3/31/13

From Gary... Believing the unbelievable


This machine has the oldest known complex gear mechanism and is sometimes called the first known analog computer,[10] although the quality of its manufacture suggests that it may have had a number of undiscovered predecessors[11] during the Hellenistic Period. It appears to be constructed upon theories of astronomy and mathematics developed by Greek astronomers and is estimated to have been made around 100 BC. In 1974, British science historian and Yale University Professor Derek de Solla Price concluded from gear settings and inscriptions on the mechanism's faces that the mechanism was made about 87 BC and was lost only a few years later.[12]
It is believed to be made of a low-tin bronze alloy (95% copper, 5% tin), but the device's advanced state of corrosion has made it impossible to perform an accurate compositional analysis.[13]
All of the mechanism's instructions are written in Koine Greek,[7] and the consensus among scholars is that the mechanism was made in the Greek-speaking world. One hypothesis is that the device was constructed at an academy founded by the Stoic philosopher Posidonius on the Greek island of Rhodes, which at the time was known as a center of astronomy and mechanical engineering; this hypothesis further suggests that the mechanism may have been designed by the astronomer Hipparchus, since it contains a lunar mechanism which uses Hipparchus's theory for the motion of the Moon. However, recent findings of The Antikythera Mechanism Research Project suggest that the concept for the mechanism originated in the colonies of Corinth, which might imply a connection with Archimedes.[14]
It was discovered in a shipwreck off Point Glyphadia on the Greek island of Antikythera. The wreck had been found in October 1900 by a group of Greek sponge divers. They retrieved numerous artifacts, including bronze and marble statues, pottery, glassware, jewelry, coins, and the mechanism itself, which were transferred to the National Museum of Archaeology in Athens for storage and analysis. The mechanism itself went unnoticed for 2 years: it was a lump of corroded bronze and wood and the museum staff had many other pieces with which to busy themselves.[15] On 17 May 1902, archaeologist Valerios Stais was examining the finds and noticed that one of the pieces of rock had a gear wheel embedded in it. Stais initially believed it was an astronomical clock, but most scholars considered the device to be prochronistic, too complex to have been constructed during the same period as the other pieces that had been discovered. Investigations into the object were soon dropped until Derek J. de Solla Price became interested in it in 1951.[16] In 1971, both Price and a Greek nuclear physicist named Charalampos Karakalos made X-ray and gamma-ray images of the 82 fragments. Price published an extensive 70-page paper on their findings in 1974.[15]
Coins that were found at the site by Jacques Cousteau in the 1970s date the shipwreck to shortly after 85 BC. Inscriptions on the device itself indicate that it was in use for 15 to 20 years before that. The ship carrying the device also contained vases that were in the Rhodian style. Rhodes was a trading port at that time, where the great Greek astronomer Hipparchus was thought to have worked from about 140 BC to 120 BC. After his death, an astronomy school was set up to continue his tradition and there is some speculation that this is where the mechanism originated.[15]
It is not known how it came to be on the cargo ship, but it has been suggested that it was being taken to Rome, together with other treasure looted from the island, to support a triumphal parade being staged by Julius Caesar.[17]
For more information... 



What do you get, when you mix gear driven clocks, computers and stars with ancient history.  The answer is-something that interests me!!!  Who would have believed that something so complex could have existed so long ago?  Hard to believe, isn't it?  Which reminds me of this passage from the book of Matthew...

Matthew, Chapter 13
 53  When Jesus had finished these parables, he departed from there.  54 Coming into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom, and these mighty works?  55 Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers, James, Joses, Simon, and Judas?  56 Aren’t all of his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all of these things?”  57 They were offended by him. 

But Jesus said to them, 
“A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and in his own house.”   58 He didn’t do many mighty works there because of their unbelief. 

The people who knew Jesus while he was growing up had difficulty accepting him as a prophet and in a way, that is understandable.  What is commonplace to us is held in no exalted position.  Yet, what if among our everyday existence, something very precious was present without our being aware of it?  The world still seemed the same when the Antikythera mechanism was discovered.  It took some time to discover its true value and appreciate it for what it represented.  The same was true of Jesus in his day and that truth has not changed.  People go about their daily lives, doing what they must, but Jesus is there.... waiting for them to discover him.  Unlike this Greek artifact, Jesus is explained- all you have to do is to retrieve that Bible you have been meaning to read for so long and just do it.  You won't find star charts or astrolabs, but if you take what the scriptures teach to heart, you will find your way to heaven.  Really; what could be better than that?  

From Gary V. Womack... THE SHEPHERD PSALM



THE SHEPHERD PSALM

(23rd Psalm)


David grew up as a shepherd boy, keeping his father's sheep.

When Samuel came to Jesse to find God's choice for Israel's king, after 7 sons were passed over, David was the one He chose.

1 Sam. 16:11 "And Samuel said to Jesse, 'Are all 
                      the young men here?' Then he said, 
                      'There remains yet the youngest, and 
                      there he is, keeping the sheep.' And 
                      Samuel said to Jesse, 'Send and 
                      bring him. For we will not sit down till 
                      he comes here.' "

Before David faced Goliath, he had to convince king Saul of his faith & his bravery & ability based on his experience as a shepherd.

1 Sam. 17:33-40 David took the weapons of a 
                           shepherd and faced Goliath.

David also proved himself as an able musician on his harp.

1 Sam. 16:14-18 David was a skillful player on 
                           the harp.

The final words of David are introduced by this description of him:

2 Sam. 23:1 "Now these are the last words of David.  
                    Thus says David the son of Jesse; 
                    Thus says the man raised up on high, 
                    The anointed of the God of Jacob, And 
                    the sweet psalmist of Israel:



The shepherd psalm -


vs.1 "The Lord is my Shepherd..."

Heb. 13:20-21 "Now may the God of peace who 
                        brought up our Lord Jesus from the 
                        dead, the great Shepherd of the 
                        sheep, through the blood of the 
                        everlasting covenant, (21) make you 
                        complete in every good work to do 
                        His will, working in you what is well 
                        pleasing in His sight, through Jesus 
                        Christ, to whom be glory forever and 
                        ever. Amen."

Jn. 10:1-5 As the Lord's sheep, we recognize His 
                 voice & follow Him.

vs. 1 "...I shall not want."

Mt. 6:25-ff Do not worry, the Lord will provide.

Paul said,

Phil. 4:19 "And my God shall supply all your need 
                 according to His riches in glory by Christ 
                 Jesus."

vs. 2 "He makes me to lie down in green
         pastures;" - of tender grass

         To recline in comfort & contentment 
         amidst abundance.

Eph. 3:14-ff The abundance of God's gifts are 
                    beyond our thinking.

vs. 2 "...He leads me beside the still waters." - 
              cf. troubled waters - peace

Phil. 4:6-7 "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything 
                  by prayer and supplication, with 
                  thanksgiving, let your requests be made 
                  known to God; (7) and the peace of 
                  God, which surpasses all understanding, 
                  will guard your hearts and minds through 
                  Christ Jesus."

vs. 3 "He restores my soul;" - to nourish with 
          food of the pasture


vs. 3 "...He leads me in the paths of 
             righteousness for His name's sake."

He won't lead us astray - because of His reputation.

Jn. 14:1-6 Jesus went to prepare a place for us &  
                 told us how to get there.

Prov. 14:12 "There is a way that seems right to a 
                     man, but its end is the way of death."

Isaiah foretold of God's mercy on the Gentiles to lead them:

Isa. 42:16 "I will bring the blind by a way they did 
                 not know; I will lead them in paths they 
                 have not known. I will make darkness 
                 light before them, and crooked places 
                 straight. These things I will do for them, 
                 and not forsake them."

vs. 4 "Yea, though I walk through the valley of  
           the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; 
           For You are with me; Your rod and Your 
           staff, they comfort me."

1 Thess. 4:13-18 Our hope & comfort - Meeting 
                           Christ in the air

vs. 5 "You prepare a table before me in the 
           presence of my enemies;"

Consider the glory that awaits around His heavenly table.

Lk. 12:37 (Jesus) "Blessed are those servants 
                             whom the master, when he 
                             comes, will find watching. 
                             Assuredly, I say to you that he 
                             will gird himself and have them 
                             sit down to eat, and will come 
                             and serve them."

vs. 5 "...You anoint my head with oil; - Kings 
              anointed - chosen - medicinal

Mt. 26:6-13 A woman anointed Jesus with costly 
                   fragrant oil.

vs. 5 "...My cup runs over." - Abundantly 
             satisfied - Full measure

Lk. 6:38 (Jesus) "Give, and it will be given to you 
                         good measure, pressed down, 
                         shaken together, and running over 
                         will be put into your bosom. For 
                         with the same measure that you 
                         use, it will be measured back to 
                         you."

vs. 6 "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life;

On the heels of adversity, goodness & mercy is near to follow.

Rom. 8:18-32 In the midst of trial is hope - and 
                      good follows.

vs. 6 "...and I will dwell in the house of the Lord 
             forever."

Rev. 22:1-5 In the presence of God forever.

From Jim McGuiggan... I HAVE BEEN PERSUADED


I HAVE BEEN PERSUADED

"I have been and am now persuaded!" Paul said that something (Someone) had persuaded him some time earlier and that as he wrote he was still utterly convinced that nothing could separate humans from the love of God that is seen in and as Jesus Christ (Romans 8:38). In a whole series of trenchant denials he lists what might be offered as proofs that God had changed his mind and turned from his commitment to creation. Ten times he says "no!" What about death? Does that not prove that God has turned from us, that in the face of our moral ugliness he has finally and forever walked away? "No, in fact, it was through death, the death of Christ, that God placarded his faithful refusal to abandon us!" What of life with all its dangers and challenges? "Nor that!" What about evil angels? "Nor those!" And what of emperors and such? "Nor those!" And on he goes. Ten times he says no—this man who knew what pain and deprivation and loneliness was—ten times he says no and concludes by saying "and nothing else you could name!" can keep God from us.
He didn’t persuade himself of this! The participle (verbal adjective) is passive. Someone had persuaded him; had made a believer of him. He didn’t use to think that way but now that he had seen the brutal realities of life, day in and day out, he had changed his mind. The participle is also a perfect passive. This means he was persuaded sometime earlier and that that persuaded frame of mind was still with him after all he had seen and heard and felt and experienced!
And if we had made a list of our own that had things in it that weren’t explicit in his he’d have said, "Nor that!" or "Not that either!" He’d have said no until the cows came home because for him, amidst all the teeming number of realities, there was one that was more real than all else—God’s self-disclosure in Jesus Christ.
Had we asked him if he didn’t accept that harsh realities were real, he’d have said, "Oh, they’re real enough. I’ve met them face to face and so have a host besides me. But God is real! And Jesus Christ is real. I look at all those harsh realities, walk around them, pick them up and feel their weight and how solid they are and then I turn and see him watching me. One look at him and the remotest hint of hesitation in me burns away and the adventure continues. I get weary, of course, and I don’t always feel joyful and clear-headed. But that’s part of the adventure, don’t you know. I have the complete awareness that even when I feel these I’m still in the adventure. It’s part of the adventure that you brawl with tough realities. The real secret is to see him and once you’ve seen him, really seen him, there’s no going back. By then he has you and you don’t want to go back. Back to what, for pity’s sake? Back to less than him? That isn’t a real option. Not for people like us."

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Mark Copeland... The Baptism Of Jesus


                          "THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

                     The Baptism Of Jesus (1:9-11)

INTRODUCTION

1. The baptism of Jesus by John served a significant role in both of
   their ministries...
   a. It came at the height of John's ministry, after which it began to
      decline
   b. It served as the beginning of Jesus' ministry, which soon overtook
      the ministry of John

2. The baptism of Jesus has often raised two questions...
   a. Why was He baptized?
   b. Does His baptism reveal the purpose for Christian baptism?

[This study will answer these questions, first by reviewing Mark's
account of the baptism of Jesus...]

I. THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

   A. JESUS COMES FROM NAZARETH...
      1. From Nazareth of Galilee -  Mk 1:9a
      2. Located halfway between the Mediterranean coast and the
         southern tip of the Sea of Galilee
      3. Where Jesus grew up - cf. Lk 2:39-52
      -- About a hundred mile journey to where John was baptizing

   B. JESUS IS BAPTIZED BY JOHN...
      1. In the Jordan river - Mk 1:9b
      2. In Bethabara (Bethany) on the east side of the Jordan - cf. Jn 1:28-29
      -- The Greek word (baptizo) indicates that the baptism involved
         immersion

   C. THE SPIRIT DESCENDS ON JESUS...
      1. Immediately, just as Jesus comes up from the water - Mk 1:10a
      2. He saw the heavens parting ("being torn open", ESV) - Mk 1:10b
      3. The Spirit descends like a dove - Mk 1:10c; cf. Lk 3:22 ("in
         bodily form like a dove")
      -- Thus the Holy Spirit bears His testimony of Jesus

   D. THE FATHER SPEAKS OF JESUS...
      1. As a voice from heaven - Mk 1:11a
      2. Proclaiming:  "You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well
         pleased" - Mk 1:11b
      -- Thus the Father bears His testimony of Jesus

[With such visual and audible effects, the baptism of Jesus was
certainly a significant event!  It naturally raises several
questions...]

II. QUESTIONS RELATED TO THE BAPTISM OF JESUS

   A. WHY WAS JESUS BAPTIZED...?
      1. Not for the same reason other people were being baptized by
         John
         a. Theirs was a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins
            - Mk 1:4
         b. They were confessing their sins - Mk 1:5
         c. Jesus was without sin - He 4:15
      2. Jesus said it was "to fulfill all righteousness" - cf. Mt 3:15
         a. It was God's counsel that people be baptized of John - cf.
            Lk 7:29-30
         b. Jesus was willing to set the right example by doing the
            Father's will, something He delighted to do - cf. Ps 40:
            7-8; Jn 4:34; 8:29
      3. It also served to introduce Him to John and Israel
         a. John had been proclaiming that He was coming - Mk 1:7
         b. John had been told that the Spirit coming upon Jesus would
            be a sign - cf. Jn 1:29-34
      -- He was baptized to do God's will, and to publicly identify Him
         to Israel

   B. DOES HIS BAPTISM EXPLAIN THE PURPOSE OF OUR BAPTISM...?
      1. Many refer to Jesus' baptism to explain the purpose of
         Christian baptism
         a. That baptism has nothing to do with the remission of sins
         b. That baptism is but a public profession of one's faith
         c. That baptism publicly identifies our relation to Christ,
            just as His baptism publicly introduced Him to Israel
      2. However, there is no Biblical connection made between Jesus'
         baptism and our own
         a. Christian baptism is for the remission of sins - Ac 2:38;
            22:16
         b. Christian baptism is a union with Christ in His death - Ro 6:3-7
         c. Christian baptism was often administered in relative privacy
            - Ac 8:35-38; 16:25-34
      -- No Biblical writer suggests that we are baptized for the same
         reason as Jesus

   C. WHAT IS THE IMPORT OF THE SPIRIT AND THE FATHER'S ROLE...?
      1. They certainly bear testimony as to who Jesus is
         a. As the Spirit would do later, via the works Jesus did - Mt 12:28
         b. As the Father would do later, on another occasion - Mt 17:5
      2. They also bear testimony to the nature of the Godhead
         a. I.e., three distinct persons in One God
         b. Though One in substance, there is a distinction to be made
            between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - cf. also Mt 28:
            19; 2Co 13:14; Ep 2:18
      -- Thus we see the unity of the Godhead implied in the baptism of
         Jesus

CONCLUSION

1. With the baptism of Jesus...
   a. He was formally introduced to John, and by him to Israel
   b. The Father and the Spirit audibly and visually confirmed Him as
      the Son of God
   c. Jesus demonstrated His desire to serve and "fulfill all
      righteousness"

2. The baptism of Jesus is certainly significant to Christians...
   a. Not that we are to be baptized for the same reason as He
   b. But certainly in confirming that He was the Messiah
   c. And displaying the attitude that should be true of all His
      disciples ("I have come to do my Father's will")

Jesus did not need baptism because He was without sin; He was baptized
because it was the Father's will for man at that time.  Should we who
are sinners dare hesitate to do the Father's will regarding baptism for
the remission of sins today...? - Mk 16:15-16; Ac 2:38; 22:16


Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

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3/30/13

From Gary... BYOR (Bring your own rainbow)


It is obvious to anyone who has read this blog for any length of time that I am fascinated with rainbows. I probably have done fifteen or twenty posts about "rainbows"  since I started this blog about five years ago.  When I started, I had no idea how many kinds there were, but they all seem to have something in common - until today, that is.  The one in the picture is man-made.  High above the Earth, it proclaims the technological supremacy that man has attained and is a testament to his ingenuity!!!!  The plane promises a safe journey to all who board it and the fact that its jet engines are functioning properly is revealed by the contrails and that beautiful rainbow it leaves in its wake.  A safe journey is quite a promise, especially when you consider this jet is probably flying at 30,000 feet or more above Terra firma.  After thinking about it a bit, I realize that we all make promises, from mundane things like "I'll be home on time tonight, honey" to the more significant ones like "I do"!!!  God makes promises too- and for most of us, the promise of the rainbow (Genesis, chapter 9 below) is the first thing that comes to mind.  But, what other promises God has made?  If I were to list them all, I would make this post so long that very few would bother to read all of them, so lets just talk about the most significant...

Genesis, Chapter 9
8  God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying,  9 “As for me, behold, I establish my covenant with you, and with your offspring after you,  10 and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the livestock, and every animal of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ship, even every animal of the earth.  11 I will establish my covenant with you: All flesh will not be cut off any more by the waters of the flood, neither will there ever again be a flood to destroy the earth.”  12 God said, “This is the token of the covenant which I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations:  13 I set my rainbow in the cloud, and it will be a sign of a covenant between me and the earth.  14 When I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow will be seen in the cloud,  15 and I will remember my covenant, which is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh, and the waters will no more become a flood to destroy all flesh.  16 The rainbow will be in the cloud. I will look at it, that I may remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.”  17 God said to Noah, “This is the token of the covenant which I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.” 


Luke, Chapter 24
 45  Then he opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures.  46 He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day,   47  and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning at Jerusalem.   48  You are witnesses of these things.   49  Behold, I send out the promise of my Father on you. But wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are clothed with power from on high.” 

Acts, Chapter 2

 1 Now when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all with one accord in one place.  2 Suddenly there came from the sky a sound like the rushing of a mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  3 Tongues like fire appeared and were distributed to them, and one sat on each of them.  4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.  5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky.  6 When this sound was heard, the multitude came together, and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.  7 They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans?  8 How do we hear, everyone in our own native language?  9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia,  10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes,  11 Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!”  12 They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying one to another, “What does this mean?” 13 Others, mocking, said, “They are filled with new wine.” 

  14  But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and spoke out to them, “You men of Judea, and all you who dwell at Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to my words.  15 For these aren’t drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is only the third hour of the day.  16 But this is what has been spoken through the prophet Joel: 
  17 ‘It will be in the last days, says God,
that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh.
Your sons and your daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions.
Your old men will dream dreams.
  18 Yes, and on my servants and on my handmaidens in those days,
I will pour out my Spirit, and they will prophesy.
  19 I will show wonders in the sky above,
and signs on the earth beneath;
blood, and fire, and billows of smoke.
  20 The sun will be turned into darkness,
and the moon into blood,
before the great and glorious day of the Lord comes.
  21 It will be, that whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

  22  “Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in your midst, even as you yourselves know,  23 him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed;  24 whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it.  25 For David says concerning him,
‘I saw the Lord always before my face,
For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.
  26 Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced.
Moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope;
  27 because you will not leave my soul in Hades,
neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay.
  28 You made known to me the ways of life.
You will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

  29  “Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.  30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,  31 he foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was his soul left in Hades, nor did his flesh see decay.  32 This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses.  33 Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this, which you now see and hear.  34 For David didn’t ascend into the heavens, but he says himself, 
‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit by my right hand,
  35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’

  36  “Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 

  37  Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 

  38  Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  39 For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”  40 With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!” 


2 Corinthians, Chapter 1
 18 But as God is faithful, our word toward you was not “Yes and no.”  19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by us, by me, Silvanus, and Timothy, was not “Yes and no,” but in him is “Yes.”  20 For however many are the promises of God, in him is the “Yes.” Therefore also through him is the “Amen”, to the glory of God through us. 

Ephesians, Chapter 1
 3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ;  4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without defect before him in love;  5 having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire,  6 to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely bestowed favor on us in the Beloved,  7 in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,  9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him  10 to an administration of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, in him;  11 in whom also we were assigned an inheritance, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his will;  12 to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ:  13 in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,  14 who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory.

The Bible is the story of beginnings and endings.  From purity in creation to sin and separation from God.  It is also the narration of God's working with his creatures to bring them back into good fellowship with him - without sin!!!  First and foremost it is the revelation of the completed promise; that is, "the promise" that God would provide a way to do this!!!  So, we have the above passages of Scripture.  God miraculously exhibits his power (Acts, Chapter 2) and gives of himself (HIS HOLY SPIRIT) as a seal of approval to those who repent and do his will.  Better than any wondrous rainbow you or I could imagine, The Holy Spirit is God's pledge of his most important promise to us!!!  We are "living rainbows" and THE promise given to us is not just something beautiful in the sky, but God's own seal.  Question: do YOU WANT THAT FOR YOUR LIFE?  Read Acts, Chapter two, verses 14 and following once again and do what you are commanded to do!!!  Humm, I wonder what kind of rainbow, YOU WILL BE????