3/13/12

Next: Rose, party of FOUR???


I see a lot of motorcycles in Florida!  Its very common on a sunny day for an older couple to be out for a ride... no big deal!  BUT, this cycle is a little different than anything I have ever seen before.  It seems to me that this one could easily seat three people, perhaps even four!!!  As I think about it, Jesus said where two or three are gathered together, I am in the midst of them.  Humm, a church on a motorcycle???  In one of our classes AT CHURCH, we have been studying what it means to be a church and so I thought of the "one another" passages from the Bible.  Here are a few...

Some negative ones first...

WEB: Romans 14:13. Therefore let’s not judge one another any more, but judge this rather, that no man put a stumbling block in his brother’s way, or an occasion for falling.

WEB: I Corinthians 4:6. Now these things, brothers, I have in a figure transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that in us you might learn not to think beyond the things which are written, that none of you be puffed up against one another.

WEB: Galatians 5:26. Let’s not become conceited, provoking one another, and envying one another.

 WEB: Colossians 3:9. Don’t lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old man with his doings,

 WEB: James 4:11. Don’t speak against one another, brothers. He who speaks against a brother and judges his brother, speaks against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge.

WEB: James 5:9. Don’t grumble, brothers, against one another, so that you won’t be judged. Behold, the judge stands at the door.


Next, on to the positive...

 WEB: John 13:34. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you; that you also love one another.

 WEB: Romans 12:10. In love of the brothers be tenderly affectionate one to another; in honor preferring one another;
 
 WEB: Romans 14:19. So then, let us follow after things which make for peace, and things by which we may build one another up.

 WEB: Romans 15:7. Therefore accept one another, even as Christ also accepted you, to the glory of God.

 WEB: Romans 16:16. Greet one another with a holy kiss. The assemblies of Christ greet you.

WEB: I Corinthians 12:25. that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.

WEB: Galatians 5:13. For you, brothers, were called for freedom. Only don’t use your freedom for gain to the flesh, but through love be servants to one another.

 WEB: Galatians 6:2. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

 WEB: Ephesians 4:25. Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor. For we are members of one another.

 WEB: Ephesians 4:32. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.

WEB: Colossians 3:13. bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do.

WEB: Colossians 3:16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.

WEB: I Thessalonians 4:18. Therefore comfort one another with these words.

WEB: I Thessalonians 5:15. See that no one returns evil for evil to anyone, but always follow after that which is good, for one another, and for all.

WEB: Hebrews 10:24. Let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good works,

 WEB: James 5:16. Confess your offenses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective.

WEB: I Peter 4:9. Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

WEB: I John 1:7. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.

 And this was only a few of them!!!  OK, there is enough in these verses for one very LONG post, so let me just say this:  Wouldn't it be nice to be in an assembly of people (a church) where they actually PRACTICED THESE THINGS!!!  Wait a minute, its not they, its me!!!  I need to read this again and remember to practice them myself!!!  Well, that is about it, but the only thing that remains to be addressed is a small little problem with the motorcycle....  Where do we store the hymnbooks?



Mar. 13 Exodus 23


Mar. 13
Exodus 23

Exo 23:1 "You shall not spread a false report. Don't join your hand with the wicked to be a malicious witness.
Exo 23:2 You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; neither shall you testify in court to side with a multitude to pervert justice;
Exo 23:3 neither shall you favor a poor man in his cause.
Exo 23:4 "If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again.
Exo 23:5 If you see the donkey of him who hates you fallen down under his burden, don't leave him, you shall surely help him with it.
Exo 23:6 "You shall not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits.
Exo 23:7 "Keep far from a false charge, and don't kill the innocent and righteous: for I will not justify the wicked.
Exo 23:8 "You shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds those who have sight and perverts the words of the righteous.
Exo 23:9 "You shall not oppress an alien, for you know the heart of an alien, seeing you were aliens in the land of Egypt.
Exo 23:10 "For six years you shall sow your land, and shall gather in its increase,
Exo 23:11 but the seventh year you shall let it rest and lie fallow, that the poor of your people may eat; and what they leave the animal of the field shall eat. In like manner you shall deal with your vineyard and with your olive grove.
Exo 23:12 "Six days you shall do your work, and on the seventh day you shall rest, that your ox and your donkey may have rest, and the son of your handmaid, and the alien may be refreshed.
Exo 23:13 "Be careful to do all things that I have said to you; and don't invoke the name of other gods, neither let them be heard out of your mouth.
Exo 23:14 "You shall observe a feast to me three times a year.
Exo 23:15 You shall observe the feast of unleavened bread. Seven days you shall eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the time appointed in the month Abib (for in it you came out from Egypt), and no one shall appear before me empty.
Exo 23:16 And the feast of harvest, the first fruits of your labors, which you sow in the field: and the feast of harvest, at the end of the year, when you gather in your labors out of the field.
Exo 23:17 Three times in the year all your males shall appear before the Lord Yahweh.
Exo 23:18 "You shall not offer the blood of my sacrifice with leavened bread, neither shall the fat of my feast remain all night until the morning.
Exo 23:19 The first of the first fruits of your ground you shall bring into the house of Yahweh your God. "You shall not boil a kid in its mother's milk.
Exo 23:20 "Behold, I send an angel before you, to keep you by the way, and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.
Exo 23:21 Pay attention to him, and listen to his voice. Don't provoke him, for he will not pardon your disobedience, for my name is in him.
Exo 23:22 But if you indeed listen to his voice, and do all that I speak, then I will be an enemy to your enemies, and an adversary to your adversaries.
Exo 23:23 For my angel shall go before you, and bring you in to the Amorite, the Hittite, the Perizzite, the Canaanite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite; and I will cut them off.
Exo 23:24 You shall not bow down to their gods, nor serve them, nor follow their practices, but you shall utterly overthrow them and demolish their pillars.
Exo 23:25 You shall serve Yahweh your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from your midst.
Exo 23:26 No one will miscarry or be barren in your land. I will fulfill the number of your days.
Exo 23:27 I will send my terror before you, and will confuse all the people to whom you come, and I will make all your enemies turn their backs to you.
Exo 23:28 I will send the hornet before you, which will drive out the Hivite, the Canaanite, and the Hittite, from before you.
Exo 23:29 I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate, and the animals of the field multiply against you.
Exo 23:30 Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased and inherit the land.
Exo 23:31 I will set your border from the Red Sea even to the sea of the Philistines, and from the wilderness to the River; for I will deliver the inhabitants of the land into your hand, and you shall drive them out before you.
Exo 23:32 You shall make no covenant with them, nor with their gods.
Exo 23:33 They shall not dwell in your land, lest they make you sin against me, for if you serve their gods, it will surely be a snare to you."

Mar. 13, 14 Mark 9


Mar. 13, 14
Mark 9

Mar 9:1 He said to them, "Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste death until they see the Kingdom of God come with power."
Mar 9:2 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John, and brought them up onto a high mountain privately by themselves, and he was changed into another form in front of them.
Mar 9:3 His clothing became glistening, exceedingly white, like snow, such as no launderer on earth can whiten them.
Mar 9:4 Elijah and Moses appeared to them, and they were talking with Jesus.
Mar 9:5 Peter answered Jesus, "Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let's make three tents: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."
Mar 9:6 For he didn't know what to say, for they were very afraid.
Mar 9:7 A cloud came, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him."
Mar 9:8 Suddenly looking around, they saw no one with them any more, except Jesus only.
Mar 9:9 As they were coming down from the mountain, he commanded them that they should tell no one what things they had seen, until after the Son of Man had risen from the dead.
Mar 9:10 They kept this saying to themselves, questioning what the "rising from the dead" meant.
Mar 9:11 They asked him, saying, "Why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"
Mar 9:12 He said to them, "Elijah indeed comes first, and restores all things. How is it written about the Son of Man, that he should suffer many things and be despised?
Mar 9:13 But I tell you that Elijah has come, and they have also done to him whatever they wanted to, even as it is written about him."
Mar 9:14 Coming to the disciples, he saw a great multitude around them, and scribes questioning them.
Mar 9:15 Immediately all the multitude, when they saw him, were greatly amazed, and running to him greeted him.
Mar 9:16 He asked the scribes, "What are you asking them?"
Mar 9:17 One of the multitude answered, "Teacher, I brought to you my son, who has a mute spirit;
Mar 9:18 and wherever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth, and wastes away. I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they weren't able."
Mar 9:19 He answered him, "Unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to me."
Mar 9:20 They brought him to him, and when he saw him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground, wallowing and foaming at the mouth.
Mar 9:21 He asked his father, "How long has it been since this has come to him?" He said, "From childhood.
Mar 9:22 Often it has cast him both into the fire and into the water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us, and help us."
Mar 9:23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
Mar 9:24 Immediately the father of the child cried out with tears, "I believe. Help my unbelief!"
Mar 9:25 When Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, "You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and never enter him again!"
Mar 9:26 Having cried out, and convulsed greatly, it came out of him. The boy became like one dead; so much that most of them said, "He is dead."
Mar 9:27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and raised him up; and he arose.
Mar 9:28 When he had come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we cast it out?"
Mar 9:29 He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing, except by prayer and fasting."
Mar 9:30 They went out from there, and passed through Galilee. He didn't want anyone to know it.
Mar 9:31 For he was teaching his disciples, and said to them, "The Son of Man is being handed over to the hands of men, and they will kill him; and when he is killed, on the third day he will rise again."
Mar 9:32 But they didn't understand the saying, and were afraid to ask him.
Mar 9:33 He came to Capernaum, and when he was in the house he asked them, "What were you arguing among yourselves on the way?"
Mar 9:34 But they were silent, for they had disputed one with another on the way about who was the greatest.
Mar 9:35 He sat down, and called the twelve; and he said to them, "If any man wants to be first, he shall be last of all, and servant of all."
Mar 9:36 He took a little child, and set him in the midst of them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them,
Mar 9:37 "Whoever receives one such little child in my name, receives me, and whoever receives me, doesn't receive me, but him who sent me."
Mar 9:38 John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone who doesn't follow us casting out demons in your name; and we forbade him, because he doesn't follow us."
Mar 9:39 But Jesus said, "Don't forbid him, for there is no one who will do a mighty work in my name, and be able quickly to speak evil of me.
Mar 9:40 For whoever is not against us is on our side.
Mar 9:41 For whoever will give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you are Christ's, most certainly I tell you, he will in no way lose his reward.
Mar 9:42 Whoever will cause one of these little ones who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for him if he was thrown into the sea with a millstone hung around his neck.
Mar 9:43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having your two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire,
Mar 9:44 'where their worm doesn't die, and the fire is not quenched.'
Mar 9:45 If your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life lame, rather than having your two feet to be cast into Gehenna, into the fire that will never be quenched-
Mar 9:46 'where their worm doesn't die, and the fire is not quenched.'
Mar 9:47 If your eye causes you to stumble, cast it out. It is better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into the Gehenna of fire,
Mar 9:48 'where their worm doesn't die, and the fire is not quenched.'
Mar 9:49 For everyone will be salted with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.
Mar 9:50 Salt is good, but if the salt has lost its saltiness, with what will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."

"THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES" Chapter Two by Mark Copeland

"THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES"

                              Chapter Two

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To note the degree to which the Preacher sought for meaning in life
   under the sun

2) To consider his estimation of mirth, pleasure, wine, wisdom, folly
   and wealth in providing purpose for living

3) To appreciate his conclusion for what is best in life, and the One
   who makes it possible

SUMMARY

In this chapter the Preacher describes the extent of his search for the
meaning of life "under the sun."  He explored mirth and pleasure,
finding them to be vanity.  He experimented with wine and folly, while
guiding himself with his wisdom.  Not withholding anything his eyes
desired, he used his great wealth to build and accumulate everything
his heart wanted.  He certainly enjoyed himself while doing it (1-10).

Yet when the Preacher looked back on all he had done, he found it to be
vanity and grasping for the wind.  Reflecting upon the comparative
value of wisdom and folly, he did find wisdom to excel folly.  But he
also observed that death came to both the wise and the fool, and both
soon forgotten.  This prompted him to hate life.  Even his accumulated
wealth provided little respite, for he must leave it to one who may
prove to be a fool.  Thus he found such efforts to be grievous, leading
one to sorrowful days and restless nights (11-23).

He concludes it is best to eat and drink, enjoying what good there is
in one's labor.  He realized, however, that the ability to truly enjoy
life is a gift from God.  He saw that God gives wisdom, knowledge, and
joy to a man who is good in His sight.  To the sinner, God might give 
the ability to gather and collect great wealth, but it eventually winds
up in the hands of him who is good before God.  Thus much labor without
God's blessing is truly vanity and grasping for the wind (24-26).

OUTLINE

I. THE PREACHER'S SEARCH FOR MEANING (2:1-10)

   A. A SUMMARY OF HIS SEARCH (1-2)
      1. He tested mirth and pleasure, and found them to be vanity
      2. He found laughter to be madness, and mirth to accomplish
         little

   B. A DESCRIPTION OF HIS SEARCH (3-10)
      1. He experimented with wine and folly
         a. While guiding himself with wisdom
         b. Seeking to find what is good for men to do "under heaven
            all the days of their lives"
      2. He made many things
         a. Houses and vineyards
         b. Gardens and orchards
         c. Water pools to water fruit trees
      3. He acquired whatever he wanted
         a. Male and female servants, with more born in his house
         b. Herds and flocks, more than any in Jerusalem before him
         c. Silver, gold, special treasures of kings and provinces
         d. Male and female singers, musical instruments of all kinds
      4. He became great, and seemingly happy
         a. Greater than all in Jerusalem before him
         b. Having all his eyes desired, his heart rejoicing in his
            labor

II. THE PREACHER'S REFLECTION UPON HIS SEARCH (2:11-23)

   A. REFLECTING UPON HIS LABOR (11)
      1. Looking back on all his works and labor
      2. Find them to be vanity, grasping for wind
      3. Concluding there was no profit under the sun
 
   B. REFLECTING UPON WISDOM, MADNESS, AND FOLLY (12-17)
      1. He considered the relative value of wisdom, madness, and folly
      2. He found that wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness
      3. Yet the same end (death) befalls the wise and the fool, and
         both are soon forgotten
      4. Prompting him to hate life for its vanity and grasping for the
         wind

   C. REFLECTING UPON HIS WEALTH (18-23)
      1. He came to hate his labor and toil under the sun
         a. Because he must leave it to one after him
         b. Not knowing whether those who inherit it will be wise or
            foolish
      2. He came to despair his labor under the sun
         a. For despite one's wisdom, knowledge and skill, one's
            heritage must be left to one who has not labored for it
         b. This he concluded was vanity and a great evil
         c. In the end, all one had as a result of his labor and the
            striving of his heart:
            1) Sorrowful days, restless nights
            2) Grievous works, leading to vanity

III. THE PREACHER'S CONCLUSION FROM HIS SEARCH (24-26)

   A. MAN SHOULD ENJOY THE GOOD IN HIS LABOR (24a)
      1. There is nothing better
      2. Than to eat, drink, and to enjoy good in one's labor

   B. THE ABILITY TO ENJOY IS A GIFT FROM GOD (24b-26)
      1. He saw that this was a gift from God
      2. For no one can truly enjoy life without God (cf. footnote,
         NIV, NASB)
         a. To those good in His sight, God gives wisdom, knowledge,
            and joy
         b. To the sinner, God gives the work of gathering and 
            collecting
            1) To give to the one who is good before God
            2) For the sinner, his work becomes vanity and grasping for
               the wind

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - The Preacher's search for meaning (1-10)
   - The Preacher's reflection upon his search (11-23)
   - The Preacher's conclusion from his search (24-26)

2) In his search, what sort of things did the Preacher explore? (1-3)
   - Mirth and pleasure
   - Wine and folly

3) What guided his heart during the course of his search? (3)
   - Wisdom (perhaps that given the Preacher by God?)

4) What things did he accumulate during his search? (4-8)
   - Houses and vineyards
   - Gardens and orchards
   - Fruit trees and water pools to water them
   - Male and female servants, along with servants born in his house
   - Herds and flocks
   - Silver, gold, special treasures
   - Male and female singers, musical instruments of all kinds

5) How great did he become?  What stayed with him? (9)
   - Greater than all who were in Jerusalem before him
   - His wisdom

6) What did he get? (10)
   - Whatever his eyes desired, any pleasure his heart wanted

7) What was his reaction to this great accumulation of wealth? (10-11)
   - He rejoiced in his labor
   - But looking back on his works, he found them vanity and grasping
     for wind, with no profit under the sun

8) What conclusions were drawn about the value of wisdom and folly?
   (12-16)
   - Wisdom excels folly as light excels darkness
   - Yet death comes to them both, and they are soon forgotten

9) What did this reflection lead him to do?  Why? (17)
   - Hate life
   - Because all work under the sun was grievous, vanity, and grasping
     for wind

10) What else caused him to hate his labor? (18)
   - The thought that he must leave it to one who comes after him

11) Why did this trouble him? (19-21)
   - For the one who receives his inheritance gained through wisdom,
     knowledge and skill might prove to be a fool

12) What did he conclude was the result of one's labor, striving, and
    toil for things under the sun? (22-23)
   - Sorrowful days, restless nights
   - Grievous work, leading to vanity

13) What did he say was the best man could achieve? (24)
   - To eat and drink, and enjoy good in his labor

14) But who was capable of achieving this? (24-26)
   - The one who was good in God's sight, to whom God gave wisdom,
     knowledge, and joy

15) What did the sinner receive?  For what purpose? (26)
   - The task of gathering and collecting
   - To give to him who was good before God