Hello, After 43 days of drought, we got a nice shower on Thursday evening.

BIRTHDAY PRESENT-The shower happened as we celebrated my twin grandsons 14th 
birthday with what else-pizza. Collin and Owen are fine eighth grade 
students who are very active in their local church. Orchestra and choir are 
their interests at school. Austin schools are very strong in the area of 
science and in the arts. They also have played competitive soccer since 
second grade.

WIN, WIN-"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21 
expresses the ultimate hope of faith. I reported to you a few weeks ago that 
a man on our prayer list had shown improvement to the ability of yard work. 
After weeks of remission, the cancer roared back and claimed his life this 
week. During the weeks of respite he made a fresh commitment to the Lord. 
Many areas of retirement and survivor's funds were resolved. Family wounds 
were healed. In short, God was glorified. I even had the privilege to visit 
his wife while in Iowa.

GOD AT WORK-Those who are involved in the "cutting edge" of missions work 
around the world, keep my e-mail box filled with glorious reports. 
Hallelujah!

OLD TESTAMENT SAINTS-The question did not arise from a theologian. The path 
to their doctorate has been in Psychology and Human Behavior. I used my 
resources in the persons of those who have pursued their doctorate trail in 
theology. I learned that one had presented their dissertation for degree to 
Fuller Seminary using the Book of Hebrews.May I use some basic facts for us 
all to come to a conclusion?

1. Prior to leaving the Garden of Eden, God revealed that through the human 
famly"seed" He would triumph in redemption. Genesis 3:15

2. Chapter four of Genesis tells us more than a sad story of disobedience and 
murder. We also learn that a proper sacrifice requires death of the living.

3. Under Mosaic Law, there is a system of blood sacrifices instituted that 
could only "atone" for sin. The very word "atone" means to cover.

4. The sole instance of a sacrifice that can effectively deal in the future 
is the death of Christ on Calvary. That death is linked to "Life" by the 
Resurrection.

5. Job may be the oldest written record of mankind and God in confrontation. 
It certainly is among the most intense. Job was a Godly and prominent man 
with whom God dealt drastically. The spiral downward is the matter recorded 
until Chapter 19. Please take the time to read the chapter. You will see a 
man who has been "stripped" and "destroyed". You will find a man that has 
suffered through ten sessions of disgrace by his "comforters?". Job expresses 
hope in a singular "redeemer" who shall have charge of the future for him and 
all believers in verse 26. Whatever insights we gain from Job, we may apply 
to all those who lived B.C. and purposed to know and please God.

6. Psalm 68:18 holds a mysterious reference to "led captivity captive". 
Paul, in his writings in Ephesians 4:8 links this mystery passage to the 
gift of Christ and grace.
It could be reference to the raising of the bodies of those in Old Testament 
times who had died looking forward in faith to a future sacrifice. I would 
hold to a spiritual immediacy for those saints at death and a bodily victory 
at the Resurrection of Christ. I wish you to study the possibilities of 
Matthew 2752 and 53 in the light of this suggestion. 1 Corinthians 15 has as 
its focus a bodily resurrection, I realize that I am leading into deep and 
sometimes murky waters theologically, but I must ask you to look at verses 
20-24. I pray that none of us drown.

7. I must take us into Hebrews with insights gained from Dr Nicholas 
Venditti. Chapter 10 oulines the sacrifice of Christ as being better and 
final in that it"perfected"-10:14 . Hebrews, chapter 11 is a recounting of 
the heroes of Old Testament faith. They without us (the redeemed of the 
church era) are not pronounced "perfect" until the last word of chapter 11. 
Hence. we are all made one as a redeemed nation under Christ. There are no 
"second-class citizens". We needed each the other in Christ

When Galatians 3:28-29 speaks. of the unity, it is to show this unity by 
grace through faith in men of all times 

Forgive me for unloading "both barrels".

His,
Ron Krantz