Hidden Treasure 
 
By Pastor Ricky Kurth
 
“In Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3).
 
Everyone knows that when God told Solomon He would give him whatever he asked (II Chron. 1:7), Israel’s king asked for “wisdom and knowledge” (v. 10). However, in the parallel passage in I Kings 3, this account says that Solomon asked God for “an understanding heart to judge Thy people” (v. 9). Far from a contradiction, the variance in these parallel accounts is God’s way of giving us a fuller understanding of that for which Solomon asked, and a definition of wisdom and knowledge. Anyone possessing these two virtues would by definition have an understanding heart to judge or rule God’s people. When Solomon was given this, he became a type of the Lord Jesus Christ, “in Whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge,” i.e., an understanding heart rich in its ability to judge God’s people.
 
But those who acknowledge the Mystery that Paul mentions in the previous verse (Col. 2:2) know that God has an earthly people (Israel) and a heavenly people (the Body of Christ). It was “the glory of God” that He was able to “conceal” the Mystery for 4,000 years (Prov. 25:2) in the “unsearchable” heart of the King of kings, “the heaven for height, and the earth for depth” (v. 3). Thus Paul speaks of “the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God,” and declares “how unsearchable are His judgments, and His ways past finding out” (Rom. 11:33) when he says he wants us to understand the mystery of Israel’s blindness (v. 25), and how God’s plan to rule His earthly people would undergo a postponement that has now lasted 2,000 years. But when he speaks of the Mystery in Ephesians 3, he prays that we might understand the “depth and height” of it (v. 18). That is, he is praying that we might also understand that God has a plan to rule His heavenly people, the Body of Christ (v. 1-17), in “the heaven for height.”
 
Thus in God’s plan to rule His people Israel on earth we find some of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and in His plan to rule His heavenly people, the Body of Christ, in the heavens, we also find some of the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, but unless we acknowledge both we do not understand “all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” that are hid in the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
https://www.bereanbiblesociety.org/hidden-treasure/
 
Colossians 2:3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
 
2 Chronicles 1:7 In that night did God appear unto Solomon, and said unto him, Ask what I shall give thee.
 8 And Solomon said unto God, Thou hast shewed great mercy unto David my father, and hast made me to reign in his stead.
 9 Now, O LORD God, let thy promise unto David my father be established: for thou hast made me king over a people like the dust of the earth in multitude.
 10 Give me now wisdom and knowledge, that I may go out and come in before this people: for who can judge this thy people, that is so great?
 
Colossians 2:2 That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ;
 
Proverbs 25:2 ¶ It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.
 3 The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable.
 
Romans 11:33 ¶ O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
 
Romans 11:25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
 
Ephesians 3:1 ¶ For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
 2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
 3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
 
 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
 6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
 7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
 
 8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
 9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
 
 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
 12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
 13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
 14 ¶ For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
 
 16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

A lil Tammy 🙂

Happy Cursday, Treepers. This is a video about how, sometimes, the dog gets you. Dogs have been our companions for thousands of years. An author of several dog books, Jon Katz, once wrote a book about dog’s emotions. He claimed that dogs didn’t feel emotions in the same way humans did. I think he said this because he didn’t feel emotions in the same way other humans do . . . In any event, he was entirely wrong.

Because of their long association with humans I think dogs are genetically linked to us in ways both mysterious and wonderful. One trait that dogs share with us is the capacity for abiding love. There’s a common element between human affection and the affections dog’s have for us. As best they can, I think dogs want to be like us. But, since they lack human intellect, dogs express their love in a very direct, uncomplicated, and total way. The total acceptance and trust dogs have in us can encourage us to be better people. Once the bond is there, the dog has found you.

My wife once found a little terrier mix on the street. He was wet, dirty and had been running for a long time. We took him in. I took him to an animal shelter and, sitting there with the little guy huddled against me, I began having second thoughts. The vet tech took in him for an examination and then announced that he was a “biter”. I put my hand on the little guy and he settled right down and let her do her job. They didn’t want him. I walked out of there with a new best friend. Although “Scamp” didn’t like most people, he got along just fine with our kitties, and he was a great, loving, companion for both my wife and me.

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You are too cute for words … no, you are too cute for words …

Ungrateful Karen

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Australian woman is blessed that so many wild and beautiful visitors come to her balcony to visit her. I envy Australians for the variety and beauty of their birds. The wild birds they have about them all the time are those we here only see in cages or as domesticated pets.

Sandy Patty
She is considered a local gal here. Though not born here, and not living here currently, she attended Anderson University which is Christian university founded and maintained by the Church of God. She has a facility where she keeps a tour bus and concert equipment out on Cross Street in Anderson.

. . . but deliver us from the Evil One.

Prayer of Saint Ioannikios the Great (+ 846)

My hope is the Father, my refuge the Son, my protection the Holy Spirit. O Holy Trinity, glory to Thee.

The Jesus Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon me, a sinner.

The 50th Psalm Septuagint (51st Psalm KJV)

THE DESTITUTION OF SERVICE
 
“Though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved.” 2 Cor. xii. 15
 
Natural love expects some return, but Paul says – I do not care whether you love me or not, I am willing to destitute myself completely, not merely for your sakes, but that I may get you to God. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor.” Paul’s idea of service is exactly along that line – I do not care with what extravagance I spend myself, and I will do it gladly. It was a joyful thing to Paul.
 
The ecclesiastical idea of a servant of God is not Jesus Christ’s idea. His idea is that we serve Him by being the servants of other men. Jesus Christ out-socialists the socialists. He says that in His Kingdom he that is greatest shall be the servant of all. The real test of the saint is not preaching the gospel, but washing disciples’ feet, that is, doing the things that do not count in the actual estimate of men but count everything in the estimate of God. Paul delighted to spend himself out for God’s interests in other people, and he did not care what it cost. We come in with our economical notions – “Suppose God wants me to go there – what about the salary? What about the climate? How shall I be looked after? A man must consider these things.” All that is an indication that we are serving God with a reserve. The apostle Paul had no reserve. Paul focuses Jesus Christ’s idea of a New Testament saint in his life, viz.: not one who proclaims the Gospel merely, but one who becomes broken bread and poured out wine in the hands of Jesus Christ for other lives.
 
Oswald Chambers
February 25th Devotional

Scenes Beyond the Grave – Marietta Davis
Chapter XIII – Scene of Revolving and Living Thoughts
13:2

While thus my mental being seemed revolving in outward vision about my despairing thought, and while in the most absolute wretchedness my spirit longed to be delivered from the nether gloom, and to repossess the bodily form, another scene most terrible of all was suddenly made visible. It was the full and perfect representation of my Crucified Redeemer. Suddenly and in one continuous vision my entire life of thought concerning Him, passed in a separate embodiment before my mental view. In one compartment of vision, dotted with appropriate imagery, appeared those thoughts which I had conceived of Him as a man. In another compartment, also in correspondent images, appeared a representation of my thoughts in which I had conceived of Him as Divine. In another compartment still, appeared a representation of my thoughts concerning His special atonement for the limited number of the elect, and there in fearful forms, appeared those thoughts which had been mine when I had conceived myself to be doomed to endless punishment, because predestined to reprobation from eternity. Still in another compartment appeared, also in forms appropriate, my thoughts concerning the eternal salvation of all mankind without the necessity of special moral reformation, and without personal and living faith in the Savior in regard to His atonement. And still in another compartment appeared, also clad in images significant of their interior nature, those thoughts concerning Salvation by morality, independent of a special interior faith in Divine good. These separate compartments blended in one revolving sphere around me, in which were ten thousand confused and rapidly combining and separating images, which at once bewildered, excited and surcharged my mind. Thus my mental being moved in fearful vision about my thought, and every phase of doctrine concerning Christ, Heaven, Hell, Religion, or Eternal Life, which I had ever heard in discourse, or which I had conceived by study, or learned in conversation, or evolved in mental action, made a part of the tremendous sight.

Oh, how bewildering these conflicting yet associated ideas of the Redeemer! As they encircled me in one confused yet coherent cloud of imagery. I saw in each some distorted view of the Savior, but from none in their separate forms, neither in the entire cloud of changing views, could I behold Him as he is, and therefore the divine glory, honor, majesty and perfection could not be manifested in their exalting and redeeming power, and I could not see Him as a Prince and a Savior in that true character which He sustains to the world.

To be continued…

https://twitter.com/gegelsmr/status/1364620146334171141

Verse of the Day for Thursday, February 25, 2021

✟

“That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.” 

Psalms 83:18 (KJV)

Linking this tune because it’s 11 minutes long. Nobody any of you have likely heard of, but good lord was it fun to go to their live shows, oh holy crap, 30 years or so ago.

They usually did this as a closer, just about the time that 6th pint of Guinness was taking effect, which made it even better. Ah memories. too bad they all turned out to be shitlibs, but… LA, young people, entertainment industry.. can’t be helped I guess.

Open in a new tab or window, set and forget, while browsing CTH. ?

Well, link only didn’t work, still it’s just audio so do whatever.

Joe Biden’s Transgender Nominee for Assistant Health Secretary Faces Senate Hearing.

https://www.breitbart.com/health/2021/02/24/watch-joe-biden-transgender-nominee-faces-senate-hearing/

If ever there was a Bible verse for our times, this is surely one of them:

“Do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind.”

Romans 12:2

I hope this comes out. I don’t know how to post the video.
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Please share with everyone you know to help save our country!.Hello everyone, here is the latest update….https://lindelltv.com/

Mornin’ fellow Deplorables, it appears that c-span will not be covering much of CPAC this year. Programming on the website only shows they will televise President Trump’s speech on Sunday though my cable channel doesn’t have it showing.

Anyone know of a televised place to record CPAC? I like to record them so I can FF through RINO’s and listen to up and coming stars.

This is how you do it.

27-Year-Old Former Trump Admin Staffer Announces Congressional Campaign To Unseat Rep. Adam Kinzinger

A 27-year-old former Trump Administration staffer officially announced her congressional campaign to unseat Republican Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger following his impeachment vote.

Catalina Lauf, who previously served as a top advisor to the United States Department of Commerce under the Trump Administration, released a statement Tuesday announcing her Congressional run in the 16th District of Illinois.

O.M.G. ~ Just how low can humans go? Cannibalism anyone? Celebrity cannibalism? ?

https://bitelabs.org/

Border? On the insanity or sovereignty? https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-eu-leaders-consider-vaccine-passports/a-56682684

Remembering our quarters at Ft. Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX. :

We had several different species humming birds that nested in the bushes that bordered on side of the yard of our quarters. Probably because we kept a humming bird feeder filled. Those little suckers were dog fighting with each other all the time. During the nesting time Sherry would have to escort our poor Cocker out when in the yard because there was always a pair of mocking bird nesting in the huge oak tree in our back yard and they would dive bomb her. 

That oak tree in our back yard had a trunk at least 6′ in diameter. Oak grow very slowly down there in S. Texas and I figured that tree had been a scrub oak about the time the Alamo went down.  

By the time I was stationed at Ft. Sam Houston I was a Sr. Sergeant First Class and thus rated some pretty nice quarters. It was a 3 bedroom two bath stucco home with tile roof. Hardwood floors throughout accept in the baths and kitchen. A single car garage and utility room underneath. Nice little front porch. Built during the depression.

That huge oak in the back yard and a Magnolia tree in the front yard. St. Augustine grass. Sherry and I improved it with flower beds around it and patched the yard with plugs of St. Augustine grass along the steps of the walk where the grass had been eroded away. I used landscaping stones to step that incline along the steps down so that the ground wouldn’t erode again. On each side of the walk were large pots I bought in Mexico with Hibiscus plants in them. Loved the feel of that vining grass on my bare feet as long as I had managed to kill off the fire ants.

One time a water main had a leak uphill from us and I had called several times to the post maintenance office for them to come and fix it. They didn’t show and the water was causing my grass to be damaged by mold. So I got on the phone to a member of the committee that selected the yard of year winners that had given me her number and told me to call if I ever had a problem. Next thing I knew a Lt. Col from the office of post commander showed up. I showed him the problem. The next day the maintenance people were there and fixed the leak. We took good care of the place and our yard and I would alternate in a diagonal pattern cutting the grass. I also dethatched the grass.  

For those efforts we won Enlisted persons yard of the month several times and then post yard of the year. Besides a cash prize I would also get an excellent on my Noncommissioned Officers Evaluation Report for care of government property every time we won. My SF instructor peers made fun of me for that but the real reason for their kidding me was that they were jealous because getting an excellent for anything on that evaluation reoirt was difficult to do and helped with promotion.  

We really enjoyed those quarters located on a ridgeline that allowed us to look out our back yard and see for miles.. Saw many a rainbow from there also. And Ft. Sam is an old Army post with a long parade field bordered on one side by the big old officers houses built in the 1800s. Lot of history. It was at one time home of the Calvary. The old quadrangle had been used to hold Geronimo. Teddy Roosevelt’s rough riders assembled and trained there before shipping of to Florida for their deployment to Cuba. Black Jack Pershing used it for his HQ during the expedition into Mexico to go after Poncho Vila. Both Eisenhower and Patton were stationed there at one time. The Wright Brothers made one of their very first demonstrations of the aircraft that the US Signal Corp would eventually buy there. They took off and landed right on the parade field. After WW II the US Army Health Services Command was established there and remains there today along with Brooke Army Medical Center which is the premier military medical in all the US Armed Forces.

George Harrison’s Birthday
February 25, 1943

We’re surrounded by zombies
“Over the past year, government has stripped Americans of their freedom, right to work, right to peaceably assemble, mobility, concerts, theater, museums, money and dignity – and Democrats are worried about completely imaginary issues. It shows the power of propaganda”
And yet the number one concern of Democrats polled is Trump Supporters!.
Hopelessly Brainwashed People | Real Climate Science

Well it’s time for a new phone. I have my older personal phone but was using it only to stream music in the truck and used the work phone they issued me for everything else. But now they have changed their phone program and work and only the top dogs get company phones. From now on we will be paid a stipend for using our personal phone for company business.
One thing I must do on the road is picture scan various documentation at times and transmit them in.. My old phones camera is marginal for that purpose. So a new phone it will be before I head back to work and I will have the data transferred from the company phone to my new phone.. Android like the last one which is the same OS that the company uses. Will also have to get roaming in Canada!

February 12th on the traditional Calendar of the Orthodox Christian Church and February 25th on the civil or commercial calendar.

Among the Saints honored today is Chrestos the Gardener (+1748) who was born in Albania, but went to Constantinople at the age of 40. He was slandered by a Turk, thrown in jail, tortured, and finally beheaded. The Holy Martyr remained a Christian to the end.

lilbirdee12’s prayer:

Our Heavenly Father, Your children come to you tonight to ask for healing and peace throughout our country so that we may return to being One Nation Under God. Guide us to be leaders in Your Kingdom, spreading Your Love and Salvation to all. Forgive us our sins and deliver us from evil.

Lord, we ask for a blanket of protection over all our troops and law enforcement who serve to defend and protect us. Bless our representatives with the strength and wisdom they need to achieve the path You have chosen for us.

Please place Your Guardian Angels of Protection around Donald Trump and his family as they seek to lead America back to You. Also, we pray for Angels to protect and support our Sundance as he works for justice and peace. 

Grant us patience, Lord, as the evil ones try to anger us and cause us to fall.
Spread blessings over Israel and Netanyahu.

We humbly ask that You please comfort those who are grieving and in pain.
Thank you Father, for Your Love and the gift of Life.

In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.

Anyone heard any news of the Coalition for Content Provenance and Authenticity (C2PA)? Just what I have found so far on it today, it bodes ill.

Just a couple of links that I found on this new organization.

https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2021/02/25/bokhari-microsoft-and-friends-want-to-destroy-online-privacy/

https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2021/02/23/c2pa-coalition/

Leftists are willfully ignorant https://www.newsroom.co.nz/disgust-over-chinas-state-sponsored-uyghurface

“half my brain tied behind my back just to make it fair…”

I miss you, Rush.

nm