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Living Epistles

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:42:10 -0500

Here are stories, real life stories, of the indwelling Spirit,

Men who live The Word in Day to Day Situations

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Al Knudsen

This probably may be my last contact with my two brothers. We were born in Arendal, Norway and immigrated to the U. S. with our Mother (‘Nille’) in 1929\, she passed away the following year and we were raised in an ‘orphan home’. Not being ‘a close knit’ family, except for an occasional Christmas card, I thought I should let my ‘big-brothers’ know I’m O.K….

To both of my 'Big Brothers'

Sev and Chris;

Back in late July, of 1944, while waiting to enter the French town of St. Lo, our convoy of the 99th. Inf. Bn. (sep.) was spotted by "bed-check Charlie". It was a pitch black night (and our convoy was probably reported by 'French Krauts') out of nowhere flares lit up the sky like noonday...We woke up startled by the light and “Messerschmitts” diving down with guns ablaze. The convoy stopped and everyone hit the ditches. I was one of the first, being a 19 year old kid with survival still a prime instinct.

It was a deep drainage ditch with a culvert the size of my head, which didn't stop me from trying to enter it. The worst part, I was first and everyone else dove on top of me which gave me a sense of safety. The problem, I was so scared the cheeks of my butt were shaking uncontrollably...I was too proud to show how 'chicken' I was so I forced myself into a push-up which stopped the shakes. The next thing was; I found myself promising God, "If you get me out of this, I promise I'll read the Bible cover to cover".

Our 'guys' came and chased the 'Jerry's' away. We got back on the road and early next morning, as far as the eye could see, the sky was filled with B-17's. Shortly, we heard the bombs landing and could see the smoke coming from St. Lo...A few hours later our convoy was driving through the center of the town but all that was left standing were a few remnants of what were chimneys. I felt I could stand on a chair in the middle of town and view the whole city...looked like an 'over-kill' to me.

Several weeks later, the 99th was to capture 'Elbeuf', (our first real man to man 'combat').

I was the 'messenger' for our platoon. A stout young kid who could easily carry a 50 lb. bulky radio and run between the squads, keeping the top-sergeant up to date. Our platoon had set up machine gun positions at 'critical spots' and I carried that info to our Company Headquarters.

What no one realized was, we were infantry against what appeared to be 'tiger' tanks!

Someone called out 'KNUTE', that was me! I was told to find our 2nd section, and find out the problem!!! I knew where they were, but bullets were flying up and down the streets so I had no choice but to go through the backyards...This involved scaling about five 6 foot brick-walls, ( without my radio ) time was of an essence.

When I reached the 3^rd.and 4^th Squads, they were huddled up in a corner of a backyard, without their machine guns! I asked where are your weapons? They were left at their placements because tanks were coming and everyone scrambled. Without thinking, I went out and carried one of the guns and tripod back behind the fence but before I could get the other, a big 'tiger' tank was starring at me...I hauled ass! Then scaled my way back over the walls to get some 'anti-tank' support.

Eventually, in minutes, I was telling the battalion executive officer, Major 'Harold D. Hansen' the problem. He phoned for tank support and was told there was none! But he managed to get a 'Bazooka' and three shells. He gave me the bazooka, (it was lighter) and told me to take him to the section. So, we scaled our way back over the walls pitching over the 'ammo' and bazooka as we went. We bypassed the 'guys' and went straight to where the tank was 'jockeying' for position to get at the 'guys'...We hid behind a blown-out hole in the last wall... then he says to me, "have you ever shot this 'thing', I meekly said "nope"!!!

After we both figured out how it worked, we wired it up, loaded a shell, and he told me to take the first shot, I carefully took aim through the proper sight and squeezed the trigger...The flash of the rocket blinded me...( you’re supposed to wear a 'welders mask ).

But, it found its mark and to make sure, the Major reloaded and I told him I couldn't see because of the 'flashback'. So, he took the second shot and the tank turned and took off down the street.

(Later, we were told; an anti-tank artillery gun had moved up and got the tank as it was escaping and shot the crew as they came out of the turret.)

After the tank left, we got the section of guys calmed down, lined up and 'white-flagged' our other gun positions to let the guys while (hugging the buildings) run down the street to safety.

The Major and I parted. I was glad it was over... Shortly thereafter, I heard that the battalion Headquarters had received a direct hit killing Pvt. Jorsted and fatally wounding Lt. Lindholm

(both of them from my company).

The Battalion Commander, Col. Turner, was seriously wounded and Major Hansen was made Battalion Commander.

I often wondered, had Major Hansen not helped me get the tank, he would have been at the command post? (C'est le guerre!) Yes, I did again promise God, "I would read the whole Bible"...

The best part was, I got promoted to Sergeant (at 19 years old) the Major got the French 'Croix de Guerre' plus made Battalion Commander. ( that made me proud)...

I forgot to mention, when we were sniping at the 'Jerries' from the buildings... the major sees a chicken coop with eggs... he grabs a couple and makes me swallow two! raw!

(he said, they'd give me strength) it was an order! And, yes, I did upchuck!

Chris, do you remember the time on the 'Canal Drive' when I came across you as you had five young German soldiers carrying your 'Medic Buddy' with his chest riddled by a 'burp' gun...

You were really hot and very mad and threatened to shoot them all as soon as they carried your 'Buddy' back, and I made you promise me that you wouldn't DO IT! That… was a scary day and yes, I made the promise...

Again, in Wurselen, when the battalion blocked Romels (?) German Army from escaping from Aachen. (our battalion was attached to the 1st. Div. and the 2nd, Ranger battalion… both D-Day veterans), they said this was far worse than Omaha Beach.

That's when you lost your 'buddy' who we all knew from 'Bergenfield' ...Yes, I made another promise...

And finally: “The Bulge”, where your squad stopped the German ‘SS’ assault for Malmedy. ‘B’-Company had just ‘dug-in' when the 'Jerrys' dressed like G.I.s with American Jeeps and Tanks approached and some gutsy 'G.I.' jumped off the Jeep and screamed 'GERMANS'...then all hell broke loose...and I knew you were there! YUP! I made another promise...

Oh! By the way, the German assault by the ‘SS’ troops made them turn their assault south to Bastogne…Where those guys got all the “glory” if there is such…anyway, we were a small outfit, just doing ‘our’ job!

I think that's the last time I was coerced into making 'the promise'. That was in December, 1944! Sixty-Five years ago!

Now it's September 2009, and believe it or not...I did it!

I ran across a deal that says you can read the whole bible in 90 days!!! Simply by reading 12 pages a day! I figured that I've pushed my 'luck' far enough...So, beginning on June 1st. this year until August 31^st, twelve pages, each day (a cake walk). The best part is, by running it all together, I learned more than I've ever imagined:

There are 66 'books' in the bible. 39 books in the 'old' Testament and 27 books in the 'new' Testament.

The whole bible was written by Jewish authors, except two were written by a Gentile (non-Jew). They are; the Acts of the Apostles and the Gospel (good-news) of Luke. Actually, 'Luke' was the only ‘gentile’ to author books of ‘the Bible’! How do I know Luke was a gentile?

(From here on in I’m taking liberty of putting in my own thinking as to what I believe is ‘inferred’.) subject to your own input as you read.

In Colossians, chapter 4, Paul tells of the ‘only two Jews’ with him and mentions Mark and Justus; in the same paragraph he mentions Luke but not as one of his fellow Jews! This is my ‘unauthorized’ input. There's more! The gospels of Mathew, Mark and John were written for Jewish converts of the 'messiah', Jesus. The promised, “King of the Jews”, from the line of David (Judah).

The gospel according to Luke, I believe, was written for gentile believers of the 'savior’ Jesus. The promised 'Lamb' of God, from the tribe of priests...'Levi'… Mary, the earthly mother of Jesus was a relative of Elizabeth; wife of Zechariah, the priest (a 'Levite') and father of John the Baptist. (he, baptized for ‘the repentance of sins…not, forgiveness of sins… that required ‘blood’!)…and Christ was not ‘baptized’ for sin…He had no sin!

But was ‘baptized (anointed) by John as the sign (a dove) identifying Jesus as the ‘Messiah’. It fulfilled prophesy!

I believe it say’s; that Christ is from the order of Melchizedek. Both, as a King to the Jews (Joseph was the ‘husband’ of Mary, from the tribe of David) and; as a High Priest, to the Gentiles (through Mary, from the tribe of Levi, related to Elizabeth, a descendant of Aaron and wife of Zechariah, parents of John the Baptist.

Actually, the disciples believed that Christ was to set up a Kingdom and they would have ‘honored’ places…When Christ was crucified, they ’knew’ or thought ‘it’ was all over! (example):

Only one (John) was at the cross…and only women went to the tomb! Peter and John came after the women ran and told them…it was ‘empty’!

Also, there were two disciples on the 'road to Emmaus'...Luke mentions the 'other one' Cleopas...Luke knew this because he was the other one...Also, Luke's gospel covers more of Christ’s life ( like details of his birth etc.) which were told to Cleopas and Luke, by Christ , on the 'Road to Emmaus'.( Christ comes to the ‘gentiles)…

While most people believe in 'a' God...Big deal, so does Satan, even more than they do!

In the 'book' of Exodus, Moses, is asking God what his name is...I don't think God can be 'confined' to a name. The answer Moses gets is: "I AM THAT I AM". (NO BEGINING, NO END!)

I've often thought that; if ever there was a moment or ( split-second ) when there was absolutely nothing...(NOTHING CAN ONLY COME OUT OF NOTHING) BUT THERE IS SOMETHING) so there was never a 'nothing'… (IT IS THAT SIMPLE).

Today, scientists claim to know all the elements, but there is 'something' else; but, they claim they don't know what ...just 'something that holds matter together ...so they call it 'dark matter'... I believe 'it' is Gods presence...( not to be construed as ‘GOD’ in nature or worse: worshipping nature as God!... that is idolatry or ‘hog-wash’!

As to creation, "a day is as a thousand years to God"...God is a SPIRIT! Not subject to time, form, or description...everything that exists was created by Him…”Let there be light” (the BIG BANG!)

Written a couple thousand years before these ‘scientists’ were even born…like it’s ‘their’ discovery!

The 'seven' days of 'creation' could well be 'Ages upon Ages' or mere seconds!

Our simple minds will never be able to comprehend the majesty nor scope of the "I AM". “ Without God, nothing was made, that

Is made”… That puts it pretty simple…

God did create man in 'His Image', even breathed life, (soul & spirit, into him)...Man is a creator like God...animals can not create...they live by habit!

Adam was the creation of God...Women was made from man...and man comes from woman....so, no bragging rights!

The woman believed what Satan said...and tasted the fruit of the tree of good and evil… it was good and it didn't physically kill her, even gave Adam a taste, wham! They were 'flesh' but lost the 'spirit', (spiritual death). (it was breathed into Adam). Adam also disobeyed God by not only eating from the tree of 'Good and Evil'... but… when asked… said: "The woman 'YOU' gave me!!! He's blaming God!

They both get kicked out of the garden...

Man's 'stupid revenge' is to make-up his 'own' gods... of wood and stone and all other diversions; television, crossword puzzles, sports figures, movie stars, solitaire, etc. anything that replaces ( and/or worships them), in place of their creator, it got so bad, a flood wiped out all but eight, Noah, his wife three sons and their wives…

Why not wipe them all out and get a new start? Well, God loved ‘man’… “He breathed life into him”...then the tower of babble! Mankind gets scattered all over the world; new nations, languages, customs and religions.

After repopulation, a man named Abram is found to be one who seeks ‘not’ for man-made 'gods' so God calls Abram out from the "UR of the Chaldeans" (modern day Iran or Iraq) isn't that the 'pits'...it's all in Genesis.

God changes Abrams name to Abraham, the father of Isaac and Jacob and the ‘twelve tribes’…The ‘Hebrews’ (“Gods-chosen", people).

At one point (in Genesis) Abraham gets blessed by Melchizedek king of 'Salem' (peace). What's special about this? Melchizedek is both a ‘KING’ and a ‘HIGH PRIEST’... WHICH IS, EXACTLY WHAT JESUS IS!

The 'Christ' was born to be 'King of the Hebrews’ (Jews) and was rejected by the Jewish leaders who saw Jesus as a problem to their ‘lucrative’ control of the temples wealth, with Roman approval…both crucified Jesus as the ‘king of the Jews’. And, being rejected by the Jewish leaders as their King…Jesus becomes the 'High Priest' (of the gentiles). By His sacrifice as the perfect 'Lamb of God' (himself). Effectively, Jesus enters the 'Holy of Holies' (tearing the Veil from top to bottom ) this actually happened and sprinkles the 'blood of the lamb' (HIS own) on the Altar of God...( Jewish priests had to do this, once every year, Christ did it once, for all eternity!)

The greatness of this is, The Law, is over with!!!! from here on, it is by Faith. (BELIEVING) by the Grace of GOD…

Most of this is covered in ‘Paul’s’ letters to the early churches; Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon and probably Hebrews.

All these letters were written to gentile believers except ‘Hebrews’ was written to Jewish believers of the ‘Messiah’ (Paul’s message was, Salvation by Faith alone, not by the ‘Law’: (“Ten Commandments” nor “Circumcision”).

GOD IS NOW JUSTIFIED TO FORGIVING MANKIND COMPLETELY …JUST BY FAITH ALONE...'I DO BELIEVE THAT'...

(Also, another prime factor):

-example;

The Psalms were written about 1,000 years before the birth of Christ...in the 22nd Psalm, it depicts Christ on the cross, even to the Roman soldiers tossing dice for his garment...it's a fantastic read! Actually, it is unbelievable! Many people know the 23rd. Psalm, by heart! But skip the 22^nd!

There are many others; did you know how Christ also depicts the “Lamb of GOD”?: HE was born in a ‘manger’ (a place where male lambs, unblemished, the first born, are kept for temple slaughter)…That’s why it was announced to the shepherds “in the field”…’They knew’…they didn’t just happen to be there! It

Was their duty to supply the Temple with “Pascal” lambs…

( male lambs, ‘first’ born, without blemish). When the angels announced it…they knew where to go! I believe the ‘Magi’ came sometime later and presented their valuable gifts…

When Joseph, Mary and Jesus had to flee to Egypt, they were well endowed!

Also, for hundreds of years ( to Moses and the Levitical Law),

a lamb was ‘purchased’ and’ scrutinized’ for perfection on the ‘tenth day’ of the “Passover month” then on the ‘fourteenth day’ the lamb was slaughtered …Christ entered Jerusalem (‘we’ call it “Psalm Sunday)…on the ‘tenth day’ and Jesus, who was ‘scrutinized by the Pharisees, Sadducees and Sanhedrin… was declared by the ‘judge’ Pontius Pilate, “ I find NO FAULT in this MAN”…’the lamb was unblemished’ even though the Pharisees and Sadducees and the Sanhedrin objected…the ‘BOSS’ spoke! JESUS was crucified on the ‘fourteenth day’! Just like the “unblemished Pascal (Passover) Lambs”… prophesy fulfilled!

AND YOU THINK THIS IS JUST HAPPENSTANCE! Let’s get real!

If you think Jesus was following a “script”…Who would want to be the ‘star’…I wouldn’t try out for the part?

(This, is just one of many prophesies that give detail to stuff that happened hundreds of years later)...

10.

My point, simply, the Bible is without doubt…

God inspired!!

And now as my time ebbs away, I've completed my resolve yet, during the 'sojourn',

I was greatly blessed by GOD. I've spent a lot of my life, 44 years with a great major company, 52 years with my wonderful wife ”Fita” who would make Solomon jealous!

Fita was born in Tilsit, East Prussia. The ‘war’ was a tough time for all! Real tough! Especially for her ‘mom’…and her brood.

While they ended up in ‘West Germany’…Fita ended up in the East…(Russian Zone).

She had to pick potatoes in the fields for the ‘Commies’… she would ‘save’ some every day and on her day off, she would ‘sneak’ across the ‘risky’ border and bring them to her family.

One time the ‘bunch’ (many others were escaping to the ‘west’) were ‘caught’ in the field…the soldiers yelled, “stand up and come out”…or else! Everyone, but Fita and a ‘scar-faced man stayed down in the ‘ruts’…Before the Russians left…they sprayed the field with ‘machine gun’ fire… (and I know what that’s like!)… Fita and ‘scarface’ stayed down until it was clear…They made their way across to ‘the west’ and Fita continued to deliver her ‘potatoes’!

( and, I thought, I was a ‘hero’ of sorts! I humbly bow to my Fita!)

And now, eighty plus years from our Norway through 13 years in an orphan home, three years in the infantry ( 100 days of combat without a scratch ) a marginal college degree, a Godly mate Fita, who left me a wealthy man and a Daughter that knows I hung the moon!

So, Sev and Chris, I just wanted to let you know your kid brother's is doing O.K....I'm in Gods hand, al.

Link

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 18:14:51 -0500

The Word

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 10:32:07 -0500

"And He Himself gave some to be

Apostles, some Prophets, some Evangelists,

and some pastors-teachers,

for the equipping of the saints for the work

of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,

'til we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of

The Son Of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature

of the fullness of Christ; Ephesians 4:11

"I lay in Zion a Chief CornerStone, elect, precious, and he who

believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.

Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious but to those who are

disobedient, the Stone which

the builders rejected has become the Chief CornerStone

and a Stone of Stumbling and a Rock of offense.

They stumble, being disobedient to The Word,..."

1 Peter 2:6-8 He who says he abides

in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

1 John 2:6

Moral Obligation

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 10:32:02 -0500

Teach the Bible with High Moral Obligation

...Yield yourselves unto God as those that are alive from the dead and

your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. Rom 6:13

Much that passes for New testment christianity is little more than objective truth sweetened with song, and made palatable

by religious entertainment.

I take the risk of being misunderstood when I say that probably no other portion of the scriptures can compare with the Pauline Epistles when it comes to making artificial saints. Peter warned that the unlearned and the unstable would wrest Paul's writings to their own destruction,

and we have only to visit the average Bible conference and listen to a few lectures to know what he meant!

The ominous thing is that the Pauline doctrines maybe taught with complete faithfulness to the letter of the text without making the hearers one whit better. The teacher may and often does so teach the truth

as to leave the hearers without a sense of moral obligation.

One reason for the divorce between truth and life maybe lack of the Spirit's illumination. Another surely is the teacher's unwillingness

to get himself into trouble. Any man with fair pulpit gifts can get on with the average congregation if he just

"feeds" them and lets them alone.

Give them plenty of objective truth and never hint that they are

wrong and should be set right, and they will be content!

But the man who preaches truth and applies it to the lives

of his hearers will feel the nails and the thorns

he will lead a hard life - but a glorious one!

A. W Tozer "Renewed Day By Day"

Mephibosheth

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 10:31:57 -0500

Mephibosheth = A thing of Shame (idol)

The son of Jonathan, and grandson of Saul 2 Sam 4:4

He was but five years old when his father and grandfather fell on Mount Gilboa.

The child's nurse hearing of this calamity, fled with him from Gibeah, the royal residence, and stumbling in her haste, the child was thrown to the ground and maimed in both his feet, and ever after was unable to walk 2 Sam 19:26. He was carried to Lo-debar in the land of Gilead.

Some years after this, when David had subdued all the adversaries of Israel, he began to think of the family of Jonathan, and discovered that Mephibosheth was residing in the house of Machir. So he sent royal messengers, and brought him and his infant son to Jerusalem, to live with the King. 2Sam_9:1-13.

This story is a wonderful picture of the fall of man lame,

unable to walk, deformed and yet, when seated at the King's Table

he is completely covered as we are.

When we come to the Table of The Lord let us not look at our sin,

(A shameful thing)

but look toward The Provider.

Before

we receive the invitation we spend our days

in Lo-debar (a place of no pastures)

We are without peace and purpose

Ebedmelech

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 10:31:55 -0500

Ebedmelech servant of the king; Ethiopian,

"one of the eunuchs which was in the king's house;"

in the palace of Zedekiah, king of Judah.

He interceded with the king in Jeremiah's behalf, and was the

means of saving him from death by famine.

Let us study for a moment his place in the scriptures and why Our Lord would cause

the retelling of this unimportand person an Ethiopian, a servant, no family heritage, no money seemingly no talent nor special gift......Yet Jeremiah leaves no detail out of the chronical of his part in the service that is most definitely a call of God in a monent of crises, in a span of time that if not performed would have changed more than we will ever know.....Leaving us the lession that there is no small service.... In God's plan.

The Work;

Jer_38:7-13

7 Now when Ebedmelech the Ethiopian,

one of the eunuchs which was in the king's

house, heard that they had put Jeremiah in

the dungeon; the king then sitting in the gate

of Benjamin;

8 Ebedmelech went forth out of the king's house, and spake to the king, saying,

9 My lord the king, these men have done evil

in all that they have done to Jeremiah the

prophet, whom they have cast into the

dungeon; and he is like to die for hunger in

the place where he is: for there is no more

bread in the city.

10 Then the king commanded Ebedmelech

the Ethiopian, saying, Take from hence thirty

men with thee, and take up Jeremiah the

prophet out of the dungeon, before he die.

11 So Ebedmelech took the men with him, and went into the house of the king under the treasury, and took thence old cast clouts and old rotten rags, and let them down by cords into the dungeon to Jeremiah.

12 And Ebedmelech the Ethiopian said unto

Jeremiah, Put now these old cast clouts and

rotten rags under thine armholes under the cords. And Jeremiah did so.

13 So they drew up Jeremiah with cords, and

took him up out of the dungeon: and

Jeremiah remained in the court of the prison. Jer 38:7-13

The Blessing;

Jer .39: 16-17-18

16. Go and speak to Ebedmelech the Ethiopian, saying, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel; Behold, I will bring my words upon this city for evil, and not for good; and they shall be accomplished in that day before thee.

17. But I will deliver thee in that day, saith the LORD: and thou shalt not be given into the hand of the men of whom thou art afraid.

18 For I will surely deliver thee, and thou shalt not fall by the sword, but thy life shall be for a prey unto thee: because thou hast put thy trust in me, saith the LORD.Jer .39: 16-17-18

The Lesson:

All the commentaries will note this final blessing: "because thou hast put

thy trust in me." However, let us take a moment to note that Ebedmelech,

not only helped to save the life of Jeremiah, but with the care that is of a spirit

, that is for us, a display of Our Lord's gentle deliverence, the love that is

shown which is not commanded and yet is instinctive in the hearts of

the ones called to be "Servants of Our King".

Ebedmelech went the extra mile to fetch some old cast out rags

to make the deliverance of the prophet more comfortable,

to cushion his arms so that the ropes would not harm him....Do

we as often in our service to The King , take the extra measure of

kindness and care to not injure the very one we are sent to deliever.......

Selah

Benjamin

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 10:31:53 -0500

Gen 35:18 And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for3588 she died) that she called his name

Ben-oni: but his father1 called him Benjamin.

Benoni Son of my Sorrow In Luke 2:35

it is fullfilled:

"Yes a sword will pierce through your own soul also,that the thoughts of many hearts maybe revealed"

Benjamin Son of my right hand

Isaiah 62:8

The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and bythe arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast labored:

Barzillai

Sun, 16 Nov 2008 10:31:48 -0500

Barzillai = of iron (hearted)

Gileadite one who is a powerful witness

"A Gileadite of Rogelim who was distinguished for his loyalty to David.

He liberally provided for the king's followers " 2 Sam 17:27.

David on his death-bed, remembering his kindness, commended

Barzillai's children to the care of Solomon " 1 Ki 2:7.

This is the fragrance of the older saints that have never been asked

to do great things for the King

but have been ever faithful and steadfast witnesses

to God's choice of rulership.

They serve with silence and with all

that they possess to the glory of God.

"And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in

due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. "Gal 6:9