Month: March 2016

Give me a spirit that on this life’s rough sea Loves t’have his sails filled with a lusty wind, Even till his sail-yards tremble, his masts crack, And his ship run on her side so low That she drinks water, and her keel plows air.
George Chapman

 

Mattew 26:14-16

Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I betray him to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver. And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.

Mattew 26:47-50

While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.” At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him.

While we cannot be absolutely certain why Judas betrayed Jesus, some things are certain. While Judas was chosen to be one of the Twelve, all scriptural evidence points to the fact that he never believed Jesus to be God. He may not even have been convinced that Jesus was the Messiah (at least as he understood it). Unlike the other disciples that called Jesus “Lord,” Judas instead called him “Rabbi,” which acknowledged Jesus as nothing more than a teacher. While other disciples at times made great professions of faith and loyalty, Judas never did so. This lack of faith in Jesus is the foundation for the other issues listed below. The same holds true for us. If we fail to recognize Jesus as God incarnate, and therefore the only One who can provide forgiveness for our sins, and the eternal salvation that comes with it, we lose in the end.

Judas not only lacked faith in Christ, but he also had little personal relationship with Him. When the synoptic gospels list the Twelve, they are always listed in the same general order, with slight variations. The general order is believed to indicate the relative closeness of their personal relationship with Jesus. Despite the variations, Peter and the brothers James and John, are always listed first, which is consistent with their relationships with Jesus. Judas is always listed last.   Additionally, the only documented dialogue between Jesus and Judas involves Judas being rebuked after his greed motivated remark to Mary (John 12:1-8), his denial of his betrayal (Matthew 26:25), and the betrayal itself (Luke 22:48).

Judas was consumed with greed to the point of betraying the trust of not only Jesus, but also his fellow disciples, as we see in John 12:5-6. Judas may have desired to follow Jesus simply because he saw an opportunity to profit from collections taken for support of the group.

Judas, like most Jews at the time, believed the Messiah was going to overthrow Roman occupation and take a position of power ruling over the nation of Israel. Judas may have followed Jesus hoping to benefit from association with Him as the new reigning political power. No doubt he expected to be among the ruling elite after the revolution. By the time of Judas’ betrayal, Jesus had made it clear that He planned to die, not start a rebellion against Rome. So Judas may have assumed, as the Pharisees did, that since He would not overthrow the Romans, He was not the Messiah they were anticipating. In the end, he played the part necessary for God’s plan of salvation for all men to come into being.  That doesn’t make what Judas did right or acceptable, because it came down to his own choice, but shows that God can take even our worst and turn it to be to his glory.

E.J. Lefavour

www.hobbithousestudio.com

 

  Coconut had good first night home. She slept soundly & ate chicken sweet potato & salmon every 4 hours. This morning she was differently ready for her pain medication and wanted to be held for a over an hour… which is fine with me! This afternoon her belly is super sensitive and she hasn’t been able to sleep in a comfortable position other than in my arms. We have been in contact with her doctors at Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital & in very close contact with Dr. Ray Cahill at Seapot Veterinary hospital.

 They have bumped up her pain medication a little and we continue to pray she will have some reliefe soon. Please keep praying for our girl she isn’t out of the woods yet🙏

   

 

The Rocky Neck 5K Run/Walk & Team Challenge will be held this year on Sunday, May 15, 2016.

Participants registered before May 1 will receive a custom Rocky Neck 5K T-shirt.

Go to www.rockyneck5k.com to register online or visit the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck Thursday through Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. to obtain a paper registration form.

The event is sponsored by the Rocky Neck Art Colony to benefit Gloucester’s Rocky Neck Cultural District and the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck Building Fund.  With chip-timed results, participants may compete individually or as a team in the popular Team Challenge.  The Run/Walk along the breathtakingly beautiful seaside course will be capped off by a festive post-Race brunch celebration on the deck at Rocky Neck’s The Studio Restaurant.

The Rocky Neck 5K Run/Walk & Team Challenge is a fun community ‘happening’ to benefit RNAC, a neighborhood-based, volunteer organization committed to preserving Rocky Neck’s unique arts and maritime cultural heritage.   Open to all, beginners can experience the joy of exercise in the outdoors while  experienced runners can sharpen their times on a forgiving course.  Everyone will enjoy creating memories individually or in a team with colleagues, family and friends.

The Team Challenge provides a great opportunity for groups from businesses, non-profits, clubs and affiliations of every size to show their colors, build organizational pride and share an experience to be long remembered.

The USATF (United States of America Track and Field) sanctioned event will take off from the Causeway on Rocky Neck.  It will return along Gloucester’s ocean-rimmed Back Shore to finish on Rocky Neck where all participants are invited for a celebratory post-Race brunch and awards  ceremony at The Studio Restaurant and Deck overlooking picturesque Smith Cove on Gloucester Harbor.

The Race start will be at 9 a.m., with packet pickup at Race Headquarters in the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck from 7:00 AM to 8:45 AM. Race participation is limited to 400.  Participants registered before May 1 will receive a custom Rocky Neck 5K T-shirt.

If spots are still available on Race day, walk-in registration will be from 7:00 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Sign up early to insure participation. Go to www.rockyneck5k.com to register online or visit the Cultural Center at Rocky Neck Thursday through Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. to obtain a paper registration form.

Volunteers will be positioned to direct visitors to street parking as well as  designated lots in and around Rocky Neck.  Space will be available in Rocky Neck Park along the Causeway for everyone to meet and warm up before the Race kicks off.

Sincerely,

Suzanne Gilbert Lee

Executive Director

Rocky Neck Art Colony

6 Wonson Street

Gloucester, MA 01930

978-515-7004

director@rockyneckartcolony.org

www.rockyneckartcolony.org

The Cultural Center at Rocky Neck is generally open Thursday – Sunday year round.

Seasonal Hours are: June through September 20: 12-6pm, September 24 through May 12-4pm

Gallery 53 on Rocky Neck, 53 Rocky Neck Avenue is open seasonally May – October, seven days a week, 10am-6pm daily

Please visit all the galleries of the Rocky Neck Art Colony.

Galleries are located on Rocky Neck Avenue, the Madfish Wharf, Wonson Street and more! 

Please visit www.rockyneckartcolony.org for the pdf download of our walking map & brochure, as well as a calendar of events.