Long Life

I know the Bible says that it is, but is Long Life really a blessing? (Yes, I know the Bible is right, just hear me out. I don't want the facts to get in the way of a good story.)


The phrase "long life" is found 4 times in the Bible. Twice it was God praising Solomon for not having asked for it. Once it is found to be the result of not forgetting the law and keeping the commandments - Proverbs 3:2. And once it is given as a means of satisfaction for the man that calls upon the Lord - Psalm 91:16 (perhaps a prophecy referring to Christ cf. Ps. 91:11-12). Interestingly enough, they are all Old Testament references.


I'm thining about Long Life right now as today is the sad day that I turn "old." By the way, 15 years ago on this day, which is half a life ago for me, my family went to Guatemala. And in my old age, I counted in the mirror about 6 gray hairs on the right side of my head and 2 on my left. That proves conclusively that the "right" has much more wisdom than the "left."


Here's my thought - I'm told the average lifespan in America in 1900 was about 47 years old. Today it is about 30 years more than that. In Zambia, they say the average life span is about 35 year old, I think it was. Both of those peoples are/were more familiar with death than we are today. In America the average livespan is more than twice that of Zambia, and about 30 years longer than in 1900.


Here's what I think happens as we live longer:

1) I think we get more comfortable as 'pilgrims' here on earth. That is, if you go to a foreign country, like, say, Guatemala, and you visit there for a couple of weeks. You will not get to the point where you are 'comfortable' in that country - unless you have a guide that is taking care of you and leading through all the different facets of life there that you are unfamiliar with. Now, after a while (maybe a long while), you will eventually get comfortable with the way of life in Guatemala.


Well, we, as Christians, are pilgrims, strangers, seeking a city not made with hands! We are fellowcitizens with the saints and of the household of God. When we trusted in the name of Jesus, we were put into this state of foreign-citizenship. However, some of us have gotten to know some really good guides in this world. That is we have been following some of the worlds' guides around for a while, and they have made our life in this foreign civilization much more comfortable to us - and we, unfortunately, are happy about this. However, with having longer lives now, even if we stay away from some of those guides, it becomes easier to conform to this world and get comfortable with it. It does not mean that all old people become worldly, but the more time you spend here, the harder it can become to maintain faithful allegiance to your home-country.

2) Secondly, the longer we are here on this earth, we become more focused on the things in front of us. In 1900 and in Zambia, death was a much more of a reality than it is to me. For example, I have lived for 30 years now, and in my life, I have lost 2 grandpa's. I have not had any real close friends that have died, or siblings, or children (other than while still in the womb), or parents. To me and in my experiences, death is still something that happens to other people. The people that I know that have lost someone close to them all seem to have a much better focus on what really matters - they see this life as just a blimp on the whole scheme of eternity. People in a society with a shorter average lifespan, and therefore more accustomed to death around them, recognize better the brevity of life. Unrelated, I wonder though what Adam's & Eve's reactions were when they found out about Abel...


Paul, was in a straight betwixt two, having a desire to depart and be with the Lord, which is far better! But to abide in the flesh was more needful for the Philippians. Maybe because he was so close to death so often (and even died once?) that he was ready to go! Maybe he knew that the "light affliction" was but for a moment. It's true that our lives are just 'vapors' but some vapors are longer than others!

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more
exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are
seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are
temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:17-18)

”Consume my life, my God, for it is thine. I seek not a long life, but a full one like Yours, Lord Jesus.” - Jim Elliot

Tolerance

I heard said recently that Muslim terrorists perceive tolerance as a sign of weakness. That is, as Islam makes its assaults on things like the World Trade Center, the Spanish train, the London buses, and so many other examples (those were just quickly off the top of my head), when the Nations that are victims of those attacks respond with tolerance and give in to the demands of the terrorists, those terrorists perceive that as fear, as being gutless, no courage! When victims give in to the attackers demands, it just emboldens the attackers to do more.

I realized something: the terrorists are right. Tolerance is a sign of fear. When Christians allow sin to go on and to be accepted, and don't stand up, but rather just tolerate it, it is probably just a sign that we are gutless and afraid...

Anyway, it's just a thought. If you disagree, that's ok. I'll tolerate your opinion. I'm sorry to offend you. Please don't hurt me!!!

Inconsistency

What do you do when come across a verse that doesn't fit your doctrine or theology? The options I can think of are:

1. Look in another translation - or in the original languages
2. Consider it an error in the Bible and go fishing (only logical conclusion)
3. Give one or some of the words a definition that they would not normally have
4. Completely disregard the verse and move on
5. Make the assumption that it applies to somebody else and then build a case that ends up disregarding the rest of the passage, chapter or even the whole book
6. Change your theology to fit the verse
7. Recognize the supposed 'contradiction,' pray and study for God to give you the resolution
8. Realize that man cannot fully grasp the wisdom of God (though what could be discussed: can man, with the Spirit's teaching, grasp all the wisdom that God has given in His word?)
9. Allegorize or Spiritualize the verse to make it mean something other than the literal meaning
10. Any more?

Now, don't get me wrong, you need to approach the verse with the right hermeneutics - interpration methods. For example, not all of the Bible is written to the Church (it is all written for the Church). When it is clearly referring to allegories it needs to be understood that way. But what about the rest of the time?

I read a quote by Spurgeon last night. I have found myself so incredibly guilty of violating his point here:

"I would sooner a hundred times over appear to be inconsistent with myself than
be inconsistent with the word of God"

Am I willing to do that, to look inconsistent with myself? Would I be willing to allow someone to think that I don't have an answer for a verse, or must I do one of those things listed above in order to give an answer? Only time and observation will tell me what the answers are to those questions! Would you all watch for me and let me know?

Humble Themselves

...So, yesterday we were reminded that it is GOD's people that need to change in order to heal this land. How do we have to change?

2 Chronicles 7:14 - If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray...

What a foreign concept to American Christians. If there's a problem we're supposed to... Pray? Why would we do that? I thought if there was a problem we should put it down on paper, then we should figure out a possible solution, we compare it to other solutions, and then we plan the best way to accomplish the best solution... until the problem is fixed. That's what I would do. [For you Greek students, the highlighted pronouns there are all First Person - basically saying, "I will..." (See Isaiah 14)]


What God is saying is that there are problems too big for ME to handle. I really cannot do anything to save this country. I don't have enough power to do it. When Christianity comes to that conclusion, and we fall on our faces before God and truly humble ourselves (Think along the lines of Sackcloth and Ashes here), then God says we've accomplished the first step towards His healing of the land.

Don't get me wrong. New Yorkers (NYCF) ought to keep doing what they're doing, and they ought to keep doing it well. Just as missionaries are the method that God uses to bring salvation to an unreached, foreign field, He also may be planning on using New Yorkers to accomplish His purposes once HIS PEOPLE will humble themselves and pray. And I'm sure their time spent trying to legislate morally does more for this country for God's sake, than my maintaining computers and networks does!

So, the question for the day: When was the last time you got your sackcloth out?

Shannon's "My King"

http://www.hindsfamily.com/andy/new.asp

This is what Shannon was referring to in his last comment... make sure your speakers are on.

The King James Bible is Perfect

The title says it all. Might not know my multiplications by 7 as well as others but I am glad that I can read my Bible and know that its correct and true, trustworthy and eternal, inEnglish!

1Co 8:1 Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
1Co 8:2 And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
1Co 8:3 But if any man love God, the same is known of him.

I want you all to know that I love Jesus - but talk is cheap, may you see it from me as much as you hear it from me!The B-i-b-l-e, yes thats the book for me. I stand alone on the word of God, the 1611KJV - BIBLE!!!!!!!

- used without permission from Aaron Putney - http://putneys4christ.blogspot.com

Whose People?

Please, don't read just the first paragraph and then stop reading this post...

The most dangerous place in America is in the mother's womb - 1 out of every 4 babies in America are murdered even before birth. The US Supreme Court allowed this murder to be legal and denied human rights to these babies back in 1973... The God-ordained institution of marriage is being eroded in this country due to loose fornication, homosexual 'marriages,' restrictions placed on parenting in the name of child abuse and divorces occuring regularly... Prisoners are being housed in comfortable enough rooms with cable TV, workout room, three hot meals a day and more luxuries - costing the taxpayer millions and millions of dollars... The federal government debt to foreign countries is growing at such a level that if those countries were to cease loaning us money, the US's economical situation would be disastrous, as America buys more than it sells and makes up the difference with debt... The media in this country is allowed to air, promote and glorify all of the sins that God has so particularly warned us about in His word... Sexual sin has been revealed in just about every level of government in this country up to the highest office in the land, along with deceit, unfaithfulness and even murders - often without consequences...


I went to the Chuck Missler conference this weekend, and his last session on Saturday was "The Challenge to America." He made the point that America is walking on a slippery slope. He had me convinced. You would think the response is that we should rise up in arms! or at least with phone calls, emails and letters demanding that our representatives and elected officials would get things right to prevent this downward spiral that America is on. But that's not what Missler gave us. Instead he just reiterated what God gave us.


2 Chronicles 7:14: "If MY people, which are called by MY name..." I've heard that verse quite a bit over the years, in preaching on how to get this country right. But for some reason, it really got me when hearing it this weekend (maybe because of the well-defined picture that was painted). Missler talked about how he suspects there is a force behind even the White House that really ends up making the decisions in this country. Such that, regardless of who, or which party, is in office, there is an agenda that they are working out that always get put through. - you know, the stuff movies are made of. It makes you think that the situation would be hopeless. But Missler said the phrase something along the lines of, "The fate of America is not determined by Congress or the President - our God is more powerful than they are!" What a relief! What a peace!


God says, if HIS people will change - He will heal the land. We want the president, or the Supreme Court Justices, or the Senate or Representatives, or our governor to change their ways. We want them to make the right decisions and then this country will get back on the right track. If only they would listen to logic to see how all of those things are bad, even from a totally secular perspective - then things would be better!


The fact of the matter is that God's people, those that are called by His name - that is, by the name of Jesus Christ (ie. Christian) - they are the ones that have to change so that God would heal our land!

Free Audiobook

A website that sells audio books is offering one free audio book each month. This month is:

The Best of Jonathan Edwards Sermons (Unabridge)

the site is: http://christianaudio.com/free_download.php

Missler Notes Blog

Some Nut actually took notes while Chuck Missler was teaching on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. He posted the notes to a blog on wordpress.com. If anyone is interested in checking them out:

http://andyhinds.wordpress.com

This Nut actually had 40 pages of notes on Saturday's lessons alone.