December 10, 2015

From Gary... Colors, contrast and LIGHT!!!


What a beautiful picture!!!  It just reaches out and grabs you!!!  Why? Well, for me it is the contrasting strong colors together with the textures of the composition.  We see so much in our lifetimes, that it is easy to take things for granted and not really look at the sights around us. Light is a good thing and variations of color enrich our existence.  Yesterday, I took Linda to lunch in Dade City at a place that was reported to have great subs and they DO!!! Before we left, I thought I would indulge in a little ice cream and one of the options was something called "superman". What wonderful contrasting colors it had -something like this picture. 

God called light good and when the best of all light came into the world- he was called Jesus. 

Genesis, Chapter 1 (WEB)

 1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.  2 The earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep and God’s Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters. 

  3  God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.  4 God saw the light, and saw that it was good. God divided the light from the darkness.



John, Chapter 1 (WEB)
 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2 The same was in the beginning with God.  3 All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made.  4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men.  5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn’t overcome it. 

There is a lot of darkness in the world lately and the good news is that it will never overcome the true light. Christians are to be like Jesus- and this means being light for a dark world.

Jesus said...

Matthew, Chapter 5 (WEB)
 14  You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden.   15  Neither do you light a lamp, and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house.   16  Even so, let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. 

Shine for the love of God and for Jesus! Be the very best you can be- in fact, be super!!! Wow! Now I really am going to have to try that "superman" ice cream!!!

From Gary... Bible Reading December 10


Bible Reading  



December 10



The World English Bible



Dec. 10
Daniel 5-8
Dan 5:1 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.
Dan 5:2 Belshazzar, while he tasted the wine, commanded to bring the golden and silver vessels which Nebuchadnezzar his father had taken out of the temple which was in Jerusalem; that the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, might drink from them.
Dan 5:3 Then they brought the golden vessels that were taken out of the temple of the house of God which was at Jerusalem; and the king and his lords, his wives and his concubines, drank from them.
Dan 5:4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.
Dan 5:5 In the same hour came forth the fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the lampstand on the plaster of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
Dan 5:6 Then the king's face was changed in him, and his thoughts troubled him; and the joints of his thighs were loosened, and his knees struck one against another.
Dan 5:7 The king cried aloud to bring in the enchanters, the Chaldeans, and the soothsayers. The king spoke and said to the wise men of Babylon, Whoever shall read this writing, and show me its interpretation, shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
Dan 5:8 Then came in all the king's wise men; but they could not read the writing, nor make known to the king the interpretation.
Dan 5:9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his face was changed in him, and his lords were perplexed.
Dan 5:10 Now the queen by reason of the words of the king and his lords came into the banquet house: the queen spoke and said, O king, live forever; don't let your thoughts trouble you, nor let your face be changed.
Dan 5:11 There is a man in your kingdom, in whom is the spirit of the holy gods; and in the days of your father light and understanding and wisdom, like the wisdom of the gods, were found in him; and the king Nebuchadnezzar your father, the king, I say, your father, made him master of the magicians, enchanters, Chaldeans, and soothsayers;
Dan 5:12 because an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and showing of dark sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar. Now let Daniel be called, and he will show the interpretation.
Dan 5:13 Then was Daniel brought in before the king. The king spoke and said to Daniel, Are you that Daniel, who are of the children of the captivity of Judah, whom the king my father brought out of Judah?
Dan 5:14 I have heard of you, that the spirit of the gods is in you, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom are found in you.
Dan 5:15 Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known to me its interpretation; but they could not show the interpretation of the thing.
Dan 5:16 But I have heard of you, that you can give interpretations, and dissolve doubts; now if you can read the writing, and make known to me its interpretation, you shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.
Dan 5:17 Then Daniel answered before the king, Let your gifts be to yourself, and give your rewards to another; nevertheless I will read the writing to the king, and make known to him the interpretation.
Dan 5:18 You king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father the kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty:
Dan 5:19 and because of the greatness that he gave him, all the peoples, nations, and languages trembled and feared before him: whom he would he killed, and whom he would he kept alive; and whom he would he raised up, and whom he would he put down.
Dan 5:20 But when his heart was lifted up, and his spirit was hardened so that he dealt proudly, he was deposed from his kingly throne, and they took his glory from him:
Dan 5:21 and he was driven from the sons of men, and his heart was made like the animals', and his dwelling was with the wild donkeys; he was fed with grass like oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the sky; until he knew that the Most High God rules in the kingdom of men, and that he sets up over it whomever he will.
Dan 5:22 You his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this,
Dan 5:23 but have lifted up yourself against the Lord of heaven; and they have brought the vessels of his house before you, and you and your lords, your wives and your concubines, have drunk wine from them; and you have praised the gods of silver and gold, of brass, iron, wood, and stone, which don't see, nor hear, nor know; and the God in whose hand your breath is, and whose are all your ways, you have not glorified.
Dan 5:24 Then was the part of the hand sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed.
Dan 5:25 This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
Dan 5:26 This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God has numbered your kingdom, and brought it to an end;
Dan 5:27 TEKEL; you are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting.
Dan 5:28 PERES; your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.
Dan 5:29 Then commanded Belshazzar, and they clothed Daniel with purple, and put a chain of gold about his neck, and made proclamation concerning him, that he should be the third ruler in the kingdom.
Dan 5:30 In that night Belshazzar the Chaldean King was slain.
Dan 5:31 Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.
Dan 6:1 It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred twenty satraps, who should be throughout the whole kingdom;
Dan 6:2 and over them three presidents, of whom Daniel was one; that these satraps might give account to them, and that the king should have no damage.
Dan 6:3 Then this Daniel was distinguished above the presidents and the satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
Dan 6:4 Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault, because he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
Dan 6:5 Then said these men, We shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God.
Dan 6:6 Then these presidents and satraps assembled together to the king, and said thus to him, King Darius, live forever.
Dan 6:7 All the presidents of the kingdom, the deputies and the satraps, the counselors and the governors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute, and to make a strong interdict, that whoever shall ask a petition of any god or man for thirty days, save of you, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions.
Dan 6:8 Now, O king, establish the interdict, and sign the writing, that it not be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn't alter.
Dan 6:9 Therefore king Darius signed the writing and the interdict.
Dan 6:10 When Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house (now his windows were open in his chamber toward Jerusalem) and he kneeled on his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did before.
Dan 6:11 Then these men assembled together, and found Daniel making petition and supplication before his God.
Dan 6:12 Then they came near, and spoke before the king concerning the king's interdict: Haven't you signed an interdict, that every man who shall make petition to any god or man within thirty days, save to you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions? The king answered, The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which doesn't alter.
Dan 6:13 Then answered they and said before the king, That Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Judah, doesn't regard you, O king, nor the interdict that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.
Dan 6:14 Then the king, when he heard these words, was sore displeased, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored until the going down of the sun to rescue him.
Dan 6:15 Then these men assembled together to the king, and said to the king, Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians, that no interdict nor statute which the king establishes may be changed.
Dan 6:16 Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of lions. Now the king spoke and said to Daniel, Your God whom you serve continually, he will deliver you.
Dan 6:17 A stone was brought, and laid on the mouth of the den; and the king sealed it with his own signet, and with the signet of his lords; that nothing might be changed concerning Daniel.
Dan 6:18 Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting; neither were instruments of music brought before him: and his sleep fled from him.
Dan 6:19 Then the king arose very early in the morning, and went in haste to the den of lions.
Dan 6:20 When he came near to the den to Daniel, he cried with a lamentable voice; the king spoke and said to Daniel, Daniel, servant of the living God, is your God, whom you serve continually, able to deliver you from the lions?
Dan 6:21 Then said Daniel to the king, O king, live forever.
Dan 6:22 My God has sent his angel, and has shut the lions' mouths, and they have not hurt me; because as before him innocence was found in me; and also before you, O king, have I done no hurt.
Dan 6:23 Then was the king exceeding glad, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found on him, because he had trusted in his God.
Dan 6:24 The king commanded, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and broke all their bones in pieces, before they came to the bottom of the den.
Dan 6:25 Then king Darius wrote to all the peoples, nations, and languages, who dwell in all the earth: Peace be multiplied to you.
Dan 6:26 I make a decree, that in all the dominion of my kingdom men tremble and fear before the God of Daniel; for he is the living God, and steadfast forever, His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed; and his dominion shall be even to the end.
Dan 6:27 He delivers and rescues, and he works signs and wonders in heaven and in earth, who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
Dan 6:28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian.
Dan 7:1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head on his bed: then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters.
Dan 7:2 Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the sky broke forth on the great sea.
Dan 7:3 Four great animals came up from the sea, diverse one from another.
Dan 7:4 The first was like a lion, and had eagle's wings: I saw until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand on two feet as a man; and a man's heart was given to it.
Dan 7:5 Behold, another animal, a second, like a bear; and it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were in its mouth between its teeth: and they said thus to it, Arise, devour much flesh.
Dan 7:6 After this I saw, and behold, another, like a leopard, which had on its back four wings of a bird; the animal had also four heads; and dominion was given to it.
Dan 7:7 After this I saw in the night visions, and, behold, a fourth animal, awesome and powerful, and strong exceedingly; and it had great iron teeth; it devoured and broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet: and it was diverse from all the animals that were before it; and it had ten horns.
Dan 7:8 I considered the horns, and behold, there came up among them another horn, a little one, before which three of the first horns were plucked up by the roots: and behold, in this horn were eyes like the eyes of a man, and a mouth speaking great things.
Dan 7:9 I saw until thrones were placed, and one who was ancient of days sat: his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames, and its wheels burning fire.
Dan 7:10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousands of thousands ministered to him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.
Dan 7:11 I saw at that time because of the voice of the great words which the horn spoke; I saw even until the animal was slain, and its body destroyed, and it was given to be burned with fire.
Dan 7:12 As for the rest of the animals, their dominion was taken away: yet their lives were prolonged for a season and a time.
Dan 7:13 I saw in the night visions, and behold, there came with the clouds of the sky one like a son of man, and he came even to the ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.
Dan 7:14 There was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all the peoples, nations, and languages should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
Dan 7:15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved in the midst of my body, and the visions of my head troubled me.
Dan 7:16 I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth concerning all this. So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things.
Dan 7:17 These great animals, which are four, are four kings, who shall arise out of the earth.
Dan 7:18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.
Dan 7:19 Then I desired to know the truth concerning the fourth animal, which was diverse from all of them, exceedingly terrible, whose teeth were of iron, and its nails of brass; which devoured, broke in pieces, and stamped the residue with its feet;
Dan 7:20 and concerning the ten horns that were on its head, and the other horn which came up, and before which three fell, even that horn that had eyes, and a mouth that spoke great things, whose look was more stout than its fellows.
Dan 7:21 I saw, and the same horn made war with the saints, and prevailed against them;
Dan 7:22 until the ancient of days came, and judgment was given to the saints of the Most High, and the time came that the saints possessed the kingdom.
Dan 7:23 Thus he said, The fourth animal shall be a fourth kingdom on earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces.
Dan 7:24 As for the ten horns, out of this kingdom shall ten kings arise: and another shall arise after them; and he shall be diverse from the former, and he shall put down three kings.
Dan 7:25 He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time.
Dan 7:26 But the judgment shall be set, and they shall take away his dominion, to consume and to destroy it to the end.
Dan 7:27 The kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole sky, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High: his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.
Dan 7:28 Here is the end of the matter. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts much troubled me, and my face was changed in me: but I kept the matter in my heart.
Dan 8:1 In the third year of the reign of king Belshazzar a vision appeared to me, even to me, Daniel, after that which appeared to me at the first.
Dan 8:2 I saw in the vision; now it was so, that when I saw, I was in the citadel of Susa, which is in the province of Elam; and I saw in the vision, and I was by the river Ulai.
Dan 8:3 Then I lifted up my eyes, and saw, and behold, there stood before the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns were high; but one was higher than the other, and the higher came up last.
Dan 8:4 I saw the ram pushing westward, and northward, and southward; and no animals could stand before him, neither was there any who could deliver out of his hand; but he did according to his will, and magnified himself.
Dan 8:5 As I was considering, behold, a male goat came from the west over the surface of the whole earth, and didn't touch the ground: and the goat had a notable horn between his eyes.
Dan 8:6 He came to the ram that had the two horns, which I saw standing before the river, and ran on him in the fury of his power.
Dan 8:7 I saw him come close to the ram, and he was moved with anger against him, and struck the ram, and broke his two horns; and there was no power in the ram to stand before him; but he cast him down to the ground, and trampled on him; and there was none who could deliver the ram out of his hand.
Dan 8:8 The male goat magnified himself exceedingly: and when he was strong, the great horn was broken; and instead of it there came up four notable horns toward the four winds of the sky.
Dan 8:9 Out of one of them came forth a little horn, which grew exceeding great, toward the south, and toward the east, and toward the glorious land.
Dan 8:10 It grew great, even to the army of the sky; and some of the army and of the stars it cast down to the ground, and trampled on them.
Dan 8:11 Yes, it magnified itself, even to the prince of the army; and it took away from him the continual burnt offering, and the place of his sanctuary was cast down.
Dan 8:12 The army was given over to it together with the continual burnt offering through disobedience; and it cast down truth to the ground, and it did its pleasure and prospered.
Dan 8:13 Then I heard a holy one speaking; and another holy one said to that certain one who spoke, How long shall be the vision concerning the continual burnt offering, and the disobedience that makes desolate, to give both the sanctuary and the army to be trodden under foot?
Dan 8:14 He said to me, To two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings; then shall the sanctuary be cleansed.
Dan 8:15 It happened, when I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision, that I sought to understand it; and behold, there stood before me as the appearance of a man.
Dan 8:16 I heard a man's voice between the banks of the Ulai, which called, and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand the vision.
Dan 8:17 So he came near where I stood; and when he came, I was frightened, and fell on my face: but he said to me, Understand, son of man; for the vision belongs to the time of the end.
Dan 8:18 Now as he was speaking with me, I fell into a deep sleep with my face toward the ground; but he touched me, and set me upright.
Dan 8:19 He said, Behold, I will make you know what shall be in the latter time of the indignation; for it belongs to the appointed time of the end.
Dan 8:20 The ram which you saw, that had the two horns, they are the kings of Media and Persia.
Dan 8:21 The rough male goat is the king of Greece: and the great horn that is between his eyes is the first king.
Dan 8:22 As for that which was broken, in the place where four stood up, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but not with his power.
Dan 8:23 In the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce face, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up.
Dan 8:24 His power shall be mighty, but not by his own power; and he shall destroy wonderfully, and shall prosper and do his pleasure; and he shall destroy the mighty ones and the holy people.
Dan 8:25 Through his policy he shall cause craft to prosper in his hand; and he shall magnify himself in his heart, and in their security shall he destroy many: he shall also stand up against the prince of princes; but he shall be broken without hand.
Dan 8:26 The vision of the evenings and mornings which has been told is true: but seal up the vision; for it belongs to many days to come.

Dan 8:27 I, Daniel, fainted, and was sick certain days; then I rose up, and did the king's business: and I wondered at the vision, but none understood it.

 Dec. 10
2 Peter 3

2Pe 3:1 This is now, beloved, the second letter that I have written to you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by reminding you;
2Pe 3:2 that you should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the commandments of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior:
2Pe 3:3 knowing this first, that in the last days mockers will come, walking after their own lusts,
2Pe 3:4 and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? For, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation."
2Pe 3:5 For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth formed out of water and amid water, by the word of God;
2Pe 3:6 by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished.
2Pe 3:7 But the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
2Pe 3:8 But don't forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
2Pe 3:11 Therefore since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
2Pe 3:13 But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
2Pe 3:14 Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without blemish and blameless in his sight.
2Pe 3:15 Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you;
2Pe 3:16 as also in all of his letters, speaking in them of these things. In those, there are some things that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unsettled twist, as they also do to the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.
2Pe 3:17 You therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware, lest being carried away with the error of the wicked, you fall from your own steadfastness.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

From Roy Davison... May we judge our neighbor?


http://www.oldpaths.com/Archive/Davison/Roy/Allen/1940/059-maywejudge.html

May we judge our neighbor?
To judge is to decide on someone’s guilt or innocence, either in a court of law, or as personal evaluation of behavior.
Listen carefully to this command of God: “You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. But in righteousness you shall judge your neighbor” (Leviticus 19:15).
Thus, God commands us to judge our neighbor! He also tells us how to judge. Our judgment is to be just, impartial and righteous.

Our competence to judge is limited.
You may be thinking, “Why did Jesus say not to judge?”
There are circumstances in which we may not judge, but there are also circumstances in which we are obligated to judge.
Jesus said: “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24).
Thus Jesus also commands us to judge! And He tells us how to judge: with righteous judgment and not according to appearances.
What do the Scriptures teach about judging?

We may not judge according to appearance.
This means that we may not judge on the basis of insufficient, superficial information. Outward appearances are often misleading.
It was night. The street was dimly lit. A man lay on the pavement with blood oozing from a wound on his head. I stood beside him with blood on my sleeve. From appearances, some might have concluded that I caused his injury. Actually, in a drunken stupor the man had collided with a lamppost while riding his bicycle. Having arrived first on the scene, I got blood on my shirt when I helped him off the road so he would not be run over by passing cars. I asked bystanders to phone an ambulance and we were waiting for its arrival.
Righteous judgment must be based on conclusive evidence: “how it is” rather than “how it looks”.

Sometimes we are personally unqualified to judge.
Jesus said, “And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck out of your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck out of your brother’s eye” (Matthew 7:3-5).
What if we condemn someone for something we are doing? Our judgment may be correct, but we are not qualified to judge someone else if we are under the same condemnation.
After listing sins deserving death, Paul explains: “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?” (Romans 2:1-3).

We may not judge on the basis of personal opinions.
Later in Romans, Paul discusses a situation where some Christians were vegetarians and others ate meat, a matter of personal preference: “Let not him who eats despise him who does not eat, and let not him who does not eat judge him who eats; for God has received him. Who are you to judge another’s servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand” (Romans 14:3, 4).
In the same context he says: “But why do you judge your brother? Or why do you show contempt for your brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ. For it is written: ‘As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.’ So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother’s way” (Romans 14:10-13).
Sinful activities are not being discussed in this passage. It is not sinful to eat meat, nor is it sinful to refrain from eating meat. In connection with personal preferences, we may not judge one another.

We may not judge when evidence is lacking.
Since only God knows the hearts of men, we can easily be mistaken.
As Paul wrote, “Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later” (1 Timothy 5:24).
When sins are evident, we must judge. Those committing hidden sins will be judged by God. We should not play God by presuming to judge things that are hidden.
As Paul wrote: “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts” (1 Corinthians 4:5).
Hidden matters must be left to God.

Our judgment must be righteous.
“The LORD our God is righteous” (Daniel 9:14). Righteous judgment is based on the righteousness of God.
If our judgment is contrary to the will of God, we are condemning God! As the Lord asked Job: “Would you indeed annul My judgment? Would you condemn Me that you may be justified?” (Job 40:3).
By judging wrongly we contradict God’s judgment. Therefore we must be extremely careful how we judge.

God requires everyone to judge righteously.
Paul explains that even the heathen - and we live in a heathen society - are responsible for judging rightly because of knowledge of the righteous judgment of God that they have from creation, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them” (Romans 1:18, 19).
After specific condemnation of idolatry, homosexuality and lesbianism (Romans 1:21-27), Paul lists other common sins of then and now: “being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them” (Romans 1:29-32).
Even the heathen ought to know that such things are wrong; yet, they not only do them but “also approve of those who practice them.” A judgment that glosses over such sins is not righteous.
Of course, evil men object when their sins are exposed. When Lot said to the homosexuals of Sodom, “I beg you, my brothers, do not act so wickedly!” they replied, “This fellow came to sojourn, and he has become the judge!” (Genesis 19:7, 9 ESV).
It is a gross misuse of the words of Christ when evil men say ‘Do not judge’ to ward off sanctions for their sins.

Sin in the church must be condemned.
The church at Corinth tolerated a brother who was living with his father’s wife!
Paul wrote, “It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles - that a man has his father’s wife! And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you” (1 Corinthians 5:1, 2).
“I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I have written to you not to keep company with anyone named a brother, who is a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner not even to eat with such a person. For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore ‘put away from yourselves that wicked person’” (1 Corinthians 5:9-13).
In such cases, the judgment of the church is merely the application of the righteous judgment of God. To neglect to judge is to ignore the judgment of God.

A wise brother should resolve disputes between Christians.
“Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if the world will be judged by you, are you unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Do you not know that we shall judge angels? How much more, things that pertain to this life? If then you have judgments concerning things pertaining to this life, do you appoint those who are least esteemed by the church to judge? I say this to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you, not even one, who will be able to judge between his brethren?” (1 Corinthians 6:1-5).

God will judge us the way we judge others.
In that list of sins deserving death in Romans chapter one we also find ‘unforgiving’ and ‘unmerciful’. If we are unmerciful, we will not receive the grace of God.
From that perspective Jesus says: “Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the same measure you use, it will be measured back to you” (Matthew 7:1, 2). “Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:36, 37).

To receive mercy we must bestow mercy.
We want to receive mercy when we are judged. Thus we must be merciful when we judge others. This is why James says, “So speak and so do as those who will be judged by the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:12, 13).
We may not condemn the guiltless by neglecting mercy: “But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy and not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the guiltless” (Matthew 12:7).
Does this mean that everyone will be absolved by God? Certainly not. Jesus says that few will be saved and many will be lost (Luke 13:23, 24; Matthew 7:13, 14).
Mercy, too, must comply with the righteous judgment of God. What if we are unmerciful to those to whom God shows mercy, or if we are merciful to those to whom God does not show mercy? Thus, we must study the Scriptures so we can judge our neighbor in righteousness. “He who justifies the wicked, and he who condemns the just, both of them alike are an abomination to the LORD” (Proverbs 17:15).

What have we learned about judging?
God commands us to judge our neighbor! Our judgment must be just and impartial. Our competence to judge is limited. We may not judge according to appearances. Sometimes we are personally unqualified to judge. We may not judge on the basis of personal opinions, and we may not judge when evidence is lacking. Our judgment must be righteous. Sin in the church must be condemned. God will judge us the way we judge others. To receive mercy we must bestow mercy.
“Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment” (John 7:24).
“You shall do no injustice in judgment. You shall not be partial to the poor, nor honor the person of the mighty. But in righteousness you shall judge your neighbor” (Leviticus 19:15).
Amen.
Roy Davison
The Scripture quotations in this article are from
The New King James Version. ©1979,1980,1982, Thomas Nelson Inc., Publishers
unless indicated otherwise. Permission for reference use has been granted.

Published in The Old Paths Archive
(http://www.oldpaths.com)

From Jim McGuiggan... A case of the Jeremiahs


A case of the Jeremiahs

I think I have a dose of what Mary Anne Coates would call "clergy stress". The sky just isn’t as blue and the sunny days aren’t just as pleasing as they were last year (or was it last week?).
Our assembly at best is tiny indeed but attendance figures are badly down. Those that attend are "bible-less" or don’t bother to open the ones they bring (this is true even of the ones you’d think would devour the texts). Some sit with heads down (and that’s even before I begin my eloquent speech, though I have to confess the heads sink lower as I progress). I’ve taken to telling myself that if the absentees had spent a lot of time preparing a good meal and the people that said they’d come simply didn’t turn up—I’ve taken to telling myself that they’d be terribly distressed. And here I am—poor soul—slaving over a hot Bible and scores of literary pots and pans to serve up nutritious food and the "no shows" outnumber the "shows". (And at "the next appointed time" they might show up, smiling and not a word of contrition or apology.)
I tell myself it’s a bad case of rudeness on their part. That’s bad enough but my presently felt sadness goes deeper than that. I once read a book I thought was profoundly good and wise, loaned it to a friend who returned it with a dismissive little sound and a shrug. That was it! And there was another time when I learned a truth that was heart-stopping and eye-opening. I couldn’t wait to share it with a colleague and while I poured it out he did a little bit of doodling. When I was done it was as if I hadn’t spoken. He looked at his watch and said something like, "Well, Jim, I think I’ll head on down the road and see if..." It’s interesting that after all the many years that those two experiences have stayed with me when other marvellous things have been forgotten. I think I took it all too personally, don’t you think so? Yes, I'm certain I did and I don’t dare to cite 1 Samuel 8.7 to illustrate my trivial-by-comparison case. But what was profoundly important and precious to me they didn’t even take seriously enough to praise or oppose. It simply didn’t matter that much to them. And I tell myself that that’s where the offence lies and the hurt registers. I regard our gatherings as profoundly important and precious and the "no shows" shrug and find something to do that pleases them better. And I, poor man, feel the rejection. What I think is important is obviously trivial, the work I put into shaping the worship experience may or may not (excuse me, I need to yawn)—may or may not appeal today or next week or hereafter.
Of course, I must rush to tell you, that the "no shows" or the "shows" that aren’t really there are glad that I (and maybe two others) "keep the doors of the church open". You never know; they might want to take it all up more seriously at some juncture. In the meantime they leave me (and maybe one other) to "hold the fort" so there’s somewhere to go if they ever decide to go.
[I don’t want to list all the good things that go on and continue to go on; that’d only steal away my excuses for the blahs, and right now I need them if I’m going to enjoy my touch of the "Jeremiahs".]
So I thought maybe what I need is a good series of inspiring sermonettes, religious after-dinner speeches or to find a bunch of good jokes I can work a short message around. They might like that; I might see them liking it and regain that sense of buoyancy without which no man can live. Hmmm. Maybe I’ll pass on any of those approaches.
I seem to have read—yes, yes, now that I think of it, I’m sure I did—I read an old letter that was written to a group of discouraged and listless people. Their attendance was down, Bible study was at a low ebb, disappointment was leading to apathy and desertion. Instead of writing a series of inspirational one-liners or offering cultural wit the Hebrew writer wrote one of the most theologically freighted pieces of literature under the sun. I think he thought that the sure cure for............wasn’t..........
Okay, I’m done. Be sure to ask me how my faith is (click here).
©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Water Here, Water There, Water Everywhere by Eric Lyons, M.Min.


http://apologeticspress.org/AllegedDiscrepancies.aspx?article=3546&b=Genesis

Water Here, Water There, Water Everywhere

by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

For evolutionary scientists around the world, the idea of a global Flood is unthinkable. Supposedly, nothing that catastrophic has ever happened on (or to) Earth. Everyone agrees that our planet has had its share of local floods, earthquakes, hurricanes, and volcanic explosions, but many will not entertain the thought of a miraculous, global Flood.
Yet, year after year, increasingly more evidence points toward a time in Earth’s history when water once covered everything. For more than 150 years, scientists have been unearthing dinosaur graveyards throughout the world—from Tanzania, Africa to Alberta, Canada to Dinosaur, Colorado. The burial of countless dinosaurs in various locations all over the globe demands an adequate explanation. What reason is most frequently given for the existence of ubiquitous dinosaur graveyards? Evolutionists explain most of the largest dinosaur graveyards in the world as having been caused by some kind of a flood (though they are quick to include words such as “seasonal,” “flash,” and “regional”). In truth, however, the global Flood of Noah’s day (as recorded in Genesis 6-8) provides the best explanation for many (if not all) such graveyards throughout the world (cf. Genesis 7:11-12,19). [For more information, see Butt and Lyons, 2008.]
Furthermore, consider the various terrestrial locations of marine fossils found around the globe. Fossilized aquatic arthropods known as trilobites “have been found on every continent and subcontinent” (Gon, 2008). From Morocco to Wales, from Oklahoma to Utah, many thousands of these fossilized marine animals have been unearthed in arid areas. Marine fossils have even been found in the Himalayas (see “Mt. Everest,” n.d.). In Kansas, scientists recently discovered the jawbone, teeth, and scales of a shark, which they estimate to have been over 32 feet long (see Walker, 2010). Other than having a few lakes, Kansas is a very dry place. What scientists know, however, is that Kansas, Oklahoma, and many other arid places on Earth, were once covered by water.
Atheists, evolutionists, and skeptics continue to ridicule the idea of a worldwide, catastrophic flood, but such a flood adequately explains the existence of a myriad of fossils around the world. Marine fossils obviously demand water. And scientists credit flooding (albeit “localized”) with countless other fossil sites. When you put it all together, adding what the Bible (Genesis 6-8) and history (see Butt and Lyons, 2008) have to tell us about the matter, it should be clear: the Bible is right—“all the high hills under the whole heaven” were once covered with water (Genesis 7:19).

REFERENCES

Butt, Kyle and Eric Lyons (2008), “What Happened to the Dinosaurs?” [On-line], URL:http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/3647.
Gon, S.M. (2008), “Trilobite Paleogeography,” [On-line], URL: http://www.trilobites.info/trilopaleogeo.htm.
“Mt. Everest” (no date), Earth Observatory, [On-line], URL: http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/NewImages/images.php3?img_id=15300.
Walker, Matt (2010), “Giant Predatory Shark Unearthed,” BBC News, [On-line], URL:http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_8530000/8530995.stm.

One Code of Morality by Dave Miller, Ph.D.


http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=7&article=2274

One Code of Morality

by Dave Miller, Ph.D.

The social turbulence of the 1960s created a revolution in societal mores among the baby boomer generation. The stated philosophy of “do your own thing” literally has “gone to seed” in American society. The result is that many Americans live their lives and make their day-to-day moral decisions on the basis of a hodge-podge of values drawn from a variety of sources. Situation ethics is the order of the day, and the average person simply acts on his feelings and personal opinions. Morality is now individualistic—with each person formulating his own belief system and then measuring his behavior against that subjective, personal, moral framework. Concomitant with the development of this circumstance is the corresponding sentiment that no one should “judge” anyone else’s beliefs or actions, and everyone should be “tolerant” of the diversity of viewpoints that permeate society. When such a state of affairs holds sway, one should not be surprised to encounter jurors who are lenient with a woman who murdered her husband in cold blood. One should not be surprised when millions of law-breaking, illegal immigrants are tolerated and even excused. One should not be surprised that repeat offenders who rape, maim, and murder are allowed to circumvent the criminal justice system and perpetuate their atrocities on innocent citizens.
The Founding Fathers of the American Republic would be deeply saddened to see the extent to which our civilization has slumped from its original high moral ground. In a letter from Paris dated August 28, 1789, Thomas Jefferson wrote to James Madison: “I know but one code of morality for men whether acting singly or collectively” (1789). He was simply expressing the widespread view of the Founders as well as the populace of the United States at the time. Indeed, he merely articulated biblical reality, in which moral value, good, and evil, are defined by the Creator in His Word, the Bible. By that Word and by that standard, every human being’s life will one day be measured. In the words of Jesus Christ: “He who rejects Me, and does not receive My words, has that which judges him—the word that I have spoken will judge him in the last day” (John 12:48). Indeed, the day is coming when
the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe (2 Thessalonians 1:7-10).

REFERENCE

Jefferson, Thomas (1789), “Letter to James Madison,” The Works of Thomas Jefferson in Twelve Volumes, ed. Paul Leicester Ford, [On-line], URL: http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/r?ammem/mtj:@field(DOCID+@lit (tj050135)).