A Line

𐂕 There was a line.. a thought, many (many) years ago, which drifted across a very blue sky.. and hit me in the head. After which, my life was never the same. I was never the same.
     What was this thought? "You've been learning about the forces in the universe" - I'd been reading up on world religions, and then astrology (spiritual) - "and what about the force that created the universe, and what if that force has consciousness?"

     Today while watching the last episode of one of the best shows I've ever watched, I heard this line - which sounded awfully familiar. I'll begin it midstream, where it struck me as familiar, "...about the forces that bind the universe, but what binds humans? Love.."*

     It's the same answer for both questions - "God is Love" - 1 John 4:8. ("Love never fails" - 1 Corinthians 13:8.)

"...until the time comes for the restoration of all things (pas - every, all, the whole)"... Acts 3:21

"..made known to us the mystery of His will.. at the fullness of time, to bring all things in heaven, and on earth, together in Christ." Ephesians 9:10

"...through Jesus, to reconcile to Himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven.." Colossians 1:20

And Revelation 21:5,4 - "Behold I will make all things new.. and death will be no more nor mourning nor crying nor pain; they will be no more.." None, anywhere!

God is love. ...Love never, ever, fails.

(*Last episode of "Numbers".)

Beware The Rules

Galatians 5:1 says -
                    "..Christ has made us free! And do not be entangled again by a yoke of servitude".

This does not of course, mean a believer and follower of Jesus is free to live a dissolute life! As Paul wrote "God forbid!" and "those things lead to death, where's the attraction?"

That's why The Way is a "narrow way"! Because there's huge ditches on either side! One is the ditch of license. And the other is the ditch of "rules". Beware the rules!

The first churches were not as we have our churches now. They were brothers and sisters (in love with God and Jesus) getting together. And following the Spirit.

The first enemies - "love your enemies" - were the 'Judaizers'. They wanted Gentiles (non-Hebrew, not under the Law of Moses) believers to become Judean. If we read the Letter to the Galatians, or any other letter actually, but especially Galatians, it's obvious this was not the plan of God. [Also Acts chapter 15, of course.]

And we can see that spirit today. It's always been very active! You must do this, you must not do that. When The Way is a relationship. And the living upon God's Word and Spirit (bread and wine of life). "If you are led of the Spirit, you will not be doing the acts of the lower carnal character." You just won't. You are following and yearning after the Spirit and drinking of the Word of Life. That is The Way of transformation and 'self improvement' - though it is NO act of self.

When we seek to follow rules.. any rules, to be 'right with God', approved of by God.. we have stepped out of His plan. We are saying or trying to believe, that God will owe us acceptance, like wages. (On the Holy Day "you will do NO work!") It is a gift. It is His doing. It is a recognition and affirmation that HE, is the only source of good. (The only source of Life!) And this is "all given to us, freely, through Jesus".
     "That the spirit in our heart cries 'abba, Father!' is the sign and seal and proof that we are His! His pledge that all that He has promised shall be given." And "He is faithful to carry out the good work which He has begun in us". ..."via the same POWER which rose Jesus from the grave."

The other - "any 'other' gospel" - has not that power. It's a dead end. It's a ditch.

It comes in many guises. The second 'enemies' of the gospel (news/good news) were the gnostics. They had a very large whole set of rules! They believed matter, the universe, was why mankind was flawed and the world was as it is. That somehow we (life) had 'fallen into matter' and this is what we needed to be saved from. The body was especially evil, and all its functions. Of course this led to other sects of the belief, which was license, for if all earthly functions were evil, like eating and drinking (and breathing? And don't forget, the bible says "honorable [is] the marriage in all, and the bed undefiled".) So if even walking was 'evil' then what the heck, why not just do anything and everything since it was the body itself that was guilty, lacked character, and hey, this must all be God's fault! And my special insight/knowledge/gnosis is what will set me free!

How crazy is that!? But it's the root and foundation of any "rules" system. And unlike the "freedom in Christ" it's a system of following humans and a human group. We get this from individuals and from organizations. It says 'believe in Jesus and.. ..and I'll tell you the special rule.. come and follow me..' And, or, be a part of my group..

I don't know why it works, but it seems to work very well.

Galatians 5:1 - "..Christ has made us free! ..do not be entangled again by a yoke of bondage".

Any personal conviction I may have.. be it vegetarian, or any rule I may choose to follow, is likely a wonderful thing.. but not mine to impose or even suggest to another. Paul - led of the Spirit to write a large bulk of the New Testament - said, "know only Christ".

Genesis Chapter Two

Why is there a second account of the creation of man?

Man is made of the soil of Eden?

Acts 17:26, The Living Bible - "He created all the people of the world from one man, Adam, and scattered the nations across the face of the earth.."

Genesis 3:20 - "The man called his wife's name Eve, because she was the mother of all living."

An inheritance from one man - "Romans 5:12 - "Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men.."

The second account is an insert and addendum to the first.
The first says man was created. The second tells us how.

The first account's setting is the world and universe. The second account is how the creation of man and woman occurred in the section of the world designated as the Garden of Eden.

"Then God said, `Let us make man in our image.. ...So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female created He them." (Genesis 1:26,27) with "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female." (Matthew 19:4) -- Which is what is described in the insert/second account.

By What Authority

Now when He came into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people confronted Him as He was teaching, and said, “By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority?” (Matthew 21:23)

This was the morning after Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. (Matthew 21:12)

By what authority..? They had to have been kidding right?! I mean Wherever He entered, into villages, cities, or the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged Him that they might just touch the hem of His garment.. great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them.. the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.. When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.. And the whole crowd sought to touch Him, for power went out from Him and healed them all.. as He went, the crowds were pressing against Him.. (Mark 6:56; Matthew 19:2,21:14; Luke 4:40,6:19,8:42) 

Who gave You this authority? Either they were so focused upon this world, their world and day, and their seats of power and staying in Rome's good graces, they couldn't see. Or they knew and plotted to silence Him (by death) anyway.

But don't forget! Because Israel didn't recognize (though some did, many common folk) the coming of Messiah and the fulfilled prophecies, the good news went out to the nations, all according to God's blueprint, plan and will.
     Romans 11:15 - For if the casting away of them (from the faith) be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? (Resurrection, which occurs at His return and the arrival of the second advent.)

Postscript

Our heavenly Father - it only possible that He be in complete control of all things - did 'create evil'. Albeit, indirectly. How? By creating rational creatures. (Surely?) I.e. He did not create us as robots. Even the angels cannot be called robots as some "left their first place" - "place" more accurately translated as (left their) appointed position.

This does not mean we have what's commonly called 'free-will' as we all have boundaries and limitations, in many ways, etc, etc.. where and when we live for example.

The reason for pointing all this out, is because of another strange theory, which is the idea that something unexpected occurred and took God by surprise and mankind was 'captured' by an enemy (adversary), the fallen angel called Satan and dragon. Of course this 'being taken by surprise' is impossible.

Why do we suppose that He only created the universe and man and woman, not only after the first (bound to occur) rebel, or wayward thought not only occurred but had ripened and fully matured into outright revolt, sedition and trickery? Didn't He know what would happen?

Of course He did! ...So why do you suppose He did it in just that way?

The Evil That Men Do

Every so often I hear the claim that the evil that mankind does is God acting through them.

The verse Ephesians 1:5 says we are adopted as children of God through Jesus "according to the good pleasure of His will."

Does the Bible say evil is according to His will?

The verse which is used to claim God does evil is Isaiah 45:7 - the traditional King James Version says it like this - I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things.
  {In context - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah+45&version=NKJV

But the New King James says it like this - I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things. - which is a much better translation of the word used, #H7451 ra' - adversity, calamity.

When we read the Old Testament it's plain to see that our heavenly Father does indeed bring calamity upon the heads of the wayward. (Especially if they are sacrificing live babies in fire to 'the gods'?) I'd also dare to say that there is natural law which He built right into everything which, spiritually, is the seed of fruit is always in its own likeness. Even the judgments of God are results and consequences. He may indeed, speed them along or multiply them upon miscreants and criminals' heads whenever He sees fit!

But this (surely?) is a far cry from saying the evil that evil men do, is actually God doing it and it is according to His will.

Why? Is there evil in the world?? Let's seriously ponder that question and consider every thing the Bible says about it. (Every verse, not in this brief post, but in our heart and mind.)

Luke 17:1 says, - He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!"

Which, to me, seems to be openly implying "responsibility" for actions and choices, upon the one acting and choosing. Thank goodness our choices are so highly limited! 'Offences are sure to come'.. What does that mean? Does it mean we are all robots destined to do what things we do? Isn't that another belief system? An old one, where 'the gods' moved humans like so many chess pieces..?

If it were God acting through Stalin (etc) why should Stalin ever "repent"?

(Seriously, where do people get these ideas?!)

1 Peter 5:8 says, Be alert, be on watch! Your enemy, the Devil, roams around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.

Note: the earliest church fathers did not metaphor everything! It's true all of life is a parable and a metaphor! But that doesn't mean it's not literal. To metaphor everything is to put our own take upon everything as "private interpretation".

Our minds are to be renewed by the washing of His Word. Not by my own (so-called) 'lofty' thoughts as truth. But by His Word.

But don't forget.. The original intent, the Hebrew and the Greek. "The Church" is (can be) great for united worship, study, prayer, learning and service, but it is not perfection, nor is it yet "the kingdom"! No church is perfection, but is made up of people. And we should always let the Word itself speak to us, and not only what other persons say about His Word. "Sheol" for instance, "where there is neither thought nor doing" is a far cry from 'eternal burning hell for ever and ever'.

There's a BIG push on (spiritually) to devalue God's Word. But! fellow believers, that is our sWord! It cuts through every untruth. If we let it. "Give us, this day, Lord, our daily Bread.."

http://biblehub.com/interlinear/genesis/1.htm
http://biblehub.com/interlinear/matthew/1-1.htm
http://biblehub.com/interlinear/1_timothy/4-10.htm

Eternal Heaven and Hell Myth Leaves Christians Rootless?

I don't have to write a post because I fit it all in the title. (Lol!)

[Note: aion, aionian, aionias - (eon, age) etc. have all been translated as eternal, everlasting and forever.]

But don't you think so? First off, of course Father is seen as being rather powerless and impotent. His whole program of rescuing from death (or 'eternal' torment!) can only be accomplished within a very limited set time. After that all hope is lost. It is out of God's hands.

We overlook God's pristine character! And His flawless (pristine) attributes!

And so, not only that, but the belief is in an eternal torment place, one will end up in. Or an eternal heaven place where there is no space, time or matter. (I think that's how many see it, that is...?) That may sound appealing to some.. But right now thinking about it, I'm actually feeling a little queasy. The belief, to me, is so up in the air! No roots, can't git yer teeth into it..

Imo, we overlook God's pristine creation! It was "all good"... And it will be again!
Yes! I think there will still be rough bark on the trees.. And an Earth with no seas..

HAGD! (God bless!)

I Was A Rebel Today

Didn't have morning quiet time, for reading, prayer and praise. Went straight to the television and watched an episode and a half of a series about time travel back into history.

I love history, found myself praying for folks in history, and present.. For their challenges, their sufferings.. Felt like the Lord was sweeping me some tiny bit through history. Which is my vision (imagination) of 'Day' of Judgment. What a panorama that will be! And no, I don't think Yahweh Lord God will be quite as impotent as we have been led to think.

I think perhaps the Lord is pouring forth a spirit of rebellion. Rebellion against all things not truth!

Peace! And God bless! hagd!

The Scroll of God

The Bibles we read come from a long line. What once were scrolls written in Hebrew, and words spoken in Aramaic (the gospels) went through the Greek language and were likely Hellenized like most other things. Then there was the Latin. So the Hebrew "sheol" where there was "neither doing nor thought" became first "hades" (Greek) a "place of the dead" and then "inferno" (Roman). Then came Signor Dante with his entertaining tales (in the 1300's). This was after some Norse tribes had brought into the lands their slant on an afterlife, named Helheim, shortened to Hel. And then of course came along (1600's) good King James, whose heart was likely in the right place, it's just by then the culture was saturated with these other (nonbiblical) ideas.

A Note to Gnostics

If the problem here on planet Earth is earth.. matter. And a case of man having fallen from a higher state into a material body - "dust thou art" - which knowledge (gnosis) will deliver us from, the scene around us would seem to suggest otherwise. This Earth is glorious! And so is the living machinery we call our bodies. When God visited Earth in Ezekiel chapter two, he arrived on a living platform with living wheels, and which was borne about on living wings.

The problem is not creation itself. From where do wars come from? Do they come from trees? Perhaps from the ocean.. or the mountains? ...Is it the wind?

Logically, at most, if we are "trapped in a body" that would be a symptom, or an effect, and not a cause.

Why did God bar the way to the tree of life after Adam and Eve had changed? For surely, they did change. In the Genesis chapter two insert account of the creation of Adam and Eve, we are told how Adam was formed of dust, and Eve from his rib, and the two were one. "Be fruitful and multiply.. dress the trees and keep the garden.. the fruit and herbs shall be for food.."

What changed in Adam and Eve? Surely it was something in their thoughts.

Their psyche changed! The serpent had said to them, surely God was lying.. the one forbidden fruit was surely desired to make one wise. It was not unpleasant to the sight.. looked harmless enough. Indeed, if it was knowledge to make one wise.. and to be like God..!

But what was the change? They hid themselves. If there was a substance change, I believe it was in their clothing. From a raiment of light to fig leaves, and then to animal skins (in which God clothed them). They and the world became imperfect, and death now existed.

And what of the serpent? The one Revelation, chapter twelve calls Satan (adversary) and dragon? Was the issue that he fell into a denser substance?

I think the Pandora's box is thinking ability. If one is a rational creature, one can (sooner or later) make choices. What could possibly be God's motive in letting it run its course?

One Of The Greatest Metaphors

There are many metaphors in the Bible. I'd mention one if I could think of one off hand! How about how Jesus said it'd be better to cut off your hand and throw it to the funeral pyre, than harm one of these little ones? Not meant to be a literal instruction, I'm sure. Or! Maybe it is literal instruction! That's the trouble with metaphor! A teaching tool, to teach a truth. God, it seems, teaches often using metaphor.

I've just recently realized that I believe "God's Wrath" to be metaphor!

There's a strong belief in me that God's wrath is more often than not, merely the natural consequences of man's own doings. After all, isn't this a grand lesson we are all learning? An unavoidable journey? If we are to be thinking, reacting, doing creatures that is?

Surely the study of God, and his book, the bible, is utterly fascinating! (Just have to get through the smokescreens..?)

Take care and God bless!

~ * ~

Why It's Easy For Us To Think In Terms Of Billions Of Years

(As to origins, that is.) It's because we are in what is called a very long process. And the father of lies weaves strands of truth into all of his tapestries. (Which is doubly clever, for then we weave them into our psyche and life.)

When God endowed thinking ability a whole new realm (tree?) of possibilities came about, and He is being, and has been, infinitely patient awaiting the outcome. You see thinking ability includes being able to make choices, and hence we have life as it is and also death. Because God is Life itself, and is also Perfection. That makes imperfection, the opposite of life. And sooner or later, some one (some rational creature) is bound to think, "say.. do we really have to do all things, and think all things, God's way?"

He first made angels to be rational creatures. He waited and created the universe and man and woman, not only after the first rebel thought occurred, but waited until after it had matured into outright revolt and sedition. (Why? So all "in heaven and earth" would take this unavoidable journey and lesson, all together, at once.)

"Waited a very long time".. surely!? ..Here's where the "billions of years" actually comes from(!?) For when there was 'only' the Presence of the Father and the Son and the angels, surely there wasn't all that much to go astray about(?) And just think, God, being life itself, lives through all sufferings and disasters which ever occur (while He is for the most part, letting choice run its course).

And when God created the universe, in that majestic explosion of life / Himself, he placed all things where He wanted them to be, and began the motion from there. And! From the "foundation of the world" / from the beginning, He built the rescue of all into it - Jesus on the cross - an image, and love, strong enough to ultimately pierce every psyche. He is perfect, the only 'end' result imaginable, is the best one possible.
1 Timothy 4:10, among many, many verses, says "God is the savior of all.."

A thank you to Pixabay.com for the image.

All In All

The Lord started a new thing with me.. Having to do with images. I had fun with the paint program in windows, until my little netbrook broke down. Now I have a chromebook which as you may know, doesn't have paint. But that's perfect, because pixabay has free to use pictures and my images were amateur at best. And I can use Sumo paint to resize.

I've been working on writing Revelation in images, and over the last week did the Book of Revelation's Chapter twelve, "Lesson One of the Book of Revelation in Pictures, which I posted on another blog. Today at morning prayer and reading time, I can see it has affected my psyche! Something about images coming down in columns.. (hmmm, like a scroll?) ..from Him.

And then I found myself thinking 'God is immense'.. everywhere.. (as we know..) and glorious..

I'm thinking one day it will be that all God's children, man and angelic, will stand before Yahweh in utter (awed) silence.

A Letter To Christians

The Christian's number one evidence is, and should be, the working of the Spirit (Presence) of God within us.

But that doesn't mean science vs. faith, not by a long shot!

Some scientists may think their interpretation of the data disproves God. The theory/hypotheses of evolution exists upon these very sorts of conjecture.

The second most held law of science is that of entropy. All matter is in a state of breaking down. This is true also of communication, including the genetic code in all of life. It tends toward falling apart and separating. It does not develop new and better traits. How did any species within any biological category survive while slowly developing/'evolving' it's survival mechanism?

If all life forms evolved from one original, how many missing links are there?

Natural Selection is the separating of traits present. The evolving of new traits has never been observed. "Mutations"/mistakes tend to move sideways like a computer virus, or it simply fizzles out right away.

Do you all know the example of the peppered moth? Which goes like this - scientists saw there were white moths on one island, and brown moths of the same species/type on another island. "Why see how these two evolved differently!" they said.

But then, looking more closely, it became apparent that on the island where the white moth was prevalent, there was white lichen on the trees and the brown moths were picked off by predators. And the opposite was true on the other island, no white lichen on the trees, so it was the white moths which were picked off by predators and the brown moths which survived and multiplied. Until eventually there were very few white moths. This is an example of Natural Selection which theory has been observed and occurs at all times - a separation of traits present in the code.

There is no scientific data that disproves God. In all actuality the debate should move on to what sort of God created.

Evolution's ace in the hole is time, so the way of dating the earth which is used, is the one most able to suggest millions, now, billions of years. Given enough time, anything is possible? (Not so say top mathematicians.)

But there are other ways of dating which suggest a much younger age of the universe, and many things which refute the billions of years age constantly put forth. (More on this later.)

Since when does a Big Bang (aka explosion) continue moving at a constant rate and in sustained order? We may theorize but I don't think we've seen one act like this, except for the very impressive order of the universe and matter.

Scientific terms and physics do not disprove God. Indeed the minutest order suggests design. The whole theory/hypotheses/belief/philosophy is smoke and mirrors, the "strong delusion" and the "great falling away" of Western Civilization (once called Christendom).

If properly understood Bible prophecy is also evidence of God the creator.

A "last days" system called "harlet", the Greek word used being "pornos" bewitches and corrupts the seven continents with her seductive enchantments. She comes to exist side by side with a world entity/governing which first was, then wasn't. But then after the fire of Revelation 13:13 was once again, it's head now signing on. Is it vague? Hard to understand? You betcha! But it's accurate. Revelation 13:13 concerns an office but is thought by most to be a certain individual. This verse points to an office of the individual but not the individual. Verse 13:13 occurred in 1945.

Part of the problem is, these 'last days' things are often so huge and in our face we can't see them!

The false prophet? Surely same very thing as the great delusion (in full swing upon planet Earth). He began as a man, now is a white smocked magician with many miracles and modern wonders. "Knowledge will increase and man will travel to and fro".. "Your land is full of chariots".. But "the lion will" (again) "eat straw like the ox and the bear will graze with the cow". Apocalypse began long ago.. with the first rebel thought.. The original meaning of "apocalypse" is an/the "unveiling". As we've come to understand it today (as Bible students) as a crashing and burning/downfall - iS the unveiling. Apocalypse, personal and collective, is apparent and proves true from untrue, which is also good from evil and life from nonlife/death-translated "hell" for some time, but now receding. "Every knee shall bow, every tongue confess 'Jesus is Lord'." - Isaiah 45:23; Romans 14:11; Philippians 2:9-11.

Finding Truth In A Crazy World

Should we simply rely on what we are told the Bible says? Or should we diligently study for ourselves, each and every topic using a concordance, either online or book. And surely! Don't forget the Hebrew and Greek concordances! Why should we have to take a human translator's word as to what was originally written, when these days we have such study tools at our fingertips.

http://studybible.info/IGNT/Matthew%201:1 - This is an online interlinear Greek New Testament, and the site includes the Hebrew interlinear as well. The Greek and Hebrew word numbers are included with every word with a link to their meaning and use. (Strong's, Vine's, Thayer, Dodson and more.)

https://www.biblegateway.com/keyword/ - This keyword search tool makes for a great study for any and all topics. Heaven, hell, kingdom, life, death, day of the Lord, thief in the night.. And a good Bible dictionary to see for ourselves, for example, what is gehenna (originally, not legend). With all the untruth prevalent in the world, seeking answers straight from the Bible as originally delivered, seems to me what's called for. And also, I can't help remembering how Paul, Peter and John all warned against the danger of the teachings and ideas of the Gnostics, who seemed pretty determined to wrest the scriptures. How can we be sure they didn't in one or two ways? Unless we diligently search these things out? Why should I be lazy and let someone else tell me what the Bible says? https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/ - verse search.

The gnostics were zealous to teach esoteric ideas and teachings of the world pagan religions and philosophies. Did the Bible, for instance pick up any Plato ideas? The West was built upon the classical world. Did this color the understanding and translations?

...This inquiring mind wants to know Truth, and only Truth. God our Father gave us good reasoning power and His Word - "Thy Word is Truth" - John 17:17.

Healing by Restful Keeping Sabbath

Keeping Sabbath (for healing) can be weaved throughout the life and days.

Jesus is the vine. We are the branches. Fruit grows. If we rest in the vine. Rest in the finished work of God in Jesus. "It is done," Jesus said.

"Draw near unto God! and He will draw near unto you!" (Hebrews) "That we may receive the help (the grace) we need.." (Quit trying to make yourself good enough for God to love! Admit it can't be done! He - is the only source of Goodness. He has given an "oath" (Hebrews).

He is in the quietness.. I can't speak for any others.. but God gave me a formula for deep inner healing..

God is a God of order. (And even what seems the most complex of things, is basically simplicity.)

I was sitting on a bench under some plum trees and grape vines. Lo and behold I had found some plums that no worms had gotten! So I ate a couple and thanked the Lord. It was a very nice day. As I was musing it seemed as though a calendar opened up before me, in my mind's eye.. over a blue sky background. That there are four seasons with three times a day - 24/7. Each season with its particular spiritual lesson. I think of it as the 4 + 3 prescription. I see the big "Rexall" sign before it..

..three times a day to worship Him.. "you make the places where morning and evening meet to leap for joy" (badly? paraphrased from Psalms) - Not a strict legalistic schedule, just one to keep in mind.

Psalm 65:8 "You make the places where morning and evening have birth, to shout for joy.." ..and then there's Gethsemane's moonlit hour.. Three times a day throughout four seasons every year..

It's a box and pattern I can put my mind in.. and put up a shield of faith and deny every negative idea.. Turn from every negative thought.. The shield deflects the arrows and they fall to the ground bent and broken.

I believe we do well to allow ourselves much time(s) to rest quietly in Him. Listening to His quiet and soft voice.. of reason.

The basic idea is to weave into our life and days times of Quiet prayer and praise and the reading of God's Word. This is the bread and the wine, the prescription Jesus gave on the eve of His crucifixion.

Enter The Story Reading Schedule

I am working on transferring my Bible reading schedule onto this website / blog. The reading schedule can be found here - http://inner-monastery.blogspot.com/p/daily.html

The gospels are blended into two six month continuous readings in an effort to more easily 'enter the story' and feel a bit more as if we are walking with Jesus, where He walked and as He walked.

The Book of Acts is read over the course of the year. As is the Book of Revelation.

The New Testament letters are also read annually, and are read in the order believed to have been written.

There's an annual schedule for Psalms and a 31 day schedule for Proverbs. And a developing one for the books of the prophets.

It's Not Just The Prodigal Son

Imagine that mankind is God's child. Not only is that child a wandering prodigal, wasting his inheritance on loose living and squandering. But that child can be, and often is, quite savage and barbaric. "Which thing God hates" I'm sure! How would you create a universe? One free from such potential?

Has The Gospel Message Lost Any Of Its Glory Since First Delivered?

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.. ..And man, "male and female, in His own image".

And every thing was very good" [from Genesis 1:1, 27 and 31].  And God himself, surely? Is both Life (itself) and Perfection (without flaw or weakness or limitation).

"..The Lord God breathed into his nostrils (the) breath of life, and the man became a living creature" [Genesis 2:7].

But in their heart, mankind has wandered away from perfection and God who is life. (A possibility and side effect of thinking ability?) "For all have sinned" (in the original language - missed the mark) "and come short of the splendor of God" [Romans 3:23]. And "the results of sin" (imperfection) "is death" [Romans 6:23]. Imperfection, being the opposite of Life/God.

"But! The gift of God is eternal life in Jesus!" [Romans 6:23]. "Which works" (the rescue) "was finished from the foundation/creation of the world" [Hebrews 4:3].

Jesus said, "If I be lifted up from the earth" (on the cross) "I will draw all men to me" [John 12:32]. Another translation puts it like this - "And I" said Jesus, "when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”

1 Timothy 4:10 says "we trust in the living God! Who is the Savior of all men! Especially of those who believe." Another version says "who is Saviour of all men -- especially of those believing." God, our Father, is the savior of all.  -- Perfect (surely?) makes no mistakes. Can lose nothing.

"...He made known to us the mystery of his will, that when the times reach their fulfillment He might gather together all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth" [Ephesians 1:9,10]. "And through Jesus to reconcile all things to Himself, whether things on earth or things in heaven.." [Colossians 1:20].

"Behold," the Book of Revelation says "I make all things new.. the river of life from the throne, as clear as crystal.."

"He will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes between nations. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more. But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, with none troubling, for the Lord Almighty has spoken" [Micah 4:3,4]. "The cow and the bear shall graze, their young ones shall lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox" [Isaiah 11:7].

Christianity has been made up of human beings, and the gospel message has been passed down through human hands for nearly two thousand years. That the message has lost some of its glory, and picked up some baggage along the way, is not surprising. As the Gospel (Greek for "good news") has come to be preached and taught, it would seem one of two impossibilities would be true. God is not perfect, certainly not all powerful. Or, God is not all good. But some darkness resides within Him. (And thus He too misses the mark, and can only fade?)

Is it possible we have come to greatly underestimate Him? And His great plan (intent) of salvation and reconciliation (perfection)? "The grave" has been translated to read "hell". Which, surely, casts a great shadow upon His character. And contradicts both the good news and the Holy Bible. The "lower part of the earth" and "the place of the dead" is still the grave.

"Preaching via the Spirit to those awaiting the ark and flood", was in that day, not in a mythical, all hope is lost 'hell'. "These will be coming into eonian (agelasting) chastening/curtailing" has been translated into "these will go away into eternal punishment" [Matthew 25:46 ]. And the phrase "in the deepest depths of darkness, locked into judgment" also, does not equate to a lower chamber in 'hell'! A closer translation for judgment, would be "decision" (from the Greek word "krisis"). Even "Gehenna" the city dump has been translated to read 'hell'!

"All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will worship before Thee" Psalm 22:27.

"So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it" [Isaiah 55:11]. "I have sworn by Myself, the word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, and it turns not back, that to Me, every knee shall bow and every tongue swear" [Isaiah 45:23].

"‘As surely as I live' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me, every tongue will acknowledge God’” [Romans 14:11]. Ultimately, all humans will repent.. there may even "be weeping and gnashing of teeth" in "outer darkness" but if God says all will bend the knee and all families of the nations will worship (rejoice) before Him, who are we to contradict His Word. His Promise.

In 1 Corinthians 15:22-28, it says, "In Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order - Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ’s at His coming. Then (also) -- the end, when he hands over the kingdom to God the Father, having abolished all rule, authority and power.. and the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.. all things having been subdued unto him, that He may be (the) all in all".

From Revelation 21:1,4,5 - "There will be new heavens and a new Earth.. God shall wipe away all tears ...there shall be no more death. Behold, I make all things new."

"..Though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea.." [Psalm 46:2]. Even if man's world were to crash in an hour and fall in a day, "HIS kingdom will never end!" [Luke 1:33].

"We will not fear, for God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble" [Psalm 46:1].

Jesus said "Abide in me" [John 15:4] and “if you abide in My word, truly my disciples ye are, and ye shall know the truth" [John 8:31].

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.. We may come near, then, with freedom, to the throne of grace, that we may receive kindness, and find grace -- for seasonable help" [James 4:8; Hebrews 4;16] ..for the help and ongoing transformation we need.

"We shall be like Him" [1 John 3:2].

"For the fruit of the Spirit is: Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness (gentleness), faithfulness, humility, and self-control (temperance)" [Galatians 5:22,23].

"God is love" [1 John 4:8].
  

Are The Ancient Holy Days Of Israel The Salvation Plan Outline?

I've been thinking on this (and talking about it) for a long time. I'm so happy, finally the words have come together into some sort of cohesive sense [1 Corinthians 14:7,33]. I hope!

The ancient Holy Days of God (Leviticus 23:1-44) describe UR! Otherwise known as universal Reconciliation and Redemption [Jonah 2:9] Or CU Christian Universalism.
Each Holy Day represents Jesus (Messiah).
The Spring Holy Days:

[#1] He was and is the Passover (Lamb). [Leviticus 23:5, New King James Version - "On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the Lord’s Passover."

[#2] He is the Unleavened Bread. (The oven was "the grave").

[#3] After three nights and three days, "at even" as the weekly Sabbath day was ending...
        He is the "First Fruits unto God". [1 Corinthians 15:17,18 and 20] "First Fruits" is Thanksgiving for the entire (grain) harvest. [1 Corinthians 15:20,21,22]

Then fifty (pent) days later (was) the outpouring of the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of God, wholly dependent upon the first three Holy Days earlier in the season. [Leviticus 23:1-22, the Spring Holy Days [#1-4] fulfilled by Jesus, it would seem, as His First Advent.]

There were two harvests in the land. The fruit of the land harvest is in..

The Autumn Holy Days:

[A] On the first day of the seventh month [Leviticus 23:24].. a blowing of Trumpets (also called New Year's).

[B] 10 Days (1000 yrs?) Later, The Day Of Atonement (DOA) - "Any person who is not humbled in this same day, shall be cut off from among his people." [Leviticus 23:29] "I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it.. ..And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and scrolls were opened, and another scroll was opened, which is that of the life, and the dead were judged out of the things written in the scrolls. -- according to their works; and the sea did give up those dead in it, and the death and the hades did give up the dead in them, and they were judged, each one according to their works; and the death and the hades" (place of the dead, the grave) "were cast to the lake of the fire -- this [is] the second death; and" (then?) "if any one was not found written in the scroll of the life, he was cast to the lake of the fire." (Who's, not going to "believe" after having been resurrected, etc?) [Revelation 20:11-15] "Now when all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him who put all things under Him, that God may be all in all." [1 Corinthians 15:28]

[C] 5 Days (500 yrs?) Later, The Feast of Booths (or Tabernacles/Tents) - the joyful observance of the vintage and fruit harvest. "Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine." [Deuteronomy 16:13] "And you shall take for yourselves, on the first day, the fruit of beautiful trees, branches of palm trees, the boughs of leafy trees, and willows of the brook; and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days." [Leviticus 23:40]
   "..a statute forever..." [from Leviticus 23:41]
   "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth.. and..`Lo, the tabernacle of God [is] with men, and He will tabernacle with them, and they shall be His peoples, and God Himself shall be with them" [Revelation 21:1-3]
   "And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left of all the nations which came against Jerusalem shall even go up from year to year to worship the King, the Lord of hosts, and to keep the feast of tabernacles." [Zechariah 14:16]

"..I will set My sanctuary in their midst forevermore. My tabernacle or dwelling place also shall be with them; indeed I will be their God, and they shall be My people." [Ezekiel 37:26c,27]
The Fall Holy Days, A-C, fulfilled by Jesus' long 2nd advent, like His 1st fulfilled the Spring Holy Days.

In the middle of writing this, I found myself thinking about Ultimate Reality, God's blueprint, how things will be after all is accomplished. In my mind's eye I saw the family I married into blending with, becoming family, with the one I was born into. (Barely at all have the two met.) Now this may seem obvious, but I don't remember ever realizing it to this degree before. It started when I found myself thinking of my mother in law, who passed away a little over thirty years ago. I thought if my family likes my husband, which they do, they will just love.. my mother in law. Then in my imagination I started to think of some dear aunts.. and sisters in law. Brothers, sisters, cousins.. And so on... all the beautiful branches of families and races, all God's family.. All safe. All beloved of God.

What Am I Saved From?

I am saved from the potential of every imperfect way. And from myself! I am the beast! I am the harlot! Metaphorically speaking, that is. From where do the beast and the harlot come? They spring forth from mankind. And I'm saved from annihilation. "The wages" (result) "of sin" (imperfection) "is death"/nonlife. For God is both Life (and Perfection). Surely?!

Okay This Is Weird

I was born on 05/05/55. So people tell me I should play the lottery using fives, especially "55". I never have. But here's a weird thing. I've become convinced that Daniel chapter 12, verse 11, is prophecy that Jerusalem's "Wailing" or "Western Wall" where prayers are offered daily, will be in some way taken away or removed. And is a sign.

I think most Bible prophecy buffs and scholars believe verse eleven refers to a third temple and its sacrifices being terminated. (This of course might make verse eleven an even later date to take note of, than one if the "Wailing Wall" is demolished.)

In Matthew chapter 24, the first two verses, the disciples were praising and saying to Jesus how magnificent the temple and temple complex was.

But Jesus said, "See all these? Not one stone shall remain atop another." I do not believe this has been (fully) fulfilled yet. The "western" section of the "wall" remains standing, after the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem which occurred in 70 a.d.

Daniel 12, eleven and twelve, read "From the time the daily sacrifice" (or place of daily sacrifices of prayer and praise?) "is removed, and the abomination which makes desolate" (666?) "is set-up, shall be 1,290 days" (three 30 day month years, plus seven months; or, that is, 43 Hebrew thirty day months). "Blessed is the one who waits and comes to 1,335 days" (forty five days later).

I have of course, been praying to know if how I'm reading this is accurate or not accurate. (That the 666 apparatus will be set up 3.5 years, plus one month after Israel's Wailing Wall is removed, taken away or destroyed. And will hum along for 45 days.) I don't want to pass along something which is not true.

The weird thing? To me, anyway? Today I learned that in 1967, the Israeli paratrooper brigade which liberated Jerusalem, finding themselves at the sacred Western Wall, was brigade No. 55.

Note - it's hard for "one" to "wait and come to" 1,335 years, which is how it is most often interpreted. (Just because 3.5 is used elsewhere.)

 Whatever that sign is, of verse 11, I think it's important to take note of.

(I also posted this on my other blog - Bible Prophecy For Today )