THUS SAITH THE LORD

Sunday, June 30, 2013

             2Timothy [MKJV] 3:16-17 All Scripture is God-breathed, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be perfected, thoroughly furnished to every good work.

Hebrews [MKJV] 4:9-13 So then there remains a rest to the people of God. 10 For he who has entered into his rest, he also has ceased from his own works, as God did from His. 11 Therefore let us labor to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of unbelief. 12 For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing apart of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in His sight, but all things are naked and opened to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.

 
  The phrase “thus saith the Lord” is found 415 times in the Word of God in the OT. Though the NT doesn’t use the exact phrase, all of His Word is presented in such definite manner; Jehovah God Almighty Absolute.

  Since Apollyon first presented doubtful words about what God really said and meant (Gen.3:1-5), many think and speak in like manner.

  Consider media reports on current controversies, saying “They believe the Bible says …” insinuation akin not to “They believe 2x2=4.” but serpentine as “They believe the earth is flat.”

  And when did Christian and non-Christian start using the once-removed-relative phrase “The Bible says …”? In word search of 10 versions/translations in my e-Sword program, I did not find “Bible” in any one. Beginning with Genesis and finally in Revelation I found contextual “Word” numerous times.

  I leave you today to consider the Word given through Peter: “…if you call on the Father, who without respect of persons judges according to the work of each one, pass the time of your earthly residence in fear, knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, silver or gold, from your vain manner of life handed down from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot; indeed having been foreknown before the foundation of the world, but revealed in the last times for you, those believing in God through Him, He who raised Him up from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope might be in God.

  Purifying your souls in the obedience of the truth through the Spirit to unfeigned love of the brothers, love one another fervently out of a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, through the living Word of God, and abiding forever.

  For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of men as the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and its flower falls out, but the Word of the Lord endures forever. And this is the Word preached as gospel to you.” (MKJV 1Pet.1:17-25)  EBB4

LIFE TRACK QUESTION

Friday, June 28, 2013
 
Is it possible to ride smoothly on a square wheeled bicycle?
EBB4

WHEN RIGHT IS WRONG

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 3:8; 6:17-18

  The USA Supreme Court has ruled on what is the right for homosexual couples. The Supreme Being, unchangeable Jehovah God Almighty eternally rules distinctly differently.

  Rather than today publishing list of Bible verses on the topic, I’ve chosen two passages, one from the OT, another from the NT. I chose Leviticus 18 for 2 reasons. It is early article on the subject, and is comprehensive including heterosexual and homosexual.

  “The LORD spoke to Moses, "Tell the Israelites: I am the LORD your God. You used to live in Egypt. Don't live the way the Egyptians do. I am bringing you to Canaan. Don't live the way the Canaanites do. Never live by their standards. Follow my rules, and live by my standards. I am the LORD your God. Live by my standards, and obey my rules. You will have life through them. I am the LORD.

  "Never have sexual intercourse with anyone related to you by blood. I am the LORD. Never have sexual intercourse with your mother. She is your own mother. Never have sexual intercourse with her. Never have sexual intercourse with your stepmother. She is related to you through your father. Never have sexual intercourse with your stepsister, whether she is your father's daughter or your mother's daughter. It makes no difference whether or not she was born in your house. Never have sexual intercourse with your granddaughter, whether she is your son's daughter or your daughter's daughter, because she is related to you. Never have sexual intercourse with a daughter of your father and his wife. She is your own sister. Never have sexual intercourse with your father's sister. She is your paternal aunt. Never have sexual intercourse with your mother's sister. She is your maternal aunt. Never have sexual intercourse with the wife of your father's brother. She, too, is your aunt. Never have sexual intercourse with your daughter-in-law. She is your son's wife. Never have sexual intercourse with her. Never have sexual intercourse with your sister-in-law. She is your brother's wife. Never have sexual intercourse with a woman and her daughter or a woman and her granddaughter. They are related. Doing this is perverted. While your wife is living, never marry her sister as a rival wife and have sexual intercourse with her.

  "Never have sexual intercourse with a woman while she is unclean during her monthly period. Never have sexual intercourse with your neighbor's wife and become unclean with her. Never give your children as sacrifices to the god Molech by burning them alive. If you do, you are dishonoring the name of your God. I am the LORD. Never have sexual intercourse with a man as with a woman. It is disgusting.

Never have sexual intercourse with any animal and become unclean with it. A woman must never offer herself to an animal for sexual intercourse. It is unnatural.

  "Do not become unclean in any of these ways. By these practices all the nations which I am forcing out of your way have become unclean. The land has become unclean. I will punish it for its sins. The land will vomit out those who live in it. Live by my standards, and obey my rules. Neither you nor any foreigner should ever do any of these disgusting things. The people of the land who were there before you did all these disgusting things. As a result, the land has become unclean. If you make the land unclean, it will vomit you out as it has vomited out the people who were there before you. Whoever does any of these disgusting things must be excluded from the people. So you must follow my instructions. Don't live by the standards of the people who lived there before you. What they do is disgusting. Never become unclean that way. I am the LORD your God." (GW Leviticus 18)

  In Romans 1:18 the Apostle Paul explains the wrath of God is against all ungodliness practiced by those holding His truth in unrighteousness. In 19-20 we see God isn’t hidden from mankind. In 21-23 we see rejection of worshipping God. In 24-32 we see the tragic outcome. Reading carefully, under the example of homosexuality, I see over 30 personal societal results. The corporate result for this nation ours?  EBB4

BLESSED EVERY DAY MEANS?

Wednesday, June 26, 2013
 
Psalm 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.

  Have you yet to notice that elders sometimes say or write things you’d rather not think about? Why do we do it? Because our eyesight changes as we mature.

  A recent example was sitting in a group of Christians with several sharing how wonderful days are if they take time to read God’s Word in the morning, the Bible reading making for the wonderful, and if they didn’t read their day didn’t go well. I spoke up.

  Aren’t there days when we read Scripture and because of reading come under conviction, even miserable as we consider our life in light of what God says?

  Or is the old man’s vision failing to the point of not seeing 2Timothy 3:16-17 clearly?  EBB4

WHEN WOLF BECOMES WOOF

Tuesday, June 25, 2013
 
James [ESV] 4:1-17 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions. 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, "He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us"? [1Cor.6:19-20] 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you. 11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor? 13 Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"—14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil. 17 So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

  Vince Hanley was a WWII Sherman tank commander under General Patton. Somehow surviving his tank exploding, he had the scars to prove it. After that war he took advantage of the GI Bill and became a High School World History teacher. Two outstanding things I remember from his class are his terrible scars . . . and the saying “The Only Thing We Learn From History Is That We Don’t Learn From History.” that he never removed from the wall of his room.

  Mr. Hanley required our knowing this truth along with the 1492s and Ponce de Leons of history; Humankind destines themselves to repeat history.

  He also taught that warn of very real wolf often enough and people become without alarm, accustomed as though it is no more than familiar sound of barking dog next door.

  Does this describe today for many USA occupants?

  We have been hearing a stream of calls warning of wolf in our midst. Then a few days ago in our local newspaper I read headline “U.S. forces secretly training Syrian rebels”. The 24 inch article began “CIA operatives and U.S. special operations troops have been secretly training Syrian rebels…” Elsewhere I read the number of trainers is “only about 1,000”.

  When I mentioned this to people, pointing out similarities with the beginning days of our tragic involvement in Vietnam, they looked at me as though they’d just heard familiar woof.

  The Word tells us war is part of the human condition. (Mk.13:7-8; Jam.4:1-2) Regional, national, global war you or I can do little if anything to stop. (I’ve come to conclusion that wars aren’t so much ended by man’s might but by his lack, like a flaming building that eventually runs out of fuel and burns out.)

  There is however war that can be won. Won not by our strength, intelligence, materiel, personnel, or determined tenacity. It is personal. Hearing the wolf within, we surrender to The Lamb and are victors!  EBB4  

A PAEONIACEAE INQUISITION

Monday, June 24, 2013
 
  Someone drove over daughter Heather Noel Holtmyer’s peonies. I have been accused. Even before a legal inquisition, copying contemporary media practice, she has published supposedly evidential photographs on Facebook and internet. (Note photos or links above.)

Public responses were immediate, so far including:
               “LOL - that looks like something I would do!  At least they are done for the season....
They'll bounce back. They're hard to kill. Not that I would know. J” Cathy Joulwan
               “Oops! Are the eyes going too? ;-)” Bonnie Schreiber
               “And they are still letting you drive?” Cousin Patricia Beichler
                “You drove canoes like that back in the good old days!” Albert Heger
                “Kind'a looks like a "hit & run" to me......and then your own daughter
reports you!!!!” Verlyn & Kathie Scharn
                “Ed, you naughty boy!” Jodie McWhorter
               “I know, I saw you drive over them....I may wear my shirt inside out, but .....am not to the point where I run over flowers!!” Eldest daughter Dawn Leslie Archer
               “Maybe I shouldn't ask how this came about...maybe your cell phone rang....or you were still visiting with your daughter as you departed??
  Peony bushes reminded me of my one and only attempt to join the "well adjusted" in the world of the "flower people. "My garden gloves on, a trowel in my hand, a package of assorted flower seeds, a small spot allotted me for my venture, donated by Frank, the head of the outdoors.  The one tool I should not have had was a spade or an ax. For the sake of a long story turning into not "simplicity goal" let's say
the ax chopped woody stems in the way of my one row of promised beauty.
  Yup! It was Frank's huge, beautiful Peony bush woody roots.
  My guaranteed blooms did not even peek over one grain of dirt, while Frank's Peony bush ignored my ax blows and Peonies flourished.  They always seemed to be laughing at me, so I quit looking at them.  My mother, an avid horticulturist and digging-in-the-dirt kind of lady really thought peonies
were THE flower, and always counted on them opening in time to take to decorate family graves.  In all of my years of watching the ways of "flower people" I wondered why anyone expected peonies to open for Memorial Day decoration, because I'm 81 next month and I've never seen them open in time. It seems like peonies have a mind of their own and they choose not to be ornaments for graves or to die by the whack of an ax.  I enjoy Frank's "huge" blooms, as he brings the best of his flower/rose garden blooms inside for me, and they are rarely in time for anything.  Silk flowers last longer, and are less expensive.  I will bet there are even fake peony bushes to go with fake grass. Doubt if Heather would appreciate this suggestion.
  I'm sure you feel bad about....stuff happens.” Darlene Neuvirth
                Also 5 Facebookers clicked “Like” under the peony photos, so I assume they, though not actual onsite witnessing, enjoy people driving over flowers.
 
  Since it has begun as a media trial, I’ve decided to respond early in the sunshine rather than risk Camera Stellata (Star Chamber).

  I don’t feel bad about the crushing kerfuffle. I cannot . . . as categorically I have no knowledge of it! Also, as I have been to Michael’s other birthday parties and Easter Egg Hunts, at no time did I ever notice any peony bushes anywhere on the property. And so far as grandson Edwin Bennett Bullock 6th shouting “Stop! STOP!!” . . . I nor passengers daughter Renee’ Christine Sullivan or grandson Ian Emerick Sullivan, with their acute hearing, heard not any such utterance.

  However, I have decided to settle the matter by thoroughly investigating myself.

  Reviewing all of the above I see I’ve as always two choices. Emulate men and women in positions of authority today . . . or ____________.  EBB4

HOLY VOCATION IS ABSOLUTELY NOT NARROWLY DEFINED

Sunday, June 23, 2013
 
       Psalm [MKJV] 84:10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
        Colossians 3:23-25 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men; 24 knowing that from the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance. For you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong shall receive justice for the wrong which he did, and there is no respect of persons.
        1Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for possession, so that you might speak of the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 you who then were not a people, but now the people of God, those not pitied then, but now pitied.
 
“In all our religious and ethical life, we are given to an incredible overestimation of the extraordinary at the expense of the ordinary.” Einar Billing (Our Calling)
 
  My heart has been troubled as I’ve read and talked to people on the topic of USA employment/unemployment. Reading Human Resources (HR) professionals are finding over 50% of college graduates not fit to hire; hearing from a local HR “It’s worse than that.” Reading HR national association comments that currently the smaller group of employed is engaged, the larger portion disengaged or not engaged. Hearing from placement counselors that most candidates sent to them have highly selective attitude as to desired position, shift and/or hours involved, pay, number of holidays and vacation, employee benefits, or truly are not really interested in working at all, this brashness whether they’re actually qualified or not.

  What is holy work? Is changing a baby’s poopy diaper or shoveling manure holy work?

  Martin Luther thought so.

  All tasks have spiritual significance if and as we do them heartily as to the Lord and not to men.

  Consider how different all relationships would be. Consider how soon the demise of depression emotionally and economically if we all saw life this way at all times; with so-called commonplace routines electric with spiritual importance!

  Please believe that whatever it is that you are doing is not mundane or pitiful. Think what you’re doing is holy – whether barnyard, at desk, kitchen counter, workbench, or diaper changing table is an altar upon which you are exercising your royal priesthood.

  In closing today’s thoughts let us consider Psalm 84:10. Sloth is wickedness. Wickedness is the opposite of holiness. In present application I see disengaged/not engaged as dwelling in the tents of wickedness. Let us not choose thusly, but have and hold fast attitude and action of His holy doorkeepers!  EBB4

DO YOU MIND?

Friday, June 21, 2013
 
1Corinthians [MKJV] 13:1-13 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I have become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have prophecies, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so as to move mountains, and do not have charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I give out all my goods to feed the poor, and though I deliver my body to be burned, and have not charity, I am profited nothing. 4 Charity has patience, is kind; charity is not envious, is not vain, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave indecently, does not seek her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil. 6 Charity does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices in the truth, 7 quietly covers all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Charity never fails. But if there are prophecies, they will be abolished; if tongues, they shall cease; if knowledge, it will be abolished. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when the perfect thing comes, then that which is in part will be caused to cease. 11 When I was an infant, I spoke as an infant, I thought as an infant, I reasoned as an infant. But when I became a man, I did away with the things of an infant. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall fully know even as I also am fully known. 13 And now faith, hope, charity, these three remain; but the greatest of these is charity [mature benevolent love].
 
  Grandson Michael is 5 years old now. I asked him what it felt like to be 5. With conviction in his voice, he seriously explained “Older!”  Today is the first day of summer. Do we feel differently?

  Age and season as calendar items we have absolutely no control over.

  Age and season as mentally framing our life is definitely in our control.

  We expect 5 year olds to picture much of life immaturely. We do not expect adults to frame life childishly, but we too often or even consistently participate, even with drama reigning from birthday to birthday and season to season. Sadly, once accustomed to melodramatic living, without theatrical we may not feel alive; incapable of living in true peace that Biblical maturity provides.

  God alone provides perfect peace, but not without our qualification. Trusting Him for eternal redemption (Rom.10:9-11), His guarantee of heaven forever with Him (Heb.7:25), qualifies us for opportunity to receive any or all His additional blessings (Lk.11:11-13). Blessings do however require qualification: “Blessed is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly, and has not stood in the way of sinners, and has not sat in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is only in the Law of Jehovah; and in His Law he meditates day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivulets of water that brings forth its fruit in its seasons, and its leaf shall not wither, and all which he does shall be blessed. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff which the wind drives away. Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. For Jehovah knows the way of the righteous; but the way of the ungodly shall perish.“ (MKJV Ps.1)

  To live without God’s true peace is wickedness that leaves us as chaff blown about by the gales of life.

  If we responsibly maturely keep our mind on Him, this will not be our days or weather; we will enjoy His perfect peace. (Isa.26:3)  EBB4

SOUND MIND

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Genesis 3 “… the eyes of [Adam and Eve] were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons … hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.  And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. 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? And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 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. Unto the woman [God] 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. 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; Thorns also and thistles shall it bring forth to thee; and thou shalt eat the herb of the field; 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.” [Also note Romans 12:1-3;  1Corinthians chapter 2 & 3; 2Timothy 1:7; 2:15; 3:16-17]

  In High School Vocational Agriculture classes we learned that a weed is anything growing where it shouldn’t be. Winter kill left bare patches on my lawn that come springtime I reseeded with grass only to have other plants grow healthy. My large garden has problem with abounding grass this year. Possibly I should plant one tomato vine in the middle of each bald spot and begin mowing the garden area? No, it won’t work because the unfenced tomato vines will be eaten by first-bite corrupted deer that dine on grass as last item on their menu.

  After Adam’s distrustful disastrous first bite the penalty of weeds and briars is small in comparison to losing Eden’s sanity. With the knowledge of good and evil Adam and Eve and all since live insanely rejecting godly responsibility; relief and deliverance only to be had through responsibly embracing the mind of God as revealed in His Word, the Bible.   

  Without embracing the mind of God we suffer the thorns of vanity’s weed patch crowding out godliness; “ … Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like:” (Gal.5:19-21) And we must not forget parasitic life-robbing poison ivy of guilt and shame.

  With embracing the mind of God, the fruit of godliness is had; “… love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: . . . in all goodness and righteousness and truth;

Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.” (Gal.5:22-23; Eph.5:9-10)

  So, like Adam my brow must bend to sweat again hoeing, uprooting, trimming, mulching, replanting, watering, fertilizing …….

  And so it is with growing a godly mind; it takes work, ongoing planting, eliminating, cultivation . . . or weeds naturally encroach and will dominate this present garden.  EBB4

PERSPECTIVE ON ADVERSITY

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

            Psalm 25:1-4 [A Psalm of David.] To You, O Jehovah, I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, I trust in You; do not let me be ashamed, let not my enemies triumph over me. 3 Yea, let none who wait on You be ashamed; let them be ashamed who sin without cause. 4 Make me know Your ways, O Jehovah; teach me Your paths.
            Romans 8:14-18 [Paul explaining] For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For you have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption by which we cry, Abba, Father! 16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are the children of God. 17 And if we are children, then we are heirs; heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ; so that if we suffer with Him, we may also be glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the coming glory to be revealed in us. [Also note 12:1-3]

  Worldview of adversity (difficulties, hardships, danger, misfortune, harsh conditions) is typically negative:

·         As calamity, catastrophe, tragedy . . . disastrous.

·         Always about me.

·         Puzzling.

·         Something other individuals and groups deserve.

·         Sorrowful when happening to loved ones . . . or those we idolize.

·         Gleeful when happening to enemies or those we’re not exactly fond of.

·         Always stressful.

·         Nonchalant, detached, indifferent, unflappable: “Whatever.” “____  happens!”

·         If not stressed by, calm person must be weird.

·         As opposition.

·         Always coming in threes. (My familial education from Grandmother McGee.)

·         Always from Satan.

·         Always as chastening from God.

·         Focusing on source question rather than solutions or lessons therein.

·         Destructive. “Ruination!”

·         Highlighting manner or matrix needing more law and regulation.

·         The common rule.

·         A number of other gloomy points that I’m sure others can add. (Please do!)

  My negative viewpoints changed wonderfully in and by God’s maturation through reading, studying, and application of His Word.

  I think the first lesson was accepting all adversity isn’t aimed at me. God makes His sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. (Mt.5:45) This includes warm delightful sunshine on a cold day, and instances of scorching heat while working on broken hot machinery in shade-less dry dusty field. And then there are rain storms that I didn’t dance in but hunkered down in on the Chesapeake Bay.

  Next came accepting the truth that little growth is realized apart from adversity classroom.

  But then it’s really not about personal improvement; it’s about conforming to the image of Christ. (Rom.8:13-29)  EBB4

LIVING IN ERA OF DISTRUST

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

2Peter [GW] 1:19-21 So we regard the words of the prophets as confirmed beyond all doubt. You're doing well by paying attention to their words. Continue to pay attention as you would to a light that shines in a dark place as you wait for day to come and the morning star to rise in your hearts. 20 First, you must understand this: No prophecy in Scripture is a matter of one's own interpretation. 21 No prophecy ever originated from humans. Instead, it was given by the Holy Spirit as humans spoke under God's direction.

  I consider a general knowledge of history important. From historical eras we see what worked and what didn’t work, and who (individuals and nations) accomplished or failed, and how they did so.

  Not being in high political or management positions, for most of us such ongoing education and its application typically doesn’t involve world, nation, or corporation changing authority. However, every man, woman, and youth has areas of responsibility and influence; the primary one being their own life, family, friends ...

  Though penned by Isaiah over 2700 years ago, God’s Word exemplifies this truth: “In that day this song shall be sung in the land of Judah: We have a strong city; He sets up salvation as our walls and banks. 2 Open the gates, and the righteous nation shall enter in, keeping faithfulness. 3 You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You; because he trusts in You. 4 Trust in Jehovah forever; for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength. 5 For He brings down those who dwell on high; He lays low the lofty city; He lays it low, even to the ground; He brings it to the dust. (MKJV Isa.26:1-5)

  Having read the verses in numerous translations and versions, using Strong’s to define meaning of a few words I discover it means just what it says in English. Isaiah begins with large scale of nations and cities, shifts to individual responsibility in history, then returns to the big picture.

  Whether nation rises, falls, or recovers will come to pass and be recorded in heaven and likely here.

  I believe we are in the midst of major national and world change, change involving a bigger than usual distrust of leadership.

  In this era of great distrust we individually choose whether to extend that distrust to our relationship in LORD JEHOVAH.

  Look at the passage from Isaiah again and note it includes responsibility indicator “perfect peace”. Using it as measure, can we, you, I, claim genuinely trusting Him in this era of distrust?  EBB4

DROWNING IN HOLLYWOOD

Monday, June 17, 2013
 
Proverbs [KJV] 1:5 A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

  Hollywood and TV primarily are in the money making business, doing so by constantly working at entertaining people. The more entertaining they are the more money they make. To maximize level of entertainment they often take considerable liberties in presentation; exaggeration and/or misrepresentation frequently the norm.

  For most people this general rehearsal is recognized and considered simply entertainment.

  Some scenes are not taken as such and at cost of injury or even death are accepted as factual. One such is drowning. Hollywood and TV entertainment pictures drowning with lots of splashing, shouting and screaming for help; dramatically quite noticeable.

  In actuality, drowning is typically a silent event, with children too often the victim; A silent event tragically too often occurring in the midst of loving family and friends. (After vehicular collisions the # 2 warm weather cause of injury and death among children.) Pool or pier side child safety demands not just being in the area but eyes-on attention; keeping in mind that attention is spelled “constant” as drowning injury or death happens in minutes or even seconds.

  And then there’s Hollywood and TV representation of Christian that drowns the entertained crowd in educational script that is other than according to The Word of God.  EBB4

ONE ABSOLUTELY CHANGELESS

Sunday, June 16, 2013
 
John [GW] 11:7-10 Then, after the two days, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's go back to Judea." 8 The disciples said to him, "Rabbi, not long ago the Jews wanted to stone you to death. Do you really want to go back there?" 9 Jesus answered, "Aren't there twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day don't stumble, because they see the light of this world. 10 However, those who walk at night stumble because they have no light in themselves."
 
 Equivocators ameliorate actuality, but the fact is our culture has changed. Here’s an item list sent to me this morning by Sharon, with changes we elders are witness to.
 
WELCOME TO' THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY!!!'

*Phones ~ Wireless
*Cooking ~ Fireless
*Cars ~ Keyless
*Food ~ Fatless
*Tires ~ Tubeless
*Dress ~ Sleeveless
*Youth ~ Jobless
*Leaders ~ Shameless
*Relationships ~ Meaningless
*Attitude ~ Careless
*Wives ~ Fearless
*Babies ~ Fatherless
*Feelings ~ Heartless
*Education ~ Valueless
*Children ~ Mannerless

Everything is becoming Less, & still our hopes are ~ Endless. In fact we are ~ Speechless & our LEGISLATORS ARE OFTEN CLUELESS!!!

  It is easy to slip into focusing on cultural flexing and reactive campaigning distracting us from serving our utmost for His highest. Indeed we do physically inescapably live in this earthly (USA et al) kingdom, and we largely see and experience it, but our worldview is not to be thru its lens . . . but through the Light we know. We are not to stumble in this present darkness, for we know the Light! (Jn.11:7-10)

  While Himself experiencing this kingdom beneath, Jesus explained “My kingdom is not of this world” (Jn.18:36) Christians, as citizens of the eternal highest kingdom, we are not to see, think, and act as do the citizens of this lower kingdom. (Jn.8:22-26) To think with Americana above godly attitude of and as His subject will make us unfruitful. (Mt.13:18-23; 22:21; Mk.12:17; Lk.20:25)

  Though presently walking here, let us never forget the fact that all the kingdoms of this world will one day become the kingdom of The Changeless One, our Lord and Redeemer, and he will rule as king forever and ever. (Rev.11:15)  EBB4

THE COMPULSION TO BELONG

Friday, June 14, 2013

 

John MKJV 10:27-30 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 And I give to them eternal life, and they shall never ever perish, and not anyone shall pluck them out of My hand. 29 My Father who gave them to me is greater than all, and no one is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand. 30 I and the Father are one!

Ephesians 4:1-6 I [Paul] therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the calling with which you are called, 2 with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering, forbearing one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit, even as you are called in one hope of your calling, 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in you all.

   The desire to belong is fundamental to man and has not diminished one iota over time.

  God said it is not good that for man to be alone. (Gen.2:18) Then Adam and Eve made for loneliness and man has been attempting compensation ever since, joining self to one Spiritless entity or another.

  Except that we agree with our Creator’s absolute competence we can expect naught but false spiritual semblance of belonging, ultimately an futile exercise in frustration due to temporality and limitations of every group and being but Triune God. (Rom.1:20)

  People work hard at belonging, even to the point of wretchedness in joining and clinging to unwholesome and destabilizing toxic social relationships. One of the saddest situations is persons paying dearly to be accepted when they receive nothing but rejection, criticism, wretched comparisons, demeaning teasing, and such ugliness as return on their investment.  

  I’m not saying to sever social fellowship with family, friend, acquaintance, or passerby. God blesses with and in relationships, but they too must be kept in proper perspective. (Lk.14:26; Jn.21:15)

  I am saying shift your fellowship focus to The One who loves you above all others. (Mt.6:22-23)

  I am not waiting but am trusting God for fellowship here and now; Christ’ death, burial, and resurrection redeeming to the uttermost; knowing that I absolutely belong to Him I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height or depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate me from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord; being bought with a price I am to glorify God in my body and spirit, which are God's. (Rom.8:38-39; 1Cor.6:20)

  I know that I will not abide in confidant peace with Him if I heed the tempter’s idolatrous call (Gen.3:5 There is more to be had!) to belong in worldly association apart from my Shepherd’s voice. 

  How much better is the companionship of the One who saves? (Eph.2:13)  EBB4

What does the Bible say about suicide?[From GotQuestions.org] Question #8 on the GotQuestions.org Top 20 is “What does the Bible say about suicide?” Imagine receiving a question late at night from someone “My life is meaningless and there is no point in living. If you don’t convince me otherwise, I am going to commit suicide in the next hour.” What in the world would you do? What I did – I wrote the best possible response I could come up with in 10 minutes and sent it to the questioner. Thankfully, I heard back, and she stated that she had decided not to commit suicide, but, unfortunately, I never heard back from her again.   Recent stats say that over 1 million people a year commit suicide. Just imagine how many people consider committing suicide but never go through with it. When I was a teenager, I contemplated committing suicide. But thankfully, God slapped some sense into me, even though I was not a believer in Christ at the time. Suicide is the ultimate admission from a person that he/she does not have (or at least is not experiencing) the abundant life God promises through Christ (John 10:10). Suicide is the ultimate “I give up” statement. It is a surrender to the belief that a life is so messed up that there is no possibility of salvaging anything from it.   Suicide is a permanent “solution” to temporary problems. It is so sad to hear news reports about teenagers who commit suicide after a relationship break up, or due to bullying at school, or due to some other trivial issue. While it obviously did not seem trivial to the person who committed suicide, in the grand scheme of things, there is nothing that warrants suicide. Problems that seem so overwhelming today will be looked back upon years later as virtually meaningless. Especially for the Christian, with eternity in mind, there is nothing that could happen in this world which would justify committing suicide.   The Bible mentions six people who committed suicide (Judges 9:54; 1 Samuel 31:4-6; 2 Samuel 17:23; 1 Kings 16:18; Matthew 27:5). None of them were righteous, to say the least. The Bible nowhere explicitly states “it is a sin to commit suicide,” but the Bible does condemn murder (Exodus 20:13). Suicide is “self-murder,” therefore suicide is a sin since murder is a sin. Aside from the “do not commit murder” command, suicide is also sin for the following two reasons, one theological and one practical: (1) it is God and God alone who has the right to determine life and death, and (2) suicide reveals a belief that God is not powerful enough to help you solve your problems.   The vast majority of people will agree with us that suicide is a sin. The debate begins, though, with the question of whether suicide is forgivable. Typically, a suicide-related question will be along the lines of: “For God to forgive us, we have to repent from our sins and confess our sins to God. If someone commits suicide, he/she has no opportunity to repent or confess. Therefore, suicide is not a forgivable sin. Anyone who commits suicide is sent straight to hell.” There is one primary problem with this line of thought: it does not recognize that Jesus died for ALL of our sins. When God purchased us with the blood of Christ, ALL of our sins were paid for (1 Peter 1:19). If a person who has truly received Jesus Christ as Savior, thereby demonstrating that he/she has been redeemed, reconciled, forgiven, justified, etc., by God, commits suicide, the sin of suicide was paid for by the blood of Christ. Now, we can question whether a true Christian could commit suicide, but, if a true Christian were to commit suicide, it would be forgiven. Verses that connect confession with forgiveness (such as 1 John 1:9) are referring to relational forgiveness between a believer and God, not the judicial forgiveness that was perfectly accomplished by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. No, suicide is not an unforgivable sin. Suicide is not greater than the price Jesus Christ paid for us with His atoning sacrifice.   A side issue related to suicide that we are often asked about is whether Jesus’ death should be considered a suicide. After all, Jesus knew what was going to happen to Him, yet He did nothing to avoid it. In fact, He walked straight towards it. Isn’t that suicide? No, it most definitely is not. Sacrificing your life on behalf of others is not suicide. Suicide is intentionally killing yourself for selfish reasons. Yes, Jesus willingly sacrificed His life, but Jesus did not kill Himself. Similarly, a fireman who dies trying to save someone in a fire did not commit suicide, even if he knew running into the burning building would cost him his life. Another biblical example would be Samson (Judges 16:26-31), who pushed down the pillars of the temple, knowing that it would take his life. However, it was Samson’s goal to destroy the Philistines. Samson was willing to sacrifice his own life in order to achieve that goal, but the goal was not specifically to commit suicide. Sacrificing your own life in order to save others is an admission that “you are not your own…you were bought with a price” (1 Corinthians 6:20), and that God’s purposes for your life are greater and higher than your preferences.   What does the Bible say about suicide? Simply put, suicide is a sin. It is never the right thing to take your own life. What does the Bible say about suicide? Don’t do it! If you are an unbeliever, God is able to redeem your life and give you a true purpose for living through Jesus Christ. If you are a believer, God has already redeemed your life, and no matter how horrible your current circumstances, God can accomplish great things through the rest of your life. Related GotQuestions.org article: suicide SMH

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SAY WHAT?!

Wednesday, June 12, 2013
 
2Timothy 2:15-16 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

Due to familiarity, wayward language that we nonetheless understand: “… the suspect turned and fired at the police so they shot him in the parking lot.” What part of the human anatomy is that? And this one from this week reviewing someone’s college homework: Instructor’s question: “How do you prefer doing your schoolwork?” “… sitting on my bed listening to Taylor Swift doing my assignment.”
 
  Remember the first times you read texts written in your native language but they were “Greek to me.” . . . then as you worked at the task more and more it became clear to you?

  There are writings that when we first read them we have difficulty understanding. But as the instruction therein is required (vocation, career, employment, survival, et al) or desired (hobbies, amusement, participation, et al) we diligently work at reading and understanding, doing so even if it means learning new vocabulary, terminology, and various authors’ style.

  Romans 10:17 tells us that faith is the product of “hearing by the word of God.”, but considering countless hours of listening in Sunday School or pew, what does this hearing mean? With a little effort I discover it means getting the sense of the matter.

  I grew up passing algebra in High School, but clueless about it ever since. Why so? Because, like Sunday School, confirmation classes, and church for many, I was in math class but not a student. Growing up as an uninterested student of God’s Word leaves one hearing it as a foreign language.

  Like foreign exchange students that learn and precisely speak host country’s language, Bible verse memorization may be no different; mere intelligence without understanding; ever learning though never coming to knowledge of truth (2Tim.3:7).

  I remember standing sadly by my father’s casket and thinking “Who was this man?”

  It wasn’t that we were enemies or I didn’t know something of his life. We simply didn’t communicate, hence the big unanswered question. This scantiness need not be so in our relationship with the Heavenly Father, Sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all that was, is, and ever will be. We have vast communication from Him, His Word. Among the many things He tells is applicable understanding requires something we commonly prefer abstaining from; work.  EBB4

EARNESTLY CONTENDING

Tuesday, June 11, 2013
 
1Corinthians [ESV] 13:11-13 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
 
  Though elder, I confess to having impulsive childish thoughts, this morning for example as I read news of another atheist monument being installed. This one in the courtyard outside the Bradford County Courthouse in north Florida, inscribed with a quote from Madalyn Murray O’Hair.

  My first thought had to do with a mid-night destruction by active faithful Floridian Christians. Then I remembered and read of Paul’s action as recorded in Acts 17, the same once wrathful Paul that God used to provide 1Corinthians13 for us.

  For your convenient e-reading here is Acts 17 from English Standard Version Bible: “Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ."

  And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, "These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus."

  And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

  The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men.

  But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was proclaimed by Paul at Berea also, they came there too, agitating and stirring up the crowds. Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.

  Now while Paul was waiting for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who happened to be there. Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also conversed with him. And some said, "What does this babbler wish to say?" Others said, "He seems to be a preacher of foreign divinities"—because he was preaching Jesus and the resurrection. And they took him and brought him to the Areopagus [KJV “Mars’ Hill”], saying, "May we know what this new teaching is that you are presenting? For you bring some strange things to our ears. We wish to know therefore what these things mean."

  Now all the Athenians and the foreigners who lived there would spend their time in nothing except telling or hearing something new. So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: "Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, 'To the unknown god.' What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.

  And he made from one man [Adam] every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for "'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, "'For we are indeed his offspring.'

  Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."

  Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, "We will hear you again about this."

  So Paul went out from their midst. But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.”

  So, no maul ours’ to the courthouse mall?  EBB4