The handwriting on the wall

Graffiti is sometimes beautiful, sometimes not, but there usually is a message that the painter wants to convey. You see it under bridges, on the backs of buses and in subways and I wonder why people do such things, but I guess the need to express oneself is irresistible. Perhaps this "pulse of the people" is what inspired Simon and Garfunkle (yes, I really do remember them) to sing "The sounds of silence" and grant graffiti the status of a prophetic utterance. But sometimes prophecy really is written on the wall, as this chapter from the book of Daniel illustrates.

Dan 5
5 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.2 Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, might drink from them.3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, drank from them.4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.5 In the same hour came forth the fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.6 Then the king's face was changed in him, and his thoughts troubled him; and the joints of his thighs were loosened, and his knees struck one against another.7 The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whoever shall read this writing, and show me the interpretation of it, shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.8 Then came in all the king's wise men; but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation.9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his face was changed in him, and his lords were perplexed.10 Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: the queen spoke and said, O king, live forever; don't let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your face be changed.11 There is a man in your kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and the king Nebuchadnezzar your father, the king, I say, your father, made him master of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;12 because an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and showing of dark sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.13 Then was Daniel brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, Are you that Daniel, who are of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah?14 I have heard of you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.15 Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known to me the interpretation of it; but they could not show the interpretation of the thing.16 But I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations, and dissolve doubts; now if you can read the writing, and make known to me the interpretation of it, you shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.17 Then Daniel answered before the king, Let your gifts be to yourself, and give your rewards to another; nevertheless I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.18 You king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father the kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty:19 and because of the greatness that he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him: whom he would he killed, and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he raised up, and whom he would he put down.20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:21 and he was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the animals', and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys; he was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the sky; until he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and that he sets up over it whoever he will.22 You his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this,23 but have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which don't see, nor hear, nor know; and the God in whose hand your breath is, and whose are all your ways, you have not glorified.24 Then was the part of the hand sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed.25 This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.26 This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God has numbered your kingdom, and brought it to an end;27 TEKEL; you are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting.28 PERES; your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.29 Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with purple, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.30 In that night Belshazzar the Chaldean King was slain.31 Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.WEB

You would think that Belshazzar would have learned of the most high God from his father; but, he didn't. People are like that, sometimes no matter how hard you try to teach them, they just are not open to instruction. When the truth was revealed, Belshazzar was so frightened that he messed his pants (the joints of his thighs were loosened), but by that time it was too late; God judged him and he died. Those in power should take note of this chapter, because God is watching and weighing their actions at this very moment. This unknown verse comes to mind: "We all preach a Gospel, a chapter each day, by deed that we do and word that we say. So, listen my friend cause its all up to you, say what is the Gospel, the Gospel of you?" Don't wait until its too late, fear God and keep his commandments... sounds like something from the book of Ecclesiastes, doesn't it? But then, Solomon was a slow learner as well.

The trap

This is one very smart mouse. I always had the impression mice were "not so bright" and then this little fellow came along. How could he do the things he did? Motivation, pure and simple. Food is a great motivator. Somehow, I made the connection to Nehemiah. Nehemiah was also motivated, and went to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall; he led the Jews in rebuilding it, but he had to overcome a trap, just like our Wiley little mouse.

Neh 6:1-15
6 Now it happened, when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah, and to Geshem the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies, that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates;)
2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
3 I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I can't come down: why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you?
4 They sent to me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.
5 Then sent Sanballat his servant to me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand,
6 in which was written, It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews think to rebel; for which cause you are building the wall: and you would be their king, according to these words.
7 You have also appointed prophets to preach of you at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.
8 Then I sent to him, saying, There are no such things done as you say, but you feign them out of your own heart.
9 For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it not be done. But now, God, strengthen you my hands.
10 I went to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to kill you; yes, in the night will they come to kill you.
11 I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.
12 I discerned, and behold, God had not sent him; but he pronounced this prophecy against me: and Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
13 For this cause was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
14 Remember, my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.
15 So the wall was finished in the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.WEB

Make no mistake, the task before Nehemiah was great. But he showed courage; first in asking the king for permission to go, then in the face of danger before they even started to build and finally against his person. His determination and faith pushed him onwards until the task was completed. I think that there is a lesson here for all of us and it has nothing to do with cheese and everything to do with faith and trust in God. So, the next time you are faced with a spiritual obstacle, remember this little video and the story of Nehemiah and do the right thing. You will be glad you did and Satan will just have to work harder on a better mousetrap. Don't worry though, God will always show you a way out!

Stairway to heaven

This picture is entitled "stairway to heaven" and it certainly does point in the right direction. It made me think of the Led Zeppelin song of the same name. That song has become one of my favorites after I read an article describing it as a rock and roll song with a hidden Christian message. Whether or not that is true is up for grabs, but one thing leads to another and THAT SONG made me think of this passage from the Bible.

John 1:47-51
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!"
48 Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."
49 Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!"
50 Jesus answered him, "Because I told you, 'I saw you underneath the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these!"
51 He said to him, "Most assuredly, I tell you, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."WEB

One thing is for certain, you can't buy your way into heaven, but there is a way there and its through Jesus. Music is probably optional.

Reflection, creation and attitude

I read the news today and frankly it was very depressing. It seems like the whole world is rotten to the core and putrefying at a faster rate, daily! Then I started my "daily" blog and saw this picture. Beautiful, simply beautiful! When we take the time to just look, sometimes that look becomes a a complete surprise. A surprise of the memory of what can be and what once was. The colors of the trees against their reflection on the water is marvelous. Add a couple of swans and somehow the old serotonin just flows and flows. Then, a scene from "Soylent Green" came to mind; you know, in the last part of the movie, where Edgar G. Robinson has his last moments of life and they are showing nature scenes and playing soothing pastoral classical music. And I thought... could the world ever be beautiful again? All this made me think of Genesis and do yourself a favor.... read all of it!

Gen 1:1-31
GENESIS 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.2 Now the earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep. God's Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters.3 God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.4 God saw the light, and saw that it was good. God divided the light from the darkness.5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. There was evening and there was morning, one day.6 God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters."7 God made the expanse, and divided the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse, and it was so.8 God called the expanse sky. There was evening and there was morning, a second day.9 God said, "Let the waters under the sky be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear," and it was so.10 God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters he called Seas. God saw that it was good.11 God said, "Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with its seed in it, on the earth," and it was so.12 The earth brought forth grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, with its seed in it, after their kind: and God saw that it was good.13 There was evening and there was morning, a third day.14 God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of sky to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years;15 and let them be for lights in the expanse of sky to give light on the earth," and it was so.16 God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars.17 God set them in the expanse of sky to give light to the earth,18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good.19 There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.20 God said, "Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of sky."21 God created the large sea creatures, and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed, after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind. God saw that it was good.22 God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth."23 There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.24 God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind, livestock, creeping things, and animals of the earth after their kind," and it was so.25 God made the animals of the earth after their kind, and the livestock after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind. God saw that it was good.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.28 God blessed them. God said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."29 God said, "Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food.30 To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food." And it was so.31 God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.WEB

God made everything, lets try not to screw it all up! We have the ability, the knowledge and the opportunity to make this world like the garden of Eden once again. We lack the willpower, but with a little reflection on what is possible; who knows, perhaps things can change? There you have it... instant attitude change. What next, world peace? No, that's a blog for another day.

Blind sight

When I saw this, I had to look at it again to believe it. Once in awhile someone will make a full court basket, but doing a front flip and then making that basket is unique. Life is like that, you think you have seen everything and then wham, something comes along and defines "new". One of my favorite chapters in the New Testament tells the tale of something "NEW" and that "NEW" involves Jesus.

John 9
9 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, who 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."26 They said to him again, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?"27 He answered them, "I told you already, and you didn't listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don't also want to become his disciples, do you?"28 They insulted him and said, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.29 We know that God has spoken to Moses. But as for this man, we don't know where he comes from."30 The man answered them, "How amazing! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes.31 We know that God doesn't listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshipper of God, and does his will, he listens to him.32 Since the world began it has never been heard of that anyone opened the eyes of someone born blind.33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."34 They answered him, "You were altogether born in sins, and do you teach us?" They threw him out.35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and finding him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of God?"36 He answered, "Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?"37 Jesus said to him, "You have both seen him, and it is he who speaks with you."38 He said, "Lord, I believe!" and he worshiped him.39 Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment, that those who don't see may see; and that those who see may become blind."40 Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said to him, "Are we also blind?"41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains.WEB

Sometimes you have to see something in order to believe it, but not the Pharisees! They had their mind made up about Jesus and nothing was going to change it. Humm, ever met anyone like that? I have! New things happen all the time and if you live in the 21st century get used to it. As a child I would have thought that cell phones, computers and laser beams were just the stuff of imagination; but today they are commonplace. Today, how many of us really understand things like MRI's and the technology BEHIND the Internet? We take a lot of things on faith, we know things work, but not necessarily HOW! Its the same with faith, sometimes you have to just believe what you see and that's that! What the world needs are more people with "blind sight"; that is the ability to believe in that which they don't fully understand. A good place to start is with God and that is a good place to end as well. Humm, does the term alpha and Omega (beginning and end) sound familiar? Just because Christianity is 2000 years old doesn't mean that God can't be new to you... see what I mean?

Train up a child

If you have children, you know what this picture is about. Sometimes they make you want to roar. They say and do things that you would never do and at times can drive you completely out of your mind. The hardest thing for a parent to understand is that once they are grown they will do what they will do and that is that. Hopefully, they will have the faith you have and maybe a bit more. I think this passage from Romans is a good commentary on children.

Rom 9:1-8 I tell the truth in Christ. I am not lying, my conscience testifying with me in the Holy Spirit,
2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart.
3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers' sake, my relatives according to the flesh,
4 who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service, and the promises;
5 of whom are the fathers, and from whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God, blessed forever. Amen.
6 But it is not as though the word of God has come to nothing. For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel.
7 Neither, because they are Abraham's seed, are they all children. But, "In Isaac will your seed be called."
8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as a seed.WEB

We can't choose or biological family, but we can chose our Spiritual one. Life is full of choices and hopefully your children will make good ones. The time to train them is when they are young and I think that the parent in the picture should start right now, don't you?

Quiet reflection

Have you ever been really, really sick? If so, you know how overwhelming it can be. But, there is another side to sickness; my Grandmother used to say "Sickness is God's call to quiet reflection". When I saw this picture today, her saying came back to me and I remembered how good (and bad) sickness can be. Take Hezekiah for example.

Isa 38:1-5 In those days was Hezekiah sick and near death. Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came to him, and said to him, "Thus says Yahweh, 'Set your house in order, for you will die, and not live.'"
2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to Yahweh,
3 and said, "Remember now, Yahweh, I beg you, how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight." Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4 Then the word of Yahweh came to Isaiah, saying,
5 "Go, and tell Hezekiah, 'Thus says Yahweh, the God of David your father, "I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.WEB

Hezekiah knew he was going to die and appealed to God.... and God listened. There is something powerful about the clarity of prayer from those of us who are really, really sick. Prayer becomes more focused. Our world becomes clearer when the frailty of our human condition is set before us. The things we see and the things we do while sick become more meaningful and leave an impression on our mind that remains with us longer. The person in the wheelchair will probably remember that sunset longer just because He IS IN THE WHEELCHAIR. I think my Grandmother was right, sickness is God's call to quietness (and therefore clarity of thought). The question is: now that I am quiet, am I really listening for God's voice or my own? The answer to that question only YOU CAN SUPPLY!!!