Noah
(Genesis 5)28Lamech lived one hundred and eighty-two years, and became the father of a son.
29Now he called his name Noah, saying,
"This one will give us rest from our work and from the toil of our hands arising from the ground which the LORD has cursed." Instantly, I see a foreshadowing and parallel between Christ and Noah. Noah sounds like the Hebrew for rest. Christ is our rest. The NASB and the ESV use the word "rest" while the NIV uses the word "comfort".(Genesis 6)5Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that
every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
6The LORD was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
7The LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, from man to animals to creeping things and to birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them."
-Every intent -only evil -continuallyThis paints such a bleak picture of the human nature left on its own. Even before the law, sin abounded. We do not need the law in order to sin. Our nature does that well enough on its own. But look at the degree to which sin existed: every intent; only evil; continually.WOW! That does much to destroy the notion that we are inherently good, doesn't it? Especially when left to our own devices!(Genesis 6)8But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.
God's favor is only bestowed by His grace. Noah wasn't perfect, he was a sinful human. And once everyone got off the boat, sin commenced yet again, almost immediately. God decided that Noah and his family would be saved from the coming judgment. (Hebrews 11)7By faith Noah,
being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
No one has seen the judgment that is to come. Most are so caught up in saving the planet and global warming that they are AGAINST listening to any idea that the planet is doomed to begin with. It appears, also, that our faith condemns the unbelieveing. I don't know how that works, but there it is. If we were to tell the people that the Lord will destroy the earth by fire, I bet we'd all be met with the same disdain by others.(Genesis 6)17 For behold,
I will bring a flood of waters upon the earth to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life under heaven.
Everything that is on the earth
shall die. 18But
I will establish my covenant with you, and
you shall come into the ark, you, your sons, your wife, and your sons’ wives with you...22 Noah did this; he did all that God commanded him.
God directed it all, from who to how. Notice God did not ask Noah to build the ark, He commanded him to do so. He said, "Noah, I'm going to do this, and you're going to do that." There was no appeal to the flesh. No: "how would you like to be saved from the Deluge, hmmm?"(Genesis 7)1Then the LORD said to Noah, "Go into the ark, you and all your household, for
I have seen that you are righteous before me in this generation... 5 And Noah did all that the LORD had commanded him.
From all that I've read in Genesis and Hebrews about Noah, I cannot see any indication that Noah was less wicked and less sinful than any of those who lived on the earth with him. The only thing Noah did was have faith and obey God's commandments despite what he saw going on around him. He walked by faight, and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). Furthermore, I don't think the idea of a world-wide flood was any less ludicrous then than it would be today. Noah is building a huge boat, yet the people are still marrying and giving in marriage (Matthew 24:38). Try telling the grocery clerk that the world will be destroyed by a flood tomorrow and see how far you make it to your car before then men in white coats emerge.(Genesis 7)16And those that entered, male and female of all flesh, went in as God had commanded him. And the LORD shut him in... 22Everything on the dry land in whose nostrils was the breath of life died. 23He blotted out every living thing that was on the face of the ground, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens. They were blotted out from the earth. Only Noah was left, and those who were with him in the ark.
God commands those who will be in Christ Jesus to enter Him. And the Lord Keeps them there. When the next Deluge of fire comes, only those who are saved are the ones who are found in Christ Jesus.Labels: God's Word, practical theology, where I am right now
A new kind of usury
While giving deep consideration to my finances last night, I applied my mathematical skills to the subject of compound interest. Now, I never took business math, so I only had a basic knowledge of what it was and knew I just didn't have the variable of how often the interest was compounded in order to gain a better understanding of my financial situation (namely, my student loans).
While researching a formula to gain a better grip of how to calculate the final cost of my student loans (based on money paid, interest, and its frequency compounded) I came across this in Wikipedia:
"Compound interest was once regarded as the worst kind of usury, and was severely condemned by Roman law, as well as the common laws of many other countries. "hmmm...
Labels: where I am right now
This friday...
I have a meme to catch up on, but not before the test on friday.
My first of the three graphics divisions. I am really enjoying studying for it. I am just becoming familiar with the software and what the test is asking of me. I will take the site planning division first, as that one appears to be the simplest and most straightforward (and with the fewest vignettes).
The shortest of all the graphic exams, it's only three hours long.
The Lord has really blessed me in this area. I didn't study while in Oklahoma, but opened the book Saturday night, and instantly became absorbed in the material. I spent about 2 hours last night at Starbucks working with the software again, and I need to work the kinks out of my workflow. But other than that, I feel very ready.
Here's to Friday.
Labels: architecture, exams
It's OUT!!!!
http://www.boston.com/travel/getaways/us/articles/2007/08/19/a_perfect_storm/I hope this will make you all want to come storm chasing with the pros next spring!!!
www.tempesttours.com
Labels: current events, friends, photography, storm chasing
A short post
The sovereignty of God.
The Fall of mankind.
Think about this for a moment.
(And I just love that He called out to Adam, even knowing that he was hiding because of his sin. Adam was running away from God, and God still sought him out.)
Labels: God's Word, practical theology, where I am right now, wisdom
Sunbird
Praise be to God that I get to initiate and organize the project calendar for our office!!!
I've been needing this, personally, and now my boss is jumping on board after realizing we've got a LOT of projects coming in and are in need of office organization. He just asked us all to start putting in more hours over the next four weeks, and then reassessing where we are. While this may elicit groans from any typical office, he's promised additional compensation, and free lunch on Saturdays. *grin*
Anyway, if you like standalone calendars (and if you need the organization help like I do) check out Mozilla
Sunbird. I'm very excited that I get to be the first to try it out for the office, and then teach everyone how to use it!!!!
Labels: where I am right now
A Lesson in Evangelism
I was spending an awful lot of time reading books about the Bible. I thought this would increase my understanding of the Bible, and consequently, of the Lord.
But no, the truth is that my knowledge of the Lord comes from reading the Bible alone. It is indeed feasible, certainly possible, to grow deeper in my relationship with Him while reading SOLELY the Bible.
This morning I continued my long ride through Genesis. In my new "blank" Bible, I cross referenced Hebrews 11:3, where we are told that "by faith" we understand that God created everything by His word, and nothing came out of anything that existed previously. Reading the Hebrews verse, I couldn't help but wonder how one can worship the Lord and claim evolution as the vehicle for the creation of all life forms.
Another striking note is that the Lord USES the means He has established to fulfill His purposes. This is just who God is. In Genesis 2:5, God has already spoken vegetation into existence. But the means that the Lord has established have not been employed yet -- man to till the ground and rain to water the ground. Because these two are not yet in action, the fruit of the earth has not shown itself yet. But it will. Because the Lord has spoken it as such.
This really struck me as a parallel to what my pastor said in the sermon yesterday about election (his third part of the series on our way through Ephesians). If the elect go to heaven, why must we evangelize (essentially). But he made the assertion that although God has ordained that our stomachs be filled with food in order to calm our hunger, we must still eat.
As one struggling to understand how to share my faith, this has really been used by God to chasten and urge and teach. I am to share because it is the means God has ordained.
But God faithfully reinforced the picture in my mind, and showed me more of His character this morning. He didn't just bring forth fruit from the ground before the man could till it or rain could do its work. He not only ordained the product, but He ordained the process from beginning to end.
Glory be to God. He is so faithful to open our eyes to the truth when we search with all our hearts.
Labels: God's Word, practical theology, redeeming the time, where I am right now
I like weather
Especially
bloggers who blog about the weather.
From a God-centered point of view.
Now, THAT'S my kind of meteorology!!!
Labels: friends, meteorology
Redeeming the time I
PLUS
EQUALSRedeeming the time.
I recorded 35 Bible verses in succession on one of the files, as well as all of Proverbs 3 on another. I plug the cassette adapter into the earphone jack and pop it into the tape deck of the car. And VIOLA! I can listen to myself recite Bible verses until I've memorized them all. I'm also listening to it at my desk with earphones.
TIP: Use voice inflections to help you catch key words. Use flash cards to aid the visual recollection of it. Break chapters down into manageable bits (try 4 verses at a time).
Labels: God's Word, redeeming the time
24
We only have 24 hours in a day.How are we using our time?Labels: redeeming the time, wisdom
John Bunyan said it first
...and said it best.
THE CONCLUSION
1. Of all the temptations that I ever met with in my life, to question the being of God, and the truth of His gospel, is the worst, and worst to be borne; when this temptation comes, it takes away my girdle from me, and removeth the foundation from under me: O I have often thought of that word, Have your loins girt about with truth; and of that, When the foundations are destroyed what can the righteous do?
2. Sometimes, when, after sin committed, I have looked for sore chastisement from the hand of God, the very next that I have had from him hath been the discovery of his grace. Sometimes, when I have been comforted, I have called myself a fool for my so sinking under trouble. And then, again, when I have been cast down, I thought I was not wise to give such way to comfort. With such strength and weight have both these been upon me.
3. I have wondered much at this one thing, that though God doth visit my soul with never so blessed a discovery of himself, yet I have found again, that such hours have attended me afterwards, that I have been in my spirit so filled with darkness, that I could not so much as once conceive what that God and that comfort was with which I have been refreshed.
4. I have sometimes seen more in a line of the Bible than I could well tell how to stand under, and yet at another time the whole Bible hath been to me as dry as a stick, or rather my heart hath been so dead and dry unto it, that I could not conceive the least dram of refreshment, though I have looked it all over.
5. Of all tears, they are the best that are made by the blood of Christ; and of all joy, that is the sweetest that is mixed with mourning over Christ: O 'tis a goodly thing to be on our knees, with Christ in our arms, before God: I hope I know something of these things.
6. I find to this day seven abominations in my heart: 1. inclinings to unbelief; 2. suddenly to forget the love and mercy that Christ manifesteth; 3. a leaning to the works of the law; 4. wanderings and coldness in prayer; 5. to forget to watch for that I pray for; 6. apt to murmur because I have no more, and yet ready to abuse what I have; 7. I can do none of those things which God commands me, but my corruptions will thrust in themselves; when I would do good, evil is present with me.
7. These things I continually see and feel, and am afflicted and oppressed with; yet the wisdom of God doth order them for my good: 1. they make me abhor myself; 2. they keep me from trusting my heart; 3. they convince me of the insufficiency of all inherent righteousness; 4. they show me the necessity of flying to Jesus; 5. they press me to pray unto God; 6. they show me the need I have to watch and be sober; 7. and provoke me to look to God through Christ to help me, and carry me through this world.
Amen.
--Taken from his Grace Abounding to the Chief of SinnersLabels: books, friends, practical theology
Where are we headed? or Things aren't necessarily getting "better", people!
I had a wonderful time, as usual, having coffee with Gayla from Journey of the Heart. She lives practically right around the corner from me (plus a few miles). She's very honest about what she thinks, and desires to learn more. When we get together, I know it's not just to "keep the friendship going" as I remember doing with so many friends. With them, it was almost an obligation to get together. If there had been mutual cell phone number exchanges, and we went to the same church, it was almost an obligation to keep that friendship going. We also had no clue what doctrine was or that we should be concerned about sin or living a righteous life in all things. Oh, the folly of youth. Many a night wasted through idle talk in a Chili's booth.
Not so anymore. There are people out there who desire God. And who will answer your questions with the mind of Christ, given by God. And who point back to the Bible when there is confusion. Gayla's one of those people, just so you know.
After coffee, on my way home, I detoured to Best Buy to pick up a digital voice recorder to help with scripture memorization. Finding a good middle ground features-to-price-point ratio model, I took it to the register.
"Would you like to buy our warranty for $12?" From the sound of the sales pitch, she was selling me, basically, the ability to return this item for an exchange or in-store credit. I declined. Is this where we have arrived? We no longer guarantee our products, but would rather SELL you the ability to bring back something you paid for that doesn't work? How about rolling that into the sale price of the item, and extending it to ALL merchandise... for FREE!
A novel idea, I'm sure...
I got home and opened my new gadget. I read the instructions and my heart sank.
Engrish.
The grammar was horrible. Why do we Americans claim sovereignty if we subject ourselves to such poorly translated material? Why do we even think that English will be a majority language for long? And where it is spoken, will it even be spoken properly anymore? Will a legal document have such grammatical errors as to require allowing a criminal caught red-handed to go free?
Just some thoughts.
For the record, I do like my voice recorder. It comes with software to upload files to the computer...
Labels: coffee, friends, redeeming the time, where I am right now
