Your choice

Everyone wants freedom, but what kind?  Freedom from what?  Take your pick: work, taxes, responsibility, family or perhaps something like poverty or illness.  No matter who you are or where you live you will encounter one or more of these limiting factors.  Put several of them together and they will dictate how you live.  In America we think we are free, but we are not.  We are hemmed in on every side by rules, regulations, taxes and a political system that is so perverted from its original design as to be a joke.  Well, at least I have religious freedom... think again.  Government is encroaching on that as well.  Or is it...

WEB: Galatians 5:1

Stand firm therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and don’t be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.

Some things are just between you and God.  Only he knows what you really think about all day long.  Only he knows why you do the things you do.  Unless the government suddenly learns how to read your thoughts (this may someday be possible) you will always have some privacy.  In one sense we all dictate who will govern us and hopefully it will be God.  Better than any Earthly system of government, God loves us and if he controls our hearts we have a chance at true liberty and that is a shining accomplishment indeed.

Ask for the old paths by Mark Copeland

http://executableoutlines.com/text/jer6_16.htm

From the book of Jeremiah...Gary

Not on my keyboard!!!

I did and after seeing this picture, wondered why I did.  I had typing long ago and generally speaking, I KNOW THE KEYBOARD.  But, as I said, I checked it anyway.  SEX is NOT on the keyboard like the picture shows.  So, I started thinking about it in the Bible and remembered this chapter...

World English Bible: Judges Chapter 19

[1] It happened in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite living on the farther side of the hill country of Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Bethlehem Judah. [2] His concubine played the prostitute against him, and went away from him to her father’s house to Bethlehem Judah, and was there the space of four months. [3] Her husband arose, and went after her, to speak kindly to her, to bring her again, having his servant with him, and a couple of donkeys: and she brought him into her father’s house; and when the father of the young lady saw him, he rejoiced to meet him. [4] His father-in-law, the young lady’s father, retained him; and he stayed with him three days: so they ate and drink, and lodged there.

[5] It happened on the fourth day, that they arose early in the morning, and he rose up to depart: and the young lady’s father said to his son-in-law, “Strengthen your heart with a morsel of bread, and afterward you shall go your way.” [6] So they sat down, ate, and drank, both of them together: and the young lady’s father said to the man, “Please be pleased to stay all night, and let your heart be merry.” [7] The man rose up to depart; but his father-in-law urged him, and he lodged there again. [8] He arose early in the morning on the fifth day to depart; and the young lady’s father said, “Please strengthen your heart and stay until the day declines;” and they both ate.

[9] When the man rose up to depart, he, and his concubine, and his servant, his father-in-law, the young lady’s father, said to him, “Behold, now the day draws toward evening, please stay all night: behold, the day grows to an end, lodge here, that your heart may be merry; and tomorrow go on your way early, that you may go home.” [10] But the man wouldn’t stay that night, but he rose up and departed, and came over against Jebus (the same is Jerusalem): and there were with him a couple of donkeys saddled; his concubine also was with him.

[11] When they were by Jebus, the day was far spent; and the servant said to his master, “Please come and let us turn aside into this city of the Jebusites, and lodge in it.”

[12] His master said to him, “We won’t turn aside into the city of a foreigner, that is not of the children of Israel; but we will pass over to Gibeah.” [13] He said to his servant, “Come and let us draw near to one of these places; and we will lodge in Gibeah, or in Ramah.” [14] So they passed on and went their way; and the sun went down on them near to Gibeah, which belongs to Benjamin. [15] They turned aside there, to go in to lodge in Gibeah: and he went in, and sat him down in the street of the city; for there was no man who took them into his house to lodge.

[16] Behold, there came an old man from his work out of the field at evening: now the man was of the hill country of Ephraim, and he lived in Gibeah; but the men of the place were Benjamites. [17] He lifted up his eyes, and saw the wayfaring man in the street of the city; and the old man said, “Where are you going? Where did you come from?”

[18] He said to him, “We are passing from Bethlehem Judah to the farther side of the hill country of Ephraim. I am from there, and I went to Bethlehem Judah. I am going to the house of Yahweh; and there is no man who takes me into his house. [19] Yet there is both straw and provender for our donkeys; and there is bread and wine also for me, and for your handmaid, and for the young man who is with your servants: there is no want of anything.”

[20] The old man said, “Peace be to you; howsoever let all your wants lie on me; only don’t lodge in the street.” [21] So he brought him into his house, and gave the donkeys fodder; and they washed their feet, and ate and drink. [22] As they were making their hearts merry, behold, the men of the city, certain base fellows, surrounded the house, beating at the door; and they spoke to the master of the house, the old man, saying, “Bring out the man who came into your house, that we may have sex with him!”

[23] The man, the master of the house, went out to them, and said to them, “No, my brothers, please don’t act so wickedly; since this man has come into my house, don’t do this folly. [24] Behold, here is my virgin daughter and his concubine. I will bring them out now. Humble them, and do with them what seems good to you; but to this man don’t do any such folly.”



[28] He said to her, “Get up, and let us be going!” but no one answered. Then he took her up on the donkey; and the man rose up, and went to his place.

[29] When he had come into his house, he took a knife, and laid hold on his concubine, and divided her, limb by limb, into twelve pieces, and sent her throughout all the borders of Israel. [30] It was so, that all who saw it said, “There was no such deed done nor seen from the day that the children of Israel came up out of the land of Egypt to this day! Consider it, take counsel, and speak.”

This story is important for several reasons.  First the death of this concubine ultimately led to almost a total eradication of one of the tribes of Israel.  Second, it shows a great perversion; that of homosexuality.  If that were not enough, gang rape was on the mind of these wicked, wicked men.  Sex between a man and wife is a beautiful thing.  All of us are here because our parents engaged in this activity.  Perverted sex is just that; PERVERTED!!! Those who say homosexuality, bestiality, and things like it are acceptable should read the Bible to learn that they are wrong!!!!!  These things are unacceptable, no matter what the news agencies tell us, or what some politician may say or what law someone may pass.  God has ordained sex, but NOT PERVERTED SEX!!!  To do something other than what has been authorized is to fight against GOD!!!  SEX may attract interest, but obedience to the will of God will help you ultimately arrive in heaven.  You decide which is more important!!!

Two great evils by Mark Copeland

http://executableoutlines.com/text/jer2_13.htm

A lesson from Jeremiah...Gary

Fit for a king

This car reminds me of the "Excalibur" or perhaps one of those fancy cars from the 20's (perhaps a Duisburg?).  One thing I don't recall seeing was a luxury car like this with a tandem axle in the rear.  So, this car is an unanswered puzzle to me.  If anyone knows its identity, please contact me as I obviously need to be educated.  One thing is for sure, its opulent and obviously cost a great deal of money.  When I think of wealth, I naturally think of Solomon and although he many things, for some reason, his magnificent throne comes to mind...

WEB: I Kings Chapter 10

[18] Moreover the king made a great throne of ivory, and overlaid it with the finest gold. [19] There were six steps to the throne, and the top of the throne was round behind; and there were stays on either side by the place of the seat, and two lions standing beside the stays. [20] Twelve lions stood there on the one side and on the other on the six steps: there was nothing like it made in any kingdom.

Can you imagine the impression such a royal seat would make?  It must have been worth an enormous amount of money.  Such a fantastic it must have been to see Solomon on his throne; so awe inspiring that I can't even imagine sitting on it.  But, I can imagine sitting in that car wearing the Lion ring I usually wear and that will have to be good enough.

The stability of your times by Mark Copeland

http://executableoutlines.com/text/isa33_5.htm

A lesson from the book of Isaiah...Gary

Something new

I've been around for awhile, but I have never, ever thought of a sandwich like this! What would you call this, A breakfast burger???  Next time I feel adventurous, I will have to try this one; although my wife might object to all the cholesterol. To me, this is just one more example that even in my age of retirement, there are new things out there; ideas that fascinate me and arise in me a spirit of curiosity like when I was a kid on the farm.  Which brings me to memory of a group of people who were always looking for something new, something exciting to consider.  Lets read for awhile from the book of Acts...

WEB: Acts Chapter 17

[16] Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was provoked within him as he saw the city full of idols. [17] So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the devout persons, and in the marketplace every day with those who met him. [18] Some of the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers also were conversing with him. Some said, “What does this babbler want to say?”

Others said, “He seems to be advocating foreign deities,” because he preached Jesus and the resurrection.

[19] They took hold of him, and brought him to the Areopagus, saying, “May we know what this new teaching is, which is spoken by you? [20] For you bring certain strange things to our ears. We want to know therefore what these things mean.” [21] Now all the Athenians and the strangers living there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell or to hear some new thing.

[22] Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus, and said, “You men of Athens, I perceive that you are very religious in all things. [23] For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I announce to you. [24] The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands, [25] neither is he served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath, and all things. [26] He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons, and the boundaries of their dwellings, [27] that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. [28] ‘For in him we live, and move, and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’ [29] Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by art and design of man. [30] The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent, [31] because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.”

[32] Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked; but others said, “We want to hear you again concerning this.”

[33] Thus Paul went out from among them. [34] But certain men joined with him, and believed, among whom also was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.

Its hard for most of us to imagine the world of the first century.  Life was unbelievably hard for most, but pleasant for a few (wait a minute, that sounds like today).  Well, polytheism was different anyway.  There was a god for everything; they reflected the nature of human beings in all aspects, but were immensely powerful (or so people thought).  Paul introduced a new concept;one and only one God.  Perhaps most of them could understand a god they just didn't know about, but life after death was a bit much for most of them.  However, some did believe; some took in Paul's message and followed him.  People after my own heart, seekers; willing to try new things and expand the horizon of their understanding.  I can't help but wonder, though, how they would have responded to a hamburger breakfast sandwich???