Impossible?

Using money as toilet paper; could it ever really happen?  Probably not, but who knows?  There have been so many unexpected things over the years that anything is possible.  Just think, in a little over a month, it will be a decade since we saw airplanes destroy the World Trade Center in New York City!!!  Sometimes the unthinkable does happen; here is one such instance from the Old Testament...

WEB: II Kings Chapter 6

[24] It happened after this, that Benhadad king of Syria gathered all his army, and went up and besieged Samaria. [25] There was a great famine in Samaria. Behold, they besieged it, until a donkey’s head was sold for eighty pieces of silver, and the fourth part of a kab of dove’s dung for five pieces of silver. [26] As the king of Israel was passing by on the wall, a woman cried to him, saying, “Help, my lord, O king!”

[27] He said, “If Yahweh doesn’t help you, from where could I help you? From of the threshing floor, or from the winepress?” [28] The king said to her, “What ails you?”

She answered, “This woman said to me, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him today, and we will eat my son tomorrow.’ [29] So we boiled my son, and ate him: and I said to her on the next day, ‘Give your son, that we may eat him;’ and she has hidden her son.”

[30] It happened, when the king heard the words of the woman, that he tore his clothes (now he was passing by on the wall); and the people looked, and behold, he had sackcloth underneath on his flesh. [31] Then he said, “God do so to me, and more also, if the head of Elisha the son of Shaphat shall stay on him this day.”

[32] But Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. Then the king sent a man from before him; but before the messenger came to him, he said to the elders, “Do you see how this son of a murderer has sent to take away my head? Behold, when the messenger comes, shut the door, and hold the door shut against him. Isn’t the sound of his master’s feet behind him?”

[33] While he was still talking with them, behold, the messenger came down to him. Then he said, “Behold, this evil is from Yahweh. Why should I wait for Yahweh any longer?”

World English Bible: II Kings Chapter 7

[1] Elisha said, “Hear the word of Yahweh. Thus says Yahweh, ‘Tomorrow about this time a measure of fine flour will be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria.’”

[2] Then the captain on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, “Behold, if Yahweh made windows in heaven, could this thing be?”

He said, “Behold, you shall see it with your eyes, but shall not eat of it.”

[3] Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate. They said one to another, “Why do we sit here until we die? [4] If we say, ‘We will enter into the city,’ then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. If we sit still here, we also die. Now therefore come, and let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they save us alive, we will live; and if they kill us, we will only die.”

[5] They rose up in the twilight, to go to the camp of the Syrians. When they had come to the outermost part of the camp of the Syrians, behold, there was no man there. [6] For the Lord had made the army of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great army: and they said one to another, Behold, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come on us. [7] Therefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their donkeys, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life. [8] When these lepers came to the outermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and ate and drink, and carried there silver, and gold, and clothing, and went and hid it. Then they came back, and entered into another tent, and carried there also, and went and hid it. [9] Then they said one to another, “We aren’t doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we keep silent. If we wait until the morning light, punishment will overtake us. Now therefore come, let us go and tell the king’s household.”

[10] So they came and called to the porter of the city; and they told them, saying, “We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but the horses tied, and the donkeys tied, and the tents as they were.”

[11] He called the porters; and they told it to the king’s household within. [12] The king arose in the night, and said to his servants, “I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we are hungry. Therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, ‘When they come out of the city, we shall take them alive, and get into the city.’”



[14] They took therefore two chariots with horses; and the king sent after the army of the Syrians, saying, “Go and see.”

[15] They went after them to the Jordan; and behold, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. The messengers returned, and told the king. [16] The people went out, and plundered the camp of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of Yahweh. [17] The king appointed the captain on whose hand he leaned to be in charge of the gate: and the people trod on him in the gate, and he died as the man of God had said, who spoke when the king came down to him. [18] It happened, as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, “Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be tomorrow about this time in the gate of Samaria;” [19] and that captain answered the man of God, and said, “Now, behold, if Yahweh should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be?” and he said, “Behold, you shall see it with your eyes, but shall not eat of it.” [20] It happened like that to him; for the people trod on him in the gate, and he died.

Things happen! Samaria was besieged by Syria and there was a great famine.  But Elijah said that tomorrow there would be an abundance of food.  HUH? Things worked out just as he said to the surprise of everyone; great!!  So, I guess the world is really full of surprises after all.  America may encounter another period of inflation like during the Carter presidency, but God is in control and if we turn to him, everything will turn out fine!!!

Trimuph!!!

Napoleon's arch of Triumph.  Magnificent!!!  But, it has taken on new meaning since his defeat at Waterloo.  It is a glory regulated to the past; something gone without real concrete meaning for those of us who are alive today.  Monuments of stone are like that, set in stone, unable to change, relics at the moment of their creation.  Genuine triumph is that which continues to endure through life. I like what the apostle Paul has to say about this in the book of Corinthians.

WEB: II Corinthians Chapter 2

[14] Now thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and reveals through us the sweet aroma of his knowledge in every place. [15] For we are a sweet aroma of Christ to God, in those who are saved, and in those who perish; [16] to the one a stench from death to death; to the other a sweet aroma from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things?

WEB: II Corinthians Chapter 3

[1] Are we beginning again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as do some, letters of commendation to you or from you? [2] You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; [3] being revealed that you are a letter of Christ, served by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tablets of stone, but in tablets that are hearts of flesh. [4] Such confidence we have through Christ toward God; [5] not that we are sufficient of ourselves, to account anything as from ourselves; but our sufficiency is from God; [6] who also made us sufficient as servants of a new covenant; not of the letter, but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. [7] But if the service of death, written engraved on stones, came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly on the face of Moses for the glory of his face; which was passing away: [8] won’t service of the Spirit be with much more glory? [9] For if the service of condemnation has glory, the service of righteousness exceeds much more in glory. [10] For most certainly that which has been made glorious has not been made glorious in this respect, by reason of the glory that surpasses. [11] For if that which passes away was with glory, much more that which remains is in glory.

Triumph, real triumph is that which goes beyond the fading glory of a conqueror.  It is the celebration of life that is found in communion with God; the change that occurs when mere man learns what life is all about from the creator of ALL things.  Stones wear out, men die, but the heart united with its creator lives forever.  Now, THAT is triumph!!!

Looking deeper

What is it?  Very good question!!!  To my thinking, it is an artists' representation of the Higgs-boson, or God particle.  You know, the mysterious missing particle deep within everything that gives it substance.  The more scientists know about the nature of the universe, the more they ultimately seek for God.  Its nice to know exactly HOW THINGS WORK, but it should not be a one dimensional search.  Consider the following verse from the book of Jeremiah.

Jeremiah 29:13 (WEB)
13) You shall seek me, and find me, when you shall search for me with all your heart.

Its OK to intelligently understand the things around us; to know the WHY of things.  But, there is more to life than JUST KNOWLEDGE.  Consider; what would life in this world be like without love, compassion or for that matter, feelings of any kind?  If you memorize the entire Bible and it does not affect you emotionally, what is the point... nothing will change.  God wants us to be as smart as we can be, but HE also wants us to know him; to experience the wonder of a life witch has fellowship with HIM.  That is the true substance of things... you can call it anything you want.

Just another day full of surprises

Today, my grandson asked me what animal produced its own alcohol.  I didn't know and when he told me, I was a bit surprised.  Its amazing how much there is to learn in this world; how much there is to marvel at.  Later, I took a few minutes and thought about how wonderful it was to be a Christian; that God would choose to have anything at all to do with someone like myself is truly amazing.  Consider the following passage from the book of Ephesians.

Ephesians 3:14-21 (WEB)
14) For this cause, I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15) from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
16) that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, that you may be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inward man;
17) that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; to the end that you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18) may be strengthened to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
19) and to know Christ’s love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20) Now to him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
21) to him be the glory in the assembly and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.

God cares, directs and empowers humans.  I wonder why he chose us instead of simply making a better angel?  What is so special about us anyway?  I have known thousands upon thousands of people, most of them had obvious faults, but a few of them were truly spiritual people.  Even the top five people I have had the blessing to know and call friend still had things about them that were not flattering.  How can God care so much for those who are so flawed?  I haven't a clue, but I believe that HE does and that's all that is really necessary.  Sometimes you just need to accept things, like Hippos giving pink milk or that elephants make their own alcohol.  Isn't life wonderful!!!

What's next, a dictatorship?

Freedom! A concept Americans hold very dear!!!  But, over the past few decades our rights are gradually being eroded by government intrusion into our lives.  Laws and regulations are strangling what few rights we have left and the media is trying to make us think everything is "OK".  It is only a matter of time before being a Christian is a crime.  Think that is far-fetched?  Remember when there was prayer in schools?  Remember saying the pledge of allegiance?  Now, if you even mention God in school, there is a really big problem.  The national debt is astounding and there is a trend towards a world government.  Sounds horrible, doesn't it?  Now, think about the following verses from the Bible and how it should affect our lives.

Romans 13:1-8 (WEB)
1) Let every soul be in subjection to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those who exist are ordained by God.
2) Therefore he who resists the authority, withstands the ordinance of God; and those who withstand will receive to themselves judgment.
3) For rulers are not a terror to the good work, but to the evil. Do you desire to have no fear of the authority? Do that which is good, and you will have praise from the same,
4) for he is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do that which is evil, be afraid, for he doesn’t bear the sword in vain; for he is a servant of God, an avenger for wrath to him who does evil.
5) Therefore you need to be in subjection, not only because of the wrath, but also for conscience’ sake.
6) For this reason you also pay taxes, for they are servants of God’s service, attending continually on this very thing.
7) Give therefore to everyone what you owe: taxes to whom taxes are due; customs to whom customs; respect to whom respect; honor to whom honor.
8) Owe no one anything, except to love one another; for he who loves his neighbor has fulfilled the law.

The apostle Paul wrote this at a time when Rome ruled the world, a time when it was unlawful to be a Christian and your property and even your life could be taken away at any moment.  Christians are to be good citizens; acting respectfully in every way, doing the "right thing" without wavering.  What about the consequences?  Some of us may suffer; we may even have to deal with a dictatorship in the next 50 to 100 years.  However bad things get, we must listen to the Bible and obey.  Have faith; if God could overcome the greatest empire on Earth once, could HE not do it again?  God dictates how we live, not man!!!  Even if our republic is somehow transformed into a dictatorship, no one can take heaven away, ever!

Have a little fun in your life!!!

I think I should like to meet whoever lives in this house!  They probably have kids because why else would you put a slide alongside a stairs.  Just imagine for a moment that they DON'T HAVE KIDS.  Then, what does that say about the adults?  Perhaps this passage from Ecclesiastes will shed some light on the question...

Ecclesiastes 11:8-10 (WEB)
8) Yes, if a man lives many years, let him rejoice in them all; but let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. All that comes is vanity.
9) Rejoice, young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth, and walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these things God will bring you into judgment.
10) Therefore remove sorrow from your heart, and put away evil from your flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.

From the condition of the last step I can see that the stairs have been used a lot and the bottom of the slide shows the same thing.  So, whoever lives there does a little of both.  Good for them!  They must have read Solomon's book.  Good idea for everybody!  Don't worry, be happy!!!

Almost Star Wars...

If you took away the pedals and put a motor on it, then you would have something right out of a star wars movie.  Even WITH the pedals, this gets me thinking I would want one.  The methods of our transportation may change, but we still go; no matter what the form may be.  Knowing God is something like that as well.  Originally, The Bible was written on scrolls, without so much as even a chapter or verse number.  Then, they were gathered together into a codex (our modern book form).  Later, about 1300 or so, chapter and book headings were included.  Then in the 19th and 20th century, specialty Bibles like Thompson's chain reference, The Companion Bible and The Emphasized Bible came on the scene.  In the later part of the 20th Century along came computers and with it a whole new ability for study.  Presently, it is very easy to have a whole Biblical research library at your fingertips for free.  What a blessing!!!  Yet, the times have also changed; we have organized opposition to Christianity that could not of existed in former times.  In thinking about this, I remembered one of the first Bible passages I ever knew; it is...

2 Timothy 3:12-17 (WEB)
12) Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.
13) But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.
14) But you remain in the things which you have learned and have been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them.
15) From infancy, you have known the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith, which is in Christ Jesus.
16) Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness,
17) that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

To know what God has said and to get to know HIM, is all one could ever really need to face any opposition, even in an age of supercomputers and Internet applications.  It doesn't really matter HOW YOU LEARN, IT MATTERS THAT YOU DO!!!  So, whether its by a parchment, a codex (book), a specialty Bible or a computer program, the important thing is to learn and to know God.  Once you do, you will want to know more and more.  That's the point, isn't it?  I may never ride a bike like the one in the picture above (I probably would fall over right away), but I can get to know and love the God who created me and that will never go out of style.