From My Artist's Pen

“Augustus was savior of Rome, and Jesus the Son of God is Savior of the world”

The saying is actually made up of two saying, one by Publius Nigidius Figulus, “The ruler of the world is now born” concerning Augustus, and the other was said by Mark, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God”. Mark was one of the apostles of Jesus, and he later wrote a book about the life of Jesus. He went out to preach the gospel but was killed for his faith. Publius was part of the senate when Augustus came to be Caesar of Rome. He wrote many books and supported Caesar

Another way to put the saying is: “Augustus saved Rome from collapsing, making way for Jesus, Son of God who was later killed on a cross to save the whole world from death.”

Mark was trying to spread the Gospel to the world. We are not told who in particular he was writing to, but being one of the first gospels, he could have been writing to everyone. At one point he was Peter’s scribe and Peter restored him to faith in Jesus. Publius and his friends were trying to find safe rules so that men and gods could talk to each other. He was also trying to support Augustus.

If Augustus had not saved Rome, then Rome could have been turned upside down before Jesus even got there. And if Rome was in turmoil then it would not have been worrying about Jesus and may not have killed him of the cross. If Jesus did not die on the cross then the world would not be saved from death, because sin leads to death and through the death of Jesus, we have life.

It is like a test. To understand the test you have to study and lay the foundations of what you are studying. It was the same idea when Augustus took hold of the throne of Rome. As you continue to study for your test you build on what you already know. In the same way Augustus built Rome up, he cleaned up the streets and kept the peace. As the time of the test gets nearer and nearer, new ideas and thoughts go through you head. Jesus son of God turns up as a common Nazerite, grows up, lives a perfect life and begins his ministry. Then the test come at last and you pass never having to look back but go on into some new subject. So Jesus took the test, died on the cross and saved us from our sins never having to go through death again.

In the end Augustus and Jesus proved the saying true. Augustus saved Rome in the Civil Wars and he closed the gates that could only be closed in a time of peace three times. He took good care of Rome, and sort of prepared it for the coming of Jesus. Then Jesus came into earth, and lived a perfect life. The Jews with the help of Rome killed Jesus on the cross. But on the third day, Jesus rose from the dead and through his death saved the world, giving us life and freeing us from our sins.

Remember Daniel and his visions. One of those visions was about a statue of Nebuchadnezzar, with a gold head and stone feet. Well, in Daniel’s dream the statue crumbled down to nothing. Rome is like the statue and in the end Jesus is what brought it crashing down. He brought it down, through his good works and the works of the apostles.

The saying was “Augustus was savior of Rome, and Jesus the Son of God is Savior of the world.” Augustus saved Rome and brought peace so that Jesus could come and save the world from sin and death. The saying is actually two sayings one by Publius, who was part of the senate and the other was said by the apostle Mark, who was one of the twelve that followed Jesus. Publius supported Augustus. The saying also shows us how God used Augustus reign to bring salvation to the world. Daniel’s dream also proved the wisdom of the saying true. Therefore the saying is a wise saying.

A Broken Arm and A Broken City

I haven't posted for a while, not since my boy broke his arm messing around on roller-blades in the carport, waiting for lunch guests. That made for an interesting meal - was it broken or not? Unfortunately 4 1/2 weeks of cast latter it was.

Disruption that snowballed, a Tuesday afternoon - cast repairs at A & E, a 1-2 hour power cut, and a phone-call, have you heard from...in Christchurch. Are they ok.... panic, read the news, see emails of concern from across the States - urgent phone calls -YES they are safe, unharmed, or at least as good as it gets when danger lurks close.

Its been hard to write since. Hard to put words to paper - we are unaffected and life goes on, yet in our country life remains at a standstill, people lost, homes, destroyed, the place we used to live reduced to a war zone. There but by the grace of God ....

There we watch and wait,

Hearing of the quiet thoughts that stopped people from being in the wrong place and the wrong time and give thanks.

There we rejoice where damage is less than feared, lives not lost.

There we mourn for unknown people who lost their lives, people who lost their homes, people who lost the ability to pour a drink of water.

Please pray for those that mourn, for those who have lost memories, possessions, that those who wonder what happens next will discover the Savior from whom the city takes its name... that lives will be rebuilt on the solid foundation of Jesus.