The Perfect Religion, A Beacon to the True Kingdom of God

Welcome to this site. Its purpose is to let all know that we have a lighthouse that will guide us to safety if we get lost in this turbulent sea called life. It is also for those who are wandering around aimlessly searching for that perfect relationship with God (I call it the Perfect Religion). It is all about Jesus. He is the light, “In Him was life; and the life was the light of men,” John 1:4

Don’t be confused by the word Religion or the word Perfect; man has distorted or misunderstood both for centuries. God is perfect, and He has given us His spoken word that provides us with a way to have that perfect relationship with Him, and that perfect way is through Jesus. He is the Lighthouse that will lead us to God’s kingdom.

I hope you check out all the pages and resources of this site. I would also love to hear back from you and let me know if there are any questions or ideas on making this site more useful and beneficial.

I think the song “The Lighthouse” says it all. The vocal group “Vocal Expressions” brings to life this song that will touch the hearts of those needing that guiding light of Jesus.

If you are searching for truth, peace, and joy in your life, think on these following words of the song, seek the words of Jesus that will bring light to your pathway:

And I thank God for the Lighthouse, I owe my life to Him

Jesus is the Lighthouse and from the rocks of sin

He has shown the light around me, so that I might clearly see

If it wasn’t for the lighthouse, where would this ship be

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Below is my second book on the Sermon on the Mount. Click on free preview to check it out. This second book continues with stories that have local flavor and down to earth application to the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount. It covers hatred, lust, divorce, lying, oaths and many other topics of which many have struggled.

May this song by Peter Hollens lift your spirit and raise you.

WE ALL LEAVE FOOTPRINTS IN OUR DAILY WALK. WHAT WILL YOURS LOOK LIKE. MY THOUGHTS ABOUT WHAT WE LEAVE BEHIND ARE EXPRESSED BELOW.

“I am the good shepherd , and know my sheep, and am known of Mine” John 10:14.

“Every once in a while, a ewe will give birth to a lamb and reject it. If the lamb is returned to the ewe, the mother may even kick the poor animal away. Once a ewe rejects one of her lambs, she will never change her mind.

These little lambs will hang their heads so low that it looks like something is wrong with its neck. Their spirit is broken. These lambs are called “bummer lambs.” Unless the shepherd intervenes, that lamb will die, rejected and alone. So, do you know what the shepherd does? He takes that rejected little one into his home, hand-feeds it and keeps it warm by the fire. He will wrap it up with blankets and hold it to his chest so the bummer can hear his heartbeat. Once the lamb is strong enough, the shepherd will place it back in the field with the rest of the flock.

But that sheep never forgets how the shepherd cared for him when his mother rejected him. When the shepherd calls for the flock, guess who runs to him first? That is right, the bummer sheep. He knows his voice intimately. It is not that the bummer lamb is loved more, it just knows intimately the one who loves it.

So many of us are bummer lambs, rejected and broken. But He is the good Shepherd. He cares for our every need and holds us close to His heart so we can hear His heart beat. We may be broken but we are deeply loved by the Shepherd. “

The following is a video about the first book published about the Sermon on the Mount. It is called The Perfect Religion, A Beacon to the True Kingdom of God.

https://www.christianfaithpublishing.com/books/?book=the-perfect-religion-a-beacon-to-the-true-kingdom-of-god

FREE BOOK ON THE WORDS AND TEACINGS OF JESUS ONLY (WHAT JESUS TAUGHT IN THE GOSPELS) CLICK THE LINK BELOW THE IMAGE

The following is a sample story from my upcoming book, The Perfect Religion, Gateway to God’s Secret Place. It is a humorous story to which many can relate. I go into the Biblical implications of the collection in my book and will be adding this teaching as I further develop the website.

“Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in Heaven.”

                                                                                    —Matthew 6:1

The Collection Plate

The Collection Plate

 We don’t mean to, but it happens to almost everyone. When the collection plate at worship services is passed around on Sunday morning, we do strange things. Maybe a shifting of the eyes left, then right to see how much someone is or isn’t putting in.  We know that Brother Tommy only gives a dollar— he has been doing that for 20 years. And Brother Cecil squirms in his seat, folding his money into a little one-inch square so the one passing the plate can’t tell the denomination—Washington stands out like a sore thumb. But the strangest thing that I had ever seen concerning the collection happened in a little church in Broken Bow, Oklahoma.

Nestled in the far southeast corner of Oklahoma stood a weathered old church, layered in cracked white paint, windows swollen shut by years of humid summer air, and a handful of faithful Christians not bothered by these insignificant appearances.

 “The building is not the church,” they would say, “the people are the church.” That is why they paid no attention to minor flaws in the construction, even though some of these flaws might cause major interruptions.

With gaping cracks, the planked floors occasionally created giggles at the most inopportune times, like when Old Man Tidmore, as he was referred to, with no disrespect intended, was about to hit home a point in his sermon. The local chickens, hunting and pecking for last Sunday’s potluck droppings, cackled as loud as sister Linda when she got tickled. We often wondered if she was about to lay an egg.

  And, of course, there were the creaky old benches that left splinters in the bottoms of squirming sinners during hellfire and brimstone revivals. But all was taken in stride, and church services went on with their routine church activities. I emphasize routine activities, i.e., three songs, prayer, two more songs, the Lord’s Supper, collection prayer, the collection plate passed around, one more song, the sermon, and the invitation song. The same order, the same songs, and the same prayer, word for word. But nothing can distract attention away from routine greater than the unexpected. And on this occasion, eyes bulged in amazement.

On one particular day, as the collection plate was being passed, all seemed normal until it reached Old Man Tidmore.

“Did you see that,” I whispered to my wife, Lois, while poking her in the side with my elbow?

“Quit that,” she mumbled under her breath as she elbowed me back.

“I can’t believe it,” I snarled back, “he took money out of the collection plate.”

One by one. Old man Tidmore plucked out dollar bills, not even attempting to be inconspicuous.

“I guess he must have read the verse wrong that he preached about the other day—”Tidmore giveth and Tidmore taketh away.”

A snicker preceded out of Lois while her eyes rolled and her head shook in exasperation. “Hush, there must be some explanation,” she said, trying to muffle a chuckle through the side of her mouth.

“Well, I am going to approach him after church.”

“You will not. Brother Tidmore might have needed that money for something.”

“Yeah, but that ain’t proper procedures.’

“Oh, you and your procedures.”

This little church was small in numbers but big on procedures. In fact, one time, a big uproar happened when the pulpit was moved from the center stage to the side, giving full attention to the Lord’s table in the center. Sister Lucille knew there had to be a place in the Bible, prohibiting its move. Her ranting went on for weeks. So, there had to be a reason for Old Man Tidmore violating collection rules. Right?

“I want to know. If he needs something, so we can help out.”

            After church that Sunday, I approached Old Man Tidmore. “Hey Raul, how are things going?”

            “Why just fine, brother Phillip, I appreshuate (his version of appreciate) you asking.”

            “Are you okay with money?”

            “Well, to be honest, the saw sharpening is a little slow, but I am doing fine.”

            “I know you have been sick lately; I bet you have a lot of doctor bills.”

            “The doc was easy on me. He owed me several favors anyway.”

            “I noticed that you were taking some money out of the collection plate and, well…I mean…oh, I was just wondering if you needed anything.” I lowered my head, slightly ashamed to ask.

            Old Man Tidmore raised his arm and put his hand on my shoulder; his other hand stroked his chin a few times, “I reckon it raised a few eyebrows. Jimmy almost choked on his gum, and his hand shook while holding that collection plate. I intentionally took my sweet time as I thought to myself, ‘this will certainly be a good lesson for next Sunday.’ And don’t ya know the fish bit on the worm. A few gasps, giggles and I know sister Bullard almost lost her false teeth, as wide a gap as  her mouth made.'”

            “You mean you did that on purpose?”

            “No, I forgot to get change for my five-dollar bill at Bruton’s Grocery this morning, so I thought there would be no harm in making change out of the collection plate. Certainly, I thought, no one would pay notice. I am glad you didn’t give it any thought.’

            I turned and slithered back to my seat. The next week, Old Man Tidmore got up in the pulpit and announced, “This week’s lesson comes from Psalms, “May those who say to me, ‘Aha, Aha!’ retreat because of their shame” (Psalms 70:3 Berean Study Bible).

This silly true story (I embellished just a tad for literature’s sake) brings up a topic that Jesus thought was important enough to include in His sermon on giving. The King James version uses the term alms deeds. The New King James Version calls it charitable deeds.  So what is He talking about? And how does this tie in with the next two subjects, prayer, and fasting.

                                                Exceeding Righteousness

            In my first book, The Perfect Religion, A Beacon to the True Kingdom of God, the last verse studied said, ” For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). In the second book, The Perfect Religion, The Bridge Between Tradition and Truth, Jesus pointed out what the Jews thought was Moses’s laws, but were in reality, the traditions mandated by the scribes and Pharisees.

Jesus emphasized the true meaning of what God intended, not what they had heard from the religious leaders—God’s valid laws turned into traditions of men. The true laws of God were intended to  point out the very essences of the greatest commandment, and the second like it:

“Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, ‘Which is the first commandment of all?’ Jesus answered him, ‘The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:28-31)

            After the scribe acknowledged that the teaching of Jesus was “Well said” and  he repeated those commands as being better than any burnt offerings, Jesus said, “You are not far from the kingdom of God” (verse 34).

            If one looks at the three topics Jesus is presenting at the beginning of Matthew, chapter six (alms deeds, prayer and fasting) we will see that the core of these righteous acts reveals that one commandment (empbacing three aspects), love God, our neighbor, and ourselves. The following will hopefully justify this claim:

1. Alms deeds or giving: The focus, as we will point out in a bit, is thinking of others, i.e., our neighbors, the homeless, the needy, the widows, and orphans. The giving mentioned by Jesus refers to the righteous acts of mercy and pity on our neighbor.  In other words, we love our neighbor as ourselves when we extend a hand of mercy and compassion to them.
2. Prayer: The example of prayer Jesus used starts out by acknowledging God “Hallowed be Your name” and His power, glory, and kingdom, “For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever” (Matthew 6:9 and 13). Acknowledging these attibutes is loving God with all our heart when we glorify Him. Remember the main point of the perfect religion, it is not about me, but Thee.
3. Fasting: The very act of fasting is an inward look at ourselves and understanding self-control. Not walking by the flesh but by the spirit. If we love this earthen vessel, which is the temple of the Holy Spirit, we will develop that self-control. Fasting is one way to have the Holy Spirit to help us.

We will look at these individually as we continue the study on the Sermon on the Mount. And how the performance and motive of these righteous acts must exceed the hypocritical actions and motives of the scribes and Pharisees. So let us continue our look at the collection or giving.

This was a part of the first chapter of Book 3. I go into greater detail about Alms deeds in the book. I will periodically put in other parts of the book.

Sample story from Book 1 “Hunger and thirst after righteousness” Click on link: http://theperfectreligion.com/the-sermon-on-the-mount-study/

Reviews on Amazon

The Perfect Religion, a Beacon to the True Kingdom of God: Where Have You Been Hiding?

Joseph P.

Amazing

February 24, 2020

Format : Paperback | Verified Purchase

Amazing stories and always quoting the Bible scriptures. Can’t wait for the next book.

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The Perfect Religion, a Beacon to the True Kingdom of God: Where Have You Been Hiding?

Jim Hebron

Very captivating and memorable

June 22, 2019

Format : Paperback

Don’t miss out on something SO important. Theologically rich and has you on the edge of your seat. My wife and I love it.

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The Perfect Religion, a Beacon to the True Kingdom of God: Where Have You Been Hiding?

Marilyn S.

Wow! Conviction without pious judgment. Excellent.

June 20, 2019

Format : Paperback

Phillip Cimei is obviously well prepared to write concerning things theological. His deep understanding of biblical language, along with his advanced degrees, qualify him to expound in exalted terms, yet he speaks to the common man with clarity and conviction. Eternal truths are combined with practical application in a thought-provoking and yet easy manner. Thank you, brother, for an unexpected treat!

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The Perfect Religion, a Beacon to the True Kingdom of God: Where Have You Been Hiding?

Tracy

Inspirational for All

May 12, 2019

Format : Paperback

The book was unexpected. Was not really sure that it would apply to me. It gives some great examples of everyday life with a good christian stance. Easy to read and enjoyed it. Great Book!

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The Perfect Religion, a Beacon to the True Kingdom of God: Where Have You Been Hiding?

deijri galjour

Great book!!!

January 30, 2019

Format : Paperback | Verified Purchase

Love this book. Great use of storytelling integrated with biblical scriptures. Looking forward to next book!!!

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The following is a story that might help us understand a little about giving;

Dumpy

It wasn’t the name he wanted, or chosen, or given by his parents.  Society tagged him with it.  No, it wasn’t because of his physical appearance–at one time an Adonis.  It was because society has its labels.  Regardless of how he got there, he now must not only endure the humiliating and disparaging remarks but a nickname for his plight.

“Nice color coordination, Dumpy,” said a well-dressed man mocking his hodgepodge garb.  The local dump provided his clothing, and an unsympathetic onlooker, his name, Dumpy.

It was providence that thrust Dumpy into society’s lower Escalon.  Not laziness or mental illness as the world suspected.   He once had a normal life–as many would call normal– enjoying fine foods, a nice home, and respect.  But God had a different road for him to travel.  He was stripped of the niceties of life and clothed with poverty. God had a plan—as always.

“What is that smell,” came the disdaining words from a passerby, with pooched lips, a wrinkled  nose, and declaring, “eeewww…yuk!”

The remarks hurt, but he said to himself, “I won’t lower myself to their level.  Even though they take a stand, like Job’s wife, and question why I don’t curse God and die, I will be content with food and clothing.”

“Get out of my way, you pathetic derelict,” came a shout from the owner of a lovely upper-class home at which Dumpy lay.  The owner’s face now contorted with contempt, gritted his teeth, and yelled, “You’re lucky the government can’t figure out what to do with you lazy, worthless bums.  No, they let you park your nasty, smelly carcass right in front of my home.  The home I worked so hard to make nice and clean.”

“Just a bit to eat, sir,” Dumpy begged, lowering his head.

“Go ahead, cower like a whipped dog,” said the owner.

“I’ll give you nothing but a kick in the face if you don’t leave.”

 “God bless you, sir,” Dumpy responded by casting coals of fire on the owner’s head.

“God…God, you say.  Where is your God now?  Let Him feed you,

Humility trumps cowering every time, “sorry sir, I need a little food.  When I heal, I would be glad to sweep your porch, or…or–”

“Get your lazy…go get a real job. I’m throwing a party tonight, and I don’t want to make my guests sick by your stench.” 

Dumpy, couldn’t get up. He scooted along the ground, a grimace with every move.  His mind raced back to a beating he had last week. He grimaces as he recalls the incident.

“Hey Dumpy, got any spare change,” one malefactor mimicked that night, high-fiving his friends. 

“Nice coat, moron,” another would chide

“I need a coat,” the leader yelled out.

They swarmed like a pack of hyenas, ripped off the only decent piece of garment that kept him warm at night. They dragged him down to a ditch.  After kicking him repeatedly, they shoved him over the edge of the ditch. It was a deep ditch lined with jagged rocks—every tumble a cracked rib, every skid an open wound.  He rested at the bottom on top of a maggot-infested animal carcass—a castoff just like him. The diseased animal would eventually be his undoing. He was brought back to the present by the arriving guests.

“What’s that smell?” a woman said, wrinkling her nose in disgust. 

“Don’t get near him, honey. Look at all those open pussy sores; he might have something contagious,” warned her husband. 

One after another made their way into the home.  Each guest greets the host with a shake of the head as they looked back at Dumpy. Each was donning a repulsion look, expressing disgust with a gasp, or voicing a complaint to the owner.

The owner came out again. “I told you to get out of here. You’re making my guests sick.”   He said as he hurled a mouthful of saliva. That spittle, the lowest form of degradation one could cast at another, would be the last he would launch at Dumpy.

The night went on, and the guest caroused while Dumpy lay outside slowly succumbing to his infected wounds. 

“Where am I?  How beautiful. “ The day’s events now erased, and the pain was gone; only serenity and a tug on his left arm occupied his mind. Dumpy felt as if he were floating up t from the depths of the sea, and someone was guiding him to the light of the surface.”

“Hello Lazarus,” came a voice from a stately figure, “come rest next to me.”

“How did you know my name?” 

“I have been waiting for you.  God told me that you were in need of some comfort.”

“Your Abraham!”

The owner is now drunk and choking on his vomit… well, you know the rest of the parable taught by Jesus.  I enhanced it just a tad for literature’s sake, but the original parable, as told by Jesus, follows for those who might have forgotten:

“There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day. But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. Moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom. The rich man also died and was buried. And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and say Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.

Then he cried and said,’ Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.’ But Abraham said, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented…” (Luke 16:19-25).

Though parables are considered allegorical— or short fictional stories cast alongside a moral truth—they present situations we may all have seen or experienced in our life’s journey. How do we treat the castoffs of life? How do we treat the Dumpys of the world?

            As we look into how the early Christians handled the care of those in need, we will get a good picture of what is essential when it comes to the contribution and the showing of mercy to those in need. It will give us an idea of how to give.

                 Purpose not Process

Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men.

—Matthew 6:2

Several of the local ladies huddled like hens in a coop; they had nothing better to do than to cackle out their jealousies, “Isn’t she so gorgeous in her new clothes?” whispered one with drooling envy.

“God sure has blessed her with grace and beauty. Everyone has been talking about how well she has managed her husband, John’s success.” came the response of another, followed by a ”Humph.”

The green-eyed monster was knocking at the door of these ladies as Elizabeth meandered through the market place. But to their amazement, she neither tarnished her natural beauty with artificial dazzlement nor her station in life with arrogance or pride.

“Good morning, ladies. Hasn’t the Lord blessed us with such tranquil breezes today? It makes shopping so pleasant. How have you been?” Elizabeth said with warm overtones.

Elizabeth, blessed to have sufficient means to purchase her household needs without concern or worry, lacked nothing, but this would soon change.

As usual, Elizabeth busied herself, preparing the most delicious meal for her hard-working spouse and her children. Today, savory leg of lamb. A glow overtook her, garnished with a contentful smile, as she skillfully prepared the dish. She whisked back a strand of hair that seemed to tease her patience. After wiping her perspiring brow, she smirked a little bit then begin singing her favorite psalm. Then came the knock on the door.

She wasn’t expecting company, but her home was always open to all, and of course, her first whisper of concern was, “Do I have enough for some company? Oh, my, I might have to send the children to the market.” She straightened her apron, brushed her disheveled hair back, and opened the door.

A middle-aged man stood stonefaced; it was Matthew, her husband’s best friend. “My dear, Elizabeth,” he said, followed by a slow, deep inhale, “ I…I… have some bad news.”

“What?” Furrows of fright deepened on her forehead, “What news? What do you mean?

“Elizabeth,” Matthew could barely whisper out through trembling lips, “John…well…John…”

“Where is John? What has happened, Matthew?”

“John had a terrible accident at work today. He…he…”

“What accident…where…how bad is he hurt? Where is he?” she shot out as she grabbed her chest with both hands.

“John is dead.”

Everything else he said was just a blur as Elizabeth fell to her knees, wailed out pleas to God with raised, opened palmed hands— like a child begging a parent to pick them up. Life will be different now.

Elizabeth’s visits to the marketplace would become less frequent. And her style of shopping would change. Now, it was begging for over-ripened fruits and vegetables. Giggles and finger-pointing carried the stale smell of contempt, not envy.

“Mom, why don’t people recognize us anymore,” asked the oldest child. “Everyone knew us and treated us friendly. But now, we are not recognized by them. And they treat us like dirt because we have to beg for everything. Has God forgotten us?”

“Son, God never forgets His children. He loves them and will always provide for them. Some times He tests our hearts to check our faith,” she countered

“Yeah, but people laugh at us because of the rags we wear. They honored us before, but now we are nothing,” he said with a heavy heart.

“God will provide for us, maybe not in material things like we used to have, but He will

provide,” she said as they went on their way to worship services.

At the front entrance were the offering containers. Elizabeth reached into her little cloth bag while waiting for her turn. She could hear, “Clink, clink, clink clink clink.” She neither envious as to the abundance of the large coins cast in with vigor nor embarrassed by the demeaning look of contempt shed her way as the contributor took his prominent seat to worship.

Elizabeth meekly, but with an air of contentment, reached into her makeshift purse and pulled out all she had. With no hesitation, she dropped it in the container, “Clink, clink.” She swiftly guided her children to a prayerful position at the back and poured out her heart to her Father in heaven.

On the way home, her oldest child asked her, “Why did you give all we had? Nobody will ever know or even care what you gave.”

“Maybe they didn’t notice, but every act of worship, even the most seemingly insignificant act, is received in heaven as a treasure and laid at the feet of God. How remarkable is that?”

On her way out, after much prayer and Thanksgiving, she shuffled her children past scornful looks and pitiful sighs of disdain from the proud hypocrites. But not all cast arrows with the poisoned tip of reproach; one stately looking man smiled as she passed, he turned and whispered something to his friends. Her seemingly insignificant contribution would be recorded in the annals of Christian history. You might remember the original account as told by Jesus, the story of the widow’s mites. That was my imaginative twist on the story; the actual bible accounts are as follows:

“Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood”’ (Mark 12:41-44).

            The point that Jesus made was not the amount, but the motive, not the process of giving, but the purpose of giving. She gave from the heart, knowing that her meager contribution, as compared to the wealthy donors’, would be used for others even worse off than herself. She gave of her livelihood. How many today would give all they had. She gave of her needs, not of her wants.  Would you?

            And, she didn’t make excuses not to contribute based on the hypocritical giving of the scribes and Pharisees. She gave because the right purpose cradled her heart, even though the amount was two mites.

            The widow’s two mites (Greek Lepta) are together worth a quadrans, the smallest Roman coin. A lepton was the smallest and least valuable coin in circulation in Judea, worth about six minutes of an average daily wage. (3)

Computing in today’s salary scale of the minimum wage, as about $1.20. If that was all we had to our name, would we give it in the collection?

The bedroom door slowly cracked open on this Easter morning, creaking slightly but not enough to muffle the angelic sounds of singing from within, as Rachel cuddled newborn Lily. Filling the crack in the door, five pairs of saucer-shaped eyes, stacked one upon another, staring, waiting for the right moment.

Joseph, a lanky lad with freckles scattered like the sprinkles on his mother’s cupcakes, turned to his father and asked, “Now?” Like a parliament of hungry owls, the other children swiveled their heads in unison, hunting for a response.

“Not yet, son,” said his father, George, as he stroked his salt and pepper beard, not once, but several times. “Mother needs some time with baby Lily and with our Heavenly Father.” The children returned to the serenading of Lily. All but Anna, she looked back to see her father bowing his head, tears streaming down his face. More mature and astute than the average 16-year-old, Anna knew she needed to press on; consternation furrowed her brow. It was her turn.

“But father, I want to sing to baby Lily, as I did for these.” Anna knelt and hugged brothers, Mark and Michael, and toddler, Ruthie, who latched onto Anna’s leg as she often did to her mother’s. “Father, please,” she continued. That look and plea were oh too familiar to her father.

Anna, her mother’s mirror image, with her almond-shaped face encased with porcelain skin, also mirrored her mother’s tenacious spirit. But it was Anna’s songbird voice, often dwarfing the others, that always tempered her father’s unmovable disposition. She had a lot of practice—singing accentuated every event in her Hutterian family’s life. Especially in the “Baby House.” Just then, a song erupted outside.

Hutterian brotherhood families sang a lot— before every meal, every celebration, every event, and now the birth of Lily. The newborn’s family would occupy an exclusive apartment called “The Baby House.” They would stay in this quaint apartment for six weeks while bonding with the child. Traditional gatherings outside providing choral singing took place nightly for six weeks. Anna couldn’t resist her calling; she joined in, “All the earth to Him must bow; folded in His love they sleep: Little beasts that swim and creep; seed and flow’r are hidden deep.” This springtime lullaby was her favorite as it spoke of Angelic whispers that awakened God’s budding springtime creations. Anna’s accompaniment plucked on her father’s heartstrings.

Her father’s lungs swelled as he slowly inhaled, though the inspiration he needed now was more spiritual than physical as he uttered, “It is time, my little ones.”

Heads jerked, eyes batted with excitement, and little hands clapped like a seal performing for a meal. Not Anna, dismay, lowered the corners of her mouth. She knew now, she could sense it—another trait passed on from her mother. She could see a foreboding hand lifting her father out of the rocker.

Anna looked into her father’s reddened eyes as she yielded to his firm but loving grip. He swung the door open, Rachel motioned for them to come in. The others, excited about meeting Lily for the first time, scurried in. Rachel continued singing as each child gave her a loving hug and bent down to give baby Lily a peck on the cheek. Anna could see their reaction after each kiss. Anna approached her mother.

“Father didn’t tell us, but I knew,” said Anna as her arm made a swipe across her teary eyes?” Anna knelt and gently placed a kiss on Lily’s cold forehead, then rested her head on her mother’s shoulder.

“You are so grown up, Anna,” her mother said as she motioned for the others to come and sit by Anna. Big sister was a magnet for refuge in situations like this. “Our Lord Jesus will fulfill His promise to defeat death. He said He would go and prepare us a beautiful place and come back to take us there one day. Around our future eternal home, He has a garden. Now and then, He will select a beautiful Easter Lily, a newly formed bud unspoiled by the pestilence of this world, and replant it there to remind us when we get there of His loving promise. Lily, beneath the Gardener’s hand, will greet us one day.”

On this chilly spring morning, songs of Easter hope blanketed this grieving baby house, while the Angels, cuddling Lily, whispered words of hope. Anna and Rachel blended tears as they sang, “Jesus is the gardener fair.”

Author’s note:
This is a fictional story based upon actual experiences with the Hutterian Society of Brothers community in Farmington, Pennsylvania. The words to the song are from one of their lullaby songs, Lullaby of the Sleeping World.

Phillip Richard Cimei :

Phillip Cimei has been united in heart and spirit to his virtuous wife for 51 years. Her price is above rubies. She has done him good and not evil all the days of her life. Both were baptized into the Lord in 1975, at 10:00 PM, by car headlights, in Lake Hugo. They have seven children ( a full quiver) as gifts from the Lord. The following is a brief resume of evangelistic summary:

Ordained evangelist
Worked with churches in the following cities and states
Broken Bow, Golden, Valiant, Davis, Durant, Alderson,
Eagletown, Shawnee, and Claremore Oklahoma

Piney View, West Virginia

Dennison, Texas

Oak Grove, Arkansas

Hilo, Hawaii

Education:

Graduated High School Wheaton Central, Wheaton Illinois

Colleges:
Southeastern Oklahoma State University BS education, M.Ed school Administration,
Eastern Oklahoma State University
Northeastern State University
Carl Albert State College
Principal’s Academy
Oklahoma University, CWSIII, SSSII,

Work history:

Evangelist, 41 years

Principal at following schools: Jenks, Caney Valley, and Foyil public schools

Child Welfare Specialist III

Social Service Specialist II

Crane operator, builder, salesman, factory worker, insurance salesman

“Blessed are those that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled.” Matt. 5:6

Ding…ding…ding…ding…ding…ding, every six seconds someone dies of hunger in the world. Every ten seconds a child dies of malnutrition related sickness. Do we really understand what it is like to be hungry? What would it take? Kevin thought he could capture this worldwide plight as a photojournalist. He certainly raised awareness in some, but others caused Kevin to lose all joy of life, even to the point of…well let’s go back in time a little.

Kevin Carter won the Pulitzer Prize for photojournalism in 1994. He captured in film an emaciated shell of a child sitting bent over, crying on the scorched sand of Sudan. Nothing unusual there—considering the numbers that suffer every day from starvation. But this situation would capture the attention of the world. Some would be moved to tears and others anger and condemnation for his callous disregard for the tormented child. 

The pronounced outline of her rib cage, along with her bloated belly and scarecrow arms, accentuated her plight. Her hands cupped her shallow cheeked face as she whimpered with the little strength she had left. Alone writhing in cramp induced pain, she prays for one more meal. Her parents left her there as they begged for what little portion they could get at the United Nations feeding center. Kevin slowly inched his way toward her. Covertness was the key word in his mind as he positions the camera to immediately take the photo at the right moment. He knows it isn’t just a hungry child that will catch the imagination of the world. Behind her another awaits; his meal will come as the last breath leaves her tormented body.

Just a few feet away silently waiting, sits a repulsed symbol of death. A vulture. It awaits the inevitable. Maybe not today. Maybe not right here. If this time fails, it will assume its hunt in the sky, painting circles as it swoops down as an uninvited guest to witness someone or something’s last breath. This vulture is different. It will feast on the hearts of many worldwide, symbolizing the haves and have nots—those that feast on delicacies and those that eat the dust of the earth. That was one view the world had of that Pulitzer prize winning photograph. The other, reproach toward the one who captured that heart wrenching moment. To them there were two vultures on that day. The other was Kevin.

Kevin stood for twenty minutes positioning himself for the perfect shot. With the stealth of a Navy seal, he inched his way forward. He was hoping that the vulture would spread its wings creating greater emotional impact.  But this didn’t happen, so he took his best shot. That shot would ricochet and this vulture would feed upon Kevin’s tormented soul.

Kevin got his picture; he reaped the financial gain at the expense of this little starving Sudanese child. And then the feathers flew. Ruffled by those that were concerned about the postscript of this story, the world hounded the New York Times until they had to explain the girl’s outcome.

They tried to explain that the girl did live and that Kevin scared the vulture away. And that Kevin was instructed, as other photojournalist, not to touch those in such condition, they might have a disease that the photojournalists could be spread to others. This must have eased the concerns of the Pulitzer committee because the next year Kevin would win that coveted prize. But he would lose something more precious. Joy.

The summer after his Pulitzer Prize award, Kevin saw enough—enough killing, hate, and starvation. He was depressed and troubled by what he had witnessed as a photojournalist. The image of that little starving girl probably was the catalyst to his next statement to the world—not a photo, but a note which stated, “Joy does not exist.”

Kevin drove his vehicle to a playground where he had played as a child. He hooked a hose to the tailpipe of his truck and inserted the other end into his window. That vulture had devoured his joy.  At age 33, he had enough. The note said it all.

“I’m really, really sorry. The pain of life overrides the joy to the point that joy does not exist.”  Kevin saw life through a lens—a photo lens.  And he focused on human suffering. His occupation defined him and ultimately destroyed him. If only he listened to the psalmist, “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy…” Psalms 16:11

Many people are on the outside looking in, like Kevin. If they felt the intense need, the overwhelming desire and the absolute dependence hunger screams, then and only then would they understand what Jesus is trying to say. We must have within our spirit this longing for the food from heaven—righteousness.

Jesus wants those yearning to be blessed by God to experience true hunger. Not the hunger you read about, or see in a Pulitzer prize winning photo. Jesus wants us to taste the total overwhelming need for food. Like the Germans Jews during the ethnic cleansing of WWII. Those who lost everything. Those Germans who lived in the Ghetto.

They were permitted four slices of potato and one loaf of bread a week. They had to walk in the cold, stand in freezing temperatures, and maybe get the privilege of getting some horse sausage. They wouldn’t eat the sausage. They would slide it across the bread to add flavor. All they thought about was getting food to survive. Nights were sleepless, days unending. They were married to hunger.

The Jews during the time of Jesus had this desire that was needed to be blessed in the New Kingdom Jesus spoke of, but it was focused in the wrong direction. Paul pointed this out when he said:

“Brethren my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved. For I bear them record that they have a zeal for God but not according to knowledge” Rom. 10:1-2.

So, having a hunger for God is not just having zeal. That zeal, that hungering and thirsting, must be for the right food. Paul went on to say:

 “For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.” Rom. 10:3.

They wanted works to establish their righteousness. They couldn’t let go of the old law. They even wanted to make it more demanding and debilitating upon whom they imposed these rules of righteousness.

Does that sound familiar. How many that say they are seeking the perfect religion starve their followers of God’s righteousness only to impose rules and laws and works that will neither satisfy God, nor them. And they will neither secure for themselves or their followers’ entrance into God’s new kingdom. “For by Grace you have been saved through faith, and not of yourselves; It is the gift of God” Eph. 2:8-9.

Faith in Christ will satisfy. Satisfy God, because that is what He requires for entrance into His kingdom, and faith in Christ to fill our hungering and thirsting:

 “And Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me shall never hunger, and he who believes in me will never thirst” John 6:35.

Are we hungry for Jesus or are we hungry for works? Paul went on to tell the Jews that Christ is the only place to get filled up with righteousness:

 “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth” Rom. 10:4.

The perfect religion has as its followers those that want to feed upon the bread of life. He, and He only, has the words of life. He is the fountain that supplies the only water that will quench our thirst. Isn’t that what He told the woman at the well. She asked Jesus if He was greater than Jacob—who gave them that well which supplied the water (representing the old law). Jesus then says:

“…Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again. But whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:13-14

The complete religion that will be an everlasting satisfaction to our hunger and thirst will only come through the righteousness of God which is through faith in Christ, not through the works of the law. Paul emphasized this when he said:

 “Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through  faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith” Philippians 3:8-9.

            The perfect religion has the perfect meal, Christ.

I like turkey. No. I love turkey. I am about Thanksgiving like a little kid is toward Christmas. The anticipation lasts all year. Then when the day comes. Oh, my goodness! The aroma of the turkey filling the house, the dressing…let me tell you about the dressing. My son-in-law makes fun of my wife’s dressing because it is gooey and slimy and…and…well he can have his cornbread dressing. My wife’s dressing is to die for. Well isn’t that how we should feel about Christ. To die for. But it is more than just the feeling we get from some of the aroma’s we experience at worship services.

Many will go to a revival, have that overwhelming feeling and then the next day…well they will have to wait until they go back to another service and hear some inspiring music or some high-powered sermon and then get that feeling again. Faith in Christ is not a good feeling we get every now and then.

Jesus gave us a good example of this in the parable of the sower and the seed:

                        “…Behold the sower went out to sow; And as he sowed, some seeds fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth: and immediately they sprung up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up, they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and chocked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears to hear, let him hear” Matt. 13:3-9.

Jesus is telling us that His kingdom will have followers that hunger and thirst continually not just thinking of faith in Him as a special treat, a special meal, a special feeling once a year (as some do on Easter or Christmas), or once a week. Faith in Christ is not a quick fix. The perfect religion is one that endures in the heart. Jesus will go into more detail later on as He stresses “You are the light of the world and the salt of the earth”

In the parable of the sower and the seed he talks about those that have good soil (a good receptive heart) and those that just want a quick fix. His words will have no enduring quality to those who do not have good intentions or who just want to feel good for the moment. Jesus explains:

 “When anyone hears the word of the kingdom (isn’t that what we are wanting to know, what the kingdom is all about. What we are to do to be part of it and how to serve in it?) and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart.” Jesus continues to illustrate how shallow ground (a shallow heart that just wants a good feeling) has no depth and His word will soon wither and die, “But he who received the seed on stony places, this is he who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no root in himself, but endures only for a while. For when tribulation and persecution arise (he will soon address Blessed are those that are persecuted) because of the word, immediately he stumbles.” Matt. 13:19-21

If we feed on the word of God and have a good receptive heart, it will take hold and bring about the fruit God intended. Not be plucked out by the devil or wither and die because of some perceived temporary fix Jesus goes on:

Some perceive God’s kingdom as a buffet of riches. They hear the word taught “Give a little, reap a lot,” the lot they want is material:

“Now, he who received seed among the thorns is he who hears the word, and the cares of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he becomes unfruitful.” Matt.13:22

When we feast on the things of this world, we will have no room for good fruit to grow. Our heart will be choked with weeds— the dainties and delicacies that only bring physical joy, not lasting satisfaction that a good heart germinating the good seed with bring.

Jesus concludes this parable by saying those that have a good heart seeking to be satisfied with the seed of God’s word will produce bountiful food to feast on:

 “But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty” Matt 13:23.

 Are you hungry? Are you really hungry? The perfect religion has the perfect meal. Chow down!