The learning curve

If you have ever watched "that 70's show" then you may remember Eric's girlfriend and her mother (who was a little dense [to put it mildly]). Personally, I think the thing about blonde's is all a put on, but who knows? This lady sure isn't going to win any awards for photography in the near future. But, hey, who among us hasn't screwed up occasionally? Sometimes we do things wrong because we are distracted or tired or angry or one of the seemingly endless list of possibilities, but PRIDE? Here is a case of pride and it a full blown one......

Acts 8:9-24 (WEB)
9) But there was a certain man, Simon by name, who used to practice sorcery in the city, and amazed the people of Samaria, making himself out to be some great one,
10) to whom they all listened, from the least to the greatest, saying, “This man is that great power of God.”
11) They listened to him, because for a long time he had amazed them with his sorceries.
12) But when they believed Philip preaching good news concerning the Kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
13) Simon himself also believed. Being baptized, he continued with Philip. Seeing signs and great miracles occurring, he was amazed.
14) Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,
15) who, when they had come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Spirit;
16) for as yet he had fallen on none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of Christ Jesus.
17) Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
18) Now when Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given through the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he offered them money,
19) saying, “Give me also this power, that whomever I lay my hands on may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20) But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money!
21) You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart isn’t right before God.
22) Repent therefore of this, your wickedness, and ask God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you.
23) For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and the bondage of iniquity.”
24) Simon answered, “Pray for me to the Lord, that none of the things which you have spoken happen to me.”

It must have been hard to have been put on the sidelines when you are accustomed to being called .."that great power of God"!! So, when he saw power of the Holy Spirit, he actually thought he could BUY it!! Talk about dumb!!! But he learned, he repented and moved on. Hopefully, our BLOND lady will someday actually learn how to use that camera or she will have a lot of pictures of her nose (I sincerely hope she doesn't have a cold in the nose). Life is full of our mistakes, from learning to walk to understanding God's ways, it is just one litany of trial and error. Hopefully, we will wind up pleasing God in the end. Humm, I wonder if God keeps a scrapbook of our stupidity; if so, the lady in the picture may find this picture as the cover.

Greatness

Five presidents of the United States of America. From Jimmy Carter in the 70's to our current Barak Obama, they have led our country. I wonder, which one of them was the greatest? In my book the greatest one isn't even there; for Ronald Regan isn't there. And even he had his faults. So, who really is the greatest? Well, we could argue this all day and all night, but does it really matter? What matters is that they all served (or are serving) our country the best they could. The following passage from Matthew talks a bit about greatness, service and sacrifice.

Matthew 20:17-28 (WEB)
17) As Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them,
18) “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death,
19) and will hand him over to the Gentiles to mock, to scourge, and to crucify; and the third day he will be raised up.”
20) Then the mother of the sons of Zebedee came to him with her sons, kneeling and asking a certain thing of him.
21) He said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Command that these, my two sons, may sit, one on your right hand, and one on your left hand, in your Kingdom.”
22) But Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?” They said to him, “We are able.”
23) He said to them, “You will indeed drink my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with, but to sit on my right hand and on my left hand is not mine to give; but it is for whom it has been prepared by my Father.”
24) When the ten heard it, they were indignant with the two brothers.
25) But Jesus summoned them, and said, “You know that the rulers of the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them.
26) It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant.
27) Whoever desires to be first among you shall be your bondservant,
28) even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:17-28, WEB)

Having said Ronald Regan was the greatest was based upon what I think he did for the country and his efforts caused me to give him this title. Even he didn't do what Jesus did; for Jesus changed the lives of untold millions upon millions of people. Now that is greatness; continued service for 2000 years and counting. As great as the men in the picture are, they will never top that record.

By the way, the man with the highest I.Q. is Jimmy Carter. Coming in at 167, he is the smartest.

What time is it?

Weird clock!! Looks like something straight from the mind of Tim Burton, or perhaps even from the Twilight Zone shows (an old black and white series on T.V.). WHOEVER dreamed this up is one very strange person indeed! Which brings to mind a question: can someone be both sane or insane? Here is an example of someone who was sane, then insane, then sane again.

Daniel 4:4-37 (WEB)
4) I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at rest in my house, and flourishing in my palace.
5) I saw a dream which made me afraid; and the thoughts on my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
6) Therefore made I a decree to bring in all the wise men of Babylon before me, that they might make known to me the interpretation of the dream.
7) Then came in the magicians, the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers; and I told the dream before them; but they did not make known to me its interpretation.
8) But at the last Daniel came in before me, whose name was Belteshazzar, according to the name of my god, and in whom is the spirit of the holy gods: and I told the dream before him, saying,
9) Belteshazzar, master of the magicians, because I know that the spirit of the holy gods is in you, and no secret troubles you, tell me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation.
10) Thus were the visions of my head on my bed: I saw, and behold, a tree in the midst of the earth; and its height was great.
11) The tree grew, and was strong, and its height reached to the sky, and its sight to the end of all the earth.
12) The leaves of it were beautiful, and its fruit much, and in it was food for all: the animals of the field had shadow under it, and the birds of the sky lived in its branches, and all flesh was fed from it.
13) I saw in the visions of my head on my bed, and behold, a watcher and a holy one came down from the sky.
14) He cried aloud, and said thus, Cut down the tree, and cut off its branches, shake off its leaves, and scatter its fruit: let the animals get away from under it, and the fowls from its branches.
15) Nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be wet with the dew of the sky: and let his portion be with the animals in the grass of the earth:
16) let his heart be changed from man’s, and let an animal’s heart be given to him; and let seven times pass over him.
17) The sentence is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones; to the intent that the living may know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will, and sets up over it the lowest of men.
18) This dream I, king Nebuchadnezzar, have seen; and you, Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.
19) Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was stricken mute for a while, and his thoughts troubled him. The king answered, Belteshazzar, don’t let the dream, or the interpretation, trouble you. Belteshazzar answered, My lord, the dream be to those who hate you, and its interpretation to your adversaries.
20) The tree that you saw, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached to the sky, and its sight to all the earth;
21) whose leaves were beautiful, and its fruit much, and in it was food for all; under which the animals of the field lived, and on whose branches the birds of the sky had their habitation:
22) it is you, O king, that are grown and become strong; for your greatness is grown, and reaches to the sky, and your dominion to the end of the earth.
23) Whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from the sky, and saying, Cut down the tree, and destroy it; nevertheless leave the stump of its roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field, and let it be wet with the dew of the sky: and let his portion be with the animals of the field, until seven times pass over him;
24) this is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which has come on my lord the king:
25) that you shall be driven from men, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field, and you shall be made to eat grass as oxen, and shall be wet with the dew of the sky, and seven times shall pass over you; until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will.
26) Whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree; your kingdom shall be sure to you, after that you shall have known that the heavens do rule.
27) Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of your tranquility.
28) All this came on the king Nebuchadnezzar.
29) At the end of twelve months he was walking in the royal palace of Babylon.
30) The king spoke and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?
31) While the word was in the king’s mouth, there fell a voice from the sky, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom has departed from you:
32) and you shall be driven from men; and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field; you shall be made to eat grass as oxen; and seven times shall pass over you; until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whomever he will.
33) The same hour was the thing fulfilled on Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and ate grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the sky, until his hair was grown like eagles’ feathers, and his nails like birds’ claws.
34) At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him who lives forever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation.
35) All the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing; and he does according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand, or ask him, What are you doing?
36) At the same time my understanding returned to me; and for the glory of my kingdom, my majesty and brightness returned to me; and my counselors and my lords sought to me; and I was established in my kingdom, and excellent greatness was added to me.
37) Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven; for all his works are truth, and his ways justice; and those who walk in pride he is able to abase.
(Daniel 4:4-37, WEB)

Nebuchadnezzar had conquered Judah, he was a very great king indeed, but he needed to learn a lesson. Pride was his downfall and The God of all heaven was his adversary. Daniel warned him, but pride must have its way. So, for several years he went a little "crazy". God gave him back his senses and Nebuchadnezzar understood God's place and his own. Sometimes a lot has to happen before we give God his proper praise and glory. Hopefully, in due time, we will turn around and give the God of heaven his due. I just hope we don't have to tell time by this clock; it gives me a headache.

Those were the days....

This is a picture from 1973; its a picture of my brother David's first wedding. I guess I had weddings on the brain because yesterday one of my fellow workers was leaving to attend HIS brother's wedding. The thing is: when I saw this picture I had mixed emotions; I was happy to see how young and great looking everyone was, but sad to think about some of them must look now. Yet, for many of them, I imagine they have had a full life. I only know about my brother (who is permanently disabled) and myself. Beyond that, I can only wonder. Consider the following passage from the book of Ezra to see what remembering can lead to.

Ezra 3:8-13 (WEB)
8) Now in the second year of their coming to the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the rest of their brothers the priests and the Levites, and all those who were come out of the captivity to Jerusalem, and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to have the oversight of the work of the house of Yahweh.
9) Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brothers, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to have the oversight of the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brothers the Levites.
10) When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of Yahweh, they set the priests in their clothing with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise Yahweh, after the order of David king of Israel.
11) They sang one to another in praising and giving thanks to Yahweh, “For he is good, for his loving kindness endures forever toward Israel.” All the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised Yahweh, because the foundation of the house of Yahweh was laid.
12) But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers’ households, the old men who had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:
13) so that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people; for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.
(Ezra 3:8-13, WEB)

Human beings have feelings; this is common to us all, but we show them differently. Many of the Jews who had seen the first temple remembered it. How clearly they did this is in doubt because the exile lasted seventy years, but nonetheless, they remembered. I can only imagine the depth of feeling a truly faithful Jew must have held towards the temple, but for some of them it was too much to hold in; they wept. Memories are like that, sometimes they are just hard to remember. I seems unbelievable that I once looked like I did at Dave's wedding, but then was then and now is now. Look for the good and move on. I just can't help but wonder though, were the old men crying out of sorrow or joy?

A Lion of a different color

What an unusual lion! My first thought was: "how cute"! Then I remembered a taped show from Animal planet about Lions that I saw this evening. Lions are such stately, beautiful creatures that its easy to forget the power they have. This show reminded me of their awesome destructive power. With that in mind, consider these few verses from the book of Revelation.

Revelation 5:1-5 (WEB)
1) I saw, in the right hand of him who sat on the throne, a book written inside and outside, sealed shut with seven seals.
2) I saw a mighty angel proclaiming with a loud voice, “Who is worthy to open the book, and to break its seals?”
3) No one in heaven above, or on the earth, or under the earth, was able to open the book, or to look in it.
4) And I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open the book, or to look in it.
5) One of the elders said to me, “Don’t weep. Behold, the Lion who is of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has overcome; he who opens the book and its seven seals.”
(Revelation 5:1-5, WEB)

Plain and simple; Jesus has the power. Power to heal, power to forgive and the power to initiate judgment. Don't be deceived; Jesus is not someone to be taken lightly. I believe that if you study carefully, you will see that the Bible shows his powerful side quite clearly; that as Yahweh of Armies, he has been executing judgment since the beginning and will do so at the end. (See Revelation 19:11ff.) Somehow, the Lion in the picture just doesn't seem the same now.

Expect the unexpected!!!

I downloaded this yesterday from a website that listed it and several others under the general title of "thinking outside the box". Give it a few minutes thought and you will probably guess the answer, but if not, don't worry.... I didn't get it. When I did learn the answer, it was a surprise to me, but life is full of surprises. Here is one such tale that involves a surprise.

Matthew 20:1-16 (WEB)
1) “For the Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who was the master of a household, who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard.
2) When he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard.
3) He went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace.
4) To them he said, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.’ So they went their way.
5) Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.
6) About the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle. He said to them, ‘Why do you stand here all day idle?’
7) “They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ “He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and you will receive whatever is right.’
8) When evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.’
9) “When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius.
10) When the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise each received a denarius.
11) When they received it, they murmured against the master of the household,
12) saying, ‘These last have spent one hour, and you have made them equal to us, who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat!’
13) “But he answered one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Didn’t you agree with me for a denarius?
14) Take that which is yours, and go your way. It is my desire to give to this last just as much as to you.
15) Isn’t it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?’
16) So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few are chosen.”
(Matthew 20:1-16, WEB)

For a Jew, works were everything. It meant fulfilling the Law through obedience, by doing. So when those who worked only a short time received pay, it was the natural thing to assume that those who worked more should obtain more. Wrong!!! This incident was meant to be a lesson in the Grace of God, which had nothing to do with meritorious performance. Surprise, God wants to be merciful, not just to be obeyed. They didn't think outside their little "box" of the LAW, but WE CAN! As far as the puzzling pictures goes.... well, they arrested the fireman, BECAUSE HE WAS THE ONLY "HE" THERE; the rest of the group were women. God works this way as well, so go ahead, try your very best to understand HIM, but remember: Expect the unexpected!!!!

Are you excluded?

Today I read something about a person suffering because of her core religious beliefs. She believed the Bible teaching about homosexuality and was rejected for believing it. Lately , it has become fashionable to accept homosexuality as just another lifestyle and anyone who speaks against it obviously has something wrong with them and therefore must be punished. I thought about this for awhile and the following portion of Scripture came to mind.

Matthew 10:16-33 (WEB)
16) “Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.
17) But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to councils, and in their synagogues they will scourge you.
18) Yes, and you will be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the nations.
19) But when they deliver you up, don’t be anxious how or what you will say, for it will be given you in that hour what you will say.
20) For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
21) “Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child. Children will rise up against parents, and cause them to be put to death.
22) You will be hated by all men for my name’s sake, but he who endures to the end will be saved.
23) But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next, for most certainly I tell you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel, until the Son of Man has come.
24) “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his lord.
25) It is enough for the disciple that he be like his teacher, and the servant like his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more those of his household!
26) Therefore don’t be afraid of them, for there is nothing covered that will not be revealed; and hidden that will not be known.
27) What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in the ear, proclaim on the housetops.
28) Don’t be afraid of those who kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul. Rather, fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna.
29) “Aren’t two sparrows sold for an assarion coin? Not one of them falls on the ground apart from your Father’s will,
30) but the very hairs of your head are all numbered.
31) Therefore don’t be afraid. You are of more value than many sparrows.
32) Everyone therefore who confesses me before men, him I will also confess before my Father who is in heaven.
33) But whoever denies me before men, him I will also deny before my Father who is in heaven.
(Matthew 10:16-33, WEB)

Jesus sent out his disciples to proclaim the truth. These were to encounter resistance of all kinds, but this was not to be a surprise, for look how they treated Jesus; harshly to say the least. When I saw the picture, I realized that many people will not really be your friend if you are different from them (whether it is physical difference or a religious one). When push comes to shove, you will be on the outs, just like the "undesirable" chubby girl in the picture. Trust in God, follow what he tells you and let what happens, happen. Faith makes even the "undesirable" precious in the sight of our heavenly father. I don't know who the heavy set girl is, but I think I like her already!!!