THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MARCH 11^th th, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE LAST SHALL BE FIRST

 

 

 

 

 

In the 20^th chapter

Of Saint Matthew’s Gospel

Jesus tells us the parable

Of a landowner hiring workers

 

He hires

Some workers in the morning

He hires

Some in mid-day

And he hires some

 Late in the day

 

When it comes time

For payment

He pays them

All the same wages

 

Is Jesus being unfair

What is Jesus

Trying to teach us

 

Jesus is NOT being unfair

Because he paid everyone

What he promised to pay them

 

I think here again

Jesus is trying to teach us

That God’s ways

Are NOT our ways

 

I think he is

Trying to teach us

That it makes no difference

When you come to God

As long as

YOU DO

Come to God

 

And I think Jesus

Is trying to teach us

That the payment

Is the same for us

No matter when we come to God

As long as

We do come to God

 

And the payment is

GOD’S UNDYING LOVE FOR US
AND SPENDING OUR ETERNITY WITH HIM

IN HEAVEN

 

Robert P. Wallman

5-27-10

 

 

THE PERFECT GAME=THE PERFECT LIFE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WITNESS

 

 

8-9-13

 

 

THE PERFECT GAME---THE PERFECT LIFE

 

 

 

 

On a rainy---muggy night in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

In late May of 1959

A 33-year-old left-handed journeyman---pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates

Threw what many consider to be

The greatest game ever pitched

 

2000 years ago

A man lived

What many consider to be

The greatest life ever lived

 

A life of kindness

A life of compassion

A life of forgiveness

And a life of love---FOR ALL

 

The first man---Harvey Haddix---from---Medved, Ohio

Threw a perfectly pitched game of baseball

For 12 innings

 

Not just for nine innings---but for twelve innings

               27 batters up---27 batters down

               30 batters up---30 batters down

               ……..well you get the idea

 

Then in the bottom of the 13^th inning

A usually sure-handed third baseman

By the name of Don Hoak makes an error

And the Pirates lose

 

Yet in my mind---STILL

The greatest game ever pitched

 

2000 years ago

A man in my mind

Lived the greatest life ever lived

 

A live full of compassion and kindness

 

Compassion means

To have pity for

And to show kindness to another

 

“Let us not become weary

In doing good
For at the proper time

We will reap a harvest

If we do not give up

 

Therefore

As we have opportunity

Let us do good to all people

Especially to those

Who belong to the family of believers”                                    Galatians 6:9-10

 

And HOW did Christ live his life?

 

“Jesus went through

All the towns and villages

Preaching the good news of the kingdom

And healing every disease and sickness

 

When he saw the crowd

He had compassion on them

Because they were harassed and helpless

Like sheep without a shepherd”                                                     Matthew 9:35-36

 

And what about forgiveness?

 

In his dying breath, Jesus said,

 

“Father, forgive them

For they do not know

What they are doing”                                                                       Luke 23:34

 

An innocent man---freely and innocently

Giving up his life for all

 

“My command is this

Love each other

As I have loved you

Greater love has no one

Than to lay down his life

For his friends

 

Today you are my friends

If you do what I command”                                                   John 15:13&14

 

In 1994 Harvey Haddix died

With his game

Not even being recorded as a perfect game

Due to changes in baseball rules in 1991

 

Yet in my mind

STILL---the greatest game ever pitched

 

Jesus Christ died

Some 2000 years ago

 

Yet---in my mind

STILL---the greatest life ever lived

AND MY LORD---MY SAVIOR---AND MY GOD

 

In a world that has gone mad

With materialism

With sexual lust

And with “scientific miracles”

 

I feel that like Harvey

The world is trying to REMOVE

HIS name from the record books

 

“TODAY I CALL YOU FRIEND”

 

Robert P. Wallman

2-7-12

 

 

Ps         WITNESS        8-9-13 and 3-11-2026

 

A FRIEND OF GOD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MARCH 10^th, 2012

 

 

 

 

 

A FRIEND OF GOD

 

 

 

 

I am

A friend of God

His message

Is written in my heart

 

I am

A friend of God

His message is written

In my soul

 

I am

A friend of God

His message

Is always on my mind

 

Maybe

I will never do great things

Maybe his message

Will only be seen

In my smile

 

When I have the patience

To listen to

Another living soul

 

But I will always know

I am a friend of God

And that his message

Is always written

In love

 

I am

A friend of God

I am

A friend of yours too

 

One thing I know is

God’s message

Is always written in love

 

Robert P. Wallman

9-9-06

WELCOME HOME PRODIGAL SON

 

 

 

 

 

 

“Welcome Home Prodigal Son”

 

In the 15^th chapter

Of Saint Luke’s Gospel

Jesus tells the story

Of the lost son

And his loving Father

 

We call it

The story of the Prodigal Son

What is interesting

Is never once in the story

Does Luke use the word “prodigal”

 

The young son

Sets off for a distant land

And squanders all his wealth

On wild living

 

How many of us

Haven’t made a mistake or two

When we were young

 

When famine hits

And after he has

Squandered everything he has

He decides to go home

And throw himself at the mercy

Of his Father

 

But to his surprise

Instead of being mad

His Father throws a party for him

 

To the Father’s surprise

The older brother

Refuses to join the party

He feels he has been slighted

Because he has been loyal and dependable

 

Which brings us to the point

Which of us isn’t guilty of something

Something done or something left undone

 

For every sin committed

There are 100 good deeds

Left undone

For every violent act

There are 100 acts of

Coldness, indifference, and condescending attitudes

We all deserve

A second chance

 

As Dickens wrote,

“There is so much bad in the best of us

And so much good in the worst of us

It ill becomes any of us

To speak badly of the rest of us”

 

WELCOME HOME “PRODIGAL” SON

 

Robert P. Wallman

5/19/10  and 3-10-2026

 

·          This writing was inspired by the teaching of Father Leo Clifford.

 

LUKE 15 and 16=and ACTS 15 and 16=BIBLE STUDY NOTES=for MVF CHERYL and Bobby Bob

 

 

 

 

 

 

LUKE 15 1nd 16=and ACTS 15 and 16=For

MVF Cheryl and Bobby Boy=3-09-2026=6PM PLUS

 

Luke 15

 

CHAPTER 15=Parables of GOD’S MERCY

 

=GOD’S JOY=is IN Forgiving and RESTORING THE LOST!

 

1=Parables of THE LOST SHEEP

-The SHEPHERD Leaves the other 99 sheep=To go and FIND

THE ONE LOST

(God REJOICES=when a SINNER RETURNS)!

 

2=PARABLE OF THE LOST COIN=

A WOMAN=searches her house=for a LOST COIN=and REJOICES

When she finds it

(EVEN ONE lost person is=PRECIOUS TO GOD)!

 

3=The PARABLE OF THE PRODIGAL SON

(The younger SON=Wastes HIS FORTUNE=and repents=and RETURNS HOME

To his Father=His Father WELCOMES HIM HOME=but the older SON RESENTS HIM

MESSAGE=GOD FORGIVES US COMPLETELY=when we REPENT=and

SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS=in the form of the OLDER BROTHER is=A SIN TOO!

 

 

LUKE 16

 

1=PARABLE OF THE SHREWD MANAGER

 

A DISHONEST MANAGER=REDUCES  other’s debts=TO GAIN FAVOR=

BEFORE Losing his job

 

=BE WISE=BE FORWARD THINKING

=USE  worldly RESOURCES=for GOD’S ETERNAL GLORY

 

2=TEACHINGS ON MONEY

CHOOSE GOD or money=You CANNOT serve them BOTH!

=LOYALTY TO GOD=IS MOST IMPORTANT!

 

3=THE RICH MAN=AND LAZARUS

 

=A rich man=LIVES IN LUXURY=while a POOR MAN=Lazarus suffers

=AFTER the death of each of them=THEIR ROLES ARE REVERSED=and

 

THE rich man is in TORMENT=and Lazarus is in COMFORT

THE MESSAGE=Wealth=status and favor=IN THIS WORLD=does NOT BRING

GOD’S LOVE

 

OUR ETERNAL HOME=Depends on=HOW WE LIVE=and RESPOND to

God and OTHERS!

 

KEY THEMES FROM LUKE 15 and 16

 

1=GOD seeks and REJOICES OVER THE LOST

2=REPENTANCE BRINGS RESTORATION!

3=Wealth is TEMPORARY=ETERNITY is what matters

4=BE FAITHFUL to the LORD= and BE COMPASSIONATE to others!

 

 

ACTS 15

THE JERUSALEM COUNCIL and=UNITY IN THE CHURCH

 

THE QUESTION=MUST THE GENTILES=FOLLOW THE LAW?

 

SOME BELIEVE=The TEACHINGS of the Pharisees=that GENTILES=

Must be CIRCUMSISED=and FOLLOW THE LAW OF MOSES=to be SAVED

(ie.   MAJOR DISAGREEMENT BETWEEN Paul and Barnabas)=and others

 

2=THE JERUSALEM COUNCIL

The LEADERS=Gather in Jerusalem to DECIDE THE MATTER

 

Peter says=That God gave THE HOLY SPIRIT To the GENTILES=without

The LAW=and EMPHASIZES=SALVATION is from GRACE=NOT THE LAW

 

Paul and Barnabas SHARE=How God=WORKED IN THE GENTILES!

James SUPPORTS them=USING THE SCRIPTURES!

 

FINAL DECISION=The Gentiles=Do NOT need to FOLLOW the ENTIRE

Jewish Law=But are asked to AVOID

 

Food sacrificed to IDOLS=Blood=Meat of strangles animals=and

SEXUAL IMMORALITY!

 

THE MEANING=Have UNITY=without UNNECESSARY BURDENS

 

3=THE LETTER=to the GENTILE CHURCHES

This letter CONFIRMS the decision=and BRINGS=

UNITY AND PEACE

 

4=Paul and Barnabas SEPARATE!=

Because of their DISAGREEMENT=Over taking John Mark=

On the NEXT JOURNEY

 

IE.=Barnabas takes Mark=and Paul takes Silas

 

 

ACTS 16=

GUIDANCE=CONVERSION=and SUFFERING

1=Timothy JOINS PAUL

=Paul meets Timothy=and takes him along=FOR MINISTRY TOO!

 

2=THE MACEDONIAL CALL

=PAUL is GUIDED BY=the Holy Spirit of GOD!

 

-They are PREVENTED=form going into CERTAIN REGIONS=Paul

-RECEIVES a vision=from a man FROM Macedonia=NEEDING HELP

 

The MESSAGE=The HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD=Directs WHERE the gospel goes=and

TO WHOM!

 

3=LYDIA’S CONVERSION

In Philippi=Lydia-a BUSINESS WOMAN=BELIEVES the message=and

IS BAPTIZED=along with her household

 

4=Paul and Silas are IMPRISONED!

=They cast a DEMON out =of a slave girl=UPSETTING HER OWNERS=who

Are LOSING a profit

 

=Paul and Silas are BEATEN and JAILED

=They PRAY=and sing hymns of PRAISE IN PRISON=and

=An earthquake=OPENS the prison doors

 

5=The PHILIPPIAN JAILER IS SAVED

=After the ESCAPE=the jailer is=GOING TO KILL HIMSELF=but

Paul STOPS HIM!=and the jailer asks=

“WHAT must I do=TO BE SAVED?”=They tell him to BELIVE IN

THE LORD JESUS

 

=-The jailer and HIS HOUSEHOLD ARE BAPTIZED

 

6=RELEASE AND APOLOGY

=Paul REVEALS his ROMAN CITIZENSHIP=So the authorities apologize

And RELEASE THEM!

 

KEY THEMES of Acts 15 and 16

 

1=SALVATION is by GRACE=Not by the LAW

2=There is UNITY in the Church=despite the differences

3=God does ACTIVELY GUIDE=HIS BELIEVERS!

4=The gospel=SPREADS across the many CULTURES

5=JOY and FAITH=can be ALIVE=even in OUR SUFFERING

6=God can TRANSFORM LIVES=as he did for Lydia and the Jailer

 

 

RPW For MVF Cheryl and Bobby Boy=3-09-2026=7PM

 

 

 

THE PATRON SAINT OF MOTORISTS!

 

SAINT FRANCES OF ROME

Saint Frances of Rome

Was a MUCH LOVED

Wonder working ROMAN Saint

She was 

A person of means

With a keen sense

Of social responsibility

And mystic

And an INSPIRATIONAL leader

Who founded

A Benedictine order

Of women-OBLATES

Without vows

DEDICATED to the

SERVICE of the poor

She was married

To Lorenzo Ponziano

At the age of 13

Although she really

Desired to be a nun

In the same household

Lived her husband's brother

And his wife

These two

Shared Frances' ideas

And together the two young wives

DEVOTED themselves

To relieving

The distress of Rome's poor

ESPECIALLY in hospitals

In 1400

She bore the first

Of her six children

To whom

She was constantly devoted

And the next year

Took over charge

Of the whole household

She was NEVER known

To have a quarrel

In her forty years

of married life

To Lorenzo Ponziano

She LOVE AND SERVED Christ

In a special was

And her advice

To the ladies she inspired

Was that a married woman

MUST not forget

She is a home maker 

And that

“She must SOMETIMES

Leave God

At the altar

To find him

IN her housework”

In 1408

THEY were singled out

For their prominent support

Of the popes

But Frances

Continued under DIFFICULT circumstances

And much suffering

To minister to the poor

AMONG her sorrows

Was the death 

Of a nine-year-old son

And a teenage daughter

Her husband's banishment

And the plunder

Of family estates

In 1425

AFTER the death of  her two children

SHE FOUNDED

A society of DEVOUT women

Under the rule

Of Saint Benedict 

And after her husband's death

In 1436 Frances entered the community

And became its superior

For the remaining four years 

Of her life

Various revelations-visions

And STRANGE illness

Are recorded of this

PARTICULARLY GENTLE Saint

Including her CONTINUOUS vision

Of several years

Of her GUARDIAN ANGEL

For this reason

She was NAMED

THE PATRON SAINT OF MOTORISTS

And she is also

Patroness of Benedictine OBLATES

She was canonized in 1608

And her feast day is MARCH 9th

Robert P. Wallman

4-7-14

Ps        3-9-20 and  3-9-2026

SAINT JOHN OF GOD

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SAINT JOHN OF GOD---patron Saint of the sick-hospitals

                                           And of book sellers and printers

                                           1495-1550

 

 

 

 

 

Saint John of God

Was born in Portugal

And was founder of the Brothers Hospitallers

 

He joined the mercenaries

And fought for Spain

Against the French and Turks in Hungary

 

When he was in the army

He gave up ALL practice of religion

After the disbandment of his troop

He worked as a Shepherd

 

At the age of 40

He rededicated himself to God

And helping the poor

 

He suffered a period of “madness”

Running through the streets

Tearing out his hair

And giving away his Sacred books

From the bookstore where he sold them

 

His friends---most notably John of Avila

Calmed him down

And he rededicated himself

To the sick and the poor

 

He rented a house---

Filled it with sick poor people

And for over 10 years

Devoted himself to taking care of his patients

 

He had never-ending energy

But this was balanced by prayer

 

His final illness

Was brought on

When he saved a man from drowning

In a flood

 

He died at the age of 55

Before the altar at his hospital chapel

 

Today---he is known as the PATRON SAINT

Of the SICK---of HOSPITALS---and booksellers and printers

 

Today---March 8^th---is his feast day

 

Robert P. Wallman

3-8-12

 

 

ps        misc.       WITNESS       3-8-14

 

and 3-8-2019 and 3-08-2021 sites=sites 3-09-2026