5/4/13

From Gary... Picture this...

1967 Prom

Wedding reception May 4, 1968

Amway era 1973


Niagara Falls 1988


1988 (Niagara Falls)

In Washington, DC (1992?)

25th Wedding Anniversary
 

In Florida 2009?  

 On vacation (retired) September, 2012

I am very late posting the blog today, because Linda and I were given a dinner at Appleby's for our anniversary.  Yes, today is the day- 45 years.  So, for those who don't know us all that well- I put a few pictures of us on the site.  We had coffee at our favorite Duncan Donuts and then did some shopping and finally went to Appleby's for a huge lunch.  What a day!!!!  And we both were glad- just to be with one another!!!!  Once again, this Scripture was in the forefront of my thinking... 

Proverbs, Chapter 5
 18 Let your spring be blessed.
Rejoice in the wife of your youth.


There have been good times and not-so-good times, but through it all we have been a couple.  Perhaps we could have done other things with our lives, but our choice to commit ourselves to a life together is the best one we could have ever made.  If you are reading this and are married- give your spouse a hug and a kiss!!!  It will not only keep you together, but will make you very happy!!!  I know this is true because I have done it-- again and again and again and AGAIN!!!!

From Jim McGuiggan... Warm Truth on a Cold Day


Warm Truth

on a Cold Day

It was many years ago now but I can still recall the central images of the experience with no difficulty at all. It was a December day heading toward Christmas and a bone-chilling wind whipped in from the Irish Sea and rushed down Main StreetBangor as I headed home, deep behind my scarf. That’s when I saw him coming in my direction; a red-haired kid wearing what looked like poor clothes for this kind of weather—flimsy looking gear, skinny jeans and a zip-up jacket. But he didn’t act cold and he wasn’t walking, he was striding and smiling while he was striding. Then I spotted what he was looking down at every now and then in between his taking quick glances at the people passing him—he had a dog on a lead, a German-Shepherd. He was obviously enamoured with the creature and the way it barely took its eyes off him showed it was a mutual affair.
I’m nervous around dogs especially if they’re coming my way and (maybe) especially if they’re the (alleged) “threatening breed” so I took a good look at him as he came and as he drew level. I need not have worried for he had eyes only for Red, as if he was waiting for a command he could obey. The animal was hardly a show dog. For a German-Shepherd its paws were too small and he was too thin. His head was small and too sharp and his coat was dull. No, he would have won no prizes in a contest but his young master looked at him as though he was the Crufts Supreme Champion.
I learned again that bitter afternoon that appearance isn’t everything; there’s a commitment that spurns the cult of looks. I saw two unspectacular companions talk of love with their eyes. In a world that worships at the altar of physical beauty I saw two that refused to bow!
These two reminded me of the tens of thousands of marvellous men and women who while they acknowledge the reality of physical beauty deny its supremacy or centrality. They’re people who’ve made commitments to one another and who refuse to let grey hairs, sickness, old age, feebleness or any such “limitation” be the lord and master of their lives. I thought of Ethel who had committed to me all those years earlier and I thought of Him who committed to us all and, astonishingly, finds us something to be delighted in (see Zephaniah 3:17).
My ears still stung, my eyes still watered and I still followed the clouds of breath as I walked home but I had been warmed by a red-haired kid and his run-of-the-mill friend.


©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 Danger Of Traditions


                          "THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

                   The Danger Of Traditions (7:1-13)

INTRODUCTION

1. As Jesus went about teaching, He often ran afoul of religious leaders
   over keeping traditions...
   a. E.g., plucking heads of grain on the Sabbath - Mk 2:23-28
   b. E.g., eating with unwashed hands - Mk 7:1-13

2. In Mk 7:1-13, Jesus describes the danger of traditions at length...
   a. How keeping them can make void the very commands of God
   b. How keeping them can make our worship vain before God

3. Traditions are very important in some religions...
   a. In Roman Catholicism, tradition is placed on par with God's Word
      1) "It is an article of faith from a decree of the Vatican Council
         that Tradition is a source of theological teaching distinct
         from Scripture, and that it is infallible.  It is therefore to
         be received with the same internal assent of Scripture, for it
         is the word of God." - Catholic Dictionary, p. 41-42
      2) "Do you have to believe in Tradition?  Yes, because it is the
         Word of God and has equal authority with the Bible." - Catholic
         Catechism For Adults, p. 11
   b. Protestant churches have their own traditions
      1) It is often their traditions that distinguish between the
         denominations
      2) To be a member of a particular denomination, one must accept
         its traditions

4. In this study, with Mk 7:1-13 as our basic text, we will address the
   following questions...
   a. What are traditions?
   b. Are traditions always wrong?
   c. If not, when does a tradition become sinful?

[Let's begin with...]

I. THE MEANING OF TRADITION

   A. THE WORD ITSELF...
      1. The Greek word is paradosis, which means "giving over" or
         "handing down"
      2. It refers to teaching that is handed down either by word
         (orally) or in writing

   B. AS UNDERSTOOD BY THE JEWS...
      1. It applied to the oral teachings of the elders (distinguished
         elders from Moses on down)
      2. These traditions were often divided into three classes...
         a. Oral laws supposedly given by Moses in addition to the
            written laws
         b. Decisions of various judges which became precedents in
            judicial matters
         c. Interpretations of highly respected rabbis held in reverence
            along with the OT scriptures
         -- Article on "Tradition", ISBE
      3. Prior to his conversion, Paul was a staunch supporter of Jewish
         tradition - Ga 1:13-14

   C. AS UNDERSTOOD BY ROMAN AND GREEK CATHOLICS...
      1. Their views appear to be parallel to that of the Jews
      2. What they consider "Tradition" is what they believe to be the
         teachings:
         a. Of Jesus or the apostles, persevered orally rather than
            through writing
         b. Of various councils which have left various decrees
         c. Of various church leaders (such as the pope) considered to
            be inspired with later revelations from God
      3. Of course, one is expected to take their word for it that these
         "traditions" were truly from God and have been faithfully
         transmitted

   D. AS FOUND IN THE SCRIPTURES...
      1. The word "tradition" as such is not found in the Old Testament
      2. It is found thirteen (13) times in New Testament
         a. Three (3) times it refers to "apostolic teaching"
            1) That which had been delivered by the apostles - 1Co 11:2
            2) Whether by word (in person) or epistle - 2Th 2:15
            3) Which Christians were expected to keep - 2Th 3:6
         b. Ten (10) times it refers to "the tradition of the elders" or
            "the traditions of men"
            1) As in our text and parallel passages - Mk 7:3-13; Mt 15:2-6
            2) Of which Paul warned the Colossians - Col 2:8
            3) From which Jewish Christians had been delivered 1Pe1:18; Ga 1:14
      3. Jesus did not feel bound to abide by "the traditions of the
         elders"
         a. Some traditions He had no problem with keeping
            1) Such as going to a wedding feast - Jn 2:1-2
            2) Or attending the Feast Of Dedication - Jn 10:22-23
         b. But He just as easily had no problem with violating other
            traditions
            1) Plucking grain on the Sabbath - Mk 2:23-28
            2) Eating with unwashed hands - Mk 7:1-5
      4. Evidently Jesus did not subscribe to the view of "traditions"
         handed down orally
         a. He never appealed to the traditions of the elders
         b. He either appealed to the authority of the written Word (the
            Law of Moses), or to His own authority as the Son of God

[Not all "traditions" are wrong.  If they are teachings of God, "handed
down" by inspired men, they are to be heeded (2Th 2:15).  But if they
are doctrines or interpretations handed down by uninspired men, like the
traditions of the Jews they are suspect.  As we return to our text (Mk
7:1-13), Jesus points out...]

II. THE DANGER OF TRADITIONS OF MEN

   A. THEY CAN LEAD TO HYPOCRITICAL WORSHIP...
      1. Traditions of men tend toward ritualism (just look at the
         rituals found in many religions that have no scriptural basis)
      2. Such ritualism is often done repeatedly, with little thought as
         to its origin and purpose
      3. It is easy to go through such rituals, with the heart and mind
         on other things
      4. Worship without the heart (or mind) of man is hypocritical
         worship! - Mk 7:6

   B. THEY CAN LEAD TO VAIN WORSHIP...
      1. When traditions of men are taught on the same level as the
         commands of God, it leads to vain worship - Mk 7:7
      2. Such worship may appear to be impressive, but it in actually
         "empty, worthless"
         a. First, because God did not command it
         b. Second, because it does not accomplish the good we really
            need - cf. Col 2:18-23

   C. THEY CAN MAKE THE WORD OF GOD VOID...
      1. Jesus gave the example of honoring one's parents - Mk 7:10-12
         a. The elders' tradition taught giving to the temple freed one
            from giving to one's parents
         b. Thus rendering the command of God of no effect
      2. There are traditions of men today with similar affect
         a. Such as the practice of sprinkling for baptism, a tradition
            of man
         b. When one keeps the tradition of sprinkling, they make the
            command of God to be baptized (immersed) of no effect!
      3. Through such traditions, one is actually rejecting the command
         of God! - Mk 7:8-9,13

CONCLUSION

1. What are traditions...?
   a. They are simply teachings that have been handed down
   b. In the case of inspired men (like the apostles) given in person or
      through their writings, such traditions are good and to be
      followed

2. Oral traditions, given through a succession of uninspired men, are at
   best suspect...
   a. Jesus did not hold traditions orally transmitted through the Jews
      on par with God's written word
   b. Nor should we hold traditions orally transmitted through men on
      par with God's written word

3. At worst, traditions of men can be vain and deadly...
   a. When their observance leads one to not keep a command of God
   b. When they are taught as doctrine, on par with God's word
   c. When they lead to ritualism, done without engaging the heart and
      mind of man

From the words of Jesus, let us beware of "The Danger Of Traditions",
and make sure that our faith and practice is based upon the written Word
of God, not the interpretations and teachings of uninspired men...!


Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

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