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???

Remember God in the days of your youth by Mark Copeland

http://executableoutlines.com/text/ecc11_9.htm

Good advice from the book of Ecclesiastes...Gary

Your inheritance

The Lion king; now there is something to remember.  A classic tale told in terms that even the young can understand.  The "King" of beasts showing his child the magnitude of what he will inherit.  Priceless!  As soon as I saw this, I asked myself: What then is the inheritance of a Christian?  After some thought, this chapter from the book of Ephesians came to mind...

World English Bible: Ephesians Chapter 1

[1] Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus through the will of God,

to the saints who are at Ephesus, and the faithful in Christ Jesus: [2] Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ; [4] even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without blemish before him in love; [5] having predestined us for adoption as children through Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his desire, [6] to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely bestowed favor on us in the Beloved, [7] in whom we have our redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, [8] which he made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, [9] making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he purposed in him [10] to an administration of the fullness of the times, to sum up all things in Christ, the things in the heavens, and the things on the earth, in him; [11] in whom also we were assigned an inheritance, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who works all things after the counsel of his will; [12] to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Christ: [13] in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, [14] who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory. [15] For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which is among you, and the love which you have toward all the saints, [16] don’t cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, [17] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; [18] having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, [19] and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might [20] which he worked in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, [21] far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come. [22] He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly, [23] which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

It has become fashionable to put down Christianity today, to relegate it as something that only the unlearned and foolish believe.  To say that it is worthless and a waste of time and many things than are far worse than these brief statements.  But, those who say such things are devoid of understanding.  All that which is truly good; the foundation of our entire society, comes from God.  This life may afford some blessings to all, but they are temporal.  They begin to fade as we age.  Some day, we will die and those who refuse to address the issue or say it is meaningless delude themselves.  At this point, I say it is best to just let Ephesians chapter one speak for itself.  Please read and reread it a couple of times.  The blessings that God gives us spiritually far outweigh the scope of anything that the light touches.  More than even our imagination can consider.  Just one more thing... and its given to Christians!!!

Finding joy in the vanity of life by Mark Copeland

http://executableoutlines.com/text/ecc2_22.htm

Here is a lesson from Ecclesiastes you might find interesting...Gary

Snowflakes, paradoxes and Jesus

Unless they perfect cloning, there will never be another "me".  I am glad of that because if everyone were all alike, how boring the world would be.  We actually need the differences in others to compliment ourselves.  Yes, we need other people!!!  Let us not forget though, how special each one of us is.  We were all born in different places at different points in history and have been subject to different experiences.  And we react to them differently as well.  In short, we ARE INDIVIDUALS.  Yet, at the same time we are all generically the same.  paradoxical, isn't it?  So much of life is like that; we know so much but understand so little!!!  However, there was one who was really different, you know him by the name Jesus.  This chapter from the book of John tells us something of this very special "snowflake".

WEB: John Chapter 1

[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] The same was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made. [4] In him was life, and the life was the light of men. [5] The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it. [6] There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John. [7] The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him. [8] He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light. [9] The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.

[10] He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn’t recognize him. [11] He came to his own, and those who were his own didn’t receive him. [12] But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God’s children, to those who believe in his name: [13] who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. [14] The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. [15] John testified about him. He cried out, saying, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.’” [16] From his fullness we all received grace upon grace. [17] For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. [18] No one has seen God at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.

I know of no other religion where God actually became a human being and sacrificed himself for his own creation.  To understand this concept is the beginning of understanding Christianity!!!  One God, one way to heaven; not the myriad of solutions that we mere humans invent.  Want proof?  Really need proof? Consider that the biggest problem we have is death.  Jesus overcame that!  Not enough proof?  Ask yourself, "who really loves me enough to die for me?"  Let me guess... pretty short list, isn't it?  Perhaps some of the people on your list might change their mind at the last minute or die before they could help you or go on a trip or something.  Now, cross off all the people on your list that these things could happen to and you will be left without a list.  Jesus died for me.  Jesus IS MY LIST, PERIOD!!!!  Jesus really did do what the Bible said he did; 1st Corinthians fifteen says there were five hundred witnesses to his resurrection and frankly that is more than enough for my skeptical mind.  How can five hundred people all be wrong?  Why weren't they immediately refuted if they were wrong?  The answer is simple, THEY WERE RIGHT!!!!!  Yes, we are unique; yes were are also all alike and yes we have hope through the sacrifice of a Jew named Jesus some two thousand years ago.  That is the cold, hard truth and at the same time a warm wonderful thing as well.  Here we go again, another paradox!!!  Relax, not all paradoxes are equal; this one happens to be the good kind.  Bye, for now... from your friendly snowflake...