When you get it... you REALLY GET IT!!!!

While we were in New Jersey, we took our two oldest daughters to see "Looper". The movie was quite violent at the beginning, but it was the sort of movie that "grows on you".  The ending involved a time paradox which I still don't think I fully understand, but my wife Linda understood it after awhile.  When she did, it was one of those eureka moments.  Her reaction reminded me of this passage from the book of Acts...

Acts, Chapter 2

22 “Men of Israel, hear these words! Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved by God to you by mighty works and wonders and signs which God did by him in the midst of you, even as you yourselves know,  23 him, being delivered up by the determined counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by the hand of lawless men, crucified and killed;  24 whom God raised up, having freed him from the agony of death, because it was not possible that he should be held by it.  25 For David says concerning him,

‘I saw the Lord always before my face,

For he is on my right hand, that I should not be moved.

  26 Therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced.

Moreover my flesh also will dwell in hope;

  27 because you will not leave my soul in Hades,

neither will you allow your Holy One to see decay.

  28 You made known to me the ways of life.

You will make me full of gladness with your presence.’

  29 “Brothers, I may tell you freely of the patriarch David, that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day.  30 Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,  31 he foreseeing this spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was his soul left in Hades, nor did his flesh see decay.  32 This Jesus God raised up, to which we all are witnesses.  33 Being therefore exalted by the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this, which you now see and hear.  34 For David didn’t ascend into the heavens, but he says himself,

‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit by my right hand,

  35 until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’

  36 “Let all the house of Israel therefore know certainly that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

  37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

  38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  39 For the promise is to you, and to your children, and to all who are far off, even as many as the Lord our God will call to himself.”  40 With many other words he testified, and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation!”

  41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls. 

Three thousand eureka moments at one time; it almost defies understanding!!!  All this without time travel; amazing!!!  Looper is worth seeing because of the ending and so is Christianity.  There is a second eureka moment as well.... just after the pearly gates!!!

Oct. 6 Psalms 138-140

Oct. 6

Psalms 138-140

Psa 138:1 I will give you thanks with my whole heart. Before the gods, I will sing praises to you.

Psa 138:2 I will bow down toward your holy temple, and give thanks to your Name for your loving kindness and for your truth; for you have exalted your Name and your Word above all.

Psa 138:3 In the day that I called, you answered me. You encouraged me with strength in my soul.

Psa 138:4 All the kings of the earth will give you thanks, Yahweh, for they have heard the words of your mouth.

Psa 138:5 Yes, they will sing of the ways of Yahweh; for great is Yahweh's glory.

Psa 138:6 For though Yahweh is high, yet he looks after the lowly; but the proud, he knows from afar.

Psa 138:7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you will revive me. You will stretch forth your hand against the wrath of my enemies. Your right hand will save me.

Psa 138:8 Yahweh will fulfill that which concerns me; your loving kindness, Yahweh, endures forever. Don't forsake the works of your own hands.

 

Psa 139:1 Yahweh, you have searched me, and you know me.

Psa 139:2 You know my sitting down and my rising up. You perceive my thoughts from afar.

Psa 139:3 You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.

Psa 139:4 For there is not a word on my tongue, but, behold, Yahweh, you know it altogether.

Psa 139:5 You hem me in behind and before. You laid your hand on me.

Psa 139:6 This knowledge is beyond me. It's lofty. I can't attain it.

Psa 139:7 Where could I go from your Spirit? Or where could I flee from your presence?

Psa 139:8 If I ascend up into heaven, you are there. If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, you are there!

Psa 139:9 If I take the wings of the dawn, and settle in the uttermost parts of the sea;

Psa 139:10 Even there your hand will lead me, and your right hand will hold me.

Psa 139:11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will overwhelm me; the light around me will be night;"

Psa 139:12 even the darkness doesn't hide from you, but the night shines as the day. The darkness is like light to you.

Psa 139:13 For you formed my inmost being. You knit me together in my mother's womb.

Psa 139:14 I will give thanks to you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Your works are wonderful. My soul knows that very well.

Psa 139:15 My frame wasn't hidden from you, when I was made in secret, woven together in the depths of the earth.

Psa 139:16 Your eyes saw my body. In your book they were all written, the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there were none of them.

Psa 139:17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!

Psa 139:18 If I would count them, they are more in number than the sand. When I wake up, I am still with you.

Psa 139:19 If only you, God, would kill the wicked. Get away from me, you bloodthirsty men!

Psa 139:20 For they speak against you wickedly. Your enemies take your name in vain.

Psa 139:21 Yahweh, don't I hate those who hate you? Am I not grieved with those who rise up against you?

Psa 139:22 I hate them with perfect hatred. They have become my enemies.

Psa 139:23 Search me, God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts.

Psa 139:24 See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.

 

Psa 140:1 Deliver me, Yahweh, from the evil man. Preserve me from the violent man;

Psa 140:2 those who devise mischief in their hearts. They continually gather themselves together for war.

Psa 140:3 They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent. Viper's poison is under their lips. Selah.

Psa 140:4 Yahweh, keep me from the hands of the wicked. Preserve me from the violent men who have determined to trip my feet.

Psa 140:5 The proud have hidden a snare for me, they have spread the cords of a net by the path. They have set traps for me. Selah.

Psa 140:6 I said to Yahweh, "You are my God." Listen to the cry of my petitions, Yahweh.

Psa 140:7 Yahweh, the Lord, the strength of my salvation, you have covered my head in the day of battle.

Psa 140:8 Yahweh, don't grant the desires of the wicked. Don't let their evil plans succeed, or they will become proud. Selah.

Psa 140:9 As for the head of those who surround me, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.

Psa 140:10 Let burning coals fall on them. Let them be thrown into the fire, into miry pits, from where they never rise.

Psa 140:11 An evil speaker won't be established in the earth. Evil will hunt the violent man to overthrow him.

Psa 140:12 I know that Yahweh will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the needy.

Psa 140:13 Surely the righteous will give thanks to your name. The upright will dwell in your presence.

Oct. 6 Galatians 3

Oct. 6

Galatians 3

Gal 3:1 Foolish Galatians, who has bewitched you not to obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was openly set forth among you as crucified?

Gal 3:2 I just want to learn this from you. Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?

Gal 3:3 Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now completed in the flesh?

Gal 3:4 Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain?

Gal 3:5 He therefore who supplies the Spirit to you, and works miracles among you, does he do it by the works of the law, or by hearing of faith?

Gal 3:6 Even as Abraham "believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness."

Gal 3:7 Know therefore that those who are of faith, the same are children of Abraham.

Gal 3:8 The Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the Good News beforehand to Abraham, saying, "In you all the nations will be blessed."

Gal 3:9 So then, those who are of faith are blessed with the faithful Abraham.

Gal 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under a curse. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who doesn't continue in all things that are written in the book of the law, to do them."

Gal 3:11 Now that no man is justified by the law before God is evident, for, "The righteous will live by faith."

Gal 3:12 The law is not of faith, but, "The man who does them will live by them."

Gal 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us. For it is written, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree,"

Gal 3:14 that the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Gal 3:15 Brothers, speaking of human terms, though it is only a man's covenant, yet when it has been confirmed, no one makes it void, or adds to it.

Gal 3:16 Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He doesn't say, "To seeds," as of many, but as of one, "To your seed," which is Christ.

Gal 3:17 Now I say this. A covenant confirmed beforehand by God in Christ, the law, which came four hundred thirty years after, does not annul, so as to make the promise of no effect.

Gal 3:18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no more of promise; but God has granted it to Abraham by promise.

Gal 3:19 What then is the law? It was added because of transgressions, until the seed should come to whom the promise has been made. It was ordained through angels by the hand of a mediator.

Gal 3:20 Now a mediator is not between one, but God is one.

Gal 3:21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could make alive, most certainly righteousness would have been of the law.

Gal 3:22 But the Scriptures imprisoned all things under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.

Gal 3:23 But before faith came, we were kept in custody under the law, confined for the faith which should afterwards be revealed.

Gal 3:24 So that the law has become our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith.

Gal 3:25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

Gal 3:26 For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus.

Gal 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Gal 3:29 If you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed and heirs according to promise.

Hebrews, Chapter 11, Mark Copeland

                      "THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS"

                             Chapter Eleven

Having stressed the importance of faith for salvation (He 10:39), the
author defines faith (1-3) and then illustrates faith’s role in the
lives of many Old Testament saints (4-40).

POINTS TO PONDER

   *  The meaning of faith for New Testament Christians

   *  The examples of faith in Old Testament believers

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1) What are the main points of this chapter?
   - Faith defined - He 11:1-3
   - Faith exemplified - He 11:4-40

2) What is faith as defined in this chapter? (1)
   - Confidence in what we hope for, assurance about what we do not see
     (cf. NIV)

3) What we do understand by faith concerning the worlds? (3)
   - They were framed by the word of God, they were not made by things
     visible

4) List the names of Old Testament saints mentioned in this chapter
   (4-32)
   - Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses,
     Israel, Rahab
   - Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets

5) What did these "heroes of faith" look forward to receiving? (13-16)
   - The promises, especially regarding the heavenly country and city
     prepared by God

6) List some of the amazing things done by faith. (33-35)
   - Subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises
   - Stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire
   - Escaped the edge of the sword, became valiant in battle, turned
     armies to flight
   - Women received their dead raised to life again

7) List some of the things these people of faith endured. (35-38)
   - Torture, mocking, scourging, chains of imprisonment
   - Stoned, sawn in two, wandering destitute in mountains and caves,
     afflicted, tormented

8) What did these "heroes of faith" obtain? What did they not? Why?
   (39-40)
   - A good testimony
   - The promise (i.e., the Messianic promise)
   - That they might be made perfect together with us (i.e., salvation,
     the heavenly city)

9) From this chapter, what do we learn about faith and works?
   - True faith leads to action, faith without works is dead (cf. Jam
     2:14-26)

Almost too late

This sign is all to familiar across America; businesses are leaving or vanished.  America has changed; industry has been replaced with listlessness; hard work by welfare.  How could this happen?  What led to this pitiful state of affairs?  The answer is simple and a parallel is found in the book of Lamentations...

Lamentations, Chapter 1

 4 The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn assembly;

all her gates are desolate, her priests do sigh:

her virgins are afflicted, and she herself is in bitterness.

  5 Her adversaries are become the head, her enemies prosper;

for Yahweh has afflicted her for the multitude of her transgressions:

Transgression from the way of God is the reason we are in the situation we face. The short term is Sin.  It is seen in greed and crookedness throughout the society.  Large businesses move to other countries in order to avoid paying a fair wage.  Politicians support whoever will get them re-elected and ignore the interests of those who voted them into office in the first place.  Television portrays a sinful lifestyle as normal and concern for our fellow man is forgotten.  God will not ignore these and countless other sins forever.  He didn't with Israel and Judah and he won't with America.  There is STILL TIME TO CHANGE, RECOVERY IS STILL POSSIBLE!!!!   America as a country and its citizens in particular need to face their sin; it can no longer be ignored!!!  It begins with each of us individually.  We can start with prayer, continue in living as God would have us to and vote responsibly.Don't let your conscience be your guide.... let it be the WORD OF GOD!!  You will be glad you did!!!

Oct. 5 Psalms 135-137

Oct. 5

Psalms 135-137

Psa 135:1 Praise Yah! Praise the name of Yahweh! Praise him, you servants of Yahweh,

Psa 135:2 you who stand in the house of Yahweh, in the courts of our God's house.

Psa 135:3 Praise Yah, for Yahweh is good. Sing praises to his name, for that is pleasant.

Psa 135:4 For Yah has chosen Jacob for himself; Israel for his own possession.

Psa 135:5 For I know that Yahweh is great, that our Lord is above all gods.

Psa 135:6 Whatever Yahweh pleased, that he has done, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deeps;

Psa 135:7 who causes the clouds to rise from the ends of the earth; who makes lightnings with the rain; who brings forth the wind out of his treasuries;

Psa 135:8 Who struck the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and animal;

Psa 135:9 Who sent signs and wonders into the midst of you, Egypt, on Pharaoh, and on all his servants;

Psa 135:10 who struck many nations, and killed mighty kings,

Psa 135:11 Sihon king of the Amorites, Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan,

Psa 135:12 and gave their land for a heritage, a heritage to Israel, his people.

Psa 135:13 Your name, Yahweh, endures forever; your renown, Yahweh, throughout all generations.

Psa 135:14 For Yahweh will judge his people, and have compassion on his servants.

Psa 135:15 The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.

Psa 135:16 They have mouths, but they can't speak. They have eyes, but they can't see.

Psa 135:17 They have ears, but they can't hear; neither is there any breath in their mouths.

Psa 135:18 Those who make them will be like them; yes, everyone who trusts in them.

Psa 135:19 House of Israel, praise Yahweh! House of Aaron, praise Yahweh!

Psa 135:20 House of Levi, praise Yahweh! You who fear Yahweh, praise Yahweh!

Psa 135:21 Blessed be Yahweh from Zion, Who dwells at Jerusalem. Praise Yah!

 

Psa 136:1 Give thanks to Yahweh, for he is good; for his loving kindness endures forever.

Psa 136:2 Give thanks to the God of gods; for his loving kindness endures forever.

Psa 136:3 Give thanks to the Lord of lords; for his loving kindness endures forever:

Psa 136:4 To him who alone does great wonders; for his loving kindness endures forever:

Psa 136:5 To him who by understanding made the heavens; for his loving kindness endures forever:

Psa 136:6 To him who spread out the earth above the waters; for his loving kindness endures forever:

Psa 136:7 To him who made the great lights; for his loving kindness endures forever:

Psa 136:8 The sun to rule by day; for his loving kindness endures forever;

Psa 136:9 The moon and stars to rule by night; for his loving kindness endures forever:

Psa 136:10 To him who struck down the Egyptian firstborn; for his loving kindness endures forever;

Psa 136:11 And brought out Israel from among them; for his loving kindness endures forever;

Psa 136:12 With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm; for his loving kindness endures forever:

Psa 136:13 To him who divided the Red Sea apart; for his loving kindness endures forever;

Psa 136:14 And made Israel to pass through its midst; for his loving kindness endures forever;

Psa 136:15 But overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea; for his loving kindness endures forever:

Psa 136:16 To him who led his people through the wilderness; for his loving kindness endures forever:

Psa 136:17 To him who struck great kings; for his loving kindness endures forever;

Psa 136:18 And killed mighty kings; for his loving kindness endures forever:

Psa 136:19 Sihon king of the Amorites; for his loving kindness endures forever;

Psa 136:20 Og king of Bashan; for his loving kindness endures forever;

Psa 136:21 And gave their land as an inheritance; for his loving kindness endures forever;

Psa 136:22 Even a heritage to Israel his servant; for his loving kindness endures forever:

Psa 136:23 Who remembered us in our low estate; for his loving kindness endures forever;

Psa 136:24 And has delivered us from our adversaries; for his loving kindness endures forever:

Psa 136:25 Who gives food to every creature; for his loving kindness endures forever.

Psa 136:26 Oh give thanks to the God of heaven; for his loving kindness endures forever.

 

Psa 137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down. Yes, we wept, when we remembered Zion.

Psa 137:2 On the willows in its midst, we hung up our harps.

Psa 137:3 For there, those who led us captive asked us for songs. Those who tormented us demanded songs of joy: "Sing us one of the songs of Zion!"

Psa 137:4 How can we sing Yahweh's song in a foreign land?

Psa 137:5 If I forget you, Jerusalem, let my right hand forget its skill.

Psa 137:6 Let my tongue stick to the roof of my mouth if I don't remember you; if I don't prefer Jerusalem above my chief joy.

Psa 137:7 Remember, Yahweh, against the children of Edom, the day of Jerusalem; who said, "Raze it! Raze it even to its foundation!"

Psa 137:8 Daughter of Babylon, doomed to destruction, he will be happy who rewards you, as you have served us.

Psa 137:9 Happy shall he be, who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock.

Oct. 5 Galatians 2

Oct. 5

Galatians 2

Gal 2:1 Then after a period of fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, taking Titus also with me.

Gal 2:2 I went up by revelation, and I laid before them the Good News which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately before those who were respected, for fear that I might be running, or had run, in vain.

Gal 2:3 But not even Titus, who was with me, being a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised.

Gal 2:4 This was because of the false brothers secretly brought in, who stole in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, that they might bring us into bondage;

Gal 2:5 to whom we gave no place in the way of subjection, not for an hour, that the truth of the Good News might continue with you.

Gal 2:6 But from those who were reputed to be important (whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God doesn't show partiality to man)--they, I say, who were respected imparted nothing to me,

Gal 2:7 but to the contrary, when they saw that I had been entrusted with the Good News for the uncircumcision, even as Peter with the Good News for the circumcision

Gal 2:8 (for he who appointed Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision appointed me also to the Gentiles);

Gal 2:9 and when they perceived the grace that was given to me, James and Cephas and John, they who were reputed to be pillars, gave to me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcision.

Gal 2:10 They only asked us to remember the poor--which very thing I was also zealous to do.

Gal 2:11 But when Peter came to Antioch, I resisted him to his face, because he stood condemned.

Gal 2:12 For before some people came from James, he ate with the Gentiles. But when they came, he drew back and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.

Gal 2:13 And the rest of the Jews joined him in his hypocrisy; so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.

Gal 2:14 But when I saw that they didn't walk uprightly according to the truth of the Good News, I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live as the Gentiles do, and not as the Jews do, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do?

Gal 2:15 "We, being Jews by nature, and not Gentile sinners,

Gal 2:16 yet knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, even we believed in Christ Jesus, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, because no flesh will be justified by the works of the law.

Gal 2:17 But if, while we sought to be justified in Christ, we ourselves also were found sinners, is Christ a servant of sin? Certainly not!

Gal 2:18 For if I build up again those things which I destroyed, I prove myself a law-breaker.

Gal 2:19 For I, through the law, died to the law, that I might live to God.

Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me. That life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me.

Gal 2:21 I don't make void the grace of God. For if righteousness is through the law, then Christ died for nothing!"