A journey of a thousand miles is traveled one inch at a time. Sometimes we will not move an inch unless we schedule it in. Sometimes the only reason we travel an inch is because, “it is time”, the schedule says, “do it now”. At such times we possibly have no vision, no desire, no emotion: only THE SCHEDULE. Yet when that happens we can begin to achieve something, perhaps of great value. In this way the mundane can build the glorious.
Most of the time scheduling is informal, done out of habit or as a need presents itself. Practical scheduling acquires a bit more formality when we think, “what shall I do today, this week, this month.” It becomes most formal when we take the time to carefully consider needs, times, other events, personalities and such, and proceed to write out a time line or schedule. It becomes more formal as we add more detail.
As an example:
The need to get out of the rain requires a shelter and a schedule to find or build it. It rains; we need protection so we either find a cave (if we're lucky) or build a lean-to from a tarp or branches. Even if we don't realize it we have to schedule time to erect the shelter. The schedule may be as simple as: “Do it now”. “Do it before it rains”. “Do it whenever and wherever we can”.
If we want more permanence we might require a cave or a log cabin. Then we have to schedule time to locate a cave or to clear a site and gather trees. We must re-arrange our schedule. We have to set aside hunting for now and find or build the shelter.
For more convenience we might want to add rooms which means we have to schedule gathering yet more lumber, or stones, and setting aside time for the construction. We would be helpful if we scheduled the drawing of a detailed construction plan. We would have to rearrange other activities to either build the structure or oversee its construction. As our use of time allows we schedule time for the acquisition of our amenities such as bringing the bathroom inside.
Most anything that takes repetition requires scheduling. Important things like Bible reading certainly need scheduling. Some days scheduling may be the only reason we read the Bible. Important things, Bible reading, music practice, would never get done unless they are scheduled in, made to have important status.
In this way the mundane can build the glorious.
Friday, October 7, 2016
Thursday, September 22, 2016
DETERMINING TRUTH
There seems to be two ways that people approach truth: some do it inwardly first, and some do it outwardly first.
The ones that first approach truth inwardly make up their mind without outside input (for example: "There is no God"). Once their truth is determined they take from the outside what supports their version of "truth". If the outside evidence does not support their “truth” they may ignore, or develop arguments against, what the outside world may suggest. Then they act toward the outside as if their "truth" is actual fact.
The ones that first approach truth outwardly try to observe in the events outside them that seem to be the truth. They may wonder, “How does all that I see originate?” They look at the outside to see what might represent the truth and try to discern what is the truth from those observations. Then they evaluate what they have inwardly determined as the truth (for example, “There is a God”) to see if it tracks with the outside observation. They will then act in accordance with this “truth”.
Both these views carry with them two aspects: an inward and outward acknowledgment or definition of truth. There is an inward reality of the individual. This is the subjective reality that exists within the individual. It is different for each person. There is also an outward reality of the physical/social world. This is objective and unchanging, or changes according to unvarying principles and is the same for all people.
One says, “There is no God”, the other says, “There is a God”. But neither can prove the other wrong. One can decide inwardly first "there is (or there is no) God and treat the outside world accordingly. One can make outside observations about the world and conclude from these "there is (or there is no) God.
Seeing the Bible says, "The fool hath said in his heart, 'There is no God' . . ." Which do you think is the safer conclusion as your physical life unceasingly, unremittingly moves toward the grave?
The ones that first approach truth inwardly make up their mind without outside input (for example: "There is no God"). Once their truth is determined they take from the outside what supports their version of "truth". If the outside evidence does not support their “truth” they may ignore, or develop arguments against, what the outside world may suggest. Then they act toward the outside as if their "truth" is actual fact.
The ones that first approach truth outwardly try to observe in the events outside them that seem to be the truth. They may wonder, “How does all that I see originate?” They look at the outside to see what might represent the truth and try to discern what is the truth from those observations. Then they evaluate what they have inwardly determined as the truth (for example, “There is a God”) to see if it tracks with the outside observation. They will then act in accordance with this “truth”.
Both these views carry with them two aspects: an inward and outward acknowledgment or definition of truth. There is an inward reality of the individual. This is the subjective reality that exists within the individual. It is different for each person. There is also an outward reality of the physical/social world. This is objective and unchanging, or changes according to unvarying principles and is the same for all people.
One says, “There is no God”, the other says, “There is a God”. But neither can prove the other wrong. One can decide inwardly first "there is (or there is no) God and treat the outside world accordingly. One can make outside observations about the world and conclude from these "there is (or there is no) God.
Seeing the Bible says, "The fool hath said in his heart, 'There is no God' . . ." Which do you think is the safer conclusion as your physical life unceasingly, unremittingly moves toward the grave?
Wednesday, September 14, 2016
DANGER: TV!
Watching TV may provide little return on investment because:
-- May leave dangerous Hollywood-driven images and opinions upon the mind.
-- Soaks away time that could be better spent on other activities and therefore:
-- Robs us in areas of development we care about.
-- May rob us of sleep we need and therefore:
-- Makes us less effective in our work or business the next day and
-- May injure our health
-- Encourages and expands a pool of discouragement and self deprecation for activities we leave out
-- May leave dangerous Hollywood-driven images and opinions upon the mind.
-- Soaks away time that could be better spent on other activities and therefore:
-- Robs us in areas of development we care about.
-- May rob us of sleep we need and therefore:
-- Makes us less effective in our work or business the next day and
-- May injure our health
-- Encourages and expands a pool of discouragement and self deprecation for activities we leave out
Thursday, September 8, 2016
MUSIC IN CHURCH
Here are some of my observations about music in church:
Most churches divide their worship into separate times. They have a separate time for music which they call “Worship” music. There may also be anther separate presentation called "Special" music. These music performances seem to have been elevated to equal importance to other parts of the service (i.e. equal to, or better than, scripture reading, preaching or prayer).
While purporting to lead the congregation in music, it resolves to the music being presented as a performance. There are special performers, a "worship team" on the platform in front of the congregation. These are the "Stars", the "Personalities". This presentation has devolved away from being a single Worship Leader in front of a choir leading the congregants in music. Frequently the style of music is "Praise Music" exclusively, rarely, if ever using "traditional music" (i.e. hymns). Often the praise music lyrics are light on spiritual content. Some of the songs may only consist of eight or nine words. They may be oriented toward the needs of the singers as opposed to the will of God.
For some unfathomable reason praise music needs to be loud music. Most places we've been the music is too loud. It is miked up so loud the congregants can not hear themselves sing. It has become a show you watch and listen to rather than one in which to participate.
The congregants that want to escape the volume of music must either sit outside during the music time or elect to attend a separate service. This separate service is often called a "Traditional" service. In some places the “traditional” service may be held at a non traditional time, i.e. not the 11am hour. This presents the impression that "traditional" worshipers are of less value than the people who attend the "regular" service. Sometimes this separate service is a video feed where the congregants watch a big screen and are separated from the “real” service. Perhaps music in the video service the may be at a reasonable volume. This raises the question: if you're going to watch a TV why bother to leave your house to go to church? Just sit at home and find a preacher who does good preaching and watch him.
My Mother-In-Law used to say, “The Devil often gets into the Church through the choir loft.” These days he gets in through the amplifiers, the sound control booth, and the need in people to be “stars”.
Most churches divide their worship into separate times. They have a separate time for music which they call “Worship” music. There may also be anther separate presentation called "Special" music. These music performances seem to have been elevated to equal importance to other parts of the service (i.e. equal to, or better than, scripture reading, preaching or prayer).
While purporting to lead the congregation in music, it resolves to the music being presented as a performance. There are special performers, a "worship team" on the platform in front of the congregation. These are the "Stars", the "Personalities". This presentation has devolved away from being a single Worship Leader in front of a choir leading the congregants in music. Frequently the style of music is "Praise Music" exclusively, rarely, if ever using "traditional music" (i.e. hymns). Often the praise music lyrics are light on spiritual content. Some of the songs may only consist of eight or nine words. They may be oriented toward the needs of the singers as opposed to the will of God.
For some unfathomable reason praise music needs to be loud music. Most places we've been the music is too loud. It is miked up so loud the congregants can not hear themselves sing. It has become a show you watch and listen to rather than one in which to participate.
The congregants that want to escape the volume of music must either sit outside during the music time or elect to attend a separate service. This separate service is often called a "Traditional" service. In some places the “traditional” service may be held at a non traditional time, i.e. not the 11am hour. This presents the impression that "traditional" worshipers are of less value than the people who attend the "regular" service. Sometimes this separate service is a video feed where the congregants watch a big screen and are separated from the “real” service. Perhaps music in the video service the may be at a reasonable volume. This raises the question: if you're going to watch a TV why bother to leave your house to go to church? Just sit at home and find a preacher who does good preaching and watch him.
My Mother-In-Law used to say, “The Devil often gets into the Church through the choir loft.” These days he gets in through the amplifiers, the sound control booth, and the need in people to be “stars”.
Monday, August 29, 2016
THE PASTOR SAID IT, THAT SETTLES IT
Several years ago I was attending a Men's Bible study at a church. We were working around the circle when the Pastor got into his “the primary purpose of the Old Testament is to show Jesus Christ” routine. That makes it seem that anything else we get from reading the Old Testament is of lesser, inferior value. Therefore any application we can draw can be dispensed with because, after all, that is not the main purpose of the writing.
Why then should we have the study if the only answer of worth will be: “How does this demonstrate Christ?”
Yet “. . . all scripture is given for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Did the others also think this way - - that the Old Testament is of less worth? So, according to this pastor, I should now know that the Old Testament is only about Christ. So what good is the rest of it? I suppose he wanted me to only see how the OT relates to Christ and forget about the rest since it only has minor meaning anyway. Once I know the one important fact what else do I need to know?
If I want to explore the true ramifications about morality I suppose I should read contemporary books about morality and ignore what the Old Testament says is right or wrong. But not to worry, according to this pastor, because moral prescriptions of the OT are not to teach us right from wrong; the point of the OT is to show us Jesus Christ.
This pastor also taught, “Your pastor reads and understands the Bible and teaches you what it means.” I think I can do more than that. I can read and understand the Bible for myself. Indeed, I need to read it so I can defend myself form the one-sided incorrect opinion of any man.
Why then should we have the study if the only answer of worth will be: “How does this demonstrate Christ?”
Yet “. . . all scripture is given for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” Did the others also think this way - - that the Old Testament is of less worth? So, according to this pastor, I should now know that the Old Testament is only about Christ. So what good is the rest of it? I suppose he wanted me to only see how the OT relates to Christ and forget about the rest since it only has minor meaning anyway. Once I know the one important fact what else do I need to know?
If I want to explore the true ramifications about morality I suppose I should read contemporary books about morality and ignore what the Old Testament says is right or wrong. But not to worry, according to this pastor, because moral prescriptions of the OT are not to teach us right from wrong; the point of the OT is to show us Jesus Christ.
This pastor also taught, “Your pastor reads and understands the Bible and teaches you what it means.” I think I can do more than that. I can read and understand the Bible for myself. Indeed, I need to read it so I can defend myself form the one-sided incorrect opinion of any man.
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
BIDDING EXERCISE
What if I, or another person, were to seek to award a “contract” to someone among a group of students that would ask them to do a study. This study would tell me the probability of a fallen pine tree falling where it lies. I would write up a “Request for Proposal” (RFP) and give it to a class, or to a particular grade level at a school. The interested students would attend a “Pre Bid Meeting” where I would allow them to see the site where the tree fell. My RFP would tell them I would award on the basis of merit as opposed to low price. They would submit their dates on or before a certain time after the RFP meeting. Their bids would detail their rationale and back-up material of how they reached their conclusion. The winner would be paid $25.00 for the study plus expenses for developing their study. The award would not guarantee that the study would ever actually be conducted. (In fact the whole exercise it just to demonstrate the request-bid-award process.)
Monday, August 15, 2016
EXULTATION AT CALAMITIES
I once saw videos of a group of people dancing and singing because another group suffered a calamity. Unlike them we should be very careful about assuming calamities are God's judgment upon People.
Calamities can be of two types: those which God generates (as a tornado), and those which men generate (as in the Twin Towers.)
A “Calamity” is different than a “Judgment”. Calamity happens to the guilty and innocent alike. It is more generalized, far reaching, than a judgment. It seems to cover much more area than a peoples' transgression would warrant. A calamity is like a tornado destroying a whole town rather than a specific household.
Judgment is what happens to those deserving punishment for wrong-doing. Judgment is targeted specifically toward the sinners and not the innocent about them.
Feeling of glee for the misfortunes of others is itself a sin. It is bad, perhaps dangerous, to have happy feelings when something bad happens to someone you do not like. "... and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished." (Prov 17:5b)
The Twin Towers were a “Calamity” to us but a “Judgment” to the thugs who perpetrated it. Under our law and under the international law, what these thugs did was a crime, not a judgment. What we know is that God will have the ultimate judgment, maybe not at a time we desire, but it will be at the perfect time and it will be a perfect judgment.
We should hope that God's judgment will turn the wicked toward righteousness and that God will get glory from pulling diamonds out of the ashes.
Calamities can be of two types: those which God generates (as a tornado), and those which men generate (as in the Twin Towers.)
A “Calamity” is different than a “Judgment”. Calamity happens to the guilty and innocent alike. It is more generalized, far reaching, than a judgment. It seems to cover much more area than a peoples' transgression would warrant. A calamity is like a tornado destroying a whole town rather than a specific household.
Judgment is what happens to those deserving punishment for wrong-doing. Judgment is targeted specifically toward the sinners and not the innocent about them.
Feeling of glee for the misfortunes of others is itself a sin. It is bad, perhaps dangerous, to have happy feelings when something bad happens to someone you do not like. "... and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished." (Prov 17:5b)
The Twin Towers were a “Calamity” to us but a “Judgment” to the thugs who perpetrated it. Under our law and under the international law, what these thugs did was a crime, not a judgment. What we know is that God will have the ultimate judgment, maybe not at a time we desire, but it will be at the perfect time and it will be a perfect judgment.
We should hope that God's judgment will turn the wicked toward righteousness and that God will get glory from pulling diamonds out of the ashes.
Wednesday, August 3, 2016
DIFFERENT IMPRESSIONS
The Bible mentions “the lust of the eye, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life”. I notice there is no mention of the “lost of the ear” or “the lust of the nose”. Is there some stronger aspect of the “lust of the eye”? Is there some particular way this sense has more power to be damaging? Is it wired more directly into the thoughts and emotions?.
The naked body is of the eye, but music is of the ear. You can sexually arouse yourself by seeing or imagining visual scenes. Can you sexually arouse yourself through music only? Today's options include music videos. If you heard the music without ever seeing the video, could you get the same impressions (thoughts, emotions and feelings) as you would while also seeing the video?
The song, “The Song Remembers When”, talks of a song being able to evoke a strong memory of a past event. In reality that event had a host of other senses tagged to it - - not the least of which is what you saw when the event occurred.
I'll bet ten different people get ten different impressions from a piece of music. But if all ten saw a video with the music they would all get the same impression - - the vision of the one who made the video (but not necessarily of the one who made the music).
There are events inside the head of the listener that are not the same as the events inside the song writer.
The naked body is of the eye, but music is of the ear. You can sexually arouse yourself by seeing or imagining visual scenes. Can you sexually arouse yourself through music only? Today's options include music videos. If you heard the music without ever seeing the video, could you get the same impressions (thoughts, emotions and feelings) as you would while also seeing the video?
The song, “The Song Remembers When”, talks of a song being able to evoke a strong memory of a past event. In reality that event had a host of other senses tagged to it - - not the least of which is what you saw when the event occurred.
I'll bet ten different people get ten different impressions from a piece of music. But if all ten saw a video with the music they would all get the same impression - - the vision of the one who made the video (but not necessarily of the one who made the music).
There are events inside the head of the listener that are not the same as the events inside the song writer.
Monday, July 25, 2016
I'M FOR FREEWILL
There is balance between the theories of predestination and freewill. I am firmly in the freewill camp, yet must be tempered with concepts from the predestination camp. Consider the following:
Joseph said to his brothers, “You decided to do evil to me, but God used it for good.” God had decided that Abraham's seed would go into Egypt and grow there. Joseph's brothers, on their own jealous volition, decided to murder Joseph and instead sold him into slavery. Although their freewill choice was for evil by God's sovereignty the results of it turned out for good - - God's good, Joseph's good, even the brothers' good.
To say God made Joseph's brothers to decide to do murder is to say God made these men do something which is against the God's design for mankind's morality: “Thou shalt not kill.” The brothers chose to do the evil; God did not force them to do evil. God did not create the brothers intending them to do evil; his intention was they should do good.
God (who by definition is good) converted the evil actions into good. God, being in existence at all times (that is: existing in the future to us who are captured only in the present) knew before the bad happened that it was going to happen, and that the happening of it would turn out for the good.
We should not be afraid to make choices, or be made to think that our choices have no real meaning or effect because of the theory that God hard-wired the choices before we were created (as some who are hard-over on the predestination theory would say). Because, as Joseph's brothers, we have options before us that we can choose. But we should also know that God has all firmly in his control and in the end his will will work out for good. And if God has all in control, we can see he will be more than willing to give us the power to accomplish his will.
If Joseph's brothers could choose evil than so can we. But we can choose to do good. Sometimes we are going to be in a place where we will have to choose - - we will not have the luxury of passing the choice by.
Joseph said to his brothers, “You decided to do evil to me, but God used it for good.” God had decided that Abraham's seed would go into Egypt and grow there. Joseph's brothers, on their own jealous volition, decided to murder Joseph and instead sold him into slavery. Although their freewill choice was for evil by God's sovereignty the results of it turned out for good - - God's good, Joseph's good, even the brothers' good.
To say God made Joseph's brothers to decide to do murder is to say God made these men do something which is against the God's design for mankind's morality: “Thou shalt not kill.” The brothers chose to do the evil; God did not force them to do evil. God did not create the brothers intending them to do evil; his intention was they should do good.
God (who by definition is good) converted the evil actions into good. God, being in existence at all times (that is: existing in the future to us who are captured only in the present) knew before the bad happened that it was going to happen, and that the happening of it would turn out for the good.
We should not be afraid to make choices, or be made to think that our choices have no real meaning or effect because of the theory that God hard-wired the choices before we were created (as some who are hard-over on the predestination theory would say). Because, as Joseph's brothers, we have options before us that we can choose. But we should also know that God has all firmly in his control and in the end his will will work out for good. And if God has all in control, we can see he will be more than willing to give us the power to accomplish his will.
If Joseph's brothers could choose evil than so can we. But we can choose to do good. Sometimes we are going to be in a place where we will have to choose - - we will not have the luxury of passing the choice by.
Thursday, July 7, 2016
BIG NAMES NEED BIG MONEY
We went to a large church a while back (I am taking this from a 1998 journal entry). One of the first things we noticed was they were using a boom TV camera. This turned me off. It made me think this is a church that is trying to be like all the other Big-Name T.V. Churches. Do they worry more about technology than connecting with the Lord? What proportion of their technology budget do they spend in proportion to the results they expect to reap? Is this for the pastor who merely wants to be in the same league as the other big-time players? Aside from shut-ins, does it really reach the people it is supposed to reach? So $100,000.00 reaches one shut-in; what about the same 100k being spent to print and distribute gospel tracts that reach two people? How much could go to missions? Could the money be better spent?
Arguments that Support “every possible step must be taken” can be softened by noticing that Jesus rested when there were souls to be preached to, souls to be healed.
If any effort is being spent for “look at me” rather than “look at the Lord” that effort is being spent wrong.
You can reach a point when your thinking turns from the numbers you are reaching toward how big and glorious your church is. When does it turn from looking to the glory of God to looking to the glory of the pastor, the technology, the big-name church?
You know the church is really bent when they resort to computer controlled lighting effects and smoke; it has fallen from being a “church” to being a “show”. The show needs lights and smoke; what next, mirrors?
Arguments that Support “every possible step must be taken” can be softened by noticing that Jesus rested when there were souls to be preached to, souls to be healed.
If any effort is being spent for “look at me” rather than “look at the Lord” that effort is being spent wrong.
You can reach a point when your thinking turns from the numbers you are reaching toward how big and glorious your church is. When does it turn from looking to the glory of God to looking to the glory of the pastor, the technology, the big-name church?
You know the church is really bent when they resort to computer controlled lighting effects and smoke; it has fallen from being a “church” to being a “show”. The show needs lights and smoke; what next, mirrors?
Thursday, June 30, 2016
THE TROUBLE WITH TIFFS
If I have a tiff with my wife I have trouble either praying or looking to the Scriptures. When the heavy feelings or depression are upon me I just do not feel the praying or that reading will have value or effect. Its hard to think, “I need to do this by faith”. My prayers, I feel, would be insulting to the Lord being prayed from such a dry or angry or faithless personality. I can not think of where to read in the Bible that would have application.
Perhaps I should start reading somewhere – anywhere: Psalm of the day, Proverbs, a Gospel. Maybe I would find the lord talking to me there. Or maybe the Spirit would lead me somewhere else. Perhaps then the prayers and answers would come.
Perhaps I should start reading somewhere – anywhere: Psalm of the day, Proverbs, a Gospel. Maybe I would find the lord talking to me there. Or maybe the Spirit would lead me somewhere else. Perhaps then the prayers and answers would come.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
WAIT FOR VENGEANCE
Psalm 21 speaks of the king trusting in the Lord and of God's vengeance upon his enemies. As I was coming back from Jacksonville on a business trip a while ago (1998) I came upon a very severe traffic jam. The two lanes of traffic were at a crawl. At various times some people would cheat and come down the right-hand breakdown lane. I thought, “here are these rude people taking advantage of the rest of us who are trying to be polite to each other and keep order and the law. These have no concern but for themselves. They will never receive punishment for their wrong doing that I will see. I wonder if God even cares to take vengeance on such little things when much worse are happening.”
But when we got to the bridge over Lake Mary the police were pulling these over to the side and giving them tickets. Yes, these were receiving the vengeance due to them. Yes, God does care about such things. Yes, it is worth while to have faith in God, that he will do what he says he will do. Yes, it is worth while doing the right thing.
But when we got to the bridge over Lake Mary the police were pulling these over to the side and giving them tickets. Yes, these were receiving the vengeance due to them. Yes, God does care about such things. Yes, it is worth while to have faith in God, that he will do what he says he will do. Yes, it is worth while doing the right thing.
Tuesday, June 14, 2016
IN THE SPIRIT??
(Eph 5:18) “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit and watching there unto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints”
What does it mean to pray “in the Spirit”? Does it mean to pray in tongues? Does it mean to “keep silence” before the Lord – to be listening for what the Spirit might be saying? Does it somehow mean to be sensitive to inward impressions that may be lingering just inside your conscious awareness? (Or are these just from your own “subconscious” speaking?) Do we cover over or chase away communication from the Spirit by attributing too much to the “subconscious” or by fearing too much the evil spirits?
What does it mean to pray “in the Spirit”? Does it mean to pray in tongues? Does it mean to “keep silence” before the Lord – to be listening for what the Spirit might be saying? Does it somehow mean to be sensitive to inward impressions that may be lingering just inside your conscious awareness? (Or are these just from your own “subconscious” speaking?) Do we cover over or chase away communication from the Spirit by attributing too much to the “subconscious” or by fearing too much the evil spirits?
Tuesday, June 7, 2016
ANGER SNARES
(Prov 20) The anger of a king is as the roaring of a lion, he that aggravates him gets a snare to his soul.
This shows it is not good to make your superiors angry. I suppose some people purposefully do things to make their Superior angry, but it only gets them trouble and does no good. It may be the desire to make an authority angry or agitated is a flaw in the personality of him that wishes to to it.
Another snare is associating with angry and furious people.
The desire for situations of anger is a trap - - possibly a habit or deception that is very hard to break. A snare is something that traps you and keeps you. Snares are difficult to get out of. (Lord, please help me to avoid snares like anger.)
Knowing you are in a snare can help you get out; not knowing you are in a snare can leave you trapped forever.
This shows it is not good to make your superiors angry. I suppose some people purposefully do things to make their Superior angry, but it only gets them trouble and does no good. It may be the desire to make an authority angry or agitated is a flaw in the personality of him that wishes to to it.
Another snare is associating with angry and furious people.
The desire for situations of anger is a trap - - possibly a habit or deception that is very hard to break. A snare is something that traps you and keeps you. Snares are difficult to get out of. (Lord, please help me to avoid snares like anger.)
Knowing you are in a snare can help you get out; not knowing you are in a snare can leave you trapped forever.
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
MAKING THE PROMISE TRUE
Psalm 105 speaks of remembering and rejoicing in what the Lord has done. It speaks of the progress of the children of Israel to the promised land. He gave the promise to Abraham, Issac and Jacob. He preserved them in the places where they were. He sent Joseph before them to prepare a place in Egypt He developed them into a great number. He delivered them from slavery. He brought them to the promised land.
Can we look at big, broad pictures like this and see comparisons in our own or our families lives?
-- Giving of promise
-- Protection from outsiders, adverse situations
-- Development
-- Delivery from bondage.
-- Occupying the promised land
Here a generalized version:
-- Start of a thing (giving promise to Abraham).
-- The initial delicate stage (protection in Canaan).
-- Development of the thing (growth in Egypt).
-- Moving of the thing toward its purpose (delivery from slavery).
-- Delivery of the thing into its purpose (bring to promised land).
Can we look at big, broad pictures like this and see comparisons in our own or our families lives?
-- Giving of promise
-- Protection from outsiders, adverse situations
-- Development
-- Delivery from bondage.
-- Occupying the promised land
Here a generalized version:
-- Start of a thing (giving promise to Abraham).
-- The initial delicate stage (protection in Canaan).
-- Development of the thing (growth in Egypt).
-- Moving of the thing toward its purpose (delivery from slavery).
-- Delivery of the thing into its purpose (bring to promised land).
Friday, May 20, 2016
CONSIDER YOUR PATH
“A wicked man hardeneth his face; but as for the upright, he directeth his way.” (Proverbs 21:29)
A wicked man decides he is going to do a thing, and once decided, proceeds through to the end without respect to how the situation may have changed or be different than how he planned. He pays no attention to the effects of his action on others. You don't have to be wicked to be this way, you can just be dumb.
The upright directs his way. Once he decides on a thing he proceeds but keeps aware of how the situation develops and changes his course (or stops) if it becomes necessary.
A wicked man decides he is going to do a thing, and once decided, proceeds through to the end without respect to how the situation may have changed or be different than how he planned. He pays no attention to the effects of his action on others. You don't have to be wicked to be this way, you can just be dumb.
The upright directs his way. Once he decides on a thing he proceeds but keeps aware of how the situation develops and changes his course (or stops) if it becomes necessary.
TO FIGHT FOR WISDOM
(Proverbs 21:11) “When the scorner is punished the simple is made wise: and when the wise is instructed he receiveth knowledge.”
A scorner is someone who speaks words of disgust against something or someone else. He disapproves, he belittles. This is not a healthful situation and it is a good thing to correct it. The scorner needs to be publicly told his words are damaging and not helpful. Apparently when this happens the simple see the damaging words for what they are: destructive, unhelpful words. When they make this perception – that scorning is a damaging activity – they become wiser than they were. Once someone has perceived this they have increased in wisdom.
Two things happen when you publicly stand against scorning: A bad activity is stopped, and people are instructed toward wisdom.
A scorner is someone who speaks words of disgust against something or someone else. He disapproves, he belittles. This is not a healthful situation and it is a good thing to correct it. The scorner needs to be publicly told his words are damaging and not helpful. Apparently when this happens the simple see the damaging words for what they are: destructive, unhelpful words. When they make this perception – that scorning is a damaging activity – they become wiser than they were. Once someone has perceived this they have increased in wisdom.
Two things happen when you publicly stand against scorning: A bad activity is stopped, and people are instructed toward wisdom.
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
DRUMS AROUND THE FIRE
(From a 1998 Journal entry:)
First the thought, and then how I arrived at it:
We would criticize the native American for using drums to achieve some sort of spiritual contact during his religious ceremonies yet we Christians do the vary same things during ours. Whether during services we use jumpy charismatic tunes or they are old hymns, we hope to achieve a state of worship for the Lord.
How I got here:
I was thinking of a native American who believed in the “Great Spirit” before the time when the Europeans began to emigrate to this hemisphere. I have wondered if such a person, having never had contact with a Christian, and therefore could not properly state the Gospel, yet believing in the Creator of all things, could not be a “pagan believer”? He would be a person whose heart was sincere and earnest for God. I wonder if having a true desire to know the one true God, to be willing to forsake all for, and to suffer for the truth, has the equivalence before God to confessing Jesus with the mouth? Could the verses in Romans, the ones that speak of the physically uncircumcised acting as if they were circumcised, figuratively apply to such a person? Again, I am speaking of people who have never had any exposure to God as the sort of revelation the Jews and Europeans had through the Scriptures. If there were many like him in his tribe, could not the drums about the council fire be the same as our worship music?
Could the name of “Great Spirit” be to this person as “Jehovah” or “Christ” is to us? You would have to know his intended purpose for his calls to the “Great Spirit” and the intended purpose for the music. More fundamentally, you would have to know what he thinks the “Great Spirit” can do, what he can not do, what he did, what his requirements of us are. What is mankind's place in the world, in the after life and what is man's place before him? What if his understanding does not line up exactly with our understanding of God? Without the Bible how would he get that understanding?
But in the 21st century, with the spread of the Gospel over the globe, there are very few of such people to be found upon the earth.
Tuesday, April 26, 2016
LISTENING TO MUSIC
Back when I was a boy I remember hearing, every once and a great while, Latin music on the radio. I would hear the breaks when just the percussion instruments would play. To me it was a thrilling sound. Back then there were no records or tapes or CDs to buy - - you could only hear the music once, while it was playing. When it was done you had to wait until the next time something like it was played, perhaps months later. Back then the sound quality was poor. I don't remember that we listened to the radio all that much at our house yet I remember rhythmic syncopated music exciting me.
Now I can select from a wide variety of all types of music. If I have a recording I can play it over and over. By repetition I can learn it so well so as to know all the parts of it. I can know instantly if anything is different from another recording even if the voicing and arrangements are all the same. Now music performance is at our fingertips - - we may have it whenever we want: from a recording or from the radio or T.V. We are bound no longer to performance by live musicians, or to performing it for our own selves.
Why is it, then, that I don't listen more at home. I rarely ever do. Playing music distracts me from other things. With me it's one, or the other.
Now I can select from a wide variety of all types of music. If I have a recording I can play it over and over. By repetition I can learn it so well so as to know all the parts of it. I can know instantly if anything is different from another recording even if the voicing and arrangements are all the same. Now music performance is at our fingertips - - we may have it whenever we want: from a recording or from the radio or T.V. We are bound no longer to performance by live musicians, or to performing it for our own selves.
Why is it, then, that I don't listen more at home. I rarely ever do. Playing music distracts me from other things. With me it's one, or the other.
CHATTERBOXING
Once on the way into work I was having an imaginary conversation with someone. These people I “talk with” are usually people with some influence or importance in some area. I thought, “Why do I do this?” Am I wishing for some favor from them; do I want to gain their attention? Then I thought, “Here I am imagining a conversation with an imaginary person, who is not real, yet I do not pray to the Lord, who is real.”
Would it be a good thing for me to have these “conversations” with God instead? If I did this would it have a value to God? Would I be a chatter-box endlessly whining on about my problems and ideas and never leaving a space for God to respond?
Would it be a good thing for me to have these “conversations” with God instead? If I did this would it have a value to God? Would I be a chatter-box endlessly whining on about my problems and ideas and never leaving a space for God to respond?
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