Jump right in

Ok, lets hope there is nothing hidden in this pile of leaves! This boy has made up his mind and is committed to jump; he is beyond the point of no-return. Whatever happens, happens. Sometimes life is like that; you just have to do what you need to do and accept what consequences come your way. In the book of Exodus, Israel was in this sort of position, as chapter 14 shows.

Ex 14:1-30
14 Yahweh spoke to Moses, saying,2 "Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn back and encamp before Pihahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, before Baal Zephon. You shall encamp opposite it by the sea.3 Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, 'They are entangled in the land. The wilderness has shut them in.'4 I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and he will follow after them; and I will get honor over Pharaoh, and over all his armies; and the Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh." They did so.5 It was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled; and the heart of Pharaoh and of his servants was changed towards the people, and they said, "What is this we have done, that we have let Israel go from serving us?"6 He made ready his chariot, and took his army with him;7 and he took six hundred chosen chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt, and captains over all of them.8 Yahweh hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel; for the children of Israel went out with a high hand.9 The Egyptians pursued after them: all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen, and his army; and overtook them encamping by the sea, beside Pihahiroth, before Baal Zephon.10 When Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted up their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them; and they were very afraid. The children of Israel cried out to Yahweh.11 They said to Moses, "Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you treated us this way, to bring us forth out of Egypt?12 Isn't this the word that we spoke to you in Egypt, saying, 'Leave us alone, that we may serve the Egyptians?' For it were better for us to serve the Egyptians, than that we should die in the wilderness."13 Moses said to the people, "Don't be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of Yahweh, which he will work for you today: for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you shall never see them again.14 Yahweh will fight for you, and you shall be still."15 Yahweh said to Moses, "Why do you cry to me? Speak to the children of Israel, that they go forward.16 Lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it: and the children of Israel shall go into the midst of the sea on dry ground.17 I, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall go in after them: and I will get myself honor over Pharaoh, and over all his armies, over his chariots, and over his horsemen.18 The Egyptians shall know that I am Yahweh, when I have gotten myself honor over Pharaoh, over his chariots, and over his horsemen."19 The angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud moved from before them, and stood behind them.20 It came between the camp of Egypt and the camp of Israel; and there was the cloud and the darkness, yet gave it light by night: and the one didn't come near the other all the night.21 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and Yahweh caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all the night, and made the sea dry land, and the waters were divided.22 The children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand, and on their left.23 The Egyptians pursued, and went in after them into the midst of the sea: all of Pharaoh's horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.24 It happened in the morning watch, that Yahweh looked out on the Egyptian army through the pillar of fire and of cloud, and confused the Egyptian army.25 He took off their chariot wheels, and they drove them heavily; so that the Egyptians said, "Let's flee from the face of Israel, for Yahweh fights for them against the Egyptians!"26 Yahweh said to Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come again on the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen."27 Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and the sea returned to its strength when the morning appeared; and the Egyptians fled against it. Yahweh overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea.28 The waters returned, and covered the chariots and the horsemen, even all Pharaoh's army that went in after them into the sea. There remained not so much as one of them.29 But the children of Israel walked on dry land in the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand, and on their left.30 Thus Yahweh saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians; and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore.WEB

God brought Israel out of Egypt with great power, but now the Egyptians were having second thoughts about the whole situation. They were a mighty power and had been overcome by mere slaves and didn't like that one bit. For the Israelites, the sight of the mighty Egyptian army must have been very intimidating! They needed to stop thinking about the "odds" and start having faith in God. Verses 13 and 14 of this chapter are among my most favorite in the whole of Scripture because God is about to show his provision of a way out for those who will trust in HIM. Its easy for us to read about this and quite another to be in a life or death situation. But God came through then and HE will again and again; just think about all that HE has done and will do for you and then go ahead.... jump right in...trust him.

The handwriting on the wall

Graffiti is sometimes beautiful, sometimes not, but there usually is a message that the painter wants to convey. You see it under bridges, on the backs of buses and in subways and I wonder why people do such things, but I guess the need to express oneself is irresistible. Perhaps this "pulse of the people" is what inspired Simon and Garfunkle (yes, I really do remember them) to sing "The sounds of silence" and grant graffiti the status of a prophetic utterance. But sometimes prophecy really is written on the wall, as this chapter from the book of Daniel illustrates.

Dan 5
5 Belshazzar the king made a great feast to a thousand of his lords, and drank wine before the thousand.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.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.4 They drank wine, and praised the gods of gold, and of silver, of brass, of iron, of wood, and of stone.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.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.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 the interpretation of it, shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about his neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.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.9 Then was king Belshazzar greatly troubled, and his face was changed in him, and his lords were perplexed.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.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;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.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?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.15 Now the wise men, the enchanters, have been brought in before me, that they should read this writing, and make known to me the interpretation of it; but they could not show the interpretation of the thing.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 the interpretation of it, you shall be clothed with purple, and have a chain of gold about your neck, and shall be the third ruler in the kingdom.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.18 You king, the Most High God gave Nebuchadnezzar your father the kingdom, and greatness, and glory, and majesty: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.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: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 whoever he will.22 You his son, Belshazzar, have not humbled your heart, though you knew all this,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.24 Then was the part of the hand sent from before him, and this writing was inscribed.25 This is the writing that was inscribed: MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.26 This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God has numbered your kingdom, and brought it to an end;27 TEKEL; you are weighed in the balances, and are found wanting.28 PERES; your kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.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.30 In that night Belshazzar the Chaldean King was slain.31 Darius the Mede received the kingdom, being about sixty-two years old.WEB

You would think that Belshazzar would have learned of the most high God from his father; but, he didn't. People are like that, sometimes no matter how hard you try to teach them, they just are not open to instruction. When the truth was revealed, Belshazzar was so frightened that he messed his pants (the joints of his thighs were loosened), but by that time it was too late; God judged him and he died. Those in power should take note of this chapter, because God is watching and weighing their actions at this very moment. This unknown verse comes to mind: "We all preach a Gospel, a chapter each day, by deed that we do and word that we say. So, listen my friend cause its all up to you, say what is the Gospel, the Gospel of you?" Don't wait until its too late, fear God and keep his commandments... sounds like something from the book of Ecclesiastes, doesn't it? But then, Solomon was a slow learner as well.

The trap

This is one very smart mouse. I always had the impression mice were "not so bright" and then this little fellow came along. How could he do the things he did? Motivation, pure and simple. Food is a great motivator. Somehow, I made the connection to Nehemiah. Nehemiah was also motivated, and went to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall; he led the Jews in rebuilding it, but he had to overcome a trap, just like our Wiley little mouse.

Neh 6:1-15
6 Now it happened, when it was reported to Sanballat and Tobiah, and to Geshem the Arabian, and to the rest of our enemies, that I had built the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though even to that time I had not set up the doors in the gates;)
2 that Sanballat and Geshem sent to me, saying, Come, let us meet together in one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief.
3 I sent messengers to them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I can't come down: why should the work cease, while I leave it, and come down to you?
4 They sent to me four times after this sort; and I answered them after the same manner.
5 Then sent Sanballat his servant to me in like manner the fifth time with an open letter in his hand,
6 in which was written, It is reported among the nations, and Gashmu says it, that you and the Jews think to rebel; for which cause you are building the wall: and you would be their king, according to these words.
7 You have also appointed prophets to preach of you at Jerusalem, saying, There is a king in Judah: and now shall it be reported to the king according to these words. Come now therefore, and let us take counsel together.
8 Then I sent to him, saying, There are no such things done as you say, but you feign them out of your own heart.
9 For they all would have made us afraid, saying, Their hands shall be weakened from the work, that it not be done. But now, God, strengthen you my hands.
10 I went to the house of Shemaiah the son of Delaiah the son of Mehetabel, who was shut up; and he said, Let us meet together in the house of God, within the temple, and let us shut the doors of the temple: for they will come to kill you; yes, in the night will they come to kill you.
11 I said, Should such a man as I flee? and who is there that, being such as I, would go into the temple to save his life? I will not go in.
12 I discerned, and behold, God had not sent him; but he pronounced this prophecy against me: and Tobiah and Sanballat had hired him.
13 For this cause was he hired, that I should be afraid, and do so, and sin, and that they might have matter for an evil report, that they might reproach me.
14 Remember, my God, Tobiah and Sanballat according to these their works, and also the prophetess Noadiah, and the rest of the prophets, that would have put me in fear.
15 So the wall was finished in the twenty-fifth day of the month Elul, in fifty-two days.WEB

Make no mistake, the task before Nehemiah was great. But he showed courage; first in asking the king for permission to go, then in the face of danger before they even started to build and finally against his person. His determination and faith pushed him onwards until the task was completed. I think that there is a lesson here for all of us and it has nothing to do with cheese and everything to do with faith and trust in God. So, the next time you are faced with a spiritual obstacle, remember this little video and the story of Nehemiah and do the right thing. You will be glad you did and Satan will just have to work harder on a better mousetrap. Don't worry though, God will always show you a way out!

Stairway to heaven

This picture is entitled "stairway to heaven" and it certainly does point in the right direction. It made me think of the Led Zeppelin song of the same name. That song has become one of my favorites after I read an article describing it as a rock and roll song with a hidden Christian message. Whether or not that is true is up for grabs, but one thing leads to another and THAT SONG made me think of this passage from the Bible.

John 1:47-51
47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and said about him, "Behold, an Israelite indeed, in whom is no deceit!"
48 Nathanael said to him, "How do you know me?" Jesus answered him, "Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you."
49 Nathanael answered him, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are King of Israel!"
50 Jesus answered him, "Because I told you, 'I saw you underneath the fig tree,' do you believe? You will see greater things than these!"
51 He said to him, "Most assuredly, I tell you, hereafter you will see heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man."WEB

One thing is for certain, you can't buy your way into heaven, but there is a way there and its through Jesus. Music is probably optional.

Reflection, creation and attitude

I read the news today and frankly it was very depressing. It seems like the whole world is rotten to the core and putrefying at a faster rate, daily! Then I started my "daily" blog and saw this picture. Beautiful, simply beautiful! When we take the time to just look, sometimes that look becomes a a complete surprise. A surprise of the memory of what can be and what once was. The colors of the trees against their reflection on the water is marvelous. Add a couple of swans and somehow the old serotonin just flows and flows. Then, a scene from "Soylent Green" came to mind; you know, in the last part of the movie, where Edgar G. Robinson has his last moments of life and they are showing nature scenes and playing soothing pastoral classical music. And I thought... could the world ever be beautiful again? All this made me think of Genesis and do yourself a favor.... read all of it!

Gen 1:1-31
GENESIS 1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.2 Now the earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep. 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.5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. There was evening and there was morning, one day.6 God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters."7 God made the expanse, and divided the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse, and it was so.8 God called the expanse sky. There was evening and there was morning, a second day.9 God said, "Let the waters under the sky be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear," and it was so.10 God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters he called Seas. God saw that it was good.11 God said, "Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with its seed in it, on the earth," and it was so.12 The earth brought forth grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, with its seed in it, after their kind: and God saw that it was good.13 There was evening and there was morning, a third day.14 God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of sky to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years;15 and let them be for lights in the expanse of sky to give light on the earth," and it was so.16 God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars.17 God set them in the expanse of sky to give light to the earth,18 and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. God saw that it was good.19 There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.20 God said, "Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of sky."21 God created the large sea creatures, and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed, after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind. God saw that it was good.22 God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth."23 There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.24 God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind, livestock, creeping things, and animals of the earth after their kind," and it was so.25 God made the animals of the earth after their kind, and the livestock after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind. God saw that it was good.26 God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."27 God created man in his own image. In God's image he created him; male and female he created them.28 God blessed them. God said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth."29 God said, "Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food.30 To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food." And it was so.31 God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.WEB

God made everything, lets try not to screw it all up! We have the ability, the knowledge and the opportunity to make this world like the garden of Eden once again. We lack the willpower, but with a little reflection on what is possible; who knows, perhaps things can change? There you have it... instant attitude change. What next, world peace? No, that's a blog for another day.

Blind sight

When I saw this, I had to look at it again to believe it. Once in awhile someone will make a full court basket, but doing a front flip and then making that basket is unique. Life is like that, you think you have seen everything and then wham, something comes along and defines "new". One of my favorite chapters in the New Testament tells the tale of something "NEW" and that "NEW" involves Jesus.

John 9
9 As he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth.2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"3 Jesus answered, "Neither did this man sin, nor his parents; but, that the works of God might be revealed in him.4 I must work the works of him who sent me, while it is day. The night is coming, when no one can work.5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."6 When he had said this, he spat on the ground, made mud with the saliva, anointed the blind man's eyes with the mud,7 and said to him, "Go, wash in the pool of Siloam" (which means "Sent"). So he went away, washed, and came back seeing.8 The neighbors therefore, and those who saw that he was blind before, said, "Isn't this he who sat and begged?"9 Others were saying, "It is he." Still others were saying, "He looks like him." He said, "I am he."10 They therefore were asking him, "How were your eyes opened?"11 He answered, "A man called Jesus made mud, anointed my eyes, and said to me, 'Go to the pool of Siloam, and wash.' So I went away and washed, and I received sight."12 Then they asked him, "Where is he?" He said, "I don't know."13 They brought him who had been blind to the Pharisees.14 It was a Sabbath when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.15 Again therefore the Pharisees also asked him how he received his sight. He said to them, "He put mud on my eyes, I washed, and I see."16 Some therefore of the Pharisees said, "This man is not from God, because he doesn't keep the Sabbath." Others said, "How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?" There was division among them.17 Therefore they asked the blind man again, "What do you say about him, because he opened your eyes?" He said, "He is a prophet."18 The Jews therefore did not believe concerning him, that he had been blind, and had received his sight, until they called the parents of him who had received his sight,19 and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?"20 His parents answered them, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;21 but how he now sees, we don't know; or who opened his eyes, we don't know. He is of age. Ask him. He will speak for himself."22 His parents said these things because they feared the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that if any man would confess him as Christ, he would be put out of the synagogue.23 Therefore his parents said, "He is of age. Ask him."24 So they called the man who was blind a second time, and said to him, "Give glory to God. We know that this man is a sinner."25 He therefore answered, "I don't know if he is a sinner. One thing I do know: that though I was blind, now I see."26 They said to him again, "What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?"27 He answered them, "I told you already, and you didn't listen. Why do you want to hear it again? You don't also want to become his disciples, do you?"28 They insulted him and said, "You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.29 We know that God has spoken to Moses. But as for this man, we don't know where he comes from."30 The man answered them, "How amazing! You don't know where he comes from, yet he opened my eyes.31 We know that God doesn't listen to sinners, but if anyone is a worshipper of God, and does his will, he listens to him.32 Since the world began it has never been heard of that anyone opened the eyes of someone born blind.33 If this man were not from God, he could do nothing."34 They answered him, "You were altogether born in sins, and do you teach us?" They threw him out.35 Jesus heard that they had thrown him out, and finding him, he said, "Do you believe in the Son of God?"36 He answered, "Who is he, Lord, that I may believe in him?"37 Jesus said to him, "You have both seen him, and it is he who speaks with you."38 He said, "Lord, I believe!" and he worshiped him.39 Jesus said, "I came into this world for judgment, that those who don't see may see; and that those who see may become blind."40 Those of the Pharisees who were with him heard these things, and said to him, "Are we also blind?"41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains.WEB

Sometimes you have to see something in order to believe it, but not the Pharisees! They had their mind made up about Jesus and nothing was going to change it. Humm, ever met anyone like that? I have! New things happen all the time and if you live in the 21st century get used to it. As a child I would have thought that cell phones, computers and laser beams were just the stuff of imagination; but today they are commonplace. Today, how many of us really understand things like MRI's and the technology BEHIND the Internet? We take a lot of things on faith, we know things work, but not necessarily HOW! Its the same with faith, sometimes you have to just believe what you see and that's that! What the world needs are more people with "blind sight"; that is the ability to believe in that which they don't fully understand. A good place to start is with God and that is a good place to end as well. Humm, does the term alpha and Omega (beginning and end) sound familiar? Just because Christianity is 2000 years old doesn't mean that God can't be new to you... see what I mean?

movin on up (video link)

Germans by nature are not bad people. Overall, they are like us; they are good and bad and everything in between. I know this to be true because I worked for a German company for over 15 years and knew many, many people from Germany. After World War I, Germany had very severe economic times and this led to desperation, desperation so severe that it would turn to anyone who had an answer; anyone at all. Then along came Adolph Hitler; he was a master of public speaking and gave encouragement and a new self image to a downtrodden and hopeless country (at the expense of others, though). He made inroads to recovery, and the trains all ran on time. Things were moving on up, getting better, Germany was once again beginning to prosper. However, there was a fundamental error in the German solution, and that was too much emphasis on the power of one man, a man whose ego and secret hatred could not be kept secret for long. His "god complex" was ultimately revealed to all, but at what price to both Germany and the world? I do not know German and have no idea what Hitler was actually saying, but the substitution of the "movin on up" theme from the Jefferson's seems appropriate to me, nonetheless. Please read this rather long passage from the book of Daniel and I think you will see the obvious parallels.

Dan 4:18-34
18 This dream I, king Nebuchadnezzar, have seen; and you, Belteshazzar, declare the interpretation, because all the wise men of my kingdom are not able to make known to me the interpretation; but you are able; for the spirit of the holy gods is in you.19 Then Daniel, whose name was Belteshazzar, was stricken mute for a while, and his thoughts troubled him. The king answered, Belteshazzar, don't let the dream, or the interpretation, trouble you. Belteshazzar answered, My lord, the dream be to those who hate you, and the interpretation of it to your adversaries.20 The tree that you saw, which grew, and was strong, whose height reached to the sky, and the sight of it to all the earth;21 whose leaves were beautiful, and the fruit of it much, and in it was food for all; under which the animals of the field lived, and on whose branches the birds of the sky had their habitation:22 it is you, O king, that are grown and become strong; for your greatness is grown, and reaches to the sky, and your dominion to the end of the earth.23 Whereas the king saw a watcher and a holy one coming down from the sky, and saying, Hew down the tree, and destroy it; nevertheless leave the stump of the roots of it in the earth, even with a band of iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field, and let it be wet with the dew of the sky: and let his portion be with the animals of the field, until seven times pass over him;24 this is the interpretation, O king, and it is the decree of the Most High, which is come on my lord the king:25 that you shall be driven from men, and your dwelling shall be with the animals of the field, and you shall be made to eat grass as oxen, and shall be wet with the dew of the sky, and seven times shall pass over you; until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whoever he will.26 Whereas they commanded to leave the stump of the roots of the tree; your kingdom shall be sure to you, after that you shall have known that the heavens do rule.27 Therefore, O king, let my counsel be acceptable to you, and break off your sins by righteousness, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor; if there may be a lengthening of your tranquillity.28 All this came on the king Nebuchadnezzar.29 At the end of twelve months he was walking in the royal palace of Babylon.30 The king spoke and said, Is not this great Babylon, which I have built for the royal dwelling place, by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?31 While the word was in the king's mouth, there fell a voice from the sky, saying, O king Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is spoken: The kingdom is departed from you:32 and you shall be driven from men; and they dwelling shall be with the animals of the field; you shall be made to eat grass as oxen; and seven times shall pass over you; until you know that the Most High rules in the kingdom of men, and gives it to whoever he will.33 The same hour was the thing fulfilled on Nebuchadnezzar: and he was driven from men, and ate grass as oxen, and his body was wet with the dew of the sky, until his hair was grown like eagles' feathers, and his nails like birds' claws.34 At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted up my eyes to heaven, and my understanding returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and I praised and honored him who lives forever; for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom from generation to generation.WEB

Nebuchadnezzar listened, Hitler didn't. Think something as bad as the Third Reich couldn't happen in America, think again! I saw a video the other day (I couldn't include it because of Blogger size limitations) where a newscaster called our president Obama a "sort of a god". I DO NOT THINK president Obama thinks of himself in this way, but that others may beginning to is scary. Shortly after seeing this video, I read about a coalition of opposing extremist political groups from both the Northern and Southern states wanting to secede from the Union. That these things could happen is an indication of how desperate a situation our country is in. America, listen to verse 34 and honor God before it is too late! Trust in God and God alone; governments rise and fall by the will of the Almighty; God alone saves, not the Federal government and certainly not one mere man. It may not take long to progress from the patriot act to the final solution; please, please think about it and work for change within our current political system and most of all, PRAY FOR OUR GOVERNMENT AND OUR LEADERS TO HONOR GOD!

Train up a child

If you have children, you know what this picture is about. Sometimes they make you want to roar. They say and do things that you would never do and at times can drive you completely out of your mind. The hardest thing for a parent to understand is that once they are grown they will do what they will do and that is that. Hopefully, they will have the faith you have and maybe a bit more. I think this passage from Romans is a good commentary on children.

Rom 9:1-8 I tell the truth in Christ. I am not lying, my conscience testifying with me in the Holy Spirit,
2 that I have great sorrow and unceasing pain in my heart.
3 For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brothers' sake, my relatives according to the flesh,
4 who are Israelites; whose is the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service, and the promises;
5 of whom are the fathers, and from whom is Christ as concerning the flesh, who is over all, God, blessed forever. Amen.
6 But it is not as though the word of God has come to nothing. For they are not all Israel, that are of Israel.
7 Neither, because they are Abraham's seed, are they all children. But, "In Isaac will your seed be called."
8 That is, it is not the children of the flesh who are children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as a seed.WEB

We can't choose or biological family, but we can chose our Spiritual one. Life is full of choices and hopefully your children will make good ones. The time to train them is when they are young and I think that the parent in the picture should start right now, don't you?

Quiet reflection

Have you ever been really, really sick? If so, you know how overwhelming it can be. But, there is another side to sickness; my Grandmother used to say "Sickness is God's call to quiet reflection". When I saw this picture today, her saying came back to me and I remembered how good (and bad) sickness can be. Take Hezekiah for example.

Isa 38:1-5 In those days was Hezekiah sick and near death. Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, came to him, and said to him, "Thus says Yahweh, 'Set your house in order, for you will die, and not live.'"
2 Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to Yahweh,
3 and said, "Remember now, Yahweh, I beg you, how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight." Hezekiah wept bitterly.
4 Then the word of Yahweh came to Isaiah, saying,
5 "Go, and tell Hezekiah, 'Thus says Yahweh, the God of David your father, "I have heard your prayer. I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.WEB

Hezekiah knew he was going to die and appealed to God.... and God listened. There is something powerful about the clarity of prayer from those of us who are really, really sick. Prayer becomes more focused. Our world becomes clearer when the frailty of our human condition is set before us. The things we see and the things we do while sick become more meaningful and leave an impression on our mind that remains with us longer. The person in the wheelchair will probably remember that sunset longer just because He IS IN THE WHEELCHAIR. I think my Grandmother was right, sickness is God's call to quietness (and therefore clarity of thought). The question is: now that I am quiet, am I really listening for God's voice or my own? The answer to that question only YOU CAN SUPPLY!!!

Forget the fortune cookies

I love Chinese food, but there is always the possibility that somehow some "non-standard" ingredients were used. I make sure to ask if the restaurant uses MSG, but beyond that I hardly ever inquire too deeply; unless, I plan to order something I haven't had before. When it comes to food, I really don't like surprises and its that way with the word of God as well. There are no surprises, except for the occasional serendipity. I like this passage from the book of Revelation because it shows how straightforward God is.

Rev 10:8-11
8 The voice which I heard from heaven, again speaking with me, said, "Go, take the book which is open in the hand of the angel who stands on the sea and on the land."
9 I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. He said to me, "Take it, and eat it up. It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey."
10 I took the little book out of the angel's hand, and ate it up. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth. When I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter.
11 They told me, "You must prophesy again over many peoples, nations, languages, and kings."WEB

Even in the book of Revelation, God tells it like it is. You can depend on Him and that is that. Matter settled. The sooner we all learn that the better. Forget the fortune cookies, you make your own future, depending on what you do with God's word.