3/22/12

Fibonacci numbers - The Fingerprint of God

http://quietube2.com/v.php/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9MwNm0gXd8&feature=player_embedded%2522%253

My thanks to sister Gail Martin for today's post!!!  Some time ago, she sent me the link at the top and frankly, its worth the effort to paste it into your browser and view it.  For those of us who are technologically challenged, I placed a simple picture (M81 seen in various light spectrum's) below it; one that will be familiar to those who have seen my "Composite Bible".  Although my usage of this picture is over a decade, still this picture (like the U-Tube video) is fascinating to me.  Imagine the sheer complexity of the cosmos around us; for if we only see with just our eyes, how much more is there to view!!!  Which, of course, led me back to one of my favorite passages of Scripture...


World English Bible: Psalms Chapter 8

[1] Yahweh, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth,
who has set your glory above the heavens!


[2] From the lips of babes and infants you have established strength,
because of your adversaries, that you might silence the enemy and the avenger.


[3] When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have ordained;


[4] what is man, that you think of him?
What is the son of man, that you care for him?


[5] For you have made him a little lower than God,
and crowned him with glory and honor.


[6] You make him ruler over the works of your hands.
You have put all things under his feet:


[7] All sheep and cattle,
yes, and the animals of the field,
[8] The birds of the sky, the fish of the sea,
and whatever passes through the paths of the seas.


[9] Yahweh, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!

It is a little humbling to think of the complexity of our bodies.  Consider how many billions of individual molecules comprise homo sapiens.  We have spent generation upon generation attempting to understand the inner workings of our bodies and we still are a long way from understanding everything.  And this effort is not restricted to the mere physical as well.  How about the inner workings of the mind or our inter-personal relationships?  The day someone finally understands everything about LOVE will be one to mark on the calendar!!!  Beyond ourselves, consider how everything see can see and understand fits together.  From how we relate to one another, to the magnificent harmony of the Eco-systems on this small blue ball we call home, there is a grand design that is amazing to just consider, let alone comprehend.  Beyond this lies the complexity of the universe and in all and through all lies the fingerprint of the creator.  And he loves us... almost beyond belief!!!

Mar. 22 Exodus 38 – 40


Mar. 22
Exodus 38 – 40

Exo 38:1 He made the altar of burnt offering of acacia wood. It was square. Its length was five cubits, its breadth was five cubits, and its height was three cubits.
Exo 38:2 He made its horns on its four corners. Its horns were of one piece with it, and he overlaid it with brass.
Exo 38:3 He made all the vessels of the altar, the pots, the shovels, the basins, the forks, and the fire pans. He made all its vessels of brass.
Exo 38:4 He made for the altar a grating of a network of brass, under the ledge around it beneath, reaching halfway up.
Exo 38:5 He cast four rings for the four ends of brass grating, to be places for the poles.
Exo 38:6 He made the poles of acacia wood, and overlaid them with brass.
Exo 38:7 He put the poles into the rings on the sides of the altar, with which to carry it. He made it hollow with planks.
Exo 38:8 He made the basin of brass, and its base of brass, out of the mirrors of the ministering women who ministered at the door of the Tent of Meeting.
Exo 38:9 He made the court: for the south side southward the hangings of the court were of fine twined linen, one hundred cubits;
Exo 38:10 their pillars were twenty, and their sockets twenty, of brass; the hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver.
Exo 38:11 For the north side one hundred cubits, their pillars twenty, and their sockets twenty, of brass; the hooks of the pillars, and their fillets, of silver.
Exo 38:12 For the west side were hangings of fifty cubits, their pillars ten, and their sockets ten; the hooks of the pillars, and their fillets, of silver.
Exo 38:13 For the east side eastward fifty cubits.
Exo 38:14 The hangings for the one side were fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three;
Exo 38:15 and so for the other side: on this hand and that hand by the gate of the court were hangings of fifteen cubits; their pillars three, and their sockets three.
Exo 38:16 All the hangings around the court were of fine twined linen.
Exo 38:17 The sockets for the pillars were of brass. The hooks of the pillars and their fillets were of silver; and the overlaying of their capitals, of silver; and all the pillars of the court were filleted with silver.
Exo 38:18 The screen for the gate of the court was the work of the embroiderer, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen. Twenty cubits was the length, and the height in the breadth was five cubits, like to the hangings of the court.
Exo 38:19 Their pillars were four, and their sockets four, of brass; their hooks of silver, and the overlaying of their capitals, and their fillets, of silver.
Exo 38:20 All the pins of the tabernacle, and around the court, were of brass.
Exo 38:21 This is the amount of material used for the tabernacle, even the Tabernacle of the Testimony, as they were counted, according to the commandment of Moses, for the service of the Levites, by the hand of Ithamar, the son of Aaron the priest.
Exo 38:22 Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, made all that Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 38:23 With him was Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, an engraver, and a skillful workman, and an embroiderer in blue, in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen.
Exo 38:24 All the gold that was used for the work in all the work of the sanctuary, even the gold of the offering, was twenty-nine talents, and seven hundred thirty shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary.
Exo 38:25 The silver of those who were numbered of the congregation was one hundred talents, and one thousand seven hundred seventy-five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:
Exo 38:26 a beka a head, that is, half a shekel, after the shekel of the sanctuary, for everyone who passed over to those who were numbered, from twenty years old and upward, for six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty men.
Exo 38:27 The one hundred talents of silver were for casting the sockets of the sanctuary, and the sockets of the veil; one hundred sockets for the one hundred talents, a talent for a socket.
Exo 38:28 Of the one thousand seven hundred seventy-five shekels he made hooks for the pillars, overlaid their capitals, and made fillets for them.
Exo 38:29 The brass of the offering was seventy talents, and two thousand four hundred shekels.
Exo 38:30 With this he made the sockets to the door of the Tent of Meeting, the bronze altar, the bronze grating for it, all the vessels of the altar,
Exo 38:31 the sockets around the court, the sockets of the gate of the court, all the pins of the tabernacle, and all the pins around the court.
Exo 39:1 Of the blue, purple, and scarlet, they made finely worked garments, for ministering in the holy place, and made the holy garments for Aaron; as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 39:2 He made the ephod of gold, blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen.
Exo 39:3 They beat the gold into thin plates, and cut it into wires, to work it in the blue, in the purple, in the scarlet, and in the fine linen, the work of the skillful workman.
Exo 39:4 They made shoulder straps for it, joined together. At the two ends it was joined together.
Exo 39:5 The skillfully woven band that was on it, with which to fasten it on, was of the same piece, like its work; of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen; as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 39:6 They worked the onyx stones, enclosed in settings of gold, engraved with the engravings of a signet, according to the names of the children of Israel.
Exo 39:7 He put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod, to be stones of memorial for the children of Israel, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 39:8 He made the breastplate, the work of a skillful workman, like the work of the ephod; of gold, of blue, purple, scarlet, and fine twined linen.
Exo 39:9 It was square. They made the breastplate double. Its length was a span, and its breadth a span, being double.
Exo 39:10 They set in it four rows of stones. A row of ruby, topaz, and beryl was the first row;
Exo 39:11 and the second row, a turquoise, a sapphire, and an emerald;
Exo 39:12 and the third row, a jacinth, an agate, and an amethyst;
Exo 39:13 and the fourth row, a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. They were enclosed in gold settings.
Exo 39:14 The stones were according to the names of the children of Israel, twelve, according to their names; like the engravings of a signet, everyone according to his name, for the twelve tribes.
Exo 39:15 They made on the breastplate chains like cords, of braided work of pure gold.
Exo 39:16 They made two settings of gold, and two gold rings, and put the two rings on the two ends of the breastplate.
Exo 39:17 They put the two braided chains of gold in the two rings at the ends of the breastplate.
Exo 39:18 The other two ends of the two braided chains they put on the two settings, and put them on the shoulder straps of the ephod, in its front.
Exo 39:19 They made two rings of gold, and put them on the two ends of the breastplate, on its edge, which was toward the side of the ephod inward.
Exo 39:20 They made two rings of gold, and put them on the two shoulder straps of the ephod underneath, in its front, close by its coupling, above the skillfully woven band of the ephod.
Exo 39:21 They bound the breastplate by its rings to the rings of the ephod with a lace of blue, that it might be on the skillfully woven band of the ephod, and that the breastplate might not come loose from the ephod, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 39:22 He made the robe of the ephod of woven work, all of blue.
Exo 39:23 The opening of the robe in its midst was like the opening of a coat of mail, with a binding around its opening, that it should not be torn.
Exo 39:24 They made on the skirts of the robe pomegranates of blue, purple, scarlet, and twined linen.
Exo 39:25 They made bells of pure gold, and put the bells between the pomegranates around the skirts of the robe, between the pomegranates;
Exo 39:26 a bell and a pomegranate, a bell and a pomegranate, around the skirts of the robe, to minister in, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 39:27 They made the coats of fine linen of woven work for Aaron, and for his sons,
Exo 39:28 and the turban of fine linen, and the linen headbands of fine linen, and the linen breeches of fine twined linen,
Exo 39:29 and the sash of fine twined linen, and blue, and purple, and scarlet, the work of the embroiderer, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 39:30 They made the plate of the holy crown of pure gold, and wrote on it a writing, like the engravings of a signet: "HOLY TO YAHWEH."
Exo 39:31 They tied to it a lace of blue, to fasten it on the turban above, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 39:32 Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting was finished. The children of Israel did according to all that Yahweh commanded Moses; so they did.
Exo 39:33 They brought the tabernacle to Moses, the tent, with all its furniture, its clasps, its boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets,
Exo 39:34 the covering of rams' skins dyed red, the covering of sea cow hides, the veil of the screen,
Exo 39:35 the ark of the testimony with its poles, the mercy seat,
Exo 39:36 the table, all its vessels, the show bread,
Exo 39:37 the pure lampstand, its lamps, even the lamps to be set in order, all its vessels, the oil for the light,
Exo 39:38 the golden altar, the anointing oil, the sweet incense, the screen for the door of the Tent,
Exo 39:39 the bronze altar, its grating of brass, its poles, all of its vessels, the basin and its base,
Exo 39:40 the hangings of the court, its pillars, its sockets, the screen for the gate of the court, its cords, its pins, all the instruments of the service of the tabernacle, for the Tent of Meeting,
Exo 39:41 the finely worked garments for ministering in the holy place, the holy garments for Aaron the priest, and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest's office.
Exo 39:42 According to all that Yahweh commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did all the work.
Exo 39:43 Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it as Yahweh had commanded, even so had they done it: and Moses blessed them.
Exo 40:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Exo 40:2 "On the first day of the first month you shall raise up the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting.
Exo 40:3 You shall put the ark of the testimony in it, and you shall screen the ark with the veil.
Exo 40:4 You shall bring in the table, and set in order the things that are on it. You shall bring in the lampstand, and light its lamps.
Exo 40:5 You shall set the golden altar for incense before the ark of the testimony, and put the screen of the door to the tabernacle.
Exo 40:6 You shall set the altar of burnt offering before the door of the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting.
Exo 40:7 You shall set the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and shall put water therein.
Exo 40:8 You shall set up the court around it, and hang up the screen of the gate of the court.
Exo 40:9 You shall take the anointing oil, and anoint the tabernacle, and all that is in it, and shall make it holy, and all its furniture: and it will be holy.
Exo 40:10 You shall anoint the altar of burnt offering, with all its vessels, and sanctify the altar: and the altar will be most holy.
Exo 40:11 You shall anoint the basin and its base, and sanctify it.
Exo 40:12 You shall bring Aaron and his sons to the door of the Tent of Meeting, and shall wash them with water.
Exo 40:13 You shall put on Aaron the holy garments; and you shall anoint him, and sanctify him, that he may minister to me in the priest's office.
Exo 40:14 You shall bring his sons, and put coats on them.
Exo 40:15 You shall anoint them, as you anointed their father, that they may minister to me in the priest's office. Their anointing shall be to them for an everlasting priesthood throughout their generations."
Exo 40:16 Moses did so. According to all that Yahweh commanded him, so he did.
Exo 40:17 It happened in the first month in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the tabernacle was raised up.
Exo 40:18 Moses raised up the tabernacle, and laid its sockets, and set up its boards, and put in its bars, and raised up its pillars.
Exo 40:19 He spread the covering over the tent, and put the roof of the tabernacle above on it, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 40:20 He took and put the testimony into the ark, and set the poles on the ark, and put the mercy seat above on the ark.
Exo 40:21 He brought the ark into the tabernacle, and set up the veil of the screen, and screened the ark of the testimony, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 40:22 He put the table in the Tent of Meeting, on the side of the tabernacle northward, outside of the veil.
Exo 40:23 He set the bread in order on it before Yahweh, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 40:24 He put the lampstand in the Tent of Meeting, opposite the table, on the side of the tabernacle southward.
Exo 40:25 He lit the lamps before Yahweh, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 40:26 He put the golden altar in the Tent of Meeting before the veil;
Exo 40:27 and he burnt incense of sweet spices on it, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 40:28 He put up the screen of the door to the tabernacle.
Exo 40:29 He set the altar of burnt offering at the door of the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting, and offered on it the burnt offering and the meal offering, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 40:30 He set the basin between the Tent of Meeting and the altar, and put water therein, with which to wash.
Exo 40:31 Moses, Aaron, and his sons washed their hands and their feet there.
Exo 40:32 When they went into the Tent of Meeting, and when they came near to the altar, they washed, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Exo 40:33 He raised up the court around the tabernacle and the altar, and set up the screen of the gate of the court. So Moses finished the work.
Exo 40:34 Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of Yahweh filled the tabernacle.
Exo 40:35 Moses wasn't able to enter into the Tent of Meeting, because the cloud stayed on it, and Yahweh's glory filled the tabernacle.
Exo 40:36 When the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the children of Israel went onward, throughout all their journeys;
Exo 40:37 but if the cloud wasn't taken up, then they didn't travel until the day that it was taken up.
Exo 40:38 For the cloud of Yahweh was on the tabernacle by day, and there was fire in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys.

"THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES" Chapter Eleven by Mark Copeland

 "THE BOOK OF ECCLESIASTES"

                             Chapter Eleven

OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THIS CHAPTER

1) To appreciate the value of benevolence and diligence in preparing for
   the future

2) To glean what counsel the Preacher offers for those who are young

SUMMARY

In this chapter the Preacher begins with encouraging benevolence and
diligence as ways to guard against the uncertain future.  By casting our
bread upon the waters, willing to offer servings to many, and not
withholding our hands in the evening, our benevolence may serve us well
in the future should evil befall us.  Likewise, things may happen beyond
our ability to control or comprehend, but diligence in sowing seed and
being mindful of the dark days to come can help to prepare us for their
coming (1-8).

This chapter also introduces counsel from the Preacher designed
especially for the young.  The young man is encouraged to rejoice,
letting his heart cheer him.  He is told to walk in the ways of his
heart and in the sight of his eyes, yet with the knowledge that God will
hold him accountable for all that he does.  So remove sorrow (i.e.,
rejoice!).  But also put away evil during the fleeting years of
childhood and youth (9-10).

OUTLINE

I. THE VALUE OF BENEVOLENCE AND DILIGENCE (11:1-8)

   A. AN EXHORTATION TO BENEVOLENCE (1-2)
      1. Cast your bread upon the waters, you will find it after many
         days
      2. Give servings to seven, and to eight, for you do not know what
         evil will come

   B. AN EXHORTATION TO DILIGENCE (3-8)
      1. Many things (like rain and wind storms) are inevitable (3-4)
         a. We cannot stop the clouds full of rain from falling
         b. Trees will lie wherever they fall
         c. If we spend our time just watching and not doing, we will
            not sow and reap
      2. There are things we cannot comprehend (5-6)
         a. Like the way of the wind (or spirit)
         b. Like the development of the child in the womb
         c. We cannot comprehend God's working; therefore do not
            restrict your efforts
      3. There will be days of darkness (7-8)
         a. It is great to be alive when one is well
            1) The light is sweet
            2) It is pleasant to behold the sun
         b. But even if one lives many joyful days, they should know
            that evil days will come

II. ADVICE TO THE YOUNG (11:9-10)

   A. REJOICE IN YOUR YOUTH (9a)
      1. Let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth
      2. Walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes
   
   B. DON'T LOSE SIGHT OF THE JUDGMENT (9b)
      1. God will bring you into judgment
      2. You will answer for all that you do

   C. REMOVE SORROW AND EVIL (10)
      1. Remove sorrow from your heart
      2. Put away evil from your flesh
      3. For childhood and youth are vanity

REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - The value of benevolence and diligence (1-8)
   - Advice to the young (9-10)

2) Why does the Preacher encourage you to "cast your bread upon the
   waters"? (1)
   - It will come back to you after many days

3) Why does the Preacher counsel you to "give a serving to seven, and
   also to eight"? (2)
   - You do not know what evil will be on the earth

4) What is the point of these two admonitions?
   - To be liberal and largesse in your benevolence, for it may help you
     during difficult days in the future

5) What two examples are given of things that are inevitable? (3)
   - Clouds full of rain will empty themselves on the earth
   - Where a tree falls, there it will lie

6) What does the Preacher caution against? (4)
   - Watching the wind and clouds to the neglect of sowing and reaping

7) What two examples illustrate our limited ability to comprehend the
   ways of God? (5)
   - The way of the wind
   - How the bones of a child grow in the womb

8) How does the Preacher encourage diligence and benevolence? (6)
   - In the morning, sow your seed (diligence)
   - In the evening, do not withhold your hand (benevolence)

9) Why does he encourage diligence and benevolence? (6)
   - For we don't know which of the two will prosper, perhaps even both

10) What is described as sweet and pleasant? (7)
   - Light is sweet, and it is pleasant to behold the sun

11) If one is blessed to live many joyful years, what should he still
    bear in mind? (8)
   - The days of darkness, for they will be many and all that is coming
     is vanity

12) What does the Preacher encourage the young man to do? (9)
   - Rejoice in his youth
   - Let his heart cheer him in the days of his youth
   - Walk in the ways of his heart and in the sight of his eyes

13) Yet what does the Preacher also encourage him to remember? (9)
   - God will bring him into judgment for the things he does

14) So what else the Preacher counsel the young man to do?  Why? (10)
   - Remove sorrow from his heart, put away evil from his flesh
   - Childhood and youth are vanity (fleeting)