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Hands On

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  1. Never mind the toilet, I wonder what little demons and creatures lurk under the wooden floors of my very old home.But somehow that's what the cat therefore; you know Tom and Jerry Stuff. Not just to lay around all day looking fat ; getting grub for nothing.I am not sure whether or not its all myth; but I am told by local farmers around here that part of a cat's "job description" includes snake detection, seek and chase away.
  2. This is an essay I worked on in the light of current world events, granted it is a long winded 33 pager , but I needed to relate current events almost the same as to the historical events leading to the fall of Israel 100 yrs prior to that of Judah in 587BC and the lessons particularly we as Christians can glean from the teachings of Isaiah, Jeremiah and their contemporaries .What I find most profound is that fact that these "teachings" for part of the :Greatest Commandment" in Mt 10:34-40 also Paul's lessons to be learned from these historical events applicable for us today as Christians and also non-believers yet to be saved.The objective being an argument from silence, in that what have God said through these prophets had they been around today regarding Christian conduct which goes against the "will of God". Teachings of the Prophets in Today's World.pdf
  3. If this was the case i.e. Mary being a goddess, then why would Christ address her in the following way "3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. 4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. 5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it."? (KJV John 2:3-5)And secondly why is she not part of the Holy Trinity?
  4. Let there be no misunderstandings as Peter warns us Christians " Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king."(K.J.V. 1 Pet.2:17)The Greek meanings here are clearly : Honour τιμάω timaō Thayer Definition: 1) to estimate, fix the value 1a) for the value of something belonging to one’s self 2) to honour, to have in honour, to revere, venerate. Fear φοβέω phobeō Thayer Definition: 1) to put to flight by terrifying (to scare away) 1a) to put to flight, to flee 1b) to fear, be afraid 1b1) to be struck with fear, to be seized with alarm 1b1a) of those startled by strange sights or occurrences 1b1b) of those struck with amazement 1b2) to fear, be afraid of one 1b3) to fear (i.e. hesitate) to do something (for fear of harm) 1c) to reverence, venerate, to treat with deference or reverential obedience The same Greek word "phobeō" is used by Christ in "But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!"(N.A.S.B. Lk.12:5).The best is not to have God as your enemy, even if you don't believe that God exists or if you do ;but believe that Christ is the "The Nice God" and the God of the OT is all about "wrath and brimstone", and no longer applicable; think again with that same phobia you would have looking of a high cliff or diving into stormy waters.
  5. Hands On

    NATO

    Regarding the Falklands War.The Islands are still part of the British Empire, so I think Aunt Maggie possibly "saw it as an internal domestic issue" and decided to bring in the "iron rod" to maintain the Colonial status quo.Outside help was not called for, as the Falkland issue did not really directly impact the security of other British Allies as I see it.A situation somewhat different in the tensions between NATO vs Russia, where Ukraine is a sovereign state and "Greedy Naughty Putin" needs to be put on his place and shown that 40 Nations of this world-NATO members or not- will; and cannot not, tolerante mere unjustified annexation of any sovereign country in this world.And this message needs to be understood and if necessary felt by other "Greedy Naughty Leaders" who think otherwise.
  6. Thanks for the respons , I believe we just have to accept the fact as "Christians" under the New Covenant, that it is the same God who dealt with Israel and Judah, who made compromises before their respective downfalls , Israel under Assyria 722/721 B.C. and exile in Babylon, in the case with Judah 587 B.C.Governments world over might come up with all types of self-help schemes testing the will of God ;but alas "6.For I the Lord do not change, therefore you ' O children of Jacob, are not consumed 7.From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them."(E.S.V.Mal.3:6-7).The crucial aspect here as see it , is not Christianity, in many instances also sliding towards "you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them".
  7. Whatever the method of punishment or condemnation the facts as I see them is not to "push one's luck" with God.Sure God is a God of love but there is also this attribute of " For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hinder the truth in unrighteousness;"(ASV.Rom.1:18). I would suggest staying well clear, through the sacrifice of Christ's blood and God's grace of being considered part of "ungodliness and unrighteousness of men".If it takes a word or concept like "Hell" in any language to bring us to our "senses" Lk 15:17, then praise the Lord we might well not have to concern ourselves with what "Hell" is really all about.
  8. Jacob with all respect ,if I am being pedantic please forgive me but I feel your "Yeshua receives ALL who come to him, no matter how bad or evil you have been, nor what you have done, no sin is beyond forgiveness. Just ask, and turn from your sin, and forgiveness and restoration is yours." needs to be balanced in the context of "28 "I assure you that people can be forgiven all their sins and all the evil things they may say. 29 But whoever says evil things against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, because he has committed an eternal sin." 30 (Jesus said this because some people were saying, "He has an evil spirit in him.") "(Good News Bible.Mk 3:28-30).Thank you for sharing your other thoughts which are most helpful.
  9. I wonder if its got to do with being able to "look outside of yourself".I believe its something that can be worked on the more we become aware of it.Its a continuous awareness of Christ's teaching "Do for others what you want them to do for you:"(Good News Bible Mt 7:12 a)In this regard, I find this bit of advice pretty useful around the house and my relationship with folks in general. Stephen Covey in his "The 7 habits of Highly Effective Families p 29"writes "It is so easy to be reactive!Don't you find this to be the case in your own life?You get caught up in the moment.You say things you don't mean...later regret.And you think, 'Oh , if only I had stopped to think about it, I never would have reacted that way!'... What we all need is a 'pause button'- something that enables us to stop between what happens to us and our response to it, and to choose our own response.It's possible for us as individuals to develop this capacity to pause.And it's also possible to develop a habit right at the center of a family culture of learning to pause and give wiser responses...that pause button in the family...to cultivate the spirit of acting based on principle-centered values instead of reacting based on feelings or circumstances." Easier said than done, I do admit, nevertheless something to chew on I believe.
  10. Of course but there is also this to consider, which is seen from Paul's perspective, "7 But to keep me from being puffed up with pride because of the many wonderful things I saw, I was given a painful physical ailment, which acts as Satan's messenger to beat me and keep me from being proud. 8 Three times I prayed to the Lord about this and asked him to take it away. 9 But his answer was: "My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak." I am most happy, then, to be proud of my weaknesses, in order to feel the protection of Christ's power over me. 10 I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and difficulties for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."(Good News Bible.2 Cor 12:7-10) In her Book( "what The Bible is all about" pp 476-477.Regal Books.California:1953.Print), Henrietta Mears writes, "Sometimes a 'thorn' is a warning to keep us from sin and failure.God proved to Paul that no matter what his weakness was, His strength was sufficient.A minister one day buried his only child...Through his tears, which would insist upon coursing down his cheeks , his eyes fell on these words: 'My grace is sufficient'.It seemed to read this way 'My grace Is sufficient.' He wrote it that way on a card and hung it in front of his desk.He learned to know a God who is always present.Every word is important. My- means God. Grace- unmerited favor.I bring Christ what I have, my sin.He brings me what He has-His righteousness.The exchange is made.He takes my sin and gives me His righteousness.This is grace, wonderful grace! IS - the present , always. SUFFICIENT.- enough and to spare.' Our sufficiency is of God' (3:5)...We are satisfied with Jesus.Is He your personal comfort?God gives us unusual strength for unusual tasks.Paul says, 'When I am weak,then am I strong (12:10).There is strength and courage in the heart in which Christ is dwelling."
  11. Regarding these two verses Thomas Constable explains as follows "43:18 Obviously God did not want His people to forget what He had done for them in the Exodus, but neither did He want them to look back on that event and conclude that it was His only act of redemption or the only method He could use to redeem them. The Exodus exemplified God's ability, but it did not set a pattern that He had to follow thereafter (cf. Jer. 23:7-8). 43:19-20 God was going to do a new thing for Israel, something that would appear unexpectedly, like a sprout from barren soil. The Israelites would become aware of it even though they had no knowledge of it at that time. He would do for the captives in Babylon what He had done for their ancestors in Egypt, namely, make a highway for them through the wilderness and provide them with water (cf. Exod. 17). Instead of turning a sea into dry land, He would turn the dry land into waterways (cf. 35:6-7). These images picture a second Exodus. Even the animals would acknowledge God's greatness as they observed His acts and benefited from His goodness to His people. "Here we see the acts of God bringing the whole world into harmony, a feature which will be perfected in the Messianic day (11:6-9[; 65:25]). Here, the journeying people are met by a transformed world (19cd) into which the animal creation gladly enters with benefit." One writer took the water as symbolic of God's sustaining provision for the Jews, and the animals as figures representing Gentile nations that will benefit from the witness of the restored Jews"(Constable "Notes on Isaiah" 2014 soniclight.org)
  12. For me it all depends on the beliefs and message the composer is intending to put out there.Some go for the pagan market.Others to "sell" a particular political ideology.The music is only the medium which the melody and song rides on.Rock music can be just as effective in spreading the "Good News" Acts 1:8,with the correct motives.
  13. I believe we must leave the "completeness" concept to for Christ to decide.How this will pan out so to speak is beyond our limited comprehension.That no one will be left out, regardless of Jew or Gentile is dependent on God's mercy and grace .I believe Peter's advice here involves all who accept Christ as their saviour and conduct themselves accordingly and make sure that our "documentation " is always ready when that "Heavenly Ship" does leave port with all "all those saved".We know that God is patient with all because ":8 But do not forget one thing, my dear friends! There is no difference in the Lord's sight between one day and a thousand years; to him the two are the same. 9 The Lord is not slow to do what he has promised, as some think. Instead, he is patient with you, because he does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants all to turn away from their sins."(Good News Bible 2Pt.3:8-9) We also know that this "Heavenly Super Tanker" can take an unlimited amount of passenger because "Is anything too hard for the Lord?"(N.I.V.Gen 18:14a). Unfortunately the following folks will be excluded and not qualify for boarding passes on that unkown date of departure , as Christ clearly puts it through John as written for all to read, to accept or reject. ":11 Then I saw a great white throne and the one who sits on it. Earth and heaven fled from his presence and were seen no more. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small alike, standing before the throne. Books were opened, and then another book was opened, the book of the living. The dead were judged according to what they had done, as recorded in the books. 13 Then the sea gave up its dead. Death and the world of the dead also gave up the dead they held. And all were judged according to what they had done. 14 Then death and the world of the dead were thrown into the lake of fire. (This lake of fire is the second death.) 15 Those who did not have their name written in the book of the living were thrown into the lake of fire. "(Good News Bible Rev.20:11-15)
  14. I believe Paul sums this issue up pretty well for us.I believe we must decide whether we are problem makers or problem solvers within the context of "6 So we are to use our different gifts in accordance with the grace that God has given us. If our gift is to speak God's message, we should do it according to the faith that we have; 7 if it is to serve, we should serve; if it is to teach, we should teach; 8 if it is to encourage others, we should do so. Whoever shares with others should do it generously; whoever has authority should work hard; whoever shows kindness to others should do it cheerfully."(Romans 12:6-8) Now in the context of this discussion , if I am not "encouraging" someone by always looking for little "fleas" and mistakes or downplaying their well intended use of their gifts to the Glory of God,then they can only be problem makers driven by either jealousy or never satisfied with the gifts they have been blessed with.Possibly even an insatiable greed for "all the gifts", therefore over overly opinionated.
  15. I just accept it as a miracle plain and simple. After-all, no-one generally questions the power of God where Sarah in her old age normally considered "barren" (Gen 18:14) and also regarding old age and "barren" Mary's family member Elizabeth the mother of John the Baptist , where in both instances in similar fashion, the Angel states the following fact "For nothing is impossible with God."(Lk1:37).Christ by Virgin Birth, and John the Baptist by natural means regardless of natural age restrictions.The fact that we do not understand or comprehend or even believe in Biblical miracles does not mean that they did no in fact happen or still do happen.I don't believe the Bible to is a "text book" telling us exactly how God deals with us, but rather a guide to be accepted in faith "(Heb.11:1-3) of things "unseen" by us finite creatures through trust in Christ for our ultimate salvation and redemption (Jn 3:16; 14:6).
  16. The obvious chapter dealing with festive occasions is the wedding in Cana(Jn 2:1-11) and Christ’s attitude toward wine and alcoholic beverages. According to David Guzik it certainly was not pure grape juice “e. You have kept the good wine until now! When Jesus made wine, it was good wine. It doesn’t mean that it had a particularly high alcohol content, but that it was well-made wine. i. Some go to great lengths to show that what Jesus made here was really grape juice. While some find that line of thinking convincing, it is not the opinion of the author. Good wine is good wine, not good grape juice. It is true that wine in that day, as commonly served, had a much lower content of alcohol than modern wine. But it was still wine.”(Guzik.Enduring Word Commentary.e-Sword.softonic.com.2016.Web) In my opinion there is no “one size fits all” definition as to how much is “too much or too little” as a normal standard simply because each individual Christian must allow Him or Herself to but guided and be led or “filled with the Spirit”(Eph.5:18).The Good News Bible has it as “Do not get drunk with wine, which will only ruin you; instead, be filled with the Spirit.”The N.A.S.B. also reads “Do not get drunk with wine, which will only ruin you; instead, be filled with the Spirit” Lets us face the fact that alcohol abuse is the biggest marriage killer as D.M. Lloyd –Jones interprets Paul’s reasoning in this regard, “Try to estimate the misery and unhappiness in the world today because of conflict between husbands and wives. What unhappiness is caused to men and women and children by this!...all nations- the most advanced as well as the backward...The Apostle’s answer is that there is only one way, and that is, that men and women be filled with the Holy Spirit.It is only husbands and wives who are filled with the Spirit who will have a true view of what a husband should be, and what a wife should be, and what the relationship between them should be.It is the only way to get peace and unity and concord instead of disunity and quarrelling and separation and all that results from these evils.That is his solution from this problem also.”(Lloyd-Jones.Life in The Spirit in Marriage, Home & Work.p 26-27.Banner of Trust.1974.Print). There are certain things that according to the will of God some folks “should not do” while others “can do or handle it”. However as Christ puts it puts it figuratively “29 So if your right eye causes you to sin, take it out and throw it away! It is much better for you to lose a part of your body than to have your whole body thrown into hell. 30 If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away! It is much better for you to lose one of your limbs than to have your whole body go off to hell.”(Good News Bible.Mt.5:29-30) It is also worth bearing in mind in extreme cases of "too much wine"Eph 5:18 , that it has been said on occasion that "Alkoholisme is the only decease that tells you that you don't have a decease."(qt. Alcoholics Anonymous Session)
  17. I believe Christ is very straight forward and I say this with absolute conviction, as most of us recall from our Sunday School days no matter what," And lead us not into temptation , but deliver us from evil"(E.S.V.Mt.6:13) also as we grew up,"27.You have heard that it was said, ' You shall not commit adultery' 28.But I say to you that everyone who looks at a women with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart."(Mt.5:27-28).Being on the "road" or in the "office" should not make any difference, unless of course there is a "specific reason" in your "heart or conscience" which makes you reluctant to accept the tempting challenge posed which only you and Christ are aware.I believe this to be a question only you can answer.I say this with the greatest love as a Christian brother.
  18. Of course its not always a walk in the park as Christ teachers us: "16Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves. 17But beware of men, for they will hand you over to the courts and scourge you in their synagogues; 18and you will even be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. 19But when they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. 20For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you."(N.A.S.B. Mt.10 16-20)
  19. And yet in spite of all that knowledge the finite mankind possesses as "given"I Cor.4:7 by infinite God, it remains a Biblical truth "For the wisdom of this world is folly with God..."(English Standard Version.I Cor.3:18 a). David Guzik sees it this way "b. What is one to do if they are wise in this age? If they are wise according to a human measure of wisdom? They are to become a fool that he may become wise. i. Paul asks them to renounce all worldly wisdom, all humanism (man centered philosophy), even if it means being called a fool. If one is not willing to be considered a fool by those who value only human wisdom, they will never be able to truly become wise. c. God has evaluated the wisdom of this world, and He considers it foolishness, craftiness, and futile. Will we agree with God’s evaluation, or not?"(Guzik.Enduring Word Commentary.e.Sword.softonic.com2016.Web). Obviously I don't mean we must burn all books and become "Hippies" and not become educated with the gifts that God has bestowed on us!
  20. I love talking to strangers on the street.I live in a small town of very mixed ethnic groups.After a while you get a nose for smelling out "chancers".I find as a Christian it's a wonderful opportunity to show others what you are by your kindness and deeds not necessarily what you "say" .On many occasions I chat with a good Muslim friend from Sheri Lanka in his little shop.and we exchange points of view in the context of respect for each other's beliefs. If need be, I always try to adhere to Peters's advice should the subject of beliefs enter the conversation "15 But have reverence for Christ in your hearts, and honor him as Lord. Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you, 16 but do it with gentleness and respect. Keep your conscience clear, so that when you are insulted, those who speak evil of your good conduct as followers of Christ will become ashamed of what they say. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if this should be God's will, than for doing evil. "(Good News Bible.I Pet.3:15-17)
  21. This no doubt a good question, and I am sure it is one of the crucial factors which keeps us Christian folks like good and sometimes bad ducks in row attempting to live up to the image of Christ as the standard set by the Father.So then the purpose of "resurrection" from the Christian perspective from the following source. lies in the fact that "The first preachers were sure that Christ had risen, and sure, in consequence , that believers would in due course rise also. This set them off from all other teachers of the ancient world.There are resurrections elsewhere,but none of them is like that of Christ...Nothing is more characteristic of even the best thought of the day than ...hopelessness in the face of death...The Christian idea of resurrection is to be distinguished from both Greek and Jewish ideas. The Greeks thought of the body as a hindrance to true life and they looked for the time when the soul would be free from its shackles.They conceived of life after death in terms of the immortality of the soul, but they firmly rejected all ideas of resurrection (eg , the mockery of Paul's preaching in Acts 17:32) The Jews were firmly persuaded of the values of the body , and thought these would not be lost.They thus looked for the body to be raised.But they thought it would be exactly the same body (Apoc.Baruch,1.2)The Christians thought of the body as being raised , but also transformed so as to be a suitable vehicle for the very different life of the age to come (I Cor. 15.42 ff.)The Christian idea is thus distinctive."(Douglas J.D and others. The New Bible Dictionary,p 1086.) Although we are not in position to know exactly how this all pans out in the finite mind-set. It remains a mystery according to this perspective by hermeneuties authority Bob Utley "Co_15:42-49 The Bible does not specifically or fully reveal the things related to the afterlife. Probably because we are not able in our fallen, temporal, earthly state to comprehend them. This paragraph discusses the resurrection body by comparing it to the earthly body. Yet, still it is not precise. All that can be said is that our new bodies will be perfectly prepared for life, fellowship, worship, and service of our God in the new age. In light of this, the exact form is irrelevant (cf. Php_3:21; 1Jn_3:2)."(Utley .You Can Understand the Bible ibiblio.ca.e-Sword.2019.Web.)
  22. When I reached 60 those 7 yrs back I came to the conviction, that from here on in everyday extra is a bonus and to make sure that I never really waste any of those days but live them entirely in the context of what Paul means in "15.Be very careful , then , how you live-not as unwise but as wise,16 making the most of every opportunity, because days are evil."(N.I.V. Eph 5:15-16).As far as retirement goes, as I understand, we may retire from a career but as far as serving the Lord, the job is done only when He (The Lord)decides it is done.Take Moses for instances "Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho...5.And Moses the servant of the Lord died there in Moab, as the Lord had said."(Dt.34:1; 5).
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