1/17/15

From Ed Healy... If we could see beyond today!







 




If it were possible for you and me to look beyond today, to roll away the mists that obscure our vision, perhaps many of the griefs of today would be done away. There are so many things we cannot understand, being limited to reasoning with our senses of sight or hearing or taste or smell or touch.

But through our faith in God, we know that all dreary days will soon be bright and that all dreary days will soon be bright and that all life's wrongs will be made right. The pains of disease and broken hearts will all be healed in the better world in which we shall live.

For the present, though, it is not God's will that we know all things about the world to come. The revealed things of God are the ones we must concern ourselves with; we must trust in God to lead us into those unseen things beyond today.

I know not the way I am going,
But well do I know my guide!
With a childlike faith do I give my hand
To the mighty Friend by my side.
And the only thing that I say to him
As he takes it, is, Hold it fast!
Suffer me not to lose the way,
And lead me home at last.
We cannot see what lies before,
And so we cling to Him the more.
He leads us till this life is o'er,
If we trust and obey.
Trust and obey,
For there's no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.

Chronology and the Bible's Arrangement by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=11&article=441

Chronology and the Bible's Arrangement

by  Eric Lyons, M.Min.

Since the Bible begins at the Creation with Genesis—the book of beginnings—and ends with the book of Revelation (which many scholars believe was the last recorded book of the Bible), students of the Scriptures often assume that the Bible was compiled chronologically. Many students approach their reading of the Bible with the mindset that everything in Scripture is arranged “from A to Z.” Since Genesis records what took place at the beginning of time, and it is the first book of the Bible, then the rest of the Bible follows suit, right? Actually, what the diligent student eventually finds is that the Bible is not a book of strict chronology. All sixty-six books of the Bible are not arranged in the order in which they were written. Furthermore, all of the events contained within each book also are not recorded chronologically.
Consider the following arrangement of books in the Bible:
Although the books of Haggai and Zechariah have been placed near the end of the Old Testament, these men prophesied while the events in the book of Ezra were taking place (cf. Ezra 5:1; 6:14). Twenty books separate Haggai and Zechariah from the book of Ezra, yet the events recorded in each book were occurring at the same time. Obviously, these books are not arranged in chronological order.
Even though 2 Chronicles appears before the book of Job, the events recorded in Job took place long before those that are recorded in 2 Chronicles. In fact, if the Bible were a book of strict chronology, the events recorded in Job likely would be placed somewhere within the book of Genesis, after Genesis 6 (since Job 22:15-16 is more than likely a reference to the Flood).
In the New Testament, one might assume that since 1 Thessalonians comes after the book of Acts, that Luke penned Acts earlier than Paul penned his first letter to the church at Thessalonica. The truth is, however, 1 Thessalonians was written years before the book of Acts was completed.
In addition to the books of the Bible not being arranged chronologically, inspired writers did not always record information in a strictly chronological sequence. Making the assumption that the entire Bible was written chronologically hinders a proper understanding of the text. For example, Genesis 2:5-25 does not pick up where Genesis one left off; rather, it provides more detailed information about some of the events mentioned in the first chapter of the Bible. (Whereas Genesis 1 is arranged chronologically, Genesis 2 is organized topically.) The differences in the arrangement of the temptations of Jesus recorded by Matthew (4:1-11) and Luke (4:1-13) are resolved when we realize that at least one of them is not reporting the facts in sequential order. Some also question whether Jesus cursed the tree before or after He cleansed the temple. Since Matthew records this event before the cursing of the fig tree (21:12-19), and since Mark places the cleansing of the temple after Jesus cursed the tree (11:15-19), it is supposed that one of the two writers was mistaken. The truth is, however, Matthew’s account is more of a summary, whereas Mark’s narrative is more detailed and orderly. Mark’s more specific account reveals that Jesus actually made two trips to the temple. Thus, as Albert Barnes noted: “Mark has stated the order more particularly, and has ‘divided’ what Matthew mentions together” (1997). Obviously, the gospel accounts were not arranged to be a strict chronology of Jesus’ life.
When studying with those who know very little about the Bible, it is helpful for them to understand the arrangement of Scriptures. By recognizing that many books of the Bible (as well as the events contained therein) are not in a sequential order, one will have fewer problems digesting Scripture.

REFERENCE

Barnes, Albert (1997), Barnes’ Notes (Electronic Database: Biblesoft).

From Mark Copeland... The Widow’s Mites (Mark 12:41-44)

                          "THE GOSPEL OF MARK"

                      The Widow’s Mites (12:41-44)

INTRODUCTION

1. Teaching in the Temple (on Tuesday of the Last Week), Jesus
   addressed...
   a. The doctrines of the religious leaders
   b. The practices of the religious leaders

2. At the end of the day, with the last incident of His public ministry,
   Jesus...
   a. Observed people putting money into the treasury of the temple
   b. Made an observation about the contribution of one poor widow

[Jesus had just warned against pretentious scribes who "devour widows’
houses" (Mk 12:40).  In contrast, consider the remarkable example of one
poor widow...]

I. THE NARRATIVE

   A. PUTTING MONEY IN THE TEMPLE TREASURY...
      1. Jesus observed people placing money in the treasury - Mk 12:41
      2. This may have been one of 13 receptacles, in the area known as
         The Women’s Court
      3. These receptacles were marked, indicating how the money would
         be used (temple tribute, wood, sacrifices, incense, etc.)

   B. THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE RICH...
      1. Many who were rich gave large amounts - Mk 12:41
      2. That in itself was commendable, reminiscent of the first
         contributions for the tabernacle - cf. Exo 35:20-29; 36:2-7

   C. THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE WIDOW...
      1. One poor widow threw in two ‘mites’ (Grk., leptos) - Mk 12:42
      2. Worth a ‘quadrans’ (Grk., kodrantes), which was 1/64th of a
         ‘denarius’ (a day’s wage)
      3. If a day’s wage was $25, a ‘quadrans’ would be worth 75 cents,
         a ‘mite’ 40 cents

   D. THE OBSERVATION OF JESUS...
      1. The widow gave more than all who had given to the treasury - Mk 12:43
      2. They gave out of their abundance, she gave all she had, her
         entire livelihood - Mk 12:44

[Jesus was so impressed, He called His disciples.  He stressed the
importance of His observation by prefacing His remarks with "Assuredly,
I say to you".  In the spirit of His observation, here are...]

II. SOME OBSERVATIONS

   A. A LESSON FOR DISCIPLES...
      1. Note that Jesus "called His disciples to Himself" - Mk 12:43
      2. This indicates that the teaching was intended for them and for
         all subsequent disciples - J.A. Brooks (NAC)
      -- What can we learn from the example of the widow’s mites?

   B. THE VALUE OF A GIFT...
      1. It is well to remember that God measures giving, not by what we
         give, but by what we keep for ourselves; - R.A. Cole (TNTC)
      2. The value of a gift is not the amount given, but the cost to
         the giver. - J.R. Edwards (PNTC)
      3. God measures the gift by the sacrifice involved (cf. 2Sa 24:24). - A. Black (CPNIVC)
      4. The Lord estimates giving by our motive, our means, and by how
         much we have left. This is a great encouragement to those who
         have few material possessions, but a great desire to give to
         Him. - Believer’s Bible Commentary
      -- We learn that the liberality of the poor is often greater than
         that of the rich!

   C. THE IMPORTANCE OF A PERSON...
      1. What matters in God’s sight is not what a person has
      2. But the devotion which causes one to give even at great
         personal cost
      3. Thus even the poorest of the poor can be "rich" (in faith)
         - cf. Jm 2:5
      -- We learn that people should be measured by their faith, not
         their wealth!

   D. THE APPROVAL OF VOLUNTARY POVERTY...
      1. Many today would criticize the widow
         a. For not providing for her future
         b. For her lack of foresight and prudence
         c. For becoming dependent upon Israel’s welfare system -  cf.
            Deut 24:19-21; 26:12-13
      2. Yet her voluntary poverty is just one example found in the
         Scriptures
         a. Jesus chose a life of voluntary poverty - Lk 9:58
         b. He counseled some to do the same in their service as a
            disciple - Lk 18:22
         c. Teaching His disciples to be trust God’s providential care
            - Mt 6:31-33
      -- We learn that voluntary poverty can be a viable option for some
         disciples

   E. JESUS IS STILL WATCHING HOW PEOPLE GIVE...
      1. The ‘giving’ of Ananias and Sapphira did not go unnoticed - cf.
         Ac 5:1-11
      2. Those who give liberally and cheerfully will be noticed - e.g.,
         2Co 8:1-5; 9:6-7
      3. Just as all that we do is noticed by God - He 4:13
      -- We learn that our giving does not escape the careful eye of our
         Lord!

CONCLUSION

1. The story of the widow’s mites should prompt prayerful reflection...
   a. Regarding our own giving to the Lord’s cause, to charity
   b. We may think we excel at giving, but do we really?

2. The story of the widow’s mites also prepares us for what is to come
   in Mark’s gospel...
   a. She exemplified sacrificial giving in the service of the Lord
   b. Soon we will read of the Lord who gave all in service to us!

   "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He
   was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His
   poverty might become rich." - 2Co 8:9

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Gary... For Gary


This week, I was on Facebook and clicked on one of those apps that supposedly tell you what your name means. The Graphic above is the result.
 
Humm, could also mean:

Great artichokes really yucky

God Always Remembers You

Goofy and really yappy

Gargantuan atop roofs y'all

Guess which alternative I prefer?  Not hard to do, as I emboldened it.  But, all this begs the question- who are you?  Well, you are the sum of all you think and do, NOT some arbitrary designation dreamt up by someone.  My initials are GDR, which means to me, that: God Does Right. The truth is that God Always Remembers You and God Does Right probably does not apply to your initials, but does apply to each and every one of us.

Perhaps this just says it better....

John Chapter 3

 16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

Well, have to go now- thinking of having a nice sweet snack.

Maybe something Good And Really Yummy!!!