Imagine a 'fly swatter' ...yet, if you are a fly or other small bug, perhaps you don't want to imagine it.
1. Displaying hesitation or refusal to admit or recognize that something is true, or to accept the concept of truth itself. Usually born out of fear of offending someone or being held accountable to something constant. 2. Dismissal of the existence of absolutes. 3. Degradation of people who profess something as true or untrue. 4. Being willfully in denial. Gives rise to constant skepticism and doubt of everything. Thanatophobic, or Veritaphobic ...I ask you, which one bugs you the most? I say, the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (or let's make this clear, the Bible says) ...and offers eternal life, through Jesus Christ. If this 'bugs' you, then perhaps it's because you've already formed your own S.W.A.T. team! (Someone Without Adequate Truth) Sometimes in life, there are things we have that we're afraid others may get. Colds, the flu, a fever, the chills ...are among the things you'd list, I bet. But there are other things, that are part of life, we should really never fear. And among that list are disappointment, love, failure ...all things that may cause a tear. But these things actually make us stronger, though a struggle, they help us grow. So, how empty to hope to prevent our children from experiencing things that we ourselves know. It so happens there was this couple, whose name was actually, Love. And though marriage is what they experienced, later it's what they were the most afraid of. It all started with a disagreement, that some would call a fight. But it was just a difference of opinion, there was no show of might. They were about to have a baby, and experience all the joy that brings. But they had a disagreement over the name of the child, of all the silly things. She said their child should be Clotilda or Bartram, named after her mom or dad. He said, "No way, perhaps Chloe or Bart, those other names are bad." He said it should be Bartram or Clotilda, named after his dad or mom. She said, "No way, it has to be Bart or Chloe, those other names sound dumb." Well, that really hurt his feelings, and he felt it wasn't right. Well, that really hurt her feelings, the way he said it wasn't right. And the fact that love wasn't there, was the only agreement that night. But Love came the next morning, in the form of a little girl. Except their love hadn't reconciled, and it was about to unfurl. At that very moment, they decided their child should never experience this. So they both firmly decided their child would always remain a Miss. Now how to accomplish this, with love all around, may not be so easy as it seems. They would have to come up with a plan, that would thwart any notions or dreams. They'd have to make it so love would actually never get a start. They'd have to thwart the beginnings, and turn away every pining heart. And that's where they got back to the discussion, about that preferred name. It would have to be one that'd give no spark, no chance to fan the flame. It's hard to believe they'd do this, why does anyone do what one does? But this Miss Love, she'd miss love, that's just the way it was. As she got older, there were many boys who were certainly up to the task. Showing their mannerly ways, she was one of the first they'd approach and ask. "What's your name?" She'd then reply, "I'm Taken," and they'd quickly all turn away. She couldn't quite figure it out, "Why am I so alone?" she'd often cry and pray. Then one day a man strolled up, he looked at her with eyes of blue. "You must be Miss Taken, but I'm afraid we've all been mistaken too." Soon they were both laughing, the first time she'd laughed in years. A few years later, they married, she said, "I do!" with happy tears. The thing we can learn from this, is that love can disagree. Realizing this, can make the difference, and it can set us free. Now love is not always what it seems, and it's not everywhere. But you can always find it, it's the one thing more I'd like to share. Love is not merely something we pray for, it's the One we need to pray to. Love is God, and God is love ...He is love, through and through. But God is also 'righteousness', please don't disagree. He sent His Son, to show us, as He died on Calvary. And if we don't follow love, the way God shows us as true. We will just find ourselves, among the sadly mistaken too. Anybody who has babies, or for that matter ...even if they just have pets, like cats or dogs, well, there seems to be that built-in condition that you can't continue to always put yourself first. That, of course, assumes we are considering a level of maturity and decency. And it is good and healthy to adjust to life where the focus is not always on us, and even healthier when it is seldom us at the center. How do we approach teaching our youth?? We may be attempting to shelter our family from indoctrination while living within a dictatorship. We may try to survive the onslaught of terrorists, creating hate and bitterness ...if we are not outright killed. But, we must succeed at all cost ...with keeping the family unit intact. We may live in a nation where we feel we are relatively safe, but more than anything ...the major threat to our present existence may be that we don't realize the family is at risk. It seems we are going through something I think of as spiritual anorexia. I've worked with a couple different cases of anorexia ...one at the beginning phases, and the other a rather severe case. And I've had hope with the significant measure of success that could be seen. The point I'm making, is that we are not blind ...we can see, but what do we see?? We see a healthy person, when in reality, we are wasting away our principles and morals...and our spiritual health is disintegrating. And that being said, we have groups in our country which so boldly call anyone a 'hater' who voices belief in the Bible. And yes, of course, we know there are those who perhaps are filled with intolerance and prejudice ...and who continually promote their attitudes without compassion, yet that argument can be made on more than one side of the issue. I ask, why are Christian views being attacked when in many cases other religious views (even though sometimes slightly misrepresented) are not questioned and sometimes catered to?? Is it that we are so compelled to embrace diversity that we extend our boundaries beyond absurdity?? And it isn't even the majority peaceful members of the religions that are being catered to ...it's the terrorist factions, and government extremists, often disguised in terminology such as 'brotherhood'. Again, it is Veritaphobic ...a fear of the truth, along with fear of offending those who will go beyond dialogue, to threatening language. And we all should know that talk often leads to threatening behavior and killing ...whether it's the person talking, or someone trying to impress another by what they hear being said. The way some cultures, societies, and nations structure their family unit ...present a view very distant from what God created it to be. Yet, instead of being outraged, we often mildly look at it as a forever changing progression...and think it is not only natural, but even a good thing. Some people view life like in the Garden of Eden, yet they feel if they don't believe in God, then they can do what they want. Or they voice the same argument as the serpent did ...thinking that their eyes will be opened, as if the rest of our eyes are closed, along with our intolerant hearts. They deride those who would dare suggest what they should do, as 'haters', and they dance around their own knowledge, deciding for themselves what is good and what is evil ...and they don't 'just do it', they do it big!! They don't just take a bite, they collect a bushel or two ...and make pies. I've also heard many people impress upon whoever they can find as an audience ...that they are somehow more sinless. They have said, "I wish I'd had the chance ...I wouldn't have eaten the fruit!" I guess that is possible, but we have much bigger lessons to learn ...and those are the ones handed down to us after Adam and Eve's fruitful endeavor, which proved to be fruitless. The Book of First Samuel, Chapter 15, verse 22, Samuel poses the question God was having him communicate: "And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." It is clear how it is that God wants it to be. And we are not just to hearken, nor to rationalize away ...but to obey. For those who think when it says a man is to rule over the woman ...that it reads as a man-centered standard, it is not. It is centered on God. L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L L oo o v v e e e L o o o v v v e e e L o o v v e e e e L o o v v e e L o o v v e e L L L o o v v e e e L L L L L L L L L L L L L L | ||
abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyztwenty-seventwenty-eightnowtosixty-five
This is for spacing purposes, to get close to the vertical line next ...
There seems to be much discrepancy in a few dates that are not really that
significant. I just helps to put things in a bit of perspective. I will list
a few of the verses.
Genesis 11:31 ---"Terah took his son Abram,
his grandson Lot son of Haran,
and his daughter-in-law Sarai,
the wife of his son Abram,
and together they set out
from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan.
But when they came to Harran,
they settled there."
Genesis 12:4-5 ---"So Abram went,
as the Lord had told him;
and Lot went with him.
Abram was seventy-five years old
when he set out from Harran.
He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot,
all the possessions they had accumulated
and the people they had acquired in Harran,
and they set out for the land of Canaan,
and they arrived there."
From the first verse we see that they traveled to Harran. This included
Abram and Sarai ...already married.
The next verse I've listed for you says that they had accumulated
many possessions ...but also note that the 'and' separates the people
from possessions. Yet, for that accumulation ...I would think they were
there for some time. And the verse also says that they left Harran
when Abram was 75 years old.
Now ...I going to do an aside, before I get back to that. Many Christians say they will not marry someone unless the other person is a Christian. Others say that they could just marry someone that they 'like' and they can later 'change' the person ...which I do not think is wise reasoning at all. Yet, if you 'like' someone ...why does it matter if they are a Christian, you may ask? You may say that this person is actually more moral than many Christians you know. Yet again, if there is leaven in the lump, not necessarily concerning that person you feel you love, but in the ideal that it is fine to base marriage merely on the standard of who you 'like', then what about future generations. My answer to that on one level is that ...all over the world we see people uniting to stand against the causes of 'Climate Change'. And their main plea is for the preservation of future generations. I also have a concern ---though my concern is not so much about the weather, but rather about whether future generations will continue to preserve a belief in morality ---and not continue to 'move the goal posts'. Because there would be a lot of kicking, but no true goal ...as no one would be able to see it. And just like they are trying to set standards for emissions, we are also seeing a lessening of admissions of our failures, not with our environment, but with our hearts and minds accepting the One who must be the standard if we are to have any hope for the future. So, with that in mind, I will go back to my other point ...of marriage. Would you compromise your commitment to God? It seems Abraham and Sarah were committed to each other and to God. I know many people like to travel, but usually not on foot to unknown areas of unknown peril. To do this, it would first of all not be a very popular decision, and if you were going to do this, perhaps it would be only after hearing the recommendations of a trusted person ...and in this case 'God'. Acknowledging that you trust God enough to do this is a real commitment. So, what do you do with that commitment? Abraham was already 75 years old, and he still didn't have a child. He'd have to wait 25 more years for Sarah to give him a child. Genesis 23 says Sarah was 127 years old when she died, which would make Abraham 137 years old. And that was when Abraham had felt best that his son, Isaac, not get a wife from the Canaanites, but from his people ---and we can read in Genesis 24. Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah ...from the country far away, from his dad's people. Isaac had two sons. And further on in verse 26, it says Isaac was 60 years old when Rebekah gave birth to their sons ...so, Isaac didn't have to wait nearly as long as his dad had to wait for him, but twenty years is a long time. Yet, speaking of waiting ...instead of waiting for a child, how about waiting for a wife? Esau married two Hittite women, who lived near Canaan ...and Genesis 26 says they were grievance to Esau's parents. So, what about Jacob? Should he wait, or also marry a woman from Canaan? It's sort of like the dilemma we face today, Whether to marry a Christian woman or not. But, it was much different back then ---and least where I live, there are Christians all over. But, Jacob was in a foreign land.
Genesis 27:46 ---Then Rebekah said to Isaac, “I’m disgusted with living because of these Hittite women. If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living.”
Genesis 28:1 ---So Isaac called for Jacob and blessed him. Then he commanded him: “Do not marry a Canaanite woman. Go at once to Paddan Aram, to the house of your mother’s father Bethuel. Take a wife for yourself there ...
So, was Jacob obeying his parents, or honoring them? Is there wisdom in the honoring? And in doing so, are there not times when emotions blur the lines between the two. It seems like this was the case with Jacob. In Genesis 27:11-13, it includes Jacob's hesitation with a 'but' ...and his Mom's insistence with a desperate 'obey me'. This desperation, of course, was not about marriage ---that would be a long journey, not of the heart, but a rather hasty one, and a sudden ping to his heart upon arrival ---and I list the reason for his running in verse 41 below. Most of us would find that strange, since Jacob was now about seven decades old ...but he saw how it did not please his parents that his brother had taken these wives as described by his mom as women she was 'disgusted with'. So, is it strange that he waited so long to marry, when no women of 'like faith' were anywhere around? During Noah's time ...there were only one family of faith. It seemed Abraham was led to a place where ...as we later see, was near a place called Sodom, also with only one family of faith living there. Yes, that was Abraham's nephew, Lot. So, we see how Noah had a huge building project that God gave him. Noah was 500 years old when his wife gave birth to their sons, and he was 600 years old when the Flood began. So, whenever Noah began working on the ark, he likely did not have much help from his sons until they grew some ...so likely less than 90 years ...yet, that still includes many long years working on the ark, as well as having to do chores to have food to eat, to nourish themselves through those years. Farming is usually a full-time job ...so who knows how many hours in the day they spent with other chores. So, Noah had to work and wait. Abraham had to wait for Sarah to give him a child. Isaac thought he was going to die ...and had to wait blindly for many years for that to happen, and that's the type of waiting that seems like the worst. Or should we call it wasted time? He didn't see his son, Jacob, for many years ...as Jacob went far way to get married. Jacob waited for the one he had to marry. Then waited many more years before returning home. Then the reunion between his dad, his brother, and himself took place right before his dad died. Yes, Jacob learned to also wait. How long do we wait? Do we wait upon God?
Genesis 27:41 ---Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”
That's terrible ...yet it turned out good, and the two brothers later made amends. So that being considered, we may think perhaps Jacob needed a little nudge ...or a big scare?
* | *
* | *
When I speak of the 'whole' Bible, the 'wholeness' or fullness of God, or the
entire 'Word of God' ...what about all that 'Levitical Law' which seems so
extreme ...yes, all that which we don't follow anymore?
|
Next paragraph ...
|
Well, without the 'Levitical Law' at the time, they would've continued
to repeat the cycle that led up to 'the wickedness of men being great in
the earth, with every intent of the thoughts of his heart only being evil
continually.'
|
Next paragraph (32) taps of the space bar ...
|
God led Abraham into a new land. His grandson's family was led out to
Egypt. God had Moses lead them out of Egypt, then they were led back
into the land they had left. Clearly it was not their battle ...as marching
and blowing trumpets may not even knock down my 'house of cards'.
|
New paragraph ...
|
After that, there were 'judges' appointed by God to lead them. Sometimes
they appeared to lead themselves, but God still used them. Like those times
Abraham's grandson had tested God.
|
New paragraph ...
|
It was not a bad thing? Just don't stop communicating with God.
|
New paragraph ...
|
And later even, during the time of 'judges' which I mentioned, Gideon
'put out a fleece' to test to see if it was truly the way he was supposed to go.
It was sort of like questioning whether it was God who he had heard.
|
New paragraph ..
|
How many times today do we see and hear those who are claiming to
have God's 'anointing', and we just blindly trust?
|
New paragraph ...
|
After the 'judges' came the 'prophets' ...which even kings of other nations
acknowledged, and often respected. Sadly, today we are told we have to
watch out for 'false prophets'.
|
New paragraph ...
|
So, why don't we follow 'Levitical Law' anymore?
|
New paragraph ...
|
Because we have Jesus.
|
New paragraph ...
|
Yet, the disciples asked Jesus when the end of this present world would
be, and Jesus said it would be as in the time of Noah. (Matthew, Chapter 24)
|
New paragraph ...
|
How does that happen?
|
New paragraph ...
|
Because people will discount the 'Word of God', the Bible ...and beginning
with the beginning, of His Creation. And after doing that, they will doubt
that God even had Moses write it, and may even doubt Moses existed.
Then the rest of the Books of the Bible will be questioned. Finally,
what do you think will happen?
|
New paragraph ...
|
I am not a prophet. Sadly, these things have already begun ...and continue
to happen. No, I'm not a prophet ...I just have eyes.
|
New paragraph ...
|
And it is also happening now ...that many are beginning to look at
Jesus as just a person, instead of the Person, the Son ...who saves us.
************
Add to: We Should Also Love One Another or (Epilogue??) or (Move a later Chapter # and make this second to last?)to latest book
