{"id":35525,"date":"2023-05-15T11:46:02","date_gmt":"2023-05-15T18:46:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/travelingboy.com\/travel\/?p=35525"},"modified":"2023-05-19T06:42:35","modified_gmt":"2023-05-19T13:42:35","slug":"go-forth","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/travelingboy.com\/travel\/go-forth\/","title":{"rendered":"Go Forth!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Raoul’s Two Cents: May 11, 2023<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

ROAD TO DAMASCUS<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

WARNING: Serious stuff. Move on to the jokes for the smiles.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A GOOD BOOK<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have been reading a book \u2013 \u201cGentle and Lowly\u201d by Dane Ortlund. This book has been creating quite a stir among the Christian community because of its in-depth analysis of Christ\u2019s character. It\u2019s a great help for those who are seeking for meaning and understanding in this confusing world. This is the key verse:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yolk and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your soul. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light\u201d <\/em>— Matt. 11:28-30<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maybe you\u2019re familiar with this verse but this book goes deeper than the way most people understand it. It shows how the great and powerful creator of the universe understands every single aspect of life including our personal concerns. Unlike the distant, angry, mythological Greek gods, Christ is right there with us; waiting to help us through our trials. The book is available in several online bookstores. (How\u2019s that for a shameless plug?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A BIG SHOT PRIEST NAMED SAUL<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anyhoo, Gentle and Lowly mentioned an innocuous passage in the book of Acts that resonated with me. It was about Saul, a religious Pharisee who falls off his horse on his mission to destroy the newly formed group of Jesus believers called \u201cThe Way.\u201d You know his type — a die-hard religious\/political fanatic who listens, watches, reads and breaths one-sided social media and is steadfastly loyal to his political and religious affiliations. Can’t argue with this guy. He knows everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On a road to Damascus, a blinding light forces Saul down on the ground. He is unable to see yet he hears Christ\u2019s voice: \u201cSaul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?\u201d<\/strong> (Acts 9:4) The voice explains that Saul was actually fighting for the wrong side. Instead of doing good, he was actually an enemy of God. What a shocker! Saul was actually the bully. Saul, the Harvard grad, was the ignorant one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking neither food nor water, it took Saul 3 days of lonely introspection to accept he had it all wrong. Ironically, it was his enemies (the people he swore to execute) who helped Saul through his crisis. In time, Saul became a believer and changed his name to Paul. This former Pharisee became a major influencer of the New Testament. This is a fascinating history of the early Christian church. Go read it yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

OPEN EYES<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lately, I have been more and more disillusioned by political and spiritual organizations that did not live up to their noble mission. It doesn\u2019t matter if these organizations lean left or right. All are suspicious! Most of them are driven by their profit margins. Wisdom begins with the fear of God. Sadly, there is no wisdom among the truly powerful \u2026 just greed and a thirst for even more power. I see the evil moneyed-puppet-manipulators in the background. Idiots who recite senseless rhetoric make the best puppets. No wonder so many are in power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Can we look at current events with an objective eye? Are we open or afraid of intelligent opposing viewpoints? Do we need to be incapacitated like Saul\/Paul? Do we wait for our world to collapse before we can admit the truth?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take comfort in knowing there is hope. There is God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to my friend Larry who shared this timely verse with me this morning:
\u201cSee to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.\u201d<\/em>— Colossians 2:8<\/p>\n\n\n\n

TGIF people!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Raoul<\/p>\n\n\n\n

JOKE OF THE WEEK<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to Ben of Alhambra, CA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Original art by Raoul Pascual. I dunno. It seemed funny when I read it the first time. Oh well ..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

VIDEO OF THE WEEK<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to Garie of Kainta, Philippines<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a>
Just in time for Mother’s Day. Happy Mother’s Day!!!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

PARTING SHOTS<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Thanks to Maling of New Manila<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thanks to Art of Sierra Madre, CA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I found these<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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THE TRAVELING BOY<\/h1>\n\n\n\n
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\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

My good friend (and jokester) Terry and I came up with these.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

On a road to Damascus, a blinding light forces Saul down on the ground. He is unable to see yet he hears Christ\u2019s voice: \u201cSaul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?\u201d (Acts 9:4) The voice explains that Saul was actually fighting for the wrong side. Instead of doing good, he was actually an enemy of God. What a shocker! Saul was actually the ignorant one.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":35515,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[818],"tags":[7478,7476,1165,1134,7475,7474,4956],"class_list":["post-35525","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-raouls-tgif","tag-damascus","tag-gentle-and-lowly","tag-mother-in-law","tag-mothers-day","tag-paul","tag-saul","tag-star-trek"],"yoast_head":"\nGo Forth! - Traveling Archive<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/travelingboy.com\/travel\/go-forth\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Go Forth! - Traveling Archive\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"On a road to Damascus, a blinding light forces Saul down on the ground. 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