The price and prevention of adultery by Mark Copeland

http://executableoutlines.com/text/pro5_1.htm

A topic worth thinking about...Gary

Life with a conscience...

Imagine be allowed to propel your car at this speed, legally?  Would you even want to?  Would it be safe?  Would it be prudent?  Operation of a motor vehicle at a much lower speed than the posted speed limit can actually get you a ticket for driving too slowly. Would you break the law by only going, say 50 or 60 mph?  How do we react to law and what do we do about it?  As I mentioned yesterday, I have been reading about Hitler and the causes of the second world war.  Its fascinating to me that he gained power legitimately and the people obeyed whatever laws were enacted.  Let me say that again... the people obeyed whatever laws were enacted!!!  Which naturally raises the question: What if the powers that be required you to do something that was obviously contrary to the word of God?  Most of the German people under The Third Reich blindly obeyed any enacted law and millions of non-Aryan people died. But what about those who follow Jesus, the Christ?  Can we do just anything and everything that those in power tell us to do?  The answer is found within the book of Acts, chapter five...

WEB: Acts Chapter 5

[12] By the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were done among the people. They were all with one accord in Solomon’s porch. [13] None of the rest dared to join them, however the people honored them. [14] More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women. [15] They even carried out the sick into the streets, and laid them on cots and mattresses, so that as Peter came by, at the least his shadow might overshadow some of them. [16] Multitudes also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people, and those who were tormented by unclean spirits: and they were all healed.

[17] But the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with jealousy, [18] and laid hands on the apostles, and put them in public custody. [19] But an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors by night, and brought them out, and said, [20] “Go stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.”

[21] When they heard this, they entered into the temple about daybreak, and taught. But the high priest came, and those who were with him, and called the council together, and all the senate of the children of Israel, and sent to the prison to have them brought. [22] But the officers who came didn’t find them in the prison. They returned and reported, [23] “We found the prison shut and locked, and the guards standing before the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside!”

[24] Now when the high priest, the captain of the temple, and the chief priests heard these words, they were very perplexed about them and what might become of this. [25] One came and told them, “Behold, the men whom you put in prison are in the temple, standing and teaching the people.” [26] Then the captain went with the officers, and brought them without violence, for they were afraid that the people might stone them.

[27] When they had brought them, they set them before the council. The high priest questioned them, [28] saying, “Didn’t we strictly command you not to teach in this name? Behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching, and intend to bring this man’s blood on us.”
[29] But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. [30] The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom you killed, hanging him on a tree. [31] God exalted him with his right hand to be a Prince and a Savior, to give repentance to Israel, and remission of sins. [32] We are His witnesses of these things; and so also is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”

[33] But they, when they heard this, were cut to the heart, and determined to kill them. [34] But one stood up in the council, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, honored by all the people, and commanded to put the apostles out for a little while. [35] He said to them, “You men of Israel, be careful concerning these men, what you are about to do. [36] For before these days Theudas rose up, making himself out to be somebody; to whom a number of men, about four hundred, joined themselves: who was slain; and all, as many as obeyed him, were dispersed, and came to nothing. [37] After this man, Judas of Galilee rose up in the days of the enrollment, and drew away some people after him. He also perished, and all, as many as obeyed him, were scattered abroad. [38] Now I tell you, withdraw from these men, and leave them alone. For if this counsel or this work is of men, it will be overthrown. [39] But if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow it, and you would be found even to be fighting against God!”

[40] They agreed with him. Summoning the apostles, they beat them and commanded them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.

The apostles had a choice; do what was plainly the will of God or do what the religious authorities of the day told them to do.  They chose God and suffered for it.  But, they followed their conscience and OBEYED GOD.  Throughout history Christians have had to make tough choices; in the first three centuries, if you disobeyed the will of Caesar and openly worshiped Jesus, you could be put to death for it and probably a horrible death at that.  Okay, that was a long time ago, but what about today?  Well, there are many countries on this green Earth, that forbid Christianity.  You can die in these places for being faithful to Jesus.  So, the topic is relevant and thought provoking, even to this very day.  Think about this, the next time you are told to do something that bothers you.  Think this is ONLY about a 100 mph sign limit?  In America, if a minor becomes pregnant and her family tries to force her to have an abortion; what would YOU advise her to do?  Remember, thou shalt not kill?????????

The labor that fails by Mark Copeland

http://executableoutlines.com/text/ps127_1.htm

Another great lesson from the psalms... Gary

Philosophers all...

Over the past few months I have been reading about Adolph Hitler, as I have been interested in "The Third Reich" and the causes of the second world war.  So, when I saw Nietzsche on this little sign it peaked my interest.  Then when I saw "Kant" and finally "Sinatra", I chucked.  I kept asking myself what Sinatra (the famous singer of the 40's and 50's etc.) had to do with these two famous philosophers..??  Then, I saw it and laughed out loud this time. Nietzsche emphasized man, his ascendancy, his superiority over everything (humm, remember "God is dead" and the "superman" of the National Socialist Party???).  Kant (if you can get by the complexity of his thought processes in the Metaphysics of Reason) emphasized the analytical characteristics of the mind.  And then we come to that great "philosopher" Frank Sinatra.  I was never fortunate enough to have met him, but he left his mark on society through the songs he sang.  His crooning affected millions upon millions of people and something inside all of us will never quite be the same again.  Michael Bluble' has recently done a lot to revitalize interest in the songs of that era, so once again the work of "old blue eyes" is current.  Right about now you are probably asking yourself:"what all this has to do with the Scriptures"? Consider, for a moment, all the religious error that has occurred because we do not understand God??? Humanists emphasize mankind, great theologians make complex analysis of God (using their great minds) and the world is just interested in what makes them happy.  Each is fine, but quite wrong.  And so, we come to the Scriptures...

WEB: I Thessalonians 5:23. 

May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

WEB: Genesis Chapter 1
[26] God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” [27] God created man in his own image. In God’s image he created him; male and female he created them.

WEB: Jeremiah Chapter 31
[31] Behold, the days come, says Yahweh, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: [32] not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they broke, although I was a husband to them, says Yahweh. [33] But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says Yahweh: I will put my law in their inward parts, and in their heart will I write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people: [34] and they shall teach no more every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, Know Yahweh; for they shall all know me, from their least to their greatest, says Yahweh: for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin will I remember no more.

Three seemingly unrelated scriptures, yet together, they form something very interesting.  Human beings are made in the image of God, in other words, they reflect his makeup.  They are body, soul and spirit.  And if we are to know God, we should look at ourselves.  Jeremiah says that "...they shall all know me".  I wonder, does this mean even someone who is very young or aged or how about the slow of mind???  Of course it does.  We know God through the complex nature of our makeup.  Our understanding of God should be balanced according to our design.  Mental, emotional and spiritual understand should be used together as a "composite" to achieve a true picture of God.  Therefore everyone has the capacity to "know" God.  God is available for us ALL!!!  You don't have to be a genius like Nietzsche or Kant to understand the almighty or to reason intelligently, you just need to be yourself and seek him.  Start with learning the Scriptures, applying them and letting Jesus mold your heart.  You will do just fine, remember, be yourself and let God do the rest.  So, we come to Frank Sinatra and the great wisdom of "do be do be do".  Anybody out there feel like singing...???

The Works of the Lord are Great by Mark Copeland

http://executableoutlines.com/text/ps111_2.htm

Another view into the beauty that is the Psalms.... Gary

NOT FANTASY!!!

Is it me, or has Disney changed over the years?  Somehow, I have the idea that what they do now is different than it was thirty or forty years ago.  Then again, it could be me, for I have changed.  In times gone by I had young children and I can remember countless times seeing things anew threw their young eyes.  The comparisons in the pictures could be viewed as prophesies I suppose, but they are more likely just coincidences.  We may never know.  What we can know is that God wants everyone to be right with HIM and to know HIM.  This chapter expresses that thought and is worth reading (again and again).

World English Bible: Ephesians Chapter 3

[1] For this cause I, Paul, am the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles, [2] if it is so that you have heard of the administration of that grace of God which was given me toward you; [3] how that by revelation the mystery was made known to me, as I wrote before in few words, [4] by which, when you read, you can perceive my understanding in the mystery of Christ; [5] which in other generations was not made known to the children of men, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit; [6] that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of his promise in Christ Jesus through the Good News, [7] of which I was made a servant, according to the gift of that grace of God which was given me according to the working of his power. [8] To me, the very least of all saints, was this grace given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, [9] and to make all men see what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things through Jesus Christ; [10] to the intent that now through the assembly the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the principalities and the powers in the heavenly places, [11] according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord; [12] in whom we have boldness and access in confidence through our faith in him. [13] Therefore I ask that you may not lose heart at my troubles for you, which are your glory.

[14] For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, [15] from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, [16] that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man; [17] that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love, [18] may be strengthened to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, [19] and to know Christ’s love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. [20] Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, [21] to him be the glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

From my early childhood, I can't remember a time when there wasn't hatred in the world and a war somewhere.  This thought sickens me.  Think of all the evil that has occurred over the past one hundred years!!!  Just think for a moment about how many wounded vets you have seen or HAVE KNOWN PERSONALLY.  Yet, with all this, God has always been there, ready to fill our hearts with love.  Most all of us have known love in one form or another; whether it be from the family we grew up in, a sweetheart or children.  Imagine a love greater than any you have known and marvel at a love that would be 100,000 times greater.  The Christian life is wonderful because you have the privledge of knowing God and being changed by his love.  Even Disney could not truly represent the truth of the essence of the love of God.  But its right there for all to see and if you have never experienced it a good place to start is with an open Bible.  Life will never be the same again, I promise.  And that is NOT FANTASY!!!

They shall bear fruit in an old age by Mark Copeland

http://executableoutlines.com/text/ps92_12.htm

Another valuable lesson from the Psalms... Gary