RIVERCEPTION

Now here is something you don't see every day; a bridge for a river over a river!!!  Why? My every instinct tells me that this is photo-shopped, but who knows?  I have a hard time believing this one is genuine, so if anyone out there knows about this, please comment on the blog.  Until then, I remain unconvinced.  Which reminds me of a chapter in the book of Luke...

WEB: Luke Chapter 1

[1] Since many have undertaken to set in order a narrative concerning those matters which have been fulfilled among us, [2] even as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word delivered them to us, [3] it seemed good to me also, having traced the course of all things accurately from the first, to write to you in order, most excellent Theophilus; [4] that you might know the certainty concerning the things in which you were instructed.

[5] There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a certain priest named Zacharias, of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. [6] They were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. [7] But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and they both were well advanced in years. [8] Now it happened, while he executed the priest’s office before God in the order of his division, [9] according to the custom of the priest’s office, his lot was to enter into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. [10] The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.

[11] An angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing on the right side of the altar of incense. [12] Zacharias was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him. [13] But the angel said to him, “Don’t be afraid, Zacharias, because your request has been heard, and your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. [14] You will have joy and gladness; and many will rejoice at his birth. [15] For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink no wine nor strong drink. He will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. [16] He will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord, their God. [17] He will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to prepare a people prepared for the Lord.”

[18] Zacharias said to the angel, “How can I be sure of this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.”

[19] The angel answered him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God. I was sent to speak to you, and to bring you this good news. [20] Behold, you will be silent and not able to speak, until the day that these things will happen, because you didn’t believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their proper time.”

Due to the plan of service in the temple and Zacharias' age, it was very unlikely for him to be chosen more than once to perform the service in the temple.  But, it really was Zacharias' turn and during his service Gabriel told him of his upcoming fatherhood and the special mission of his son.  Since he and his wife were old, he just didn't believe what the angel told him.  Because of this, he wouldn't be allowed to speak until the day of his sons' birth.  Sometimes its hard to believe things you can't see and often even things you CAN SEE, but I guess that is what FAITH is all about.  God knows what we need and always answers; sometimes its YES, sometimes its NO and at other times, its WAIT.  When the answer is YES, even that seems too good to be true; even when it is plainly before your eyes.  Lord, help us to see your blessings and understand truth when we see it!!!  Now, about that bridge...

Make your calling and election sure by Mark Copeland

http://executableoutlines.com/text/2pe1_10.htm

Something to think about... Gary

A "yoke" run "wild"

Cute, very cute!!! If I had a humorous nature, I might say that this is a yoke gone wild.  On a more serious note, it does make me wonder when our first thoughts happen.  What is your first memory?  Mine is when I was 5 or 6 (probably 6) and climbed on the school bus with flowers in my hand for a little girl who rode to school with me.  I have no idea who she was, what she looked like, or whatever became of this kindergarten cutie, but I do remember that I liked her a lot.  I wonder how far back memories can go?  Does anyone out there remember events from 2 years of age or younger?  Since life outside the womb is viable after about seven months, I wonder what thoughts could occur BEFORE BIRTH????  Something is going on prior to our first breath of fresh air, that is for sure.  I know this because of the following passage...

WEB: Jeremiah Chapter 1
[1] The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin: [2] to whom the word of Yahweh came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign. [3] It came also in the days of Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah, to the end of the eleventh year of Zedekiah, the son of Josiah, king of Judah, to the carrying away of Jerusalem captive in the fifth month. [4] Now the word of Yahweh came to me, saying, [5] “Before I formed you in the belly, I knew you. Before you came forth out of the womb, I sanctified you. I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.” [6] Then I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! Behold, I don’t know how to speak; for I am a child.”

If someone says that a fetus is less than a human being, then they call God a liar, for he says he knew Jeremiah BEFORE HIS BIRTH!!!  More than that, to end the natural birth process is to directly challenge the authority of God!!!  If God starts something and you stop it, how can that be defined other than sin?  Since a full grown chicken seems to be as dumb as a bag of nails, then the inscribed shell is nothing more than humorous fantasy, but human beings are another matter.  Our country has a lot to answer for because of our actions concerning abortion.  Have no part in abortion, resist it at every level and do what you can to end this affront to God.  I am counting the days until this is ended forever and that has far more meaning than any chicken scratches could ever have.

Hardened by Deceit by Mark Copeland

http://executableoutlines.com/text/he3_13.htm

A very important lesson for us all... Gary

Confused, lost, need directions...?

This is so confusing I actually understand it.  Suppose you are on a major road (going north) that is going to separate into two other ones and as it does you are currently in the right lane.  You want to go East (which would be on the right), so you exit left and follow the road as it goes underneath the road you were formerly on and then goes right (East).  Confused?  I don't blame you!!!  Other than this little convoluted explanation, the sign makes no sense at all.  But, I understand that this could happen, so why not accept its possibility and go with it.  Akin to this, we find in our Bibles, the book of Revelation and its apparently confusing imagery.  Take a moment and read these few verses and see if the direction it takes you makes sense...

WEB: Revelation of John Chapter 1

[1] This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon, which he sent and made known by his angel to his servant, John, [2] who testified to God’s word, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, about everything that he saw.

[3] Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy, and keep the things that are written in it, for the time is at hand.

[4] John, to the seven assemblies that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from God, who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before his throne; [5] and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us, and washed us from our sins by his blood; [6] and he made us to be a Kingdom, priests to his God and Father; to him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

[7] Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, including those who pierced him. All the tribes of the earth will mourn over him. Even so, Amen.

[8] "“I am the Alpha and the Omega,”" says the Lord God, "“who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”"

[9] I John, your brother and partner with you in oppression, Kingdom, and perseverance in Christ Jesus, was on the isle that is called Patmos because of God’s Word and the testimony of Jesus Christ. [10] I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, like a trumpet [11] saying, "“What you see, write in a book and send to the seven assemblies: to Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and to Laodicea.”"

Pet peeve here... it is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, not of John.  While I am at it, it is not Revelations, its REVELATION.  Good! That is over; I have vented for the day!!!!  But, what I really wanted to mention is that the events of this revelation were to happen soon.  The language used in the book is primarily symbolic and not literal because being literal would have been easily understood by the Roman government of the day and resulted in the extermination of all the Christians.  The seven churches were real congregations and the problem was real, but the language is figurative.  Is this confusing or what?  That is the idea, confuse those who probably would have never read the Old Testament prophets and say what you will.  Today, people make all sorts of crazy predictions and outlandish comments on this book that I have to wonder if they have ever read the Old Testament at all.  But, know this; just as I was thinking of an actual road when I explained the odd road marker above, so the Christians of the first century would have understood their reality coupled with the Old Testament Scriptures.  The clear message of Revelation is that God will overcome all evil (including the mighty Roman Empire) and in the end Christians will find joy, peace and eternal life with God.  Can you say these things about your life?  Need directions?  Just ask; I will be glad to show you the signposts....

Rejoice Always by Mark Copeland

http://executableoutlines.com/text/1th5_16.htm

An exhortation worth remembering... Gary

That fourth question...

This is a sunrise picture from my daughter's dining room.  Its a gorgeous sunrise, and that alone is interesting, but the chandelier caught my attention.  For you see, my family were poor farm people and never in their wildest dreams could have imagined owning such a thing!!!  Yet, just a couple of generations later... success!  Not without huge amounts of hard work by my daughter and her husband, though.  Still, its hard for me to conceive of such financial success, but it can still happen in America.  Which makes me wonder what we really know about others and how often do we put ourselves in their shoes.  Today, in Bible class, we were listening to a lecture on baptism from the book of Acts and I began to understand something new about the topic.  And these three passages came to mind...

WEB: Acts Chapter 8

[26] But an angel of the Lord spoke to Philip, saying, “Arise, and go toward the south to the way that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza. This is a desert.”

[27] He arose and went; and behold, there was a man of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was over all her treasure, who had come to Jerusalem to worship. [28] He was returning and sitting in his chariot, and was reading the prophet Isaiah.

[29] The Spirit said to Philip, “Go near, and join yourself to this chariot.”

[30] Philip ran to him, and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

[31] He said, “How can I, unless someone explains it to me?” He begged Philip to come up and sit with him. [32] Now the passage of the Scripture which he was reading was this,

“He was led as a sheep to the slaughter.
As a lamb before his shearer is silent,
so he doesn’t open his mouth.


[33] In his humiliation, his judgment was taken away.
Who will declare His generation?
For his life is taken from the earth.”


[34] The eunuch answered Philip, “Who is the prophet talking about? About himself, or about someone else?”

[35] Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture, preached to him Jesus. [36] As they went on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Behold, here is water. What is keeping me from being baptized?”
[37] [38] He commanded the chariot to stand still, and they both went down into the water, both Philip and the eunuch, and he baptized him.

[39] When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and the eunuch didn’t see him any more, for he went on his way rejoicing.

WEB: Isaiah Chapter 56

[1] Thus says Yahweh, “Keep justice, and do righteousness; for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed. [2] Blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who holds it fast; who keeps the Sabbath from profaning it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

[3] Neither let the foreigner, who has joined himself to Yahweh, speak, saying, “Yahweh will surely separate me from his people;” neither let the eunuch say, “Behold, I am a dry tree.”

[4] For thus says Yahweh, “To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, and choose the things that please me, and hold fast my covenant: [5] to them I will give in my house and within my walls a memorial and a name better than of sons and of daughters; I will give them an everlasting name, that shall not be cut off. [6] Also the foreigners who join themselves to Yahweh, to minister to him, and to love the name of Yahweh, to be his servants, everyone who keeps the Sabbath from profaning it, and holds fast my covenant; [7] even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”

   WEB: Deuteronomy 23:1. He who is wounded in the stones, or has his privy member cut off, shall not enter into the assembly of Yahweh.

 As we read the story of the Ethiopian Eunuch, I wondered why he put his question the way he did.  I had always thought of the Eunuch having a sense of urgency and this is seems to be the case.  But, I wondered, WHY would he be concerned with someone preventing him from being baptized???  The answer that came to me this afternoon was that not only was the Ethiopian a foreigner, but he was a eunuch as well.  So, under the law of the Old Testament, he was excluded from the assembly (the synagogue or church of the Old Testament).  But under the NEW TESTAMENT, even a mulitated stranger had hope!!!!  God was now available to everyone; the door to heaven was unrestricted.  The window on the world that the EUNUCH now looked through had a new SONRISE (not sunrise) and that is more valuable than any financial success anyone could ever have!!! Its no wonder he went on his way rejoicing!!!!!