Rainbows, Truth and something new

There she blows! Words that signaled a call to action in the whaling industry of a time past. However, as quaint as those words might be, the whale is NOT the focal point of this picture (for me at least). Rather, it is the rather odd rainbow that the whales' blow causes. Its it funny how we are drawn to the unusual, to the eye catching. To me, its seems that human beings are creatures of the curiosities of life; always wanting something spectacular to focus upon. But, this can be dangerous as this passage from Corinthians shows.

2 Corinthians 11:1-5 (WEB)
1) I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you do bear with me.
2) For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. For I married you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ.
3) But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
4) For if he who comes preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if you receive a different spirit, which you did not receive, or a different “good news”, which you did not accept, you put up with that well enough.
5) For I reckon that I am not at all behind the very best apostles.
(2 Corinthians 11:1-5, WEB)

Those not grounded in the faith will have difficulty in discerning truth, even when it is right before their eyes. The Christians at Corinth were no exception. Paul had taught them and one can hardly imagine him doing a poor job of teaching. But, wanting something new, they put up with practically anyone who would teach. There is a good lesson here: find the truth and stick with it. Read the Scriptures! Learn Truth! Don't change! Its OK to look for new rainbows to view, but its not a matter of forever after. By the way, I really like this rainbow because of its diffuse nature.

It just doesn't add up...

Einstein was a man with a special genius. However, during the past couple of years I have begun to appreciate the "non-math" side of him. Pictures of him horsing around, playing the violin and other non-professional pictures remind me that he is just a man, so in a way I can understand him. But, I have to confess one thing I do not understand: women. They just simply don't think like the male of the species. Its not that I don't have experience; I have been married 42 years so far and have three lovely grown daughters and 5 grand-daughters. I have to admit though, even with all this exposure, I don't think I will EVER UNDERSTAND THEM. This is not just limited to me, but most men will admit this if pressed hard enough. Wonder why I feel the way I do about women, well, here is a good example from the Bible.

Proverbs 31:10-31 (WEB)
10) Who can find a worthy woman? For her price is far above rubies.
11) The heart of her husband trusts in her. He shall have no lack of gain.
12) She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life.
13) She seeks wool and flax, and works eagerly with her hands.
14) She is like the merchant ships. She brings her bread from afar.
15) She rises also while it is yet night, gives food to her household, and portions for her servant girls.
16) She considers a field, and buys it. With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
17) She arms her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong.
18) She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.
19) She lays her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle.
20) She opens her arms to the poor; yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
21) She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22) She makes for herself carpets of tapestry. Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23) Her husband is respected in the gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
24) She makes linen garments and sells them, and delivers sashes to the merchant.
25) Strength and dignity are her clothing. She laughs at the time to come.
26) She opens her mouth with wisdom. Faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27) She looks well to the ways of her household, and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
28) Her children rise up and call her blessed. Her husband also praises her:
29) “Many women do noble things, but you excel them all.”
30) Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain; but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.
31) Give her of the fruit of her hands! Let her works praise her in the gates!
(Proverbs 31:10-31, WEB)

Wonder where I am going with this? The following verses tell the tale.

Proverbs 31:1-3 (WEB)
1) The words of king Lemuel; the oracle which his mother taught him.
2) “Oh, my son! Oh, son of my womb! Oh, son of my vows!
3) Don’t give your strength to women, nor your ways to that which destroys kings.
(Proverbs 31:1-3, WEB)

His mother taught the first passage to him. Humm, makes you wonder and wonder and wonder. Why? Why isn't any woman good enough for her son? I don't know and never will. There, I have said it, I just don't get it and that is that. All the explanation in the world will not teach me, because at the end of all the teaching, I must confess, I am but a male. However, maybe there is some genius out there who might understand. If you do, please respond to this blog. One last thing... I love it... how crazy is that?

Did I hear a bbaaaahh?

This animal is dressed up to be something other than it really is. No, it is NOT a sheep even though it looks something like one. Lately I have seen a lot of ads on TV with politicians claiming all sorts of things. Past experience has taught me that they lie and even when you think they are telling the truth, they are lying. Politics is so rampant with liars, I have long given up on the "best choice", rather I tend to vote for the one who will do the least damage. But I couldn't help but ask myself, what about Christians? How do we know who is lying? Here is one verse that gives a little insight.

1 John 2:22 (WEB)
22) Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the Antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.

If someone says that Jesus is NOT the Christ, then he is a liar. There are other tests in Scripture, but this is a good place to start. Politicians are a lost cause though; frankly, I give up. From now on, every time is see an ad on TV I will just pretend I hear a bbaaaahhh and hope for the best.

Is the light on or is it off?

I like questions like the one this picture raises because it makes me think. And after the age of 55, thinking is a GOOD THING!! When I looked at the picture, one word seemed to jump right out at me and of course it was the last one; HOW. How did one man cause the death of so many? Sometimes you can't think of an answer right away, so you just sit there and try to absorb the overall picture. This scenario brought to mind the following passage from the book of Acts. I hope you will read it all to get the overview of the situation.

Acts 19:1-20 (WEB)
1) It happened that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul, having passed through the upper country, came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples.
2) He said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” They said to him, “No, we haven’t even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.”
3) He said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.”
4) Paul said, “John indeed baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe in the one who would come after him, that is, in Jesus.”
5) When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
6) When Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke with other languages and prophesied.
7) They were about twelve men in all.
8) He entered into the synagogue, and spoke boldly for a period of three months, reasoning and persuading about the things concerning the Kingdom of God.
9) But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.
10) This continued for two years, so that all those who lived in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
11) God worked special miracles by the hands of Paul,
12) so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were carried away from his body to the sick, and the evil spirits went out.
13) But some of the itinerant Jews, exorcists, took on themselves to invoke over those who had the evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, “We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preaches.”
14) There were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did this.
15) The evil spirit answered, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?”
16) The man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.
17) This became known to all, both Jews and Greeks, who lived at Ephesus. Fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
18) Many also of those who had believed came, confessing, and declaring their deeds.
19) Many of those who practiced magical arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. They counted their price, and found it to be fifty thousand pieces of silver.
20) So the word of the Lord was growing and becoming mighty.
(Acts 19:1-20, WEB)

Overview: The book of Acts is really the practices of the Apostles who are empowered by God's Holy Spirit. Miracles are happening; laying on of hands, healings, spirit attestations. And people are beginning to realize that what is happening is the genuine article; they are turning their lives around. God's testimony (His Word) is being acknowledged. Suddenly a light has turned on in the minds of many people and they realize that this is the truth. Fantastic stuff!!! How did this come about? How does it work? Haven't a clue, but I know it is true, because if it were not, the apostles would have been discredited immediately. Speaking of light, the answer to the problem posed by the picture is that the man who shut the lights off was a keeper of a lighthouse. Think the light that you are given to show forth doesn't matter, try turning it off and see how you affect people's lives; it could be a matter of life and death. You may not be an apostle or a lighthouse keeper, but your life does matter. Any light bulbs suddenly turn on?

By the way, for those of you who may be counting, this is post number 600. I would like to thank all of you who have supported and encouraged me in this work. Only 400 more to go to reach the first goal...

TTFN

G

Proof positive

This is a rare picture! In this distant, aloof and impersonal society it is unusual to see someone care so much about beauty as to be willing to cry over it. Its nice to know that passion is not dead and I know this because it is worn on her face. But, it hurts to care, it hurts to love and as with all things there is a price to pay. If you put your heart out in the open where others can see it, they is a chance someone may just step on it. Jesus had just given a stern rebuke (the seven "woes") and then he says these words...

Matthew 23:34-38 (WEB)
34) Therefore, behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city;
35) that on you may come all the righteous blood shed on the earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zachariah son of Barachiah, whom you killed between the sanctuary and the altar.
36) Most certainly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation.
37) “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets, and stones those who are sent to her! How often I would have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you would not!
38) Behold, your house is left to you desolate.
(Matthew 23:34-38, WEB)

I wonder, was it easy for Jesus to say these words? Even though he KNEW that he would be a victim of Jerusalem, he still said them. Obviously, he cared. How could someone do so much for others NOT care? He showed his caring by giving the gift of himself and that is greater proof than any tear on the cheek could be.

Success

What is the American dream? Recently, I have seen TV newscasters and articles on the Internet saying that "it" is dead. So, when I saw this picture, I just had to say something to this concept. Where is it written in our constitution that we are guaranteed home ownership? Where is the promise of continued financial success? What is success and more specifically, what is American success. Although it may seem odd at first, lets read this passage from the book of Joshua.

Joshua 1:1-9 (WEB)
1) Now it happened after the death of Moses the servant of Yahweh, that Yahweh spoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ servant, saying,
2) “Moses my servant is dead; now therefore arise, go over this Jordan, you, and all this people, to the land which I give to them, even to the children of Israel.
3) I have given you every place that the sole of your foot will tread on, as I told Moses.
4) From the wilderness, and this Lebanon, even to the great river, the river Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the great sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your border.
5) No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not fail you nor forsake you.
6) “Be strong and courageous; for you shall cause this people to inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
7) Only be strong and very courageous, to observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded you. Don’t turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go.
8) This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success.
9) Haven’t I commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid, neither be dismayed: for Yahweh your God is with you wherever you go.”
(Joshua 1:1-9, WEB)

Joshua was told he would have success, but not a success based on money or wealth. Having the word of God in his mind and obeying it was to lead him to success. How does this old testament book relate to us? Well, consider, that the founders of American wanted religious freedom and their desire for this eventually led to our constitution. Houses decay, are destroyed by fire or flood or earthquake, but the eternal soul nurtured by God lasts forever. So, DO NOT FOLLOW THE ADVICE IN THE PICTURE; instead, let your heart be won over to the almighty God and he will guide your way. Then you will have success and no housing recession or job reductions can hurt you. You may or may not have a house, but an eternal dwelling in heaven sounds a lot better to me.

Written between the lines...

This is the Hebrew text of the Bible. The connected lines are typically connected by computer analysis. They purport to tell the future and who knows, maybe they do. But, if they really do, then what? While I was thinking about this, the following short passage came to mind. Once you read it, I think the application will become obvious.

Deuteronomy 29:29 (WEB)
29) The secret things belong to Yahweh our God; but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.

This verse says volumes. Secrets belong to God and are HIS. What has been given to us is ours for the purpose of obedience. Why would anyone want to go further? Curiosity, power, prestige, knowledge, gain, greed... I guess the list could go on and on. Although there may be legitimate, even godly reasons, for the most part, the things I thought of were, shall we say, LESS THAN SPIRITUAL. If someone wrote you a letter and after reading it, you did something like the picture shows, I think most people would say you are crazy. OK, I know that God operates on levels and in ways I will never truly understand, but Bible Codes, really? I hope that after a little reflection, you might agree with me, but if not, that's OK too. Only, please, don't dissect my writings as they do in the picture; I am just not bright enough to embed secret codes and I have never met anyone so far who could do this either. Just take things at face value; life becomes simpler that way.