The "sweet spot"

I have had this picture in my collection for some time, but it wasn't until just a few moments ago that I realized what it meant to me.  For a long time I have been just looking at the beautiful sky and the marvelous reflection in the water.  Make no mistake; it is beautiful!!!  But today, I focused my attention on the mist.  Funny, but it reminded me of the "sweet spot" that Earth occupies in the universe.  If our planet was closer, it would be too hot for life and if farther, then too cold.  Just right!  God makes things "just right"!!!  This makes sense; as the creator of the universe, he does what he pleases.  Believe it or not, this led to a chapter from the book of Jonah, which is listed below...

World English Bible: Jonah Chapter 1

[1] Now the word of Yahweh came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, [2] “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach against it, for their wickedness has come up before me.”

[3] But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid its fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh. [4] But Yahweh sent out a great wind on the sea, and there was a mighty storm on the sea, so that the ship was likely to break up. [5] Then the mariners were afraid, and every man cried to his god. They threw the cargo that was in the ship into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone down into the innermost parts of the ship, and he was laying down, and was fast asleep. [6] So the shipmaster came to him, and said to him, “What do you mean, sleeper? Arise, call on your God! Maybe your God will notice us, so that we won’t perish.”

[7] They all said to each other, “Come, let us cast lots, that we may know who is responsible for this evil that is on us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah. [8] Then they asked him, “Tell us, please, for whose cause this evil is on us. What is your occupation? Where do you come from? What is your country? Of what people are you?”

[9] He said to them, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear Yahweh, the God of heaven, who has made the sea and the dry land.”

[10] Then were the men exceedingly afraid, and said to him, “What is this that you have done?” For the men knew that he was fleeing from the presence of Yahweh, because he had told them. [11] Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may be calm to us?” For the sea grew more and more stormy. [12] He said to them, “Take me up, and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will be calm for you; for I know that because of me this great storm is on you.”

[13] Nevertheless the men rowed hard to get them back to the land; but they could not, for the sea grew more and more stormy against them. [14] Therefore they cried to Yahweh, and said, “We beg you, Yahweh, we beg you, don’t let us die for this man’s life, and don’t lay on us innocent blood; for you, Yahweh, have done as it pleased you.” [15] So they took up Jonah, and threw him into the sea; and the sea ceased its raging. [16] Then the men feared Yahweh exceedingly; and they offered a sacrifice to Yahweh, and made vows.

[17] Yahweh prepared a great fish to swallow up Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

God cares for us all, no matter what nationality we are!!!  Nineveh was a city hated by the Jews and Jonah did not want to go there when told to.  In fact, he went in the opposite direction!!!  God directed the sea and it obeyed!!  People listened and then when they learned that the creator of the universe was behind their troubles they were "exceedingly afraid"!!  Who wouldn't be?  We are small insignificant creatures as compared to Almighty God.  Imagine the power to stir up the sea or put the whole Earth in just the perfect "sweet spot"?  Hopefully it won't take a great fish to get us to listen...?  Take one more look at the picture.  Its not just beautiful, it has a message and that is God has placed us exactly where we are to accomplish what HE wants us to.  And that is not just some "fish story" its real life; its YOUR LIFE!!  Still don't get it... read Jonah chapter 2 and see what he did...

Nathan's rebuke by Mark Copeland

http://executableoutlines.com/text/2sa12_1.htm

I hope you enjoy this one...Gary

Bearable

Makes you almost wish you had a "teddy bear" again, doesn't it?  In real life, Bears are ferocious hunters and have killed many a human being.  Yet, the world is such that even they need love.  Which makes me ask the question: Does love have a purpose?  Is it just a feeling, or perhaps a necessary animal urge in order that the species may continue or something else?  I wonder, does God have a part?  Here is an except from an Old Testament book that may give us some insight...

WEB: Esther Chapter 2

[1] After these things, when the wrath of King Ahasuerus was pacified, he remembered Vashti, and what she had done, and what was decreed against her. [2] Then the king’s servants who served him said, “Let beautiful young virgins be sought for the king. [3] Let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom, that they may gather together all the beautiful young virgins to the citadel of Susa, to the women’s house, to the custody of Hegai the king’s eunuch, keeper of the women. Let cosmetics be given them; [4] and let the maiden who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” The thing pleased the king, and he did so.

[5] There was a certain Jew in the citadel of Susa, whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, the son of Shimei, the son of Kish, a Benjamite, [6] who had been carried away from Jerusalem with the captives who had been carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon had carried away. [7] He brought up Hadassah, that is, Esther, his uncle’s daughter; for she had neither father nor mother. The maiden was fair and beautiful; and when her father and mother were dead, Mordecai took her for his own daughter. [8] So it happened, when the king’s commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together to the citadel of Susa, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was taken into the king’s house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women. [9] The maiden pleased him, and she obtained kindness from him. He quickly gave her cosmetics and her portions of food, and the seven choice maidens who were to be given her out of the king’s house. He moved her and her maidens to the best place in the women’s house. [10] Esther had not made known her people nor her relatives, because Mordecai had instructed her that she should not make it known. [11] Mordecai walked every day in front of the court of the women’s house, to find out how Esther was doing, and what would become of her.

[12] Each young woman’s turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after her purification for twelve months (for so were the days of their purification accomplished, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet fragrances and with preparations for beautifying women). [13] The young woman then came to the king like this: whatever she desired was given her to go with her out of the women’s house to the king’s house. [14] In the evening she went, and on the next day she returned into the second women’s house, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch, who kept the concubines. She came in to the king no more, unless the king delighted in her, and she was called by name. [15] Now when the turn of Esther, the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her for his daughter, came to go in to the king, she required nothing but what Hegai the king’s eunuch, the keeper of the women, advised. Esther obtained favor in the sight of all those who looked at her. [16] So Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus into his royal house in the tenth month, which is the month Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign. [17] The king loved Esther more than all the women, and she obtained favor and kindness in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown on her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

WEB: Esther Chapter 4

[13] Then Mordecai asked them return answer to Esther, “Don’t think to yourself that you will escape in the king’s house any more than all the Jews. [14] For if you remain silent now, then relief and deliverance will come to the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Who knows if you haven’t come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”

The Jews had been deported to Babylon, which was by the time of this tale was now controlled by the Persians.  Vashti, the queen has displeased the king and so another queen was sought.  Esther (a Jewess) is chosen by the king to become the new queen.  Haman persuades the king to allow all the Jews to be killed and Esther's uncle Mordecai warns her that she won't escape death either.  So, we come to verse 14.  Did God cause the king to love her, so that the Jews would survive?  You be the judge!!!  It seems to me entirely possible.  Do I know; of course not!  But there is something in the human condition that wants to see order and purpose in everything.  We are hard wired that way by God.  Is it then so unreasonable to assume that God could not use our decisions (this really does include the decision to love another) to accomplish HIS will?  Love is a necessary fundamental of life and more than that it makes life BEARABLE!!!

At the front or at the base by Mark Copeland

http://executableoutlines.com/text/1sa30_21.htm

Interesting lesson; I have never heard this one before... Gary

A twinkle in your wrinkle!

Thanksgiving is a holiday everyone likes; get togethers, plenty of food and generally a good spirit on the part of everyone.  My favorite day of the year!!!  Did I say food?  Not just food, great food!!!  I chose this picture because everyone is smiling and we should see a lot of that today... even from old people!!!  Check out another reason to smile...
 

WEB: Philippians Chapter 4

[4] Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!” [5] Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. [6] In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

God has a way of making even "old age" wonderful!!!  I know, there is a lot wrong with this stage of life; aches and pains, reduced activity, less money.  But, there are good things too... Grandchildren, knowing what to do about most things and why.  And the best of all is that every day that we grow older, we are one day closer to heaven.  When Paul wrote to the Philippians, he was in prison and old, but he could write things like this.  How?  The answer is simple: God put a twinkle in his wrinkle.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone... Gary

David strengthened himself... by Mark Copeland

http://executableoutlines.com/text/1sa30_6.htm

Enjoy the Outline

Happy Thanksgiving

Gary

The wrong question

Good question!!!  However, its the wrong question.  It is common knowledge that the light is there to help you see anytime.  Do we open the refrigerator door only at night?  I don't think so!!!  So, I have to ask another question: Since the questioner already knows the answer: What was the question they should have asked in the first place?  Jesus faced a similar problem with the Sadducees...

WEB: Matthew Chapter 22

[23] On that day Sadducees (those who say that there is no resurrection) came to him. They asked him, [24] saying, “Teacher, Moses said, ‘If a man dies, having no children, his brother shall marry his wife, and raise up seed for his brother.’ [25] Now there were with us seven brothers. The first married and died, and having no seed left his wife to his brother. [26] In the same way, the second also, and the third, to the seventh. [27] After them all, the woman died. [28] In the resurrection therefore, whose wife will she be of the seven? For they all had her.”

[29] But Jesus answered them, "“You are mistaken, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the power of God. [30] For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are like God’s angels in heaven. [31] But concerning the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read that which was spoken to you by God, saying, [32] ‘I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?’ God is not the God of the dead, but of the living.”"

I am a little surprised at Jesus.  He certainly must have known what the Sadducees believed and yet he answers their question anyway.  Further, he just says they are mistaken and do not know the Scriptures or God's power.  Frankly, I expected a much harsher interaction with the Sadducees. I can only guess that some of them  were honest in their misunderstanding and Jesus knew that some of them would listen to the truth.  But, it seems also quite certain that some of them were just trying to trick him into saying something they thought they could easily refute.  I guess the "why" Jesus answered as he did is not as important as the "answer", but the concept that is the result of the exchange is priceless.  To know the nature of life after life is understood by knowing God and perhaps that was the point of it all anyway.  God desires life for us and NOT death and the life that HE has in mind for us is so wonderful, so different, that its almost beyond description.  For, it is a life in HIS PRESENCE, with HIM!!!  Wow, makes you almost want to be there now, doesn't it??? So, perhaps good can come from bad after all???  Only one thing remains for this post and that is to answer the refrigerator question that started all this.  Why are you worrying about a light in a refrigerator when you should be asking WHY you are having midnight snacks in the first place?  This means you, Gary!  Stop thinking about food already and finish the post!!!