My Journey Through The Bible

Acts 3 – 4

Verse 3:6 has Peter picking up where Jesus left off:

But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

He is healing a man who has been lame since birth and a fixture at the temple begging. From here he immediately gives glory to God and not to anyone else. Jesus said to the disciples they would do greater things and they are off to a good start. Now was that statement just to the disciples or to all believers in Christ? I want to believe that it is all believers, but have a tough time since most of the “healers” of modern time have proven to be frauds.

There is a series from Wanderlust Productions where Darren Wilson searches out people who have many of these gifts, including healing. It’s amazing to watch the miracles happen before the screen and with faith I believe them to be true. At the same time it’s one of those things I want proof still. I guess I still pray for my mess to clean up, my back and finances to be cleaned up with a prayer. At the same time what would it do for the body? And what says it hasn’t already happened but I just keep messing things up by not stretching and following 10/10/80?

Verse 4:11 ties into many of the verses we have read recently:

This Jesus is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.

I will have to say I respect how this reading links together. Either the Bible is formatted in such a way that it “naturally” link scripture with reading plans over a year or the “designers” of this program timed it. Go back three thoughts earlier when we were in Psalms and see that I mentioned this exact statement by Peter, who is referencing Psalm 118:22, pointing out Jesus is that “cornerstone”. Either this is a well-planned study by Biblical scholars or God made it that way.

Now one could look at Peter forcing the illustration or realizing that it is true. That is what one needs to do with all the prophecies in deciding if they were orchestrated by someone who knows the prophecies or God. This is really where the faith comes in since the prophecies existed well before Jesus and Jesus’ time is well documented. One has to decide if Jesus is the cornerstone or his life’s story was manipulated to fit into the prophecies. If you think about it the story can only be manipulated so far since a death and resurrection are difficult to fake.

Verse 4:31 is something I hope everyone can experience:

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

This is something that can only really be experienced and I wish I could feel this more often. The world creeps into our lives and we get distracted all too often which interferes with this experience we really could have all the time. The “deceiver” or Satan will do whatever it takes to remove our connection to God and to render God irrelevant in our lives. The Holy Spirit is our connection, we should pray for it daily to remain in the blanket of God’s protection. The one thing I can say is Jesus’ name will protect you and win!!

Jonah 1 – 4

Jonah is one of my favorite stories in the Old Testament since it follows how we sometimes think. Verse 1:2 is God calling Jonah to prophesize to Nineveh:

“Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.”

God is telling Jonah to do something and what is Jonah’s response? He runs! He jumps in a boat and goes the opposite direction! Have you ever been told to do something you didn’t want to? Imagine being told to tell a city they would perish at the hand of God! While out to sea, a great storm arises and once the crew realizes God is mad at Jonah they toss him into the sea.

Verse 1:17 is another story that is used as “proof” the Bible is just a bunch of stories:

And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

It’s difficult to imagine someone being eaten by a fish that was large enough not to have to shred them first and then to survive for 3 days in the belly is difficult to imagine also. At this point one could go into a bunch of different scenarios on how this could have happened, but I am just going to assume it to be true. Ironically after three days he is spat on the Nineveh shoreline and finally succumbed to God’s request.

Verse 3:5 was Nineveh’s response to the prophecy:

And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them.

The king did the same thing once he learned of their fate. When God saw this from the people that they had turned from their evil ways he had mercy on them and did not destroy the city. This caused Jonah to get into a funk and get angry at God. He went on a hill and sulked where God grew a tree so he had shelter from the sun. The next day God let the tree die and Jonah again grew angry.

Verses 4:10 – 11 has God pointing out his skewed sense of values:

10 And the LORD said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labour, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. 11 And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle

Think about how God called on Jonah to do something and when finally did do it, the outcome was not as expected. Has this happened to you before? Was your response to sulk or thank God for the opportunity to help save others? Think about it, if Jonah had not told the people, God would have punished them without warning. But because Jonah did “save” them, they were spared.

Take this to witnessing to others, would you rather tell someone they will go to Hell and have them repent or have them go to Hell? This is a great story on pride and how we need to constantly keep ourselves in “check”. That is what God pointed out to him in the last two verses that he should be happy that the people were saved and not upset that what he said did not happen. Next time we get upset about anything, we should look at what is going on from a different perspective before continuing a funk.

Proverbs 28

It’s difficult to maintain a though in Proverbs since there is rarely consistency in them. They jump from money to the law to sins without really tying them together. Verse 28:9 is a good example verse 7 is about the law, 8 is money and then this:

If one turns away his ear from hearing the law,
even his prayer is an abomination.

I think man puts too much emphasis on the Law being a list of sins, but the majority of it is a guide to the better life God has for us. Now with that said I often look at following the Law as honoring God. The way we spend, what we eat and how we worship all are covered by the Law and honor God. So I read this and I wonder if there is some truth to the statement, but quickly dismiss it since the Bible is so clear on what we are to do. Take Peter’s vision of the unclean food, it implies eating pork is ok. So what is it? And if you do follow Peter’s vision are your prayers an “abomination?”

Of course not! I believe this belief and mindset is why Jesus was necessary since following the Law had become legalistic.

Verse 28:14 talks about “fearing” the Lord:

Blessed is the one who fears the LORD always,
but whoever hardens his heart will fall into calamity.

The word “fear” is used often in the Bible to describe ones feelings towards the Lord. You can go on for hours in a word study on this but in a nutshell the Hebrew translation is something more than awe, but rather an overwhelming weight of God’s infinite nature. It mean awe, fear, wonder, joy and more all rolled into one! The normal interpretation makes it sound like we should fear God like we fear our fathers with the “switch”. God is so much more than our Holy Discipliner!! I will say the second half is correct, if not immediate calamity, eventual.

Verse 28: 26 is one I have learned the “hard way”:

Whoever trusts in his own mind is a fool,
but he who walks in wisdom will be delivered.

The only thing I wonder here is how do you trust your mind understands the wisdom given to you? I have had “moments of clarity” which initially seem correct, but end up being folly. So when do you know your “moment” is wisdom and not from your “own mind”? It’s a long slow process of reading the Bible, praying and discussing with fellow believers before one can gain true wisdom. Solomon really had it easy, he just asked for it!!

Psalms 117 – 118

Psalm 117:2 is the end of a very short Psalm, but is a reoccurring theme for the next Psalm:

For great is his steadfast love towards us,
and the faithfulness of the LORD endures for ever. Praise the Lord!

We often say words like this but often in our lives it becomes difficult to believe. Sure our faith that God exists, but the love and faithfulness we read about in verses like these seems missing. Our faith may also drift or we justify that God is too busy for little ole us. But then that “puts God in a box” again by thinking He is too big for us. Guess what this verse tells us how great he is, he is so big He can care and love on each and every one of us. The difference is He loves on us like a father and sometimes that is not always what we want!!

Verse 118:1 basically repeats the previous verse from Psalm 117:

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures for ever!

I think this theme gets repeated so much in the Bible because we constantly need reminders that God does not only exist, but care about each of us! His love is not a fleeting love, like that for the latest and greatest toy. Remember how in Toy Story Andy loved Woody, but eventually that love moved to another toy (Buzz). Can you think of this in your life? I know for many it’s still easy today! We cannot apply that same definition of love to how God loves us. When you have children you will quickly understand God’s love. It’s something you cannot control or end, no matter how ugly the relationship gets. That was the light bulb moment for me in understanding how God could love us “for ever”!

Verse 118:22 is a pivotal verse since we see it in the New Testament:

The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.

This first was said by Jesus to Peter that he would be the cornerstone of the church. We find Jesus was using these writings to show the disciples He did not occur by chance and was foretold thousands of years prior.

In the Psalm it’s talking about David’s bloodline being the cornerstone, but David was not rejected. Where this ties into the story even great is when you look at the man who was heralded as a king only to be savagely beaten and hung on a cross for our sins. Jesus was really who the Psalmist was foretelling. He was rejected only to become the cornerstone of our salvation! How cool is that?!?

2 Chronicles 11 – 15

Verse 12:1 starts showing the dysfunction of the family:

When the rule of Rehoboam was established and he was strong, he abandoned the law of the LORD, and all Israel with him.

Notice in Kings and Chronicles how much time was spent on David and Solomon, then you get the rest of the kings crammed into less space than they received. Often they were short and uneventful reigns or were a major turn away from God. With Rehoboam I wonder if he was still influenced by David’s drift. Think about how Solomon must of father his children with his mother being the one who unraveled David’s family.

Also, one needs to consider Solomon’s taking many foreign wives and his allowing them to worship foreign gods. In Solomon’s later life he was believed to have started to follow the other gods with his wives. He drifted into idolatry and was said to have written a book of chants to summon demons. So when reflecting on that you can see how one of his sons would “abandon” the Lord.

Verse 14:2 is a common comment:

And Asa did what was good and right in the eyes of the LORD his God.

Now I say it’s common, but rather the statement that they did either good or evil in the eyes of the Lord is the commonality of the historical record of the kings. In this case Asa came after Abijah, Rehoboam son, was good in the eyes of the Lord. So we see in 3 chapters we get and lose two kings. Chapter 14 starts with the third king of Judah since Solomon’s death. Although Chronicles does not highlight the spilt, you notice the tribes of Israel have split into two factions, each with their own king. You will notice how they reference one king to who is reigning in the other nation.

Verse 15:2 is from a prophet, Azariah, who gives Asa a warning we all should consider:

and he went out to meet Asa and said to him, “Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin: The LORD is with you while you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you.

We all need to seek God first and foremost. I know for a fact if you do not seek him he will not “forsake” you completely since my college and post college years I turned my back on Him. Even during that time I could see His hand working in my life! He did not leave me alone. Now does that justify turning and partying? No, we should not tempt God!

Verses 15:12 – 13 gets into the harshness and I think over reaction to making sure they did not forsake God:

12 And they entered into a covenant to seek the LORD, the God of their fathers, with all their heart and with all their soul, 13 but that whoever would not seek the LORD, the God of Israel, should be put to death, whether young or old, man or woman.

As I go through the Old Testament and read about the death penalties that were given for stuff that is heralded today is a concern. Today we live a nation where the majority does not seek God! Would God really want us to kill off half the nation for not seeking the Lord? Then really you would have to consider how many people believe, but don’t actively seek the Lord? Would we have to kill them also? In this case the “law” was clearly man’s doing. What about the “Book of the Law”? Did God really put to death people for what seems like minor things today? If so will we see that kind of wrath again or did Jesus buffer us from it?

Numbers 22 – 24

Verse 22:28 is one of the oddest stories I think there is in the Bible:

Then the LORD opened the mouth of the donkey, and she said to Balaam, “What have I done to you, that you have struck me these three times?”

The Lord speaks to people in many ways, but through a donkey is just funny. My question is why in verse 22:20 God says go with the men and then in verse 22:22 he was angry about Balaam going. What’s really going on here? I have explored many explanations from God being upset about the first time to this was more satire since Balaam was a popular “diviner” and not Jewish, so therefore the “hearing” of God was false. I honestly am not 100% sure and searching other translations did not help, so I wonder if God changed his mind, was holding a grudge, Balaam did something wrong that was not recorded or it is really Jewish satire?

Either way God allowing a donkey to speak is just funny. Modern days this becomes easier to believe since from the days of Mr. Ed we have had talking animals. With computers their lips actually move with the words, not just having the animal eat peanut butter with a voice over to seem like they are talking. I still find myself asking many horses if they can talk!

Verse 24:10 is the response to Balaam’s three Oracles to Balak:

And Balak’s anger was kindled against Balaam, and he struck his hands together. And Balak said to Balaam, “I called you to curse my enemies, and behold, you have blessed them these three times.

You read on the story and see that Balaam is either realizing his “divining” skills are no match for God and is in turn blessing Israel or Balaam is truly speaking with God. I just read this as truth and God actually did speak to Balaam. I think there are missing details on why God was angry in verse 22:22 so this story works. I find it interesting that Balaam hit the donkey three times before he saw the angel and had to tell Balak three times before he got the message. Interesting the Balak did not strike Balaam until the third “oracle” was delivered.

Verse 24:17 is part of Balaam’s final Oracle:

I see him, but not now;
I behold him, but not near:
a star shall come out of Jacob,
and a sceptre shall rise out of Israel;
it shall crush the forehead of Moab
and break down all the sons of Sheth.

So the final Oracle has God ending Balak’s kingdom through the people Balak wanted to curse. Ironic, isn’t it? Here this king tries to change the direction of the Israelites and ends up reversing the curse on himself and his nation. I am not sure why this story was included in the Bible, but it was important enough to be part of the Torah and Moses’ original writings to Israel. It is an interesting story since it is one of the first times that God works through someone who is not an Israelite.

Hebrews 1 – 4

Verse 1:1 opens with a mention on God’s communication:

Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets,

I don’t like this statement much because it implies that this does not happen anymore. As you continue in the chapter he says that Jesus fulfilled the prophets and spoke directly from God. Well this may be true but does that me we cannot prophesize? In John 14:12 Jesus said “whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these”! One of those things is prophesize, so we can do greater if we release our “control” to God.

Verses 2:3 – 4 explores why some “have it” and some don’t:

3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

Our salvation is “great” and doesn’t depend on our speaking in tongues or healing or prophesizing, but rather our faith. It’s clear here that these “gifts” are distributed “according to his will” and not ours. I know I want to be able to lay hands and heal people, but so far am batting ZERO on that endeavor (at least that I know of). Does that mean I am not saved? No just means God did not distribute that “gift” to me.

I think some churches get into a dangerous slippery slope by implying that one is not saved if they don’t have all the gifts of the spirit. I know Vernie was at a college ministry who said she was not saved since she was not speaking in tongues. The “body” has many parts, the eyes are not expected to do what the feet do, so why should every member of the church have to speak in tongues or even raise their hands in worship?

Verse 4:12 is talking about the “word of God” and how it lives:

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Those who have spent their life reading the Bible can attest that this is true. The words hit a tone one year and then the next time you read the exact same words something different sparks inside. Are they truly living or does it just seem that way I will not venture to say one way or the other, but what I do know is combined with the Holy Spirit these words are exactly what we need at any given moment in our lives.

How can words change their meaning? They can’t but the Holy Spirit readies us to understand things at a new level each time we read. We look at this as a simple book with just a bunch of stories, but as you gain more understanding you read different things that were missed the time before. This book has so many different layers and meanings that one could spend a lifetime reading it and get something new each and every time. That is why God wants us reading it often, so he can show us new “revelations” in our hearts.

Well as I posted yesterday our new dog slipped off her collar while on a run Thursday night. To set this up, we got her from Ohio two days prior, so she was not familiar with Georgia at all. To make sure she didn’t think the road was part of her territory I drove her to the greenway, about ½ a mile away over a big hill.

We ran about 1 mile down the trail before she slipped off and took off into the woods. She slipped off because she did not like boardwalks, which the first ¼ mile was on, I didn’t think the second short one would be that dramatic. We combed the area that night with no luck or hearing even a bark. Then the rain came!!

The greenway flooded and the large area around the boardwalk back to parking was underwater, so the boardwalk was the only way back about 2 or 3 hours after she split. I was out at 5am looking and Katy was posting “LOST” posters all afternoon, while taking 3 to 4 more trips around the greenway calling for her. I did one last excursion before sundown, this time walking a very circuitous route from the house; I covered 3.5 miles with no sign.

At midnight a dog was barking. I assumed it was Ollie with a renewed interest in barking at the donkey. He protects us from the donkey about once a week between midnight and 3am, so nothing unusual there. But this time it was Lilly!! The dog who has only explored the “grounds” on leash once or twice came home after being lost for over 24 hours in a new area with all her paths home were flooded. Dumb luck or a very smart dog or God answering prayers, you decide.

Acts 1 – 2

Verse 1:1 starts with a possible identifier to the writer: In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, Theophilus is only mentioned in the book of Luke, so therefore it is assumed this is the second book that Luke wrote. I often wonder about Luke since he was a companion of Paul and was not one of the disciples. So the Gospel of Luke is not a firsthand account of what happened. I wonder if he wrote for one of the other 9?

Verse 1:7 get into the whole when Jesus will return:

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority.

One thing is clear we will not know the day or time of Jesus’ return. People have been pointing at Revelations and other prophetic writings saying “the end is near,” yet it never happens. Today one could honestly say the end is near, based on Jerusalem being returned to the Israelites in 1948, since most of the “prophecies” have that key aspect. So is it going to happen today? Tomorrow? Next Year? Never? We really do not know and never will know the precise date or if it will happen at all. Remember Nineveh was spared, so why not mankind today?

Verse 1:26 solves a mystery since the 12 apostles are identified by Paul:

And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles.

Judas was lost to suicide and since Matthias had been with them they cast lots between him and Barsabbas to become the twelfth. This account answers some questions but brings up one on Judas. There is a “gnostic Gospel” of Judas which implies that Jesus and Judas planned the “betrayal” and it only looked that way to the others. Interesting concept since it’s hard to believe someone who spent that much time and seeing what he saw, betray Jesus.

Verses 2:2 – 4 describe probably the most pivotal event in the New Testament:

2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance

This was the “day of Pentecost” when the Holy Spirit descended on man. Interesting that Pentecost was a Greek festival so while Christians had adopted the name for this specific event, it was originally another holiday. As I read this I wish the Holy Spirit was that clear to me, I got no “mighty rushing wind” or even a slight breeze. It was just a peace which I lose often, like this morning since I am stressing about our dog that pulled of the leash last night and ran away. Funny it was slow as all get out for the first mile or so … then she perked up and ran like the wind off leash!! Anyway, my life seems to be a string of major and minor crises that never seem to end. I often wonder if God is pounding me into submission or if it’s just life on “the edge?” Either way excuse my distraction this morning … and pray we find her soon.

Obadiah

Verses 3 & 4 focus on Edom’s pride:

3 The pride of your heart has deceived you,
you who live in the clefts of the rock,
in your lofty dwelling,
who say in your heart,
“Who will bring me down to the ground?”
4 Though you soar aloft like the eagle,
though your nest is set among the stars,
from there I will bring you down,
declares the Lord.

One of my biggest pet peeves is pride and once again God is punishing the people of Edom for getting absorbed in themselves. They got in trouble for cursing Israel and were “humbled” by God. This is a stern warning to anyone who becomes prideful and pushes God to second or third or even away. The problem with pride is it’s so easy to hide and detect.

The best way to figure out your “heart” is look at how you spend your money. Pride will come out in the way you handle your money. If God is not first there are problems and I must confess I am there right now. As you know I let things go and have been faithful on my “tithe” through the rough spots. Recently I have let other events, like a new roof, change my spending habits and for whatever reason my spending for God has come to a crawl. Pray that the desire for ME stops and I refocus my finances.

Verse 12 continues the warnings:

But do not gloat over the day of your brother
in the day of his misfortune;
do not rejoice over the people of Judah
in the day of their ruin;
do not boast
in the day of distress.

This section is focusing on Edom’s violence against Israel and how their attention is wrong. Again pride got in the way of their kingdom and they become just a footnote in history only seen in our Bibles and a few archaeological findings. I find it interesting how many great and powerful nations have risen and fallen, yet through it all Israel has remained whole. Granted the nation has been “nomads” before entering the Promised Land and between the time of Jesus and 1948 when the UN gave Israel the Promised Land back.

We need to try to learn from Edom and all the other examples in the Bible on pride and try to remove it from OUR own lives. It destroys our relationship with God and if it infects a nation will quickly bring them down. Today I look at the USA and how that once shining light of freedom is being eroded because of pride. Unfortunately the pride that is destroying us is infecting the rest of the world. I pray this stops and people learn that having it all doesn’t mean squat if there is no one to share life with!!

Proverbs 26 – 27

Verse 26:1 hits home in some ways:

Like snow in summer or rain in harvest,
so honour is not fitting for a fool.

The idea of rain in harvest is not so unusual here in Georgia, but snow in summer is definitely not going to happen.Solomon ties two unlikely meteorological events to the likely hood of honoring a fool. The reason this hits home is twofold, in how “honors” are given. First, I like to think of myself as level headed and not foolish, but have lacked any honors. At the same time I have seen fools propped up at various jobs and in the government. Unfortunately this is a Proverb we don’t see in practice much. Please note I am not fishing for an “honor” since I have done nothing worthy of one, just used me as an example.

Verse 26:11 is a Proverb I remember:

Like a dog that returns to his vomit
is a fool who repeats his folly.

Peter repeats this in 2 Peter 2:22 so I must not be the only one who liked this verse. The subject again is the fool and is illustrated by something almost no one would do. I all honesty how many of us have repeated foolish endeavors? I could spend the rest of the chapter reminiscing on stupid moves I made in life and then repeated them. Suffice it to say, we all have been fools and need to recognize it and correct. I think the gross analogy is exactly what we should think about before we drift again!

Verse 27:1 is quoted again in James, one of my favorite books of the Bible:

Do not boast about tomorrow,
for you do not know what a day may bring.

I think one of the main reason I like this is I have pride issues. First, I am repulsed by people who are full of themselves and live for themselves. At the same time this “repulsion” comes for an embedded pride or jealously that I am not at that level. A comic from Mad magazine had two baseball starts together, one from the early days and one today. The early star was humble and thanked the team; the new one stole all the glory. We should not boast about past events as if they are a guarantee of what will happen tomorrow, but rather be thankful for the past and pray for the future.

Verse 27:17 is a simple verse but cutting (pun intended):

Iron sharpens iron,
and one man sharpens another.

We tend to forget this aspect in our walk, and I say this as a very guilty person. Often times I draw into this “Thought” and not talk to others. I hope that my ramblings help sharpen others but often I rarely seek the council of others. A reflected on this before about a need for a mentor in my life. I often spend weeks, sometimes years down a rabbit trail of “doctrine” I eventually figure out is wrong. The thing here is we need to sharpen each other’s knowledge so each can be ready for “battle”.

Verses 27:23 – 24 is something we often don’t do because it’s tedious:

23 Know well the condition of your flocks,
and give attention to your herds,
24 for riches do not last for ever;
and does a crown endure to all generations?

This is the accounting and making sure you are on top of things. I know it’s a mentally arduous task, but it is necessary so you can stay on top of things. Jesus talks about this in Matthew 25 in the Parable of the Talents. In essence he is saying those who can be trusted with more are given more. One of the ways you become “trusted” is demonstrate how you manage a meager amount. I think of tax time and those who get a big refund. Most make a major purchase and blow it quickly. At the same time one is gets little or no refund may be “managing” their funds better. Today it’s no big deal letting the government keep your money since most banks pay nothing either, but in a “normal” economy it would be considered foolish to let the government keep your money interest free.

In money it’s the “little things” that add up. One of the biggest we is how we save. Anyone can who is making money, they just have to decide how they spend their money. The local gas station is the perfect example of waste in one’s budget. We often times out of convenience get a drink there when we could hold off and have something that is often times better and ¼ the price when we get home. Accounting teaches us to hold off those urges and delay “gratification” to save money. As we save more the more we seem to have, often times it is not an income problem but rather a spending one and this Proverb tells us the importance on keeping on top of things.

Psalms 114 – 116

Verses 114:7 & 8 are not the way most churches preset God these days:

7 Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the God of Jacob,
8 who turns the rock into a pool of water,
the flint into a spring of water.

We look at God through the lens of grace and forgiveness, where the Israelites had stories that their nation being punished and destroyed. They were taught floods of Biblical proportions, cities being reduced to salt, the earth swallowing men up and the Passover where the first born are taken without blood over the door. They would look at God with a different perspective.

I am not saying we do not need to fear God and that we are safe from “End Times” but rather we need to view God as a father. A father loves unconditionally and will let things that deserve punishment slip from time to time. At the same time He will provide “correction” that will help us throughout our lives.

Now there are many who claim God never changes, but I argue He took the path of most fathers and mankind took the path of most children. In their youth they did some very stupid things and the punishment was harsh and swift. As both mature, the father learns to become more patient and the children learn what pleases God. I am not saying we don’t mess up like before, but I think God has toned down his “wrath”!

Verse 115:8 talks about the makers and worshiper of idols:

Those who make them become like them;
so do all who trust in them.

We tend to no longer worship idols like we do God; instead our idols take the form of money and stuff. We focus on gaining more and lose our connection with God. We focus on money and lose our voice in many things, like the family since most are so focused on gain that family time ceases. They stop listening; often it’s more the “iPod” idol that they are plugged into ignoring the world around them. The only smells they experience are in air conditioned environments in front of their “idol” computers. We need to experience God and not stuff!!

Verse 115:13 ties into our fear of God:

he will bless those who fear the LORD,
both the small and the great.

I often read passages like this and then verse 115:18 where we are “blessing” the Lord and wonder if there is a difference in the usage or the translated word. We view “blessing” as getting things we want, but how then can we bless a God who has everything? We try to apply how we interpret the term to God, but really need to look at it a different way. We “bless” God not with our gifts, but rather with our actions. Even the tithe is not blessing God by giving Him money, but the act of obedience. The tithe is to further the kingdom and help the people doing it. No matter how you think about what they should “make” for doing God’s “work”, there is no denying that they need to survive.

That was an odd twist, but often we just read the words and not really think about what they are saying. “Oh bless the Lord” means we give Him offerings or proclaim the Gospel more? When we envision “blessing” we are receiving something, so technically God is receiving your love. Going back to the father/child analogy, how can a child “bless” the father? They do it every day with their love and actions while the father gains absolutely nothing material. The father may give the child a super Lego set to “bless” them, but that blessing will last a short time where the child’s love will be remembered to the grave by the father! Right now I am in tears thinking of my children’s love they have shown throughout the years. So don’t focus on the things, but rather LOVE!!

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2 Chronicles 6 – 10

Verse 6:1 had me scratching my head especially after reading on:

Then Solomon said, “The LORD has said that he would dwell in thick darkness.

Why is the Lord dwelling in the dark? The initial question that came to mind was does God dwell in darkness or light? Next I was wondering if Solomon was implying that God was dwelling in dark before the temple was built. Now if you really think about it, if God is everywhere then He is in both darkness and light. Technically he also dwells in heaven and hell, but that’s another subject.

After doing a study on this verse I think the most logically explanation was Solomon was trying to remind them of the exodus where God guided them in a fiery pillar during the night and a dark cloud during the day. I think he was reminding them of this since later in the chapter a dark cloud descended on the temple and fire consumed the offering.

Verse 6:18 really states my problem with the idea of temple’s or churches being “God’s house”:

“But will God indeed dwell with man on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you, how much less this house that I have built!

I think we tend to put God in a box when we build ornate buildings for Him to live. You think about it, if God is everywhere why would he need a temple? He would always be there anyway. I think man needs to do this more for themselves than God, since the building can house and attract more people. Although 2 or more gathered together shows numbers are not key, I believe the larger the assembly is praying in unison, the greater the “energy” and power of the prayer.

Verse 9:7 is an observation by the Queen of Sheba:

Happy are your wives! Happy are these your servants, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom!

Think about the observation here that the queen notices the people are joyous knowing their king is wise! I would love the ability to have someone that wise guide me, sure I can get it from the Bible but it tends to be forgotten quickly by me. A “mentor” would be nice in this business and spiritual time in my life.

Interestingly the study Bible had a reference to 1 Kings10:8 which had this same line quoted but instead of “wives” it said “men”. I wonder why the difference? Is this like the old group game where you get in a circle and whisper something to one person and see how it changed when it gets back to you? You see this often in the Gospel where one story will be slightly different and this is how the “critics” debunk the Bible. Einstein’s Theory of Relativity explains it all. The story is in the eye of the observer, but as Einstein explains it the observer may have completely different observations of the same event. How would a person describe a train passing them verse a passenger on the train describing the same passage? Both would be similar, but slightly different. The writer of Kings versus the writer of Chronicles may have had a different interpretation of what was said. Where one writer may have been closer to the Queen and may have written what she really meant, not accidently said.

The Gospels may be interpreted differently by a writer with extensive knowledge of the Law versus a writer who was very close to Jesus. Don’t let people rock your faith and understanding of what the message is because there are slight differences in the stories.

Numbers 19 – 21

Verse 19:13 is an example how God guided the Israelites not with laws that people must obey not to sin:

Whoever touches a dead person, the body of anyone who has died, and does not cleanse himself, defiles the tabernacle of the LORD, and that person shall be cut off from Israel; because the water for impurity was not thrown on him, he shall be unclean. His uncleanness is still on him.

Often we read the law as a bunch of legal regulations that are there to make it impossible to obey. In reality chapter is not full of what God would consider sin, but rather who God has laid out to protect his nation. Much of the Law is just that, a guide to ensure the people of Israel are healthy and protected from disease and famine. God lays out proper farming techniques, eating habits, cleanliness and dealing with dead bodies, not to ensure we stumble and sin, but to protect His people.

In the middle ages the Jews were accused of poisoning the wells because of the “Black Death” which spread across Europe. This accusation was a “logical” explanation since the bubonic plague was not rampant in their community. What people didn’t realize is their health, eating and cleaning “rituals” protected them from the spread of diseases.

Look at Nazi Germany, one of the major ways the Jews were persecuted was because of their success during a depression. It wasn’t because they were taking advantage of the people, they just were not extended in debt and had saved. They did not look at the 10/10/80 life as a great concept, but as a way to honor God. (10/10/80 is 10% tithe, 10% save and live on 80%) When the economy came crashing down, unlike everyone else the Jewish community had savings. Go back to Joseph and how he taught this to the Egyptians when he was exiled by his brothers. He taught them to save and ended up giving the Jews an example of why, since their storehouses saved the Israelites.

Verse 20:1 is one of those odd verses:

And the people of Israel, the whole congregation, came into the wilderness of Zin in the first month, and the people stayed in Kadesh. And Miriam died there and was buried there.

You have chapter 19 detail out how to handle the dead and then this verse. Right after this Moses goes into the story on the Waters of Meribah. It’s not that this is wrong, but there are little details or explanations on why. For those who have spent time talking with me you notice I do this often, where from out of left field I make a comments that makes no sense to anyone but myself. I wonder if this was one of those moments with Moses, where it happened and he wrote about it with no real explanation on why it’s here.

Verse 20:12 was a result of Moses striking the rock and not doing what God had commanded him to do:

And the LORD said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.”

This is one of those stories I question since God shows little grace to Moses not allowing him to pass to the Promised Land. I read this and often wonder if there is anything we Christians can do to miss out on heaven. Think about it, Moses just did what worked before and it cost him. How many times do we ignore or purposefully turn our backs on God for fun, personal glory or whatever suits the moment? I catch myself doing this almost daily. So is God going to revoke my pass into heaven because I continue to mess up?

I am just dealing with myself on most of these issues, Moses on the other hand had a nation whining at him and I am sure he struck the rock out of frustration and not purposeful disobedience. I know what is taught but I often go deeper into or example 1 John 2 and 3 since the verses there imply we can reject our salvation. Now many interpretations from the “once saved always saved” group imply this means they were never really saved in the first place. I believe someone who was at one time “on fire” for God could reject His grace and lose a place in heaven, but that’s just my interpretation. So maybe God IS still a firm on some aspects to salvation.

Philemon

Paul’s letter to Philemon is one of those odd books where I wonder why it was included. It’s a personal letter of encouragement send with one of Philemon’s slaves who stole from him and ran away. It is an excellent example of the grace we need to show to all who ask for forgiveness.

Forgiveness is something that is a difficult subject and something Christians are criticized on all the time. Need I remind you that the Lord’s Prayer says we need to forgive others as we want God to forgive us? There is one detail that we rarely talk about and that is God requires a heartfelt confession. Should we? Let’s say you cheated on your taxes, it wasn’t big but you felt it was ok since the government is not spending the money in a Godly way. You “confess” it, but honestly feel you did nothing wrong. Is that a confession, would you forgive someone who stole from you and confessed in the same way? Reread the Lord’s Prayer and answer that.

Verse 10 is Paul’s appeal to Philemon to forgive Onesimus:

I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison.

It’s unclear if Paul actually met Onesimus in prison as a prisoner or if this was more figurative as being in prison in the world and his duties. He mentions it more than once and knowing Paul’s history of being jailed for his beliefs, he most likely was detained. The thing Paul wishes to impress on Philemon is Onesimus is a changed man and should be truly forgiven.

Verse 21 is something I wish could be said about me:

I am confident as I write this letter that you will do what I ask and even more!

More often than not, when asked to do something I figure out what is the least I can do to meet that request. I have been blessed with the ability to do things quickly so although it may seem ok, it’s fall less than what I could have done in most cases. I think as a nation we have all become that way, I look at the number of people who surf the web on their phones in the office and have critical thoughts, but when I have frequent down time I surf also. So hypocrisy runs rampant with me!!

My point with the web is where I am convicted on my usage, I have talked to some big offenders who do not even try to cover the fact they are playing with their phones and they honestly don’t see a problem. The idea that the mountains of work that need to be done are on hold while this bug gets fixed does not bother them or even cross their mind. We have raised a culture that is slowly missing the “and even more” concept of work. Every task we are handed should be looked at with the “and even more” idea and not the just enough.

As I say this the other problem you cross is doing more often leads to overruns on projects. So often times the minimum is the right business decision. The companies who do “even more” tend to get priced out of existence. This gets me to the concept of fair pay for employers and customers alike. We cannot expect to pay a minimum for goods and services and at the same time expect the product to exceed your expectations. There comes a point where the economy crushes the do “even more” concept.

Verse 23 has a final greeting:

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings.

I guess this confirms Paul is in prison at the time he wrote this letter.

John 19 – 21

Verses 19:10 – 11 show the larger scale God was working in:

10 So Pilate said to him, “You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?” 11 Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”

Pilate had an angry mob and could not find reason to punish Jesus. He desperately searched for ways to set Him free, yet each ended with obstructions that made it difficult to say no. Here he is asking Jesus directly to defend Himself and His response is in this verse. Jesus can easily submit to God since his spirit is God, but we find it difficult. If you had to suffer and die to save the world would you do it? Even when you look at humanity today with its many flaws?

That is where this “sacrifice” becomes amazing. He knew we would fail, He prophesized it before he died yet He continued with the beating and crucifixion. He died for all of us, including Charles Manson, Hitler and Osama Bin Laden. The choice lies with us and who/what we choose to follow.

Verses 19:36 – 37 are examples which are throughout this chapter of prophecies from the Old Testament that Jesus’ death fulfilled:

36 For these things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken.” 37 And again another Scripture says, “They will look on him whom they have pierced.”

Verse 36 is talking about the Passover lamb where no bone shall be broken and can be found in Exodus 12:46. Verse 37 is a story from Zechariah (vs. 13:7, 11:4, 8-9, 15-17) where God himself was pierced. This is where reading the Old Testament becomes exciting in many areas. Sometime reading the lineage and details of the Law can get boring, but you often find nuggets like this that become ah-ha moments. The odds are staggering that Jesus could fulfill just 8 of the Old Testament prophecies, so you add in the other 52 or more and it becomes mind blowing.

You have Islam and Judaism which both acknowledge Jesus, just ignore the overwhelming evidence that He is who He said He is. Interestingly with a person that brought so much division in the world we have no “historical record” from this time that claims anything that was said by the disciples is false. If there was anything false in what was said I would expect more than one would be screaming fraud. No we don’t find that, just evidence to prove Jesus is the Messiah.

Verse 20:25 talks about the “doubting Thomas” in the group:

So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

This is where our faith is pressed, we believe that a man died and was resurrected for our salvation. Something like this has never been documented in modern history so faith becomes an issue. Now I say it’s never been documented, but a quick Google search finds many stories of people waking in the morgue or at their funeral. These may or may not be true, but it’s common for doctors to resuscitate people whose vitals are nonexistent. So why is it so farfetched that God did this some 2000 years ago? Do we really need to stick our hands in his side or do we just need to accept that his did happen?

I take all this and throw it out the window, since my belief came from a relationship with our living God. That alone made me realize this “story” was real. And after 8 years of reading the Bible I am just learning more and more that some of the wild tales of the Bible are possible and true as depicted.

Amos 5 – 9

Verse 5:6 is great advice:

Seek the LORD and live,
lest he break out like fire in the house of Joseph,
and it devour, with none to quench it for Bethel,

I read stuff like this and then it follows with destruction, I wonder if their worship is just a mechanical act and nothing is there spiritually. Or are they ignoring God altogether. Either way you read through and it implies that your heart does not matter and Israel will be destroyed.

At the same time we get verse 5:13 which implies some will be spared:

Therefore he who is prudent will keep silent in such a time,
for it is an evil time.

I read this I think of Ray Comfort and some series I have seen him on a soapbox preaching. I often wonder the effectiveness of this and if this verse applies today? I know many who had out “tracks” and try to convict people into a relationship with a loving God, but wonder the success rate. Ray seemed to have great success, but he was also very bold and did not hesitate when challenged. Unfortunately, to be there you need intense faith and knowledge.

I have given up preaching to some of my atheists friends because they are unwilling to listen. At the same time is that an instance where I need to brush the dust of my feet and move on?

Verse 7:14 shows Amos’ humble beginnings:

Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor a prophet’s son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs.

In much of the Bible we find prominent people put in places of power. People say Moses had humble beginnings, but even he was raised in the Pharaoh’s palace. Paul didn’t just come to be, he was a well-trained Pharisee before he was chosen by Jesus. But Amos was a farmer with no apparent formal training. He just did what God told him to do.

Often times people want to come from the obscure and save the world, but think about how God tended to pick people of influence and knowledge before training them for years before their ministry worked. Jesus was the son of God and had God’s spirit within him. He was held off for 30 some years before he really hit the stage. Moses needed a longer time to prepare for what God had in store for him. So if you are a new Christian and want to set the world on fire, by all means do. But don’t get disappointed if it doesn’t happen overnight or over a decade.

Verse 9:15 end with hope for Israel:

I will plant them on their land,
and they shall never again be uprooted
out of the land that I have given them,”
says the LORD your God.

God will keep his promises; just make take a bunch of generations before He feels comfortable. I read this and think of Revelations and the destruction there. That makes me wonder if this is pre or post Revelations. Do the Israelites who inhabit the “land” Messianic Jews? The problem with prophecies is trying to figure them out, people study them for years to come up with conclusions that others who have studied the same disagree with. In the end all that matters is our relationship today with Jesus and God, there is nothing else we can really control!!

Proverbs 25

Verses 25:4 – 5 started off with a quick search to ensure I understood the meaning of “dross”:

4 Take away the dross from the silver,
and the smith has material for a vessel;
5 take away the wicked from the presence of the king,
and his throne will be established in righteousness.

Dross is impurities in a metal that is removed in the refining process.When you create metal projects with impurities, often you get a weaker metal that can fail. If you take the wicked away from a king, he will not have that influence on his throne. Now this analogy can be applied to our lives as well, since often times we surround ourselves with “the wicked” or at least the “party animals” to try to save them. What most often happens is we drift into their lifestyle and not the other way around.

If we surround ourselves with righteousness and keep a core “pure” group, like David’s mighty men, we can enter into “dens of evil” as examples and not get easily sucked into the life. We have to be able to show reason why we have a better life, so purity is a must. Often times we need to ensure that we don’t get sucked into the life we are trying to save. People always point to how Jesus hung out with sinners and “wicked” yet it did not affect him. Also not He is God and cannot be influenced in by evil. Also, He had the twelve disciples as support.

Verses 25: 21 – 22 are commonly used as examples of kindness in the New Testament:

21 If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat,
and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink,
22 for you will heap burning coals on his head,
and the LORD will reward you.

Paul specifically quotes this Proverb in Romans 12 when he is expanding on Jesus’ teachings in Matthew 5. Often times we do this with a revengeful spirit, more thinking of how our kindness is driving them mad and less on the act. Although they may have “coals heaped on their head” your focus should not be giving them misery but showing true love. I honestly think verse 22 should be ignored for two reasons. First who cares what torment these people may be going through, your goal is not to torment them but to show kindness. Second, don’t focus on rewards from God since once you start doing that you question why each good “deed” is not rewarded with a lottery win.

No we need to focus on verse 21 and change our hearts so we are truly showing our enemies love and not just doing kind acts to get them mad. We need to dive into our heart and motivation while letting God deal with theirs. If the Lord rewards us here on earth or with treasures in heaven, which is a bonus and should never be expected. I take this aspect more like a “grunt” in the Marines, when God says “jump”, I jump without expectations of reward.

Verse 25:26 ties into verses 25:4 – 5 in letting evil into one’s life:

Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain
is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

Solomon has seen this in his father, when he moved away from his “mighty men”. We need to make sure we don’t let the wicked creep into our lives. I have seen this many times where people we be trying to save others without support from friends and get sucked up in the lifestyle they are trying to “save.” I did this in college were I had no Christian friends and decided I could win over others by doing what they did. Instead I drank a bunch in college and saved no one.

The only thing I was able to do in college was to turn away the “born again” group since I knew the right answers, although never practiced them. I became a muddy spring and a polluted fountain, which has become purer but is still dealing with the “skeletons” from allowing evil in. Fortunately the “skeletons” are more just a battle in my mind, but where my outward appearance may be “Godly” my mind needs to be hammered into submission more often than I care to admit.

Psalms 111 – 113

Today’s reading was very short. Verse 111:2 is something we often dismiss as we study:

Great are the works of the LORD,
studied by all who delight in them.

Think about science since it attempts to pull the veil off all of God’s works. I say “attempts” because even stuff that is considered “fact” by the scientific community was shrouded in doubt by the founders. I specifically look at Darwin’s theory of evolution. A famous quote against evolution from Darwin is “that the eye could have been formed by natural selection, seems, I freely confess, absurd in the highest degree.” He then goes on to explain how it “could” have happened.

It is ironic how a practice that is steeped in fact and proof just blindly follows the most logical explanation with not one iota of proof. I am more inclined to believe Genesis that Darwin, but at the same time when you consider time dilation, God may very well have evolved the soup he created into man. Adam was formed from “dust” and Darwin does imply we came from “dust”. So maybe once again both are right.

Verse 112:9 continues with attributes of righteous people:

He has distributed freely; he has given to the poor;
his righteousness endures for ever;
his horn is exalted in honour.

I’m going to go all “government” on us for a bit. Isn’t it ironic how we say we are a nation built on Judeo-Christian values, yet some of the most vocal critics of the “welfare state” are Christians? If we are in fact a nation under God, it’s our responsibility to protect and help the poor “freely.” At the same time I believe the “poor” have the responsibility to not abuse the giver. It’s not the government’s responsibility to support a person’s poor decisions, especially if these decisions enable them to get more money from the government. I think “welfare” needs to be compassionate, yet done to help those in need and not create a structure of those in need.

The difficulty with this is how you determine if one is really in need. The explosion of people on disability is disconcerting and I believe an example of the government enabling the needy. In 1968 we had 51 people working for every 1 person on disability, today the ratio is 13 to 1. Ironically this is the only reason the unemployment figures are not through the roof. Now is this creating a welfare state where people don’t want to work or is it the byproduct of a capitalistic system that has gone awry? Think about how many jobs have been shipped overseas, we have become a nation of consumers, be it “stuff”, our government or even our churches.

JFK said it “ask not what your county can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” We are all consuming and forcing the current state to change. Our insistent desire for stuff at a good price has forced the companies to adjust their manufacturing so they can provide it at a great deal. Thus causing a loss of jobs and moving this mentality to everything from call centers to engineering. Our consumption has created a transferring of jobs that our educational system is training us not to want. Unfortunately there are some who do not want to put in those extra hours in the lab, so since the jobs that were suited for them have left the country, they are forced to consume from the government.

I could go on forever, but we need to shift to helping others and not focusing on ourselves.

Verse 113:9 often times gives hope to those in need:

He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.
Praise the Lord!

Verses like these give me hope at the same time I know many believers who never have children and cling to these verses. If Jesus can raise the dead and heal the sick, why is this being done today on a selective basis? I don’t understand why God would heal a non-believer yet have a man of faith stuck in a wheel chair. We tend to get false hope sometimes that sends us into a spiral of distancing ourselves from God.

Why? I have no clue and do not claim to have a notion. We need to live in faith that God will take care of all our needs. I believe the world is a Pachinko Machine and God starts us down a path and each peg we hit is a decision. The path taken determines our next peg we hit. Unfortunately the Pachinko Machine of life has many balls going all at the same time and machines that become interconnected for brief moments. This is why someone’s decision to party late and your decision to work late may result in you never walking again. I don’t believe God is manipulating the machine all the time, just some. I only wish that some resulted in MORE healings!!

If God is too big to deal with our individual problems, then we are limiting God!

2 Chronicles 1 – 5

Verse 1:7 starts a familiar story with Solomon:

In that night God appeared to Solomon, and said to him, “Ask what I shall give you.”

If God appeared before you right now and asked this, what would your answer be? And don’t give the “Biblical” one of wisdom, unless that is truly what is in your heart. We may have in our hearts a desire for wealth, fame or power but knowing the story say wisdom, since the expectation is God will grant us the rest for not being “selfish.” You know what stinks about God? God sees into your true desires. I can say without a doubt that asking for wisdom with the expectation of the other stuff will result in neither! Although some will say I am a “wise guy” so maybe the prayer was answered.

Verse 1:10 gives the reason behind Solomon’s request:

Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?”

If you think about it, Solomon was assuming David’s empire. He had wealth and power already, so wisdom to “govern” the people was a logical request. This story often gets told that because he was not selfish and asking for frivolous stuff he was granted the thinks most of us would ask for. But he already had wealth, fame and power, sure he could have asked for more but it’s not like one of the homeless people having God ask them what they want, they would be asking for wisdom out of true need.

I don’t want to take away from the fact Solomon made a noble choice in his decision, since no matter how rich a person seems to be most want more. He could have asked for a larger empire, more gold or more wives, but rather asked for something that most of us would not. I guess the example is if you had one wish what would it be? And more wishes is not a “wish”, just one thing, one wish. Puts more of a perspective on what Solomon wished for.

Verse 5:13 has the temple complete and the Ark is placed in it and now the people are rejoicing:

and it was the duty of the trumpeters and singers to make themselves heard in unison in praise and thanksgiving to the LORD), and when the song was raised, with trumpets and cymbals and other musical instruments, in praise to the LORD,

“For he is good,
for his steadfast love endures for ever,”

the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud,

Chapters 2 through 5 described the alliances Solomon made to build the temple and the actual construction. This verse caught my eye because of the song being sung. “For he is good, his love endures for ever,” is a line from many Christian songs and is scattered throughout the Psalms and other books. I think it’s something we really need to remind ourselves of daily. God is good all the time and all the time God is good is said so often it’s almost a cliché, but it’s so true. We need to focus and dwell on God’s immense love and power that He cares about us on a personal level. Think about it, if we don’t think God has time for us then we are limiting God!!

Numbers 16 – 18

Verse 16:2 starts a rebellion against Moses:

And they rose up before Moses, with a number of the people of Israel, 250 chiefs of the congregation, chosen from the assembly, well-known men.

Wander around the desert long enough, reach your destination and then turn away and be told you will wander and die off for 40 years, that time frame can wear someone thin. I often read stories like this and wonder how they could think this way. Eventually they were consumed by the earth, to show the people who God really trusts.

But how did it get that way? You have seen plagues, miracles, food appear, water gush and still question Moses’ authority. Just seems like you are on the wrong side of God going against Moses. At the same time you look at their arguments and they stem from a deep seeded sense of pride, like most revolts.

I keep on coming up with some wild idea to run for congress, but cannot get any to follow my lead on almost anything. Why do I think I can unseat an well respected congressman and what could I offer above what he has, other than a fresh face. And as we see most “fresh faces” in congress get chewed up and spit out either dejected or corrupted. Guess my point is, pride is the key factor since I somehow think I can do better.

Verses 18:17 – 19 gets into the nuts and bolts on the offering:

17 But the firstborn of a cow, or the firstborn of a sheep, or the firstborn of a goat, you shall not redeem; they are holy. You shall sprinkle their blood on the altar and shall burn their fat as a food offering, with a pleasing aroma to the LORD. 18 But their flesh shall be yours, as the breast that is waved and as the right thigh are yours. 19 All the holy contributions that the people of Israel present to the LORD I give to you, and to your sons and daughters with you, as a perpetual due. It is a covenant of salt for ever before the LORD for you and for your offspring with you.”

I find it interesting how the Torah tends to skip between stories and details on the Law chapter by chapter. In Chapters 16 and 17 Moses was writing about a revolt and then chapter 18 is devoted to the duties of the priests. These verses are interesting since it spells out that the “tithe” is to be used for the Levites living expenses. It was God’s way of making sure they have something to live on and share in the wealth of Israel.

I think by the time Jesus rolled around one of them main reasons the “priests” were so against Him was they did not want to ruin the status quo. They enjoyed great riches without much work and Jesus was ruining their gravy train. Again I wonder if Jesus stood before some of the mega-churches in jeans and a “t” if they would recognize Him as who He is or reject Him as an imposter?

Again understanding verses like this lay the foundation on why things happened the way they did.

Titus 1 – 3

Titus is a short and sweet book which is very encouraging to read. There are not a bunch of doctrinal truths or discussions here, but rather an encouraging word to a close friend. He goes through “qualification” of various positions in the church. Verse 1:6 talks about the qualifications of elders:

if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.

I believe this is something we should all strive for, not just for the position of “elder”. After 22 years of being in a sometime volatile marriage, this is not easy to do. Dealing with your own problems is hard enough, but include those of another AND then add children in the mix, it amazes me more people don’t take the simple road of divorce. “Debauchery or insubordination” is a byproduct often times of giving up on a marriage. Or often not releasing these behaviors cause the marriage to fester.

Either way as simple as this may sound, it by no means is. What they are looking for in leaders is self-control and the ability to work with others. Also, the part about the children reflects good leadership. That is what is needed to lead others in their walk with Jesus, not just a charismatic personality. It’s difficult to represent the word of God, when your family is a shambles. Not saying it can’t be done, it just becomes a potential stumbling block for yourself and others.

Verse 1:11 caught my eye, not because of what it was saying but in verse 10 the group is a “circumcision party.”

They must be silenced, since they are upsetting whole families by teaching for shameful gain what they ought not to teach.

Although this is the first time this has stood out to me, it’s also in Acts and Galatians. I searched other version and did not find it although some searches has the group show up in Matthew also. By the name I assumed it was a group of Jewish Christians who are still bound by the law. It is a group that still focuses on the Law being a binding covenant with salvation in Christ Jesus. The problem with a legalistic society is we tend to gloat over our salvation while at the same time condemning others for their sin.

We often are taught that Jesus fulfilled the law and made it harder. Take the story of the widow’s mite, the rich guy gave his 10% where the widow gave all she had. The story was not to guilt us into giving everything, but to make us realize that although the Law is tough, it’s just a guide and we will NEVER be able to really live to God’s standard without the grace and love given by Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross.

I am not going to pull select verses from chapter 2 and 3 since they are more a list of how we should act as Christians. But attributes like being “self-controlled” or not being “slaves to much wine” are points we should do some soul searching on. Read this chapter with a true introspective view into your own life and desires and see where you need to make changes. Once you have an idea, start on one “vice” a week and move quickly working towards using this as a checklist of things you need to follow.

John 16 – 18

Imagine knowing you are going to die and trying to relay that to your closest friends. Jesus has been doing this since chapter 13, yet the disciples still don’t quite get it. Granted he was quite cryptic as in verse 16:16 where he is not straight forward:

“A little while, and you will see me no longer; and again a little while, and you will see me.”

We know what Jesus is saying because we know the story, but imagine not knowing that he would be brutally beaten and eventually die on a cross, only to rise and be with them again in 3 days.Would you just assume Jesus was just going away for a little bit to pray and be with himself? Or would you understand what he was saying?

Verse 16:24 is another “prosperity preacher” gem:

Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

For some reason throughout the Bible we see men go through some rough times, being refined and forged. For some reason we think that being melted in a furnace and then being pounded into a shape with a large heavy hammer is supposed to be pleasant. Sure it may not be like Job who lived in misery, but more like David where his promise was held from him while his character was molded. I think of recent times and our preacher at 12 Stone.

PK laid the foundation some 25 years ago with a small humble crew. He struggled and almost quit more than once. As he tells the story, his marriage and vision almost crumbled before him, yet he continued to be “refined” and “forged” into a preacher that today has 4 locations and an online ministry that reaches thousands each week. This did not just happen for PK as it does not just happen for countless others who are called for a larger purpose.

Verses 17:21 – 22 are comforting words to those who follow Jesus:

20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.

We learn the Holy Spirit is not just for the disciples, but for all who follow Jesus. I read these and have hope that God is with us all once we confess that Jesus is real and we accept Him as Lord. In his prayer he asks “that they may all be one” asking for unity in the cross. I wonder if He knew the strife and bickering that would go on in His name. Some of the most brutal fighting the world has known, have been between Christian denominations. I specifically think of the Catholics and Protestants in England. This conflict rages on in the name of God. Ironic that Jesus asks Christians to “be one” yet blood is spilled not following His words.

Carefully read all of chapter 17, I believe this is more detail on the prayer in the garden and is a great model prayer.

The reading ends in chapter 18 with Jesus being arrested and brought before Caiaphas and Pilate. Peter denies Jesus three times as predicted in this chapter also. A bunch happens all at once in the demise of Jesus. I find it interesting how his last evening takes about a quarter of the book of John and a fifth is devoted to his death and resurrection. So we see that almost half of the Book of John is devoted to Jesus’ last days. The reason is all his teaching mean less without the sacrifice and resurrection.

Amos 1 – 4

Amos was a shepherd and farmer before getting the word from God. Most of them seem to come from more stately conditions. Jeremiah and Ezekiel were both from priestly families while although Isaiah was imprisoned he was a man of the royal court.

Verse 1:13 caught my eye more on what has become a socially acceptable practice in dealing with unwanted pregnancies:

Thus says the LORD:

For three transgressions of the Ammonites,
and for four, I will not revoke the punishment,
because they have ripped open pregnant women in Gilead,
that they might enlarge their border.

I often “waffle” on my stance on abortions. I believe they are murder and are taking the life of an unborn child. This has been supported in courts where if a “wanted” dies at the hand of an assault, the perpetrator could be charged with murder. At the same time thousands of abortions happen on a daily basis without notice. At the same time I look at the original judgment as more for the woman’s safety than anything, since at that time there were tons of back alley abortions with very unsanitary conditions.

So my stance is weird since it’s difficult to “change the heart” of an individual and their decision to abort a child. We can still keep them safe and in a proper surgical setting while at the same time not just immediately sucking out a fetus. I think the decision should be pondered and weighted against all options before the actual abortion. I say this from a different perspective than most, since if we had gone to a Planned Parenthood clinic that Friday and not a Christian based pregnancy center Veronica would not be alive today. The weekend was all we needed to “rethink” that almost reflex decision for an unmarried California couple.

Now back to Amos’ prophecy and ripping open pregnant women. I tend to apply this to today’s society and wonder if that is right? Also, the wording has me confused since the “because” is they “ripped open pregnant women” but the reason why was to “enlarge their border.” How would killing the unborn enlarge the border? I assume then the women’s place was in the home, where now it’s in the workplace. So if a pregnancy interrupts the working women’s life, their “border” will not be enlarged. Was that what Amos meant then or is this what he is predicting today?

Verse 3:12 kind of grossed me out:

Thus says the LORD: “As the shepherd rescues from the mouth of the lion two legs, or a piece of an ear, so shall the people of Israel who dwell in Samaria be rescued, with the corner of a couch and part of a bed.

This verse has two aspects which intrigue me, the first is how God shall be faithful and promise to rescue his people but with little left. He wants them to truly come back to him and not drift away again. He wants this reunion to be the last one needed before His people remain faithful. Seconds and more obscure, since it was not a point Amos or God were trying to make, was his reference to the Israelites who are dwelling in Samaria. They were considered a lowly culture and yet Jesus uses a story about the Good Samaritan to highlight the hypocrisy of the Jewish people of his time.

Although Amos is not making this connection, since we read this with foreknowledge on what happens later in the book it’s not difficult to notice things like this. I am sure Amos was making a point that the Jewish people that were living in Samaria were picking up their beliefs and culture and not the other way around. I believe this is why so many Muslim fundamentalist do not want their people to have contact with modern society or Christians since it would cause the people to question their beliefs. Sure Islam is one of the largest growing segments of American society today, I believe our culture will have a greater impact on theirs then the other way.

Proverbs 23 – 24

Verse 23:4 had me scratching my head for a bit:

Do not toil to acquire wealth;
be discerning enough to desist.

I needed to look up “desist” to ensure I understood what was being said here. Basically it is saying don’t work yourself into the grave trying to get rich. Now it’s not saying don’t work hard, but rather don’t make money your focus. Because hard word can be ended for the next day, but the quest for more money seems to consume one’s life. There is a reason Jesus chastises the “love of money” because it will take ones focus away from God.

Verses 23:13 – 14 is not something parents are allowed to do these days:

13 Do not withhold discipline from a child;
if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
14 If you strike him with the rod,
you will save his soul from Sheol.

These are the “spare the rod, spoil the child” verses. Notice that phases is not here, but rather a paraphrase that people use to condense these verses. Now the problem today is you have a few who have taken this to the extreme and severely injured children. These emotional scars are then applied to all who are “spanked” and told how it’s wrong. For some reason a red behind tends to leave a greater impression that taking something away. Here Solomon is confirming this. Also notice where it’s saving the children from; Shoel or hell!

I think the “fall out” from these “pop psychologists” are just now being seen in today’s society. Where younger people I work with get chastised for using their phone during working hours and this gets ignored by them. There are no consequences in their mind, “the toy will be taken away for an hour and I will get it back” is the mindset. Whereas I have been called out on using the phone too much and it has been in the pocket most of the day since. I was spanked; these co-workers appear not to have been.

Verse 24:13 – 14 ties searching for wisdom to eating sweets:

13 My son, eat honey, for it is good,
and the drippings of the honeycomb are sweet to your taste.
14 Know that wisdom is such to your soul;
if you find it, there will be a future,
and your hope will not be cut off.

I wish more people would strive for wisdom like they do treats. This can be seen today more than ever, where people are looking for “things” to satisfy their soul like that drip of honey. We as a society are focused more on things than knowledge and I am guilty as charged. I look for money often times more than wisdom. When we focus on stuff we lose focus on God, where searching for wisdom will bring us closer to Him! Strive for God first and hopefully things will follow, if not your attention will not be drawn away in the quest for wisdom.

Verses 24:33 – 34 end a series of proverbs that start in verse 30 about laziness:

33 A little sleep, a little slumber,
a little folding of the hands to rest,
34 and poverty will come upon you like a robber,
and want like an armed man.

I often hear people focus more on rest and relaxation than on actual output. People can get lulled into this do it tomorrow for today I am tired. This mentality is infectious and I personally see it in my physical condition. I use to run marathons and long distances at a rather healthy pace, where today I am 30 to 40 pounds over my running weight. I can’t run more than two miles without cramping and get winded easily. I took the rest mentality too far and now get discouraged thinking what it will take to just get 20 pounds off. So I rest and my health has been hit by the same robber. Time to change this mentality, work hard and rest one day … not rest 6 to get discouraged on the 7th!!

Psalms 108 – 110

Verse 108:4 works for our minds, but actually limits God when you think about it:

For your steadfast love is great above the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

Our minds can easily limit God’s faithfulness to the clouds since that is huge, but it reaches far beyond the clouds. We have spent so much time reading the words of the Bible and putting God “in a box”. Think about how we try to personify God and make Him in “our image” and not His. We portray God as some muscular old guy, lounging in the clouds sending lightning bolts off his finger. When if that was the case and He was limited to a body, how could He be “omnipresent”?

Sometimes tend to parse out one little phrase and miss the “big picture” with most of the Psalms. We must realize they are more just prayers written mostly by David, that reflect the mood he is in at that moment. Often we search through the Psalms for truths and must realize while there are many, these truths are just reflecting revelations the Psalmist have had from reading them. It would be scary to see what people thought if I wrote my prayers down and then someone dug them up some 2000 years later.

Verse 109:4 is a good example of the “mood” of David:

In return for my love they accuse me,
but I give myself to prayer.

This was most likely written when he was hiding from Saul. David did only good for Saul, yet Saul became a mad man trying to kill David before he became too much a threat. Interestingly, David never took the threat as justification to challenge Saul but rather he honored Saul too his death. He had chances too even when Saul was, excuse the expression, taking a dump. So David actually lived these words and not just said them!

Verse 109:28 is one we should always remember:

Let them curse, but you will bless!
They arise and are put to shame, but your servant will be glad!

God will always be by our side to “bless” us. What appear to be “curses” from God are often just normal bumps in the road. And what we often times believe are “blessing” from God are just normal highs in life. Don’t get me wrong we need to thank God for everything, but not just the good. He has made this world for us to enjoy and “live life to the full” so take the good with the bad and praise God in either state. Remember most of the “Biblical” stories never have the line; he lived the easy life and died rich. Even David who was “anointed” to be king, yet struggled to live for 15 years before he took the kingdom and even then it was initially a partial kingdom.

Verse 110:1 may sound familiar to you:

The LORD says to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”

The reason so is this verse is quoted a bunch in the New Testament in Luke, Acts and Hebrews. In times of turmoil and strife we all like to think it would be nice to oppress our “enemies” who are making life difficult. But rather than look at oppressing them back, why not change the focus and try to bring them to Christ and make them a new ally.

1 Chronicles 25 – 29

Chapters 25, 26 and 27 are David assigning duties to the people. I wonder if this is chronological and is David tidying up before he dies or if this was just stuck near the end of his story. Verse 25:7 caught my eye because of the “special” training:

The number of them along with their brothers, who were trained in singing to the LORD, all who were skilful, was 288.

I wonder if there were just trained singers or if there was something special one needed to know before singing to the Lord? Either way to be one of the 288 out of millions must have been an honor. I often “pretend” I can sing and do so only where there is loud music to drown out my “joyful” noise or while in the shower. As Clint Eastwood once said “a man’s got to know his limitations” and I know American Idol is not where I am headed.

Anyway back to David, he chose the best for each job and they are “chronicled” here in these chapters.

Verse 28:20 has David handing the throne over to Solomon:

Then David said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous and do it. Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed, for the LORD God, even my God, is with you. He will not leave you or forsake you, until all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished.

I hear this for Solomon and often wonder if these are words we should all take to heart. I know that life often seems like God favors some but not others. We all know “Godly” people that have hit hard times, been severely injured or died before their “time”. Other times we know lukewarm Christians who seem to be blessed all the time. The only answer I have for this is we define “blessings” by worldly standards which are great health and tons of riches.

In Solomon’s case he had both and did appear to be blessed by worldly standards as well as Godly ones. I think we need to understand this world we are in can be manipulated by God, but most often is not. I don’t believe God is waiting with the “rack” for each mistake or the “treasure chest” for each good deed. No we need to function as God requires us to without concern for any “blessing” or worry about any punishment.

That doesn’t give us an open ticket to do what we desire, because although God may not punish you there are most often “consequences” for one’s disobedience. The Law is something that many get too legalistic about (granted with stoning’s for working on the Sabbath one could get “legalistic) but we should look at it as more the “right” way to live. Eat outside of what God has made for us and God will not strike you down, but you will not be operating at your optimum health. Eat per the Law, but all the time and you will have more problems than those who eat pork but control their eating.

The point I am trying to get to is for everyone to be strong and courageous for the Lord God is with you.

Verse 29:17 I think is the key to God’s favor:

I know, my God, that you test the heart and have pleasure in uprightness. In the uprightness of my heart I have freely offered all these things, and now I have seen your people, who are present here, offering freely and joyously to you.

This is the scary part about God, sure you can fool people by twisting the truth or telling outright lies, but God knows the truth. He knows what is in your heart and what your true intentions are. Imagine how serious we would live our lives if everyone could “see right through us”? Then why don’t we live our lives such that we care that God can do that? One day we may be face to face with a man that has God’s spirit, aka Jesus, and why not be well practiced so we don’t get “called out” by the “big guy”!!

Numbers 13 – 15

Moses sent spies into the Promised Land and in verses 13:27 – 28 they give their report:

27 And they told him, “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there.

Basically, the land God promised us is real, but it has big scary guys. Here the people have seen plagues, amazing miracles, the Red Sea parted and the most powerful nation brought to their knees, yet they hear of some big scary people and they are ready quit. It almost seems like I have more faith in God with only experiencing nudges that experiencing what they have. At the same time maybe their experiences have made they more like a spoiled child than people without faith.

Verse 14:8 says it in a nutshell:

If the LORD delights in us, he will bring us into this land and give it to us, a land that flows with milk and honey.

They have faith in God, just that He will make life easy. Through every story in the Bible, the people have never experienced “easy” and God. Leaving Egypt had hardships of food and water, yet God provided. David was anointed king at a young age, yet he did not take the throne until he was 30, during which he was not living the good life. Jesus was not risen to heaven, but crucified. Paul was in jail and beaten for his “ministry”. Here the people just expect God to give them the “lottery” without working one bit for it, just like a spoiled child.

Verse 14:33 God finally has had enough:

And your children shall be shepherds in the wilderness for forty years and shall suffer for your faithlessness, until the last of your dead bodies lies in the wilderness.

When you read, you find out the 40 years was not how long it would take to eradicate a generation, but rather a year for each day they spied in the Promised Land. Also, if it was a “natural” life expectancy thing that Jacob and Caleb would not have survived. No God was making a point that the people needed to trust him more and to work for what He is offering them, not just whine and expect it handed to them!

Chapter 15 goes back into the nuts and bolts of the Law. Verse 15:35 is the point where Jesus got in trouble often with the Pharisees:

And the LORD said to Moses, “The man shall be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.”

I often read this and wonder if the “Word” came from God or Moses. I know it says “the Lord said to Moses” but did God really intend for death to be the penalty for doing any kind of work? I know the Christian explanation is God gave us the Law to show us we could not live up to His expectations, but what was the real intention. Was this “man” emphasizing that on the 7th day God rested or did God want to ensure we rested and if not we would eternally! Jesus pushed that Law where it needed to be pushed and the Sabbath was on point where that was the case. I think we have blown by making society 24/7, but even there it’s OUR responsibility to rest as God intended.

2 Timothy 3 – 4

Verses 3:2 – 5 address what people will be like during the “end times”

2 For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4 treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

Sounds like today! There are some key points that I think reflect today more than any other time in history. The main one is “disobedient to their parents”, today more than any other time in history children have become empowered. Parents can no longer “discipline” their children without fear of DFCS breaking down their door. This all comes from a few abuse cases and the “solution” gets applied to all of society. A small group who don’t feel “spanking” is right create laws the “protect” the child. When you “spare the rod” you “spoil the child” (Proverbs 13:24)!

I think this is something that has not happened before; sure kids always “hate” their parents and are disobedient but this actually “empowers” the children. Before they would eventually come to their senses, but once they have the idea that no one can punish them … game over! The disobedience will become common and this prophecy will become true!

The rest of this list I believe has been common throughout history and mankind. It is easy to become lovers of pleasure and not of an unseen God. Cultures throughout history have let “carnal” instincts run amuck and have failed shortly thereafter. The question today is, are we at the “end times” for the USA or the world?

Verses 13:12 – 13 don’t hold much hope in the end:

12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Again those who are followers of Christ are being silenced while followers of other religions are being empowered. Those who do this always seem to point to “all” the religious oppression the Christian church has put on mankind. Interestingly, they always seem to point at events some 800 years ago as at any moment Christians will mount up and start a religious crusade. They also forget the “crusades” started as a defensive action!

Verse 4:3 sadly seems to be the way things are going today:

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions,

I see this happen more today than before. Not only do people tend to flock to a message that suits them, but the “churches” have realized the “tithe” is better with more people in the pews. So often times the message gets watered down or more often the complete story is not given. People don’t want to hear that Levitical law says that same gender sex is not allowed. No we would rather hear a message that is all inclusive. Did God make homosexuals that way and were Paul’s abominations promiscuous relationships? Since Jesus “fulfilled” the Law we no longer have to consider it, except for tithing of course.

How did I get on that tangent? The point I was trying to make was if you water down the message then things like “thou shalt not spank” creep into society, hastening its decay. We need to learn the whole Bible and read it often, not just pick out the parts we like. This way when you are confronted with someone saying “your Bible condones slavery” you can answer them confidently.

FWIW “Indentured servitude” is “interpreted” as slavery in most versions of the Bible. It a huge difference when a “slave” comes into the transaction voluntary and has a path to “freedom” verses the bondage the Israelites escaped in Egypt. If one applies the definition of slavery from the late 1800’s to the Bibles use one can easily get a twisted view that God condones slavery.

Proverbs 22

Verse 22:7 is so true, especially in this day and age:

The rich rules over the poor,
and the borrower is the slave of the lender.

The rich do tend to be in positions of leadership, not because they are privileged but in most cases because they earned it. Think about how they got rich anyway. Would you rather have leaders that in the past made poor decisions, squandered their money and did not become rich? Granted our current political bunch has made poor decisions and squandered our money while becoming rich so maybe that is wrong. I think the problem today is we have broken that “social contract” John Locke talked about in 1790.

Now the second half is something I think most of us know, as most of us are slaves to some loans. Hopefully it’s only a home loan, but even that makes you a slave to that payment. In the past 5 years we have seen these “slaves” revolt and stop paying. The natural consequence is losing their home and a market crash, but in the end opportunities exist for the savers. We need to all take this to heart and understand the freedom we think we have is limited when we owe others.

Verse 22:16 ties into this in today’s context:

Whoever oppresses the poor to increase his own wealth,
or gives to the rich, will only come to poverty.

This is this “social contract” that John Locke was talking about. We can be rich and generous to all if we learn to reward those who have helped us along the way. Giving to those who really don’t need it may make you feel good, but is really a waste. I think one of the reasons those who oppress the poor will eventually end in poverty is because the poor will eventually revolt. One can live under oppression only so long before they decide they have had enough, be it a company, a “plantation” or a country.

Verses 22:22 – 23 continue with this theme:

22 Do not rob the poor, because he is poor,
or crush the afflicted at the gate,
23 for the LORD will plead their cause
and rob of life those who rob them.

God believes in social justice and is in no way wanting people to be taken advantage of in life. The problem I see today is the rich are being held up as the evil entity in the USA and ironically the most vocal seem to want things handed to them like the rich children. Free health care, free college, free homes and not wanting to work for their “fruits” but rather live of the backs of the rich. This again is a violation of the “social contract” only on the other side.

I am off on a tangent, but follow me for a bit longer. Now the rich that rob from the poor only to increase their already comfortable position needs to be dealt with and should not live with ill-gotten bounty. Today these protesters, specifically Occupy Wall Street, are protesting these gains, but the solution is wrong. We cannot accept companies “rigging” the game for profit and moving their losses into pension funds they “manage”. At the same time the penalty should not be giving us a comfortable life.

The problem today is rules are being broken and then changed so when they “break” them again the act is now legal. Or in the case of our Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner’s leaking interest rate changes in 2007. This was known to the Fed then and just came out recently. This kind of abhorrent disregard to the Biblical “social contract” is sad and IS the problem today.

God knew this would always be a problem and that is why so much of the Bible focuses on money and the handling of such assets. We need to all review how we honor God; not only with our tithes but with how we make our money also! Here are three examples that God does not abhor the rich, but at the same time He does not like them to abuse their position of power.

John 13 – 15

Verse 13:8 describes Peter’s reaction to Jesus washing his feet:

Peter said to him, “You shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.”

Jesus washing their feet had two very significant symbolic purposes. First was to show that even the greatest needed to wash the others feet to show humble servitude and not just exalting people above others. We need to get off this status thing that a CEO cannot get down and help clean the bathrooms. The other more subtle and significant symbolism of this act is the Lamb of God cleaning our sins. The key is we must allow Jesus to wash our sins and not just expect it to happen.

Peter’s response was probably what the others were thinking but were afraid to ask. Here Peter was embarrassed to have their teacher serving them doing such a lowly task. When Peter realized the importance he asked for his head and hands to be washed also. Jesus said they were already clean and just the feet. Is there some significance there? Maybe we don’t need to keep confessing sins?

Verse 13:34 is important to touch on:

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

This is something that is difficult to get since we define “love” in many ways. But it’s is simple to “love” each other as a “agape” love or self-sacrificing love. Or as some say it’s an “intentional response” to promote well-being in one that is down. We should all learn this quickly and harbor no ill will on others.

Verse 14:6 cuts into basic salvation message of Christianity:

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

This is where “salvation” meets it true test. If you truly believe the message of Jesus than he IS the only way. Buddha’s enlightenment or Mohammad’s message are only going to make one feel good hear on earth, but the afterlife is different. I have heard a dangerous belief recently with many Christians and that is who are we to determine if we have the only road to salvation.

I could go on forever about this but want to highlight two significant points that make me believe Jesus’ statement in verse 6. The first is God came to this earth as a man to be sacrificed for our sins. No other religion has their “leader” shedding their blood for your sins. Second, Jesus rose again to live no other prophet has done so. We worship a living God where many others “paths” to salvation worship dead or inanimate objects.

Verse 14:26 talks about the Holy Spirit who God will send to “help”:

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

I often wonder if the Holy Spirit has always been with man and is just more easily accessed once we make a connection with Christ. I also wonder if Paul receiving the Holy Spirit in “Pentecost” was the true time when man had full access to Him.

Verse 15:16 is a dangerous verse to take and apply to “everything”:

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you.

The reason it’s dangerous is we tend to apply this to tons of stuff and assume God is not listening to us when we do not get what we asked in Jesus’ name. We often ask for healing and have that person die. We ask for wealth and prosperity only to die a pauper. We ask for others to find God only to die rejecting the one true savior. Did all these prayers go wrong, did we pray wrong and that’s why they were not answered? Or did we miss the key part “may give”? Jesus did not say “will give” but rather “may give” often times the “purpose” for not “granting” the wish is more important than the desire.

We must realize God is sovereign and has the ultimate say in our lives and prayers. Sure I believe one day we will be out of debt and will be comfortable, but at the same time I realize God will most likely have me work for that position and not give it through a lottery win (I have asked for a win in Jesus’ name more than I care to admit!) So don’t think your prayers are not heard also realize that God may still be in “time dilation” where a day to him is billions of years to us!!

Joel

As with many prophets in the Bible, Joel is not “forecasting” joy and harmony without a little upheaval. Verse 1:4 is either describing an actual infestation or as we see later may be an illustration:

What the cutting locust left,
the swarming locust has eaten.
What the swarming locust left,
the hopping locust has eaten,
and what the hopping locust left,
the destroying locust has eaten.

Either way this resulting devastation is awful. At least if the swarms of locusts are actual bugs they are more easily dealt with, since you could technically eat them. But if the “locust” were invading armies or people actually destroying your resources, that is another story. The other problem with prophecies is determining if they already have happened or are still in our future. Also, one has to consider that they may never happen at all.

This gets into a ton of “quantum possibilities” at any given moment. Consider God has a prophet tell us He will destroy the city of Atlanta with fire. For whatever reason, this prophet is listened to and the city of Atlanta follows with verses 1:13 – 14:

13 Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests;
wail, O ministers of the altar.
Go in, pass the night in sackcloth,
O ministers of my God!
Because grain offering and drink offering
are withheld from the house of your God.
14 Consecrate a fast;
call a solemn assembly.
Gather the elders
and all the inhabitants of the land
to the house of the LORD your God,
and cry out to the LORD.

Atlanta repents and God decides not to destroy the city. We took a possible future and changed it by our actions. This happens more often than I think we realize. We will see shortly in the Book of Jonah where Nineveh is spared destruction because they wail.

Now the next chapter again starts with destruction but ends with repentance. Verse 2:12 lays out true repentance:

“Yet even now,” declares the LORD,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning;

I believe all too often we approach God with the “forgive me for I have sinned” mantra without real emotion. I know often times I ask for God to forgive me for something I have done, without real contrition. No I just say the words and a few days later repeat the sin and give the Lord a “half-assed” confession. Notice the fasting, the weeping and mourning that the people do to receive forgiveness. Granted they just God slapped upside the head with some armies attacking that wake a person up. Hopefully we all can take our “sins” a bit more serious and really confess.

The chapter ends on a “high note” in verses 3:17 – 18, where God restores the nation in a land flowing with milk and honey:

17 “So you shall know that I am the LORD your God,
who dwells in Zion, my holy mountain.
And Jerusalem shall be holy,
and strangers shall never again pass through it.
18 “And in that day
the mountains shall drip sweet wine,
and the hills shall flow with milk,
and all the stream beds of Judah
shall flow with water;
and a fountain shall come forth from the house of the LORD
and water the Valley of Shittim

Ok so it is milk and wine in this story, but it’s still a viable paradise. I read these final chapters and wonder if this has happened or is predicting the second coming of Jesus. Will this happen in our life or does it keep getting pushed back because we start the final days realize what is happening and pray.

Look at how the nation changed and came together after 9/11. The day after our neighbor hoods were blanketed with US Flags and church attendance spiked. Now over 10 years later, the flags are put up, the churches are not growing and there is talk of revolution. God is being dismissed and money is being exalted. I pray this is not a time for another “awakening” that does not cost the lives of others.

Psalm 105 – 107

Verse 105:2 makes me wonder how much the “science age” has hurt us:

Sing to him, sing praises to him;
tell of all his wondrous works!

How often do we actually get amazed at God’s works? Today there is an explanation for just about every amazing thing that happens. From childbirth to a sunset, most events can be explained in enough detail as to take God out of the equation. We accept evolution as “God’s” way of making man without thinking how the eye came about. Sunsets are about the only canvas God has that makes us pause, just look at how many are posted on Instagram,

Verse 106:1 is very similar to the verse 107:1 by giving thanks first:

Praise the LORD!
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures for ever!

We need to really ponder this statement, because it has become a line in many songs and almost a cliché. Praise the Lord is something I know I do rarely. I “worship” the Lord in song. Now there is a fine line between the two words and what we consider “worship” is actually “praise” and vice versa. To “praise” is to speak or sing words to honor God, where “worship” is more an act which often includes “praise”. I believe “worship” is more submission to God’s honor. So I need to correct my statement and I do “praise” but find it difficult to “worship”.

How often do we really give thanks for everything God has done? We sit in our daily mess, be it work related, relational or personal, something always seems to be going wrong. Some we have influenced but others we just hope for the best. With all this going on, we tend to set God aside until things change for the better and THEN we give thanks. How about this, life is what it is and will always have its ups and downs. Learn to give thanks on both the high and lows!!

The idea God loves us is amazing, but to think how long that love has lasted is mind boggling. Unconditional love is an easy concept to understand, especially after having children. But forever is where things get odd, God transcends time, and has always existed. We tend to think of time as having an end, but in reality it just keeps on going even though our bodies may cease to exist. That is the mind boggling part when you really think about it.

Verse 107:33 – 34 gives me great concern:

33 He turns rivers into a desert,
springs of water into thirsty ground,
34 a fruitful land into a salty waste,
because of the evil of its inhabitants.

I look at the cause and wonder when our nation will become a “salty waste”. We look at the ruins of once mighty nations and wonder why. I am sure when they were at their peak, they figured they would be forever. Look at the ruins of the Roman Empire, the Greeks, the Egyptian or the Israelites. Yes these mighty nations may be occupied by something similar, but nowhere near their former glory seen in the ruins. Take Israel who now occupies the “Promised Land” again, but were taken some 2500 years ago.

Look to modern times and the former USSR. For those of us who knew this great evil empire, in October of 1989 not one of us thought it would fall without a bloody battle. Thirty days later it dissolved. Who saw that coming? So don’t think that this great nation that was founded on freedom cannot become a “salty waste”.

1 Chronicles 20 – 24

Verse 20:8 shows the end to the “giants” descendants of Goliath:

These were descended from the giants in Gath, and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants.

As I read through the Bible and study other historical documents I often wonder if many of the “prehistoric” animals and species existed during Biblical times. What is a “leviathan” anyway? Also, how about the carvings in Angkor, Cambodia which appears to be a stegosaurus? There is evidence that there “prehistoric” species may have roamed the earth during Biblical times. If you believe “Bigfoot” and the “Loch Ness Monster” they may still exist today.

It sounds like there was a race of “giants” who lived in Philistine and were destroyed in this battle. Did David make this race of people “extinct”? Were they a “Neanderthal” tribe that survived? ***

Verse 21:7 had God upset at David doing another census:

But God was displeased with this thing, and he struck Israel.

I am so glad God is not as harsh on us these days! I often wonder if the concept of God being unchanging works here. Honestly, we as a nation are doing much more egregious things than taking a census at the wrong time that I wonder when the “other shoe” will drop. I mean if God kills 70,000 men and starts to destroy Jerusalem for a census which does no one harm, are we in jeopardy for 40 years of terminating unborn humans for convenience?

Verse 21:17 is something we all need to learn from King David:

And David said to God, “Was it not I who gave command to number the people? It is I who have sinned and done great evil. But these sheep, what have they done? Please let your hand, O LORD my God, be against me and against my father’s house. But do not let the plague be on your people.”

David took ownership for his decision and asked God to stop punishing the people. He made the call to do a census and ignored Joab’s protest. How many times growing up have we seen others take the “fall” for something they did not do? Did any of those people get punished for something you personally did? I look at David and wish our leaders would take responsibility for their mess ups! David, unlike most leaders, has learned to swallow his pride and submit to the one true ruler of the universe!

Verses 22:7 – 8 set up who is going to build the physical temple:

7 David said to Solomon, “My son, I had it in my heart to build a house to the name of the LORD my God. 8 But the word of the LORD came to me, saying, ‘You have shed much blood and have waged great wars. You shall not build a house to my name, because you have shed so much blood before me on the earth.

Again David took responsibility for his actions and realized blood on his hands made him unworthy of building a holy temple. In realizing he was unworthy of such an important task, he assigned the job to his son Solomon. This again shows David was humble at his roots. If you think about David’s roots, he came to power not as a protégé but rather a servant unlike many of our current presidents. I wonder how this country would be run if a faithful servant was handed the keys to the White House.

***Now before you science types rail on my for being a narrow minded creationist ignoring scientific facts, search my blog and you will see I believe both! You just have to narrow who is the observer, factor in time dilation due to gradational forces and the universe expanding at close to the speed of light after the “Big Bang” and you have 6 days for God as the observer and 16 billion years for us!!

Numbers 10 – 12

Verse 10:6 highlights chapter 10 and the silver trumpets:

And when you blow an alarm the second time, the camps that are on the south side shall set out. An alarm is to be blown whenever they are to set out.

This chapter details the construction and use of the silver trumpets. I find it interesting how they are used for a call to worship, a call for leaders, warnings, and actually deploying the people. On passages like this I often wonder the heavenly significance of this kind of detail. At the same this documents for future generations the practice. Also, think how the trumpet has been used even in the last few hundred years on the battlefield.

Verse 11:4 is the start of the people complaining about the food:

Now the rabble that was among them had a strong craving. And the people of Israel also wept again and said, “Oh that we had meat to eat!

Here the people of Israel have been delivered from Egypt into the wilderness and they are surviving on manna from heaven. But after some time people want “more” and a variety. Notice this starts with “the rabble”? How often a major move or change happens with some malcontents make enough noise and get the attention of the faithful. If you were happy having manna every day and thankful, then someone starts complaining about the “same thing every day,” wouldn’t you start focusing on that and not the blessing God is giving?

That “small little voice” we often hear in our heads, is often your “rabble” taking your attention off God. I know this happens to me often, like recently we are finally getting back on track. We had some major expenses come up like needing a roof. The budget did not plan for a roof, but a few strategic sales and tightening of the belt and we made it through. Now we had a rat chew through a water line and ruin the underlayment of a tile floor. Margin gone and that small voice of discontent with our finances starts roaring.

Verses 11:19 – 20 has their prayers answered:

19 You shall not eat for just one day, or two days, or five days, or ten days, or twenty days, 20 but for a whole month, until it comes out at your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you, because you have rejected the LORD who is among you and have wept before him, saying, “Why did we come out of Egypt?”’”

God answers prayers, but often times not as we envisioned. I wonder if they had been more respectful and said something like “Lord we thank you for the manna and appreciate the blessings of this miraculous food. We humbly ask for meat from time to time for a variety.” Complaining can get old for man, I am sure it does with God also.

Think about the answer they got, so much meat they would get sick of it. I think to the movie “Brewster’s Millions” where a poor washed up baseball player inherits $300 million. But in order to get those millions he must spend $30 million in one month and have nothing to show for it. Sure there was joy in the beginning, but as the month wore on he realized that even wasting $30 million was difficult. In the end he was sick of the money and realized it was not about the money, but the relationships.

Sure wish God would bless me that way;-) At the same time maybe I should focus more on what we have and enjoy today because of the blessings and not focus on the lack or the debt (which continues to decrease each month barring hiccups).

I say neither, since both system end up elevating the “ruling elite” and tend to dismiss God. Both systems could be supported in scripture, but have been bastardized by man since both elevate men and not God. I think a true “Christian” system was similar to what was started here in the US before man took over. We had communal living where the harder workers were justly rewarded and gave back to the community.

It’s different than today’s “give back” idea is buying that yacht which will employ others and continue the system of capitalism. But it becomes corrupted since getting a “deal” that squeezes the margins out of the yacht builder and sellers so one enjoys the fruits of their labor other than the purchaser.

I dealt with this at the bike shop where our margins would be crushed hoping that we would get “follow on” business or advertising, which never materialized. So we busted our butts and walked away with huge debt. Sure we made some mistakes, but the “consumers” mentality of getting the best deal is driving industry away from our country and making only a few wealthy. Adam Smith’s Invisible Hand at work … or is Satan driving the lust for money which creates this “Hand”?

2 Timothy 1 – 2

Verses 2:5 & 6 make some interesting comparisons:

5 An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. 6 It is the hard-working farmer who ought to have the first share of the crops.

Interesting how Paul talks about of system of rewards and applies it to our heavenly pursuits.This gets into some dangerous waters with many Christians since most doctrines and theologies don’t want to acknowledge works and salvation. I agree it’s not what you do to gain entrance into heaven, but rather a belief and following of Jesus. At the same time Paul implies that those who “reap” more for God here on earth will be rewarded in heaven.

The “athlete” analogy points out that everyone must play be the rules, which are “simple” Jesus is the way to salvation. We cannot bend the rules for our liking, I hear many “Christians” say that Jesus is one path to salvation. If that was so then why would God have come to earth as a man to sacrifice himself for our sins, if we could worship a cow and gain the same reward?

The “farmer” analogy shoots holes in the “Jesus was a communist” argument. I would consider it more compassionate capitalism. The hard worker realizes that much of his labor is going towards those who do less, but he will gain a larger reward at harvest. I have to believe that pastors of mega churches are living a reward and will have a higher place in heaven. I personally don’t worry about the reward, just the results, which for me are single digits if I stretch the “definition”.

Verse 2:21 talks about cleansing ourselves:

Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonourable, he will be a vessel for honourable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

This is talking about pots and pans, where some are for great meals while others are bedpans. They key is even if you are a “puke bucket” there is nothing saying that in God’s eyes we cannot clean ourselves up and be used for great things. Some of the most influential Christians I know have a story that is less that flattering, yet they now influence a vast amount of people to Christ. It all starts with a confession!

Verse 2:22 explores our passions:

So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.

“Youthful passions” imply not just illicit sexual desires, but also pride, wealth, power, self-absorptiveness and argumentative stances. Interesting how “youthful passions” imply this yet as an “old man” I still struggle with these. The only difference is as I age I realize the trouble they cause and therefore try to ignore the impulses. The key for ALL ages is to pursue what God desires for our life and not impulsive emotions.

John 10 – 12

Verse 10:1 opens with an illustration of sheep and shepherd:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door but climbs in by another way, that man is a thief and a robber.

Often the term “sheep” is used in a derogatory sense implying the followers are just dump animals following a herd. I have used this often and sometimes don’t like the implications how it is used. Jesus wanted us to realize we will be following something and to make sure we know the truth and follow God. In this illustration the sheep know the difference from bad and good, so they are not just dumb herd animals.

We too know the difference between bad and good in our hearts. I point to the Ten Commandments and notice how almost every society, even those that have never seen the Ten Commandments, has had these basic rules. God has not only inscribed them on stone tablets, but also on every human’s heart. It’s just our decision to follow His teachings and believe. So don’t assume that just because Jesus is comparing His followers to sheep that it is derogatory in any way. We are just wired to follow God, so don’t fight it!!

Verse 10:10 is an important verse that is often quoted:

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

This again is one of those verses that is quoted often, especially by “prosperity preachers.” They “twist” living “abundantly” into mankind’s version of wealth and power. For some reason they believe that God is a way to money and fame because that is the earthly definition of “abundant”. We hear preachers telling us we can have all the money and stuff we want, if we give to them. I literally heard someone say that what you give today will be returned 10 fold by God. He implied to the “sheep” that if you gave $10 you would have $100 very soon.

I think “abundant” life comes in two phases and neither requires money. First, “abundant” to me is living without stress or worry. God is not saying follow Him and you’ll live on Easy Street, but rather live with the knowledge that He is God and has things under control. Paul spent much of his life as a Christian in jail and being persecuted, so be happy with a little debt and some law suits! Second, “abundant” is not money! It’s been proven that money cannot buy happiness, but it doesn’t hurt. Follow me on this it’s not really the amount of money you have, but rather how you spend it that derives happiness. Sure that $3000 rug will have short term joy, but memories are something that last.

Two keys to finding joy in money and both require a shift in thinking. The most important key is not to hoard, but to give it away! Sure giving to a large mega church where the pastor is driving nicer cars than you can imagine, but helping someone with groceries or a meal can bring immediate and lasting joy. Second is not buying stuff that will eventually rust away, but rather buy experiences. The soft $3000 rug will go unnoticed quickly, but the mental image of the family playing with spider monkeys in the jungle will last forever! So sure money can help if used the right way, but it’s not the answer!

Verse 11:35 is pivotal:

Jesus wept.

God knows our fate and what will happen. Think about if you came to a grieving sister knowing you were about to resurrect her brother. I would barely be able to contain myself, yet Jesus wept. He is so tied into our emotions that He experiences our joy and our sorrow. Jesus wept for Lazarus and Mary, for He loved them both. As a follower of Christ, we have the same comfort that He feels our pain and does not ignore it!

Chapters 11 and 12 tell the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead and the repercussions of that act. We find in 11:46 – 57 this act start many plotting to kill Jesus. Interestingly verses 12:9 – 11 have them also plotting to kill Lazarus! The Pharisees could not accept Jesus’ as the savior, since it would destroy all they had. I question today if many of the rich and influential “Christian” churches would welcome Jesus with open arms or try to prove He was a fraud. If Jesus appeared today in torn up jeans and a t-shirt, would you believe? Think about that!!

Hosea 8 – 14

Verse 8:4 outlines how many of us run our lives:

They made kings, but not through me.
They set up princes, but I knew it not.
With their silver and gold they made idols
for their own destruction.

How often do we do thing on our own without consulting God? One reason I continue to write about my readings is to emphasize the importance of learning God’s Word. Here the Israelites have ignored the Book of the Law and have gone their own way, much like many Christians today. There is a dangerous “theology” that is getting floated these days which involves feelings more than doctrinal truths. We often confuse “feel good” to God saying it is ok.

God is not going to suddenly change the “rules” for your feelings or deals. A quote I have heard often is “the new car must have been from God, the finance guy miraculously gave us the loan!” No, God did not want you to go into debt so you could suddenly have “new wheels”. I have made the same justification dating; it’s ok with God since we plan on getting married. The reward of marriage comes without the commitment and the first rocky period causes the relationship to end. God didn’t make that deal, I did!

This is the reason once we accept Christ as savior we need to follow Him!! The best way to follow is to read the Word and understand it. A side benefit is you can easily recognize false theologies.

Verse 13:3 talks about our insignificance when we rebel:

Therefore they shall be like the morning mist
or like the dew that goes early away,
like the chaff that swirls from the threshing floor
or like smoke from a window.

We are really nothing more than a blip on the radar to God or as Shakespeare says; “A poor player that struts and frets his hour on the stage and is heard no more.” In the grand scheme of things we are NOTHING! But interestingly we get into Chapter 14 and see that even though we are just a “walking shadow” (Shakespeare again) we are of value to God. Verse 14:1 shows God cares:

Return, O Israel, to the LORD your God,
for you have stumbled because of your iniquity.

God desperately wants us to live our lives to the fullest. I believe He made the Law not to convict us, but to provide guidelines on how to live. He cares about each one of us and wants a relationship, so much so we can spit in His face and He will forgive us!

Verse 14:9 ends the book of Hosea with hope:

Whoever is wise, let him understand these things;
whoever is discerning, let him know them;
for the ways of the LORD are right,
and the upright walk in them,
but transgressors stumble in them.

You get to choose two paths, one with the Lord and one without. Hosea makes it clear the wise will follow the Lord. The Law is not made to have us stumble, but rather to live life to the full. We can choose to ignore the food laws and have a greater possibility of health problems. It’s not a sin to eat pork, just not a food God intended for perfect health. It’s not a sin not to tithe or save, but it will help your financial management when times are tough. God actually does not look at YOU as a mist, but a precious life that for this brief moment He wants to enjoy with you!

Proverbs 20 – 21

Verse 20:1 goes after some of our simple pleasures:

Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler,
and whoever is led astray by it is not wise.

Often times I have said drinking a little “booze” is ok, heck Jesus and the disciples did it all the time. But often we forget “moderation” in our drink and have a bit too much. It’s easy to do in a social setting where the conversation becomes more relaxed and fun, the wine tends to flow more freely. The point here is not to drink, but to control your drinking since there are some “pitfalls”. The key is not being led astray by drinking, but use it as God intended.

Verse 20:6 seems to apply to marriages today:

Many a man proclaims his own steadfast love,
but a faithful man who can find??

How many marriages are built on the words “I love you” only to be broken a few years later? Couples today get caught up in the rush of emotion and often break up because of the same reason. We must learn to control those emotional roller coasters and learn faithfulness. The spark of a marriage almost always dies from that initial inferno of passion. Once the fire dies are you ready to keep the embers burning or will you let them go out, trying to find the fire elsewhere? Faithfulness is the key to a successful marriage, not passion.

Verse 21:2 seems to be a “repeat” of one I did earlier (16:2):

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes,
but the LORD weighs the heart.

The only real differences between these verses are “pure” instead of “right” and “soul” instead of “heart”. One could probably spend hours dissecting the differences between the two, but really they are quite simple and say the same thing. It must be important or it would not have been repeated! We have to realize that our thoughts are often deceived into thinking what we are doing is right. I justify actions all the time and often use the excuse I was born under the sign of Aquarius, which is one of the traits. Of course I bet all signs have some trait similar to this. The key is knowing God’s will and desire for your life by constant prayer and studying.

Verse 21:23 is advice I should have followed:

Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself out of trouble.

Those who spend time with me realize I often say inappropriate things at the wrong time. It’s a gift!! Actually it’s a curse, since it’s been the spark to arguments and major problems in my life. The one that I think of is a pre-employment physical where I flipped out on the doctor who overcharged me. The police were involved and it eventually calmed down. Well I could not keep quiet and had to “jokingly” mention the incident to the HR person at the company I was going to. Guess what they rescinded the offer and I was unemployed for 8 years! The cost in lost salary was well over $500,000 and more if you include to flubs I did at the shop! So learn to “bridle” your tongue!!

Psalms 102 – 104

Verse 102:2 is what most of us want in our relationship with God:

Do not hide your face from me
in the day of my distress!
Incline your ear to me;
answer me speedily in the day when I call!

Often we believe God is hiding from us because we don’t see Him. We tend to justify prayers not being answered as He is absent from our lives when that is by far the reality. God may be “silent” in one’s life for a “season” not because He needs a rest, but he wants you to actually look for Him. And honestly not just in your day of “distress!”

Often when we are in distress we are grabbing at whatever we can define as God. Our minds are not able to focus and if we are not in a healthy relationship with Him, it is difficult to connect in times of stress. So instead of asking to see God in “distress” start asking now so when the problems pile on “distress” leads to comfort quickly and He will “answer” you “speedily”!

Verse 103:13 made me dive into the wording:

As a father shows compassion to his children,
so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.

The word “fear” caught my eye here. Think about your relationship with “dad” and how it should be a relationship of love and not fear. I honestly don’t “fear” the Lord in my day to day life. I understand that He has power over all and could squash me like a bug, but I don’t fear what may happen. Sure I don’t want to be crushed any more financially or physically, but I don’t fear God doing this. No love is not fear based, but is accepting of all. If discipline or a speed bump happen, it’s done for a reason that we may never understand. So just “go with the flow”.

The word “fear” appears to be translated correctly as most English versions I looked at said the same thing, but I wonder the usage. Fear can be everything from horror to a healthy respect which is where I believe God is on this word. I don’t think God wants more “awe” or “honor” then “dread” in dealing with Him. So when we read these statements, don’t take the first definition that pops in your head, but rather research and dwell on the wording to gather a full understanding.

Verse 104:1 sums up what we should be thinking:

Bless the LORD, O my soul!
O LORD my God, you are very great!
You are clothed with splendour and majesty,

Now I want to unwrap the comment “Bless the Lord, O my soul!” Think about what it is saying, how can we bless the Lord? It’s simple when you think about it; we are to honor and follow Him with all our heart and soul. We can bless the almighty by doing what we should and praising His name. So bless the Lord and you will be blessed!

1 Chronicles 15 – 19

Some days my Bible reading gets overwhelmed with life, like today. From time to time events from the day overwhelm my mind and make it difficult to impossible to read. It was that way yesterday to the point I did not read at all. Today I read the words, but honestly didn’t really digest the meaning. I did some underlining of verses and phrases, but seemed more on autopilot than consciously doing it.

Verse 15:16 is one of those verses that really bring a smile to my face:

David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their brothers as the singers who should play loudly on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise sounds of joy.

I read this and love singing and worshiping, but rarely do so since my singing really stinks. In public I throttle my worship so not to offend anyone or scare them off. Not saying my voice is that offensive, it’s just don’t hit notes very well. Anyway the loud music at our church often times helps be break out of my cocoon.

Now as I was thinking about the music it took me way back to a conference I went to as a very young person. It was the Basic Youth Conflicts conference run by Bill Gothard. That was decades ago and the one thing I remember is his hammering on the evils of rock-n-roll music. Recently I heard a talk from a former cult member that insists even the modern praise and worship rock is evil, because of the beat.

Now I remember this because Mr. Gothard wanted me to go home and burn all my albums, and this newer speaker said the same thing. So it makes me wonder is there really something satanic in the beat of rock-n-roll. For me the jury is out, but I will say what they kids listen to has changed radically!! I remember after this my mother trying to get me to stop listening to Elton John’s “The Bitch is Back”, now considered a classic. I try to do the same thing with my son and his music. Granted the Elton John’s song was a children’s song compared to the rap D listen’s to!!

For me the jury is still out, I will say the “Overton Window” has shifted radically from the music I found acceptable and today!

Verse 17:2 is the prophet Nathan relaying what God has said:

And Nathan said to David, “Do all that is in your heart, for God is with you.”

I wish God would say this to me, but at the same time David’s heart was for rebuilding the temple and mine is for just having nicer digs and no debt. David’s heart was to glorify God while mine is not necessarily to glorify myself, but glorifying God is not part of the mix in thoughts. I believe when our motives align with God’s, He tends to allow us to do all that is in our hearts. It’s when we get self-absorbed and wanting things for our glory that God’s will and ours collide.

I think the key is to search out harmony with God and work together in a common goal. Once you are there the powers of the universe are at your finger tips!!

Numbers 7 – 9

Verse 7:5 starts an acceptance of offerings:

“Accept these from them, that they may be used in the service of the tent of meeting, and give them to the Levites, to each man according to his service.”

This was concerning the oxen and carts given prior by each tribe. These tools were then distributed to the various groups depending on what they did and if they needed the carts or not. Verse 7:9 mentioned a group that got none and why:

But to the sons of Kohath he gave none, because they were charged with the service of the holy things that had to be carried on the shoulder.

From verses 7:12 thru 83 we find each tribe gives their offering, which is exactly the same thing. Over and over each tribe gives a silver basin, a silver plate, both full of flour, and oil, a gold dish full of incense, a bull, two oxen, six rams, sox lambs, and six goats for various offerings. 12 times these offerings are described in detail with only the names of the representatives from the tribes changing. I wonder why they did not devote 1 paragraph to the actual offering and then mention each tribe and their representative.

I was looking for an anomaly in the paragraphs that would bring out some great revelation, like the prayer of Jabez. But nothing was found.

In verse 8:7 God is speaking to Moses about preparing for the offering:

Thus you shall do to them to cleanse them: sprinkle the water of purification upon them, and let them go with a razor over all their body, and wash their clothes and cleanse themselves.

In the cycling world serious “roadies” tend to shave their legs; swimmers shave their entire bodies all for a less resistance. But we find this shaving the body was nothing new. In the case of the Levites it was to become ultimately clean. Hair is one of those parts of the body that tend to store toxins and tend to be the most difficult to clean. God knew this and wanted to ensure the purity of his workers.

Verses 9:22 -23 talk about the “cloud” that the Israelites followed:

22 Whether it was two days, or a month, or a longer time, that the cloud continued over the tabernacle, abiding there, the people of Israel remained in camp and did not set out, but when it lifted they set out. 23 At the command of the LORD they camped, and at the command of the LORD they set out. They kept the charge of the LORD, at the command of the LORD by Moses

As you know the after leaving Egypt the Israelites followed a pillar of smoke during the day and a pillar of fire at night. I find it interesting how God manages this large group. Remember the numbers are upwards of a million people and ensuring everyone is ready for the next move I am sure was the most important thing on God’s mind. I am sure the young were chomping on the bit to get to the final destination, but the elderly and small infants needed time. I am sure with a group that large there were many births and deaths along the way, which I am sure God accounted for in his delays or short stays.

Also another aspect is his omniscience’s, which allows God to foresee dangers and move the people away from the problems. Often times in our lives I wonder how many times the pillar we are following, but most of the time unaware of, is moved to advert an unknown hazard. How many times have you been praying for one thing and something completely different happens? If you knew everything and was keeping tabs on other events and actions maybe the prayer would have been different in the first place!

1 Timothy 4 – 6

Verse 4:1 implies we can lose our salvation:

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,

The “once saved, always saved” mantra is often used in the church. If they end up drifting into a sinful life or reject God, the standard line is “they were never ‘really’ saved.” I tend to reject that thinking although I want to embrace it, especially because of two people close to me. Both accepted Christ as young men around 12 years old, both today reject the existence of God. As much as I want to say their salvation is secure, I don’t believe that is the case. As we continue on I will see how the ESV translated those other passages, which I can’t remember off the top of my head.

Verse 4:13 makes me uncomfortable:

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.

Flat out Paul is saying get out your soap box to preach in the square. I cannot take this any other way.Granted this is a public “blog” and gets a bit of traffic, but I am more disseminating information I have learned from reading the Bible. As you often know it goes off many “theologies” of main stream churches, but I am not emphatically urging you to convert or accept Christ. I am just offering the choice which I have found as the truth.

Verse 5:8 makes me wonder if the “nursing home” mentality is wrong:

But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

I often wonder if the nursing home is an “easy” way out of actually “providing” for our elders. Also, how about those “extended” family members; does this imply we should help them also? I think of President Obama’s half-brother in Kenya, who is living in poverty, while the president is living in luxury. Is that a direct violation of scripture? Is placing grandma in a “nursing” home so she can get adequate care a violation of scripture?

Verse 5:23 is in parentheses so I wonder the emphasis:

(No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments.)

I notice that a “little wine” is ok, debunking the “thou shalt no drink alcohol” doctrine. I do understand that much of the drinking doctrine comes more from catering to the alcoholics than really following scripture. It’s hard to say don’t drink, when Jesus and his disciples are often found drinking together. But when you apply scripture that says do not allow your brother to stumble and he is an alcoholic, then the doctrine makes sense. But it should be presented that way and not over simplified into God does not want us to drink booze.

Verse 6:9 and 6:17 have me scratching my head:

9 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

Often we tend to mix up blessings and wealth with what God really desires in our hearts. Those without and desire much can often get tempted into some unsavory business dealings to become rich. I am in that category, since most of the homes I own were purchased with inflated income numbers. Granted they are all current, but the banks allowed me to do this as well as the rest of the nation. The problem was many decided not to pay the loans and thus created a huge economic mess. So Paul is cautioning not to allow the desires of wealth take over your desire for God.

At the same time many find salvation after achieving wealth. Paul is NOT saying give it all away and follow Jesus, but rather direct some of your resources to helping the poor. God does not want us to be destitute, but rather enjoy life to the full. We can technically do this rich or poor. The key is to not focus on the money, but rather the relationship with Christ. If you have “it”, use it to expand the kingdom. If not you always have to soapbox!!

John 7 – 9

I find verse 7:5 interesting since it addresses Jesus’ brothers:

For not even his brothers believed in him.

This has been a subject of much debate, if Jesus had biological brothers. Often people point to James as a brother, but this is plural. The Orthodox Jewish Bible uses proper names, “Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiach”, but I have not been able to translate if it is his brothers or brothers in God. Not real important, but interesting to ponder and study.

Verse 7:38 ties into the discussion in chapter 6 about Jesus being bread of life:

Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”

This confuses people often as with the bread comment. For some reason they apply a figurative description to eternal life to our human existence. The chief priests and Pharisees all questioned these statements, taking the literal. Funny how something that is so obvious can cause confusion. Or they were not confused at all and we just trying to discredit His words so no one would follow him.

Verses 7:53 – 8:11 provide some questions as to where these verses came, since they version clearly states “The earliest manuscripts do not include” these verses. For space I will not print them, but it’s the discussion of the woman caught in adultery and about to be stoned. Jesus saves her by writing things in the sand and speaking to the people.

The problem with old text is often times pieces cannot be read or translated and must be omitted. Often newer versions may have the text more clearly read and therefore included. Not sure the whys and reviewing the “debate” it could go either way. The biggest key is true or not, this being included or removed changes nothing in the Gospel of Jesus.

This reading has a ton of “quotables” that have been used often. Verse 8:32 reminds me of Jim Carey’s movie “Liar, Liar” where he quotes this verse:

you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

As funny as the movie was I get concerned that this kind of use of Jesus’ words is dangerous. It tends to lower their significance or impact since we think of comedy and not the true meaning. Here Jesus is stating that if we know Him, the truth, we will be free!

Verse 9:25 is also over used out of context:

He answered, “Whether he is a sinner I do not know. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”

Although this is paraphrased in my favorite Gospel song, Amazing grace … “Was blind, but now, I see.” Often this gets quoted when someone finally gets clarity on an issue, not just spiritual ones. The “light bulb” turn on and one may quote this verse like an old timey southern Baptist preacher. As funny as that may be, it technically is mocking the word of God.

We need to look at this story on two levels, one the miracle and the other is the imagery towards the Pharisees. They were trying to trap Jesus since this broke a technicality in the “Law” since it was performed on the Sabbath. These men were blind to Jesus’ purpose on the earth, some eventually could see, but most led the charge to crucify Jesus. The key we have to do is ensure we help other see the light of Jesus.

Hosea 1 – 7

Verse 1:2 opens with Hosea being told to marry:

When the LORD first spoke through Hosea, the LORD said to Hosea, “Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the LORD.”

This is one of those odd stories that God uses to illustrate Israel’s unfaithfulness.Often we think of the “perfect mate” that God would choose for us in a different light. We would expect he would pick one with a “horrible” profession with great moral character. But Hosea’s God chosen mate was a prostitute.

I am sure society then, like today, frowned upon this union yet God ordained it. Think about Jesus and those whom he helped. The woman at the well was “promiscuous” and his closest woman friend, Mary Magdalene, came from prostitution, so Jesus did not shun these women in need. It is ironic how many, even in the church, will mock this profession yet use their services in private.

As you read the Old Testament you find references to “cult” and “temple” prostitutes, so I often wonder if man created a “class” of prostitute that was “acceptable” at one time. The other thing that is a huge subject is prostitution and trafficking which is getting a bunch of attention in the church. I could ramble on for hours on this subject, but suggest getting and watching Nefarious: Merchants of Souls. It’s a documentary of the sex business and really only touches the surface, but is eye opening.

Anyway back to Hosea and his new bride Gomer. They have three children, Jezreel, Lo-ruhama and Lo-ammi. Each name has significance to the people of Israel. Jezreel represents the punishment to the house of Jehu, Lo-ruhama means No Mercy and Lo-ammi mean Not My People. So God had Hosea marry a whore and name his children ominous names to illustrate his prophecy against Israel.

Verse 2:16 notes a turn in heart for the people of Israel:

“And in that day, declares the LORD, you will call me ‘My Husband’, and no longer will you call me ‘My Baal.’

Think about the change where they no longer consider God their master and accept the intimate relationship God wants us to have with Him. Think about it, God wants us to be free and enjoy this world. He desires to share that joy with us! To do this we cannot look at God the master, but rather our soul mate.

Verse 3:3 is what Hosea says to Gomer when he buys her back from prostitution:

And I said to her, “You must dwell as mine for many days. You shall not play the whore, or belong to another man; so will I also be to you.”

These words are basically repeated to the nation of Israel. Think about Hosea, he is in essence modeling in real life what God does for us on a day to day basis. Gomer returned to prostitution and a life which would bring shame to Hosea, but he got her and forgave her. This is actually the ultimate model of love that God shows for us. We leave him and chase other “idols” sometimes unknowingly. Think about this cycle, God “blesses” us and we become prosperous. Through this we start buying things which bring us joy. Eventually our thanks to God dwindle and our focus and attention are on maintaining the “blessings.”

Eventually we often drift down some very dark paths and end up pleading for God’s mercy. He grants it and welcomes us with open arms! Like the father of the “prodigal son” when he returned from squandering his wealth.

Verse 5:4 does imply we can take it too far:

Their deeds do not permit them
to return to their God.
For the spirit of whoredom is within them,
and they know not the Lord.

There is a huge point made here that one must seek forgiveness. See God will love us no matter what, but you need to want Him before this reunion can happen. Sometimes we allow greed, power or lust to overtake our inner spirit. No longer do we desire God, but rather the desires of the “flesh”. One would rather “get their rocks off” than experience God. When that desire overruns those to please God that is when things go horribly wrong.

Proverbs 19

Verse 19:1 makes us think about of excesses today:

Better is a poor person who walks in his integrity
than one who is crooked in speech and is a fool.

Often times people who are poor or believe they are poor cling to verses like this and just assume it applies to them. The problem is many don’t walk in their integrity, but rater squander their limited resources. I know that has been (and may still be) me many times in my life. The “good times” seem never ending and planning for the future gets dismissed. Then a layoff happens or a turn in the economy, and things change.

The person who though they walked in integrity, only to find out that they were wrong. I often lived here and because of past debts still technically do. The Bible is simple as far as how we should live our lives financially, with integrity. The basic 10-10-80 plan needs to be in effect. Tithe 10%, save 10% and live on 80%. Then add in proper business dealings, treating others fairly, work hard, serve others and live as Jesus would, then you will live a life of integrity and it will not matter if you make $10,000 or $10,000,000.

Verse 19:2 talks about ones desires:

Desire without knowledge is not good,
and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way.

Think about how many times you have wanted something and gone after it, only never to obtain the goal. Often when we fall back and analyze the results we find the biggest problem is between or ears. We jump into a task or chasing something without full knowledge about what is required.

The footnote for “desire” also implies “a soul” could be used here. That changes the meaning a bit, since we all desire a connection with God, maybe this is what’s Solomon is talking about and not the new house or job. As we study and read the Bible things become reviled to us that bring us closer to God. As “desire” for a relationship without trying to develop that relationship is “not good.” We need to desire to gain more knowledge to fill our “soul” and make the connection.

Verse 19:20 is an important lesson for all:

Listen to advice and accept instruction,
that you may gain wisdom in the future.

Often as we get older, especially in our late teens and early 20’s, this tends to be ignored. Our parents become fools and we know what is right. Funny thing is they become wiser again as we get older. Often as we get older and become “set” in our ways, we tend to dismiss this again. One must always be open to advice and instruction to continue to grow as a person.

Now as I say this, one must be discerning and not accept advice from an idiot! So again a line must be drawn between who you listen to and to ensure you are not shutting out the truly wise people.

Psalms 99 – 101

Verse 99:9 sums up this Psalm quite well:

Exalt the LORD our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for the LORD our God is holy!

The last line “for the Lord our God is holy” is the ultimate point of the description. Unfortunately, today “holy” takes on a different ramification than when this was written. The word is more used in a sense to exalt man and not God. That is where this Psalm works since it describes what “holy” actually is more than just saying the word.

We have an easier time applying “holy” to a person than to God, since God is unseen. It’s easy to consider a man “holier than thou” but to raise us an unseen entity above all is difficult for most. Hence why I think we tend to “personify” God as a king, sitting on a throne, in this Psalm. The key is to ensure we understand in terms we get, that God IS over all. If the Psalmist was writing to a group of scientist or engineers I am sure it would read quite different. It would get more into the level of conscious energy and the concept of infinity. But this was written for those who understood the role of a king and not the quantum mechanics.

Verse 100:1 makes me want to belt out in song:

Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth!

I always love the concept of a “joyful noise”, because that is what I do, since I can’t carry a tune! I think we are inhibited much in worship and tend to remain in our own space. At the same time I know I love to worship different than many. I sing and get absorbed in the words, often I stop to reverently pray in the middle of a song. Granted church today with the music makes it so I go unnoticed. I feel worship is something each experiences as an individual. If you want to dance and sing, rock on. If you want to sit quietly and absorb the music, rock on.

The point is there is no defined “right” or “wrong” way to worship God, just that it is done.

Verse 100:5 may get some eyebrows raised:

For the LORD is good;
his steadfast love endures for ever,
and his faithfulness to all generations.

I often hear God has forgotten us, or that one is not “hearing” from God. The key is God is “faithful” and always. Now I argue He is not consistent and hear me out on this. Consider how many times the Jewish people were wiped out, over and over again. God has not done that for over 5000 years! My idea is He is “mellowing” more like a grandfather than a new dad.

Now that I have turned off many, my thought is the world right now in the past 100 years has sunk to a new low. Granted we are not worship a golden idol, but we are worshiping stuff. On the surface all seems ok and we are not in need of a harsh judgment, but then you roll over a stone and find the underbelly of society and wonder when it will happen.

Verse 101:8 is what we should be doing:

Morning by morning I will destroy
all the wicked in the land,
cutting off all the evildoers
from the city of the Lord.

Think about it we just need more to walk with integrity and force out evil. We often accept what is going as the “norm” and not want to “judge”. Society has allowed groups like NAMBLA (North American Man Boy Love Association) to exist without cutting them off. Forcing “morals” on opening on Sunday is one thing, but that same standard should not apply to an organization endorsing the rape and sodomy of our precious youth!