Tag Archives: Christianity

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.

Daily Bible Study

November 4, 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.

Ezekiel 10:1-11:25

     Ezekiel’s vision continued with the man in linen, who had marked those people selected for salvation, given coals from the presence of the Lord. The man in linen was instructed to spread the coals over the city of Jerusalem. Then Ezekiel saw the presence of the Lord depart from the Temple.
     The Spirit of the Lord than carried Ezekiel to the east gate of the Temple and showed him 25 leaders of the people of Jerusalem, two of whom Ezekiel names. Ezekiel tells them that they have been guilty of sins against the people of Jerusalem and of speaking false prophecies. Ezekiel tells them that they will be driven from Jerusalem and killed. While Ezekiel is prophesying against these men, one of them dies. Ezekiel then cries out to God, asking if Him if He will destroy even the remnant remaining of Israel.
     God replies that those who have been already been sent into exile are also Israel. God tells Ezekiel that He will gather the exiles back to His land. God will put a new spirit in them and they will remove the vile images and detestable idols from the land. God says that He will replace their hearts of stone with hearts of flesh. Have we allowed God to replace our hearts of stone with hearts of flesh? Do we look at those around us still suffering from the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy and desire to help them in whatever way we can? Or are we content that we have power and seek after the pleasures that are available to us?

Hebrews 6:1-20

     The writer tells us that now he will move on from basic teachings to meatier ones. He then goes on to tell us that those who have tasted of God’s glory who turn away from God can never be brought back to repentance. I am not sure what he means here, but I will interpret it in light of my experience. I do not believe he is talking about those who profess faith and then for one reason or another drift away from the faith. Rather I think he is talking about those who profess faith and then consciously reject it.

Psalms 105:16-35

     The psalmist recounts how God sent Joseph into Egypt as a slave, shackled and beaten. But Joseph was faithful and God raised him up to become ruler over all of Egypt, second only to Pharoah. Then Jacob and Joseph’s brothers and their children came to Egypt and lived there. Until they became numerous and the people of Egypt felt threatened by them. Then the Egyptians enslaved the people of Israel. God sent Moses and Aaron to free them, bringing judgment on the Egyptians in the form of the plagues.
     Are we faithful in our sufferings as Joseph was? Are we willing to be God’s messengers as Moses and Aaron were?

Proverbs 27:1-2

     Do not boast of the great things you are going to do in the future, because things may happen to change your plans. Recognize that all of our plans for the future will only come to pass insofar as they are God’s will. In addition, do not tell others how wonderful you are, let them see for themselves and let them tell others what they think of you. How many times have you heard someone who is constantly telling you all the good things they do for others, people who you never see doing any of these good things? When someone tells you of the wonderful things they have done, don’t you have a tendency to wonder if they are like those people? Let our actions speak for us, if we receive no recognition from people, we will still receive recognition from God.

Daily Bible Study

November 3, 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 power back, but my Internet service is still out, so I need to borrow friends access to post. 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.

Magrat

Ezekiel 7-9:11

     God gives a prophecy to Ezekiel for him to deliver to the people of Israel. Ezekiel tells the people of Israel that the day of judgement has arrived. No hope remains as God calls them to account for their sins. Disaster after disaster is going to strike them. When the call goes forth for the army to defend the land, no one will answer the call. People will toss aside their wealth because they will be unable to use to get what they truly need. I read this prophecy and think about what is happening in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. There are many people who are in circumstances where money cannot buy what they need because there is none of it to be had where they are. I wonder if this tragedy is God trying to call the people of our nation to Him. Let us pray for our fellow countrymen that they may come to the Lord.
     Then Ezekiel recounts another vision that he received. He was taken to the Temple and shown various idols that the people of Jerusalem had set up in the Temple and the various rituals that they carried out in worship of other gods. Then he sees God call for men to bring destruction and death on the city. God sends one man ahead of the destroyers to mark those who were saddened and burdened by the idolatry. The destroyers are then instructed to kill everyone who does not have the mark of salvation. If God were to carry out such a judgement on our land, would we be among those marked for salvation? Do we weep and sigh for the idolatry our countrymen practice around us? Have we warned them of the consequences of their sins?

Run Baron, they are catching up

Hebrews 5:1-14

     The writer tells us that a high priest is a man chosen to represent others before God. No one becomes high priest just because he desires that honor, he must be called by God for this work. Jesus did not honor Himself by assuming He could become High Priest, rather He was called by God to this role. God qualified Jesus as the perfect High Priest, which made Him the source of eternal salvation to all who obey Him. The writer tells us that he would like to go into this more, but it is a difficult topic and those he is writing to need someone to teach them the basic things about God’s word again. They should be at the point where they are teaching others, instead they are like infants who need to be fed milk rather than solid food. How often I have been like that! Needing to be reminded of the basic doctrines of faith when I should be exploring more advanced topics and teaching others. Forgive me Lord for my refusal to grow up and serve you as an adult.

Green Lane Lake in the Fall

Psalm 105:1-15

     Let us give thanks to the Lord and praise Him. Even though I need to go to someone else’s house to post this blog, still I will praise the Lord because He has restored the electricity to my home. I will sing His praises and tell everyone of His wonderful deeds. I will search for the Lord and continually seek Him. If we search for Him and seek to do His will, He will bless us. I have been blessed.

Proverbs 26:28

     Liars hate those that they lie to, no matter what they claim. Those who build others up with undeserved flattery set them up for destruction.

Daily Bible Study

November 2, 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 am without power in the wake of Hurricane Sandy and I am not always able to get online in my normal routine. 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 pavilion

Ezekiel 3:16-6:14

     Seven days after his vision of commissioning Ezekiel received his first message to the people of Israel in exile. God told him that if God gave him a message to warn those who sinned against their sin and he did not deliver it, God would hold him responsible for their deaths when they died from their sins. If on the other hand Ezekiel did give them God’s warning and they did not listen, they would still die from their sins, but God would not hold Ezekiel responsible. I believe that the same message applies to us today. We are responsible to warn those around us of the consequences of their sins. If we fail to do so, we will be responsible for their suffering and death as a result of those sins. On the other hand, if we do give them God’s warning and they do not listen, then their end will be on their head. There is one other piece to this. They may listen to us, turn from their sins and be saved.
     God then tells Ezekiel to draw a map of Jerusalem on a clay brick and to show it as being under siege. He is to then lie on his side facing his map of Jerusalem for 390 days, one day for each year of Israel’s sin. After that he is to turn over and lie on his other side facing his map of Jerusalem for 40 days, one day for each year of Judah’s sin. During this time he is to eat bread made from a mixture of beans and grain, cooked over cow dung and only a carefully measured amount each day along with a carefully measured amount of water. This is to symbolize the state of food within Jerusalem during the siege it will be undergoing.

The Baronial Court

Hebrews 4:1-16

     The writer tells us that God has prepared a rest for those who listen to His word and have faith in Him. IF we obey the message in God’s word we will be able to enter into His rest when the time is right. If we fail to obey, we will fall and lose the opportunity to enter that rest. The word of God is able to reveal our inmost thoughts and being to God and He will hold us accountable.
     We can come boldly before God because we have a High Priest to intercede for us, one who experienced all of the temptations that we face, yet did not sin. Because He faced the temptations that we face, He understands our circumstances. So because we have such an intercessor, let us come before God who will show us mercy and provide us with the grace to help us when we need it most.

The Baron Consults His Herald

Psalm 104:24-35

     God has filled the world with a great variety of creatures. Let us look at the wonders of the world and praise the Lord.

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live.
I will praise my God to my last breath!
May all my thoughts be pleasing to him,
for I rejoice in the Lord.

Let this ever be my song and my prayer.

Magrat at Rest

Proverbs 26:27

     If we attempt to trick and trap others, we are the ones who will suffer.

Daily Bible Study

November 1, 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.

Magrat Poses

Ezekiel 1-3:15

     Today I begin the Book of Ezekiel, which contains imagery that has been poured over by many people. The prophet starts by describing the vision he had at his commissioning as a prophet. He describes a fantastic scene involving four humanoid creatures with wings and wheels, with the wheels described as being in an arrangement similar to a gyroscope. Above the four creatures, as if being carried by them, was a being that resembled a man. Ezekiel describes this whole scene as being the glory of the Lord. There are many different interpretations that could be made of this scene, but the key one for me today is that Ezekiel fell face down on the ground before it when he saw this.
     A voice spoke with Ezekiel and told him to stand up. The Spirit entered into him and stood him on his feet. The voice then told him that he was being sent as God’s messenger to the nation of Israel, which had rebelled against God. Ezekiel is told that he is not to worry whether they listen to his words or not. He is to speak the words of God to the people of Israel so that they may have no excuse. God instructs Ezekiel to not be afraid of what the people say or do. He is to give them God’s message whether they listen or not and God tells him that they will not listen.
     God then gives Ezekiel a scroll that is covered with funeral songs, words of sorrow and pronouncements of doom. God instructs him to eat the scroll. Ezekiel follows the instructions and eats the scroll, telling us that it tasted as sweet as honey in his mouth. God tells Ezekiel to let His words sink deep into his heart and to listen to them carefully before he goes forth and tells them to the people of Israel.
     This is the symbolism that speaks to me today. We are to take the words of God deep into our hearts and digest them and make them part of who we are before we attempt to tell others to follow them. If I am going to be an effective minister to those around me who do not yet know the Lord, I must take His words into my innermost being and feed on them. I have been lax on doing this my whole life. I will try harder going forward to make God’s words my food.

Jehan Poses

Hebrews 3:1-19

     Jesus was God’s messenger and high priest. He served God faithfully just as Moses had served God faithfully. Jesus is deserving of even more glory than Moses because while Moses served faithfully in God’s House (or perhaps, as God’s House), Jesus was with God as the builder of God’s House. Jesus, as God’s Son, is in charge of God’s House. And we, if we are courageous and keep our confidence in our hope in Christ, are God’s House.
     Today when we hear God’s voice, we must not harden our hearts in the manner that the Israelites did in the wilderness. We must turn away from evil and make sure that we do not turn away from God. If we are faithful to the end, continuing to trust in God, we will share in God’s glory. We must remain vigilant so as to not be deceived by sin. We must both warn each other of the deceptions that we each fall into and be open to being warned by others so that we do not fall into sin. We must strive continuously to avoid sin and to warn our brothers and sisters so that they also may avoid sin, listening to their warnings as the very words from God.

Po Poses

Psalm 104:1-23

     Let all that I am praise the Lord. He has created the universe in all of its wonder. Each thing has its place and they are designed to interact in a finely tuned manner. Despite man’s attempts he has failed to disrupt the way that God designed the earth to work. How can I do other than praise God with all that I am when He has created such a wonderful world.

God clothed the earth

Proverbs 26:24-26

     People may cover their hatred with pleasant words, they may pretend to be kind. They may conceal their hatred with trickery, but in the end their wrongdoing will be publicly exposed. Do not be fooled when people’s actions do not match their kind words.