Written on a 4x6 note card by Stan Julin.
[Blog Author's Note: This note card contained some interesting thoughts, but it needed some editing for clarity. What follows, therefore, are my father's thoughts, edited by me. (Also, note that my father's references to "Ron" are to Ronald Hoffman, pastor of Circle Community Church.)]
October 26, 2007
What were the chances, when Jesus stood before Pilate, that Pilate would have in his custody a man whose name (Barabbas) means "son of a father"? This was no coincidence, a wicked man crossing paths with him who is altogether righteous. I remember mentioning this to a few people whose response was, "Humph." Obviously, to them, the Son of the Father crossing paths with the son of the father was an observation of little value. So I kept it to myself from then on. But I noticed it again when Ron mentioned it in one of his sermons. I will concede to Ron.
Note Card: Crossing Jordan
Written on a 4x6 note card by Stan Julin.
April 20, 2000
Why did John baptize in Jordan, specifically? Why did Elisha say that Naaman should dip himself in Jordan? What was there about that muddy stream?
It pictures Christ, who humbled himself to come down for a while, first to be a Galilean (600 feet below sea level), tabernacling among us, and then descending to the lower parts. (The lowest part of the earth, [is] the Dead Sea, 1300 feet below sea level, from which the only exit is straight up in vapor form.)
April 20, 2000
Why did John baptize in Jordan, specifically? Why did Elisha say that Naaman should dip himself in Jordan? What was there about that muddy stream?
It pictures Christ, who humbled himself to come down for a while, first to be a Galilean (600 feet below sea level), tabernacling among us, and then descending to the lower parts. (The lowest part of the earth, [is] the Dead Sea, 1300 feet below sea level, from which the only exit is straight up in vapor form.)
Note Card: Life Giving Seed
Written on a 4x6 note card by Stan Julin.
December 12, 1994
Luke 8:5: We hear of the birds eating the seed, but skip over the fact that it was also trodden down... Also tending to be overlooked , eclipsed, is the fact that, in this parable, the one common item is the Word. The reception varies greatly, but it is the Word of God that never varies. Here we have the seed, and the seed has life within itself, capable of producing reproductions of itself. It is not, as some think their concepts of it that matter. It is not the boiled down principles that produce life. It is not that the person receiving it imparts to it a living character upon obeying it. Itself is life giving. Nobody denies that the depth or warmth of reception makes a difference, but that simply confesses that people have varying degrees of preparation for whatever reason. The Word of God is alive! Itself! It will produce the life of God in any receptive heart.
December 12, 1994
Luke 8:5: We hear of the birds eating the seed, but skip over the fact that it was also trodden down... Also tending to be overlooked , eclipsed, is the fact that, in this parable, the one common item is the Word. The reception varies greatly, but it is the Word of God that never varies. Here we have the seed, and the seed has life within itself, capable of producing reproductions of itself. It is not, as some think their concepts of it that matter. It is not the boiled down principles that produce life. It is not that the person receiving it imparts to it a living character upon obeying it. Itself is life giving. Nobody denies that the depth or warmth of reception makes a difference, but that simply confesses that people have varying degrees of preparation for whatever reason. The Word of God is alive! Itself! It will produce the life of God in any receptive heart.
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