I don't generally like religious or political discussions, for several reasons.
Number one. I'm chicken.
Number two. I don't know enough to be able to discuss anything accurately.
Number three. The truth is never simple. If you try to condense something into something simple, it isn't the whole truth, therefore every conversation and every debate is limited as to the amount of truth it can hold, and unlimited as to the amount of untruth and misunderstandings there can be.
Number four. I can't stand it when people interrupt each other.
Number five. You might be right.
Number five and a half. I might be right and you won't get it.
Number six. I'm really desperately hungry/thirsty/tired and I just can't keep up with you all.
That said, I have to comment on the differing estimations people have of the Bible. Some don't receive the New Testament. Some receive the Tanach as a holy book, but they count the Torah as more inspired than the Writings and the Prophets. Then there are some who seem to respect the Tanach as a somewhat holy book, but not actually inspired, and maybe full of fables.
How can you have a religion without an inspired book? I suppose that would mean that God hasn't really revealed himself with any amount of clearness, so a) we have to guess, b) we have the ability to guess, and c) it's not so important that guessing isn't good enough.
But, since I do believe the whole Bible, Tanach and NT, is inspired, and that man can't find God without the word, and that it's really important to know what God wants us to know, I like to know what it says.
And if you read what it says about itself, and all the promises it has for anyone who needs anything, it sounds like something that would be good to base your whole life on.
Luk 4:4 And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God. (also Deut 8:3)
Isa 66:2 For all those [things] hath mine hand made, and all those [things] have been, saith the LORD: but to this [man] will I look, [even] to [him that is] poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word.
Isa 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper [in the thing] whereto I sent it.
John 20:31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
Hbr 4:12 For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
April 21, 2012
April 19, 2012
Past Pesach
I have let Pesach go by without commenting. It's hard to know what to say. It's a nice holiday in a way. I attended a Christian Pesach, if that makes any sense. They explained some of the Jewish traditions and compared them with the Christian view. I'm not trying to mix Judaism with Christianity, just trying to be aware of what is going on.
Jeremiah 16:14-15 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.
Jeremiah 16:14-15 Therefore, behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that it shall no more be said, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt; But, The LORD liveth, that brought up the children of Israel from the land of the north, and from all the lands whither he had driven them: and I will bring them again into their land that I gave unto their fathers.
April 17, 2012
Neglect
Just one example of neglect in Jerusalem.
A nice dark lily amid some of the worst stinging nettles I have ever touched.
A nice dark lily amid some of the worst stinging nettles I have ever touched.
Prickle Where You're Planted; or Chirp Lest You Prickle
Why am I not happy? The smallest, tiniest things make me happy, so why can I not just look for and think about those tiny things? The problem must be simply that there is noone to share them with. So I will share one of them with you, whoever you are.
Today I saw an interesting and impressive sight. It will be hard describe if you've never wandered along residential areas in Jerusalem, but I'll try.
Everything is on a hill. Actually, multiple hills. Everything is sort of dusty and neglected looking. But there are lots of plants. Neglected-looking plants, but someone at one time, for a time, put a little bit of effort to plant things. After that they walked away and left it all to chance.
Diverging a bit, interesting things happen when things are left to chance. My favorite almond tree died completely. A bougainvillea that was left alone climbed up a tree as tall as a three-story building. Hard on the tree, but the bougainvillea was glorious. Then it died. Or maybe someone cut it at the base to save the tree. I'll have to go back and look at the tree and see how it's doing. Now a nice dark-red-leaved bush with small clumps of tiny gold flowers is dying. I don't know what is needed to save it. A small shamrock has survived for over two years in a hollow between three rocks. In dry weather it disappears for several months, and then comes back again.
But what I saw today was some interesting and impressive cactus plants. I was passing a building that was a half-story down from the road I was walking on. Down on the patio I could see lots of plants that probably haven't had any special attention for years and years. On the patio, next to the sidewalk I was on, were a few cement posts that reached almost to the level of the sidewalk, and there were half-gallon pots on the posts containing huge-huge cactus plants. One cactus plant, in its half-gallon pot, had a thorny trunk about three inches thick at the base, and was about 15 feet high with several branches. I don't know what kept it from tipping over or cracking the pot. All together the cacti and other plants created a wild and wicked-looking hedge-canopy around the patio.
I don't love cactus plants. But I respect and admire them. Even the most harmless-appearing ones are very capable of shooting hair-like barbs at me whenever I pass within three feet of them.
On a less prickly subject, I have recently heard a very loud bird chirping musically overhead. It would have to be some sort of parrot, but not squawky like a parrot, -- something tropical and exotic.
Now that I'm done talking about prickles, I think I'll go eat some pickles--a good change from chocolate. Hmmm. Chocolate-covered pickles?
Today I saw an interesting and impressive sight. It will be hard describe if you've never wandered along residential areas in Jerusalem, but I'll try.
Everything is on a hill. Actually, multiple hills. Everything is sort of dusty and neglected looking. But there are lots of plants. Neglected-looking plants, but someone at one time, for a time, put a little bit of effort to plant things. After that they walked away and left it all to chance.
Diverging a bit, interesting things happen when things are left to chance. My favorite almond tree died completely. A bougainvillea that was left alone climbed up a tree as tall as a three-story building. Hard on the tree, but the bougainvillea was glorious. Then it died. Or maybe someone cut it at the base to save the tree. I'll have to go back and look at the tree and see how it's doing. Now a nice dark-red-leaved bush with small clumps of tiny gold flowers is dying. I don't know what is needed to save it. A small shamrock has survived for over two years in a hollow between three rocks. In dry weather it disappears for several months, and then comes back again.
But what I saw today was some interesting and impressive cactus plants. I was passing a building that was a half-story down from the road I was walking on. Down on the patio I could see lots of plants that probably haven't had any special attention for years and years. On the patio, next to the sidewalk I was on, were a few cement posts that reached almost to the level of the sidewalk, and there were half-gallon pots on the posts containing huge-huge cactus plants. One cactus plant, in its half-gallon pot, had a thorny trunk about three inches thick at the base, and was about 15 feet high with several branches. I don't know what kept it from tipping over or cracking the pot. All together the cacti and other plants created a wild and wicked-looking hedge-canopy around the patio.
I don't love cactus plants. But I respect and admire them. Even the most harmless-appearing ones are very capable of shooting hair-like barbs at me whenever I pass within three feet of them.
On a less prickly subject, I have recently heard a very loud bird chirping musically overhead. It would have to be some sort of parrot, but not squawky like a parrot, -- something tropical and exotic.
Now that I'm done talking about prickles, I think I'll go eat some pickles--a good change from chocolate. Hmmm. Chocolate-covered pickles?
April 15, 2012
Question One Heidelberg
Q. What is your only comfort in life and in death? A. That I am not my own, but belong--body and soul, in life and in death--to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.
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