CALM MAY BE SPELLED RISK

CALM MAY BE SPELLED RISK

Tuesday, September 05, 2017

'Everything is alright! Everything is alright!' But it's not alright. (Jer.6:14; 8:11)

  Calm is always better than tumultuous stormy atmosphere, right?

  Not necessarily.

  Individuals, families, businesses, and congregations all suffer tempestuous times necessitating prayerful Biblical examination, determination of solutions, and practical implementation of God’s remedial changes.

  Calm is not an ultimate goal or final solution.

  “Things have finally settled down now.” rectifies little or nothing if underlying problem(s) are not confronted, examined, and resolved.

  Calm can be riskier than storm.

EBB4

2TIMOTHY 3:16 APPLICATION MAY INCLUDE CHIASTIC ANALYSIS

2TIMOTHY 3:16 APPLICATION MAY INCLUDE CHIASTIC  ANALYSIS

Monday, September 04, 2017

“ … Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. … evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.  But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” Excerpted from the Apostle Paul’s 2^nd letter to Timothy. [KJV]

  We are urged to study what Sovereign Jehovah says in His Word. Study is quite different than reading.

Study is work, labor this man is quite reluctant to always do. At times I’d rather weed the garden.

  We can read without diligent endeavor. Doing so we impede God’s designation for perfect living.

  Just this week during an obedient student session, reading “Part Two: MAKING THE MOST OF THE MESSAGE” in Answers In Genesis magazine I discovered something very old in Scripture. Chiasm is a Hebrew technique of arranging words to maximize effect. With practice producing ability to see, chiastic literary form highlights significance of subject.

  A chiasm in Daniel:

A - Babylon assumes supremacy over Israel. (1:1-2)

   B – The young men are subjected to pagan training. (1:3-7)

      C – Daniel seeks to remain faithful to God. (1:8-14)

      C – Daniel succeeds in being faithful to God. (1:15-11)

   B – The young men triumph in their pagan training. (1:17-20)

A – An Israelite proves supreme over Babylon. (1:21)

  Here’s one from Genesis chapters 6-9 beginning and ending with Noah and his sons:

A – Transitional introduction: Noah and his sons. (6:9-10)

    B – The Corruption of All Flesh. (6:11-12)

       C – God’s Resolution to Destroy the Earth by Flood. (6:13-22)

          D – God’s Command and Noah’s Response: The Entrance into the Ark. (7:1-10)

              E – The Beginning of the Flood: The Inundating of the Earth. (7:11-16

                 F – The Rising of the Waters. (7:17-24)

     Central theme of flood account à G – God’s Remembrance of Noah. (8:1a)

                 F – The Recession of the Waters. (8:1b-5)

              E – The End of the Flood: The Drying of the Earth. (8:6-14)

          D – God’s Command and Noah’s Response: The Exodus from the Ark. (8:15-19)

      C – God’s Resolution Never Again to Destroy the Earth by Flood. (8:20-22)

    B – The Covenant with All Flesh. (9:1-17)

A – Transitional Conclusion: Noah and His Sons. (9:18-19)

  Now, when reading Scripture, if I can see this literary structure I may gain its purpose; acquiring more from God’s Word. However, looking at the office window . . . I see a few more weeds that need pulling.  EBB4

WORSHIP INCLUDES LIFE VERSE

WORSHIP INCLUDES LIFE VERSE

Sunday, September 03, 2017

Psalm [MKJV] 32:1-11  A Psalm of David. A Contemplation. Blessed is the man whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom Jehovah does not charge iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile. When I kept silence, my bones became old through my roaring all the day long. For by day and by night Your hand was heavy on me; my sap is turned into the droughts of summer. Selah. I confessed my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, I will confess my transgression to Jehovah; and You forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah. For this let every godly one pray to You, in a time when You may be found; surely in the floods of great waters they shall not come near him. You are my hiding place; You shall preserve me from trouble; You shall circle me with songs of deliverance. Selah. I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you, My eye shall be on you. Be not like the horse, or like the mule, who have no understanding, whose mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, so that they do not come near you. The wicked has many sorrows, but mercy embraces him who trusts in Jehovah. Be glad in Jehovah, and rejoice, you righteous; and shout for joy, all you upright in heart.

  True worship cannot be realized without reality about self: “Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican [a tax farmer].The Pharisee [priest] stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. (KJV 18:10-14)

  When, the next day after trusting Christ as personal Savior, I told Bud Bond, he then said, “Now you need to be thinking about a life verse.” . . . without explaining why. (Bud was he who faithfully witnessed to me and patiently answered my questions.)

  I liked Romans 5:8 because what with me never being good at memorizing, I remembered it verbatim the first time I read it and still do: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” As I pondered this wonderful truth of God’s great love and new beginnings, I was reading Psalms, and because it is a better fit finally decided on 32:8-9: “The LORD says, "I will instruct you. I will teach you the way that you should go. I will advise you as my eyes watch over you.

Don't be stubborn like a horse or mule. They need a bit and bridle in their mouth to restrain them, or they will not come near you." (GW)

  Little did I know, though now certain Bud did then, how much a life verse would contribute to my growth, and, that it would and still does engender Romans 12:1-3 worship in all circumstance wherever I may be.

  A life verse can and will do the same for you.

  If you have not already done so, I encourage you to choose a life verse, or verses. You too may decide on Psalm 32:8-9 as I do not hold the original patent on it. Or, possibly you will opt for the entire Psalm if as stubborn a mule as I? J L 

  Please do pray about the taking of a personal Scripture guidon; a pennant to aid in fellowship, followship, and constant worship. May God bless you richly as you authentically draw nearer to Him. 

EBB4

A WORLD OF DISTRACTING ADDITIONS

A WORLD OF DISTRACTING ADDITIONS

Friday, September 01, 2017

John [MKJV] 6:67-68; 14:6-7 Then Jesus said to the Twelve, Do you also wish to go away? Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the Words of eternal life. . . . Thomas said to Him, Lord, we do not know where You go, and how can we know the way? Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me.

Acts 5:19-20 But the angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night and brought them out, and said, Go! Stand and speak all the words of this Life to the people in the temple.

Romans (GW) 3:20-24 Not one person can have God's approval by following Moses' Teachings. Moses' Teachings show what sin is. Now, the way to receive God's approval has been made plain in a way other than Moses' Teachings. Moses' Teachings and the Prophets tell us this. Everyone who believes has God's approval through faith in Jesus Christ. There is no difference between people. Because all people have sinned, they have fallen short of God's glory. They receive God's approval freely by an act of his kindness through the price Christ Jesus paid to set us free from sin.

Philippians [MKJV] 3:12-15 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect, but I am pressing on, if I may lay hold of that for which I also was taken hold of by Christ Jesus. My brothers, I do not count myself to have taken possession, but one thing I do, forgetting the things behind and reaching forward to the things before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, be of this mind. And if in anything you are otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this to you.

  In guilt and shame, people ask: Why did I do __(sin)__? Why do I do what I do? These being questions pleading for understanding of motivation; thinking the answer(s) will bring relief and rescue. “If I only knew why I . . . I think/know I would stop doing it.”

  Is it helpful to understand back story undergirding of our sin that so easily bests us?

  To recognize can be helpful, but it definitely is not the key to deliverance. Per se, such understanding will not result in victory’s freedom. Knowing who or what the enemy is does not conquer the problem. It can however help in equipping us for the battle.

  During His earthly ministry, how much time did Jesus invest in helping individuals grasp meticulous background of WHY? (Consider the woman at the well and other encounters.)

  How much space does The Answer Book give to such?  Does Scripture encourage delving into and focusing on our historical details for answer as to WHY?

  We live in a world of additions to The Truth.

  Said additions are useful as revelation of our need for The Deliverer, Lord Jesus Christ proffering His lighter yoke. (Mt.11:27-30)

  The problem that has developed in some Christian counsel is that too many think that to understand background story is comprehensive unto ceasing ________, when really it is not key, but mere historical sketch in comparison to God’s solution. And when dwelled upon, will obstruct.

  The truth is that we sinfully try to fill our neediness with other than God’s provision, His Truth; The Counselor (Isa.9:6) holding The Word of Life.

  Let us beware distracting focus on past reasons and old seasons. Deliverance unto peace, freedom, and godly activeness lies not in understanding our old way, but in being on The Way! (Jn.14:6)

  “When Christ died, he died for sin once and for all. But now he is alive, and he lives only for God. In the same way, you must think of yourselves as dead to the power of sin. But Christ Jesus has given life to you, and you live for God. Don't let sin rule your body. After all, your body is bound to die, so don't obey its desires or let any part of it become a slave of evil. Give yourselves to God, as people who have been raised from death to life. Make every part of your body a slave that pleases God. Don't let sin keep ruling your lives. You are ruled by God's kindness and not by the Law.”(CEV Rom.6:10-14)

  This includes the onus of our dead history.

EBB4

  

ZIGZAGING TO A CONCLUSION

ZIGZAGGING TO A CONCLUSION

Thursday, August 31, 2017

Psalm 103:1-5 [A Psalm of David.] Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

2Corinthians [GW] 10:4-5 The weapons we use in our fight are not made by humans. Rather, they are powerful weapons from God. With them we destroy people's defenses, that is, their arguments  and all their intellectual arrogance that oppose the knowledge of God. We take every thought captive so that it is obedient to Christ.

2Timothy [MKJV] 1:7 For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

Hebrews [MKJV] 10:38; 11:6 …  "the Just shall live by faith. But if he draws back, My soul shall have no pleasure in him." … without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

  Staying on track in serious thinking can be hard work. Just getting past our own defenses; comfortable bias grounded in familial worldly education and personal preconceived concepts that we consider precepts can be tiresome.

  When I first started rethinking life according to God’s Word it was mentally fatiguing. Then I discovered that the chosen process was a major contributor to my fatigue. It wasn’t the magnitude of enlightening new thought. It was that I was laboring at thinking in linear manner whereas I typically think in intermittent zigzag on and off patterns with items large and small crowding the edges.

  Lest you think I’m focusing on me this morning I am not. The words above actually began with reading article on GIS (The new discipline of not just seeing maps, but the connecting of geography to history.) in Smithsonian magazine. I began then thinking about others and arriving at conclusion that once again I could assist in providing some of you liberation.

  Due to exercise of rote learning in my public schooling I had an area of fear as I was not, am not good at memorization. This old fear was further cultivated after trusting Jesus at age 27. I was repeatedly hearing echoes of public school. “To grow spiritually you must memorize Scripture verbatim.” (KJV of course!) Accompanied by remarks such as “Anybody can memorize information if they really put their mind to it!” The plaguing fear, feelings of failure and rejection, and guilt was not delightful for a guy that still has to think about the alphabet.

  God states in His Word that His children have soundness of mind. He did not, does not, say all our minds work in the same way. We don’t all think in the same manner!

  And now arrives yet another ziggy-zaggy thought that I’ll conclude with this morning: We have no redeeming righteousness of our own. We only have redemption by faith. If we don’t live by faith but shrink back from applying what God says about us, He has no pleasure in us. Would this include clumsy anvil-footed Ed trying to be a basketball standout . . . or you or me trying to think like me or you? I think so, and that the reward in this case isn’t primarily knowledge with understanding resulting in mental and emotional liberation, but for His pleasure, honor and glory. 

  Romans 12:3 says we’re not to think of ourselves more highly than we should. Instead, our thoughts should lead us to use good judgment based on what God has given each of us as believers. Contrariwise this means not thinking less of ourselves than we should. Doesn’t this include our thinking patterns? I have concluded yes it does.

EBB4

THE EYES HAVE IT

THE EYES HAVE IT

Wednesday, August 30, 2017

Jesus explained “… where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Mat 6:22  The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. …” Matthew chapter 6

Experts have found the following analysis to be nearly 100% accurate:

1. The Wall Street Journal is read by the people who run the country.

2. The Washington Post is read by people who think they run the country.

3. The New York Times is read by people who think they should run the country, and are very good at crossword puzzles.

4. USA Today is read by people who think they ought to run the country but don't really understand The New York Times.

5. The Los Angeles Times is read by people who wouldn't mind running the country, if they could find the time and if they didn't have to leave Southern California to do it.

6. The Boston Globe is read by people whose parents used to run the country.

7. The New York Daily News is read by people who aren't too sure who's running the country and don't really care as long as they can get a seat on the train

8. The New York Post is read by people who don't care who is running the country as long as they do something really scandalous, preferably while intoxicated.

9. The Chicago Tribune is read by people who are in prison, who used to run the state, and would like to do so again, as would their constituents who are currently free on bail.

10. The Miami Herald is read by people who are running another country, but need the baseball scores.

11. The San Francisco Chronicle is read by people who aren't sure if there is a country or that anyone is running it; but if so, they oppose all that they stand for. There are occasional exceptions if the leaders are gay, handicapped, minority, feminist, atheists, and those who also happen to be illegal aliens from any other country or galaxy, provided of course, that they are not Republicans.

12. The National Enquirer is read by people trapped in line at the grocery store.

13. The Seattle Times is read by people who recently caught a fish and need something to wrap it in.

14. So, why do we read the Bible?  EBB4

HUMILITY AS ATTRIBUTE

HUMILITY AS ATTRIBUTE

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

John MKJV 1:1-5 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.  All things came into being through Him, and without Him not even one thing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overtake it.

Romans 12:1-3 I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove by you what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God. For I say, through the grace given to me, to every one who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think. But set your mind to be right-minded, even as God has dealt to every man the measure of faith.

  When pride in self, ethnicity, family, nation, accomplishments et al is epidemic habit, then humility is dead. At any given moment we walk in pride or humility, there being no neutrality or meld. Just thinking myself humble I am proud. But what is humility? Is the trait recognizable? Is there a model to follow? Is it possible to gain humility?

  The answer to these questions in summed up in one word, actually “WORD”, Jesus.

  Jesus, among all that He is, is the embodiment of humility, our only true complete example: “[Christ Jesus] Although he was in the form of God and equal with God, he did not take advantage of this equality. Instead, he emptied himself by taking on the form of a servant, by becoming like other humans, by having a human appearance. He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, death on a cross.” (GW Phil.2:6-8)

  Following Jesus’ model does not come natural to man for we are born proud in nature, sinful in spirit from our very conception. (Ps.51:5)

  Christian or not, we cannot adapt our old nature to be humble, for humility is detestable to our natural man. (1Cor.2:14) To attempt accomplishing a semblance of humility through adaptation is naught but reformation; putting a fine new suit of clothes on the wretched old man; a poorly constructed cloth that wears disappointingly. (Mt.9:16-17; Rom.6:6; Eph.4:22-24; Col.3:9-10)

  Christian may manifest Christ-like humility in and by his regenerate man; regeneration being we, the old suit of clothes gaining new man within. (2Cor.5:17)

  Is it possible to acquire and sustain humility? Indeed it is doable (Mt.5:48), but how so?

  Identify and confess for what I am, a proud man, repent and exalt He Supremely Meek (Mt.11:29), and humility comes; not by our doing, but by submissive removal in agreeing with God and living in and by His grace. (Rom.6:1-14; 12:1-3)

  “The Word of life existed from the beginning. We have heard it. We have seen it. We observed and touched it. This life was revealed to us. We have seen it, and we testify about it. We are reporting to you about this eternal life that was in the presence of the Father and was revealed to us. This is the life we have seen and heard. We are reporting about it to you also so that you, too, can have a relationship with us. Our relationship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing this so that we can be completely filled with joy. This is the message we heard from Christ and are reporting to you: God is light, and there isn't any darkness in him. If we say, "We have a relationship with God" and yet live in the dark, we're lying. We aren't being truthful. But if we live in the light in the same way that God is in the light, we have a relationship with each other. And the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from every sin. If we say, "We aren't sinful" we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. God is faithful and reliable. If we confess our sins, he forgives them and cleanses us from everything we've done wrong. If we say, "We have never sinned," we turn God into a liar and his Word is not in us.” (GW 1Jn.1:1-10) 

  God will bless richly as we leave applauding self and exalt Him.  EBB4

    

Afterthought: When we read Christian devotion, commentary, or book but don’t look up that which is of higher value, Scripture references, it is manifestation of personal pride. How so? Because we are demonstrating that my time is more important than The Word and His eternity to which we lay claim. This I learned by Holy Spirit convicting experience.