Sermon Notes; a Daily Devotional

John 8:10&11 "10 When Jesus had lifted up Himself, and saw none but the woman, He said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." The scribes and Pharisees drug this poor woman in front of Jesus because she was caught committing adultery. They have stones in their hands ready to execute her. Jesus writes something on the ground and then says; "He that is WITHOUT SIN among you, let him first cast a stone AT her." None of them are without sin. They were "CONVICTED by THEIR OWN conscience." They all left Jesus and this poor woman alone. Today's verses; "When Jesus had lifted up Himself, and saw none but the woman, He said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, NEITHER DO I CONDEMN thee: go, and sin no more." Jesus did NOT C...

John 8:9 "And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst." The scribes and Pharisees, holding stones in their hands ready to hurl them at this poor woman. They drug her in because she was caught in the act of adultery. They are trying to trip Jesus up. Jesus writes something on the ground and then says; "He that is WITHOUT SIN among you, let him first cast a stone AT her." This poor woman is someone's daughter. She is likely someone's sister. She is possibly someone's mother. This poor woman who is being humiliated and put on public display. She is definitely a child of GOD. And, she is saved by JESUS!  Today's verse; "And they which heard it, being CONVICTED by THEIR OWN conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was LEFT ALONE, and the woman standing in t...

John 8:7&8 "7 So when they continued asking Him, He lifted up Himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. 8 And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground." If you were the scribes and Pharisees, holding stones in our hands ready to hurl them at this poor woman; what would Jesus have to write on the ground to get you to stop? Maybe Jesus would write your sin on the ground? Maybe Jesus would write the name of the other half of the parties caught in the act of adultery? There a number of things Jesus could have written on the ground.  These religious leaders, many in this audience and, honestly, you and me; we see others sins as worse than our own. We divert attention from or sin to other's sin. We try to make others look worse. We point to people across the country and world. We judge others. We cast our stones at them when we KNOW we are the one who should be stoned. In today's verses Jesus drives this poin...

John 8:5&6 "5 Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? 6 This they said, tempting Him, that they might have to accuse Him. But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground, as though He heard them not." Jesus is on the home turf of the religious leaders. They have a plan to trip up Jesus and catch Him making a mistake. They bring before Jesus a poor woman who was caught in the "VERY ACT" of committing adultery. Now, she is being humiliated and put on public display. This is a cold hearted, mean spirited action by the scribes and Pharisees. The most egregious part is there is no partner in crime. It takes two to tango. Where is the other person caught IN THE VERY ACT of adultery? These religious leaders, many in this audience and, honestly, you and me; we see others sins as worse than our own. We divert attention from our sin to other's sin. We try to make others look worse. We point to people across ...

John 8:3&4 "3 And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto Him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, 4 They say unto Him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act." We are continuing to study women in the Holy Scriptures. In the Gospel of John, chapter eight, Jesus, left the peace and tranquility of the Mount of Olives early in morning. Possibly a habit of Jesus was to teach at the temple early in the morning. The people that wanted to hear Him needed to be early and ready. As the custom of the culture, Jesus sat down to teach. He spoke as someone with authority. At the Temple Jesus is on the home turf of the religious leaders. They show up is today's verses with a plan to trip up Jesus and catch Him making a mistake. "And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto Him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst, They say unto Him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, IN THE VERY ACT." 🫢 Hav...

John 8:1&2 "1 Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. 2 And early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people came unto Him; and He sat down, and taught them." Out of DISRUPTION and adversity GOD'S plan brought Naomi and her daughter in law, Ruth, into lives that resulted in blessings for all Isreal and then all humanity! Ruth, who was from Moab, became the Great Grandmother of Kind David!!! Which in includes her in the lineage that leads to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!!!  This week we will continue studying women in the Holy Scriptures. We turn to the Gospel of John, chapter eight, starting out with a verse illustrating that even Jesus, the Son of God, needed some down time. The Mount of Olives is a place to get away from crowds and pray with His heavenly Father. He will need to be ready for the day a head. Today's verses; "Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. And early in the morning He came again into the temple, and all the people ...

Ruth 4:16&17 "16 And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. 17 And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi; and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David." Out of their tragic lives in Moab, Naomi and her daughter in law, Ruth, retreated to Bethlehem. Ruth caught the attention of Boaz, a relative of Naomi's. Boaz admired the quality of her character and credited her with great trust in GOD! Boaz acted very honorably and carefully to make it so he could marry Ruth. The fortune of the two ladies has changed thanks to the faithfulness of Ruth! Yesterday's verses praise her with "...thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is BETTER to thee THAN seven SONS, hath born him." Today's verses reveal the blessings from GOD Almighty; "And Naomi took the child, and laid it in her bosom, and became nurse unto it. And the women her neighbours gave it ...

Ruth 4:13-15 "13 So Boaz took Ruth, and she was his wife: and when he went in unto her, the LORD gave her conception, and she bare a son. 14 And the women said unto Naomi, Blessed be the LORD, which hath not left thee this day without a kinsman, that his name may be famous in Israel. 15 And he shall be unto thee a restorer of thy life, and a nourisher of thine old age: for thy daughter in law, which loveth thee, which is better to thee than seven sons, hath born him." After Naomi's family experienced tragedy in Moab. She returned to her hometown, Bethlehem, with one of her daughters in law; Ruth. Ruth, the Moabite, who just lost her husband, left everything behind! Ruth caught the attention of Boaz, a relative of Naomi's. Boaz admired the quality of her character and credited her with great trust in GOD! Boaz acted very honorably and carefully to make it so he could marry Ruth. In today's verses it's a very happy ending; "So Boaz took Ruth, and she was hi...

Ruth 3:11&12 "11 And now, my daughter, fear not; I will do to thee all that thou requirest: for all the city of my people doth know that thou art a virtuous woman. 12 And now it is true that I am thy near kinsman: howbeit there is a kinsman nearer than I." Naomi and family experienced tragedy in Moab. Afterwards Naomi returned to her hometown, Bethlehem, with one of her daughters in law; Ruth. Ruth, the Moabite, who just lost her husband, left everything behind! Ruth is STEDFAST and FAITHFUL. Naomi and Ruth had lost everything. They were among the poorest of the poor. Ruth caught the attention of Boaz, a relative of Naomi's. Boaz admired the quality of her character and credited her with great trust in GOD! She must have stood out amongst the Israelites who were doing what was right in their own eyes.  On one occasion Ruth is interacting with Boaz. She spreads part of his skirt over herself and asked for more covering. This action in this culture would indicate that s...

Ruth 2:11&12 "11 And Boaz answered and said unto her, It hath fully been shewed me, all that thou hast done unto thy mother in law since the death of thine husband: and how thou hast left thy father and thy mother, and the land of thy nativity, and art come unto a people which thou knewest not heretofore. 12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust." In the book of Ruth, Naomi and family fled the horrible conditions that were in Israel. They settled in Moab and made a life there. Until, Naomi lost her husband and both sons. This is a picture of major life DISRUPTION. After all this Naomi returned to her hometown, Bethlehem, with one of her daughters in law; Ruth. Ruth, the Moabite, who just lost her husband, left everything behind! Ruth is STEDFAST and FAITHFUL. Naomi and Ruth have lost everything. They are among the poorest of the poor. Ruth is gleening from the fields when she is no...

Ruth 1:18&19 "18 When she saw that she was stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her. 19 So they two went until they came to Bethlehem. And it came to pass, when they were come to Bethlehem, that all the city was moved about them, and they said, Is this Naomi?" We are in the book of Ruth. Naomi and family had fled the horrible conditions that were in Israel. They settled in Moab and made a life there. Until, Naomi lost her husband and both sons. This is a picture of major life DISRUPTION. Leaving Naomi with her two daughters in law. She tells them to go and find new husbands. Ruth replied with inspiring words; "...whither thou goest, I WILL GO; ... and thy God MY GOD:" You can't find a more faithful expression than this. This is the attitude and mind that GOD was wanting in the Israelites. But, it was not found there. It was found in this young woman, Ruth, the Moabite who just lost her husband. Now, she is ready to leave everything b...

Ruth 1:16&17 "16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me." In our study focused on Women of Faith in the Holy Scriptures, we have turned to the book of Ruth. These events take place after Joshua lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, and before the rule of the first King Sal. Israel was lead by people called Judges. The results were occasionally good, and must often not so good. This was a time of widespread idolatry. There were all kinds of pegan gods being worshiped in the land. It was very bad for everyone.  Things were SO bad in Israel at this time it caused a faithful woman, NAOMI, her husband and two sons to flee their hometown; Bethlehem. Escaping famine and a cu...

Judges 21:25 "In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes." We are continuing our study focused on Women of Faith in the Holy Scriptures. Women have are important and profoundly influential in the story of SALVATION! From our first Mother, Eve. To the Matriarchs of the Patriarchs, Sarah and Rebekah. All of these inspiring women "trained" their children to faithfully "not depart" from GOD'S plan for our SALVATION!  This week we move forward in history a bit. To the time of the Judges. After Joshua lead the Israelites into the Promised Land, before the rule of the first King Sal, Israel was lead by people called Judges. The results were occasionally good, must often not so good and sometimes tragic. This was a time of widespread idolatry. There were all kinds of pegan gods being worshiped in the land. It was very bad for everyone.  Today's verses convey this idea, Judges, chapter twenty-one, verse twe...

Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." We are in a study series focused on Women of Faith in the Holy Scriptures. This past week we have studied; Matriarchs of the Patriarchs. With the spotlight being on Sarah and Rebekah. We have to recognize that there are no MOTHERS without FATHERS. Both parents are important and profoundly influential in the lives of their children. We need to celebrate both parents and help them both in the "training" of their children. These children are the future and our world needs them to "not depart" from GOD'S plan for our SALVATION! Which all of us MOTHERS and FATHERS and otherwise depend upon our FATHER in Heaven for His Grace and Mercy. Amen. 

Genesis 28:13-15 "13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of." In today's verses GOD speaks to Jacob on the occasion of the revelation we know as Jacob's Ladder. GOD promises "in thy seed shall ALL the families of the earth be BLESSED." As life unfolds for this family we see GOD'S plan develop through Jacob, the second born. God's plan keeps on keeping on. At one time it depended on Rebekah...

Genesis 25:24-26 "24 And when her days to be delivered were fulfilled, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. 26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them." This is Rebekah and Issac's twin sons! The first born, Esau, who's name means "made" or "well made." He had features of a man and not a baby. Most outstanding, hair all over his body in a red color. (His descendents inhabited the land near the "Red Sea" which is named after these people.) Highly unusual, Esau's brother was holding on to his heal and followed very closely out of the womb. Typically there is an hour or more between the birth of twins. The second born, Jacob, who's name litrally means "one who follows at another’s heels." As the events of th...

Genesis 25:22&23 "22 And the children struggled together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of the LORD. 23 And the LORD said unto her, Two nations are in thy womb, and two manner of people shall be separated from thy bowels; and the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger." Rebekah has captivating beauty and a super smart mind. Issac, her husband, is the heir to GOD'S promises. The events of their lives captures the attention and peak the curiosity of everyone! And, they are having a baby!! Not, just a baby, but TWINS!! Two boys who will be the Patriarchs of two nations!! Rival nations that will fight all their lives. And, it starts in Rebekah's womb.  In today's verses, she goes to GOD in prayer and He gives her the answer and a bit of prophecy; "And the children STRUGGLED together within her; and she said, If it be so, why am I thus? And she went to enquire of ...

Genesis 25:19-21 "19 And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac: 20 And Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah to wife, the daughter of Bethuel the Syrian of Padanaram, the sister to Laban the Syrian. 21 And Isaac intreated the LORD for his wife, because she was barren: and the LORD was intreated of him, and Rebekah his wife conceived." As we are studying great women in Holy Scriptures, this week the Matriarchs of the Patriarchs, we can see how GOD'S plans often DISRUPT the plans people have. Abram and Sarai left their hometown to escape idolatry and wickedness. GOD saves them, renames them, and begins the family history of Salvation! Only, in His own time; Sarah is 90 when she gives birth to their son Issac. Issac is a mature man when he married Rebekah, today's verses; "And these are the generations of Isaac, Abraham's son: Abraham begat Isaac: And Isaac was forty years old when he took REBEKAH to wife, the daught...

Genesis 17:15-17 "15 And God said unto Abraham, As for Sarai thy wife, thou shalt not call her name Sarai, but Sarah shall her name be. 16 And I will bless her, and give thee a son also of her: yea, I will bless her, and she shall be a mother of nations; kings of people shall be of her. 17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?" Eve and Adam were KICKED out of their home town; the Garden of Eden. Another time GOD KICKED His people out of their home town was Abram and Sarai, in  chapter twelve. GOD had good reasons to GET them OUT, there was idolatry and wickedness in this culture that would influence and corrupt them. If they would have stayed it would have been far worse for them. By moving out, DISRUPTING their lives, GOD saves them and begins the family history of Salvation! Today's verses, GOD shares His plan with the faithful cou...

Genesis 12:1 "Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:" Yesterday we finished our study on Eve, the mother of all living, with her and Adam being KICKED out of their home town; the Garden of Eden, "paradise." It sounded like they departed unwillingly, out into a world that will be filled with toil and sorrow. This is the world we know. We read about the many challenges as we continue in the Book of Genesis.  Today we turn to chapter twelve, verse one. This another time GOD KICKED His people out of their home town. "Now the LORD had said unto Abram, GET thee OUT of thy country, and FROM thy kindred, and FROM thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee:" GOD has good reasons to GET them OUT, their idolatry and wickedness in this culture that would influence and corrupt Abram and his wife Sarai. We can and should see this BIG move as a...

Genesis 3:20-24 "20 And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. 21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.  22 And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever: 23 Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. 24 So He drove out the man; and He placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life." GOD has outlined the consequences for the serpent, Eve and Adam. GOD emphasized the way "SORROW" would characterize everyone's life going forward. In today's verses we read about the FIRST sacrifice! Animals were slain so that Adam and Eve could cover themselves. Before the fall their nakedness was innocent ...

Genesis 3:17-19 "17 And unto Adam He said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; 18 Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return." GOD is setting the record straight. Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit after listening to the treacherous serpent. In yesterday's verses GOD outlined the consequences for the serpent and Eve. Today God addresses Adam... "And unto Adam He said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in SORR...

Genesis 3:14-16 "14 And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life: 15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise His heel. 16 Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee." Everything has CHANGED. It was perfect. The treacherous serpent gave Adam and Eve the idea they would have some kind of benefit from eating the forbidden fruit. After this monumental snack they knew they did wrong and they HID from GOD. GOD played along and acted like He didn't know where they were or what they did.  In today's verses GOD sets the record straight; "And the LORD God said unto th...

Genesis 3:9-13 9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10 And he said, I heard Thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 11 And He said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? 12 And the man said, The woman whom Thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat." If we don't think about the seriousness of the fall, these verses can seem almost comical. The Omniscient GOD not able to find Adam and Eve. Adam blaming Eve. Eve blaming the serpent. And, then we can see these verses as having deep insight into human nature. The first couple hiding from the consequences of their actions. Before this moment they had throughly convinced themselves that forbidden fruit offered some kind of...

Genesis 3:7&8 "7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden." In the beginning GOD created everything and Adam and Eve. And, everything was perfect until the serpent enters with his great skill in concealing his EVIL purposes. He raised doubt about what GOD really said. Encouraged Eve and Adam look at the forbidden fruit differently. With a little tease, the promise is made of something more than what they already had. Something better that they felt was withheld from them. Eve and Adam convinced themselves that eating the forbidden fruit was the thing they wanted to do.  We all are like this first couple, seeing what appears inviting to our eyes and our mind. We believe there is something...

Genesis 3:4-6 "4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil. 6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat." We started with "The Mother of All;" Eve! As we study Women of Faith! In the beginning GOD created everything and Adam and Eve. And, everything was perfect until chapter three. Then the serpent enters the stage. The serpent was "SUBTIL," implying   a lot more than just "cunning." Along with that comes artifice, craft with an inclination toward deceit, slyness, and trickery. This little snake has great skill in concealing his EVIL purposes. In today's verses the serpent does his deed, raising doubt a...

Genesis 3:1-3 "1 Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? 2 And the woman said unto the serpent, We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden: 3 But of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die." The last few weeks we have studied GOD'S Covenants with people. Hopefully we got the message that GOD keeps His promises. GOD spared no cost to uphold His Covenant. GOD sacrificed His only Son for you and for me! Our acceptance with God is based on Jesus! But, don't think that GOD doing everything for us is going to make life EASY. We WILL experience distress and suffering. Your endurance, patience, and faith will be put to the test. Our test might be pedestrian or it might be life altering. However life tests us we can rest assured that...

John 16:33 "These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." This week we studied Jesus's promise to His followers to send the Holy Ghost! Jesus upheld His promise like a Covenant! On the day of Pentecost, the Disciples were gathered together when the Holy Ghost came. He gave them the ability to speak languages they had not learned by natural means. Languages that other people present could understand! It was an miraculous event, it blew people's minds!  The gift of the Holy Ghost is not about who we are It's about who Jesus is. Acceptance with God is based on who Jesus is. Jesus is our Lord and Savior! And, Jesus tells us to knock on His door, seek His help, ask Him for what we need. These blessings from are LORD are beyond measure. But, that does not mean that life will be EASY. Today's verses; "These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye...

Luke 11:9&10 "9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened." As we are studying GOD'S Covenants with people; this week we have focused on Jesus's promise to His followers to send the Holy Ghost! Early on Jesus promises to send the Holy Ghost. Then on the day of Pentecost, the Disciples were gathered together in a closed room a wind came and they were speaking other languages. Languages they had not learned by natural means. Languages that other people present could understand! It was an miraculous event, it blew people's minds!  The Holy Ghost was their helper. The Holy Ghost is our helper, too. He gives us power from on high. The Holy Ghost breathes into our ears, minds. It's not about who we are It's about who Jesus is. Acceptance with God is based on who Jesus is. J...

Acts 2:5-7 "5 And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. 6 Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. 7 And they were all amazed and marvelled, saying one to another, Behold, are not all these which speak Galilaeans?" Jesus's promise to His followers to send the Holy Ghost! In the Gospel of John, before the crucifixion. Then, in the Book of Acts, chapter one, after the crucifixion the resurrected Jesus is guiding the Disciples to stay in Jerusalem for forty days to recive the Holy Ghost! When the forty days came, the day of Pentecost, the Disciples were gathered together in a closed room when "rushing mighty wind" filled the house they were in. "And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with OTHER TON...