April 6, 2014

From: Eric Lyons, M.Min. ... Who Makes the World’s Best Fliers?






http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=2229



Who Makes the World’s Best Fliers?

by  Eric Lyons, M.Min.

For more than seven years, Dr. Robert Wood and a team of researchers from Harvard University have been studying flies and attempting to build a life-size, flying robot that can mimic the flight of living flies. The government is hopeful that robotic flies might one day be used as spies in surveillance missions, as well as to detect toxic chemicals used by terrorists. On July 19, 2007, MIT’s Technology Review announced that Wood’s “robotic fly has taken flight at Harvard University” (Ross, 2007). Dr. Ron Fearing of the University of California, Berkeley has been studying the dynamics of insect flight for years. In fact, he is Wood’s former Ph.D. advisor. He called Wood’s robotic flying insect “a major breakthrough” (as quoted in Ross).
What do brilliant scientists have to show for their seven plus years of research on flies? What was the “major project milestone” reported in Technology Review? Why was Wood joyfully “jumping up and down in the lab” (Ross)? Answer: his life-size robotic fly took off. It cannot maneuver in the air. It is unable to be controlled. It cannot avoid obstacles. It cannot slow down and land on a specific target. It does not have its own power source (and even if it did, it could provide no more than five minutes of power to fly). “At the moment, Wood’s fly is limited by a tether that keeps it moving in a straight, upward direction” (Ross). Yet, since “a lot of people thought it would never be able to take off,” such a feat is considered remarkable.
Admittedly, Woods and his colleagues have done a superb job in building a life-size robotic fly that can move upward on a tether by flapping its synthetic wings. It takes extremely intelligent individuals to develop their own fabrication process and manufacture a tiny robot that resembles and mimics (to some degree) living flies. Yet, these same men advocate that real flies, which have “long puzzled scientists and bedazzled engineers” with their “magical,” “sophisticated,” “intricate maneuvers,” are the end result of mindless time and chance, i.e., evolution (Dye, 2007). Such a proposition defies common sense!
Were Woods and his team of researchers to leave hundreds of tiny carbon-polymer pieces lying around in a lab for 100 years (or one billion years!), no reasonable person would conclude that, eventually, time and chance would assemble a robotic fly, much less one that maneuvers as well as a real fly. It has taken intelligent, hardworking scientists more than seven years just to make a robotic fly lift off the ground.
Who made the often imitated, but never duplicated living fly that can “change the direction of its flight by 90 degrees in about 50 thousandths of a second” (Dye)? Who designed the fruit fly’s “spiffy neuron-circuitry” that allows it to rotate from north to west and then zip westward “in one-fifth the blink of a human eye” (Dye)? Who made the fly, its sesame-seed size brain, and its complicated flight dynamics that scientists have been unable to “figure out” fully even after several years of study? Did mere time and chance create the common fly, which Dr. Michael Dickinson of the California Institute of Technology said has “the fastest visual system” and “most powerful muscles on the planet” (as quoted in Dye)? Should we conclude, as did Dr. Wood, that “[n]ature makes the world’s best fliers” (as quoted in Ross)? Certainly not! Only a superior Intelligence outside and above nature’s time and chance logically explains the existence of intricate design. Indeed, God is the builder and maker of all things (Hebrews 3:4).

REFERENCES

Dye, Lee (2007), “Scientists Study the Amazing Flight of Flies,” ABC News, [On-line], URL: http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/story?id=97651&page=1.
Ross, Rachel (2007), “Robotic Insect Takes Off for the First Time,” Technology Review, [On-line], URL: http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/19068/.

From: Jim McGuiggan.... Books, critics and Snoopy


Books, critics and Snoopy

Dorothy Parker a syndicated columnist with a razor-sharp tongue had a column under the name of "Constant Reader". She read one of those syrupy romance books, the kind that simply drips with sugar and in reviewing it she wrote as if she had a lisp. "Twonstant weeda fwoed up." I know it's the wickedness in me, but I can’t help taking pleasure in that!
Of course, I’d hate to have been the author of that book she reviewed. Come to think of it, I have been the author of more than one book that’s been trashed by reviewers. My books just don’t sell. Still, if I could write as Dorothy Parker wrote I’d have no trouble.
Writers of all kinds offer themselves for target practice, don’t they? One poor poet wrote a two-liner and a critic remarked on it. "Quite good, but with long dry stretches."
The Irish playwright and conversationalist Oscar Wilde had a go at no less a figure than Charles Dickens. Of Dickens’ telling of the death of Little Nell, Wilde said something like, "You would have to have a heart of stone not to laugh out loud at the death of little Nell."
Pity the poor authors that take themselves too seriously.
But I think that’s one of the secrets of a happy life: to be able to make the best of and find pleasure in whatever the result is of...whatever.
Take the case of Snoopy in the Peanuts series. He keeps sending manuscripts off to publishing editors (obviously a lot of them must have gone to the same editor) and he continues to get rejections. One rejection note he’s reading has to be read in a voice that rises to a crescendo. It had something like: "Will you stop sending me your useless manuscripts. I hate them, they’re a waste of time, I’m sick and tired looking at them. Stop sending them!" Snoopy walks off grinning with ear-to-ear pleasure and says, "I just love to hear editors beg."
Atta boy, Snoop!
Then there was that caustic book review I read that said, "Professor ‘X’ has written his book again."
Ouch!
But there’s no accounting for taste, is there? What is ambrosia to some is sawdust to others. What to some is like a bowl of strawberries and ice-cream is like licking carpet to others. Oh well.
Think I’ll see if I can catch up with Snoopy.

From Mark Copeland... The Christian & Temptations (James 1:12-18)

                         "THE EPISTLE OF JAMES"

                   The Christian & Temptations (1:12-18)
                                
INTRODUCTION

1. One of the greatest challenges of living the Christian life is dealing
   with "temptations"

2. This is especially true for new Christians:
   a. For it can be frustrating to know that your sins have been 
      forgiven...
   b. ...only to immediately find yourself bombarded by temptations to
      continue in your sins

3. In Jm 1:12-18, we find helpful words for the Christian in the form
   of:
   a. A PROMISE to those who endure temptations
   b. A CAUTION not to wrongfully impugn the source of those
      temptations
   c. AN UNDERSTANDING of how sin develops

[As we begin with verse 12, we notice...]

I. THE PROMISE (12)

   A. THE MAN WHO ENDURES TEMPTATION WILL BE "BLESSED"...
      1. The Greek word for "blessed" is "makarios"
      2. Which means "happy, blessed"
      3. The nature of the happiness enjoyed is described as the verse
         continues...

   B. FOR AFTER HE HAS BEEN "PROVED" HE WILL RECEIVE "THE CROWN OF
      LIFE"...
      1. The promise is that of "eternal life"
      2. The promise is given by Him Who cannot lie - cf. Tit 1:2
      3. The promise is given to those who "demonstrate" (prove) their
         love for God by their endurance of the temptations

[And so, to Christians facing temptations, first we have an ENCOURAGING 
word.  As we read on, though, we notice a word of CAUTION...]

II. THE CAUTION (13, 16-18)

   A. LET NO ONE SAY THEY ARE TEMPTED BY GOD! (13)
      1. That is, to blame God for their temptations
      2. For God is so HOLY:
         a. He cannot be tempted by evil
         b. Nor does He tempt anyone to do evil

   B. SO DON'T BE DECEIVED INTO SUCH THINKING (16-18)
      1. God is the source of GOOD, not evil!
      2. Every good and perfect gift comes from Him!
      3. As an example, it was of His Own Will that He brought us forth
         a. Which He did by the "word of truth" (the gospel) - cf. 1 Pe 1:22-23
         b. So we might be a kind of "firstfruits" (the "cream of the
            crop") of His creatures

[This being true, certainly God would not tempt us with evil!  In fact, 
through the words of James God gives us insight into the development of 
sin which can help us to overcome sin...]

III. THE UNDERSTANDING (14-15)

   A. HOW SIN DEVELOPS...
      1. The first stage is TEMPTATION (14)
         a. This stage involves two things:
            1) LUST (desires, NKJV) - a strong desire for something
            2) ENTICEMENT - an opportunity and encouragement to satisfy
               the desire
         b. Put into a mathematical formula:

                  Temptation = Desire + Opportunity

         c. E.g., a small boy is TEMPTED to steal some cookies when he
            WANTS them (desire) and has a good chance to get them and
            not be seen (opportunity)
         d. But remember, it is NOT a sin to be TEMPTED - cf. the example
            of Jesus, He 4:15
      2. The second stage in the development of sin is SIN ITSELF (15)
         a. Temptation leads to sin only when you yield and ACT upon it
         b. Sin therefore requires the added step of ACTION
         c. Putting it again in mathematical terms:

                  Sin = Desire + Opportunity + Action

      3. The final stage is the consequence of unforgiven sin: DEATH
         (15)
         a. This refers to spiritual separation from God, which is the
            "wages of sin" - Ro 6:23
         b. Ultimately such "death" involves eternal punishment - Re 21:8
         c. Putting it once more in the form of an equation:

         Desire + Opportunity + Action + No Forgiveness = Punishment!

   [Sin and Satan will have overcome if we receive this final punishment.
   But with this understanding of how sin develops, we are in a better
   position to overcome sin...]

   B. HOW TO OVERCOME SIN...

      1. CHANGE OUR "DESIRES"
         a. Since this is where the process of sin begins, it is the best
            place for us to begin
         b. Bear in mind that it is a part of Christian growth to change
            our desires - Ro 12:1-2; Ga 5:24
         c. How do we change our desires?
            1) Notice that the WORD OF GOD has always been instrumental
               in helping people overcome sin - Ps 119:11; Mt 4:3-10
            2) To see how the Word of God can change our desires...
               a) As we read of God's love, longsuffering and mercy, we
                  desire to serve Him - Ps 116:12-14
               b) As we read of sin and its damnable consequences, we
                  come to hate it! - Ps 119:104
         d. So the more we study God's Word, the less likely we will have
            the DESIRE to sin, thereby beginning to overcome sin by
            "nipping it in the bud"!

      [But changing our desires takes time; while engaged in the process
      of changing our desires, what else can we do?]

      2. LIMIT OUR "OPPORTUNITIES"
         a. Remember, we are tempted only when there is BOTH desire and
            opportunity
         b. So while we work on changing our desires, we should limit the
            opportunities to fulfill wrongful desires
         c. This can be done by ASKING FOR GOD'S PROVIDENTIAL HELP, as
            Jesus taught - Mt 6:13; 26:41
         d. We can cooperate with God by:
            1) Purposely avoiding situations that might excite wrongful
               desires
               a) Following the example of David - Ps 101:3-4
               b) And the example of Job - Job 31:1
            2) Avoiding those whose evil behavior encourages us to sin
               with them
               a) Again, David sets a good example - Ps 101:6-7
               b) Paul also adds his warning - 1Co 15:33

      [But we will unlikely remove EVERY desire and opportunity to sin in
      this life, what then?]

      3. EXERCISE "SELF-CONTROL"
         a. Remember, it becomes sin when we yield to ACTION in
            fulfilling our sinful desires
         b. If we can control ourselves so as to not yield, then we can
            overcome sin!
         c. How does the Christian exercise self-control?
            1) Self-control is but one aspect of the "fruit of the
               Spirit" - Ga 5:22-23
            2) When we become Christians, we receive the gift of the Holy
               Spirit in our lives - Ac 2:38; 5:32
            3) The Spirit is God's instrumental agent by which He imparts
               strength to us - Ep 3:16
            4) Strengthened by the Spirit, we are able to "put to death
               the deeds of the body" - Ro 8:12-13
            5) As Paul said:  "I can do all things through Him who
               strengthens me." - Php 4:13
         d. It is through faith in God's Word that the Christian believes
            that he has this divine help - Ep 3:20
            1) It is certainly proper to pray for it, as Paul did in
               behalf of the Ephesians - Ep 3:16
            2) But equally important, to act upon it, trusting that you
               are not alone as you try to do God's will - Php 2:12-13
            3) As an exercise commercial once said:  JUST DO IT!
         e. The Christian, then, has no excuse for yielding to a
            temptation - 1Co 10:13

      [But there may be times when we don't take advantage of the
      strength God provides through His Spirit, and we sin; what then?]

      4. OBTAIN "FORGIVENESS"
         a. Remember that sin is victorious when it results in punishment
         b. But if we obtain forgiveness through the blood of Christ, we
            can avoid that punishment and thereby still overcome sin!
            - 1Jn 2:1-2
         c. Yes, Christ is truly the "propitiation" for our sins!
            1) By His blood, we were forgiven of past sins when united
               with Him in BAPTISM - Ac 2:38; 22:16; Re 1:5
            2) By His blood, we can be forgiven of present sins when we
               REPENT, PRAY, and CONFESS our sins to God - Ac 8:22;
               1Jn 1:9
         d. At any time the Christian can overcome sins that were
            committed, by repenting and confessing them to God!

CONCLUSION

1. Indeed, we can overcome sin by stopping its development at ANY one
   of the four stages leading to the final punishment!

2. If you noticed carefully, you should have seen that at each of the
   four points in the development of sin, God is able and willing to help
   us overcome sin!
   a. God helps us to "control our desires" by providing His WORD to
      renew our minds
   b. God helps us to "limit the opportunities" through His PROVIDENCE
      as we pray for such
   c. God helps us to "exercise self-control" over our actions through
      His SPIRIT strengthening the inner man
   d. God helps us to "obtain forgiveness" through THE BLOOD OF HIS SON
      as we repent and pray

3. So how could anyone say that God would tempt us to sin?
   a. Certainly He is the giver of every good and perfect gift! - Jm 1:17
   b. Even as Paul wrote, in 2Th 3:3; 1Co 10:13

4. Have you taken advantage of God's way of escape for the sins you have
   committed?

If not, why not do so by obeying the gospel, the Word of Truth, and
become one of the "firstfruits of His creatures"?

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Gary... Bible Reading April, 6



Bible Reading  
April, 6

The World English Bible


Apr. 6
Numbers 3, 4
Num 3:1 Now this is the history of the generations of Aaron and Moses in the day that Yahweh spoke with Moses in Mount Sinai.
Num 3:2 These are the names of the sons of Aaron: Nadab the firstborn, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar.
Num 3:3 These are the names of the sons of Aaron, the priests who were anointed, whom he consecrated to minister in the priest's office.
Num 3:4 Nadab and Abihu died before Yahweh, when they offered strange fire before Yahweh, in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. Eleazar and Ithamar ministered in the priest's office in the presence of Aaron their father.
Num 3:5 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Num 3:6 "Bring the tribe of Levi near, and set them before Aaron the priest, that they may minister to him.
Num 3:7 They shall keep his requirements, and the requirements of the whole congregation before the Tent of Meeting, to do the service of the tabernacle.
Num 3:8 They shall keep all the furnishings of the Tent of Meeting, and the obligations of the children of Israel, to do the service of the tabernacle.
Num 3:9 You shall give the Levites to Aaron and to his sons. They are wholly given to him on the behalf of the children of Israel.
Num 3:10 You shall appoint Aaron and his sons, and they shall keep their priesthood. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death."
Num 3:11 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Num 3:12 "Behold, I have taken the Levites from among the children of Israel instead of all the firstborn who open the womb among the children of Israel; and the Levites shall be mine:
Num 3:13 for all the firstborn are mine. On the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt I made holy to me all the firstborn in Israel, both man and animal. They shall be mine. I am Yahweh."
Num 3:14 Yahweh spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, saying,
Num 3:15 "Count the children of Levi by their fathers' houses, by their families. You shall count every male from a month old and upward."
Num 3:16 Moses numbered them according to the word of Yahweh, as he was commanded.
Num 3:17 These were the sons of Levi by their names: Gershon, and Kohath, and Merari.
Num 3:18 These are the names of the sons of Gershon by their families: Libni and Shimei.
Num 3:19 The sons of Kohath by their families: Amram, and Izhar, Hebron, and Uzziel.
Num 3:20 The sons of Merari by their families: Mahli and Mushi. These are the families of the Levites according to their fathers' houses.
Num 3:21 Of Gershon was the family of the Libnites, and the family of the Shimeites: these are the families of the Gershonites.
Num 3:22 Those who were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, even those who were numbered of them were seven thousand five hundred.
Num 3:23 The families of the Gershonites shall encamp behind the tabernacle westward.
Num 3:24 The prince of the fathers' house of the Gershonites shall be Eliasaph the son of Lael.
Num 3:25 The duty of the sons of Gershon in the Tent of Meeting shall be the tabernacle, and the tent, its covering, and the screen for the door of the Tent of Meeting,
Num 3:26 and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the door of the court, which is by the tabernacle, and around the altar, and its cords for all of its service.
Num 3:27 Of Kohath was the family of the Amramites, and the family of the Izharites, and the family of the Hebronites, and the family of the Uzzielites: these are the families of the Kohathites.
Num 3:28 According to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, there were eight thousand six hundred, keeping the requirements of the sanctuary.
Num 3:29 The families of the sons of Kohath shall encamp on the south side of the tabernacle.
Num 3:30 The prince of the fathers' house of the families of the Kohathites shall be Elizaphan the son of Uzziel.
Num 3:31 Their duty shall be the ark, the table, the lamp stand, the altars, the vessels of the sanctuary with which they minister, and the screen, and all its service.
Num 3:32 Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be prince of the princes of the Levites, with the oversight of those who keep the requirements of the sanctuary.
Num 3:33 Of Merari was the family of the Mahlites, and the family of the Mushites. These are the families of Merari.
Num 3:34 Those who were numbered of them, according to the number of all the males, from a month old and upward, were six thousand two hundred.
Num 3:35 The prince of the fathers' house of the families of Merari was Zuriel the son of Abihail. They shall encamp on the north side of the tabernacle.
Num 3:36 The appointed duty of the sons of Merari shall be the tabernacle's boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets, all its instruments, all its service,
Num 3:37 the pillars of the court around it, their sockets, their pins, and their cords.
Num 3:38 Those who encamp before the tabernacle eastward, in front of the Tent of Meeting toward the sunrise, shall be Moses, and Aaron and his sons, keeping the requirements of the sanctuary for the duty of the children of Israel. The stranger who comes near shall be put to death.
Num 3:39 All who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron numbered at the commandment of Yahweh, by their families, all the males from a month old and upward, were twenty-two thousand.
Num 3:40 Yahweh said to Moses, "Number all the firstborn males of the children of Israel from a month old and upward, and take the number of their names.
Num 3:41 You shall take the Levites for me (I am Yahweh) instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel; and the livestock of the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the livestock of the children of Israel."
Num 3:42 Moses numbered, as Yahweh commanded him, all the firstborn among the children of Israel.
Num 3:43 All the firstborn males according to the number of names, from a month old and upward, of those who were numbered of them, were twenty-two thousand two hundred seventy-three.
Num 3:44 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Num 3:45 "Take the Levites instead of all the firstborn among the children of Israel, and the livestock of the Levites instead of their livestock; and the Levites shall be mine. I am Yahweh.
Num 3:46 For the redemption of the two hundred seventy-three of the firstborn of the children of Israel, who exceed the number of the Levites,
Num 3:47 you shall take five shekels apiece for each one; after the shekel of the sanctuary you shall take them (the shekel is twenty gerahs):
Num 3:48 and you shall give the money, with which the remainder of them is redeemed, to Aaron and to his sons."
Num 3:49 Moses took the redemption money from those who exceeded the number of those who were redeemed by the Levites;
Num 3:50 from the firstborn of the children of Israel he took the money, one thousand three hundred sixty-five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary:
Num 3:51 and Moses gave the redemption money to Aaron and to his sons, according to the word of Yahweh, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
Num 4:1 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,
Num 4:2 "Take a census of the sons of Kohath from among the sons of Levi, by their families, by their fathers' houses,
Num 4:3 from thirty years old and upward even until fifty years old, all who enter into the service, to do the work in the Tent of Meeting.
Num 4:4 This is the service of the sons of Kohath in the Tent of Meeting, the most holy things.
Num 4:5 When the camp moves forward, Aaron shall go in, and his sons, and they shall take down the veil of the screen, and cover the ark of the Testimony with it,
Num 4:6 and shall put a covering of sealskin on it, and shall spread over it a cloth all of blue, and shall put in its poles.
Num 4:7 On the table of show bread they shall spread a blue cloth, and put on it the dishes, the spoons, the bowls, and the cups with which to pour out; and the continual bread shall be on it.
Num 4:8 They shall spread on them a scarlet cloth, and cover the same with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in its poles.
Num 4:9 They shall take a blue cloth, and cover the lampstand of the light, and its lamps, and its snuffers, and its snuff dishes, and all its oil vessels, with which they minister to it.
Num 4:10 They shall put it and all its vessels within a covering of sealskin, and shall put it on the frame.
Num 4:11 On the golden altar they shall spread a blue cloth, and cover it with a covering of sealskin, and shall put in its poles.
Num 4:12 They shall take all the vessels of ministry, with which they minister in the sanctuary, and put them in a blue cloth, and cover them with a covering of sealskin, and shall put them on the frame.
Num 4:13 They shall take away the ashes from the altar, and spread a purple cloth on it.
Num 4:14 They shall put on it all its vessels, with which they minister about it, the fire pans, the flesh hooks, the shovels, and the basins; all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread on it a covering of sealskin, and put in its poles.
Num 4:15 "When Aaron and his sons have finished covering the sanctuary, and all the furniture of the sanctuary, as the camp moves forward; after that, the sons of Kohath shall come to carry it: but they shall not touch the sanctuary, lest they die. These things are the burden of the sons of Kohath in the Tent of Meeting.
Num 4:16 "The duty of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest shall be the oil for the light, the sweet incense, the continual meal offering, and the anointing oil, the requirements of all the tabernacle, and of all that is in it, the sanctuary, and its furnishings."
Num 4:17 Yahweh spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying,
Num 4:18 "Don't cut off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites;
Num 4:19 but thus do to them, that they may live, and not die, when they approach to the most holy things: Aaron and his sons shall go in, and appoint them everyone to his service and to his burden;
Num 4:20 but they shall not go in to see the sanctuary even for a moment, lest they die."
Num 4:21 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,
Num 4:22 "Take a census of the sons of Gershon also, by their fathers' houses, by their families;
Num 4:23 you shall count them from thirty years old and upward until fifty years old; all who enter in to wait on the service, to do the work in the Tent of Meeting.
Num 4:24 This is the service of the families of the Gershonites, in serving and in bearing burdens:
Num 4:25 they shall carry the curtains of the tabernacle, and the Tent of Meeting, its covering, and the covering of sealskin that is above on it, and the screen for the door of the Tent of Meeting,
Num 4:26 and the hangings of the court, and the screen for the door of the gate of the court, which is by the tabernacle and around the altar, and their cords, and all the instruments of their service, and whatever shall be done with them. Therein shall they serve.
Num 4:27 At the commandment of Aaron and his sons shall be all the service of the sons of the Gershonites, in all their burden, and in all their service; and you shall appoint their duty to them in all their responsibilities.
Num 4:28 This is the service of the families of the sons of the Gershonites in the Tent of Meeting: and their duty shall be under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest.
Num 4:29 "As for the sons of Merari, you shall number them by their families, by their fathers' houses;
Num 4:30 you shall count them from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who enters on the service, to do the work of the Tent of Meeting.
Num 4:31 This is the duty of their burden, according to all their service in the Tent of Meeting: the tabernacle's boards, its bars, its pillars, its sockets,
Num 4:32 and the pillars of the court around it, and their sockets, and their pins, and their cords, with all their instruments, and with all their service: and by name you shall appoint the instruments of the duty of their burden.
Num 4:33 This is the service of the families of the sons of Merari, according to all their service, in the Tent of Meeting, under the hand of Ithamar the son of Aaron the priest."
Num 4:34 Moses and Aaron and the princes of the congregation numbered the sons of the Kohathites by their families, and by their fathers' houses,
Num 4:35 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered into the service, for work in the Tent of Meeting.
Num 4:36 Those who were numbered of them by their families were two thousand seven hundred fifty.
Num 4:37 These are those who were numbered of the families of the Kohathites, all who served in the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Yahweh by Moses.
Num 4:38 Those who were numbered of the sons of Gershon, their families, and by their fathers' houses,
Num 4:39 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered into the service, for work in the Tent of Meeting,
Num 4:40 even those who were numbered of them, by their families, by their fathers' houses, were two thousand six hundred thirty.
Num 4:41 These are those who were numbered of the families of the sons of Gershon, all who served in the Tent of Meeting, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Yahweh.
Num 4:42 Those who were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, by their families, by their fathers' houses,
Num 4:43 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered into the service, for work in the Tent of Meeting,
Num 4:44 even those who were numbered of them by their families, were three thousand two hundred.
Num 4:45 These are those who were numbered of the families of the sons of Merari, whom Moses and Aaron numbered according to the commandment of Yahweh by Moses.
Num 4:46 All those who were numbered of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the princes of Israel numbered, by their families, and by their fathers' houses,
Num 4:47 from thirty years old and upward even to fifty years old, everyone who entered in to do the work of service, and the work of bearing burdens in the Tent of Meeting,
Num 4:48 even those who were numbered of them, were eight thousand five hundred eighty.
Num 4:49 According to the commandment of Yahweh they were numbered by Moses, everyone according to his service, and according to his burden. Thus were they numbered by him, as Yahweh commanded Moses.
 
Apr. 6, 7
Luke 5
Luk 5:1 Now it happened, while the multitude pressed on him and heard the word of God, that he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret.
Luk 5:2 He saw two boats standing by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them, and were washing their nets.
Luk 5:3 He entered into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little from the land. He sat down and taught the multitudes from the boat.
Luk 5:4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into the deep, and let down your nets for a catch."
Luk 5:5 Simon answered him, "Master, we worked all night, and took nothing; but at your word I will let down the net."
Luk 5:6 When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was breaking.
Luk 5:7 They beckoned to their partners in the other boat, that they should come and help them. They came, and filled both boats, so that they began to sink.
Luk 5:8 But Simon Peter, when he saw it, fell down at Jesus' knees, saying, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, Lord."
Luk 5:9 For he was amazed, and all who were with him, at the catch of fish which they had caught;
Luk 5:10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. Jesus said to Simon, "Don't be afraid. From now on you will be catching people alive."
Luk 5:11 When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything, and followed him.
Luk 5:12 It happened, while he was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man full of leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face, and begged him, saying, "Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean."
Luk 5:13 He stretched out his hand, and touched him, saying, "I want to. Be made clean." Immediately the leprosy left him.
Luk 5:14 He commanded him to tell no one, "But go your way, and show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing according to what Moses commanded, for a testimony to them."
Luk 5:15 But the report concerning him spread much more, and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.
Luk 5:16 But he withdrew himself into the desert, and prayed.
Luk 5:17 It happened on one of those days, that he was teaching; and there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every village of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. The power of the Lord was with him to heal them.
Luk 5:18 Behold, men brought a paralyzed man on a cot, and they sought to bring him in to lay before Jesus.
Luk 5:19 Not finding a way to bring him in because of the multitude, they went up to the housetop, and let him down through the tiles with his cot into the midst before Jesus.
Luk 5:20 Seeing their faith, he said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."
Luk 5:21 The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, "Who is this that speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?"
Luk 5:22 But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, answered them, "Why are you reasoning so in your hearts?
Luk 5:23 Which is easier to say, 'Your sins are forgiven you;' or to say, 'Arise and walk?'
Luk 5:24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" (he said to the paralyzed man), "I tell you, arise, and take up your cot, and go to your house."
Luk 5:25 Immediately he rose up before them, and took up that which he was laying on, and departed to his house, glorifying God.
Luk 5:26 Amazement took hold on all, and they glorified God. They were filled with fear, saying, "We have seen strange things today."
Luk 5:27 After these things he went out, and saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the tax office, and said to him, "Follow me!"
Luk 5:28 He left everything, and rose up and followed him.
Luk 5:29 Levi made a great feast for him in his house. There was a great crowd of tax collectors and others who were reclining with them.
Luk 5:30 Their scribes and the Pharisees murmured against his disciples, saying, "Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?"
Luk 5:31 Jesus answered them, "Those who are healthy have no need for a physician, but those who are sick do.
Luk 5:32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."
Luk 5:33 They said to him, "Why do John's disciples often fast and pray, likewise also the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink?"
Luk 5:34 He said to them, "Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast, while the bridegroom is with them?
Luk 5:35 But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them. Then they will fast in those days."
Luk 5:36 He also told a parable to them. "No one puts a piece from a new garment on an old garment, or else he will tear the new, and also the piece from the new will not match the old.
Luk 5:37 No one puts new wine into old wineskins, or else the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be destroyed.
Luk 5:38 But new wine must be put into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.
Luk 5:39 No man having drunk old wine immediately desires new, for he says, 'The old is better.' "

From Gary... OSTENTATION


























Ostentation; a word that immediately came to my mind at first sight of this picture. 

Artha (one of Ubuntu's applications) defines it as:
ostentation ~ noun    uncommon
 1. a gaudy outward display
 2. lack of elegance as a consequence of being pompous and puffed up with vanity
 3. pretentious or showy or vulgar display
I like the way the Bible has a way of defining words that goes light-years beyond any simple definition from any dictionary...
Mark, Chapter 6
  1 He went out from there. He came into his own country, and his disciples followed him. 2 When the Sabbath had come, he began to teach in the synagogue, and many hearing him were astonished, saying, “Where did this man get these things?” and, “What is the wisdom that is given to this man, that such mighty works come about by his hands? 3 Isn’t this the carpenter, the son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judah, and Simon? Aren’t his sisters here with us?” They were offended at him. 

  4  Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own relatives, and in his own house.”   5 He could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people, and healed them.  6 He marveled because of their unbelief. 

He went around the villages teaching.  7 He called to himself the twelve, and began to send them out two by two; and he gave them authority over the unclean spirits.  8 He commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, except a staff only: no bread, no wallet, no money in their purse,  9 but to wear sandals, and not put on two tunics.  10 He said to them, “Wherever you enter into a house, stay there until you depart from there.   11  Whoever will not receive you nor hear you, as you depart from there, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony against them. Assuredly, I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!” 

  12  They went out and preached that people should repent.  13 They cast out many demons, and anointed many with oil who were sick, and healed them.
 16 But Herod, when he heard this, said, “This is John, whom I beheaded. He has risen from the dead.”  17 For Herod himself had sent out and arrested John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, for he had married her.  18 For John said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”  19 Herodias set herself against him, and desired to kill him, but she couldn’t,  20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he did many things, and he heard him gladly. 

  21  Then a convenient day came, that Herod on his birthday made a supper for his nobles, the high officers, and the chief men of Galilee.  22 When the daughter of Herodias herself came in and danced, she pleased Herod and those sitting with him. The king said to the young lady, “Ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.”  23 He swore to her, “Whatever you shall ask of me, I will give you, up to half of my kingdom.” 

  24  She went out, and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” 

She said, “The head of John the Baptizer.” 

  25  She came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, “I want you to give me right now the head of John the Baptizer on a platter.” 
  26  The king was exceedingly sorry, but for the sake of his oaths, and of his dinner guests, he didn’t wish to refuse her.  27 Immediately the king sent out a soldier of his guard, and commanded to bring John’s head, and he went and beheaded him in the prison,  28 and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the young lady; and the young lady gave it to her mother.
When you show off, you are headed for a fall.  People see right through you and use that to their advantage and your HURT!!!  Heroidias used Herod's OSTENTATION (and LUST) against him to seek revenge against JOHN THE BAPTIST, which is obvious from this passage.  So, be careful what kind of house you build (your physical AND spiritual house, that is) because someone may see a crack in it and bring you BOTH down. So much for OSTENTATION, THE OUTWARD EXPRESSION OF AN INWARD PRIDE!!!!