Beech Tree News Network

We all have at least one song that explains us.  Artists have a way of writing or singing a song that has us going “yes! That’s definitely me”! Whether it be life in general, your current relationship situation or lack thereof, everyone can pick at least one.  For example, if you’ve had enough of your job, your song may be Johnny Paycheck’s “Take This Job and Shove It”. 

The online Merriam Webster dictionary describes a friend as someone we like and with whom we enjoy spending time (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/friend). Many of us can recall a disagreement with a friend or a time we felt the need to take a break from a friend. In childhood this is common. After a few hours together, the best of friends can have a dispute. Because we are different, we engage with friends differently. As we mature, we learn to preserve friendships by practicing unspoken rules.

“No U-Hauls behind the hearse.”
I’m sure most of us have heard this at one time or another.
    Years ago there was a popular movie titled, “You Can’t Take It With You.”  The elite pagans throughout history had their most treasured passions’ buried with them; including their wives in some cases.  In some extreme cases, we read where if a wife should survive the man, the husband has left instructions for her to be slain and accompany him to the hereafter.

One day after work, Garey and I watched as two cars pulled up side by side in the parking lot next door.  A small boy climbed out of one car, opened the trunk and dragged out an overnight bag.  He put it into the trunk of the other car.  We knew immediately what was going on.  The ritual of divorce was playing out in this parking lot in the same way it was playing out in parking lots across this land.

Prior to the crucifixion, Pilate tried to release Jesus (Jn. 19:9; Mk. 15:3-5; Isa. 53:7). Pilate knew Jesus had been delivered out of “envy” (Matt. 27:18), so he appealed to the people and their customary “prisoner release” during the Passover. He allowed the Jews to choose between Jesus or Barabbas (Jn. 18:39-40). Sadly, the people chose Barabbas instead of Christ (Matt. 27:15-21). Seeing that he was getting nowhere, he took water and literally, “washed his hands” of the situation. He stated, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves” (Matt. 27:24).

Alternatively referred to as “ The Run for the Roses” and “The most exciting two minutes in sports”, the Kentucky Derby draws an average of 150,000 visitors each year, including residents, out-of-towners, celebrities, presidents and even members of royal families. 

I’ve admitted before that I like to read, and recently my reading has included some health-related information. The following information is unrelated and is in random order.

One Sunday night at our church small group, my friend, Brenda, said she had always wanted a pig farm but could never convince her husband, Bill, that it was a good idea.
“Why a pig farm?” I asked.
    “I’ve always loved the idea of seeing a mama pig with her little babies,” she said.
    “She never lived on a farm,” Bill said, with a knowing look.
    “We raised a garden,” Brenda protested.

Last week, we studied about baptism and saw things that baptism does in the lives of people. Since we studied about what baptism does last week, let us take a moment to understand that there are some things that baptism does not do. What are some things baptism does not do?

You know how they always say that bad news always happens in three’s? First of all, who is this “they” I keep hearing about? I have no idea.  Last week, Prince unexpectedly died.  Michael Strahan announced he was leaving Live for GMA.  Not death, you say? Technically, not of a person.  It is, however, a death of a partnership.  A pretty bitter death at that, if you’ve been keeping up with the whole ordeal.