Effie Darlene Barba

I can remember in high school, every morning over the intercom, we began the day with the pledge of allegiance followed by a morning prayer.  It was not mandatory that anyone stop to place their hand over their heart or bow their head in prayer.  No one was punished for not participating. However, those who chose to bow their head, could.  Then, came the supreme court case of Engel vs Vitale in 1962.  However, despite the secular humanists and many on the left proclaiming victory; carrying this to the opposite extreme. Now we are told no one is permitted to pray out loud at school. This results from not really knowing the case.

In Engel vs Vitale, the court ruled against state officials composing an official state prayer that was to be recited daily by the students.  The ruling never mandated that prayer be disallowed; rather, it prohibited a formal state prayer written by legislature.  I agree.  Prayer cannot be the reciting of some legislatures determination of what to say in prayer.  Yet, why have we, the Christians accepted this as a mandate to not allow any prayer in our schools.  Why is the Bible barred from our schools, when it stands as one of the greatest literary and historical books?  However, the Koran and Islam are allowed?  God can defend Himself, if both are presented; yet, if we remove the Bible only, we are promoting one religion and excluding the other in our school system.

Regarding the recent events occurring in our school systems, I wrote this poem.  Yet, it goes farther than our school; it is the question we must ask of our own individual heart, as well.

American School

By Effie Darlene Barba

A deafening silence fills the halls

As light then fades and darkness falls

A sudden scream, a wailing sound

Where are you God? You can’t be found

The desperate cries, unending tears

From hearts so filled with pain and fears

Angry cries scream forth to blame

And never see the truth, the shame

Dear God, why don’t you answer please

To bring your love, our hearts to ease

God Replies

And then I heard a soft, strong voice

My dearest one, I gave you choice

You cast Me out and shut the door

My Word to read there nevermore

You locked me out of every school

To never teach the Golden rule

No prayer can e’er be spoke aloud

By rich or poor, the meek and proud

As evil grows within each heart

Because you bid my love depart

You cast me far as you could see

Because my love had set you free

To choose my truth or cast away

Accepting lies that others say

Without my righteous Holy light

There’s only darkness of the night

I will not force my way within

Yet, stand without and bid you When?

When will you open up your door?

To let me in forevermore

That I might fill your hearts with peace

And cause the pains and fears to cease

I love you more than you can know

If only you would let me show

To you the love and joy that’s mine

Into your darkness let me shine

I am the love and hope you need

That is why I still do plead

That you may turn to seek my face

So, I might pour on you my Grace

I’ll write my truth upon your heart

That you might ne’er again depart

And in my joy and love abide

As I walk there at your side

When will you open up your door?

To let me in forevermore

That I might fill your hearts with peace

And cause the pains and fears to cease

Concluding Thoughts

So often in life; we cast God aside; only to cry out when tragedy occurs.  However, we do so with an accusatory voice, rather than a contrite, broken, repentant heart.  If we fail to recognize our own sin; then, how can we expect God’s forgiveness?  While spitting in His face, we ask His grace to intervene.  Yet, a loving, righteous God knows that unless our hearts are changed; we can never experience His love, peace or joy.  Therefore, because of love; He cannot intervene, until we turn to seek His face.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. Because there is nothing more important than this, I urge you to seek Him today.

OR ARE YOU IN OF NEED PRAYER?

If you have a prayer request email me by clicking here or comment here

JUST RELEASED

You can find this and all my books on Amazon.com, search Effie Darlene Barba or click this link to be taken there

Recently released Books Available

ABIDING, STEADFAST JOY

A labor of love, this book provides you with 3 foundations of truth from the scripture which once known will provide you with abiding, steadfast joy. Undaunted by the storms of life; your joy will overflow.

WHEN INJUSTICE AND VIOLENCE REIGN:
Through a study of Nahum, Habukkuk, and Zephaniah; I brought their message into our modern times. Answering the questions of “Why, God?”

Providing a foundation of faith and hope; even, as we see so much evil in the world and in our nation. With so much sorrow and despair, this book I wrote to guide you into discovering God’s Perfect Plan of love; amid this chaotic world filled with life’s storms.

You may click on the picture for more information on either of these books.

OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE

If you want to know more about other books I have written: You can read more about each one at: Book Resources.

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Footnotes and Credits

Photo by chuttersnap on Unsplash

“The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1).  Jesus Christ is the beginning of hope and life.  Without Him, we have no purpose and no true being or meaning in life.  Man’s nothingness before a perfectly righteous, Holy God is transformed into a new beginning of hope and life; because of God’s willing servant spoken of in Isaiah. He came to earth to pay the price for all our sins.  Thus, His Beloved Son, willingly came as a servant to reconcile all who would accept His gift of salvation to Himself. A new beginning can be yours in Him, a beginning of hope, eternal life, and joy.

“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18).

Jesus Christ is the way to your new beginning. In Him your heart transforms from existing to being, from nothingness to life eternal. Furthermore, His Ministry also heralded in the beginning of the church age, in which the gospel message reached out to all who would believe.  Mark, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, recorded the life of Christ for the gentile nations. He wrote primarily addressing it to those in Rome, as pointed out in the previous post. This was a new beginning for the church.  God was not forsaking His covenant to the Jewish nation; rather, He was fulfilling it and expanding it.

THE BEGINNING OF THE FULFILLMENT OF PROPHECY

Continue reading “How to Find Hope, Beginning Life in Jesus Christ”

The gospel was Mark is attributed to having been written by John Mark.  The Holy Spirit used various men to write and preserve the Bible that we have.  In this it is the word of God, Himself. He orchestrated each writer’s pen presenting His Story.  To fully understand the style used, one must consider to whom it is written.  The gospel of Mark was written to the Roman Christians.  For that reason, it’s style is one that presents the message in a style that “is brief and blunt, pertinent and pithy, short and sweet…this is the gospel of action and accomplishment.”[1]  This is what would be best suited for the Roman Christians who lived under a dictatorship that signified power.

It was an act of God’s Grace that chose John Mark to write the Gospel of Mark.

To further understand the gospel of Mark, one must also look at who John Mark was and why the Holy Spirit chose him to record this gospel for us.  We know that his mother was the one whose home Paul went; after being released from prison in Acts 12:12. “where many gathered to pray”.  Many also believe that it was this house where the Lord’s Supper occurred and hence John Mark is writing about his own encounter in Mark 14:51-52 when he tells of a young man wrapped in a linen cloth fled naked through the streets after the guards laid hold on his linen cloth (a story we will explore further as we reach Mark 14).

JOHN MARK THE MAN

John Mark received much of his knowledge of the events in Christ’s life from Simon Peter.  Simon Peter referred to John Mark as his “son” in I Peter 5:13. This is not referring to a son by birth; rather, as indicating that Peter led this young man to a saving knowledge of Christ-much as Paul refers to Timothy as his son (2 Timothy 2:1).  Also, we know that John Mark was the cousin of Barnabas (Colossians 4:10).  Furthermore, he accompanied Paul and Barnabas at the beginning of their first missionary journey; however, he turned back (Acts 13:13).  Because of his desertion, Paul did not want him to join them on the second journey.  Indeed, this led to a disagreement between Barnabas and Paul, leading to their going separate ways (Acts 15:38-39).  Barnabas took John Mark with him to Cyprus and Paul to Cilicia.

But as grace would have it and John Mark grew in his faith; later, Paul would later regard John Mark as one of the few who were faithful to the ministry of Christ to the end, requesting his presence during his darkest hours in a Roman dungeon because “he is profitable to me for the ministry” (2 Timothy 4:11).  Much like his mentor, Peter; John Mark had learned firsthand the sweet grace of being forgiven.  His accounts of Jesus Christ, most likely the recordings of what Peter had told Him, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit take on special meaning for each of us who have at one time or another failed in the ministry.  After all God used him to be instrument of this gospel.

“he learned firsthand that God gives penitent believers opportunity to recover from past failure. Mark not only heard redemption and new life proclaimed, he experienced it in his own life.”[2]

CONCLUDING THOUGHTS

Consider all this as we begin a study through the book of Mark; as it speaks to each of us.  God’s grace is bigger than our failures, when we turn to Him.  He can use each of us to spread His gospel message, regardless of our past, if only we are willing to follow after Him.

DO YOU KNOW CHRIST AS YOUR SAVIOR?

If you don’t know Jesus Christ as your Savior: I urge you to go to my page titled How to Be Saved by clicking on this link. Because there is nothing more important than this, I urge you to seek Him today.

OR ARE YOU IN OF NEED PRAYER?

If you have a prayer request email me by clicking here or comment here

JUST RELEASED

You can find this and all my books on Amazon.com, search Effie Darlene Barba or click this link to be taken there

Recently released Books Available

ABIDING, STEADFAST JOY

A labor of love, this book provides you with 3 foundations of truth from the scripture which once known will provide you with abiding, steadfast joy. Undaunted by the storms of life; your joy will overflow.

WHEN INJUSTICE AND VIOLENCE REIGN:
Through a study of Nahum, Habukkuk, and Zephaniah; I brought their message into our modern times. Answering the questions of “Why, God?”

Providing a foundation of faith and hope; even, as we see so much evil in the world and in our nation. With so much sorrow and despair, this book I wrote to guide you into discovering God’s Perfect Plan of love; amid this chaotic world filled with life’s storms.

You may click on the picture for more information on either of these books.

OTHER RESOURCES AVAILABLE

If you want to know more about other books I have written: You can read more about each one at: Book Resources.

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Footnotes and Credits

Photo by Hugues de BUYER-MIMEURE on Unsplash

[1] J. Vernon McGee, “Matthew through Romans”, Thru the Bible with J. Vernon McGee Vol. 4, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers), 158

[2]  Jerry Falwell, ed., The Liberty Annotated Study Bible, (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1988), 1489

On February 19, 1980, God gave me a precious gift to hold and to love.  What a privilege it has been to be the mother of Alberto F. Barba.  Through all the years, whether good or bad; his smile has lit up the room with joy, hope, and strength.  God gifted him with leadership which was evident even when so young.  He took on the task of being his brother’s protector when he was merely 5 years old.  Ah, and I remember the moment at age six that he first said, “yes” to following God.  It would be years before he says he accepted Christ as his Savior; however, I remember his simple prayer way back then asking God to come into his heart.

We had just come to a stop light, driving on the outskirts of Dallas in my White Dodge Ram Charger. Amid a sometimes frightening world, I said a prayer of praise; because, I knew in that moment God had the steering wheel of my life and my children.  Alberto, always stood for truth and honor; even, with trembling hands looking into his father’s eyes to tell him in a gentle voice when he was wrong.  At the same time, he reached out with arms of love, quickly forgiving and looking for all that was good.

Alberto, now the man

For me, Alberto will always be my “osito panda”; but, to the world he is a man.  He is a dedicated husband, father, and Christian; who always strives to do his best.  His  integrity, honesty,  and God honoring life shines in everything he does.  Happy Birthday, Alberto.  May God always shine His light of blessing on your life.  Ah, but I know He will.  His plans are always the best; whatever, road He takes us down.

Love, Mom

©Effie Darlene Barba, 2017
Disclosure of Material Connection: I have not received any compensation for writing this post. I have no material connection to the brands, products, or services that I have mentioned except for my own books. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.