Horsing around

Can it be? Is the horse really playing hide and seek? I don't know, but it sure makes me wonder. People can train animals to do all sorts of things... so... maybe. Did the horse really understand what to do? I doubt it, but, hey, anything is possible! What do we know and more importantly, Why do we want to? Solomon was very wise, but he did pen these words.

Eccl 1:12-18 (WEB)
12) I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.
13) I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom concerning all that is done under the sky. It is a heavy burden that God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
14) I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.
15) That which is crooked can’t be made straight; and that which is lacking can’t be counted.
16) I said to myself, “Behold, I have obtained for myself great wisdom above all who were before me in Jerusalem. Yes, my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.”
17) I applied my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also was a chasing after wind.
18) For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

If a very wise man like king Solomon can see the futility in wisdom, knowledge, madness and folly, what about us. However, I like the picture because of its entertainment value! Is that horse actually smart enough to play "hide and seek"? Probably not, but its amusing to think it might be able to, because after all... its just a horse! How about our lives, what do we want to know and why? What can we really know? My answer it: only that which is in our limits of understanding to know! We are human beings and can only know what we can know, but with God's help we can understand what he teaches and that knowledge is beyond mere mortal comprehension. Knowing God is not a game, it is a lifelong experience of learning. I wonder, does God look at our lives like we look at the horse? No doubt, he thinks of us according to our nature, but does he ever laugh at the foolish things we do? I don't think so, because I have never known God to "horse around" with my life.

Heaven, Earth and the human heart

It appears this picture was taken at nighttime, but the sky is so vivid that for a moment I thought it was day. Somehow day and night, heaven and Earth seem to form a Mosaic of the universe. Its as if all creation is seen in one giant composite of beauty. With this concept in mind take a couple of minutes and read this passage from the book of Deuteronomy.

Deut 10:12-22 (WEB)
12) Now, Israel, what does Yahweh your God require of you, but to fear Yahweh your God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve Yahweh your God with all your heart and with all your soul,
13) to keep the commandments of Yahweh, and his statutes, which I command you this day for your good?
14) Behold, to Yahweh your God belongs heaven and the heaven of heavens, the earth, with all that is therein.
15) Only Yahweh had a delight in your fathers to love them, and he chose their seed after them, even you above all peoples, as at this day.
16) Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart, and be no more stiff-necked.
17) For Yahweh your God, he is God of gods, and Lord of lords, the great God, the mighty, and the awesome, who doesn’t respect persons, nor takes reward.
18) He does execute justice for the fatherless and widow, and loves the foreigner, in giving him food and clothing.
19) Therefore love the foreigner; for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt.
20) You shall fear Yahweh your God; you shall serve him; and you shall cling to him, and you shall swear by his name.
21) He is your praise, and he is your God, who has done for you these great and awesome things, which your eyes have seen.
22) Your fathers went down into Egypt with seventy persons; and now Yahweh your God has made you as the stars of the sky for multitude.

Just as there is a relationship between the heavens and Earth, so there is one between man and his creator. Its easy to get so wrapped up in everyday living that this concept gets a little blurred, but this picture brings things into focus. God has a chosen people to be exalted into a reunion of true fellowship with HIM and extended Israel to include everyone who truly desires to be close to HIM. Its been over 3000 years since Moses uttered these words and they are true; who can conceive of the untold millions who have been blessed. Somehow, its a wonderful thing to realize that the creation of God goes beyond the mere physical and extends even to the uttermost depths of the human heart. WOW!

What time is it?

I feel sorry for the owner of this watch. Talk about a regimented lifestyle!! However, I freely admit we are a society based on knowing the time. We have so many things that have to be done in a very specific way, AT A VERY PRECISE TIME!!! By the way, what time is it, and shouldn't I be doing something right now?

Eccl 3:1-15 (WEB)
1) For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:
2) a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
3) a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4) a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5) a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6) a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
7) a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8) a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
9) What profit has he who works in that in which he labors?
10) I have seen the burden which God has given to the sons of men to be afflicted with.
11) He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in their hearts, yet so that man can’t find out the work that God has done from the beginning even to the end.
12) I know that there is nothing better for them than to rejoice, and to do good as long as they live.
13) Also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy good in all his labor, is the gift of God.
14) I know that whatever God does, it shall be forever. Nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it; and God has done it, that men should fear before him.
15) That which is has been long ago, and that which is to be has been long ago: and God seeks again that which is passed away.

Does it really matter what time it is? How do we know? When you look at your watch, how do you know its right? Is it based on the Internet, or on the national clock, or the atomic clock? How do we know any or all of these are correct? The answer that makes sense to me is that God set everything in order; the stars, the rotation of the planets, even the atoms in the molecules with which we measure atomic time. It really does matter what time it is because there is an appointed time for everything and all of the cycles of life point to an organization and a time setting that can only be done by God. One more thing... don't buy this watch! Who needs a day that is so tightly structured?

The limits of bits and bytes

This picture reminds me of a movie I saw today; "Surrogates". Bruce Willis stars as a cop (so what else is new) who investigates the destruction of the surrogate body and its human operator. I won't tell you the whole story because that would spoil it for those of you who may be interested, but the movie and the picture do raise the topic of "improvement" of the species. Obviously, by just doing this blog, you can tell I am a fan of technology, but there are limits. Here is a chapter from the book of second Chronicles you may find interesting.

2Chr 26:1-23 (WEB)
1) All the people of Judah took Uzziah, who was sixteen years old, and made him king in the place of his father Amaziah.
2) He built Eloth, and restored it to Judah, after that the king slept with his fathers.
3) Sixteen years old was Uzziah when he began to reign; and he reigned fifty-two years in Jerusalem: and his mother’s name was Jechiliah, of Jerusalem.
4) He did that which was right in the eyes of Yahweh, according to all that his father Amaziah had done.
5) He set himself to seek God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the vision of God: and as long as he sought Yahweh, God made him to prosper.
6) He went forth and warred against the Philistines, and broke down the wall of Gath, and the wall of Jabneh, and the wall of Ashdod; and he built cities in the country of Ashdod, and among the Philistines.
7) God helped him against the Philistines, and against the Arabians who lived in Gur Baal, and the Meunim.
8) The Ammonites gave tribute to Uzziah: and his name spread abroad even to the entrance of Egypt; for he grew exceeding strong.
9) Moreover Uzziah built towers in Jerusalem at the corner gate, and at the valley gate, and at the turning of the wall, and fortified them.
10) He built towers in the wilderness, and dug out many cisterns, for he had much livestock; in the lowland also, and in the plain: and he had farmers and vineyard keepers in the mountains and in the fruitful fields; for he loved farming.
11) Moreover Uzziah had an army of fighting men, who went out to war by bands, according to the number of their reckoning made by Jeiel the scribe and Maaseiah the officer, under the hand of Hananiah, one of the king’s captains.
12) The whole number of the heads of fathers’ households, even the mighty men of valor, was two thousand and six hundred.
13) Under their hand was an army, three hundred thousand and seven thousand and five hundred, who made war with mighty power, to help the king against the enemy.
14) Uzziah prepared for them, even for all the army, shields, and spears, and helmets, and coats of mail, and bows, and stones for slinging.
15) He made in Jerusalem engines, invented by skillful men, to be on the towers and on the battlements, with which to shoot arrows and great stones. His name spread far abroad; for he was marvelously helped, until he was strong.
16) But when he was strong, his heart was lifted up, so that he did corruptly, and he trespassed against Yahweh his God; for he went into the temple of Yahweh to burn incense on the altar of incense.
17) Azariah the priest went in after him, and with him eighty priests of Yahweh, who were valiant men:
18) and they resisted Uzziah the king, and said to him, “It isn’t for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to Yahweh, but for the priests the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. Go out of the sanctuary; for you have trespassed; neither shall it be for your honor from Yahweh God.”
19) Then Uzziah was angry; and he had a censer in his hand to burn incense; and while he was angry with the priests, the leprosy broke forth in his forehead before the priests in the house of Yahweh, beside the altar of incense.
20) Azariah the chief priest, and all the priests, looked on him, and behold, he was leprous in his forehead, and they thrust him out quickly from there; yes, himself hurried also to go out, because Yahweh had struck him.
21) Uzziah the king was a leper to the day of his death, and lived in a separate house, being a leper; for he was cut off from the house of Yahweh: and Jotham his son was over the king’s house, judging the people of the land.
22) Now the rest of the acts of Uzziah, first and last, Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, wrote.
23) So Uzziah slept with his fathers; and they buried him with his fathers in the field of burial which belonged to the kings; for they said, “He is a leper.” Jotham his son reigned in his place.

Success; Uzziah had it in abundance. He seemed to do everything right... for awhile. But pride was his downfall and led to his leprosy. That's the problem with success and with technology; it can lead to pride. When we human beings think we have the right to change the very nature of what it means to be human, then we are headed for a fall. Once again, I really like technology because it opens doors to possibilities that couldn't even be imagined one hundred years ago. Just don't try to change God's ultimate creation: human beings. Tomorrow, do one experiment for me... sit down with a paper and pencil to write a few sentences or do a calculation or draw something. I find that doing one or more of these actions makes me feel good. Its like being plugged into the real you and not something with bits and bytes. Provides a large helping of humility as well.

Love in her (HIS) eye!

May will be here soon (our anniversary) and so its natural for me to be thinking a little more about love. So, the question comes to mind:What really is love? Is it a feeling;yes. Is it commitment; yes Is it understanding; yes. Is it physical attraction;yes. All these things and more, but what about the love of God towards us? On the way home from work yesterday, I was listening to the Psalms being read by Stephen B. Stephens and the ESV used the words "steadfast love" in place of the more common usage of loving-kindness or mercy. Does it really make a difference? Judge for yourself. So, I printed out several versions for consideration.

Ps 136:1-26 (Darby)
1) Give ye thanks unto Jehovah, for he is good; for his loving-kindness endureth for ever:
2) Give thanks unto the God of gods, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever;
3) Give thanks unto the Lord of lords, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever.
4) To him who alone doeth great wonders, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever:
5) To him that by understanding made the heavens, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever;
6) To him that stretched out the earth above the waters, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever;
7) To him that made great lights, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever;
8) The sun for rule over the day, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever,
9) The moon and stars for rule over the night, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever:
10) To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever,
11) And brought out Israel from among them, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever,
12) With a powerful hand and with a stretched-out arm, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever;
13) To him that divided the Red sea into parts, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever,
14) And made Israel to pass through the midst of it, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever,
15) And overturned Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever;
16) To him that led his people through the wilderness, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever;
17) To him that smote great kings, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever,
18) And slew famous kings, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever;
19) Sihon king of the Amorites, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever,
20) And Og king of Bashan, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever;
21) And gave their land for an inheritance, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever,
22) An inheritance unto Israel his servant, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever:
23) Who hath remembered us in our low estate, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever;
24) And hath delivered us from our oppressors, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever:
25) Who giveth food to all flesh, for his loving-kindness endureth for ever.
26) Give ye thanks unto the *God of the heavens; for his loving-kindness endureth for ever.

Ps 136:1 (AKJV)
1) O give thanks to the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endures for ever.

Ps 136:1 (ASV)
1) Oh give thanks unto Jehovah; For he is good; For his lovingkindness endureth for ever.

Ps 136:1 (EBR)
1) Give ye thanks to Yahweh, for he is good, For, age–abiding, is his lovingkindness.

Ps 136:1 (ESV)
1) ​​​​​​​​Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Ps 136:1 (NET)
1) ​​​​​​​Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his loyal love endures.

Ps 136:1 (WEB)
1) Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good; for his loving kindness endures forever.

Ps 136:1 (YLT)
1) Give ye thanks to Jehovah, For good, for to the age is His kindness.

God cares for us, his love is expressed in the things he does for us, for the kindness of the many mercies he shows for us. Unlike human beings that change with age, He does not change. His love is special; it endures forever. Mercy is that we receive when we should get justice and love is a joint venture of the heart mind and will. It is complicated, but then again, it is a complicated thing to be a human being. God's ways are way beyond ours, but one thing is certain, He looks at those who love him with love in his eye and gives mercy and help when needed. Boy! do I need it!

Hear, believe, obey!

Over the past couple of years I have seen a lot of new things while preparing for my daily posts, but this one is really different. Click on the video to see what I mean. Peter spoke to the people of his time in their language, just like this lady did. The bottom line is in verse 12.

Acts 4:8-12 (WEB)
8) Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “You rulers of the people, and elders of Israel,
9) if we are examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed,
10) be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead, in him does this man stand here before you whole.
11) He is ‘the stone which was regarded as worthless by you, the builders, which has become the head of the corner.’
12) There is salvation in none other, for neither is there any other name under heaven, that is given among men, by which we must be saved!”

Jesus, one man, one way, one time; and it really doesn't matter if it ain't got rhyme!!! What really matters and this is fact, if you really have Jesus you'll know how to act. So, listen to the sermon just one more time and obey from the heart, that's the end of the line.

Thanks to Ron Cameron for the e-mail link!!!

One dangerous weapon

Surveys, everything is surveys today! People have lost the will to think for themselves, instead its cool to just go along with the crowd. Our society has become a nation of strangers; we (in America) just don't want to get too close to others. With good reason too; everyone has an agenda, everyone is selling something. Its no wonder we are defensive about who or what we will listen to. Here is what the writer to the Hebrews (perhaps the Apostle Paul) has to say about listening.

Heb 4:1-13 (WEB)
Heb 4
1) Let us fear therefore, lest perhaps anyone of you should seem to have come short of a promise of entering into his rest.
2) For indeed we have had good news preached to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard didn’t profit them, because it wasn’t mixed with faith by those who heard.
3) For we who have believed do enter into that rest, even as he has said, “As I swore in my wrath, they will not enter into my rest;” although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4) For he has said this somewhere about the seventh day, “God rested on the seventh day from all his works;”
5) and in this place again, “They will not enter into my rest.”
6) Seeing therefore it remains that some should enter therein, and they to whom the good news was before preached failed to enter in because of disobedience,
7) he again defines a certain day, today, saying through David so long a time afterward (just as has been said), “Today if you will hear his voice, don’t harden your hearts.”
8) For if Joshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day.
9) There remains therefore a Sabbath rest for the people of God.
10) For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from his.
11) Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.
12) For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and is able to discern the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
13) There is no creature that is hidden from his sight, but all things are naked and laid open before the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

Human nature resists being told what to do; that is a fact. Especially, when it comes to matters of religion. How many cults have you heard about during the last 20 or so years? For me, the answer is lots and lots. The media doesn't help much either; when you see a religious person portrayed on TV, I bet you it isn't in a positive light. So, the graph probably is accurate and with good reason. Face it, there are a lots of nuts out there. But what about the truth? How do we REALLY KNOW TRUTH FROM ERROR? The short answer is the Bible, but which one? Over the past 40 years there has been an explosion of translations, paraphrases, study Bibles and the like. My answer has been the Composite Bible, which seeks understanding by progressive comparison: from the less literal to the most literal. If you want to find out more, you can go to the compositebible.com/ and see what I mean. But, even the greatest understanding can be easily quenched by a stubborn, hard heart. So, ask God for help and pray when you read; he will listen. Search, and you WILL FIND THE TRUTH. When you do, you won't have to be afraid of that person who is carrying a Bible on the bus... who knows, that person may be you.