Topsy-turvey

There are truly wonderful lessons from the world around us... if we will only LOOK!  And so it is with this simple glass at sunset.  The liquid in the glass reflects the surroundings, but in reverse.  Which tells me that there is more than one way of looking at something.  This of course is understanding and who better to relate to in this matter than Solomon....

  1 The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel:
  2 to know wisdom and instruction;
to discern the words of understanding;
  3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,
in righteousness, justice, and equity;
  4 to give prudence to the simple,
knowledge and discretion to the young man:

  5 that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning;
that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel:
  6 to understand a proverb, and parables,
the words and riddles of the wise.

  7 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge;
but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction.
  8 My son, listen to your father’s instruction,
and don’t forsake your mother’s teaching:
  9 for they will be a garland to grace your head,
and chains around your neck.

Understanding is more than just "book learning"!!!  To begin to understand others means beginning to see things as others see them.  Sometimes other people understand things completely opposite of your thoughts and frankly, this drives me crazy.  Rather than just get mad, I try to appreciate their point of view; even when it is obviously wrong.  Truthfully, often there are good reasons why people think as they do and listening goes a long way to coming to a mutual agreement.  This works fine for human interaction, but interplay with the divine is something else.  We are not on equal footing; God is absolute, we are NOT!!!  While the underlined verses above work well with human thinking, verse seven is really the key in this passage.  If your foundation is based on God's word, you have the beginning of wisdom.  He will turn all your up-side-down thinking straight and put you on the right path.  I promise you... the world will never seem the same again!!!!

May 16 Joshua 13, 14

May 16

Joshua 13, 14

Jos 13:1 Now Joshua was old and well advanced in years. Yahweh said to him, "You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to be possessed.

Jos 13:2 This is the land that still remains: all the regions of the Philistines, and all the Geshurites;

Jos 13:3 from the Shihor, which is before Egypt, even to the border of Ekron northward, which is counted as Canaanite; the five lords of the Philistines; the Gazites, and the Ashdodites, the Ashkelonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avvim,

Jos 13:4 on the south; all the land of the Canaanites, and Mearah that belongs to the Sidonians, to Aphek, to the border of the Amorites;

Jos 13:5 and the land of the Gebalites, and all Lebanon, toward the sunrise, from Baal Gad under Mount Hermon to the entrance of Hamath;

Jos 13:6 all the inhabitants of the hill country from Lebanon to Misrephoth Maim, even all the Sidonians; them will I drive out from before the children of Israel: only allocate it to Israel for an inheritance, as I have commanded you.

Jos 13:7 Now therefore divide this land for an inheritance to the nine tribes and the half-tribe of Manasseh."

Jos 13:8 With him the Reubenites and the Gadites received their inheritance, which Moses gave them, beyond the Jordan eastward, even as Moses the servant of Yahweh gave them:

Jos 13:9 from Aroer, that is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the plain of Medeba to Dibon;

Jos 13:10 and all the cities of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, to the border of the children of Ammon;

Jos 13:11 and Gilead, and the border of the Geshurites and Maacathites, and all Mount Hermon, and all Bashan to Salecah;

Jos 13:12 all the kingdom of Og in Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei (the same was left of the remnant of the Rephaim); for Moses attacked these, and drove them out.

Jos 13:13 Nevertheless the children of Israel didn't drive out the Geshurites, nor the Maacathites: but Geshur and Maacath dwell in the midst of Israel to this day.

Jos 13:14 Only he gave no inheritance to the tribe of Levi. The offerings of Yahweh, the God of Israel, made by fire are his inheritance, as he spoke to him.

Jos 13:15 Moses gave to the tribe of the children of Reuben according to their families.

Jos 13:16 Their border was from Aroer, that is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the city that is in the middle of the valley, and all the plain by Medeba;

Jos 13:17 Heshbon, and all its cities that are in the plain; Dibon, Bamoth Baal, Beth Baal Meon,

Jos 13:18 Jahaz, Kedemoth, Mephaath,

Jos 13:19 Kiriathaim, Sibmah, Zereth Shahar in the mount of the valley,

Jos 13:20 Beth Peor, the slopes of Pisgah, Beth Jeshimoth,

Jos 13:21 all the cities of the plain, and all the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon, whom Moses struck with the chiefs of Midian, Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur, and Reba, the princes of Sihon, who lived in the land.

Jos 13:22 The children of Israel alse killed Balaam also the son of Beor, the soothsayer, with the sword, among the rest of their slain.

Jos 13:23 The border of the children of Reuben was the bank of the Jordan. This was the inheritance of the children of Reuben according to their families, the cities and its villages.

Jos 13:24 Moses gave to the tribe of Gad, to the children of Gad, according to their families.

Jos 13:25 Their border was Jazer, and all the cities of Gilead, and half the land of the children of Ammon, to Aroer that is before Rabbah;

Jos 13:26 and from Heshbon to Ramath Mizpeh, and Betonim; and from Mahanaim to the border of Debir;

Jos 13:27 and in the valley, Beth Haram, Beth Nimrah, Succoth, and Zaphon, the rest of the kingdom of Sihon king of Heshbon, the Jordan's bank, to the uttermost part of the sea of Chinnereth beyond the Jordan eastward.

Jos 13:28 This is the inheritance of the children of Gad according to their families, the cities and its villages.

Jos 13:29 Moses gave an inheritance to the half-tribe of Manasseh. It was for the half-tribe of the children of Manasseh according to their families.

Jos 13:30 Their border was from Mahanaim, all Bashan, all the kingdom of Og king of Bashan, and all the towns of Jair, which are in Bashan, sixty cities.

Jos 13:31 Half Gilead, Ashtaroth, and Edrei, the cities of the kingdom of Og in Bashan, were for the children of Machir the son of Manasseh, even for the half of the children of Machir according to their families.

Jos 13:32 These are the inheritances which Moses distributed in the plains of Moab, beyond the Jordan at Jericho, eastward.

Jos 13:33 But to the tribe of Levi Moses gave no inheritance. Yahweh, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as he spoke to them.

Jos 14:1 These are the inheritances which the children of Israel took in the land of Canaan, which Eleazar the priest, Joshua the son of Nun, and the heads of the fathers' houses of the tribes of the children of Israel, distributed to them,

Jos 14:2 by the lot of their inheritance, as Yahweh commanded by Moses, for the nine tribes, and for the half-tribe.

Jos 14:3 For Moses had given the inheritance of the two tribes and the half-tribe beyond the Jordan; but to the Levites he gave no inheritance among them.

Jos 14:4 For the children of Joseph were two tribes, Manasseh and Ephraim: and they gave no portion to the Levites in the land, except cities to dwell in, with their suburbs for their livestock and for their property.

Jos 14:5 The children of Israel did as Yahweh commanded Moses, and they divided the land.

Jos 14:6 Then the children of Judah drew near to Joshua in Gilgal. Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, "You know the thing that Yahweh spoke to Moses the man of God concerning me and concerning you in Kadesh Barnea.

Jos 14:7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of Yahweh sent me from Kadesh Barnea to spy out the land. I brought him word again as it was in my heart.

Jos 14:8 Nevertheless, my brothers who went up with me made the heart of the people melt; but I wholly followed Yahweh my God.

Jos 14:9 Moses swore on that day, saying, 'Surely the land where you walked shall be an inheritance to you and to your children forever, because you have wholly followed Yahweh my God.'

Jos 14:10 Now, behold, Yahweh has kept me alive, as he spoke, these forty-five years, from the time that Yahweh spoke this word to Moses, while Israel walked in the wilderness. Now, behold, I am eighty-five years old, today.

Jos 14:11 As yet I am as strong today as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now for war, to go out and to come in.

Jos 14:12 Now therefore give me this hill country, of which Yahweh spoke in that day; for you heard in that day how the Anakim were there, and great and fortified cities. It may be that Yahweh will be with me, and I shall drive them out, as Yahweh spoke."

Jos 14:13 Joshua blessed him; and he gave Hebron to Caleb the son of Jephunneh for an inheritance.

Jos 14:14 Therefore Hebron became the inheritance of Caleb the son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite to this day; because he wholly followed Yahweh, the God of Israel.

Jos 14:15 Now the name of Hebron before was Kiriath Arba, after the greatest man among the Anakim. The land had rest from war.

May 16, 17 John 1

May 16, 17

John 1

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Joh 1:2 The same was in the beginning with God.

Joh 1:3 All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made.

Joh 1:4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.

Joh 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn't overcome it.

Joh 1:6 There came a man, sent from God, whose name was John.

Joh 1:7 The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him.

Joh 1:8 He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light.

Joh 1:9 The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.

Joh 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn't recognize him.

Joh 1:11 He came to his own, and those who were his own didn't receive him.

Joh 1:12 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become God's children, to those who believe in his name:

Joh 1:13 who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Joh 1:14 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.

Joh 1:15 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.' "

Joh 1:16 From his fullness we all received grace upon grace.

Joh 1:17 For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Joh 1:18 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.

Joh 1:19 This is John's testimony, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"

Joh 1:20 He confessed, and didn't deny, but he confessed, "I am not the Christ."

Joh 1:21 They asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No."

Joh 1:22 They said therefore to him, "Who are you? Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"

Joh 1:23 He said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as Isaiah the prophet said."

Joh 1:24 The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees.

Joh 1:25 They asked him, "Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?"

Joh 1:26 John answered them, "I baptize in water, but among you stands one whom you don't know.

Joh 1:27 He is the one who comes after me, who is preferred before me, whose sandal strap I'm not worthy to loosen."

Joh 1:28 These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

Joh 1:29 The next day, he saw Jesus coming to him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Joh 1:30 This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who is preferred before me, for he was before me.'

Joh 1:31 I didn't know him, but for this reason I came baptizing in water: that he would be revealed to Israel."

Joh 1:32 John testified, saying, "I have seen the Spirit descending like a dove out of heaven, and it remained on him.

Joh 1:33 I didn't recognize him, but he who sent me to baptize in water, he said to me, 'On whomever you will see the Spirit descending, and remaining on him, the same is he who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.'

Joh 1:34 I have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God."

Joh 1:35 Again, the next day, John was standing with two of his disciples,

Joh 1:36 and he looked at Jesus as he walked, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God!"

Joh 1:37 The two disciples heard him speak, and they followed Jesus.

Joh 1:38 Jesus turned, and saw them following, and said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which is to say, being interpreted, Teacher), "where are you staying?"

Joh 1:39 He said to them, "Come, and see." They came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day. It was about the tenth hour.

Joh 1:40 One of the two who heard John, and followed him, was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother.

Joh 1:41 He first found his own brother, Simon, and said to him, "We have found the Messiah!" (which is, being interpreted, Christ).

Joh 1:42 He brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him, and said, "You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas" (which is by interpretation, Peter).

Joh 1:43 On the next day, he was determined to go out into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, "Follow me."

Joh 1:44 Now Philip was from Bethsaida, of the city of Andrew and Peter.

Joh 1:45 Philip found Nathanael, and said to him, "We have found him, of whom Moses in the law, and the prophets, wrote: Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph."

Joh 1:46 Nathanael said to him, "Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?" Philip said to him, "Come and see."

Joh 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!"

Joh 1:48 Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."

Joh 1:49 Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!"

Joh 1:50 Jesus answered him, "Because I told you, 'I saw you underneath the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these!"

Joh 1:51 He said to him, "Most certainly, I tell you, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."

"THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW" Chapter Twenty-Eight by Mark Copeland

                       "THE GOSPEL OF MATTHEW"

                          Chapter Twenty-Eight

On the first day of the week following His crucifixion, Jesus rose from
the dead on the first day of the week and appeared first to the two
Marys, giving them instructions for the disciples to meet Him in Galilee
(1-10).  Meanwhile the chief priests and elders bribed the soldiers to
say that the disciples stole the body (11-15).  When the disciples met
Jesus in Galilee, He charged them to go and make disciples of all the
nations (16-20).

POINTS TO PONDER

   *  The circumstances of Jesus’ resurrection

   *  The details of the Great Commission

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - The resurrection of Jesus - Mt 28:1-10
   - The soldiers are bribed - Mt 28:11-15
   - The Great Commission - Mt 28:16-20

2) Who came to the tomb at dawn on the first day of the week? (1)
   - Mary Magdalene and the "other" Mary (cf. Mt 27:56,61)

3) What had happened by the time they got there? (2)
   - An earthquake, and the stone from the door removed by an angel of
     the Lord

4) What were the two women instructed by the angel to do? (7)
   - Tell Jesus’ disciples that He is risen from the dead and for them
     to go to Galilee

5) Who appeared to the two women on their way to the disciples? (9-10)
   - Jesus Himself, who gave them the same instructions as did the angel

6) What makes the soldiers’ lie about the body of Jesus fatally flawed?
   (13)
   - If the soldiers were asleep, how did they know it was the
     disciples?

7) When the disciples saw Jesus in Galilee, what was their reaction?
   (16-17)
   - They worshiped Him (cf. Mt 28:9), though some doubted

8) What did Jesus claim had been given to Him? (18)
   - All authority in heaven and on earth

9) What did Jesus charge His disciples to do?  What did that involve?
   (19-20)
   - To go and make disciples of all nations; baptizing and teaching

10) What did Jesus promise His disciples? (20)
   - "I am with you always, even to the end of the age."

Who am I?

Many thanks to Gail Martin for sharing this with me...

http://www.youtube.com/embed/MBDwpLLXMTA

Drive thru church?

To me, this looks like picture of a drive through church; you know, the place where Christians assemble to worship God.  I say that because of the spire at the front and also because of the numerous places to dock.  Even if I am right about this (and I may not be), it seems odd to meet here.  But, then again, the first time I heard about a drive through church (for cars) that seemed strange too.  Just to be clear, when I see the word "church", I THINK OF THE ASSEMBLY OF PEOPLE, NOT THE BUILDING!!!  So, one of the reasons why I use the World English Bible is its consistent translation of the Greek, ekklesia to the English word ASSEMBLY.  Most of the New Testament books open with a greeting to a group of people and here is one such example...

1st Corinthians Chapter 1

 1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,  2 to the assembly of God which is at Corinth; those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ in every place, both theirs and ours:  3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I imagine that to many of you this is much to do about nothing.  However, Christianity is made up of people; buildings came much, much later.  Centuries, in fact.  Please do not misunderstand; I like to worship in pleasant surroundings, but those plain enough so as not to detract from why we meet.  Still, its fun to think about meeting places that are out-of-the-ordinary and this one sure does fill that bill!!!

May 15 Joshua 11, 12

May 15

Joshua 11, 12

Jos 11:1 It happened, when Jabin king of Hazor heard of it, that he sent to Jobab king of Madon, to the king of Shimron, to the king of Achshaph,

Jos 11:2 and to the kings who were on the north, in the hill country, in the Arabah south of Chinneroth, in the lowland, and in the heights of Dor on the west,

Jos 11:3 to the Canaanite on the east and on the west, and the Amorite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the Jebusite in the hill country, and the Hivite under Hermon in the land of Mizpah.

Jos 11:4 They went out, they and all their armies with them, many people, even as the sand that is on the seashore in multitude, with very many horses and chariots.

Jos 11:5 All these kings met together; and they came and encamped together at the waters of Merom, to fight with Israel.

Jos 11:6 Yahweh said to Joshua, "Don't be afraid because of them; for tomorrow at this time, I will deliver them up all slain before Israel. You shall hamstring their horses and burn their chariots with fire."

Jos 11:7 So Joshua came, and all the people of war with him, against them by the waters of Merom suddenly, and fell on them.

Jos 11:8 Yahweh delivered them into the hand of Israel, and they struck them, and chased them to great Sidon, and to Misrephoth Maim, and to the valley of Mizpeh eastward. They struck them until they left them none remaining.

Jos 11:9 Joshua did to them as Yahweh told him. He hamstrung their horses and burnt their chariots with fire.

Jos 11:10 Joshua turned back at that time, and took Hazor, and struck its king with the sword: for Hazor used to be the head of all those kingdoms.

Jos 11:11 They struck all the souls who were in it with the edge of the sword, utterly destroying them. There was no one left who breathed. He burnt Hazor with fire.

Jos 11:12 Joshua captured all the cities of those kings, with their kings, and he struck them with the edge of the sword, and utterly destroyed them; as Moses the servant of Yahweh commanded.

Jos 11:13 But as for the cities that stood on their mounds, Israel burned none of them, except Hazor only. Joshua burned that.

Jos 11:14 The children of Israel took all the spoil of these cities, with the livestock, as spoils for themselves; but every man they struck with the edge of the sword, until they had destroyed them. They didn't leave any who breathed.

Jos 11:15 As Yahweh commanded Moses his servant, so Moses commanded Joshua. Joshua did so. He left nothing undone of all that Yahweh commanded Moses.

Jos 11:16 So Joshua captured all that land, the hill country, all the South, all the land of Goshen, the lowland, the Arabah, the hill country of Israel, and the lowland of the same;

Jos 11:17 from Mount Halak, that goes up to Seir, even to Baal Gad in the valley of Lebanon under Mount Hermon. He took all their kings, struck them, and put them to death.

Jos 11:18 Joshua made war a long time with all those kings.

Jos 11:19 There was not a city that made peace with the children of Israel, except the Hivites, the inhabitants of Gibeon. They took all in battle.

Jos 11:20 For it was of Yahweh to harden their hearts, to come against Israel in battle, that he might utterly destroy them, that they might have no favor, but that he might destroy them, as Yahweh commanded Moses.

Jos 11:21 Joshua came at that time, and cut off the Anakim from the hill country, from Hebron, from Debir, from Anab, and from all the hill country of Judah, and from all the hill country of Israel: Joshua utterly destroyed them with their cities.

Jos 11:22 There were none of the Anakim left in the land of the children of Israel. Only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, did some remain.

Jos 11:23 So Joshua took the whole land, according to all that Yahweh spoke to Moses; and Joshua gave it for an inheritance to Israel according to their divisions by their tribes. The land had rest from war.

Jos 12:1 Now these are the kings of the land, whom the children of Israel struck, and possessed their land beyond the Jordan toward the sunrise, from the valley of the Arnon to Mount Hermon, and all the Arabah eastward:

Jos 12:2 Sihon king of the Amorites, who lived in Heshbon, and ruled from Aroer, which is on the edge of the valley of the Arnon, and the middle of the valley, and half Gilead, even to the river Jabbok, the border of the children of Ammon;

Jos 12:3 and the Arabah to the sea of Chinneroth, eastward, and to the sea of the Arabah, even the Salt Sea, eastward, the way to Beth Jeshimoth; and on the south, under the slopes of Pisgah:

Jos 12:4 and the border of Og king of Bashan, of the remnant of the Rephaim, who lived at Ashtaroth and at Edrei,

Jos 12:5 and ruled in Mount Hermon, and in Salecah, and in all Bashan, to the border of the Geshurites and the Maacathites, and half Gilead, the border of Sihon king of Heshbon.

Jos 12:6 Moses the servant of Yahweh and the children of Israel struck them. Moses the servant of Yahweh gave it for a possession to the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manasseh.

Jos 12:7 These are the kings of the land whom Joshua and the children of Israel struck beyond the Jordan westward, from Baal Gad in the valley of Lebanon even to Mount Halak, that goes up to Seir. Joshua gave it to the tribes of Israel for a possession according to their divisions;

Jos 12:8 in the hill country, and in the lowland, and in the Arabah, and in the slopes, and in the wilderness, and in the South; the Hittite, the Amorite, and the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite:

Jos 12:9 the king of Jericho, one; the king of Ai, which is beside Bethel, one;

Jos 12:10 the king of Jerusalem, one; the king of Hebron, one;

Jos 12:11 the king of Jarmuth, one; the king of Lachish, one;

Jos 12:12 the king of Eglon, one; the king of Gezer, one;

Jos 12:13 the king of Debir, one; the king of Geder, one;

Jos 12:14 the king of Hormah, one; the king of Arad, one;

Jos 12:15 the king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one;

Jos 12:16 the king of Makkedah, one; the king of Bethel, one;

Jos 12:17 the king of Tappuah, one; the king of Hepher, one;

Jos 12:18 the king of Aphek, one; the king of Lassharon, one;

Jos 12:19 the king of Madon, one; the king of Hazor, one;

Jos 12:20 the king of Shimron Meron, one; the king of Achshaph, one;

Jos 12:21 the king of Taanach, one; the king of Megiddo, one;

Jos 12:22 the king of Kedesh, one; the king of Jokneam in Carmel, one;

Jos 12:23 the king of Dor in the height of Dor, one; the king of Goiim in Gilgal, one;

Jos 12:24 the king of Tirzah, one: all the kings thirty-one.