..it just gets so hard..

..out of a few hundred on a tiny thumb drive. 

Music link:     https://youtu.be/VmizCScGLmY  

I mean I probably have twenty or thirty thumb drives with various papers on them. This doesn't include my one Thumb Drive w/ a 1-Terabyte capacity, nor does it include two external hard drives with a 250 GB and one I bought years ago that held maybe 90 GB. 

It's actually so funny, it's like if you were to walk into the house in which someone was raised in yet had been a 'hoarder,' all his life. 

Newspapers, documents all sorts of papers...eight feet high in his living room!

I think that's how heaven must perceive my "Back up," of ministry papers?  

Anyway, last night I was re-recording my MP 3 Bible on some micro SD cards or TF Cards, and then I came across a thumb drive sitting all alone. I opened it to realize that it was just a thumb drive with a few hundred papers on it from 2010 and eleven. 

I clicked one paper for the heck of it, and it was a great little sermon. 

Was even inspired to include on a web page tonight, since I have been getting ready to release a number of papers on the "State of the Church, today.:

No, you probably don't want to hear my opinion yet though. so, it's still a few days off. 

The thing is though, I just am so disgusted and disappointed with today's church, that it has become so difficult to even release or finish a paper. 

The other night, I must have spent eight hours writing one paper, but I just couldn't finish it. Then for a few days after that I have a subject one right after the other that I feel I ought to comment on, but then just waves of more disappointment comes forth almost every day I turn on a new 'Trend," on Churchy social media. 

Do you realize that this is the state of the church? Just one trend or another which normally results in one part of the "Body of Christ," going after and attacking another. 

It is disgusting. 

Nevertheless, the following is a copy of a paper in which I authored over fifteen years ago. 

Somebody, please tell me if anything has changed in the church???

I titled it, "I am a soldier..."

(Not a word has been changed, exactly as written over fifteen years ago, although, I did just do a spelling check. )

Also, let me mention that no one could have ever perceived other than myself as I consistently prophesied the church as it is today. No, no one could have ever imagined that there would be hundreds of so-called 'Whistle Blowers," or as I like to call them "GOSSIP MONGERS, SLANDERERS, SELF RIGHTEOUS SLOBS all reporting on a community bulletin board at Church...I'm sorry, I meant on the community Church Board, who some call "You Tube." 

and I am not even mentioning the other hundreds of thousands or millions who read it every day, in order to get their daily bucket of Pig's slop. 

Thank you Jesus!

The following is paper from thumb drive:

From June 9th, 2010:

Matthew 7:14-17 (New American Standard Bible)

 14"For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

 15"Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

 16"You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?

 17"So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.  

Memorial day, I was stuck in a house and wanted to read some fiction, well the library was closed, so I found a book that I would not normally choose to read. It was called Inside Delta Force, by Eric L. Haney.

    Mr. Haney was one of the very first members of this "elite" fighting team that was created to battle the terrorists, around the world. The men were chosen from the Army Rangers, and other special forces to complete a grueling test of stamina and endurance of a few months or so. When the Army decided to create this "elite force," they had begun with one hundred and sixty three men, before it was over they had eighteen men who could complete that psychological and physical endurance of the testing. Even after months of this rigorous, "stress phase," training of the eighteen, six more were dropped from the program after they faced the Commander's board.

    This was a board of the superiors who were to interview the soldier's after "stress phase."

    Four were dismissed permanently, and two were able to reenlist and go through the second class. But of the 163 candidates, only seven per cent were accepted, or worthy of the name "Delta Force." As I read this book and the first hundred or so pages were just about completing this rigorous training it reminded me of the Christian life.

    Have you ever been in one of those old wood frame churches, and they begin clapping their hands, and singing a song, "I am a soldier, in the Army of the Lord..."

    Once, I worked with this black lady, and she was one of the most obnoxious, hardheaded, selfish people, that I had worked with up to that time.

    Finally, we were thrown together, in a department, and the first thing I did was to let her know that I was a Christian.

     I always do this, because it can save much embarrassment for you, or especially for another person, because many people act different if they think you aren't a Christian.

    Well, the moment I told this woman, she started singing, "I'mmm a soldier, I'm a soldier, in the Army of the Lord...." then she started doing this little dance within a two-foot area or something?

    Well, at least we tolerated each other, after that?

    "No, actually, we got along good, once we had established that common bond between us."

    She was a different person, after I told her that I was a Christian, you see, with some people, "their Christianity, is merely a show for others."  

    Nonetheless, I can still see her doing her little dance, "I am a soldier...."

    Well, I am reading this book, and I am seeing what it really takes to be a member of an "elite force."

    I believe that the church should be an "elite force."

    Do you know what I am talking about?

    I am talking about "walking as an elite soldier" for the Lord.

    I am going to quote some paragraphs or anecdotes from this book. I hope that you will see along with me, the parallels that I drew from this, as to honor, integrity and respect that we should be able to walk in, if we are going to call ourselves "soldiers of the Lord."

    On page forty Mr. Haney tells how they were supposed to go out on maneuvers, and one of the things they were told was to bring a ruck sack loaded with forty pounds of weight. After a seven-mile hike he sees some scales up ahead, but before he gets there, he sees a fellow soldier having his gear weighed.

    It fell under the forty-pound provision, so the man on duty, lifted up a piece of concrete and told the soldier, "I weighed this myself, it weighs exactly forty pounds, you can either quit or carry this the next thirteen or so miles."

    The man had disqualified himself, and left in shame. Mr. Haney, had added a few extra pounds to his, so he had no trouble that day.

    What kind of weight are you carrying for the Lord?

    I fear that there are many Christians, who forgot their "rucksack," back at home, "forget the forty pounds, they have no ruck sack, anyway?"

    A few weeks into the course, and they had other maneuvers, but were only told on a "need to know" basis. One day they may have gone on a twenty mile hike, and then have had orders for some other training.

    No one told them, as to how good they were doing, or if they were doing it on time, or whether or not they were doing it right, but they just had to keep plugging at it.

    After finishing the leg of a grueling trek, Mr. Haney was told to go sit over there by a tree, he writes, about what he was thinking, "This must be the finish point of the day, and I must be doing okay, I thought. I'm the only one here so I must be first. No, maybe I am late and a truck full has already gone in. No, that can't be right, to get here farther than I did you would have to run all day. But maybe the others didn't come from my starting point; maybe they came from other points and had different legs, maybe...Maybe Hell! I don't know and I am not going to worry about it, or waste energy trying to figure it out. I'll just do my best and if that isn't good enough they can send me home."

    Later he is thinking "What is going to happen next. Was I moving fast enough? How long was it all going to last? Were there 'spies,' in the course watching...

    In the next page, he tells of one of his peers, a "well built, tough looking, Sergeant First Class, serving on drill sergeant duty, with a basic training brigade."

    "When they piled out of the truck, he walked over to a cadre member and reported that he wanted to voluntarily withdraw from the course."

    The author says, word filtered down that he stated that "he couldn't stand not knowing what he would be doing next, or the day after that."

    It was very taxing on his nerves, not knowing what was going to happen tomorrow, so he withdrew. He quit the race, because he wasn't able to endure it.

    A lot of Christians are like that, they refuse to do what is right, for "fear," that tomorrow might be "difficult," so they waste their lives away, in their "comfort zone," of "worthlessness." Or perhaps they store up for themselves treasures in this life, just in case their thousands and millions might some day be gone?

    "Worthless soldiers," to God.  

    "Take no thought for tomorrow, but trust in me. Store not up for yourselves riches and comforts."

     "The blind leading the blind!"

    Some of these men couldn't even get out of bed on time. Listen to this, quote, "If someone missed the truck, he was never seen or spoken of again. The steady disappearance of men was downright eerie..."

    Have you ever met any Christians who have never learned a "work ethic," thirty or forty years old, and they need 'mama,' to clean up after them, or to wake them up in the morning?"

    Sitting around their entire life, playing video games or strumming on an instrument?

    "Wasting their lives away," watching life go by, "in a coffee shop?"

    "It's downright eerie?"

    Here is a quote from page 73, "Every man who ultimately makes it through Delta selection has had to gauge his performance by his own internal yardstick, He's had to give his utmost because he couldn't be sure just how good, was good enough."

    Jesus said, "there are just a few of you who will enter by the narrow gate."

    Nevertheless, our churches are filled with leaders who basically say, "all you have to do, is to keep coming to my church, and putting your guilt offerings, (tithes) into the bucket, and you have passed the course."

    How many Christians live by an "internal yardstick," that propels them to greater tests and trials, or do they all just follow a "man and his yardstick?"

    "Our leaders," have almost all, deviated from the 'yardstick' that was given by God."

    They twist and distort the scriptures to make God, into something He is not, but it serves their purposes well, doesn't it?

    This is a quote from page 74, "As I looked around at my campmates, and thought about the men, I had seen in the last couple of days, it hit me that every man here was more or less average. All shapes sizes and builds-but no massive men."

    The church is filled with "little men," who think that they have to be giants especially "gifted" or "talented," or "discipled" to be a leader in the church.

    "No," if you look at half the people that are running the leadership in the churches, they aren't especially gifted, in anything other than "conning" men and women out of their livelihood?

     These are men of the lowest stature, in the church, yet they are running it. 

Go figure that one out?

 Most plagiarize other's sermon, and haven't any real "revelation, by themselves."

    A great many are just "con men," who have learned how to manipulate the people, through the American church system.

    God is looking for "leaders," who are "shepherds," and who "care for the flock," not to fleece them, but to teach them righteousness, character, and to do what is right, no matter the cost."

    At the end of this course, the men had to read a map and figure their coordinates, to come to the conclusion of a forty miler, carrying like forty or seventy pounds.

    This man Haney got mixed up and deviated from the path, he added fifteen miles to his forty milers, but he realized his mistake and came back out of the forest only to come, "face to face," with his superior officer.

    His superior officer was right there, "Ahh C'mon Haney, you screwed up, there is no way you are going to make the whole forty miler, now."

    "Why not just give up and call it quits, you screwed up Haney."

    Haney walked right by him, and made the next weigh station, or RV, as the book calls it, passing a number of men along the way.

    He had added fifteen miles to a forty mile hike, carrying like forty to seventy pounds, and he had still passed some other men, who had not deviated from the course.

    He is bone tired, and had walked an estimated eighteen hours, when he can barely make it to the next RV station. His feet are numb, there is hardly any feeling, he is cold, tired, ready to collapse, but he approaches, the station, and his superior officer, is right there.

    "Haney, I am telling you for your own good, you can't make it, there is no way you are going to finish this day out, why not just quit now. C'mon Haney, give it a rest, you are only hurting yourself."

    Haney keeps walking by him, so his officer says, "let me see your flashlight, do you have fresh batteries, in there? Give me that flashlight for a second."

    Haney, says exasperatedly to himself, "why is this guy screwing with me, why doesn't he just leave me alone."

    "Physically, mentally, psychologically, the man is exhausted, but his superior won't leave him alone."

    Finally, he shows his superior officer that the flashlight has batteries, by shining it on the ground.

    "Okay that's good," he said, as I leaned my weight forward to step away. "But you don't have to go any farther, Haney. You've finished. You have successfully completed Stress Phase and the Forty Miler."

    The man could've quit right there as the devil's advocate was trying to force him to quit, but he didn't.

    He had finished the course. He had met the requirements, of all that was asked of him.

     Isn't this just like Satan to get you to quit, even after you have finished the course?  

    Now, he just had to have a psychological test, and to go before the Commander's board.

    The next day though they had to finish a peer report. These were questions such as:

    "Who do you think showed the most character?"

    "Who seemed the most competent?"  

    "Who was the weakest?"

    "Who would you most want by your side in combat?"

    "Who would you least want by your side in combat?"

    "Who do you most trust?"

    "Who do you least trust?"

    "If you had to reject one man from this group who would it be, and why?"

 Have you asked these questions about the people that you fellowship with?

    Are you in a church or a cult?

    Are these people in your church living for God, will they lay their lives down for what is right?

    Do they have any integrity, in the church?

    Do your peers in the church have any character?

    Do they have any standards?

    Are they Christian or merely fugitives from justice?

    Or perhaps, they just "pervert," God's justice and call everything good.

    These are questions that Christians should be asking themselves?

    "Is this a church where anything goes, because we preach 'free grace?'"

    Well, Mr. Haney, saw the psychologist along with all the other men, who had finished the course, and he had angered every one of them, the consensus was that he was a little "nuts."

    Well, the day comes when Mr. Haney was asked to sit before the 'Commander's board."

    The first question was asked, "Haney, I understand that you don't like officers?"

    He tells the reader, "I had told myself before this started that I would be brutally honest and not tap dance around any question."

    He answered, "That's correct sir." he goes on, "I despise most of the officer's that I have ever met."

    He goes on to tell the reaction of this top officer running the whole show, "He came unglued, his eyes swelled and turned red, and the veins bulged out in his neck."

    The Commanding Officer, cursed, "%^&*@#$% Haney, that's the most mutinous thing that I have ever heard. What the hell's wrong with you? How could you make a statement like that?"

    Haney answers, "Sir, most of the officer's that I have met, spend the majority of their time, scheming for career progression, and looking for ways to stab each other in the back. The only good thing about that is that they leave the NCOs and the soldiers alone to get on with unit business, at least until they want to put on some dog and pony show, to impress someone with how great they are?"

    Later it says, the General ask him, "Well Sergeant smart ass, what did you think of "stress phase?"

    Haney replies, "Sir, I kept waiting for the stress to start."

    "You what," he leapt up from his chair spraying spittle through the air. "You kept waiting for the 'stress to start?'"

    "What in God's name do you mean by that? Are you out of your mind?"

    His face was so swollen with rage," he says.

    "I thought he might have a stroke, He stood there gasping for air and gaping at me," Haney says.

    "Sir, I ate four meals a day, and slept eight hours every night, no one was shooting at me, I never stepped on a land mine, The weather was good, I never got frostbite or had heat exhaustion. I was responsible for myself and no one else. Yep, it was hard in some ways, the hardest thing that I have ever done. But Sir, there are more difficult things in life than 'Selection.'"

    This went on for a while, and the author says, "Beckwith would rant until he literally ran out of breath and then someone else, in the room with something else would come at me. I was getting it from all sides."

    Finally, it got quiet, and a Sergeant Major Grimes, says to Haney, "Haney, the peer reports of the other men indicated that they don't think very highly of you," said they thought "you were a pretty poor example of a soldier."

    Haney says, "I thought for a few seconds about what he said. Then I answered, "Sergeant Major that's #$%^&*&*, and you know it."  

    Well, did he pass the board of Commanders? Of course he did, twelve men, out of one hundred and sixty-three, became "Delta Force," from that first class.

    What are your church statistics?

    "I can look at your leaders and tell you."

    In many churches, "you would be lucky to come out with one successful candidate."

    This is because men like evil, and they love to follow other men, they have very little "inward yardstick," to walk by.

    They are simply content to remain in their little "comfort zone" of "worthlessness."

    But then, "we wouldn't have the American church, if they were different, would we?"

    "No, we wouldn't have the judgments of God, upon our nation either, would we?"

Matthew 7:13 (New Living Translation)

 13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.

Luke 13:24 (New Living Translation)

24 “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.

Music link:     https://youtu.be/WrsrUQAMu0g

You know, I have been wanting to write my concerns on a paper for some time. A few months back I had read or heard the story of Nancy Guthries kidnapping, and the next day, as I was listening to a new report about it, I began to mull it over in my mind while at the same time, I was sort of addressing the Lord. 

You know, you hear this strange report about some lady who is living in Arizona, and it saddens you. I mean, if you are human, I am beginning to wonder about many people that have somehow creeped into our society lately though. 

The older I get the more that I can appreciate the adage, that "We live in a fallen world." 

And especially after the October massacre and the various ideologies and beliefs that many are espousing these days. 

I really believe, however, that there are times in history where "Evil," has somehow been released in the world during certain eras. And I am not preaching this as a conspiracy or a doctrine, but I just can't come up with any other explanation. 

Nonetheless, so when I heard that report being repeated the next day, I thought to myself. "Wouldn't it be great if you could just ask God, 'God what happened to this woman, where is she right now?'" 

But you see, I have been a Christian for over fifty years, and I know how ridiculous that would be. I mean, what is God going to answer, "Oh John, my favorite disciple, here is what happened...."

So, anyway, as this whole conversation is going through my mind, I felt as if God was saying to me, "No, John, I can't just answer that, else I would expect it to be answered by every individual who has a concern for a loved one," But then I did hear the Lord, I am convinced by experience in which he spoke to me, and he said, "I can reveal to you right now though that she is with me here in heaven." 

This is not the first time that God has told me that someone was in heaven. You see, I have experienced a number of times, 'my spirit,' to rise to an atmosphere in the heavens where I have then heard from God. 

In the Bible, Paul mentioned that he was taken to the third heaven, so please don't think it strange. There are heavenly atmospheres above us. 

I have written a number of times the following encounter with the Lord concerning the death of my mother.  It should be recorded on a number of papers stored with my two external Hard drives. 

What had happened was that she had died in a tragic car accident and had died suddenly. 

Well, it was the day after my mother had died and I was feeling 'the grief,' that I am sure Savannah Guthrie must be feeling. 

Well, if anyone has ever seen me "worship," in a church service then I shouldn't have to explain anymore, but for those who have never heard me or witnessed when I set my face like "Flint," and I really desire to hear from God. 

Then you would probably be shocked at the sight, but that morning I needed to hear from God. 

Well, I got on my motorcycle and went to a seven or eight AM service. The service began and I was worshipping more intently than I had in years. Nevertheless, I didn't hear from the Lord. 

You see, I know when the breakthrough happens and it didn't happen that first service. 

I went to a second service where I knew they prayed earnestly in the "Spirit." Nothing again!

I got on my bike, and I went to the third service and right in the middle of worship, I broke through and was in the "Spirit" and talking to Jesus. And I don't care what the naysayers are going to say, I was talking to the Lord, as if he were standing right next to me less than a foot away from my ear. 

Well, when I knew that I had gotten an audience with the King, I ask Jesus. Or more like... Pleaded with Jesus, I said, " Jesus, I have to know, 'is my mother in heaven?'" 

The Lord answered me, and He said, "John, not only is your mother here in heaven with me, but she is standing next to your father who is also up here with me." 

And so when I was sort of talking to the Lord as I often do concerning various news reports on that second day, it was as if, he was reminding me of the time that I felt the grief and the loss of my mother and just needed some assurance from God. 

You see, Jesus feels the loss that we feel, Jesus knows the suffering that we suffer. Tonight, I happened to see a small commentary that Savannah had published on Easter this morning and she spoke of Jesus not knowing of events during the three days between before his resurrection. 

Well, I can understand why Savannah would feel this way and how that she couldn't understand that Jesus would be in the grave not knowing the future. 

Well, I can tell you that when we pass from this life to the next, it is not as if you all of a sudden wake up to some unforeseen future. Jesus knew full well what he would experience and he was not a defeated individual in the grave during that time. He had made a personal sacrifice and had already committed his body to that death. The scriptures declare that Jesus went to hell and freed the captive. 

I will tell you what most people do not understand and that is that when you leave this Earth, your mind doesn't shut down. I am telling you that when those who have lived unrighteous lives enter heaven it will be as if you just entered your garage and shut the doors. You will be just as conscious of what was going through your mind five minutes ago, as you closed the door. 

I hope this wakes up a few people especially in politics. God doesn't wake you up and then have to remind you of all of those who you made to suffer on this Earth, it will be so clear in your mind that you will need no assistance in remembering.

Trust me on that!

And let me remind our PREACHERS of this as well. You see, you all are counting how many individuals that you saved, and God is keeping a record of all those who you caused to lose their Faith by your unscrupulous tactics and examples in ministry. 

You see, the Bible is very clear, wide is the road in which many will arrive at heaven to be judged, yet very narrow the road for those who are going to be standing next to our Lord one day, having been judged already. 

From Google:

AI Overview        

The phrase "led captivity captive" (or "led a host of captives") comes from Ephesians 4:8-10, which describes Jesus ascending on high after descending into the "lower parts of the earth". This passage is commonly interpreted as Christ's victory over death and hell, liberating souls or capturing spiritual enemies.

Key Scriptural and Interpretive Points:Ephesians 4:8-10 (ESV): "Therefore it says, 'When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.' ... [He] also... Descended into the lower parts of the earth"

Interpretation of Captivity: Many theologians believe this refers to Jesus freeing the righteous dead from Abraham's Bosom/Sheol (the holding place of the righteous before the resurrection) and leading them to heaven.

Alternative Interpretation: Other interpretations suggest Christ made a public spectacle of defeated spiritual enemies (Satan, sin, and death).

"Lower Parts of the Earth": This is often interpreted as Christ descending to Hades (hell/the grave) between his death and resurrection.

1 Peter 3:19-20: This passage is frequently associated with this concept, stating that Jesus went and "preached to the spirits in prison".

The phrase is a direct quotation/allusion to Psalm 68:18, applied by the Apostle Paul to Jesus's ascension. 

But what I want to point out tonight is that I was not trying to dissuade any prayer for Nancy Guthrie, when I wrote about that experience a few months back. I was just trying to point out that I believe that her mother is with my mother and father and is in heaven with the Lord. 

Nonetheless, one time John Wesley, made a statement that said something like, "I perceive that God can do nothing for man unless he be invited into the affairs of man."

Kenneth Hagin who studied prayer for over fifty years, and changed history by his revelations concerning it, wholeheartedly agreed with Wesley and taught the same. 

But Dr. Hagin, also taught that you have to be specific with your requests to God and that you have to always have Faith in God. 

You see, the Bible teaches that "without Faith it is impossible to please God."

So, what's that mean?

That means, that if you want to get the attention of God then you must have "Faith." 

Your prayers need to be similar to "Jesus, I trust you." 

"Jesus, I believe that you do not wish for me to suffer my last few decades on this Earth with no kind of closure for my mother." 

"Jesus, I know that you can sympathize with everything that I am going through and you want to desire to are eager to help me find closure."

And lastly, you need to pray with specifics. 

Can you imagine that you are God and for two hundred years every time it is Beauty Pageant month, you get fifty requests "God, will you bring Peace to the whole world?" 

I mean, how the hell are you going to answer such dumb requests? 

No, you need to pray "Father, in the name of Jesus, we are praying for the Ukrainians and the Russian soldier's that somehow you can end these conflicts across the globe." 

You need to pray specifically. 

If a church or an individual is 'blessed,'  with the "gift of tongues," or you are a good intercessor, then that could be a good start. 

Maybe even Savannah, or anyone close could get in a closet and just begin praying every day for fifteen minutes asking God, "God how should I pray." 

Jesus, show me what to do that could bring a breakthrough to the case. 

One example, that I thought of was that there was a possibility her Pacemaker might be giving off a signal. 

Well, you could pray "Jesus would that be a good idea still." 

Or maybe, you could pray, "Jesus where would be a good geographical area to search for." 

And I can't guarantee any outcome, but I am just trying to give you some new hope, don't give up on God, because I can attest from being a disciple of the Lord for fifty years is that "IT IS GOD'S WILL FOR YOU TO HAVE CLOSURE, NO MATTER WHAT THE DEVIL WHISPERS IN YOUR EAR."

Just don't give up your Faith! 

4-6-2026

Added note:

I woke up a few minutes ago for good, and as is the case most times, the Holy Spirit will remind me or bring to my remembrance what I had written the day before. 

Well, as I was thinking, I realized that I had forgotten to add something which I intended to point out yesterday. 

You see, what I wanted to point out was that when Jesus cried out on the cross, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me," it was not for his satisfaction, but it was for our good. You see, both the Father and Jesus did not want the world to just think that Jesus was crucified haphazardly by the Romans, but they wanted to express the full impact of what was happening on that cross. 

In a sense, when Jesus quoted from Psalm 22, God was showing that "Yes," Jesus was being crucified, but also, they were showing that this was something ordained before the foundations of the world. 

This was a moment in time, when God the Almighty was going to turn away his eyes from his only son, because for that moment in time, Jesus was going to become or take the "Sin," of the world upon his back. 

Nevertheless, I don't believe that any of it was a surprise to Jesus, for Jesus knew from the beginning and was shown no doubt in Gethsemane the full extent of what he was to suffer, should he willingly follow the Father's will. 

So, please don't think that Jesus was left confused or ignorant of the events on the cross, he had known it all when he prayed to the Father, "If possible, let this cup pass before me, nevertheless, not my will. But yours." 

You see, by Jesus quoting that Psalm, he was letting the world know that there were two events taking place. One was that Jesus was being Crucified, and two was that for a brief moment in time, God was going to turn his eyes from his only son, as His Son willingly took the world's weight of "sin," upon himself. 

From Google:

AI Overview

This famous prayer of Jesus, known as the Agony in the Garden, is found in the Gospels, most notably in Matthew 26:39 and Luke 22:42 (NKJV/NIV). In these passages, Jesus asks God the Father to remove the "cup" of suffering, but ultimately submits to the Father's will over his own. 

Key References:

Matthew 26:39 (NKJV): "O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will".

Luke 22:42 (NIV): "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done". 

The event takes place in the Garden of Gethsemane just before his arrest. The "cup" symbolizes the suffering and divine judgment for sin that Jesus was about to endure on the cross. 

Added 4-09-2026

You know, I was surprised the day after Easter when all of this interest in Nancy Guthrie started back up. I know Easter morning Savannah Guthrie made another plea for the family's sake, and then I had heard that two more ransom notes had been delivered to TMZ.

Nevertheless, in my "spirit," I just sensed a different atmosphere, maybe one of "Hope." And so, for the last few days I am watching "You Tube," and the news just expecting to hear something concerning the case. 

I don't know, maybe a break in it? 

Well, today, as I was going over the whole thing, I was thinking, "You know, what the people ought to be praying," and that is for the Lord to begin talking to all of those involved in the case. You see, I feel as if there are many who are aware of exactly who the kidnappers are or the robbers, whatever the case. 

So, tonight, as I was finishing up some other business, I began to think. Well, what if there are one or two perpetrators who were the real culprits, but then there are a few others or perhaps just one who has that special knowledge of those who were the original ones who plotted and planned the entire execution of events? 

Maybe, it's an ex-cell mate who had heard it discussed before? 

I believe that was how the killers "In cold Blood," were helped caught. (It's been a few years since reading the book.)

Maybe, it was a cousin or close relative, who knows? 

Nevertheless, as I was thinking and I always include God in all my thinking, I was wondering if God is just being merciful to that one who has all of those hesitations in turning in the others? 

This could very well be a scenario, you have to know God like I know Him. 

You see, there might be a person who knowing the situation is afraid of turning in his buddies because it would mean going to prison for a few years. 

Well, I am here and I am telling you that if that is the situation then you better re-think your situation. 

You see, you might be correct, and it would mean going to prison for a short time, or it might be that you end up going for a long long time, if you do not turn that other person or those others in now. By not turning them in before they are caught, you may end up receiving the same sentence that they will receive like twenty years or longer.

I can tell you; I know human nature and when these guys get caught and they are facing the death penalty or a life of Prison they are not going to be grateful to you because you didn't turn them in, No, they are going to go down with the ship and they are going to take any and all with them. 

You see, twisted thinking like that imagines that the more involved in the crime, the less each sentence. they will think that if there are more involved then somehow the sentencing will go lighter. 

So, as I stated, perhaps God is being merciful to you that you may be able to save yourself from a very long and enduring Prison life to come. 

As I said, I sensed a different atmosphere since Easter, and I believe that everything is about to be brought into the light.

Nonetheless, whatever the case, I think it would do the church good and the Catholics and the Christians to begin a Prayer and even a "Fasting time" for Nancy Guthrie, a fellow Catholic.  

Lastly, make sure that you pray that the Lord Jesus Christ, begins to minister to these individuals in their consciences that have been responsible for this chaos and heart break in perpetrating such a heinous crime.  

Also, don't forget to pray for their souls, because this is the most important thing on the agenda.