I saw this movie tonight. It stars include Humphrey Bogart and Ethel Barrymore. Now that is a stunning combination. Newspaper managing editor saves the paper, catches a mobster, and saves his marriage all in a three day period. Superman had nothing on this guy.
But, this reminded me so poignantly why I was so intensely interested in journalism, and writing, and the kind of photography that told stories with one shot. I've been kicking around stories in my head but not doing anything with them. What a waste of a story. But, I'm thinking that is God telling me, "Gina, I gave you a talent for truth-telling, not fiction-telling." Sigh...
Then I remember all those stories I wrote depicting all the facets of the Fruit of the Spirit. They were parables. What an amazing God we have Who tells us things, and then sits back while we try to figure out what He is saying. Listen... do you hear Him chuckling? I'm sitting on His lap and I'm bouncing. So that's why they say that laughing is like jogging on the inside...
The Cajun 12 Days of Christmas
This came in email eons ago by Anonymous. That guy should be rich by now...
Day 1:
Dear Boudreaux, Thanks for de bird in de Pear tree. I fix it las'night with dirty rice. I doan tink de pear tree will grow wid all da heat in the summa.
Day 2:
Dear Boudreaux, You letter say you sent two turtle doves, but all I got was two scrawny pigeons. Anyway, I mixed dem with andouille an made some gumbo out of dem.
Day 3:
Dear Boudreaux, Why couldn't you a sent me Crawfish? I'm tired of eating dem darn birds. I gave two of dose prissy French chickens to Marie Trahan over at Grans Bayou an fed the third one to my dog Phideaux. Marie needed some sparring partners for her fighting rooster.
Day 4
Dear Boudreaux, Mon Dieux! I tol you no more xxxxx birds. Deez four, what you call dem "calling birds" were so noisy you could hear dem all de way to Napoleonville. I used dere necks for my crab traps, an fed de rest of dem to de gators.
Day 5
Dear Boudreaux, You finally sen' somethin useful. I like dem golden rings. I hocked dem at da pawn shop in Thibodeaux and got enuf money to fix da shaft on my shrimp boat an buy a round for da boys at de Raisin' Cane Lounge. Merci Beaucoup!
Day 6:
Dear Boudreaux, Couchon! Back to da birds, you Cajun turkey! Poor egg suckin' Phideaux is scared to death at dem six geeses. He tried to eat dems eggs and dey peck de heck out ah his snout. Dey good at eating cockroaches, though. I may stuff one of dem wit oyrster dressing on Christmas day.
Day 7:
Dear Boudreaux, I'm gonna wring your fool neck next time I see you. Thibeau, da mailman, is ready to kill ya. The merde from all dem birds is stinkin' up his mailboat. He afreerd someone will slip on dat stuff and sue him good. I let those seven swans loose to swim on de bayou and some duck hunters from Mississippi blasted dem out of de water. Talk to you tomorrow.
Day 8:
Dear Boudreaux, poor ole Thibeau, he had to make tree trips on his mailboat to deliver dem 8 maids a milkin and their cows. One of dem cows got spooked by da alligators and almost tipped over da boat. I doan like dem shiftless maids, me no. I tolt dem to get to work guttin fish and sweepinq the shack but dey say it wasn't in dair contract. Dey probably think dey too good ta skin nutrias I caught las night.
Day 9:
Dear Boudreaux, What you trying to do huh? Thibeau had to borrow The Lutcher ferry to carry dem jumpin twits you call Lords-a-Leaping across the bayou. As soon as dey gots here dey wanted a tea break with crumpets. I doan know what dat means but I says, "Well La Di Da. You get Chicory coffee or nuttin." Mon Dieu, Emile. What I'm gonna feed all dese bozos? Dey too snooty for fried nutria, and de cows done eat my turnip greens.
Day 10:
Dear Boudreaux, You got to be outs you mind! If de mailman don't kill you, I will fo sure. Today he deliver 10 half nikid floozies from Bourbon Street. Dey said dey be "Ladies Dancin" but dey doan act like ladies in front of dose Limey twits. Dey almos left after one of dem got bit by a water moccasin over by da out-house. I had to butcher 2 cows to feed toute le monde an had to get toilet paper; the Sears catalog wasn't good enuf fer dose hoity toity Lords' royal behin'
Day 11:
Dear Boudreaux, where y'at? Cheerio an pip pip. Your 11pipers piping arrives today from the House of Blues, second lining as dey got off de boat. We fixed stuffed goose and beef jambalaya and we having a fais-do-do. Da new mailman he having a good time, yeah, dancing with de floozies. Thibeau he jump off de Sunshine Bridge yesterday, screaming your name. If you get a mysterious, ticking package in de mail, doan open it.
Day 12:
Dear Boudreaux, I sorry to tell ya but I not your true love anymore, no. After da fais-do-do, I played cards all de night with Jacque, de head piper. We decide to open a restaurant and gentleman's club on de bayou. The floozies, pardon me, Ladies dancing can make $20 for a table dance, and de Lords can be waiters an valet park de boats. Since de maids doan have no more cows ta milk, I trained dem ta set my crab traps, watch my trotlines, an run my shrimping business. We will probably gross a million nex year.
Day 1:
Dear Boudreaux, Thanks for de bird in de Pear tree. I fix it las'night with dirty rice. I doan tink de pear tree will grow wid all da heat in the summa.
Day 2:
Dear Boudreaux, You letter say you sent two turtle doves, but all I got was two scrawny pigeons. Anyway, I mixed dem with andouille an made some gumbo out of dem.
Day 3:
Dear Boudreaux, Why couldn't you a sent me Crawfish? I'm tired of eating dem darn birds. I gave two of dose prissy French chickens to Marie Trahan over at Grans Bayou an fed the third one to my dog Phideaux. Marie needed some sparring partners for her fighting rooster.
Day 4
Dear Boudreaux, Mon Dieux! I tol you no more xxxxx birds. Deez four, what you call dem "calling birds" were so noisy you could hear dem all de way to Napoleonville. I used dere necks for my crab traps, an fed de rest of dem to de gators.
Day 5
Dear Boudreaux, You finally sen' somethin useful. I like dem golden rings. I hocked dem at da pawn shop in Thibodeaux and got enuf money to fix da shaft on my shrimp boat an buy a round for da boys at de Raisin' Cane Lounge. Merci Beaucoup!
Day 6:
Dear Boudreaux, Couchon! Back to da birds, you Cajun turkey! Poor egg suckin' Phideaux is scared to death at dem six geeses. He tried to eat dems eggs and dey peck de heck out ah his snout. Dey good at eating cockroaches, though. I may stuff one of dem wit oyrster dressing on Christmas day.
Day 7:
Dear Boudreaux, I'm gonna wring your fool neck next time I see you. Thibeau, da mailman, is ready to kill ya. The merde from all dem birds is stinkin' up his mailboat. He afreerd someone will slip on dat stuff and sue him good. I let those seven swans loose to swim on de bayou and some duck hunters from Mississippi blasted dem out of de water. Talk to you tomorrow.
Day 8:
Dear Boudreaux, poor ole Thibeau, he had to make tree trips on his mailboat to deliver dem 8 maids a milkin and their cows. One of dem cows got spooked by da alligators and almost tipped over da boat. I doan like dem shiftless maids, me no. I tolt dem to get to work guttin fish and sweepinq the shack but dey say it wasn't in dair contract. Dey probably think dey too good ta skin nutrias I caught las night.
Day 9:
Dear Boudreaux, What you trying to do huh? Thibeau had to borrow The Lutcher ferry to carry dem jumpin twits you call Lords-a-Leaping across the bayou. As soon as dey gots here dey wanted a tea break with crumpets. I doan know what dat means but I says, "Well La Di Da. You get Chicory coffee or nuttin." Mon Dieu, Emile. What I'm gonna feed all dese bozos? Dey too snooty for fried nutria, and de cows done eat my turnip greens.
Day 10:
Dear Boudreaux, You got to be outs you mind! If de mailman don't kill you, I will fo sure. Today he deliver 10 half nikid floozies from Bourbon Street. Dey said dey be "Ladies Dancin" but dey doan act like ladies in front of dose Limey twits. Dey almos left after one of dem got bit by a water moccasin over by da out-house. I had to butcher 2 cows to feed toute le monde an had to get toilet paper; the Sears catalog wasn't good enuf fer dose hoity toity Lords' royal behin'
Day 11:
Dear Boudreaux, where y'at? Cheerio an pip pip. Your 11pipers piping arrives today from the House of Blues, second lining as dey got off de boat. We fixed stuffed goose and beef jambalaya and we having a fais-do-do. Da new mailman he having a good time, yeah, dancing with de floozies. Thibeau he jump off de Sunshine Bridge yesterday, screaming your name. If you get a mysterious, ticking package in de mail, doan open it.
Day 12:
Dear Boudreaux, I sorry to tell ya but I not your true love anymore, no. After da fais-do-do, I played cards all de night with Jacque, de head piper. We decide to open a restaurant and gentleman's club on de bayou. The floozies, pardon me, Ladies dancing can make $20 for a table dance, and de Lords can be waiters an valet park de boats. Since de maids doan have no more cows ta milk, I trained dem ta set my crab traps, watch my trotlines, an run my shrimping business. We will probably gross a million nex year.
Prophecies foretell Messiah
The virgin will conceive and bring forth a son and shall call his name Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14
I love this verse, but it still makes me wonder exactly when Mary called Jesus Immanuel. Was it Immanuel Joshua? Oh, wait the Hebrew language doesn't have the "J" sound.
Can you hear her at the back door calling for him "Immanuel Yeshua Ben Joseph, get in here right now. I have need of you. No... put down that bird, tell the deer and the antelope to go home and shush those children."
I cannot help but imagine how much everyone loved Jesus and how they smiled when He was near. He grew in stature with God and with men. I have to wonder why they wouldn't listen to Him when His ministry was in full swing and He whistle-stopped in Nazareth. He only performed a few miracles for their unbelief was great.
How can you live next door to the Messiah and not see that He was different? That the hand of God was upon Him?
But, I also wonder why some people keep there blinker on long after they decided not to change lanes or to turn...
I love this verse, but it still makes me wonder exactly when Mary called Jesus Immanuel. Was it Immanuel Joshua? Oh, wait the Hebrew language doesn't have the "J" sound.
Can you hear her at the back door calling for him "Immanuel Yeshua Ben Joseph, get in here right now. I have need of you. No... put down that bird, tell the deer and the antelope to go home and shush those children."
I cannot help but imagine how much everyone loved Jesus and how they smiled when He was near. He grew in stature with God and with men. I have to wonder why they wouldn't listen to Him when His ministry was in full swing and He whistle-stopped in Nazareth. He only performed a few miracles for their unbelief was great.
How can you live next door to the Messiah and not see that He was different? That the hand of God was upon Him?
But, I also wonder why some people keep there blinker on long after they decided not to change lanes or to turn...
Arise and shine for the Light has come
Arise and shine for the Light has come, and the glory of YHWH has risen on you. Isaiah 60:1
That is just one of the prophecies that Jesus would be born. I so much love this verse because It says so much in so few words.
Arise: that Hebrew word is קוּם qûm koom which is a primitive root and has a great number of words that it means in various applications literally, causatively, intensively, and figuratively. It means to rise up, stand up, rouse up, stir up, uphold, enjoin, make good, abide, be clearer, confirm, decree… and on and on.
Let’s take that word decree. Isn’t it interesting that Caesar sent out a decree for census at the precise time that Mary was due to bear her baby? Isn’t it interesting that just more than 70 years after Isaiah wrote this down, Artaxerxes (a title for the king of Persia) was issued a decree for Jerusalem to be rebuilt and sent Nehemiah to do the job. Neither Caesar nor Artaxerxes Darius knew they were setting into motion events which had been prophesied centuries before in the case of Caesar and a century before in the case of Darius. God is definitely in control.
Shine: that Hebrew words is אור 'ôr ore A primitive root; to be or to make luminous (literally and metaphorically) break of day, glorious, kindle, (be, en-, give, show) light (-en, -ened), set on fire, shine.
This can be compared to Luke 1:78-79, the Dayspring, Dawn, as bright as the sun rising in the east to give light to those who walk in darkness. The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light. Isaiah 9:2 and Matthew 4:16. Immanuel is the Light and it is He who shines within us.
One thing that word does not mean is to reflect light. This is the source of the light. We don’t rise up and reflect light. It is just as Jesus said, we are the light of the world because we have Jesus within us.
Glory: this Hebrew word is כּבד כּבוד kâbôd kâbôd kaw-bode', kaw-bode' properly weight; but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness: - glorious (-ly), glory, honour (-able). The Shechinah, the Glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
What a glorious word picture. The Son is rising above the mountains, the rays of light are sparkling across the world chasing all the darkness away. The light of a single candles can banish the densest darkness of the deepest cave, and this is by far the brightest Light that mankind has ever seen if he will just see. The divine being of Christ, His miracles, His breath speaking into obedience the wildest of storms is just like the sun rising and evicting all the darkness of the world. Which is what Isaiah 60:2-3 talks about.
2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples. But Jehovah shall rise on you, and His glory shall be seen on you. 3 And nations shall walk to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawning.
The Magi, the kings from the east most certainly came with the help of the star which bright light showed them the way to the little town of Bethlehem. 6 A host of camels shall cover you, young camels of Midian and Ephah. All of them shall come from Sheba, they shall bear gold and incense; and they shall proclaim the praises of Jehovah. Amen. Isaiah prophesied this centuries before Joseph took Mary home to be his wife, before Caesar decided to count all the people in Judah, before the shepherds saw the angel choir shouting out praises that God’s Son had been born, before the Magi traced across the mountains and valleys to shower gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh on the divine infant.
God keeps His promises.
Originally posted at Live As If dot Org on December 13, 2009
That is just one of the prophecies that Jesus would be born. I so much love this verse because It says so much in so few words.
Arise: that Hebrew word is קוּם qûm koom which is a primitive root and has a great number of words that it means in various applications literally, causatively, intensively, and figuratively. It means to rise up, stand up, rouse up, stir up, uphold, enjoin, make good, abide, be clearer, confirm, decree… and on and on.
Let’s take that word decree. Isn’t it interesting that Caesar sent out a decree for census at the precise time that Mary was due to bear her baby? Isn’t it interesting that just more than 70 years after Isaiah wrote this down, Artaxerxes (a title for the king of Persia) was issued a decree for Jerusalem to be rebuilt and sent Nehemiah to do the job. Neither Caesar nor Artaxerxes Darius knew they were setting into motion events which had been prophesied centuries before in the case of Caesar and a century before in the case of Darius. God is definitely in control.
Shine: that Hebrew words is אור 'ôr ore A primitive root; to be or to make luminous (literally and metaphorically) break of day, glorious, kindle, (be, en-, give, show) light (-en, -ened), set on fire, shine.
This can be compared to Luke 1:78-79, the Dayspring, Dawn, as bright as the sun rising in the east to give light to those who walk in darkness. The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light. Isaiah 9:2 and Matthew 4:16. Immanuel is the Light and it is He who shines within us.
One thing that word does not mean is to reflect light. This is the source of the light. We don’t rise up and reflect light. It is just as Jesus said, we are the light of the world because we have Jesus within us.
Glory: this Hebrew word is כּבד כּבוד kâbôd kâbôd kaw-bode', kaw-bode' properly weight; but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness: - glorious (-ly), glory, honour (-able). The Shechinah, the Glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
What a glorious word picture. The Son is rising above the mountains, the rays of light are sparkling across the world chasing all the darkness away. The light of a single candles can banish the densest darkness of the deepest cave, and this is by far the brightest Light that mankind has ever seen if he will just see. The divine being of Christ, His miracles, His breath speaking into obedience the wildest of storms is just like the sun rising and evicting all the darkness of the world. Which is what Isaiah 60:2-3 talks about.
2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples. But Jehovah shall rise on you, and His glory shall be seen on you. 3 And nations shall walk to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawning.
The Magi, the kings from the east most certainly came with the help of the star which bright light showed them the way to the little town of Bethlehem. 6 A host of camels shall cover you, young camels of Midian and Ephah. All of them shall come from Sheba, they shall bear gold and incense; and they shall proclaim the praises of Jehovah. Amen. Isaiah prophesied this centuries before Joseph took Mary home to be his wife, before Caesar decided to count all the people in Judah, before the shepherds saw the angel choir shouting out praises that God’s Son had been born, before the Magi traced across the mountains and valleys to shower gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh on the divine infant.
God keeps His promises.
Originally posted at Live As If dot Org on December 13, 2009
Little Baby Feet by Gina Burgess
This is a reprint from 2006
Little, sweet baby feet. Mary will soon cover them with her hand, warming them against the night chill. She has treasured in her heart all the words spoken about her first born Son.
Things like, "The angel was so glorious, shouting out praises to God on High and the Good News! The Messiah is born! Our long awaited Savior, the Lord, is born!" And word went out publicly, through the bright streets of Bethlehem.
The star shining down on the child guided the shepherds to worship. The little feet, toes curled against the chill, wiggled in His mother's hand.
Eight day old, tiny feet with pink toes that curl in pain as the centuries-old right of covenant is performed on the Messiah. Simon lifts his old eyes, tears spilling from their corners to the Lord God Almighty, praising Him for this precious gift. Anna speaks to all who will listen about the Christ child, this most amazing gift from God.
The feet grew large enough for little sandals as they toddled, one in front of the other. Tiny hands holding on to a big Daddy finger. His first steps, those little feet on their own, dust swirling around them, making the little nose sneeze. A delighted chuckle from Daddy, and a bright grin from Mommy. Loving, watchful eyes guarded those little feet from the fire, the holes, the rocks.
One day a mighty procession fills the streets of Bethlehem. Camels dressed in finery, servants dashing from house to house questions in their expressions, the star's bright light settled over one house. Magi, wise men from the East nod and smile. They get off their beasts and carefully search the packs until fine gifts are found: Gold, frankincense and Myrrh. Reverently they enter His presence. They bow and worship Him, kissing His little feet.
The days go by and His feet grow larger, tucked underneath Him as He sits in His Father's House. The voices of many echo around. He speaks with great authority and the voices quiet. "Did you not know that I must be in My Father's House about My Father's business?"
The days go by and His feet grow larger. The heat bears down, and the slap of leather against hard ground is muted by many voices. Dust billows up and covers those following behind Him. Disciples they are called, word that loosely means dust gatherers as they follow Him. Sitting at His feet are men and women thirsting for the living water that falls from His lips; hungering for the Bread of Life. They follow Him Who promises.
The days go by and storms cease, roiling billows calm, deaf hear, blind see, sick are healed, the lame leap, lepers are cleansed, demons are routed, stories are told, His feet get tired and His bones grow weary from the press of the oppressed. The feet carried Him through desert and over mountain, through streams and over the sea. His own received Him not but those that did receive Him were given Life because He is the Way, the Truth and the Life, the Doorway to Heaven.
One afternoon the feet are resting against cool tile. A woman enters the room, ignoring the many men apparently at supper. She settles at His feet. Her tears wash the dust from them. Her hair dries them. She kisses His feet in deep worship for she has been forgiven much. She washed His feet as the nobleman did not, her worship reverent in anointing His feet with ointment.
One day the feet stumble down the street, drenched in His blood. The feet are in agony as they trudge toward Golgotha. The nails are hammered through them into the cross. Splinters pierce the skin. Blood drips from them into the dust. The feet strain to hold Him up for one last breath and then He gives up His spirit.
Tenderly the feet are washed one last time, a hundred pounds of spices and clean cloths are wrapped around the body and He is laid to rest in a freshly hewn tomb. The stone covers the entrance and darkness engulfs the One. Days pass. Suddenly, the earth quakes.
Those dear feet touch earth once more, transformed, the same, but different, glorified, radiant feet and body. These dear feet walk down a road and the King tells from Genesis to Malachi all those things that foretold His coming, His dying, His arising in victory over sin and death. On the mountain, the last thing the disciples see are the soles of those dear, sweet feet rising to Heaven.
Oh happy day, the day I can sit at those feet that are even now on the pavement of sapphire as clear as the heavens... those feet like burnished brass having been fired in a furnace. And His voice is like the sound of many waters, refreshing waters, living water.
Happy day to kiss them in worship and adoration... To sit at them and learn from He who has all knowledge, and has all power, and has secured victory for me giving me life eternal with him. Oh happy day, O glorious feat.
Something worse than no Christmas at the White House
Isn't it pitiful? We've hardly finished our Thanksgiving leftovers and already the grumbling about Christmas has begun. The NYTimes reported that the Obamas are not giving their kids Christmas presents, apparently Barack bragged about it to People Magazine last year. Well, what would anyone expect from a family that hasn't been to church since elected, who's alleged pastor is a vocal hate-monger. This isn't a surprise, but apparently it is to everyone else especially to the NYTimes which also reported the Obamas were planning on celebrating a non-religious Christmas oh, excuse me a non-religious Xmas.
What is astounding is that for the first time since we've had presidents in the White House, there wasn't going to be a Nativity scene on the front lawn. The Pres. caved to public opinion.You just can't please everyone these days, so why try? Why not just say, "Hey, everybody, I'm not a Christian. I don't celebrate the Holiday, so there." So what? Our Christian foundation is not cracking. The rest of the building may fall down, but the foundation is still firm for the moment. Every president in the position has worshiped within his own denomination, so what if the president we've elected is an atheist? We deserve it for electing him. I can see from the polls that his favor is falling at a drastic rate, in fact no president has fallen so fast in so short a time. Gee, I wonder why?
Leaving all that to the side... We have a much more sinister problem that has sprung. That is this horrendous Risky-Sex Czar- Kevin Jennings. This guy is so dangerous for our children. His promotions of books in the classrooms and school libraries with explicit sexual encounters between children and adults is nauseating. Almost all children who are raised at least half-way healthily have a built in aversion to being mauled sexually by adults. They know it is wrong but are powerless against it because adults are bigger, stronger and have a persuasiveness with their sugar-coated threats so that they can get away with it. It is making me sick to even write this. The point is, children know it is wrong but are being taught there is nothing wrong with it.
Tape recording from a youth (14 year olds) conference at Tufts University reveal some shockers.. oh, wait, it doesn't surprise me at all. Kevin Jennings was the executive director of the gay lesbian straight education network. I didn't click on the link to the tapes and the Washington Post article was quite graphic enough. I know they were uncomfortable. When I was 14 I wanted to crawl under the table when we were studying the human body in science class. Well, maybe I was a lot more naive back then than 14 year olds are today, but this happened back in 2000. Why didn't anyone know about this back then? Where was the outrage? Why didn't parents get all upset like my parents did when I told them what Tommy did on the university stage during the Rock Opera Tommy. It was gross to me then and it is appalling now.
Our government is reaching into our bedrooms and our children in a very unsafe way. I've written my outrage in a post on the UN's new education platform on teaching kids all aspects of life. I see a scary trend here. Are we going to remain so caught up in work that we ignore what our children are being taught?
What is astounding is that for the first time since we've had presidents in the White House, there wasn't going to be a Nativity scene on the front lawn. The Pres. caved to public opinion.You just can't please everyone these days, so why try? Why not just say, "Hey, everybody, I'm not a Christian. I don't celebrate the Holiday, so there." So what? Our Christian foundation is not cracking. The rest of the building may fall down, but the foundation is still firm for the moment. Every president in the position has worshiped within his own denomination, so what if the president we've elected is an atheist? We deserve it for electing him. I can see from the polls that his favor is falling at a drastic rate, in fact no president has fallen so fast in so short a time. Gee, I wonder why?
Leaving all that to the side... We have a much more sinister problem that has sprung. That is this horrendous Risky-Sex Czar- Kevin Jennings. This guy is so dangerous for our children. His promotions of books in the classrooms and school libraries with explicit sexual encounters between children and adults is nauseating. Almost all children who are raised at least half-way healthily have a built in aversion to being mauled sexually by adults. They know it is wrong but are powerless against it because adults are bigger, stronger and have a persuasiveness with their sugar-coated threats so that they can get away with it. It is making me sick to even write this. The point is, children know it is wrong but are being taught there is nothing wrong with it.
Tape recording from a youth (14 year olds) conference at Tufts University reveal some shockers.. oh, wait, it doesn't surprise me at all. Kevin Jennings was the executive director of the gay lesbian straight education network. I didn't click on the link to the tapes and the Washington Post article was quite graphic enough. I know they were uncomfortable. When I was 14 I wanted to crawl under the table when we were studying the human body in science class. Well, maybe I was a lot more naive back then than 14 year olds are today, but this happened back in 2000. Why didn't anyone know about this back then? Where was the outrage? Why didn't parents get all upset like my parents did when I told them what Tommy did on the university stage during the Rock Opera Tommy. It was gross to me then and it is appalling now.
Our government is reaching into our bedrooms and our children in a very unsafe way. I've written my outrage in a post on the UN's new education platform on teaching kids all aspects of life. I see a scary trend here. Are we going to remain so caught up in work that we ignore what our children are being taught?
Cain and Able: brothers at war
I taped this charming offering from National Geographic channel just to see what the secular world was saying about Biblical things.
They did enlist Bible scholars from Egypt and Israel and they even threw in some Christian scholars from various universities.
With all this knowledge at the fingertips for our viewing pleasure, I am astounded at how obtuse some people are who study the Bible. I can forgive archeologists a little when they go down the wrong path, but those who claim to be expert in Biblical studies should always be cautious in interpretations. I will give them that. They were cautious.
The question was thrown up, "Why did God accept one brothers offering and reject the other one's offering?"
First explanation that was offered was that Cain really didn't know what he was doing since there had been no killing or death nor murder up to that point. [insert very loud and long groan here]
Puh-leese. Why do scholars get so close to a passage that they do not see the broad picture? Matthew Henry was excellent at drawing the big picture using related passages from all over the Bible, even using illustrations from the NT to explain parts of the OT. He is truly what I would call a Bible scholar.
Cain knew. I am quite sure that Adam and Eve had told them the story of how God killed innocent animals in order to cover their nakedness. This is how they clothed themselves. Cain knew what death was. The covering of nakedness was actually the very first sacrifice, not the one depicted of Abel and Cain. It was the physical picture of the Spiritual truth that forgiveness and remission never comes without blood, which is why Christ's sacrifice is so precious to us.
I am also quite sure that Adam offered sacrifice in the proper way, the first fruits of the womb. This is precisely how Abel knew what to sacrifice from his own herd.
This is also why God accepted Abel's sacrifice... and why God rejected Cain's. The sacrifice was Abel's acknowledgement that he had sinned, that he needed forgiveness from God, and it was his acknowledgement of the Sovereignty of God, His perfectness.
These scholars offered up another explanation of why Cain murdered Abel. It was over the love of their sister who was married to Abel. Cain wanted her so he killed Abel so he could have her. The narrator said that this explanation made much more sense, after all, we are slaves to our passions, right? I have no doubt that each man had his own wife who literally was his sister. The gene pool was a lot more pure back then. But, I think the murder in Cain's heart was much more than lustful adultery.
Cain's offering was from his own labor. Although, nothing grows without God's blessings, this sacrifice was from the "sweat of his brow". All that sacrifice did was remind God of the Sin and the Curse because of the Sin. Cain in no way acknowledged he was a sinner and needed forgiveness. He did not follow God's example of shed blood to cover sin. He side-stepped the issue and basically told God that he did not need forgiveness or that he would follow his own way rather than the example set by God. The Almighty could not and would not accept that. He had set some rules and ordinances and Cain had disobeyed them.
I tried to watch to the bitter end, but frankly was so astounded by the blindness that I couldn't concentrate anymore on the thing.
One other thing, though. The Land of Nod was mentioned and they broached the topic that these people were not related to Cain and Abel at all. I have to remember that the Bible as inerrant and that Adam and Eve literally procreated all the people of earth is becoming less accepted these days. Scholars tend to become blinded with their knowledge rather than enlightened. They tried to tell us that Egypt had the Cain and Able story first and that Moses was just writing about things he'd heard over the campfire and at the ports, after all Moses was raised by Pharoah's daughter.
I don't see how someone can call himself a Bible scholar when he doesn't believe what he is studying. How can he see any truth if there is no Holy Spirit to explain it? These men, I think, lend great credence to that verse penned by Paul, they are "looking through a glass darkly."
They did enlist Bible scholars from Egypt and Israel and they even threw in some Christian scholars from various universities.
With all this knowledge at the fingertips for our viewing pleasure, I am astounded at how obtuse some people are who study the Bible. I can forgive archeologists a little when they go down the wrong path, but those who claim to be expert in Biblical studies should always be cautious in interpretations. I will give them that. They were cautious.
The question was thrown up, "Why did God accept one brothers offering and reject the other one's offering?"
First explanation that was offered was that Cain really didn't know what he was doing since there had been no killing or death nor murder up to that point. [insert very loud and long groan here]
Puh-leese. Why do scholars get so close to a passage that they do not see the broad picture? Matthew Henry was excellent at drawing the big picture using related passages from all over the Bible, even using illustrations from the NT to explain parts of the OT. He is truly what I would call a Bible scholar.
Cain knew. I am quite sure that Adam and Eve had told them the story of how God killed innocent animals in order to cover their nakedness. This is how they clothed themselves. Cain knew what death was. The covering of nakedness was actually the very first sacrifice, not the one depicted of Abel and Cain. It was the physical picture of the Spiritual truth that forgiveness and remission never comes without blood, which is why Christ's sacrifice is so precious to us.
I am also quite sure that Adam offered sacrifice in the proper way, the first fruits of the womb. This is precisely how Abel knew what to sacrifice from his own herd.
This is also why God accepted Abel's sacrifice... and why God rejected Cain's. The sacrifice was Abel's acknowledgement that he had sinned, that he needed forgiveness from God, and it was his acknowledgement of the Sovereignty of God, His perfectness.
These scholars offered up another explanation of why Cain murdered Abel. It was over the love of their sister who was married to Abel. Cain wanted her so he killed Abel so he could have her. The narrator said that this explanation made much more sense, after all, we are slaves to our passions, right? I have no doubt that each man had his own wife who literally was his sister. The gene pool was a lot more pure back then. But, I think the murder in Cain's heart was much more than lustful adultery.
Cain's offering was from his own labor. Although, nothing grows without God's blessings, this sacrifice was from the "sweat of his brow". All that sacrifice did was remind God of the Sin and the Curse because of the Sin. Cain in no way acknowledged he was a sinner and needed forgiveness. He did not follow God's example of shed blood to cover sin. He side-stepped the issue and basically told God that he did not need forgiveness or that he would follow his own way rather than the example set by God. The Almighty could not and would not accept that. He had set some rules and ordinances and Cain had disobeyed them.
I tried to watch to the bitter end, but frankly was so astounded by the blindness that I couldn't concentrate anymore on the thing.
One other thing, though. The Land of Nod was mentioned and they broached the topic that these people were not related to Cain and Abel at all. I have to remember that the Bible as inerrant and that Adam and Eve literally procreated all the people of earth is becoming less accepted these days. Scholars tend to become blinded with their knowledge rather than enlightened. They tried to tell us that Egypt had the Cain and Able story first and that Moses was just writing about things he'd heard over the campfire and at the ports, after all Moses was raised by Pharoah's daughter.
I don't see how someone can call himself a Bible scholar when he doesn't believe what he is studying. How can he see any truth if there is no Holy Spirit to explain it? These men, I think, lend great credence to that verse penned by Paul, they are "looking through a glass darkly."
Pax
Jeremiah 17:5 So says Jehovah, Cursed is the man who trusts in man, and who makes flesh his arm, and who turns aside his heart from Jehovah. 6 For he shall be like a juniper in the desert, and shall not see when good comes. But he shall live in parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land that is not inhabited. 7 Blessed is the man who trusts in Jehovah, and Jehovah is his refuge. 8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters. It sends out its roots by the stream, and it will not fear when the heat comes; but its foliage will be green; and it is not anxious in the year of drought, nor will it cease from yielding fruit.
Oh, yes... nor will it cease yielding fruit. That is what worrying will do for you. It seeps into the bones and causes aching. Then it permeates your thoughts and crowds out all rejoicing in the LORD. So what is that a recipe for?
Worry stones, worry beads, are things that men have invented so we have something to hold on to while we worry. What a racket! It's like a passage from Isaiah where he talks about the stone images that have ears but cannot hear and eyes that cannot see, who cannot do anything for the man who prays to it. The man takes half a log and burns it in the fire while using its light to fashion an idol to set up and kneel to. Worthless effort is what worrying is, but mankind cannot see it because it occupies time.
Gasp!
Occupying time is something that Americans have whittled to a fine point. Women put on makeup while at a stop light, men hold business meeting while carpooling to work, children have somehow managed to learn to do three things at once: watch TV, do homework, chat on the phone. But, that is another rant.
We worry about the most ridiculous things, and we worry about the most horrendous things.
Worrying is a sin.
How does one not worry? Excellent question. Probably the first question is: Has God ever let me down in the past? For Christians, the correct answer would be "No." (There are some finer points to be made, but I'll have to address them later.)
God never failed Abraham or the Children of Israel even though they failed Him a time or two. In your lifetime, He has never left you stranded or alone or left without your needs being met. He may have taken away a lot of distractions, but your needs have been met while He was teaching you some life lessons.
God always gave you the benefit of His great power through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit manifests God's power on a daily basis. We humans don't seem to give it a passing glance on a daily basis.
God always answers prayer. He answers in His timing, not according to the clock, or the timetable that makes us comfortable. Remember we are here at His pleasure, not ours.
God is always in control. Sometimes the bad things that happen are truly blessings that are painful. We don't see the broad perspective. So... peace, be still and know that He is God.
Oh, yes... nor will it cease yielding fruit. That is what worrying will do for you. It seeps into the bones and causes aching. Then it permeates your thoughts and crowds out all rejoicing in the LORD. So what is that a recipe for?
Worry stones, worry beads, are things that men have invented so we have something to hold on to while we worry. What a racket! It's like a passage from Isaiah where he talks about the stone images that have ears but cannot hear and eyes that cannot see, who cannot do anything for the man who prays to it. The man takes half a log and burns it in the fire while using its light to fashion an idol to set up and kneel to. Worthless effort is what worrying is, but mankind cannot see it because it occupies time.
Gasp!
Occupying time is something that Americans have whittled to a fine point. Women put on makeup while at a stop light, men hold business meeting while carpooling to work, children have somehow managed to learn to do three things at once: watch TV, do homework, chat on the phone. But, that is another rant.
We worry about the most ridiculous things, and we worry about the most horrendous things.
Worrying is a sin.
How does one not worry? Excellent question. Probably the first question is: Has God ever let me down in the past? For Christians, the correct answer would be "No." (There are some finer points to be made, but I'll have to address them later.)
God never failed Abraham or the Children of Israel even though they failed Him a time or two. In your lifetime, He has never left you stranded or alone or left without your needs being met. He may have taken away a lot of distractions, but your needs have been met while He was teaching you some life lessons.
God always gave you the benefit of His great power through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit manifests God's power on a daily basis. We humans don't seem to give it a passing glance on a daily basis.
God always answers prayer. He answers in His timing, not according to the clock, or the timetable that makes us comfortable. Remember we are here at His pleasure, not ours.
God is always in control. Sometimes the bad things that happen are truly blessings that are painful. We don't see the broad perspective. So... peace, be still and know that He is God.
Rûach
A dried up brain. That's what I have. Someone asked in my group on LinkedIn, what do you do when writer's block hits?
I blithly wrote that you pray and then sit down and write whatever enters your head. Soon the block melts and things like creativity start flowing again and you're off again. I was too hasty. It isn't that you pray, and it isn't that you just start writing whatever enters your brain. The awful thing is that when you want to write inspiring things you've got to have the breath of God. That is what Spirit, or rûach רוּח
(roo' akh) -- say that with a gutteral breath and you are probably pretty close -- literally is.
Definition: wind; by resemblance breath, that is, a sensible (or even violent) exhalation;
Now... Look at God's name YHWH and pronounce those syllabels in one breath. Yah Wha. Breathy and windy that can express peace said very softly as with a sleepy breath. In the middle of the night when you've been awakened say something softly. Breathy, peaceful.
A violent exhalation... When frustration bubbles up and you've got nothing on your mind except to release that pressure cooker steam build-up, or you will explode. What comes out of your mouth? Is it really a word? Not likely. When you express your anger in words your mind is engaged and you are thinking of something. But, during that time when nothing comes out but a very angry growl, your teeth are clenched, your hands are clenched, every tendon in your neck is exposed, and your blood pressure spikes, and your muscles are as hard as steel (perhaps encased in a bit of flab), that expulsion of breath, that air that whooshes out of your lungs is in response to injustice. Is it justified? Is it impaired by worldly values? Nonetheless (archaic, but such a wonderful word), nonetheless this expulsion is a response to injustice. It could so very easily be a gutteral expression of rûach. When that next happens, think about it. Does it sound like the word rûach? (Right after that "violent expulsion" of air, say the first 10 words of the Lord's Prayer. It truly works!)
What about sweet nothings? Oh, please, not that the Holy Spirit is nothing, but He is so very sweet. The young man's breath on the soft cheek of his beloved. How does he love her? If it is though the Lord's love, it is an eternal kind of love that will last through thick and thin, through heartache and joy, through children and, yes, through the love of others. The more one loves, the more love abounds. If he loves through the world, ah, how short lived that is. It will die and wither and burn up one day, just as the world will face that fate when Jesus steps foot on earth again.
Figuratively the word means: life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions): - air, anger, blast, breath, X cool, courage, mind, X quarter, X side, spirit ([-ual]), tempest, X vain, ([whirl-]) wind (-y).
All of that in one little word, two symbols, that conveys a realm of emotion and physical attributes of our earthly abode, and we haven't even scratched the surface of it. But where is the Spirit in the definition? Well down the list, and it is in brackets no less... or no more. Why is that?
Then we have the Sigh. "Heigh ho" says Juliette. "Heee," says the exasperated mother at her wayward children. "Ach," says the sea captain in surprise. How does it work together? It is life! What is that Jewish word? Liechem -- To Life! Rebtiva says in Fiddler On The Roof. It is with our very breath that we express Life. It is how we worship. Oh, yes, we can worship without speaking aloud, but how does one sing silently? How can the trumpet sound without breath? We must have it to live, and we must have it to express that Thing which defies the Devil... It is written. Jesus said it aloud. The Spirit moved and Satan was thwarted. It works.
Anger we discussed, but let's look a little closer. For it to be within commas, it stands alone. Rûach alone can express anger. Oh, yes. It does. Look at Revelation
Rev 19:15 And out of His mouth goes forth a sharp sword, that with it He might smite the nations. And He will shepherd them with an iron rod. And He treads the winepress of the wine of the anger and of the wrath of God Almighty.
That is a mighty expulsion of breath which will do something that no human can possibly conceive much less do. This sword that comes from His mouth will pierce even to the dividing part of the soul and spirit. (Heb 4:12)
Heb 4:12 For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing apart of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Have you ever thought about that dividing of soul and spirit? Did you ever think that they could be divided? How about when the soul goes to Hell and the spirit returns to the Lord? Ecc 12:7 then the dust shall return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return to God who gave it.
It is the Breaths of Life that God breathed. First the blood and then the air. How can anyone live and not recognize His handiwork and creativity? That is the mystery to me.
I blithly wrote that you pray and then sit down and write whatever enters your head. Soon the block melts and things like creativity start flowing again and you're off again. I was too hasty. It isn't that you pray, and it isn't that you just start writing whatever enters your brain. The awful thing is that when you want to write inspiring things you've got to have the breath of God. That is what Spirit, or rûach רוּח
(roo' akh) -- say that with a gutteral breath and you are probably pretty close -- literally is.
Definition: wind; by resemblance breath, that is, a sensible (or even violent) exhalation;
Now... Look at God's name YHWH and pronounce those syllabels in one breath. Yah Wha. Breathy and windy that can express peace said very softly as with a sleepy breath. In the middle of the night when you've been awakened say something softly. Breathy, peaceful.
A violent exhalation... When frustration bubbles up and you've got nothing on your mind except to release that pressure cooker steam build-up, or you will explode. What comes out of your mouth? Is it really a word? Not likely. When you express your anger in words your mind is engaged and you are thinking of something. But, during that time when nothing comes out but a very angry growl, your teeth are clenched, your hands are clenched, every tendon in your neck is exposed, and your blood pressure spikes, and your muscles are as hard as steel (perhaps encased in a bit of flab), that expulsion of breath, that air that whooshes out of your lungs is in response to injustice. Is it justified? Is it impaired by worldly values? Nonetheless (archaic, but such a wonderful word), nonetheless this expulsion is a response to injustice. It could so very easily be a gutteral expression of rûach. When that next happens, think about it. Does it sound like the word rûach? (Right after that "violent expulsion" of air, say the first 10 words of the Lord's Prayer. It truly works!)
What about sweet nothings? Oh, please, not that the Holy Spirit is nothing, but He is so very sweet. The young man's breath on the soft cheek of his beloved. How does he love her? If it is though the Lord's love, it is an eternal kind of love that will last through thick and thin, through heartache and joy, through children and, yes, through the love of others. The more one loves, the more love abounds. If he loves through the world, ah, how short lived that is. It will die and wither and burn up one day, just as the world will face that fate when Jesus steps foot on earth again.
Figuratively the word means: life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension a region of the sky; by resemblance spirit, but only of a rational being (including its expression and functions): - air, anger, blast, breath, X cool, courage, mind, X quarter, X side, spirit ([-ual]), tempest, X vain, ([whirl-]) wind (-y).
All of that in one little word, two symbols, that conveys a realm of emotion and physical attributes of our earthly abode, and we haven't even scratched the surface of it. But where is the Spirit in the definition? Well down the list, and it is in brackets no less... or no more. Why is that?
Then we have the Sigh. "Heigh ho" says Juliette. "Heee," says the exasperated mother at her wayward children. "Ach," says the sea captain in surprise. How does it work together? It is life! What is that Jewish word? Liechem -- To Life! Rebtiva says in Fiddler On The Roof. It is with our very breath that we express Life. It is how we worship. Oh, yes, we can worship without speaking aloud, but how does one sing silently? How can the trumpet sound without breath? We must have it to live, and we must have it to express that Thing which defies the Devil... It is written. Jesus said it aloud. The Spirit moved and Satan was thwarted. It works.
Anger we discussed, but let's look a little closer. For it to be within commas, it stands alone. Rûach alone can express anger. Oh, yes. It does. Look at Revelation
Rev 19:15 And out of His mouth goes forth a sharp sword, that with it He might smite the nations. And He will shepherd them with an iron rod. And He treads the winepress of the wine of the anger and of the wrath of God Almighty.
That is a mighty expulsion of breath which will do something that no human can possibly conceive much less do. This sword that comes from His mouth will pierce even to the dividing part of the soul and spirit. (Heb 4:12)
Heb 4:12 For the Word of God is living and powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing apart of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
Have you ever thought about that dividing of soul and spirit? Did you ever think that they could be divided? How about when the soul goes to Hell and the spirit returns to the Lord? Ecc 12:7 then the dust shall return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return to God who gave it.
It is the Breaths of Life that God breathed. First the blood and then the air. How can anyone live and not recognize His handiwork and creativity? That is the mystery to me.
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