Friends In Deed

Hand of Friendship, Chateau Thierry, France

A couple of years ago (I think) I posted a blog on correcting errors.  I introduced it with this paragraph:

I met a dear friend through the internet when I left a short message correcting an item she had posted. She did not take well to the short, terse note and we had a long explanatory exchange that led to friendship.

Recently, because of a multitude of things going on in her life, I did not  include her in a prayer request I sent to a mutual friend.  I was wrong.

The only way to have a friend is to be a friend – Ralph Waldo Emerson.

By not including her in the prayer request, I deleted her opportunity to show her friendship.  I was wrong.

Christ spoke of friendship in more than one verse:

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13 KJV)

Jesus laid down His life.  Would seem from that that he did so for friends.  Do you think of yourself as His friend?  Jesus had more to say about the subject in the next verse:

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. (John 15:14 KJV)

Christ also showed the greater love that God has for mankind by laying down His life for those yet to come. The billions of people alive today, and the billions who came before.  Including those who decline to be friends with Him.

Solomon agreed with Emerson:

A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. (Proverbs 18:24 KJV)

Another quote I ran across, but could not locate the author is:  Friends are people we choose to be family.  I agree with that.  For what ever reason we make that first contact, however the friendship grows, true friends become family that do stick together.

Never take friends for granted.  Let them know how important they are – to us, and to the Lord we serve.  His resurrection was for them, too, and it is up to us to remember that, teach that, live that.

Rather than a lifetime, these friendships may last an eternity.

Lions and Lambs and Other Things

In Christian heraldry the lamb is the symbol of the Redeemer and the lion is the symbol of the Resurrection

A search in Wikimedia Commons for lion/lamb combination came back with lots of pubs.  And, the explanation about heraldry.  A search in Google for that same image combination came back with pages of paintings, photographs, drawings, and clip art, along with references to:

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. (Isaiah 11:6 KJV)

The images of lions and lambs do not match the verse.  This one comes close:

It is so easy to misquote the Bible, taking from it what we would like to hear, or taking something that sounds biblical and accepting it as so. CNN wrote a blog about such biblical misquotes earlier this summer.

The article begins with “This too shall pass,” but that one does have a biblical base in:

Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away. (Matthew 24:35 KJV)

Even though the words are not exact, that verse tells us that all things shall pass – but God’s words will not.  See, we also forget “the rest of the story” even when we get the gist of the verse.

People get so tied up in correcting misquotes, or looking for conflicts, that they neglect to study for content and meaning.  We forget why we study God’s word, and where it should reside:

With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee. (Psalms 119:10-11 KJV)

How do we seek God?  By listening to others, or asking Him directly? Why do we seek Him?  Because others have said we should or because a part of us wants to know Him?  Why do some deride those who say they have found Him?  Jealousy, because of a personal lack or fear of Him?

Those are very personal questions and while they have no exact answers, some are afraid of even thinking of them.

Finding out what God is, and isn’t, is a very personal journey.  I doubt that there are two people on the planet that have exactly the same answer.  For those two to find each other would take a lot of people discussing Him and sharing those discussions.  Whatever their religious beliefs are, they must search their foundations, know the source of their beliefs, during any discussion.

For a Christian, that would be getting to know their Bible.  Being able to go to the source, understand where those books came from.  Who wrote them?  When were they written, and in what language?  Who did the translation and why? 

Knowing what I believe and why I believe it still comes down to faith.

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 KJV)

Someone else told me first, then I sought to know for myself. Take care when that seeking is done.  There will come a time when He cannot be found.

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: (Isaiah 55:6 KJV)

“Ten Little Christians”, author unknown

Not to long ago we held a conversation about a family that had left our church a couple of years ago.  They had been offended, and though I know by what, that’s not important.  This verse, from Wednesday night’s service is:

Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them. (Psalms 119:165 KJV)

That verse came to mind when I read this on Alfie’s Multiply page.  Have you been, or can you see, some of these who were offended:

Ten little Christians standing in a line,
One disliked the pastor, then there were nine.
Nine little Christians stayed up very late,
One slept in on Sunday, then there were eight.
Eight little Christians on their way to heaven,
One took the low road, then there were seven.
Seven little Christians chirping like chicks,
One disliked the music, then there were six.
Six little Christians seemed very much alive,
But one lost his interest, then there were five.
Five little Christians pulling for Heaven's shore,
But one stopped to rest, then there were four.
Four little Christians, each busy as a bee,
One got her feelings hurt, then there were three.
Three little Christians knew what to do,
One joined the sports crowd, then there were two.
Two little Christians, our rhyme is nearly done,
Differed with each other, then there was one.
One little Christian can't do much 'tis true;
Brought his friend to Bible study, then there were two.
Two earnest Christians, each won one more,
That doubled their number, then there were four.
Four sincere Christians worked early and late,
Each won another, then there were eight.
Eight little Christians, if they doubled as before,
In just a few short weeks, we'd have 1,024.
In this little jingle, there's a lesson true,
You belong to the building, or the wrecking crew.

I prefer the building crew!  Where do you fit in? Jesus offended His followers:

When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? (John 6:61 KJV)

What He said did offend them, and they responded as those Christians above:

From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. (John 6:66 KJV)

God knows we will be offended, and that we will offend. 

For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. (James 3:2 KJV)

We must work to bridle our tongue, our thoughts, our lives, building them with God’s laws.  We must let the imperfections pass pass through us, knowing that while we are not perfect He is.  We must forgive as He does, never holding on to the offense.

Do that and we’ll never be one of those nine who walked away from their church.  The choice is ours.

To See The Universe

Laser Towards Milky Way’s Centre

Just revisiting a thought I had as I wrote about Einstein the other day.

We see the universe marvelously arranged and obeying certain laws but only dimly understand these laws. Our limited minds grasp the mysterious force that moves the constellations.

I agree that the universe is marvelous and our minds are limited, but that doesn’t mean we should consider the universe before God. Mankind has often substituted His creation for the Creator.

And lest thou lift up thine eyes unto heaven, and when thou seest the sun, and the moon, and the stars, even all the host of heaven, shouldest be driven to worship them, and serve them, which the LORD thy God hath divided unto all nations under the whole heaven. (Deuteronomy 4:19 KJV)

We all enjoy watching the diamond sparkle of the night sky.  Every once in a while there are displays of fire as pieces of rock streak as molten lava across the skies.  We stay up late – or get up early – not to miss the show.

We build observatories, place them in space and capture photographs that man’s mind could hardly conceive. They are beautiful, and they raise some of the same questions from millennia before:

When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? (Psalms 8:3-4 KJV)

We have a place in God’s universe and in His plans:

For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: (Psalms 8:5-6 KJV)

David’s son, after many years of giving it thought, came to a conclusion:

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. (Ecclesiastes 12:13 KJV)

Unfortunately, not very many came to a similar conclusion, neglecting God as they achieved great thoughts and progressed through time. They never work past the “I will” syndrome to reach “Thy will be done.”

Jesus said His presence in our world was solely to do His will:

For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. (John 6:38 KJV)

He went further in the next verse, speaking of God’s will for each one of us:

And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:40 KJV)

Continue to consider the heavens, the work of His hand.  Consider the beauty of the world around us.  Speak to the Creator as part of our whole duty of man.  Then follow Moses’ advice:

Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons, and thy sons' sons; (Deuteronomy 4:9 KJV)

What We Have

Thanks-Giving Square chapel interior in Dallas, Texas

My friend Larry posted a quote he found, and I’ve come to appreciate very much:

What if you woke up today with only what you thanked God for yesterday?

When I first read that, I was grateful that I had thanked God for my home, my family, my church, my church family, which I do on a regular basis, but there were some things I would miss from the day before.

I would have food, we give thanks to God for our meals, asking that it be used to nourish us as we do His will.  I have also shown gratitude to Him for our transportation, as well as the freedom of choices we have as to where we can go.  I’m not certain I give thanks daily for our doctors, but I do for the health that we have.  I need to give daily thanks for our doctors, too.

See, when we really consider how we express our gratitude to God, it helps us count those blessings that make our daily lives abundant. We’ve been promised abundance:

… I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. (John 10:10b KJV)

However, can we follow Paul’s exhortation and give thanks for everything:

Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; (Ephesians 5:20 KJV)

All things?  Even spending the day at the hospital with Second Daughter?

OK, how about – thanks there are trained professionals to walk her through the series of tests she has to undertake.  The intake clerk, the first nursing station where they put her on a moving bed (and gave her one of those airy gowns that tie in the back).  Thanks for the quick and easy blood letting by a very nice ‘vampire’, and for all of them who saw to it there were no latex gloves around her (she’s allergic!)  Thanks for the equipment, and those who maintain it.  For the sparkling (literally, you’d have to see them) floors and the cleaning staff who see to that.

And that’s all within the first hour, and there were hours more to go.

I’m still reading notes from a number of people who joined us in prayer for her test today.  Possible side effects were migraine headaches and nausea.  She really prayed that those did not happen – and they did not.  We’re grateful for the prayers, and for this answered prayers.

We’re very grateful for a personal God.  We see Him as David did:

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well. (Psalms 139:14 KJV)

I long to spend time with those who also would praise the Lord!!

Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness. (Psalms 107:8-9 KJV)

Another Survey

Reproduction of the frontis of the 1611 edition of the King James Bible

I know, it appears that’s all I’ve read for the last couple of days – both on USA Today, too.  But both interest me.  Yesterday’s was on faith in America – today’s on the King James Bible.  And, do I have things to say about that!

“If thou hast a Bible in the house right now and readeth it at least once a month, chances are strong it’s the majestic King James Version of the Bible in Elizabethan English”

Now  that’s not too hard to understand, is it?  Neither is the rest of it. Look up a few words (or get e-Sword and look up the Strong’s definition of the Greek or Hebrew for even greater understanding.)

Of the 89% of U.S. adults who own at least one Bible, 67% own a King James, which marks its 400th anniversary this year, according to LifeWay Research, a Nashville-based Christian research agency.  … 82% of those who read the Good Book at least once a month rely on the translation that first brought the Scripture to the English-speaking masses worldwide.

You will find people who state they’ll “Stand by the 1611” or that the spelling of “Saviour” in the King James is the only way!  Unfortunately, for many those really are “fightin’ words.”  They shouldn’t be.

And my spirit hath reioyced in God my sauiour. (Luke 1:47 KJV-1611)
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. (Luke 1:47 KJV)

I feel much more comfortable reading the second spelling, even if it is slightly less American.  There are no changes in the meaning.

When I quote the Bible, I like the fact that the KJV is not under copy right.  A group of translators do not own what I read.  I do not need their permission to include any words in my posts.  I also like the ‘thee’ and ‘thou’ and ‘ye’, which hold different meanings besides our all inclusive ‘you,’ which covers both singular and plural. Was the promise to one, or to all?  Pronouns make a difference.

I like using a single version in services, too.  When our Junior High Girl’s Sunday School class reads the lesson, we are able to focus on what is being read in each verse rather than the differences in each version.  Here’s a small example.  Suppose three of the girls had these versions of Daniel 1:1:

NIV:  In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 

ASV:  In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it.

GNT:  In the third year that Jehoiakim was king of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia attacked Jerusalem and surrounded the city.

They each provide the same concept, but reading aloud, the focus should be on pronouncing the king’s name (hard enough as it is!!) than on sentence structure.  Why not read it all together as:

In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah came Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon unto Jerusalem, and besieged it. (Daniel 1:1 KJV)

I’ll leave it to theologians to discuss apologetics regarding the translations.  My family has chosen to be in a church that uses the King James Version, and I’m quite content in my reading of God’s word.

Topography of Faith

The Pew survey results are shown on the USA Today website. The site quotes Pew as saying it was a survey of 35,556 adults, based on random telephone interviews conducted in English and Spanish from May 8-August 13, 2007.  Another 1,050 interviews were added from a poll of Muslim adults in American in Arabic, Farsi and Urdu from January 24 through April 30, 2007.  The surveys are available on line at http://pewforum.org.

On the results map it is possible to cursor over states and see some extrapolated results.  Take care, however, if you wish some state results – they are combined with others (i.e. North and South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana).  The number of people specifying no religion is highest in the northeastern states and along the Pacific coast.

Don’t think of those being just the highly populated areas.  The combined results for Vermont/New Hampshire is 26% of the population not affiliated with any religion with Maine the second highest at 25%.
To me that’s a high percentage of people who are not affiliated with any religion.  My home state sits at 12% who consider themselves not religious.  Mississippi appears to be the lowest, at 6%.

I do pray that with that high percentage of people saying they are attending a church that there is a large display of the fruits 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 KJV)

(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) (Ephesians 5:9 KJV)

If they are like me, I have a tendency to fall short.  I have problems with ‘longsuffering’ – fortitude and patience.  But, I’m working on that.  ‘Meekness’, too – humility before my God is fairly easy, but there are times pride in my work takes over.  I pray to be content with satisfaction, not pride.

Love, joy, peace – those fill us quickly when we open our hearts to God, for He is love.  To know Him requires love.

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (1 John 4:8 KJV)

Temperance – Okay, so I come up short on self-control, too.  Yes, I can admit to my faults, and there are many.  Why not?  God knows them all, too. Again, the Bible tells me so:

For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things. (1 John 3:20 KJV)

David understood this and shared his heart with us:

He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalms 103:10-12 KJV)

For that, I am eternally grateful!!!