"What is Crucifixion?" Before you begin reading, close your eyes and try to imagine that hilltop 2000 yrs. ago, the throngs of people milling around to get a glimpse at the cause of so much disruption, the dust, the muffled conversations of some, the shouts of others, the guards in uniform pushing the crowd aside, the rough hewn timbers, the hammer, the nails and a simple, some say plain, man. ______________________________________ "What is Crucifixion?" A medical doctor provides a physical description of crucifixion ... The cross is placed on the ground and the exhausted man is quickly thrown backwards with his shoulders against the wood. The legionnaire feels for the depression at the front of the wrist. He places the point of a heavy, square wrought iron nail in that depression and drives through the wrist deep into the wood with several blows of a large hammer. He moves to the other side and repeats the action, being careful not to pull the arms too tightly, but to allow some flex and movement. The cross is then lifted up and dropped into place in a hole prepared beforehand. The left foot is pressed backward against the right foot, and then against the timber of the cross. With both feet extended, toes down, the knees flexed nearly 90degrees, a single nail is driven through the arches of both feet and into the timber. The victim is now crucified. His entire weight is hung from three rough wrought nails As he slowly sags down with more weight on the nails in the wrists, excruciating fiery pain shoots along the fingers and up the arms to the median nerves. As he pushes himself upward to avoid this stretching torment, he places the full weight on the nail through his feet. Again he feels the searing agony of the nail tearing through the nerves between the bones of his feet. With His weight on His outstretched arms, air can be drawn into the lungs but not exhaled. He must push down on the single nail holding His feet in order to lift His chest to exhale. As the arms and legs fatigue, cramps sweep through his muscles, knotting them with relentless, throbbing pain. With these cramps comes the inability to push upward to breathe. He fights to raise himself in order to get even one small breath. Finally, carbon dioxide builds up in the lungs and in the blood stream, and the cramps partially subside. Occasionally, he is able to push himself upward to exhale and bring in life-giving oxygen. Hours of limitless pain, cycles of twisting, joint wrenching cramps, intermittent partial asphyxiation, searing pain as tissue is torn from his lacerated back as he moves up and down against rough timber. Then another agony begins: a deep, crushing pain deep in the chest as the pericardium slowly fills with serum and begins to compresses the heart. It is now almost over - the loss of tissue fluids has reached a critical level - the compressed heart is struggling to pump heavy, thick, sluggish blood into the tissues - the tortured lungs are making frantic effort to gasp in tiny tastes of air. He can feel the chill of death creeping through his tissues ... finally; he can allow his body to die. «¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤» Your Daily Verse For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time. 1 Timothy 2:5-6/KJV BIT OF WISDOM: The evidence of God's presence far outweighs the proof of his absence. TRIVIA QUESTION: Q. What were the names of Noah's sons? And how old was Noah when the flood came? A. See Genesis 6:10 See Answer below. «¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤» RECIPE: SAVORY LEG OF LAMB & POTATOES *********************************************************** INGREDIENTS: 2 large lemons, zest of 1 removed in strips with peeler 1/4 cup fresh rosemary leaves 3 large garlic cloves 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice 1/2 teaspoon salt 7-pound leg of lamb 2 1/2 pounds small red potatoes 3 tablespoons minced fresh chives DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut off and discard pith from zested lemon and cut off and discard zest and pith from other lemon. In a saucepan of boiling water blanch zest 1 minute and drain in a colander. Cut each lemon crosswise into 6 slices. In a small food processor blend rosemary, garlic, zest, 1 tablespoon oil, lemon juice, and salt until mixture is chopped fine. With tip of a small sharp knife cut small slits all over lamb and rub rosemary mixture over lamb, rubbing into slits. Arrange lemon slices in middle of a large roasting pan and arrange lamb on them. Roast lamb in middle of oven 45 minutes. Quarter potatoes and in a saucepan cover with salted cold water by 1 inch. Bring water to a boil and cook potatoes, covered, 5 minutes. Drain potatoes in colander and in a bowl toss with remaining tablespoon oil. Arrange potatoes around lamb and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Roast lamb and potatoes, stirring potatoes occasionally, 55 minutes, or until a meat thermometer registers 140 degrees. for medium-rare. Transfer lamb to a cutting board and let stand 15 minutes. Increase temperature to 450 degrees roast potatoes and lemons in one layer 5 to 10 minutes more, or until golden. Transfer potatoes and lemons with a slotted spoon to bowl and toss with chives. Transfer potato mixture to a platter. Slice thinly across grain and serve with potatoes. Garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs and lemon wedges. «¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤» THE LITTLE TREE THAT STOOD TALL Once upon a dream In a forest far away There lived a little sapling Who would grow up some day He looked around about him The trees were strong and tall I will grow up some day, he said And be the greatest tree of all The little tree began to grow The months and years went by He looked round about one day And then began to cry I'm so very little Among the trees so tall Why, on why dear God Am I the smallest tree of all? The God spoke from heaven Some day you'll take a fall But you will learn in darkness Whose the greatest tree of all The little tree was fearful For future things unseen Why does God not love me? Why is He so mean? One day there came a woodsman Among the mighty trees he found The little tree that trembled And cut it to the ground The little tree began to weep He thought that all was lost Until he stopped to realize He'd been cut to make a cross Upon that cross the third Man died Now the little tree stood tall For it was then he realized He was the greatest tree of all ! DWoodPaPa@aol.com «¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤» Bible Quiz: by Darryl Clemmons The anger of the Lord was kindled against me For I brought other gods and bowed with my knee I had walked in God's ways and did right in His sight But I turned away from Him Which I know was not right A hundred talents of silver to soldiers I did give But God stopped my plans Now how shall I live? My money I gave But He said He would provide Then I turned my heart I was so filled with pride. ( Last Weeks Answer is: Benjamin ) ( This Weeks Answer will be posted here next Monday ) «¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤» 'Words from the Heart' by Deborah Zook 1. He drew a circle that shut me out, But love and I had the wit to win; We drew a larger circle that took him in. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- 2. The center of God's will is our only safety. When we obey him every path he guides us on is fragrant with his lovingkindness and his truth. ...Psalm 25:10 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- 3. A wife doubles a man's pleasures and divides his cares. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- 4. In the old days a fool and his money were soon parted. Now it happens to everyone. :-\ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -- 5. Men want to improve only the world; but mothers want to improve their whole family. That is a much harder task. «¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤» A. His sons were Shem, Ham and Japheth. See Genesis 6:10 "Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth." Noah was 600 years old at the time of the flood. See Genesis 7:6 "Noah was six hundred years old when the floodwaters came on the earth." «¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤»¥«¤»§«¤» .·:*´¨`*:·..·:*´¨`*:·. *: * Richiele * * *·. .·* `*·-:¦:-*´ ³´`*:»§«:*´`³