The color of "why"

Such color!!!  I have often wondered WHY we see in color?  I doubt if I will ever really know WHY, but I DO know that it enhances life.  This was brought to my attention yesterday, when my youngest granddaughter was opening her Christmas presents.  There was an abandonment of joy in her eyes as she went from one present to another and with each new wrapping her eyes opened wider.  Right then, if I had asked her what was so exciting, I doubt if she could have told me (after all, she is just TWO), but the joy of it all was beyond doubt.  So it must have been for the recipient of a very special gift from Jesus...

WEB: John Chapter 9

[1] As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. [2] His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”

[3] Jesus answered, "“Neither did this man sin, nor his parents; but, that the works of God might be revealed in him. [4] I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work. [5] While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”" [6] When he had said this, he spat on the ground, made mud with the saliva, anointed the blind man’s eyes with the mud, [7] and said to him, "“Go, wash in the pool of Siloam”" (which means “Sent”). So he went away, washed, and came back seeing. [8] The neighbors therefore, and those who saw that he was blind before, said, “Isn’t this he who sat and begged?” [9] Others were saying, “It is he.” Still others were saying, “He looks like him.”

He said, “I am he.” [10] They therefore were asking him, “How were your eyes opened?”

[11] He answered, “A man called Jesus made mud, anointed my eyes, and said to me, "‘Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash.’" So I went away and washed, and I received sight.”

[12] Then they asked him, “Where is he?”

He said, “I don’t know.”

[13] They brought him who had been blind to the Pharisees. [14] It was a Sabbath when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes. [15] Again therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes, I washed, and I see.”

[16] Some therefore of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he doesn’t keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” There was division among them. [17] Therefore they asked the blind man again, “What do you say about him, because he opened your eyes?”

He said, “He is a prophet.”

[18] The Jews therefore did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight, [19] and asked them, “Is this your son, whom you say was born blind? How then does he now see?”

[20] His parents answered them, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; [21] but how he now sees, we don’t know; or who opened his eyes, we don’t know. He is of age. Ask him. He will speak for himself.” [22] His parents said these things because they feared the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if any man would confess him as Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue. [23] Therefore his parents said, “He is of age. Ask him.”

[24] So they called the man who was blind a second time, and said to him, “Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner.”

[25] He therefore answered, “I don’t know if he is a sinner. One thing I do know: that though I was blind, now I see.”

The Pharisees' perception of the situation was colored by their own preconceived ideas; they just didn't understand who Jesus was and what he was doing.  So, they investigated, reasoned and tried to manipulated the facts to their own purposes.  The former blind man just accepted the situation and let the facts speak for themselves.  Some will say that this is just a story, but really it is more than a mere recitation of events.  It is a revelation of faith and an example of someone who could see the truth and accept it.  Did the former blind man need to see in color?  No!  But what he saw he appreciated and flatly accepted for what it was.  Sounds like my granddaughter all over again!!!  Maybe we should all see things like small children; perhaps we would appreciate colors more and also the gift of life.  Got to go, but one thing... take another look at the picture and be happy, because God not only gave us sight, HE gave us color as well.

Nevertheless at your Word by Mark Copeland

http://executableoutlines.com/text/lk5_1.htm

At the Word of Jesus, I will.... Gary

Mary, Mother of Jesus, by Mark Copeland

http://executableoutlines.com/text/lk1_26.htm

The title says it all... Gary

Up or down?

Just a picture of a balloon over a falls, but wait, is it going up or in the other direction?  I can't tell from the picture; can you?  Question: Have you ever felt like this?  Your life is in turmoil, you are totally confused and can't tell up from up or down.  What do you do next, where do you go?  Forgotten?  Well, here is a portion of the Scripture to remind you...

WEB: Mark Chapter 14

[27] Jesus said to them, "“All of you will be made to stumble because of me tonight, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ [28] However, after I am raised up, I will go before you into Galilee.”"

[29] But Peter said to him, “Although all will be offended, yet I will not.”

[30] Jesus said to him, "“Most certainly I tell you, that you today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”"

[31] But he spoke all the more, “If I must die with you, I will not deny you.” They all said the same thing.

[32] They came to a place which was named Gethsemane. He said to his disciples, "“Sit here, while I pray.”" [33] He took with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be greatly troubled and distressed. [34] He said to them, "“My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here, and watch.”"

[35] He went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass away from him. [36] He said, "“Abba, Father, all things are possible to you. Please remove this cup from me. However, not what I desire, but what you desire.”"

[37] He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, "“Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn’t you watch one hour? [38] Watch and pray, that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”"

[39] Again he went away, and prayed, saying the same words. [40] Again he returned, and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy, and they didn’t know what to answer him. [41] He came the third time, and said to them, "“Sleep on now, and take your rest. It is enough. The hour has come. Behold, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. [42] Arise, let us be going. Behold, he who betrays me is at hand.”"

[43] Immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, came—and with him a multitude with swords and clubs, from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. [44] Now he who betrayed him had given them a sign, saying, “Whomever I will kiss, that is he. Seize him, and lead him away safely.” [45] When he had come, immediately he came to him, and said, “Rabbi! Rabbi!” and kissed him. [46] They laid their hands on him, and seized him. [47] But a certain one of those who stood by drew his sword, and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear.

[48] Jesus answered them, "“Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to seize me? [49] I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you didn’t arrest me. But this is so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled.”"

[50] They all left him, and fled.

 Jesus had led his disciples for about three years; he was their undisputed leader and deservedly so.  They all go to Gethsemane to pray, but, for some reason the disciples keep falling asleep.  Judas and company enter the picture; the disciples flee.  History, just as Jesus had foretold.  History has been an interest of mine for several decades now and will continue to be for the foreseeable future!  Because of my interest in the Bible, ancient history seems of more interesting than current events, but frankly I like both.  I am not really sure why I find it interesting; perhaps it has something to do with predicting human behavior based on past examples, who knows?  Yet Jesus knew what his followers would do, BEFORE THEY DID IT!!!  They didn't know up from down, just like the balloon in the picture, but Jesus did.  Now we are getting somewhere... As I think about it, the Bible teaches about history in a different way... HIS story.  God saw the pitiful condition of man in his sin and worked out a way to make things right; through HIS son, History... got to love it!!!  Once you know it (or rather how God works) there is a overwhelming fascination in the simplicity of his complexity. Life isn't full of uncertainty, its comprised of serendipity!!!  Up, down, sideways or something else; it really doesn't matter... just as long as the creator of the universe is right there with you.  And that is good enough for me!!!

Five views of Mark 16:16 by Mark Copeland

http://executableoutlines.com/text/mk16_16.htm

An interesting lesson on baptism... Gary

Measuring stupidity

Something unreasonable, something irritating, something that just makes you want to find out who made the rule and give them a piece of your mind.  When I saw this sign, I thought of the news I heard this week; that within the next year, more than 80 power plants will close all over America by the fiat of the EPA.  You know, "The environmental Persecution Authority" that makes any rule it can dream up to "change" our country.  What, do I sound bitter? The answer is a resounding "yes"!  As if we don't have enough problems in this country, lets reduce our electricity by 10% next year. This situation will hurt people; its almost like our rulers have it in for us.  Humm, I remember a portion of the Bible where a ruler actually did...

WEB: Exodus Chapter 1

[8] Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who didn’t know Joseph. [9] He said to his people, “Behold, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we. [10] Come, let us deal wisely with them, lest they multiply, and it happen that when any war breaks out, they also join themselves to our enemies, and fight against us, and escape out of the land.” [11] Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. They built storage cities for Pharaoh: Pithom and Raamses. [12] But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and the more they spread out. They were grieved because of the children of Israel. [13] The Egyptians ruthlessly made the children of Israel serve, [14] and they made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and in brick, and in all kinds of service in the field, all their service, in which they ruthlessly made them serve.

[15] The king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of the one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah, [16] and he said, “When you perform the duty of a midwife to the Hebrew women, and see them on the birth stool; if it is a son, then you shall kill him; but if it is a daughter, then she shall live.” [17] But the midwives feared God, and didn’t do what the king of Egypt commanded them, but saved the baby boys alive. [18] The king of Egypt called for the midwives, and said to them, “Why have you done this thing, and have saved the boys alive?”

[19] The midwives said to Pharaoh, “Because the Hebrew women aren’t like the Egyptian women; for they are vigorous, and give birth before the midwife comes to them.”

[20] God dealt well with the midwives, and the people multiplied, and grew very mighty. [21] It happened, because the midwives feared God, that he gave them families. [22] Pharaoh commanded all his people, saying, “You shall cast every son who is born into the river, and every daughter you shall save alive.”

Some edicts are just wrong.  You can't just exterminate people!  Remember Adolph Hitler???  Whether it is an edict like Pharaoh's or a regulation that hurts people, some things are just wrong, period!  Throughout history, there have been people whose conscience took precedence over their obedience and did what they considered to be the "right thing"!!!  Early Christians would not acknowledge Caesar as LORD and paid for it with their lives.  How could they, JESUS was their LORD!!!  Whenever possible, I believe we should obey our leaders, but there are limits.  In matters of life and death and conscience towards God (like the midwives in the passage from Exodus) we should obey God rather than men.  Besides, some rules are obviously wrong!  Question: How DO YOU MEASURE A HALF A MILE AN HOUR, ANYWAY?????

Sins of God's Grandchildren by Mark Copeland

http://executableoutlines.com/text/mal1_1.htm

Another lesson from the book of Malachi... Gary