The Resurrection
Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." So Peter went out with the other disciple, and they were going toward the tomb. Both of them were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. And stooping to look in, he saw the linen cloths lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples went back to their homes.
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet.
They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?"
She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him."
Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?"
Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away."
Jesus said to her, "Mary."
She turned and said to him in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).
Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"—and that he had said these things to her.
Jesus Appears to the Disciples
On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you." And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld."
Jesus Appears to Thomas
Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the Twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord!"
But he said to them, "Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it."
A week later his disciples were in the house again, and Thomas was with them. Though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you!" Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe."
Thomas said to him, "My Lord and my God!"
Then Jesus told him, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed."
Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name. JOHN 20:1-31
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Friday, April 2, 2010
Good Friday
Judas Hangs Himself
Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.
When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders.
“I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”
“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”
So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty silver coins, the price set on him by the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”
Jesus Before Pilate
Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.
When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.
Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?”
But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor. Now it was the governor’s custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.
While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”
But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.
“Barabbas,” they answered.
“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!”
“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
All the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!”
Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
The Crucifixion
As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”
In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
The Death of Jesus
From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”
Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
The Burial of Jesus
As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
The Guard at the Tomb
The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”
“Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. MATTHEW 27:1-66
Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. They bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate, the governor.
When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty silver coins to the chief priests and the elders.
“I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”
“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”
So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty silver coins, the price set on him by the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”
Jesus Before Pilate
Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.
When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.
Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?”
But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor. Now it was the governor’s custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him.
While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”
But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.
“Barabbas,” they answered.
“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!”
“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
All the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!”
Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
The Crucifixion
As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Two robbers were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!”
In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” In the same way the robbers who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
The Death of Jesus
From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?”—which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”
Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.
The Burial of Jesus
As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
The Guard at the Tomb
The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”
“Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. MATTHEW 27:1-66
Thursday, April 1, 2010
MAUNDY THURSDAY
Enjoy a message from the greatest book ever published:
Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet
It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you."
For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place.
"Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Jesus Predicts His Betrayal
"I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: 'He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’
"I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me."
After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me."
His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means."
Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?"
Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish."
Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
"What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him, but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial
When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
"My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?"
Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."
Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."
Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
JOHN 13:1-38
Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet
It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you."
For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place.
"Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Jesus Predicts His Betrayal
"I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: 'He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.’
"I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am He. I tell you the truth, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me."
After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me."
His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means."
Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?"
Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish."
Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
"What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him, but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
Jesus Predicts Peter's Denial
When he was gone, Jesus said, "Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
"My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.
"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Simon Peter asked him, "Lord, where are you going?"
Jesus replied, "Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later."
Peter asked, "Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you."
Then Jesus answered, "Will you really lay down your life for me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!
JOHN 13:1-38
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Writing Prompt: Parents watch in horror as a magacians trick goes horribly wrong at their childs birthday party
THE MAGACIANS TRICK
I remember that spring morning like it was yesterday, it was my son’s tenth birthday.
I arranged the folding chairs one next to another in my backyard. A cardinal in a nearby tree chirped. A multitude of fiery balloons were placed throughout the area, and a maroon colored Happy Birthday banner swayed in the breeze behind me.
From inside the house I heard “I don’t wanna you can’t make me”
My wife’s raised voice responded “You will do as I say young man.”
The kitchen door swung open and my son Sam walked out. His hands were stuffed in his pants pockets. His blond hair flowed past his shoulders he wore a white jacket with a blazing rose on the pocket, his pants and shoes matched the jacket.
He stopped and pleaded with me “Dad, do I hafta do this?”
“Do as your mother says.”
He rolled his eyes and shoved his hands back in his pockets and walked away. I began to hear laughter from within the house.
I said, “Your guests are arriving, go inside and greet them.”
He sighed and reluctantly walked back towards the house. Before he could enter a group of children came towards him at a hurried pace with looks of excitement on their faces.
My wife came from within the house. “The magician is here Barney, get the children seated for the show.”
I walked towards the herd of munchkins but before I could say anything a whistle sounded and all the children looked towards the noise. A man entered the grounds he wore a top hat, and was dressed in black from head to toe he pushed a tall rectangular shaped box.
A loud cheer went out as the children excitedly ran towards the magician.
He looked around and said “Hello Boys and Girls my name is Bernardo the great, now tell me where is the birthday boy?”
The children turned and pointed to our son, his face glowed while he looked at the ground. Bernardo smiled then spent the next twenty minutes performing dreadful tricks you would learn from any cheesy magic book.
Then he came to his finale, he took the large crimson rectangle box and turned it towards the children. There was a curtain in the front he opened it to show that it was empty and tapped on the inside and outside to show that it was intact.
He looked to the children they all had looks of wonder on their faces “You can see children this appears to be an ordinary box but I assure you it is not. Now I would like a volunteer from the audience.”
Several hands went up but he looked to my son.
“Why don’t you come help me?”
With uncertainty my little Sam walked up the steps towards the box and Bernardo motioned for him to enter the box, when he did the magician closed the curtain.
The magician opened up a small metal box that was off to the side and pulled out a sword with a long blade.
My wife said “Please, don’t do it”
I took her arm “Don’t worry he won’t be harmed.”
With the point of the blade he pierced the side of the box. I saw it come out the other end, and from inside I heard a groan. A river of blood began to trickle out from under the curtain. The children began to scream.
He pulled the cord and the curtain opened. I looked on in horror the blade pierced his chest. My wife screamed and fell to the ground as I ran towards him the magician disappeared.
The cardinal screeched and flew from the tree. I looked around and all the children were gone. I stood alone in my backyard, my clothes covered in blood and my son’s lifeless body on the ground next to me.
The court transcripts state my wife came home and informed me she was leaving me for another man and taking our son. They found her body along with her lovers in our bedroom and it was determined that I killed our son in a fit of rage, but I swear a magician’s trick went horribly wrong.
I am serving three life sentences concurrently at the State Penitentiary.
I remember that spring morning like it was yesterday, it was my son’s tenth birthday.
I arranged the folding chairs one next to another in my backyard. A cardinal in a nearby tree chirped. A multitude of fiery balloons were placed throughout the area, and a maroon colored Happy Birthday banner swayed in the breeze behind me.
From inside the house I heard “I don’t wanna you can’t make me”
My wife’s raised voice responded “You will do as I say young man.”
The kitchen door swung open and my son Sam walked out. His hands were stuffed in his pants pockets. His blond hair flowed past his shoulders he wore a white jacket with a blazing rose on the pocket, his pants and shoes matched the jacket.
He stopped and pleaded with me “Dad, do I hafta do this?”
“Do as your mother says.”
He rolled his eyes and shoved his hands back in his pockets and walked away. I began to hear laughter from within the house.
I said, “Your guests are arriving, go inside and greet them.”
He sighed and reluctantly walked back towards the house. Before he could enter a group of children came towards him at a hurried pace with looks of excitement on their faces.
My wife came from within the house. “The magician is here Barney, get the children seated for the show.”
I walked towards the herd of munchkins but before I could say anything a whistle sounded and all the children looked towards the noise. A man entered the grounds he wore a top hat, and was dressed in black from head to toe he pushed a tall rectangular shaped box.
A loud cheer went out as the children excitedly ran towards the magician.
He looked around and said “Hello Boys and Girls my name is Bernardo the great, now tell me where is the birthday boy?”
The children turned and pointed to our son, his face glowed while he looked at the ground. Bernardo smiled then spent the next twenty minutes performing dreadful tricks you would learn from any cheesy magic book.
Then he came to his finale, he took the large crimson rectangle box and turned it towards the children. There was a curtain in the front he opened it to show that it was empty and tapped on the inside and outside to show that it was intact.
He looked to the children they all had looks of wonder on their faces “You can see children this appears to be an ordinary box but I assure you it is not. Now I would like a volunteer from the audience.”
Several hands went up but he looked to my son.
“Why don’t you come help me?”
With uncertainty my little Sam walked up the steps towards the box and Bernardo motioned for him to enter the box, when he did the magician closed the curtain.
The magician opened up a small metal box that was off to the side and pulled out a sword with a long blade.
My wife said “Please, don’t do it”
I took her arm “Don’t worry he won’t be harmed.”
With the point of the blade he pierced the side of the box. I saw it come out the other end, and from inside I heard a groan. A river of blood began to trickle out from under the curtain. The children began to scream.
He pulled the cord and the curtain opened. I looked on in horror the blade pierced his chest. My wife screamed and fell to the ground as I ran towards him the magician disappeared.
The cardinal screeched and flew from the tree. I looked around and all the children were gone. I stood alone in my backyard, my clothes covered in blood and my son’s lifeless body on the ground next to me.
The court transcripts state my wife came home and informed me she was leaving me for another man and taking our son. They found her body along with her lovers in our bedroom and it was determined that I killed our son in a fit of rage, but I swear a magician’s trick went horribly wrong.
I am serving three life sentences concurrently at the State Penitentiary.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Life goes on
So after I posted the comment below I thought maybe I could give you a little more insight into what has been going on with my life. In January I had laser surgery on my neck as I have had back pain for thirty years and when I turned forty it really got bad. In 2004 I had my neck fused by the C-4 and C-5 and for awhile that helped but two years later it worsened again and I began to get cortisone shots and I did physical therapy. That went fine up until May of 2009 when nothing helped and I went on meds to control the pain, well to say the least I didn't like the way it made me feel so I opted for the laser surgery.
The surgery was a success and I had to rest for two weeks with no work so I went hard into my novel and everything was going really well, (or at least I thought it was) after eight chapters or over one hundred pages I realized what I was writing was not in my outline, so I took a look at the whole thing and saw that really from the start it was wrong. I had spent almost six months rewriting the first chapter always wanting it to sound better and read better but I found myself rewriting way to much so I decided to just let it go and move forward. Now I realize that it is not correct and the way the story reads is all wrong, I have spent hours just staring at the monitor and I have no idea where to go with it. Now understand that I work 8-5 and have a wife so I don't have much time as it is to really write so I try to find the time when I can, but really from the last week of January up to this point I have nothing so I have set it aside and may go back to it at a later time.
I have sat and tried to write other things but right now my mind is a blank. I did receive the Dragon ages PC Game for Christmas and have since loaded that on my computer and I am now devoting my time to the game, but I hope in time to go back to writing I really do want to write something I am just in a bad place right now writing wise and have since put the pen down. I still try to come up with ideas but so far nothing has come to me.
As I said once I can, I will post the last writing prompt I did which I submitted to writer’s digest it wasn't accepted but that is okay at least I submitted it. Also in January I submitted a short piece to the Chicken Soup publishers and I am still waiting to hear if they want that piece. So in the meantime the posts might become fewer or I will just write about what is going on in my life. Hey come to think about it that is writing isn't it?
The surgery was a success and I had to rest for two weeks with no work so I went hard into my novel and everything was going really well, (or at least I thought it was) after eight chapters or over one hundred pages I realized what I was writing was not in my outline, so I took a look at the whole thing and saw that really from the start it was wrong. I had spent almost six months rewriting the first chapter always wanting it to sound better and read better but I found myself rewriting way to much so I decided to just let it go and move forward. Now I realize that it is not correct and the way the story reads is all wrong, I have spent hours just staring at the monitor and I have no idea where to go with it. Now understand that I work 8-5 and have a wife so I don't have much time as it is to really write so I try to find the time when I can, but really from the last week of January up to this point I have nothing so I have set it aside and may go back to it at a later time.
I have sat and tried to write other things but right now my mind is a blank. I did receive the Dragon ages PC Game for Christmas and have since loaded that on my computer and I am now devoting my time to the game, but I hope in time to go back to writing I really do want to write something I am just in a bad place right now writing wise and have since put the pen down. I still try to come up with ideas but so far nothing has come to me.
As I said once I can, I will post the last writing prompt I did which I submitted to writer’s digest it wasn't accepted but that is okay at least I submitted it. Also in January I submitted a short piece to the Chicken Soup publishers and I am still waiting to hear if they want that piece. So in the meantime the posts might become fewer or I will just write about what is going on in my life. Hey come to think about it that is writing isn't it?
Writers Block
I have had major writers block for almost two month's now. I can't seem to find anything to write about, I got stuck in my novel where I am not sure where to go with it or if I will even finish it now. The story actually took a turn I wasn't expecting, and I didn't have it in my outline to go this way so I am not sure what to do with it, and when I read it back it doesn't even sound good anymore. I have tried to write some prompts but come up with nothing, and now I am at a point where I am wondering if I will even continue to try and write. I have heard other writers reach this point as well and fight through it but I am just not as confindent right now that I can.
Last month I wrote and sent in a writing prompt for Writers digest that wasn't selected and I will post it here in a couple of days, but after that I am just not sure what or if I will post more stories.
Last month I wrote and sent in a writing prompt for Writers digest that wasn't selected and I will post it here in a couple of days, but after that I am just not sure what or if I will post more stories.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Valentines Day Prompt
Love at first sight
We met late in life.
I was thirty-seven she was thirty-five our first date was at Denny’s. I arrived early and was nervous not sure how it was going to go. I had been on several other blind dates that went horrible and was sure this would be the same. We decided to meet at a restaurant for which I believe was the same reason, if it didn’t go well we could just make a quick get away after the meal.
Ten minutes after I arrived she walked through the door I stood and said “Sandy?”
She smiled and said “Yes”
Her onyx colored hair flowed just past the nape of her neck I immediately noticed her hazel eyes and her sweet smile and I thought to myself this is going to be good.
We took a booth and over the next hour got to know each other, and the more we talked the more I realized that she was just who I had been looking for. We left the restaurant and went to a bar and had a couple of drinks before we called it a day. We went on two more dates after that and then we began seeing each other exclusively.
I had never been happier in all my life we had so much in common it was like God brought us together at just the right moment. We dated for one year before I got on one knee and said “I want to spend the good days the bad days the happy days and the sad days with you. Will you marry me?”
To this day I still don’t know why she said yes, I don’t deserve her; she is the best thing that ever happened to me.
We have been through good and bad days along with happy and sad the last fifteen years but I wouldn’t want to spend them with anyone but her.
I knew the moment I saw her at the restaurant we would spend the rest of our lives together it truly was love at first sight.
We met late in life.
I was thirty-seven she was thirty-five our first date was at Denny’s. I arrived early and was nervous not sure how it was going to go. I had been on several other blind dates that went horrible and was sure this would be the same. We decided to meet at a restaurant for which I believe was the same reason, if it didn’t go well we could just make a quick get away after the meal.
Ten minutes after I arrived she walked through the door I stood and said “Sandy?”
She smiled and said “Yes”
Her onyx colored hair flowed just past the nape of her neck I immediately noticed her hazel eyes and her sweet smile and I thought to myself this is going to be good.
We took a booth and over the next hour got to know each other, and the more we talked the more I realized that she was just who I had been looking for. We left the restaurant and went to a bar and had a couple of drinks before we called it a day. We went on two more dates after that and then we began seeing each other exclusively.
I had never been happier in all my life we had so much in common it was like God brought us together at just the right moment. We dated for one year before I got on one knee and said “I want to spend the good days the bad days the happy days and the sad days with you. Will you marry me?”
To this day I still don’t know why she said yes, I don’t deserve her; she is the best thing that ever happened to me.
We have been through good and bad days along with happy and sad the last fifteen years but I wouldn’t want to spend them with anyone but her.
I knew the moment I saw her at the restaurant we would spend the rest of our lives together it truly was love at first sight.
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