Belief

Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. He came to Jesus by night and said to him, "Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God." Jesus answered him, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above." Nicodemus said to him, "How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother's womb and be born?" Jesus answered, "Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be astonished that I said to you, 'You must be born from above.' The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." Nicodemus said to him, "How can these things be?" Jesus answered him, "Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? "Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him."

John 3:1-17

Nicodemus (Nicodème)

TISSOT, James

1886-94
Opaque watercolour over graphite on grey wove paper
Brooklyn Museum, New York

http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/objects/4466/Nicodemus_(Nicodème)

I would rather have a mind opened by wonder than one closed by belief.*
~ Gerry Spence

The spirit is what we see with, rather than what we see.

~ Philip Yancey

Smugglers’ Tavern

Gretchen, Mary

Ann Simpson gave an enthusiastic talk about her sixth grade students’ Twittering and Tweeting art project.

Irish Joan entertained us for Book Club on Thursday.

Friday morning we wakened to a lovely dusting of snow!

The newly arrived robins were not quite as thrilled.

Colorado Watercolor Society
20th Annual State Exhibition

Foothills Art Center

Golden, Colorado

March 19–April 17, 2011

Kudos to Nancy and CV, co-chairpersons of the BIG event!!!

Nancy and CV, in the center, presenting awards.

A record attendance of 475 visitors Friday evening!!!




If you think practicing what you preach is rough, just try preaching what you practice.
~ Bowen Baxter

March 20, 2011 Second Sunday of Lent

Previous OPQs may be found at:      

http://www.dotjack.com/opq.htm

* A repeat

Agnus Day, by James Wetzstein

Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org

http://www.heartlight.org/gallery/144.html

Genesis 12:1-4a

Psalm 121:1-8

Romans 4:1-5, 13-17

John 3:1-17