What Is Church?

That's a screen capture of our church building from our church website 

But - that is simply a building where the church meets. The church is the people who come to the building to worship God. We are also called a congregation, when speaking of the entire group, or the membership. Not everyone who attends is a member of this church because membership requires some specific actions. All of them are defined in the Bible, because our beliefs are centered in the Bible and we consider it God's word for mankind.

I do take a bit of pride in the concrete between the church building on the right and the fellowship hall/gymnasium on the left. Those two L shaped roofs cover a ramped walkway from our lobby into the gym. My Beloved Husband built the roof alone. Our family poured the concrete for the ramp, steps and drive. It was a gift we were so very happy to offer because we love our brothers and sisters in Christ, and we love being in our Lord's service. It has been almost 30 years since that was built. This year it got it's first new roof (due to some severe storms) and new ceilings out of hardiboard due to fire danger.

This is not, however, a building Jesus spoke of in the gospels. He did not set out to rebuild the Temple, or its replacement. He went specifically to individuals. The first He spoke with about religion was His cousin, John the Baptist. Next came Andrew and Peter, followed by public speaking to crowds, even huge crowds of thousands of people. Individuals came to Him, too. One reached out to touch the hem of His garment, and was healed. Oh, she was noticed - when He is touched by faith, He knows it.

In fact, it is faith in Jesus that activates God's grace:

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

No boasting on my part simply because I have faith in God's word that He provides grace to believers. Thousands upon thousands of people come to believe that every day. Some know it, almost show it, then become those upon which seed reach stoney ground, interest showed, but it withered and died before it became faith that actually bears fruit. Read Matthew 13 if you want more on that subject.

Back to the church - a word used only twice in the gospels:

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. (Matthew 16:18)

And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. (Matthew 18:17)

Context of  verse 16:18 goes back to the full conversation in Matthew 16:13-20. Peter had just confirmed that he believed Jesus to be the Christ (the Messiah promised to the Jews), the Son of the Living God. That is what Jesus was to build His church upon. For our congregation, a public profession of faith in Jesus Christ is required when asking to become a member. No one gets to be a member of our congregation without making that public statement. Our church is built on nothing less than Jesus' blood and righteousness. Yes - that is an outstanding statement from "Solid Rock" hymn. 

Now, if you are Catholic, that's not what you've been told. But - Bible reading is outstanding for everyone. I did have a couple of Catholics tell me I was not only outside their church, but outside salvation for taking such information from the book available only to their Church to interpret. Can't apologize, either, because the Bible also tells me what a preacher used today:

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; (1 Timothy 2:3-5)

One mediator between God and man - not a priest, not a high priest (that veil was torn apart), not a bishop, not a pope, not even a pastor - but Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. Remember one of my most favorite verses:

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. (Romans 8:26-27)

The Holy Spirit - the Comforter that Jesus promised in John 14:16, 26; 15:26; and 16:7. This Comforter will "... teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you." Just as firmly as we believe God is one, that Jesus died and was resurrected to be in heaven, we believe the Comforter came upon those who also believed at Pentecost. After that, there was clarification between John's baptism and the spiritual baptism. 

So - back to what is church? Our English Bible translates as Strong's:

ἐκκλησία    ekklēsia    ek-klay-see'-ah

a calling out, that is, (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both): - assembly, church.

It is the people who assemble at a meeting place who believe Jesus is the Christ, Son of the Living God. Nothing more - and more certainly nothing less. 

Out of All The World, Why Here?

 

Why here? Why does Genesis begin here? Look at that book - lots of names - people and places - lots of stories, but concentrated in a small area. Could it really be that an omnipotent deity picked a specific time, place, people to tell the story that would determine where humans spend eternity? Could there be an eternity - an existence beyond a person's lifetime on earth? The Bible tells us so, and Jerusalem is pretty much in the middle of the world's continuous trade route.

Abraham was sent from Ur to settle along the Jordan River. By doing so, he was promised three specific things by the God he believed: 

1) a son who would lead a nation; 

2) a specific area of land; 

3) a blessing for the world. 

Within three generations, there is a large following of tribes from 12 male descendants of Abraham that end up going to Egypt. Led by Moses centuries later, he took their descendants to the Promised Land - they rejected it. He led that group for forty years, until all the naysayers were gone. Then took the land and promised God they would always follow His will.

Every one of the following books in the Bible addresses their current situation based firmly on this first book, which focuses on the area around what became - and is now - Jerusalem. Pretty much the center of world trade from pre-history to our current trade wars. Why wouldn't we be focused on the area that has provided three religions that claim the same God, but with tremendously different aspects.

Right place - center of world population. Set to always be that center. More so today than any other time in the past, but never losing the central trade route designation. Seems as though we should give consideration to the truths behind such history.

What were the descendants of Abraham chosen to do? My answer is: To show the world that following God's will brings out the best in mankind and God rewards men who do so. That also means God showing His displeasure for an entire nation's actions. We see examples throughout the Old Testament, to the point both Israel and Judah are taken into captivity, which is very specificly described in several books of the Bible, by specific prophets.

Christ as born at a turning point in history. Greek had captured a large portion of the world, encompassing a large amount of the trade routes, instilling education, language, business, and arts across a wide area. With a century or so, Rome achieved the same thing, with greater power, moving into even more area. The words of Jesus and His disciples would be scattered throughout the Roman Empire, quickly, from the same center of trade - which even today impacts our modern world.

Not until the seventh century Common Era was there the seed of another religion planted. Mohammed conquered Mecca and instilled in the conquered people the belief that Arabs were the chosen children of Abraham. That the prophets, including Jesus, were Arabs who taught the correct religion. That untruth is being distributed today, and is the source of error in so many ways.

Why would an angel bring such a message to one specific man? There are many assumptions that could be made, but my personal link goes back to a letter Paul wrote to a church:

I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:6-9)

Paul knew about angels:

For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:13-15)

John 8 is a wonderful chapter to see the difference between the Jewish religious/political leaders who defend themselves as the chldren of Abraham, while Jesus states plainly He was sent by God as God, and recognizes them for what they really are - just as He knows what we really are:

Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. (John 8:42-45)

I will use biblical phrases without citing chapter and verse, but you can search: God is no respecter of persons. There is nothing ethnic nor racial in His followers. God is open to anyone who seeks Him, for He may be found by those who do. God has offered to anyone the ability to live with Him eternally through belief in Him and His gift of salvation through Jesus. Christianity is monotheistic. Christianity has one single God who is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. God works with us as the Creator, the Salvation, and the guiding Spirit of education and comfort in our lives.

If this raises more questions for you than it answers - ask them. Much we are not supposed to know, but much is open to our hearts when the Holy Spirit guides us. Do not allow any other spirit to take root:

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1 John 4:1-3)

Disfunctional Families and Actions

 

Pardon Me by Norman Rockwell, 

appeared on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post on January 26 1918. Oil on canvas

This Norman Rockwell painting is owned by Stephen Spielberg, but this graphic is in the public domain. Rockwell painted America as he saw it, and Saturday Evening Post carried it across our country. To us it depicts moments out of American life across decades. Somewhere across those decades, American life became quite dysfunctional. From a Google query:

A poll by Fox News found that 81% of Americans view the country as a dysfunctional family.

Public Perception and Polling Data

Country as a Family: 81% of respondents in the poll described the U.S. as a dysfunctional family

Since that fits my criteria of this being a family discussion, I won't give the remaining responses of being on a wrong track and the show of broader dissatisfaction. Back to yesterday's analogy of toes being stepped on, we have much more than the tender toes of a young lady. So let's take a look at sin.

Sin is disobeying the will of God. First earth creature to do that was in the form of a snake, according to Genesis 3. It lied to Eve. Eve was the first person to believe the lie and not only do what God said not to, but shared her thought process with her husband, who joined her in doing what God told them not to do. 

It was a simple request - do not eat the fruit from that tree. The result would be death. 

As any of my readers would agree, we know exactly what it is like to not understand what the exact consequences are to our actions. I wonder if Adam or Eve truly understood what "thou shalt surely die," meant. Did their lives ever see death? They were in Eden, the garden of perfection created by God. They walked with God in the garden in the cool of the day. What was so important about that fruit?

Same things that become important to us simply because it caught or attention and we wanted it. That is temptation. Giving in to temptation, acting on our desires and not God's instruction is sin. 

Sin is not following God's instruction. 

So why do we have such problems? God has inspired men to write what sin looks like. We can recognize it from Paul's writing:

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet. And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them. (Romans 1:21-32)

That's a long list of sinfulness. Verse 32 affirms that people know the result of sinning, and do it for pleasure. Eve would understand that:

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat. (Genesis 3:6)

Jesus changed the results of sin by becoming the sacrifice, but he also gave the instructions that can keep us aware and away from temptations:

Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:36-40)

Everything else in the Law and the messages of the prophets falls within following these two - love God and love people. How difficult is that?

Very difficult, because Paul continues a little later:

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;” (Romans 3:23)

That means me, you, and everyone alive today. Definitely falls under the "whosoever" of John 3:16:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:16-18)

Oh, you didn't expect the following two verses? People seem to forget them a lot. It is very much like giving your child instructions, then telling them the consequences. IF you do this, THEN this will happen, or ELSE something bad will happen. 

Almost twenty years ago I used those programming lines in a blog - July 5, 2008 - and if you look at it, I've been giving out this same message since long before that date. God has been giving the exact same message for eternity: If you believe, then you are safe, or else we will be separated for eternity. 

King Hezekiah and Disfunctional Families

King Hezekiah, clothed in sackcloth, spreads open the letter before the Lord. 1873, unknown

 

What Bible stories do you remember about King Hezekiah? My quickest one is that he was one of the good kings, but his son lost Jerusalem to Babylon under King Nebuchadnezzar II. He came to mind this week as I was listening to Isaiah beling read. I had forgotten Isaiah was the prophet during a portion of Hezekiah's reign. Doing a quick search in the KJV version on e-Sword came back with 117 verses with Hezekiah in them, sometimes twice.

That covered II Kings, both of the Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemia, Proverbs, Isaiah, and Jeremiah. For someone to be mentioned across several verses in eight books of the Bible, it might be a good idea to take a look at this man's life. The earliest mention is a verse that is repeated often in both Kings and Chronicles, giving the name of the just deceased king along with the name of the new king:

And Ahaz slept with his fathers, and was buried with his fathers in the city of David: and Hezekiah his son reigned in his stead. (2 Kings 16:20)

This can get confusing because the kingdom David and Solomon built as Israel ended up being divided into the northern (Israel) and the southern (Judah) as the tribes split not only politically, but religiously. Judah held Jerusalem - the center of Judaism, the location of the Temple David was not allowed to build, and Solomon was.

Both men eventually followed their wives into divisive religions. Not that they themselves ceased to worship the great I AM, but they allowed their politically added wives to bring their own religions into the country. Kept a bit of peace in their disfunctional households, but destroyed their nations.

Might I take a moment to remind us what Jesus said about marriage - which goes back to God's creation of Adam and Eve. Pharisees  - prients of Judaism at the time - approached Jesus with a "Gotcha!" question. As usual, Jesus went to the very core of the question, and back to scriptures:

The Pharisees also came unto him, tempting him, and saying unto him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife for every cause? And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them at the beginning made them male and female, And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife: and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. (Matthew 19:3-6)

Just as usual, the Pharisees reverted to tradition. Yes, the Mosaic Laws allowed divorce. Jesus knew that - because He was there when Moses took the law from God:

They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. (Matthew 19:7-8)

Take a look at the Strong's for the Greek word translated here as "suffered" - it does not mean "endured pain":

ἐπιτρέπω epitrepō ep-ee-trep'-o

From G1909 and the base of G5157; to turn over (transfer), that is, allow: - give leave (liberty, license), let, permit, suffer.

That should read: "Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to put away your wives. That is not what God created."

Problems that arise in a family often come from what some people say are "disfunctional actions." We've all read about disfunctional families. The vast majority of us come from families with huge disfunction. May I make a small suggestion here and define most of the "disfunction" can really be described as sinfulness?

Ooops - I do believe I've stepped on a few toes. I know mine felt some pressure from my own words. There have been disfunctions in my family, too. Some of the actions that were painful for my children can be traced to actions and attitudes that were in our home while they were children and teens.

How about your home - no, I am not asking that you answer any of them here - were there actions and/or attitudes in your own home that could be considered sin if measured by biblical standards?

Not my standards, biblical standards. Think for a few moments. Becasuse of the next few days I will be looking at what the Bible standards are. And they may not match your own. You may decide to call me on some of what I say - please do not hesitate to e-mail me if adding a Comment below is too public.

However, we do need to discuss sin - or people cannot understand why we say people are sinners in need of a Savior, and why we believe Jesus Christ is that very salvation. Alone. Without churches. And then we are going to discuss what a church is. Stick around for a few days.

Other Bible Readers

 When we talk about reading the Bible, we really mean the Holy Bible. It should contain both the Old Testament and the New Testament. It is fulll of different books, divided into chapters and verses for easily locatable use. No - it was not originally written in that form. 

When I was a child, a boy not much older than I was at the time discovered an entire cave holding scrolls that matched specific books of the Old Testament. So we know that what we have of the book of Isaiah matches what people over two thousand years ago were reading, and copied hundreds of years after they were originally written. These are eye witness acounts of actions taken by people interested in what their God had to say about what was happening at specific times.

My Bible reading is semi-scheduled, but I also listen every evening to YourVersion Bible plans. There are a multitude to choose from. I've gone through specific books, and I've gone through the entire Bible as laid out, plus as it occurs chronologically. That made for some interesting reading, especially through Kings, Chronicles, and the prophets. It was very helpful in the Gospels.

By the time one reads the Bible several times, when you read it again you do think "How did I miss that?" Sometimes it is a specific name, or a story. Other times the words are exactly the same and I  remember reading them, but they seem to have a specific meaning in this time of my life. This last week I read two devotional postings that focused on events I knew, names that were familiar, but the focus was a bit different.

Elijah was the first one. You find him to be an absolutely fascinating prophet. He raised the dead, healed a leper, killed Baal priests, hid from God, was taken up to heaven in a fiery chariot. Oh, yes, his life was extremely active and dedicated to the God who created the earth and set Israel on its path. 

When he challenged Baal's priests, it was after God withheld rain. By 1 Kings 18, the country was desparate for rain. Elijah had King Ahab summon Baal's priests and the citizens to choose:

So Ahab sent unto all the children of Israel, and gathered the prophets together unto mount Carmel. And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the LORD be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word. Then said Elijah unto the people, I, even I only, remain a prophet of the LORD; but Baal's prophets are four hundred and fifty men. (1 Kings 18:20-22)

The challenge wasn't about rain. It was about whose God would accept their sacrifice. Baal did not respond. God did:

Hear me, O LORD, hear me, that this people may know that thou art the LORD God, and that thou hast turned their heart back again. Then the fire of the LORD fell, and consumed the burnt sacrifice, and the wood, and the stones, and the dust, and licked up the water that was in the trench. (1 Kings 18:37-38)

No rain. Fire took the sacrifice, but no rain. Elijah knelt - the Bible doesn't say he prayed, but that is a prayful position. He sent his servant to look for a cloud. Seven times. That seventh time there was a small cloud. Elijah's faith lasted and at that point he told Ahab to leave the mountain, or the rain could stop him:

And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man's hand. And he said, Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not. (1 Kings 18:44)

I tend to neglect that continued prayer for what is needed. Just as I forgot Abigail's name, and how she stopped a slaughter. We meet Abigail in 1 Samiuel 25, the wife of a very wealthy man, not long after Samuel's death. David was still hiding from King Saul, who was determined that David should die. While hiding, David sent a group to ask Nabal for food for his men:

And Nabal answered David's servants, and said, Who is David? and who is the son of Jesse? there be many servants now a days that break away every man from his master. Shall I then take my bread, and my water, and my flesh that I have killed for my shearers, and give it unto men, whom I know not whence they be? So David's young men turned their way, and went again, and came and told him all those sayings. (1 Samuel 25:10-12)

David prepared his men for battle. While he did not want to attack his King, a wealthy opponent was no match. Abigail knew that, and when she learned both sides of the story:

Then Abigail made haste, and took two hundred loaves, and two bottles of wine, and five sheep ready dressed, and five measures of parched corn, and an hundred clusters of raisins, and two hundred cakes of figs, and laid them on asses. And she said unto her servants, Go on before me; behold, I come after you. But she told not her husband Nabal. And it was so, as she rode on the ass, that she came down by the covert of the hill, and, behold, David and his men came down against her; and she met them. (1 Samuel 25:18-20)

By her actions, Abigail saved her husband's life, their home, their wealth, and lives on both sides of the battle. Eventually, her husband died, and David took her to be his own wife. He had lived through her example of strategy and planning that kept her family from harm as well as gaining the friendship of their future king.

God's hand is seen in both of these stories - not in these specific verses. There are no praises, no commitments, no promises, no prayers that were answered except those given within God's will. Most of the biblical stories are just that - examples of what happens in - and without - God's will in the lives of ordinary people who become very extraordinary while living in God's will.

Reading and studying the Bible gives historical insight, too. These people lived thousands of years ago - but experienced many of the same political, economical, personal, and religious elements of life we face today. We should be learning from them.

Sing Praises

Images of People Singing Praises (screen capture)

When I was in High School (yes, over half a century ago) we sang a song that went:

Sing praises, sing praises. sing praises to our King

Sing praises, sing praises. sing praises,

Sing praises, sing praises. sing praises 

Sing praises, sing praises. sing praises  

I know, it seems repetitious, it was, but the music and rythm changed and we sang it with meaning, so it was truly praises, just as the angels before His throne say "Holy, holy, holy" and we sing it from a hymnal:

And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come. (Revelation 4:8)

But - we are not a repetitious people. We sing praises in a number of ways, though Psalms alone show 15 verses with that phrase, a couple of them repeat it:

Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. (Psalms 47:6)

That looks rather familiar, doesn't it?

While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being. (Psalms 146:2)

While not my life verse, that one is just about my favorite. While this one reminds us why we praise:

Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. (Psalms 106:1)

Another way of praising Him is in modern song. One of my favorites, "Satisfied," includes:

Oh Hallelujah! I have found Him, Whom my soul so long has craved!

That song begins: 

All my lifelong I have panted For a drink from some cool spring

That I hoped would quench the burning Of the thirst I felt within

That thirst is what Jesus answered the woman at the well:

Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw. (John 4:13-15)

How appropriate that following John 3, the conversation Jesus held with Nicodemus is followed by His explanation of living water. That His ability to discuss theology with a Pharisee member of the Sanhedrin (and remind him of things he should have known) is just as important to discuss where and when to worship with a woman living without marriage, but who needs God just as much as Nicodemus. God truly is no respecter of persons.

And that is simply another reason for praising Him as our Father in Heaven, where we will live eternally, through His grace and our faith.

Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:5-9)

Read The Bible

e-Sword Screen (Capture)

I used to have a lovely graphic of an open Bible - but it's on my old computer, which still holds a bunch of stuff I have yet to transfer. There is a possibility it will live beyond me and either be trashed, erased, or completely ignored. The more digital material this world gains, the greater the loss because we don't get it shared.

Why do I mention this? Because I want you to read the Bible. I really do not care if it is printed or digital. I use e-Sword on both my phone and my personal computer because I got used to it, and it's been around for decades. Well written, every free translation is available free of charge, and lots of purchasable translations are also available. There is a copy of the Strong's Hebrew and Greek available - I use it with my King James Version. Yes - I still use the old KJV, but not the first KJV, and I'm not against using the NKJV or even other translations. I do suggest doing parallel Bibles to find out what is "missing" from the Textus Receptus used for the original KJV (that is very hard to read! I had a copy.)

Reading aloud from the same version during a lesson is helpful for a class situation, and I suggest that first for brand new readers of the Bible. Some people find any version difficult. Often because they find something there that means their life will change.

I promise you, it will. It will change because you know more than you did before and you will be required to make a decision: Is the Bible accurate?

Is it? No - you don't have to send me a note with your answer. Just be aware that I know there will be two different answers reached: 1) No, this cannot possibly be right; or, 2) Yes! this is is what I've been seeking.

In fact, if you have e-Sword you can do a search in the free KJV for "seek the Lord" and you'll see that phrase in 27 different verses. First one is:

But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul. (Deuteronomy 4:29)

But that single verse means nothing if you don't know where "But if from thence thou shalt" means. So now you know that verses do not stand alone. They are in context. However, if from thence you seek the Lord thy God, you are told thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all the heart and with all thy soul. In this one verse, there are conditions. God has conditions. If you seek Him, He will be found.

And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the LORD. (2 Chronicles 12:14)

Who decided not to find out if God existed? You'll have to read this one in context, too. That twelfth chapter of 2 Chronicles pretty much lays out what happens when someone decides to ignore God completely. You have that capability. Everyone does. It is possible to leave this world without believing God exists. And that is why I have spent decades encouraging Bible reading. 

Know what you are giving up. Learn things outside of the Bible. Look up Pascal's Wager, and read people who laughed at it. Then read the Bible to find out what they turned down:

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (John 3:14-18)

When first reading that third chapter of John, you are introduced to Nicodemus, who has come to Jesus asking questions. Those who come to the Bible for the first time have plenty of questions - and those of us who read it are ready to answer questions. We've been prepared for some time only because we've continiued to read, study, and pray over what is in the Bible. Took thousands of years to write down what was there - and although there have been tons of books written sense, there is no need for more information than what is written there. The Bible is filled with complete fulfilled prophecy - and with some that is yet to be fulfilled. But it should not be added to, nor subtracted from:

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: (Revelation 22:17-18)

I have read about the plagues. I will not add anything to the book. I send people to do their own reading. I suggest they read with prayer and a spirit of seeking God. The last verse to use the "seek the Lord" phrase is the only one in the New Testament:

That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: (Acts 17:27)

The words of Jesus, the only begotten Son of God, Savior of mankind, Lamb of God, Prince of Peace, can be found in red in many of the printed and digital Bibles. Take them seriously when you consider:

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: (2 Timothy 3:16)

 

Funerals - Three in a Week

 Source unknown

I've used this graphic before - first on Baptist Funerals, and again writing of funerals. They happen. People die. Expectedly. And, extremely unexpectedly.

Friday we attended the funeral of a friend from church. That same day another friend from church died. His funeral will be this Thursday. Saturday morning the daughter of a church friend experienced a ruptured aneurysm. Her death Sunday morning was still a shock. Three deaths within a week's time of people we knew.

The first thing we are able lto do is to pray, and my first thoughts in those prayers take me to a verse I've used on this blog many times for a variety of occasions:

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:26-28)

Those verses are not a prayer - they are an explanation about prayer. We've been given instructions about prayers by the very person who is our intecessor in Heaven. He began by explaning how NOT to pray:

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him. (Matthew 6:5-8)

Did you get the part "your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him"? Reminds me of "And he that searacheth the hearts knoweth what is in the mind of the Spirit." God knows exactly what just happened in our lives - every single moment in our lives. There are no surprises to Him as there are to us. From the last breath of a loved one in hospice to the staggering shock of an unexpected loss, God knew it was coming and He knows what we need.

My second thought about preparing to speak to someone who has experienced a loss is II Corinthians 1:3-4:

Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

The Holy Spirit is the Comforter Jesus spoke of in John 14, and among those verses is:

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. (John 14:26)

Remember Pentecost? When the Holy Spirit first came upon Jesus followers? From then on, believers' baptism included the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, the comforter who was to teach us and help us remember all that Jesus taught. How do you get that education Jesus taught? Bible reading. 

Reading God's word with prayer brings us closer to understanding where we are, why we are where we are, where we need to be next, and trust God's presence in placing us where He wants us to be doing His will.

I knew two of the three people who died this week, and the mother who lost her daughter. Three families with multiple generations are missing someone who meant life to them. They need comfort. It is available in a number of ways.

First is contact at home, letting them know there is help with transportation, planning, and guests. Food is needed, and they have little attention left for meals. That is easily provided. The funeral can be attended as a sign of caring support - and in our church, a meal afterward is available with a variety of simply awesome comfort food. Key word remains "comfort." Never forgetting there is a Comforter provided by God through Jesus Christ for every event in our life, good, bad, or deadly.

Each of these people made a public profession of their faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior, based on biblical beliefs that go beyond John 3:16:

Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (John 3:5)

It also encompasses:

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? (Micah 6:8)

Obedience to walk with God goes beyond public words. I'll be adding a small prayer for my readers:

Oh, Lord, my strength in all that is around me, I pray for those that stop and read your words here that they will reach for the full, so very Holy, Bible. Your messages to us over millennia carry history and hope for every living person. I pray it is opened and read, read and prayed over, understood and carried out that your will is done in our lives. Comfort us, Lord, in our losses, and restore joy in our blessings. Guide and directd our lives as we seek Thy will in our daily lives. Amen.

Come With Prayerfulness

 

Every time I pray for help in writing this blog, words flow. When I try to do it on my own, I have writers block like a train tunnel bricked up at both ends. There is no light at all in that particular tunnel.

From the beginning of the Bible to the very last chapter, there are examples of people - all kinds of people, rich, poor, smart, dumb, old young, Jew, and gentile - all prayed directly to God. Priests were available, not required until the Mosaid law, and I only found one instance where I have questions about that:

Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. They say unto him, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement, and to put her away? He saith unto them, Moses because of the hardness of your hearts suffered you to put away your wives: but from the beginning it was not so. (Matthew 19:6-8)

In this, and a couple of other instances, I'd like to have the answer. But, I know I have to "know as also I am known", as Paul wrote. So I will wait upon that particular answer and stick to ones not ambiguous.

Best examples are the good things done in the Bible that worked well - and talking with God is outstanding. Priests handled sacrifices, prophets spoke to the people, but everyone had the opportunity to speak to God, and answers were available. Why do we often ignore that today?

Be careful when you start studying pray/prayer(s)/prayerfulness - there are over 450 matches in the King James Version. ESV has 321 (Hmmm. How about that?) ASV has 515. DRB has 505. No matter which version of the Bible you choose to study (I personally use more than one), it will take time to reach a personal conclusion regarding your own prayer life.

Jesus taught us a prayer - but we do not have to follow each and every word to reach Him. Matthew's (6:9-13) is longer and more familiar, given as part of the Sermon on the Mount. It includes phrases like "on earth as it is in heaven" and concludes with deliverance from the evil one. Luke's (11:2-4) is shorter and more concise, given in response to a follower's request. It uses the word "sins" instead of "debts".

Never in the Old or New Testaments is there a reason given to pray to a person here on earth in order to have our prayers reach God. Often, when someone asks for prayers in support, I will send them this:

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:26-28)

Or:

Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14-16)

God Himself hears our prayers. We are saints (do not doubt that) and our prayers are sweet to Him:

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. (Revelation 5:8)

In his letters to churches, Paul asks for prayer:

Romans 15:30-32, 2 Corinthians 1:11, Ephesians 6:19-20, Colossians 4:3-4, 1 Thessalonians 5:25, 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2, and Hebrews 13:18 (Yes, I am one of those who thinks Paul wrote the book of Hebrews, perhaps with Luke writing it down and getting it out of prison. No, I do not want to argue about it. Research on your own and reach your own conclusion.)

Of course, our own best example is Jesus, in the Garden, with sleeping disciples, alone with His father, knowing exactly what was approaching down the road. Once, twice, and the third time, He prayed: 

Matthew 26:39; Luke 22:42; and Mark 14:36.

He also prayed for His disciples, then for you, me, and all the others who believe Him:

Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: (John 17:20-22)

Please take a moment to pray to our Father in remembrance of His unspeakable gift of eternal life to all who believe His promise:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

It really is that simple.

What Comes To Mind

 

Copyright - not for reproduction

That light colored mass is behind my right eye, pressing into my right temporal lobe. Has been for over a decade, and for a variety of reasons, is considered inoperable - unless it reaches out to touch my optic nerve, which it hasn't. I decided to call it Henry - much more easily pronounced than meningioma, which fortunately usually represeents a benign tumor. We use annual MRIs to track Henry, who has grown in millimeters, not centimeters, which is fortunate. I just set up my annual appointment, so Henry is back on my mind.

What comes to mind when you have something growing in your body that you cannot see, and is measured in ways you don't understand? Odd thoughts. 

Henry was discovered when I took my headaches to my primary care physician and he requested the first MRI. The results sent me to a neurologist who sent me to a neurosurgeon. That's when I learned a complication meant the only removal option was cyberknife. Since Henry was slow growing, we all decided to remain on watch-and-wait. Frankly, as a septuagenarian there would most likely me something else that ended the watch. Fortunately, wait continues. My "time" has not come.

"Wait" has a lot of religious connotations for Christians. Jews waited for a Messiah. We think He came, but Christians have been waiting a very long time for His promised return. We continue to hope - to expect - 

Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. (Luke 6:30-36)

The single "hope" in this example Jesus gives is the only time the word is used in the four gospels. However, the word is used another 60 times in the remainder of the New Testament. Mostly in verses similar to:

And now I stand and am judged for the hope of the promise made of God unto our fathers: (Acts 26:6)

For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it. (Romans 8:24-25)

That "hope" is faith that God has given us instructions to follow, and when we do, we reach Him. Simple, isn't it? Then why are there so many different denominations, undenominational churches, and disputes within denominations who all claim to be the right path to God?

My personal opinon is too many people deciding they know what is right over what is biblically correct. Add that error to a personal falibility in mankind - to chose what is liked over what is necessary.

Wasn't that how the world saw Jesus? How many in the world see Him today? Too many of us do not like a specific area Jesus taught, so we change what was said to fit our current view of the world view. Very famous world leaders have done that, and so has a neighbor down your street. It began with Eve. Adam and Eve were given simple instructions:

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. (Genesis 2:16-17)

Of course God knew - Peter knew:

But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, (1 Peter 1:19-20)

Nothing surprises God, but His interference does not occur as expected, and has usually been foretold. Best to keep it simple, as He has put before us. If we think something spiritual comes to mind, test it!

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: (1 John 4:1-2)

Witnesses Testify Truthfully

Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. (John 16:7, KJV)

The other day I posted verses. Today a new thought came from them. That happens a lot when we read Scripture with prayers to see what God has to tell us. Earlier I was thinking of the Holy Spirit and about both the just and the unjust who can have the same experiences of good and bad. 

Today I was struck by:  or if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; 

Jesus had a choice. He has the same human choice all people face - faith that God can do what He promised and follow instructions, or do as you please. 

We think of Jesus as being tempted once and coming through a test. That is not humanly possible. We are tempted daily. You and I both know that. Simple things, like bread. That's what Satan used first with Jesus:

And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, Being forty days tempted of the devil. And in those days he did eat nothing: and when they were ended, he afterward hungered. And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. (Luke 4:1-4)

How simple that would have been for the man who fed thousands with a few loves and fish to have bread in an instant. But He used what we should when we are tempted - scripture. That "every word of God" should be very important to us, but do not take things out of context. God will never ask that we break His commandments in order to follow His words. Question what we read, prayerfully and keeping in mind that God has given us a Comforter.

How can you - or I - use scripture if we don't know it? How do we get to know it? By reading it every day and memorizing when we can. The more time we spend with scripture, the more we read, question, prayer about, and eventually understand what God has in there that we've missed before.

I use e-Sword on my phone and on my computer more than I do a printed Bible. I find it extremely handy and helps me search for scripture when I am only certain about a word or two. It allows me to highlight and take notes, just as the printed Bible does, but it is easier to search in for specific words or phrases.

For example - where Jesus gives the most important law. I love those verses and can remember one phrase used there "second like unto" so I search for all three of those words, which only occur in one verse. But it takes four verses to get the gist, and it takes knowing the Ten Commandments to know why those two are the most important. The Bible is always more important than a single verse. Context is absolutely necessary in seeing beyond tradition and teaching errors.

It takes the whole Bible - from Genesis to Revelation to see why Jesus had to die - God has given His life story through prophets from Genesis forward. If Jesus took Satan's offer, what would happen? Frankly, heaven only knows. "If" truly is an illusion that never does occur when God's plan is followed. 

Who better to follow it then the human God created specifically for the purpose, in whom the Holy Spirit dwelled. Where was the Spirit between calvary and Pentecost? We can't know, and it makes no difference in our instructions. 

Until His return, His disciples were told what to do:

But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8, KJV)

When we believe on Him we make a public profession of faith. At Pentecost, believers were given the Holy Spirit for the first time. It no longer comes with "tongues of fire," but we are still to be witnesses unto Jesus both at home and into the uttermost. 

How is your witnessing? 

He Has Character

That's just a snippit of the Sistine Chapel's ceiling -  the hand of God reaching out toward Adam's - one man's vision of the creation that doesn't match the Bible at all, but is a beautiful painting. God allowed but one man to glimpse Him as He left - and Moses did not leave a detailed description.

I have my own concept of God, gained by reading His word and my prayers to Him:

“For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” (2 Timothy 1:12, KJV)

Indeed. Like Paul, I know Him. Another Paul quote:

For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)

The God I worship is all powerful, omnipotent, capable of keeping the life I gave Him even if I'm incapable of doing all He asks of me. In previous blogs I have included a few assurances verses. These two scriptures are specific assurances that God is capable of keeping our souls that we put in His keeping. 

Our Father has inspired a wide variety of authors to get His story to us. Some of the authors remain anonymous - such as the oldest book - Job. Even so, there is a wealth of information about God's character - even if we are left with questions about Satan's character, location, and relationship with God.

My resume has some unique businesses, but two of them remain international firms with a wide range of employees. One in particular offered a position where co-workers worshipped god's dissimilar to the Judeo-Christian God of the Bible.

Saddest in my view was one co-worker who had been raised in a Catholic family, left their faith to seek "something that was missing," and was open with their Wiccan beliefs. "As it harms none, do what ye will." It was understood there were spirits involved, which the Bible faced much earlier:

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1 John 4:1-3)

My co-worker specifically rejected Jesus as being any part of God, or their being a God who inspired the Bible. Another co-worker worships a variety of gods who report to a single, more powerful god - but definitely require sacrifices and worship for themselves. There are idols representing them, whether they be major or minor gods.

Some see Christians as worshipping a trinity of gods, but God is singular. I've written about that often, the most recent being last week's "Let's Start With Baptism" so we won't spend time there except to say Jesus was killed because He continued to equate Himself to God. God was here in a natural, human, body, and fulfilled all the scriptures that pointed to His coming.

Yet there are a couple of religions that reject that. One is actively growing today, the other was more active in the 18th century.  While Christianity is often thought of as a separate religion, it should be considered a branch of Judaism, a continuation of Jewish prophecy. When we read:

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: (Deuteronomy 6:4)

We also read Jesus Christ's confirmation in Matthew 22:36-40 and again in Mark:

And Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandments is, Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment. And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these. (Mark 12:29-31)

Thus, in a continuing story since the very creation of this world, a single deity has remained involved with His creation. God is a spirit:

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. (John 4:23)

That is where we are. Waiting with His commands in our lives for the remainder of the prophesies to be fulfilled. He has tasks for each of us. With His presence you will find your specific task. Do it as long as you are here. There's a marvelous reward for doing so.

Along Came A Spider

 

Let me expand the information from that graphic. A friend posted on X that she had taken the time to rescue a wolf spider inside her house. She had cleaner in her hand, sprayed the spider, caught it in a paper cup, rinsed it off, and placed it safely outside. Another poster write the above and I did a screen capture on this particular sermon.

Indeed - looking through the Bible there are a virtual mountain of examples where God took someone from a place theiy shouldn't be, put them in the place they should be, and proceeded with His eternal plan that we continue to wonder whether or not it exists - and if it does, why doesn't He share it with us now? Don't tell me that question hasn't run through your mind. Surely you know it ran through the minds of people who dealt directly with God.

First, of course, would be Adam and Eve. The first three chapters has that story pretty well covered. Knowing exactly what they would do with Eden, God moved them into the real world to get on with the rest of the story.

Therefore the LORD God sent him forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. (Genesis 3:23)

Then there was Abraham, who pretty much did what God told him to do - leave home and settle in a new place. It took some wandering around, the loss of his nephew's wife, but he was promised land for his descendants:

Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: (Genesis 12:1-2)

Isaac wasn't Abraham's first born son - and that particular battle is being fought after a multitude of millennia! Isaac had to accept the wife his father had brought to him, put up with battles between his two sons, and one had to go to an uncle. This uncle foisted off one daughter after seven years service, then another seven for the second daughter, before Jacob could return to his family.

I'm certain both Isaac and Jacob would understand the wolf spider's confusion at his move.

Joseph - Jacob's beloved son - right? He had literal dreams of sun, moon, and stars bowing down to him. He was his father's favorite son and ten of his brothers had a problem with that. By this time Jacob's name had been changed to Israel, and he was the leader of several tribes - within a couple of generations, they were all in Egypt, bound as slaves - and we are only in the first book of the Bible.

Every one of the above people were placed where they needed to be by following God's instructions. Note that there was some deviation on the part of each person. None of us are perfect. God uses the people who respond to Him. That particular choice is explained in Esther - about half way between Moses and Jesus' times:

For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? (Esther 4:14)

Simple. All Esther had to do was go to a place where people had been killed for sitting foot. It depended completely on the whim of a man who had complete control over her life and had been known to send people to their death for approaching him. What would you have done?

Oddly enough, God's name, titles, nor Judaism in any form other than birth is mentioned in Esther. Yet everyone knows the fate of the tribes of Israel were decided in the actions described in this book, and are celebrated among the Israelite people even today. 

I could go into detail about where we live today, but it would take a couple of chapters to explain how God brought it to specifically the right place to watch the conversion experience that convinced us we were moved here at the right time. Instead, let me turn again to the Bible to show how well God plans:

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. (1 Peter 1:18-21)

Armageddon

 

Armageddon (circle of Pierre de Cortone)

"The extraordinary iconography of this work is an almost literal interpretation of the Book of Revelation (16: 1-14), which describes the final battle between Good and Evil on the day of the Last Judgment. Seven angels pour out the bowls of God’s wrath on the Earth, each one unleashing a new plague. The dragon on the right represents the false prophets, from whose mouths issue ‘unclean spirits like frogs’. Although it depicts a subject rarely tackled in Italian painting, this work was certainly executed by an artist close to Pietro da Cortona, as suggested by the mysterious heavily draped figures that close the composition on the left."

I am as curious as the next person as to what the descriptions in Revelation might mean. Were they limited by the vocabulary of the times? How would a person in first century describe one of these flying:

I've read one author that described a battle where helicopters fit well into Revelation 4:3-11. May I explain right now - it doesn't matter.

There are many such explanations, assumptions, ascertainments, and guesses about when the Battle of Armageddon will occur, who will be left on earth when it does occur, and firm statements that it cannot occur because God does not exist. Not one of those statements concerns me.

I hope it doesn't concern you either. We are only promised right now. Any portion of the future we are in is to be considered our allotted time, but it may last for decades, or it may end now. We've all seen death occur around us. I imagine any of my readers would have experienced the death of a family member, perhaps extended or close, or a friend, or co-worker. Everyone is aware that we spend our lifetime without knowing when it will end.

We reach out to people who have made it clear they are unhappy with that arrangement and wish to meet death quicker and on their own terms. For a variety of reasons, people do take their own lives - and we work hard to keep them from accomplishing their goal. We search for reasons to continue.

As Christians, we have been given assurance that there is more than this life on earth, but not everyone is a Christian. There are other religions that belief life continues, but not in the manner Jesus taught. As His followers, He has made it plain that we are to accomplish His purpose, and at the correct time we would be joining Him. 

I do love the assurance verses:

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they. (Acts 15:11)

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13)

Those are only a few that confirm Jesus' word to Nicodemus in John 3:16. That entire conversation is an excellent read. Even a very educated Pharisee came to Jesus with questions. Can you imagine the bravery it took for him to ask for permission to bury Jesus?

As Christians, we need to be prepared to work God's will in our lives. It may not be a noticeable position, and we may feel that no one is paying attention to us - you'd be very surprised. 1 Corinthians 12 explains it much better - read before and after this:

And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness. (1 Corinthians 12:23)

One of my most memorable ladies lacked a strong educated background, but she was an awesome prayer warrior with a long list that she laid before God with fervor. 

And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. (Revelation 5:8)

That is something we can all do, along with gathering together in worship and fellowship, as long as God has us here. He places His children where He needs them when He needs them. Read Esther. She was placed for one specific purpose where she could accomplish God's will to save Israelites. Why? Only God knows the totality of His plan. But we are given a glimpse and instructions. 

Enjoy your curiousities, but don't live your life in/for anything expect the closeness God offers through prayer, reading the Bible, and fellowshipping with like minded believers - and enjoying the fruit of the Spirit:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)