Pride

C. S. Lewis writes that pride is the first and greatest sin of all because it seeks to elevate us above the One who gave us our gifts.

In the Book of Job God speaks of Satan. . . "He beholdeth all high things: he is a king over all the children of pride." (Job 41:34)

Passover

"Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth." (I Corinthians 5:7,8)

The feast of Passover - Leviticus 23:4,5

"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:" (I Peter 1:18, 19).

Why pray?

I pray because I can't help myself. I pray because I'm helpless. I pray because the need flows out of me all the time- waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God- it changes me.
-C.S. Lewis

Me too.

Analysis of the Fifth Commandment . . .

“Honor your Father and your Mother” (5:16).

The word “honor” in the Biblical Hebrew comes from the word “Kabad”, meaning literally “to make heavy.”

We honor our parents not by loving them, but by making them “heavy”, i.e. making them people of substance and not “making light” of them.

The phrase “make light” of someone means a way of belittling or humiliating them.

Remorse

As Lady MacBeth spake on just such an occasion:
"Out Damned spot! Out, I say"
~ Macbeth, Act V. Scene I.

Stupak spelled backward is Kaputs.

Stupak's Original Sin:
Kathleen Parker

The Lives Of Others Soundtrack - Main Theme (Das Leben Der Anderen)

YouTube - The Lives Of Others Soundtrack - Main Theme (Das Leben Der Anderen)

♫ Erik Satie - Gymnopédie No.1 [piano] ♫

♫ Erik Satie - Gymnopédie No.1 [piano] ♫

Thad McCotter

Thad does it again

Salmagundi

Def: 1. A heterogeneous mixture. 2. A mixed salad of various ingredients.

For a fun spring party invite friends to a Salmagundi gathering.

In a very large mahogany salad bowl add green leafy things.

Each invitee is required to bring an unusual item to put into the huge salad.

What is dined on depended on the creativity and imagination of the guests, and each Salmagundi is always a new and surprisingly salad.

Bon appetit! and happy Salmagundi!

Things to think on. . .

Four things you can't recover:

• The stone after the throw.
• The word after it's said.
• The occasion after it's missed.
• The time after it's gone.
  
  God has a list of things also:

"These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto Him:

• a proud look,
• a lying tongue,
• hands that shed innocent blood,
• an heart that deviseth wicked imaginations,
• feet that be swift in running to mischief,
• a false witness that speaketh lies,
• and he that soweth discord among brethren."
  

PROMINENCE OF THE SECOND COMING

Nothing is more prominently brought forward in the New Testament than the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

--John Nelson Darby (Anglo-Irish evangelist, and an influential figure among the original Plymouth Brethren)

Svenska Scripture

Luke 6:43-45 Ett bra träd kan aldrig bära dålig frukt, och ett dåligt träd kan aldrig bära bra frukt. Trädet känns igen på den frukt det bär. Man hittar inte fikon på tistlar eller vindruvor på törnbuskar. På samma sätt visar en god människas ord på den godhet som finns i hennes hjärta, medan en ond människas ord avslö...jar den ondska som finns inom henne. Munnen talar ju det som hjärtat är fullt av.

Love to try and figure out verses written in Swedish.

Isn't it amazing how God's Word is translated in different languages and more amazing that people are reading and God is working in them, through this Word in their language? God is good to all.

Nothing but Calvary

That I did always love,
I bring thee proof:
That till I loved
I did not love enough.
That I shall love always—
I offer thee
That love is life,
And life hath immortality.
This—dost thou doubt, sweet?
Then have I Nothing to show But Calvary. - Emily Dickinson

The measure of God's love to us is the cross of Calvary. "...God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). And, "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the atoning sacrifice to God) for our sins" (I John 4:9,10).

Blessed Calvary! Precious Calvary!
'Neath thy shadow I'll ever abide.
Blessed Calvary! Precious Calvary!
'Twas there Jesus suffered and died. - Christian B. Anson

Mendelssohn Songs without Words

YouTube - Sviatoslav Richter plays Mendelssohn Songs without Words Op.19 No.6

The Christian Witness

To those for whom the intellect alone has force, such a witness has little or no force. It bewilders and exasperates them. It challenges them to suppose that there is something greater about man than his ability to add and subtract. It submits that that something is the soul.

Plain men understood the witness easily. It speaks directly to their condition. For it is peculiarly the Christian witness. They still hear it, whenever it truly reaches their ears, the ring of those glad tidings that once stirred mankind with an immense hope. For it frees them from the trap of irreversible Fate at the point at which it whispers to them that each soul is individually responsible to God, that it has only to assert that responsibility, and out of man’s weakness will come strength, out of his corruption incorruption, out of his evil good, and out of what is false invulnerable truth.

Witness - Whittaker Chambers

Good hope through grace. . .

"Now our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work." 2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17

Psalm 144:1

"Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight:"

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand" (Ephesians 6:10-12).

Sonnet 94

"They that have power to hurt and will do none / That do not do the thing they most do show,"

Those who have the ability to hurt but choose not to, who do not use that power even though they look most certain of having it,

"Who, moving others, are themselves as stone / Unmoved, cold, and to temptation slow,"

Who, when moving others, are themselves still, unmoved, emotionally cold, and slow to temptation,

"They rightly do inherit heaven's graces / And husband nature's riches from expense;"

It is they who rightly inherit heaven's graces and spare nature's riches from ruin;

"They are the lords and owners of their faces / Others but stewards of their excellence."

They can control their facial expressions (thoughts and emotions), while others merely serve their emotions.

(A fool's wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame" (Proverbs 12:16).)

"The summer's flower is to the summer sweet / Though to itself it only live and die,"

The summer flower is sweet to the summer, though the flower lives and dies only for itself;

"But if that flower with base infection meet / The basest weed outbraves his dignity:"

But if that flower should develop an awful infection, the worst weed would outshine the flower in dignity:

"For sweetest things turn sourest by their deeds; / Lilies that fester smell far worse than weeds."

For it is those things that are sweetest that can become sourest by their deeds; lilies that rot smell far worse than weeds.

Arizona

I'm here in Arizona with new granddaughter, helping as Mom & Dad are working spring training with the Cubs.

Everyone should visit Arizona after a long Michigan winter. It lifts the soul to breath in the warmer air, feel the sun with palm trees and cactus everywhere, and seeing the orange and lemon trees colorfully decorated with fruit. Outside our condo a tree has orange size fruit, but the fruit is yellow...maybe grapefruit? A bit sour, but good to eat if you avoid the rine.

God created Arizona. What are these hills and mountains seemingly pushed up from under the crust? Or were they dragged by the glacier of ages past? Do the residents of this place get used to seeing all this beauty? Maybe fresh eyes appreciate it best.

Like my new granddaughter...people call her a "fresh" one...she is seeing the world with all its wonder as new. Her and Amma.

Give me patience ...

by Esther Homoki (now at home with the Lord)

"…to never relax the self-watch. Never to indulge in unkind or thoughtless criticism of others. Never to utter the hasty word, or permit the sharp retorts; never to complain, except to God; never to permit hard and distrustful thoughts to lodge within the soul; to always be more thoughtful of others than of self; to detect the one blue spot in the clouded sky; to be on the alert to find an excuse for those who are forward and awkward; to suffer the aches and pains, the privations and trials of life sweetly, submissively, trustfully; to drink the bitter cup with the eyes fixed on the Father’s face, without a murmur or complaint. We cannot live such a life till we have learned to avail ourselves of the riches of the indwelling Christ."


I chose to print this in The Grace Messenger. My sister read it in her Bible study group and she said they all laughed incredulously that anyone could live up to such a high standard. I was convicted that maybe the statement was too lofty for mere mortals to aspire, but many times Esther’s words have come back to me.

The key I believe is the last line: We cannot live such a life till we have learned to avail ourselves of the riches of the indwelling Christ.

I love Esther’s words, and though I fail, they still ring true to what I want to attain to in my walk, in the Lord.

It's March...

spring is only weeks ahead!

Darkness...

You may be afraid to face the years ahead. You’re not the only one, but if you extinguish the light of your faith and wisdom, you consign others to darkness.

Hot Air » » A prayer from the living world

I suffered from a crippling depression in 2003/4 that came after a traumatic event. In my hopelessness, I turned to my faith in God. My belief that God cared about me and had a greater purpose for my life inspired me to get up off the couch. I began walking each day. First it was 100 yards…and eventually I could walk around the block, and then more.

I memorized scripture, in particular, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:(For the weapons of our warfare [are] not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."

My stronghold was the erroneous belief that things would never get better. I learned that I was not defined by my fears…that Truth was not only worth listening to, but worth living for.

It took 9 months of discipline to recover from the deepest hole of my life…and months beyond that to be 100%. God did his work in me as I paid attention and chose to take my thoughts captive. There is hope. I found Hope.

(From a comment from LEBA on February 27)

Lent

The number "40" has always had special spiritual significance regarding preparation.

On Mount Sinai, preparing to receive the Ten Commandments, "Moses stayed there with the Lord for 40 days and 40 nights, without eating any food or drinking any water" (Ex 34:28).

Elijah walked "40 days and 40 nights" to the mountain of the Lord, Mount Horeb (another name for Sinai) (I Kgs 19:8).

Jesus fasted and prayed for "40 days and 40 nights" in the desert before He began His public ministry (Mt 4:2).

Dust and ashes. . .

Pantheism offers a different sort of solution: a downward exit, an abandonment of our tragic self-consciousness, a re-merger with the natural world our ancestors half-escaped millennia ago.

But except as dust and ashes, Nature cannot take us back.

Treasure

"But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God and not of us." (2 Corinthians 4:7)

What treasure?

"...the light of the knowledge of the g l o r y of God in the face of Jesus Christ." (2 Corinthians 4:6)

On this Monday the earthen of me is a bit creaky and a bit cracked, but the glory is always constant, in which I rejoice.

(Friend Laura Wetherbee chose the verse today on Facebook. Thanks, it's a good one to have in my mind today.)

William Tyndale (1494-1536)

William Tyndale (1494-1536)

William Tyndale was the Oxford-educated polyglot theologian and reformer who produced the first printed Bible in English.

His translation was from Erasmus' Greek-Latin Bible, the same one which Luther used to translate his German Bible. Tyndale's Bible was banned in Britain: you can't trust the rabble to read it themselves. He famously said that he wanted a Bible that "every plowman" could read himself.

Tyndale was executed by Henry Vlll for his efforts. It is believed that Thomas More was pushing for the execution.

It is thought that up to 80% of the King James Bible - the most printed book in the world - is Tyndale's product.

Voice recognition. . .

Satan knows of our inborn desire for the supernatural and the mystical, and he will oblige.

I think sometimes (not always) that the phrases “The Lord showed me” or “The Lord led me” can be used to sort of ward off any challenges. If the Lord “showed” someone, who can possibly question them?

WORLDmag.com Voice recognition (An interesting article written by Andrée Seu)

Euro, one size does not fit all . . .

Countries that are highly uncompetitive are normally able to slash interest rates and devalue their currencies to prop up their economies.
But this is not possible within the euro, given its one-size-fits-all economic governance.
The implication is that weak, peripheral eurozone members will have to suffer years of painful deflation and tumbling living standards, as well as draconian budget cuts, in order to adjust.
Harvard University Professor Martin Feldstein, a long-standing sceptic on the euro, yesterday said the single currency 'isn't working' because member governments have no incentive to keep their public debts under control.
'There's too much incentive for countries to run up big deficits as there's no feedback until a crisis,' he said.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1250433/Greece-debt-bailout-EU-leaders-split-euro-crisis.html

Star Chamber

PRONUNCIATION:
(star CHAYM-buhr)

MEANING:
noun: A court or group marked by arbitrary, oppressive, and secretive procedures.

ETYMOLOGY:
After the Star Chamber in the Palace of Westminster in London. It was the site of a closed-door court appointed by King Henry VII of England in the 15th century. Notorious for its abuse of power -- rulings made in secret, no appeal -- it was abolished by the Long Parliament in 1641. The chamber was so named because its ceiling was decorated with stars.

Universal wish. . .

Robert Fulghum, OFFICIAL Website - Recent Entries:

IT’S NOT THE SIZE OF THE LOSS,
BUT THE SIZE OF THE SORROW.

"So what’s this all about?

I’ve been asking myself that for the last few days.
My frustration in this small matter mirrors, I think, a deeper universal human wish that any one of us could make things better for all those in pain wherever, whenever, no matter how small the loss or large the sorrow."

"Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God" (II Corinthians 1:3,4).

Israel, a nation...

“So there are some Believers in Israel, but Israel is there mainly in rank unbelief.

But it is still a nation, and if it is a pre-cursor, a foreshadowing...certainly before the Anti-Christ comes Israel has to be there as a nation."

(Lisa Leland) Still trying to link...but won't work : (

Sometimes it hurts. . .

"To the end He may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints." I Thess. 3:13

From friend Laura Wetherbee in Chicago.

Primordial Soup

The sort of environmental flukes on which the Darwinian depends for his salvation are all very well if you have infinite time. But as we began to realize, about the time Primordial Soup was first served, the universe wasn't nearly old enough -- by a factor approaching infinity -- for any meandering and purposeless scheme to achieve the sort of results we see all around us.

The alternative, of course, is that the universe was in some sense "programmed," that biological and ultimately human life was implicit in the Big Bang. This is called the "anthropic cosmological principle," and it fits with every observable fact of nature. It is resisted by atheists, however, because it is highly suggestive of Creation by God, and is described with great clarity in for example in the Book of Isaiah:

"For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God Himself that formed the earth and made it; He hath established it, He created it not in vain, He formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else" (Isaiah 45:18).

(From David Warren - Primordial Soup)

http://www.davidwarrenonline.com/index.php?id=1107

America

17. ~Paules:
America will never be Greece, not ever, nor any other socialist hell. I offer you anecdotal stories to cheer your heart:

While in Rome I saw gypsy kids lift a wallet in clear view of Italian police. It took a group of American students to run down the miscreants and return the purloined cache to its rightful owner.

While in Bern I discovered an addict shooting up heroin in my dorm. The hostel manager complained that the government forced him to take in such people. Addicts are thieves, everyone of them, and under all circumstances. The American contingent backed by resolute Aussie allies evicted him bodily from the hostel.

While in Marseilles the Americans in my group swept a park of garbage before we settled to picnic. The French declared that no one asked us to, so why bother? A fellow from New Jersey informed them that Americans do what needs doing. No one has to ask. We left the French students perplexed.

I met an American lad in India who drove a bus across the highest road in the world minus the assigned driver. About twenty minutes into the trip the passengers realized the Indian behind the wheel was drunk. The Europeans protested, but did nothing. A doughty Brit finally tossed the driver. An American finished the job bringing her home safely into Leh.

While in Thailand I raced a bamboo raft down an unnamed river while on a trek to the hill country. It wasn’t some sort of official race. Our very experienced Thai guide offered the following: “When you have Americans in the group, it’s always a race.” Indeed.

I reckon readers know where I’m going with this. America is a very special place, and the American character is as strong as ever. Believe it. We are a righteous and resolute people. Socialism is a cheat and a lie. The American people love liberty today and for all time. Because that’s just the way it is. Count on it.

(Comments from Victor Davis Hanson article 2/10/10)

Yogi Bear

Yogi Bear is smarter than the average bear,

Yogi Bear is always in the ranger's hair.

At a picnic table you will find him there

Stuffing down more goodies than the average bear.

He will sleep till noon but before it's dark,

He'll have every picnic basket that's in Jellystone Park.
Yogi has it better than a millionaire

That's because he's smarter than the average bear.

Something better . . .

The whole perspective on trouble, on suffering, on difficulty—its meaning has been radically altered. Instead of destroying me, it’s working for me.

A renewed mind says this has come into my life, not to destroy me, but to be productive.

Not just to take it away, but to use the suffering; give some meaning to it, give me something that might let it do something for me NOW and work for me a far more exceeding eternal weight of glory. That’s talking about eternity being brighter and better because of the (current) suffering.

As opposed to something that comes and steals, it brings gain. It brings the ability for you to KNOW Him in a way you could never know Him. Trust Him in a way you could never trust Him. Grow in a way you could never grow without it.

A passage that focuses on getting people to see this reality is Romans 8:18-28:

[18] For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.[19] For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.[20] For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,[21] Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.[22] For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.[23] And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.[24] For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?[25] But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.[26] Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.[27] And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.[28] And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

(From Lisa Leland.com commenting on Pastor Jordan's study on 2 Corinthians.)

Albert...at least Felix trembled. . .

A man's ethical behavior should be based effectually on sympathy, education, and social ties; no religious basis is necessary. Man would indeed be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death. (Albert Einstein, physicist, Nobel laureate, 1879-1955)

Consider the Apostle Paul when speaking before Felix the governor:

"And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he (Paul) reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled" - Acts 24:24-25

Israel's reality . . .

"If the Arabs put down their weapons today, there would be no more violence.

If the Jews put down their weapons today, there would be no more Israel!"

- Benjamin Netanyahu

Oops! Presumption does another in. . .

"They couldn't hit an elephant at this dist - -" -last words of General Sedgwick

John Sedgwick - Wikipedia

The Little Mars Rover That Could

Something Wonderful: The Little Mars Rover That Could @ AMERICAN DIGEST

To the rover, Spirit:

It was a big job to ask
of little gears and chips
and shiny foil.
To race alone through nothingness,
to taste the red dust
of a land no soul calls
home.

But, like the little pill bug
that entertained an earthling
with his plodding in the rain,
you rolled on.

But if you stop,
burdened by the dust
or an unseen crack
in the cosmic sidewalk,
who is there to pick you up,
dust you off,
or place you gently
under a leaf?

There will most likely never be a human's bootprint on the surface of Mars; it's now way too expensive and too dangerous for humans to spend so much time in a vacuum full of cosmic rays, and by the time we have the resources and the technology to do it safely there will be no point; robots will have long been doing a better job of exploration, far more cheaply.

But the little rover that could has shown why that is no great loss. We're there with the little guy and will be with all his successors.

Writing in pictures...

"The brambles and the thorns grew thick and thicker in a ticking thicket of bickering crickets. Farther along and stronger, bonged the gongs of a throng of frogs, green and vivid on their lily pads. From the sky came the crying of flies, and the pilgrims leaped over a bleating sheep creeping knee-deep in a sleepy stream, in which swift and slippery snakes slid and slithered silkily, whispering sinful secrets." From James Thurber, The 13 Clocks (New York, 1957)

Let's bow our knee today. . .

"Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name: that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

-Philippians 2:5 - 11

Standing by what authority?

Sin is sin.

First, you have to define sin.

Then you have to reveal the authority behind the definition.

Then you have to stand by that authority as unbelievers scoff at your unscientific, reactionary, outdated, bigoted beliefs.

Israel helps Haiti

ISRAEL’S DISPROPORTIONATE RESPONSE

Because of Israel’s long history of enduring bomb and missile attacks the Israeli army (the IDF) is one of the most experienced in the world in treating mass-injuries and using specially trained sniffer dogs to locate wounded persons in the rubble.

The IDF was one of the first on the scene in Haiti last week (sending considerably more troops and doctors than, for example, Britain and France did). Hundreds, if not thousands of Haitians have already been treated (and many life-saving surgeries performed) in the IDF Medical and Rescue Field Hospital, set up in a large tent on a soccer field in Port-Au-Prince. In addition, Israeli forces have located and rescued survivors trapped in ruined buildings, including many who were injured during the collapse of the UN headquarters

Grover

October 16, 1919 - January 9, 2010

Uncle Grover has passed into eternity.

The last of the Anderson boys. Andy, some called him.

When we were children, with his stutter and laugh, he was a larger than life presence as he came from Detroit to visit us at the Linough farm in Ensign during hunting season.

Then in his later years you can still see all the fence posts and wire he put up to enclose the farm after he and Bea retired. Work, work, work...moving around on his four-wheeler.

Mother cured him of his cancer with carrot juice (she says).

He enjoyed life and had many years.

May he have entered into his eternal rest, in Christ Jesus.

Facts

Facts are stubborn things. (John Adams)

Where is the promise of His coming?

I used to expect Jesus to come and save us. Something seems to be delaying Him. (From friend at Forgotten Prophets)

"Where is the promise of His coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." (2 Peter 3:4).

"For this they willingly are ignorant of...the Lord is not slack concerning His promise...but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9).

For Jason . . .

Jimmy Piersal on how to diaper a baby:

Spread the diaper in the position of the diamond with you at bat. Then fold second base down to home and set the baby on the pitcher's mound. Put first base and third together, bring up home plate and pin the three together. Of course, in case of rain, you gotta call the game and start all over again.

Sweet Babe. . .

If one feels the need of something grand, something infinite, something that makes one feel aware of God, one need not go far to find it. I think that I see something deeper, more infinite, more eternal than the ocean in the expression of the eyes of a little baby when it wakes in the morning and coos or laughs because it sees the sun shining on its cradle. - Vincent van Gogh -

Our little girl is full-term. She is comfortable and warm, the Doctor says, and not anxious to leave what she knows for what she doesn't.

Even so, the space is getting more confining every day, and the time for exit is imminent. We are waiting to see her smiles. Should be soon.

That's Greek to me. . .

Koine Greek parchment

Unless you understand Koine Greek as well as you do English, when you combine an interlinear text (done by men) and a lexicon (compiled by men) you are using your limited understanding of a foreign language as a substitute for a real translation.

I will not tell you not to learn or study Greek, but remember that there is no good reason to think the result of all this is a better translation than a thorough translation done by real scholars as is the King James translation of the Hebrew and Greek majority text.

I believe the best approach is to take the KJV (King James Version) and read it. Compare one part against another. It is a literal translation, except where a completely literal translation would be clearly wrong.

The KJV translators deliberately left clues throughout the text to indicate the original word. For instance, in the Old Testament if you see LORD in all capitals, the word in Hebrew was Jehovah. The word Lord, with just the first letter capitalized, indicates the word was translated from the Hebrew, Adonai. And God indicates the Hebrew word was Elohim.

None of this takes away the ability to look at a Greek or Hebrew word if you’re so inclined, as many Greek to English word books are available to purchase. A good one is Strong's Concordance, which I use.

Presumption. . .

"Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me" (Psalm 19:13).

noun = the act of presuming; assumption of something as true; an assumption, often not fully established, that is taken for granted in some piece of reasoning; unwarrantable, unbecoming, or impertinent boldness. Synonyms: audacity, effrontery, arrogance, gall.

Presumption is the lowest form of knowledge.

How do we keep from presumptuous sins?

By letting God's Word, the Bible, be our standard of truth, not our own reasoning.

Who will have all men to be . . .

"...this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; Who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time" (I Timothy 2:3-5).

From Matthew Henry commentary:

God bears a goodwill to all mankind. There is one God, and one only. This one God will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth. It concerns us to get the knowledge of the truth, because that is the way to be saved.

There is one Mediator, and that Mediator gave Himself a ransom for all. As the mercy of God extends itself to all His works, so the mediation of Christ extends to all the children of men.

We deserved to have died. Christ died for us.

He put Himself into the office of Mediator between God and man.

A mediator supposes a controversy. Sin had made a quarrel between us and God. Jesus Christ is a Mediator to bring God and man together.

(God is so good to us. And His salvation, found in Christ Jesus, so right and available to us all. "O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!" (Romans 11:33). May we all be rejoicing in this salvation!)

The real person . . .

Beethoven

One key factor that separates man from all lower creatures: man's ability to form conceptual ideas and to express them in words and music and art! We are made in the image of God our Creator and the lover of our souls. The same cannot be said of any other living creature.

This simple fact reveals the futility of searching the world of fossils to find a "missing link" between man and lower creatures of any kind. It is equally futile to search the DNA of man and animals for a missing link. Neither the skeletal structure nor the DNA has anything to do with who the person really is.

Even if the complete skeletons and DNA of Albert Einstein, Charles Dickens, and Ludwig van Beethoven could be discovered, would they hold the key to the genius of these men? Of course not! The real person is a nonphysical being living inside the physical body. This fact is indisputable.

The Berean Call Website! thebereancall.org

Happy MMX . . .

Russians Going To Blow Up Asteroid

The asteroid, Apophis, supposedly has only a 1-in-45,000 chance of hitting Earth. But that's too close for comfort for the Russians so they're planning a mission to steer it away from us.

The US is not sure this is a good idea. All the Russians promise is that it 'won't involve nuclear explosions' and that they 'will obey the laws of physics'.

The Word of God speaks of an asteroid which will fall to the earth during the Tribulation time:

"And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters: and the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became wormwood; and many men died of the waters, because they were made bitter" (Revelation 8:10-11).

We are living in the time of God's grace where these trumpet judgments are all future, but as the Lord Jesus Christ is absent and rejected in this world, these days are called "man's day" where man is the measure of all things, and he is the fixer of all problems. It is interesting to see how far man has progressed with the mind and matter God has given him.

P.S.
As we prepare to enter a new year, may everyone reading have already taken the step of trusting in Jesus Christ as Savior, and have appropriated His death as the payment of ALL sins, past, present and future. He truly is worthy to be trusted. And then, a very Happy New Year to all.

New Year's Blue Moon

Once in a blue moon there is one on New Year's Eve.

Ringing in 2010 we will be treated to a blue moon. According to popular definition, a blue moon is the second full moon in a month. But don't expect it to be blue - the name has nothing to do with the color. 'Blue moon' is just a name in the same sense as a 'hunter's moon' or a 'harvest moon'.

A full moon occurred on Dec. 2. It will appear again on Thursday in time for the New Year's countdown.

A full moon occurs every 29.5 days, and most years have 12. On average, an extra full moon in a month - a blue moon - occurs every 2.5 years. The last time there was a lunar double was in May 2007. New Year's Eve blue moons are rarer, occurring every 19 years. The last time was in 1990; the next one won't come again until 2028.

"O LORD our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth! who hast set Thy glory above the heavens. When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; what is man, that Thou art mindful of him?" (Psalm 8:1,3,4)

Ah, yes, what is man that God is mindful of us?

We are created in His image (Genesis 1:26) and He loves us (John 3:16).

As God is mindful of us, let us be mindful of Him in this new year.

How silently the gift is given. . .

Silent night! holy night!
All is calm, all is bright,
Round yon virgin mother and Child,
Holy Infant, so tender and mild--
Christ the Savior is born!
Christ the Savior is born!
--Silent Night

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is giv'n!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heav'n.
No ear may hear His coming,
But, in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him still
The dear Christ enters in.
--O Little Town of Bethlehem

December 21 - Solstice

The Solstice Seen from Newgrange @ AMERICAN DIGEST

Wonderful Christ

For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given:
and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called
Wonderful,
Counsellor,
The mighty God,
The everlasting Father,
The Prince of Peace.
-- Isaiah 9:6

The Case For Christmas

Defense and Confirmation: The Case For Christmas with Lee Strobel