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The Tonkawa lived in central Texas.  Their historical territory was along the Balcones Escarpment between Austin and San Antonio. Originally the Tonkawa had a larger territory that included the hill country around Kingsland, Llano and Mason Texas. This is the Edwards Plateau region west of Austin and San Antonio. They would roam all the way over to the Brazos river. Later, around 1600, the Apache and even later, around 1750, the Comanche moved into the region and pushed the Tonkawa out and east of the Edwards Plateau. This is where they were in most of the Spanish period and all of the Texan/ American periods of history. They lived just to the east of, and along, the Edwards escarpment. They were friendly with the Karankawa indians and shared the lands between the Karankawa homelands and their own.  “Shared” - being the key word.    The Spanish often found these two tribes camped out together in these “shared” lands. They also shared land with the Coahuiltecan tribes to the south of them. Bexar county (San Antonio) was a mix of Tonkawa to the north and Coahuiltecan tribes to the south.

The Tonkawa also seem to have hosted many other tribes. At the springs in San Marcos and New Braunfels a dozen or more tribes from all over Texas were found by Spanish travelers. These were trade camps where the Caddo, Jumano and Coahuiltecan tribes would come to camp with the Tonkawa for several months in the summer. While there they would hunt buffalo on the blackland plains just to the east and trade goods and news. This region the Tonkawa lived in – was a sort of “crossroads” between the tribes from north east south and west. All this means the Tonkawa were friendly and wanted to get along with other peoples. Later, this can be seen in the way they seem to have been able to get along with the American settlers better than other tribes.

Tonkawa means, “the people of the Wolf”. The Tonkawa claimed they were all descended from a mythical wolf. For this reason the Tonkawa would never kill a wolf. This way of claiming an animal or thing as a first ancestor is called a “totemic” belief system, by anthropologists.  As in most societies with totemic ancestors, the Tonkawa were divided into clans. Each clan had a mythical animal or spirit they believed guarded them.

The Tonkawa Wolf Dance. Drawn in the 1850s

They refused to farm because they said they were wolves and wolves hunted for food and did not farm. So they got their food by hunting and gathering. This makes them hunter gatherers. They lived in a region with lots of animals to hunt. This region is still one of the best deer hunting regions in Texas. The blackland prairies at the base of the Edwards Plateau had lots of buffalo. There are huge and beautiful springs in the region too.  The springs at New Braunfels and San Marcos are so big they turn into rivers. In Austin, Barton Creek springs and others are huge. San Antonio also has a number of good springs. The Colorado and Guadalupe rivers run right through the Tonkawa lands. These rivers and springs have fish, crawfish and clams and mussels in them. Pecan trees grow along the rivers and streams and all over this region. So with all the animals to hunt, fish to catch and pecans to pick up the Tonkawa did not need to farm. All the springs and rivers also means there are plenty of plant foods like blackberries and roots, etc. The Tonkawa had a good supply of food from hunting and gathering. A list of the food sources might include; deer, buffalo, fish, crawfish, mussels, pecans, blackberries, and roots.

The San Marcos, Comal and Guadalupe rivers used to have a species of crawfish in them that was as big as a lobster? These crawfish, also called prawns, were so good to eat the Anglo settlers caught almost all of them. They are now extinct in the Guadalupe and Comal rivers. A few still live in the San Marcos river.

The Tonkawa lived in both huts, wickiups and tee-pees. The huts described by Americans were probably wickiups. The Tonkawa wickiups were described as being very crude and covered with brush and anything available.

The Tonkawa tattooed their bodies and faces. They would have black tattooed lines all over their bodies. The Karankawa, Wichita and Jumano also tattooed themselves in the same way. This caused the Spanish to confuse these tribes when they based their identification on appearance. This makes Spanish records hard to use as sources to identify tribes for works like this one.

They were friends and allies with the Caddo, Karankawa, Jumanos and Coahuiltecans. They were enemies of the Comanches and Apaches.  They were friendly with the Anglo – American settlers or at least they were not very aggressive. In the mid 1800s they were moved to a reservation in north Texas. Later they were moved to reservations in Oklahoma.

The Tonkawas would often ally themselves with the Anglos against the Comanches and Wichita. Remember it was the Comanches who pushed the Tonkawa out of their land in the hill country. They acted as scouts and troops for the Texas Rangers and the U S Army on several occasions. The most notable time they allied with the Texans was at the battle of Plum Creek against the Comanche Indians.

In the 1960s there were only 35 Tonkawa left in Oklahoma. However, it is rumored that there are still some Tonkawa living secretly around Bastrop, east of Austin.

And can it be that I should gain
An interest in the Savior’s blood?
Died He for me, who caused His pain -
For me, who Him to death pursued?
Amazing love! How can it be,
That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Long my imprisoned spirit lay,
Fast bound in sin and nature’s night;
Thine eye diffused a quickening ray -
I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.
My chains fell off, my heart was free,
I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine;
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.
Bold I approach the eternal throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

Fathers are Leaders!
 
Children need leadership and a father is called by God – to instruct his children – to point them clearly down the path of life – and to show his children how to walk upon that path.   This is no small responsibility.  A father is a child’s spiritual leader and from a father’s lips – children need to hear wise words and wise counsel and from a father’s steps – children need to see the importance of wise choices and good decisions and from a father’s love – children need to discover their purpose, their identity, and their true worth. 

Dad’s are respected because they give their children leadership.

Fathers Care!

Children are very needy people and every child needs to be cared for and have his or her basic needs met.  And a father, has been given the main responsibility of caring for and providing for his children.   A man’s work is a God given way for a father to care for his family – in responsibly using his God given talents to care for and provide for his children and his wife.  There is no work that is small or insignificant, in the eyes of God.  Even more than that, a man’s work is honorable – and it is a doorway through which a father helps to express his love and care for his children in very practical ways – which is appreciated over time by a father’s children.

Dad’s are appreciated because they give their children care.

Fathers always have time!

Every child has a need to spend time with his father and being a father is about being together with your child to share life’s joys and God’s blessings.  Every single moment a father spends with his child, is another opportunity for good to happen in a child’s life.  A father needs to value and guard his time with his children.  Time is a precious gift that a father can give his children and it will have far greater value than any material gift he could ever buy for them.

Dad’s are valued because they give their children time.

Fathers give themselves!

Even greater than a father giving his child the gift of time is when a father gives his child the gift of himself.  When a father gives the gift of himself, he is saying to his child, “I am not only spending this time with you, but you have my complete attention. You are more important than anything else I could be doing.  My eyes are upon you, my watch-care is over you, my thoughts are with you, and my love is around you.

Psalm 33:18 (New Living Translation) 18 “But the Lord watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love.

Fathers are loving and trustworthy and just in all things.  Fathers can find comfort in the fact that God is truly watching over them and their families – just as they are called as fathers to be doing for their children.  Our Father, God is not an innocent bystander just glancing here and there and not engaged with His children - neither should any father be.  Rather, fathers should be actively watching over and protecting and guiding their children, who rely on their unfailing love.

Dad’s are loved because they give their children the one thing they treasure most—themselves.

adapted from a devotional by Roy Lessin

I suppose, there are very important lessons of faith – to be learned, when God says, “NO”

I mean, if my eyes of faith are open – when I am told “No” - I am suddenly faced with some of the most important lessons in life! – How do I respond? – - – and what about being told “No” is about to change me?  Perhaps, we meet the very largest challenges of life - Learning, and Growing, and Becoming - right there! - in the moments when we are told ”NO” – Am I making any sense?  And I know, I don’t tend to consider such “large questions” – when I am told “Yes” – either. 

Stay with me here…. :)

Consider for example, those of us who are living in homes with angelic young children.  Well….Angels do come in a variety of “packages” – don’t they?    But angels, none-the-less!  I’ve recently been very close to some angels who are presently “packaged” with what seems to be a bit of – Attention Deficit and/or Attention Deficit with Hyperactivity.    Maybe you are close to some angels packaged that way, too?  Then again, I’m pretty sure most of us were packaged similarly at one time or another in our lives    - and then, there are of course, angels packaged just the polar opposite, too - either way, parenting children, of most all sorts - requires a lot of “NO” saying!    Doesn’t it?  Yes!  Tim, it does.     And it requires a lot of patience and an awful lot of God’s grace and mercy and forgiveness, too!  Parenting in general – requires a lot of that sort of thing.

Consider – looking down into the eyes of a child who is “so far away from you in their little mind” – that you can see it all over their face.  Even though you have taken them by the hand and walked with them to the refrigerator door multiple times now, explaining clearly and succinctly – the reasons why they need to shut the door when they have retrieved their bottle of water, etc.    Or, even after you have repeated over and over – their correct name and the consequences of their actions if they continue to walk away from you in the mall and how getting lost is a very scary and dangerous thing, for both of you.  Or, even after you have knealt down, calmly – to reach out to them – eye-to-eye, as it were - turning their otherwise, misdirected gaze – back toward you – by physically touching their right cheek (your hand cupped around the bottom of their jaw) – gently moving their little face to gain eye contact with you again, as you try to explain, again, “I said, NO.”  “And NO means…..”

It seems, that some of the most important moments of life occur - in the “NO saying” – - – and when God, our Father is the parent saying, “No” – I suppose, we should find a way to pay attention to what He is trying to tell us.  So very many of life’s most critical lessons of faith and otherwise – are found in the moments when Our Father is saying “No” – - – and He is looking down into the eyes of His children – who are “so far away from Him, in our little minds” – and it is written all over our faces. 

I suppose, that while “NO” just isn’t a word we like to hear – “YES” just may be something we have grown too accoustomed to.  Learning how to say “NO” and how to live with “NO” - are lessons we may have too often, ignored. 

…. About a period of life’s moments in which God seemed to be saying, “NO” – the following was written….. and change occured…..

It was one of the most difficult seasons of life that I have ever experienced.  And by all outward appearances things were fine.  And if anyone asked, that’s what I told them.

I smiled at church, I smiled at playgroup.  I smiled at Bible Study.  And I smiled at the kid’s birthday parties.  I smiled – for no good reason, that I could think of, at all!    Other than that, I was sure - no one expected me to respond to their generic questions about how I was doing - by bursting into soppy-bloody tears of agony! – Not right there in the meet and greet – between the worship and the sermon!

Anyway, over time, I began to realize that what I had been expecting – was the easy “Yes” – of what I have come to recognize now, as “Christianity-lite”.  I had thought, if I could grin and bear it long enough, you know? – then things would finally “go MY way”.  I’m sure this is familiar in some way or another, to you.  But the “fluffy sort of perspective” - on some pretty serious verses of scripture – in which God Himself was trying to tell me,  “All you need is faith” - and you’ll get what you need and truly want.  – “Just believe and the Lord will provide.” -  “Ask and you shall receive.”   just wasn’t getting through to me.  You see?  The truth was that – those “fluffy” voices were so far “off my grid” – by miles and miles – that God, my Father’s, resounding “No” – had my faith very, very confused.

So, I wrestled a long time with this new God, of my “No.”  And finally and slowly – I discovered that His answer didn’t actually dismiss my loss at all and His “No” didn’t diminish my feelings! – it didn’t mean He didn’t love me! – it didn’t mean He wasn’t there! – Rather, as I began to see “NO”, in the context of His ability – not my own - and as I began to understand His will for my life, as a better choice - than my own – and in His patience and His repeated redirection, of my “misdirected gaze” – I began to respond to His answer – rather than ignore it. 

And……He changed me!

Adapted from a devotion excerpt: by Lisa-Jo, The Gypsy Mama

For I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.  Phillipians 4:11-13

When the answer is “No” – how do I live, with that? - – - 

I suspect, that the “bigger” lessons of life – you know? – the ones that we look back on when we are older - may actually have come from the “No’s” in life – that “forced” us, in one sense or another – into a “change mode” of sorts - the sort of “change” that asks the harder questions of life - and are about what we really-truly want – what we truly need – and what we are willing to live with or without – questions like, do I “settle” for this or do I “demand” something else?  – - – Change that is about things like, what we are willing to do or not do, in order to remain happy, safe, content, satisfied, honest, open, forgiving, Godly, loyal, loving, concerned, caring, graceful, willing, peaceful, etc.

I suppose, there are important lessons of faith – to be learned – when God says, “NO”. 

Cherokee N.C. – Uncle Tim and the Blue Ridge Raiders

Waterfall Huntin’ – Transylvania County, N.C.

Pretty Place – Timmy’s old stompin’ grounds

Mom & Dad’s

Pier 511 Common Bond Concert

• 6 cups water
• 1 1/2 cups quick-cooking grits, dry
• 3/4 cup butter
• 1 pound processed cheese, cubed
• 2 teaspoons seasoning salt
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 3 eggs, beaten

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
2. In a medium saucepan, bring the water to a boil. Stir in grits, and reduce heat to low. Cover, and cook 4 to 6 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mix in the butter, cheese, seasoning salt, Worcestershire sauce, hot pepper sauce, and salt. Continue cooking for 5 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Remove from heat, cool slightly, and fold in the eggs. Pour into the prepared baking dish.
3. Bake 1 hour in the preheated oven, or until the top is lightly browned.

In the second letter to Christ’s church at Corinth, in Corinthians 5:7,  the apostle Paul wrote:  “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

Now, “sight”, here - seems to mean, “appearance”, and the apostle Paul seems to have been talking about a – “house not made with hands, but a home eternal, in the heavens” – a place that he was desperately seeking to go - when his time was up, on earth.  - – - You know, the sort of place that we sometimes say, that we would like to be when we see a picture of some beautiful paradise – waterfalls and cool breezes and the like?    The sort of place we only “dream” about – when we are not there!    Hang on!  Of course, everything we can “see” - is “temporal” – but we sure do like to dream of those sorts of places, as if they were “eternal”, don’t we?  I sure do! 

Paul has just said that, “the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (4:18).  And it seems that Paul is trying to help us understand the difference,… say – between Accapulco and Heaven.  He can talk this way, he explains, “for we, walk by faith, not by sight.”

The point is, that as Christians – we may not always be able to SEE the spiritual realities that mold our lives and help us discern the “right way” - but we accept them, by the FOCUS of our faith!  Is that confusing? 

Recently, I made a new friend.  And for this reason and/or that – we struck up conversation over a period of weeks that included very personal information – about life struggles (good times and bad) and God and Daily Walking and Stumbling, over this and that, etc.  You know, the sort of conversation that before you know to shut your mouth – you have already “said way more than you intended to say”    Me and my BIG mouth!    No comments, please –  Anyway, we found ourselves asking each other, eventually, “Why are we so open about ourselves with each other?”  I suppose, the answer lies somewhere in the idea that – “we walk by faith and not by sight”.

Stay with me here  

I mean, my new friend and I are sharing ”Faith talk”, if you will – the sort of conversation and “R”elationship sharing – that sees the moments of our days – in the light of how God is – or isn’t, working in our lives.  But it happens so fast and life almost seems to go on without us for a few moments – and then we stop and consider - “What I have been doing, has absolutely nothing to do with what I am seeing – only with what I am believing” …… ever been there?    Bet you have, but as you can “imagine” – that’s not quite all of what I am really driving at. 

Consider how many times in your life – some that you may or may not care to recall – when there have been moments – and lot’s of them, you know, the “precious” ones – the sort that pile up on each other and that you to this day – you just can’t seem to ”put down” or forget – because, well, they were “Signals”, of a sort - that God Himself was right there with you – walking by your side, holding your hand as it were, leading every step and working in your life and in the life of those around you.  Some of those moments – we may not care to remember, I suppose, because some of them, well….we may have just failed to realize what was really going on, until it was too late.     But they happened – none-the-less – and the point is – that when I am living by faith and not by sight – those moments – the precious ones – seem to make sense!  They seem to take on an eternal purpose, of sorts…..don’t they?  By the way – don’t miss another one!

My point is that - walking by faith and not by sight, is kinda like – - – well, the ”Signals” that we get in life that are not always visible!  We don’t always recognize them for what they are until later - but, by faith we walk in them - NOT by sight!  Does that make sense?

Not seeing - that God, was what was working all around me – until weeks, months, years or even life-times later – doesn’t make those moments any less important than they are!

Spiritually – walking by faith – and not by sight – doesn’t make my “R”elationship with my Father God, through His Son – any less important than it is!

In fact, walking by faith and not by sight is in fact – what makes my “R”elationship with my Father God, through His Son – the most important walking moments, that I can live!

Consider that,…..

Many times men appear to be one thing, or another – when actually they are something else entirely (Matthew 23:28).  Been there?  Me too! 

It seems, the battle is often lost – when if we could only see the invisible - our courage would rise and we would go on to victory (II Kings 6:13-18).   Been there, too! 

To the one who sees only with his eyes, it seems, God’s men are perishing; but in reality, they are being renewed day by day (II Corinthians -4:16).  Faith, not sight!

Man, counts the crowd to form his judgment (I Chronicles 21:1-8).  God, sometimes reduces the crowd - to serve His purpose better (Judges 7:2-9).  That’s my Father!

Human beings judge one another on the basis of appearance - God looks on the heart of every man (I Samuel 16:7).  My God has Faith, in my heart!

This is one reason God is Judge.  We are told that Moses endured, “by seeing Him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27).

I suppose, the only key – to victory in life, in the face of what often seems to appear to be, a losing battle – is the ability to see the unseen!

We all too often live by sight and not by faith in the name of Love and for Money and for Self-righteous desires -  so much so that we have lost sight of what it REALLY means, to live by Faith and not by Sight! 

The “spiritual sonar” - that allows me, as a Christian to put my life in the hands of my Father – nevermind the tranquilizers and the pills and the addictions of life - is receiving a “SIGNAL” – from my Father.   And when the storms of life hurl against me – the SIGNAL is strong enough to guide me through the storm – singing songs of Praise – because, as a Christian – I trust – NO, more! - I have faith! and I do not live by sight – that the One contolling the Seas will carry me on a safe “journey” and bring me in for a safe landing.

Does this world give any reward for Godliness?  I don’t think so.  And that very fact – enables me to look beyond this world for something better!  And when I sense it by faith - even, as it may seem far off in the distance - I am convicted of it and my heart of faith, embraces it!  My citizenship is not in this world – this is not where I am bound for – rather I am bound for “eternal purpose”!  A place in a “picture” of an existance not made by human hands nor seen with human eyes – never-the-less - clearly visible - through the “eyes of faith (Hebrews 11:13).

“Things” – are not what they seem.  I depend solely on “spiritual eyes” that see things as they really are.  They say that the sixth sense of faith – is victory!  Without it, one falls to pieces when heartaches come – - but with it!  one can look at “the things which are not seen,” and even in the middle of trial “not loose heart” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)

Consider that the book of Revelation (an inspired Word from my Father God – often misunderstood and too often used as a weapon against faith by those who live by sight) – was given for the purpose of showing us that – behind the scenes and invisible to human sight – a universal war is being fought between God and Satan – Good and Evil.   And beyond that - victory has already been decided — in God’s favor!   As I struggle on earth – with living by sight or by faith – I find courage – knowing that my problems are a tiny part of  the “eternal conflict” the “eternal purpose” of God!

Satan – bad choices, mistakes, sin has already been defeated!!!  and Satan knows it.   But he desires to have me – especially if I call myself a Christian – as a prize in the battle he has already lost.  And God, My Father allows it.  And it is up to me to choose – will I fall into the trap of living by Sight or will I live by Faith?  I suppose, it all boils down to that.

I suppose, the things that I SEE – depend largely on, my FOCUS…..

The focus of Balaam’s eyes was adjusted - to put his faith in the invisible, and it changed his entire philosophy of living! (Numbers 22:21-34).

What do I see?  What don’t I see?  I suppose, the challenge for me is – am I walking by faith or by sight?  I feel a philosophy for living change – coming on. 

Consider, too – It seems from my limited experience in life….that we live forever - with the choices we make “by faith” whether they be made for love, money, selfish desires or something different – while those we make “by sight”  – well, I suppose we will live with them forever, too.

To Christ’s church in Galatia

Faith in Christ, Not the Law

 ¹ You crazy Galatians!  Did someone put a hex on you?  Have you taken leave of your senses?  Something crazy has happened, for it’s obvious that you no longer have the crucified Jesus in clear focus in your lives.  His sacrifice on the cross was certainly set before you clearly enough. ^2-4 Let me put this question to you:  How did your new life begin?  Was it by working your heads off to please God?  Or was it by responding to God’s Message to you?  Are you going to continue this craziness? For only crazy people would think they could complete by their own efforts what was begun by God.  If you weren’t smart enough or strong enough to begin it, how do you suppose you could perfect it?  Did you go through this whole painful learning process for nothing?  It is not yet a total loss, but it certainly will be if you keep this up!

 ^5-6 Answer this question: Does the God who lavishly provides you with his own presence, his Holy Spirit, working things in your lives you could never do for yourselves, does he do these things because of your strenuous moral striving or because you trust him to do them in you?  Don’t these things happen among you just as they happened with Abraham?  He believed God, and his acts of faith, however imperfect, were turned into a life that was right with God.

 ^7-8 Is it not obvious to you that persons who put their trust in Christ (not persons who put their trust in the law!) are like Abraham: children of faith?  It was all laid out beforehand in Scripture that God would set things right with non-Jews by faith.  Scripture anticipated this in the promise to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed in you.”

 ^9-10 So those now who live by faith are blessed along with Abraham, who lived by faith—this is no new doctrine!  And that means that anyone who tries to live by his own effort, independent of God, is doomed to failure.  Scripture backs this up: “Utterly cursed is every person who fails to carry out every detail written in the Book of the law.”

 ^11-12 The obvious impossibility of carrying out such a moral program should make it plain that no one can sustain a relationship with God that way.  The person who lives in right relationship with God does it by embracing what God arranges for him.  Doing things for God is the opposite of entering into what God does for you.  Habakkuk had it right: “The person who believes God, is set right by God—and that’s the real life.”  Rule-keeping does not naturally evolve into living by faith, but only perpetuates itself in more and more rule-keeping, a fact observed in Scripture: “The one who does these things [rule-keeping] continues to live by them.”

 ^13-14 Christ redeemed us from that self-defeating, cursed life by absorbing it completely into himself.  Do you remember the Scripture that says, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”?  That is what happened when Jesus was nailed to the cross: He became a curse, and at the same time dissolved the curse.  And now, because of that, the air is cleared and we can see that Abraham’s blessing is present and available for non-Jews, too.  We are all able to receive God’s life, his Spirit, in and with us by faith—just the way Abraham received it.

 ^15-18 Friends, let me give you an example from everyday life of the freedom from the law, in Christ that I am talking about.  Once a person’s will has been ratified, no one else can annul it or add to it.  Now, the promises were made to Abraham and to his seed.  You will observe that Scripture, in the careful language of a legal document, does not say “to seeds,” referring to everybody in general, but “to your seed” (the noun, note, is singular), referring to Christ.  This is the way I interpret this: A will, earlier ratified by God, is not annulled by an addendum attached 430 years later, thereby negating the promise of the will. For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on a promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.  

^18-20 What is the point, then, of the law, the attached addendum?  It was a thoughtful addition to the original covenant promises made to Abraham.  The purpose of the law was to keep a sinful people in the way of salvation until Christ (the descendant) came, inheriting the promises and distributing them to us.  Obviously this law was not a firsthand encounter with God.  It was arranged by angelic messengers through a middleman, Moses.  But if there is a middleman as there was at Sinai, then the people are not dealing directly with God, are they?  But the original promise is the direct blessing of God, received by faith.

 ^21-22 If such is the case, is the law, then, an anti-promise, a negation of God’s will for us?  Not at all.  Its purpose was to make obvious to everyone that we are, in ourselves, out of right relationship with God, and therefore to show us the futility of devising some religious system for getting by our own efforts what we can only get by waiting in faith for God to complete his promise. For if any kind of rule-keeping had power to create life in us, we would certainly have gotten it by this time.

 ^23-24 Until the time when we were mature enough to respond freely in faith to the living God, we were carefully surrounded and protected by the Mosaic law.  The law was like those Greek tutors, with which you are familiar, who escort children to school and protect them from danger or distraction, making sure the children will really get to the place they set out for.

 ^25-27 But now you have arrived at your destination: By faith in Christ you are in direct relationship with God.  And your baptism in Christ was not just washing you up for a fresh start.  It also involved dressing you in an adult faith wardrobe—Christ’s life, the fulfillment of God’s original promise.

In Christ’s Family

 ^28-29  In Christ’s family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female.  Among us you are all equal.  That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ.  Also, since you are Christ’s family, then you are Abraham’s famous “seed,” heirs according to the covenant promises.  Christ’s church! 

adapted from The message