All posts by AttilaDimedici

Daily Bible Study

November 14, 2012 Bible Study

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them. I am back to a routine. It is not the same as my old routine, but I think it will work out well. I hope that the Spirit is moving in others through these posts as the Spirit has definitely been convicting me.

Magrat Watches Falling Leaves

Ezekiel 29-30:26

     Ezekiel follows up his prophecy against Tyre with a prophecy against Egypt. He prophesies that Nebuchadnezzar will destroy Egypt’s armies and those of its allies. Nebuchadnezzar will plunder the land of Egypt and leave the land desolate. This prophecy aligns with a similar one from Jeremiah. Ezekiel tells Egypt that this destruction will happen partly because of Egypt’s pride, the belief of the Egyptians that they had manufactured the wealth they obtained from the Nile River. Ezekiel also says that the destruction of Egypt would happen because they promised support to Jerusalem that they did not deliver. For these two sins, God was bringing destruction on Egypt. Is this prophecy something the United States should take a warning from? Do we believe that we are the source of our wealth? Do we believe that our government is the source of our wealth? Or, do we recognize that God is the source of our wealth?

Deep Creek Lake Riparian Zone

Hebrews 11:32-12:13

     The writer continues his litany of Old Testament saints who lived by faith, recounting how they performed many powerful deeds through the power of the Spirit and by holding fast to faith in the promises of God. Yet, he also recounts how some suffered for their faith, unwilling to turn from serving God even though their fellow-man tortured and killed them. He concludes that since we are surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses to our actions, we should exercise a similar faith. We should seek to serve God in the same manner that a marathon runner runs a race, casting aside anything that might slow us down or impede our service to God. We must continue in our faith, remembering that there will come a time in our life when we will hit something similar to what many marathon runners call “the wall,” a place where everything seems to conspire against us, where we want to just give up. Marathoners have all sorts of methods to overcome “the wall,” but the writer tells us the sure way to overcome the spiritual “wall”, keep our eyes focused on Christ. He is our champion and demonstrates the joy and rewards for persevering in our faith. He also shows us the challenges and obstacles that will be in front of us as we run this race. No matter how difficult we see our lives of faith, we must remember that He suffered even more.
     Further the writer tells us that we will experience God’s discipline as He strives to teach us to live more faithful lives. We should expect discipline from God, because every loving father disciplines his children. If we did not receive discipline from God it would indicate that we were illegitimate children rather than true members of His family. We respect earthly fathers who discipline their children, so we should even more submit to the discipline of our heavenly Father, who disciplines us in order that we might live forever. We must remember that discipline is never pleasant while we are experiencing it, but after the lesson of the discipline has been learned the one who was disciplined will experience greater peace and joy. In light of all of this, we should take a new grip on our faith with our tired hands and strive to make a straight path for our feet, not only for ourselves but for those whose faith is weak and lame so that they may be strengthened.

Deep Creek Dam

Psalm 112:1-10

     Let us praise the Lord. Those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying His commands do not fear bad news because they know that the Lord will care for them. Their light will shine in the darkness and they will not be overcome with evil. They are confident and fearless. They face their foes in confidence of victory. They share freely and give generously to those in need. The confidence and generosity with which the righteous lead their lives causes the plans of the wicked to be thwarted and infuriates the wicked. In these troubled economic times we must remember that good comes to those who conduct their business fairly and lend money generously.

Deep Creek Lake

Proverbs 27:17

     Today’s proverb reminds us that a true friend helps one to improve oneself, even though that sometimes requires a bit of abrasion. Let us sharpen our brothers and sisters in the Lord as they sharpen us in our service to the Lord.

Daily Bible Study

November 13, 2012 Bible Study

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them. I am back to a routine. It is not the same as my old routine, but I think it will work out well. I hope that the Spirit is moving in others through these posts as the Spirit has definitely been convicting me.

Deep Creek Lake Riparian Zone

Ezekiel 27-28:26

     After giving prophecies to each of Judah’s neighbors telling them how the fall of Jerusalem will spill over on to them, Ezekiel gives an extended prophecy concerning Tyre. He talks about Tyre’s wealth and its trading empire. Reading this prophecy, I can easily fit the United States into his description of Tyre. He talks about how Tyre built up its riches by wisdom, honest dealing and honoring God. Then he tells them that their riches and successful commerce led them to sin. This, also sounds like the United States to me. Ezekiel was prophesying that it was too late for Tyre, God’s judgment was going to fall on them and it could not be turned aside. Let us pray that such is not the case for the United States. Perhaps if those of us who strive to serve the Lord, stand in the gap and call on our countrymen to turn to God, there will still be time. Let us call on the Spirit of God to strike the hearts of our neighbors and convict them to turn from their sins. Even if it is too late to turn aside God’s judgment, perhaps some of our neighbors can yet be saved, if only we will be faithful and point them to the living God.

Deep Creek Riparian Zone #2

Hebrews 11:17-31

     The writer recounts how Abraham acted by faith by taking Isaac to sacrifice him to God, even though God had told Abraham that it was through Isaac that the descendants God had promised Abraham would come. Abraham had faith that God would and could honor His promises even if Abraham sacrificed Isaac. God showed Abraham that He would indeed honor His promises by providing a substitute for Isaac. The writer goes on to tell us that Isaac, Jacob and Joseph acted by faith. Joseph had such faith that God would lead the children of Israel out of Egypt in the future that he commanded that they take his bones with them when they left. It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him to save him from Pharaoh’s decree.
     It was by faith that Moses rejected the privilege of being the son of Pharaoh’s daughter and chose instead to be share the oppression of God’s people. Are we willing to reject the pleasures of sin that our culture offers and accept the scorn and ridicule (and perhaps persecution) that it heaps upon those who choose to follow God? Do we have the faith to approach an obstacle like the Red Sea believing that God will move it aside so that we can walk through on dry ground? Do we have the faith to do something like march around the city of Jericho for seven days praising God? Even when such action makes no sense as a means to our goals? Do we have the faith of Rahab to protect a servant of God when our neighbors are seeking to destroy them? Are we willing to stand with the people of God against the animosity of our friends and neighbors?
     Do we have faith to stand in the gap?

Deep Creek Riparian Zone #3

Psalm 111:1-10

     Let us praise the Lord. I thank the Lord every time I meet with His godly people, or at least I try to. Let us trust in the Lord and know that He is good. He provides for those who love and serve Him. His commands are trustworthy and forever true. Let us obey Him faithfully and with integrity. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. IF we follow His commands we will grow in wisdom from this beginning point. Do you wonder why you are not growing in wisdom? Perhaps it is because you are not following what the Lord has revealed to you that He wants you to do. I know that this happens to me from time to time. Or perhaps you have forgotten how fear inspiring the presence of the Holy God can be.

Deep Creek Riparian Zone #4

Proverbs 27:15-16

     Today’s proverb tells us that a quarrelsome wife is as annoying as a constant dripping. The fact of the matter is that this is true of anyone who complains incessantly. Be aware of this and don’t be a someone who is always complaining.

Daily Bible Study

November 12, 2012 Bible Study

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them. I am sorry if my posts are not posted in a timely fashion for the next little while. OK, I have my power back, and I have my Internet back. I was just getting into a new routine and I think I am going to keep some aspects of that new routine. I hope that no one was too disappointed in my posts for the last week or so (or at least no more than they are routinely disappointed by my posts).

Deep Creek Dam

Ezekiel 24-26:21

     Ezekiel uses a metaphor of a cooking pot that is full of corruption where the meat is boiled in the pot so that it all comes out the same. It does not matter if you pull out the choicest cut or most vile, it will taste the same. I am not sure what point Ezekiel was making here, but to me this follows on the point I made yesterday. In this country too many of us are unwilling to inconvenience ourselves by not shopping on Sunday. Ultimately this may be just as much idolatry as those who abort their babies because those babies would be inconvenient. I pray to God that the corruption in this country has not yet reached the point where it cannot be cleaned out and God has no choice but to throw the whole pot and its contents on to the fire for destruction. Will we, those of us who call ourselves servants of Christ, stand in the gap as we work to rebuild the wall of righteousness? Or will we continue to rely on the government to fix it, so that we don’t need to be inconvenienced?
     Before I comment on what the next portion says to me, let me be clear that I do not see the United States as the successor to Israel (or Judah) as God’s chosen nation. That being said, I think that this next section has relevance today to those in other nations who rejoice in the thought of seeing the United States brought low. Ezekiel prophesied that the destruction of Jerusalem would spill over on to the surrounding nations. They would also suffer destruction. Those in other nations should not rejoice in God’s judgment being poured out on the United States in destruction because that destruction will spill out on to the whole earth. I cannot truly speak of those who live in other nations, but my perception is that they also worship the same idols that I see being worshiped in the United States. Wherever we who call on the name of the Lord and claim to be servants of Christ live, we need to stand in the gap and work to rebuild the wall of righteousness before God’s righteous judgment comes down on the whole earth.

God’s Paint-By-Numbers, Green Lane Edition #325

Hebrews 11:1-16

     Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about things that we cannot see. It is by faith that we believe that God created the universe. None of us were there to see how it happened. Some people are unwilling to have faith in anything other than what they can see, touch, hear or feel. They struggle because their logic and a study of those things tell them that at one point the universe began out of nothing, the Big Bang. They struggle to develop a theory that something existed before that beginning, but nothing they can see, touch, hear or feel provides evidence to support such theories. As a Christian, I am content to believe by faith that God created the universe out of nothing.
     The writer discusses various patriarchs (and one matriarch) of faith and what lessons we can learn from them. He mentions Enoch who by faith walked with God and was taken up into heaven without dying. Before he was taken up Enoch was known as a man who pleased God. The writer tells us that it is impossible to please God without faith. He tells us that in order to come to God, we must believe that God exists. I will tell you that if you have trouble knowing if God exists, if you are struggling with knowing if He is real, resolve to live your life for the next period of time (I would recommend at least a year) as if you believe that He is. Make the choices you would make if you were 100 percent sure that God was real. I am confident that God will show you that He is indeed real if you take that step of faith.
     The writer goes on to talk of Noah, Abraham and Sara. He tells us that they died believing what God had promised them even though they did not see it. They lived their lives on this earth as nomads and foreigners, looking forward to a country of their own. They could have gone back to the country they came from, but they were looking for a better place, a heavenly home. Because they had this faith that God was preparing such a place for them, God is not ashamed to be called their God. Do we see this earth and the nation we are currently living in as a place that we are just passing through? Or are we caught up in making the place where we are more comfortable?

God’s Paint-By-Numbers, Earth, Sky And Water Edition #301

Psalm 110:1-7

     All who stand against Christ will be humbled and made as a footstool beneath His feet. Let us bow down before Him willingly and serve Him, our High Priest.

God’s Paint-By-Numbers, Earth and Water Edition #307

Proverbs 27:14

     The writer of this proverb suggests that many people are not morning persons and that if you are, you should be sensitive to this fact.

Daily Bible Study

November 11, 2012 Bible Study

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them. I am sorry if my posts are not posted in a timely fashion for the next little while. OK, I have my power back, and I have my Internet back. I was just getting into a new routine and I think I am going to keep some aspects of that new routine. I hope that no one was too disappointed in my posts for the last week or so (or at least no more than they are routinely disappointed by my posts).

Riparian Zone on Deep Creek

Ezekiel 23:1-49

     Ezekiel compares Israel and Judah to two sisters who prostituted themselves even though they were married. God had made a covenant with them, but they broke it. They lusted after the power and protection of foreign powers. They worshiped the gods of those powers and failed to keep God’s commands. They sacrificed their children and violated the Sabbath. Repeatedly Ezekiel brings up the sacrifice of their children. As if to say, how could you not know that you were doing wrong in your idolatry when it led you to murder your own children? Do we today see the connection between how we fail to keep a day set aside for God and abortion? We as Christians in America have little by little allowed ourselves to give up the standards that God sets forth in the name of convenience or not standing out. I am as guilty of it as the next person. We say, “Shopping on Sunday isn’t as bad as abortion.” While that is true, is not shopping on Sunday a case of us putting our priorities ahead of God’s? I am not going to tell you that shopping on Sunday is always wrong, but when we do it because it is more convenient, are we not worshiping our convenience when we should be worshiping God. I am not getting the words to come out quite right, but I think you can see where I am going.

Red On Green and It’s Not Even Christmas Yet

Hebrews 10:18-39

     We need not fear entering into God’s presence because Jesus has once and for all opened the way into the Most Holy Place of God’s presence. We can go into the presence of God trusting in Jesus to be our intermediary. Our spirits have been washed with Christ’s blood and our bodies have been washed with the water of baptism, so now we are clean before God.
     There is a short instruction here that I want to make note of. “And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do,…” From time to time, I come across a post from someone who says that they do not need Church. This passage says they are wrong. Of course, Church is not necessarily a group that meets in a building dedicated to “Church”, or even a formal group (although it is close to the latter). Church is the Body of believers. So, it is doing Church if there is a group of fellow Christians that you meet with on a regular (weekly?) basis to talk about your faith walk and worship God. What is the context of the verse I quoted above? We are to think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. We are to encourage one another in these end times. If we are part of a body that does these things, a body of believers that meet on a regular basis, we are following the instructions the writer gives us here.
     We have been forgiven through grace, but this is not license for us to continue to sin deliberately. The key word is deliberately. Let us remember how we felt when we first came to know the Lord. Let us strive to serve Him with the same enthusiasm we had at that point. If we do this, the temptations to sin will be farther from us and the Spirit will show us how to be more faithful.

God’s Paint-By-Numbers Earth And Sky Edition #269

Psalm 109:1-31

     Let us not fear when evil people slander us. God will defend us against those who attack us for no reason except for our love of God. Trust that God will care for us when people repay our acts of good with evil, when those we love hate us. We must place our trust in God when people tell lies about us in response to our praying for them. The things the psalmist talks about will happen to us. Those who do not wish to follow the Lord will tell such lies about us. Let us be faithful to the Lord so that these things are lies.

God’s Paint-By-Numbers Earth, Sky and Water #270

Proverbs 27:13

     Someone who is willing to guarantee a stranger’s debt is a bad risk, doubly so if they are willing to guarantee the debt of a promiscuous woman. These things are not bad in and of themselves, but they suggest poor judgment.

Daily Bible Study

November 10, 2012 Bible Study

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them. I am sorry if my posts are not posted in a timely fashion for the next little while. OK, I have my power back, and I have my Internet back. I was just getting into a new routine and I think I am going to keep some aspects of that new routine. I hope that no one was too disappointed in my posts for the last week or so (or at least no more than they are routinely disappointed by my posts).

Display at Ott’s
copyright Richard Moyer, used with permission

Ezekiel 21-22:31

     Ezekiel told of the judgment that God was about to bring against Jerusalem. God was bringing the sword against everyone in the land. Destruction was about to come upon Jerusalem. Ezekiel told them that they were receiving this judgment because of the blood they had shed and the idols they had built and worshiped. He tells of how the people have committed idolatry and other sins without even giving a thought to God’s commands. God has reached His limit over their dishonest profit and bloodshed. Notice, the condemnation is not for profit, but for dishonest profit. This is not a condemnation of people because they are rich. It is a condemnation of people who have become rich through dishonesty and corruption. God said that He was going to put the people of Jerusalem in a furnace to separate out the precious metal in their souls from the worthless slag.
     Ezekiel told them that God was condemning them because their political leaders used their power to extract wealth for themselves rather than for the betterment of the people and their religious leaders made no distinction between what was holy and what was defiled. The political leaders destroyed people’s lives for money. The religious leaders covered up for the political leaders by preaching false messages. Even the common people oppressed the poor and robbed from the needy. This sounds much like our world today. Everyone is out for their own interests, from the rich to the poor. The rich and powerful use their political connections to loot from the public treasury. On the other hand, the poor take advantage of natural disasters to loot.
     God told Ezekiel that He looked for someone to rebuild the wall of righteousness that guards the land. Someone to stand in the gap. But He found no one. Will He say the same of us today? Are we willing to work to rebuild the wall of righteousness that has guarded our land? Will we stand in the gap? Will we pray for our neighbors and help the needy? Or are we too busy trying to coerce people to do what we think is right to take the time to DO what is right? Forgive me Lord for my failure to be as faithful as I should. Give me the strength to stand in the gap. Let your wrath fall on me not on those who have not heard your word because I have failed to preach it.

Display at Ott’s
copyright Richard Moyer, used with permission

Hebrews 10:1-17

     The whole system under the law of Moses was a dim preview of what was to come. The sacrifices were repeated again and again because they could not provide perfect cleansing from sin. They reminded us again and again of how far we fall short of the righteousness of God. Instead Jesus has offered Himself once for all time as a sacrifice to make perfect those who are being made holy. Through Christ’s sacrifice God writes His Laws in our hearts and on our minds. God promises that He will not remember our sins and transgressions. Now all we have to do is accept that Christ will stand in our place and provide us with the righteousness that we lack. It is our memory of our sins that prevents us from standing before God. Christ has provided us with covering for our sins in the same way that God provided Adam and Eve with clothes made from animal skins after they first sinned. We do not have to stand naked before God, we can stand clothed in Christ’s righteousness.

A Rose for Sandy

Psalm 108:1-13

     My heart is confident in God. I can sing His praises with all of my heart, why don’t I do so more? God will be exalted above the highest heavens and His glory will shine throughout the earth. Human help is useless, only with God’s help will we do mighty things. Let us cry out to the Lord when trouble faces us, He will answer and save us. I want to thank God before all people and sing His praises before all the nations. No matter how dark the day may seem, I know that God’s light shines forth and I will praise Him for His faithfulness. None can stand against those who serve on God’s side.

Any Port in a Storm

Proverbs 27:12

     A prudent person plans for upcoming dangers. All too often I have taken the path of the simpleton and not planned ahead. God help me to plan for the dangers I foresee ahead.

Daily Bible Study

November 9, 2012 Bible Study

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them. I am sorry if my posts are not posted in a timely fashion for the next little while. Well, I have my power back, but I am still not able to get online in my normal routine because my Internet service has not been restored. I am able to post by using either the Internet at a friend’s house or by going to someplace that has free Wifi access. I am going to try to get something closer to my normal routine by writing down the passages for the next day and writing the blog offline. In addition, I usually compose these on my desktop PC and typing them on my laptop is a different experience. Please bear with me until I get back into my usual routine.

God’s Paint-By-Numbers Earth And Sky #298

Ezekiel 20:1-49

     Leaders of the people of Israel in exile came to Ezekiel seeking a message from the Lord. Ezekiel condemns them telling them that the people of Israel have turned from God to worship idols generation after generation. They continued to turn to the idols of those around them, refusing to follow the Lord’s commands. They refused to follow the Lord’s commands even though those commands led to long life and happiness. Time and again God made plans to destroy them, but held back in order to glorify His name throughout the earth. Time and again the people of Israel turned back to idols as soon as the crisis was past and sacrificed their children in the fire. Ezekiel tells the leaders who came to him that they were still worshiping idols, they were still offering their children to the fire.
     Ezekiel tells them to go right ahead and continue to worship the idols and offer their children as sacrifices to those idols, but sooner or later, they would turn to God and obey Him. When God brings them back to Him, they will be ashamed of their sinful ways and hate themselves for the evil they have done. As I have read the book of Ezekiel, and to some degree the books of Isaiah and Jeremiah before it, I cannot help but see the way that our culture practices abortion in the same light as the child sacrifice that Ezekiel condemns. The one thing I am seeing is that the child sacrifice, and abortion today, were not so much the terrible sin as it was a symptom of the terrible sin. Abortion is a sin, but stopping abortion would not stop the sin that is at the root. The root sin is idolatry. It is the worship of self and selfish desires. We do not need to change the laws on abortion if we change the attitudes of those who have abortion and promote abortion. Let us as Christians stop trying to fix the country by changing the political situation and focus on bringing individuals to know and follow the Lord. If we seek first the Kingdom of God, all these other things will follow. Christ’s Kingdom is not of this world, let us stop acting if this world is our kingdom.

Amphitheater By the Lake

Hebrews 9:11-28

     Christ has become the High Priest over all good things. He has entered into the perfect Tabernacle that is in Heaven. A tabernacle not made with human hands and not part of this created world. He entered, not by the blood of goats and calves, but once, for all time, by His own blood so that our redemption might be secured forever. By His own blood Christ has become the mediator between God and man under the new covenant. He set us free from the penalty for the sins we committed under the old covenant so that now we can receive the inheritance of eternal life.
     Christ did not enter the heavenly tabernacle to offer Himself again and again, as was done with the sacrifices in the earthly tabernacle. Instead He has offered Himself once for all time with His death on the cross. By doing so, He has removed sin from all who accept His sacrifice on their behalf.
     I could be wrong, but in the author’s emphasis on the fact that Christ died once for all time I see a refutation of those who might have wanted to attach the Easter story to the Spring rebirth myths of various pagan mythologies wherein some god, or goddess, dies each year (either figuratively by going to the Kingdom of the dead, or literally) and then is reborn/resurrected. I think in this emphasis the author was saying that the story of Christ is not part of the Cycle of Life or connected to the cycle of seasons, which it would very readily lend itself to.

God’s Paint-By-Numbers, Green Lane #309

Psalm 107:1-43

     I will definitely give thanks to the Lord for He is good. He has redeemed me and I will speak out. Some were lost and homeless, suffering from hunger and thirst. When they cried out to the Lord for help He answered. That was not me. Some sat in darkness and gloom, rejecting the Word of God. God broke them by showing them the hard work of this life when nothing means anything. When they cried out to the Lord, He heard them and showed them joy. I am not sure that my experience fits what the psalmist is talking about here, but those words describe what I experienced. I struggled to know whether or not God was real. I could find nothing to satisfy my logic and I cried out to the Lord to show me the evidence. He told me, “Have faith.” That wasn’t what I wanted to hear, so I looked for something more. As time went by I became more and more depressed. If there was no God, what was the point. Life is hard work and I am lazy. The only thing that kept me from suicide was the pain it would have caused my mother. Once more I cried out to the Lord, “Show me that you are real.” Again He replied, “Have faith in Me. What do you have to lose?” This time I got it. I said to myself, “Life without God is intolerable. I cannot go on living if there is no God. I will live my life from here forward as if He is real and has revealed His will in the Bible.” Soon after things began to happen that proved to me that God is real. Now, I know that God is real and that the Bible is His revelation of how He wants us to live. Since that decision to have faith the proof has come, but the faith came first.

God’s Paint-By-Numbers Earth And Sky #310

Proverbs 27:11

     Exercise wisdom and make your parents proud.

Daily Bible Study

November 8, 2012 Bible Study

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them. I am sorry if my posts are not posted in a timely fashion for the next little while. Well, I have my power back, but I am still not able to get online in my normal routine because my Internet service has not been restored. I am able to post by using either the Internet at a friend’s house or by going to someplace that has free Wifi access. I am going to try to get something closer to my normal routine by writing down the passages for the next day and writing the blog offline. In addition, I usually compose these on my desktop PC and typing them on my laptop is a different experience. Please bear with me until I get back into my usual routine.

God’s Paint-By-Numbers Earth and Sky #277

Ezekiel 18:1-19:14

     No longer will it be said that sons will be judged for their fathers’ sins. God will judge each person according to their acts. If someone lives a sinful life, God will judge them accordingly. If their child lives a righteous life, God will reward them, regardless of their parent’s sinfulness. Further if someone is leading a sinful life and repents, turns from their sinful life and leads a righteous life, God will withhold judgment and reward them. On the other hand if someone who has been leading a righteous life turns to sin, God will punish them for their sins.

God’s Paint-By-Numbers Earth and Sky #278

Hebrews 9:1-10

     The earthly tabernacle was divided into two parts, the outer tabernacle and the inner Holy of Holies. The priests went in and out of the outer tabernacle all of the time to perform the various acts of worship. But the inner tabernacle was only entered by the high priest once a year and then only with a sacrifice of blood. This was a symbol of the fact that the way into God’s presence had not yet been disclosed. The sacrifices offered in the earthly tabernacle were unable to perfect the worshiper since they were only sacrifices concerning the body.

Canoes on the Shore

Psalm 106:32-48

     When the people of Israel entered into the Promised Land, they continued to sin against God despite all He had done for them. Rather than keep themselves pure and follow His commands, they adopted the practices of the people in the land. They sacrificed their sons and daughters to the idols, shedding innocent blood in their pursuit of other gods. God grew angry with them and gave them into the hands of their enemies. Yet, when they cried out to Him, He delivered them. Even so, they did not turn from their evil ways, instead returning to their idolatry and sin as soon as the crisis was past. When I read passages about how the people of Israel turned to idolatry and sacrificed their children, I cannot help but think of our society today. How we as a nation embrace the pursuit of pleasure over all else. How people are encouraged to pursue selfish pleasures at the expense of relationships. And yes, how we as a society encourage women to sacrifice their own children on the altar of pleasure in the form of having an abortion if bringing the child to term might be inconvenient for her or the man who fathered it. It is not enough to oppose abortion, we must oppose the idolatry of selfish pleasure that is behind it.

God’s Paint-By-Numbers Earth and Sky #287

Proverbs 27:7-9

     I see that yesterday I did today’s proverb. So, today, I will do yesterday’s. Someone who is full does not enjoy even the sweetest food, but to someone who is famished even bitter foods are sweet. A pleasant scent makes us glad. In the same way, advice from someone who wishes us well is welcomed.

Daily Bible Study

November 7, 2012 Bible Study

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them. I am sorry if my posts are not posted in a timely fashion for the next little while. Well, I have my power back, but I am still not able to get online in my normal routine because my Internet service has not been restored. I am able to post by using either the Internet at a friend’s house or by going to someplace that has free Wifi access. I am going to try to get something closer to my normal routine by writing down the passages for the next day and writing the blog offline. In addition, I usually compose these on my desktop PC and typing them on my laptop is a different experience. Please bear with me until I get back into my usual routine.

The Bunny Who Shared His Home With Us for a Few Days

Ezekiel 16:42-17:24

     Ezekiel declared that Jerusalem has been worse than her sisters, Samaria and Sodom. He said that Sodom’s sin was that she was arrogant, had abundant food, and careless ease, but she did not care for the poor and needy. Yet the people of Jerusalem were guilty of the same sins and even greater abominations. God destroyed both Sodom and Samaria for their sins. Yet Jerusalem made both appear righteous by comparison. Are we today guilty of the same sins as Sodom? God has provided for my every need, and most of my wants, yet I do not do as much as I should to help the poor and needy. God, I ask that your give me the self-discipline to husband my resources so that I can do more for those in need. Show me how I can be of more service to others.
      Ezekiel said that God would destroy Jerusalem for her sins, just as he had destroyed Sodom and Samaria. But God would also restore her. God would make a new covenant with the people, so that they might remember Him and follow His ways.
     Ezekiel then condemns Zedekiah. The king of Babylon had put Zedekiah on the throne of Jerusalem and Zedekiah had sworn an oath of fealty to Babylon. But Zedekiah broke his oath and turned to Egypt for support. Ezekiel declared that God will bring Jerusalem down because of Zedekiah’s unfaithfulness, his oath-breaking.
     Ezekiel then said that God would take a sprig from a tall tree in Lebanon and plant it in Israel. This sprig would grow to greatness and all the birds of the field would shelter under it. Thus everyone would know that God is Lord, when He brings the mighty low and lifts the weak to positions of prominence.

Down By The Lake

Hebrews 8:1-13

     Jesus is our high priest and mediator with God. He serves in the true tabernacle set up by God, not by man. He serves not in the earthly tabernacle, but in the heavenly one of which the earthly tabernacle is but a copy. God has set up a new covenant with people, a covenant that is served out of the heavenly tabernacle as the first covenant was served out of the earthly tabernacle. If salvation could have been obtained through the first covenant, there would have been no need for a new covenant. Yet while the first covenant was in force, God spoke through the prophets of the new covenant He was going to enter into. God has now written His Laws into our minds and His words in our hearts. We no longer need earthly priests and prophets to tell us the will of God, we can access His word and His will for ourselves. If we accept this offer He will be merciful and forgive our iniquities and remember our sins no more.

Magrat Chases a Leaf

Psalm 106:13-31

     God had done great things in bringing the children of Israel out of Egypt and they sang His praises. But they quickly forgot them and rebelled against Him. Time after time one or another leader would rise up to lead some of the people in rebellion against the leaders God had established and God would bring judgment against them. God brought plague amongst the people because of their rebellion, until Phinehas stood up and interceded with God on their behalf. In response to that righteous man God stayed the plague. Will we be like Phinehas and intercede with God on behalf of our fellow countrymen? Have we striven to serve God, and taught others to do so, in such a manner as gives us standing to intercede for our countrymen? If not, are we not partially to blame for the judgments that God is bringing against our people? Yet I believe that there is still time for us to turn to the Lord and seek His face.

Gathering Nature’s Bounty

Proverbs 27:10

     Provide aid to your friends when they are in need and maintain friendships with those that your parents had befriended. Maintain your relationships with your neighbors so that when you are in need you can turn to them rather than having to rely on your family which may live distantly.

Daily Bible Study

November 6, 2012 Bible Study

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them. I am sorry if my posts are not posted in a timely fashion for the next little while. I have my power back, but I am not able to get online in my normal routine because my Internet service has not been restored. I am able to post by using either the Internet at a friend’s house or by going to someplace that has free Wifi access. I am going to try to get something closer to my normal routine by writing down the passages for the next day and writing the blog offline. however, I usually compose these on my desktop PC and typing them on my laptop is a different experience. Please bear with me as I work to adapt to this disruption of my usual routine.

The Rabbit Who Graciously Shared His Abode With Us After the Storm

Ezekiel 14:12-16:41

     Ezekiel prophecies that God is bringing judgment on the people of Israel. God is bringing such a judgment that even men of great righteousness would only be able to save themselves from. The prayers of these men of great righteousness would not even be able to sae their sons and daughters. Yet even though God is bringing such a fierce judgment against the people of Israel, He will preserve a few unto Himself. There will be survivors who will learn to worship God and bring comfort to those who despaired of the people ever turning to God.
     Ezekiel then compares the people of Israel to the wood from a vine. Wood from a vine is not suitable to make anything useful. All it is good for is as fuel for a fire. Ezekiel tells us that the people of Jerusalem have made themselves to be like the wood of a vine and thus God will burn them up completely.
     Ezekiel then compares the nation of Israel to a baby that was abandoned immediately upon birth. At its infancy God saw it and willed it to live, providing for its needs. When Israel became a young woman, God took her as His wife. He provided her with fine clothes, expensive jewelry and the finest food. Then she became famous for her beauty and trusted in it for her security. Israel took the fine things that God had provided her and gave them to other lovers. Israel took the jewelry that God had given her and used it to create idols to worship in place of God. She dressed those idols in the clothes that God had provided her. She poured out the fine drink and offered the fine food as sacrifices to these idols she worshiped in place of God. She even sacrificed the children that God had given her to these false gods.
     I am not normally a fan of reading the United States into prophecies concerning Israel, but I see some of the same patterns here. The United States started out weak and abandoned. When one looked at the early country, there was reason to question whether it could even survive, let alone thrive. But thrive it did, despite its many sins God chose to bless it with wealth and power. Yet the people of the United States have chosen to create their own gods to worship rather than worship the God who has blessed them. They have sacrificed their goods on the altar of selfish pleasure. They have chosen to sacrifice their very children to their idols. This is not just true of abortion where children are killed for convenience and ambition. It is also true of many of our schools where instead of teaching children, they are used as pawns to gain and keep political power. How long until God brings judgment on us as He did on the people of Israel? Was Hurricane Sandy a warning from God for us to turn from our selfishness to Him?

Families Without Electricity Gather at The Church Building to Share a Meal

Hebrews 7:18-28

     Continuing the theme about the new priesthood that was established in Jesus, the author tells us that the Law made nothing perfect. This was why it was set aside in favor of a better Law. The priests of the Law existed in greater numbers because they were unable to continue as priests after their deaths. Jesus on the other hand was raised from death and is able to continue as our high priest forever. We need no other priest than Jesus. We need no one else to intercede between ourselves and God. The priests of the Law needed to daily offer up sacrifices for their own sins and for the sins of the people. Jesus, on the other hand, is holy and undefiled by sin so that He needed only offer Himself up once as a sacrifice for our sins.
      This is an important lesson for us to pay attention to because we as humans tend to create a priesthood to stand between us and God. We do not need such a priesthood because Jesus is all that we need between us and God. Yet, time and again people start to place some as above them and between themselves and God. Whether they call them “Father”, or “Reverend”, or “Pastor” these are all attempts to say, “This person is better than me, they will stand between me and God and interpret God’s commands for me.” But it is also more than that. It is also an attempt to say that I do not have to follow all of God’s commands, because some of them are for the “clerics” and I am just “laity”.

Rose Blooms After the Storm

Psalm 106:1-12

      Let us sing praises to God, for who can tell of all of His wonderful deeds. He will bless us if we keep justice and practice righteousness at all times. We must not make the mistake of thinking that we are better than our ancestors. We sin just as they did. The psalmist tells us that the people of Israel rebelled after God brought them out of Egypt, yet God again performed miracles to save them. When God performed miracles to save them, they turned to Him and worshiped Him. Do we turn to Him and worship Him when He acts to save us? Let me continue to praise the Lord for all that He has done for me. Let me worship Him and keep His commands.

Keeping Warm

Proverbs 27:4-6

      Anger and rage are forces to be feared, but jealousy cannot be reasoned with. I would rather deal with someone who will openly tell me to get lost than someone who secretly wishes I would spend more time with them. When our friends tell us things for our betterment that hurt it is better than when our enemies tell us how wonderful we are.

Daily Bible Study

November 5, 2012 Bible Study

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them. I am sorry if my posts are not posted in a timely fashion for the next little while. Well, I have my power back, but I am still not able to get online in my normal routine because my Internet service has not been restored. I am able to post by using either the Internet at a friend’s house or by going to someplace that has free Wifi access. I am going to try to get something closer to my normal routine by writing down the passages for the next day and writing the blog offline. In addition, I usually compose these on my desktop PC and typing them on my laptop is a different experience. Please bear with me until I get back into my usual routine.

Setting Up the List Field

Ezekiel 12:1-14:11

     Ezekiel received instruction from God to act out the next prophecy. He was told to take his baggage and in the sight of the people dig a hole in the wall and go forth through it. When the people asked him what he was doing, he was to tell them that the prince in Jerusalem will gather his baggage and dig a hole in the wall and attempt to escape through it, but the prince will be captured and taken into captivity. Then Ezekiel told the people that their expectation that every prophecy was far in the future was no longer true. God was going to bring these things to pass, not only in their lifetimes, but in the very near future.
     Ezekiel follows this up with condemnation of false prophets. The false prophets had been telling the people of Israel that there would be peace when there was no peace. These prophets had been putting a whitewash of false righteousness over the sinfulness of the people. They were telling the people support this political agenda and it will fulfill your obligation to care for the poor and destitute. Then you don’t have to be bothered to actually do anything for them yourself.
     Then Ezekiel spoke out against some of the elders of Israel who came to consult him for the word of the Lord. Ezekiel told them that they were doing so to put a cover of righteousness over their idolatry. Ezekiel told them to put aside their idolatry and turn from their sins. God does not want us to support a political ideology that promises to help the poor and destitute. God wants us to help the poor and destitute.

“Put it right there.”

Hebrews 7:1-17

     The last chapter ended with the statement that Jesus has become a high priest of the order of Melchizedek. Melchizedek is mentioned in Genesis as the King of Salem and a priest of God to whom Abraham gave a tenth of the spoils after he had rescued Lot and other captives from raiders. The author of Hebrews points out that the priests according to the Law were descendants of Aaron, who was himself a descendant of Abraham. The author makes two points from this. The first is that Aaron himself, who the Law says shall receive a tenth from the people of Israel, metaphorically gave a tenth to Melchizedek (since Aaron was descended from a son of Abraham who was not yet conceived). The second is that when the priesthood is changed, there is of necessity a change of the Law that establishes the priesthood.
     The author further points out that if perfection could be attained through the priesthood of Aaron, there would be no need for another priest in the order of Melchizedek. But the psalmist declares that God is going to raise up another priest in the order of Melchizedek, one who will sit at the right hand of God. Here we have the logic whereby the Law of Moses has been fulfilled and a greater Law instituted in its place.

Preparing for Battle

Psalm 105:37-45

     The psalmist tells us that when the children of Israel departed Egypt the Egyptians were glad to see them go. The plagues had caused the Egyptians to want no more to do with the Israelites. God brought them out of Egypt with wealth and guided them through the wilderness. While they were in the wilderness God provided for them with manna and quail, causing water to flow out from the rocks. God brought them into a land inhabited by other nations and gave that land to the Israelites. God did all of this so that they might keep His commands and obey His laws. Will God do any less for us today if we keep His commands and follow His Word? Let us praise the Lord for all He has done for us.

“Do You Really Expect Us To Believe That?”

Proverbs 27:3

     Even the strongest, wisest person may find themselves reacting against their better judgment when provoked by a fool.