Pithy Pronouncements
Adrian Rogers: We spend more time praying to keep saints out of heaven than we do to keep sinners out of hell.
Friday, July 26, 2019
Monday, July 22, 2019
Praise
All People That On Earth Do Dwell
Doxology
You just have to praise.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6IdQNsFUEw&feature=youtu.be&utm_source=General+List&utm_campaign=4fe98c48b6-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_06_04_02_12_COPY_03&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_34c1eea318-4fe98c48b6-102080817&mc_cid=4fe98c48b6&mc_eid=5b0480756c
ALL PEOPLE THAT ON EARTH DO DWELL
TUNE: OLD 100TH
"All people that on earth do dwell,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
Him serve with fear, His praise forth tell;
Come ye before Him and rejoice.
The Lord, ye know, is God indeed;
Without our aid He did us make;
We are His folk, He doth us feed,
And for His sheep He doth us take.
O enter then His gates with praise;
Approach with joy His courts unto;
Praise, laud, and bless His name always,
For it is seemly so to do.
For why? the Lord our God is good;
His mercy is for ever sure;
His truth at all times firmly stood,
And shall from age to age endure."
Doxology
You just have to praise.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6IdQNsFUEw&feature=youtu.be&utm_source=General+List&utm_campaign=4fe98c48b6-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_06_04_02_12_COPY_03&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_34c1eea318-4fe98c48b6-102080817&mc_cid=4fe98c48b6&mc_eid=5b0480756c
ALL PEOPLE THAT ON EARTH DO DWELL
TUNE: OLD 100TH
"All people that on earth do dwell,
Sing to the Lord with cheerful voice.
Him serve with fear, His praise forth tell;
Come ye before Him and rejoice.
The Lord, ye know, is God indeed;
Without our aid He did us make;
We are His folk, He doth us feed,
And for His sheep He doth us take.
O enter then His gates with praise;
Approach with joy His courts unto;
Praise, laud, and bless His name always,
For it is seemly so to do.
For why? the Lord our God is good;
His mercy is for ever sure;
His truth at all times firmly stood,
And shall from age to age endure."
Friday, July 12, 2019
Miracles
“If only I could see a miracle, I would believe.” How often have you heard that from people who are “on the fence?” This is not to minimize anyone’s true seeking spirit, but often what they say is just not factual. We see many examples in Scripture.
Jesus in Matthew 16:4 commented on those who asked Him for a sign.
An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” And He left them and went away.
Luke 11:29
As the crowds were increasing, He began to say, “This generation is a wicked generation; it seeks for a sign, and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah.
(And they did not believe that sign, like Ninevah did.)
Jesus again Mark 8:11, 12
The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him. 12 Sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, “Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
John 6:26
Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
And the quintessential, in the negative sense, can be found in the Old Testament. The Jewish nation, in general, and King Solomon, in particular, did not believe because of wonderful signs. We all know the sad story of the Jews just days out of Egypt, having passed through the Red Sea, and through most of their history, that they refused to believe.
Perhaps the saddest story is found in 2 Chronicles 7:1-3. King Solomon has just finished the dedication of the Temple and...well read it for yourself:
Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house.
He saw fire fall from heaven. At other times this had happened, the text notes that the people “gave a shout, and fell on their faces!” No surprise there.
Yet Solomon drifted away from the Lord. Turn to 2 Chronicles 8:11-13.
Then Solomon brought Pharaoh’s daughter up from the city of David to the house which he had built for her, for he said, “My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy where the ark of the Lord has entered.” 12 Then Solomon offered burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of the Lord which he had built before the porch; 13 and did so according to the daily rule, offering them up according to the commandment of Moses, for the sabbaths, the new moons and the three annual feasts—the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Booths.
Why would Solomon keep his wife separate from “the places are holy where the ark of the Lord has entered?” I think we find the answer in 1 Kings 11:4
For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.
Syncretism is a big and bad word that fits this. It is the amalgamation or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought. In other words, Solomon merged his belief in Yahweh with the beliefs of his wives, perhaps thinking that this would be an improvement. It was not.
But, in the end, he came back. Perhaps the memory of what God had done kept him in touch and eventually pulled him back into the harbor. I like the example of John, discussed below, better. I want to be like John. There is an old spiritual song, referring to Revelation that goes, “Walk in Jerusalem, Just like John.” Walk, just like John. (Link below.)
So why did Jesus do miracles? Look at Mark 2:10
But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.” 12 And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”
Jesus did not do, nor does He do miracles now to just impress people. The purpose is to prove that He can “heal” souls. He can forgive sins and give us real life, eternal life. And those changes are permanent. They do not fade with time.
For a truly seeking soul, miracles can and will have a profound effect. In spite of seeing the Lord perform miracles for three years, all of the disciples, except John, doubted and ran away. But, once the risen Lord Jesus appeared to them, they became immovable stalwarts of belief. Peter changed from a cowering coward, denying that he knew Jesus to the megaphone broadcasting the message to the temple mount and leading 3,000 others to believe. In the end, he died for his belief in and devotion to Jesus.
The rest of the band were no less transformed. James died for his stance. In fact all of them did, except John, who was persecuted for over 60 years. He, as his fellow disciples, did not yield.
Paul was another notable exception to our miracle seekers. He also met the risen Christ and was moved even farther than Peter was. Peter was mediocre, or lukewarm follower such as the ones in the Laodicean church which Jesus chided, but Paul was a ranting, raving dynamo of persecution and even murder. No believer was safe, that is until he, Paul, met Jesus. He also died for his testimony after he took the message to a major portion of the world.
That is why the Lord still does miracles. They are not for the “gee whiz” value of amusing people, but to ratify the faith of those who are faltering or sincerely seeking.
Should we pray for miracles? Absolutely. We never know the state of a person’s heart. He or she may be at the cusp of belief and the miracle will be the impetus to drive them the final step.
Isn’t God great? He meets our needs all the time. All the time, He meets our needs.
You get a choice.
Walk in Jerusalem Just Like John
(Tennessee Earnie Ford)
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Walk-In+Jerusalem+by+the+Jordanaires+YouTube&&view=detail&mid=6846AD9DD43BECDBA4256846AD9DD43BECDBA425&rvsmid=833F37CC5CC0594FD899833F37CC5CC0594FD899&FORM=VDQVAP
Golden Gate Quartet Scratchy–old recording)
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=the+golden+gate+quartet+walk+in+jerusalem+just+like+john&docid=608025483834950117&mid=D2454454E0D07F82253CD2454454E0D07F82253C&view=detail&FORM=VIRE
Or I have a recording of the LeTourneau College Quartet. Great! :>)
Jesus in Matthew 16:4 commented on those who asked Him for a sign.
An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and a sign will not be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” And He left them and went away.
Luke 11:29
As the crowds were increasing, He began to say, “This generation is a wicked generation; it seeks for a sign, and yet no sign will be given to it but the sign of Jonah.
(And they did not believe that sign, like Ninevah did.)
Jesus again Mark 8:11, 12
The Pharisees came out and began to argue with Him, seeking from Him a sign from heaven, to test Him. 12 Sighing deeply in His spirit, He said, “Why does this generation seek for a sign? Truly I say to you, no sign will be given to this generation.”
John 6:26
Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
And the quintessential, in the negative sense, can be found in the Old Testament. The Jewish nation, in general, and King Solomon, in particular, did not believe because of wonderful signs. We all know the sad story of the Jews just days out of Egypt, having passed through the Red Sea, and through most of their history, that they refused to believe.
Perhaps the saddest story is found in 2 Chronicles 7:1-3. King Solomon has just finished the dedication of the Temple and...well read it for yourself:
Now when Solomon had finished praying, fire came down from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices, and the glory of the Lord filled the house.
He saw fire fall from heaven. At other times this had happened, the text notes that the people “gave a shout, and fell on their faces!” No surprise there.
Yet Solomon drifted away from the Lord. Turn to 2 Chronicles 8:11-13.
Then Solomon brought Pharaoh’s daughter up from the city of David to the house which he had built for her, for he said, “My wife shall not dwell in the house of David king of Israel, because the places are holy where the ark of the Lord has entered.” 12 Then Solomon offered burnt offerings to the Lord on the altar of the Lord which he had built before the porch; 13 and did so according to the daily rule, offering them up according to the commandment of Moses, for the sabbaths, the new moons and the three annual feasts—the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks and the Feast of Booths.
Why would Solomon keep his wife separate from “the places are holy where the ark of the Lord has entered?” I think we find the answer in 1 Kings 11:4
For when Solomon was old, his wives turned his heart away after other gods; and his heart was not wholly devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father had been.
Syncretism is a big and bad word that fits this. It is the amalgamation or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought. In other words, Solomon merged his belief in Yahweh with the beliefs of his wives, perhaps thinking that this would be an improvement. It was not.
But, in the end, he came back. Perhaps the memory of what God had done kept him in touch and eventually pulled him back into the harbor. I like the example of John, discussed below, better. I want to be like John. There is an old spiritual song, referring to Revelation that goes, “Walk in Jerusalem, Just like John.” Walk, just like John. (Link below.)
So why did Jesus do miracles? Look at Mark 2:10
But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the paralytic, 11 “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet and go home.” 12 And he got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this.”
Jesus did not do, nor does He do miracles now to just impress people. The purpose is to prove that He can “heal” souls. He can forgive sins and give us real life, eternal life. And those changes are permanent. They do not fade with time.
For a truly seeking soul, miracles can and will have a profound effect. In spite of seeing the Lord perform miracles for three years, all of the disciples, except John, doubted and ran away. But, once the risen Lord Jesus appeared to them, they became immovable stalwarts of belief. Peter changed from a cowering coward, denying that he knew Jesus to the megaphone broadcasting the message to the temple mount and leading 3,000 others to believe. In the end, he died for his belief in and devotion to Jesus.
The rest of the band were no less transformed. James died for his stance. In fact all of them did, except John, who was persecuted for over 60 years. He, as his fellow disciples, did not yield.
Paul was another notable exception to our miracle seekers. He also met the risen Christ and was moved even farther than Peter was. Peter was mediocre, or lukewarm follower such as the ones in the Laodicean church which Jesus chided, but Paul was a ranting, raving dynamo of persecution and even murder. No believer was safe, that is until he, Paul, met Jesus. He also died for his testimony after he took the message to a major portion of the world.
That is why the Lord still does miracles. They are not for the “gee whiz” value of amusing people, but to ratify the faith of those who are faltering or sincerely seeking.
Should we pray for miracles? Absolutely. We never know the state of a person’s heart. He or she may be at the cusp of belief and the miracle will be the impetus to drive them the final step.
Isn’t God great? He meets our needs all the time. All the time, He meets our needs.
You get a choice.
Walk in Jerusalem Just Like John
(Tennessee Earnie Ford)
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Walk-In+Jerusalem+by+the+Jordanaires+YouTube&&view=detail&mid=6846AD9DD43BECDBA4256846AD9DD43BECDBA425&rvsmid=833F37CC5CC0594FD899833F37CC5CC0594FD899&FORM=VDQVAP
Golden Gate Quartet Scratchy–old recording)
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=the+golden+gate+quartet+walk+in+jerusalem+just+like+john&docid=608025483834950117&mid=D2454454E0D07F82253CD2454454E0D07F82253C&view=detail&FORM=VIRE
Or I have a recording of the LeTourneau College Quartet. Great! :>)
Saturday, June 22, 2019
Summer Solstice
My brother was born on June 20. In some years that is the summer solstice. Other years, like this one, 2019, the solstice comes a day later, on June 21. My brother used to say, maybe he still does, that he was so special that when he was born, the sun did not want to go down. So it waited until the final possible minute before setting. Incidentally, the solstice was June 21 that year. He explained that when the sun came up the day after his birthday, it realized what an opportunity it had missed and made up for it.
The solstice, caused by the tilt of the earth always fascinated me. But the fascination came from a different motivation. I was curious about two things. First, how did the earth tilt back and forth? Second, how did anyone figure out that it was tilted? The first question occurred to me in about third grade, I believe.
The teacher had explained about the seasons being caused by the tilt of the earth. I asked how the earth tilted back and forth, and how did it know how and when to stop and tilt back the other way. I was concerned that if it didn’t “work right” the earth would just turn upside down.
“It just does,” was the answer. I knew that she didn’t have a clue, nor did she care. Not a lot of scientific curiosity there. I kept looking for an answer. (For the younger readers, there was no internet on which anyone could just type in a question and get a dozen answers some of which might actually be accurate!) I do not remember if I saw a model of the solar system or was just playing with a globe. Some show the earth standing straight up. This one showed it tilted at the 23.5 degree angle and as it was moved “around the sun,” I noticed that the tilt did not change, but as it circled the sun, the axis alternately pointed toward then away from the sun.
Voila! Now it made sense. I had also worried that the shock of tilting one direction, stopping, then tilting back might make the earth break up sometime. My fears were assuaged.
The second question was not so easily resolved. And, in fact, I did resort to an internet search. (A full explanation is found at this address. http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/physics/148-people-in-astronomy/history-of-astronomy/general-questions/995-who-and-when-discovered-that-the-earth-s-axis-is-on-a-23-degree-tilt-intermediate)
Long story short, a vertical pole casts a shadow and the shadow “moves” throughout the year. Of course, the shadow “moves” throughout the day as the earth moves under the sun. But the angle the pole shadow makes at the same time each day changes throughout the year. A Chinese guy noticed that about 1100 BC. (I guess he had nothing else to do than measure the angle of shadows.) Since the shadow is not the same the year around, he surmised that the earth was tilted.
Note: We examined the fallacy of a flat earth a while back but did not include this additional “complication” in our consideration. If the earth were flat, the “plate or disk” would indeed have to literally tilt up and down every six months to account for the different shadow angle cast by a pole. But I digress.
Back to a consideration of solstices. My dad used to tell me that in the winter, “the cold begins to strengthen when the days begin to lengthen.” The coldest part of the winter is in January and February. You would think that the coldest days would be during the times of least sunshine. Maybe that will be the topic of a future post.
Quite often, the hottest times of the summer are in July and August, again after the duration of sunshine begins to decrease. I am sure that there is a good explanation. But one other consideration comes to mind.
The Earth's axis is tilted 23.5o degrees away from the plane of the ecliptic. It's because of this tilt that the Earth experiences seasons as it orbits around the Sun. If this tilt were more pronounced, as is Uranus, which at 98 degrees, is nearly lying on it side, the seasons would be extremely different. Part of the year it would be too cold and then, six months later, it would be too hot for life to exist. Or consider Jupiter, at 3 degrees, and Mercury, a minuscule 0.1 degrees, where the seasons would be virtually constant year round. Earth, 23.5, Mars, 25, Saturn, 27, and Neptune, 30, all have distinct seasons.
Notice that I left Venus for last. It is tilted 13 degrees to the left. All the others tilt right. This is determined by the way they rotate. If you stand on the north pole with arms extended, your right hand would circle toward the left, or west to east. But on Venus, the rotation is the opposite. Astronomers explain this by postulating that Venus turned “upside down” and is actually tilting at a 177 degree angle. And this brings us back to creation.
The supposition by evolutionists is that the solar system formed from a random dust cloud that accreted into eight or nine distinct balls that orbited the sun. For now, we will ignore the problem of celestial mechanics in producing such an intricate and exquisite formulation. But if all the planets formed the same way, they should all be spinning the same direction. That is called conservation of angular momentum. Love that kind of talk. (The same is true for the moons orbiting each planet, by the way.) And they all should be pointing straight up or perpendicular to the ecliptic. That is the plane of the solar system. Another question is why did all of the planets line up in such a flat configuration? But we will defer that as well.
Now back to our upright planets. To explain the precession or tilt of the planets, evolutionists propose a collision of the planets with some “random body” hurtling through space which “knocked the planet” out of kilter. And, Venus must have been almost knocked completely over, upside down. (Or maybe my third grade musing was accurate, and it did turn upside down.) Another unanswered question is the remarkable coincidence of random collisions with each of the planets. And why did such catastrophic collisions did not disintegrate the planet? But I digress.
Or, maybe a Creator made it that way to give our ancient Chinese observer something to amuse himself. And, incidentally, to give the earth the perfect tilt to produce varying weather patterns without being so severe that life would be threatened. Spontaneous, random generation of the solar system, not to mention the almost infinitely more complex problem of the universe, is not only difficult to comprehend and explain, but it also challenges credibility. Moses, when writing the book of Genesis explained it in 10 words. (Genesis 1:1) (English. Not sure how many in Hebrew, six, I think.)
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
He expanded on that in v. 14, 15.
“Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth”
As for the rest of the universe, check verse 16.
He made the stars also.
For anyone who protests that it is too hard to believe that a God could do that, I recommend that he or she answer the previously posited questions. And, while you are at it, go ahead and explain why some of the planets are terrestrial or rocky, and others are simply gas balls. I will let you find out which is which.
One last consideration. Why is the earth exactly 23.5 degrees “off” from the perfect, or upright position? Consider the answer from “Universe Today.” After repeating the “bunches of rocks stuck together to make a planet,” it states:
All the same, the Earth’s tilt is very important. It is perfectly positioned so that it gives us the seasons and on top of that the seasons are near(ly) perfectly calibrated for life. When compared with other planets Earth’s tilt allows for seasons that are not too extreme in temperature but are pretty well balanced. At the same (time,) if it had stay(ed) in the “perfect” position one side of the Earth would be too hot at times and then too cold.
I like the wording, “perfectly calibrated for life.” Does that sound like a random, spontaneous generation of the universe? I would suggest that is not compatible with what is actually seen. It seems rational to consider the proposition that, “In the beginning, God....”
Thank you, brother, for being born on such a momentous day. We are reminded every year that not only are we creations, but we are loved creations. (John 3:16) This is a little bit of editorial license, but “In the beginning, God loved.”
Have a great summer.
The solstice, caused by the tilt of the earth always fascinated me. But the fascination came from a different motivation. I was curious about two things. First, how did the earth tilt back and forth? Second, how did anyone figure out that it was tilted? The first question occurred to me in about third grade, I believe.
The teacher had explained about the seasons being caused by the tilt of the earth. I asked how the earth tilted back and forth, and how did it know how and when to stop and tilt back the other way. I was concerned that if it didn’t “work right” the earth would just turn upside down.
“It just does,” was the answer. I knew that she didn’t have a clue, nor did she care. Not a lot of scientific curiosity there. I kept looking for an answer. (For the younger readers, there was no internet on which anyone could just type in a question and get a dozen answers some of which might actually be accurate!) I do not remember if I saw a model of the solar system or was just playing with a globe. Some show the earth standing straight up. This one showed it tilted at the 23.5 degree angle and as it was moved “around the sun,” I noticed that the tilt did not change, but as it circled the sun, the axis alternately pointed toward then away from the sun.
Voila! Now it made sense. I had also worried that the shock of tilting one direction, stopping, then tilting back might make the earth break up sometime. My fears were assuaged.
The second question was not so easily resolved. And, in fact, I did resort to an internet search. (A full explanation is found at this address. http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/physics/148-people-in-astronomy/history-of-astronomy/general-questions/995-who-and-when-discovered-that-the-earth-s-axis-is-on-a-23-degree-tilt-intermediate)
Long story short, a vertical pole casts a shadow and the shadow “moves” throughout the year. Of course, the shadow “moves” throughout the day as the earth moves under the sun. But the angle the pole shadow makes at the same time each day changes throughout the year. A Chinese guy noticed that about 1100 BC. (I guess he had nothing else to do than measure the angle of shadows.) Since the shadow is not the same the year around, he surmised that the earth was tilted.
Note: We examined the fallacy of a flat earth a while back but did not include this additional “complication” in our consideration. If the earth were flat, the “plate or disk” would indeed have to literally tilt up and down every six months to account for the different shadow angle cast by a pole. But I digress.
Back to a consideration of solstices. My dad used to tell me that in the winter, “the cold begins to strengthen when the days begin to lengthen.” The coldest part of the winter is in January and February. You would think that the coldest days would be during the times of least sunshine. Maybe that will be the topic of a future post.
Quite often, the hottest times of the summer are in July and August, again after the duration of sunshine begins to decrease. I am sure that there is a good explanation. But one other consideration comes to mind.
The Earth's axis is tilted 23.5o degrees away from the plane of the ecliptic. It's because of this tilt that the Earth experiences seasons as it orbits around the Sun. If this tilt were more pronounced, as is Uranus, which at 98 degrees, is nearly lying on it side, the seasons would be extremely different. Part of the year it would be too cold and then, six months later, it would be too hot for life to exist. Or consider Jupiter, at 3 degrees, and Mercury, a minuscule 0.1 degrees, where the seasons would be virtually constant year round. Earth, 23.5, Mars, 25, Saturn, 27, and Neptune, 30, all have distinct seasons.
Notice that I left Venus for last. It is tilted 13 degrees to the left. All the others tilt right. This is determined by the way they rotate. If you stand on the north pole with arms extended, your right hand would circle toward the left, or west to east. But on Venus, the rotation is the opposite. Astronomers explain this by postulating that Venus turned “upside down” and is actually tilting at a 177 degree angle. And this brings us back to creation.
The supposition by evolutionists is that the solar system formed from a random dust cloud that accreted into eight or nine distinct balls that orbited the sun. For now, we will ignore the problem of celestial mechanics in producing such an intricate and exquisite formulation. But if all the planets formed the same way, they should all be spinning the same direction. That is called conservation of angular momentum. Love that kind of talk. (The same is true for the moons orbiting each planet, by the way.) And they all should be pointing straight up or perpendicular to the ecliptic. That is the plane of the solar system. Another question is why did all of the planets line up in such a flat configuration? But we will defer that as well.
Now back to our upright planets. To explain the precession or tilt of the planets, evolutionists propose a collision of the planets with some “random body” hurtling through space which “knocked the planet” out of kilter. And, Venus must have been almost knocked completely over, upside down. (Or maybe my third grade musing was accurate, and it did turn upside down.) Another unanswered question is the remarkable coincidence of random collisions with each of the planets. And why did such catastrophic collisions did not disintegrate the planet? But I digress.
Or, maybe a Creator made it that way to give our ancient Chinese observer something to amuse himself. And, incidentally, to give the earth the perfect tilt to produce varying weather patterns without being so severe that life would be threatened. Spontaneous, random generation of the solar system, not to mention the almost infinitely more complex problem of the universe, is not only difficult to comprehend and explain, but it also challenges credibility. Moses, when writing the book of Genesis explained it in 10 words. (Genesis 1:1) (English. Not sure how many in Hebrew, six, I think.)
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
He expanded on that in v. 14, 15.
“Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs and for seasons and for days and years; 15 and let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth”
As for the rest of the universe, check verse 16.
He made the stars also.
For anyone who protests that it is too hard to believe that a God could do that, I recommend that he or she answer the previously posited questions. And, while you are at it, go ahead and explain why some of the planets are terrestrial or rocky, and others are simply gas balls. I will let you find out which is which.
One last consideration. Why is the earth exactly 23.5 degrees “off” from the perfect, or upright position? Consider the answer from “Universe Today.” After repeating the “bunches of rocks stuck together to make a planet,” it states:
All the same, the Earth’s tilt is very important. It is perfectly positioned so that it gives us the seasons and on top of that the seasons are near(ly) perfectly calibrated for life. When compared with other planets Earth’s tilt allows for seasons that are not too extreme in temperature but are pretty well balanced. At the same (time,) if it had stay(ed) in the “perfect” position one side of the Earth would be too hot at times and then too cold.
I like the wording, “perfectly calibrated for life.” Does that sound like a random, spontaneous generation of the universe? I would suggest that is not compatible with what is actually seen. It seems rational to consider the proposition that, “In the beginning, God....”
Thank you, brother, for being born on such a momentous day. We are reminded every year that not only are we creations, but we are loved creations. (John 3:16) This is a little bit of editorial license, but “In the beginning, God loved.”
Have a great summer.
Thursday, June 6, 2019
Dreams and Stuff
Stuff
Before we get into the meat (dream scenario), turn your attention to the latest food worry. Wait for it...polyfluoroalykyl substances, or PFAS, have been found in foods. Don’t you just love that kind of talk? Polyfluoroalykyl substances: poly, many (also designated “per”); fluoro, flourine atoms; alykyl, carbon chain with most or all of the hydrogen atoms replaced by halogens; substances. (We know what substances are.) Just imagine a chain of carbon atoms...well, you get the picture. Link.
The “crisis” involved with this is that PFAS do not occur naturally in nature. They are man-made, and are the basis of non-stick coatings on cookware. They also are used to keep grease, water and stains off countless consumer items, including in food packaging, carpets and couches, dental floss and outdoor gear. Would this include ScotchGuard?
The chemicals also are found in firefighting foam, which the Department of Defense calls irreplaceable in suppressing jet-fuel fires. The key issue here is: “Do they do any damage in the human body?”
Well, there is the rub. There are correlative instances where levels of PFAS were found in food or water and the incidence of cancer increased. Is this causal or coincidental? It is not clear at the present time. But, some agencies are reacting more speedily than others. “If there is a chance, ban or restrict.” Others say, “We must be sure before we act.”
If you have been following the ongoing research on coffee and eggs, you know that the “experts” have variously declared both substances bad or very bad, only to have subsequent studies and new “experts” declare that they are not only benign but have positive effects on the body. (Incidentally, do you know the definition of an “expert?” An “ex” is a has been and a “spurt” is a drip under pressure. Expert.) Anyway, back and forth the debate rages. PFAS currently are bad boys, but they might be okay, especially considering the value of their contribution to food handling and preparation. Sigh....
Dreams
Our study of Genesis progressed into Chapter 40 where the butler and baker in Pharaoh’s service were thrown into prison for displeasing the king. They each had a dream and Joseph interpreted them. Joseph was familiar with dreams, having had at least two of his own. Although at this point he has not seen his come true.
The butler dreamed that he was back in Pharaoh’s service and that came true. The baker dreamed that Pharaoh’s baked goods were eaten out of a basket on his head. “Bad news,” Joseph told him. You will be hanged and birds will eat your flesh. And that happened just as Joseph said.
Have you had any dreams that bother you? Well, the other night I dreamed that the wife and I were at a wake/funeral and as we prepared to return home, I needed a bathroom stop. So she went to get the car and we were to meet in the parking lot. I left the police station, did I say that the event was in a police station? And I do not know who the remembrance was commemorating. But I digress.
Well, I walked out of the station and didn’t see the car. As I started to return inside to inquire where the parking lot was, Bev, having parked down the street, jumped out, waved, and called my name. I turned to look and to the horror of us both, the car began to coast away from her. Then it accelerated and crashed into an empty lot. Empty, that is, except for a junker vehicle that just happened to be parked there. It smashed into the “classic” vehicle, as the owner would declare on the insurance form, and demolished both of them. (The cars, not the owner.)
Scene change: We are talking to a husband and wife insurance team and they are questioning our previous claim (who knows?) from about 10 years ago. It seems that we had “accepted” the settlement based on a different evaluation than the standard “Taiwan evaluation” that all insurance companies use.
I explained that we were changing insurance companies and the new company offered the higher payout. And what did that have to do with this claim? Just a reminder, dreams do not have to make sense, be coherent, nor adhere to fact. Then the lights come up and I rolled out of bed.
Any suggestions as to the meaning or import? I did mention at breakfast that we should never leave a car running and in gear. But that is all that I could decipher or interpret. Guess we need Joseph.
More Stuff
The Pastor on Sunday preached on the church at Thyatira, in Revelation 2. (V. 18-29) This was the church that was more tolerant than God. It is dangerous to “tolerate” what God does not. He continued to explain that many churches have drifted by redefining tolerance. Some accept any and every thing in the fear of offending anyone. Others have become so strictly definitive (legalistic) that they ban and prohibit almost everything. In that case, both sides also condemn everyone who disagrees with them.
Neither stance is Biblical nor pleasing to the Lord. Some critics have condemned the Church for evangelizing other cultures. The definition of tolerance is that everyone is right, regardless of what they believe. So sending “missionaries” to “pagan” cultures is imposing western and worse, Christian values on these “pristine,” native cultures.
Without even evaluating the positive good that evangelistic efforts have produced all over the world, and they have been massive, a better definition of tolerance is the freedom to PROPOSE alternative values.
(Note: Yes, some, in the name of the church, have perpetrated atrocities around the world. But these actions were not in line with the teachings of Jesus. A wise man once said, “Do not judge a concept by its misuse or perversion.” We need to examine the basic teachings of the founder of any group or movement. Base any judgment on that. Consider this carefully. Back to the message.)
Missionaries propose alternative life activities and goals. They are not imposed on the innocent natives. And, now considering the value of “regime change” in lives, missionaries have produced better quality of life for every culture into which the Gospel has been accurately introduced. Schools, hospitals, increased standard of living, and most importantly, respect for life, mark the trail of missions organizations all over the world.
One last comment from Pastor: Inside the church we can, and do, have different interpretations of doctrinal issues. Types of music, worship styles, translations that are acceptable or not, the timing of the Lord’s return are just some of the differences. (Dipped, dunked, sprinkled, poured, or even “daubed as a baby” are included in this cacophony of claims. Some even argue about forward or backward and an additional voice requires triple back dunks.) These are like state lines in the United States. We cross them nonchalantly. The only notification that we are changing states is a sign proudly announcing, “You are now entering the great state of....” Or some such verbiage. Tolerating these differences is not a bad thing. In fact, that will strengthen the bonds that bind us.
But there are doctrinal differences, such as the necessity of belief in Jesus. Is He really God, the second Person of the Trinity? Is the Bible authoritative or merely a cultural artifact of the times in which it was written? Those are national borders. You have to go through checkpoints, with proper credentials. And now you are in another country. Theologically, this is not being true to Christ’s teaching. “Tolerating” these changes and interpretations was what the church in Thyatira practiced. And the Lord condemned them.
“I gave her time to repent.” (V. 21) And “I will kill her followers...and give each one according to his deeds.” (V. 23) Toleration redefined leads to the situation where each person becomes the authority, rather than yielding to the Lord. And finally, this leads to fearing the wrong judgment. Often groups acquiesce to human values to avoid being ostracized or condemned. But the judgment of the King is the one to ultimately determine our destiny.
And finally, how does all of this cohere? Additives in food enhance the taste or convenience. “Judging” and condemning or abandoning them will entail collateral costs. And sometimes our “dreams” or research results are meaningful. At other times they are peripheral, portentous, or irrelevant. Likewise, differences in church are not always indicative of divine Messages. And ultimately, we must learn to “tolerate” ideas that are “state lines” and refute and reject those that are national lines.
How is that for some mental gymnastics comparable to freestyle exercises? See you next time.
Before we get into the meat (dream scenario), turn your attention to the latest food worry. Wait for it...polyfluoroalykyl substances, or PFAS, have been found in foods. Don’t you just love that kind of talk? Polyfluoroalykyl substances: poly, many (also designated “per”); fluoro, flourine atoms; alykyl, carbon chain with most or all of the hydrogen atoms replaced by halogens; substances. (We know what substances are.) Just imagine a chain of carbon atoms...well, you get the picture. Link.
The “crisis” involved with this is that PFAS do not occur naturally in nature. They are man-made, and are the basis of non-stick coatings on cookware. They also are used to keep grease, water and stains off countless consumer items, including in food packaging, carpets and couches, dental floss and outdoor gear. Would this include ScotchGuard?
The chemicals also are found in firefighting foam, which the Department of Defense calls irreplaceable in suppressing jet-fuel fires. The key issue here is: “Do they do any damage in the human body?”
Well, there is the rub. There are correlative instances where levels of PFAS were found in food or water and the incidence of cancer increased. Is this causal or coincidental? It is not clear at the present time. But, some agencies are reacting more speedily than others. “If there is a chance, ban or restrict.” Others say, “We must be sure before we act.”
If you have been following the ongoing research on coffee and eggs, you know that the “experts” have variously declared both substances bad or very bad, only to have subsequent studies and new “experts” declare that they are not only benign but have positive effects on the body. (Incidentally, do you know the definition of an “expert?” An “ex” is a has been and a “spurt” is a drip under pressure. Expert.) Anyway, back and forth the debate rages. PFAS currently are bad boys, but they might be okay, especially considering the value of their contribution to food handling and preparation. Sigh....
Dreams
Our study of Genesis progressed into Chapter 40 where the butler and baker in Pharaoh’s service were thrown into prison for displeasing the king. They each had a dream and Joseph interpreted them. Joseph was familiar with dreams, having had at least two of his own. Although at this point he has not seen his come true.
The butler dreamed that he was back in Pharaoh’s service and that came true. The baker dreamed that Pharaoh’s baked goods were eaten out of a basket on his head. “Bad news,” Joseph told him. You will be hanged and birds will eat your flesh. And that happened just as Joseph said.
Have you had any dreams that bother you? Well, the other night I dreamed that the wife and I were at a wake/funeral and as we prepared to return home, I needed a bathroom stop. So she went to get the car and we were to meet in the parking lot. I left the police station, did I say that the event was in a police station? And I do not know who the remembrance was commemorating. But I digress.
Well, I walked out of the station and didn’t see the car. As I started to return inside to inquire where the parking lot was, Bev, having parked down the street, jumped out, waved, and called my name. I turned to look and to the horror of us both, the car began to coast away from her. Then it accelerated and crashed into an empty lot. Empty, that is, except for a junker vehicle that just happened to be parked there. It smashed into the “classic” vehicle, as the owner would declare on the insurance form, and demolished both of them. (The cars, not the owner.)
Scene change: We are talking to a husband and wife insurance team and they are questioning our previous claim (who knows?) from about 10 years ago. It seems that we had “accepted” the settlement based on a different evaluation than the standard “Taiwan evaluation” that all insurance companies use.
I explained that we were changing insurance companies and the new company offered the higher payout. And what did that have to do with this claim? Just a reminder, dreams do not have to make sense, be coherent, nor adhere to fact. Then the lights come up and I rolled out of bed.
Any suggestions as to the meaning or import? I did mention at breakfast that we should never leave a car running and in gear. But that is all that I could decipher or interpret. Guess we need Joseph.
More Stuff
The Pastor on Sunday preached on the church at Thyatira, in Revelation 2. (V. 18-29) This was the church that was more tolerant than God. It is dangerous to “tolerate” what God does not. He continued to explain that many churches have drifted by redefining tolerance. Some accept any and every thing in the fear of offending anyone. Others have become so strictly definitive (legalistic) that they ban and prohibit almost everything. In that case, both sides also condemn everyone who disagrees with them.
Neither stance is Biblical nor pleasing to the Lord. Some critics have condemned the Church for evangelizing other cultures. The definition of tolerance is that everyone is right, regardless of what they believe. So sending “missionaries” to “pagan” cultures is imposing western and worse, Christian values on these “pristine,” native cultures.
Without even evaluating the positive good that evangelistic efforts have produced all over the world, and they have been massive, a better definition of tolerance is the freedom to PROPOSE alternative values.
(Note: Yes, some, in the name of the church, have perpetrated atrocities around the world. But these actions were not in line with the teachings of Jesus. A wise man once said, “Do not judge a concept by its misuse or perversion.” We need to examine the basic teachings of the founder of any group or movement. Base any judgment on that. Consider this carefully. Back to the message.)
Missionaries propose alternative life activities and goals. They are not imposed on the innocent natives. And, now considering the value of “regime change” in lives, missionaries have produced better quality of life for every culture into which the Gospel has been accurately introduced. Schools, hospitals, increased standard of living, and most importantly, respect for life, mark the trail of missions organizations all over the world.
One last comment from Pastor: Inside the church we can, and do, have different interpretations of doctrinal issues. Types of music, worship styles, translations that are acceptable or not, the timing of the Lord’s return are just some of the differences. (Dipped, dunked, sprinkled, poured, or even “daubed as a baby” are included in this cacophony of claims. Some even argue about forward or backward and an additional voice requires triple back dunks.) These are like state lines in the United States. We cross them nonchalantly. The only notification that we are changing states is a sign proudly announcing, “You are now entering the great state of....” Or some such verbiage. Tolerating these differences is not a bad thing. In fact, that will strengthen the bonds that bind us.
But there are doctrinal differences, such as the necessity of belief in Jesus. Is He really God, the second Person of the Trinity? Is the Bible authoritative or merely a cultural artifact of the times in which it was written? Those are national borders. You have to go through checkpoints, with proper credentials. And now you are in another country. Theologically, this is not being true to Christ’s teaching. “Tolerating” these changes and interpretations was what the church in Thyatira practiced. And the Lord condemned them.
“I gave her time to repent.” (V. 21) And “I will kill her followers...and give each one according to his deeds.” (V. 23) Toleration redefined leads to the situation where each person becomes the authority, rather than yielding to the Lord. And finally, this leads to fearing the wrong judgment. Often groups acquiesce to human values to avoid being ostracized or condemned. But the judgment of the King is the one to ultimately determine our destiny.
And finally, how does all of this cohere? Additives in food enhance the taste or convenience. “Judging” and condemning or abandoning them will entail collateral costs. And sometimes our “dreams” or research results are meaningful. At other times they are peripheral, portentous, or irrelevant. Likewise, differences in church are not always indicative of divine Messages. And ultimately, we must learn to “tolerate” ideas that are “state lines” and refute and reject those that are national lines.
How is that for some mental gymnastics comparable to freestyle exercises? See you next time.
Thursday, May 23, 2019
Politics and Wisdom
These may be mutually exclusive, but we can give it a try.
Do you remember the elections for student body president from high school? The candidates tried to outdo each other with promises calculated to gain votes. Some promised to institute one day weeks. Others guaranteed an A for every class that the student attended, and some even if they didn’t attend. Others pledged that school lunches would be reduced to 25 cents. The opponent went one better with a free lunch for everyone. And on and on and on.
I was reminded of that as I read the litany of Democratic candidates for the 2020 election and their campaign promises. They are no more reasoned and researched than the high school students’ platforms. And they are no more likely to be instituted than our high promising teens.
What I think is funny is that most reasonable voters recognize this foolishness and are mildly or even wildly amused. But our wanna-be's continue to multiply and prattle on and on and on.
One statement I heard struck me with its complete candor and accuracy. Our friend from 2016, Bernie, promised that he would never appoint a justice to the Supreme Court that would abolish abortion. Well, what do you know. I agree with Bernie completely. In fact, I would go so far as to project that he will never appoint a SCOTUS Justice ever. Thanks for the reality check, Bernie. That is refreshing among all the blather arising from the candidate corps.
What strange thoughts run through one’s mind at night. At least I have some strange ones. Does a mole make any noises? I was writing about lions and their roars. Then later, the wandering, wondering mind pounced on this idea like a lion on an antelope. What noise would a mole make?
Next thought. I think Cynthia Tobias said this. “We would think a lot less about what others think of us if we realized how seldom they do.” Right on.
Just a thought on prophets. One of the least mentioned of the Old Testament prophets is found in 1 Samuel 17. This prophet accurately predicted the outcome of the day’s battle and the demise of his enemy. Check it out.
45 “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.”
Notice verse 46 specifically. This prophet warned his adversary that he would go down and his head would be removed. His supporting army would be wiped out. And what happened? Was this a true prophet? Read on...
48 Then it happened when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground.
50 Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and he struck the Philistine and killed him; but there was no sword in David’s hand.
You guessed it. Our prophet was none other than Jesse’s son, David, from Bethlehem. David “complied” with or met every requirement of a prophet. First he was faithful to what had been said before. He did not contradict any previous revelation from God. Second, he did not lead the people away from God. And third, he was completely accurate in his predictions. They came true exactly as he had stated.
So when we read other documents produced by him, we can be assured that those are likewise, “God breathed.” This is in spite of some of his stumbles, nope, sins. But when the Lord spoke through him, it was reliable and authoritative, just as the messages received from other prophets. God spoke through him. I want to hear more.
One last thought. Often Christians are called narrow minded or overly exclusive when we claim that there is only one way to God. That way is through Christ Jesus. As I was reading the Bible today I was in I Samuel 18:18. The context of the story is that David is being invited into Saul’s family, although surreptitiously, Saul was anticipating that his bargain with David would lead to the Philistines killing the shepherd boy.
David asked, “Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be the king’s son-in-law?” That triggered an interesting thought. Saul had to invite him into his “house.”
Now refer back to our initial question. Heaven, or God’s house, is what we are being invited to enter. It is God’s house. He sets the conditions under which we can enter, just as Saul outlined the price that David had to pay to be included in his family.
God invites us into His family and consequently, to join Him in heaven for eternity. Just as any one of us would be offended if someone approached our door and demanded entry, so God is offended when admittance to His house is dictated in opposition to His direction.. He has clearly outlined the conditions, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved.” (Acts 16:13) Anyone and everyone who attempts to enter by any other claim or manner is considered a thief and a robber. (John 10:1)
The “reasonable” argument is on the side of exclusion. It is unreasonable to expect admittance to anyone’s home when the supplicant refuses to comply with the owner’s specification. We are all familiar with the “No shirt, no shoes, no service,” placard often visible in the window of an establishment. Is the operator unreasonable, or merely exercising his prerogative as owner?
The Lord graciously invites all to come. And like the father in the story of the wedding feast in Matthew 22, the host invited the guests to come. Incidentally, he provided the proper attire. The guest had refused to accept the required clothing and was dismissed–well let’s be frank here–he was ejected.
If some refuse to accept the Lord’s invitation, their only option is to go to “another heaven.” And I am certain that it is not a nice as the one to which we refer. I’m dressed and going. You come too.
Do you remember the elections for student body president from high school? The candidates tried to outdo each other with promises calculated to gain votes. Some promised to institute one day weeks. Others guaranteed an A for every class that the student attended, and some even if they didn’t attend. Others pledged that school lunches would be reduced to 25 cents. The opponent went one better with a free lunch for everyone. And on and on and on.
I was reminded of that as I read the litany of Democratic candidates for the 2020 election and their campaign promises. They are no more reasoned and researched than the high school students’ platforms. And they are no more likely to be instituted than our high promising teens.
What I think is funny is that most reasonable voters recognize this foolishness and are mildly or even wildly amused. But our wanna-be's continue to multiply and prattle on and on and on.
One statement I heard struck me with its complete candor and accuracy. Our friend from 2016, Bernie, promised that he would never appoint a justice to the Supreme Court that would abolish abortion. Well, what do you know. I agree with Bernie completely. In fact, I would go so far as to project that he will never appoint a SCOTUS Justice ever. Thanks for the reality check, Bernie. That is refreshing among all the blather arising from the candidate corps.
What strange thoughts run through one’s mind at night. At least I have some strange ones. Does a mole make any noises? I was writing about lions and their roars. Then later, the wandering, wondering mind pounced on this idea like a lion on an antelope. What noise would a mole make?
Next thought. I think Cynthia Tobias said this. “We would think a lot less about what others think of us if we realized how seldom they do.” Right on.
Just a thought on prophets. One of the least mentioned of the Old Testament prophets is found in 1 Samuel 17. This prophet accurately predicted the outcome of the day’s battle and the demise of his enemy. Check it out.
45 “You come to me with a sword, a spear, and a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have taunted. 46 This day the Lord will deliver you up into my hands, and I will strike you down and remove your head from you. And I will give the dead bodies of the army of the Philistines this day to the birds of the sky and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, 47 and that all this assembly may know that the Lord does not deliver by sword or by spear; for the battle is the Lord’s and He will give you into our hands.”
Notice verse 46 specifically. This prophet warned his adversary that he would go down and his head would be removed. His supporting army would be wiped out. And what happened? Was this a true prophet? Read on...
48 Then it happened when the Philistine rose and came and drew near to meet David, that David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. 49 And David put his hand into his bag and took from it a stone and slung it, and struck the Philistine on his forehead. And the stone sank into his forehead, so that he fell on his face to the ground.
50 Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone, and he struck the Philistine and killed him; but there was no sword in David’s hand.
You guessed it. Our prophet was none other than Jesse’s son, David, from Bethlehem. David “complied” with or met every requirement of a prophet. First he was faithful to what had been said before. He did not contradict any previous revelation from God. Second, he did not lead the people away from God. And third, he was completely accurate in his predictions. They came true exactly as he had stated.
So when we read other documents produced by him, we can be assured that those are likewise, “God breathed.” This is in spite of some of his stumbles, nope, sins. But when the Lord spoke through him, it was reliable and authoritative, just as the messages received from other prophets. God spoke through him. I want to hear more.
One last thought. Often Christians are called narrow minded or overly exclusive when we claim that there is only one way to God. That way is through Christ Jesus. As I was reading the Bible today I was in I Samuel 18:18. The context of the story is that David is being invited into Saul’s family, although surreptitiously, Saul was anticipating that his bargain with David would lead to the Philistines killing the shepherd boy.
David asked, “Who am I, and what is my life or my father’s family in Israel, that I should be the king’s son-in-law?” That triggered an interesting thought. Saul had to invite him into his “house.”
Now refer back to our initial question. Heaven, or God’s house, is what we are being invited to enter. It is God’s house. He sets the conditions under which we can enter, just as Saul outlined the price that David had to pay to be included in his family.
God invites us into His family and consequently, to join Him in heaven for eternity. Just as any one of us would be offended if someone approached our door and demanded entry, so God is offended when admittance to His house is dictated in opposition to His direction.. He has clearly outlined the conditions, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved.” (Acts 16:13) Anyone and everyone who attempts to enter by any other claim or manner is considered a thief and a robber. (John 10:1)
The “reasonable” argument is on the side of exclusion. It is unreasonable to expect admittance to anyone’s home when the supplicant refuses to comply with the owner’s specification. We are all familiar with the “No shirt, no shoes, no service,” placard often visible in the window of an establishment. Is the operator unreasonable, or merely exercising his prerogative as owner?
The Lord graciously invites all to come. And like the father in the story of the wedding feast in Matthew 22, the host invited the guests to come. Incidentally, he provided the proper attire. The guest had refused to accept the required clothing and was dismissed–well let’s be frank here–he was ejected.
If some refuse to accept the Lord’s invitation, their only option is to go to “another heaven.” And I am certain that it is not a nice as the one to which we refer. I’m dressed and going. You come too.
Thursday, May 2, 2019
From Levirate Marriage to Living Again
Jesus was the master of “reading” what people said and interpreting what they are thinking and really need to hear. The Gospel writers understood and conveyed this in their accounts of His life. A perfect example is found in Luke 20:27-37. Incidentally, Matthew (Chapter 22), Mark (Chapter 12) and Luke (below) all record this conversation. Reading Luke.
Now there came to Him some of the Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection), 28 and they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife, and he is childless, his brother should marry the wife and raise up children to his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers; and the first took a wife and died childless; 30 and the second 31 and the third married her; and in the same way all seven died, leaving no children. 32 Finally the woman died also. 33 In the resurrection therefore, which one’s wife will she be? For all seven had married her.”
34 Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, 35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36 for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. 37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the burning bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38 Now He is not the God of the dead but of the living; for all live to Him.”
Luke began his record of this confrontation with the observation, “... the Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection).” So this entire discussion will be about life after death. But they began with a mundane inquiry about unfortunate brothers and their wife. They evidently were employing the reductio ad absurdum logical analysis. This argument suggests the disproof of a proposition by showing an absurdity to which it leads when carried to its logical conclusion. (The convoluted description is Webster’s definition.) The absolute absurdity of this scenario of life after death would preclude any such existence. They were right! That is, if their logic held up.
Jesus answered. Let’s follow His careful refutation to their ridiculous proposition. In the Matthew and Luke accounts He prefaces His answer with the analysis of their faulty logic.
Matthew 22:29
But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God.”
Mark 12:24
Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God?”
Inaccurate presuppositions will generate preposterous conclusions. They were deficient in their understanding of the Scriptures. And since the Scriptures reveal God and His power, their ignorance caused them to underestimate or discount His power. Consequently, the conclusion was spurious. (I love to use that word.) Jesus was too polite to say that their ignorance was showing, but that conclusion was evident to the observers.
Often we encounter similar challenges today. They begin with, “How can a good God...?” And Jesus’ introduction applies to this query in the same way. Whenever a challenge begins with “a good God,” we know that there is a preconceived conclusion that God would not do whatever they are protesting. This is the logical fallacy called a straw man. The elements of the question are defined in such a way that there is only one answer, the one the questioner is propounding.
“A good God would not send anyone to hell. A good God would not allow such a tragedy to happen. A good God would not create or allow evil.” And Jesus’ response would be the same, “You do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God.”
Several current instances can be cited. In the immediate past week or so, terrorists murdered over 250 worshipers at an Easter service in Sri Lanka; a synagogue was attacked in Southern California, killing one person and wounding several others; and one last tragedy was here in Middle Tennessee. Seven people were murdered by a felon out on parole. Ironically, he was subject to re-arrest for violation of his parole. The officer had not yet received a signed warrant. How could a good God let such things happen? This can be applied to literally every weather intrusion into our calm and peaceful lives, auto or other accidents, crimes against innocents, and other “natural disasters.”
The operative term in this question is “good.” Good, in their definition is one who would not allow such things to happen. So when they do happen, there are only two conclusions. Either God is not good, or there is no God at all. But Jesus answered even this loaded question.
Jesus’ two-pronged evaluation is applicable in all of this. Romans 8:28 gives us the Scriptural foundation for evaluating the “power of God.”
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
We can summarize this as “Know the Scripture and know God.” Our first step is to understand the Scripture. “God causes” which means that in all of this He is in control. God does not cause these things to happen, but He causes the results to be “for good” for those who love Him and are called and living according to His purpose.
Joseph testified to that very thing in Genesis 50:19, 20.
But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.
For those not in our Genesis class, and those as well, since we are not there yet, Joseph had been kidnapped and taken to Egypt. There he had been a slave, then thrown into prison for a crime that he did not commit, and ignored for several years. When his brothers, the perpetrators of these injustices appeared before him, years later, Joseph proclaimed his understanding of the Scripture’s description of God’s power. God can take even the most egregious circumstances and use them for good. Here it was the preservation of the nation of Israel. Just a small thing in the line of the Seed.
Our recent celebration of Easter is another example of this. God’s Son, Jesus was murdered, crucified on a Roman cross. How can that be “for good?” Three days later, we understood. He rose from the grave, defeating sin and death forever. What a story! What seemed to be “bad,” turned out to be for good. And not just any old good. This was salvation for everyone who believes in Him.
Joseph and the resurrection also illustrate another critical truth: The revelation of “good” may not be immediate. We may have to wait for the culmination of God’s work, but it will definitely be worth the wait. Adverse circumstances do not disprove the existence of God, they actually confirm it. As we see God working out “good” from seeming insurmountable difficulties, we witness His great power and love.
Michael Rydelnyk made a salient and germane comment on this. Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden in a state of untested holiness. It had never been proved. So when Satan tempted them and they fell, they failed and sin entered the human race. (1 Corinthians 15)
This is bad, right? If there had been no evil in the world, none of these bad things would happen. But, as Dr. Rydelnyk pointed out, since sin had entered the world, and death by sin, the stage was set for the battle of the ages. When Jesus died and was resurrected, He defeated and will ultimately abolish death and evil. That is the message in Corinthians.
22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, 24 then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
Adam brought sin and death into the world, but Jesus will ultimately destroy it. And in the meanwhile, He has decisively defeated it, and Satan. The story has to play out, but in the end, God will triumph, to His eternal glory. And we have the privilege of cooperating with Him.
In today’s meditation, Jesus went from Levirate marriage to eternal life. Joseph went from the pit to prison to the palace in Egypt, to explaining God’s superintendence of the welfare of the Nation of Israel. We may have to be patient, but we can trace God’s intervention in tragic human events to ultimate good in and for us. And we can go from despair to a personal relationship with God. We will not doubt the existence of God, or His good intentions. He will destroy all evil forever. And, as an extra bonus, we get eternal life–with Him.
The more we read His love letter, the Scriptures, the better we will understand and appreciate His power. Read the Bible, it is good for the soul. Don’t let your ignorance show.
Now there came to Him some of the Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection), 28 and they questioned Him, saying, “Teacher, Moses wrote for us that if a man’s brother dies, having a wife, and he is childless, his brother should marry the wife and raise up children to his brother. 29 Now there were seven brothers; and the first took a wife and died childless; 30 and the second 31 and the third married her; and in the same way all seven died, leaving no children. 32 Finally the woman died also. 33 In the resurrection therefore, which one’s wife will she be? For all seven had married her.”
34 Jesus said to them, “The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, 35 but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and the resurrection from the dead, neither marry nor are given in marriage; 36 for they cannot even die anymore, because they are like angels, and are sons of God, being sons of the resurrection. 37 But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the burning bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. 38 Now He is not the God of the dead but of the living; for all live to Him.”
Luke began his record of this confrontation with the observation, “... the Sadducees (who say that there is no resurrection).” So this entire discussion will be about life after death. But they began with a mundane inquiry about unfortunate brothers and their wife. They evidently were employing the reductio ad absurdum logical analysis. This argument suggests the disproof of a proposition by showing an absurdity to which it leads when carried to its logical conclusion. (The convoluted description is Webster’s definition.) The absolute absurdity of this scenario of life after death would preclude any such existence. They were right! That is, if their logic held up.
Jesus answered. Let’s follow His careful refutation to their ridiculous proposition. In the Matthew and Luke accounts He prefaces His answer with the analysis of their faulty logic.
Matthew 22:29
But Jesus answered and said to them, “You are mistaken, not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God.”
Mark 12:24
Jesus said to them, “Is this not the reason you are mistaken, that you do not understand the Scriptures or the power of God?”
Inaccurate presuppositions will generate preposterous conclusions. They were deficient in their understanding of the Scriptures. And since the Scriptures reveal God and His power, their ignorance caused them to underestimate or discount His power. Consequently, the conclusion was spurious. (I love to use that word.) Jesus was too polite to say that their ignorance was showing, but that conclusion was evident to the observers.
Often we encounter similar challenges today. They begin with, “How can a good God...?” And Jesus’ introduction applies to this query in the same way. Whenever a challenge begins with “a good God,” we know that there is a preconceived conclusion that God would not do whatever they are protesting. This is the logical fallacy called a straw man. The elements of the question are defined in such a way that there is only one answer, the one the questioner is propounding.
“A good God would not send anyone to hell. A good God would not allow such a tragedy to happen. A good God would not create or allow evil.” And Jesus’ response would be the same, “You do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God.”
Several current instances can be cited. In the immediate past week or so, terrorists murdered over 250 worshipers at an Easter service in Sri Lanka; a synagogue was attacked in Southern California, killing one person and wounding several others; and one last tragedy was here in Middle Tennessee. Seven people were murdered by a felon out on parole. Ironically, he was subject to re-arrest for violation of his parole. The officer had not yet received a signed warrant. How could a good God let such things happen? This can be applied to literally every weather intrusion into our calm and peaceful lives, auto or other accidents, crimes against innocents, and other “natural disasters.”
The operative term in this question is “good.” Good, in their definition is one who would not allow such things to happen. So when they do happen, there are only two conclusions. Either God is not good, or there is no God at all. But Jesus answered even this loaded question.
Jesus’ two-pronged evaluation is applicable in all of this. Romans 8:28 gives us the Scriptural foundation for evaluating the “power of God.”
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.
We can summarize this as “Know the Scripture and know God.” Our first step is to understand the Scripture. “God causes” which means that in all of this He is in control. God does not cause these things to happen, but He causes the results to be “for good” for those who love Him and are called and living according to His purpose.
Joseph testified to that very thing in Genesis 50:19, 20.
But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.
For those not in our Genesis class, and those as well, since we are not there yet, Joseph had been kidnapped and taken to Egypt. There he had been a slave, then thrown into prison for a crime that he did not commit, and ignored for several years. When his brothers, the perpetrators of these injustices appeared before him, years later, Joseph proclaimed his understanding of the Scripture’s description of God’s power. God can take even the most egregious circumstances and use them for good. Here it was the preservation of the nation of Israel. Just a small thing in the line of the Seed.
Our recent celebration of Easter is another example of this. God’s Son, Jesus was murdered, crucified on a Roman cross. How can that be “for good?” Three days later, we understood. He rose from the grave, defeating sin and death forever. What a story! What seemed to be “bad,” turned out to be for good. And not just any old good. This was salvation for everyone who believes in Him.
Joseph and the resurrection also illustrate another critical truth: The revelation of “good” may not be immediate. We may have to wait for the culmination of God’s work, but it will definitely be worth the wait. Adverse circumstances do not disprove the existence of God, they actually confirm it. As we see God working out “good” from seeming insurmountable difficulties, we witness His great power and love.
Michael Rydelnyk made a salient and germane comment on this. Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden in a state of untested holiness. It had never been proved. So when Satan tempted them and they fell, they failed and sin entered the human race. (1 Corinthians 15)
This is bad, right? If there had been no evil in the world, none of these bad things would happen. But, as Dr. Rydelnyk pointed out, since sin had entered the world, and death by sin, the stage was set for the battle of the ages. When Jesus died and was resurrected, He defeated and will ultimately abolish death and evil. That is the message in Corinthians.
22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. 23 But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming, 24 then comes the end, when He hands over the kingdom to the God and Father, when He has abolished all rule and all authority and power. 25 For He must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet. 26 The last enemy that will be abolished is death.
Adam brought sin and death into the world, but Jesus will ultimately destroy it. And in the meanwhile, He has decisively defeated it, and Satan. The story has to play out, but in the end, God will triumph, to His eternal glory. And we have the privilege of cooperating with Him.
In today’s meditation, Jesus went from Levirate marriage to eternal life. Joseph went from the pit to prison to the palace in Egypt, to explaining God’s superintendence of the welfare of the Nation of Israel. We may have to be patient, but we can trace God’s intervention in tragic human events to ultimate good in and for us. And we can go from despair to a personal relationship with God. We will not doubt the existence of God, or His good intentions. He will destroy all evil forever. And, as an extra bonus, we get eternal life–with Him.
The more we read His love letter, the Scriptures, the better we will understand and appreciate His power. Read the Bible, it is good for the soul. Don’t let your ignorance show.
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