty. Only the Romans could execute a convict. 

The Romans used the most brutal and painful way for capital punishment. It was called crucifixion.

Jesus's final cry from the cross was one of triumph. He proclaimed ' It is finished'.

Jesus's sacrifice for us on that cross meant that our sins and guilt had been paid in full by Jesus. 

Praise God's name.

research help: ' God Reflections' by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Beatles Anthology page 13

 Beatles Anthology page 13 by ric gustafson

My name is Ringo Starr.

I was born on July 7 1940. I was born at number 9 Madryn Street Liverpool 8. Our neighborhood was really bombed during the war. We had to hide in the coal cellar. When I was older, we played on the rubble and in air raid shelters.

We were an ordinary poor working class family. My mother's mother had 14 children. My granddad was Johnny Parkin. When my grandfather's mother remarried, she married a Starkey. So my grandfather changed his name to Starkey also. 

My father was a baker. When I was 3, he left my mother and I. I was an only child. When I was 13, she remarried. I have no real memories of my father. After he left, I only saw him 5 times after that. I was angry he left us. I had to go through therapy for my feelings toward him.

research help: ' Beatles Anthology' by the Beatles

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

God Reflections: Psalm 103

 God Reflections: Psalm 103 by ric gustafson

God has done many good things for us. David reflects in Psalm 103 of the good things God has done for him. In this psalm, David is filled with gratitude and praise. David was far from perfect. The truth is that David was a man after God's heart. David loved worshiping God. 

David says more than once praise the Lord. In this psalm David lists six reasons to give God praise. First, God forgives our sins. Second, God heals our diseases. Third, God redeems us. Fourth, God loves us. Fifth, God gives us good things. Sixth, God renews us. God loves us more than anything else.

research help: ' God Reflections' by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Beatles Anthology page 12

Beatles Anthology page 12 by ric gustafson

My name is George Harrison.

When I was in my early teens, the skiffle boom started. In the late 50's, Lonnie Donegan was king of skiffle. He had the highest profile. He was the most successful guitar player of the time. He had a great voice and a lot of energy. He sang versions of Leadbelly songs. He was a hero of mine.

My skiffle band was called the Rebels. I tried to make a guitar. That did not go well. The first decent guitar I had was a Hofner President. I would spend hours trying to learn how to play that guitar.

My first girlfriend was Iris Caldwell. I heard a club was being built at number 8 Hayman's Green. It was in a cellar. The name of the club was to be called the Casbah. There I met Pete Best. Paul and I met Stuart Sutcliffe at Art College. Sutcliffe was thin with glasses. He had a Van Gogh beard. 

Now with John, Paul, myself, Stuart and Pete on drums, we had a band.

research help: ' Beatles Anthology' by the Beatles.

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

God Reflections: John 1

 God Reflections: John 1 by ric gustafson

At the start of John 1:1 is in the beginning. This was written by the Apostle John. God's Word starts with in the beginning. The gospel of John starts with in the beginning. John walked with Jesus. The story of God's Word starts in Genesis. The last words of Jesus come in Revelation. The story in God's Word is about Jesus. John calls Jesus the Word. 

Jesus is divine. Jesus is the source of meaning and purpose in life. 

You are invited to read the gospel of John. Jesus is the Word. The Word was with God. The Word was God. Come to the Word. Come to Jesus. He will give you what you seek. 

research help: ' God Reflections' by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

God Reflections: Matthew 14

God Reflections: Matthew 14 by ric gustafson

The disciples were on a boat on the Sea of Galilee. At one point, they see something in the distance. Then they see their master Jesus walking on the water. They were terrified. They thought they were seeing a ghost. 

At first he was terrified, then Peter wanted to do the same thing his master was doing. Jesus agrees. Peter climbs out of the boat. He takes a few steps. Then he looks down. Fear comes over his face. He begins to sink. He cries out to his master.

Jesus reaches out. He catches Peter. Then according to Matthew 14, he asks Peter. " You of little faith why did you doubt?".

There will be a time when Jesus asks us to get out of boat. There will be a call of God in our lives. God will ask us to get out of the boat. Will we do that?. Will we be faithful?. I pray that when we are called by God, we will get out of the boat. Jesus is faithful. When a storm comes, Jesus will hold out his hand and save us. Why?. Because he loves us more than anything else.

research help: ' God Reflections' by Roma Downey and Mark Burnett

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric

Salome page 4

 Salome page 4 by ric gustafson

Salome watched as Zeb was dragging in the last of the day's catch. Zeb was tall, thin and sinewy. He had brown eyes and shaggy hair. He loved to fish. Usually they fished throughout the night because fish were more active at that time.

I found out from Abba that my sister Leah was betrothed to Kadmiel. It was a beautiful wedding. At one point, Jonah came up to me.

" Not dancing tonight Salome?".

" Maybe later".

Jonah looked over at his wife Keturah. " My wife is not interested in dancing tonight either".

" That's because she is large with child".

" Salome,I wanted to apologize for taunting you when we were young".

" I forgive you". I smiled. " It was years ago".

Jonah grinned. " Zeb has become a true and loyal friend".

I smiled. " He is".

research help: ' On Living Stone' by Heather Kaufman

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric