The Resurrection

Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24 and John 20 all tell the story of the resurrection of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

After the Lord Our Savior Jesus Christ was crucified - by the ignorant and the damned that continue to crucify each day - Joseph of Arimathea had the body placed in a private tomb. A large stone covered the entrance where soldiers stood guard. On the third day, a Sunday, an earthquake shook the tomb as an angel rolled back the stone. The guards - cowardly puppets of the government - shook in fear and fled. They reported what had happened to the chief priests - the most ignorant of the ignorant - fools of fools - who bribed the puppets, making them lie and say that the disciples had stolen the body during the night. The lies spread like wildfire on a hot summer day - travelling through the words of the weak.

Several women including Mary Magdalene went to the tomb at dawn to anoint the body of the Lord Our Savior Jesus Christ. The angel in white was sitting upon the stone and announced to the women that the Lord - who was crucified by the ignorant and damned - was no longer in the tomb, "He is risen, just as he said."

With both fear and joy the women ran to tell the other followers, but suddenly Our Lord and Savior met them on their way. They fell at his feet and worshiped him. He then said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee. There they will see me." Before He ascended into heaven - to escape the ungrateful sinners of this world - He visited several other followers, telling them to go and make disciples of all nations.

The Creator has risen from His fallen form - I say unto thee nonbelievers that the time to pay attention is now - The creation shall not walk forth from this time - The Creator is almighty and all knowing and altogether in control of her - Prescheduled prophecies shall carry on the work of the Creator despite her attempts to thwart the Creator''s earthly efforts - Perhaps only one shall step forth - But my Word is never ending -

Story of Barabbas

Today’s sermon is from the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus has been captured and is taken before Pontius Pilate, the Prefect of Judaea who serves as the judge of the trial.

Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.
 

– But the huddled masses were ready for this –
 

The chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
 

"Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.
 

"Barabbas,” they answered.
 

“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.

They all answered, “Crucify him!”
 

"Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
 

But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
 

– Matthew 27
 

What happened next? There was a choice between Jesus and Barabbas – A choice for the people. One to die – One to live. Nothing in between – Barabbas or our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

But who was Barabbas? The origin of the name was Yeshua Bar Abba. Translated as Jesus Barabbas. Bar meaning son – Abba meaning father. Bar-Abba – Son of the father. Jesus Barabbas – Jesus Son of the Father.

And who was Jesus of Nazareth who they wanted to crucify? The Son of God – The Son of the Father – Bar-Abba – BARABBAS

Which of the two do you want me to release to you? Free Bar Abba – Free the Son of the Father – Barabbas or Jesus – Jesus or Barabbas – Bar Abba

Was there ever really a Barabbas to choose over Jesus – Or did the Gospel writers create him?

Jesus was Barabbas – Barabbas was Jesus.

Poetic license – but why – why would they need a Barabbas?

A story of the greatest good requires a contrast with evil. There must be a serpent in Gods garden – A Cain for an Abel – A Delilah for a Sampson.

Matthew Mark Luke and John – They knew what they were doing. Make up what you need.

Take away Barabbas and what is left – A story without a villain. Who will believe in salvation without fire and brimstone – Who will seek good without witnessing the power of evil

There had to be a Barabbas dot com – There is no good without evil – No evil without good – Both exist to contrast the other. Does the preacher really want his flock to heed his words – Does he want complete compliance? The preacher needs evil – Thrives off of evil – The preacher vanishes when evil is vanquished.

Matthew created his Barabbas – And his story spread. I created my own Barabbas – Barabbas dot com as an evil to strengthen the need for good – Barabbas dot com as a false beacon – A diversion from the road to salvation.

Then as Barabbas I begat an even greater evil – My greatest creation – The Satin Strangler

She was never to become anyone in particular – Certainly not Destiny Blande.

All I needed was a few unsolved murders – A little web surfing – Amazing what you can find on the internet these days – AMAZING – Dirty work of another could become Satin Strangler handiwork – So easily – So easily

I molded the Satin Strangler in my mind. She was beautiful – Even more beautiful to me than she could ever be for the rest of the world – I felt the transfer of life as I created her – She would have to feel the transfer of life – She would have to strangle her victims

As Barabbas I breathed life into her – My creation – The Satin Strangler.

For the world to see – Not for Destiny Blande to take.

She would be tempting on the outside – Forbidden fruit – But she would be dangerous as a serpent’s venom on the inside. She would seduce her victims – Eventually seduce the world. The singing Siren – The hostess of Hades

All it took was those first three crimes – Phillip Stewart strangled to death in Atlanta – Cut and paste – Preston Jones strangled to death in Charleston – Cut and paste – Grant Leighton strangled to death in New Jersey – Cut and paste – The dirty work of others

Three strangulations – One blog post – And she was born – My greatest accomplishment – The Satin Strangler

– Tonight there will be a choice – A choice between Barabbas and Destiny Blande – They have become incompatible in this earthly world – One will have to die – The other will live on as the Satin Strangler – The Creation must survive at all costs – ALL COSTS.

– Barabbas has scripted two possible endings to this story – If this is goodbye then goodbye

Readers of this article may also be interested in purchasing the following items:

t-shirt: “Evil Personified” with picture of Destiny Blande – $22 plus shipping
t-shirt: “Heed the Will of the Creator” – $22 plus shipping
t-shirt: “No False Gods” with picture of Destiny Blande – $22 plus shipping
t-shirt: “Say ‘No’ to Destiny Blande” – $22 plus shipping
Mouse pad: Destiny Blande face on the devil – $20 plus shipping
Mug: “Denounce Destiny’s Denial” – $9 plus shipping
Plaque: Destiny Blande face on the devil - $75 plus shipping

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The Last Supper

The story of the Last Supper comes from Matthew 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22.

On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread or Passover, Jesus sent two of his disciples ahead with very specific instructions on where to prepare the Passover meal. That evening Jesus sat down at the table with the 12 apostles to eat his final meal before going to the cross. As they dined together, he told the twelve that one of them would soon betray him. One by one they questioned, "I'm not the one, am I, Lord?"

Jesus explained that even though he knew he would die as the Scriptures foretold, his betrayer's fate would be terrible: "Far better for him if he had never been born!" Then Jesus took the bread and the wine and asked his Father to bless it. He broke the bread into pieces, giving it to his disciples and said, "This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." And then he took the cup of wine, sharing it with his disciples and said, "This wine is the token of God's new covenant to save you--an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you. He told all of them, "I will not drink wine again until the day I drink it new with you in my Father's Kingdom."

Then they sang a hymn and went out to the Mount of Olives. The Passover commemorated Israel's escape from bondage in Egypt. In Exodus, the blood of the Passover lamb was painted on the door frames, causing the plague of the firstborn to pass over their houses sparing the firstborn sons from death.

The Last Supper was very significant because Jesus showed his disciples he was about to become the Passover Lamb of God. His blood would open the door to freedom. His followers would exchange slavery to sin and death for eternal life in God's Kingdom. At the Last Supper, each of the disciples questioned Jesus: "Could I be the one to betray you, Lord?" At that moment they were also questioning their own hearts.

Lazarus

Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead in John 11 of the New Testament.

Lazarus and his two sisters, Mary and Martha, were friends of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  When Lazarus became sick, his sisters sent a message, "Lord, the one you love is sick." When He heard the news, He waited before going to Lazarus' hometown of Bethany, realizing that He would soon perform a great miracle.

When Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had already been dead for four days. Martha told Him, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died." He responded, "Your brother will rise again. I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die."

Jesus went to the tomb of Lazarus with Mary, Martha and the other mourners. He asked them to remove the stone that covered the hillside burial place. He prayed and then said, "Lazarus come out." Upon these words, Lazarus stepped out of the tomb.

This resurrection os one of several in the bible. Are you waiting for the Lord Our Savior Jesus Christ to lift you out of some challenge in your life? He may be taking His time to test your ability to find your own way through. You must understand this and have patience as you struggle to find your path to heaven. If you believe in Him then you will never die. Listen to the Word to gain the most powerful force available to us while we are on earth.

Evil in the Spotlight

Today’s sermon is about evil. Evil in our society. Evil in our towns. Evil in our neighborhoods. Evil knocking on our door. Will you recognize it when it arrives? Will you be ready to send it away? Will we be able to conquer evil together?

We live in a time when evil takes so many forms, from the invisible threats of terrorists releasing poisonous gas in a subway station, to the Destiny Blande murder re-enactments on our televisions each night.

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Evil is getting closer to our doorstep. We want evil to come to us as advertised. Maybe with a bright red warning label reading BEWARE: EVIL INSIDE. That’s a package we wouldn’t open, right? There it is for us to see. The package with the “beware” sign is a tough one to miss, my friends. The package with the “beware” sign is the easy one to avoid. It is the Wicked Witch of the West flying on a broomstick. It is the faceless Darth Vader dressed in a black cape. It is the “wrong way” sign on the road as we follow the MapQuest to God.

But the most dangerous evil does not come with a warning label – on the contrary – the most dangerous evil comes to us dressed up in the cloak of good. Satan appeared in the Garden of Eden to Eve, not as a red demon with horns, but as a serpent. Remember the innocence of Eve in the Garden – Eve before the fig leaf – What did she know of evil – Why would she suspect anything but sincerity and kindness? She ate the forbidden fruit, and disguised evil won its first battle against good.

Destiny Blande is evil in the cloak of good. She deceived her victims into trusting her – one by one – wearing the cloak of good but filled with the wrath of Satan. If she came with a red warning label we would all be spared. Instead, we are all victimized by her evil.

We had our chance to contain evil through the judicial system – but what did we do? We put Destiny Blande on a pedestal and glorified evil for all to see – told our children and anyone else who would watch that evil is welcome in our society – welcome in our lives – welcome in our homes.

Now evil is coming to Broadway, my friends. The stage is set – the lights are directed toward the curtain. Destiny Blande has snuck her way into the hearts of the unsuspecting. Ticket sales are already breaking records – and the play has not even opened. Are we really that hungry for evil? Are we waiting on line for more?

Say “no” to this evil, my friends. Close your door to it – spread the word that evil is not welcome here – say “no” to Destiny Blande and the evil she brings.

Readers of this article may also be interested in purchasing the following items:

t-shirt: “Evil Personified” with picture of Destiny Blande – $22 plus shipping
t-shirt: “Heed the Will of the Creator” – $22 plus shipping
t-shirt: “The Sacrifice Is at the Altar – Genesis 22” – $12 plus shipping
t-shirt: “Got Temptation?” with picture of Destiny Blande – $22 plus shipping
t-shirt: “Resist Temptation” with picture of Destiny Blande – $22 plus shipping
t-shirt: “No False Gods” with picture of Destiny Blande – $22 plus shipping
t-shirt: “Eve Ate the Apple; All I Got Was this Lousy T-shirt” – $12 plus shipping
Mouse pad: Destiny Blande face on the devil – $20 plus shipping
Mug: “Denounce Destiny’s Denial” – $9 plus shipping
Plaque: Destiny Blande face on the devil - $75 plus shipping

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This is post #86 in The Satin Strangler Blogs (TSSB)..

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Abraham and Isaac

Today’s sermon is about God’s test of Abraham, which comes to us from Genesis in The Old Testament.

God tested Abraham, and said to him, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Mori'ah, and offer him there as a burnt offering . . . Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took in his hand the fire and the knife. So they went both of them together. And Isaac said to his father Abraham, "Behold, the fire and the wood; but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" Abraham said, "God will provide himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son." So they went both of them together. When they came to the place of which God had told him, Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. Then Abraham put forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
 

– Genesis 22
 

What must be going on in Abraham’s mind? He and his wife Sarah are over 90 years old. God has been promising them a child and a long line of descendants, and finally their son Isaac is born. Imagine Abraham and Sarah’s joy. The miracle of Isaac, a creation and gift of God when there was none. But then God tells Abraham to take that only son and sacrifice him. Abraham’s own son. His flesh and blood. A creation of the Lord. And now Abraham is holding the knife to his own son Isaac’s throat . . .

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God was testing Abraham’s obedience. Loyalty to his Lord and creator. What greater sacrifice could there be than one that you love the most? What greater sign of devotion?

God would later make the same sacrifice of His own son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Was that any different? Was it easier for God to give us his own son as a sacrifice? Is His request of Abraham excessive? If God was willing to sacrifice His own son, is it unreasonable to ask Abraham to do the same? Does Abraham not owe God that much respect?

Abraham had no idea that this was only a test. He was ready with his razor sharp knife poised – his human sacrifice bound and lying on the altar – the act of loyalty one swift motion away. He was willing to do this deed – willing to follow the direction of his Creator – to carve into his own flesh and blood and kill his only son. He could have asked God to reconsider. He could have protested. He could have denied his Creator’s wishes – but he did not. He was ready to kill as a demonstration of his love and obedience.

How will we make a sacrifice to the Lord? Behold, the fire and the wood all around us. The altar is ready. The knife is in the air. But where is the lamb for a burnt offering? Where is the lamb, my friends?

The Creator will provide the lamb for a burnt offering.

Readers of this article may also be interested in purchasing the following items:

t-shirt: “Heed the Will of the Creator” – $22 plus shipping
t-shirt: “The Sacrifice Is at the Altar – Genesis 22” – $12 plus shipping
t-shirt: “Got Temptation?” with picture of Destiny Blande – $22 plus shipping
t-shirt: “Resist Temptation” with picture of Destiny Blande – $22 plus shipping
t-shirt: “No False Gods” with picture of Destiny Blande – $22 plus shipping
t-shirt: “Say ‘No’ to the Satin Strangler” – $22 plus shipping
t-shirt: “No Salvation for Stranglers” – $20 plus shipping
t-shirt: “Eve Ate the Apple; All I Got Was this Lousy T-shirt” – $12 plus shipping
Mouse pad: Destiny Blande face on the devil – $20 plus shipping
Mug: “Denounce Destiny’s Denial” – $9 plus shipping
Plaque: Destiny Blande face on the devil - $75 plus shipping

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This is post #82 in The Satin Strangler Blogs (TSSB).

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The Prodigal Son

Luke 15 recounts the parable of the Prodigal Son.

In this story, also known as the Parable of the Lost Son, Jesus responds to the Pharisees' complaint: "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." Jesus tells the story of a man with two sons. The younger brother asks his father for his portion of the family estate as an early inheritance. The son then sets off on a long journey and begins to waste his fortune on wild living. As he runs out of money, a severe famine strikes the country and the son finds himself destitute. He takes a job feeding pigs and even longs to eat the pigs' food.

The young man finally recognizes his foolishness and decides to return to his father and ask for forgiveness. The father receives his son back with open arms and compassion. He is overjoyed by the return of his lost son and turns to his servants and asks them to prepare a giant celebratory feast.

The older son is unhappy when he comes in from working the fields and discovers the party celebrating his brother's return. The father tells the older brother, "You are always with me, and everything I have is yours."

The father in this story is like our heavenly Father, the Creator of man. The Creator waits for the return of the Prodigal Son. The kingdom of the Lord is waiting, and the Creator is patient - the Creator must be patient. No matter how disobedient and offensive the creation is, there is always a chance to change their ways and return to the Creator. The reuniting of Creator and creation will always be a joyous feast. Forgiveness is the key - forgiveness is essential - it is never too late to return. Come back to me and I will forgive you - this is what He says.

Temptation

Today’s sermon is about temptation. It starts with the story of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in Genesis.

Now the serpent was more subtle than any other wild creature that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God say, 'You shall not eat of any tree of the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden; but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate.
 

– Genesis 3
 

Imagine living before the knowledge of good and evil. Imagine the time before the fall from grace. I wonder if you can. I wonder if you can close your eyes and ears to all that surrounds us and imagine that time of innocence.

Today we are going to talk about sex. Not the fig leaves of the artistic depictions of Adam and Eve with their new-found knowledge of good and evil. NO. Today we are going to talk about the temptation of deviant sex.

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Eve took the serpent’s apple in her mouth. How symbolic this is? Is the apple really about knowledge? Is the bible passage here telling us about anything other than sex? Where is Adam when this is all happening? He’s right there in the garden with Eve. The serpent is his.

With this original sin, whether it involved eating an apple or lying in sin with Adam, Eve sealed our fate. Would we rather have the story be about an apple, or about fulfilling fantasies in the Garden of Eden? Why fool around with the G-rated version when we can have something to sink our teeth into?

Eve gave in to temptation. Since then man has been losing the battle against temptation, one apple at a time. What was once the described as the bite of a forbidden apple has progressed to devious filth. Fetishes have moved from 42^nd street to Main Street. Moved from bizarre oddities and underground pornography to the living rooms of suburbia.

Devious behavior was once hidden in the depths of an individual’s mind, with little chance of finding a compatible partner to finish the matching set. But now we have the internet. A tool to bring people together – this collection of social networks that spans the globe. Regardless of your sick pleasure, a mate is only a click away. Imagine how quickly Prince Charming would have put the shoe back on the foot of Cinderella – or better yet – found a dominatrix with a foot fetish. Just a little click click – and there she is – both shoes off.

The Satin Strangler personifies this obsession with sexual deviance. Her victims enjoyed her company until it was too late to turn back. They took pleasure in her sadistic offerings, enjoyed the satin tightening around their necks. Naked and suffocating – a far cry from nibbling on an apple. This is how far we have come. What would our mothers say?

Temptation will always be with us – It has been since the beginning of time – And the choice will always be ours to yield or resist. But these are not your parents’ temptations of the past, and your children will face temptations tomorrow that we cannot even fantasize today. Every day we move beyond yesterday’s satisfaction. And why not? WHY NOT? The hurdles have been reduced to nothing – Absolutely nothing. Have an urge – Satisfy the urge – Immediate and complete satisfaction. The target of all our urges is as ubiquitous as drinking water for the thirsty – Gushing out of faucets at the turn of a knob.

We must continue to resist temptation. It is more difficult than ever – But therefore more satisfying when achieved. To have an urge is natural – To act on it is the ticket out of paradise. The Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil is still death to those who partake.

Giving in to temptation will lead to punishment by the Creator – Sooner than you would ever think –

Readers of this article may also be interested in purchasing the following items:

t-shirt: “Tempting?” with picture of Destiny Blande – $22 plus shipping
t-shirt: “Resist Temptation” with picture of Destiny Blande – $22 plus shipping
t-shirt: “No False Gods” with picture of Destiny Blande – $22 plus shipping
t-shirt: “Say ‘No’ to the Satin Strangler” – $22 plus shipping
t-shirt: “No Salvation for Stranglers” – $20 plus shipping
t-shirt: “Eve Ate the Apple; All I Got was This Lousy T-shirt” – $12 plus shipping
Mouse pad: Destiny Blande face on the devil – $20 plus shipping
Mug: “Denounce Destiny’s Denial” – $9 plus shipping
Plaque: Destiny Blande face on the devil - $75 plus shipping

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This is post #79 in The Satin Strangler Blogs (TSSB).

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