LOST IN ALBION

LOST IN ALBION

Thursday, May 26, 2016

  Grandson Ian was sent here to look out for me after my last stroke and resultant hospital stay September 2, 2015. He is still here. His old room is now a nursery for his baby nephew, my greatgrandson. We get along hunky-dory, and of course there are rituals that have developed.

  Ian serves hearing impaired Nebraskans by installing and servicing CaptionCall phones provided free under the American Disabilities Act. In doing so he is behind the wheel near, far, and in between. One day Ian made a 600 mile round trip!

  I have yet to hear an audible sigh or “Ugh.” in response to my ritual “Where are you going today?” or “Where did you go today?” Today’s answer is “Albion, do you know where it is?”

  I do, but this fact didn’t brake my traveling mind……

  Using smart phone visual and audible Google Earth app will take Ian precisely curbside to his destination, these days a commonly used method of travel to locations hither or yon. But once there, unfold a road map of the State, USA, or world and ask “Where are you in relation to home?” (I confess to impishly doing this with those not of my atlas generation and thoroughly enjoying the puzzled looks.)

  More seriously, I’m pondering 2 individuals that had critical lack of understanding of exactly where they were framed by the larger eternal picture: Nicodemus and Saul, both believing they were well-located, when actually they were far from being so.

  Recorded in John 3 we read of the Master’s redirecting words to Nicodemus, “Are you the teacher of Israel and yet do not know these things?”

  And in Acts 9 to Saul of Tarsus zealously persecuting the disciples of Christ, redirecting words leading up to his being the Apostle Paul, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?“

  In what areas do I need redirected this day? Am I, are we using His application or are we using modern devices for spiritual direction? (1Cor.2:1to 3:23) Though afflicted with deafness, am I, are we listening?

EBB4

CaptionCall: http://captioncallphone.com/?utm_source=Bing&utm_medium=CPC&utm_campaign=CC2016&utm_term=%2Bcaptioncall&utm_content=Branded%20Terms%20-%20Broad

MISBEGOTTEN PHOBIA

MISBEGOTTEN PHOBIA

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Hebrews [ESV] chapter 9 … Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.

  There are countless ways to die. Some are unnecessarily disproportionately feared more than others.    From Ask.com: In 2000, the World Health Organization reported that in the USA population of 281,000,000 people (Census data), there were only 54 deaths attributable to bee stings, 15,517 murders (FBI crime figures) - there is a greater chance you'll be murdered by a fellow human, than die from being stung by a bee! More than 20,000 people in the USA die from flu every year (U.S. Centers for Disease Control) Even lightening kills more people than bee stings! On average, 90 people are killed every year in the U.S. by lightning. [NOAA Technical Memorandum NWS SR-193] Then there are all those sharks waiting to dine on you and me if we dare enter saltwater above our ankles. (Average about 6-10 worldwide reported annually.)

  One of my favorite cartoons is of 2 women standing by a new tombstone, the one stating “I don’t understand it. He was gluten-free all his life!”

  Certainly we are to exercise reasonable caution toward maintenance of physical well-being, and in doing so based in God’s peace not phobia.

  “fear not” is in 62 KJV verses. As I’ve read them I’ve especially noted the ones with the underlying message of It’s not all about you. There’s something much bigger going on. (Mt.10:28; Lk.1:30; 12:7-32; Acts 27:24; rev.1:17-18)

  Ours is not to fear death or life, but to occupy! (Lk.19:11-27)

EBB4

THE DISCOMFORT OF REASONABLE SERVICE

THE DISCOMFORT OF REASONABLE SERVICE

Tuesday, May 24, 2016

John [ESV] 3:11-21 [Jesus explained] Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know, and bear witness to what we have seen, but you do not receive our testimony.If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.  But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God."

Romans 12:1-3 [Paul exhorted] I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.

2Corinthians [GW] 5:14-21 [Paul explained] Clearly, Christ's love guides us. We are convinced of the fact that one man has died for all people. Therefore, all people have died. He died for all people so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for the man who died and was brought back to life for them. So from now on we don't think of anyone from a human point of view. If we did think of Christ from a human point of view, we don't anymore. Whoever is a believer in Christ is a new creation. The old way of living has disappeared. A new way of living has come into existence.  God has done all this. He has restored our relationship with him through Christ, and has given us this ministry of restoring relationships. [Ez.33:8] In other words, God was using Christ to restore his relationship with humanity. He didn't hold people's faults against them, and he has given us this message of restored relationships to tell others. Therefore, we are Christ's representatives, and through us God is calling you. We beg you on behalf of Christ to become reunited with God. God had Christ, who was sinless, take our sin so that we might receive God's approval through him.

  Fact is, socially speaking worship via reasonable service is often not a gala party. Self protection is just as natural for God’s John 1:12 family as for non-relatives. To be most specific this day, though definitely led to there’s a topic I’ve been putting off writing about for 2 weeks now, especially so with recent emphasis on Blues Lives Matter.

  In writing the brief HEROES series I knew there is something importantly compelling to remind others of: Individuals may heroically lay down their life in saving another, but if their trust is not in Lord Jesus Christ as personal Redeemer, they depart this life to eternal condemnation.

  As God’s ambassadors we must serve Him actively as agents of reconciliation!

EBB4

THY KINGDOM COME

THY KINGDOM COME

Monday, May 23, 2016

Mt.6:10 [Lk.11:2] Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

  We love to pray those 3 words, a triplet that flows in sound encouragement. But which kingdom is it some ask? Please read the below brief essay from GotQuestions.org and be edified.

EBB4

Question: "What is the difference between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven?"

Answer: While some believe that the Kingdom of God and Kingdom of Heaven are referring to different things, it is clear that both phrases are referring to the same thing. The phrase “kingdom of God” occurs 68 times in 10 different New Testament books, while “kingdom of heaven” occurs only 32 times, and only in the Gospel of Matthew. Based on Matthew’s exclusive use of the phrase and the Jewish nature of his Gospel, some interpreters have concluded that Matthew was writing concerning the millennial kingdom while the other New Testament authors were referring to the universal kingdom. However, a closer study of the use of the phrase reveals that this interpretation is in error.
  For example, speaking to the rich young ruler, Christ uses “kingdom of heaven” and “kingdom of God” interchangeably. “Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven’” (Matthew 19:23). In the very next verse, Christ proclaims, “Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God” (verse 24). Jesus makes no distinction between the two terms but seems to consider them synonymous.
  Mark and Luke used “kingdom of God” where Matthew used “kingdom of heaven” frequently in parallel accounts of the same parable Compare Matthew 11:11-12 with Luke 7:28; Matthew 13:11with Mark 4:11 and Luke 8:10; Matthew 13:24 with Mark 4:26; Matthew 13:31 with Mark 4:30 and Luke 13:18; Matthew 13:33 with Luke 13:20; Matthew 18:3 with Mark 10:14 and Luke 18:16; and Matthew 22:2 with Luke 13:29. In each instance, Matthew used the phrase “kingdom of heaven” while Mark and/or Luke used “kingdom of God.” Clearly, the two phrases refer to the same thing.

Recommended Resources: The Moody Handbook of Theology by Paul Enns and Logos Bible Software.

Related Topics from GotQuestions.org:
What is the Kingdom of God?
What is kingdom theology?
What is the gospel of the kingdom?
What does it mean to seek first the kingdom of God?
What did Jesus mean when He said, “The kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:21, KJV)?

FAITH, HOPE, CHARITY

FAITH HOPE CHARITY

Sunday, May 22, 2016

Philippians ESV 2:1-13 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

  Faith Hope Charity are inseparable, a package.

  Pastor Paul, emphasizing the above 3, expounded briefly on the 7 virtues as laid out in Ephesians chapter 2. (For chart on 7 virtues, go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seven_virtues )

  Moving to 1Corinthians 13 he explained that charity/love is the motivation for being virtuous:

·          Charity being loving as God loves us; putting aside prideful ambition and putting others first.

·          Hope is mind set toward heaven; following Jesus example, realizing we can’t out-imagine God!

·         Faith as admitting total failure necessitating trusting God; walking and working, acting accordingly as God is in you.

  Pastor Paul closed saying this is the right way to live even though life is contrary.

EBB4 from Sunday, 10.7.2008 sermon notes.

PLANTED

PLANTED

Friday, May 20, 2016

  Yesterday while tilling the garden and related tasks I thought about my heroes past and present, and that how most are forgotten after a number of generations. Though admittedly, hero or not, people would like to be remembered beyond the next 2 or 3 generations, but then what does it really matter beyond the present “To serve Him all our days.”? 

  This morning upon arising I look out the window at the garden with hope of planting this afternoon.

  Then my thoughts turned to Jesus’ parable recorded in Mark chapter 4, so I reread it . . . and had a personal revelation after reading it many times these past 70+ years: Jesus was not singularly talking about light and salt limited to present living service before Him; If we now serve Him all our days our death, all things being eternal, will perennially produce in-kind thereafter!

  How now are we rooted?

EBB4

AS PROMISED, MORE HEROES

AS PROMISED, MORE HEROES

Friday, May 19, 2016

Notice: The reason for no DT yesterday is that at first light Windows 10 began installing (assaulting?) my PC sans my permission. It held my PC hostage all day until the installation failed in late afternoon. The PC then repaired itself to quite satisfactory Windows 7, completely the task after 9pm as I tried to solve yet another Midsomer Murder.  EBB4

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Here are heroes presented by some of our DT fellows:

“Dear Wise One: A true hero accepts, embraces and perseveres through the adversity given them, knowing the end result will glorify God.  I have learned that what glorifies God can cause man pain and suffering.  We must always keep our eye on the prize, which is our internal salvation, painfully given by our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Cheryl of Nebraska (One of my heroes.)

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“-Samson.  Numerous character flaws but had the courage to face an enemy who vastly outnumbered him.  Judges 15:15

-James (brother of Jesus).  Growing up having God as an older brother must have created one heck of a sibling rivalry for Jesus' brothers, but James had the humility later in life to submit himself to Jesus' will.  James also authored one of my favorite books in the Bible.  Mark 6:3, John 7:5, Acts 12:17, book of James

-Gideon.  After initially lacking the courage to go where God was calling him he trusted God instead of numbers.  Judges 6 and 7

-Joshua.  After enduring years in slavery and then serving as Moses' second in command for almost forty years, he trusted God once he received command of the Israelite army to win victories that sometimes seemed unusual to others.  Books of Exodus, Joshua

-Caleb.  One of two spies who had the courage to face the Amalekites even though they were gigantic in size.  Was still a great warrior at 80 years old.  Numbers 13:27-33, Numbers 14:6

-David's mighty men.  Numerous incredible feats of courage and loyalty.  2 Samuel 23:8-39

-Barnabas.  One theory I like is that Barnabas was the rich man who Jesus told to sell everything he had and give it to the poor.  If this is true, then even though he "walked away sad" initially he eventually surrendered to God's will and was one of the first missionaries.  Matthew 19:16-22, Acts 4:36, 37

-Zaccheus.  Despite a selfish personality and short stature he did what he had to do to see Jesus.  Luke 19:1-10”

David of Nebraska (One of my heroes)

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“I don't know if one could call him a hero, but I've admired Josiah because he Loved the Lord with all his Heart and all his Soul and all his Might.  This is the first Great Commandment he followed before he knew it to be a commandment.”  Penny (One of my heroes.)

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“Jonathan,King  Sauls son, 1Sam 23:16-18.  Jonathan knew David would be the next King even though he was next in line for the throne.  He was Davids friend and confidant. In 1Sam 14 He is a courageous soldier.  He convinced his armor bearer [who had no weapon] to follow him to pick a fight with a squad of Philistine soldiers.  His armor bearer followed him into battle without a weapon.  He had to be a leader that inspired confidence.” Jim Abraham of Nebraska (One of my heroes.)

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“My heroes are the jail & prison ministry volunteers - they're SERIOUS about their faith, and give their lives to extend GRACE to the inmates, in obedience to Jesus.  My other group of heroes are the pro-life activists.” Chaplain Tom Beatty of Illinois (One of my heroes.)

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