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Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Jesus in the Snow


We’ve all laughed (or felt disgusted) at people seeing the face of Jesus on toast, in a water stain on a door, or in a clump of kudzu hanging from a telephone pole.  Many people see the face of Jesus in the photograph displayed on the web pages below.   The story behind the photograph may or may not have actually happened; it is likely to be merely an urban legend.  Some never see the face, just blobs of black and white.  One person pointed out that this is the way the world is: Jesus is always here among us, some see Him, some never will.  Once you see Him, you will always see Him.



Another story of the origin of this picture:

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Playing With Matches

"Translating the gospel for young people amounts to entrusting them with matches, for it gives then access to holy fire, which puts the church at risk; what if young people ignite the church?" Kenda Creasy Dean, university professor, Presbyterian youth minister.

Some links talking about this idea:





Saturday, July 28, 2012

Definition: Sanhedrin


In yesterday’s post on the Rich Young Ruler I said the it was possible that he was a member of the Sanhedrin.  The word is often translated as “council,” and when presented as “Sanhedrin” is a direct transliteration of the Aramaic word and the Greek word synedrion.  The word seems to have begun in Greek and then passed into Aramiac and, in Greek, means “together” and “seat,” so, “to sit together.” The Greek speaking Jews called it the gerousia, “the Assembly of the Ancients.”

The Sanhedrin was a council of judges who ruled in matters of a strictly Jewish nature.  The Romans held all real political power.

Jewish tradition says that the Sanhedrin began with Moses and his council of seventy elder (Numbers 11:16) but the first undisputed mention of the gerousia is in The Antiquities of the Jews, (XII, iii, 3) by Josephus, in his discussion of the reign of Antiochus the Great (223-187 B.C.).

Friday, July 27, 2012

The Rich Young Ruler


The incident in which the Rich Young Ruler asked Jesus what he must do to gain eternal life is familiar to many Bible readers. (Matthew 19:16-30; Mark 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30)  None of the gospel writers explains exactly who the young man was and none tell what became of him after he left the encounter with Jesus.

1.     He was a Jew because he declares that he knows the Commandments and has kept them all.
2.     He was a young man, probably in his twenties or thirties.  Neaniskos νεανίσκος (“young man”)
3.     The man is described as very wealthy.  The words sphodra σφόδρα  (“great,” “much”) and plousios πλούσιος (“rich,” “wealthy”) are used.
4.     He was either a Pharisee or a follower of the Pharisee party.  The Sadducees did not believe in life after death.
5.     He is said to have been an archon ρχων (“leader,” “official,” “administrator”).  This may imply that he was a member of the Sanhedrin.
6.     He was not a hypocrite; he observed all the commandments.  He really wanted to know how to gain eternal life.  He did not like the answer he received.

The young man had a works-based idea of salvation, “what must I do … ?”  and Jesus knew it.   Jesus gave the man a task which he could have performed.  The task pointed out the one stumbling block for the man: his refusal to give up his control of his own life, his refusal to submit to God.   He loved his position and his power more than he loved Jesus.  He worshipped a different god.  (Exodus 20:3)

Several comments with varying insights and viewpoints on the Rich Young Ruler.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Film Comment: Catch That Kid

Be very careful to screen the movies you let your children watch.  Just because a film is labeled as a “children’s movie” does not mean it is actually a fit film for them to see.  Children do ingest the ideas and worldviews of the things to which they are regularly exposed.  Just think of how quickly they pick up and begin to use “bad words” from adults.

Catch That Kid (2004) is a remake of the 2002 Danish film, Catch That Girl , and is an almost scene to scene copy of the original film.  Both are billed as “kid-friendly” thrillers.

Catch That Kid stars Kristen Stewart (b. 1990, California, USA) who was thirteen at the time the film was made.  Stewart is best known for her role as the young daughter in Panic Room (2002) and in the Twilight Saga films, as Bella Swan, a human teenager who falls in love with a vampire who was born in 1901 and made into a vampire in 1918.

The plot of Catch That Kid is actually quite simple.  Thirteen year-old Maddy (short for Madeline) is a talented young rock climber whose father suddenly needs a terribly expensive experimental surgery  for which the family has no resources.  She recruits two thirteen year-old eighth-grade boys (both of whom love her, of course) to help her rob an impregnable bank using their computer and mechanical skills.  The plot is thickened because Maddy must also babysit for her one year old brother on the night of the robbery.


The movie is touted as a fun “kid-friendly thriller” and it does have thrills and suspense.  It also has plot holes, logical inconsistencies, silly slapstick level humor, and glosses over or skips entirely legal consequences which would be caused by the events depicted.  It also contains a science fiction element with technology not yet available and especially not available in 2003.   What this all means is that the events in this film could not actually happen.  The children would have been captured, injured, or possibly killed.

Several of the reasons why this film is inappropriate for children include:
1.     Number one, the children rob a bank, committing a major crime.  One of the boys opines, “I wonder if we can finish the eighth grade in prison.”
2.     The children engage in mild profanity.
3.     The children lie to adults to manipulate them and obviously enjoy doing so.
4.     Maddy manipulates a bank executive to steal his access codes.  In doing so, she commits theft of intellectual property.
5.     Maddy lies to both of the boys to get them to help her.  She tells each of the boys that she loves him, manipulating his emotions.
6.     Maddy has to babysit her one year old brother on the night of the heist.  Since she cannot just leave him at the house, she takes him along on the robbery, thereby exposing an infant to great danger.
7.     Maddy’s mother lies to keep the three twelve year olds out of trouble.

The film seems to teach children that, as long as everything works out well in the end, it is acceptable and even smart to lie or to steal or to endanger an innocent.  What you want is more important than what is right.  The glorification of the self, the essence of this fallen world, the essence of sin.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Active for Jesus

"... when churches focus on keeping young people active for Jesus, we may forget to teach them how to be present with Jesus."  Kenda Creasy Dean, youth pastor, university professor, Presbyterian.

It is possible to become so busy for the church or even "for Jesus" that one becomes fixated on the business of being busy.  The activity can become an idol,  distracting us from God.  We cannot earn God's favor,  it is a freely given gift.  The activities are not wrong, and may even be productive, but more pleasing to God is obedience and what the simple Brother Lawrence called "the practice of the presence of God."

Sunday, July 22, 2012

Messianic Prophecies From the Bible: The Star of Bethlehem


Messianic Prophecies is a recurrent segment in this blog.  To see links to several other posts, click here.

Old Testament:
“I shall see him, but not now: I shall behold him, but not nigh: there shall come a Star out of Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel, and shall smite the corners of Moab, and destroy all the children of Sheth.” Numbers 24:17

New Testament:
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him.”  Matthew 2:1-2

In ancient times, stars and comets were often believed to be heralds of important events.  Stars were also seen as symbols of royal power.

.......................................................
To see other posts about Messianic prophecies in the Bible, go to the Labels list at the bottom of this page.  The labels are in alphabetical order.  Click on "Messianic Prophecies."

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Christians


At some time during their lives, the following people have publicly identified themselves as Christian.   Inclusion in this list does not indicate approval or disapproval of the person, of their orthodoxy or lack of it, or of their actions.  Readers are encouraged to suggest persons who should be included on this list.  This is a recurring segment in this blog.

Bernard Acworth: (b. 1885, England – d. 1963) Writer, biologist, submariner, creationist. Evangelical.

Catherine Howard: (b. ca. 1518 - 1524, England –d. 1842; aka: Katherine, Katheryn, Kathryn, “a rose without a thorn”)  The fifth wife of Henry VIII, King of England.  In order to marry wife number six, Henry had f=her executed for treason and adultery. Roman Catholic.

Edward Jonathan Giddings (b. 1831 – d. 1894) Writer. Author of American Christian Rulers (1890).

Peter Maurin: (b. 1877, France –d. 1949; aka: Aristide Pierre Maurin) Roman Catholic social activist.  With Dorothy Day, was a co-founder of the Catholic Worker’s Movement (1933).

William McKinley (b. 1843, Ohio, USA – d. 1901) President of the United States (1897-1901).  He was assasinated by an anarchist.  Methodist.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Mahalia Jackson Singing Amazing Grace

Here is a video of the queen of gospel music, Mahalia jackson, singing the song, "Amazing Grace."

(Some videos will not play properly when you click on the triangle.  Instead,  click on the title line in the picture and the video will begin .  When the video is completed, close the You Tube pop-up window to return to this blog.)

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

A New Way of Looking At Genesis 5:1-32


I cannot stress this enough; NEVER ACCEPT INFORMATION JUST BECAUSE IT IS PUBLISHED IN A BOOK OR ON THE INTERNET!  Not everyone is a careful researcher and many jump to unwarranted conclusions without thinking things through to their logical conclusions.  But, watch this:

(Some videos will not play properly when you click on the triangle.  Instead,  click on the title line in the picture and the video will begin .  When the video is completed, close the You Tube pop-up window to return to this blog.)

The names are Adam, Seth, Enosh, Cainan, Manaleel, Jared, Enoch, Methusaleh, Lamech, and Noah.

1This is the written account of Adam’s line.
When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. 2He created them male and female and blessed them. And when they were created, he called them “man.a
3When Adam had lived 130 years, he had a son in his own likeness, in his own image; and he named him Seth. 4After Seth was born, Adam lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 5Altogether, Adam lived 930 years, and then he died.
6When Seth had lived 105 years, he became the fatherb of Enosh. 7And after he became the father of Enosh, Seth lived 807 years and had other sons and daughters. 8Altogether, Seth lived 912 years, and then he died.
9When Enosh had lived 90 years, he became the father of Kenan. 10And after he became the father of Kenan, Enosh lived 815 years and had other sons and daughters. 11Altogether, Enosh lived 905 years, and then he died.
12When Kenan had lived 70 years, he became the father of Mahalalel. 13And after he became the father of Mahalalel, Kenan lived 840 years and had other sons and daughters. 14Altogether, Kenan lived 910 years, and then he died.
15When Mahalalel had lived 65 years, he became the father of Jared. 16And after he became the father of Jared, Mahalalel lived 830 years and had other sons and daughters. 17Altogether, Mahalalel lived 895 years, and then he died.
18When Jared had lived 162 years, he became the father of Enoch. 19And after he became the father of Enoch, Jared lived 800 years and had other sons and daughters. 20Altogether, Jared lived 962 years, and then he died.
21When Enoch had lived 65 years, he became the father of Methuselah. 22And after he became the father of Methuselah, Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. 23Altogether, Enoch lived 365 years. 24Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.
25When Methuselah had lived 187 years, he became the father of Lamech. 26And after he became the father of Lamech, Methuselah lived 782 years and had other sons and daughters. 27Altogether, Methuselah lived 969 years, and then he died.
28When Lamech had lived 182 years, he had a son. 29He named him Noahc and said, “He will comfort us in the labor and painful toil of our hands caused by the ground the Lord has cursed.” 30After Noah was born, Lamech lived 595 years and had other sons and daughters. 31Altogether, Lamech lived 777 years, and then he died.
32After Noah was 500 years old, he became the father of Shem, Ham and Japheth.

I did a few quick searches on the Hebrew language origins of these names and here is what I found:

ADAM:  of the ground, taken out of the red earth, man, mankind
SETH: appointed, substituted (as in the substitution of Seth for the murdered Abel)
ENOSH: mortal, frail, feeble
CAINAN: fixed, possession, dwelling chamber
MAHALEEL: praise of God
JARED: a descent, going down
ENOCH: consecrated, dedicate, train up
METHUSALEH: man of the javelin, man of the dart, man of the spear, his death shall bring,  he shall die, it shall be sent
LAMECH: of uncertain derivation, strong, conqueror, destroyer, despairing, (There seems to be much disagreement and discussion over the meaning of this name.)
Noah: rest, comfort

Sources:

Easton, Matthew George, “Biblical meaning for ‘Cainan’ in Easton’s Bible Dictionary,”  bible-history.com-eastons; 1897.


Strong, James, Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, 1895.

Tinney, Merill C., ed. The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary (Grand Raoids , Mi.: Zondervan Publishing House, 1967)

How Chuck Missler derived the meanings of the names in the list.

Are You Willing to Be Viewed As Strange?


The other day as I was going to work, I saw a clown walking into the Children’s Hospital.  She had on a garishly frilly red, white, blue, and green patchwork quilt dress and a straw hat topped with a large plastic flower.   In her right hand was a small children’s metal Strawberry Shortcake lunchbox.  It was obvious that everyone was noticing her.  How could they not?

The clown was one of the many volunteers who visit the ailing children at Children’s Hospital.  She, like the other clowns, had to overcome her discomfort at drawing attention to herself by appearing in public in ludicrous clothing.  She, at least, would have the comfort of knowing that the people who were looking at her understood why she was doing this.

Christians who strictly adhere to the biblical understanding (worldview) will often be thought to be odd, backward, or unsophisticated when they do not conform to the prevailing customs of their surrounding culture. Sometimes they will be accused of being fools, or worse, “haters.”  As I have stated before, we really are different and they really do not understand.  

Some believers, such as Isaiah, Hosea, John the Baptist, Francis of Assisi, Procopius, Basil Fool for Christ, John the Hairy, Grisha, and many others have carried out seemingly ridiculous actions to draw attention to the faith.  Some, like the Yurodivy (Holy Fools) of Eastern Orthodoxy, have intentionally carried the idea to what many would consider to be extreme.  All of these people have been aware that they are perceived as “strange.”  They value the opinion of the Lord more than they value the opinions of man.

Are you willing to be viewed as strange?  Are you willing to be a Fool for Christ?

“We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.” 1 Corinthians 4:10

“For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.” 1 Corinthians 3:19

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 1:18

“For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”  1 Corinthians 1:21

Monday, July 16, 2012

The Extent of God's Love


“If I could only love the most righteous person in the world as much as the Creator loves the most wicked person in the world.”  Rabbi Zusha of Hanipol

Meshulam Zusha (1718-1800) was born in Galicia and would, in modern terms, have been of the Polish nationality.  He was known for his extreme piety and his highly emotional prayer life.   He is considered to have been one of the great Hassidic rabbis along with his equally revered brother, Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk.

Many people understand that Jesus died for the sins of the world.  What they often fail to realize is that Jesus died for them individually.  The Bible says that the angels rejoice when one sinner believes.   The price paid for that one sinner was the most valuable thing in the universe. 

Sunday, July 15, 2012

Stop With the OMG Already!


We hear it almost every day, on television, in movies, on the radio, from adults, from children.   “Oh, my God!” used as an exclamation of surprise.  OMG used as an abbreviation or shortcut in texting and e-mails.  It is used by many people who never give God another thought.  The name of the Lord is used in a casual, thoughtless manner; a practice which many Christians consider to be blasphemous.

Historically, the Jews have had a deep reverence for the Name of God.  In much Jewish literature God is written as G_d.  Christians sometimes seem a little too "familiar" with God.  We are allowed, as individuals, to approach Jesus Himself without the need for intercessors.  This does not mean that Jesus is our "buddy." He is The Word of John 1:1.

The reverence for the name of God is even the origin of the name “Jehovah,” which is a well-intentioned error.  Jews placed the vowel points for “Lord” (Adonai) onto the name JHWH, making the name unpronounceable in Hebrew. Jewish readers would substitute the word “adonai,” “my lord.” Most scholars believe that the mistaken pronunciation as Jehovah was adopted by many Christians about the year 1100 AD/CE.


"Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain." Exodus 20:7



Saturday, July 14, 2012

Biblical Sources of Phrases in Common Use: A Drop in a Bucket


The phrase, “a drop in a bucket,” is an idiomatic saying which speaks of an insignificant, overwhelmed thing.  Something too small to make any sort of difference to a situation.  The phrase, “a drop in the ocean” has the same meaning.

The first use of the phrase is believed to have been in Isaiah 40:15.

“Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.” Isaiah 40:15

Friday, July 13, 2012

Biblical Gardens


Biblical gardens are themed collections of plants that are specifically named in the Bible.  The collections may illustrate biblical stories, demonstrate the look of biblical times, or simply collect as many of the varied plants as possible.  Some of the holdings are in otherwise secular settings.

A few links on the subject:

Thursday, July 12, 2012

The Elevator

Below is one of my short stories, in this case a 266 word micro-story entitled The Elevator.


We often fail to recognize opportunities when they are presented to us.  How many times have you said to yourself, "I should have said ..."?  This is frustrating, but when the opportunity missed is one in which the Gospel could have been presented the situation is not only frustrating, but tragic.


                                         THE ELEVATOR


            Hospital elevators are lonely, anonymous places. People don’t really see each other there.
            When I got on the elevator on the eleventh floor, I immediately saw the massively obese white man with a stubbly three-day old beard.  His knit shirt fit very snugly and his vulgarly exposed navel was an enormous gaping cavern in which a small dog could have hidden. He was a nascent heart attack.
            I tried not to stare, but his labored breathing wouldn’t let me ignore him.  He had the pained wheeze that extremely fat people get, as if just standing up was a struggle.  He sounded as if it would kill him on the spot if he ever were forced to run.
            “What floor?”
            I said, “One.”
            The fat man’s stubby finger pressed the button.
            “Six.”
            I turned around; the voice had come from behind me.
            The well-groomed black man was tall and handsome. I hadn’t noticed him as I entered the cabin ... perhaps because of the fat man.
            “Six.”
            The fat man didn’t move.
            “Six.”
            Nothing.
            “Six.”
            I realized what was going on and, in a flash of anger, my hand flitted over to the button panel and pressed number six.  I thought about confronting the fat man, but I hesitated.  I knew he wouldn’t care what I said and I wondered if the black man would be embarrassed.
            When we got off the elevator, the fat man waddled off to work on his heart attack.  The black man never said anything.  He quietly got off the elevator and vanished into anonymity.  I went to my car, unhappy with myself.