A week long conference by International Agency for Research on Cancer regurgitated an opinion that cell phones and electromagnetic fields can cause glioblastoma... I wonder if that actually meant GLIB-O-Blast.
Thirty-one scientists decided there is enough evidence (while it isn't really much at all) to raise it to group 2B (one notch above the not classifiable because of non-evidence).
What they are actually saying is there could be some risk and we must keep an eye on the accumulating evidence. The difference is like inhaling benzine daily or living five miles from a plant that makes benzine. The first will probably cause cancer while there isn't enough evidence to indicate that living within spitting distance of a plant that makes the stuff would make you pregnant. (I'm not saying scientifically it can, but when Exxon had a benzine spill in Baton Rouge, 9 months later there was a population explosion of brand new babies born to chemical plant workers).
If there could just be some responsibility about these press releases concerning cancer causing substances and/or actions I believe many more people would pay attention. I'm beginning to require more evidence than just a scientist saying something. I want stats, and empirical data. It has reached the point of ridiculous science. If you don't like the results of a study, then wait two minutes... another one will be out and this one will bite the dust.
Memorial Day--Did they know?
(Reprint from last year.)
I do not know who was the first to say, “Freedom isn’t free.” The sentiment is certainly true. Our men and women who have given their lives for our freedom are being honored Memorial Day, just as they have been for decades. I can hardly read the stories of some of these men, and now women, who fought for us, because tears streaming down my face.
I do not know who was the first to say, “Freedom isn’t free.” The sentiment is certainly true. Our men and women who have given their lives for our freedom are being honored Memorial Day, just as they have been for decades. I can hardly read the stories of some of these men, and now women, who fought for us, because tears streaming down my face.
I wonder sometimes, did they know?
Did they know that years later I would appreciate their bravery and discipline to stand between me and the bad guys with such deep gratefulness? Did they know while hunkered down in the trenches, bombs bursting overhead, how beautiful freedom feels? Did they join the service because it was the “right thing to do,” and because Uncle Sam needed them. Or did they know in their heart of hearts that Imperialism and Communism and Socialism were bad for the health of this beautiful nation we call the
Would it have mattered to them that some would think freedom so cheap they would withhold honor from the warriors’ homecoming? Would it still have been worth it to them if they had known not everyone back home bled red, white and blue?
Did they remember how glorious our flag waves from the top of the ship that brought them to the shores of Tripoli or the trenches of Germany or the mountains of Korea or the jungles of Viet Nam or the deserts of Iraq?
The veterans of WWII are dying at the rate of about 1,500 or more per day. The eye witness accounts are dying with them. Yes, we have some of their stories, but it is surprising what someone remembers after 60 years while just talking with another. I have been blessed to hear some of those special memories.
The image that pierces my heart the most is the photograph of those six men who were raising Old Glory over Iwo Jima . That place is where more of our boys gave their lives than in most any other battle. The image is so great because America is the home of the brave of heart who did what was right and fought for freedom from fear and oppression.
I watched a documentary on that not too long ago. That photo is one of the most recognized war photographs. It was snapped by Joe Rosenthal. What few people know, is that that photograph was a hastily taken photo. When he saw them out of the corner of his eye start to raise the flag, he grabbed up his camera and snapped the shot without even looking in the viewfinder. It was taken while he was setting up, he wasn’t even ready to take the “real” photo. What a shot!
This is more than five U.S. Marines and one Navy Corpsman raising a flag on top of a mountain. It depicts the teamwork involved in fighting for something believed in. It depicts obedience. It depicts ingenuity. It depicts determination. It depicts the need and desire to make order out of chaos.
Of the six men, Frank Sousely, Harlon Block, Michael Strank did not survive the battle. John Bradley, Rene Gagnon and Ira Hayes did, becoming celebrities after the photo was published around the world in about 17 hours after it was snapped. But regardless of who the men were, it is what they stood for, what Old Glory stands for that makes my heart swell with pride to belong to this country whose sons and daughters put boots on the ground in other places so we can sleep peacefully at night.
So I get a lot teary-eyed when I think about Old Glory, and the troops, and the songs sung to cheer them on “Over There”. Because “
God is Satisfied
While preparing for my next class at Jacob's Well, I ran across this piece I wrote a long time ago in StudyLight.or forums. It is about how only Jesus' blood could satisfy God. It is also something that I have been studying off and on for a decade or more. There are so many who believe that Jesus did not pay for all the sins of the whole world, that His blood was only sufficient for the few who believe, but efficient for all. That makes no sense to me.
The fact that all sin had to be paid for in order for it to be finished as Jesus stated on the cross comes from several different places. One is in Leviticus 16 in the Law for Atonement. Aaron was to take 2 he-goats and one was for sacrifice, the other for confession and then in a visual complete removal of those sins, the goat was led away from the Israelites into the wilderness.
What happened to the goat didn’t matter, the purpose was to show the complete efficacy of the removal of sins. Of course laying on hands, confessing the sins of Israel over the goat did not put all the sins on the goat. It was a shadow of what Jesus would do.
The priests could only enter the Holy of Holies one day per year and that was after the goat of Azazel (or Scapegoat) was sent into the wilderness with all the sins of Israel on its head, figuratively speaking. Although sacrifices of bulls, sheep, lambs and others continued through out the year (which was to feed the Levites among other things) the true Atonement only happened once a year. This foreshadowed Jesus’ once and for all sacrifice. Instead of just one priest going into the Holy of Holies, we all may go boldly into the throne room of God, sit at His feet or sit on His lap, if only in spirit now, we can do it bodily in Heaven. Glory!
Isaiah 53 is another place we must look to see that God is satisfied with the willing sacrifice of the Messiah. Isa 53:11a He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.
Then to understand what God means that He is satisfied, we must look at the Law as a whole and in part. For anyone who violates one Law has broken them all. In order for the fullness of sin to be completely covered it had to be the most perfect sacrifice for all.
In order for Jesus to have said, “It is finished,” He had to have paid the full price completely and perfectly. Bulls and goats and sheep and lambs had no power to the remission of sin, only Jesus could do that perfectly. Hebrews 9:22 And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. Heb 10:18 Now where there is remission of these, there is no longer an offering for sin.
Rom 8:20 - 23 Meanwhile, creation is confused, but not because it wants to be confused. God made it this way in the hope 21 that creation would be set free from decay and would share in the glorious freedom of his children. 22 We know that all creation is still groaning and is in pain, like a woman about to give birth. 23 The Spirit makes us sure about what we will be in the future. But now we groan silently, while we wait for God to show that we are his children. This means that our bodies will also be set free.
His death would have been sufficient for our Spiritual beings to not suffer Hell. But, God had a greater plan. He foretold Jesus would be the first fruits and we are of the first KIND of resurrection of which Jesus was the first. He was raised into a magnified physical and spiritual body that was eternal. It didn’t begin decaying as soon as it was created. Our glorified, magnified bodies will not experience entropy. That could only happen if sin was conquered, and sin could only be conquered if the Law was satisfied. The only way the Law could be satisfied is if all sin was covered by the blood of Jesus.
The crux is that God had to be satisfied which is why there must be atonement: The Hebrew word is
- kâphar כּפר (kaw-far') A primitive root; to cover specifically with bitumen; Mineral pitch; a black, tarry substance, burning with a bright flame; Jew’s pitch. It occurs as an abundant natural product in many places, as on the shores of the Dead and Caspian Seas. ...
- A viscous, tar-like oil that requires non-conventional production methods such as mining or steam-assisted gravity drainage.
· figuratively to expiate or condone, to placate or cancel: - appease, make (an) atonement, cleanse, disannul, forgive, be merciful, pacify, pardon, to pitch, purge (away), put off, (make) reconcile (-liation).
Isn't it interesting that it has to have a gravity drainage system at that it burns with a bright flame? Isn't that exactly what God has promised to do with all who reject Jesus as Savior? God does not throw people in Hell, people choose to go there by not accepting the Scapegoat, not accepting the Way, the Truth, and the Life. I stand amazed.
To say that the unsaved person must pay for his sins is wrong because we all know that we cannot. There is nothing that we can do that will pay for our sins. Burning in Hell does not pay for our sins. It is the result for not believing God, but it does not pay for the sins because only a perfect sacrifice would atone, satisfy, appease the perfect and holy God Almighty. Jesus was the only perfect human and willing sacrifice. And scripture states plainly that God was satisfied with Jesus' sacrifice. If any sin was left unpaid for, then Jesus could not have been raised from the dead.
Sin had to be conquered in order for death to have no sting. The wages of sin is death. Therefore, all sin had to be covered for there to be no required wages.
God said if one command was broken, they all were broken, and that it was sin to break a command.
1John 3:4 Everyone who sins breaks God's law, because sin is the same as breaking God's law.
Therefore, the sin of murder was paid for, the sin of lying was paid for, and so on. How could Jesus pay for one man's sin of murder, but not pay for another man's sin of murder? He could not because sin not paid for gives death the upper hand. In order for Jesus to be raised from the dead God had to be satisfied that all sin was paid for; and that is what released Jesus from the grip of death. He willingly took upon Himself the whole world's sin. His perfect sacrifice paid the price and He was released from death's grip by God who was satisfied with the sacrifice permanently and forever.
Faithing
I had a precious friend years ago whom I have lost touch with, but she taught me a word that you can't find in the dictionary. The word is Faithing.
Faith isn't a thing, it is a verb, an action as well as state of being.
It is easy to believe there is God. He created the heavens and the earth in all their glory. The universe is vast beyond our wildest imaginings, but the Bible tells us that it can be measured by His hand's breadth. A newborn's cry is a testimony to God's presence for He created life. A child’s giggle is a testimony for he loved the little children to come unto Him. His signature is in the stars for He named each one of the billions of billions of stars. Just look at some of the photos that the Hubble Telescope takes, one of them is the celestial cross. The dogwood's flower gives testimony.
Faith isn't a thing, it is a verb, an action as well as state of being.
Hebrews 11:6 tells us that our faith (belief) brings Him pleasure, without which no one can please Him. It is a simple thing, yet so hard.
It is easy to believe there is God. He created the heavens and the earth in all their glory. The universe is vast beyond our wildest imaginings, but the Bible tells us that it can be measured by His hand's breadth. A newborn's cry is a testimony to God's presence for He created life. A child’s giggle is a testimony for he loved the little children to come unto Him. His signature is in the stars for He named each one of the billions of billions of stars. Just look at some of the photos that the Hubble Telescope takes, one of them is the celestial cross. The dogwood's flower gives testimony. But, to believe God? That is harder to do. When you don't "feel" the presence of God, how do you know He's there?
That is when we must go with what we know rather than our feelings. I love to remember the times we have had together and to draw my comfort from those things He has done for me, from the fact He has never failed me, ever. I know He will fulfill His promises because of all the promises He has already fulfilled. He made the sun stand still. He made the wet bottom of the sea dry as toast. He caused it to rain, and He caused the rain to dry up. He raised Jesus from the dead.
That kind of power flows through Him and yet, He is mindful of me. He knows my name and how many hairs are on my head and the number which are gray and the number which are brown. It matters not to Him how many wrinkles I have, for He has taken me Just As I Am.
Is there a power greater than raising Someone from the dead? Perhaps it is the power of changing lives, the power of forgiveness, the power of mercy, the power of grace. Without those, Jesus would not have needed to be raised for He wouldn't have given Himself as sacrifice.
Is there a power greater than raising Someone from the dead? Perhaps it is the power of changing lives, the power of forgiveness, the power of mercy, the power of grace. Without those, Jesus would not have needed to be raised for He wouldn't have given Himself as sacrifice.
Psalm 5:11 But let all who put their trust in You rejoice; let them shout for joy forever, because You cover them. And let those who love Your name be joyful in You.
Such simple words and yet they hold all the comfort of a snuggly quilt and a warm, cozy fire complete with hot cocoa and a purring cat on the lap.
God's asks a lot of us. We can't see Him. We can't touch Him. Why should we believe Him, trust Him, have faith in Him?
Because He said so.
If that isn't enough, then there is plenty of evidence that He is real, that He does exactly what He says He'll do, and that He answers our prayers, that He loved us enough to die for us. There is no greater love than that, except He also loved us enough to rise from the dead. He is alive, back from the dead and that, my friends, is a feat great enough to silence the most scornful voice.
What else?
I have learned never, ever to ask "What else can go wrong?" Because something always does go wrong. I've been gathering stuff together to go back to school to get my Master's. Since I cannot find a job around here, and there is absolutely no way we can move (Mom's blindness, you see). Therefore, it seems necessary for me to get my Master's in Education so I can go teach online at a reputable college. (I was recruited by a college to teach, but after checking them out, it wasn't an accredited college, so I declined.)
Great. As long as I can get all my ducks in a row.
Today, I found out that my diploma is definitely lost somewhere between Louisiana and Mississippi. I have opened every box in the store room and under my bed and in the office with no diploma. Ordered one today from Midwestern State University.
In so doing, I had to make a copy of my driver's license. No problem... except I am 13 days late in getting my license renewed. I thought I had until 2012... Nope. So, now I must do that before I can order another diploma. Neither do I have my transcripts. Evidently, when I was searching colleges last summer, I sent them all out without saving a good copy. Sigh.
My home office looks like a tornado has hit it. I found some silverware in a box that we had been looking for a long time. I found Mom's summer clothes box which we didn't find last summer -- she has a new wardrobe for this summer. I found some picture albums I thought were lost. I found some craft things, and a smiley mug I thought had been broken. You would think after all that getting found, I'd be ecstatic. But, I never found what I needed to find.
Sometimes when we search for things we think we need, we discover other things that are just as crucially important (read updated driver's license). Sometimes we discover we could have saved a lot of space over the years by tossing the old things we were saving for only granny knows what.
Perhaps I'm a hoarder in disguise... I know I need to toss some stuff, but what if I need it some day? I'm am definitely my dad's daughter because that is how his thought process went. It just shows that when you grow up with someone who went through the Great Depression, frugal habits die hard.
Great. As long as I can get all my ducks in a row.
Today, I found out that my diploma is definitely lost somewhere between Louisiana and Mississippi. I have opened every box in the store room and under my bed and in the office with no diploma. Ordered one today from Midwestern State University.
In so doing, I had to make a copy of my driver's license. No problem... except I am 13 days late in getting my license renewed. I thought I had until 2012... Nope. So, now I must do that before I can order another diploma. Neither do I have my transcripts. Evidently, when I was searching colleges last summer, I sent them all out without saving a good copy. Sigh.
My home office looks like a tornado has hit it. I found some silverware in a box that we had been looking for a long time. I found Mom's summer clothes box which we didn't find last summer -- she has a new wardrobe for this summer. I found some picture albums I thought were lost. I found some craft things, and a smiley mug I thought had been broken. You would think after all that getting found, I'd be ecstatic. But, I never found what I needed to find.
Sometimes when we search for things we think we need, we discover other things that are just as crucially important (read updated driver's license). Sometimes we discover we could have saved a lot of space over the years by tossing the old things we were saving for only granny knows what.
Perhaps I'm a hoarder in disguise... I know I need to toss some stuff, but what if I need it some day? I'm am definitely my dad's daughter because that is how his thought process went. It just shows that when you grow up with someone who went through the Great Depression, frugal habits die hard.
I baptized my phone
You know you rock along really well for a long time not doing anything stupid. You don't get all puffed up about it, but you feel really responsible because you haven't locked your keys in the car in years, you haven't locked yourself out of the house in months, and you haven't spilled your dinner on your shirt in days.
Then you do something really stupid like wash your cell phone... in the washing machine... with bleach.
I never took out the insurance on my phone because I've had one for years and years and I've never dropped it in the sink, or on concrete, or in the bathtub. I've used it every day and have phone number in it to reach just about anyone I know. While it isn't like losing my day book, it was crushing to think I'd lost phone numbers to friends in Newellton (whom I haven't called in several years, but it's the connection you see, not actually holding conversations).
Then I found out it would cost $200 or more for a new phone, and I couldn't use my perfectly good phone from Alltel because Verizon doesn't have those calling plans anymore.
When you don't have the $200, it is a very good time to pray, so we did. That was day before yesterday. I put the thing in a cup of rice (recommended by a customer in the store), and prayed some more.
This morning I called my daughter on that phone and my future son-in-law named my post -- only he said I'd baptized my phone in bleach. This is definitely a God-Thing. Let it be known that when you pray, all things are possible with God in control.
Then you do something really stupid like wash your cell phone... in the washing machine... with bleach.
I never took out the insurance on my phone because I've had one for years and years and I've never dropped it in the sink, or on concrete, or in the bathtub. I've used it every day and have phone number in it to reach just about anyone I know. While it isn't like losing my day book, it was crushing to think I'd lost phone numbers to friends in Newellton (whom I haven't called in several years, but it's the connection you see, not actually holding conversations).
Then I found out it would cost $200 or more for a new phone, and I couldn't use my perfectly good phone from Alltel because Verizon doesn't have those calling plans anymore.
When you don't have the $200, it is a very good time to pray, so we did. That was day before yesterday. I put the thing in a cup of rice (recommended by a customer in the store), and prayed some more.
This morning I called my daughter on that phone and my future son-in-law named my post -- only he said I'd baptized my phone in bleach. This is definitely a God-Thing. Let it be known that when you pray, all things are possible with God in control.
Do not love the world
1 John 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.
The human heart is too small to hold both the love of the world and love for God Almighty. God fills the heart to overflowing, there for there is no room for worldly things. When we close off part of our heart to God, then sin creeps into our life making us numb to the voice of God. Therefore, we can’t hear that still small voice that tells us to “go this way, the path is clear without pitfalls”. God guides our steps and He alone knows the future. I would rather be guided by a flood light than a single candle in this dark world.
Yanked home early?
1 John 5:14-17. We are instructed to pray within the will of God according to His will. There is sin that leads to physical death for believers. This whole letter of John's is to and for believers. This one verse carries a terrible implication. It is very possible for a believer to sin the final one that is at the end of God's tolerance for His child. In other words, it is the final embarrassment of God and He just yanks that rebellious child home. In this case, the sin that leads to death, it is a deliberate and conscious choice to sin and failure to forsake sin, to repent of it can lead to physical death.
There actually is Scripture that talks about taking a believer home when that believer continues in rebellion.
Paul speaks of it in 1 Cor 5:5 hand this man over to Satan, so that the sinful nature may be destroyed and his spirit saved on the day of the Lord. And in 11:30 when Paul talks about many being sick and asleep (dead). God takes those out of the fold so that they will not pollute the church. But, God expects the congregation to outcast those who deliberately continue in sin (Matt 18:15-17) and to treat them as heathen. However, Jesus identifies him as "brother" meaning a member of the Family of God—a believer.
John says there is no prayer for this kind of sin, 1 John 5:16-17 If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. 17 All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.
The question is not “Do you believe that an individual who is continuing in a sinful lifestyle, can, at the same time, have and be appropriating saving faith?”
Let’s take a look at King Saul: 1 Samuel 10:9 And it came about, that when he went away from Samuel, God gave him a changed heart: and all those signs took place that day. God changed Saul from the fearful young man he was re: 1 Samuel 10:22. The Spirit of God came upon him and he ruled as Israel’s king. The trouble began when Saul disobeyed the words of Samuel who wrote in a book how Israel’s king should behave.
God removed the kingdom from Samuel’s authority, but there isn’t any scripture that states God took back the changed heart He had given Saul. The disobedience that Saul exhibited built a wall between him and God to the point not even the prophets (of which he was one) could disintegrate the stubborn streak.
Earlier, I wrote a series on worship. I have studied the differences between early biblical worship, and today’s worship. I’ve studied how the New Testament churches worshiped and how Christians of today seek the warm fuzzies rather than the glory of God.
It is so sad we are set on this path of desensitized, and rebellious behavior on one hand; and on the other we profess Jesus is Lord. Where is the sincerity of real worship? Where is the lifestyle that proclaims Jesus is Lord?
Feelings are no guarantee
(an excerpt from my new book--abridged version)
There is a time to rely on feelings and a time to ignore them. Someone said, I know there are times when I'm not saved because I don't feel saved. Pooh! John wrote the believers so that we could be assured of our salvation. There are several things that give us that assurance.
1 John 4 beginning at verse 13.
1. We don't just talk the walk but we walk the walk. We show love and compassion to our brothers and sisters. We act like a family.
2. We put action to compassion. We help those we see in need. Like James says we don't just pat them on the shoulder and say, "I'll be praying for you. Be warm." We give them a coat to stay warm.
3. We don't condemn ourselves. Here's the feeling part. God is greater than we are, He knows everything in our hearts. How amazing that we are forgiven before we sin. If we confess our sin then God is faithful to forgive us, putting our sin as far away from us as the east is from the west. Astounding!
4. We then have a clear conscience. Not only that, but we are blameless. Imagine it! Blameless in the eyes of God.
5. God answers our prayers. Sometimes He answers immediately. Sometimes He says, 'Wait'. Sometimes He says, "You are not ready for that, yet." The condition is praying for things that are within Jesus' character and within God's principles. Like praying for someone to get saved... or for the wisdom of our leaders. We must always rememer that God's ways and thoughts are much higher than our own. He sees all the consequences of every action and if just one thing is out of kilter, that could hinder someone's walk with Jesus. It would be better for that person to have a millstone around his neck and be tossed into the sea. That's how strongly Jesus felt about a stumbling block.
6. We obey God. We keep His commandments and we don't "fudge a little" here and there. It is part of our having a clear conscience. Walking with God doesn't allow for fudging.
7. We want to please God. It isn't a matter of "trying to be good." It isn't a matter of being fearful of what might happen. It is a definite, deep and deliberate desire to please our Heavenly Father. That stems from loving Him.
8. We believe Him. We not only believe in Jesus, but we believe what He says in His word. How can we trust unless we believe? Believing we believe.
9. Abiding we abide in Him. All that happens because He first abided in us. The Holy Spirit ignited our souls into life, Spiritual life and the combination of the Holy Spirit with our soul made a brand new creature. That is so exciting. We are not at all "just human". We are something quite different, and precious in God's sight. Sacrifice. That word that means the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim. God gave His Son. Jesus willingly laid down His life in sacrifice for us. God says it and that is enough. Believing or not believing does not make it so or not so. God did it. That settles it. This is how we know beyond any doubt, beyond any question that we are saved. These things are outward indications of the inward change that the Holy Spirit caused to happen. Amen and Glory be to God.
There is a time to rely on feelings and a time to ignore them. Someone said, I know there are times when I'm not saved because I don't feel saved. Pooh! John wrote the believers so that we could be assured of our salvation. There are several things that give us that assurance.
1 John 4 beginning at verse 13.
1. We don't just talk the walk but we walk the walk. We show love and compassion to our brothers and sisters. We act like a family.
2. We put action to compassion. We help those we see in need. Like James says we don't just pat them on the shoulder and say, "I'll be praying for you. Be warm." We give them a coat to stay warm.
3. We don't condemn ourselves. Here's the feeling part. God is greater than we are, He knows everything in our hearts. How amazing that we are forgiven before we sin. If we confess our sin then God is faithful to forgive us, putting our sin as far away from us as the east is from the west. Astounding!
4. We then have a clear conscience. Not only that, but we are blameless. Imagine it! Blameless in the eyes of God.
5. God answers our prayers. Sometimes He answers immediately. Sometimes He says, 'Wait'. Sometimes He says, "You are not ready for that, yet." The condition is praying for things that are within Jesus' character and within God's principles. Like praying for someone to get saved... or for the wisdom of our leaders. We must always rememer that God's ways and thoughts are much higher than our own. He sees all the consequences of every action and if just one thing is out of kilter, that could hinder someone's walk with Jesus. It would be better for that person to have a millstone around his neck and be tossed into the sea. That's how strongly Jesus felt about a stumbling block.
6. We obey God. We keep His commandments and we don't "fudge a little" here and there. It is part of our having a clear conscience. Walking with God doesn't allow for fudging.
7. We want to please God. It isn't a matter of "trying to be good." It isn't a matter of being fearful of what might happen. It is a definite, deep and deliberate desire to please our Heavenly Father. That stems from loving Him.
8. We believe Him. We not only believe in Jesus, but we believe what He says in His word. How can we trust unless we believe? Believing we believe.
9. Abiding we abide in Him. All that happens because He first abided in us. The Holy Spirit ignited our souls into life, Spiritual life and the combination of the Holy Spirit with our soul made a brand new creature. That is so exciting. We are not at all "just human". We are something quite different, and precious in God's sight. Sacrifice. That word that means the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim. God gave His Son. Jesus willingly laid down His life in sacrifice for us. God says it and that is enough. Believing or not believing does not make it so or not so. God did it. That settles it. This is how we know beyond any doubt, beyond any question that we are saved. These things are outward indications of the inward change that the Holy Spirit caused to happen. Amen and Glory be to God.
The Art of Listening
The Queen of Sheba traveled about 2,000 miles to listen to the wisdom of Solomon. Gideon put out fleece to listen to God’s will. Abraham listened and his son Isaac was born, and his servant listened to God and brought Rebecca to Isaac for his bride. The people told Joshua they would listen to God’s voice, and they did all the while Joshua was their judge. God told Samuel to listen to the people and anoint Saul. The king listened to Nehemiah and the walls of Jerusalem were built in 52 days. King Ahasuerus listened to Esther and the Jews in Babylon were saved. Lemuel listened to his mother and found out a good woman’s worth is far above rubies.
Good things happen to those who listen… and take heed. Listening isn’t hard to do, although it seems hard. Listening to God is the same as listening to your spouse, your kids, your parents. The trouble with that is we usually are not good listeners even to our friends or family. I was writing this column and my daughter called. I was in the middle of a thought and I kept typing all while she was telling me something. I should have paid attention to her, which I eventually did. The snag was that I missed those few minutes with her.
Listening is deciding what another person is saying is more important than what you are doing at that precise moment. It also involves a great deal of trust that God
Good things happen to those who listen… and take heed. Listening isn’t hard to do, although it seems hard. Listening to God is the same as listening to your spouse, your kids, your parents. The trouble with that is we usually are not good listeners even to our friends or family. I was writing this column and my daughter called. I was in the middle of a thought and I kept typing all while she was telling me something. I should have paid attention to her, which I eventually did. The snag was that I missed those few minutes with her.
Listening is deciding what another person is saying is more important than what you are doing at that precise moment. It also involves a great deal of trust that God
About the blindness of the Jews
Paul explains in Romans 1 that those who choose their own desires and worship idols instead of the Lord God are allowed that pursuit. God gives them up and releases them.
The Gospel is God's power working toward salvation and this is to "everyone who believes with a personal trust and confident surrender and firm reliance." This is the foundation Paul lays before he tackles the evilness that man is capable of.
But God's wrath and indignation are revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who, in their wickedness repress and hinder the righteousness and make it inoperative.
That which is known about God is made evident to them by God (19). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification]. This is because when they recognized Him as God, they rejected Him as God.
God made it perfectly clear who He was to Pharaoh long before He used Moses and the plagues. Pharaoh rejected God as God and set himself up in the vainest way as god.
The religious leaders of Jesus' day took exception to John the Baptist. But let it slide because they recognized the verses that John quoted to them about being the voice in the wilderness. King Herod took great exception. John recognized what was in their hearts and called those religious leaders a "brood of vipers" and asked them "who warned you to flee the wrath to come?"
Jesus explains even further when He says in Matt 12:35 "and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things." It comes out of the heart.
The Pharisees and the Saducees had ample time to change their minds and to recognized Jesus for who He was as the disciples recognized Him from the very beginning. They were Scripture scholars yet they turned a blind eye to the fulfillment of the Scriptures in Jesus. They had Moses and the Prophets to tell them who He was, yet they didn't believe even when He rose from the dead.
Is it in God's character to create an evil heart? I don't think so. Because of Matthew 12, I think what Paul is teaching in Romans 1 is that it is most likely what ever the human does with the inbred knowledge of God (accepts or rejects) determines what will come forth from the heart. And I believe Paul got it from Jesus.
Matthew 12: 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
Matthew 7
17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
I look at this as God rejecting them after they rejected God's Son.
If they had accepted Jesus for Who He is, then they never would have brought Him to be crucified...would never have shouted for Barabbas... and there would never have been severe persecution which only made the Gospel seed be planted deeper with stronger roots and less infighting because all Christians had a common enemy: first the Jews but ultimately, Rome.
Yes, God blinded them. Yes, God blocked their understanding because
1. They exchanged truth for a lie
2. Worshipped and served the creation
3. They did not acknowledge God or approve Him even though they had full knowledge of Him
4. Romans 1:31[They were] without understanding, conscienceless and faithless, heartless and loveless [and] merciless.
5. Being fully aware of God's consequences of such acts that being death, they not only practice those things but approve others that do them.
Since God is this way with the Gentiles, how much more and worse are the consequences for those Jews who were Scripture scholars and refused to believe Jesus is the Son of God.
Two more points that are crucial. Recall Blind Bartimaeus who sat by the roadside begging. He kept shouting for Jesus and when Jesus heard him, He called for him and then asked, "What do you want Me to do?" Bartimaeus said, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight." And Jesus healed him.
The Spirit of the Lord was upon Jesus (Luke 4:18) Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted. To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed..."
All they had to do was recognize that they were blind in order for Jesus to give them their sight and their understanding. They were too proud to do so.
Luke 16:31 He said to him, If they do not hear and listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded and convinced and believe [even] if someone should rise from the dead.
The Gospel is God's power working toward salvation and this is to "everyone who believes with a personal trust and confident surrender and firm reliance." This is the foundation Paul lays before he tackles the evilness that man is capable of.
But God's wrath and indignation are revealed against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who, in their wickedness repress and hinder the righteousness and make it inoperative.
That which is known about God is made evident to them by God (19). So [men] are without excuse [altogether without any defense or justification]. This is because when they recognized Him as God, they rejected Him as God.
God made it perfectly clear who He was to Pharaoh long before He used Moses and the plagues. Pharaoh rejected God as God and set himself up in the vainest way as god.
The religious leaders of Jesus' day took exception to John the Baptist. But let it slide because they recognized the verses that John quoted to them about being the voice in the wilderness. King Herod took great exception. John recognized what was in their hearts and called those religious leaders a "brood of vipers" and asked them "who warned you to flee the wrath to come?"
Jesus explains even further when He says in Matt 12:35 "and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things." It comes out of the heart.
The Pharisees and the Saducees had ample time to change their minds and to recognized Jesus for who He was as the disciples recognized Him from the very beginning. They were Scripture scholars yet they turned a blind eye to the fulfillment of the Scriptures in Jesus. They had Moses and the Prophets to tell them who He was, yet they didn't believe even when He rose from the dead.
Is it in God's character to create an evil heart? I don't think so. Because of Matthew 12, I think what Paul is teaching in Romans 1 is that it is most likely what ever the human does with the inbred knowledge of God (accepts or rejects) determines what will come forth from the heart. And I believe Paul got it from Jesus.
Matthew 12: 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
Matthew 7
17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
I look at this as God rejecting them after they rejected God's Son.
If they had accepted Jesus for Who He is, then they never would have brought Him to be crucified...would never have shouted for Barabbas... and there would never have been severe persecution which only made the Gospel seed be planted deeper with stronger roots and less infighting because all Christians had a common enemy: first the Jews but ultimately, Rome.
Yes, God blinded them. Yes, God blocked their understanding because
1. They exchanged truth for a lie
2. Worshipped and served the creation
3. They did not acknowledge God or approve Him even though they had full knowledge of Him
4. Romans 1:31[They were] without understanding, conscienceless and faithless, heartless and loveless [and] merciless.
5. Being fully aware of God's consequences of such acts that being death, they not only practice those things but approve others that do them.
Since God is this way with the Gentiles, how much more and worse are the consequences for those Jews who were Scripture scholars and refused to believe Jesus is the Son of God.
Two more points that are crucial. Recall Blind Bartimaeus who sat by the roadside begging. He kept shouting for Jesus and when Jesus heard him, He called for him and then asked, "What do you want Me to do?" Bartimaeus said, "Rabboni, that I may receive my sight." And Jesus healed him.
The Spirit of the Lord was upon Jesus (Luke 4:18) Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted. To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed..."
All they had to do was recognize that they were blind in order for Jesus to give them their sight and their understanding. They were too proud to do so.
Luke 16:31 He said to him, If they do not hear and listen to Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be persuaded and convinced and believe [even] if someone should rise from the dead.
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