4/9/14

From Jim McGuiggan... True love calls us UP

True love calls us UP

To be thought worthwhile is, I think, of critical importance to a healthy person. Talk of "unconditional" love is also fundamentally important but the idea that someone will love you no matter what kind of person you are has its down side.

To love someone in any deeper, healthier sense, has to mean, at some point, that you want him or her to be better. A love that doesn't seek to draw us up or help to lift us up is missing a vital ingredient. Not to care if your child is a bum at heart, not to care that your beloved is selfish to the core and a user, to say, "I don't care if you care about goodness or not,"—to say or think any of that is pathetic. CS Lewis has somewhere said that we might love someone despite his or her smelling bad or behaving badly but to say we love them because they are or do these things is nonsense. In that case the "lover" is lacking a vital element of what love is really about. In that case the "lover" lacks character for no lover can have character and not want the one they love to have character—character that bears the fruit of kindness, courtesy, moral strength and the like.

So in our relationships—if they're to be really loving—we're to be concerned about character (our own and that of others). If someone says they love me I want them (at least) to have a shot at helping me grow in what's worthwhile, I want them to help me be and feel worthwhile. I want them to help me so that they can admire me in a healthy way and to a healthy degree. I want more than the warm fuzzies toward me. There is in me (and I suppose in every healthy being) the want to be a giver, a contributor as well as a taker and a receiver. To love your kids or others is no small pleasure but to admire and respect them is no trivial experience either. Somewhere in all our "unconditional" love (that we sometimes express in a sickeningly sugary way) we should call for moral development. Commitment to us, despite failure or success, comes first, but if it’s truly commitment to us then it will bring with it the urge to enrich our lives in goodness.

This would have to mean, don't you know, that we will take note of what others have done, we'll pay attention to the contributions they make, contributions that sort of help them to feel they're "paying their way" in life, carrying their share of the load. And when their contributions are never noticed or if noticed, never mentioned, it tends to affect their self-image in a negative way. I don't think we need ceaseless praise and we certainly don't require or earn lavish praise (under normal circumstances) but to have someone indicate at times that we're genuinely contributing is vitally important. To know we're loved despite failures, despite consistent failures is essential to a healthy life but to know that we're meeting to some degree and in some way the fair and measured expectations of others can only be good for us.

It'd be a serious mistake to give people the impression that you only love them because and when they're "useful". It's here that the notion of "unconditional" love (commitment) comes into its own. But I think it's very wrong to give the impression that we expect nothing of them; I think it's very wrong never to speak of what they've contributed to life (to our lives), as if it didn't matter a fig. Whether I behave well or ill, if I'm a degenerate or a saint, if I seek decency and loyalty or eagerly pursue crassly selfish ends—to believe that that makes no difference to those who say they love me, that would be crippling.

So I'd say that it's important that we tell people when they've done well. I say we should (wisely) speak of their failures and their achievements. I say we should let them know that it matters greatly to us that they grow in virtuous ways. As in everything else we can go over the top with this and every little mistake is noted or every little success is praised too lavishly. But it won't hurt a bit to open our mouths and say, "Well done!" And if we think it appropriate, "Very well done!" If we can’t praise as well as receive praise maybe we have a bigger problem than the one we think has a problem.


©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, theabidingword.com.

From: Matthew Vanhorn... What's that You Said?


http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=1418

What's that You Said?

by  Matthew Vanhorn

Many people recognize “Can you hear me now?” as a catch phrase made popular by commercial broadcasts of the Verizon® Wireless phone company. Hearing a response via a cellular phone requires much more than good wireless phone service, however. It requires the most complex auditory receptors on Earth—the ear. Even though we have invented amazing technologies, we have not been able to match the receptive design of the ear.
The ear is divided into three parts: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. The process of hearing begins with vibrations in the air. These vibrations are captured and enhanced by the outer (external) ear, which is comprised of two parts—the pinna and the external auditory canal. Part of the external ear, called the concha, intensifies the sound waves. The intensified sound next enters the external auditory canal, which is the area from the external ear to the ear drum. The ear drum is so sensitive that it can perceive vibrations on even a molecular level. A faint high note may cause the eardrum to vibrate back and forth by less than the diameter of a single hydrogen atom. Still, this vibration will be transformed into nerve impulses within the inner ear, and will be registered in the brain. Even among the lowest notes, the inner ear will detect a motion of the eardrum that amounts to less than the wavelength of visible light. An amazing aspect of the eardrum is that after recognizing the tiniest vibrations, it can return quickly to its regular state within five thousandths of a second. This recovery rate is extremely important; if the eardrum could not return to its regular state so quickly, every sound entering the ear would echo. The sound waves are amplified by the eardrum, and they then proceed to the middle ear region.
Ear Illustration
The middle ear has the smallest bones in the human body: the malleus, incus, and stapes (a.k.a., the hammer, stirrup, and anvil). The middle ear contains a sort of buffer that reduces exceedingly high levels of sound. This buffer is provided by two of the body’s smallest muscles, which control the malleus, incus, and stapes. These involuntary muscles contract, thus reducing the intensity of the vibration of loud noises before they reach the delicate inner ear. As a result, humans are able to hear shockingly loud sounds at a moderate volume.
The middle ear must maintain a vital equilibrium. The air pressure inside the middle ear must be the same as the pressure beyond the ear drum (the atmospheric pressure). Thus, the ear has been equipped with a three-and-a-half-centimeter-long canal. This canal, known as the Eustachian tube, is a hollow tube that extends from the inner ear to the oral cavity, and allows a controlled exchange of air between the middle ear and the outside environment. Another interesting feature of the auditory canal is the wax that it constantly secretes. The ear contains about 4,000 wax-producing glands. This wax, which contains antiseptic properties, keeps bacteria and insects out. The cells on the surface of the auditory canal are aligned in a spiral form directed toward the outside, ensuring that the wax always flows toward the outside of the ear.
All of these processes occur within the outer and middle ear and control only the mechanical portion of sound waves. These mechanical motions are turned into sound in the region known as the inner ear. The inner ear contains the most critical part of the hearing mechanism—the organ of Corti, located in the snail-shaped cochlea. The cochlea is an organ of the inner ear that is filled with a liquid called perilymph. The winding interior of the cochlea is studded with thousands of hair-like structures called stereocilia. When the middle ear receives signals from the eardrum, such as a ringing telephone, the perilymph fluid transmits the signal to the auditory nerve and the brain.
The vibrations in the liquid of the cochlea cause waves. The inner walls of the cochlea are lined with stereocilia, which move in perfect synchronization with the motion of the perilymph. When the stereocilia sense a vibration, they move and push each other in sequence, like dominos falling in a line. These tiny hairs vibrate at incredible speeds—up to 20,000 times per second! This motion opens channels in the membranes of the cells, allowing the flow of ions into the cells. When the stereocilia move in the opposite direction, these channels close again.
The perpetual motion of the stereocilia produces electrical signals, which are forwarded to the brain by the auditory nerve. This change from pressure to electrical waves is called transduction. The brain now interprets the signals, and assesses the pitch, volume, and meaning of the sounds. Whereas a grand piano has 240 strings and 88 keys, the inner ear has 24,000 “strings” and 20,000 “keys,” which enable us to hear an incredible variety and range of sounds.
The inner ear actually can be thought of as two organs: the cochlea, which assists in hearing, and the semicircular canals, which serve as balance organs. The semicircular canals detect acceleration in the three perpendicular planes. They utilize hair cells similar to the stereocilia of the organ of Corti. These hair cells detect movements of the fluid in the canals caused by angular acceleration about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the canal. Tiny floating particles assist in the process by stimulating the hair cells as they move within the fluid. These signals of motion then are transmitted to the brain via nerve impulses, and are processed there by the cerebellum.
The fact that all parts of the ear are necessary to produce hearing should be obvious when one considers the complex chain of mechanical and electrochemical processes involved. In order for the ear to function, each component must be in perfect order. If any one of these mechanisms is taken away, hearing fails. Additionally the organs of the inner ear provide balance, which allows humans to stand upright. Could such amazing complexity arise by chance? Hardly. “The hearing ear and the seeing eye, The Lord has made both of them” (Proverbs 20:12).

REFERENCES

Gillen, Alan L. (2001), Body by Design (Green Forest, Arkansas. Master Books).
Yahya, Harun (2003), Darwin Refuted (New Delhi, Goodward Books).

From Mark Copeland... Pure And Undefiled Religion (James 1:26-27)






                         "THE EPISTLE OF JAMES"

                   Pure And Undefiled Religion (1:26-27)
                                
INTRODUCTION

1. What kind of religion do we have?  Is it like a...

   * SPARE TIRE (used only in the case of an emergency)?

   * WHEELBARROW (easily upset and must be pushed)?

   * BUS (ridden only when it goes your way)?

2. Whatever kind of religion we have, it is of no value unless it is
   pleasing to God in heaven

3. In James 1:27, we find a definition of what constitutes "pure and
   undefiled religion before God"

4. To be sure that our own religion is acceptable before God, let's
   notice some attributes of "Pure And Undefiled Religion" as indicated
   in this verse and its immediate context

[First, "Pure And Undefiled Religion" must be...]

I. A "PRACTICING" RELIGION

   A. IT INVOLVES DOING SOMETHING ON OUR PART...
      1. This is clearly implied in the phrase "to visit"
      2. The context prior to this verse also makes it clear that we must
         be "doers" and "not hearers only" - Jm 1:22-25
      3. This echoes the teachings of Jesus Himself - Mt 7:21; Lk 6:46

   B. IF WE ARE NOT "DOERS", WE ARE DECEIVING OURSELVES (Jm 1:22)
      1. And usually, it is ONLY ourselves we are deceiving!
      2. We are certainly not deceiving God, nor Satan
      3. And it unlikely that we fool others, especially our children

[Having "a practicing religion" must be important, for later in his
epistle James emphasizes again the necessity of our faith working (Ja
2:14-17,26).

In fact, we can conclude that a religion which is not a practicing
religion is a DEAD religion!

Next, "Pure And Undefiled Religion" must also be...]

II. A "PRACTICAL" RELIGION

   A. GOD DID NOT INTEND FOR OUR RELIGION TO CONSIST SOLELY OF "GOING
      TO CHURCH"...
      1. Extending OUR HEART TO GOD IN WORSHIP is certainly important
      2. But so is extending OUR HAND TO MAN IN SERVICE! - Jm 1:27

   B. THROUGHOUT THE N.T., MUCH EMPHASIS IS PLACED UPON DOING GOOD...
      1. From the writings of Paul - Ga 6:10; Tit 2:14; 3:8,14
      2. From the author of Hebrews - He 13:16
      3. From the apostle John - 1Jn 3:17-18

[Until we apply the Word of God by showing kindness and compassion for
the poor and helpless, all the preaching, teaching, and studying we may 
do cannot make our religion "pure and undefiled"!

A further attribute of "Pure And Undefiled Religion" is that it is...]

III. A "PERSONAL" RELIGION

   A. IMPLIED BY THE USE OF "SINGULAR PRONOUNS" IN THE TEXT...
      1. "anyone" - Jm 1:23
      2. "he", "his" - Jm 1:23
      3. "himself", "he" - Jm 1:24
      4. "he", "this one" - Jm 1:25
      5. "anyone", "he", "his", "this one's" - Jm 1:26
      6. "oneself" - Jm 1:27

   B. NOW, THERE IS A PLACE FOR "CORPORATE" GIVING...
      1. That is, where we give in conjunction with others to meet a
         need
      2. For example, in helping needy Christians - 1Co 16:1-2

   C. BUT IT WAS NEVER INTENDED TO REPLACE OUR INDIVIDUAL AND PERSONAL
      RESPONSIBILITY!
      1. Some might think...
         a. That their giving on Sunday fulfills their responsibility
            to the poor, the widows, and the orphans
         b. That it fulfills their obligation to preach the gospel
      2. But God intended for "corporate" giving to only meet certain
         needs
      3. He still expects us to fulfill our "personal" service to the
         poor, widows, and orphans as we have the ability and 
         opportunity
      4. Just as we find in the Old Testament...
         a. Though the third year tithe was for the widows and orphans
         b. They were to always help them whenever they had the
            opportunity!

[To practice "Pure And Undefiled Religion":

   * We must make it personal; we can't pay someone else to do our
     work for us!

   * We cannot excuse ourselves by saying "I gave at the church"!

One last point I wish to make concerning "Pure And Undefiled Religion";
it must be...]

IV. A "PURE" RELIGION

   A. THIS SOUNDS REDUNDANT, BUT IN OUR DAY IT MUST BE EMPHASIZED!
      1. Our society has become increasingly immoral and materialistic
      2. Such is wreaking havoc upon many in the Lord's church
      3. What we hear and see may only be the "tip of the iceberg"!

   B. OUR RELIGION IS FOR NOTHING, UNLESS IT IS...
      1. PURE - without blemish
      2. UNDEFILED - untainted
      3. Capable of keeping us UNSPOTTED from (by) the world

   C. BUT IF WE ARE SINNERS (as affirmed in 1Jn 1:8), HOW CAN WE EVER
      BE PURE, UNDEFILED, AND UNSPOTTED?
      1. It is possible, only BY THE BLOOD OF CHRIST!
         a. Which can cleanse us and make us pure if we walk in the
            light with God - 1Jn 1:7
         b. This involves keeping the commandments of God - 1Jn 2:3
            1) For example, experiencing the INITIAL CLEANSING of the
               blood when we obey the commands to repent and be
               baptized for the remission of sins - Ac 2:38
            2) And, experiencing the CONTINUOUS CLEANSING of the blood
               when we confess our sins to God - 1Jn 1:9
      2. It is possible only BY THE HELP OF GOD!
         a. Who not only provides the blood of Christ to cleanse us from
            sin...
         b. But also a way of escape in times of temptation - 1Co 10:13
      3. Yes, with Christ's blood and God's help, it is possible to be
         pure, undefiled, and unspotted by the world!
      4. And this is what makes the religion of Jesus Christ UNIQUE!
         a. Other religions may be "practicing, practical and personal"
         b. But only the true religion of Jesus Christ can present one
            "pure" in the sight of God! - cf. Jn 14:6

CONCLUSION

1. What kind of religion do YOU have?
   a. Is it a PRACTICING religion?
      1) Does it go beyond the walls of a building?
      2) Does it go beyond the printed pages of the Bible?
      3) Does it go beyond a superficial hearing of the Word?
   b. Is it a PRACTICAL religion?
      1) Does it consist of more than JUST "going to church, reading,
         and praying"?
      2) Does it reach out and manifest itself in compassion to those
         in need?
   c. Is it a PERSONAL religion?
      1) Going beyond what we may do in conjunction with others?
      2) Including our personal involvement apart from what others may
         do?
   d. And is it a PURE religion?
      1) Involving our initial cleansing from sin by the blood of Christ
         as we in faith repented and were baptized?
      2) Involving our continual cleansing by the blood of Christ as we
         confess our sins and repent of them?
      3) Does it include a putting away of sin with the help of God so
         that we might be "unspotted by the world"?

2. If not, then whatever religion we have is USELESS and we are simply
   DECEIVING OURSELVES!

Let's always encourage one another to be sure and have a "Pure And
Undefiled Religion" before God!

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Gary... Look!!! A sign!!!

Looking at facebook today, I saw this blood red moon (one of a series of four over the next few days). 

http://www.redflagnews.com/headlines/apocalypse-now-why-a-rare-astrological-event-tonight-could-herald-the-end-of-days

I will make sure to walk the dogs late, just so that I can see this very rare event.  Now, the article said that many Christians believe that this will herald the "end of days". Immediately, a "red flag" (pardon the pun here). I recalled the first sermon in Acts chapter two and what it had to say about this event.   Be sure to read it all the way through, as this is important!!!

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!” 

  41  Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.  42 They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.  43 Fear came on every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.

First, could this upcoming event actually be the signal of the "end of days"??? Answer: a qualified yes.  Why do I qualify the "yes"?  Well, from verse 16 above, Peter refers to what the prophet Joel has to say on the matter and APPLIES IT TO THE HERE AND NOW (the first century).  Frankly, it makes no sense to me to break up his application from then to now, just to prove a doctrine that someone may adhere to.  The focus of the sermon (and it IS a sermon) was to engender a life changing response to the truth that they crucified Jesus (who is both The Lord and The Christ)! They responded by being baptized for their sins and were added by the LORD to the CHURCH!!!  As far as that "blood red" moon goes- well, it really does not matter if you have followed the New Testament pattern of becoming a Christian, does it??? Saved is SAVED, no matter what happens in the sky or anywhere else.  Besides, I do not want to know exact dates, I have enough to think about already!!!