Understanding and the filters people use by Gary Rose

Today, I saw a picture of an owl (the one on the extreme left above) that was quite interesting to me. Interesting, because this little guy had turned his head to an extreme angle, which seemed to say that he was making quite an effort to understand me. Now, I am fairly sure that he is able to do this because the anatomy of his neck differs from yours and mine, but irregardless of how he does it- HE CAN DO IT!

Anyway, as you can see from the photo labels, I tried adjusting the original picture in the following ways: Black and White, Edge detection, Emboss and Outline. I did this to reciprocate his action- namely, it appears that he is trying to understand me, so I should do the same in return.

How do I understand HIM?

1. The original picture: as presented in normal understanding.

2. A very literal understanding (black and white) that is superficial.

3. A colored view (Edge detection) with my ideas colored by my own preconceived ideas.

4. A superficial view of his main ideas only (Embossed).

5. A selective view that (Outlines) only the ideas that I like and ignores the rest.

Then, I thought of the following passage from the Bible; it says…

Matthew 16 ( World English Bible )

¹³ Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

¹⁴ They said, “Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.”

¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Who is the Son of Man? People have differing opinions, which, like the picture at the top are mostly are the result of trying to understand him through something other than a straightforward method. Face it, people understand life as they wish to understand it! People use whatever filter they can to achieve the result they want, period. Only Simon Peter gave the correct answer. He just accepted Jesus based on the facts as he knew them. OK, its many, many, many years later, so what kind of conclusion do we arrive at? I don’t know what you will say, but I think that in spite of all the time that has passed, there is one thing that PROVES the identity of Jesus- HIS RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD! No one has ever produced his corpse, and for me, that is enough.

How about you?

Color Me Believing by Gary Rose

At first, I thought this picture was a phony; some manipulated effort to deceive. I did a little research on the internet and found many references to the Peruvian colored mountains, including the following picture…

 

 

Well, color me BELIEVING!

The above led me to think of a passage from the Gospel according to John…

The Bible Says...

John 20 (World English Bible)

¹⁹ When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were locked where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be to you.”

²⁰ When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples therefore were glad when they saw the Lord.

²¹ Jesus therefore said to them again, “Peace be to you. As the Father has sent me, even so I send you.”

²² When he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit!

²³ If you forgive anyone’s sins, they have been forgiven them. If you retain anyone’s sins, they have been retained.”

²⁴ But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, wasn’t with them when Jesus came.

²⁵ The other disciples therefore said to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

²⁶ After eight days again his disciples were inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the midst, and said, “Peace be to you.”

²⁷ Then he said to Thomas, “Reach here your finger, and see my hands. Reach here your hand, and put it into my side. Don’t be unbelieving, but believing.”

²⁸ Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”

²⁹ Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen, and have believed.”

³⁰ Therefore Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book;

³¹ but these are written, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.

What does it take to truly believe in God, and in JESUS? First, it takes a rational mind. Why? Because Jesus of Nazareth is probably the most documented person in history; investigate this for yourself and believe truth of it. Secondly, The Bible is founded upon thousands upon thousands of ancient manuscripts in Greek (the predominate language at the time of Jesus), which testify to the truth about this man. Third, from the first century to this very day, millions upon millions of people have died rather than deny him. Fourth, either what Jesus said was true or he was a mad-man. Just read the Gospel account of the Sermon on the mount (Matthew, Chapters 5-7) and you will quickly realize that no mad-man ever spoke like this!

I do not know who you are or what you believe, but believe me when I say that Jesus was exactly who he said was. No, Jesus is not physically here now, so that those who disbelieve can not use their hands to touch him like Thomas, but eventually he will return (and that will be too late for those who disbelieve).

I urge you to both believe in Jesus and obey his Gospel; your very life depends upon it! Consider Jesus’ last message as found in the Gospel of Matthew…

Matthew 28 (WEB)

¹⁶ But the eleven disciples went into Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had sent them.

¹⁷ When they saw him, they bowed down to him, but some doubted.

¹⁸ Jesus came to them and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.

¹⁹ Go, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

²⁰ teaching them to observe all things that I commanded you. Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Become a disciple by believing in Jesus, repenting of sin and being baptized for the remission of all your sins (see the book of Acts, the second chapter, for the first Gospel Sermon) and obeying his commandments for the rest of your life! Eventually, the age will change and Jesus will return and take his own to heaven.

Start with belief and go from there, it is entirely possible that Jesus will return in our lifetime! Believe these things, for they are absolutely true.

Will you Color yourself as Believing?