The Second Letter (2 Conithians 7 ESV)

The practice of writing snail mail letters is more or less obsolete.  Most of today's generation have no idea of the joyous feel of receiving and reading a missive from a friend or relative.  Something that you can feel the texture of, maybe even the smell of some lingering fragrance, and hear the crinkle of  paper unfolding and smoothed out, the turning of a page ...

It makes one feel nostalgic.

It used to be so thrilling to even get a birthday card via snail mail.  Just like clockwork my grandfather would send a card.  What's more, we'd open that card very carefully so the money gift would not fall out.  It was a highlight of the occasion.

The art of sitting down, thinking out, writing out, taking time and more thought, paper and ink, to write and to connect with others on a more intrinsic level brought substance to our lives.  The unseen sentiment and loving care of a relative or friend 'stitched' into the letter writing is irreplaceable.

Can you get the feel of all that?

What must it have been like to get a letter from the apostle Paul!  Well, sometimes he admonished to set things straight.  Sometimes he taught and explained.  Sometimes he commended and greeted.

And maybe at times, they didn't really understand or appreciate what he was getting at, but it was real, pro-active caring communication.  He couldn't be there in person but he could still connect in a personal way.

Even in this seventh chapter of 2 Corinthians you can feel his love and care for these believers.

"I am overflowing with joy" (vs 9).

Despite his hardships and affliction and their lack of room in their hearts for him (see vs 2), he was still proud of them, like a father to his children.  He ...

 "rejoiced ... because [they] were grieved (by his 1st letter), into repenting" (vs 9).

They'd taken his rebuke and corrective measures and responded positively.  Oh how we'd like our own children to do so too!

And Paul said,

"Therefore we are comforted ... we rejoiced ... [they had] refreshed" Titus (vs 13 ESV).

He continued,

"I rejoice, because I have complete confidence in you" (vs 16 ESV).

We may not always fully trust our own children but when we can, we certainly do rejoice.

This letter has been divided into chapters, but it would have been running commentary on individual sheets of papyrus back in Paul's day.  In our own known experience it may have been equal in length to a 10-15 or so, page letter.

So chapter 7 and verse 1 actually seems like it belongs to chapter 6.  This is where Paul talks about,

 "coming out from among them, and be ye separate" (KJV vs 17).

Coming out from among the unclean society.  They had no choice but to be in that place but they did not have to be of it.  He wanted the Corinthian believers to be holy as God is holy.

This speaks to us nowadays too.  The promises that our Lord Almighty would welcome them as sons and daughters when they were 'clean,' was imperative.

It was an ongoing process of progressive sanctification.  Paul penned,

"Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God"                                 (2 Corinthians 7:1 ESV).

In this day and age, we can work on aiming towards this goal.  God keeps His promises.  May all of us followers of Jesus Christ work towards this holiness too.

We can also treasure this letter, after all it's actually a letter from God Himself.  

How special is that!

                                             ~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on 2 Corinthians 7 ESV.

Sing, Again I Say Rejoice, along with Divine Hymns.

Link: Open-Armed Welcome.

POEM - Jungle Joy

          The children

          ran

freely.

The village

their playground.

But they didn't 

go far.

They stayed close to the

community hub ...

The pastor's parsonage,

where

interesting activity 

had arrived.

The guests could see

the jungle joy

and freedom.

NO handphones!

Children 

climbing

fruit-laden jambu trees,

plucking and 

eating

their fill.

Down they came,

raced about,

testing each others strength.

Then,

to see

 and welcome

the new arrivals.

They approached.

Shy faces,

Curious faces,

Friendly faces,

grinning

up

at us.

There's 

a welcome 

here.

"Hello."

Cautious smile. 

"Hello."

Gentle handshake.

Smile.

Two-way street -

Acknowledgement.

Acceptance.

Joy,

ran freely. 

~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Book Review - AKA Montana -The Rise and Fall of an Italian Drug Lord - By Fabio Amato - Publication Date: 24 June 2026

 I wouldn't usually choose such a book as this, but curiosity got the best of me, so I requested to read this biography.  It was indeed an eye-opener into the depths of despair and the deparavity into which a person can fall when living life surrounded by drugs.  Donato, the Drug Lord, also known as AKA Montana, spent the good part of his prime youth and subsequent years immersed in this type of scene.

I like it that this book can be used as a revelation, discovery, and bombshell against any would-be youth tempted into this deplorable lifestyle.  In my opinion, it could also encourage those who feel they are prisoners to the drugs, and the environment attached to it, that there can be a way to determinedly crawl and climb out of it.  This is a very hopeful message, I feel.

For a biography, I felt that although some of the read was a bit sluggish and in other sections difficult to read and learn about, it mostly ran along very intrigingly.  It's not every day one reads a real life, non-fiction account of this in-depth look at a life spent in this trade and fully committed to the lucretive culture of illicit substances.

                                              ~ Eunice C.,  Reviewer/Blogger  

                                                               June 2026

Disclaimer:  This is my honest opinion based on the complimentary review copy sent by NetGalley and the publisher.

Read review on Goodreads.

Open-Armed Welcome (1 Corinthians 6: especially vs 17 & 18 ESV)

 It sounds arrogant to say, come away from those people, be separate from them, they are 'unclean.'  Then and only then, you are welcome into our elite 'clean' group.  

We all know what it was liked to live so exceedlingly separated during the Covid years.  Do we go back to that scenaro?

Take a look at the context of the text though.  Even parents warn their children, especially their teens who crave independance, that they need to be wary of certain groups of people.  Watch out for the drug scene, gangs and those who'd lead you astray into bad company.  This is wise instruction.

However, if we walk among certain groups of people, we will be affected by their beliefs and actions.  It could be a slow drift into them and eventually we become an 'in' member.  We have come into agreement with their core values and standards some of which could be an illicit culture.

It's a choice then, we need to personally make, just as it was for the Corinthians Paul was writing this second letter to.  Corinth was a promicuous society.

Sexual immorality abounded, apparently.  There was  immense wealth and much materialism and ethnic diversity.  It was a Roman colony.  This was 'Sin City' (AI Overview).

The higher up Roman elites let it be known they were 'elite'.  They condescended upon those they considered beneath them.  This early Corinthian church had representatives from across this stratification.

Due to his tent making, often considered, awnings, made for, for example, hawker stalls  at the Roman games, Paul got to rub shoulders with a cross-section of the diverse crowds.  He knew the temptations that could come ones way.  He knew the city vibes.

He knew he should not linger, loiter or mingle.  He should be in the world but not of it.  He knew what he was talking about and therefore taught these believers to

 "be separate".

Separate from the uncleaness and lures of their society from which they had been rescued by Jesus.  Old habits needed to die, old influences relinquished and the new creation in Christ had to grow.

The way to do so was to ...

"Therefore go out from their midst," 

Paul wrote, 

"and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you ..." (2 Corinthians 6:17 ESV).

That society had been their confidence, their benefactor of sorts.  But now, if they'd be separate from all that, the Lord Almighty promised to be a father to them.  He'd be their protector.  And he'd welcome them.

It's so nice to be welcomed by someone.  An open-armed welcome is so sweet.  May each of us too, have this experience as we keep ourselves separate from unclean things - the things that would taint our Christian behavior, walk and talk.

Then we can go out and sincerely preach the gospel with pure hearts and minds, remembering we are Almighty God's sons and daughters.  Let's be holy as He is holy (see 1 Peter 1:15).

                                                ~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on 2 Corinthians 6: especially vs 17 & 18 ESV.

Sing, Holy, Holy , Holy, Lord God Almighty, along with Chet Valley Hymns and Songs.

Photo Credits:  Jane Koh.

Earnest Longing (2 Corinthians 5:1`-5 ESV/KJV)

 May our "inner selves" be renewed day by day allowing spiritual growth to abound and our relationship with Jesus to become stronger every day (see 2 Corithians 4:16 ESV).

And as the tabernacle we live in dissolves, we can earnestly long for our heavenly dwelling more and more.  That has been the case with several believers in Jesus Christ I have known.

My Dad was one of them.  He'd be heard to say that "Perhaps Today" it would happen.  This is NOT to say he was suicidal.  No way!

Rather, he expectantly awaited the rapure of all the saints of God to go up to be with Jesus, en masse.  Then we would be together forever, with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Getting to see Jesus was more his focus though.  In the end, some of Dad's children longed for him to go, even solo, because of his being 'trapped' in his earthly body and the declined mental capacity that Alzheimer's Disease ravished.

It was so devasting to witness.  And so we 'groaned' about his earthly body, when he no longer could even think of "perhaps today".

One day, we, God's children, will have our mortal flesh "swallowed up" by everlasing life, and changed bodies.  Until then, our guarantor, the Holy Spirit, indwells us teaching us patience.

So we can, praise the Lord, singing, "Hallelujah!" every day as we ...

 " ... long to put on our heavenly dwelling" (vs 2).

We earnestly long for and patiently wait ... perhaps today!

                                              ~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 ESV/KJV.

Sing, When the Trumpet of the Lord Shall Sound, along with Grace Bible Church.

                

Father's Day 2026 - A Surprize

 

My Mom was a nurse.  Dad was not, but one day he surprized me with nurse-like ministration.  I can still recall it almost as if it had been yesterday.

I had had a cold and my sinuses were so blocked I definitely could not breathe through my nose.  What's worse, eating was virtually impossible.

In misery I quietly got up from the dining table and went and lay down on the living room sofa.  There I suffered it out, almost in tears.

Silently, my Dad approached and brought some sort of magic.  He told me to close my mouth and sniff as he squirted some de-clogging sinus sauce into one nostril.

"I can't," I quavered.

"Try anyway," Dad insisted.

I tried and oh glory be - instant relief!

He repeated the exercise with nostril #2.

In shocked surprize, I could breathe and eat again.  I hadn't known my Dad could do that.

I don't recall ever thanking him for it either.  Shame on me!  But as I think back, I see his compassion that moved and compelled him to bring his daughter relief.

No doubt there are many good Dad's everywhere who would act similarly on behalf of their offspring.  I take my hat off to all of them, but especially to my Dad even though he's been gone to glory for several years.

God our Heavenly Father is every bit as good and compassionate.  In fact, He is the most perfect Father of all time and eternity.  We can have a relationship with Him through faith in Jesus Christ.  

I really appreciate this relationship but I do need to remember to thank Him often.  All my praise and worship should be to Him as an offering of sacrifice from my lips (see Hebrews 13:15).

Let's all do that but don't forget to thank and honor your earthly fathers too.  Surprize them with it while you still can.

To all the good fathers out there ...

                                       HAPPY FATHER'S DAY 2026!

                                                   ~  ERC  May 2026  ~

Read Hebrews 13:15; Exodus 20:12 ESV.

Sing, Good, Good Father, along with Chris Tomlin.

Old Age (2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV)

 

Again and again, God's Word comforts.  Despite the suffering, we endure and focus on eternal things.

When we visit old age or assisted living homes we can observe the

 "wasting away"

 and 

"the affliction"

 that overcomes our bodies as we age.  It's uncomfortable and unsettling to see.  We can't wait to get out of there and go home.

But the scene lingers in our minds especially since we ourselves may be aging and already feeling the decline, and wear and tear upon our bodies.  Aches here, pains there; more wrinkly wrinkles, liver spots on our arms and so forth.

Paul told the Corinthians,

" ... death is at work in us, but life in you (vs 12)," 

and 

"knowing that He who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into His presence" (vs 14).

He then assured them,

"So we do not lose heart" (vs 16 ESV).

Paul reminded them that this state of decay was only temporary suffering.  He goes on to tell them to look at the positive focus, that despite the bodily devastation,

 " ... the inner self is being renewed day by day" (2 Corinthians 4:16).

God is so gracious!

He contiued, it's

 "light and momentary" 

but by compasrison we look beyond to the eternal glory we will enjoy.  Look to the unseen rather than dwell on the seen.

The "seen are transient" but the "unseen are eternal" (vs 18).

It's easy for us to say while we are still able-bodied.  But we can meditate on these Scripture verses now, preparing our hearts for the further incapacitation that may come as we age further.

Think on the time to come that is eternal and when we have our imperishable bodies.  For the here and now, we can build ourselves up in our inner beings, in our spiritual growth and relationship with our heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit's comfort, conviction and guidance.  I find comfort in this.  Maybe you do too...

So don't lose heart.

                                                  ~  ERC  June 2026  ~

Based on 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV.

Sing, Eternal Weight of Glory (Wendall Kimbrough 2016), along with Breathe Back Ministries.