Genesis 25 – Relationally Bound Up

…. While, I knew this moment was was coming …. I must admit – I wasn’t as prepared for it as I needed to be.

I have become rather close friends with Abraham and his lot over the past year or so – reading through his story – walking, as it were – with him in a walk of faith.  :(   I feel like I am saying “good-bye” to a close friend, the sort that has been a “fathering figure” in my own personal faith, go figure.  :)

Abraham’s faith, however imperfect – lives on! in us!

Not only does chapter 25 tell us of Abraham’s passing, it reminds us once again – and provides a summary of sorts – of how, in the daily walk of faith:

Our Destiny – is bound up in His (Our Father God’s) Destiny – or not.  - You see, Moses is writing the book of Genesis with a specific group of folks, in mind.  Moses, had a passion of sorts for his Destiny – the sort that is bound up in God’s Destiny and it seems Moses collected this “history” of the “early beginnings” – for a specific purpose – to remind folks, who were being prepared, to go in and conquer the “promised land” of Canaan, of a Divine Purpose, beyond their own.  This land they were to conquer was no “ordinary” land – it was the very same land that had been promised to “father Abraham” – the very land that Abraham – here in chapter 25, has now passed away in and was ”laid to rest” in.  So when Moses makes mention of all of the descendants of Abraham, through Isaac and even those children of Ishmael – the “intended folks” of Moses’ chronicle of history – well, they rather get it!!  You see, they are rather familiar with the names if not the stories and reputation of the descendants of Abraham.  This list of Abraham’s descendants reminded these folks of how they were RELATIONALLY “bound-up” - in God The Father’s pRomise and pRovision – and no doubt, many of these “old-family” ties had a strong motivational influence in the hearts and minds of these folks.  These folks were certainly aware of the “bad stories” of some and the “good stories”, too - and aware of the history that bound them to those listed here.  Moses is helping these folks - to recall how God’s Will – God’s Destiny – has been achieved down through the generations, in the lives of PEOPLE OF FAITH!  And he is calling them to put their FAITH, now in God and to renew their commitments to the pRomises of God, to Abraham and through his descendants.

I suppose, it has always been, that the human condition – too often misses the HUGE-ianity of CHRIST-ianity – I mean, The stories of history – the faces, the lives, the truths and the lies – that have brought us to where-ever we are right now - they have always been about how much (our Destiny) has or hasn’t become, like His (Our Father, God’s)

When I pause here, among these lofty thoughts of my faith tradition, I find myself longing for a closer and deeper Relationship with my Father God, as a child of His.  :)

Read Genesis 25:1-11 and notice that, “Abraham breathed his last, and he died, in a good old age, an old man, full of years, and he was gathered to his people”

Our ancestors spoke of dying “a good death” – Abraham’s death is logged in the annals of history as “good” – the sort of death that those remaining, look back on and find ourselves thankful for the faithful diligence applied to living a life of imperfect faith, that ended “complete”.  His portion of the journey was complete, his burial spot was prepared, and his sons Isaac and Ishmael were there to preside over the rites of burial.  My life, in death – will it find my life “complete”.  Not perfect – but so Relationally bound up in God’s destiny that my own destiny has now truly become His, beyond the grave?  :)

Read Genesis 25:12-18 and notice that the salvation stories that have become our own, down through the ages, are bound up in this sort of Relational connection with our God – and here the salvation story of covenant promise is passed on through Issaac.  Even Ishmael , Abraham’s son, whom Hagar the Egyptian, Sarah’s slave-girl, bore to Abraham, had a story and he is not ignored in the annals of history - rather his presence, however imperfectly conceived, is accounted for – and is ever a reminder for us, of the need for trust and obedience in our faith.

Read Genesis 25:19-26 and notice that Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren; and the LORD granted his prayer, and his wife Rebekah conceived.  v.21  You know that Isaac was forty when he married, sixty when he became a father.  Wow!  People of faith – I suppose, wait a lot.  :)   I can’t help but find myself admiring such results of imperfect faith in the Destiny that belongs to our God and Father!  :)   Too often, it seems we resist in participating in the “process” of faith that leads us into His Destiny.  :(   Yet the years of barrenness, the dry desert summer months of our journey – are as much an experience of our faith – as are those moments of conception, birth, joy and blessing.  It seems that in the matter of faith, a curious question becomes – what am I waiting for?  His Will or any will that pleases and satisfies my own will?  :(

Read Genesis 25:27-28 and notice that Isaac loved Esau, because he was fond of game; but Rebekah loved Jacob.  v.28

We know that Esau and Jacob, even struggled with one another in the womb!  And that they were born in conflict, growing up with very different personalities and divergent attentions regarding faith.  Parental favoritism exaggerated their differences.  :(

We are all born into conflict of one sort or another – our world is not a world of harmony.  It is difficult to find more than one who will agree with another about what is best for me, rather contradictory counsel is the norm.  :(   I suppose, a lesson that leads me again to lean wholly on the counsel of my Father God, brings me again and again into the light of a Relationship with Him and His Destiny for clarity and consistent counsel, born of the covenant of His Grace, in my faith journey!  :)

And, read Genesis 25:29-34 and notice that Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank, and rose and went his way.  Esau in this way “despised” his birthright.

There is certainly a contrast between these “brothers” that becomes their destinies!  Esau is hungry!  and his desire will not wait!  :(   Jacob is willing to wait.  It is interesting to notice how “pottage” gives immediate gratification while the “birthright” involves waiting for fulfillment……

I suppose, I am more like Esau than Jacob, while I am determined in my journey of faith to become more like Jacob.

I am too often in too much of a hurry to greedily grasp everything in life that satisfies me, and I want it now!  :(   Father, I know that you want “all things for me”, but I too often forget that the timing of fulfillment is in your hands, not mine.  Help me to trust your timing and wait patiently in my true desire for your blessing, your promise.

Thank you, Father for the stories passed down of our father of faith, Abraham – they help me to put my own faith in perspective – I see You in them and I long to be Relationally bound to your Destiny!

God Bless, Abraham!  I miss you!  I look forward to seeing you, beyond the grave.

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Leave A Comment, Written on April 29th, 2012 , Common Bond, Daily Walk of Faith
Jesus Himself – Part II – Breath of God – Breathe on me

An American Folk Hymn

Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew, that I may love what thou dost love, and do what thou wouldst do.
Breathe on me, Breath of God, until my heart is pure, until with thee I will one will, to do and to endure.
Breathe on me, Breath of God, till I am wholly thine, till all this earthly part of me glows with thy fire divine.
Breathe on me, Breath of God, so shall I never die, but live with thee the perfect life of thine eternity. Breathe

These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.  When no bush of the field had yet sprung up – for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground – then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.  Genesis 2:4-7

It was evening that same first day of the week.  The doors were locked where the students (disciples) were gathered.  They were afraid of the Jewish leaders.  Jesus came and stood in the middle of them.  He said to them, “Peace be to you.”  When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side.  Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.  Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.  As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”  And when He had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”  John 20:19-22

I can rather imagine the disciples (of old) singing such a hymn as the one we often sing, as disciples today - ”Breathe on me, Breath of God” – even, I can hear fear in their voices, as they may have sung a song of similar sentiment together, on the Lord’s Day – “Breathe on us, breath of God, fill us with life anew. That we may love what thou dost love, and do what thou wouldst do.“  And I can imagine that not so very much unlike me, on too many occassions, the disciples (of old), just didn’t quite “get it” – weren’t able to quite “take it all in.”  – - – I can imagine them, gathered in the upper room, with the doors locked tight against the “world” – protecting them against their “fears” - of one sort or another.  I mean it seems, they too, much like us as disciples (today) – they so very much, wanted to believe!  – - - While somehow they just could not muster enough faith – to see Jesus Himself, Alive!  :(   —- In “Jesus Himself … - Part I”, here – p=3794 - Luke records the same story that John records here – while with varying detail.  So, where we left off in Luke 24:36-53, we can “fill in” with John’s account, here in chapter 20.  :)

And, so we know that it was later on in the evening, on the first day of the week, sometime after sundown and still, no one had yet seen Him, Jesus Himself.  :(  —- no one, of course, except Mary, (the one from Magdala) who had said she had seen Him, not long after sun-up, when she had gone to the tomb with spices for His Body.  I expect, the others, “thinking this was nonsense” – may have even spun their index fingers near their temples, or motioned something similar - possibly remembering Mary’s demons (Luke 8:2) and “writing her off”, as it were - as suffering from something connected to the brokeness of spirit, grief and sadness of heart they all felt - resulting in what was at the very best, “imaginative thinking”.  :(   Anyway, it was late in the evening and there they were, rather scared – and not so much born out of confident hearts but instead, born out of what amounted to ignorance and unbelief – they waited together – wondering what they should do next.

Both Luke and John tell us that, JUST THEN, in what was surely a ”NOW HERE” moment in their Christian walk - OUT OF NOWHERE, it seems -  JESUS HIMSELF, APPEARED to them and says “Peace be with you.”  :)   If you look this passage up in the original Greek the meaning of “peace” Eirēnē (ā-rā’-nā) amounts to something like — “that you may know security in your fear; that you may feel safe - down in the depths of your soul; that you may receive much comfort and fulfillment, in the ways of the spirit.  Eirēnē (ā-rā’-nā) — peace, like when all the pieces of your puzzled heart – just come together – right in front of you and you feel “whole” (rather than fractured) – peace, like when what worries you – just slinks away from your presence and any doubt, just vanishes –peace, not of the momentary sort, rather the sort that passes all understanding and totally satisfies the heart, mind and soul - as you sink, quietly and calmly into His Presence.  Peace.  Jesus Himself, appearing out of nowhere, as it were – and with open eyes you see Him clearly and He says, “peace ….” !  :)

Now, what happened next, I can only imagine, but whatever they saw when they saw it – caused them all to be hugely glad!  :)   — This was no ordinary OMG moment!!  -  (You know the sort that too many of us mis-use)  :(   – ….. No sir!  This was the very Son of God – Jesus Himself, showing them His hands and His side – and I rather imagine them staring at Jesus Himself, with eyes wide open, and with their jaws on the floor – and I suspect, they saw something like nail marks where His flesh had been pierced or perhaps they saw wounds that had already healed themselves!! —- either way – what they saw caused them to be very, very glad!  Hugely glad!  What they saw gave them hope!  What they saw caused them to truly believe! … all the way!  :)

Interestingly enough, JUST THEN, Jesus told them, yes again – “Peace…” – almost as if they weren’t at all capable of “fully taking it all in” (and we know that they weren’t) – the first time (Can you relate?  I know I can) - and He said, “Peace….”  ….and this time He added what they surely were feeling by now as they came to fully understand His purpose in coming among them, in a new way …. “As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”  :)   Jesus explained to them something along the lines of, “Peace, my brothers, I am leaving, with you – as I am returning to the Father – I did not come among you this way to leave you alone – but to bring you Peace, now! – to go along with you, as you walk, so that you may share the story of My life, My death and My resurection, with the world!  So that all those who will believe in me and desire, through an intimate relationship with me, to be reconciled to the Father God, once again – shall be forgiven and receive the promise of full salvation – reconciliation with the Father – the same sort of perfect Peace that breathed life into Adam – I leave with you!!!

And then, JUST THEN, He breathed on them.  :)

And I can imagine that singing such a hymn as, “Breathe on me, breath of God” – would have taken on a totally different meaning for them, then - as it does for me, today.  Only now the voices that sing are no longer shaken with fear BUT ARE SATISFIED, FILLED - WITH PEACE AND PURPOSE!  :)

Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew, that I may love what thou dost love, and do what thou wouldst do. Breathe on me, Breath of God, until my heart is pure, until with thee I will one will, to do and to endure. Breathe on me, Breath of God, till I am wholly thine, till all this earthly part of me glows with thy fire divine. Breathe on me, Breath of God, so shall I never die, but live with thee the perfect life of thine eternity. Breathe

This is no ordinary moment! in the lives of the disciples (of old) – when Jesus Himself, breathed onto them the power of His Spirit.  Jesus “breathed” on them in exactly the same way Jehovah Shalom, the God of peace, breathed on the first man Adam in Genesis 2:7.  He breathed on them in exactly the same way Ezekiel (37:9) reports God commanded the wind to breathe on that valley of dry bones, so that those dry bones might live!  This same “breath” is not found any other time in God’s Words.

Jesus breathed new life and power on them, like that which was breathed on Adam (of old) – power to reason, power to choose, power to hope, power to be, power to become!  Like the dry bones the disciples (of old) were made able to stand, able to speak, able to share the power of God’s Word’s!

The Greek word for breath “Pneuma,” in John 20 – is like its Hebrew counterpart in Genesis 2 and in Ezekiel 37 “ruach” – and can be translated best as “wind” or “spirit” – and phonetically even, communicates the “sound of breath”.  God’s Spirit was the breath of life into Adam.  Ezekiel spoke the Word’s of the Lord to the “dry bones” and breath came into the bones and they lived and stood on their feet!  God’s breath of life resurected Jesus Himself and Jesus Himself, breathed on His disciples (of old) saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”  :)

 An American Folk Hymn

Breathe on me, Breath of God, fill me with life anew, that I may love what thou dost love, and do what thou wouldst do. Breathe on me, Breath of God, until my heart is pure, until with thee I will one will, to do and to endure. Breathe on me, Breath of God, till I am wholly thine, till all this earthly part of me glows with thy fire divine. Breathe on me, Breath of God, so shall I never die, but live with thee the perfect life of thine eternity. Breathe

These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the Lord God made the earth and the heavens.  When no bush of the field had yet sprung up – for the Lord God had not caused it to rain on the land, and there was no man to work the ground, and a mist was going up from the land and was watering the whole face of the ground – then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.  Genesis 2:4-7

It was evening that same first day of the week.  The doors were locked where the students (disciples) were gathered.  They were afraid of the Jewish leaders.  Jesus came and stood in the middle of them.  He said to them, “Peace be to you.”  When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side.  Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.  Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.  As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”  And when He had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”  John 20:19-22

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Leave A Comment, Written on March 31st, 2012 , Daily Walk of Faith, Random....Leaps
Jesus Himself! – Alive! in the heart of the disciple. – Part I

Without Jesus Himself – I am nothing!

Without Jesus Himself – I will surely fail!

Without Jesus Himself – I am like a ship without a sail!

BEING A SINNER – WASHED BY THE BLOOD OF THE RISEN LAMB – AGAIN – AND AGAIN – EACH DAY, I WAKE – EVERY BREATH, I TAKE – I STILL REMAIN – A SINNER – SAVED – AGAIN- AND AGAIN.  BY THE BLOOD OF THE RISEN LAMB!

AND

IT IS IN THIS INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS HIMSELF! THAT I FIND…ON THIS PARTICULAR LORD’S DAY MORNING – THE FIRST DAY OF OUR WEEK —– THAT I RISE AGAIN BY THE BLOOD OF THE RISEN LAMB

           I find less and less satisfaction in my Christian walk - in what amounts to about 85 percent of our modern Christian dialogue, as believers – with one another.  I mean, too often it seems that our Christian dialogue has devolved - to the point that it begins with something like, ”What church do you go to?” and tapers off with something like “Who is your pastor?”  :(   Maybe, you have noticed noticed it, too.

Harry Blamires, The Christian Mind – cautions that if, “Christians cannot communicate as thinking beings, they are reduced to encountering one another only at the shallow level of gossip and small talk.  Hence the perhaps peculiarly modern problem – the loneliness of the thinking Christian.”

It seems to me that our lack of Christian dialogue may be a symptom of how, in our Christian walk – for too many of us - we find ourselves “kept from recognizing Jesus Himself, among us.”  In Luke 24, I find that the disciples (of old) were not so very much unlike us in this regard.  I suppose this sort of thing is simply bound to happen when –  we fail to recognize Jesus Himself, among us!

Read Luke chapter 24.  Go ahead …. now …. the whole chapter :)

Now, notice Luke 24:27-31 (especially v.31), again.

“And their eyes were opened, and they recognized (knew) Him” – Jesus Himself! Personally, Intimately?

* Now consider for a moment – What if, the disciples (of old) had gone away (v.29) – before He had revealed Himself to them, that evening? – They would never have been sure, that it was Jesus Himself. – Their eyes were kept (v.16) from recognizing Him, because – they were looking for “the living among the dead” (v.5,6).

Reading chapter 24, it seems, there are four “stages” in the Christian walk of the disciples (of old) – that have significant meaning to me in my Christian walk, as a disciple (today).  Its easy to see how very much like their experience and their Christian walk – my own walk is, (or isnt).  :(

Firstly,  check out v.1-24 – It’s the Lord’s Day!  The First Day of the Week!  and although I don’t much care to admit it, about them, on the Lord’s Day!  – The Day Christ had been promised to RISE again …. the disciples (of old) were found with what amounts to “troubled and sad hearts.”  They thought Jesus was dead! (v.11)  (v.21) (Read v.1-24) :(

Luke 24:1-24

There is something rather significant about the Christian walk, described here - that was significant in their walk and is in mine, too.  I dont much care to admit it about them, and I certainly am hesitant to admit it about myself - never-the-less, here I find them (the closest disciples) of the Lord – on the Lord’s Day, of all days - on the day their faith had led them to (or had it?) – when Christ Jesus Himself, was to be raised from the dead – and we find them with “troubled and sad hearts” – some of them, at early dawn, rising to go to the tomb with spices prepared for the Lord’s dead body – thinking, rather expecting even, that Jesus was dead! (v.1) – some of them even, after hearing that His body was not in the tomb, not believing it – considering the very idea, “nonsense” ?  :(   (v.11)

Luke 24:22-26

Secondly, check out v. 22-26 – that describes that the Lord’s closest disciples were “slow of heart to believe!” SLOW!, mind you.  :(   I expect, that when I am honest, even on Lord’s Day, of all days – I may find myself  “Slow of Heart” to believe, and on too many occassions…I know that I do!  I mean, I have heard and I know that I must not only believe in a crucified Christ – but in a Living Christ!  — And to grasp that great truth!  And to take it fully in!  — But there are times when I find myself, not so very much unlike the disciples (of old) - lacking in the depth of conviction, down deep in my soul – to fully believe and put Him in TOTAL control of ALL of my life and/or decisions – Why is that?

I reckon, it is perhaps because too often I find that my human nature wants to feel it! - and not so much, believe it!?  Does that make sense?

We do seem to prefer, too often in our Christian walk, to seize control of our lives, for ourselves, don’t we? - To work with significant effort for it!  To get a hold of it! – whatever “IT” is, that may be challenging to my belief - standing in the way of my TOTAL and COMPLETE belief, in Him – Jesus Himself! – the very Son of God, the Father.  The Great “I Am” – instead of – quietly sinking down and believing it!  – (Not Sit, Sat nor Sotting down ;)  - that requires control from me – but SINKING DOWN) – Letting ALL the control rest in Jesus Himself! - Alive! in the heart of the believer. - Believing that Christ the Living Jesus will do everything for us!  And I do not need to seize control of “it” – this or that thing.  Jesus Himself! is ALIVE and well within the heart of me and I must see Him, Jesus Himself! – and recognize Him, Jesus Himself! Present and Alive!  Not dead!

I suppose, the first “stage” – of the Christian walk is rather, “ignorance” – - – hoping that Christ will be more of what “I am willing to create room for Him to be” – than for who and what, He really IS.  :(   And the second “stage” is, rather simply - unbelief.  The doubt that exists in my heart – not believing that I can fully take it all in! - the wonderful truth that Jesus Lives!  And trust - that! – to be rather enough – for every need I have!

Thirdly, there is the wonderful ”stage” of the disciples walk - ”The Burning Heart”

Read Luke 24:27-35

Now, when I am honest I absolutely love being in and experiencing this “stage” in my Christian walk - - the Lord Jesus, Himself, walking along with me, as it were, revealing Himself to me!  - – speaking truths to my heart and opening my eyes to see Him more clearly – His Will – His Character – His Love – His Wisdom – Jesus Himself! – And my Heart Burns, Too!  Opening the book of His Words and those of the Father God, I find myself coming into Relationship with my Father and His Son!  Walking along the Christian road to “Emmaus” as it were (v.13 – v.28) - sharing my faith and relationship in Christ Jesus Himself, with other disciples - listening to and looking into the eyes of a brother or sister, seeing Him there among us, Jesus Himself, there with us!  My heart Burns, too!  Everytime a new facet of Jesus Himself, is revealed to me!  And I find, what amounts to, a better knowledge of Him, in Intimate Relationship - meeting Him, as it were, face to face, around the table, on The First Day of the week – My Lord comes and makes Himself known to me, and my Heart Burns within me to know more of Him and I long for His Words, to be spoken to me again and again!  and I want to share them.  I suppose, a disciple is “made” – when a believer first knows that “Burning” sensation within the heart, on one level or another - when we have caught a glimpse of Him, in His Words of truth that speaks so directly to our souls - or perhaps even, in the eyes of and spiritual fellowship with, one another!  Seeing Jesus Himself, among us!

I know!  ;)   Yet there is a “deeper stage” of the Christian walk!  More satisfying and lasting ….

 …. It is when our Christian walk reaches this forth “stage” - of the Peaceful Heart – when we are no longer satisfied only to know that Jesus has touched us, in some special way - And warmed our hearts, or even that He died for us.  It is this most fullfilling “stage” when – We find ourselves, in an intimate relationship, with the unchangeable Jesus dwelling/living within our hearts – abiding there forever! with me and in me!  We find His Peace!  We refuse! to live a moment of any given day and with every breath we take - our souls simply will not be satisfied with anything less – than Jesus Himself! — I simply wont be satisfied with any thing less than Jesus Himself – Alive! in this disciples heart!

Read v.36-49

While the disciples were still carrying on and on with each other about having seen Jesus Himself, among them – Christian dialogue, of one sort or another, I suppose ;)   – and about the burning in their hearts that had given Heart to their unbelief – and had changed their troubled and sad, ignorance, and unbelief into Joy!

Jesus Himself stood among them!

And said to them,

Peace be with you.  :)

Can you imagine it?  What must it have been like when Jesus Himself, breathed the breath of Peace on them.  This is no ordinary moment in the life of the disciples (of old), walking along the “discipleship road” – This is, Christ Jesus Himself!  “Peace, be with you!”

It is no ordinary moment for us either!  Walking along the road of discipleship – when, our eyes are opened, too, – and we recognize Him, Jesus, Himself!  and he speaks to us and walks along with us and explains to us what is said in all the scriptures concerning Himself – - and well, we know – and others know, we have reached this “stage” in our Christian walk when we have His Peace, within our hearts.  Not “a” peace, or “some” peace, but His Peace!

Being in fellowship with Jesus – every hour of the day – Christ is able to do – in this world – yet today – what he did in the lives of those disciples in Luke 24!

We are: Brothers and sisters – Christian believers – family and friends

Christ Jesus Himself!  Is all that matters He is all that we need period!  End of Story!

Without Him – we are nothing!

Without Him – we will fail!

Without Jesus Himself – We are drifting without a sail!

      If they had not allowed the “burning in their hearts” – to compel Jesus Himself, to remain with them for the night, (v.29) their eyes would have remained “closed”.  :(

I suspect, when we are honest, we would have to admit that it is rather possible – though we don’t much care to admit it – that there are times when our Lord Himself, might just be present among us – while, we may not recognize Him.  If this was the case with the disciples (of old) – I am rather sure it is likely to be that way in our Christian walk too – although we are not eager to admit it.  And why would we be?….it is rather an admission of fear, ignorance and unbelief – in our Christian walk, when we just don’t quite “get it” - I mean, the true meaning of our faith – and we find ourselves, having walked right by Him – without recognizing Him, in our daily walk.  :(

I suppose, too often our Christian walk – and therefore our Christian dialogue – amounts to what has devolved into our Christian “habit” or our regular “practice” of religion.  Too often we may find ourselves gathered even, among other disciples – on the First Day of The Week – The Lord’s Day – in much the same way that the disciples (of old) gathered together….some of us with what amounts to:

- troubled and sad hearts

- some perhaps finding ourselves at times “slow of heart” to fully believe in the power and purpose of Christ – to do everything for us – and we struggle in giving it all to Him

- Some with burning hearts – on fire for Christ and the Words of the Lord’s instruction.

- and Some with purely satisfied and peaceful hearts.

Luke 24:45-49

It is because of Jesus Himself that all nations – ALL! nations can come into the presence of God the Father inspite of our sinful nature.

Jesus Himself! – Alive! in the heart of the disciple!

And I find myself in this condition!

BEING A SINNER – WASHED BY THE BLOOD OF THE RISEN LAMB – AGAIN – AND AGAIN – EACH DAY, I WAKE – EVERY BREATH, I TAKE – I STILL REMAIN – A SINNER – SAVED – AGAIN- AND AGAIN.  BY THE BLOOD OF THE RISEN LAMB!

AND

IT IS IN THIS INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS HIMSELF!  THAT I FIND…ON THIS PARTICULAR LORD’S DAY MORNING – THE FIRST DAY OF OUR WEEK —– THAT I RISE AGAIN BY THE BLOOD OF THE RISEN LAMB! ……

…… BEING A SINNER – WASHED BY THE BLOOD OF THE RISEN LAMB – AGAIN – AND AGAIN – EACH DAY, I WAKE – EVERY BREATH, I TAKE – I STILL REMAIN – A SINNER – SAVED – AGAIN- AND AGAIN.  BY THE BLOOD OF THE RISEN LAMB!

AND

IT IS IN THIS INTIMATE RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS HIMSELF!  THAT I FIND…ON THIS PARTICULAR LORD’S DAY MORNING – THE FIRST DAY OF OUR WEEK —– THAT I RISE AGAIN BY THE BLOOD OF THE RISEN LAMB!

                       It is, Jesus Himself, that distinguishes us as true believers.

Harry Blamires, The Christian Mind – cautions that if, “Christians cannot communicate as thinking beings, they are reduced to encountering one another only at the shallow level of gossip and small talk.  Hence the perhaps peculiarly modern problem – the loneliness of the thinking Christian.”

It seems to me that our lack of Christian dialogue may be a symptom of how, in our Christian walk – for too many of us – we find ourselves “kept from recognizing Jesus Himself, among us.”  In Luke 24 I find that the disciples (of old) were not so very much unlike us in this regard.  I suppose this sort of thing is simply bound to happen when -  we fail to recognize Jesus Himself, among us!

Jesus Himself! – Alive! in the heart of the disciple.  1 Cor. 1:4-9 - 1 Cor. 2:1-5 - 1 John 1:1-3

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1 Comment, Written on February 26th, 2012 , Daily Walk of Faith, Random....Leaps
The Life and Timeline of JW Cottrell

John William Cottrell

John William Cottrell was born in Mobile, Baldwin County, Alabama, December 8, 1952

* NOTE: Images are clickable and viewable in larger format.

*NOTE: This Family History is very much a “work in progress” – gathering as much fact and truth as possible.

*NOTE:  Brenda Senn (my mom) :) “THANK YOU, MOM!” – put most of this together years ago – additions as well as corrections, are encouraged and forthcoming.  :)

b. Oct. 16th 1816

b. Feb. 28th, 1825

J.W. was the oldest son of John A. Cottrell and Sarah Dannelly Cottrell.  JA was born in Smith County, Tennessee.  Sarah Dannelly, was born in Harrison County, Mississippi.  The best understanding of family records to date, traces J.W.’s family tree in the following way – - J.A. was the son of William Cottrell, born 1787, in Buckingham, Virginia and Elizabeth Ford Cottrell, born 1790, in Tennessee.  William Cottrell was the son of Jacob Cottrell, born 4/27/1753, in Henrico, Virginia and Elizabeth Allen, born 1758.  Jacob was the son of Richard Cottrell, born 12/17/1710 St. Peters Parish, New Kent Virginia.  Richard was the son of Richard Cottrell, born abt. 1685, New Kent, Virginia.  Richard was probably the son of Thomas and Martha Cottrell.  Thomas was probably born 1635 in England – died in Virginia – Christening: 1656 – came to America, received land grant, 1672, Norfolk County, Virginia.  No records have been located to date to trace the ancestry of Thomas Cottrell back any further.  Hugenot book says Thomas Cottrell settled “accros the river” from “Mannikan Town” – Could this mean he was a Hugenot?

J.W. had two younger brothers – Andrew Cottrell (b. abt. 1856, d. 7/7/1893) and James Buchanan Cottrell (b. March 23, 1859) – who were also born to J.A. and Sarah Cottrell.  Sarah had 3 children from a previous marriage – George, Julia and Catherine Forehand, making 6 children in the family unit.  Catherine Forehand married William Suggs – Julia S. Forehand married E.B. Pate – and George Forehand married Louise Cypert.

 

J.A. Cottrell and his family were settled on land in Baldwin County, Alabama before 1812.

(above) The yellow sections of this map indicate Cottrell land.

(above) An old, hand drawn picture of the Cottrell homestead on the Fish River, Baldwin County Alabama

Contributed by: Sam Cottrell

 

The Civil War began in 1861 and J.A. Cottrell, father of J.W. joined the Confederate Army.  J.W. was 9 years old when his father went away to war

A recent finding from Sam Cottrell says that J.W. served in the Civil War at the age of 13 and spent some time in a Union Prison.  This would have been the last year of the war.  The war ended in 1865.  * This information has not been proven.

On Nov. 30, 1869, J.W. Cottrell, age 17, married Mary Stevins, in Baldwin County Alabama.  As far as we know, John and Mary had no children.

The family moved further west – Comanche County, Texas

J.A. Cottrell and his family left Baldwin Co. AL after the 1870 census and moved to Comanche County, Texas which overcame census boundaries with Hill County, Texas.  His cousin, William M. Cottrell, and his family had already moved.  It is assumed that J.W.’s wife Mary Stevins, did not go to Texas with the family.  The county is named for the Comanche Indians, whose territory once included the area.  The center of the county lies at 31′ 55′ north latitude and 98′ 40′ west longitude; the county seat, Comanche, is located about seventy miles southeast of Abilene.  White settlement in the area began with a colony organized by Jesse Mercer and others in 1854 on lands earlier granted by Mexico to Stephen F. Austin and Samuel May Williams.  F.M. Collier built the first log house in the county in 1855, and in 1856 the Texas legislature formed Comanche County from Coryell and Bosque counties; the settlement of Cora was designated as the county seat.  In 1859 the more centrally located town of Comanche became the county seat.

Old Cora Courthouse – moved to Comanche Courthouse Lot

In 1860 the United States census counted 709 people living in Comanche County; farming and ranching occupied 24,730 acres, about 1,880 acres of which was classified as “improved.”  Twenty-five residents owned slaves, but there were no large-scale plantations in the area.  The population included only sixty-one slaves, and only two of the county residents owned as many as eight bondsmen; most of the slave holders owned only one.  Cattle ranching was by far the most important economic activity in Comanche County at that time, and over 14,700 head of cattle were counted in the area that year.  Wheat and corn were the county’s most important crops on the eve of the Civil War; only one bale of cotton was produced in the county in 1860.

The withdrawal of the United States Army during the Civil War, left the settlers without protection and even without livestock after Indian raids.  Home-guard companies were organized for defense, but many settlers fled and the white population shrank to about sixty by 1866.

With the war’s end, military protection returned, and settlers were once more attracted to the county, many to participate in a range cattle boom.  By 1870 the county had 126 farms and ranches, encompassing about 17,500 acres, and the population had increased to 1,001.  By the 1870′s the town of Comanche had become the political center for some fifty counties, both orgainized and unorganized, to the west and northwest.  The Comanche Chief, which began to be published in 1873, was for some years the only newspaper in this part of Texas.

The people worked for economic and social stability and were impatient with outlaws.  When the notorious John Wesley Hardin killed Brown County deputy sheriff Charlie Webb in Comanche in 1874 many local citizens resented Hardin’s escape.  In misguided retaliation, a mob of 300 residents of Brown and Comanche counties stormed the county jail where Joe Hardin (brother of the outlaw) and two of the outlaw’s associates were being held.  The three prisoners were lynched.  Some months later John Hardin was arrested in Florida, tried for murder in Comanche, and sentenced to twenty-five years in prison.

By 1880 Comanche County had 1,985 farms and ranches that encompassed 190,482 acres.  Ranching had expanded since the Civil War, and over 21,000 cattle, and 2,925 sheep were counted in Comanche that year.  Farming had also markedly increased; the county’s farms included 48,550 acres of improved land on which grains and cotton were produced.  Over 14,200 acres were devoted to corn, the county’s most important crop at that time, while cotton was grown on 9,301 acres that produced 2,098 bales.

As the economy of the area rapidly developed in the 1870′s, its population increased almost eightfold, and by 1880, 8,608 people lived in Comanche County, including seventy-nine blacks.  Agriculture was further encouraged in 1881 when the Texas Central Railroad began service in Comanche County and started carrying cattle and cotton to market.  That many of the county’s settlers came from southern states may have been a contributory factor to racial tensions that emerged in the 1880s.  Amid economically desperate times and political unrest in 1886, the second occasion on which a black murdered whites resulted in all the black people being driven from the county by vigilantes.  They have not returned in any number.

1870 – Census

  HILL COUNTY Texas

Hillsboro

Page 439/10  # 70

William M. Cottrell  45 M  AL     (Indexed as William M. Cottrill)

Cornelia E. Cottrell 44 F  MS

Jacob H. Cottrell    20 M  MS

William R. Cottrell  16 M  MS

Mary S. Cottrell     12 F  MS

Cora C. Cottrell      9 F  MS

Cornelia Cottrell      7 F  MS

The Cottrell’s settled in Onion Valley, near the community of Downing, Comanche County, Texas

On Sept 16, 1874, J.W. Cottrell, age 22, married Marian Annette Robertson in Comanche County, Texas. They had at least 7 children.

Sarah J., born January 1876 in Comanche Co. TX

Julia Catherine, born January 1877 in Comanche Co. TX

John M., born 1878 in Comanche Co. TX

Nellie E., born December, 1883 in TX

Willie Marion Cottrell, born July 1886 in TX (married J. A. Wilson)

William Michael “Jack” Cottrell (died young, about 1902)

Sallie (Sadie) (Still alive in 1925 when he wrote to Willie)

 

(Historical Context – Texas Rangers Website) “In 1874, the Texas legislature sought to restore order by forming two groups of Rangers: the Special Force of Rangers and the Frontier Battalion. Under Captain Leander H. McNelly, the Special Force of Rangers moved into the Nueces Strip (between Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande) to combat lawlessness in that region. Meanwhile, the Frontier Battalion, a force of some 450 Rangers under Major John B. Jones, participated in over fifteen Indian battles, and effectively neutralized the once powerful Comanche’s and Kiowa’s. But perhaps more importantly, this group also “thinned out” more than 3,000 Texas desperados including bank robber Sam Bass and notorious gunfighter John Wesley Hardin.”

 

In the 1880 Census, J W was in Comanche County TX with a wife, Marian and 3 children. J. W. is 28 yrs old.

 

1880 US Census -      

Page 113/26   # 224/241

John Cottrell            26 M AL                    F: MS   M: AL

Mary Cottrell           35 F  MS      Wife      F: TN    M: TN

Sarah J. Cottrell    4 F  TX       Dau

Julia C. Cottrell    3 F   TX       Dau

John M. Cottrell   2 M  TX       Son

 

In 1881, 29 year old J.W. Cottrell began building the first store house in De Leon, Texas (Comanche County).  The Comanche newspaper had the following reports:

The Comanche Chief, Comanche, Texas
De Leon Locals, 1881  Mr. John COTTRELL is putting up a new store house which will soon be ready for occupancy and Mr. John SEDDON, so well known in Comanche, town and county, as an industrious and experienced machine and mill man, is hauling rock to erect a flouring mill in addition to his corn mill and gin which he is now running.

21 October 1882, De Leon Locals  - John COTTRELL is opening a large dry goods and grocery house here. We learn that Ben F. WRIGHT will do the counter jumping for COTTRELL. His many friends will be glad to see him.

From August 1886 – Comanche Town and Country
J. W. Cottrell, an old friend of our junior, formerly a citizen of this county, now of the far west, was in town and gave us a pleasant call. Mr. Cottrell lives about 65 miles from Uvalde on the Nueces River and is well pleased with his locality.

 

In 1886, thirty-four year old J.W. Cottrell was appointed US Deputy Marshall under Marshall Paul Fricke, who was headquartered in San Antonio, Bexar County.  On 3/27/1889, thirty-seven year old J. W. was appointed Marshall for the county.  J. W. held the rank of Captain.  He was among a large number of officers who broke up the initial stages of a Mexican revolution being lead by Caterino Garza which started in Duvall County.  Garza, a native of Spain, was ordered out of Mexico by Diaz and ended up in Texas.  Garza was headquartered in San Diego, Duval County, Texas which is near Corpus Christi.  Garza was attempting to launch his revolution from Texas.  Eventually Garza left the Mexico/Texas area and participated in the revolution taking place in Cuba.

Watch interesting video’s – for more information about the Mexican Revolucion here:

http://myblog.mayberry524.net/?p=3392

http://myblog.mayberry524.net/?p=3395

In the 1890 census, J. W. and his family were living in Austin, Travis County, TX.  J. W. was 38 yrs old.

In 1891, thirty-nine year old Captain J.W. Cottrell organized what was known as the Cottrell Detective and Protective Association of America.  (The only known original Business Prospectus is on file with the Austin, Texas History Library).  You can view a scanned copy here:  https://wwww.box.com/s/m1sp95528z3p4vus0bz1  The Association was organized in the same style as the Purple Mask, another protective and detective association of the early 1880’s.  Such Associations were said to have had about the same rights as the Texas Rangers, to locate and punish cattle rustlers along the Mexican border.  There are news paper articles from Houston, Texas and Ardmore,. Oklahoma about offices of the Cottrell Association being established in both of those areas.  The Cottrell Association was incorporated with capital stock of $100,000.  Every prominent cattle rancher belonged to the Association.  The Cottrell Association had the support of such Texas leaders as Governor Hogg, O.M. Roberts, ex-governor of Texas, F.R. Lubbock, ex-governor of Texas, etc.  In 1891, James Hogg was elected Texas Governor and Woodford Mabry was appointed Adjutant General.

 

In 1892, J.W. Cottrell, age 40, requested and received an appointment to Company B of the Frontier Battalion, a division of the Texas Rangers.

Rank: Private; Call Number: 401-148.

A group of Frontier Battalion Rangers in 1885

On his application, JW listed his occupation as “live-stock protection agent” (May 3rd, 1892).  Signatures provided as testimony of good character on his application were, JA Davis, Sheriff Dennis Conner, JS Clark, JW Goforth, EW Holler, DH Hunt and others.

The Captain of Company B during this time was WJ McDonald (12/1890-8/1901)

 

On 7/7/1893, JW’s father, JA Cottrell, died in Comanche County, Texas.  He is buried in Zion Hill Cemetery.  JW was 41 years old.

In 1894, when JW was 42 years old, he made the following reports to the Adjutant General, AG Mabry.

Special 1894

Flatonnia Tex 2nd 6th 1894

General WH Mabry

My Dear General,

I have nothing of importance to report.  I have worked ……. since Moses Townsend the constable of Weimer was killed by D. Braddock.  I was in Weimer at the time of the killing and was sent to this place by Sheriff Townsend.  We have a trace and hope to capture him.  I am dear general, yours to command.  JW Cottrell, I will return to Austin in a few days.

Weimer, Tex 5th/1st 1894

General WH Mabry

Austin, Texas

My Dear General,

I have nothing of importance to report.  Myself and Captain Van Riper has been working here in a very important murder case — think we will be successful — will be in Austin in a few days.  I am Dear General yours to command, JW Cottrell

The Weimar killing was 1894.

The following article is from the Dallas News Archives.

Office of Julius W. Halm

Sheriff and Tax-Collector of Comal Co.

New Braunfels, Tex 7th 1st 1894

My Dear General,

I have nothing of importance to report I have been been assisting the sheriff of this county in a murder case with but little success.  I am respectfully your to command.  JW Cottrell

JW Cottrell, instructed by Governor Hogg, investigated the murder of Sheriff George Walls and Felix and Sid Roberts – perpetrated by the Curg Border and Brock Clan.  His investigations lead to a State Rangers follow-up leading to the settlement of one of the worst feuds in Texas history.  (This information is from a letter which JW wrote to his daughter, Willie, in 1925)

In 1895, Texas Governor Hogg’s term ended after 4 years in office.

 This picture of JW Cottrell was “taken in Austin, Texas, in 1896 – when I captured ‘Burk’ who ….. (unreadable)”  Evidently this picture was published in the Austin newspaper.

The 1900 Federal Census lists JW, Marian and 5 children:  Sarah J, Julia, John M, Nellie E, and Willie M. in Austin, Travis County, Texas.  This is the last information found showing that JW was still connected with Marian and their children.

1900 Federal Census ** John W. Cottrell Austin City, 7th Ward, Precinct 3, ED 95, Page 2/151b, Travis Co., TX Age: 50 AL F:TN M:AL   Dec 1849 was listed as birth date ** Marian A. Robertson Cottrell Austin City, 7th Ward, Precinct 3, ED 95, Page 2/151b, Travis Co., TX Age: 56 MS F: TN M:TN

1473    F    Sarah J. Cottrell was born in Jan 1876 in Comanche Co., TX.

1474    F    Julia C. Cottrell was born in Jan 1877 in Comanche Co., TX.

1475    M    John M. Cottrell was born in 1878 in Comanche Co., TX.

1476    F    Nellie E. Cottrell was born in Dec 1883 in TX.

1477    F    Willie M. Cottrell was born in Jul 1886 in TX.

In a letter to his daughter, Willie, in 1925, JW said that it had been 26 years since there had been any contact between he and his Texas family.  JW also states in this letter that he had “gone from Ardmore Indian Territory by orders of Governor Hogg, acting as his secret service agent, in the fall of 1900 to work in the prosecution of the Walls case in San Augustine County (East Texas).  This proved to be a very serious case and caused me much trouble.”

(From “The Handbook of Texas Online – Feuds”)  “Somewhat bigger than other disturbances was the Broocks-Border-Wall feud in San Augustine just before and after 1900.  The Wall boys were enemies from boyhood of Curg (Lycurgus) Border, a relative of the powerful Broocks family.  The Walls themselves had numerous kin with plenty of backbone.  In April 1900 Border shot and killed Sheriff George Wall on the streets of San Augustine.  Eugene Wall retaliated by killing Ben Broocks on June 2.  On June 4 a battle around the courthouse resulted in the deaths of Sid and Felix Roberts.  Later two more of the Walls boys were ambushed, and many of their friends and supporters left the country.  The feud was not really ended until Sheriff Sneed Nobles killed Curg Border.”

The Old Courthouse in San Augustine

So, it seems likely that JW never returned to his family in Austin following his time in San Augustine.

The Frontier Battalion was disbanded in 1901.

In 1902, JW Cottrell met with Mr. Daniels, a friend, in San Antonio, Texas, who relayed information regarding the death of JW’s son, Jack.  Years later, in a letter to his daughter, JW says that he ”drifted back to Mexico” after finding out about Jack’s death, (So, when and why had he been in Mexico before 1902?  Unknown.)

 Don’t know what year this happened.

At some point JW was shot in the leg with an arrow.  Viola Cottrell Joiner said that for some years, when she was young, she kept the arrow in a tin box.  She stated that in later years, JW asked to have the arrow back so that it could be placed on display in the Texas State Capital.

At some point, JW ended up in Shreveport LA and began a somewhat “secretive life”.  For sometime, John William Cottrell went by the name “JW Watkins”.  His daughter, Viola Joiner said she was told that JW used the name JW Watkins as a disguise.  He had gotten involved in the operation of a silver mine and was placed in charge but was unable to handle the job.  She implied that the owners of the operation were unhappy with things and were out to get him, so he used an alias hoping to elude the men who were after him.

 While working in the tombstone business in Shreveport he met the Edward’s sisters, Annie Mae and Cerdelia.

Wedding Picture of James Dwyer and Annie Mae Edwards.

 It was in 1902, JW Watkins (Cottrell) married Cerdelia Edwards Dickens (sister of Annie Mae Edwards), in Shreveport, Caddo Parish, Louisianna.  Viola Joiner said that while married to Cordelia, JW was shot 7 times.  But, Annie mae was the one who nursed him back to health.  He told his family in later years that without Annie Mae taking such good care of him he would have died.  In 1904, JW Watkins (Cottrell), was witness to the marriage of Annie Mae Edwards and James Dwyer.

On April 14th, 1908, JW Cottrell was accused of adulterous activity at the house of Mrs. Katie Ahlers, 1012 Travis Street, Shreveport, Louisianna.  Cerdelia (Cordelia) Edwards Dickens Cottrell divorced JW Cottrell on May 2, 1908.

Tradition says that in 1908, JW Cottrell married Annie Mae Edwards Dwyer in Shreveport, Louisianna.  Annie Mae was 20 years old and JW was 55 years old.  But Viola Cottrell Joiner said that she doesn’t know “when, where or if JW and Annie Mae were ever officially married.”  A marriage license has never been found.

JW went to Mexico and left Annie Mae in Shreveport.  Before leaving he had given her a dog with instructions to place the dog on the train to Mexico and when he saw the dog he would know that she was on her way and would be waiting for her.  Otherwise, he would stay in hiding.

In 1910, Victor Mae, the first child of JW and Annie Mae, was born …..??

In 1914, when JW was 62 years old, Vera Armenta, the second child of JW and Annie Mae, was born in Chihuahua, Mexico.

* HISTORICAL CONTEXT:

In 1911, Poncho Villa visits El Paso, Texas.

In 1913, Poncho Villa flees to El Paso, Texas to escape death sentence.  He brought his wife and child with him.

In 1916, Villa was raiding US border towns.  American “soldiers of fortune”, many of whom were allied with the International Workers of the World Party, fought against Villa.  US General Pershing was dispatched to engage Villa and invaded the state of Chihuahua.  Pershing was recalled the next year.

JW could not cross back into the US from Mexico because Pershing’s men were guarding the border.  He would have been arrested because they would not know whose side he was on.  The story goes that eventually, JW returned to Shreveport by using reeds to breathe while navigating the Rio Grande under water.  He arrived in Shreveport very ill.

Shortly after the punitive expedition by Pershing, sixty-three year old JW Cottrell was captured by Villa and kept in the Chihuahua jail for four and one-half months.  Sometime during those four and one-half months, Annie Mae, with her tow children, slipped back into Texas, from Mexico.  She posed as a doctors’ wife to get across the border.  JW Cottrell managed to escape from Chihuahua jail and made his way to Florida.  Annie Mae took her family by boat to Tampa, Florida to meet JW Cottrell (Information from Betty Eubanks, daughter of Victor Mae Cottrell)

In 2007 at the family reunion, Viola Cottrell Joiner said that JW, “escorted Poncho Villa to Cuba around 1917, then went to Florida”.  So these pieces of information make it seem as if JW and Poncho Villa were on “the same side”.

In a letter to his daughter, Willie, JW Cottrell said that he relocated from “Cuba” to Columbia, South Carolina in 1917.  In this letter he also says that he “worked as S.S. at Camp Jackson.  There was an attempt by spies to blow up the Columbia Cotton Mill at which place cloth was made for the war.”

Captain Autry was the superintendent during that time.  JW was 65 years old.

(Victor mae was 7 years and Vera was 3 years old.  Where had they been living while JW was in Cuba?)

* HISTORICAL CONTEXT:

In 1905 Eugene Debs played a part in founding the Industrial Workers of the World, a radical labor union, also known as the International Workers of the World.  They were nicknamed the Wobblies.  Eugene Victor Debs, an American socialist, was imprisoned in Atlanta in 1917.  He ran for President from jail.

When asked if JW considered himself a communist, Viola Cottrell Joiner strongly stated, “No!  He was not a communist, he was a socialist!”

 JW and Annie Mae Cottrell

Viola Cottrell Joiner is holding Betty Cobb Cottrell Eubanks in the left background, so this picture is in 1921-22

In her teens and early twenties, Victor Mae Cottrell, the oldest child of JW and was infatuated with Victor Eugene Debs.  She was named for him.  In 1920, when JW was 68 years old, Viola Betty Cottrell, the last child of JW & Annie Mae, was born in Eau Claire, SC.  A card addressed to Vera Cottrell, Columbia, SC in December of 1921, indicates that they were still living in Eau Claire, at that time.

In 1922, Eugene Cottrell, the last child of 70 year old JW and Annie Mae, was born.  He died March 7, 1924 in Columbia, SC from complications of measles/pneumonia.  He is buried in Taylor’s Cemetery.

* HISTORICAL CONTEXT:  Poncho Villa died in 1923.

There is a Frontier Magazine article about JW Cottrell that notes that in 1925, when JW was 73 years old, he was living in Brownwood, Texas.

 Another letter dated, May 14, 1925, was addressed to College Place, in Columbia, SC.

from Julia Pate  (“Dear uncle”).  Julia was JW’s half sister.

In the early 20′s JW and his daughter, Vera Cottrell moved back to Texas.  Annie Mae and Viola followed later on.  JW first went to Austin – then on to Vernon, Texas to meet with Victor Eugene Debbs who was in prison there.  He went there to try to convince Debs to leave prison.  Evidently Debs was old and ill and they wanted to release him but he refused to go.

Victor Mae had married James Cobb in Columbia and did not go to Texas with the family.

                Victor Mae             Victor Mae and James Cobb

Viola Cottrell Joiner stated that in 1927 she was in the first grade in Corpus Christi, Texas

GW Forehand:  born May, 1845 – died Feb 8, 1929 in Texas.  (Comanche County)

JW with tombstone he made for the grave of his half-brother, George Forehand

James Buchanan and John William were brothers.  GW Forehand was their half-brother.

The three Cottrell brothers are all on the back row; John William, Andrew Jackson and James Buchanan.

Andrew Cottrell was killed by lightening while working for the railroad.  Sam Cottrell said that in years past his father had the watch, which Andrew was wearing the day of his death and that the watch was a melted piece of metal.

Victor Mae and James Cobb were having marital problems, so the family then moved back to Columbia to help her.

A letter came from a half-sister, Julia Forehand Pate – addressed to JW in Columbia, SC.  She addressed him as “Dear Uncle”  (May 1925)

Other letters came from his daughter, Willie Catherine Cottrell Suggs, to JW in Columbia, SC, Jan. 20, 1933.  This is the first known correspondence with his Texas family in many years.

On October 11, 1933, when JW was 81 years old, Victor Mae Cottrell Cobb was killed by her husband, James Cobb.  She is buried in Taylors Cemetery, Columbia, SC.  The story goes that JW was there when Victor Mae was killed and that he was adament in court that He wanted to adopt Victor Mae’s children, doing all he could to “protect” and “defend” them – up against the tragedy that had shaken their lives.  Victor Mae’s two young children, Betty and Jack, were adopted by Annie Mae Cottrell.  They all lived together with Doc and Vera Cottrell Senn, along with their children Rudy and Jerry.

Interestingly – Letters of recomendation to Governor Ferguson of Texas were written in 1933 when JW was 80 years old.  I don’t think they were ever mailed.  He may have been thinking about “disappearing” again?  Escaping, running away from the pain of Victor Mae’s death??  Could he have expected to get a job, at his age, working for the new governor of Texas???

John Rudolph (Rudy) Senn was born on February 14, 1934 in Columbia, SC.

 

JW Cottrell died May 29, 1936 in Columbia, SC at the age of 83.  He is buried in Taylor’s Cemetery.

Jerry Cottrell Senn was born in Columbia, SC on June 29, 1938.

David Julian Senn was born October 12, 1945, in Wilmington, NC.  The Senn family – Doc, Vera, Rudy, Jerry and David, along with Annie Mae, Betty and Jack all lived together in a small house in Wilmington during the war.   Doc worked in the shipyard.

 Annie Mae Cottrell, the fourth and last wife of JW Cottrell, died June 7, 1979 and is buried in Taylor’s Cemetery, Columbia, SC.

The article above from the Dallas News states that JW is living in Brownwood, Texas in July 11, 1926.  The story was later published in the magazine, “Frontier Times”.

A complete copy of Frontier Times Magazine (Sept. 1926) (issue includes articles about J.W. Cottrell) click here:  https://www.box.com/s/t7aj0p513pjbibzenzek

John William Cottrell seems to have been the sort of person who wanted to help the “underdog” – the “down-and-out” and the “less fortunate” of this world.  It seems this may have been the reason for his becoming involved with the Socialist Political Party.  He felt considerable compassion for those who were hurting because of abuse, from “the powers that be”.  Perhaps his interest in the enforcement of law in the west was motivated by a sincere desire to “protect” and “defend”?

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Leave A Comment, Written on February 12th, 2012 , Family History, J.W. Cottrell - Texas Ranger, Texas
From the Wings of a Bird (Thunder, Lightening, and Rain)

From the wings of a bird, the sounds that are heard,

Of Love and Joy and Pain.

In the children’s choir and from the town crier,

From the righteous and those goin’ insane.

From the chronic liar and in the screech of someone’s tires!

And in the thunder and lightening and the rain!

Instrumental bit

But up here in the clouds, flyin’ high above the crowds

It’s still hard to keep from goin’ insane.

With all the noise from below, it’s as if they didn’t know,

that from the wings of a bird, it sound’s the same

The sounds are still heard, of love and joy and pain

From the children’s choir and the town crier

There’s still thunder and lightening and rain!

Instrumental bit

I learned to fly up here, high above the atmostphere,

Looking down on the chaos below.

But up here - I’m just higher and I can still hear the liar

Shouting over the choir and there’s still pain.

From the righteous and those goin’ insane,

And the chronic liar, and in the screech of someone’s tires!

There’s still thunder and lightening and rain!

Instrumental bit

There’s still thunder and lightening and rain,

….From the wings of a bird.

Peace doesn’t come from here.

tas – 2011

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Leave A Comment, Written on January 1st, 2012 , Lyrics: by me
Improve your Looks in 2012! – (requires participation/reflection) :)

“But we all, with open (uncovered) face beholding as in a glass (mirror) the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the spirit of the Lord. – 2nd Corinthian Letter 3:18

I suppose, that we all have looked closely at ourselves at one time or another, as we were preparing to go out somewhere….  You know, when we stand in front of the mirror to make sure that each hair on our head is in place, that we are dressed “just so” for the event and that over all we look our best!  I suppose, we regularly place quite a bit of importance on “our reflection – in the mirror”.

The word “glass” is  old English speak meaning a mirror or looking glass.  I know from my own experience, we can’t hide ourselves when we look in the mirror.  I am reminded of when the face of Moses “glowed so brightly” that no one could look directly at him!  - Because the glory of the Lord was on the countenance of Moses!  :)   Now that’s a reflection!  The more we become like Jesus Christ, being renewed in our heart, mind and soul – the more we too, “glow” and our “reflection” becomes His Glory.  :)   Being “changed”, as it were, into the same image “from glory to glory”.  Picture the face of Jesus Christ.

“For we are His workmanship (masterpiece), created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained – that we should walk in them.  Ephesians 2:10

Consider – upon Your 2011 Reflection – how to improve your looks in 2012 :)

20 Questions for a Your 2011 Reflection

1.  What was the single best thing that happened this past year?
2.  What was the single most challenging thing that happened?
3.  What was an unexpected joy this past year?
4.  What was an unexpected obstacle?
5.  Pick three words to describe 2011…
6.  Pick three words your spouse would use to describe your 2011 (don’t ask them; guess based on how you think your spouse sees you).  ;)
7.  Pick three words your spouse would use to describe their 2011 (again, without asking).
8.  What were the best books you read this year?
9.  With whom were your most valuable relationships?
10.  What was your biggest personal change from January to December of this past year?
11.  In what way(s) did you grow emotionally?
12.  In what way(s) did you grow spiritually?
13.  In what way(s) did you grow physically?
14.  In what way(s) did you grow in your relationships with others?
15.  What was the most enjoyable part of your work (both professionally and at home)?
16.  What was the most challenging part of your work (both professionally and at home)?
17.  What was your single biggest time waster in your life this past year?
18.  What was the best way you used your time this past year?
19.  What was the biggest thing you learned this past year?
20.  Create a phrase or statement that describes 2011 for you.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!  ;)

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Leave A Comment, Written on January 1st, 2012 , Random....Leaps
“Texas Week”

One of the chief purposes of psychiatry is to separate fantasy from reality. It is reasonable to
expect that future psychiatrists will know more about this “borderline” than the
most learned doctors of today. Yet now and again even the best of them may
encounter situations that defy all logic.

by … Albert Hernhuter 1954

Meeting the little
man who isn’t there is rated an horrendous experience. But discovery that the
man is there may be even worse.

The slick
black car sped along the wide and straight street. It came to a smooth stop in
front of a clean white house. A man got out of the car and walked briskly to the
door. Reaching out with a pink hand, he pressed the doorbell with one
well-manicured finger.

The door was answered by a
housewife. She was wearing a white blouse, a green skirt and a green apron
trimmed with white. Her feet were tucked into orange slippers, her blonde hair
was done up in a neat bun. She was dressed as the government had ordered for
that week.

The man said, “You are Mrs.
Christopher Nest?”

There was a trace of anxiety in
her voice as she answered. “Yes. And you are…?”

“My name is Maxwell Hanstark. As
you may already know, I am the official psychiatrist for this district. My
appointment will last until the end of this year.”

Mrs. Nest invited him in. They
stepped into a clean living-room. At one end was the television set, at the
other end were several chairs. There was nothing between the set and the chairs
except a large grey rug which stretched from wall to wall. They walked to the
chairs and sat down.

“Now, just what is the matter with
your husband, Mrs. Nest?”

Mrs. Nest reached into a large
bowl and absently picked up a piece of stale popcorn. She daintily placed it in
her mouth and chewed thoughtfully before she answered.

“I wish I knew. All he does all
day long is sit in the backyard and stare at the grass. He insists that he is
standing on top of a cliff.”

Hanstark took out a small pad and
a short ball-point pen. He wrote something down before he spoke again. “Is he
violent? Did he get angry when you told him there was no cliff?”

Mrs. Nest was silent for a moment.
A second piece of popcorn joined the first. Hanstark’s pen was poised above the
pad. “No. He didn’t get violent.”

Hanstark wrote as he asked the
next question. “Just what was his reaction?”

“He said I must be
crazy.”

“Were those his exact
words?”

“No. He said that I was”— She
thought for a moment—”loco. Yes, that was the word.”

“Loco?”

“Yes. He said it just like those
cowboys on the television.”

Hanstark looked puzzled. “Perhaps
you had better tell me more about this. When did he first start acting this
way?”

Mrs. Nest glanced up at the
television set, then back at Hanstark. “It was right after Texas Week. You
remember—they showed all of those old cowboy pictures.”

Hanstark nodded.

“Well, he stayed up every night
watching them. Some nights he didn’t even go to sleep. Even after the set was
off, he sat in one of the chairs, just staring at the screen. This morning, when
I got up, he wasn’t in the house. I looked all over but I couldn’t find him. I
was just about ready to phone the police when I glanced out the window into the
backyard. And I saw him.”

“What was he doing?”

“He was just sitting there in the
middle of the yard, staring. I went out and tried to bring him into the house.
He told me he had to watch for someone. When I asked him what he was talking
about he told me that I was crazy. That was when I phoned you, Mr.
Hanstark.”

“A very wise move, Mrs. Nest. And
would you show me where your husband is right now?”

She nodded her head and they both
got up from the chairs. They walked through the dining-room and kitchen. On the
back porch Hanstark came to a halt.

“You’d better stay here, Mrs.
Nest.” He walked to the door and opened it.

“Mr. Hanstark,” Mrs. Nest
called.

Hanstark turned and saw her
standing next to the automatic washing machine. “Yes?”

“Please be careful.”

Hanstark smiled. “I shall be, Mrs.
Nest.”

He walked out the door and down
three concrete steps. Looking a little to his right, he saw a man squatted on
his heels. He walked up to the man. “You are Mr. Christopher Nest?”

The man looked up and stared for a
moment at Hanstark. “Yep,” he answered. Then he turned and stared at the grass
again.

“And may I ask you what you are
doing?”

Nest answered without looking up.
“Guardin’ the pass.”

Hanstark scribbled something in
his notebook. “And why are you guarding the pass?”

Nest rose to his feet and stared
down at Hanstark. “Just what are you askin’ all of these questions for,
stranger?”

Hanstark saw Nest was bigger than
he and decided to play along for a while. After all, strategy …

“I’m just interested in your
welfare, Mr. Nest.”

Nest shrugged his shoulders. He
reached into his shirt pocket and pulled out a sack of tobacco and some paper.
Holding a piece of paper in one hand, he carefully poured a little tobacco onto
it. In one quick movement he rolled the paper and tobacco into a perfect
cylinder.

He put the sack of tobacco and
paper back into his pocket and took out a wooden kitchen match. He scraped it to
life on the sole of his shoe and applied the flame to the tip of the cigarette.
He puffed it into life and threw the match away. It burned for a few moments in
the moist grass, then went out. A thin trail of smoke rose from it, and then was
gone.

“Why are you guarding the pass?”
Hanstark asked again.

Nest resumed his crouch on the
grass. “News is around that Dirty Dan the cattle rustler is gonna try to steal
some of my cattle.” He patted an imaginary holster at his side. “And I aim to
stop him.”

Hanstark thought for a moment.
Strategy—he must use strategy … “Mr. Nest.” He waited until Nest had turned to
him. “Mr. Nest. What would you say if I told you that there was no pass down
there?”

“Why shucks, pardner. I’d say
you’d been chewin’ some loco weed.”

“And if I could prove
it?”

Nest answered after a moment’s
pause. “Why then, I guess I’d be loco.”

Hanstark thought it was going to
be easy. “Mr. Nest, it is a well known fact that no one can walk in mid-air. Is
that not true?”

Nest took a deep drag on his
cigarette and blew the smoke out of his nostrils. “Shore.”

“Then if I were to walk out above
your pass you’d have to admit there is no pass.”

“Reckon so.”

Hanstark began to walk in the
direction of Nest’s “cliff.” Nest jumped to his feet and grabbed the official
psychiatrist by the arm.

“What’re you tryin’ to do,” Nest
said angrily, “kill yourself?”

Hanstark shook free of his grasp.
“Mr. Nest, I am not going to kill myself. I am merely going to walk in that
direction.” He pointed to where the cliff was supposed to be. “To you it will
look as if I were walking in mid-air.”

Nest dropped his hands to his
sides. “Shucks, I don’t care if you kill yourself. It’s just that it’s liable to
make the cattle nervous.”

Hanstark gave him a cold glare and
began to walk. He took three paces and stopped. “You see, Mr. Nest. There is no
cliff.”

Nest looked at him and laughed.
“You just take one more step and you’ll find there is a
cliff!”

Hanstark took another step—a long
one. His face bore a surprised look as he disappeared beneath the grass. His
screams could be heard for a moment before he landed on the rocks
below.

Nest walked to the edge of the
cliff and looked down at the mangled body. He took off his hat in respect.
“Little feller had a lotta guts.” Then he added, “Poor little
feller.”

He put his hat back on and looked
down at the entrance to the valley. A horse and rider appeared from behind
several rocks.

“Dirty Dan!” Nest exclaimed. He
reached down and picked up his rifle.

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Leave A Comment, Written on December 12th, 2011 , Favorite Poems, Lyrics & Short Stories, Texas
Thanksgiving – Proclamation

The story goes that, Abraham Lincoln’s original 1863 Thanksgiving Proclamation came—spiritually speaking—at a rather pivotal point in his life.  It was during the first week of July of that same year, when the Battle of Gettysburg was fought, from the first day of July until the 3rd - leaving this “new country” with a huge burden of loss, of some 60,000 American lives – the largest loss of life in the American Civil War!  It has often been said that the Battle of Gettysburg was the “pivotal point” in the war.  The ravages of war were still evident in Gettysburg more than four months later when, on November 19, the Soldiers’ National Cemetery was dedicated.  It was during this ceremony, President Lincoln honored the fallen and redefined the purpose of the war in his historic Gettysburg Address.

The story goes, that it was while Lincoln was walking among the thousands of graves there at Gettysburg that he committed his life to Christ. As he explained to a friend:

When I left Springfield [to assume the Presidency], I asked the people to pray for me. I was not a Christian. When I buried my son, the severest trial of my life, I was not a Christian. But when I went to Gettysburg and saw the graves of thousands of our soldiers, I then and there consecrated myself to Christ.

The following is the 1863 Lincoln Presidential Thanksgiving Proclamation – celebrated shortly after Lincoln committed his life to Christ and celebrated while America was still in the midst of its Civil War.  It was this proclamation which led to the establishment of our national Thanksgiving holiday.

Proclamation of Thanksgiving
by the President of the United States of America

The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful years and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the Source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the field of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than theretofore. Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.

In testimony wherof I have herunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

[Signed]
A. Lincoln

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Leave A Comment, Written on November 20th, 2011 , Random....Leaps
“I’ll Try” … just saying. :)

I have been to the local grocery “twice” this weekend!  That’s unusual, for me … go figure.  :)   I’m not all that keen on shopping … go figure!  And I didn’t “shop”, of course – I merely, dropped in to pick up a few “very specific” things and hurriedly retreated to the jeep with my items and back home to Mayberry.  Then, the weather pulled me to the lake, “twice” this weekend!  That’s not at all unusual, for me … go figure!  :)   I am very keen on being as close to nature, as often as is possible … go figure!

Anyway, while I was there, among the “masses gathering food”, as it were, for my empty stomach, I wandered up to the check-out counter, in the “ten-items-or-less” line, with a few items in hand - and a sullen teen scanned them, as they moved along the “moving table,” took my payment and then looked up with what was surely a forced smile, and said, “Have a good day.”  I smiled and responded, “You too!”  He shrugged his shoulders and said – still with a forced smile on his face and with a bit of cynicism in his voice, “I’ll try.”  :(

Walking away, I thought about how his answer was perhaps more honest than he may have intended.  And I was thinking – It’s true — having a good day doesn’t come very naturally to many of us.  And I thought about how, too many of us – some of “us” – - I was thinking of with specific reference to and matching up specific faces, too, in my thoughts – well … we tend to beat ourselves up an aweful lot – about that fact!  And I thought that in reality, when we are honest - generally speaking, our brains simply just aren’t wired to function in a ”Pollyanna” mode – the moment the alarm goes off and we are called to “roll out of bed” to begin a new day – - are we?

I suppose, that in order to help us “survive,” - God made our noggin’s with what researchers have called a “negativity bias.” – look it up!  :)   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negativity_bias  – In other words, we pay more attention to negative things in our environment and remember them more clearly as well.  What?  – - – Why in the world would that be helpful?   Well, paying more attention to that bear charging out of the woods than the brilliant ice cream cone there in my hand might just prove helpful…. - survival??  Hello!?!

Hmmm? …. I suppose this means that being a positive person requires being intentional and working at it – and It also seems to mean that we can actually let go of the guilt that comes with feeling “negative”, this way.  I mean, in my experience – this guilt is HUGE! in the lives of too many of us.  But our tendency to be drawn to the negative is not a moral or spiritual failure — it is simply part of being human.  And it’s “ok” that I might find myself feeling that way, on occasion.

The good news is: That God also made our minds to be incredibly flexible – and it is NOT at all an impossible task to ”retrain” ourselves to respond differently – to what is a human condition – with what amounts to a spiritual condition!  :)   I can imagine, all of those little paths running through the hills and valleys of my mind – the researchers call these (neural pathways).  :)   I like to think of them as “paths” into the woods, along granite outcropings in the Texas Hill Country, high above the Colorado River :) – (perhaps that is only because my head is so “full of rocks”)  ;)   Either way, - - – In the passing moments of life, it seems, our brain tends to naturally go down the paths that have most often been traveled before and are more often – “those beaten paths,” as it were, go figure!  :(

It seems to me that we can and rather must learn to teach our brains – to follow a new path – perhaps the “one less traveled” ;) – and over time it will become the most used path and our brain will begin to naturally go in that direction instead of the “beaten ones”.  :)

We were made, to literally, physically, and spiritually - be transformed by the renewing of our minds.

Talk about “brilliant” :)

That teenage fella at the check-out, may not have been receptive to a lesson in “positive thinking,”  right there on the spot,  I don’t know.  But in his reply of “I’ll try,” he may have just been on to something.

We all have the opportunity, in each moment of every day, to bring more joy and happiness into our lives and into the lives of those around us – - – and, while it does require some effort on our part – “I think I’ll try!”  :)

“And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” (Romans 12:2)

 

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Leave A Comment, Written on November 13th, 2011 , Random....Leaps
Genesis 24 – True Love Stories, come from the Lord!

“A Wife for a Son”

…. Read Genesis 24 … yes, now!  :)

v7 goes something like – …. Abraham said, “The same God whose pRomise is for all nations, through my descendants, this same God will send his angel ahead of you to get a wife for my son.”

Now, what is obvious is that, well, Isaac needed a wife, so that God’s pRomise would continue to be fullfilled down through these many years.  So, Abraham put his faith into action – and that faithful Relationship between Abraham and God, the Father, unfolds into a rather irresistible love story, that has been told to young and old - from then until now, and like most love stories this one includes a fair share of tension and a bit of suspense – sheer delight and most definitly, romance.

Now, I suppose, that in this walk of faith, with Abraham, the most endearing quality of Spiritual encouragement I have found resides in the idea of Relationship – I have found myself being drawn into what is becoming, the purest Relationship of Love that can be known – - – True Love – in the arms of our Loving Father.  And the True, Love Story, that is told here in Genesis 24 – is most certainly, bound up in the idea of how God Divinely blessed the daily faith-walk of Abraham, Isaac, the unnamed servant and Rebekah’s faith, too - (no matter how imperfect) – bringing them face to face with Him in Relationship - because of what He had already done and because of what He was still doing, and because of His love for us, in Relationship – fulfilling the promise of True Love – the promise that is ultimately fulfilled in Christ.  And the lesson is always, that True Love, is a matter that only comes from the Lord!

I myself, have more than a little bit of an understanding – about what love, in a relationship between a man and a woman can be like – when God is Not at the center.  :(   I am also very thankful to be aware of how True Love feels, and what it can mean, when God IS at the center!  :)   And, I expect that most of us can relate to the human desire for love.  And, I expect, when we are honest, many of us have experienced love that was found, at some point or another, along the way, to be … missing – God.  I am rather certain that, “True Love” is - a matter that only comes from the Lord!  And while this lesson is one that believers are not likely to debate – it is sadly a lesson that too many of us do not learn until it is too late.  No matter how much faith we may have mustered, in many critical moments, of life and of love – Love, it seems, (maybe because it is so fundamentally emotionally and spiritually tied to our very created being) – has a way of confusing our faith in God, with faith, in ourselves.  (You might want to reflect on that idea for a bit, I have.)  Anyway, it seems that for some of us, when Love touches us – we too often become, too prone, to sieze control away from God and plunge forward, head long into relationship’s – steering our own way toward one-another – blinded by human pride, and lustful desire and ultimately … frustrated by the lack of God, in our relationships.  :(

I suppose, that putting the Love of God in front of our relationships with one-another, is without much doubt, one of the more difficult steps – in the walk of faith – go figure.

Anyway …

…. the love story goes something like this ….  there was a well of fresh spring water, outside of the city where Abraham’s brother, Nahor, had lived.  You might remember that this was the place that Abraham had left most of his family, in the city of Nahor (the city of Haran), years before, as he continued on in his walk of faith.  That was after his father Terah had died, there.  (You can read Genesis 11:31 thu 12:6 :) )  Anyway, Abraham had walked daily in faith, into the new land for many years – infact he was now 140 years old - about 65 years had passed since he had made his way from Haran, into the land of Canaan.  There is little doubt that this well was strong and dependable.  It surely provided for both the towns folk and the caravans of passers by, moving their goods east and west.

It was a dificult task, while a familiar routine, I expect, for a woman to draw water from this particular well – - – descending rather uneven steps of uneven stone, to kneel and dip her jar into the flowing water, then to lift the full vessel back up onto her shoulder and climb the steps again.  Animals didn’t go down to the springs, so jars of water had to be hauled up to watering troughs at ground level, one by one.

And the story goes, that at this well, Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel was getting water for her family one evening when, a stranger stepped up to her and spoke.  He said something like, “Please,” can I have a drink from your jar?”  The strange traveler was no doubt dusty, tired, and probably seemed old enough to be her granddad! – which he was.  :)   And Rebekah could see that there were at least 10 camels there with him - most likely with their heads stretched high on their long necks, expecting to be refreshed, too.  :)  Perhaps if she had some friends there with her, they may have watched for a minute, then left.  It was getting dark and Rebekah could take care of herself.  Either way, “Yes,” she said as she lowered her jar, “Yes, please do drink.”  Abrahams servant took a sip of water and just stared at her in silence - maybe even causing her to blush a little.  And then she said, “I’ll draw water for your camels, too, sir” - down and up the steps, again and again, while the man kept watching her.  I can imagine she may have given one of the camels a bit of a nudge so that it and the others rose and made there way to the troughs to drink, as she kept filling the troughs until all of the animals had had enough to drink.

Now it must have been getting late in the evening, because the man then approached her again and he asked her, “Whose daughter are you?”  And she told him that she was the daughter of Bethuel, the son of Nahor.  And when he heard her say this, he was surely a little bit more than amazed with expectation – “Nahor, I know Nahor.”  (I can imagine his grin that must have stretched from ear to ear)  :)   He gently reached for Rebekah’s hand and presented her with a gold ring.  And he said, “Does Bethuel’s house have room for me and my folks to stay a night or two?”  And she explained that they had straw and hay for food and some room, “yes.”

Then this stranger fell to the ground and with his arms lifted high he chanted soft words of thanksgiving to God, for leading him to the house of his master’s kinsman.  Then he reached for Rebekah’s hand again and presented her with gold bracelets.

So, Rebekah gathered her jar of water and went straight home to get permission to bring this stranger of God into their home for rest.  And we know that Rebekah’s father, Bethuel was rather old and possibly weak - as it seems that her brother Laban made most of the family decisions.  Perhaps, Laban wasn’t all that keen on the story this traveler had been telling Rebekah – but when he saw the gold jewlery – he took notice – and ran himself down to the well to meet this stranger and he welcomed him and his folks into their home.  In fact, Laban ordered his own servants to bring water to wash the travelers feet and a meal was prepared for him.  But the stranger, was eager to tell the details of his story to Laban and to Bethuel – before he would eat anything at all.  So he began to explain how he was Abraham’s servant and how the Lord had blessed his master with flocks and herds, silver, gold, menservants, femaleservants, camels and donkeys, etc.

And he explained that Abraham only had one son, Isaac and that his master had made him swear in the land of Canaan to return to this land and to the house of his kinsmen here, to find a wife for Isaac.  He told them all about how he arrived outside the city and prayed that God would bless his task of finding a wife for Isaac, praying, “O Lord, when I ask a young woman to give me a drink, if she says, ‘Drink and I will draw water for your camels, too’ – then let her be the woman you’ve chosen for my master’s son.”  Well, sir – “before I was even done praying, your sister Rebekah came, and this beautiful woman did all that I had asked the Lord!”  Then the servant of Abraham spoke to Laban and Bethuel and asked them if they intended to deal with him loyally, and honestly before God – about his masters search for a wife for Isaac, and he said if they had no sincere desire to do so, then to let him know now, so that he might continue on with his search.

Laban spoke up and said something like, “Well, it’s clear to me that this thing comes from the Lord, so take my sister with you and go.  :)   Let her be the wife of your master’s son, as the Lord Himself has evidently spoken.”  I can imagine that as the men discussed this matter with each other, and Rebekah was just standing there, listening to them – she must have been, in some way or another – touched by the Love of God in this mans story – and then Abraham’s servant looked toward her and offered her more gold and silver jewels and clothing and he even gave some ornamental gifts to Laban and to Rebekah’s mom - and then, well … the matter had surely been settled.  :)   So they finished eating and went to bed.  :)

What a really special evening this had turned out to be for everyone!

Anyway, the story goes on to tell that the next morning, the servant was preparing his things, for them to leave and go back to his master.  And he was telling them how that Abraham was very old and he wasn’t sure how much longer he was going to live.  But Laban asked them to stay a few days longer – to have time for all the “good-byes” etc.  But Abraham’s servant insisted, that the journey back home was a long one and you know, the rainy season was coming – and the Lord had blessed his journey, so they must leave and finish the Lord’s Will.  So Laban agreed to let Rebekah decide and she quickly made the decision to go, now!  She made the decision to follow God in this matter  – after all, it seemed so very much, to be controlled by God, Himself, why should she wait?  The journey back, likely took a month or more - to reach Abraham and Isaac in the land of Canaan – taking the same old paths that Abraham had taken into Canaan, some 65 years earlier – south beyond the Jordan River to Succoth and then further south than the Salt Sea, into the Negev.  Finally, after many days of traveling, weary and tired, Rebekah lifted her eyes against the sun and the dusty wind, and she could see a man strolling alone - across the fields in front of them, with his head bent down as if he was meditating or praying or something, which he was.  “Do you know that man?” she asked.  She got down from her camel and moved ahead of the pack to have words with Abraham’s servant, “Do you see that man out there in the field?, “Who is he?”  :)   “Ah miss, that is the son of my master.  That is Isaac!” :)   So Rebekah covered her face with her veil and waited to be seen by the man who would be her husband.  And in the Negev, Isaac took Rebekah to his tent, and she became his wife, and he loved her completely!  I mean, He never in his lifetime – ever loved another!  :)

This story of Loving Relationship is so much like the Spiritual Love Story of the Cross – You know?  That Golden Thread of Relationship – that we have been seeing in Abraham’s faith-walk? – it seems as though that golden thread – kind of gets tied up in a golden bow of sorts – right here at the climax of this Love Story – around these two “lovers” – Isaac and Rebekah – A golden bow, wrapped around a wedding present of sorts – for all nations to come! – a “pRomise-pResent” of one sort or another - that is ultimately fulfilled in the Loving Relationship that we now know is possible between us and our Father God – through Jesus.

Stay with me here!  :)   I mean, think about what the apostle Paul tells us, in the 11th chapter of his 2nd letter to the believers in Corinth – when he describes that we are called to become the bride of Christ – we are presented in Christ, God’s Son, as pure virgins – without sin.  Paul considered himself a servant of God the Father, bringing believers into Relationship with the Father, through Christ, as the very Bride of Christ!   And think about when James stood up in front of the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15) and said, “Look – by bringing His Son, Jesus – the Messiah into this world - this thing that God is doing in our world today - is that He is visiting the Gentiles to take from among them, a people for His name.”  Are you seeing the beautiful illustration – in the form of a love story – of our Father – obtaining a bride, the bride of Christ, the church, for his Son the Lord Jesus, through the spirit.

Remember that in Genesis, chapter 22, after Isaac had been offered up as a sacrifice – and then snatched from death by the Father God – to fulfill the promise of God – Abraham received news from his family back in Haran, that his brother Nahor and his wife Milkah, have had 8 new baby boys!!! – Uz, Buz, Kemuel, Kesed, Hazo, Pildash, Jidlaph, and Bethuel.  ;)   And the news of these children being born into Abraham’s family – was surely providential evidence to Abraham, in his walk of faith – that the the Lord would surely pRovide! - – and we now know that of these baby boys – Bethuel had a son named Laban and a daughter named Rebekah, who ultimately married Abraham’s son of pRomise and pRovision, Isaac!

Remember that …. this walk of faith – is all about our Father’s pRovision for a renewed Relationship with Him – through His Son!!  We talked about that here:  Genesis 22 – pRovision with a comittal R

I hope you can you see it!  The Golden-Thread – of Relationship with our Father, God – winding its way to your door – calling us, as His children – to a walk of faith?  :)

God blesses us by pRoviding for our every need – past, present and future – and when I obey God – when I surrender all of myself to Him, especially in the moments when He is developing within my life a LOVE STORY between myself and another - He gathers up all of the smaller blessings of this life that He has given us before – and he takes them back – then He combines them with His infinite resources – pRomise & pRovision – and pours them back into our life – in the form of His One and Only Son – whose sacrifice takes away the sins of the world! – and now we see that as the Bride of Christ – He brings us back into an intimate Relationship, with our Father, God!  Wow!  Love Stories!  :)

I suppose, the lesson is …. that TRUE LOVE STORIES!  :)   Come from God!

 

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Leave A Comment, Written on November 7th, 2011 , Daily Walk of Faith
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