From Gary... Tornadoes, rainbows, fingers and righteous judgment

Looks like the "tornado" is sucking up the rainbow, doesn't it???  Could be. Most likely its photoshopped, but who knows.  My first thought was- its a bad day when someone destroys your rainbow.  Symbolically, it could mean the war of evil against good or perhaps the victory (check out the V) of God's word over even those most destructive forces in nature.  Also, it could just show the various ways God manifests himself. Consider, the nature of the Godhead.  One way to conceive of this idea is to imagine a vortex cloud. In it is force (the power of the wind), substance (the vapor that actually makes the cloud) and the shaping element that forms the ever fluctuating body of the funnel.

Like so many things in life, its all about how you see things.  Yesterday, brother Daniel Stearsman presented one of the best Bible study classes I have ever had the pleasure of being in. During the class, we diverged into the controversial topic of ladies dress in the assembly. It was quite interesting to observe the different starting points for individuals conclusions.  Personally, setting standards apart from the Biblical standards of spiritual insight is the wrong way to go, but I can see how others could reasonably form their own.

Now, all these things have been ruminating together with a movie I saw the other day on Netflix, called Patch Adams.  In it, Patch has committed himself to an institution because of suicidal thoughts (possibly actions?) and is confronted by a supposed genius.  This man holds up his fingers in front of Patch and asks him what he sees. Patch gives the right answer and finds out later that it really was the wrong answer.  Robin Williams was fantastic in this movie and if you haven't see it- do it today!!!  

And then there is the Bible. Jesus said...

John, Chapter 7 (WEB)

21  Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel because of it.   22  Moses has given you circumcision (not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers), and on the Sabbath you circumcise a boy.  23  If a boy receives circumcision on the Sabbath, that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me, because I made a man completely healthy on the Sabbath?   24  Don’t judge according to appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” 

What should ladies wear to church? Depends on your standard, doesn't it? Perhaps the best answer to the question is found by looking beyond that "fingers test" and looking at the person who is holding up the fingers in the first place.  Isn't this the essence of John 7:24??? You DECIDE!!!